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 July 22, 2004
PRELATE WILL ATTEND DIVINE LITURGY AND
BANQUET AT STS. VARTANANTZ CHURCH, NEW JERSEY
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will be in New Jersey this weekend. On
Sunday he will be with the faithful of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey, where he will preside over the Divine Liturgy and the farewell
luncheon for the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Khachadour Boghossian.
Rev. Fr. Khachadour was recently reassigned to the pastorship of Holy
Trinity Church in Worcester, Massachusetts. Parishioners of Sts. Vartanantz
will have the opportunity to bid a fond farewell to Der Hayr, Yeretzgeen and
their family.
ANEC AWARDS SETIAN COINS
The Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) recently announced the
winners of the annual awards of ancient Armenian coins to a select number of
students who have excelled in Armenian studies. Mr. Gary Setian of
Massachusetts provides these annual awards. This year, the coins were from
the Cilician period of King Levon I.
ANEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL ATTEND CONFERENCES
Gilda B. Kupelian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC) will attend two major conferences this summer. From August
5 to 7, 2004, Ms Kupelian will attend the International Educational
Conference organized by the Catholicate of the Great House of Cilicia. The
conference will take place in Antelias, Lebanon, under the presidency of His
Holiness Catholicos Aram I.
From August 27 to 29, Ms Kupelian will participate in the “First
Pan-Armenian Educational Conference,” which will take place in Yerevan,
Armenia, under the auspices of the Armenian Ministry of Education and
Science.
ANEC is co-sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy and the Armenian Relief
Society.
DIKRAN AND DIANA HADJETIAN ESTABLISH PUBLICATIONS FUND
AT CATHOLICATE OF CILICIA IN MEMORY OF
ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
The Catholicate of the Great House of Cilicia recently announced that a
Publications Fund in memory of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian was established
through a generous donation of $50,000 by Dikran and Diana Hadjetian of
Canada. The Hadjetians are faithful supporters of the Armenian Church and
were very supportive of the late Archbishop’s charitable projects in
Armenia.
ST. SARKIS CHURCH PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS
WILL MAKE A PILGRIMAGE TO ARMENIA AND ARTSAKH
More than thirty parishioners and friends of St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, are preparing for their pilgrimage to Armenia and
Artsakh, which will begin August 16 and continue to August 30. The pilgrims
will be led by Very Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, pastor of St. Sarkis
Church and Vicar General of the Prelacy.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ATTENDS
ARS CONVENTION IN FLORIDA
Archbishop Oshagan offered the opening prayer at the convention of the
Eastern Region of the Armenian Relief Society, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
His Eminence praised the members of this great charitable organization for
their past and present endeavors and urged the membership to continue their
much-needed humanitarian and educational projects.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETURNS FROM ARMENIA
Vazken Ghougassian, the Executive Director of the Eastern Prelacy,
returned from Armenia, where he spent two weeks meeting with the office
staff of the St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization, the Prelacy’s
charitable establishment for projects in Armenia and Artsakh. Dr.
Ghougassian was impressed with the explicit and professional work of the
staff.
During his visit Dr. Ghougassian guided the implementation of two new
programs: The renovation of the Noubarashen Orphanage and the Aid to Elderly
program.
The first phase of the renovation of the Noubarashen Orphanage has
started and will be completed by the end of August. The first phase entails
the complete renovation and replacement of the roof of the orphanage. Once
the exterior of the building is secured from the elements, renovation of the
inside will begin. During the next three years each of the three floors of
the orphanage will be completely renovated and refurbished. The Noubarashen
Orphanage project is being made possible through the estate of the late
Edward Malkonian, who established a permanent fund with the stipulation that
70% of the annual income is to be allocated to an orphanage in Armenia. Mr.
Malkonian established the fund in memory of his parents, Mardiros and
Marguerite Malkonian.
The second program, food aid to the elderly, is being made possible
through a grant made by Dr. Bedros Mangikian, who established a fund in
memory of his mother and sister, the Ardemis Mangikian and Yeran Mangikian
Garian Memorial Fund for Needy Senior Citizens of Armenia and Artsakh.
Quarterly distribution of food and provisions will be made to needy senior
citizens. The first distribution to approximately 115 elderly citizens will
begin the first week of August.
FORMER WCC LEADER DIES IN ACCIDENT
Archbishop Edward Scott, the 10th primate of the Anglican Church of
Canada, and former Moderator of the Executive and Central Committees of the
World Council of Churches (WCC), died last week in a car accident near
Toronto. The Archbishop was a well-known and respected leader of the
Ecumenical Movement. He was a close friend of Catholicos Karekin I, of
blessed memory, and Catholicos Aram I who currently is the Moderator of the
Executive and Central Committees of the WCC.
Catholicos Aram sent his condolences and described Archbishop Scott as a
gifted minister and strong leader. He served his church with firm commitment
and profound love. Archbishop Scott also served the Ecumenical Movement in
general and the World Council of Churches in particular with a clear vision
of the unity of the church. As Moderator from 1975 to 1983, through his
reports and reflections, Archbishop Scott emphasized the centrality of the
local church and the critical importance of the pastoral dimension in our
ecumenical engagement. The Ecumenical Movement owes a great deal to the
ecumenical contribution of Archbishop Scott. May God accept his soul in His
eternal kingdom.
CELEBRATING SAINTS THADDEUS AND SANDOUKHT
This Saturday, July 24, the Armenian Church remembers Saints Thaddeus
and Sandoukht.
St. Thaddeus is one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. After the
ascension of Jesus, Thaddeus began his mission preaching in Edessa and then
in Armenia. He was able to evangelize the royal palace where he baptized
Sandoukht, the beautiful daughter of King Sanatrouk. She embraced
Christianity and became a disciple of Thaddeus. Displeased, the king tried
to bring his daughter back into the fold of the old pagan faith. Sandoukht
remained loyal to her Christian faith and she was imprisoned and subjected
to torture and deprivation and finally death, thus becoming the first saint
of the Armenian Church. She is also considered to be the first witness for
Christianity in Armenia and an apostle because of the role she played in
converted others.
Thaddeus was put to death a few days after Sandoukht. Before his
martyrdom Thaddeus had already preached the new faith and established a
monastery, which to this day bears the name of Thaddeus, or Thade. The
monastery of St. Thaddeus today is within the borders of Iran. Large annual
pilgrimages are made to the monastery every July.
SUMMER RELIGION
When the mercury goes up, spirituality often comes down. So say the
experts. Certainly church attendance comes down. What does the Good Book
have to say about this? You can look it up.
Remember the Sabbath Day (Exodus 20:8).
Be persistent whether the time is favorable or not (2 Timothy
4:2).
Bless the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1).
Let us not grow weary in doing what is right (Galatians 6:9).
Be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4).
Keep awake (Matthew 25:13).
THIS WEEK IN THE GARDEN
In spite of the cooler than usual summer thus far (at least in our area
of the country) our garden is beginning to yield its harvest. Watching the
miracle of seed to seedling, to plant, to fruit, reminds us of a poem we
read a while ago. We remember only the first verse and sadly have forgotten
the name of the author:
There is no unbelief;
Whoever plants a seed beneath the sod
And waits to see it push away the clod,
Trusts in God.
Visit our website at

Armenian film “Vodka Lemon” avoids exoticism
By Bas Blokker
NRC Handelsblad (Dutch newspaper)
July 21, 2004
The first images make one flinch. An old man in a bed is dragged by a van
through a motorway covered in snow. A little later the bed stops near a
newly dug grave at a cemetery in a desolate valley. Then the old man removes
his teeth from his mouth and purses his lips to play on a pitiful wind
instrument.
Is this again a Caucasian film full of coquettish exoticism like Luna Papa?
No, Vodka Lemon fortunately just skims past, shuns however neither the
absurd nor the surreal, but stands as an authentic and not coquettish film.
The Kurdish film director Hiner Saleem has a rather bare and timid love
story between two elderly people, widow Nina and widower Hamo, soberly
decorated with few secondary characters who fortunately have little in
common with the toothless musician at the beginning of the film. At times
music plays a magical role in Vodka Lemon, but not obtrusive. The film is
more modest than the beginning suggests, although the exotic bed scene was
chosen for the poster – exoticism sells better than silence.
Saleem does well in transmitting the hopelessness in this remote corner of
Armenia. The poverty is all the more harrowing as money always seems within
reach. One of Hamo’s sons lives in France and each letter from him is
received like a lottery ticket; it is always a no. Hamo sells all the
objects in his house on the market to richer Russians or Armenians where he
accepts any price they offer for his late wife’s favorite furniture or for
his old military uniform.
Hamo says that he sometimes misses the old Soviet Union. No, they had no
freedom, he must admit that to his friend, but they did have the other. Now
gas, water and electricity are all privatised and the villagers have to
divide their little money into portions for their creditor companies.
What is so emotional about Vodka Lemon, and possibly the reason it won one
of the big prizes at the Festival of Venice, is that the main characters
curb great tragic with a small lust for life. A marriage of convenience, a
small dance, chatting outside on wooden chairs on a night with snow. There
is not much more pleasure in it, but apparently not much more is needed.
Vodka Lemon. Director: Hiner Saleem. With: Romen Avinian, Lala Sarkissian,
Rouzanna-Vite Mesropian. In: Cinecenter, Amsterdam; Chassé, Breda; Cinerama,
Rotterdam; Louis Hartloopercomplex, Utrecht.

FOX Sports
Champions League results/draw
>From correspondents in London
July 22, 2004
EUROPEAN Champions League first qualifying round, second leg matches played
overnight:
In Baku: Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan) 1 Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia) 0
First leg: 1-2; Aggregate 2-2; Neftchi Baku win on away goal
rule
– –
In Yerevan: Pyunik (Armenia) 1 Pobeda Prilep (Macedonia) 1
First leg: 3-1; Pyunik win 4-2 on aggregate
– –
In Helsinki: HJK Helsinki (Finland) 1 Linfield (Northern Ireland) 0
First leg: 1-0; HJK Helsinki win 2-0 on aggregate
– –
In Luxembourg: Jeunesse Esch (Luxembourg) 1 Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) 0
First leg 0-2; Sheriff Tiraspol win 2-1 on aggregate
– –
In Nova Gorica: Nova Gorica (Slovenia) 3 Flora Tallinn (Estonia) 1
First leg: 4-2; Nova Gorica win 7-3 on aggregate.
– –
In Kaunas: Kaunas (Lithuania) 4 Sliema Wanderers (Malta) 1
First leg: 2-0; Kaunas win 6-1 on aggregate.
– –
In Tirana: SK Tirana (Albania) 0 Gomel (Belarus) 1
First leg: 2-0; Tirana win 2-1 on aggregate.
– –
In Torshavn: HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands) 3 WIT Georgia
Tbilisi (Georgia) 0
– –
In Rhyl: Rhyl (Wales) 1 Skonto Riga (Latvia) 3
First leg: 0-4; Skonto win 7-1 on aggregate.
– –
In Shelbourne: Shelbourne (Ireland) 0 KR Reykjavik (Iceland) 0
First leg: 2-2; Shelbourne win on away goals rule.
Revised draw for the second qualifying round:
Pyunik (Armenia) v Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
APOEL Nicosia (Cyprus) v Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
Rosenborg Trondheim (Norway) v Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova)
Young Boys (Switzerland) v Red Star Belgrade (Serbia & Montenegro)
Nova Gorica (Slovenia) v FC Copenhagen (Denmark)
Neftchi Baku (Azerbaijan) v CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Zilina (Slovakia) v Dinamo Bucharest (Romania)
HJK Helsinki (Finland) v Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Skonto Riga (Latvia) v Trabzonspor (Turkey)
Club Bruges (Belgium) v Lokomotiv Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
SK Tirana (Albania) v Ferencvaros (Hungary)
Hajduk Split (Croatia) v Shelbourne (Ireland)
Djurgarden (Sweden) v Kaunas (Lithuania)
WIT Georgia Tbilisi (Georgia) v Wisla Krakow (Poland)
First legs – July 28
Second legs – August 4
Agence France-Presse
_________________________________________________________________
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Harvard University Gazette, MA
July 22 2004
Genocide in Sudan
SPH’s Leaning investigates and urges action
By Ken Gewertz
Harvard News Office
The international community has not succeeded very well at stopping
incidents of genocide. From Armenia to Rwanda, efforts at
intervention have generally been either nonexistent or too little and
too late.
The fact that new opportunities to finally get it right occur with
distressing regularity can hardly be regarded as a positive factor,
yet for those who seek to mitigate human suffering, these
opportunities are still a powerful call for action and hope.

These young people have settled at a refugee “location” (not a camp)
near Chad’s border with Sudan. The United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) has moved most refugees in such settlements to
camps because of the danger posed by frequent cross-border attacks by
Sudanese militia. This group feared that UNHCR would not be able to
transfer them to camps before the rainy season began. (Photo courtesy
of Physicians for Human Rights)
The Darfur region of western Sudan is the latest area to give rise to
such a call. The non-Arab inhabitants of this poor and arid region
have become the direct targets of attack by a loosely organized Arab
militia known as Janjaweed, with apparent backing by military forces
controlled by the Sudanese government. The conflict arises in a
context of resource constraints and was initially described as a
response to two rebel groups who formed against the Sudanese
government. But in the past 16 months it has evolved into a vicious
program of terror and death, aimed at destroying the livelihoods of
the non-Arabs and driving them off their land.
The Arab marauders have swept into non-Arab villages in Darfur,
murdering the men, raping the women, burning houses, stealing
livestock, and forcing the survivors to flee into larger towns in
Darfur or across the border into Chad. So far, more than a million
non-Arab Darfurians have been displaced within Darfur and another
200,000 have sought refuge in Chad.
In May, Jennifer Leaning, professor of international health in the
School of Public Health, spent two weeks observing conditions and
interviewing Darfurian refugees along the Chad border as part of an
investigative team sponsored by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).
The team’s report was published June 23.

Jennifer Leaning, professor of international health in the School of
Public Health, was part of an investigative team that reported on the
conditions of Darfurian refugees along the Chad border. Leaning says,
`What has been delivered to the government of Sudan, very forcibly I
think, in the last couple of weeks, is the message: `Hold on to any
of your expectations, guys. You are not going to be readmitted back
into the community of good nations until you adequately settle this
problem in Darfur.” (Staff photo Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard News
Office)
Since her return, Leaning has appeared on radio and TV programs and
has visited Washington to urge government officials to take action.
At the moment, she said, the prospects for mobilizing some sort of
intervention seem to be looking up.
“I would say that things are looking more hopeful, largely because
just in the last three weeks there has been a progressive groundswell
of discussion about what’s going on in Darfur. More and more media
outlets are handling the story, and there are higher- and
higher-level discussions in government and in national institutions
about actually doing something.”
What PHR and other human rights groups hope to do is pressure the
Sudanese government to end its support of Janjaweed and force the
group to stop its genocidal campaign in Darfur. According to Leaning,
there is some possibility of accomplishing this goal because Sudan
has been looking forward to improving its standing with the
international community as a reward for ending its long-running civil
war between the north and the south.
“What has been delivered to the government of Sudan, very forcibly I
think, in the last couple of weeks, is the message: ‘Hold on to any
of your expectations, guys. You are not going to be readmitted back
into the community of good nations until you adequately settle this
problem in Darfur.'”
Secretary of State Colin Powell has recently visited Sudan to make
his own assessment of the situation in Darfur. He is the
highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the country in several
decades. Andrew Natsios, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) accompanied him. UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also recently traveled to Darfur.
And, according to Leaning, President Bush has been in communication
with Sudanese President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir. Human rights
organizations would like Bush and leaders in other countries to apply
greater pressure on al-Bashir to fulfill a promise he made June 19
that he would call off the Janjaweed militia.
The visits of Powell and Annan have helped to raise the visibility
and urgency of the need to organize a response to this ongoing attack
on a civilian population. “But Powell only went to the areas that are
already well traveled. He didn’t see the most isolated and trapped –
and he did not complain about that. We are still not putting enough
pressure on the Sudanese government to bring about an immediate end
to this conflict and this policy of obstruction of aid,” Leaning
said.
But even with high-level officials beginning to pay attention to the
genocidal activity in Darfur, a favorable outcome to the situation is
anything but assured. Already, many thousands have died, and many
thousands more have been rendered homeless and at risk of disease and
death in a harsh, unforgiving environment. The rainy season has now
arrived, washing out primitive roads and making it all but impossible
to bring food, water, and supplies to the refugees, except by
airlift. Even under present conditions, trucking supplies to the
displaced persons in Darfur has proved difficult because of efforts
by the Sudanese government to obstruct access.
“This part of the world is very hard to survive in,” said Leaning.
“When people are driven from their water sources and land, when their
animals are killed or stolen, it deprives them of their source of
livelihood. Then, if they can’t get outside aid, they will die.”
Even if people are able to wait out the rainy season, returning to
their land afterward is absolutely essential to ensure their
continued survival, for that is when they must plant crops for the
next harvest, Leaning said.
A further concern is that the Sudanese government will fail to
respond to pressure and change its policy in Darfur. In this case,
the matter will have to be brought before the UN Security Council,
with the possibility of greater coercive measures adopted, including
sending troops under a Chapter VII mandate, perhaps invoking the
Genocide Convention of 1948.
“The problem now,” said Leaning, “is that the United States has not
publicly stated what we all know to be the case: that the Sudanese
government is responsible for supporting this conflict in Darfur, for
obstructing humanitarian aid, and for arming the Janjaweed. Nor has
the U.S. managed to persuade major European nations to back a stiff
UN Security Council resolution that calls the Sudanese government to
account and demands immediate action.”
———
Jennifer Leaning (holding notebook) talks to the leader of the Goz
Amer refugee camp. The man in the blue shirt at left and the woman
behind Leaning to the right are both translators working with the
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) team. Because of the sensitive
nature of testimony given by female refugees, many of whom were
raped, PHR interviewed men and women separately. Leaning, working
with a female translator, interviewed women who had been raped or
suffered other forms of sexual violence. (Photo courtesy of
Physicians for Human Rights)

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 22 2004
Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Two Day Official Visit to Yerevan
By Gevorg Stamboltsian and Armen Zakarian 23/07/2004 01:49
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili completed her first-
ever official visit to Armenia on 22 July.
During the visit, Zourabichvili held meetings with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, Prime
Minister Andranik Markarian and her Armenian counterpart Vartan
Oskanian.
Bilateral relations and important regional issues were high on the
agenda.
During the meeting with Zourabichvili, President Kocharian expressed
satisfaction with the “high level of inter-state relations with
Georgia, which are based on mutual trust and cooperation.” Kocharian
noted that Georgia is going through a rather hard time, but he
expressed the hope that “the Georgian authorities will soon overcome
these difficulties.”
“We are highly interested in stability in Georgia,” Kocharian said.
“The visit of the head of the Foreign Ministry of Georgia and
meetings at a high level will give a new context to issues on the
Armenian-Georgian agenda,” Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian said on
21 July during his meeting with his Georgian counterpart.
“The parties noted a high potential for mutually advantageous
cooperation in the matter of deepening interaction with European and
Euro-Atlantic structures, namely, with EU and NATO,” according to the
press-service of Armenian Foreign Ministry. “The countries have great
opportunities after the South Caucasian countries have been included
in the [European Union’s] New Neighborhood initiative.”
During his meeting with Zourabichvili, Oskanian emphasized the
importance of developing both North-South and East-West highways and
transport corridors. The two ministers exchanged opinions on the
resumption of traffic on all railways in the region, namely,
Kars-Giumri-Tbilisi and the Abkhaz section of the railway linking
Russia and Armenia via Georgia. The two ministers also discussed
regional electricity supplies, cooperation with Iran, and the
Nagorno-Karabakh, Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts
and how they could be resolved.
On 21 July, Salome Zourabichvili laid wreaths at the Memorial to
victims of the Armenian genocide. She also held a meeting with
representatives of the Georgian Diaspora and visited the Parajanov
museum.
“There are never concrete results from one visit, but it is a process
that we are starting. We are determined to increase our economic
relations,” Zourabichvili told journalists before boarding the
airplane for Tbilisi in Zvartnots airport.
“Political relations are very good, but we have to deepen them, and
especially we have to appear in front of Europeans,” Zourabichvili
continued. “We have to appear as one region, speaking as much as
possible with one voice.”
Asked by RFE/RL whether the key to reopening the Abkhazian section of
the Russia-Georgia-Armenia railway lies in Russia or in Georgia,
Zourabichvili answered “There is a small key here too.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Baku Today / Civil Georgia
July 22 2004
EU Helps Georgia with `Rule of Law’
European Union has deployed its first ever `Rule of Law’ mission to
Georgia to help the country in reforming its one of the most
challenging law enforcement, judiciary and criminal law systems.
Head of the mission, French judge Sylvie Pantz says that the human
rights will be one of the main focuses of the mission, which consists
total of ten civilian experts from the EU member states.
Sylvie Pantz, who after serving as a judge and prosecutor in France
for 20 years gained international experience as well by heading the
investigating division at the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia, outlined the `Rule of Law’ mission’s priorities at
a news briefing in Tbilisi on July 22.
`I want to say that we are not bringing money, but we are bringing
something much more precious, which is our expertise, our skills and
our judicial knowledge,’ the head of the mission said at a news
briefing in Tbilisi.
`The mission will undertake the guidance for Georgia’s new criminal
justice reform strategy, including support in the planning of new
legislation, for example the Criminal Procedure Code,’ Sylvie Pantz
added.
She said that the mission, which will last for a year, will also
support the Georgian authorities to coordinate judicial reform and
anti-corruption measures, as well as will support international and
regional cooperation in the area of criminal justice.
Sylvie Pantz says that the mission will try to help Georgia to set up
a reformed criminal-justice system, which, as she put, `will not be
my French system, it will be your Georgian system.’
Legal experts from EU member states will be co-located in the
Ministry of Justice, Interior Ministry, General and District
Prosecutors Offices in Tbilisi, Council of Justice, Supreme Court, as
well as Tbilisi District Court and Public Defender’s Office to
provide Georgian officials with recommendations.
The mission has already outlined the first task for the Georgian
officials. Sylvie Pantz expressed hope that by the end of this year,
officials from the judicial and law enforcement agencies `will draft
the strategy document over the reforms.
`[The strategy document]…will included everything, including
structure of judiciary, number of judges, number of courts, salaries
for the judges, training of the judges, discipline for the judges and
the same [provisions] in regard to the prosecutors and Ombudsman,’
Sylvie Pantz said.
Fact-finding visits to the Georgian regions, where the
judicial-criminal system faces even more problems than in the capital
city, are also scheduled by the members of `Rule of Law’ mission.
Sylvie Pantz also said that the mission will follow closely all the
cases of reported abuse of human rights by the law enforcement
agencies.
On the occasion of launch of the `Rule of Law’ mission to Georgia,
the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the
Tbilisi-based Human Rights Information and Documentation Center
(HRIDC) sent an open letter to Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy
chief, on July 9, expressing concern over the recent evolution of
human rights in Georgia.
`This evolution may reveal a gap between the declarations aroused by
the [Georgia’s] new authorities in favor of democracy and the
reality,’ the open letter reads.
`The increasing number of torture, inhuman and humiliating
treatments’ also remains matters of concern for the FIDH and the
HRIDC.
Sylvie Pantz said that the mission will try `to find keys for
solution of this major issue – the human rights.’
President Mikheil Saakashvili said at the meeting with the Georgian
NGO leaders on July 6 that reforms are being implemented in the law
enforcement agencies and these violations, that are occurring right
now, will be gradually eradicated.
Launch of the `Rule of Law’ mission follows the EU’s decision to
include South Caucasus countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
into the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).
The EU officials say that both, launching of the `Rule of Law’
mission and inclusion into the ENP emphasizes Georgia’s and the South
Caucasus importance for the European Union.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
July 22 2004
ARMENIAN SCIENTISTS DENIES TURKISH MEDIA REPORTS
YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS: Lavrenty Barseghian, the director of
Genocide Museum-Institute, denied Wednesday media reports that Turks
and Armenians had exchanged documents in Austrian capital Vienna to
discuss, as Turks put it, “the so-called genocide allegations.”
Armenian mass media reported, citing Turkish newspapers that Turkish
and Armenian scientists met in Vienna on July 16th under chairmanship
of Prof. Bihl of Vienna Armenian Turkish Platform (VAT) and exchanged
documents concerning the Genocide.
“The reports about the alleged meeting came as a big surprise and
I think they were concocted by Turks to disrupt the planned meeting
,” Barseghian, who was supposed to be one of the two Armenian
scientists to visit Vienna, told Armenpress, adding that none of the
two was in Vienna on July 16.
Barseghian said he will travel to Vienna later and will take
documents from German and Austrian archives who were Turkey’s allies
in W I, which he said prove that the massacre of Armenians had been
planned and carried out by then Turkish government. He added that the
fact of the Genocide cannot be subject of discussions, as it is an
undeniable fact and “once Turks try to raise it we shall walk out of
the meeting.”

ArmenPress
July 22 2004
ARMENIAN CURRENCY SET TO CONSOLIDATE, BANK EXPERT SAYS

YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS: Asked to explain what are the
reasons behind an unprecedented slump of US Dollar against the
Armenian dram, Vladimir Badalian, the chairman of the Union of
Armenian Banks, argued it was part of radical changes awaiting the
national currency, an indication that the dram is consolidating its
value against hard currencies. He then added that the dollar will
tend to lose against the dram. One of the arguments, he cited in
favor of that theory, were the developments in international currency
markets with euro consolidating against dollar. He said that process
could not failed to have its impact on Armenian market.
He then predicted that in the near future euro will grab a bigger
place in Armenia’s market forcing Dollar to yield its positions,
which he said is normal given Armenia’s drive towards close
integration with Europe, especially that 40 percent of its foreign
trade falls on EU countries.
Badalian said also that the consolidation of dram will prompt
participants of the domestic market to keep their deposits in drams.
Unlike some years ago now many depositors choose to keep their
accounts in drams. He admitted that a weaker dollar is sustaining
some damages to exporting companies, but added that it should not
have any effect on export volumes, as their structure is such that
allows the companies to maneuver.
He attributed high domestic prices, though the dollar has
seriously slumped against Armenian Dram, to the absence of criteria
typical of free trade.
Earlier this week a Central Bank official cited two arguments to
explain the decline of exchange rate of US dollar. The head of the
Financial Markets department of Armenia’s Central Bank, Gayane
Matevosyan, said one reason was the increased private inflows of cash
from abroad., which she said have increased by 46 percent if compared
to the same period last year and a second reason was an increase in
exports, which she said if compared to the first half of last year,
have risen by 40 percent.

ArmenPress
July 22 2004
VANADZOR TO HAVE ROUND THE CLOCK WATER SUPPLY IN 2 YEARS
VANADZOR, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS: Authorities in Armenia’s
third-largest town of Vanadzor say its residents will have round the
clock drinking water supplies in two years. The project to improve
water supplies is supported by a loan from German KfW bank. Henrik
Kochinian, the governor of Lori province, of which Vanadzor is the
capital, said the Bank has released 11 million euros credit for a
major restoration of water pipeline bringing water to the city.
Together with Vanadzor also residents of 12 rural communities will
have 24-hour water supplies.
Kochinian said local water pipelines have not been repaired for 35
years, except the network of Spitak that once received 150 million
from the state budget to restore it. He said the restoration of
networks in Alaverdi and Stepanavan will require from $3.5 million to
4$ million investments. These two cities are included in a World Bank
loan.

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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. Local ANC Chapters Praise Congressman Schiff for Genocide Amendment 2. Ambassador Ordway Addresses Armenia's Press Before Departure 3. Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Visits, Meets 4. Eduard Oganessian Dies 5. ARF Bureau Extends Condolences 6. Hai Katch Do Students Garner Awards 7. NEWS BRIEFS 1. Local ANC Chapters Praise Congressman Schiff for Genocide Amendment Armenian-Americans Activists Criticize Congressional Leaders for Capitulating to a Foreign Government Los AngelesA powerful coalition of Armenian Americans expressed their strong support over the weekend for Congressman Adam Schiff who authored an Armenian Genocide Amendment that was passed by the US House of Representatives last week, announced the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR). The amendment prevents Turkey from spending US foreign aid dollars against legislation pending in Congress that recognizes the Armenian Genocide. "Our ANC chapters stand united with Congressman Schiff in his effort to ensure that US taxpayer dollars are not used by Turkey to deny the Armenian Genocide," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian. "Our local ANC chapters stand ready to fight the stated intention of the Republican Leadership in Congress and the White House to strike the Schiff Amendment language when the foreign aid bill goes to conference," he added. Kassakhian referred to the joint statement by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO). The Republican Leadership released a statement that read: "We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment... we will insist that conferees drop that provision in conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have indicated their strong opposition... Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades... our mutual economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment. Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment. Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H. Res. 193... during the remainder of this Congress." "Ronald Reagan was the last President to properly commemorate the Armenian Genocide," explained Burbank ANC Chair Peter Musurlian. "The late Presidenta hero to many Armenian American Republicanswould be ashamed at what is taking place on Capitol Hill, with the House leadership's refusal to allow a vote on moral clarity." Glendale ANC Chair Pierre Charaghchian added, "The opposition to the Schiff Amendment by Republican leaders in Congress is sad. Sad because it shows how much influence the Republic of Turkey, a foreign government, has over some Members of Congress." The leaders of the Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and La Crescenta Armenian National Committee chapters praised Schiff for successfully securing passage of his amendment. The Schiff Amendment was adopted by voice vote during consideration of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2005 on Thursday, July 15, 2004. The foreign aid bill was later passed by a vote of 365 to 41. "Armenian Americans in Pasadena are proud to have Congressman Schiff spearhead the effort to properly recognize the first Genocide of the 20th Century," stressed Pasadena ANC Chair Shahan Stepanian. "We are ready to mobilize the community and ensure that the Amendment passes through the joint House-Senate Conference Committee." "It is unfortunate that our Congressional leaders fail to demonstrate moral clarity on the issue of genocide recognition and prevention. Eventually, public policy will catch up to the truth and we will not let a few select politicians change America's proud response to the Armenian Genocide," stated La Crescenta ANC Chair Sarkis Tchakian. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns and interests of the Armenian American community. For the latest news and action alerts log onto <; 2. Ambassador Ordway Addresses Armenia's Press Before Departure YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--John M. Ordway who has served as the US Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia since November 2001, held his last press briefing in Armenia on July 22, before finishing his diplomatic mission there. Speaking of Armenia-US relations in the past years, he noted shortcomings, but said that on the whole, relations have been positive, and that further improvement of relations would depend on developments in Armenia and the region. "I am sure that the interests shared by the governments and peoples of the two countries won't change. We share the loyalty of the Armenian people to democratic values and formation of a civil society." He said that the US, working with the government of the Republic of Armenia, has tried to develop the economy, establish supremacy of law, and form a civil society, but stressed the importance of implementing additional social and political reforms, and strengthening the economy so as to improve Armenia's investment environment. Asked about human rights and freedom of speech in Armenia, Ordway said that taking into account Armenia's resources, the US would have expected more progress than registered, but that the presence of an active media, along with steps already taken toward forming a civil society are, nevertheless, inspiring. "I think that there is a hope in this sphere and we have great expectations. We will do our best to advance progress." Talking about the peace and security of the South Caucuses, he said the US would continue working with the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group in seeking a "fair and mutually admissible solution," to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. Praising the current levels of military cooperation between the two countries, Ordway said that bilateral military relations are not limited to assistance. "I hope that Armenian forces will participate in the peacekeeping mission in Iraq soon," he indicated. He praised the country's developing relation with NATO and pledged US backing to further advance the cooperation. Summing up his experience in Armenia, Ordway affirmed his faith in the Armenian people's "great potential for building of a free, independent, economically developed and prospering country." 3. Georgian Foreign Minister Ends Visits, Meets YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili completed her first official visit to Armenia on July 22, after meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and her Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian. During the meeting with Zourabichvili, President Kocharian expressed satisfaction with the "high level of inter-state relations with Georgia, which are based on mutual trust and cooperation." Kocharian noted that Georgia is going through a rather hard time, but remained positive saying, "Georgian authorities will soon overcome these difficulties." "We are highly interested in stability in Georgia," Kocharian said. "The visit of the head of the Foreign Ministry of Georgia and meetings at a high level will give a new context to issues on the Armenian-Georgian agenda," Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian said on 21 July during his meeting with his Georgian counterpart. The parties discussed mutual advantages of their evolving relationships with the EU and NATO, as well in developing transportation corridors, namely the North-South and East-West highways, and in reopening rail service linking Russia and Armenia, via Georgia. "There are never concrete results from one visit, but it is a process that we are starting. We are determined to increase our economic relations," Zourabichvili told journalists before boarding the airplane for Tbilisi in Zvartnots airport. "Political relations are very good, but we have to deepen them, and have to appear before Europeans as one region, speaking as much as possible with one voice," she said. 4. Eduard Oganessian Dies Eduard Oganessian, the executive director of the Hai Tahd office in Armenia and the director of the Munich Institute for Armenian Research (Institut fur Armenische Fragen), died on Thursday at the age of 72. Born in Yerevan, Oganessian eventually left for Moscow, then Leningrad, where he earned his PhD in 1964. He served as the director of Radio Liberty's Armenian division from 1984 to 1993. He had great input in the production of the three volume The Armenian Genocide: Documentation, published by the Munich Institute for Armenian Research, and was overseeing preparation on the fourth, at the time of his death. He published many works on the Armenian Genocide and the Armenian Case. His latest book "Issues Surrounding the Armenian Case, and Possible Solutions," was published in 2003. 5. ARF Bureau Extends Condolences The Bureau of the Armenian Revolution Federation conveys with deep sorrow the death of dedicated ARF member and intellectual Eduard Oganessian, who passed away on Thursday, July 22 in Yerevan. ARF Bureau Yerevan July 22, 2002 6. Hai Katch Do Students Garner Awards Students of the Hai Katch Do Martial Arts Academy clenched several awards at the World Championships in martial arts, held at the Riviera Hotel Casino in Las Vegas June 25-27. Led by Renshi Mihran Aghvinian, students Tania Asayi, Viken Chookhadarian, Hovig Chrchian, Taline Eskidjian, Jennie Settler, Bedros Tertsagian, Vivian Varbedian, Hovig Zeitlian, took awards in the A, B and C class competitions. 7. NEWS BRIEFS Congressional Committee Chairman to Visit Karabagh YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Chairman of the United States Congressional Committee on NATO and chairman of the Transitional Democracy think-tank, Bruce Jackson, will visit Mountainous Karabagh in the near future. Jackson announced his plans earlier this week during his visit to the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali. Azerbaijan Not to Make Territorial Compromises, Aliyev Says BAKU (ARMENPRESS)"The Karabagh conflict remains Azerbaijan's most painful problem. For many years Azerbaijan has been trying to resolve this issue peacefully. But regrettably, the talks have yielded no results," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on July 21 while addressing the personnel of a military unit of the Xudat border detachment on the Azerbaijani-Russian border. According to him, the activities of the mediators have yielded no results either. "As for various calls and proposals, they do not reflect the reality," Aliyev added. "Azerbaijan's cause is fair. Our lands are under occupation. International legal norms, justice, economic opportunities and potential are on our side," he said. Aliyev spoke about the country's major efforts in building its military. According to him, sufficient funds have been spent and will be spent in this area in the future. In several years, Azerbaijan will turn into an economically powerful state and its military "superiority" will intensify even further. "Under these conditions, we cannot have a positive attitude to some calls, particularly, with regard to compromises," Aliyev said. "Compromises are impossible on the issue of territorial integrity. I have repeatedly said that we will not compromise on the issue of territorial integrity. Azerbaijan's territorial integrity will be restored. The possibilities of achieving this peacefully have not been exhausted yet. However, we have to be ready to liberate our lands militarily at any moment. We have everything for this: the unity of the Azerbaijani people, the people's complete readiness for action, a strong army and the will of the Azerbaijani leadership and people," he added. Azeri Army Set to Buy Weapons from Pakistan, Russia BAKU (ARMENPRESS) Azerbaijan and Pakistan may reach agreements, concerning the purchase of weapons and the training of army officers, during the upcoming visit of a top Pakistani general to Azerbaijan, Azeri newspaper Ayna reported. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan, is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan in about two weeks, the report said. "Pakistan may offer its close ally, Azerbaijan, military hardware and weapons at discounted prices. This is crucial for the Azerbaijani government because Armenia, which has occupied our territories, buys weapons and military hardware from Russia at reduced prices in accordance with the regulations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization," the report stated. In turn, the Azeri daily, Ekho, reported that Azerbaijan seeks to purchase 120 mm Nona-K towed cannons from Russia. Rumors about the deal emerged after Major-General Vahid Aliyev, the Azeri president's military aide, visited the Russian Expo Arms that was held between July 6-10. Armenian Children Film Wins Best Prize at Athens Festival YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)The collaborative work of two Armenian boys aged 12, was awarded the best film prize at the Kids for Kids Film Festival in Athens, Greece. The film, titled "Sniper," competed in the category of films made by 6-12 year olds. The festival was organized by the Association of European Children Film and the International Center for Children Films. FC Pyunik to Play Against Shakhter Of Ukraine YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Yerevan's FC Pyunik will move on to play against FC Shakhter Donetsk of Ukraine, after registering a 4-2 victory over FK Pobeda F.Y.R Macedonia. The Armenian team, which now has a 3-1 record in the first leg, came back from a 2-0 Macedonia lead to take the game. NATO Technical Center Opens in Yerevan YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)NATO will be able to provide free satellite and Internet connections to a number of scientific and educational centers in Armenia, thanks to its new technical center that opened in Yerevan on Wednesday. The center was built as part of NATO's Virtual Silk Road program, which seeks to equip science-education institutions in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan with connections as well. Executive director of the Arena Company, which is serving as NATO's partner in Armenia, Grigor Babayan, said the program will run for the next three years and cost $2.5 million. Armenia's share in the project runs at around $500,000. Babayan said that his company ewill be able to provide Internet connections to the Yerevan State University and the Yerevan Physics Institute. He added that 33 more institutions will be connected during the coming year. FIDE Grants Titles to Three Armenian Chess Players YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)On July 20, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) granted Armenian chess player Tigran Petrosian the rank of Grand Master. Two other Armenian chess playersArman Pashikian and Davit Petrosianwere given the title of international rank sport masters. French Coach May Train Armenian National Soccer Team YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Two French national have arrived in Yerevan to try out for the vacant post of head coach of the Armenian National Team. The men are currently in negotiations with the Armenian Futbol Federation. According to news sources, the mother of one of the candidates is Armenian. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. 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