PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
October 8, 2004
* * *
BISHOP GALSTANIAN MET WITH WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES SECRETARY GENERAL REV.
DR. SAMUEL KOBIA
On Sunday October 3, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, attended an ecumenical service
held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the
Canadian Council of Churches (CCC). Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, Secretary General of the
World Council of Churches (WCC) was specially invited from Geneva on this
occasion.
The ecumenical service was held in Ottawa’s South Minster United Church.
Attending the service were representatives and leaders of Canadian Churches and
the president of CCC Dr. Richard Schneider as well as Secretary General of CCC
Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton.
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian offered the commissioning and
benediction then delivered his word. “Glory to You, Lord Jesus, for having granted me
this great moment of fellowship, with my brothers and sisters from various
denominations, in our common search for communion with you and obedience to your
will.” Addressing his words to the Secretary General of the WCC, the Primate
said, “Dear Dr. Kobia, I am graciously honored to convey to you the love and
blessings of our Spiritual Father and Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness
Karekin II from the spiritual birthplace and center of our nation and the church
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia. May Almighty God guides your
steps in the realization of your highly responsible mission.” The Primate also
congratulated Dr. Schneider and Rev. Dr. Hamilton on the occasion of the 60th
anniversary of the CCC, and assured them that the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Canada will engage more fervently in the activities of the CCC.
The same evening Bishop Galstanian hosted Dr. Samuel Kobia, Dr. Elizabeth
Ferris, Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton and Rev Dr. Taylor Christie for dinner in Ottawa.
The Primate and Dr. Kobia had the opportunity to discuss in detail the
current state of the WCC, the issues and challenges it faces and the achievements it
has accomplished. The Primate listened intently to the explanations of the
Secretary General and expressed his opinions for the WCC to become a stronger
and a more broad-based presence in the Christian World. Dr. Kobia thanked the
Primate, and the two leaders agreed to contact frequently and to explore further
means of cooperation.
Accompanying the Primate were Rev. Fr. Hayrig Apegha Hovhannisian and Deacon
Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate.
* * *
PRIMATES OF NORTH AMERICAN AND CANADIAN DIOCESES MEET IN TORONTO AT HOLY
TRINITY ARMENIAN CHURCH
On Thursday, September 30, 2004 the Primates of Eastern and Western USA and
Canada met at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Toronto. This is the
third meeting of the Primates.
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian (Diocese of Canada), His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian (US Eastern Diocese) and His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian (US Western Diocese) had discussions over various issues concerning
the role and the mission of the Armenian Church in North America and Canada.
The Primates agreed to further organize and cooperate in making the mission
of the Armenian Church more vibrant. Discussions focused on Christian
Education, Youth, the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, 1600th anniversary of
the creation of Armenian Alphabet as well as pilgrimages both Inter-Diocesan
and to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
* * *
CATHOLICOS MEETS WITH BULGARIAN PRESIDENT
On Wednesday (10/6), His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, met at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin with President
of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov. The two spoke of the good relations between the
Armenian and Bulgarian people, and the ties between the Armenian Church and the
Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The Catholicos thanked President Parvanov for the
Bulgarian people’s continued friendship to the local Armenian community in
Bulgaria. There is a large historic Armenian community in Bulgaria.
* * *
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD AT HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN CHURCH FOR VEHAMAYR OVSANNA
SARKISSIAN
On Monday October 4, 2004 the viewing (Dangark) service for the late Vehamayr
Ovsanna Sarkissian was held at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church at 7:00
pm. The late Vehamayr Ovsanna Sarkissian was the mother of Karekin I of
Blessed Memory, Catholicos of All Armenians. The following bishops and clergy
participated in the service, which began at 8:00 p.m.:
His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian
Diocese
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), His Eminence Archbishop Khajak Hakopian, His
Eminence Archbishop Souren Gataroian, Most Rev. Fr. Maghrik Barikian, Very Rev. Fr.
Hairig Hovhannesian, Rev. Arch. Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Rev. Arch. Fr. Armen
Ishkhanian, Rev. Fr. Datev Menengichian, Rev. Arch. Fr. Sarkis Gulian, Rev. Fr.
Vazgen Boyajian, Rev. Fr. Komitas Mirzakhanian, Rev.Fr. Hrayr Nicolian, Very
Rev. Fr.Yeghia Kiredjian (Armenian Catholic Church), Rev. Yesai Sarmazian
(Armenian Protestant Church).
During the services letters were read from: His Holiness Karekin II
Catholicos of all Armenians, Holy See of Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of Holy See of Cilicia, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate,
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Western), His Eminence Archbishop
Mushegh Mardirosian, His Eminence Archbishop Datev Sargissian, His Grace Bishop
Movses Movsissian (Primate of Southern Russia), His Grace Bishop Vasgen
Mirzakhanian (Primate of Georgia), Very Rev. Fr. Artak Digranian (Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin), Very Rev. Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian, Rev. Fr. Hrant Yeretsian
(California.
Following the services those in attendance took part in a coffee service
organized by the Parish Council of Holy Trinity Armenian Church.
On Tuesday, October 5, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. the funeral service for the late
Vehamayr Ovsanna Sarkissian was held in the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church. Following the funeral service the burial service was held at York Cemetery
in Toronto after which family and friends returned to Holy Trinity Armenian
Church to take part in the Hokedjash luncheon organized by the Parish Council,
Women’s Guild and Bible Study Groups of Holy Trinity Armenian Church The
luncheon was held in the Margaros Artinian Hall of the church.
* * *
EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS DEDICATED TO THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF CANADIAN ARMENIAN DIOCESE
Paintings and art works of Montreal Armenian Artists Bedros Aslanian, Arto
Yuzbasiyan, Joseph Mandalian, Armand Tatossian, Berdj Missakian and Yeghia
Bekmezjian were exhibited at Marie Manoogian Hall of St Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Cathedral in Montreal under the auspices of the Primate His Eminence
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian. This event was one of the series to mark the 20th
anniversary of the establishment of Canadian Armenian Diocese.
Mrs. Aida Karibian welcomed the dignitaries and guests of the evening that
included Honorable Senator Marcel Prudhome, the Montreal City Councilors Mrs.
Noushig Eloyan, Mrs. Hasmig Belleli and Mrs. Mary Deros as well as Diocesan
Council representatives and parishioners.
* * *
GREEN SUNDAY (Sunday of the World Church) PROCLAIMED THE DAY OF C.F.F.A IN
THE CANADIAN DIOCESE
Upon the directive and instruction of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate, the Green Sunday (April 10, 2005) is proclaimed the day of Childrens
Fund for Armenia C.F.F.A. With this, a new feast day will be added to the list
of the feast days of the Diocese that will be marked every year, during which
the CFFA Annual Report and new projects will be presented to the sponsors.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting
Oct 6 2004
IRAQ DESPATCH SPLITS ARMENIA
Parliament begins to ponder president’s plan to send Armenians to
Iraq.
By Zhanna Alexanian in Yerevan
The Armenian parliament will this month decide whether to approve a
controversial proposal to send Armenians to Iraq, with a decision
either way likely to anger one of its two big allies Russia and the
United States.
On a recent official visit to Poland, Armenian president Robert
Kocharian signalled his intention to send 50 military personnel –
drivers, doctors, and auxiliary staff – to Iraq to join Polish forces
in Iraq. On September 6, Kocharian and Polish president Aleksander
Kwasniewski signed an intergovernmental agreement, confirming the
planned dispatch.

During his first press conference in Yerevan, the newly-appointed US
ambassador to Armenia John Evans welcomed Armenia’s willingness to
participate in the coalition operation in Iraq.
“International forces in Iraq are facing difficulties, and Armenia’s
assistance in this question is very valuable,” the ambassador said.
Later, US president George W Bush noted in his message to Robert
Kocharian on the occasion of Armenia’s Independence Day on September
21,
“I am particularly grateful for the important counter-terrorism
assistance that Armenia has rendered to the US.”
Armenia has close ties with both Russia and the US – both of which
have huge Armenian diasporas – but this appears to be one issue where
a balancing act is impossible.
Last week, defence minister Serzh Sarkisian spoke up for the plan,
“If we support the fight against international terrorism then we must
not approach it as consumers and should contribute to a solution to
the problem. After all, Iraq is very close to our borders, and this
fact does not allow us to watch from the sidelines.”
The Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta sharply condemned
Sarkisian, reflecting feelings that one of Russia’s closest military
allies was selling out to the United States.
In Armenia, there is disquiet at senior levels about the plans and in
an unprecedented breaking of ranks, Armenian deputy defence minister
General Yury Khachaturov criticised the president. “I am not
enthusiastic about this decision,” he said. “I am generally not
enthusiastic about the fact that troops were sent there in the first
place and that the war started.”
Avetik Ishkhanian, a human rights activist, who heads the Helsinki
Committee of Armenia, was also critical.
“However much we want to establish close ties with the USA or NATO,
they are not actually insisting on an Armenian military presence in
Iraq,” he said. “This is a provincial way of sucking up, which does
not take into account the interests of Armenia and the diaspora.”
Stepan Safarian, a political analyst with the Armenian Centre for
National and International Studies, ACNIS, said that this was a row
waiting to happen.
“From the first days of the war in Iraq, Armenia’s position was
unclear,” Safarian said. “On the one hand, she was flirting with
America, on the other, tried to keep Russia happy.”

An opinion poll conducted by the centre showed that out of 2,000
respondents, around 26 per cent viewed the coalition campaign in Iraq
positively, while 33 per cent had a negative attitude, and 29 per
cent were neutral.
When it came to sending Armenians to Iraq, another poll conducted by
the Vox Populi centre with 664 respondents found that 60 per cent of
those asked were against, 24 per cent said that they didn’t care, ten
per cent could not answer, and only six per cent supported the step.
Safarian said that, with public opinion against it, the Armenian
government might in the end decide to back down from sending a
contingent of troops to Iraq.
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian is arguing that if the military
personnel do go it will be in a humanitarian role. “From the
beginning, Armenia said that it objected to military presence in
Iraq,” Oskanian told journalists. “We said that we would like to
participate in the reconstruction of Iraq in the humanitarian sphere.
The final decision has not been made. The parliament needs to approve
it.”
Opponents of the troop despatch say that the presence of the Armenian
forces in Iraq would endanger the 30,000 or so members of the
Armenian community there. More than two dozen public organisations
appealed to the government to suspend the deployment because “it is
necessary to think about the safety [of the compatriots] before
taking such a step”.
Garegin Hovsepian, representative for the Iraqi diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, said that Iraqis were responding with
hostility to the planned deployment.
“The situation for the Iraqi Armenians is very tough,” the priest
said. “It deteriorated after the announcement by the Armenian defence
minister that fifty people would join the coalition forces in Iraq.
Before this announcement, everything had been calm, and no one had
harassed Armenians because of their nationality.”
“Before sending the Armenians in, it is necessary to consider
security issues,” deputy chairman of the Iraqi Armenians Union
Yervand Minasian told IWPR. “It would be a gross mistake to send
representatives of Armenia to Iraq. In Iraq they will be perceived as
invaders. This is dangerous, and it will badly damage the Armenian
community in Iraq.”
Since last year’s invasion of Iraq, about 200 Iraqi Armenians have
emigrated to Armenia and the number of those seeking refuge is
increasing. Gagik Eganian, head of the department for migration and
refugees, admits that the incomers are not receiving adequate help.
“Their settlement has to be paid for,” Eganian said. “And if there
are several hundred of them, the state will not be able to do that
simply because today it cannot provide for its own citizens. It is
important that they will get residency. Nobody is going to send them
back.”
With attention now focused on parliament, which has to give the green
light to the decision on deployment, opposition deputies are openly
critical of the plan, while members of the pro-presidential coalition
in parliament are mostly keeping silent.
Deputy speaker of the national assembly, Vahan Hovanesian, who is a
member of the Dashnaktsutiun party, said before making the decision
Armenia should discuss the issue with its CIS colleagues and France
and Germany.
If parliament does approve the despatch of the military personnel,
they are due to go to Iraq in early 2005.
However, the government could avoid embarrassment if, as has been
hinted recently, Poland decides to withdraw its military contingent
from Iraq by the end of the year.

Zhanna Alexanian is a reporter for the online weekly Armenianow.com

Armenian Community Meets in Tijuana; Remembers Genocide
Perspective
La Prensa (San Diego, CA)
October 8, 2004
By Katia López-Hodoyán
The invitation was scheduled a day after September 21, marking the 13th
anniversary of Armenia’s independence from the USSR. Guests from both
sides of the border were arriving at Clinica CodetAris in Tijuana where
Dr. Arturo Chayet, a prominent ophthalmologist and their host greeted
them for the evening. Why would someone of Jewish heritage embark on
this gathering?
Perhaps for an opportunity to celebrate Tijuana’s rich and diverse
cultural heritage. Possibly to bring to light how a culturally diverse
society can flourish with the unique cultural contributions of its
members. Maybe to underline history’s past mistakes, so they will not be
repeated. Be it what may, the evening would be a celebration of the
Armenian race, some 90 years after the Armenian Genocide suffered under
the Ottoman Empire.
Close to a hundred people gathered that evening from both sides of the
border, the majority of which are direct descendants of the handful of
the community of Armenians that settled in Tijuana around 1922.
Armenians have demonstrated to be a strong race, hard working,
entrepreneurial and committed, who have already made their mark in
Tijuana’s business sector.
There is camaraderie among the guests, many which know each other if not
personally, by their last names, all the last names ending in `yan or
`ian’, a tell-tale ending that distinguishes all Armenians in the world.
After enjoying authentic Armenian food, a short presentation was given
on the long-suffering history of Armenia and its people, from its
glorious past to its fragile present. This was followed by the
presentation of the first major motion picture ARARAT by Atom Egoyan,
which won universal acclaim in its attempt to show to the world `The
Unknown Genocide.’
The Armenian Genocide, is called `The Unknown Genocide,’ because first
and foremost, it has not been accepted by the Turkish government,
successor of the Ottoman Empire and subsequently little known by the
worldwide population. Turkey states that the number of killings is
exaggerated and that there was never a systematic complot to exterminate
the Armenians. The reasons for the denial are mostly political issues.
Turkey is a strong NATO ally, and also the transit terrain for oil,
where U.S. companies have a large stake in the construction of an oil
pipeline running from Baku, Azerbaijan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan.
It is unfortunate that in the year 2000 when the House of
Representatives was to vote on a resolution on the Armenian Genocide,
the resolution was withdrawn only a few hours before the scheduled
presentation. Pressure from the Turkish government that threatened to
close its airbases to U.S. planes on missions in Iraq was reason enough
for the withdrawal.
This was a great disappointment to Armenians in the Diaspora. Although
this past April 24th, on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, President
Bush issued a statement mourning the state-sponsored killing of close to
two million Armenians between 1915 and 1923, he fell short of calling it
Genocide. The pressure continues and so the bowing under its influence.
Nowadays, the majority of the young Turkish generation dismisses the
claim made by the Armenians, even though there has been worldwide
progress in the recognition of the Genocide. For the generation that
gathered this September evening in Tijuana, where some of the
descendants are full-blooded, others fifty percent and others one
quarter Armenian, there seems to be an invisible, yet strong bond. It is
a bond of pain, suffering, of heart-wrenching stories from their
parents’ histories. Still, there is also a lesson of survival, of
celebration of faith and strength and the knowledge that their
ancestors’ will to overcome their past challenges forces the generations
of today to forge today and in the years to come, a contribution of life
to the society they live in. It is also a call to the duty of the
descendants of this strong and enduring race, a call to pass on to
future generations, the history, the culture, yesterdays’ struggles and
today’s triumphs, lest they be forgotten.

The Jakarta Post
October 09, 2004
Megawati installs four new ambassadors
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Outgoing President Megawati Soekarnoputri Thursday named four new Indonesian
ambassadors for Thailand, Germany, Tanzania and Ukraine.
Senior diplomat Makmur Widodo, current director general of multilateral
relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was appointed as Indonesian
ambassador to Germany.
Before being appointed director general of multilateral relations in 2002,
Makmur was deputy permanent representative to the United Nations
headquarters in New York.
Senior diplomat Ibrahim Yusuf was appointed as Indonesia’s ambassador to
Thailand. His previous position was head of the ministry’s research,
training and development agency.
Trijono Marjono was appointed Indonesia’s ambassador to Tanzania. Prior to
his appointment he was secretary to the director general for America and
Europe.
Former charge d’affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, the
Philippines, Manuel Alexander Laturiuw was appointed ambassador to Ukraine,
Georgia and Armenia. He will be based in Kiev.
Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yuri Thamrin said on Thursday
that the four had gone through the selection process at the House of
Representatives in June, along with 10 other ambassadors.
Of the 14 ambassadorial candidates, six had been installed earlier, while
the remaining four would be installed next Thursday.
“The last four are still waiting for agreement letters from their designated
countries such as for Portugal and Italy,” Yuri told The Jakarta Post.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda was absent in the 30-minute
ceremony as he was attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Hanoi
on behalf of the President.
Megawati, who was defeated by her rival Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the
presidential election, decided not to attend the summit. No explanation was
given

RUSSIA BLOCKED GEORGIA AND ARMENIA FROM LAND AND SEA
Will Kocharian and Saakashvili Discussed the Matter in Tbilisi Meeting
Azg/am
9 Oct 04
The Russian-Georgian border was closed de facto on September 1 and
only on September 15 an official order was issued. The Armenian side
was officially informed only on September 20 when the number of
vehicles waiting to cross the border reached 1000. No warning as to
border crossing closure was sent beforehand.
Georgia states that the border is open at the Upper Lars checkpoint
from the Georgian side. “Border is open from the Georgian side and
closed from the Russian. We are ready to provide the Armenian vehicles
with services neededfor crossing. Last time Russia opened the border
crossing for 2 hours was the period from September 9-12”, Kakha
Mikeladze, customs official at the Northern checkpoint, informed Azg
Daily.
On September 12 Russia closed also seaways for Georgia and
Armenia. According to the information we have, Russia stopped cargo
transportation from Poti to Novorosiysk for cargo boat repairing
lasting two weeks.
The two weeks have long ago expired. Now Russia explains that cargo
transportation between Poti and Novorosiysk will resume no sooner than
October 18. Arsen Ghazarian, head of Apaven Company, informed us that
the closed seawaywas the only one providing transportation to the
Company.
20 percent of Armenian goods were conveyed through the closed Upper
Lars checkpoint. This route becomes impassable in winter. Today the
important thing is to take the vehicles out from Darial gorge before
the first snow.
The Russian side does not define any terms for the border
opening. “The embassy has nothing to do with border closing. I have no
information on this”, was the only answer we received from the Russian
embassy to Georgia.
Russian press is full of information blaming Georgia for preventing
vehicles from Armenia to cross the border. Armenian mass media and
some officials seem to trust Russian press and declare that Russia
opened the border after president Kocharian’s phone conversation with
Vladimir Putin, whereas Georgia did not send green light.
In fact, Russia kept open only the Roki tunnel’s section of the
border. Armenians were allowed to enter South Ossetia where new
problems appeared connected with Georgian-Ossetian
confrontation. Georgia declared many times that there is only one
legal checkpoint between Russia and Georgia, i.e. Upper Lars.
The Russian side, in fact, invites Armenians to South Ossetia having
in mind that they will never cross the border. Allowing Armenians to
pass through Roki tunnel, Russia puts Georgia in a strange
position. The latter does not recognize this border crossing and does
not let Armenians pass it.
Those issues may top the meeting agenda of Robert Kocharian and
Mikheil Saakashvili. According to the press office of the president of
Georgia, president Kocharian will arrive in Tbilisi on October
22-24. The aim of the visit andthe framework of issues to be discussed
were not revealed.
By Tatoul Hakobian and Aghavni Harutyunian from Tbilisi
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MP UPBEAT ON ARMENIA’S BENEFITS FROM TURKEY’S EU ADMISSION
Mediamax news agency
8 Oct 04
YEREVAN
Turkey’s EU admission is beneficial to Armenia, Galust Saakyan,
chairman of the Republican Party parliamentary faction, said in
Yerevan today.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Saakyan said that if Turkey
joined the EU, Armenia would border the EU directly.
”Turkey’s EU admission can contribute to the opening of the border
with Armenia,” Saakyan said. He added that the European community was
determined to succeed in opening the Turkish-Armenian border, and “if
not today, it will be opened tomorrow”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN “HOSTAGES” OF DARIAL GORGE
Russia Blames Georgia
Azg/am
9 Oct 04
It has been 40 days that truck driver Arshak Saribekian, 70, spends
nights in the gorge of Darial. The cold wind coming from river Terek
pierces into his bones. “We don’t eat regularly. We run out of fuel
and are unable to heat the cabins of the trucks, and wind is terrible
here”, he says.
It has been more than a month that Russia closed Upper Lars border
crossing of the Russian-Georgian border. Driver Arshak together with
many other drivers is being kept hostage in Darial gorge. They
transfer different Armenian goods such as carpets, juices of Noyan,
Jermuk mineral water, stone and caoutchouc.
The border-gate was supposed to open on October 5 for 3
hours. Georgian guards claim that they were ready to open the border
but no Russian car appeared during that 3 hours. Russian guards at the
Upper Lars checkpoint said that no order to open the border came. Even
if the border opened, only few trucks would manage to cross it in that
period.
There are around 100 vehicles, mainly trucks, stuck at the Georgian
side of Upper Lars and 1500 at the Russian side. Hundreds of the cars
at the Russian side belong to the Armenia Lada Company.
Drivers transporting the Company’s vehicles are furious at those
responsible for the border closure. The Company still managed to
convey 20 cars of “Volga” brand after the closure. Allegedly, the
vehicles were being imported by a high-ranking Armenian official’s
order.
The Russian side assures Armenians that Georgia is unwilling to open
the border and that’s why they can leave for home.
On October 7 Armenian consul to Tbilisi and an embassy employee left
for Upper Lars to learn about the situation at the spot.
The border opening depends on Russia’s decision, in fact. While
theRussian guards were waiting for an order to open it for 3 hours, no
order came from above. Russian authorities must be considering Darial
gorge a passing pointfor terrorists whereas everything seem quiet here
but for Arshak shivering with cold at night.
Some of the Armenian drivers at the Georgian side would gladly return
home if they had money. They have paid all necessary Georgian customs
duties but now they have to pay also to return, never crossing the
border. But they donâ=80=99t even have money for food.
Another driver Arkady Sahakian said that they allow them to go to the
nearest kiosks on the Georgian side twice a day for the necessary
stuff (they are now on a neutral territory). Kiosks, in their turn,
raised prices. The situation may easily turn into a humanitarian
disaster if it keeps this pace.
Drivers catch cold, they didn’t take bath for a month, and there isno
water and toilet. “Uncertainty” is the word to describe the
situation. People have T-shirts on whereas winter is taking ground in
the gorge.
A citizen of Byelorussia, Leonid Dubina, is exporting Noyan juices to
Moscow. “We have no way back unlike the Armenian drivers. No one is
bothered about us”, he said adding that Armenian drivers share their
food with them.
Sergey Kislitsa and Sergey Korolyov from Ukraine convey caoutchouc to
Donetsk. “We are hostages here. We have nothing to eat. We decided to
call a hunger strike but Russian guards are mocking at us telling to
turn to president Putin”, they said.
A bus heading for Krasnodar from Yerevan has been waiting at the
Georgian side for 38 days. There were only 8 passengers on the bus by
October 7, all others turned back to Armenia. Other 8 Armenians are
citizens of Russia.
Teacher Elya Babayan lives in Armavir. She has sold all her possession
and immigrated to Russia. The family is waiting for her but there is
no hope that she will reach her new home. “There is no way back. I
have no money left. We all sleep in the bus”, Elya says.
Elizaveta Badalian, 68, is a doctor from Vladikavkaz. “I am helping
the sick here, and now ask for help. It’s already cold here. I want my
home,in the end”.
By Tatoul Hakobian, Upper Lars and Aghavni Harutyunian, Tbilisi
P.S. Armenian embassy to Georgia supported in writing the article

KURDISH COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA MAD ABOUT PM ERDOGAN’S SPEECH
Azg/am
9 Oct 04
“We shall never be surprised seeing Turkey as an EU member as powerful
international unions and organizations express the interests of super
powers. We raise our voice in order to put an end to all injustice
done to the Kurdish people. Turkey has to consider the claims of a
nation counting 20 million.
The issues of language and culture preserving as well as securing
Kurds’ rights were key issues of Abdullah Ojalan and the party he
led”, Kniaz Hasanov, member of the Council of Minorities of Armenia
and representative of “Kurdistan” committee, says.
Turkish prime minister Ragep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech at the European
Parliament in which he presented Turkey as a country where human
rights arerespected infuriated the members of the “Kurdistan”
committee. Erdogan said in his speech that all citizens of Turkey are
granted the possibility of preserving their mother tongue and
religion. “He seemed to have forgotten that the language, culture and
history of 20 millions of Kurds are forbidden. Kurds have no right to
have Kurdish schools, have their programs on TV, and what shall we
call these if not human rights’ violation? More than 10 thousand young
people are being tortured in Turkey’s prisons only for demanding the
government to recognize their identity and language. They are called
terrorists and receive life imprisonment for such steps”, Hasanov said
and recalled the case when former deputy of the Turkish Mejlis Leila
Zanan was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment only for saying few
sentences in Kurdish while swearing in. She was released only after 10
years and after international community interfered. Hasanov was sure
that the Turkish-Kurdish confrontation would persist as long as
Turkeyhews to the chosen line of intolerance.
The members of the committee said that the attitude of the Armenian
government towards Kurdish community is good and they have no
complaints. They underscored that the government met their need, and
Kurdish textbooks are soon to be published.
By Ruzan Poghosian

RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER REMAINS CLOSED WITH OVER 1,000 VEHICLES STUCK
Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
8 Oct 04
(Presenter) The Russian-Georgian border remains closed. It is not yet
known when it will reopen.
(Correspondent Tatul Akopyan by phone from Georgia) The
Russian-Georgian border remains closed. As has already been reported,
more than 1,500 vehicles have piled up on the Russian-Georgian
border. Most of them are heading for Armenia, some are delivering
various Armenian products to Russia and other CIS countries. The
condition of the Armenian drivers who are still on the so-called
“neutral zone” is very difficult. They must either wait till the
opening of the border, and is not known yet when this will happen, or
return to Armenia with cargo and pay extra transit duties.
The employees of the Armenian embassy in Georgia visited the Verkhniy
Lars checkpoint yesterday to familiarize themselves with the situation
on the spot and try to help the Armenian drivers. It must be noted the
Armenian drivers have been caught unawares. They are living in their
vehicles and the nights are very cold. There is also a bread problem;
people have spent all their money.
The number of people stuck at the border is less than 100; they are
bus passengers. After waiting for many days most of them returned to
Armenia or Russia. The Georgian authorities gave assurances that they
were ready to open the border for three hours but the Russian side
violated the agreement. Yesterday when we asked the Russian border
guards why they did not open the border, they answered that they had
received an order from on high not to.
The Russian border guards said that even if they opened the border for
three hours it would not be possible to allow more than 10-15 vehicles
to cross the border.
Tatul Akopyan, Tbilisi.
(Note: Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1015 gmt 8 Oct 04 reported that
yesterday evening three lorries were able to cross the border with a
special load destined for the Armenian Nuclear Power Station)

A1 Plus | 22:38:28 | 07-10-2004 | Politics | PACE FALL SESSION |
CE DECIDED TO CHANGE THE MEMBERS OF TV AND RADIO NATIONAL COMMITTEE
One of the suggestions discussed concerned change of the members of TV
and Radio National Committee. It was accepted.
“Under the recent amendment to the Law on “Television and Radio” the
members of TV and Radio National Committee must be changed as soon as
possible”.
“A1+” can’t pin great hopes on this change since we realize well that
change of the staff doesn’t provide “A1+” to return to the
broadcasting area because in case of the change President still keeps
nominating the members for the Committee /Viktorya Abrahamyan/.
“In this period one frequency has been freed, without contest, on the
basis of an intergovernmental agreement and within the framework of
the law “On Television and Radio”, a frequency which was given to the
Russian “Kultura” TV Channel for rebroadcasting”, the report of
Jaskernia says.