Armenian economy expands 10% in 11 mths
Interfax
Dec 23 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenian GDP grew 10% year-on-year to 1.672
trillion dram in January-November, the National Statistics Service
told Interfax.
GDP in November this year fell 22.2% compared with October.
Industrial output rose 1.6% to 473.9 billion dram year-on-year in
the 11 months.
Armenian foreign trade grew 4.5% year-on-year to 1.001 trillion dram
in the same period.
The government forecasts GDP growth of 7% in 2004. GDP in 2003
increased 13.9% year-on-year to 1.618 trillion dram, with industrial
production up 14.9% to 425.3 billion dram.
The official exchange rate on December 22 was 484.97 dram to the
dollar.

Palestinian leader Abbas receives EU envoy, church delegation
Voice of Palestine, Ramallah
23 Dec 04
PLO Executive Committee Chairman Mahmud Abbas, Abu-Mazin, received
Marc Otte, the European envoy for the Middle East peace process,
at the presidential compound this morning. The meeting dealt with
the efforts being exerted to revive the peace process as well the
forthcoming presidential elections.
Abbas had earlier received a Jerusalem church delegation headed by
Armenian Patriarch Torkom Manoogian and a number of patriarchs and
bishops on the occasion of the advent of Christmas.

The Islamic Republic’s Christian Minority
By Golnaz Esfandiari
12/39e8de10-59b8-4b9b-ad25-8a10f1c34402.html
Iran is officially designated the “Islamic Republic,” yet among its more
than 66 million people is a small but important Christian minority. Most
of Iran’s Christians are Armenians and Assyrians, who remain relatively
free to follow their faith. The numbers of Protestants and evangelical
Christians are said to be growing. For these people, life is often much
more difficult. RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari takes a look at
Iran’s Christian minority.
Prague, 23 December 2004 (RFE/RL) — Christian Armenians and Assyrians
have lived for centuries on the territory of what is today Iran.
Vigen, one of Iran’s most famous singers, came from the country’s Armenian
community. He was loved by all Iranians in spite of the fact his faith was
different from the vast majority. He died recently, but remains a legend.
The number of Armenians, Iran’s largest Christian minority, was estimated
at about 300,000 in 1979. It has declined in recent times but remains
culturally important.
Mardo Soghom, the director of RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, is Armenian by origin
but grew up in Isfahan, in central Iran.
“The 400-year history of the Armenian community in Iran is perhaps the
greatest example of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, even at
the time when the country experienced isolation and socio-economic
backwardness,” Soghom said. “In the 20th century, as the country
modernized, the Armenian community thrived both economically and
culturally. After the revolution, dislocations and restrictions affecting
the general population also created hardships for Armenians, nearly half
the community left Iran. Some discriminatory policies and restrictions
came into effect, but still community rights are generally protected.”
Armenians have two seats in the Iranian parliament but continue to face
cultural, social, and administrative difficulties. They report
discrimination in finding work, and just a few Armenian schools are
fortunate enough to have an Armenian schoolmaster.
The Assyrian Christian population is estimated at some 10,000. They have
one seat in the parliament.
Iran is also home to a small number of Catholics and a small but growing
number of Protestants.
A relatively new phenomenon is the rising number of Muslim-born Iranians
who convert to Christianity.
Issa Dibaj is the son of reverend Hassan Dibaj, a Christian convert who
was jailed and later found murdered in 1994. Issa Dibaj left Iran five
years ago and now lives in the U.K.
“There is another Christian minority that people know little about, these
are Iranians who are born as Muslims and then later become Christians,”
Dibaj said. “Their number is growing day by day. [There] may be around
100,000 [of them], but no one really knows the exact number.”
Such Christians run a potentially dangerous risk. Under Islamic law as
practiced in Iran, a Muslim who converts to another faith can face the
death penalty.
The government has refrained from executing people for this in recent
years, nevertheless it has taken measure to curb proselytizing by
Christians.
Some churches have been closed and reports say the authorities are putting
pressure on evangelicals not to recruit Muslims or to allow them to attend
services.
In September, 85 member of the Assemblies of God church were arrested
during a conference in Iran. One remains in jail.
Dibaj said in spite of the restrictions, he sees a growing interest in
Christianity: “[Iranians] see that the establishment which came in the
name of Islam has brought them only war, rancor, hatred, and killings. At
the same time, they see the message of Jesus, which is love. It attracts
them through programs they see on satellite or through their Christian
friends.”
He added: “People are very curious, very interested. Iranians [are] open
and they like to know more about different cultures, ideas, and religions.
I had friends who had been prisoners of war in Iraq, at the university
they were my best friends, they were very interested [about my faith], and
I gave some of them the Bible.”
Iranian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus pretty much like other
Christians around the world. They decorate Christmas trees, exchange
gifts, and attend services. Depending on the calendar, Armenians and
Assyrians celebrate Christmas on 6 January. Others celebrate usually on 24
December.
According to some reports Persia may even be the land of origin of the
“Three Wise Men” who — according to the Bible — arrived bearing gifts
for the birth of Christ. Some say they were Persian “Magi” — members of
priestly caste at the time.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2004
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]
BIRTH RIGHT ARMENIA SPONSORS STRING OF OPPORTUNITY FAIRS
Young diasporans interested in learning more about the wealth of
volunteer programs being offered in Armenia, will want to take advantage
of the Opportunity Fairs being sponsored by Birthright Armenia this
coming January. Birthright Armenia is organizing these unified
promotional and recruitment events for all sponsored organizations that
offer youth programs to Armenia, with the goal of providing young
diasporan adults with a one-stop shop of information pertaining to
volunteer and study abroad opportunities in the Homeland under one roof.
Birthright Armenia will be pilot testing the Opportunity Fair idea in
Montreal and Toronto prior to conducting larger outreach events in
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. The key objectives
of the Opportunity Fairs are three-fold: to promote the idea and
importance of volunteerism in Armenia to large groups of youth; to
support the organizations implementing youth programs in Armenia in
getting a jump-start on their recruitment with captive audiences of
youth; and to simplify the research process of all available volunteer
opportunities for the youth in attendance. Opportunity Fairs of this
kind are unprecedented, so if these six pilot events prove to be
successful, Birthright Armenia vows to move forward with the idea of
sponsoring them annually on a national level.
Attendees of the Opportunity Fairs along the east coast can expect
presentations from more than half a dozen of the various diasporan
organizations implementing volunteer and internship programs in Armenia.
The organizations already scheduled to present at one or more of the
fairs include: ACYOA, Armenian Assembly of America, ASA-NY, Armenian
Tree Project, Armenian Volunteer Corps, AYF, Fund for Armenian Relief,
Habitat for Humanity, and Land and Culture Organization. It is
Birthright Armenia’s goal to get all of the diasporan organizations to
mobilize their staff, program alumni and volunteers to participate in as
many fairs as possible to speak to interested youth, to share first hand
experiences with fair attendees, and to encourage early submission of
applications. In addition, Birthright Armenia staff will inform the
audience about the availability of newly created local Armenian NGO
internship programs designed specifically for diasporan youth in the
areas of arts, education, environment, health, human rights, public
policy, social welfare, and youth affairs.
The Opportunity Fairs are currently scheduled for the following days,
cities, venues and times:
January 14: MONTREAL – McGill University, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 15: TORONTO – location to be finalized
January 20: BOSTON – Armenian Library and Museum of America in
Watertown, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 21: NEW YORK – NYU, Kimmel Center 803, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 23: PHILADELPHIA – St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Church in
Wynnewood, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 24: WASHINGTON, DC – Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, 6:00 –
9:00 p.m.
For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia and the
Opportunity Fairs listed above, please visit
for more detailed, up-to-date information on exact venues and event
times as they become available or email: [email protected].
Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland
and diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of
Armenia’s daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through
work, study and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense
of Armenian identity. This is accomplished by supporting and
complementing the initiatives of existing diasporan organizations that
offer youth programs in Armenia, and encouraging them to expand their
offerings in depth and breath. Birthright Armenia assists with travel
fellowships, language instruction, in-country seminars, orientation and
excursions in exchange for community service in Armenia.
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri official dismisses Armenian threat to quit peace talks
Ekspress, Baku
23 Dec 04
Excerpt from report by Alakbar Raufoglu in Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekspress on 23 December headlined “Iravan [Yerevan] is blackmailing:
‘We will officially walk out of the dialogue with Azerbaijan, if
Nagornyy Karabakh is not involved in the talks'”
The next meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers will be held in Prague in mid-January, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told Armenian Public TV.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
The non-involvement of Karabakh’s separatist regime in the talks has
no effect on Yerevan’s position: “This is not about the strengthening
or weakening of our position. Karabakh’s involvement in the talks is
a need. Despite Azerbaijan’s approach to the problem, Azerbaijan and
Karabakh are the parties to the conflict. Armenia is taking part in the
talks because Baku does not want to talk to Xankandi [Stepanakert]. If
Azerbaijan interprets our involvement in the talks differently and
tries to change the essence of the issue, Armenia will refuse to take
part in the dialogue. That’s why, we want the settlement process to
be held in the format of the [OSCE] Minsk Group. The inclusion of
the issue in the UN agenda changes the format, and Yerevan will not
be able to represent Nagornyy Karabakh in this format.”
[Passage omitted: more details]
“One should put an end to unlimited manipulations in the Karabakh
talks. Moves of this kind promise nothing positive to the peace
process,” the Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister and the president’s
special representative on the Karabakh issue, Araz Azimov, told
Ekspress newspaper, commenting on Oskanyan’s views on the need to
involve the Armenian community of [Karabakh] in the talks.
Baku hopes that the upcoming talks will be held “on the basis of
more specific positions”. Armenia should send “precise signals”
in this connection.
Azimov did not speak about the essence of the current discussions.
“Everything will be clear after the next meeting. In any case,
the discussions have been held for 14 years now. The international
community has been making persistent statements on the process as
well. All these factors will be recorded,” Azimov said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Venezuela recognizes China as full market economy
Xinhua news agency
23 Dec 04
Beijing, 23 December: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela recognized
China’s full market economy status Thursday [23 December]. The
Venezuelan government made this recognition in the third meeting
briefing of the high-level mixed committee. The document was signed
by the two governments here during Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael
Chavez Frias’s five-day state visit to China.
Both sides believed this recognition will help the two countries
cooperate in the World Trade Organization and further boost the
bilateral economic relations. So far, 27 countries have recognized
China’s full market economy status, including New Zealand, Nigeria,
Russia, Pakistan, Venezuela, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Antigua
and Barbuda, Benin, Djibouti, South Africa, Togo, Guyana, Armenia,
Kyrgyzstan, and the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations.

Azeri MP regrets NATO call for Armenia’s “temporary control” over Karabakh
Ekho, Baku
23 Dec 04
Excerpt from report by R. Tofiqoglu in Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on
23 December headlined “Incautious utterance” and subheaded “The head
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly talks about Armenia’s `temporary
control’ over Karabakh”
“Frozen conflicts’ in the Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia as well as in Dniester have many features in common. The
conflict, in which Armenia and Azerbaijan clashed over Nagornyy
Karabakh, is more complex and somewhat different,” the chairman of
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Pierre Lellouche, and the former
Spanish foreign minister, Ana Palacio, have written in their article
“Putin and ghosts of the empire” in the French magazine Le Figaro.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
“The Europeans, Americans and Russians should jointly find
a compromise, which will give Armenia temporary control over
Karabakh. The status of Karabakh can be determined in a referendum
within the next five to 10 years in the futur e.”
[Passage omitted: more details]
Commenting on Lellouche’s article, a member of the Azerbaijani
delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, [MP] Alimammad
Nuriyev, expressed “deep regret about the fact officials of such
level have no information about the roots of the Karabakh problem
and its consequences and have no interest in it, and publish strange
articles of this kind”.
“I believe that Lellouche’s proposal is absolutely unrealistic. He
is seemingly unaware that under no conditions and under no scenario
Azerbaijan will agree to lose its sovereign territories. But, in fact,
the author has precisely this in mind. They can’t expect Azerbaijan
to give official consent to Armenia’s certain “temporary control”
over Karabakh. i.e. to enable the occupier feel as master on the
captured lands. No, Azerbaijan has been trying to settle this issue
peacefully at the moment, but to no avail. I personally support the
idea that there is no other, but military, way of liberating Karabakh
from the occupation.”
The very fact that a statement of this kind was made by a high-ranking
figure such as Lellouche could only undermine the settlement process,
Nuriyev believes. “I think that at the next session or seminar of the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the head of our delegation should talk
to Lellouche and tell him to study the problem thoroughly before
making such calls through the media. Undoubtedly, there is a need
for telling him about Azerbaijan’s position. Regrettably it seems
that something strange is going on here.”
[Passage omitted: two more MPs share Nuriyev’s opinion]

President hopes for expansion of Iran-Azerbaijan defence cooperation
IRNA web site, Tehran
22 Dec 04
Baku, 23 December: Azerbaijan Republic’s President Elham Aliyev said
in a meeting with Iran’s visiting Defence Minister Rear Admiral Ali
Shamkhani here Wednesday evening [22 December], “I sincerely hope
defence cooperation between our two countries would expand to an
unprecedented level.”
President Aliyev added: Expansion of ties between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic is not only in the interest
of our two nations, but a move aimed at boosting regional peace,
security and stability.
The Azeri president meanwhile wished success for the Iranian defence
minister in his talks with Azeri officials.
Aliyev considered President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami’s state visit
of Azerbaijan Republic earlier this year during which a number of
cooperation documents were signed between the two countries’ officials,
quite successful and effective in boosting bilateral ties.
He added: Presently the agreements reached between the two countries
are being implemented properly and based on the pre-determined
schedules.
Referring to the continuous trips made by the two countries’ officials
to each others’ capitals, President Aliyev said: That is the Best
sign for excellent bilateral cooperation in all fields.
The Azeri president concluded: I am sure my upcoming visit of Iran,
too, would be successful, leading to further expansion of comprehensive
bilateral ties.
Rear Admiral Shamkhani, too, during the meeting conveyed President
Khatami’s best salutes to President Aliyev, stressing that Iran is
quite ready for a warm welcome to him.
Shamkhani added: All countries in the region need to adopt moderate
security approaches to pave the ground for greater cooperation and
for implementation of bilateral agreements.
Focusing on Iran and Azerbaijan’s shared cultures, religions and
historical backgrounds, he appreciated President Aliyev’s serious
efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in defence
and security fields.
Shamkhani reiterated: Preventing the occurrence of avoidable crises
in the region in order to boost lasting regional security can lead
to peace and stability in Caucasus and Caspian Sea regions.
Emphasizing that safeguarding the Caspian Sea region’s security depends
on shared efforts of all regional countries, Iran’s defence minister
added: Prevailing realities and special status of the region prove
any type of foreign forces’ presence can be hazardous to peace and
stability in this strategic region.”
Shamkhani at the end presented a report on defence capabilities
of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Azeri president, asking for
promotion of a comprehensive and dynamic defence cooperation between
Iran Azerbaijan.
Earlier in the evening the defence ministers of Iran met his Azeri
counterpart and conferred with him about regional armies’ cooperation
to boost joint security in Caucasus region.
He referred to the deep bilateral understanding and mutual trust,
as well as comprehensive defence and security consultations, as main
prerequisites for establishment of a comprehensive bilateral defence
cooperation.
Shamkhani added: Joint efforts aimed at boosting regional peace
and stability is the main axis for Iran-Azerbaijan comprehensive
cooperation.
The Iranian defence minister said: Presently terrorism, narcotic drugs
and arms smuggling, organized crime, and vast presence of foreign
forces are biggest threats against regional security and such threats
cannot be eliminated, except through effective regional cooperation
and constant consultative interactions.
The Azeri Defence Minister Safar Abiev, too, appreciated his country’s
ever-improving ties and cooperation with Iran and considered the
Iranian defence minister’s visit of Baku “a very effective move in
further strengthening bilateral ties.”
Abiev added: The Islamic Republic of Iran was among the first countries
in the world to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan Republic
and the Azeri nation will never forget that.
The Azerbaijan Republic is situated in eastern Transcaucasia, on
the western coast of the Caspian Sea. To the South it borders Iran,
to the West Armenia, to the North-West Georgia, and to the North the
Republic of Dagestan, in Russia.
The Nakhichevan autonomous Republic is a part of Azerbaijan, although
it is separated form the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory.
Azerbaijan also includes the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast,
which is largely populated by the Armenians, but does not legally
constitute a part of Armenia.
Rear Admiral Shamkhani arrived in Baku On Wednesday for a two day
visit aimed at consultations to establish an effective regional
security pact.

EU prepares “neighbourhood report” on Azerbaijan
Trend news agency
22 Dec 04
Baku, 22 December: The European Commission has worked out a
“neighborhood report” on Azerbaijan, the EU special representative
in the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, has said in an exclusive
interview with Trend news agency.
The European Commission called for the inclusion of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia in the European Neighbourhood Policy programme
on 12 May 2004, Talvitie said.
“Initially, this idea has to be approved by 25 members of the European
Union. At this stage, negotiations between the EU and Azerbaijan
will be conducted in this direction,” he said.
The neighborhood report reflected not only a political discussion, but
also [the discussion] of economic and social problems of Azerbaijan,
democracy and human rights, he said. “Europe wants its would-be
neighbors to be committed to the principles of democracy, the rule
of law and market economy,” Talvitie said.
Speaking about the conditions for joining the programme, Talvitie
said that the main objective is to develop democracy, protect human
rights, boost economic potential and so on. “Azerbaijan is already
one of the European countries and we attach major significance
to the stable development within the process of integration,” the
diplomat said. Appropriate documents on the programme have already
been submitted to the Baku government, in connection with which
Talvitie is planning his next visits.

Azeri pressure group condemns sentence on would-be Karabakh guerrillas
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
23 Dec 04
Baku, 23 December: The committee to protect the Karabakh guerrillas
intends to continue its operations in two directions, the leader
of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO), Akif Nagi, said at a
press conference today. Nagi is also the head of the committee.
“We will continue our activities to protect these true patriots by
legal means, through applying to the Court of Appeal, as well as by
putting pressure. In particular, we will stage various radical actions
and try to attract the attention of the majority of the public to
this problem,” Nagi said.
Azerbaijan’s Grave Crimes Court passed a ruling yesterday on an
armed group of 21 people who wanted to wage a guerrilla war behind
the positions of the Armenian forces on the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. The members of the group were sentenced to three to 10
years’ imprisonment.
“We regard the ruling of the court as unjust. By passing this verdict,
judge Azar Orucov sentenced himself. He tainted himself and his family
will always live with this stigma,” he said.
Nagi said he was determined to attain full exoneration of the
guerrillas and make the Grave Crimes Court admit that the ruling was
a mistake.