Public Relations Director
Contact: Mira Yardemian
Haigazian University
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – Lebanon

Haigazian University Celebrates the First Event of Its
50th Anniversary: Founders’ Day

On October 18, 2004, at 12:00 pm, the hall of the First Armenian
Evangelical Church in Beirut was full of anticipation as students,
alumni, faculty, staff, press, guests and others gathered to take part
in Haigazian University’s Founders’ Day, the kick-off event of each
academic year. But among the guests this year were the Ambassador of
Armenia in Lebanon, Mr. Areg Hovanessian, and the keynote speaker of
the occasion, the President of the Lebanese Press Federation,
Mr. Mohammad Baalbaki.

Beginning with the Lebanese National Anthem, followed by the
invocation of the Campus Minister, the Rev. Nishan Bakalian, the
Vice-Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, the Rev. Robert
Sarkissian, announced the official commencement of the 50th
anniversary celebrations. He assured the audience of the board’s
commitment to the founding principles and mission of Haigazian
University.

In her tribute to the Founders, the Dean of Arts & Sciences, Dr. Arda
Ekmekji, highlighted the factors leading to the foundation of the
University 50 years ago: the need to prepare Armenian Evangelical high
school students for university admission, the efforts of churches in
the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches of the Near East (UAECNE),
and its then-president, the late Rev. Hovhannes Aharonian, and the
$25,000 grant of Mr. Steven Mehagian to the Armenian Missionary
Association of American (AMAA) in New York, giving birth to the
project in October 1955. Other significant names, such as Stephen
Philibosian, the Rev. Puzant Kalfayan and the AMAA, were mentioned as
maintaining an ongoing interest in the college.

The Rev. Dr. Armenag Haigazian, in whose name the university was
named, was a graduate of Yale University, a distinguished educator,
theologian, linguist, pastor, writer, musician and photographer. Until
his deportation by the Kemalist forces in 1921, he was the much-loved
and respected president of the Jenanyan Apostolic Institute in Konya,
Turkey. All of these attributes of this prominent academic justify the
fact the University was named in his honor.

Afterwards, the audience enjoyed a solo, `My Tribute’ by Andrae
Crouch, powerfully delivered by vocalist Houry Apartian, and
accompanied on the keyboard by Haigazian student Vartan Agopian.

The Director of the Student Life, Mr. Antranik Dakessian, introduced
the Student of the Year for 2004, Mr. Abdel Khaleq Abdel Khaleq, who
in his address acknowledged that Haigazian University has enriched
students not only with excellent education, but also with high ethical
and moral standards. He considered Haigazian his second home, where he
shared with fellow students his goals and experiences, and most
importantly got acquainted with the Armenian culture. Considering that
a well-rounded university education consists of the balanced
acquisition of academic knowledge, social experience and spiritual
well-being, he urged the new students to get involved in activities
and clubs of the university.

The Dean of Business Administration and Economics, Dr. Fadi Asrawi,
remembered the Rocket Society of Haigazian College by a very
interesting slide presentation: Founded at the College in November
1960, the Haigazian Rocket Society was organized for two aims: one, to
interest and acquaint students with this new field of study; and two,
to research the properties and performance of specific propellants and
the construction design of rocket propulsion systems. During the first
year five students participated. This number increased considerably
during the years following, and in the summer of 1962 it became a
national project, adopted by the Lebanese government, under the name
`The Lebanese Rocket Society’. Of particular note was that the
ballistics expert appointed by the Lebanese Army at that time to the
Society, General Youssef Wehbe, was in the audience, and offered his
own reflections on the Society.

The keynote speaker, the President of the Press Federation,
Mr. Mohammad Baalbaki, eloquently delivered his speech and emphasized
on the role that the Armenian community in general, and Haigazian
University in particular, played in the history of Lebanon, in the
years of the Lebanese civil war, and its positive and exemplary
contribution to Lebanese society. He commented that although
Dr. Armenag Haigazian has passed away, his memory and deeds are
perpetuated through the philosophy of Haigazian University, which in
itself is a `Rocket’ in the field of knowledge and higher education.

Finally, the president of the University, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian,
offered words in which he considered the namesake of the university,
Dr. Armenag Haigazian, as symbolically a founder behind the founders,
since he as a person embodied the motto of the university: truth,
freedom and service. Truth – Rev. Haigazian had a true and
comfortable sense of belonging to his people and his cultural
context. Likewise, truth at Haigazian University starts with the
discovery of the self, and God. Freedom – Regrettably, Armenag
Haigazian’s Ottoman context did not allow this in the early twentieth
century. With Armenian identity and Lebanese outlook, the University
was able to integrate the Armenians with the non-Armenians, as well as
initiating in the early 60s a scientific symbol of freedom, that is, a
series of rockets called the `Cedar’. Service – Rev. Haigazian’s
significance was in putting all his knowledge and characteristics in
the service of people and God. This sense of service in the University
today derives from our faith in God.

The president continued by acknowledging a number of significant
people present in the audience: Mrs. Maggie Matossian, a member of the
Board of Directors of Haigazian since the very first years, and later
the founder of the Women’s Auxiliary; two of the 43 original students
who were the first class to register in 1955; and General
Wehbe. Finally he expressed gratitude to the many people in Lebanon
and the USA, who have worked, prayed, paid, planned, thought for
Haigazian or received higher education in it.

Following the Alma Mater, sung by Ms. Apartian, the attendees
proceeded to the Matossian Gallery in the Mugar Building, where
archival documents and photographs of 50 years of Haigazian’s history
had been newly put on display.

Turkish Daily News
21 October 2004

If only Derrida hadn’t died

Gunduz Aktan

Debates concerning our membership in France have gone beyond the reasonable
with all the political parties and movements divided. Everyone is offering
an excuse depending upon their political convictions. A racist like Le Pen
and a Jewish socialist like Laurent Fabius find themselves defending the
same opinion.

In parliamentary debates on our membership held on Oct. 15 — brought
forward by the government — many criticisms were aired, but no vote —
which would have been unfavorable to us — was taken. This way, the
possibility of Turkey getting a date to start negotiations at the European
Union summit on Dec. 17 was kept alive.

Meanwhile, President Jacques Chirac is trying to insert an article in the
Constitution allowing a referendum on the accession treaty that will be
signed at the end of the negotiations. This will nullify France’s
international responsibilities that started with the Ankara Treaty signed in
1963, and ask the French people to have their say in violation of the
principle of “pacta sun servanda.”

On the other hand, the argument that “all negotiations are open-ended” is
also wrong. They are asking us to accept, right from the beginning, that
even if we fulfill all the clauses of the negotiations, which may last 10 to
15 years, we might not become members due to unrelated reasons.

There are those who oppose Turkey’s membership in every EU country. However,
none are carried away with their opposition like in France. If Turkey is too
large, populous, situated in a tough location, or is Muslim, this fact is
evident to all the other 24 members, not only to France. Moreover, Turkey
did not acquire these characteristics yesterday — so what’s wrong with
France?

Had Derrida been alive, he would have applied the method of deconstruction
to this bizarre phenomenon in his country. This method, in very general
terms, is based on the creation of a conceptual construction by the
exclusion of its opposite concept. In other words, it is necessary to
exclude the concept of fascism and racist anti-Semitism, as opposed to the
constituent concept of democracy and respect for human rights in order to
realize an integration which would prevent a war like World War II.

In this respect, countries like Turkey that are to become EU members have to
implement democracy and human rights. Turkey is expected to grant rights to
“minorities” like the Kurds and to face the “Armenian genocide” claims, just
like they faced the Jewish Holocaust.

Derrida, who was well acquainted with Freud, would have immediately realized
that Europe was not isolating abstract concepts as the opposite of
“democracy-human rights-minority rights,” but rather Turkey and the Turkish
people as representing these concepts.

The anti-Turkish groups in France and elsewhere believe that Turkey’s
anti-democratic system is based on its founding ideology of Kemalism, will
not change and believe that those who conducted the so-called “genocide” on
Armenians would not grant Kurds any rights. This “unchangeable” character
attributed to us constitutes the proof that we are subjected to exclusion.

According to Freud, the material repressed in the unconscious remains
unchanged there. On the day you return having changed, they do their outmost
not to believe you.

France has another problem with us: We are closer to France than any other
EU member. The Republic of Turkey was influenced by the French Revolution.
French enlightenment and positivism have become an integral element of our
souls. In order to believe that it is the one and only, France
narcissistically exaggerates the minor differences. By projecting the
anti-Semitism of the Vichy regime and the sins of French nationalism
committed in Algeria onto the excluded Turks, “purified” France becomes a
part of the unification of Europe. It believes that the excluded or
repressed material projected onto us would return to the EU through our
membership and that this would be the end of the EU. France fears that its
vision or illusion of the EU will end with our membership.

Derrida used to say that at the end of the deconstruction process a
synthesis would be produced by the amalgamation of the interiorized concept
with the excluded one and that this new concept, which would reflect the
realities, would bring about justice.

This will be the greatest contribution our membership will make to the EU.

NOTE: This article appears in daily Radikal and, after being translated by
the Turkish Daily News staff, in the Turkish Daily News on the same day.

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TOP STORIES
10/21/2004
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1) British Delegation Visits Karabagh, Azeris Unhappy
2) Turkish Tabloid Goes on Rant about Minister’s Remarks
3) ESP Focuses on International Justice, AYF Discusses Genocide with Turkish
Counterparts
4) University of Michigan to Bring Together South Caucasus Diplomats and
Scholars
5) Chess Olympiad Update

1) British Delegation Visits Karabagh, Azeris Unhappy

STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)–Azerbaijan’s foreign affairs ministry sent a
letter to the British government protesting a visit by a British parliamentary
delegation to Karabagh, headed by member of the House of Commons Gordon
Marsden, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox.
The letter of protest assesses the visit as a “violation of Azerbaijan’s
rights.” Denouncing the visit as “illegal,” the letter asks that the
members of
British parliament be more sensitive to the feelings of the Azeri people.
The British delegation arrived in Karabagh on October 20 and met with
Mountainous Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghukasian and National Assembly
Chairman Oleg Yesayan.
President Ghukasian, expressing gratitude for the visit, said it was another
opportunity for the people of Karabagh to make their position heard in Europe.
Ghukasian briefed the delegation members on Karabagh’s recent achievements in
such areas as human rights protection and building a democratic state based on
rule of law. He also spoke about the favorable conditions for non-governmental
organizations to carry out their work. The delegation is scheduled to meet
representatives of Karabagh’s NGOs.
Ghukasian then spoke about the conflict regulation process, affirming that
Karabagh’s leadership deems the maintenance of the ceasefire as a key point
for
its population’s security.
Gordon Marsden said the visit allowed for them to learn first-hand
information
about Karabagh and its people, as their purpose was to determine the volume of
humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, the Azeri Organization for Karabagh Liberation held a protest near
the British Embassy in Baku on Wednesday and placed a black wreath in front of
the embassy. Also, unidentified assailants wrote the name of Baroness Cox on
the memorial to British soldiers killed in Baku in 1918 using black paint.
Police arrived at the scene and removed paint off the memorial.

2) Turkish Tabloid Goes on Rant about Minister’s Remarks

(Marmara)–The Turkish tabloid Takvim has been blasting People’s Republican
Party parliament minister Kamal Darwish, a former government minister for
telling the French Le Monde paper that he is deeply saddened by the massacre
of Armenians, and that it is necessary to recognize and express sorrow in
connection with that tragedy.
Takvim reported about the interview on Wednesday, and on Thursday published
reaction from People’s Republican Party (CHP), and Justice and Development
Party (AKP) parliament members who categorically condemned Darwish and
demanded
he apologize to the Turkish people.
AKP minister Suleyman Turgut went as far as to say that in light of his
parliamentary oath, he can no longer work with such an individual. Another AKP
minister Aziz Akgul noted that anyone familiar with Turkey’s history knows
that no such atrocity took place, though Armenians did try to provoke the
Turks.
Yet another AKP minister Selahadin Beyribeh from Gars, reported that coming
from that territory, he knows that the main atrocity was against the Turks,
and
carried out by Armenians. “The concept of systematic massacres is nonexistent
in the Islamic faith. On the battlefield, people from both sides die, but
that
is not a massacre,” he said. “Is it imaginable that the Turks would set
Armenians on fire in a Mosque?” “But hundreds of Turks were set afire in Gars.
Darwish is contemptible, and I’m saddened that we conduct politics under the
same roof.”
Others condemned Darwish, saying that the enemy has been given the upper hand
as a result of his stance.
CHP parliamentary group’s vice chair Kamal Anadol revealed that his party
would review Darwish’s statement, and if necessary, will issue a
clarification.
Speaking as a historian, Anadol said that the Armenian issue was one of
deportation–a mandatory emigration, practiced my numerous countries against
its minorities. “But, massacre is something different,” he said, rehashing the
fact that both sides experience losses in battle. “And that is left in the
pages of history; we have no right to utilize them as a chip in current
political affairs.”
Takvim adds that the general public is also outraged by Darwish. One citizen
remarked, “Kamal Darwish has buttered on the bread of Armenia, who is already
preparing to demand territory from Turkey.”

3) ESP Focuses on International Justice, AYF Discusses Genocide with Turkish
Counterparts

LONDON (Combined Sources)–The third European Social Forum (ESF), which
convened in London on October 15, came to a successful end on October 17. At a
giant gathering for groups and organizations opposed to war, racism, and
economic injustice, the ESF attracted over 30,000 participants from all
regions
of the world.
The ESF, which emerged during the 2001 World Social Forum held in Porto
Alegre, Brazil, attracted a number of world renowned activists including,
Aleida Guevara, daughter of Che Guevara; president of Ireland’s Sinn Fein,
Gerry Adams; former Labour MP, George Galloway; president of ATTAC, Bernard
Cassen; and others.
Culminating in a 15,000 person strong anti-war protest, the forum addressed
issues dealing with war and peace, democracy and fundamental rights, social
justice and workers rights , corporate globalization, and the environment.
Six delegates from Armenia, France, and England represented the Armenian
Youth
Federation (AYF) during the three-day forum. The delegates participated in
discussions concerning the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, the condition of
Kurds
living in Turkey, and Turkey’s aspiration to enter the European Union.
The AYF delegation had the opportunity to meet with several groups from
Turkey, whose members acknowledged the 1915 genocide of Ottoman Armenians and
the need for the government of Turkey to formally recognize the event as such.
The delegation also met with representatives of French Socialist Party and
the
leaders of ECOSY–the youth organization of the Party of European
Socialists–which, like the AYF, is a member of the International Union of
Socialist Youth (IUSY).

4) University of Michigan to Bring Together South Caucasus Diplomats and
Scholars

International Conference will consider foreign policies and conflicts in
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia

(UMich)–During four days in October, the Ann Arbor campus of the University
of Michigan will become the gathering point for diplomats and scholars who,
for
the past 15 years, have been involved in the shaping or study of the foreign
policies and conflict resolution processes of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia
.
The international conference, titled “Armenia/the South Caucasus and Foreign
Policy Challenges,” is being organized by the Armenian Studies Program at the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and will be held at the main campus of the
University on October 21-24. The conference is co-sponsored by the
International Institute, the Center for Middle Eastern and North African
Studies, the Center for Russian and East European Studies, The Department of
History, the Near Eastern Studies Department, and the Political Science
Department.
This unique gathering will bring together some thirty-five scholars, past and
present diplomats, and conflict negotiators from over ten countries, including
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Iran, the European Union,
Canada,
and the US to discuss the challenges faced by these republics in developing
policies in a fast changing world, the path traveled in resolving outstanding
conflicts, with special emphasis on the Mountainous Karabagh problem.
The goals of the conference are: to acquaint the University and larger
community in the country with the specific issues and challenges that
relate to
a part of the world that has acquired increased significance in the last
decade; to place in historical and international perspectives the path
traveled by Armenia and the South Caucasus since the break up of the USSR; to
reflect on the perceptions and policies adopted in the 1990s by the South
Caucasus republics, their neighbors, and international actors; to assist the
academic and policy making communities–in the region and in the international
community–in redefining and refining their approaches to the region; and,
possibly develop ideas and approaches that might enhance conflict resolution,
regional cooperation, and long term integration of the region in the
international community to the benefit the peoples of the region.
The South Caucasus region has acquired increased strategic significance since
the collapse of the USSR. It has as immediate neighbors Russia, Turkey and
Iran, each with its own interests and concerns. The US has projected its own
strategic view on the region, while Europe considers it part of its extended
neighborhood. Caspian Sea hydrocarbon resources and their export routes have
added another dimension to regional politics, complicating further the
challenges faced by the three republics in balancing the sometimes conflicting
interests of bigger neighbors and the West.
The conference will be open to the general public. All sessions will provide
ample opportunity for the attending public to participate in the question and
answer and discussion segments.
Details on the program and speakers of the conference can be found on the
website of the University of Michigan Armenian Studies Program at
Inquiries can be made by writing to Sara Sarkisian
([email protected]). All sessions will take place at the Alumni Center, main
campus.

5) Chess Olympiad Update

In the 6th round of the 36th Chess Olympiad taking place in Calvia, Spain,
Armenia’s men beat the Canadian team 3,5-0,5. Rafael Vahanyan, Smbat Lputyan,
and Gabriel Sargssyan all won their matches, while Levon Aronyan drew to hold
sixth place in the competition.
Ukraine, who holds first place so far, beat Azerbaijan 2,5-1,5. Russia
follows
in second place after defeating Israel.
Armenia’s Women team beat Vietnam in the sixth round of competitions, with
Lilit Lazarian and Nelly Aghinyan winning their matches, and Elina Danielyan
drawing. Armenia’s women now hold eighth place, putting them in a good
position
to place third overall. The Russian women’s team holds first place.

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Armenia’s nationalist parties urge compatriots to vote for Democrats

A1+ web site
21 Oct 04

Today the traditional [as received] Armenian parties of America,
Dashnaktsutyun [the Armenian Revolutionary Federation –
Dashnaktsutyun], the Ramkavar-Azatakan [Liberal Democratic] and
Henchakyan [the Bell], appealed to the US Armenians. They urged the
Armenian population of the USA to vote for democrat John Kerry on 2
November.

The parties noted his positive attitude to the Armenian community, his
position on the Armenian genocide of 1915 and interest in the Karabakh
problem.

One injured as Armenia violates cease-fire in western Azerbaijan

Assa-Irada, Baku
20 Oct 04

BAKU

On the night leading to 20 October, the Armenian armed forces based in
Samsaddin [Azeri name for Armenia’s Tavush District] opened fire on
the village of Alibayli in Azerbaijan’s Tovuz District. As a result, a
30-year-old resident of the village, Azar Nagiyev, was wounded to his
abdomen.

According to a report circulated by the Tovuz District executive
authorities, Nagiyev, a policeman with the Agstafa District police
department, has been placed in the hospital of the Ministry of
Internal Affairs in Baku.

Eight villages of Tovuz District are situated along the front-line and
Alibayli is the closest to the Armenian positions.

President looks at Armenia’s commitments to Council of Europe

Noyan Tapan news agency
20 Oct 04

YEREVAN

On 20 October Armenian President Robert Kocharyan chaired a meeting
which looked into how Armenia is fulfilling its commitments to the
Council of Europe.

Opening the meeting, the president said: “I deem it necessary to
elaborate once again on where we are now in terms of honouring our
commitments and endorse a new schedule for their rigorous
accomplishment.”

Kocharyan said that another big task that remains to be solved is a
package of constitutional reforms connected with a referendum.

The deputy speaker of the Armenian National Assembly, Tigran Torosyan,
spoke about the course and schedule for fulfilling the commitments in
terms of reforming various laws. Speaking about the amendments to the
Electoral Code in particular, the Venice Commission has already given
its opinion which will be taken into account when amending the
code. They also discussed a package of legislative issues, concerning
the reform of the court and legal systems, local municipalities and
territorial administration.

An appropriate schedule for implementing the issues was set up and the
president gave concrete instructions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA spends over 12m dollars on Azeri mine clearance in six years – agency

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
21 Oct 04

BAKU

The US State Department has published a report on its expenditure for
mine clearance in different countries. The document says that the USA
has spent 12.7m dollars on the mine clearance work in Azerbaijan over
the past six years, of which 2.4m dollars has been allocated over the
past year alone.

All in all, Washington has allotted 30.4m dollars to the former USSR
republics since 1998. As part of the programme, Armenia has received
9.3m dollars, Estonia 2.6m dollars and Georgia 5.8m dollars.

This year, the bulk of the funds allocated for the mine clearance work
was channelled into Iraq.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 15-21, 2004

HIGHLIGHTS:

SECOND “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

DIRECTOR OF “AR” DOES NOT CONFIRM RUMORS ABOUT THE CHANGE OF TV CHANNEL
OWNER

RADIO LIBERTY CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER

SECOND “PRESS CLUB” SHOW

On October 18 on the evening air of the Second Armenian TV Channel the
second show of “Press Club” cycle was broadcast. The cycle is organized by
Yerevan Press Club under “Strengthening Democracy by Free Expression in
South Caucasus” project, implemented jointly with “Article 19” international
organization with the assistance of Open Society Institute.

This time the focus of attention of the heads of the leading media and
journalistic associations of the country was on the recent abuse of the
rights of journalists and media, related to attacks on the representatives
of “the fourth estate” on professional duty. The subject of discussion
referred, in particular, to the incidents of violence against journalists
covering the opposition rallies in Yerevan on April 5 and the night of April
12-13, the attack the correspondents of “Photolure” news agency and “Aravot”
daily on August 24 in Tsaghkadzor as well as the assault on the Chief Editor
of “Syunyats Yerkir” regional newspaper on October 13 in Kapan. The second
subject raised was to the hotly debated event – the official registration of
“Jehovah’s Witnesses” religious organization in Armenia on October 8.

DIRECTOR OF “AR” DOES NOT CONFIRM RUMORS ABOUT THE CHANGE OF TV CHANNEL
OWNER

Since October 16 “AR” TV company stopped its broadcasts. As YPC was told by
the Director of “AR” Edgar Manukian, the pause is due to the need for
technical re-equipment of the channel, and the broadcasting will be resumed
in about a month. Edgar Manukian denied the persistent rumors that the
suspension of “AR” activities is related to the forthcoming sale of the
channel to the well-known businessman, the President of “Mika” company
Mikhail Baghdasarov. As it has been reported, in late 2002 the TV company
was acquired by another, equally well-known entrepreneur Hrant Vardanian,
the President of “Grand Holding” company and the owner of another TV
company, “Hayrenik TV”.

RADIO LIBERTY CALLED ON THE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER

On October 15 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty issued a press release on the
withdrawal “Azatutiun” (“Liberty”) program produced by the RFE/RL Armenian
Service from the air schedule of “Kentron” TV company. According to the
Director of the Radio Liberty Armenian Service Hrair Tamrazian, the first
issue of this 30-minute analytical program was aired on October 10 and
repeated on October 11. On October 13 the Director of “Kentron” Petros
Ghazarian informed Mr. Tamrazian, that the airing of the subsequent issues
of the program would be “indefinitely suspended”. As it is noted in the
press release the management of the TV company did not explain the reasons
for such a decision.

The first issue of “Azatutiun” featured a report from Strasbourg on the
debates at October session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe on the honoring of commitments to the CE by Armenia and exclusive
interviews of the RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian and the newly
appointed US Ambassador in Armenia John Evans on relations between Armenia
and Turkey.

Mr. Tamrazian expressed his concern over the suspension of “a very
successful TV show” “for unknown reasons” and called on Armenian authorities
to investigate into the matter. “I hope that “Kentron” and RFE/RL will
continue in a joint project that was eagerly awaited by many viewers and
listeners in Armenia”, the head of the Radio Liberty Armenian Service
stressed.

On his behalf, the Director of “Kentron” Petros Ghazarian told YPC that he
“sees no conflict in what has happened, the TV company and the Radio Liberty
Armenian Service remain partners”, however, there are certain financial
problems that call for a solution.

On October 19 the President of RFE/RL Thomas Dine addressed a letter to the
President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, in which he urged the head of the
state “to denounce this contemptible Soviet-style act, and to help return
“Azatutiun” on air”. Thomas Dine asserted that he is “determined to get
“Azatutiun” back on air and will make every effort to make it happen –
including raising the issue with the Bush Administration, the US Congress,
the Council of Europe and non-governmental organizations worldwide”.

The Radio Liberty press release with this letter also states that despite
the lack of explanations on behalf of the “Kentron” administration, there
are all reasons to suppose that the TV company “was pressured to suspend
further broadcasts of the program, either by official interests or local
media competitors”.

It should be noted that this was not the first attempt of the Radio Liberty
Armenian Service to go on air in Armenian capital. On September 28, 2004 a
program prepared by the radio company was aired by “Shant” TV company.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
for Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web :

PRESS RELEASE
October 21st, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

FIRST CONVENTION OF EUROPEAN ARMENIANS HUGE SUCCESS

–200+ European and Armenian Leaders Discuss Issues of Importance to
Armenians in the EU

Brussels, Belgium (October 21st, 2004) – The First Convention of European
Armenians, organized by the European Armenian Federation on October 18th and
19th, 2004, was a great success, drawing more than two hundred European
citizens of Armenian origin and many European officials. The participants,
who included leaders of various organizations and concerned individuals from
sixteen countries, attended the debates organized within the framework of
three sessions dedicated to the Armenian culture and identity in Europe, the
relations between the European Union and Armenia, and the challenges of EU
Enlargement.

In addition to the many European and Armenian officials, religious
dignitaries representing the two Catholicoses of the Armenian Apostolic
Church and one civil representative of the Patriarch of the Armenian
Catholic Church participated in the Convention, as well as Mr Ruben
Shugarian, Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During his welcoming speech, Mr Francis Wurtz, Chairman of the United Left
Group (GUE), the inviting party, declared that “regarding the Armenian
question, GUE has always supported the Armenian claims not only within the
context of the right to remembrance and dignity but also in accordance with
a peoples’ right to self-determination.”

The Convention covered many issues, from the European Commission’s New
Neighborhood Policy, to the question of the protection and the development
of the Armenian language in the Diaspora. During the second session, the
ambassador of Armenia to the European Union, Mr Vicken Tchitetchian,
presented Mr Demetrio Volcic, Italian Senator and Former member of the
European Parliament, the medal of Mkhitar Gosh, one of the highest official
distinctions made by the Armenian Republic. Apart from sessions, meetings
were organised between national delegations from different countries and
their permanent representation to the European Union, as well as the
European Parliament’s Presidency.

The Convention was concluded by the adoption of the Charter that Hilda
Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation, presented to
a panel of journalists during the final press conference. On the much
anticipated topic of Turkey’s candidacy to the European Union, Hilda
Tchoboian declared that “Turkey expressed through the Genocide of the
Armenian people – the very people who represented the values of
enlightenment within the Ottoman Empire – its rejection of European
modernity.” She warned European Union’s leaders against the integration of a
State that persists to express that rejection of European values through its
policy of denial and that through its attitude “threatens the regional
stability and the right to security and life of the Armenian people”.
Reminding that “in the eyes of International law and its practice, today’s
Turkey remains responsible for this genocide as a successor State”, she
concluded that we cannot “artificially bring a people into modernity by
using external constraints.”

All documents related to the Convention, and particularly the Charter, will
be soon published on the website of the European Armenian Federation

Georgia grants entry to Armenians trapped on South Ossetia border

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
21 Oct 04

[Presenter] The Georgian government has decided to let the convoy of busses
and lorries belonging to Armenian citizens pass the Ergneti market checkpoint
[on breakaway South Ossetia’s border with the rest of Georgia] where they have
been stalled for a week. Until now, the Georgian authorities did not allow the
convoy to travel [to Armenia] through the Tskhinvali region because of the
violation of the customs rules.

This is a goodwill gesture for this occasion only. Today’s arrangement does
not allow foreign citizens to travel through Tskhinvali.

[Man, no caption, in Russian] The decision has been taken. They are letting
us go. There are no more problems.

[Reporter] You will be departing now?

[Man] Yes, right away.

[Levon Akopyan, captioned as aide of the Armenian ambassador to Georgia, in
Russian] Now a convoy is being formed, the drivers should get instructions
about the passage of the convoy, and we will start our journey towards the
Armenian border.

[Aleksandre Sukhitashvili, the chief of the Shida Kartli regional police, in
Georgian] This is a goodwill gesture by the Georgian authorities. We will now
let Armenian citizens pass. However, I want to urge all foreign citizens not
to travel through this road. There is no customs or border checkpoint here.
Therefore, foreign citizens should only travel through the Lars [checkpoint on
the Georgian-Russian border].