NEWS Press
20 janvier 2005
ONU : 148 Etats Membres pour la commémoration du 60e anniversaire de
la libération des camps nazis
ONU Organisation des Nations Unies
Pour la première fois dans l’histoire de l’ONU, l’Assemblée générale
a décidé de tenir, le lundi 24 janvier 2005, une session
commémorative extraordinaire. Il s’agit de la commémoration du 60e
anniversaire de la libération des camps de concentration nazis. Cette
décision a été approuvée par 148 des 191 Etats Membres. Elle marque
peut-être le début de la commémoration, à l’Assemblée, d’autres
événements.
En présence des représentants des pays qui ont pris l’initiative de
cette session extraordinaire – Australie, Canada, Etats-Unis,
Fédération de Russie, Israël, Nouvelle-Zélande et Union européenne -,
le Secrétaire général a souligné aujourd’hui, lors d’une rencontre
avec la presse, « l’importance qu’il attache à la commémoration du
60e anniversaire de la libération des camps de concentration nazis
dans une session extraordinaire de l’Assemblée générale ».
Cette commémoration aura, selon lui, « une signification profonde »
pour plusieurs raisons. « Premièrement, parce que la fondation de
l’Organisation des Nations Unies est une réponse directe à
l’Holocauste. Notre Charte a été écrite alors que le monde découvrait
l’horreur des camps », a-t-il rappelé.
« Deuxièmement, il est essentiel, pour chacun de nous, de nous
souvenir, de réfléchir et de tirer les leçons de ce qui s’est passé
il y a 60 ans. Le mal qui a mené à l’extermination de six millions de
Juifs dans ces camps menace encore aujourd’hui chacun d’entre nous.
Ce n’est pas quelque chose que nous pouvons reléguer à un passé
lointain et oublier. Chaque génération doit se tenir sur ses gardes
pour s’assurer qu’une telle chose ne se reproduise jamais plus »,
a-t-il expliqué.
« Troisièmement, cette session devra aussi être vue comme
l’expression de nos engagements à édifier une Organisation des
Nations Unies qui puisse réagir rapidement et efficacement à un
génocide et à d’autres violations graves des droits de l’homme. Bien
entendu, cette tche est loin d’être accomplie », a-t-il reconnu.
De son côté, Jean Ping, Président de l’Assemblée générale, a fait
remarquer que « c’était la première fois qu’une session commémorative
extraordinaire était organisée à l’Assemblée générale ». « C’est dire
l’importance de cette commémoration », a-t-il ajouté.
Le Président de l’Assemblée a par ailleurs expliqué qu’il fallait
l’accord d’une majorité des Etats Membres pour décider de la tenue
d’une telle session. Mercredi dernier, 148 Etats Membres sur 191 s’y
sont déclarés favorables.
Dans un message transmis le 11 janvier dernier par son porte-parole,
le Secrétaire général s’était déclaré « satisfait » d’annoncer qu’une
majorité d’Etats Membres avait donné son accord à la convocation de
cette session extraordinaire.
S’adressant à la presse, au Siège de l’ONU à New York, Tom Lantos,
réprésentant démocrate et membre de la Commission des relations
internationales au Congrès américain, avait rendu hommage « à la
détermination exprimée par le Secrétaire général de tout faire pour
réaliser la convocation de cette session » et s’était déclaré «
consterné par l’opposition de certains pays arabes à cette session »,
reflétant, selon lui, un manque de conscience et de perspective
historique « difficiles à comprendre dans la communauté
internationale ».
Répondant à la question d’un journaliste qui demandait aujourd’hui si
cette commémoration marquerait le début d’autres commémorations comme
celle par exemple du génocide arménien, le Secrétaire général a
avancé « qu’il serait possible qu’à l’avenir, les Etats Membres
commémorent d’autres événements ».
Parallèlement à la session extraordinaire de l’Assemblée générale,
deux expositions sont organisées au Siège de l’ONU à new York. «
Auschwitz, the depth of the Abyss » est une collection de
photographies et de peintures des camps d’Auschwitz et Majdanek. «
Afterwards, it’s just a part of you », inaugurée hier, montre des
photos prises par des groupes de jeunes qui ont visité les camps.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Jan 20 2005
Analysis: Moscow Sheds Light On Karabakh Talks
By Liz Fuller
In order not to risk jeopardizing any rapprochement that has been
achieved, the participants in what has come to be known as the
“Prague process” of ministerial level talks under the aegis of the
OSCE Minsk Group on approaches to resolving the Karabakh conflict
have until now abided by a gentlemen’s agreement not to divulge to
the press the specific topics under discussion.
In line with that agreement, neither Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian nor his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov have
divulged any details of their most recent talks in Prague on 10-11
January. But four days after those talks, the Russian Foreign
Ministry issued a press release
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listing specific issues under discussion, adding that on some of
those issues the two sides’ positions have become closer.
Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service after meeting with Mammadyarov
on 11 January, Oskanian characterized the mood of the talks as
“positive.” He said that “full agreement” has not yet been reached on
the principles of a settlement, but that “there is a general
framework of issues, but as this meeting showed, they need to be
consolidated.” He added that “it is still too early to disclose any
details.” Briefing journalists in Yerevan the following day, Oskanian
predicted that settlement talks this year will be “quite intensive,”
thus marking a qualitative shift to a new, more serious phase of
discussions. Noyan Tapan quoted him as saying that “all elements”
related to a peaceful solution of the conflict are on the table,
without listing those elements.
Oskanian further noted that Azerbaijani media frequently misrepresent
the nature and focus of the talks, and that “everyone” — presumably
meaning both Mammadyarov and the U.S., Russian, and French
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group — agree that “officials should
be more circumspect when making statements.”
On 13 January, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
similarly briefed journalists in Baku on the Prague talks. Azimov
said that while Baku insists that any solution to the conflict must
preserve Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the restoration of
territorial integrity alone will not solve all problems: in that
context he mentioned specifically the future peaceful coexistence of
the Armenian population of Karabakh and those Azerbaijanis who fled
the region over a decade ago when the conflict first turned violent
and hope to return there.
Azimov also listed issues that could form part of a hypothetical
solution to the conflict. He said that if Armenian troops are
withdrawn from Azerbaijani territory, Azerbaijan would be ready to
restore economic and other relations with Armenia. He was quoted by
zerkalo.az as saying that “a little later, the question of the return
to the region of the Azerbaijani population and the coexistence of
the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in Nagorno-Karabakh must be
addressed. Once interregional ties and ties between Nagorno-Karabakh
and Armenia [on the one hand] and the government of Azerbaijan are
established, it will be possible to achieve a normalization of the
situation and set about seeking a solution to other political
questions.” Whether Oskanian and Mammadyarov have discussed that
specific sequence of events is not clear, however.
Azimov dismissed as “speculation” reports that the liberation of
three of the seven districts of Azerbaijan currently under Armenian
control is under discussion: he said that “in the course of the
Prague process the question of liberating all seven districts
surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh at the first stage is being discussed.”
According to echo-az.com, Azimov likewise denied that the possibility
of holding a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh on the region’s future
status was addressed in Prague, and he expressed regret that such
“unreliable information” finds its way into the press. In an article
published in “Le Figaro” last month, former Spanish Foreign Minister
Ana Palacio and Pierre Lellouche, who is NATO Parliamentary Assembly
president, argued that the Karabakh conflict differs fundamentally
from those in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transdniester, and that
“the Europeans, Americans, and Russians should jointly defend a
compromise [settlement] that would give Armenia temporary control of
Karabakh in exchange for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from
Azerbaijani territory, [with] the final status of Karabakh to be
decided by its inhabitants in a referendum in five or 10 years’
time.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry press release listed among the
“contentious issues” under discussion: the withdrawal of [Armenian]
troops, demilitarization of the previously occupied territories,
international security guarantees for the Armenian population of
Karabakh, and the unrecognized republic’s future status vis-a-vis
Azerbaijan. The press release reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to
contribute, together with the other two Minsk Group co-chairs, to
“deepening the mutual understanding between Armenia and Azerbaijan”
with a view to bringing about a peaceful solution to the conflict.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – January 20, 2005
BIBLE SEMINAR AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH
The subtle religious and linguistic beauty of the Holy Bible will be the
subject of a seminar at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York, on
Saturday, January 29, co-sponsored by the Christian Education Committee
(CEC) of St. Sarkis Church and the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC) of the Prelacy. Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC, will
conduct the seminar.
Deacon Shant will present a brief overview of the Bible and its use in
the Armenian Apostolic Church. He will also explore the differences between
the Orthodox, Protestant and Catholic versions of the scriptures, and will
discuss Bible study aids.
The seminar will begin at 10 a.m. at St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th
Street, Douglaston, New York, and conclude at 3 p.m. A light lunch and
coffee will be served. All are welcome.
For information contact the St. Sarkis Church office, 718-224-2275.
ST. STEPHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
GALA IS SATURDAY, JANUARY 29
St. Stephen Armenian Elementary School (Watertown, Massachusetts) will
celebrate its 20th anniversary with a gala celebration on Saturday, January
29, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The event is under the auspices His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
who will attend the gala to bring his congratulatory words on this occasion.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie
Corporation of New York.
Visit the school web site for information about the school
and the 20th anniversary gala on January 29.
SIAMANTO ACADEMY STUDENTS HEAR GUEST LECTURERS
Following an edifying lecture on Gomidas Vartabed in December by
ethnomusicologist Krikor Pidedjian, the Siamanto Academy students will
participate in the second lecture/workshop by renowned actress and writer
Nora Armani on Saturday, January 29. The first lecture by Ms. Armani
included an overview of Armenian theatre and a workshop that captivated the
students attention. The roster of other recent guest lecturers has included:
Major Aram Sarafian, Ara Jigarian, artist Kevork Mourad, Associated Press
photographer Harry Koundakjian, NK Arts Neery Melkonian, Tony Vartanian of
the ANCA, and art historian Dr. Sylvie Merian.
SERIES OF MEETINGS IN ANTELIAS
A series of meetings, presided by His Holiness Aram I, have taken place
this past week at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.
The agenda of the meeting of the Religious Executive Council covered reports
pertaining to Christian Education, Ecumenical Relations, and the Youth, as
well as programs and concerns related to different spheres of religious
life.
The meeting of the Lay Executive Council studied questions and projects
related to finances, social services, and public relations.
During the joint meeting of the Religious and Lay Committees, diocesan
primates and lay representatives, a number of issues about the overall
activities of the Catholicosate were discussed. In his remarks, His Holiness
emphasized the importance of responsibility, accountability, and
self-critical assessment, in the work of the Catholicosate on a global and
diocesan level.
PRELATE OFFERS DAILY MORNING PRAYER SESSIONS
DURING CARIBBEAN CRUISE
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan offered Morning Prayer services during the
one-week cruise in the Caribbean. His Eminence was gratified by the number
of people who attended the daily service each morning to participate in the
service and hear the message of the day, before beginning the activities of
the day.
Archbishop Oshagan said it was a good experience to see so many
Armenians coming together to enjoy a very well organized and planned
vacation.
PRELATE WILL GO TO FLORIDA TOMORROW
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Florida tomorrow, January 21, to
preside over meetings with the architects for the St. John Church in Boynton
Beach.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND MEETINGS IN VATICAN
Archbishop Oshagan will travel overseas to attend meetings at the
Vatican from January 24 to 30. The meetings are between the Oriental
Orthodox Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Papers will be presented on various aspects of communion, the meaning of
sister churches, the meaning of church families, and common ecumenical
goals.
The Cilician See will be represented by Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop
Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Holy See of Cilicia.
22nd MUSICAL ARMENIA CONCERT SERIES:
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW
The 2005 Musical Armenia concert, the 22nd performance in the series,
will take place Sunday, January 30, 2 pm, at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie
Hall, New York City. The concert will feature the baritone Oshin Gregorian
and the works of the composer Eric Hachikian, performed by the Motyl Chamber
Ensemble.
Mr. Gregorian will perform works by Gomidas, Mozart, Donizetti, Puccini,
Ravel, Ganatchian, Gregorian, and Sayat Nova.
The Motyl Chamber Ensemble will perform some works of Eric Hachikian,
including Voyage to Amasia and Saint Sarkis Suite.
Reserve your tickets now by contacting Sophie at the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.
GHEVONTIANK CLERGY CONFERENCE
WILL CONVENE IN MONTREAL
The annual Gevontiank Clergy Conference will convene in Montreal,
Canada, January 31 to February 2. Participating in the conference will be
the clergy of the Eastern, Western, and Canadian Prelacies. The theme of the
conference will focus on the past, present and future mission of the
Cilician Seminary.
PRELATE WILL VISIT ST. SARKIS CHURCH THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday, January 23, Archbishop Oshagan will officiate the Divine
Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, in observance of the
name day of the church. His Eminence will be assisted by the pastor of the
church, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian. The morning services begin at 10
am followed by the Badarak at 10:30 am.
His Eminence will also preside over the blessing of the veils of the
choir members. A luncheon will follow the church services. For information
and reservations contact the church office, 718-224-2275.
PARISHIONER IS HEADED TO AFGHANISTAN
A message from St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley (North Andover,
Massachusetts) informs us that a member of that parish, Felix Gregorian,
will be heading to Afghanistan next month. The message states:
As some of you may or may not know we have a fellow parishioner who is
in the process of heading to Afghanistan. Felix Gregorian is currently in
Texas and should be there until sometime in February before heading
overseas. Below is his mailing and email address where he can be reached.
Feel free to send him letters/emails to keep in touch and let him know what’s
going on in our church/community. He would love to hear from all of you,
regardless of whether you have known him forever or have never met him. Let
us give him our support and let him know that he and his family are in our
thoughts and prayers.
ILT Felix Gregorian
ANA ETT 3Bgde 5BN CSSI
650th ASG Bldg 4228
Ft. Hood, TX 76544
[email protected]
ZULAL TO PERFORM IN NEW YORK CITY
ZULAL, the Armenian a cappella folk trio, will perform next Wednesday,
January 26, 7:30 pm, at Satalla, 37 W. 26th St., New York City.
Zulal, which means clarity, is receiving raves and critical acclaim
following performances in various parts of the United States and Canada. The
three talented performers, Anais Tekerian, Teni Apelian and Yeraz Markarian,
keep true to the folk tradition while providing fresh perspectives and
harmonies. We saw them in their New Jersey performance last year and found
their performance to be exciting, informative, and entertaining.
PAPER ON STEPANOS SIWNECI IN JOURNAL
The latest edition of the scholarly journal, Le Museon, (Volume 117,
Issue 3), includes a paper entitled Origen’s Commentaries as Sources for
Stepanos Siwneci’s Commentary on the Gospels, by Michael Papazian.
Stepanos Siwneci (c. 688-735) was the author of some of the earliest
surviving Armenian biblical commentaries. Professor Papazian is chairman of
the Religion and Philosophy Department at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
ST. SARKIS, ST. ADOM, ST. SOUKIAS
It is a busy week for the Armenian Church in the remembrance of saints,
including St. Sarkis the Warrior, Sts. Adom and Generals, and Sts. Soukias
and Martyrs.
ST. SARKIS THE WARRIOR
This Saturday, the Armenian Church remembers St. Sarkis the Warrior and
his son, St. Mardiros. It is a moveable feast day that generally occurs
between January 11 and February 15. It follows the five-day Fast of
Catechumens. Although the Fast is not connected to St. Sarkis, it has become
to be associated with this saint who enjoy a special popularity among the
Armenians. Sarkis lived during the fourth century and was from Cappadocia in
Asia Minor. He rose through the military ranks as a consequence of his
valiant campaigns on behalf of the Emperor Constantine. With the accession
of Emperor Julian, Sarkis took refuge in Armenia with his son, Mardiros.
Later he and his son went to Persia to join the Persian army in fighting
Emperor Julian. Both fought with exceptional bravery. The Persian king
(Shapur II) tried to convince them to abandon their Christrian faith and
embrace Zorastrianism. Both refused, and father and son were martyred.
Loyal Christian soldiers who went to retrieve the body, were killed as
well. Eventually, Christians found the body and sent it to Assyria, where it
remained until the fifth century, when Mesrob Mashdots received the remains
and moved them to the city of Garpi in Armenia. The famed Garpi Monastery,
erected over the site of the grave, stands to this day.
St. Sarkis is revered and there are many Armenian churches throughout
the world dedicated to his memory.
GEORGE W. BUSH INAUGURATED TODAY
George W. Bush was inaugurated to his second term of office as President
of the United States today at noon.
In his second inaugural speech to the nation, President Bush said,
freedom is not only the right of all people everywhere, and thus a
transcendent cause in itself, but an engine to help America secure. We are
led by events and common sense to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in
our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The
best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the
world.
The President struck an ecumenical tone in describing an America guided
by spiritual as well as secular precepts: Self-government relies, in the
end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in
families supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our
national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of
the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in
reaffirming all that is good and true that came before, ideals of justice
and conduct that are the same today and forever.
The U.S. Constitution has only two requirements for the inauguration:
1. That the president-elect take office at noon on January 20.
2. That the president-elect take a short 35-word oath: I,.do solemnly
swear to faithfully executive the office of president of the United States
and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States.
George Washington, the first president, added so help me God to the oath and
kissed the Bible. His swearing in took place in 1789 in New York City, which
was the temporary capital. His second inaugural address in 1793 was 135
words, the shortest inaugural address in history.
The longest inaugural address was given by William Henry Harrison in
1841. His 8,445-word address, delivered in cold blustery weather, lasted two
hours. He developed pneumonia soon after and died a month later.
Historians agree that the most eloquent second inaugural address was
delivered by Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1865. This is the with malice
toward none, with charity for all, speech that we have quoted here at other
times, but is worth repeating.
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the
right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work
we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have
borne the battle and for his widow and his orphans, to do all which may
achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all
nations.
Lincoln was assassinated a little more than a month later.
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ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
01/20/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan to Take AGBU to Court on Melkonian Issue 2) Assistant US Secretary of State's Statements Hinder Peace Process Says Karabagh ARF 3) Kentucky Democrat Chandler Joins Armenian Caucus 4) Azeri Ex-Brigade Commander Refuses to Fight Again for Azerbaijan 1) Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan to Take AGBU to Court on Melkonian Issue LOS ANGELES--Reliable sources have confirmed that, in the matter of the Garabed Melkonian Trust, Archbishop Mesrob Mutafyan, in his fiduciary capacity as Patriarch of Constantinople, filed a lawsuit against New York-based Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) on January 13, 2005. The suit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles by plaintiff Mutafyan's California-based attorney. The lawsuit mainly addresses the formal announcement made by the AGBU in March 2004 that it would be closing the Melkonian Educational Institution in Nicosia, Cyprus at the end of the 2005 school year. In July 1921, wealthy Armenian businessman Garabed Melkonian donated a gift to then Patriarch of Constantinople Zaven Der Yeghyayan, to establish and maintain Armenian schools, as well as carry out various charitable works for the Armenian people. In 1924, the value of the gift was at least $3.5 million and per Melkonian's request, an Armenian school and orphanage named the Melkonian Educational Institute was established in Nicosia, Cyprus. In 1925, Patriarch Der Yeghyayan transferred the entire Melkonian gift, including the Melkonian Educational Institute, to the AGBU due to the latter's expressed ability to better manage the trust's assets and execute the donor's intentions. The suit, Arch. Mesrob Mutafyan vs. Armenian General Benevolent Union, petitions to compel AGBU to perform the Trustee's duties and redress a breach of trust by payment of money or otherwise. Asbarez tried to contact Mutafyan for comment but has not yet received a response. 2) Assistant US Secretary of State's Statements Hinder Peace Process Says Karabagh ARF YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Responding to outgoing US Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones's recent statement concerning Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR), Grisha Hayrapetian, a member of the MKR Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee (CC), said that the comments are "extremely damaging to the peace process." On Wednesday, Jones called for increased US engagement in resolving regional conflicts in the former Soviet Union, stating: "It is in Russia's interest for these areas--for Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Mountainous Karabagh--to be stable, for corruption to end there, for the criminal secessionists who rule there to be removed. It is not appropriate for this kind of instability and criminality to exist right in the middle of Europe." In the article that appeared in the newspaper Aparazh, Hayerapetian emphasized that Jones's statement contradicts those of high-ranking US officials who have repeatedly said that democratic process in MKR has advanced significantly, specifically in contrast to the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan. He also stressed that the removal of any given country's leadership remains an internal issue for citizens to decide through free elections. 3) Kentucky Democrat Chandler Joins Armenian Caucus Second term Congressman Serves on House International Relations Committee NEW YORK (ANCA-ER)--Representative Ben Chandler (D-KY) became the newest member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues on Wednesday, boosting the Caucus's membership to one hundred forty-five. Congressman Chandler was first elected to the US House in a special election in February 2004 to replace Rep. Ernie Fletcher, who left his seat to successfully run for Governor of Kentucky. Chandler was re-elected to office in November 2004, with 59% of the vote. Congressman Chandler serves on the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on International Relations, and the Select Committee on Homeland Security. "We welcome Representative Chandler joining the Armenian Issues Caucus and look forward to working with the Congressman on a number of issues of special concern to his Armenian American constituents," said Doug Geogerian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region (ANCA-ER). "As a member of the Committee on International Relations, we look forward to his support on gaining official recognition of the Armenian Genocide, working to foster stronger US-Armenia bilateral relations, and obtaining a just settlement for the people of Mountainous Karabagh," said Geogerian. Founded in 1995, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is a bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples. Its two co-chairs are Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ). 4) Azeri Ex-Brigade Commander Refuses to Fight Again for Azerbaijan BAKU (PanArmenian.net)--"I will not fight for Azerbaijan anymore," announced retired Colonel Azer Rustamov, in an interview with Azeri weekly Obozrevatel.net. "I do not wish to fight and others will not go either. They'll prefer to trade in bazaars." Rustamov rose to the rank of full colonel and commander of a brigade in the Fizuli district, where he served from 1999 to 2001. He resigned from the military in 2003. "If war breaks out now, I am not sure whether I'll fight. I witnessed the attitude showed towards the memory of the killed and those, who remained invalid after the war," said Rustamov. "The army, of course, will fight for a certain period. But what will happen when their depleted ranks would need to be replenished? Who will go if over two million people now work in Russia?" Rustamov is also critical of Azerbaijan's foreign policy rhetoric. At present, he is focused on forming "Combat Brotherhood," a non-government organization that would focus on veterans of Afghanistan and other wars. A veteran of wars in Afghanistan and Karabagh, Rustamov was decorated by both the Elchibey and Aliyev administrations with the Order of the Red Star, awarded for length of service. A group of 100 Chechen volunteers, headed by Shamil Basayev and Salman Raduyev, significantly helped the Azeri army, according to Rustamov. CORRECTION In Tuesday's article "Twenty-two Novices Refresh Ranks of ARF," we incorrectly reported that Khajag Dikranian served as the godfather to the novices entering the ranks of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation on January 15; it should have stated Khajag Dikidjian. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Agence France Presse — Espanol
1/20/2005
El Papa bendice la nueva estatua de San Gregorio en San Pedro
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO Ene 19
El Papa Juan Pablo II bendijo este miércoles la nueva estatua de San
Gregorio, apóstol de los Armenios, la cual fue instalada en uno de
los nichos exteriores de la basílica de San Pedro.
La statua, de mármol de Carrara, de 5,64 metros de altura y que pesa
20 toneladas, fue realizada por el escultor armeno Kazan Khatechik a
pedido del colegio eclesiástico armenio de Roma.
Nacido en el año 260 y fallecido en el 328 en Armenia, San Gregorio
fue el impulsor de la conversión al cristianismo de su país en el año
301.
Se trata de la octava estatua de santo instalada en los nichos
exteriores de la basílica, que en su interior tiene numerosas obras
de arte antiguas, la mayoría del Renacimiento.
Después de haber bendecido la estatua, el Papa recibió a cerca de
7.000 peregrinos para la tradicional audiencia general de los
miércoles y los invitó a participar espiritualmente, como hace él
mismo, en la semana de oraciones por la unidad de los cristianos que
comenzó el martes en todo el mundo.

La Stampa, Italia
01/20/2005
CREDERE L’INCREDIBILE
Spinelli Barbara
Barbara Spinelli NOI non sappiamo che cosa sia realistico o non
realistico: noi qui stiamo morendo tutti! Vai a dire questo!””. Con
queste parole Leon Feiner, attivista dell’organizzazione Jewish
Socialist Bund, si accomiato’ da Jan Karski nel ’42, dopo l’invasione
nazista della Polonia. Era ormai chiuso nella trappola che Varsavia
era divenuta per gli ebrei, e Karski era la sua unica speranza.
Karski era un diplomatico polacco, cattolico, che nel ’41 era entrato
clandestinamente nel Paese occupato e aveva visto l’essenziale: il
ghetto di Varsavia, il campo di sterminio di Belzec alla frontiera
con l’Ucraina, le stelle gialle, l’uccisione per le strade di donne,
bambini. Era un testimone prezioso e fu incaricato di raccontare gli
eventi a Londra e in America, mostrando i filmati presi nella
spedizione. Non fu ascoltato, se non da pochi.
Non gli credette nessuno, tranne qualche spirito profetico. Fu cosi’
sempre, nei genocidi del XX secolo.
Dopo aver letto il rapporto di Karski e visto i suoi film, Ignacy
Schwarzbart in nome del Consiglio nazionale polacco di Londra invio’
un telegramma al Congresso Ebraico Mondiale, alla fine del ’42:
“”Ebrei in Polonia quasi completamente annientati – STOP – A Belzec
costretti scavare loro tomba suicidio di massa centinaia di bambini
gettati vivi in canali di scolo – STOP – Ebrei nudi trascinati camere
della morte – STOP – Migliaia di vittime quotidiane intera Polonia –
STOP – Credere l’incredibile – STOP””. Credere l’incredibile: ecco la
frase che spiega tanti misteri, nelle reazioni del mondo a Auschwitz.
Che spiega il silenzio, l’indifferenza delle democrazie, dei maestri
di pensiero e di religione. Furono numerosi perfino gli ebrei, a non
credere: negli Stati Uniti, Karski non riusci’ a smuovere Felix
Frankfurter, giudice della Corte Suprema, e Isaiah Berlin – nel ’42
lavorava all’ambasciata britannica di Washington – non vedeva piu’ di
un pogrom, una persecuzione abituale. Stessa reazione l’ebbero
dirigenti sionisti come Nahum Goldman, Chaim Weizmann, David
Ben-Gurion.
Scrive la studiosa Samantha Power, in un libro esemplare, che i
rappresentanti della civilta’ vivevano in “”un crepuscolo tra il
sapere e il non sapere”” (Voci dall’Inferno, Baldini Castoldi Dalai
2004). Questo era dunque il contesto, in cui i contemporanei di
Auschwitz pensavano, operavano, prima della liberazione dei campi
sessant’anni fa.
Questa la sensibilita’ ottenebrata, la mancata percezione del
carattere inedito dell’orrore: il contesto e’ qualcosa che gli
storici non possono ignorare, e che secondo molti giustifica silenzi
e omissioni non solo durante, ma dopo lo sterminio. Lo si e’ potuto
constatare nell’avvincente dibattito aperto dal Corriere della Sera
su Pio XII e l’ordine, nel ’46, di non restituire alle famiglie i
bambini ebrei salvati e battezzati durante il genocidio. La storia
non si giudica con il metro del presente, e’ stato detto. E
certamente non possiamo ignorare tutti quegli ingredienti (il
contesto appunto, o come si dice oggi il comune sentire,
l’orientamento largamente diffuso all’epoca dei fatti) che sono la
stoffa di cui da sempre e’ fatto il Zeitgeist, e cioe’ quello spirito
dei tempi teorizzato da Hegel e descritto da Goethe come
“”predominio”” di un pensiero che “”s’impossessa delle masse”” e non
tollera pareri contrari. Karski e altri non furono ascoltati, e tale
era il Zeitgeist degli Anni 30 e 40. Lo era per vari motivi. Perche’
le sovranita’ degli Stati erano intangibili, e la lotta a Hitler era
contro la sua espansione militare. Il crimine era talmente
inconcepibile da sembrare non possibile.
Gli ebrei erano stati perseguitati tante volte, e non si vide lo
strappo. Ma soprattutto non c’era un nome, per dirlo. Il crimine era
non solo inconcepibile ma ineffabile, dunque condannato a restare nel
crepuscolo tra dire e non dire, agire e non agire. Il richiamo allo
Spirito dei Tempi si comprende, ma non e’ in realta’ di enorme aiuto.
Quel che avvenne durante il genocidio e dopo chiarisce il perche’ di
tante rimozioni (compresa la rimozione in Israele; compresa la
rimozione favorita dai comunisti in Est Europa: nei Lager le lapidi
tacitavano il martirio degli ebrei, giudicato secondario rispetto a
quello dei comunisti), ma e’ utile piu’ per una cura di guarigione
dopo il delitto, che per una cura che lo scongiuri.
La questione davvero cruciale e’ un’altra, e la lezione di Auschwitz
non concerne tanto l’espiazione-riparazione quanto la prevenzione.
Come dice Freud criticando Dostoevskij: quel che conta nell’etica e’
evitare di fare il male, non anelare a lacerate espiazioni. E la
memoria giova se salvaguarda i due ricordi: come si pati’ l’orrore e
lo si penso’ dopo, ma anche come fu intuito e ritenuto scongiurabile
prima, se testimoni e moniti fossero stati ascoltati. Di questo gli
storici non si occupano molto, anche perche’ la figura del testimone
non ha sempre diritto di cittadinanza nei loro archivi. Eppure e’
questo che puo’ aiutare a capire, ad agire: la rievocazione degli
allarmi che furono lanciati da un certo numero di illuminati.
Lo studio del loro carattere, del loro metodo. Esaminando le opere di
chi seppe dire l’orrore, si apprende una grande lezione: non e’
necessaria una vista specialmente acuta, ne’ occorre attendere di
avere un’idea sulle idee del genocidio (questo il significato di
vocaboli improbi come concettualizzazione, contestualizzazione della
Shoah). E’ sufficiente avere una quantita’ modica di decenza, non
influenzabile dalle circostanze.
E per istituzioni come il Papa di Roma, e’ sufficiente – lo ricorda
Claudio Magris – rammentare che la Chiesa non e’ figlia del Zeitgeist
ma difende “”verita’ ritenute immutabili””. L’antigiudaismo
tradizionale che allignava nel cristianesimo aveva creato un clima
favorevole all’antisemitismo hitleriano ma non aveva a che fare con
Auschwitz. Qualcosa di nuovo era apparso in Europa, un antisemitismo
che non spingeva gli ebrei ne’ a convertirsi ne’ a fuggire ma che li
chiudeva in spazi chiusi e li annientava. E il nuovo che irrompe nel
presente, solo uno sguardo profetico puo’ intuirlo: non perche’ il
profeta anticipi l’avvenire, ma perche’ sa descrivere il presente.
Solo i profeti e i vigili hanno quel che serve: non una visione
storicizzata dell’etica ma un’immaginazione morale, e la capacita’ di
dare un nome all’Inferno. Non mancarono uomini simili, dotati di
fantasia etica.
Basta ricordare due nomi, a parte Karski. Il primo e’ Arnold
Schonberg: nel libro Un Programma in Quattro Punti per l’Ebraismo,
scritto fra il ’33 e il ’38, il musicista fa la lista meticolosa
degli ebrei minacciati da Hitler che vivono in Germania, Austria,
Europa centro-orientale: “”C’e’ posto nel mondo per circa 7 milioni
di persone? O questi milioni sono condannati alla finale rovina? A
divenire un popolo estinto, affamato, macellato?””. Schonberg fa
capire che non l’eroismo s’impone. Basta un po’ d’anticonformismo, ed
essere “”osservatori svegli, realistici””. Cosi’ l’immaginazione
morale si mette a servizio del realismo, solitamente evocato per
giustificare omissioni. Schonberg aveva visto montare l’antisemitismo
nuovo fin dai primi Anni 20, in Austria. Il secondo e’ Raphael
Lemkin, un giurista polacco che dopo il genocidio degli armeni nel
’15 aveva capito quale disastro puo’ nascere da crimini prima non
visti, poi impuniti.
Poco prima di invadere la Polonia, Hitler aveva rassicurato cosi’ i
comandanti del proprio esercito: “”Chi ricorda ancora, oggi, il
genocidio degli armeni?””. Nessuno lo ricordava perche’ non esisteva
ancora un nome per simile crimine, e solo il nome poteva fondare
secondo Lemkin una giurisprudenza internazionale. Il 24 agosto ’41,
mentre i nazisti avanzavano in Russia, Churchill aveva detto alla
Bbc: “”Interi distretti vengono sterminati, migliaia sono le
esecuzioni a sangue freddo.
Dall’invasione dei Mongoli non s’e’ visto un mattatoio simile. Siamo
in presenza d’un crimine senza nome””. Grazie a Lemkin, il crimine
senza nome ricevera’ invece un nome, gia’ nel ’43: genocidio. E una
volta trovato il nome si potra’ poi legiferare. Nel ’48, l’Onu
approva una Convenzione sul genocidio, e a Norimberga il reato di cui
saranno accusati i nazisti sara’ genocidio. Negli Anni Cinquanta si
trovera’ il nome di Olocausto (lo storico ebreo Poliakov nel ’51, lo
scrittore cattolico Mauriac nel ’58).
Poi, sulla scia del film di Claude Lanzmann, si parlera’ di Shoah.
Dare un nome e’ cruciale, se si vuol far fronte agli stermini prima
che succedano. Per Ruanda e Bosnia non si volle usare la parola
genocidio, perche’ la convenzione Onu comporta il dovere
d’intervento. Anche l’annientamento con armi chimiche di circa
100.000 curdi iracheni nell’87 non fu chiamato genocidio. Furono le
amministrazioni Reagan e Bush senior a opporsi, perche’ Saddam era
allora un prezioso alleato. Divenne nemico da abbattere quando stava
diventando, grazie a ispezioni e sanzioni, nella sostanza innocuo.
Il motivo per cui contano piu’ i prodromi che la successiva
elaborazione della colpa e’ che nel futuro varra’ la pena prevenire
ecatombi simili, piuttosto che trovare il modo piu’ eccelso di
piangere i morti. Per far questo, bisogna non solo dare il nome al
delitto, come ha fatto Lemkin, ma riscrivere un intero vocabolario, a
partire dall’esperienza di Auschwitz.
Bisogna ridefinire la classica politica di potenza e dunque la
sovranita’ assoluta degli Stati, stabilendo che essi non possono fare
qualsiasi cosa sul proprio territorio. Bisogna avere l’immaginazione
morale atta a dire l’indicibile, l’incredibile. Non bisogna dare
colori metafisici agli eventi: Auschwitz e’ uno sterminio di popoli
(ebrei, polacchi, zingari); non e’ ne’ un misterico sacrificio (un
Olocausto) ne’ un’esperienza che riguarda solo gli ebrei. E non sono
coinvolti solo etnie ma modi di essere, di vivere (malati mentali,
omosessuali). Bisogna rivedere il concetto di comune civilta’ umana,
liberandola dagli unanimismi: la civilta’ umana, dice Ignatieff, e’
unita nella coscienza della propria diversita’. Nessun essere sulla
terra si differenzia come gli uomini (per colore di pelle, religione,
stili di vita), ed e’ questo il tesoro da salvare.
E’ perche’ non c’e’ ancora questo vocabolario che tanti tabu’, legati
a Auschwitz, rischiano oggi di cadere. Tra questi: l’eugenetica; o la
tortura dei prigionieri di guerra, costretti a denudarsi e a vedersi
umiliati nella propria religione (Abu Ghraib). Torna infine il
bisogno di capro espiatorio: il bisogno di individuare categorie
nemiche, per appartenenza religiosa o modi di vita.
Come dice Ignatieff, il genocidio comincia con la promessa di creare
un mondo senza diversi, senza nemici, fatto di gente tutta eguale.
Comincia con un’utopia, e quest’utopia mortifera e’ dentro ciascuno
di noi. E siccome l’utopia e’ dentro di noi, e l’orientamento diffuso
tra la gente e i politici tende negli ultimi tempi a assecondarla,
Auschwitz e’ sempre di nuovo possibile.

La Stampa, Italia
01/19/2005
UNA STATUA IN VATICANO San Gregorio simbolo d’Armenia
Tosatti Marco
Marco Tosatti LO sguardo di Papa Wojtyla nell’inverno del suo
pontificato e’ sempre piu’ rivolto a Oriente, verso le “”chiese
sorelle””, in uno sforzo supremo di ricerca dell’unita’. Dopo il
“”regalo”” dell’Icona di Kazan al Patriarcato di Mosca, dopo il dono
delle reliquie dei santi Gregorio Nazianzeno e Giovanni Crisostomo al
Patriarca ecumenico Bartolomeo di Costantinopoli, oggi si compie in
Vaticano un altro gesto di grande significato, questa volta nei
confronti della chiesa armena, e piu’ in generale, del popolo armeno.
In una nicchia della basilica di San Pietro verra’ collocata una
statua gigantesca – e’ alta piu’ di cinque metri e mezzo – di san
Gregorio Illuminatore (Lusavoritch, in armeno), la prima statua di un
santo “”orientale”” ospitata nel cuore della cattolicita’. Poco
importa che “”questo”” san Gregorio non sia un totale sconosciuto per
la tradizione italiana: non e’ altri che il “”san Gregorio armeno””
venerato in tutta l’Italia meridionale, da Nardo’ fino a Napoli, dove
la strada a lui dedicata e’ un appuntamento irrinunciabile, sotto
Natale, per gli amanti dei presepi.
E’ un omaggio dalle molte sfaccettature, quello che il Papa rivolge
oggi a san Gregorio Illuminatore, benedicendo la statua posta nella
nicchia del Cortilone. Intanto, la cerimonia sigilla la conclusione
delle celebrazioni del grande giubileo indetto per festeggiare i 1700
anni della conversione del popolo armeno alla fede cristiana. Per
l’occasione, nel 2001, il Vaticano, in collaborazione con il
Patriarcato Armeno Cattolico, lancio’ un concorso internazionale per
il progetto di questa statua. Vinse il concorso uno scultore armeno
di origine libanese, Khatchik Kazandjian, che parti’ per Carrara per
scegliere il marmo statuario, quello stesso utilizzato da
Michelangelo per scolpire “”la Pieta'””. I lavori sono durati quasi
due anni e il costo e’ stato di quasi 250.000 Euro.
In secondo luogo c’e’ la mano tesa a una chiesa, quella apostolica
armena, che da un punto di vista teologico e’ vicinissima a Roma; in
realta’ si puo’ dire che piu’ che per ogni altra “”confessione
sorella”” a oriente di Venezia i motivi di divisione, o di non
comunione, attingono alla storia, piu’ che alla dottrina. Alla
cerimonia di oggi, e alla messa all’altare della Cattedra, in San
Pietro, Sua Beatitudine Nerses Bedros XIX Catholicos Patriarca di
Cilicia degli Armeni e l’Arciprete della basilica di San Pietro, il
cardinale Francesco Marchisano hanno invitato i due Catholicos della
Chiesa armena apostolica, di Etchmiadzin (Armenia), e di Antelias
(Libano), e il capo della chiesa armena evangelica. Ma, soprattutto,
in un momento in cui le popolazioni cristiane in Oriente sono vittima
di discriminazioni e aggressioni di ogni tipo, l’omaggio a San
Gregorio armeno e’ anche, per il Papa, l’omaggio a un popolo martire
come pochi altri per la sua fede.

PanArmenian News
Jan 20 2005
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO PAY OFFICIAL CALL TO ITALY
20.01.2005 17:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian today received
Italian Ambassador to Yerevan Marco Clemente. As reported by the
president’s Press Service, in the course of the meeting details of R.
Kocharian’s coming official visit to Italy were discussed. In the
course of the conversation the Armenian leader emphasized that
traditional friendly relations are established with Italy. In his
words, there are good prospects in economic cooperation, specifically
in medium and small enterprise. It should be reminded that as earlier
stated by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, the visited is
expected to take place in late January.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
Jan 20 2005
RALLY AGAINST US ASSISTANT STATE SECRETARY STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH
HELD IN ARMENIA
20.01.2005 17:04
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday in Yerevan representatives of a range of
youth and student organizations held a rally procession towards the
building of the US Embassy in Armenia. The action, in which over 200
took part, aimed at expressing protest against the statement of US
Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones that “establishment of
stability in Pridnestrovye, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno
Karabakh proceeds from interests of Russia and corruption should be
ended and ruling criminal separatists taken away there.” In the words
of action participants, their goal was to demonstrate to the
civilized world and Elizabeth Jones that Nagorno Karabakh people and
authorities cannot be considered separatists, as Nagorno Karabakh has
never been and will never be part of Azerbaijan. The action
participants also reminded that Karabakh Armenians are guided by the
principle of self-determination. “The conflict in Nagorno Karabakh is
not a small change for political games between the US and Russia,”
Chairman of the Student Council of Yerevan State University Mihran
Hakobian stated. It should be noted that the action participants
conveyed a respective statement to the Embassy.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 20 2005
Cost of tickets for transit flights of Austrian Airlines from Armenia
thru Vienna decreased by $27
4th national exhibition `Our Home’ will take place on Feb 25-27 in
Yerevan
January 23 will be celebrated in all Armenian churches as
commemoration of victims of tragic events in Baku in 1990
Constituent congress of Armenia-Our Home newly established party of
NKR held in Stepanakert
RA President meets with Ambassador of Italy to Armenia
Public organizations of Armenia sign memorandum on cooperation on
fight against traficking and illegal migration
6 criminals wanted by police CIS countries are on the territory of
Armenia
*********************************************************************
COST OF TICKETS FOR TRANSIT FLIGHTS OF AUSTRIAN AIRLINES FROM ARMENIA
THRU VIENNA DECREASED BY $27
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Cost of tickets for transit flights of
Austrian Airlines from Armenia thru Vienna decreased by $27, Austrian
Airlines told ARKA. It became possible in account of provision of
benefits by the company for transit flights thru Vienna. Since Jan
17, 2005 AA compensate more than 50% of the cost of the transit thru
Vienna, if earlier the amount of transit payments was 14.17 Euros,
now it makes 8 Euros. Besides the company also decreased all
additional payment for fuel.
According to General Commercial Director of Austrian Airlines Joseph
Burger, transit flights thru Vienna are the key ones in world network
of air flights.
Austrian Airlines was founded in 1957. Authorized capital of the
company makes 3.4 billion Austrian shillings (about $226 million).
The owners are Austrian Privatization Agency (39.7% of shares), Free
Flow (30.6%), Austrian Syndicate (18.2%), SairLines (10%) and Air
France (1.5%). Air park of the company makes 90 planes. AA office in
Yerevan opened in Jan 2001 and first flight in Vienna was made on
March 26, 2001. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
4TH NATIONAL EXHIBITION `OUR HOME’ WILL TAKE PLACE ON FEB 25-27 IN
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. 4th national exhibition `Our Home’ will
take place on Feb 25-27 in Yerevan, Expomedia Center told ARKA. The
exhibition covers more than 1000 square meters of area. According to
marketing research, about 60% of companies are regular participants
of the exhibition `Our Home’. The goal of the exhibition is to gather
together the companies occupied in project-construction, repairs
works, interior-exterior, design of dwelling and office areas. After
the end of the exhibition all participants will receive official
diplomas and the winners will receive prizes.
The exhibition will take place in support of Yerevan City
Administration, RA Ministry of Urban Development and Trade-Industrial
Chamber. L.D. -0 –
*********************************************************************
JANUARY 23 WILL BE CELEBRATED IN ALL ARMENIAN CHURCHES AS
COMMEMORATION OF VICTIMS OF TRAGIC EVENTS IN BAKU IN 1990
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. January 23 will be celebrated in all
Armenian churches as commemoration of victims of tragic events in
Baku in 1990, St. Echmiadzin press service told ARKA.
In Jan 1990 Armenian massacre in Baku received organized and mass
character. Concrete number of murdered is still not defined. L.D. -0 –
*********************************************************************
CONSTITUENT CONGRESS OF ARMENIA-OUR HOME NEWLY ESTABLISHED PARTY OF
NKR HELD IN STEPANAKERT
STEPANAKERT, January 20. /ÀÐÊÀ/. The constituent congress of
`Armenia-Our Home’ newly established party of NKR was held in
Stepanakert. According to Ararat Petrosyan, the member of the
initiative group, upon the development and implementation of the
scheduled objectives and tasks, the new party follows a number of
basic principles, in particular, the unity of Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh, with consideration of all-human values and ideas, Armenian
national and state interests, etc. The objectives of the new party
are the political recognition of NKR as a subject of international
law, historically, judicially and politically justified renaming of
the country to Armenian state of Artsakh, economic, language and
cultural re-development of the territories liberated during the
Karabakh war, establishment of a social and legal state, constant
strengthening of Armenian Armed Forces and improvement of NKR
population’s welfare. L.V.-0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. The RA President Robert Kocharian met
today with Marco Clementi, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Ambassador of Italy to Armenia. As the Press Service of RA President
told ARKA agency, the parties discussed the details of the
forthcoming visit of Robert Kocharian to Italy. The President
emphasized the traditional friendship of Italy and Armenia and the
promising perspectives for economic cooperation, in particular, in
SME area. The visit of Kocharian to Italy is scheduled for the end of
January, 2005. L.V.-0 –
*********************************************************************
PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA SIGN MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION ON
FIGHT AGAINST TRAFICKING AND ILLEGAL MIGRATION
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Public organizations of Armenia signed
memorandum on cooperation on fight against traficking and illegal
migration, Coordinator of UNDP Program on Fight Against Traficking
Rafael Gyulnazarian stated today. According to him, special accent
will be made on conduction of preventive activities: organizations
will cooperate in the sphere of assistance to development of policy
and legislation, awareness of society on traficking problems,
provision of assistnace to victims of traficking, development of
mechanisms on their return and reintegration. He added that the plan
of activities for the next year is already created.
Memorandum signed by such organizations as Fund for Human Rights
Protection after Sakharov, Fund of Maternity, Armenian Sociological
Association, Armenian Red Cross, Armenian Caritas, Center for Women
Rights. L.D. -0 –
*********************************************************************
6 CRIMINALS WANTED BY POLICE CIS COUNTRIES ARE ON THE TERRITORY OF
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, January 20. /ARKA/. Currently, 6 criminals wanted by the
police of CIS countries are on the territory of Armenia, according to
the Deputy General Prosecutor Mnatsakan Sargsyan. He noted that
preventive punishment in the form of arrest was applied in relation
to them. `We have sent a corresponding inquiry with the information
that they were revealed and are currently in Armenia ‘, said
Sargsyan. He also noted that four of the wanted are Armenian citizens
and Armenia would not extradite them to Russia. Their criminal cases
have already been requested by Armenian law enforcement bodies. The
cases of other two arrested criminals are currently being discussed.
One of them illegally obtained Ukrainian citizenship and the other
committed a murder in Kazakhstan. Sargsyan mentioned that the basic
cooperation in this area is carried out with Russia, as majority of
Armenians live there. He assured that in other CIS countries, in
particular, in Belarus, Armenian citizens do not have any problems
with law enforcement bodies. L.V..-0 –