Protest action due in Moscow

Azer News, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

The Movement for Azerbaijan will hold a sanctioned action in Moscow
on September 25 in protest against Armenia’s unfair policy toward
Azerbaijan.

Along with Azeris living in Russia, the rally, aimed at conveying
Armenia’s policy of occupation to the international community, will
be joined by intellectuals of Russian and other nationalities.

A resolution to be adopted by the protesters will be forwarded to
diplomatic representations of the UN Security Council permanent
members and the Armenian embassy in Moscow.
From: Baghdasarian

Aliyev, Kocharian negotiate Nagorno-Karabakh

Interfax
Sept 16 2004

Astana. (Interfax) – A Wednesday one-on-one meeting between Azerbaijani
and Armenian Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in the Kazakh
capital city of Astana, which they had following a tripartite meeting
with Russian President Vladimir Putin, lasted for over four hours.

“The presidents have clarified certain positions and standpoints,
and now we have to take time to find where we stand” after this round
of negotiations, Kocharian told the press.

The negotiating process concerning the resolution of the Nagorno-
Karabakh problem is “underway,” Kocharian said. He admitted, however,
“We can’t boast of anything special.”

Both parties treat the dialogue “with patience,” he said. “We are
discussing very difficult problems that we have inherited,” he said.

Aliyev assessed the meeting positively. “I deem it positive that
meetings between the foreign ministers, with the co-chairmen of the
[OSCE] Minsk Group involved, are held regularly,” he said.

The Azerbaijani leader admitted that the two presidents cannot say
anything specific as to what they had discussed behind closed doors.
“We always have to confine ourselves to very general phrases, and
there will be no exception today, because the process is extremely
important,” Aliyev said.

He said the two presidents had summarized outcomes of previous
negotiations between the two foreign ministers.

Aliyev and Kocharian once again thanked President Vladimir Putin
for willingness to mediate in their dialogue. “We thank the Russian
president for understanding,” Kocharian said.

German co. to pump $20-$25 mln into Armenian metals plant

Interfax
Sept 16 2004

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Germany’s Cronimet intends to invest $20
million-$25 million in the Pure Iron works in Yerevan, which processes
molybdenum concentrate.

The money should reach the plant in 2005-2006, in accordance with
an investment program, Genrik Karapetian, the plant’s director,
told Interfax.

Most of the money will be spent making the plant more environmentally
friendly, introducing new technology and putting new products on line,
Karapetian said.

The Pure Iron works currently produces pure molybdenum but eventually
plans to make metal plates and special alloys, he said.

Islam Online, UK
Sept 16 2004

Israel Moves to Drive Arabs Away From Al-Quds

Photo file of occupied Al-Quds

By Mohammad Yassin, IOL Correspondent

GAZA, September 16 (IslamOnline.net) – Palestinian experts warn
against Israeli plans to drive Palestinian citizens away from occupied
Al-Quds (Jerusalem) under pretexts of development, saying the Jewish
state’s real motive is striking a demographic balance between in the
overwhelmingly Palestinian city.

Al-Quds Municipality has showed Monday, September 13, new plans for the
structural map of occupied Jerusalem, explaining population density
in the old city which affects the living standard and welfare inside
the city, as per the Municipality.

In a report published by Israeli daily Ha’aretz Monday, it suggested
decreasing that density as regards “all alleys”, except for what is
known as “Jewish Alley”, claiming the Alley had already been developed
recently and needed no evacuation of some inhabitants.

The Municipality further said it was ready to “compensate those willing
to leave their homes with alternative houses outside the Old City.

“Plans to evacuate the Palestinians living in the Old City lies within
the demographic struggle after large numbers of Palestinians moved into
the Old City as a result of the construction of the self-styled Israeli
separation wall two years ago,” Khalil Tafkaji, a Palestinian expert
for settlement affairs told IslamOnline.net Wednesday, September 15.

Tafkaji said the return of some Palestinians to their homes the Old
City would lead the Palestinians to outnumber the Israeli settlers
living in the city.

“The return of Palestinians and restoring their old homes after they
were forced to leave them in 1967 means that the number of Palestinians
in the city would increase.”

The Palestinian expert mocked at the Israeli proposals to offer
financial compensations and new houses for the Palestinians who leave
the city.

“There are no available lands for construction out of the Old City
as a result of the Israeli confiscation of 35% of Al-Quds lands since
the 1967 war.”

Tafkaji said the Israeli governments had been adopting a constant
policy to evacuate the Palestinian citizens from occupied Al-Quds
since 1973.

“Struggle in the Old City is raging on even very small batches of
lands as the case with Al-Aqsa mosque.”

According to Israeli estimates, there are 24,098 Muslims living in
the Old City, contrary to 2,408 Armenian Christians, 5,269 Christians
in the Christian Alley and 2,328 Jews in the Jews Alley.

Golden Opportunity

Dr. Ekrema Sabri, the mufti of Al-Quds, for his part, warned the
Israeli schemes only aim at grabbing lands of Palestinian citizens
in the occupied Al-Quds.

“As the Jews immigrate into the city, Palestinians are forced out of
the city, with the aim of affecting the demographic balance in favor
of the Israelis.”

Sabri said the current developments on the world arena provide the
Jewish state with a golden opportunity to carry out its plans.

“Israel believes that world developments give it a chance to implement
its aggressive schemes.”

Sabri maintained the Palestinians living in the city fight the Israeli
temptations to leave their homes, calling on the Palestinian Authority
to support the civil and humanitarian institutions in the city.

“If these institutions are supported, they can provide the Palestinian
citizens with all necessary services, and therefore they can stick
to their homes.”

Al-Aqsa institution for Islamic sites preservation in the occupied
Palestinian lands, meanwhile, called on the Palestinian citizens to
support their peers in Al-Quds.

“This scheme clearly reveals the Israeli attempts to control Al-Aqsa
mosque and enhancing Jewish immigration into the city,” it said in
a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net.

The leading figure of Neturei Karta, an organization within the
Orthodox Jewish community which represents hundreds of thousands of
Orthodox Jews around the world, said: “We are in total opposition to
the Zionists’ views of the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is clearly
forbidden according to the Torah and the rabbinical authorities.”

Worldwide Faith News (press release)
Sept 16 2004

World Council of Churches – News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 [email protected]
For immediate release – 16/09/2004

PROMINENT WORLD CHRISTIAN LEADERS AND PEACE-MAKERS
AFFIRM THE POWER AND PROMISE OF PEACE

Broadcast quality video messages available, see below.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Orthodox
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, and the head of
the Evangelical Church in Germany, Bishop Wolfgang Huber are among
those supporting an International Day of Prayer for Peace called for
by the World Council of Churches (WCC) within its Decade to Overcome
Violence. The date set for observance is 21 September.

More than a dozen well-known Christian leaders and peace-makers
from all over the world are affirming churches’ and faith
communities’ work for peace and justice in a series of inspiring
two-minute video messages that will be made available at
on Monday 20 September (12:00
a.m. Geneva time).

This year, the WCC’s Decade to Overcome Violence is focusing on the
United States, under the theme “The power and promise of peace”. The
video messages thus also recognize and encourage the struggle of
US churches to witness to peace and justice, both domestically and
internationally.

Personalities joining the International Day of Prayer for Peace
through video messages are:

– Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Anglican
archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa

– Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople

– Wolfgang Huber, chairman of the council of the Evangelical Church
in Germany

– Aram I, catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Cilicia)
a and WCC Central Committee moderator

– Hanan Mikhail Ashwari, Sydney Peace Prize winner and advocate for
Palestinian rights

– Keith Clements, general secretary of the Conference of European
Churches

– Mvume Dandala, general secretary of the All Africa Conference
of Churches

– Karen Hamilton, general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches

– Israel Batista, general secretary of the Latin American Council
of Churches

– Hildegard Goss Mayr, honorary president of the International
Fellowship of Reconciliation

– Ahn Jae Woong, general secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia

– Bernice Powell Jackson, WCC president from North America

– Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., president of the National Council of Churches
of Christ in the USA

Within the framework of its Decade to Overcome Violence, the WCC has
called on its member churches – which represent a membership estimated
at about 550 million Christians world-wide – to pray for peace on
21 September or on the Sundays preceding or following that day.
This WCC initiative links to the International Day of Peace declared
by the United Nations General Assembly, a world-wide effort intended
as a day of global cease-fire and non-violence, and as an opportunity
for education and raising public awareness.

The video messages in both webcast and broadcast quality
will be available as of Monday 20 (12:00 a.m. Geneva time) at

Liturgical resources for the International Day of Prayer for Peace
are already available at the same website.

See also our press release of 31 August, 2004 at
> press corner > International Day of Prayer for
Peace

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
[email protected]

Sign up for WCC press releases at

Cambridge Chronicle, MA
Sept 16 2004

Kessler is guest homilist at Holy Trinity
Thursday, September 16, 2004

Celebrate! Armenian Cultural Heritage at Holy Trinity Armenian Church,
145 Brattle St., will open with the Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler, executive
director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, as guest homilist
Sunday, Sept. 26, at 11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. Kessler’s topic
will be “Stewardship: Giving Gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure.” A
reception will follow in the Charles and Nevart Talanian Cultural
Hall. Celebrate! Armenian Cultural Heritage is an annual series of
programs and concerts at Holy Trinity.

Kessler became the executive director of MCC in September 1988. She is
the eighth executive director to assume ecumenical leadership in the
council’s 100-plus-year history. She formerly served as the associate
director for strategy and action, a post she held for 13 years.

Her position entails direction and public presentation of the council’s
work in areas such as education and evangelism for Christian unity;
ecumenical worship; cooperation among local councils of churches;
various forums for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue; and social
mission/prophetic witness. In addition, the MCC executive serves as
a diplomatic liaison among religious leaders and denominations in
the effort to promote reconciliation among the churches.

The pastor and parish council of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church
invites the community to attend church services Sunday, Sept. 26,
to celebrate the divine liturgy, beginning at 10 a.m., which will
be followed at 11:30 a.m., by Kessler’s homily on the concept of
Christian stewardship.

A Message of peace on display
By Rosario Teixeira/ Special to the Independent

Chelmsford Independent, MA
Sept 16 2004

The 11th Peace of Art exhibit will be at the Kennedy School of
Government, Taubman Building, Cambridge, from Sept. 24 through 25 in
conjunction with the United Nations Association of Greater Boston
Film Festival.

This year, the event is subject to the theme “Enduring Hope: The
Tenacity of the Human Spirit.”

Chelmsford resident, artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian is the
creator and founder of Peace of Art. He left Soviet Armenia in 1979
to pursue his artistic freedom in the United States.

He has been in Massachusetts ever since, and in the last 18
years he has resided in Chelmsford.

Peace of Art was previously exhibited at the Chelmsford Public
Library during the month of August. This is a traveling art exhibit
which addresses the universal human condition and it intends to
promote peace, independent of political associations and religious
dogma.

Cambridge is the city known for the place of residence of the
most Nobel Peace Prize winners, champions of peace and social
justice, therefore it was important for Peace of Art to be exhibited
here.

Currently the 10th Peace of Art exhibit is on display at the
Cambridge City Hall, located at 795 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge,
until Sept. 17.

The exhibit is available for viewing during regular City Hall
hours of operation.

Peace of Art exhibit represents the endurance of the human
spirit and a message of hope permeates through each piece in the
exhibit. In this collection, Varoujan addresses sensitive issues
around the globe, the specks of injustice, blotches of hunger and
homeless, weapons of mass destruction, sickness, despair, repressed
voices that have been silenced, blinded and deafen trying to survive.
It is through the creative process that the artist addresses issues
of his/her time and often the art work not only presents the problem
but points out toward a solution as well. The Peace of Art images
form a mosaic of humanity, reflections of ourselves and our society,
promoting dialogue and challenging the viewer to reach his/her own
conclusions. His paintings speak eloquently, as an inescapable mirror
where we see ourselves and our society.

“Artist Daniel Varoujan Hejinian uses the universal language of
art to communicate the universal language of the human spirit,” said
Pamela Frank, from the United Nations Association of Greater Boston.

In referring to “Peace of Life” she said that “this work speaks
to our changing world and our role as global citizens to value human
life” and it is in line with the theme of the film festival. “Peace
of Life” represents the preciousness of life. In this piece, a blind
man holds his eye ball in between his fingers attempting to see the
magical world. Often we are blinded by the events around the globe,
and we loose sight of the important things and how we can make a
difference.

“[…] it is important to make artwork accessible to as many
people as possible,” said Boston City Councilor John Tobin, chairman
of the Council’s Committee on Arts, Film, Humanities and Tourism.
“Mr. Hejinian’s series of sketches tackle some of the most important
issues of our time: war, fear, intolerance, hunger, violence, and
homelessness. The Peace of Art exhibit is especially important right
now in light of current events around the world.”

For more information about the artist visit
For information about Peace of Art, please
log onto , send e-mail to [email protected] or
call 508-580-3151.

Daily Star, Lebanon
Sept 17 2004

Iranian Christian leads lonely existence
‘I cannot find a wife and do not want a Muslim girl’

By Paul Cochrane

SHIRAZ, Iran: Michael Kolahdozan, 28, is one of two Catholics in
this southern Iranian city that is famous historically for its poets,
wine and proximity to the ancient Achaemenid palace of Persepolis.

The only other Catholic in town is Kolahdozan’s brother.

“He is not really practicing though, and he has a Muslim girlfriend,
so it’s just me and my faith,” he said.

“I go to an Anglican church here as there is no Catholic service.
There is in Esfahan and Tehran, but they are Armenian Catholic
churches, and I don’t speak Armenian,” he added.

“It is a big problem for me as I cannot find a wife and do not want
a Muslim girl,” he said. “The only women I could marry would be in
Tehran, but they are mainly foreigners – I want somebody who can
speak my language,” he added.

Kolahdozan takes his religion seriously, going to hospitals to pray
for the sick and helping out at orphanages.

“It is a good way to atone for one’s sins,” he said, fingering the
cross around his neck that was hidden under his shirt.

Due to a minority of Shiraz being Jewish, Kolahdozan said he identifies
with them and goes to the synagogue occasionally.

“It is interesting to witness how they worship, and see the roots of my
religion. We get on well, the Christians and the Jews here,” he added.

Kolahdozan’s parents now live in Australia, and his sister lives
in London.

“I grew up here and I wanted to stay as I don’t speak English well and
am an Iranian at heart,” he said. “My sister has become so British she
hardly speaks Farsi anymore – I wouldn’t like to loose my heritage.”

Kolahdozan’s father left him a sizeable amount of money, and after
finishing a master’s degree in psychology at the University of Shiraz,
he opened a bookshop with his brother.

“I don’t need to work, but I like books. It is easy work too, and
one reason I wouldn’t like to leave is because I would have to work
very hard in Europe or Australia. I would have a small apartment,
no servant … Life is much easier here even though I struggle
religiously,” he said.

Azeri, Armenian presidents hold long-lasting meeting in Astana

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

Baku, September 15, AssA-Irada

On Wednesday, President Ilham Aliyev met with his Armenian counterpart
Robert Kocharian in Astana, Kazakhstan within the summit of the
CIS heads of state. The meeting was initiated by Russian President
Vladimir Putin.

The two hour-long meeting was held with participation of the OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) co-chairs and proceeded behind the closed doors. The MG
co-chairs told journalists that the two countries’ presidents came
out with some ideas on the settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict.

Agreement on holding a meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents was reached at the Yalta summit of the CIS countries held
in May.

The same day, President Aliyev met with CIS Executive Secretary
Vladimir Rushaylo.

Pointing to Azerbaijan’s active participation in the CIS top meetings,
Rushaylo updated President Aliyev on the issues to be discussed at
the meeting of the CIS council of foreign ministers and heads of
government as well as on preparations for the summit of the CIS heads
of state to open on Thursday.*

Cancellation of exercises in Baku to hurt NATO-Azerbaijan relations – US ambassador

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2004

Washington has expressed its regret with Azerbaijan’s refusal to
allow Armenian officers to attend NATO exercises in Baku.

The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish told journalists on
Wednesday that “this will somewhat negatively affect Azerbaijan’s
positions in the “Partnership for Peace” program”.

NATO administration decided to cancel the multi-national exercises
in Azerbaijan hours before they were due to start on September 14.

Shortly before the planned exercises, the opposition, public
organizations, the parliament of Azerbaijan voiced their protests
against the Armenian officers’ participation, reaffirming the fact
that Armenia occupies Azerbaijan’s territories.

Harnish mentioned that over the last year Azerbaijan had been making
preparations for the exercises and promised to resolve the problem
of Armenians’ participation in NATO exercises.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress