ACYO GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTES TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN ENGLAND, AND CONDEMN GENOCIDE
IN SUDAN

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, December 1 (Noyan Tapan). The 56th annual General
Assembly of the Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO) held on
Thanksgiving weekend was a smashing success, the Press Office of the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America
reported. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Western Diocese, presided over the gathering of more than 90 delegates
from parishes throughout California and Arizona.

The ACYO Central Council lead the General Assembly through topics
ranging from reports of last year’s activities to the formation of the
first ACYO chapter in Europe and the current Genocide being committed
in the Darfur Region of the Sudan. Uniquely inspiring was the
unanimous vote to accept a resolution condemning the aforementioned
Genocide and calling on the nations of the world to do the same.

His Eminence made time to meet individually with each delegation of
the 20 chapters, to give them the opportunity to discuss their
feelings regarding the Church.

“The presence of the youth in the life of the church reflects the
continuity and the stronger presence of Christ’s Church. I was
overjoyed to see the youth engaged and committed to the mission of the
Church. Their fervor during the 56th General Assembly was inspiring,
and a true expression of the power our youth can have when they are
united in Christ’s name”, exclaimed Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Saturday was the election of a new Central council. This council
pledged to continue the previous Council’s initiatives, which include
the strengthening the existing ACYO chapters, establishing new
chapters in the growing Mission parishes throughout the Western
Diocese, and working to make the ACYO a relevant and effective
organization in the life of Armenian Youth. In addition, they will
continue to promote the missions of the ACYO: the Christian Youth
Mission to Armenia, the Brighter Future for Armenia scholarship
program, and the Armenian Alliance for Aid.

A festive banquet took place Saturday night with the attendance of
over 300 youth.

HRANT MARGARIAN PRESENTS NEW COLLECTION IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, December 1 (Noyan Tapan). The presentation of the new
collection of American-Armenian playwright and poet Hrant Margarian
was recently held at the hall of the Armenian Center in New York. It
was held upon the initiative of Hamazgayin.

According to the “Marmara” daily newspaper of Istanbul, Arevik
Gabrielian, Haroutiun Msyrlian, specialist in literature Vehanush
Tekian and employee of “Marmara” Zarmine Poghosian spoke about the
book during the presentation.

Hrant Margarian writes both in Armenian and English.

CHAIRMAN OF TURKEY’S PARLIAMENT REGRETS FOR “TRAGEDY OF THE BEGINNING
OF THE CENTURY” BUT CONSIDERS INADMISSIBLE ITS “SPECULATION”

YEREVAN, December 1 (Noyan Tapan). The members of RA NA delegation who
participated in the 24th plenary session of Parliamentary Assembly of
Black Sea Economic Cooperation held on November 23-25 in Antalia had a
meeting with journalists on December 1. 2 of 4 members of Armenian
delegation hadn’t left for Antalia for valid reasons.

Mekhak Mkhitarian (Orinats Yerkir) and Vladimir Badalian (National
Deputy MP group) who participated in the session told the journalists
that about 20 issues were included into the agenda. In particular,
issues regarding simplification of border admission of people and
goods, economic results and perspectives, preservation of regional
stability and security, role of the parliament in struggle against
corruption, preservation of cultural heritage were discussed. The
2005 budget of the organization was also approved. The number of 11
member-states of the organizations increased by 1, Serbia also became
a member of the organization. The Ukraine assumed the chairmanship of
PA for the next 6 months. The next plenary session will be held in
July 2005 in Kiev.

It was also mentioned that Vladimir Badalian was elected Deputy
Chairman of one of 3 standing commissions of PA, commission on
cultural and social issues. The MP drew special attention to the sad
condition of 916 Armenian historic-cultural monuments in Turkey’s
territory, especially to the sad condition of Ani and proposed that
they should be restored jointly with Armenia. But, according to him,
the proposal was ignored.

The Parliamentary Assembly discussed and declined Georgia’s proposal
“to stop cooperation with the countries with separatist regimes”. The
proposal received 3 for and 3 against votes, 4 MPs abstained from
voting. Besides Armenia, RF and Turkey were also against the proposal.

The Armenian MPs were especially impressed by the meeting with Bulent
Arnj, Chairman of Turkey’s Parliament, and the “warm atmosphere.” The
perspectives of Armenian-Turkish relations, Turkey’s possible
membership in EU, issues of Nagorno Karabakh settlement were discussed
during the meeting lasting half an hour. In particular, the Turkish
high-ranking official called in question the efficiency of activity of
OSCE Minsk Group and expressed bewilderment in connection with the
fact that Armenia declined Turkey’s readiness of mediation in Karabakh
issue. He mentioned that the steps aimed at recognition of Armenian
Genocide and especially the activity of Turkish Armenians in this
issue hamper establishment of friendly relations between Armenia and
Turkey. Not using the “genocide” word Arnj said in private
conversation that he regrets for the tragedy of the beginning of the
century but considers inadmissible the speculation of the issue. The
Armenian MPs didn’t agree to Arnj’s viewpoint and, in particular,
expressed an opinion that Turkey should display equal approaches both
to the other countries of the region and to Armenia.

BAGRAT YESAYAN PRESENTS ACTIONS OF ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES DIRECTED AT
STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION TO ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF WESTERN NEW
YORK

November 30 (Noyan Tapan). On November 12-21, Adviser to RA President
Bagrat Yesayan visited the eastern states of the US at the invitation
of the Central Committee of Dashnaktsutyun of the US eastern region.
The purpose of the visit was to acquaint the Armenian communities of
the United States with the actions and measures undertaken by the
Armenian authorities for struggle against corruption, as well as the
tasks of the Diaspora in this context.

Bagrat Yesayan mentioned that Armenia has passed the certain way in
the formation of the legislative field. And all the prerequisites of
the free market for investments have already been established, and
even according to international organization, Armenia is considered as
a country with liberal economy. Bagrat Yesayan considers the step of
Armenia’s joining a number of international structures, such as GRECO,
as important.

In connection with the role of the Diaspora B. Yesayan mentioned that
living in the countries with the full-fledged democratic and civil
society, the compatriots in the Diaspora may greatly contribute to the
matter of the formation of the healthy public thought due to their
experience and personal example.

Taking occasion Bagrat Yesayan visited the Armenian Office in the UN,
where he spoke with Ambassador Armen Martirosian about the internal
problems of Armenia, as well as issues regarding Armenia within the
framework of the UN.

According to “Hayrenik” (“Motherland”) newspaper, the solemn
arrangement dedicated to the 114th anniversary of ARF was organized by
the Chicago Committee “Christopher” on November 20. And here Bagrat
Yesayan touched upon the issues regarding struggle against corruption
and answered the questions of participants of the arrangement.

ARAM I: “SYRIA AND LEBANON SHOULD JOINTLY PREVENT TODAY’S CHALLENGES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST”

ANTELIAS, November 30 (Noyan Tapan). Mufti of Aleppo Sheikh Hasun paid
an official visit to the Mother Church of Antelias on November 24, and
was received by Catholicos of the Great Cilician House Aram I
there. The Mufti was accompanied by his son and the main
secretary. Bishop Gegham Khacherian, the head of the Armenians of
Lebanon, Archimandrite Shahan Sargsian, the head of the Berio Diocese,
Ministers Sepuh Hovnanian and Alen Taburian, representatives of the
Central Administration and monks were present at the reception. The
head executive of the Syrian forces to Beirut was also present at the
reception.

Greeting Mufti Hasun’s visit, Supreme Patriarch Aram I said: “Your
visit is the evidence of brotherly cooperation between Syria and
Lebanon. These two independent countries, which strengthen owing to
mutual confidence, should jointly prevent today’s challenges in the
Middle East. Your presence here is also the evidence of the necessity
of the Christian-Moslem dialogue.

The Catholicos of the Great Cilician House also emphasized: “Syria
plays an important role in our people’s life. We have never forgotten
brotherly attitude that our Syrian brothers and sisters displayed
towards our people after the 1915 massacre, when Ottoman Turkey made
an attempt to annihilate the whole nation. Syria has become the second
Motherland for us and we continue contributing to its well-being and
development.”

Sheikh Hasun thanked for warm welcome, he also touched upon the
centuries-old friendship between the Armenian and Arabian people,
especially Armenia’s contribution to the well-being of Syria. The
Sheikh also stressed the necessity of the Christian-Moslem dialogue
and called for cooperating in different spheres.

Then the Catholicos of the Great Cilician House organized dinner in
honor of the guest, in which officials, members of the Central
Administration and the head executive of the Syrian forces to Beirut
were present.

Sheikh Hasun was the guest of Supreme Patriarch Aram I, he has stayed
in Lebanon for few days and also had other meetings.

INTERNATIONAL MEMORABLE TOURNAMENT OF TIGRAN PETROSIAN TO BECOME
TRADITIONAL

YEREVAN, November 30 (Noyan Tapan). The international open tournament
dedicated to the 75th anniversary of world nine-time champion Tigran
Petrosian has completed in Yerevan. 128 chess-players of eight
countries participated in the memorable tournament.

Pavel Smirnov (Russia) placed first, he earned 7.5 points in the
tournament held by the Swiss system with nine rounds, Vacily Ivanchuk
(Ukraine), one of the strongest chess-players of the world, placed
second. He earned 8 points. Ten chess-players earned 6.5 points
each. Karen Asrian (Armenia) placed third due to the highest
additional coefficients. The chess-players, who placed first-third,
received 5,000 dollars, 4,000 and 3,000 dollars, respectively. And the
prize fund made a total of 35,000 dollars, so 36 participants of the
tournament were awarded with prizes. Armenian representatives Elina
Danielian, Nelli Aghinian and Lilit Mkrtchian received all the prizes
foreseen for women. Konstantine Shanayan (Georgia), Beniamin Galstian
and Zaven Andreasian (both from Armenia) became winners among the
juniors. Andreasian was also awarded with a special prize set for the
best game (for a victory in the game with Gega Majsu radze). Three
young chess-players of Armenia Beniamin Galstian, Tigran R. Petrosian
and Vardan Hakobian carried out the norm of international master, by
the way, Galstian and Petrosian – for the third time in succession.

After the completion of the tournament participants and guests
participated in the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of
the monument to Tigran Petrosian. The monument will be erected in
Davitashen district of Yerevan in the street bearing the name of the
prominent chess-player. Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation and
RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsian, Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakarian,
as well as Boris Kutin, the Chairman of the European Chess Union,
(Slovenia) and Tigran Petrosian’s son Vardan Petrosian participated in
the arrangement.

Serge Sargsian, the Chairman of the Armenian Chess Federation, said
during the ceremony of closing of the memorable tournament that the
tournament dedicated to Tigran Petrosian will become traditional.

BoxingTalk.com
Dec 1 2004

Undefeated cruiserweight contenders battle in Prague

Press release: Two undefeated European cruiserweight contenders clash
on Friday, Dec. 3, in Prague, Czech Republik. The top ranked Pavel
Melkomian, 17-0 (7), of the Universum boxing stable defends his WBA
international 190 lb. crown against hard punching home boy Lubos
Suda, 8-0 (7).

Confusingly Lubos Suda is holding the WBA international interim title
in the same weight class and defended it twice while in the same
period Melkomian defended his full title once as well. That’s why it
was about time that those two 190 lb Euro competitors met for this
European version of a unification championship.

`Pavel is in a very good constitution. He’s fresh and relaxed’, team
member and physio therapist Mathias Böhme said. `In contrast to
previous fights he’s not that strained. We played Billard yesterday
evening in Prague and Pavel was pretty well balanced.’

`We expect strong opposition from Suda’, coach Magomed Shaburow said.
`But Pavel is more variable. He can throw punches with both hands and
is the more mobile fighter. We’re confident that we return home with
a victory.’

The fight at the Kongress Hall of Hotel Hilton in Prague will be the
second defense of the WBA int. champion from Moscow. The Hamburg
based Armenian won the intercontinental title on April 26, 2003, with
a technical decision after round 5 in a brutal battle against
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk from Poland and defended it on May 18, 2004,
with an 8th round technical knockout against Gábor Halász from
Hungary.

24-year-old Pavel Melkomian is currently ranked WBC #5, WBA #11 and
WBO #10.

The official weigh-in for this event of OK-KO Promotion will be on
Thursday, Dec. 2, 16:00 at the Hilton.

“ARMAT” WORRIES ABOUT CURRENT SITUATION IN PROCESS OF SETTLEMENT OF
KARABAKH CONFLICT

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1. ARMINFO. Center for democracy and civil society
development “Armat” is worried about the current situation in the
process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict. It should be noted
that the ideologists of the formerly ruling party of Armenia Armenian
National Movement, in particular, former speaker of armenian
parliament Babken Ararktsian, vice speaker of the parliament Ara
Sahakian and others are the founders and active participants of the
Center.

In the statement, spread by the Center, the authors said that the
process of peaceful settlement has moved to a decisive phase fraught
with irreversible consequences. As a result speculation by the problem
of settlement of incumbent authorities of Armenia from 1998 and still
the issue of self-determination of Nagorny Karabakh gradually changed
into a territorial argument between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and, as a
result of it, Nagorny Karabakh, declared as a party of conflict, lost
this status and turned from a subject into a object of the conflict,
becoming only a subject of territorial argument between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The mission of the cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group has
been lead to a deadlock. Signing the Istanbul Charter President of
Armenia Robert Kocharian admitted that the basis of the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict is keeping the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, said in the statement.

>From the leader, in the plan of establishment of democracy and
conducting democratic reforms, Armenia has turned into an obstacle on
the way of regional development and integration, as a result of which
full political isolation has added to the economic blockade. Due to
the complementary foreign political course of Armenia Azerbaijan
succeeded to present a number of initiatives in international
organizations, which met resolutions unacceptable for Armenia and
Nagorny Karabakh.

The authors of the statement mention: “as a result of inactivity of
the present administration of Armenia Azerbaijan has achieved the
attack on the Armenian diplomacy, submitting to consideration of PACE
the report concerning the Karabakh problem and including in the agenda
of the 59th session of UN General Assembly the issue “on the situation
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”. During the whole process
of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict for the first Armenia
is accused of “occupation” of the territories of Azerbaijan. It
became clear from the discussions in UN that almost two months ago the
cochairmen of the OSCE Minks Group have presented a new plan for
settlement to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Even the existence of this plan
is kept in secret from the Armenian society. It gives basis to suppose
that this plan envisions unfavorable for the Armenian side terms of
settlement, experts of the Center Armat think.

The whole Armenian state system and existence of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic is under the threat. Armenian people faced a threat of war
and unjustified losses. Only the removal of the incumbent
administration from the political arena and formation of a power,
which will enjoy the confidence of the people, may create a
possibility for way out of the situation, said in the statement of the
Center.

FRENCH GOVERNMENT PRESENTS ARMED FORCES OF ARMENIA WITH MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT WORTH A TOTAL OF $1 MLN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1. ARMINFO. The government of France has presented
the armed forces of Armenia with medical equipment worth a total of $1
mln. The transfer of the humanitarian assistance was held at the
central clinical hospital of the Ministry of Defence of Armenia.

Ambassador of France to Armenia Henry Cuny mentioned that the gesture
of the French government is of special importance. “Taking into
account the conflict of the region France has limited the cooperation
with Armenia in the sphere of defence”, the ambassador mentioned and
added that any cooperation in the defence sphere might arouse protests
of other countries of the region, and for this reason the French
government has decided to provide assistance in the sphere of army
health-care. Henry Cuny stressed that France has found time and funds
for sending humanitarian assistance to Armenia just at the moment when
France itself needs vehicles in connection the events in Cote
d’Ivoire. He also mentioned that the Armenian side has highly assessed
the assistance of the French Republic and expressed for further
bilateral cooperation.

Deputy Defence Minister of Armenia, Lieut-Gen Arthur Aghabekian, on
behalf of Defence Minister Serge Sargsian and all the servicemen of
the country, expressed gratitude to the government of France and
stressed that the humanitarian assistance will serve only peaceful
purposes. The deputy minister mentioned that the surgical instruments,
blankets and other medical accessories will be distributed to
hospitals.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CUSTOMS OFFICIALS OF AZERBAIJAN START CHECKING OF DOCUMENTATION OF
CARGO DETAINED IN THE BORDER WITH GEORGIA

TBILISI, DECEMBER 1. ARMINFO. Working group of the custom officials of
Azerbaijan which started checking of documentation of cargo detained
before in the Azerbaijani-Georgian border has arrived in Tbilisi
Tuesday, TURAN was told in the Embassy of Azerbaijan in
Georgia. According to the same source, the term of clarification and
of the stay of the working group in Georgia are not known. “Check
will last as long as it is necessary”, noted the representative of the
Embassy.

According to TURAN, customs officials of Azerbaijan will check the
documents for almost all detained cargo. If some of them are intended
for Armenia they will not be allowed. This month the Azerbaijani side
detained almost 900 cargo wagons going from central Asia to
Georgia. The reason was the information that part of cargo went from
Georgia to Armenia. Baku treats it as violation of the agreement with
Georgia and demanded explanation from the official Tbilisi. The Head
of the Georgian railway Onoprishvili admitted in fact that part of
cargo was delivered to the Armenian border.

Even in 1998 Baku prohibited transportation of cargo going to Armenia
and from Armenia via the territory of Azerbaijan. Bilateral agreement
between Baku and Tbilisi was signed last year.

The Azerbaijani press noted more than once about the facts of delivery
of cargo to Armenia via Azerbaijan. The Armenian press and officials
did not conceal that Armenia bought through some false firms the Azeri
goods, and first of all oil products. However, official Baku refuted
it.

According to informed sources, among cargo transported in transit via
Azerbaijan to Georgia and then to Armenia there were strategic goods:
oil products, food, cotton, products of machine building, various
equipment and so on.