PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
DR. FARID El-KHAZEN MEETS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
Antelias, Lebanon – Dr. Farid El Khazen, the Dean of the Political Science
Department of the American university of Beirut, met His Holiness Aram I.
The agenda of the meeting covered issues related to the local political
life, the prevailing situation in Iraq and peace process, as well as the
question of membership of Turkey in European community. Dr. Farid El Khazen
is a well known politician and a key member of the opposition in Lebanon.
Dr. Khazen was accompanied by Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian, a member of the
Ecumenical Relations’ Committee of the Catholicosate.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Fund USA
152 Madison Ave, #803
New York, NY 10016
Contact: Lisa Markarian
Tel: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: <; Armenia Fund USA's Fundraising Efforts Resulted in Unprecedented Success in the 2004 Telethon Every Thanksgiving Day marks the annual Armenia Fund Telethon, and this year was no different. Contributions poured in non-stop from around the globe to volunteer and staff phone bank operators in The Fund's New York City and Glendale offices - Germany, Russia, France, England, Holland, Brazil, Argentina, cities around the US, and even Armenia and Karabakh are just some countries that got involved. It is a monumental initiative that brings each and every one of us together, remembering why we are so scattered, obligating us to rise up to the occasion and help our homeland. This day echoes the words of William Saroyan from so long ago, ".for when two Armenians meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a new Armenia". And, that is what the Telethon proves to do again and again. The North South Highway, a much needed infrastructure development project in Karabakh has been funded with an additional $11 million dollars. Doubling the funds contributed in 2003 and putting us at the finish line for completing this bold $25 million project that started a mere 5 years ago. That is 150 towns and villages throughout the republic with access to food and other necessities so basic, the rest of us don't think twice about it. It's no wonder everyone refers to the North South Highway as the backbone of Karabakh. Heading the charge of this major fundraising initiative is the collaboration between Armenia Fund USA based in New York City, serving all constituents in the Eastern United States, and Armenia Fund Inc. based in Glendale and serving the constituency in the Western United States. These are two of the 18 affiliated offices around the world to Hayastan All Armenian Fund based in Armenia. Each affiliate office serves the constituency it is indigenous to by adopting infrastructure development projects in Armenia and Karabakh and directing their own fundraising campaigns. The North South Highway is the one project that brings each of these affiliate offices together every year in a worldwide campaign. What went into the success, broadcasted via the organization's Thanksgiving Day Telethon, was a year's worth of hard work. Kevork Toroyan, Board Chairman of Armenia Fund USA, the Eastern United States affiliate of Hayastan All Armenian Fund reported that the major fundraising campaign was more than just what was aired on Thanksgiving Day. It involved inspiring major donation from noteworthy leaders in the community, mass mailings, advertisements, phonations, and regional events, all culminating with the global reach of the Telethon to bring the viewership an interesting program and raise money for a worthy cause. The program showcased new development footage direct from Armenia and Karabakh, messages and performances from popular artists like the MET Opera Singer Isabel Bayrakdarian and Zulal trio of a capella singers, key note messages from political leaders like Massachusetts Representative Peter Koutoujian, New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, all among countless other supporters. Broadcasting reached 45 million households in the US alone, with extended viewing capabilities from satellite TV and web-casting garnering involvement from smaller Armenian communities in the US like South Carolina and Georgia. This comprehensive campaign designed to direct positive change got off to an amazing start with the pre-telethon fundraising initiatives hosted by Armenia Fund USA with the much anticipated delegation visit headed by Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasyan and accompanied in part by Himnadram Executive Director Naira Melkoumian for special engagements and public speaking appearances in Boston, Detroit, and the New York Metropolitan area all to drive awareness for the telethon, before heading off to the studios in Glendale, California. These regional events and other meetings culminated with nearly $6 million in donations from notable philanthropic leaders and all other supporters in various Eastern US cities. On behalf of the Manoogian Simone Foundation, Mrs. Simone contributed $1 million during pre-telethon fundraising initiatives, with an additional $1 million pledged as a matching gift incentive. It was a gracious effort on her part standing true to her convictions recognizing that, ".the North South Highway is a crucial project to the future development and stability of Karabakh, one that every Armenian must extend themselves to help complete." Notable contribution garnered from other enthusiastic philanthropists include $1 million donations from Sarkis Acopian, Hirair Hovnanian, and Kevork Hovnanian, $500,000 from Carolyn Mugar, and $50,000 from Gerard Cafesjian and Hratch Kaprielian. Over $11million dollars was raised by the end of the Telethon with generous outpouring of support from all corners of the world - Eastern United States $5.7 million; Argentina: $1.5 million; Western United States: $1.4 million; Armenia and Karabakh: $1.1 million; France and the rest of the world: $1.3 million. Armenians worldwide should be proud of the teamwork-like effort generated to "Make it Happen," as the Telethon slogan directed, proving that the Diaspora is as strong as ever in its support for building infrastructure to sustain Armenia and Karabakh's security and future. Sending this kind of message of support only gives credence to "The Economist" journal's unbiased and unsolicited recent reports indicating that investment from the Armenian Diaspora has boosted Karabakh's economy and that the roads of Karabakh may be the best maintained in the Caucasus. This is all with thanks to you, our donors and friends. The overwhelming results from the year-long effort indicate that Armenia Fund has the mandate worldwide to go beyond the one-day Telethon to raise money, but systematically cultivate its base of support for years to come. Armenia Fund USA and its seventeen related affiliates promise to continue promoting large scale initiatives to further build upon the large imprint it has made, and as part of its mission, continue to adhere to stringent processes of accountability that has enabled the organization to be so successful. Focused on infrastructure and high standards of accountability, Armenia Fund USA is a unique organization in that its sole purpose is to promote Armenia's growth in order to sustain itself for future generations. Armenia Fund dedicates itself to supporting large-scale initiatives in both Armenia and Karabakh and is supported by Armenians world-wide. Endorsed by all major Armenian political and religious factions, Armenia Fund maintains its independence from these umbrella organizations and works closely with the governments of Armenia and Karabakh building roads, schools, medical facilities, utilities and humanitarian programs, upholding stringent project oversight measures at every juncture. Founded in 1992, Armenia Fund USA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) representing the support of Armenian Diasporans in the Eastern United States and was the first of Hayastan All Armenian Fund's 18 international hubs to help the homeland. Armenia Fund USA has already helped build 138 miles of roads, 81 miles of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential buildings and 14 healthcare institutions. These and all projects initiated by The Fund are designed to not only ease the hardships of the people of Armenia and Karabakh for the current time, but more importantly to ensure their continual growth and productivity for the future. Armenia Fund USA's mission of accountability is built upon a pledge of responsibility to benefactors and recipients alike. All contributions are 100% tax deductible. To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, go to <; , or write/call for a free marketing packet at Armenia Fund USA, 152 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (212) 689-5307.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Dec 14 2004
Azerbaijani Leader Seeks Help Over Karabakh

13 December 2004 — Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has called
upon the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the United
Nations to do more to help his country settle a long-running
territorial dispute with neighboring Armenia.
Aliyev was speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs
today during a visit to London. Aliyev said he remains committed to
seek a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the
help of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
But he said other international organizations should play a more
active role in the negotiation process.
The predominantly ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh seceded
from Soviet Azerbaijan in 1988, triggering a six-year war between
Yerevan and Baku.
The conflict has claimed some 35,000 lives and driven an estimated
800,000 Azeris out of Karabakh and neighboring areas that are still
occupied by Armenian troops.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 14 2004
Transport Minister says goods exported to Georgia must be checked

Oil products, including food exported from Azerbaijan to Georgia must
be inspected on the border, Minister for Transport Ziya Mammadov told
journalists on Sunday. `Only this way, the delivery of goods, which
are exported from Azerbaijan to Georgia, to Armenia will be
prevented. I think, the process should be continuous and each
carriage be checked,’ noted Mammadov, stressing that the Azerbaijani
President has given relevant instructions on the matter.
`It is necessary to check every carriage on the border unless the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh is settled within the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,’ he emphasized.*

St Petersburg Times, Russia
Dec 14 2004
Men Show Little Regard for Their Own Safety
By Nabi Abdullaev
STAFF WRITER
Photo by IGOR TABAKOV / SPT
MOSCOW – Russian teenage boys show little regard for their own
well-being and are dying in higher numbers than their peers in other
former Soviet republics and in Eastern Europe – aggravating a
worrisome national demographic crisis, according to a recent United
Nations report.
Teen deaths can be linked specifically to a society that places
little value on life, a contempt for safety rules, alcohol abuse and
stress, which is exacerbated by a lack of close family or friends and
media that flaunt unattainable lifestyles, sociologists said.
On average, one in 30 boys aged 15 to 19 dies every year from an
accident, poisoning, suicide or violence, according to UNICEF’s
Social Monitor 2004 report released in late November. Young women in
the same age group are dying at a rate of about one in 120.
That means Russia saw a mortality rate of 99 deaths per 100,000 young
people due to unnatural causes in 2002, according to the study, which
surveyed young people in 27 countries from 1989 to 2002.
Estonia and Lithuania ranked second, with about 70 deaths per 100,000
people, while Azeri youth were the least likely to die of unnatural
causes, with a rate of 16 per 100,000.
In contrast, the mortality rate due to natural causes among Russian
young people was about 31 per 100,000, a figure higher than in
Eastern Europe but lower than in the countries of the Caucasus and
Central Asia.
This suggests that most young deaths are context-driven and could
have been prevented. For example, if young Russians had had the same
death rate as their peers in Western Europe, 27,000 of the 36,000 who
died of unnatural causes in 2001 would still be alive, the report
says.
“The reasons are the very high stress levels suffered by many
Russians combined with social inequality and inadequate action on the
part of the government,” said Anatoly Vishnevsky, head of the Center
for Demographics and Human Ecology at the Institute of Economic
Forecasting.
The suicide rate among Russian teenagers – about 45 cases per 100,000
people in recent years – is the highest in the surveyed countries and
three times higher than in Western Europe. Russian suicides are
narrowly followed by those in Lithuania, while Azeri and Armenian
teenagers – with a suicide rate of about one per 100,000 people –
show the strongest will to live.
Homicide statistics for Russian youth are even more dramatic, and
they are not only higher than any other country surveyed but almost
20 times higher than the Western European average, the report says,
without providing numbers.
While the death rate among youth is alarming, it provides just a
glimpse into the bigger picture of a demographic and social crisis in
Russia.
Of the 27 countries, Russia together with Ukraine had the most
alarming population increase numbers (birth minus deaths per 100,000
population) – about minus seven.
The death rate is growing steadily and reached the highest level of
the surveyed countries in 2002: 16 in every 1,000 Russians died that
year, compared with 10 per 1,000 in Kazakhstan and five in
Tajikistan.
Even offset by a record of more than 4.2 million immigrants from 1989
to 2002, the population shrunk by 2.1 percent over the period.
“Apart from high mortality, the overall figures were strongly
affected by the fact than many families postponed having their first
children in the 1990s because of their uncertainty over the future,”
said Svetlana Nikitina, a researcher from the State Statistics
Service and a contributor to the UNICEF report.
Life expectancy for men was 58 years, the lowest of the surveyed
countries, and 72 years for women, higher than Moldova, Kazakhstan
and Turkmenistan. Slovenians did the best in this area, with 72 years
for men and almost 80 for women.
The current demographic decline is the continuation of a trend that
began in the mid-1960s when rapid and massive urbanization began in
Russia, said Vishnevsky, who works on projects with the State
Statistics Service. Poor social adaptation to life among hundreds of
thousands of neighbors in urban centers is the main contributor to
the grim statistics and results in high alcohol, tobacco and drug use
– the major catalysts for early death, he said.
According to his center’s findings, the vast majority of unnatural
deaths in Russia are related to alcohol abuse. The UNICEF report
shows that the number of Russian teenagers who drink is steadily
increasing to approach the levels of the so-called “wet countries” of
the Baltics.
Teens’ disregard for their well-being is being fueled by the media,
which since the early 1990s have been feeding them with images of
luxurious lifestyles that make them feel a sense of personal failure
and the desire to be successful at any cost, said Anatoly Yamskov, a
researcher from the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology.
“Some young people begin to seek refuge in alcohol and drugs or turn
to a life of crime, while others start to work hard at several jobs
and wear themselves out,” he said. “This eventually takes a toll on
their life expectancies.”
Another major contributor, he said, is the collapse of social
networks, which are still strong in the Caucasus and Central Asia and
to a considerable extent prevent teens from sliding over the edge.
The loneliness felt by a lack of family and friends is most strong
among immigrants, Yamskov said, pointing out that there was not only
a record number of immigrants over the past decade but probably an
even higher number of people moving within the country.
Russians share some cultural traits that add to the higher death
rate, such as a long-held contempt for safety rules, Yamskov said.
“This includes not only working on high-voltage wires with bare hands
but also buying a bottle of vodka produced by God-knows-whom in a
dingy kiosk on the corner,” he said.
Vishnevsky noted that the government and ordinary people historically
have put a low value on life, and this attitude was only aggravated
by grandiose social experiments in communist times and World War II,
when millions of people died.
“Thirty-five thousand people died in traffic accidents in Russia last
year, many times more than in terrorist attacks. Many thousands of
these people could have been saved if they had been treated quickly
and properly,” Vishnevsky said. “But look at how bureaucrats divide
the nation’s budget: A lot more goes to maintain state security than
to provide safety for people through healthcare and education.”
Next year, $33.4 billion is earmarked for defense, security and law
enforcement, while $8.5 billion will be set aside for healthcare and
education.

Zenit News Agency, Italy
Dec 14 2004
Iraqi Tells Pope That Christians Will Be Defended
Foreign Minister Meets in Wave of Attacks on Churches
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 13, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Iraqi Foreign Minister
Hoshyar Zebari told John Paul II that his government is committed to
defending the Mideast nation’s Christians, targets of terrorist
attacks in recent months.
Zebari met the Pope today in audience and afterward conferred with
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, according to
Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls.
“In the course of the conversations a review was made of the
situation in Iraq and the Middle East in general,” the director of
the Vatican press office said in a statement.
The foreign minister “thanked His Holiness and his aides for the help
they have always given to Iraq and confirmed his government’s
commitment to promote religious freedom and, in particular, the
defense of Christian communities,” Navarro Valls stated.
“In the discussion with the minister the painful plague of terrorism
was deplored once again, hoping for a speedy return to respect for
moral values which are the basis of all civilizations,” the
spokesman’s statement concluded.
Two attacks in Mosul on Dec. 7 destroyed an Armenian Catholic church
in Mosul and the Chaldean bishop’s palace.
They were the latest of a series of attacks against churches, which
began in early August, when four churches in Baghdad and one in Mosul
were hit, killing 11 people and wounding dozens. Attacks against
stores owned by Christians had started earlier.
Christians in Iraq number about 800,000, or 3% of the population.
Chaldean-rite Catholics account for 70% of the Christians.
Zebari’s visit to the Vatican came weeks after the Pope’s meeting
with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi on Nov. 4.
In that meeting, John Paul II condemned the present “senseless
violence” and encouraged the establishment of democracy in Iraq.
On Nov. 15, the Holy Father received the letters of credence of
Albert Edward Ishmael Yelda, the new ambassador of Iraq to the Holy
See.
Through him, the Pontiff appealed to the Iraqi government to
recognize “the right to freedom of worship and religious teaching,”
and assured him of the Catholic Church’s collaboration and, in
particular, of Chaldean Catholics, to “build a more peaceful and
stable nation.”

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 14 2004
PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV MEETS MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN
RELATIONS AND DEFENSE OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT
[December 13, 2004, 12:45:10]
On 13 December, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
has met members of the Committee on Foreign Relations and Defense of
Parliament of the Great Britain.
Heads of both Committees and about ten MPs attended the meeting.
Opening the meeting, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations
Donald Anderson welcomed the president of Azerbaijan and underlined
that his visit to London has great importance. He asked head of the
Azerbaijan State to inform the participants of meeting on the ongoing
processes in Azerbaijan, regional cooperation and its prospects.
President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the visitors on the socio-economic
processes in the Country, on regional cooperation, on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict and connected with it
questions.
Then, Members of Parliament addressed Head of the Azerbaijan State
with numerous questions. President of Azerbaijan answered questions
on impediments caused by the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, for the
regional cooperation, prospects of settlement of the conflict, on the
Oil Fund, international links of the country and its relations with
neighboring countries.
***
The same day, Head of the Azerbaijan State met representatives of
Azerbaijan community residing in the Great Britain.
***
In the evening, the England-Azerbaijan Society has arranged a banquet
in honor of the Azerbaijan President.
Official visit of the Azerbaijan President to the Greta Britain is in
progress.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 14 2004
Recent meetings of Azeri, Armenian FMs may yield positive results

Speaking of the Sofia and Brussels meetings recently held between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers within the annual sessions
of the OSCE and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov, told a news conference last week that the
parties discussed issues related to the Upper Garabagh conflict
settlement and considered the outcome of the Prague meetings.
Azimov said the two ministers focused on illegal activity of Armenia
in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. He said that continuation of
peace talks is suitable for Azerbaijan and putting the issue on the
Upper Garabagh on the agenda within the OSCE and Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council proves that these organizations are interested in
the issue.
Azimov expressed a hope that the recent meetings will yield positive
results.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 14 2004
Azeri, Armenian FMs to continue Prague talks in January

During the meeting in Brussels the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanian agreed upon
continuing the Prague talks.
The next meeting of the two foreign ministers is due in Prague in
January 2005, Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said.
He noted that the Armenia is interested in solving the Upper Garabagh
conflict but must understand that the conflict can be settled only
within international legal norms.
The deputy foreign ministers said that it is possible to restore
stability in South Caucasus by solving the conflict, adding that
Europe and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council member states are
interested in the conflict settlement.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 14 2004
Armenian opposition says Ukraine developments may occur in their
country

Media in a number of foreign countries have published numerous
reports saying that the current developments in the Ukraine may take
place in Armenia as well.
Commenting on these statements made by Armenian opposition
representatives in their interviews to `Voice of Armenia’ newspaper
and a resolution released by the Armenian National Movement last
week, Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian confirmed that there
are forces in the country trying to create a vision and convey to
foreign countries that such developments may also take place in
Armenia.
The mentioned resolution, adopted in conclusion of the Armenian
National Movement 14th congress, admits that Armenia has lost in the
Upper Garabagh settlement issue. The document says: `As a result of
Armenia’s unsuccessful diplomacy, the country has been left out of
regional projects. This creates a possibility of a war that may wipe
Armenia and Upper Garabagh off the map’.
Chairman of Armenia’s Liberal Progress Party Ovannes Ovanessian told
local press last week that this country has fallen into a predicament
and faces pressure from foreign countries with regard to the Upper
Garabagh problem.
He did not rule out that surprises are in store for Armenia from the
international community. A pro-Western political bloc therefore needs
to be set up in Armenia to prevent this, Ovanessian added.*