PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected], [email protected]
Website;
October 29, 2004
* * *

THE MID-YEAR DIOCESAN CONFERENCE ENDED WITH OPTIMISM, CONFIDENCE AND
ENTHUSIASM

Representatives of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Church gathered in
Kingston, Ontario on Saturday, 23 October 2004, ended the mid year conference
filled with hope, confidence and optimism about the growth and the future of
this 20-year old Diocese.

His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Canada, opened the first session of the conference at 9:30 am with
a prayer and a reading from the Bible. The Primate then thanked the clergy of
the Diocese, the members of the Diocesan Council, chairmen of every parish and
other representatives of parishes for their diligence and said that this
conference will set an important precedence for each year both as an opportunity
to renew acquaintances of all those devoted to the service of our Church, and
as a forum to discuss concerns, projects and ideas for the progress and
prosperity of the Diocese.

Mr. Jack Stepanian, Chairman of the Diocesan Council, conducted the sessions
and summarized the developments of the past six months. Mr. Ara Boyadjian,
Treasurer of the Diocesan Council, presented a financial statement, which
indicated that despite tremendous growth and the demand for increasing financial
resources, this interim financial report was satisfactory, mainly in view of
almost up to date payments of parish dues and successful fund-raising activities,
such as in Vancouver and elsewhere. The initiative of the Primate’s Annual
Appeal launched recently has all the attributes of success, said the treasurer.

The chairman of each Parish Council submitted a brief report outlining the
accomplishments and the concerns of the parish. Rapidly growing communities of
Mississauga, Ont. and of Laval, Que. are in active pursuit of acquiring their
own church buildings, and the small community in the capital city Ottawa is in
search of ideas of having a small center to meet their religious and community
needs. Major renovations have been completed in St. Catharine’s St. Gregory
the Illuminator parish (the host of next year’s Diocesan Assembly on the
occasion of the 75th anniversary of building the first Armenian Church in Canada),
in Hamilton’s St. Mary’s parish and on- going in Montreal’s St. Gregory the
Illuminator parish. Holy Trinity of Toronto, the largest and strongest parish of
the Diocese, has just embarked upon a project of installing an elevator in the
church building. A recurrent concern from these reports was related to the
lack of space for children and youth in our church buildings.

The Primate’s report also emphasized the vital nature of allowing means and
facilities to attract children and youth of our parishioners, to encourage
attendance of the parents. The Primate’s vision was reflected in his statement,
“The main mission of our Diocese is the spiritual growth of our people”. He said
that we have 8 fully functioning parishes and 9 mission parishes. He
mentioned the necessity of at least 4 more clergy to serve the Diocese, and stressed
the importance of developing and expanding our Sunday Schools, the Bible
Studies, the newly established College Ministry, to modernize our communication
systems (the Diocese is currently e-mailing its attractive weekly bulletin to 5000
house holds), to expand our summer-camp activities, to strengthen regional
administrative structures, to care more attentively remote communities, such as
the growing Calgary community, to boost the Endowment Fund and to encourage
the new Primate’s Annual Appeal.

During the second session two representatives of the Primate’s Annual Appeal,
Ms. Sossi Boyadjian and Mrs. Ashkhen Shishmanian submitted a report on the
newly launched Primate’s Annual Appeal, an annual fund-raising drive for 6-8
weeks in the fall of each year. Committees consisting of experienced people are
formed in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The initial response has been very
encouraging, they said, and encouraged all to fully support this vital
initiative.

Serpazan Galstanian announced that Rev Fr Hayrig Apegha Hovhannisyan will be
serving as Vicar to the Golden shore area in Ontario Province St Catharines,
Hamilton, Mississauga and Rev. Fr Gomidas Mirzakhanyan will be serving as
pastor of Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval. In accordance with the last Diocesan
Annual Assembly directive and in consultation with the Diocesan Council
members the Primate, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat appointed two new members to the
Diocesan Council Mrs. Shoghik Keoshgerian and Mrs Lilian Shevadjian.

Present to the daylong meeting were Diocesan Council Members, Very Rev Fr
Ararat Kaltakjian, Rev Archpriest Fr Zareh Zargarian, Mr. Jack Stepanian, Mr. Ara
Boyajyan, Dr. Haroutioun Arzoumanian, Mr. Arto Basmadjian, Deacon Hrant
Citak. Pastors, Rev Fr Datev Melengutichian, Mary Fior (St Gregory the Illuminator
Church of St Catharines), Rev Fr Sarkis Gulian, Mr. Steve Shanlian and Mr.
Garnik Capadishli (St. Mary Armenian Church of Hamilton), Rev Fr Gomidas
Mirzakhanian, Loris Dumanian, Lilian Sevadjian, Cyril Tahtadjian, Serjik Stepanian,
Les Hamplin (St Vartan Armenian Church of Mississauga), Mr Hratch Shishmanian
(Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto), Mr. Megerduitch Kanondjian (St
Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Montreal), Mr. Jack Seraydarian, Mrs Shoghik
Keoshgerian (Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval), Mrs Sonia Balabanian and Mrs
Nina Ashekian (St. Mesrob Armenian Church of Ottawa), Mr. Shahin Soheily (St
Vartan Armenian Church of Vancouver).

The conference ended in a mood of enthusiasm, with Bishop Galstanian’s
blessings.

* * *

BISHOP GALSTANIAN VISITED ROMAN CATHOLIC CARDINALS ALOYSIUS AMBROZIC OF
TORONTO AND MARCEL GERVAIS OF OTTAWA

On Thursday, October 21, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian visited
the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto and met with the Primate, His
Eminence Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic.

The two leaders discussed the possibilities for further cooperation and
discussed the views of their respective churches on various social issues.
Archbishop Ambrozic then briefly presented his plans for the coming months. Bishop
Galstanian invited Cardinal Ambrozic to participate in an Ecumenical Pilgrimage
to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Spiritual Centre of the Armenian
Christianity. Cardinal Ambrozic expressed his joy and promised to make the
necessary arrangements to his schedule to travel to Armenia.

On Thursday, October 28, Bishop Galstanian met with the Primate of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa, His Eminence Marcel Cardinal Gervais. Bishop
Galstanian thanked Cardinal Gervais for accepting to co-host the ecumenical
service and Martyr’s prayer in Ottawa. The two religious leaders discussed the
future cooperation of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Ottawa and the
Ottawa-Armenian community. Accompanying the Primate was Deacon Hagop Arslanian,
Assistant.

Later, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian had a productive discussion with
the Armenian community in Ottawa. The community members had gathered to hear
the suggestions and plans of their Primate for the reorganizing of the
community in Ottawa, parishioners of a vibrant Church in the Capital City, St.
Mesrob Armenian Church. The church’s annual meeting will be held on November 7,
2004.

* * *

PRIMATE’S ANNUAL APPEAL EXECUTIVE HELD A RECEPTION IN TORONTO

Last Thursday on October 21, 2004 it was the first of a series cocktail
reception hosted by the Ontario Region Executive Committee of the Primate’s Annual
Appeal of the Holy Apostolic Church of Canadian Diocese.

Alongside the Primate, His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, were present Very
Rev. Fr. Hayrig Hovhannessian, Arch. Rev. Father Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of
Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Toronto, Ont., Rev. Father Gomidas Mirzakhanian,
Pastor of St. Vartan Church, Mississauga, Ont., and Deacon Vrej Berberian.

In the intimate setting of Maral Ishkhanian hall of Holy Trinity Armenian
Church special floral arrangements adorned the tables filled with various
delicacies and appetizers. In brief remarks the Primate and Miss Sosy Boyadjian,
Chairperson of the Committee, outlined the purpose of this Annual Appeal. They
thanked all the donors who contributed and presented the members of the
Committee. Miss Boyadjian announced that two donors of $10,000.00 each Mr. & Mrs.
Mardiros Svadjian and Mr. & Mrs. Berdj Sevazlian were amongst us. The crowd
received the announcement with warm applause and welcomed the donors. There were
other donations made also.

Similar gatherings will be organized at various regions of Ontario in the
future. We remind you all to contribute for the Primate’s Annual Appeal to
achieve the goals of the Primate which will benefit the Canadian Diocese Coast to
Coast.

* * *

BISHOP BAGRAT GALSTANIAN VISITS THE ARMENIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TORONTO

During his presence in Ontario, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate, visited the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Catholic church of Toronto
upon the invitation of Rev. Fr. Yeghia Kiredjian, Pastor. Accompanying His
Eminence were Rev. Fr. Hayrig Apegha Hovhannissian and Rev. Archpriest Fr. Zareh
Zargarian, pastor of Holy Trinity Church.

The following persons also from the various committees of the Armenian
Catholic Community were attending the visit of the Primate namely:

Mr. Manuel Kirijian Representing The Parish Council
Mr. Yessai Sarkissian Representing the Church Choir. Choir Conductor
Mrs. Knarig Tchitdjian Representing the Church Ladies Auxiliaries Group.
Chair Lady
Mrs. Elizabeth Der Hovagimian Representing the Saturday and Sunday School.
Principal
Mrs.Zarouhie Kirijian From Church Ladies Group
Mrs. Lousine Zoulamian From Church Ladies Group.

The Primate and his entourage after praying in the Church, they visited the
Hall, the Rectory, were escorted to The Armenian Genocide Monument located in
the centre of the Church premises, where a group photo was taken. .

Father Kiredjian informed Bishop Galstanian about the origins and the
development of the Armenian Catholic community as well as about future plans of
religious, national and cultural activities. Having had a closer acquaintance of
Toronto’s Armenian Catholic community life and of the members of different
auxiliary bodies of the church, the Primate blessed their commitments and wished
them success.

During the cordial meeting the participants discussed possibilities of
implementing joint projects and about deepening the relations between the two
churches, always guided by the spirit of love and mutual help as suggested in the
spirit of Christianity. Afterwards, Fr. Yeghia presented the Primate with a
personal gift, and asked His Grace to conclude this memorable visit with his
blessing prayer

* * *

ARARAT SUMMER CAMP REUNION: OCTOBER 22, 2004

On Friday, October 22nd a Camp Ararat fall reunion was held at the Holy
Trinity Armenian Church in Toronto. After two months, campers were happily
reunited with their friends and counselors. The camp director, Der Komitas
Mirzakhanyan, thanked the camp committee, the counselors and staff members for their
hard work in making Camp Ararat 2004 such a success. He also presented c
ounselors and staff members with gifts of appreciation.

Following these acknowledgements, the children were treated to a wonderful
slide show presentation prepared by Mari Marinosyan. The campers reacted with
‘oohs’, ‘ahhs’ and laughter as they watched the happy and often comical
photos! These slides made all those in attendance long for camp and to be there
again with their friends and counselors.

The last slide read “See you next year at Echo Lake!” Where? Echo Lake!
Echo Lake is the site of Camp Ararat 2005. Close to Kingston, Echo Lake is a
great location for our campers who come from Ontario and Quebec. Continue
logging on to the Diocesan web site for more information on Camp Ararat 2005.
Hope to see you there!

* * *

SERPAZAN GALSTANIAN CELEBRATED DIVINE LITURGY IN HAMILTON

On Sunday, October 24, on the occasion of the Feast of the Discovery of the
Holy Cross and of the 28th anniversary of Hamilton’s St. Mary’s Church, His
Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
Attending the services were the church’s visiting pastor Rev. Sarkis Archpriest
Gulian, members of the Diocesan Council Deacon Hrant Citak and Mrs. Lillian
Sevadjian, chairman of St. Mary’s Parish council Mr. Steve Shamlian, members of
Parish Councils and a large number of the faithful of Hamilton’s St. Mary’s and
Mississauga’s St. Vartan Churches. Serving the Primate on the Altar were Rev.
Fr. Hayrig Apegha Hovhannissian and Rev. Fr. Gomidas Mirzakhanian as well as
deacons of the area Armenian Apostolic churches. Choir members from Toronto’s
Holy Trinity Church had joined St. Mary’s choir.

In his sermon the Primate delivered the message of love, sacrifice and
endurance as symbolized by the Holy Cross, and congratulated the congregation on the
occasion of the church’s 28th anniversary. He praised the successful
activities of Bible studies and the Sunday school. (two sentences are cut out). The
Primate also informed the faithful about upcoming changes of the pastors. Rev.
Fr. Sarkis Gulian has applied for retirement after long years of dedicated
service to Hamilton’s St. Mary’s church. The Primate thanked Father Sarkis and
wished him well, but asked him to lend a helping hand and share his years o
experience with the new pastor. Rev. Fr. Gomidas Mirzakhanian will render his
pastoral services to the parish of Holy Cross Church in Laval, and the new
addition to the clergy of the Diocese Rev. Fr. Hayrig Hovhannissian will serve St.
Vartan’s Church in Mississauga.

Following the sermon requiem services were held for the souls of those who
had served the parish in the past years. After the Divine Liturgy, the Primate
presided over a banquet reception hosted in the church’s hall. Master of
ceremonies was Parish Council member Mrs. Lydia Alexanian. Brief words of
congratulations were presented by the attending clergy and Parish Council members.
Renowned singers from Toronto Mrs.Zarmine Yeretsian and Mrs. Anahid Goudsouzian
cheered the crowd with popular and national songs. The festivities ended by
Bishop Galstanian’s blessings.

* * *

OPENING OF A YOUTH CENTRE IN ARMAVIR, ARMENIA

A new youth centre has been officially opened in Armavir, Armenia. This
wonderful centre came into fruition, through the efforts of St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Church of St. Catharines Sunday School.

Their three year project called “Bridge of Friendship” raised money to help
the youth in Armavir enjoy Sunday School and skill development in a warm and
safe environment. This has been realized.

It was with great pride and pleasure that Mrs. Georgina Sarkisian, Director
of Christian Education for the Canadian Diocese, participated in the ribbon
cutting along with His Grace Bishop Sion Adamian in Armavir.

The students delighted the dignitaries and all those present with recitations
and song. The day was memorable for everyone.

* * *

SAINT GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR CHURCH HELD ITS ANNUAL BAZAAR

On Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, St Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral’s traditional bazaar organized by the Ladies Auxiliary Committee took place
under the auspices of the pastor, Rev. Fr Vazgen Boyajyan. The opening
ceremony took place in Marie Manougian Hall on Saturday morning at 10:00am. After
the opening prayer by the pastor, Rev. Fr. Vazgen Boyajyan, Mrs. Zevart
Takvorian, Chairperson of the organizing committee thanked the pastor of the church
for his continued interest and support throughout the period the committee
was preparing for this event.

Mrs. Meline Sirinyan, who was the guest of honor, in turn thanked the Pastor,
Rev Fr Boyajyan and wished him success in his efforts to reenergize the St
Gregory the Illuminator Church and reorganize the parish’s life.

Rev. Fr Vazgen Boyajyan was then invited to say a few words. The pastor
expressed his joy and gratitude to the Ladies Auxiliary and urged them to continue
working towards promoting further achievements for the community in the
future.

* * *

SA YEREVANN E CULTURAL EVENT HELD IN TO

On Saturday October 23, a cultural program was staged in Magaros Artinian
Hall of Toronto’s Holy Trinity Church. The program was organized by the
Ararat-Gamar Cultural Association of the Church and dedicated to the 1600th anniversary
of the discovery of the Armenian Alphabet. The event was under the auspices
of H.E. Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, and presided by Rev. Fr. Zareh
Zargarian, Pastor of the Church.

The program was coordinated and produced by Mrs. Marietta Kasparian, a well
known artist in the Toronto Armenian community. Mrs. Kasparian has always
strived to bring together Armenian youth and to present programs that reflect the
love of the Homeland and the cultural values of the Armenian people.

As in previous occasions, the auditorium was full of community members who
enjoyed two hours of recitations, music, dances and songs the theme of which was
Yerevan, Armenia’s Capital. Throughout the show, images of Yerevan and
Armenia were projected, creating a nostalgic longing for the Motherland, as famous
writers such as Yeghishe Tcharents, Parouyr Sevag and other poets of Armenia
paraded through the impersonations of the performing youth.

At the end of the presentation, the Primate blessed the participants in the
program and thanked them for bringing the spirit of Armenia to the Hall, and
suggested that the group should travel to other Canadian Armenian communities to
stage the show for them as well. Bishop Galstanian then invited Mrs. Marietta
Kasparian to come forward, and honored her with the medal of the Holy Cross,
the highest honor of the Holy Trinity Church. The evening ended with the
blessings of the Primate.

Press Office

Azerbaijan unhappy with US visitors’ Karabakh remarks

Ekho, Baku
29 Oct 04

“I do not understand why Nagornyy Karabakh does not take part in talks
(on a settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict – author),”
Regnum news agency has quoted the leader of the Project on Transitional
Democracies and director of the NATO Committee of the US Senate,
Bruce Jackson, as saying.

Earlier this week a delegation of MPs from Europe and the USA led by
Jackson held a number of meetings during a visit to Azerbaijan.

[Passage omitted: the delegation visited Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Nagornyy Karabakh; French MP admires combat readiness and cohesion
of the Karabakh army]

“We, obviously, knew nothing about this position of the members of
the delegation,” the head of the public and political department of
the Azerbaijani Presidential Executive Staff, Ali Hasanov, has told
Ekho newspaper. He said that during the delegation’s visit to Baku
the sides had discussed the development of democracy in the region and
the whole world. In addition, the meetings focused on the settlement
of conflicts in line with international legal norms.

“But, regrettably, we have to say that these people changed their
position to a certain extent following their visits to Yerevan and
Nagornyy Karabakh,” Ali Hasanov said and added that Azerbaijan had
its own arguments with regard to “Karabakh’s non-involvement in the
settlement”. He added that Karabakh was not a party [to the conflict],
but Armenia was.

In addition, Armenia does not deny the fact of its involvement in
the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories. “The Baku-Xankandi
[Stepanakert] talks will only be possible if Armenia steps aside in
favour of Nagornyy Karabakh and recognizes that the conflict is an
internal affair between the latter and the Azerbaijani Republic and it
is up to them [to solve it], as well as withdraws its occupying troops,
stops backing the separatists on the international arena and repeals
a decision of the Armenian parliament on Karabakh’s annexation,”
Ali Hasanov said.

“Only then can we start the talks with our citizens in Nagornyy
Karabakh. But, regrettably, Azerbaijan is currently in conflict with
Armenia, but not Nagornyy Karabakh. That is why, Nagornyy Karabakh’s
involvement in the talks is inadmissible.”

At the same time, the Azerbaijani side is always ready to consider
every possible aspect which can help settle the conflict, Ali Hasanov
pointed out.

[Passage omitted: Azerbaijan may re-consider its attitude to members
of the delegation, if Jackson’s statement is not Armenians’ hoax]

British MPs’ visit to Upper Garabagh sparks protest action

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
28 Oct. 2004

A delegation of members of the British House of Lords comprising
Vice Speaker, Baroness Caroline Cox and four members of the House
visited Upper Garabagh through Yerevan without prior permission from
the Azeri government last week.

Shortly before the visit, several representatives of the Garabagh
Liberation Organization (GLO) put a black wreath in front of the
British embassy in Baku in protest.

GLO chairman Akif Naghi and his deputy, Garabagh war veteran Firuddin
Mammadov entered the embassy to meet with British Ambassador Laurie
Bristow. They forwarded the organization’s appeal to the embassy’s
spokesman for administrative issues instead, as Ambassador Bristow
was out for dinner.

In the document, the GLO representatives requested the ambassador to
raise the issue related to the illegal visit by British parliament
members to Upper Garabagh with the UK government.

“This hurts the self-esteem of the Azerbaijani people. The British
government must respect Azerbaijan’s national interests and sovereign
rights. Otherwise, there will be no need for the British embassy
in Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan-UK cooperation in general,” the
appeal says.

On Wednesday, unidentified individuals wrote “Baroness Cox” in black
letters on the memorial to the British military men in Baku.

Commenting on the matter, Foreign Ministry spokesman Matin Mirza said
that the Azeri Embassy in Great Britain, on an instruction of the
Ministry, has appealed to the British Foreign Office and parliament
for an explanation. The British side said in reply that the visit took
place on the personal initiative of Baroness Cox and does not reflect
the position of London, as Great Britain recognizes the territorial
integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

US dealer holds art world power

ts/3960821.stm

BBC NEWS – Thursday, 28 October, 2004, 09:02 GMT 10:02 UK

Gagosian was described by Art Review as a ‘mega-dealer’

Art dealer Larry Gagosian has topped a list of the art world’s 100
most powerful figures.

The annual chart, compiled by the magazine Art Review, called Mr
Gagosian “the world’s greatest art businessman”. Sir Nicholas Serota,
the director of the Tate galleries, remained in third place for the
second year. But art collector Charles Saatchi dropped 11 places
down the list to number 17. He topped the chart in 2002 and was sixth
in 2003.

Larry Gagosian(dealer/gallerist)
Glenn Lowry (museum director)
Sir Nicholas Serota(museum director)
Maurizio Cattelan (artist)
Sam Keller (fair director)
Dakis Joannou (collector)
Bill Ruprecht (auction house)
Ronald Lauder (collector)
Robert Storr (curator)
Takashi Murakami (artist)

The top 10 includes two artists, but is predominantly made up of
gallery owners, collector and dealers.

Los Angeles-born Gagosian opened the largest private gallery in London
earlier this year. Art Review said: “Gagosian is a figure of mystery
and controversy. That alone should tell us something about the art
world and the place of mega-dealers in it.

“If artists today are defined less by their styles than by the prices
they command, then no individual has done more to charge that market
than the dealer called GoGo.”

The director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Glenn Lowry,
raced up the list to number two after being listed in 14th place
last year.

But the highest climber in the top ten was artist Maurizio Cattelan
at number four. He was up 20 places on 2003.

Inaugural list

Contemporary artist Damien Hirst slipped to 78 from 49 last year. The
contents of his Pharmacy restaurant recently sold at Sotheby’s for
more than £11m. Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor is a newcomer
on the list, at 83, along with Scottish artist Jack Vettriano who
rounded off the list in 100th position.

Other British newcomers include Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover,
founders of the Frieze Art Fair, at 32.

But Tracey Emin, who appeared on the inaugural list in 2002, was left
out of the list again this year.

–Boundary_(ID_ws0nMpU2tO/2rVKaVWdC6g)–

Iranian envoy says Azeri oil project “political” not commercial – Armenian paper

Iravunk, Yerevan
29 Oct 04

Not only the interests of the world’s super powers clash in the South
Caucasus but also those of the regional countries. In this sense
relations between Iran and Armenia stand out as they have always
been friendly and warm. The Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza
Haqiqian, answers some of the questions regarding Armenian-Iranian
relations.

[Iravunk correspondent] Mr Ambassador, what do you think of the
current level of Armenian-Iranian relations?

[Ali Reza Haqiqian] Today Iran-Armenian relations are at a good level.

[Passage omitted: the ambassador says that Kocharyan’s visit to Iran
In 2001 and Khatami’s visit to Armenia this year played an important
role in deepening relations and strengthening a long-lasting peace
in the Caucasus and calls for multilateral links]

[Correspondent] Although Nagornyy Karabakh is an unrecognized country,
it is Iran’s neighbour, and the latter has to have a certain position
on the Karabakh settlement. Which principles should be taken into
account in settling the Karabakh issue?

[Haqiqian] Iran’s position on regional developments is precise
and is based on the principles of cooperation, balance and mutual
understanding. We stress the need for a peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh issue and the continuation of Armenian-Azerbaijani
negotiations. And Iran has always expressed its readiness to help
settle the problem.

[Correspondent] After 15 years of neutrality Iran finally said that
it recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. It is quite normal
for a country to sympathize with its neighbour’s problems, but why
does your country put an emphasis on this? Does this statement mean
a radical change in Iran’s position?

[Haqiqian] Iran has not changed its principled position on the regional
developments and neighbouring countries.

[Correspondent] It is known that the USA and Azerbaijan have very
close relations. In this case why is Iran siding with these two?

[Haqiqian] Iran builds its bilateral relations with all the countries
and especially with its neighbours on the basis of the principle of
mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs. It is
noteworthy that relations with our neighbours develop in different
spheres on the basis of the will, desire, ability and potential of
the parties involved.

[Correspondent] They say that the Moscow-Baku-Tehran railway will
become an alternative to the Baku-Tbilisi Ceyhan [oil pipeline, BTC,
as received]. What is your view?

[Haqiqian] Iran has an important role and place in the regional
communication and transit system. For this reason it is natural for
the regional countries to be interested in developing cooperation with
Iran. Moreover the situation in the region and regional developments
have once again shown the significance of the Iranian direction. We
hope that this will also create conditions for the development of
regional cooperation. As for the BTC project, many specialists think
it is not a commercial but a political project.

[Correspondent] What can you say about a gas pipeline to link Iran
and Armenia? Will it become a transit one?

[Haqiqian] The Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline is one of the most
important elements of our relations. The construction of the gas
pipeline will have a positive economic impact on the region. As for
the transit problem, I must say that on the whole the development of
cooperation among different countries, in particular, in the energy
sphere will contribute to greater mutual understanding. At the
same time in case of the gas transit we must look at the economic,
technical and other sides of the issue.

Bishop, Nobel Prize winner join in appeal for action in Darfur crisis

Catholic News Service
29 Oct. 2004

UNITED NATIONS (CNS) — A Catholic bishop, a Nobel Peace Prize winner
and other religious and human rights leaders joined together at the
United Nations Oct. 27 in a call for the international community to
do more to end the crisis in western Sudan’s Darfur region.

The delegation — which also included Muslim, Jewish and Christian
leaders and members of the Save Darfur Coalition — asked U.N.
Secretary-General Kofi Annan to make a firm personal commitment to
bring leadership to the United Nations to finally end the violence
and suffering in Darfur.

Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., representing the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, joined Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel
and others in calling for a clear U.N. mandate for the African Union
to protect innocent civilians and for other financial and logistical
support from the international community.

Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, a Vatican representative to U.N. and
humanitarian organizations based in Geneva, recently said 6,000 to
10,000 refugees are dying each month in Darfur because of violence,
lack of food and shortage of medicines. More than 2 million people
have been driven from their homes, with many living in refugee camps
in Chad and Sudan.

Bishop Murphy was undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice
and Peace at the Vatican from 1980 to 1987. He filled in at the meeting
for Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., chairman
of the USCCB Committee on International Policy, who could not attend.

In a written message released by Bishop Murphy, Bishop Ricard called
on “Catholics and all people of good will to do everything they can
to help bring an end to the reign of terror confronting our brothers
and sisters in Sudan.”

Specifically, he asked for increased pressure on the Sudanese
government to achieve several goals: “saving innocent lives; allowing
people to return home eventually in peace and security; protecting
those languishing in camps for the internally displaced and those
involved in the delivery of humanitarian relief; respecting cease-fire
agreements and seeking a negotiated settlement between the government
and the rebel groups; and holding responsible those who perpetrated
atrocities and crimes against humanity.”

Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor who won the peace prize in 1986, said at
a press conference after the meeting that the group wanted to tell
Annan “of our pain, of our anguish, of our outrage at the situation
in Darfur,” according to an Agence France-Presse report.

“Some of us belong to the generation that has seen the indifference
of the world,” he said. “For me the indifference of the past in a
source of anguish and despair. Therefore, if we speak today, it’s
because we say: No more indifference.”

Among those participating in the meeting were Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid
of the Justice Committee for Majlis Ash-Shura of New York; Archbishop
Kharjag Barsamian of the Armenian Church of America; Sara Bloomfield
of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; and Tony Kireopoulos of the
National Council of Churches.

Other participants were Ruth Messinger of American Jewish World
Service; Hannah Rosenthal of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs;
Franciscan Father Michael Perry, policy adviser to the U.S. bishops
on African affairs; the Rev. James Forbes of Riverside Church in New
York; and David Rubenstein, coordinator of the Save Darfur Coalition,
which is made up of more than 100 national faith-based and humanitarian
organizations.

Author Balakian to give Holocaust Lecture
By Barbara Rea

Washington University Record, Washington
29 Oct. 2004

Peter Balakian, Ph.D., will give the Holocaust Lecture for the Assembly
Series at 4 p.m. Nov. 4 in Graham Chapel. His talk is titled “The
Armenian Genocide and America’s First International Human Rights
Movement.”

Peter Balakian

Balakian is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the
Humanities and professor of English at Colgate University, and a
human-rights activist who has been involved in the national and
international movement for Armenian genocide recognition.

In his 2004 book, The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and
America’s Response, he describes the systematic deportation and
murder of as many as 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks
during World War I. The book was a New York Times Notable Book and
a New York Times best seller.

The Burning Tigris followed a 1997 memoir, Black Dog of Fate, which
won the 1998 PEN/Martha Albrand Prize for the Art of the Memoir and
appeared on the “best books of the year lists” for The New York Times,
Los Angeles Times and Publisher’s Weekly.

In addition, Balakian has written a book of poetry, June-tree: New
and Selected Poems, 1974-2000, published in 2001, and a book on the
American poet Theodore Roethke. He has also co-translated Armenian
poet Siamanto’s Bloody News From My Friend. Between 1976-1996, he
and Bruce Smith edited the poetry journal Graham House Review.

Most notable among Balakian’s many awards, prizes and civic citations
are a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts
Fellowship, an Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Ahanhit Literary
Prize.

He earned an undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and a
doctorate from Brown University.

Assembly Series lectures are free and open to the public. For more
information, go online to assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 935-4620.

ARMENIA OPENS DOOR TO JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Institute for War and peace reporting (IWPR)
29 Oct. 2004

Official sanctioning of a group seen as alien to Armenian religious
tradition gets stormy public reception.

By Zhanna Alexanian in Yerevan

The long-delayed registration of the Jehovah’s Witnesses as a legal
religious organisation has fulfilled one of Armenia’s international
obligations, but has met bitter hostility from many individuals and
church leaders.

After nine years and 14 applications, the western church finally
received legal status on October 12, in a country where the
three-million-strong population belongs overwhelmingly to the Armenian
Apostolic Church.

By approving the move, the government met one of the civil rights
requirements of the Council of Europe, CoE, which Armenia joined
in 2001. Just a day before the October 8 registration, the CoE
parliamentary assembly passed a resolution calling for speedier
progress on the matter.

Jehovah’s Witnesses – who say they have long faced persecution from
the Armenian authorities, especially the military – welcomed the move.
Hratch Keshishian, the leader of the group within Armenia, said the
government had taken a “courageous step”.

Government officials said the Jehovah’s Witnesses had won the right
to registration. “After studying the documents that were submitted,
we saw that the [previous] grounds for denying registration had been
eliminated,” said Tigran Mukuchian, the deputy justice minister. “This
time they are in full conformity with the law, and the state body
responsible for registration simply fulfilled its duties.”

However, many people, particularly those connected with the Apostolic
Church, remain opposed to the presence of the Jehovah’s Witnesses,
saying that Armenian society and even national security are at risk.

Claiming six million adherents around the world, the Jehovah’s
Witnesses say they have 8,000 baptised members among a total of about
20,000 followers in Armenia. Keshishian said he doubted registration
would lead to any rise in these numbers.

But in a society historically centred around a single faith, the
level of suspicion about proselytising newcomers is high, and the
hostility is expressed in often virulent terms.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have run into trouble both from the established
church, which opposes what it sees as attempts by Christian groups from
the West to recruit among its flock; and from the military, which until
this year was inflexible on the issue of conscription. As pacifists,
Jehovah’s Witnesses are opposed to serving in any country’s army.

The Armenian church leader, Catholicos Karekin the Second, called
the Jehovah’s Witnesses a “totalitarian sect”, while Vahram Melikian,
spokesman for the Holy See at Echmiadzin, the seat of the Apostolic
Church, said they were “anti-Christian”.

Melikian attacked the current law on freedom of conscience and
religious organisations, saying it would “bring disaster” because it
failed to make religious groups sufficiently accountable.

The animosity expressed by senior clerics was echoed by writer Perch
Zeytuntsyan, who said, “Poverty, hopelessness – all the conditions
exist for people to become sect members. However, they should realise
that no intelligent person will turn to a sect. The members are
ignorant people, traitors to the nation.”

Galust Sahakian, leader of the ruling Republican Party, opposed the
decision to register the Jehovah’s Witnesses, saying that adhering to
European standards should not “atomise our national values”, he said.

The Republican Party’s youth wing, Baze, has opened a hotline for
anyone wishing to report alleged illegal activities by Jehovah’s
Witnesses.

The government insists that Armenia has nothing to fear from the group.

“We should not follow the path of banning [them], but should try to
give them a chance. After that we should set conditions, follow them
up, and if they violate the law, we should be able to stop their
activities within the framework of the legislation,” said Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian.

He note that some three dozen other minority religious groups have
been granted permits, including some that are perceived as more
controversial than the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Mukuchian said it bringing the Jehovah’s Witnesses within the legal
framework would make it easier to prosecute if there were any breaches
of the law banning proselytism.

The head of the government department for national minorities and
religion, Hranush Kharatian, told IWPR she did not understand the
fuss. Instead of calling for a clampdown on the Jehovah’s Witnesses,
parliament should “create a legislative basis for introducing
democratic values in our country.

“The point is, they were functioning in the country irrespective of
whether they were officially recognised by the government or not.”

Kharatian denied that pressure from the CoE was the reason why
registration was granted.

“The Council of Europe only makes suggestions. We only have to
say that we are rejecting something for a good reason. But we are
not doing that,” said Kharatian. “If there is proof that Jehovah’s
Witnesses are damaging our national or public or social security,
no international organisation can oblige us to register them.”

Mikael Danielian, chairman of the Helsinki Association of Armenia
and one of the country’s most prominent human rights activists, said
that registration would not mean an end to difficulties faced by the
Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The group’s opposition to compulsory military service is a particular
flashpoint, he said.

“At the very moment of registration, there are members of the
organisation in prisons,” he said. “I believe there will be pressure
upon them.”

Alternative military service was introduced in Armenia in July 2004,
allowing those who refuse to carry arms on religious grounds to apply
to the army authorities for some other form of duty.

Since 1995, about 200 Jehovah’s Witnesses have been detained by the
authorities as conscientious objectors. Keshishian said 11 people
had been given prison sentences, but he hoped that those still in
jail would now be freed.

“The young men declared in the courtroom that they were ready to do an
alternative form of working service, but would not go into the army,”
said Keshishian.

Arthur Martirosian, a spokesman for the Jehovah’s Witnesses, denied
that the group forced its members to make the choice, “To go to the
army or refuse to do so, to accept alternative service or not, is a
personal decision for every young man. These matters have nothing to
do with the organisation.”

Zhanna Alexanian is a reporter with the Armenianow.com weekly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Another wave of film festivals

Taipei Times, Taiwan
29 Oct. 2004

The South Taiwan Film and Video Festival, and the second anniversary
film festival of SPOT — Taipei Film House are coming up
By Yu Sen-lun
STAFF REPORTER

The South Taiwan Film and Video Festival is quenching the thirst of
South Taiwan movie-goers for art-house movies.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAINAN ARTS UNIVERSITY

November is autumn and the start of Taiwan’s movie season. Raising the
curtain for a string of movie events is The South Taiwan Film and Video
Festival («n¤è¼v®i), and the second anniversary film festival for SPOT
— Taipei Film House (¥úÂI¥x¥_).

Later this month, Nov. 24, there is the annual Taipei Golden Horse Film
Festival (¥x¥_ª÷°¨¼v®i), the biggest film festival of Taiwan. In
December it is the Golden Horse Awards (ª÷°¨¼ú).

The South Taiwan Film and Video Festival starts next Tuesday in
Kaohsiung and is a festival aiming to balance the fact that most
art-house films are from Taipei.

Fifty feature-length films will be touring three south Taiwan cities —
Kaohsiung, Tainan and Chiayi. It can be seen as the largest film event
in Southern Taiwan.

The main feature this year at the festival is its collection of Chinese
independent movies made by young filmmakers, directors even younger
than the so-called Gen Z filmmakers.

Incense (­»¤õ) by Ning Hao (¹ç¯E) tells about a young monk’s journey
raising money in the city to repair an old and damaged Buddha
statue.Good Morning Beijing (¦­¦w¥_¨Ê) by Pan Jianlin (¼ï¼CªL) is about
an abduction one night in the back alleys of Beijing. Tang Poetry
(­ð¸Ö) tells about a thief’s personal transition after finding out he
suffers from muscular dystrophy and is forced to change his
“profession.” Raw quality and low budgets are the main features of
these Chinese independent movies.

The South Taiwan Film Festival will screen documentaries that have
recently made headlines. Canadian director Atom Egoyan’s Arayat, a
drama looking at the historical truth of the Armenian genocide, and
Blackboard, a humorous story about the deficit of education in Iran’s
mountain area, will both come back to the silver screen for southern
Taiwanese movie fans.

Meanwhile, in Taipei, next Tuesday is also the opening day for a film
festival — the My Camera Film Festival (·í§Ú³Û¥X¶}³Á©Ô), celebrating
the two-year anniversary of SPOT — Taipei Film House.

The first feature of the festival is a mini retro screening of director
Cheng Wen-tang’s (¾G¤å°ó) films. Cheng is a filmmaker who gained fame
along with the growth of SPOT in the past two years.

His Venice film festival award-winning dramaSomewhere Over the
Dreamland (¹Ú¤Û³¡¸¨) was premiered at SPOT two years ago. The mini
retro will showcase Cheng’s previous works, when he was a documentary
maker in the 1980s and 1990s focusing on political issues and
environmental protection.

The Days Without the Government (¨S¦³¬F©²ªº¤é¤l, 1987) tells about a
200-day long protest by employees of a chemical factory banding
together because of the dumping of chemical waste into the nearby
river. The Contract with Tso-shui River (¿B¤ô·Ëªº«´¬ù, 1999) is a
documentary dwelling on the past glory days of Taiwan longest river.

Another theme of the festival is to show the winning films of past
winners at Taipei film festivals. Taipei Film Festival serves to
discover talents among Taiwanese filmmakers.

The Taipei Film Awards have in the past two years become a dream award
of young filmmakers seeking recognition apart from the more mainstream
Golden Horse Awards.

But after winning the awards, most filmmakers find it difficult to
screen their films because Taiwan is short of art-house movie theaters.

SPOT, as Taiwan’s first arts movie theater, offers the opportunity for
moviegoers to appreciate the independent spirit of the winning films.

Tickets for both the South Taiwan Film Festival and the My Camera Film
Festival are available from the Web site:

–Boundary_(ID_rU9ilP2BQqxXRlkDG1edQA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Police Say Crime Again Falling
By Nane Atshemian 29/10/2004 08:36

Radio Free Europe, Czechia
29 Oct. 2004

The Armenian police reported on Thursday a 4.4 percent decrease in
the number of officially registered crimes committed during the first
nine months of this year.

The information contrasted with police figures for the first
half of 2004 that showed a 4.5 percent rise in crime compared
with the same period last year. “The overall rate of crime has
tended to decrease during the first nine months of the year,” Sayad
Shirinian, the spokesman for the national Police Service, told a news
conference. “Also, the percentage of solved cases is higher than it
was last year.”

It was not clear if the police found a major drop in crime during
the third quarter of the year. Presenting the first-half figures on
August 4, the deputy chief of the police, General Ararat Mahtesian,
admitted that the Armenian government’s spring crackdown on the
opposition left his officers with less time and fewer resources to
combat crime. The crackdown involved mass detentions of opposition
activists and a heavy police presence at anti-government rallies.

Mahtesian also blamed the increased delinquency on Armenia’s new,
more lenient criminal code that came into effect in August 2003. It
also led to the earlier-than-expected release from jail of more than
800 convicts.

According to Shirinian, a total of 8,098 crimes, nearly a third of
them “serious,” were reported to the police from January through the
end of September. He said despite the overall drop in the number of
offences there have been more cases of theft, robbery, fraud as well
as illegal arms and drug possession.

The official also said that 172 people, 17 of them children, have died
in 872 road accidents across Armenia this year. “The main causes of
road accidents continue to be speeding and violations of overtaking
rules,” he said.

Shirinian added that Armenia’s overall rate of delinquency remains
low by ex-Soviet standards, with an average of 25 crimes per 10,000
people committed annually. The figure is 143 and 83 in Russia and
Ukraine respectively.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress