Witnesses say Armenian pilots not involved in Equatorial Guinea coup –
spokesman

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 Aug 04

There has been an unexpected turn of events at the Equatorial Guinea
coup plot trial. Mark Thatcher, the son of former British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher, has been arrested in South
Africa. [Passage omitted: known details of charges against sir Mark.]

Sixty-four expatriates were arrested in Zimbabwe airport on 7
March. After the investigation the Equatorial Guinean authorities
accused all of them of plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea. Another
15 expatriates, six Armenians and nine Kazakhs, were later arrested on
the same charges. [Passage omitted: known details.]

The spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Gamlet Gasparyan, has
said that two out of seven South African citizens gave evidence today
and confirmed once again that the Armenian pilots were not involved in
the plot. It is still not known when the Armenian defendants will be
questioned.

Azeri leader to meet US secretary of state in Athens

MPA news agency, Baku
26 Aug 04

Baku, 26 August: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Germany
will end on 26 August. MPA news agency learnt from the Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry that Aliyev had met German Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer today. The sides discussed expanding bilateral political
relations and the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

On 26 August Aliyev will leave for Athens to take part in the closing
ceremony of the Olympic Games. Aliyev is expected to meet US Secretary
of State Colin Powell, who is in Athens.

Reporters attacked in Armenian region

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
25 Aug 04

[Presenter] A photo correspondent of Fotolur [Photo news] news agency,
Mkhitar Khachatryan, and a correspondent of Aravot [Tomorrow] daily
newspaper, Anna Israelyan, were attacked in Tsakhadzor Region
yesterday.

They were on a mission there to gather information about the
Tsakhadzor forests and took pictures of villas built in a deforested
area. Residents of the villas tried to prevent the correspondents from
taking pictures and later attempted to seize their camera. They chased
the correspondents and assailed Khachatryan.

This is the third case this year when reporters were prevented from
fulfilling their duties. Media organizations and watchdogs have
already appealed to the law-enforcement bodies to find and punish the
attackers.

[Anna Israelyan, in her office] I was preparing a photo report about
the Tsakhadzor forests. We wanted to take pictures of villas built by
the nouveaux riches in the deforested areas, we were spotted by
unidentified men who attacked us and tried to seize our camera.

[Correspondent] Correspondents Mkhitar Khachatryan and Anna Israelyan
could not even ask the attackers about the reasons for their
behaviour. Without identifying himself, a young man demanded that they
give him their camera, threatened the correspondents and hit Mkhitar
Khachatryan.

[Khachatryan, in his office] One of them tried to bar our way, the
second one was a skinhead who seized the camera without saying
anything. The second attacker abused me and asked me if I knew on
whose territory I was. I said that I did not know who was the owner of
the villa and he hit me.

[Correspondent] The Prosecutor-General’s Office is about to institute
criminal proceedings into the incident following broad media coverage.

[Israelyan] As far as I know, the Prosecutor-General’s Office is going
to open a criminal case into the incident. Mkhitar Khachatryan has
testified, and I am also going to give evidence.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

Russia’s security service says it has no evidence of criminal act as aviation
experts rule out accident: Family’s grief after final phone call from doomed
plane

The Guardian – United Kingdom
Aug 26, 2004

NICK PATON WALSH IN MOSCOW

Mikhail Degtaryev, a Volgograd businessman, aged 56, was jubilant when
he boarded the Tupolev-134 in Moscow. He had left his home town early
that morning to catch the 6.40am shuttle to the capital, where he
would, during the day trip, sign a contract that was the big break for
the family export business he had run for 15 years.

As he sat back in his seat, he rang the younger of his two daughters,
Yevgenia, 36, on his mobile phone to wish her happy birthday. She bid
her father goodbye and said she would see him soon, at the airport.

“It was his last call,” said his secretary, Tatiana, by telephone
yesterday. “I spoke with him yesterday, he was very happy after he
signed the contract and said he would tell me all about it. But what
does it mean now?”

An hour later, Mr Degtaryev’s plane fell from 10,000 metres to the
ground near the town of Tula. Witnesses heard explosions, but the
authorities still say there is no evidence yet of terrorism. For
Tatiana and Mr Degtaryev’s export company, the uncertainty only
compounds their loss.

The businessman had travelled to Moscow with the firm’s accountant,
Valentina Miglinskaya. The flight was full of the elite of the
southern town – a top oil executive, a government bank manager, the
six-year-old daughter and mother of a 24-year-old television
anchorwoman, Aida Starikova.

The plane was being piloted by Yuri Balchkin, the general director of
the airline, Volga Avia Express, a small regional company. A company
spokesman said the aircraft had been well maintained and that Mr
Balchkin was an experienced pilot.

Ms Miglinskaya’s husband went to the airport with Yevgenia and her
sister to meet the pair. “It was there the terrible news hit them,”
said Tatiana. She said Ms Miglinskaya’s husband returned to the
company office and sat in his wife’s chair, silently, for six hours,
trying to conjure her presence one last time.

Mr Degtaryev’s daughters were too distraught to comment
yesterday. “Mikhail was like a father to all of us,” said Tatiana.

Three minutes later and 500 miles south, another tragedy unfolded. A
Tupolev-154 that had left Domodyedovo airport 40 minutes before the
Volgograd plane also fell out of the sky. Eyewitnesses reported
hearing an explosion before the crash, yet the authorities say they,
too, have not found any evidence that the plane was attacked by
terrorists. Its owner, the second largest airline in Russia, Sibir,
said it received a hijack alert from the plane, but officials have
disputed the nature of the warning.

Whatever its cause, the loss is great to the Armenian community of
Sochi, said Stepan Pogosian. He was a friend of Sarkis Organesian, 43,
a Sochi businessman who died on the Tupolev-154. He said, by
telephone: “I, like many in Sochi who knew Sarkis, are in shock. He
has two sons and a widow.

“We don’t know if it was a terrorist act or something else. The first
information was that it is, and now it seems this is being denied. We
are all in a state of shock”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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 August 26, 2004

HIS HOLINESS ARAM IN KOREA
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, is in South
Korea to chair the meeting of the WCC Executive Committee of the World
Council of Churches. His Holiness, the Moderator of the WCC, arrived August
20 and will remain until this Saturday, August 28.

Topics that were considered during the meetings included, the vitality of
the churches and the Ecumenical Movement in Korea; Peace and Reconciliation
in the divided Korea; Preparations for the WCC 9th General Assembly, which
will take place in Brazil in 2006; Review of the work of the WCC Pacific
office; and Progress report on relations with partner organizations.

The Executive Committee meeting is being hosted by the National Council of
Churches of Korea (NCCK), and the four WCC member churches in the country:
the Anglican Church of Korea, the Korean Methodist Church, the Presbyterian
Church in the Republic of Korea, and the Presbyterian Church of Korea.

Last Sunday, August 22, His Holiness addressed the Presbyterian Church of
Korea. The focus of his sermon was that the Christian Church must take the
Gospel to the world. Describing the Church as a missionary reality, the
Catholicos said: Being Christian means being a witness, and being a witness
means taking the whole Gospel to the world. We are sent by God in Christ to
become missionaries in a world where the Gospel values are in decline, in a
world dominated by injustice, violence, in a world which is in dire need of
meaning. As Christians we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to become the
witnesses of the Gospel values.

RECEPTIONS FOR PILLARS OF THE PRELACY
ARE PLANNED IN VARIOUS AREAS
The Pillars of the Prelacy is an annual giving program which since its
inauguration last year has been growing. The money raised through this
program goes to important programs like clergy recruitment and training and
the various Prelacy youth programs. This year the Pillars program is
reaching out into various communities outside the New York metropolitan
area. Thus far three receptions are scheduled as follows:
St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, Friday, September
10.
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Sunday,
September 12.
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Sunday October 10.
As one individual stated when joining the ranks of the Pillars
last year: The Prelacy is not just a local entity; it is for the collective
good of all the parishes that together comprise the Prelacy.

BISHOP NAREG ALEMEZIAN
VISITS PRELACY OFFICE
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, the Chief Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicate of
Cilicia, visited the Prelacy office today. His Grace has been in the United
States and Canada the past few weeks and will begin his return trip to
Antelias, Lebanon, tomorrow.

During his visit Nareg Srpazan granted an interview with the Director of
Communications which will be published in a forthcoming issue of Outreach.
Nareg Srpazan spoke candidly about his work, as well as his hopes and
aspirations for the Christian churches in their quest for solidarity and
union.

Incidentally, Nareg Srpazan was quoted in the recent (August 24) issue of
Christian Century in a story about the attacks on churches in Iraq. His
Grace is quoted, Christians are an integral part of the society they are
living in, they are not newcomers, they are not there for any superficial
reasons. Middle Eastern Christians are the people of the land where Christ
was born.

CAMP IS OUT; SCHOOL IS IN
The camping season is coming to an end and the start of the new school year
will begin soon. Actually, in some parts of the country, school is already
in full session. But, for most of our school districts, the 2004-2005 school
year will begin after Labor Day.

Deacon Nishan Baljian has spent a good part of the summer working with
campers in Camp Haiastan in Franklin, Massachusetts, providing spiritual
leadership and learning. Some of our area priests have joined him from time
to time in fulfilling this important mission to our young people.

FACING THE HEARTBREAKING TRUTH OF HISTORY
The August 19th issue of the International Herald Tribune ran an article
written by Jay Bushinsky emphasizing the importance of the recognition and
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide and noting that historical truth must
be faced regardless of how heartbreaking it may be.

The author, a freelance writer living in Israel, writes: Israelis, Jews,
Zionists and their supporters should comfort the Armenians in their national
sorrow and the Turks should accept the photographs, documents and above all
testimony, which commemorates the Armenian genocide, instead of insisting
that it never happened.

Mr. Bushinsky begins his article with a story about Franz Werfl, a story we
had not heard before. He writes: When the writer Franz Werfl, visiting this
majestic city [Jerusalem] in the early 1930s, sought a shoemaker, he was
told that there was a very competent one on Jaffa Road. His wife, the former
Alma Mahler, had lost one of her shoes abroad ship en route to Palestine and
was desperate to have the missing one replaced. The showmaker’s name was
Garabidian, an Armenian name. Werfl was surprised to discover Armenians in
Jerusalem. When he found out that the Old City had an Armenian Quarter and
that most of its inhabitants were survivors of the first genocide of the
20th century, he was overwhelmed with emotion.

According to Mr. Bushinsky, that encounter led to Werfls interest in the
Armenian story and his book, The Forty Days of Musa Dagh.

E-MAIL, PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR
We here at Crossroads love the internet and email. How can we not love it
when it gives us the opportunity to come into your life each week with bits
and pieces of news about the Armenian Church and related topics!

However, we here at Crossroads have always maintained that the internet,
email and tex msgs have been major contributors to sloppy English. Sentence
structure often disappears. Punctuation is often not used at all. And
perhaps saddest of all, the art of letter writing is lost.

We are horrified to have to confess that we at Crossroads are often
offenders. We try not to use apostrophes; and sometimes in order to do so
we have to form some awkward and bad sentences. We do not use quote marks,
but rather put quoted material in italics. We do this, dear readers, because
in some email services (i.e., AOL, for one) the apostrophes and quotes
become other points of punctuation (i.e., question marks), resulting in some
very strange looking copy. To all the pedants of grammar out there, we offer
our apologies for our minor transgressions, which to us, at least, appear to
be better than the alternative.

Speaking of pedants, we highly recommend a new book that has been on the
bestseller list for the past few months, Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne
Truss. Do not be put-off by its sub-title: The Zero Tolerance Approach to
Punctuation. Yes, it surely is about punctuation, but it is one of the most
enjoyable and funniest books we have read in a long time.

Visit our website at

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
August 26, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHIMKUS JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly welcomed the official announcement
today that Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL) has joined the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, bringing the total Caucus membership to 136.

“I am very pleased to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,”
said Congressman Shimkus. “Armenian-Americans in my district have always
been passionate, dedicated and informed advocates for the need for stronger
and better relations between our two nations. I am honored to help them to
achieve that goal by being a member of the Caucus.”

Congressman Shimkus currently co-chairs the House Baltic Caucus, which
assists the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in strengthening
their democracies and free market economies.

“The Assembly is delighted that Congressman Shimkus will continue supporting
Armenian issues through his membership to the Caucus,” said Assembly
Executive Director Ross Vartian. “During his tenure in Congress,
Representative Shimkus has repeatedly called for reaffirmation of the
Armenian Genocide. The Assembly looks forward to working with him on this
and other issues facing the community.”

Last year, Congressman Shimkus signed on as cosponsor of H. Res. 193, a
resolution which ensures that the lessons of the Holocaust and the Armenian
Genocide, as well as those in Cambodia and Rwanda are not forgotten. In
addition to his support of Genocide reaffirmation, Representative Shimkus in
April backed a congressional letter sent to House Foreign Operations
Subcommittee Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), outlining funding priorities for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh in Fiscal Year 2005.

Congressman Shimkus, currently serving his fourth term in office, represents
the 19th congressional district which spans from Springfield to Metropolis,
which borders Kentucky. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce
Committee and is vice chairman of its Subcommittee on Energy and Air
Quality. He is also a member of three additional Energy and Commerce
Subcommittees: Telecommunications and the Internet; Environment and
Hazardous Materials; and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

The Armenian Caucus was formed in 1995 to provide a bipartisan forum for
legislators to discuss how the United States can better assist the peoples
of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. It is co-chaired by Representatives Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ.)

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2004-078

Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

Caption: Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL.)

ARMENTEL INTERVENES IN HOME POLICY OF ARMENIA, CHAIRMAN OF
NON-REGISTERED PARTY DECLARES

YEREVAN, August 26 (Noyan Tapan). ArmenTel intervenes in home policy
of Armenia. Ruben Mnatsakanian, the Chairman of the “Free Hayk
Mission” non-registered party, declaring this at the August 26 press
conference mentioned that because of 7-day breaking of telephone
communication of the party office the party wasn’t able to inform the
representatives of territorial and regional structures of the party
about the special general meeting that was to be organized for the
purpose of registration of the party. On August 24, a representative
of ArmenTel objected to the suit of the party in the court of first
instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash Yerevan communities mentioning
that according to the acting law, the “Free Hayk Mission” should have
declared about the congress a month ago through mass media, so
breaking of the telephone communication has nothing to do with
non-registration of the party. According to R.Mnatsakanian, this
objection is means of influencing the home policy of Armenia and “a
regular attempt of avoiding responsibility by means of abusing the
monopoly position on the market.” To recap, the “Free Hayk Mission” is
among 51 parties included into the list of the parties subject to
dissolution, which were submitted to the court by the State Register.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/26/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Aram I Meets with South Korea President
2) ANCA Eastern Region to Expand Operations to New York City
3) US-Educated Officer Promoted To Head Georgian General Staff

1) Aram I Meets with South Korea President

SEOULReceiving His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia,
members of World Council of Churches (WCC) executive committee and Korean
church leaders in Seoul on 24 August, South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun
expressed his strong appreciation to the World Council of Churches (WCC) and
the ecumenical movement for its “fundamental assistance” in support of human
rights and democratization in his country. He has also welcomed the
contribution of the churches to promoting a peaceful reunification of divided
Korea.
The president, who worked as a human rights lawyer defending pro-democracy
and
labor rights activists before taking up political office, was involved in the
National Council of Churches (NCCK) human rights program. The contact with
NCCK
and the churches “opened my eyes to human rights and justice issues,” he
stated.
WCC moderator Catholicos Aram I underscored how the Christian
understanding of
reconciliation was closely linked to unification and the overcoming of
division. “We are called by God in Jesus Christ to strive for reconciliation
and unity in all its forms. The WCC is committed to working with all people of
goodwill to overcome the barriers which divide our societies,” he said.
The commitment of the WCC to the reunification of Korea was echoed by the
organization’s general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia. “WCC stands for
de-nuclearization and disarmament in the Korean peninsula based on a
negotiated
agreement by all parties as a foundation of peace, and will continue to
promote
a policy of dialogue and exchange,” he said.
During an exchange with executive committee members, president Roh Moo-hyun
also expressed his support for the invitation of the Korean churches and of
NCCK to host a future WCC assembly in Korea. The WCC general secretary thanked
the president and said that the “WCC hopes and prays that an assembly would be
possible in a united Korea in the near future.”
The WCC executive committee will issue a statement on Korea at the end of the
week that will express its serious concern about the human rights and
humanitarian situation in North Korea, and will outline ongoing ecumenical
efforts for the peaceful reunification of the divided country.
The WCC executive committee is meeting in Seoul between August 24-27 on the
invitation of NCCK and the Korean churches.

2) ANCA Eastern Region to Expand Operations to New York City

WATERTOWNThe Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Eastern Region
Board
of Directors announced the establishment of a new office in New York City and
the hiring of ANC activist Doug Geogerian as the region’s new Executive
Director.
“With close to 20 local ANCs and working with countless activists in 31
states
on the East Coast, we feel it is important for us to expand our operations to
give the Armenian American community additional resources to rely on,” stated
ANCA Eastern Region Chairman Dikran Kaligian. “With New York City being the
media and financial center of the world, an important hub for academia and
culture, and home to the headquarters of the United Nations, various NGO’s and
several Armenian-American institutions, we feel that this is an important and
necessary step.”
“We are also excited to have Doug joining our staff. As an active and
committed member of the Armenian American community, he brings experience,
energy, and dedication to his position as Executive Director,” continued
Kaligian. “Doug will greatly assist the ANCA continue its work to further
promote important issues of concern to Armenian Americans,” concluded
Kaligian.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to begin working at the Armenian
National Committee of America,” stated Geogerian. “The task ahead promises to
be exciting and, at the same time, challenging. I look forward to working with
our local chapters and activists to help advance our interests at the local,
state and federal level.”
Geogerian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Languages and Literature at
the University of Chicago in 1990 and was awarded a Masters of Education at
Harvard University in 1992. After pursuing advanced study at Teachers College
of Columbia University, Geogerian joined the faculty of a leading progressive
New York City high school whose mission was to engender critical thinking
skills in the minds of underprivileged youth. He has been a teaching
professional in the New York City public school system for the last twelve
years.
A prominent activist in the New York ANC, Geogerian has facilitated various
public forums, planned Genocide commemorations, met with members of Congress,
and organized demonstrations for the advancement of the Armenian Cause.
Current ANCA Eastern Region Director Arin Gregorian will be stepping down at
the end of August to pursue career interests in the Boston area. “Arin has
served as Director for three years, and his dedication and commitment have
contributed immensely to the success of the work we do in the Armenian
American
community,” stated Kaligian. “We wish him great success in his endeavors.” The
Watertown, Massachusetts ANCA Eastern Region office will remain open and
active.

3) US-Educated Officer Promoted To Head Georgian General Staff

TBILISI (Combined Sources)–Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili told a
government meeting on Wednesday that he had promoted deputy chief of the
General Staff Vakhtang Kapanadze to head the General Staff.
Kapanadze’s predecessor, Givi Iukuridze, “has done his best,” Saakashvili
said. “He graduated from the Frunze Academy in Russia. However, we are
creating
a new army which must meet NATO’s standards and so appointing US-educated
people to key positions in the General Staff,” he said.
Mamuka Nikolaishvili and David Nairashvili have been appointed deputy chiefs
of the General Staff, Saakashvili said.
President Saakashvili also said that Georgia is to establish a reserve army
comprised of part-time soldiers.
“These forces will comprise all Georgian citizens who are physically fit to
perform these duties,” Saakashvili told a Cabinet session held in Batumi on
Wednesday.
Georgia, whose relations with neighbor Russia have deteriorated recently over
the breakaway region of South Ossetia, already has a conscription army like in
Russia. But it was unclear as to whether Saakashvili’s plans include mandatory
terms of service in the new reserve army for the wider population or for those
who have already completed their initial conscription service in the regular
army.
Georgia does not want a war and is not preparing for it, but “the need to
protect the country is relevant today and will be relevant in a decade or a
century,” he said.
“As a state we are ready to provide all people with uniforms and weapons,
should it prove necessary. But they will be kept at police stations. Every
reservist will undergo training once or twice a year in order to put on a
uniform and study the mobilization plan,” the president said.
Reservists will be trained to deal “with both defense issues and emergency
situations that might take place in the country,” Saakashvili said.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry describes Georgian leaders’ statements saying
Tbilisi is on the verge of war with Russia as irresponsible.
The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, “Tbilisi’s recent statements
contain militarist rhetoric. But their latest statements are lack a sense of
proportion and irresponsibility at any level–personal or state one.”
“The absurdity of these statements is obvious. Recently the entire world has
been promised to expose bodies of dead Cossacks. But these confirmations have
become groundless,” the statement says.
“Due to the failure of the military adventure in South Ossetia Georgia’s
social and economic problems have become more evident. It would be
necessary to
concentrate efforts on the solution to this problem and not to aim them at
searching for a ‘non-existing external enemy’ or upsetting the work of the
Russian Embassy in Tbilisi,” the ministry stressed.
Moscow “is seeking to help the Georgian people improve normal life.” The
Foreign Ministry urges Georgia “to react on constructive initiatives, which
have been recently presented to Georgia’s leadership in order to improve
relations.” “There is no reaction on these initiatives. Any talks on helping
hand of friendship cannot replace it,” the statement says.
In related news, the Interior Department deputy chief in Tskhinvali, Nodar
Dzagoyev, was killed on Wednesday, and authorities have opened an
investigation
to discover if foul play was behind the death.
“Investigators are looking into all possible murder scenarios, including a
terrorist act,” said Robert Guliyev, Interior Minister of the unrecognized
South Ossetian republic.
The minister also told Interfax that two Tskhinvali residents were detained
and heavily beaten in the Georgian village of Kekhli last night.

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Boca Raton News, FL
Aug 26 2004

Protesters demand halt to Sudan `genocide’
Boca Raton religious leaders

by Dale M. King

Death is rampant in the Sudan.
And South County religious leaders want it to stop.
Some 40 people, many carrying signs, gathered at noon Tuesday in
front of Boca Raton City Hall to demand an end to the senseless
carnage and to pray for the victims.
`We are gathering out of moral imperative,’ said Rabbi Richard Agler,
senior rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Israel in
Boca Raton.
`The world has seen entirely too much of this,’ he said. `We know
that such evils are most likely to occur when people are either
unaware or looking away. We are doing our part to make sure that
people are both aware and informed.’
Leaders from several congregations joined the demonstration held one
day before the `Sudan Day of Conscience’ on Wednesday.
`In situations like this, it is incumbent upon all decent human
beings to make their voices heard,’ said the Rev. Henry Willis,
pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Boca Raton.
`Whether mass murder of the innocent is taking place in Europe, Asia
or Africa, it cannot be tolerated,’ he said. `This time, it is
Africa. Next time, it may be somewhere else. But as religious leaders
of conscience, we say that is something the world cannot tolerate.’
The Very Rev. Nareg Berberian of St. David Armenian Church in Boca
Raton added his voice, saying that humanity cannot `stand idly by
while another genocide takes place.’
`Given the history of the 20th century, which has included so many
genocides,’ he said, a genocide in the 21st century `cannot be
tolerated.’
While demonstrators massed at City Hall, the International Committee
of the Red Cross this week airlifted supplies to Sudan’s troubled
Darfur region which has been scourged by a war between African rebel
troops and Arab militia known as the Janjaweed.
The United Nations reports that more than 30,000 people have been
killed and 1.4 million were forced from their homes during the past
18 months of fighting.
In a passionate address, Rabbi Agler said `organized mass murder of
the innocent, state-sponsored or at least state-aided murder of the
innocent’ is happening `before our very eyes.’
Organizers of the event said they will call on the government of the
Sudan to halt all activity that is causing the mass murder, rape and
plundering of villages in the Darfur area.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 26 2004

Danish Consulate opens in Baku

The visit by the Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller to
Azerbaijan on August 23-24 was signified by the inauguration of the
Danish Consulate in Baku. On Monday Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and Minister Moller discussed cooperation between the two
countries, the situation in the South Caucasus region

and around the world. “We have held useful discussions and considered
many facets of Azerbaijani-Danish collaboration in the political,
economic and humanitarian fields”, Mammadyarov told a news briefing
following the meeting. He said that also discussed were issues
related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh.

Mammadyarov added that over the past seven years the government of
Denmark has provided assistance worth $14 million to Azerbaijani
refugees and displaced persons. Danish Foreign Minister, in turn,
pointed out the strengthening ties between Denmark and Azerbaijan. He
said the two countries are collaborating in fighting international
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction and added that his visit to
Azerbaijan further proves this. With regard to possible facets of
bilateral cooperation, Moller spoke of interaction in the oil and
energy sectors, the use of Danish experience in environmental
protection in oil production on the Caspian Sea, developing
democratic entities and ensuring the rule of law in social life.

Denmark supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
The Danish official also said that with the current tensions around
the world, Azerbaijan and Denmark stand side by side and collaborate
in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo, and in the area of combating weapons
of mass destruction and terrorism. “We (Denmark) are very interested
in this”, he said. Moller said that the Danish Honorary Consulate,
which opened in Azerbaijan on August 24, will be turned into an
embassy in the foreseeable future. Touching upon the Garabagh
conflict, the Danish Minister said that in general, the European
Union supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in resolving the
problem. “The OSCE Minsk Group will find ways to settle the conflict
suitable for both sides”, he said. Moller stated that as an EU
member-state, Denmark has always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity in international organizations. “Denmark opposes forceful
occupation of land and supports a peace settlement of the conflict”,
he underlined. On Tuesday, Moller attended the opening ceremony of
the Danish Consulate. Moller completed his visit to Azerbaijan after
touring the Atashgah (fire worshippers site) in the Surakhany
district of Baku.

`Azerbaijan has great future’
President Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with Minister Moller on
Monday that Azerbaijan is integrating into European organizations.
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has been a full-fledge member of the
Council of Europe for over three years and noted that his country is
closely cooperating with influential international organizations,
including the European Union. The President underlined that
Azerbaijan has tremendous opportunities for expanding the relations
with Denmark and voiced a hope that the Danish minister’s visit to
Baku would further promote the EU-Azerbaijan relations. President
Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan is a country representing geo-strategic
importance in the region. He said that Armenia’s aggression against
Azerbaijan is a serious threat not only to his country but also for
peace and stability in the entire region. Moller, in turn, said his
first visit to Azerbaijan is of great importance for bilateral
relations. He expressed satisfaction with the meetings he held in
Baku and noted that Azerbaijan’s economic progress is important for
improving the nation’s welfare. “I believe that great future is in
store for Azerbaijan,” he said. The Danish official said that some
Danish companies are operating in the energy sector of Azerbaijan and
voiced his confidence that these companies will contribute to
developing the country’s economy. Moller also thanked President
Aliyev for Azerbaijan’s support for Denmark’s admission to the UN
Security Council.