PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
“Christian Moslem collaboration must be developed on common values”
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
“Christian-Moslem dialogue is integral to the history of the Middle East”
His Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal
ANTELIAS, (25 JULY 2004) – The meeting that took place between His Holiness
Aram I Catholicos of all Armenians of Cilicia and His Highness Prince Hassan
Bin Talal of Jordan today in Antelias was a significant event in the context
of the Christian-Moslem dialogue. In fact both leaders are engaged in the
Christian-Moslem dialogue regionally and internationally. They are both
committed to promotion of human rights, common human values and peace with
justice.
In a private meeting that took place in the office of His Holiness,
Catholicos Aram I and Prince Hassan of Jordan addressed a number of issues
related to the Middle East and particularly to Christian-Moslem dialogue.
They both stressed the crucial importance of deepening the interfaith
dialogue as an important instrument for the restoration of peace, justice
and reconciliation in the world today.
The private meeting was followed by an official reception in the main hall
of the Catholicosate. Present were the Armenian minister in the government,
the Central Committee of the Catholicosate the Primate of Lebanon, the
representatives of the Antelias clergy and the community leaders.
In his welcoming speech His Holiness Aram I greeted His Highness “as a great
Arab leader committed to justice, peace and reconciliation; as a man of
dialogue engaged in developing meaningful collaboration between Islam and
Christianity; as a friend and a partner walking and working together for the
promotion of common values and vision”. He then referred to the manifold
mission of the Catholicosate in the Armenian Diaspora emphasizing
particularly its contribution to Christian-Moslem dialogue. Speaking about
the challenges and concerns facing humanity, His Holiness Aram I pointed out
the pivotal role of religion. In this context he warned the misuse and the
abuse of religion which could become a source of evil. Concluding his
remarks, Catholicos Aram I assured the Prince that the Armenian Church and
people with their long history of suffering and genocide, as well as with
their continues struggle for justice and freedom remain partners with all
those who are committed for the building of a world sustained by tolerance,
mutual trust, human rights, justice and reconciliation.
In his respond to the greeting of His Holiness, His Highness expressed his
joy to be in the center of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. He
addressed His Holiness as a friend and a partner committed for the sacred
cause of justice, human dignity, inter-religious tolerance and peace. His
Highness then described the context of the present world in its major
problems, needs and challenges. He considered the role of religions very
important in developing firm ethical bases to govern the life of societies.
At the end of greetings His Holiness and His Highness responded to some
questions raised by those present.
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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

PRESS RELEASE
Bible Society of Armenia
Zakiyan 6/26
Yerevan 375015, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 58.55.09, 56.49.06
Fax: (+374 – 1) 54.24.39
E-mail: [email protected]
July 26, 2004
BIBLE STUDIES IN VAGHARSHAPAT
YEREVAN – As we approach the end of the first academic year in which the
teaching of religion was introduced into the public school curriculum,
the needs of teachers has become a major concern. The school curriculum
for the 4th grade is entirely devoted to the Bible. The Bible Society
has received an official request from the educational and religious
authorities at the highest levels to assist in both the training of
these teachers and in providing them with their own copies of the
Scriptures, given the fact that many of them are teaching religion for
the first time in their lives. At the current stage, the Bible Society
Board has adopted a project of assisting the teachers of the Armavir
Region.
The first phase of this project, April 15-July 15, 2004, took place in
the city of Vagharshapat. The opening was blessed by HG Bishop Sion
Adamian, the Primate of the Diocese of Armavir. Forty teachers have
constantly attended the courses every Thursday afternoon. The manager of
this project, the Board Secretary Arshavir Kapoudjian, presented the
mission of the Bible Society and explored the objectives of this
initiative, stating: “The Bible Society will always meet the need of the
churches and this is one of the examples that BS carries such
responsibility upon its shoulders. We know very well how important your
mission is. Hence, we consider ourselves your colleagues, to work
together, to bring the Word of God to our new generation.” Arshavir
Kapoudjian (The Old Testament); Rev. Fr Serope Chamurlian, the
Representative of Mechitarist Congregation to Armenia (The Four Gospels,
The Acts); Deacon Gevorg Ghushchian, Assistant to the Vicar General of
Araratian Patriarchal Diocese (The Epistles); Revd Dr Manuel Jinbashian,
UBS Translation Consultant (Historical and Linguistic Issues in the
Bible) took part in this project as lecturers.
On July 15, 2004, was the closure of this phase. After the final
lecture, certificates have been given to the teachers by HG Bishop
Adamian. The Primate expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the
Bible Society for this important initiative. He added: “Everyday and
everywhere we saw the commitment of the Bible Society.” After getting
the certificates some of the teachers expressed their joy and thanks
stating: “This initiative gives an opportunity for not simply acquiring
knowledge but it was also a source for spiritual uplifting. Every time
we left this classroom we felt much more encouraged and enlightened. So,
we don’t want to take this moment as an end but we hope to continue this
project.”
The Bible Society plans to organize some school visits and a full-day
seminar in fall, in the city of Vagharshapat. The next step of such
project will take place in September 2004 in the city of Armavir
The Bible Society of Armenia was established in 1991, when the late
Catholicos Vazgen I and representatives of the United Bible Societies
signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the translation,
publication and dissemination of the Holy Bible in Armenia. The Bible
Society of Armenia is committed to the widest possible meaningful and
effective distribution of the Holy Scriptures in languages and media
which meet the needs of people, at a price they can afford. The Board of
Trustees of The Bible Society of Armenia consists of representatives of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Armenian Catholic Church and the
Union of Armenian Evangelical and Baptist Churches.
For further information on Bible Society of Armenia and its activities,
call (3741) 58-55-09 or 56-49-06; fax (3741) 54-24-39; e-mail
[email protected]
###

MOSNEWS, Russia
July 26 2004
Moscow Evicts Armenian Refugees From Dorm – Paper
Created: 26.07.2004 13:37 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 13:37 MSK, 2 hours
15 minutes ago
MosNews
200 Armenian refugees living in a Moscow dormitory were told by city
authorities to leave in five days, Izvestia newspaper wrote Monday.
Moscow officials came to the dorm in the north of Moscow and ordered
the refugees to sign the papers on their eviction. Several
inhabitants agreed to sign them.
Three weeks before, police and emergency officials had evicted
Armenian inhabitants of one of the dormitory’s buildings, the paper
wrote. The eviction took place in the early morning. The law
enforcement officials threw bottles in the windows and broke the
doors. The belongings and furniture were thrown from the windows. The
building was immediately demolished. The evicted did not receive any
other place to live.
The refugees’ lawyer Igor Rakhmilov quoted by the paper called this
eviction illegal and said they had sent letters to the Moscow
prosecutor’s office, to the city administration and to the Russian
president Vladimir Putin.
In June 1990, then head of Moscow Council executive committee, now
Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov signed a decision on the temporary
accommodation of refugees. Armenians who had fled from Azerbaijan
were allowed to live with their families in Moscow dorms and register
there temporarily, the paper reminded. The 200 refugees living in the
dorm quoted by the paper say they were not registered.
The U.S. Congress had recently invited all Armenian refugees to the
United States for permanent residence. However, Moscow spokesmen of
the UN High Commissioner on human rights quoted by the paper said
that this program had been closed.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 26 2004
Armenian PM Visits Georgia

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan arrived in Georgia on
July 25 for an official two day visit.
He will discuss bilateral economic ties with his Georgian counterpart
Zurab Zhvania, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and other
officials.
A session of the bilateral governmental commission on economic issues
is also scheduled during the Prime Minister’s visit.
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili visited the Armenian
capital, Yerevan, last week.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
July 26 2004
Armenians weigh Kerry vow
Candidatesays he’ll recognize genocide
By Lisa Friedman
Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — Presidential candidate John Kerry has promised to
formally recognize the Armenian genocide if he is elected.
But presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush all
made similar vows as candidates — then once inside the White House
opposed resolutions acknowledging genocide.
Still, in interviews with Armenian-Americans across Southern
California and elsewhere this week, hopes for the Massachusetts
Democrat ran high.
“I think we might expect something different from candidate Kerry,”
said Peter Balakian, author of “The Burning Tigris: The Armenian
Genocide and America’s Response.”
“He spent his whole life immersed in the Armenian community,”
Balakian said, noting that Massachusetts is home to about 30,000
Armenian Americans. “This is a candidate with a great depth of
knowledge on this history.”
Armenians contend the Ottoman Empire began a centrally planned
slaughter in 1915 under cover of World War I in which about 1.5
million Armenians were killed. Turkey insists that number is
inflated, and that Armenians died along with thousands of Turks as
the result of crushing a mass uprising against the Ottoman Empire.
Reluctant to alienate Turkey, a valued U.S. ally, American presidents
have traditionally taken a middle road describing the casualties as
“massacres” but stopping short of using the term “genocide” and
opposing resolutions acknowledging a genocide.
The opposition cuts across party lines. Currently the Bush
administration and House Republican leaders are demanding an
amendment by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, recognizing the genocide,
be stripped from a foreign aid bill.
But in 2000 it was President Clinton who blocked a genocide
resolution by then-Rep. James Rogan, R-Glendale, from coming to the
House floor.
“It seems to be a nonpartisan issue. It’s more about the State
Department and the White House not having the courage to exercise its
moral leadership,” Balakian said.
Scholars and activists said they are pinning new hopes on Kerry
largely because he voted in favor of Sen. Bob Dole’s genocide
resolution in 1990 and currently is co-sponsoring a Senate version of
a resolution acknowledging the genocide.
“He has a long record of supporting issues of concern to the
Armenian-American community, and he comes from a state where
Armenian-Americans have been since the early 20th century, so there’s
some history there,” said Armen Carapetian, a spokesman for the
Armenian National Committee of America’s Western Region in Glendale.
Added Seto Boyadian, who heads the Armenian National Committee of
America’s San Gabriel chapter, “As long as he has been in public
life, he has always supported the genocide resolution. He’s
committed. He’s on the record.”
Others, of course, are skeptical that Kerry, whom critics have long
accused of flip-flopping on issues, will stand firm.
“The Democrats need the Armenian votes to regain their political
power. If elected, Kerry and his ilk will forget about the Armenians
and their genocide the next day,” Saakyan Gayane of Glendale wrote in
an e-mail.
Even those pinning their hopes on Kerry said they would not be
surprised if he changed his tune once elected.
“We know what pressures he will face on this issue. Those are real
pressures. The State Department won’t change its tune,” Carapetian
said.
Added Garbis Hindoyan, who heads the Armenian National Committee of
America’s East Valley chapter in Van Nuys, “We hope if he’s elected,
Kerry will keep his word.
“On the other hand,” he said, “we will not be shocked if he does what
Bill Clinton and George Bush did.”

Star of Mysore, India
July 26 2004
JUMBO YATRA TO MEET ARMENIAN LOVER
Mysore, July 26 (VG)- The staff at the Chamarajendra Zoological
Gardens are all agog with exictement as Komala, the eight-year-old
female elephant, is to go to Armenia.
According to Zoo Director Mr. Kumar Pushkar, Komala will be paired
with a nine-year-old Asian elephant at Armenia Zoo. The Armenian Zoo
had written to the President of India requesting for a female
elephant from one of the Zoos in India.
The Central Zoo Authority’s search for a healthy female elephant
ended in Mysore, Mr. Pushkar added.
“Central Zoo Authority’s Member-Secretary Dr. Rajesh Gopal and
Armenian Embassy’s Advisor Mr. Arman Kachatran selected Komala and
she would be air-lifted to Armenia within a month,” he informed.
Mr. Pushkar said Komala is a gift to the Armenian President from the
President of India. Giving away one elephant is not a loss as the
Mysore Zoo had successfully bred elephants in captivity. The Zoo will
be saving about Rs. 1.5 lakh spent on Komala’s maintenance.
The Central Government will bear the expenses of constructing an
enclosure required to airlift Komala to Armenia. Meanwhile, Komala is
being trained to remain in the enclosure for long hours as the
journey would take about 18 hours, Mr. Pushkar disclosed. The
pachyderm would be accompanied by a veterinarian and two keepers.
A doctor from Armenia and an elephant caretaker have arrived in the
Mysore Zoo to study the elephant’s behaviour and the ambience that
needs to be created at Armenia Zoo.

Drams for dollars
Yerkir/am
29 July 2004
The recent mysterious shakes of the Armenian drams and US dollars
exchange rates caused general concerns. Obviously, the whole thing
first of all impacts regular citizens.
However, in addition to commenting the fact, it is also important to
define the steps for solving the situation. Below are the comments on
this issue by economic advisor of Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s
(ARF) Bureau, doctor of economic sciences Ara Nranian.
Q: How do you estimate recent rise of the Armenian drams against US
dollars?
A: Obviously, this phenomenon leaves negative consequences on the
economy of our country. It also impacts many layers of the
society. Armenia’s exporters are also among the sufferers. Media has
much written about how local Armenians funded from abroad have
suffered from this shakes. Generally, most of the population, as well
as our economy experience losses, which we cannot afford.
Q: And what about the 500-600 million dollar transfers that our
citizens annually receive from abroad?
A: Note that such transfers have a long history and, in addition, our
economy has received other inputs like the one from the Lincy
foundation. At that time, the rate of dram was quite high. Also note
that our country’sforeign trade balance has a negative balance of
about half a billion dollars. Moreover, Armenia is a classic sample of
a country with a negative balance. These transfers are what
considerably relieves our social-economic tension.
Q: And how do you explain the recent shakes at the currency markets?
A: I would rather refrain from pointing out a specific reason. I
believe appropriate bodies should react to it. I mean react by
actions, but not just announcements. The present `indifference’
prompts low realization of certain officials of their duty in the life
of country’s economy.
Q: What about possible solutions?
A: I could discuss certain suggestions like increase of the quantity
of drams. However, the recent developments cause much more serious
issues. I am talking about the current policy of `hard dram credit.’
Therecent developments make ambiguous its applicability. And now the
state must have its final sayin this situation, moreover given the
fact that these developments do not match the governmental and central
bank document statements of 2004.

Armenia’s speaker, Thai parliamentarians discuss cooperation
Arminfo
26 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The speaker of the Armenian parliament, Artur Bagdasaryan, today
received a Thai parliamentary delegation, led by Senator Sanit
Kulcharoen.
Artur Bagdasaryan told the meeting that he hoped that the visit of the
Thai delegation would foster the development of interparliamentary
cooperation, the Armenian National Assembly press service told
Arminfo. In particular, the meeting concentrated on the need for the
two countries’ parliamentarians to cooperate in international
structures. The speaker also drew attention to the need to deepen
bilateral Armenian-Thai economic cooperation, in particular in high
technology, the diamond and jewellery industries. The need to step up
cooperation in tourism, culture, ecology and science was also
stressed.

President Kocharyan holidays in Armenia
Mediamax news agency
26 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan began his holiday today, which he
will spend in the republic.
The head of state will be on holiday for 10 days, the presidential
press service told Mediamax news agency.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS US NATIONAL INTERESTS, AMERICAN MEDIATOR
STATED
26.07.2004 14:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement by means of negotiations within the frames of the OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) conforms to the US national interests, MG US co-chair Steven Mann
told Regnum IA. In his words, US pursues a long-term policy in references to
this region. US has no interest in events that can threaten stability in the
region as it assists energy projects, one of them being Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, which is important for the whole region, the diplomat said.
When replying to the question “whether the US will support Azerbaijan of the
latter decides to restore its territorial integrity”, Mr. Mann stated that
the US position remains unchangeable – the conflict should be resolved
peacefully. At that he called the parties “to sense and compromise”. “Only
by making concessions it is possible to find a solution admissible for the
conflicting parties. This is the opinion of the co-chairs. Only this way we
can achieve long-term peace in the region. The conflicting parties chose the
OSCE to resolve this problem and we are trying to settle the conflict
peacefully and will support the decisions taken by the parts”, the American
diplomat stated. As for the new proposes, they always exist, he said.
However everything depends on the attitude of the parties and readiness to
accept them, he noted adding that the co-chairs are to continue
consultations with the parties within next few weeks.