ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 4 2005

NKR and RA Ministers of Foreign Affairs discuss the issues of
deepening bilateral relations

Robert Kocharyan: The year of 2004 was peaceful, stable and fruitful
for Armenia

Arkadi Ghukasian: the year of 2004 was successful for NKR

Ambassador of Iraq to Azerbaijan: Sending Armenian peacekeeping
forces to Iraq not to change the position of official Baghdad
regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

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NKR AND RA MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DISCUSS THE ISSUES OF
DEEPENING BILATERAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, January 4. /ARKA/. NKR and RA Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Armen Melikyan and Vartan Oskanian discussed the issues of deepening
relations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs. According to
RA MFA Press Service Department, the parties exchanges opinions about
the issues of bilateral interest. Taking the protocol on cooperation
between the MFAs of NKR and RA as the basis, the Ministers discussed
the issues of even more profound development of relations. Melikyan
who has taken the positions recently, introduced the main directions
and tasks of NKR MFA emphasizing that their activity will mainly
target at achieving international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh. In
particular, the necessity of activation of mutual contacts was
emphasized. The Ministers drew the attention to the current situation
around the conflict settlement and the negotiations process in the
framework of OSCE group. It was noted that the attention of the
international community to the issue enables to more profoundly
introduce tasks targeting at realization of rights to
self-determination of NKR people. A.H. -0–

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ROBERT KOCHARYAN: THE YEAR OF 2004 WAS PEACEFUL, STABLE AND FRUITFUL
FOR ARMENIA

YEREVAN, January 4. /ARKA/. The year of 2004 was peaceful, stable and
fruitful for Armenia, as stated in the RA President Robert
Kocharyan’s New Year greeting, according to RA President’s Press
Service Department. Accomplished works provided for significant
economic growth, which translates into new jobs, according to the
president. This is a difficult but the shortest road toward
prosperity for our country and our people. Kocharyan noted that to
have a qualitatively new country we must work hard. `Social
polarization in our country is still deep. The number of our citizens
living in poverty is still large. It means that the process of
reforms must continue, and the cornerstone of this process is the
rise of living standards and fight against poverty. To achieve these
goals we have developed a mid-term plan of action, which is being
implemented persistently’, he said. According to Kocharyan, results
of the accomplished works in this passing year will be noticeable
already in 2005. In a number of areas we plan a significant increase
of salaries. The state budget has a qualitatively new structure,
where shares allocated to health care and education are substantially
augmented. In the sphere of foreign affairs important has been
involvement of Armenia in the European `New Neighborhood’ initiative,
as the President stated. This fact underlined the readiness of the
European Union to build special relations with our country.
Cooperation with our partner-foreign states has been enhanced, and
Armenia has continued active participation in international
processes.
According to Kocharyan, Armenia-Spjurk relations have been further
advanced and he distinguished `One Nation-One Culture’ first Armenian
festival, which was performed enthusiastically. `Allying with the
`Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund the Armenians of Diaspora managed to
collect a considerable amount of money to conclude construction of
the Karabagh’s North-South highway. This is an important step in
strengthening the factual independence of Karabagh – independence,
which is nonnegotiable’, he said. The President also emphasized that
our Armed Forces in the passing year have become even stronger and
assured that the year of 2005 will be more productive for Armenia
`and there are all the preconditions for it’. A.H. –0–

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ARKADI GHUKASIAN: THE YEAR OF 2004 WAS SUCCESSFUL FOR NKR

STEPANAKERT, January 4. /ARKA/. The year of 2004 was successful for
NKR, as stated NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian in his New Year
greeting. `We were not affected by political and social upheavals.
Due to the reforms conducted, a stable economic growth is recorded in
the country, and the volume of production has grown’, he noted.
Ghukasian drew the attention to the fact that the economic growth
brought to gradual increase of the welfare of NKR people and to
improvement of their social conditions. Ghukasian reminded that in
2004 the government of NKR managed to increase the salary of
personnel working in budgetary funded organizations and to increase
the volume of aid to most needing strata of the society: families of
missing soldiers and those perished in the Karabakh war, invalids,
war veterans, and large families.
As it was particularly stated in the greeting of the President,
beginning from the next year the government will begin building
apartment blocks for socially unsecured families. `The size of
pensions will increase as well as that of other social payments.
Also, salary of the personnel working in the sphere of healthcare,
education, culture and sport will increase’, he noted.
The state budget of NKR for 2005 envisages 30% growth of expenditures
for social purposes. Ghhukasian noted that in 2004 the basis was put
for rapid completion of the construction of the North -South highway,
which is of high strategic importance for Artsakh for strengthening
its military, economic and national security. `The unprecedented
success of the TV marathon is considered by me as a disposition of
trust by Diaspora in the reforms introduced in social-political and
social-economic spheres, and in the measures taken to build civil
society in Artsakh’, he said.
Ghukasian noted that `for the last year our army became even stronger
and its military efficiency increased’. `The problems of the NKR Army
of Defense, including those of social character, have been and will
remain in the center of attention of the government. The power of our
army enables us to pursue successful foreign policy to advocate our
interests in the international arena. I assure you that any attempts
of Azerbaijan to break the rhythm of our people will be repulsed by
the NKR Army of Defense’, as stated in the greeting of the President.
A.H. -0 –

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AMBASSADOR OF IRAQ TO AZERBAIJAN: SENDING ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPING
FORCES TO IRAQ NOT TO CHANGE THE POSITION OF OFFICIAL BAGHDAD
REGARDING THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, January 4. /ARKA/. Sending Armenian peacekeeping forces to
Iraq will not change the position of official Baghdad regarding the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as stated by the new Ambassador of Iraq to
Azerbaijan Arshad Omar Ishmael when commenting the decision of the RA
NA to send military contingent to Iraq, according to TREND. “Many
peacekeeping forces may arrive in our country, but it will not
influence of our general policy’, he said. According to him, the
decision of RA NA to send 50 peacekeepers to Iraq was taken after the
military operations. `Armenia is willing to participate only current
processes to restore peace. There is a Surah in the Koran stating
that `those who declare Jihad for the sake of conquesting Mecca are
above those who did it later’. I do not believe that those who got
involved in the struggle to save Iraq and those who did it later
would be treated simultaneously. In any case, those who came first
are important for us’, he said. The diplomat drew the attention to
Iraq’s always supporting the position of Baku in the issue of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Official Baghdad is for the
solution of the problem only `in the framework of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan’. `During the last discussions in UNO we
voted for the project of resolution developed by the Azerbaijani
side’, he reminded. The Ambassador noted that that policy would be
pursued in future as well.
To note, so far there is no Embassy of Iraq in Yerevan. `This is a
very important fact and Azerbaijan should take it into account.
Interests of our friends have an important place in our foreign
policy’, he said. A.H. -0 –

Agence France Presse — English
January 6, 2005 Thursday 4:42 PM GMT

Polish and Lithuanian soldiers leave for Iraq

WARSAW

Some 100 Polish and 56 Lithuanian soldiers left for Iraq on Thursday
to take over from other soldiers serving there in the Polish-led
multinational force in the country.

The soldiers form part of the fourth contingent Poland has sent to
Iraq since late 2003, the Polish army said in a statement in Warsaw.

A strong ally of the US since the start of the Iraq conflict, Poland
said in December that it would cut its troops from 2,400 to 1,700
after the Iraqi elections scheduled for January 30.

Some 700 other soldiers based in Poland have been put on reserve to
be sent to Iraq if needed.

After the Iraqi elections, the 5,500-strong Polish force will include
soldiers from 15 countries.

The countries contributing are Armenia, Bulgaria, Denmark,
Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway,
Romania, Salvador, Slovakia, Ukraine and the United States, Colonel
Leszek Laszczak said.

Armenia will contribute to the force for the first time, sending
around 50 soldiers.

Hungary withdrew its 300 troops from the Polish-led force at the end
of 2004, six months after Spain brought home its own soldiers.

“For the time being we have no information that other countries plan
to withdraw their troops,” a Polish military official said.

A poll published in December showed that 72 percent of Poles opposed
their troops’ presence in Iraq.

Poland has lost 13 soldiers and four civilians since the beginning of
the conflict.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 5 2005

Echmiadzin marks Holy Christmas

Concept of science-educational system development on introduction of
advanced technologies in agrarian sector approved in Armenia

Gas consumption control functions in Armenia temporarily entrusted
with state fire-control service

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ECHMIADZIN MARKS HOLY CHRISTMAS

YEREVAN, January 5. /ARKA/. Today, at 17:00, an evening mess was held
in the Holy See of Echmiadzin; afterwards, the solemn Christmas mass
was served.
According to the Press Service of St. Echmiadzin, on January 6, on
the birth date of Jesus Christ in accordance with Gregorian calendar,
a mess will be served at 10:30, during which the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II will address the Armenians with his blessing.
Then, the ceremony of water consecration will be held in the memory
of consecration of Christ. On the day of commemoration of the
deceased, January 7, liturgy will be served. L.V.-0–

*********************************************************************

CONCEPT OF SCIENCE-EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ON INTRODUCTION OF
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRARIAN SECTOR APPROVED IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, January 5. /ARKA/. The RA Government approved the concept of
science-educational and consult6ing system development on
introduction of advanced technologies in agrarian sector for
2005-2010. According to the Public Relations and Press Department of
RA Government, this concept is based on the strategy of stable
agricultural development in Armenia, proves the necessity for reforms
in this area and screens the steps for their implementation.
L.V.–0–

*********************************************************************

GAS CONSUMPTION CONTROL FUNCTIONS IN ARMENIA TEMPORARILY ENTRUSTED
WITH STATE FIRE-CONTROL SERVICE

YEREVAN, January 5. /ARKA/. The RA Government has temporarily
entrusted the state fire-control service of RA Department of
Emergency Situations under RA Government with control functions for
ensuring the safety of operation and restoration of gas supply system
sections in multi-apartment and private houses. According to the
Public Relations and Press Department of RA Government, the
authorities are of temporary nature until the functions are specified
and the final plenipotentiary body is appointed.
Note, the RA President Robert Kocharian instructed the corresponding
Ministries, Governors, the Police and the fire-control service of RA
Department of Emergency Situations to join their efforts in
preventing cases of illegal gas consumption at the December 23, 2004
session. He demanded strengthening the control over safety
regulations of gas consumption and operation of the gas equipment.
To mention, since 1997, according to ArmRosgasprom information, 34 of
37 cases of gas leak have been the result of apparent violation of
primitive safety regulations by the subscribers of gas system.
L.V.–0–

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 6 2005

NGOs to evaluate PACE rapporteur’s report on Upper Garabagh

The National NGO Forum in its meeting on January 13 will discuss a
report prepared by British MP David Atkinson, the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur on Upper Garabagh
conflict.
The report is due to be discussed at the winter session of PACE in
Strasbourg on January 25.
President of the Forum Azay Guliyev said Atkinson’s report contains
some provisions unacceptable for Azerbaijan, as they do not reflect
the interests of the country’s public.
Atkinson’s report was approved with several changes and supplements
compliant with Azerbaijan’s position in a meeting of the PACE
Political Committee held in Paris on November 17, 2004 and put on the
agenda of the Assembly’s winter session.*

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
January 5, 2005

THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE FEAST OF
THE HOLY NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, January 6, 2005

“And you will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.”
(John 8:32)

Dearly beloved faithful,

With the tidings of the Holy Nativity, from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin, we greet you in Armenia and in the Dispersion, and glorifying
together the name of our Lord the Savior, before the Holy Altar of Descent,
we proclaim the Dominical message, “And you will know the truth, and the
truth will make you free.”

To know the truth. Man has strived to find it for so long – from the time
of the old world until the present, expressing his search in philosophical
thoughts, through the embodiment of art and literature, through programs for
rearrangements and reformations of society. The best thoughts, kind
aspirations and efforts of humanity have been directed to the quest of ‘what
is the truth?’ Man has searched and is searching for the truth within his
own world, but the truth has been revealed to mankind from the heavenly
heights, through the starlight of Bethlehem, leading to the Savior Child
born in the manger. The Incarnate Son of God is the Truth, who testified to
the boundless love of God for us, His creation. Man, alienated from God,
had no hope to see or know the truth, but through Jesus, the Truth Himself
is within us, uniting the divine to our human life. Through His Revelation,
Jesus expanded the boundaries of truth beyond the limitations of human
experiences and mortal standards, and extended them towards the eternal: “I
am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Today the prophets who became the messengers of God’s promise of salvation,
and who expected and hoped for the Savior, are speaking. Today, the wise
men who saw the shining bright star in the sky and proceeded towards the
salvation of the world, are offering their gifts to the Infant Savior.
Today, before the open gates of heaven’s mercy, the shepherds who sang
together with the angels, are praising the Savior Child resting in the
manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. They recognized the Grace of God Who
had entered into the world, Who frees men from sins caused by evil, Who
keeps us from going astray and Who protects us from destructive paths.
Nothing – no human creation or plan – is capable of renewing and
transfiguring the soul of man, other than the faith of God’s presence in the
life of mankind, through which the spiritual rebirth and moral progress of
humanity are accomplished.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free”, has
resonated for 2,000 years, so that the gaze of man is directed upwards to
see the light of salvation and to believe that he is free through Christ,
and to believe that through Christ the path towards a world of truth,
justice and love is open. Faith has no yearning for proof, but the proof of
faith is the renewing spirit – the soul free through truth which seeks to
transform the world, leading it to goodness and leading it to truth.

Anxieties prevail in various places throughout the world; mankind is faced
with issues of relations between states and peoples; demands for revisions
in societal life; natural disasters and calamities born from the actions of
men; social, moral and many other problems, all of these are in need of
solutions, for which men are seeking to find the right answers and the
correct paths. Every decision of man, every activity, is dependent on the
presence of God which is measured in its value: Is it good or evil? It is
acceptable or unacceptable? Is it temporary and fleeting or everlasting and
timeless, leading life to prosperity and happiness. It is with the Savior
that we are truly free and through our decisions and the steps that we take,
we can establish justice in the world in spite of inequity, love in spite of
hate and enmity, and peace in spite of violence and war.

Dearly beloved,

The liberating and saving Truth revealed to mankind through Christ has
illuminated the historic course of our people and will enlighten our present
and our future. We came to know the Truth, which formed the creative and
ingenious spirit of our culture and infused the spirit of renaissance which
directs our history. We created with the love of life, with the conviction
to live; we lived and were martyred with the aspiration of being the free
people and nation of Christ. Tempest-torn, regardless of where we were
scattered, the lantern of the Illuminator, kindled by the starlight of
Bethlehem, shone high and inextinguishable in the skies of our spiritual
life. The lantern kept us united and whole with its undimmed light, guarded
the hopes of our people for a peaceful and reconciled world, and for our
unified life and bright future.

Our miraculous alphabet of Mashtots was born through the graces of a Divine
and free spirit, whose 1,600th anniversary we celebrate this year, invoking
the sacred memories of the Armenian translation of the Holy Bible, and the
era of Sahak-Mesropian education and enlightenment. We will also solemnly
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reconfirming our
fidelity to the faith of our innumerable martyrs and to their vision of a
new life for the Armenians. By invoking the memories of our innocent
victims we will once again extend the invitation for the recognition of the
Genocide, for the sake of a world that is just and free of violence. Glory
to the Lord, because the independence of Armenia and the liberation of
Artsakh have opened doors of hope for the victory of justice; and for the
secure life and actions of our people in the homeland, which shall serve to
be the new testimonies of our faith in Christ. In Armenia, in Artsakh and
in all corners of the world, our people today are manifesting their
centuries-old dreams of a creative life with an awakening faith, and will
continue to bring their benefit to peace-loving efforts of states and
peoples.

Dearly beloved Armenians, today the star of Bethlehem is guiding us to the
Savior’s manger, where the eternal was born, the infinite was confined, and
that which cannot be comprehended was recognized as liberator. Let us not
hesitate to know the Truth, to do the good, to serve one another and to
serve Christ. Let us put aside all which will disrupt us from following
His luminous and liberating path. Freedom is the greatest grace in which
our hopes and aspirations will bear fruit, to construct a peaceful and
prosperous life and a free society. We will not only defend the freedom of
our Homeland, but also make it become freedom for each one of us. Freedom
is our choice of the good, which in itself is also a struggle against evil.
Poverty and the evil of lawlessness will be erased from our soil with our
Christ-loving and truth-loving endeavors; indifference and intolerance will
be forced out of our society and the benefits of true philanthropy will be
established. It is through our brotherhood, in our justice and in our love
that our plans and labors will succeed; aimed at the building and
strengthening of our Homeland, in the transformation of our society, in the
preservation and renaissance of national life in the Diaspora, in the
education of our children, in the development of our culture, and in the
realization of all objectives of our people.

The blessing of the Savior descends upon the earth. From God-built Holy
Etchmiadzin, from the Altar of the Descent of our Savior and our Lord, we
extend glad tidings of the Holy Nativity and our Pontifical love and
blessings to all our faithful people dispersed throughout the world. We
send our greetings to the incumbents of the hierarchal sees of our Apostolic
Holy Church: His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia;
His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem;
His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Moutafian, Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople; and to the entire oath-abiding dedicated ranks of clergy of
the Armenian Church.

Offering songs of praise for the Revelation, with love in Christ, we greet
the heads of our sister Churches and their pious flock.

With Pontifical blessings we convey our best wishes of the Holy Nativity to
the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Robert Kocharian; to the
President of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh, Mr. Arkady Ghukasian; to all
state officials of the Armenians; to the leaders of the diplomatic missions
registered in Armenia; and to all representatives of international
organizations.

Let us kneel down beside the cradle of the Infant Jesus and ask that through
the presence of God, the renewing spirit be ours as well, and the life being
led towards goodness and truth be our life as well, in our Homeland and in
the Diaspora. Let us all pray in unison that our compassionate Lord,
through the consolation of the Holy Spirit, grant comfort to the hearts of
thousands affected by the recent natural disaster in the countries of the
Far East, and with His unending mercy, grant rest to the souls of the
victims. May the peace sent from heaven be established throughout the
world, and especially today for all peoples living in the dangers of war,
and may divine paths lead the course of mankind towards the shores of
reconciliation, justice and brotherhood; towards an improving prosperous,
progressive and happy life; and towards salvation and eternity.

“Christ is Born and Revealed!
Great Tidings to You and to Us.” Amen.

With Blessings,

KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

================================================
Wednesday 5 January 2005
COMMENTARY: AZERBAIJAN’S DEMOCRACY “IS BEING SOLD FOR OIL”

In this personal commentary for Forum 18 News Service
, an Azerbaijani Protestant, anonymous to avoid
state persecution, pleads for the international community to promote
religious freedom for all, as “it seems to us that our democracy is
being sold for oil. Foreigners are afraid to call things by their real
name. They are afraid to tell our government bluntly that human rights
violations must end.” He argues that “religious freedom cannot
exist without other freedoms, such as freedom of expression and
association, as well as press and literature freedom. Because of this,
religious freedom is a litmus test for freedom and democracy in any
society, including Azerbaijan.” He concludes by proposing practical
steps for effective dialogue with Azerbaijan’s leaders, leading to real
religious freedom, and how religious minorities can be involved in this
process.

COMMENTARY: AZERBAIJAN’S DEMOCRACY “IS BEING SOLD FOR OIL”

By an Azerbaijani Protestant

In the nearly fifteen years since my country, Azerbaijan, regained its
independence, we Christians have faced all kinds of obstacles and problems
functioning freely. Although Azerbaijan gained a new constitution that
unambiguously recognises the independence of religious communities from the
state, freedom of conscience for all and the equality of citizens
regardless of their religious adherence, gender or political views, in
practice the opposite is the case.

While religious communities in Azerbaijan theoretically largely have the
right to function freely (with some exceptions), in practice they do not
have freedom. Restrictions and obstacles abound.

When churches and other minority religious communities try to register with
the government and gain legal status it can be very difficult – at
times even impossible. Obstruction comes from the State Committee for Work
with Religious Organisations – the government agency with the duty of
registering religious communities that wish to do so. But not just from the
Committee. Local administration officials up and down the country –
who also have to approve registration applications – often
deliberately and arbitrarily obstruct them.

In principle a community collects the required documents and sends them in,
but what happens if the state notary refuses to certify the signatures? The
application stalls – and there is little redress. Communities can
wait for years as applications languish on this or that official’s desk
– and believers do not know what they can do to gain the registration
they are entitled to.

The same difficulty faces Christian parents if they want to give their
children Christian names. That’s no problem in most countries of the world,
but in some parts of Azerbaijan officials often refuse to register the
birth of a child with a Christian name – the child then cannot go to
kindergarten or school, get treatment in a hospital or travel to other
countries. (See eg. F18News 1 December 2004
)

And when religious communities seek to meet for worship – with or
without registration, as is their right under the constitution and in
international law – the police or secret police can raid them. Those
without registration are told (wrongly) that registration is compulsory
before a community can meet for worship.

Worse still, believers are at times detained, intimidated and fined, simply
for practising their faith in the way they see fit. Religious literature
remains censored, a Soviet-era practice long overdue for abolition.

Even defending religious freedom for all is obstructed. Two years ago local
believers of a variety of faiths founded a local affiliate of the
International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA). Officials from the
United States, Russian and Turkish embassies were present at the official
launch at Baku’s Irshad Hotel, along with parliamentarians from Kyrgyzstan
and other international representatives, among them Denton Lotz, general
secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. Local officials were led by Rafik
Aliev, head of the State Committee.

Yet two years on, the IRLA affiliate still cannot register. So many of us
are asking this simple question: why not?

Many representatives from international bodies – such as the Council
of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
and the United Nations (UN) – come to examine the human rights
situation here. So too do officials of foreign governments and parliaments,
as well as human rights organisations. But we see no practical changes.

Speaking frankly, it seems to us that our democracy is being sold for oil.
Foreigners are afraid to call things by their real name. They are afraid to
tell our government bluntly that human rights violations must end.

For its part our government is carefully playing a game to pretend that
religious freedom and respect for minority faiths exist. Each time a
religious delegation goes abroad or when foreigners interested in religion
wish to meet local believers the government brings together a
representative of the state-sanctioned Caucasian Muslim Board, the Russian
Orthodox Church and the community of Mountain Jews. Doesn’t anyone ask
where are the Protestant Christians? We are now a sizable community and
have been here for more than a century. And what about independent Muslims
or representatives of other faiths?

It is right and proper for us Protestants to be included, but no-one hears
our voice. Of all the Christians, visitors hear only the voice of the
Orthodox. Independent Muslims are not heard – only Sheikh-ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazade, the head of the Muslim Board, is presented to
foreign visitors. The state deceives its visitors – who themselves
should also know better. This is a return to the Soviet system. The state
wants to control everything.

Instead of just meeting those the government wants them to meet, visitors
themselves should seek out and meet Protestants, independent Muslims and
others and hear their views. They should then pass on these views back to
our government. Given that the government in some way acknowledges that
foreigners have a role to play, they could be a bridge between us and the
state. We have tried to build this bridge ourselves, but we do not have the
power to do so: the state sends the police and secret police against us.

It would be good if visitors ask our country’s leaders why religious
communities cannot freely register, meet for worship, publish or import
religious literature. They should ask why we cannot print or import as many
Bibles as we want – the Bible is not banned literature. How much
pornography is allowed here, yet we are not allowed to provide Christian
literature.

Our previous president, Heidar Aliev, was educated by the KGB secret police
and was a KGB man through and through, but since 2003 we have a new
president, Ilham Aliev (Heidar’s son). He has been educated properly, not
by the KGB. He is young, knows several foreign languages, including
English, and looks to the future.

Azerbaijan is considered an Eastern country. In the Eastern mentality it is
the president who decides everything. Politicians, business leaders and
other visitors from the West could tell our president – whether in
public or in private – what needs to be changed and improved in the
area of religious freedom. Such visitors could also invite representatives
of all faiths to such discussions, including Protestants.

Sad though it is to say, I believe the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the
US and other Western governments are not telling our leaders the truth. If
they spoke about the violations of religious freedom in Azerbaijan to our
president in private over a cup of tea, such problems could be resolved.

Western claims of “quiet diplomacy” with unjust regimes can be a
cloak for inaction – a useful excuse for the West to avoid telling
the truth. But the diplomats usually know what they are doing. Our
obligation as members of Azerbaijan’s religious minorities is to explain
our point of view clearly and allow the diplomats to do their job
effectively to make such diplomacy work. At the same time, we need to be
wise to make sure we are not being used in any “cup of tea”
diplomacy that is not effective.

If independent representatives of all faiths, including Protestants, were
ever invited to genuine discussions with visitors and the president, we
would say that we want our constitution to be obeyed. We are not calling
for laws to be changed but for our rights to be defended. The State
Committee for Work with Religious Organisations gets funds from our taxes
to be the liaison between the state and religious communities, but instead
is using taxpayers’ money to obstruct religious communities’ work. This
needs to change. Indeed, the State Committee should be abolished – we
do not need such a body.

We Protestants are Azerbaijani citizens, but no-one listens to us. An
unwritten law says that as Muslims represent 95 per cent of the population
all other faiths, including Protestants, should be ignored. The media, the
police and the secret police regard Christianity as an enemy of the people,
working for Russia, Armenia or some other “enemy”. Fear abounds.
Although we are trying to fight for our rights, we cannot do so alone. We
need the West. Normally citizens of a country should resolve their problems
themselves, but we cannot. Let the state give us the rights we have in the
constitution. The constitution is good, but the practice is bad.

Why is the West not doing anything? We do not understand what they are
waiting for. We think oil and gas are closing their eyes to democracy
here.

Each year Western governments give several million dollars to promote
democracy, but where is this democracy? Are these funds being used to
promote democracy or the opposite? No-one asks why there is a need for so
many police and secret police. Why are there so many? What do we need them
for? How are they fed?

Religious freedom is an inseparable part of the other human rights which
need to be observed here – and these other rights must also be
raised. Freedom of conscience cannot exist without other freedoms, such as
freedom of expression and association, as well as press and literature
freedom. Because of this, religious freedom is a litmus test for freedom
and democracy in any society, including Azerbaijan. Democracy is power. If
people have no power, the regime presides over nothing other than a police
state.

One problem is that officials here are given no training on what democracy
means. The constitution is only a formal document. We find it difficult to
explain to officials our constitutional rights – they do not
understand them. Officials at the State Committee for Work with Religious
Organisations may be a little bit smarter. They know the rights that
believers should have but carry out different instructions – those
come from the KGB secret police.

It is also crucial that international pressure is exerted on the government
to stop regarding religious activity as criminal activity. In contrast to
the government’s current attitude, criminal activity as understood by
international organisations is just that – not religious activity. Criminal
activity is just criminal activity – the religious faith of the
criminal does not matter.

Some media here are very quick to react to any religious events, working
hand in glove with the State Committee and the KGB in fulfilling their
commands. Pro-government television companies like Azerbaijan News Service
ANS, Space and Lider often work with officials to slander believers –
they are a weapon in the authorities’ hands (eg. See F18News 22 November
2004 ). These media
outlets violate the rights of religious believers, manipulating interviews
and cutting segments together to make the believers look bad. They make
believers out to be enemies of the people. As a result, ordinary people are
afraid to visit places of worship.

We hear many promises from the international community, but these promises
are not followed through. If I send my son out with money to buy bread and
he does not get it, I no longer give him money. Western donors should
follow this principle. As Azerbaijan has signed international agreements
guaranteeing rights to religious freedom, such donors must demand that it
fulfils these agreements. Otherwise they should tell our government to stop
its violations and if it continues its abuses they should go further,
isolating the country’s leaders. Officials and pro-government media workers
responsible for violating believers’ rights should be blacklisted for entry
to Western democracies. This should include the police and secret police
leadership, as well as the top five or six leaders of the State Committee
for Work with Religious Organisations, an agency that depends on the
president.

International bodies of which Azerbaijan is a member must be tougher. The
Council of Europe and the OSCE should issue warnings over violations of
believers’ rights then, if the situation does not improve, suspend
Azerbaijan’s membership. This would give a positive signal for change.
Knowing our mentality, it is better for these organisations to start off
exerting pressure in a quiet, friendly way. But the pressure must be
followed through, with a series of steps which do not exclude harsher
measures.

When representatives of such international organisations meet our president
to press these demands, it is important that the heads of the KGB secret
police, the Interior Ministry and the State Committee are present also
– so that they hear the answers our president gives. Such demands are
best made first of all in private, the second time in the open, so that
everyone can see what the West is demanding.

It would be very helpful for international organisations to be guided by
local believers, who should be involved as partners in devising suitable
approaches. It is of course difficult for religious minorities to know
whether such approaches are sincere efforts to promote religious freedom or
merely excuses for inaction. This makes it all the more important for
religious minorities to watch the process carefully to ensure that their
views are listened to – and to be prepared to keep up the pressure
until the approaches bring success.

Religious believers in Azerbaijan are hoping that it is not true that our
democracy is being sold for oil. The test of whether or not this is true is
the West’s concrete actions.

(END)

Commentaries are personal views and do not necessarily represent the views
of F18News or Forum 18.

The F18News report on Azerbaijan before this commentary was 17 December
2004 “We want freedom – freedom in society, freedom of faith and
freedom to worship”
.
For more background information see Forum 18’s Azerbaijan religious freedom
survey at ‘

A printer-friendly map of Azerbaijan is available at
;amp;Rootmap=azerba

an Azerbaijani Protestant, contributed this comment to Forum 18 News
Service. Commentaries are personal views and do not necessarily represent
the views of F18News or Forum 18.

(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved.

You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 5 2005

AZERI FOREIGN MINISTER COMPLETING HIS VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA

BAKU, January 5 (RIA Novosti’s Gerai Dadashev) – Azerbaijan’s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamedyarov and Foreign Minister Said Al-Feisal of
Saudi Arabia discussed the development of bilateral political,
economic, culture and humanitarian ties, as well as prospects for
bilateral cooperation within the framework of different international
organizations and anti-terrorist operations.

The sides also exchanged opinions on the Mideastern peace process and
the Iraqi situation, a document that was circulated by the Azeri
Foreign Ministry’s press center reads in part.

Mamedyarov informed his Saudi Arabian counterpart about the process
of settling the Azeri-Armenian conflict around Nagorny Karabakh.

Mamedyarov also met King Fahd Ben Abdulaziz As-Saudiya in Riyadh.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia are now developing,
Mamedyarov noted during the conversation.

I am looking forward to a visit by President Ilkham Aliyev of
Azerbaijan, the Saudi Arabian head of state noted.

The Azeri Foreign Minister is to complete his three-day official
visit to Saudi Arabia January 5.

IranMania, Iran
Jan 5 2005

Khatami lauds progress in electricity industry

LONDON, Jan 5 (IranMania) – President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday
that it is imponderable to think of of life in today`s world without
electricity.

Speaking in ceremonies commemorating he 100th years of electricity
industry in Iran, he added that an important barometer of country`s
economic development is its production and consumption of electricity
as the most important category of energy.

The electricity production and consumption has grown by five and
eight-folds after victory of Islamic revolution which is a token of
far-reaching development.

He acknowledged that despite the rise in level of electricity
consumption as indicative of progress in industrial production and
availability, throughout the society its unfettered consumption has
to be reined in.

He also referred the a qualitative progress in the sector saying that
although 75 percent self-sufficiency in electricity is
impressive, “but, we are still need to take more technical progress.”

He further thanked the Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf and other
officials in the sector on the sector`s performance as a source of
government`s pride.

Khatami handed out prizes and plaques of appreciations to 15 pioneers
in the domestic electricity industry.

Electricity production of the country is expected to increase by
3,000 megawatts in 1384 (starting March 21, 2005), the deputy
minister for electricity said in November.

Talking to IRNA, Mohammad Ahmadian, who is also managing director of
the national power generation and distribution company TAVANIR, added
that implementation of new projects will raise the country`s
electricity capacity.

Ahmadian predicted that electrical consumption will also increase in
the next Iranian year.

He said that electrical consumption reached a peak of 29,000
megawatts in the past summer (June 21-September 22).

He said that there would be no problem in meeting the electricity
demands of the country if the fuel needed by power plants were
readily available.

Alluding to the electricity swaps with Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Turkmenistan, Ahmadian said that Iran imports more energy from these
countries that what it exports.

Iran exports 950 mln kw/h electricity to Armenia and Azerbaijan
annually, he added.

He said it imports 1.5 bln kw/h electricity annually from other
sources.

Los Angeles Daily News
Jan 5 2005

Holiday tradition is kept alive

By Alex Dobuzinskis
Staff Writer

GLENDALE — In preserving the celebration of Armenian Christmas in
January, more than 60 youngsters visited the Armenian Relief
Society’s western headquarters in Glendale on Thursday to pick up a
bag of donated presents.
For many youngsters this was the second round of gift-opening this
holiday season. Ararak Apian, 12, said he finds it impossible to wait
until Jan. 6 — the day the Armenian church celebrates the birth of
Christ.

“I couldn’t wait to open them, so I just open them on (Dec.) 25th,”
said Ararak, who lives in Burbank.

Organizers hope the show of generosity will encourage
Armenian-American children to keep alive their cultural tradition.

“We remind them and we tell them that we have American Christmas, but
(they should) never forget that Armenian Christmas is Jan. 6,” said
Sona Zinzalian, director of social services for the Armenian Relief
Society.

Children sang the Armenian version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
as the red-clad gift-giver entered the room to distribute bags
containing dolls, toy cars, stuffed animals and musical instruments.

Christmas celebrations are spread over nearly three weeks for many
Armenian-American families, with a Christmas Eve dinner Dec. 24 and
another one Jan. 5. Vehans Mardian, 13, said he opens his gifts as
soon as he gets them, but that it is good to wait until Jan. 6.

“People should do that; it’s showing respect,” he said.

Other orthodox churches also celebrate the birth of Christ on Jan. 6,
said the Very Reverend Father Asbed Balian of the Armenian Church of
North America Western Diocese. A Christmas reception will be held at
the Burbank headquarters of the diocese Thursday.

Although Dec. 25 might not be celebrated in Armenia, Balian said it
is good that Armenian-Americans celebrate it.

“Nothing wrong in that. That’s what life is. It’s … to fit in, you
keep your identity but also you merge in with given local traditions
as well,” he said.

Armen Carapetian, 33, of Glendale came to the United States more than
20 years ago. In keeping with the tradition of other Armenians from
Iran, Carapetian and his family would exchange gifts Jan. 1 for the
first few years they were in America.

But now he opens presents Dec. 25, along with most of his friends.

“What happens I think over time is once you have kids and their
friends, typically non-Armenian friends, are getting gifts on the
25th, it’s hard to deny a child their right to a gift,” he said.

Glendale resident Ida Arutyunyan, however, said her family often
exchanges gifts Jan. 6. Arutyunyan, 20, said fish, a symbol of the
Christian faith, rice with raisins and a wrapped meat dish are
staples of the holiday meals at her home, along with rounds of
toasts.

Her family got more traditional over the years, especially after her
grandparents moved here a few years ago.

“Keeping it more traditional for the parents is getting important,
too, because they see how some kids are getting away from tradition,”
Arutyunyan said.

“As long as we have grandparents we’re traditionalists,” she added.

Burbank Leader , CA
LATimes.com
Jan 5 2005

Kids assume giving role

By Rosette Gonzales, The Leader

Cancer patients at City of Hope will celebrate Armenian Christmas in
a matter of speaking this Thursday thanks to the domestic talents of
members of St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Ministries Center.

Congregation members knitted, sewed and crocheted more than 30
blankets to give to cancer patients as a gesture of love, said Father
Vazken Movsesian of St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Ministries
Center.

The blanket project is part of the church’s youth ministry, “In His
Shoes,” and is unique to the parish because the congregation is
extending holiday charity beyond the Armenian community, Movsesian
said.

“God asks us to give to others,” Movsesian said. “That’s why we at
St. Peter’s have decided to make this Christmas a little different to
really reach out to the local community”

Although the new year means the end of the holidays for many,
Christmas is still a day away for most Armenians.

The Armenian Christmas, as it is conventionally referred, is observed
Jan. 6.

But before Constantine moved the date to Dec. 25 in the 4th century,
all Christians commemorated the birth of Christ, the visit of the
Magi and Christ’s baptism at the River Jordan on Jan. 6, Movsesian
said. Local Armenian churches will have services starting today.

St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church will have mass at 4 p.m. today
and at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Thursday, led by Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western United States.

The Primate’s Annual Christmas Reception will take place from 4 to 8
p.m. at the Armenian Church of the Western Diocese in Burbank.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, will lead the year’s 90th anniversary commemoration
of the Armenian Genocide.