Armenia hopes to expand cooperation with US – Oskanyan
By Alexander Plakhov

ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 14, 2004 Monday 2:18 PM Eastern Time

WASHINGTON, June 14 — Armenia hopes to expand cooperation with the
United States, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan said.

Speaking at the U.S. Centre for International and Strategic Studies
on Monday, Oskanyan said, “Armenian-U.S. cooperation does not run
counter interaction with Russia.”

“It is natural our partnership with Russia is deeper,” the Armenian
minister said. “Armenia is beginning its cooperation with the U.S.,”
he added.

Commenting on the situation in Iraq, Oskanyan said both sides
strengthened contacts in this field. The minister noted that the U.N.
new resolution had given more possibilities to involve other countries
in post-war reconstruction in Iraq.

In his speech Oskanyan riveted attention to the expansion of relations
with the European Union, relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
and the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Oskanyan
said the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh depends
on the talks within the OSCE Minsk Group, which includes the U.S.,
Russia and France.

The Armenian minister has arrived in Armenia on a visit. He will
hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Presidential
National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice, the Pentagon high-ranking
officials and congressmen.

Turkish foreign minister addresses OIC meeting on international issues

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
14 Jun 04

Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has
said in the opening of the OIC summit in Istanbul that the world is
“at a very crucial time” and has mentioned Arab-Israeli conflict, Iraq,
terrorism, Africa and economic deprivation as the main problems needed
to be sorted out. Pointing out that all Islamic countries are directly
affected by these issues, Gul said that it is the OIC mission “dictated
by common heritage and deep sense of history” to rise to the present
challenges. He asked the OIC to develop and increase institutional
relations with other regional organizations in order to “strengthen
global harmony and the settlement of regional disputes. On Cyprus,
Gul also asked the OIC member states to support the Turkish Cypriots
“materially and politically”. The following is the text of report in
English by Turkish news agency Anatolia

Istanbul, 14 June: Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said on Monday [14 June]: “As the Islamic countries, we
must take strength from our common heritage which offers a rational
and humanistic understanding of the world.”

Speaking at the 31st session of Islamic Conference of Foreign
Ministers in Istanbul, Gul said: “We meet again at a very crucial
time. The Arab-Israeli conflict with the question of Palestine at
its core is bleeding hopes away. Iraq has yet to show a genuine sign
towards stability. Africa’s problems remain to be solved. Terrorism is
expanding its scope and intensifying in ferocity. Sense of security
is fast diminishing. The continuing political, social and economic
deprivation is bringing greater instability. Those preaching clash of
civilizations are winning more attentive ears. Prejudices, fanaticism
and discrimination are everywhere. And, insecurity is now threatening
a global economic downturn.”

“We, as the Islamic countries, are affected by all these issues
directly. Therefore, we need to rise to the challenge. This is not
a matter of choice; it is a mission dictated by our common heritage
and our deep sense of history. Our task may be difficult. However,
we must not fall to desperation. We must take strength from our common
heritage which offers a rational and humanistic understanding of the
world. This quality of Islamic culture and tradition has produced
remarkable achievements in the past. But it is not enough to content
ourselves with the old times. Our present challenge is to work for
similar achievements today and in the future,” he said.

Gul noted: “It is gratifying to see that many fellow OIC members feel
the need for improved quality of political and social standards. Even
within the past one year, we have witnessed individual and collective
efforts towards this end.”

“There has been an increasing interest both in the West and the
East in Turkey’s experience in harmonizing contemporary values with
the traditional identity. Indeed, human rights, gender equality and
realization of universal standards including the European political
criteria by a Muslim society has been welcomed by all,” he stressed.

Gul listed common values as, “the sovereign nations that make up
the OIC are determined to further the political, economic, social
and cultural progress of their societies; equality and freedom
of their citizens is their cherished principle; transparency and
accountability are guiding principles of good governance; broadening
the representative nature and democratic practices of government is
a constant objective; providing contemporary education to all its
citizens is an essential function of the government; and sustainable
economic and social development should be pursued vigorously and
efforts should be deployed in reducing poverty.”

He enumerated collective efforts as “the OIC members should assist
each other in their efforts for progress and reform; the OIC,
as an institution, should devise ways and means for supporting the
reforms in a collective framework; also for the purpose of shouldering
these tasks, the OIC needs to make a determined effort to adapt its
secretariat to the growing demands of today”.

“The OIC should develop and increase institutional relations with
other regional organizations such as the Arab League, the Economic
Cooperation Organization, the D-8, the Gulf Cooperation Council,
the African Union, the ASEAN, the European Union (EU), the Council
of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, for the purpose
of fostering intra and inter-regional cooperation and for drawing
expertise and resources for the OIC members’ national projects. These
institutional relations should also help strengthen global harmony
and attract meaningful interest in the settlement of the regional
disputes,” he said. Gul added: “I also look forward to the convening of
the second OIC-EU joint forum in Istanbul next October. This meeting
will take place at a time when the need for cooperation and mutual
understanding becomes more important than ever.”

Gul continued: “Now it is high time for the international community
to give full backing to the Turkish Cypriots by engaging in direct
economic, commercial, social and cultural contacts with them.” Gul
said: “the United Nations Settlement Plan was overwhelmingly rejected
by the Greek Cypriot side on 24 April 2004, while the Turkish Cypriots
approved it with a clear majority. This vote has fundamentally changed
the circumstances in Cyprus. The international organizations and many
countries expressed regret over the Greek Cypriot attitude. They all
welcomed the Turkish Cypriots’ determination for the settlement.”

“OIC Secretary-General Dr Belkeziz reported that the international
community, and the Muslim countries in particular, should work together
to address the plight of the Turkish Cypriots by supporting them
materially and politically. Also, the first ever official visit of the
OIC secretary-general on 28 May 2004 to the [self-proclaimed] Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus was most timely and meaningful. I commend
this action of solidarity with the Turkish Cypriots,” he stressed.

Gul noted: “The United Nations secretary-general, in his recent report,
calls on all states to cooperate both bilaterally and in international
bodies to eliminate restrictions and barriers that have the effect
of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development.”

“Now it is high time for the international community to give full
backing to the Turkish Cypriots by engaging in direct economic,
commercial, social and cultural contacts with them. The EU and the
United States have already taken some steps with a view to putting
an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots,” he emphasized.

Gul added: “Our current meeting is an opportunity for this organization
and the Islamic World to extend full support to Turkish Cypriot Muslim
brothers, so as to put an end to their isolation.”

Gul continued: “Iraq remains insecure and volatile. Violence and
terror in Iraq need to be dealt with. This is essential for the
transformation and the rebuilding of the country.”

Gul said: “Iraq now has an interim government that will assume
sovereignty by the end of this month. We wish this government to be
successful. We wish they prove to serve the collective interests of
the Iraqi people in their entirety. We wish they remain conscious
that the source of legitimacy of this interim government ultimately
lies with the people.”

“I commend Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, the Special Adviser of the United
Nations secretary-general, is helping move forward the transition in
Iraq. I hope the United Nations will be able to play its independent
and effective role in assisting the Iraqis in institution-building
and election preparation in the months ahead,” he said.

Gul stressed: “Iraq meanwhile remains insecure and volatile. Violence
and terror in Iraq need to be dealt with. This is essential for the
transformation and the rebuilding of the country. The international
community should support the Iraqi people in this process. It is a
moral obligation for us. It is also an investment for regional peace
and stability. In this respect, we welcome the unanimously adopted
UN Security Council Resolution No 1546.”

“The neighbouring countries of Iraq have supported this country’s
free and peaceful future since the onset of the Iraqi crisis. This
continuing joint initiative is a great asset for the integrity and
the stability of Iraq,” he said.

Gul added: “The OIC has a meaningful role to play in Iraq. Furthermore,
UN Security Council Resolution No 1546 calls upon international and
regional organizations to contribute to Iraq’s stability. Therefore,
we should elaborate on ways on how to assist the political process as
well as the humanitarian needs in Iraq. Turkey, during its Chairmanship
of the ICFM, will pay particular attention to this point.”

Gul said that he believed that full support would be given to Prof
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu for office of OIC secretariat-general. Gul
continued: “Ihsanoglu has long been a household name for our
organization as the successful director general of IRCICA. I do not
need to repeat here what we all already know about this professional,
academic and administrative credentials. I am confident that the will
have more to offer as the secretary-general of the organization.”

“My government has an increasing interest in revitalizing the OIC
and its Secretariat. The OIC needs to continue to move forward as an
institution. We want to contribute to this in every possible way we
can. It is in this spirit that my government has decided to nominate
a candidate for the post of secretary-general of the OIC,” he noted.

Gul said: “Turkey will do its utmost over the next year as the chairman
of the ICFM to rise up to the challenges facing the organization. We
are confident that we can count on your full support.”

“The question of Palestine has become even more acute over
the past year. Violence claimed many more innocent lives. The
destruction brought by the policies of Israel deprived thousands
of more Palestinians of even minimum requirements for living. The
Palestinian [National] Authority remains mainly incapacitated. Turkey
has all along stated that the employment of terror, suicide missions,
targeted assassinations and deliberate destruction can bring no good
to any party either now or in the longer run. I would like to draw
the attention of the international community once more to the urgency
of the solution of this problem which, coupled with the situation in
Iraq, continues to undermine global peace and harmony,” Gul noted.

Abdullah Gul stressed: “In this regard, I commend the initiative taken
by Malaysia, the OIC summit chairman. The special ministerial meeting
held last April has led to a well-organized diplomatic activity. The
OIC ministerial delegation, including Turkey, has thus far met three
of the four Quartet partners. Our message to the sponsors of the
road-map has been clear. The OIC will actively stand behind genuine
movement towards settlement, and the OIC will be watchful of all
concerned parties.”

He said: “Inspired also by the Arab Peace Initiative, based on the
wise ideas of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, the OIC can
oversee the process to achieve the two-state solution between Israel
and Palestine. We can do the same for Israel’s peace with Syria and
Lebanon, based on Security Council Resolutions Nos 242 and 338. This
can be achieved through the OIC mechanisms already available. Thus,
the OIC, from its political and moral high ground, can offer full
normalization and cooperation in the region.”

Gul said: “Africa needs our particular attention. The long-standing
problems of economic development, health and famine continue to
undermine the nations of this continent. Regional conflicts make their
challenges even more difficult. The need to support sustainable
development and social progress in Africa is an international
responsibility of which we need to take our share.”

“Concerning Afghanistan, we are pleased that the Bonn process is
being implemented successfully despite difficulties. Adoption of the
new constitution is an important step towards the establishment of a
new political structure in Afghanistan. With the upcoming elections
in September, a new chapter will be opened. To maintain the pace
of this progress, Afghanistan needs the continued commitment of
the international community. Turkey will continue its support to
Afghanistan,” Gul noted.

Foreign Minister Gul said: “We remained concerned by the ongoing
situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Its people have already suffered
greatly. This question undermines the stability of the whole
region. We look forward to a peaceful solution to this question
through dialogue, on the basis of international legitimacy. The human
rights of the Kahsmiri people should be fully respected and their will
honoured as mandated by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The recent moves made by both Pakistan and India and the process of
“composite dialogue” have increased our hopes. We commend Pakistan
for its continued efforts to sustain this dialogue. We wish to see
these efforts will be crowned with success this time.”

Gul stressed that the Azeri-Armenian conflict still stands as
one of the principle obstacles to regional stability, prosperity
and cooperation in Southern Caucasia. The time has come to find a
peaceful solution to this conflict within the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. The Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories
has to be brought to an end. This is in the interest of the regional
countries as well as the international community. Turkey is ready to
play its role in settling this issue.

“International terrorism is widening its reach and increasing
in ferocity. It continues to claim lives and hopes around the
world. Terrorism has not religion, ethnicity or culture. It is an
affront to the humanity. Therefore, it must be fought back resolutely,”
he pointed out.

“For many years, the OIC has been monitoring the conditions of
the Turkish Muslim minority in Western Thrace. This minority has
vested rights based on bilateral agreements and international
instruments. However, they are not yet able to enjoy these basic
minority rights to the full extend. The OIC therefore needs to
continue to follow the Turkish Muslim minority’s plight closely. I
hope my government’s improving relations and dialogue with Greece
will also contribute to the betterment of this minority’s conditions,”
Gul stated.

“The economic and commercial activities of the OIC constitute one
of the main pillars of our cooperation. The Standing Committee for
Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), chaired by the president
of Turkey, has been a highly effective instrument in this respect. And
this year marks the 20th anniversary of its inception. A special
meeting of Ministers of Economy and Trade will be organized to mark
this and to evaluate the perspectives of further economic-commercial
cooperation among us,” Gul said.

Gul emphasized: “This year, we are also pleased to see the Framework
Agreement for the Trade Preferential System among the Member Countries
of the OIC coming into force. This is indeed a landmark. The Trade
Negotiating Committee formed under this agreement has also held its
first meeting recently in Turkey.”

” In this respect, I would also like to express my government’s
continued support for the activities of the two successful subsidiary
organs of the OIC hosted by Turkey, namely IRCICA and SESRTCIC,”
he noted.

Gul said, “I tried to address a number of major issues for our
organization. Many more vital matters constitute part of our agenda.

Dealing with these requires year-round dedication and hard work. That
is where the role of the Secretariat becomes crucial.

The Halifax Daily News (Nova Scotia)
June 13, 2004 Sunday

Much more than three B’s;
Something for everyone, including beer, barbecue, belly-dancing, at
annual party

by Rodenhiser, David

The best annual event in Nova Scotia celebrates its 20th anniversary
this week, and you really shouldn’t miss the party.

No other event in the province delivers the quality and variety of
entertainment and food, complete with fun activities for kids and a
beer tent for adults, as the Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival.

It’s a blast, it’s educational, and it’s cheap.

The festival – www.multifest. ca/2004 – takes place at Alderney Landing
on the Dartmouth waterfront. Even for those Haligonians who loathe
leaving the peninsula, it’s well worth the trip. There’s literally
something for everyone. And, this year, there’s more of everything.

“There are a lot of add-ons. We’ve got two full evenings added to
the agenda,” says Moka Case, the festival’s artistic director. “We’ll
have more than 700 performers on the stage in 1/2ve days, representing
over 40 different cultural groups.”

The festival starts Wednesday evening and runs through Sunday, plus
sneak previews noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday at
Halifax’s Grand Parade. To tie in with Acadie 400 – the celebration
of the 400th anniversary of the 1/2rst French settlers’ arrival –
the festival will feature three Acadian music groups: two traditional
bands and a hip-hop trio. Aboriginal Canadians are represented by
Kanenhi:io, a women’s quartet from Ontario, and Inuit throat singer
Tanya Tagaq Gillis.

Now, I have no idea what any of these performers sound like, which
is actually quite exciting. Hearing them will be a completely new
experience. And, even on the off chance that I don’t like them,
there are plenty of other bands playing that I know I’ll love.

Returning from last year are two top-notch local reggae bands:
Halfway Tree, boasting former Bob Marley and the Wailers bassist Bryan
Atkinson, and Verbal Warning, which features a phenomenal guitarist
who morphs reggae choruses into metal riffs. The always spicy Salsa
Picante and Alma Latina will heat things up with Latin grooves, and
perennial favourite Afro-Musica will lead you on a musical tour of
the birthplace of humanity. I dare you to try not to dance to any of
these bands.

Last year, the festival attracted 45,000 visitors – almost 20 times
the 2,300 who turned out in 1985 for the inaugural showcase at
what was then called the Technical University of Nova Scotia. The
event has grown through the dedicated work of its organizers and
participants. This year, it’s getting $7,500 from the province for
the 1/2rst time, and Ottawa is kicking in $10,000. Compare that
to provincial funding for the Tattoo ($153,300) and Celtic Colours
Festival ($125,000).

The dozens of cultural communities that make the multicultural
festival an annual success take great pride in their contributions,
be it traditional dance, colourful costumes or succulent food. This
year, the Korean Association of Nova Scotia is going the extra mile
by paying to import the Myungji Traditional Dance Company from its
homeland; the Atlantic Jewish Council is co-presenting the Flying
Bulgar Klezmer Band, billed as “Yiddish folk-rock at its 1/2nest”;
and the Armoyans, the land developing family, are sponsoring Haik!,
a children’s dance troupe from Armenia.

Besides the entertainment, you’ll get to peruse 50 exhibit booths and
feast at 28 food booths – shish-kebabs, sushi, jerk chicken, samosas,
sausages, spring rolls, tabouli, baklava and Portuguese sardines
(a steal at 75 cents a head).

Finally, for all you guys who still think it sounds about as fun as
reading a year’s worth of National Geographics, let me leave you with
the three B’s: beer, barbecue and belly-dancing.

You can thank me at the beer tent.

1.5 MILLION ARMENIANS APPLY FOR SOCIAL CARDS

ArmenPress
June 14 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: A senior official of the Armenian
employment and social affairs ministry told Armenpress that some
1.5 million of Armenian citizens have applied for social cards. The
deadline for application is July 1. Hasmik Khachatrian, head of the
ministry’s department for public relations, said the most active
segment of Armenians will receive their social cards in due time.

The government has earmarked 120 million this year for introduction
of social card system, a move expected largely to raise the
efficiency of government bodies dealing with immediate needs of the
population. The new system is supposed to reduce also the number of
corrupt practices. Using social cards, individuals will be able to pay
their utility fees, open a bank account, receive social allowances,
pensions, and so on. A number of softer procedures are supposed to be
effective parallel to the introduction of the system to help citizens
avoid major problems.

IRAN, ARMENIA SIGN CUSTOMS MEMORANDUM

ArmenPress
June 14 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS: Last year Iran sold to Armenia $47
million worth goods, while Armenia exported to that country $18 million
worth goods. In 2002 this ratio was respectively $43 million and $24
million. Armenia sells to Iran mainly copper, aluminum and synthetic
rubber. Around 50,000 people from both sides visit the two countries
and 32,000 trucks cross the border from both directions.

A frame memorandum was signed last Friday by the two governments’
customs services to regulate bilateral trade, stipulated by the
inter-government cooperation agreement. The memorandum will regulate
information exchange and struggle against customs violations. It will
also approve the list of customs officials of both sides entitled to
directly contact with each other.

Karen Beglarian, head of an Armenian customs service department, said
the memorandum will also approve the list of some goods (all in all
16, such as arms, ammunition, cultural values and psychoactive drugs )
that are not subject to customs tariff regulation.

According to Gholamreza Safari Taheri, the chief of Iranian customs
service office for international cooperation, the memorandum envisages
also reciprocal administrative assistance, training of personnel,
exchange foe experience and holding of seminars.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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;

Montrealâ^À¦Marking the Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin and the 20th anniversary of
the establishment of Canadian Armenian Diocese

The Feast of Holy Etchmiadzin and the 20th anniversary of the
establishment of Canadian Armenian Diocese were marked on Sunday
June 13th , 2004 at St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral
in Montreal. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Vatche
Hovsepian, former Primate of the Armenian Church Western US Diocese
presided by His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the
Armenian Church Canadian Diocese. The “Gomidas” choir of St Gregory
the Illuminator Armenian cathedral conducted by sub-deacon Varoujan
Markarian sang the Holy Liturgy. Serving at the altar were the Rev
Fr Hayrig Hovhannesian, Fr Vazgen Boyadjian, Pastor of the Church,
as well as the deacons and acolytes of the St Gregory Armenian Church.

In his words of greeting, Bishop Galstanian welcomed Archbishop Vatche
Hovsepian and highly praised his tireless efforts in building up
the Montreal Armenian community. Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian thanked
Almighty God for granting him the opportunity to once again celebrate
the Divine Liturgy in Montreal and expressed his gratitude to Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian for inviting him on this blessed occasion. Serpazan
Hovsepian said “As I was called to serve God and the Armenian Apostolic
Church, I committed myself in building up Churches and communities that
would preserve our nation. From the very inception of the establishment
of Montreal Armenian community we ran into many difficulties and
complications, but by the Will of God and commitment of our people we
were able to accomplish our mission”. The Archbishop later said “Dear
brothers and sisters in Christ, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
is the spiritual birthplace of Armenian Christianity. Be faithful and
loyal to our spiritual heritage and keep the God-given center sacred”.

The capacity crowd in the church who was present to mark the feast of
Holy Etchmiadzin and the 20th anniversary of Canadian Armenian Diocese,
also participated in Hayrapetakan Makhtank. Prayers were raised asking
the Almighty God to grant the Holy Father, His Holiness Catholicos
Karekin II of All Armenians good health and prosperous mission in
serving the mother church and the Armenian people.

Following the Divine Liturgy a formal banquet sponsored by Mr. and
Mrs. Taro and Anahid Alepian and prepared by the Ladies’ Auxiliary
was interspersed with speeches by the dignitaries and a short cultural
show in the Church’s Marie Manoogian Hall. The invocation was offered
by Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian. After a short welcoming speech by
M.C., Mr. Megerdich Kanondjian, Chairman of the Parish Council, the
microphone was passed to Mrs. Vilma Halepli-Basmadjian, chairwoman
of the luncheon’s organizing committee. Rev Fr Hayrig Hovhannesian
delivered his message and highlighted the significance of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the life of the Armenian people throughout
its turbulent history of 17 centuries.

Immediately thereafter, an inaugural presentation of a recital
of the Church’s newly-formed Children’s Choir was conducted by
sub-deacon Varoujan Markarian. A group of traditional folk songs
were presented with a high artistic standard that earned many encores
and a standing ovation by the enthusiastic crowd. A brief emotional
address on behalf of the youth was presented by Saro Shishmanian, who
confided that every time he visited the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin,
“he felt that God touches him to remind that this is where he belongs”.

A series of songs was presented a propos to the feasts celebrated,
by soprano Ani Keropian, who accompanied herself on the piano. The
cultural portion of the afternoon was rounded out by piano pieces
played by two children from attendance Loris Margossian and Yohanatan
Shahbazian-Checkanovich.

Mr. Mego Kanondjian M.C. then invited Very Rev Fr Ararat Kaltakjian
to introduce Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, who had been instrumental in
the purchase of the church building and the renovation works 34 years
ago. Archbishop Hovsepian reminisced about all those who had passed
into eternity and those present in the audience, who had devotedly
worked for the organization of the community. He revealed a hand
cross, which was donated in those days by a faithful from Istanbul. He
had tried to buy it from a Turkish friend he had met in Anatolia,
and it turned out that the young man’s mother was an Armenian, who had
insisted that his son donate the cross to an Armenian Church. June 13,
was also the Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian’s birthday. Led by Fr. Ararat
the crowd sang Happy Birthday in both English and Armenian.

Closing remarks were offered by Bishop Galstanian, who advised the
faithful to remain steadfast in their faith and loyalty towards the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the head and the heart of the Armenian
Church established in the Armenian Homeland.

On behalf of the clergy, diocesan council and the entire faithful of
the Armenian Church in Canada Serpazan Hayr extended his filial love
and heartfelt wishes to Vehapar Hayrapet His Holiness Karekin II. He
also congratulated the Clergy, Diocesan Council, Parish councils
and all the auxiliary bodies Armenian, Political, cultural and
philanthropic organizations and the devoted faithful of the Armenian
Church in Canada on this glorious occasion. He stated. “The feast of
Holy Etchmiadzin is he ground of our being” he then continued “One
of our Bishops Tadde Serpazan, who ended his life in martyrdom in a
Soviet prison, never betraying his faith in and loyalty towards Holy
Etchmiadzin. “The history of Holy Ethcmiadzin embraces the Armenian
History. Many tribulations have passé, and many are yet to come
and pass. You and us will also pass, but Holy Etchmiadzin shall
remain forever”.

Divan of the Diocese

Azeri pressure group condemns media campaign against rights activist

Turan news agency, Baku
12 Jun 04

Baku, 12 June: The federation of Azerbaijani human rights organizations
has condemned the Azerbaijani authorities for continuing the policy of
persecution against rights champions. The “authorities-controlled”
media and NGOs have recently launched a campaign against the
Azerbaijani coordinator of the international working group for
releasing POWs and hostages and for tracing missing persons, Avaz
Hasanov. The reason for the campaign was his trip to Nagornyy Karabakh.

Hasanov is being threatened and false reports are being circulated
about his Armenian captivity and recruitment by the Armenians. The
pro-government media is quoting Hasanov’s telephone conversations
with his colleagues. They are telephoning him at home and threatening
him. On 10 June a group of young people burst into Hasanov’s office
and threatened him with murder both verbally and in writing.

This smear campaign has been arranged and is being performed by those
who earlier organized attacks on other rights champions – E. [Eldar]
Zeynalov, Z. [Zaliha] Tahirova and L. [Leyla] Yunus. The statement
said that the campaign was launched under orders from “certain circles
in the Azerbaijani government”.

The aim of the campaign is to paralyse human rights activities and
bring them under the monopoly of “patriotic” organizations. All this
is happening while the country’s official circles are continuing to
speak to the Armenians and participate in joint projects and events.

The federation of Azerbaijani human rights organizations condemns
the campaign against Avaz Hasanov and calls on political parties, the
media, NGOs and state officials not to be involved in “the propaganda
show by the irresponsible circles”, the statement said.

Edmonton Journal (Alberta)
June 14, 2004 Monday Final Edition

It’s an Outrage!: Canadian superstar playwright Tomson Highway
trashes PC police on eve of Magnetic North debut

by Liz Nicholls

EDMONTON — Something about Canadian theatre is making one of its
signature playwrights really really mad. It may be driving him right
out the stage door. In a nutshell, it’s political correctness. But
not the lack of it.

It’s midnight, and the ebullient Tomson Highway is on the blower from
a vast 19th-century Toronto mansion someone’s lent him while he
teaches a U of T course on aboriginal mythology. He and his partner
Raymond Lalonde are just back from their usual six-month exile in the
south of France: “The Inuit may have 40 words for snow, but the
French have 350 words for cheese,” he says.

He’s just thrown a birthday party for his brother-in-law (with
numerous of his 175 nephews and nieces in attendance), and a good
time was had by all. Tonight his raucous tragi-comedy Ernestine
Shuswap Gets Her Trout, his first play in a decade, opens at our
Magnetic North Festival.

It’s all good. “I’m 52 years old and I could die tomorrow and say
I’ve had a fabulous life.”

However, Tomson Highway is not a happy man.

The puckish author of such groundbreaking international hits as The
Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move To Kapuskasing is used to taking
shivs from both the white and native communities for his defence of
colour-blind casting. He’s convinced that’s why his plays, studied in
universities on both sides of the Atlantic, are so rarely produced.
Given the PC realities, they’re virtually impossible to cast without
offending someone or inviting the “cultural appropriation” charge.
Theatres are afraid to cast white actors as native characters.
Kamloops’ Western Canada Theatre, for whom Ernestine was written,
will undoubtedly take some heat for having a couple of white actors
in its four-member cast.

“Telling someone like me I have to put on a show with only native
actors is like telling Shakespeare he can only have Danish actors in
Hamlet, or Scottish actors in the Scottish Play,” declares Highway,
warming to the subject with his usual vigour. “What if they told
Jason Sherman he had to use only Jewish actors for the rest of his
life? Or Brecht should be limited to German actors to the end of
time? Does Atom Egoyan have to use only Armenians? Do you need Greeks
to do Medea?

“I only want the same freedom white playwrights have. Otherwise it’s
racist. Why should I be limited to native actors because I’m Indian?”

Highway, who went to see a production of Verdi’s Macbett in
Barcelona, notes tartly that “an Italian set to music something with
Scottish characters by an English writer, with 72 Spanish actors on
the stage… . Not one was Scottish!

“I get criticized and I don’t care,” he says. And indeed he’s been
steadfast in his objections over the years. “Every real artist has
always taken heat. It’s our job to take heat. Artists have been
imprisoned, tortured, executed for breaking the status quo. This is
nothing by comparison.”

The bottom line is that “people are trying to tell me how to do my
job and I don’t appreciate it… . There’s an element of fascism,
yes, and it’s disturbing. I lose a lot of work; people are scared to
rock the boat of political correctness. It may be great for native
actors (to insist on all-native casts), but if this continues it may
be the last time I ever write.”

He is not sympathetic to resentment from native actors when parts in
his plays go to white actors. “That’s showbiz man. If you can’t take
the heat, get the **** out of the kitchen.”

There have been easier beginnings to a script than the proposition he
was offered by WCT’s David Ross, who handed Highway a 1910 document
in which 12 chiefs of reserves surrounding Kamloops presented their
list of land-claim grievances to Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier on an
official visit.

“Honestly, I had no idea what to do.” He laughs his mischievous
laugh. “So I decided to write about their wives.”

The play, he says, takes us “backstage at the main event, where the
women are cooking a dinner of mythical proportions before the arrival
of the dignitaries. Momentum builds. It’s very funny.”

There’s another stratum, of course, to a play that invokes land
claims. Especially since “we’re in the midst of reinventing a new
reality in Canada that includes native artists,” as Highway, the
self-styled “die-hard optimist,” says.

“We’re not going to go away. We love it here and we’re going to be
here always. So we need to keep asking certain questions. What
exactly is our place in the mosaic? How can we make ourselves
relevant? Artists are in the front line.”

[email protected]

Tomson Highway speaks Thursday

in the Timms Lobby at 6:30 p.m.

THEATRE PREVIEW

Ernestine Shuswap

Gets Her Trout

Directed by: David Ross

Starring: Isabel Thompson, Rose Johnson, Janet Michael,

Lisa C. Ravensbergen

Where: Timms Centre For The Arts

Running: Tonight through Friday

GRAPHIC: Photo: Kevin Van Paassen, National Post; Tomson Highway,
ducking from calls of “cultural appropriation,” has no qualms about
companies casting white actors in his plays, including Ernestine
Shuswap Gets Her Trout, at left.; Photo: Kevin Van Paassen, National
Post; (Scene from Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout)

NATO SEEKING NEW WAYS OF SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNY KARABAKH CONFLICT
[June 14, 2004, 21:12:25]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 14 2004

On June 13, Minister of Defense of the Azerbaijan Republic
colonel-general Safar Abiyev has met the deputy secretary general of
the NATO on science, environment and public diplomacy Mr. Jean Furne.

As was informed to AzerTAj from the press service of the Ministry
of Defense, colonel-general S. Abiyev has congratulated the visitor
on the beginning in Azerbaijan of the week of “Summer School” of
NATO and that he heads the representative delegation consisting of
representatives of 26 states.

In detail having informed the visitor about the successes achieved
by our country after gaining of independence, about the history,
the reasons and consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict,
the Minister has noted, that, despite of all these difficulties,
our republic successfully continues integration into the European
structures of safety, cooperation with the Council of Europe,
the European Union and within the framework of the program of the
NATO “Partnership for Peace” Program. The Minister has especially
emphasized participation of Azerbaijan in more than 300 actions,
spent annually by the NATO, active preparation of our country for
doctrines “Cooperative Best Effort-04 ” and to the Istanbul summit.

Having expressed to the Minister of Defense gratitude for warm
reception, chief negotiator J. Furne has noted, that carrying out in
Baku the week of “Summer School”, certainly, will renders positive
influence on all-around development of relations of Azerbaijan and
the NATO. Meetings of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with
the secretary general of NATO and ambassadors of other countries
during the visit to Brussels were very interesting and important.
Azerbaijan is one of the first states, which have presented in the
NATO the “Plan of activity on individual cooperation”.

The visitor has in detail informed colonel-general S. Abiyev on the
department he leads in the NATO.

Colonel-general S. Abiyev has in details dwelt on relations of
Azerbaijan and the NATO, had comprehensive exchange of views on
existing in the region of Southern Caucasus of the military-political
situation, large-scale economic projects carried out in our republic
and their safety, has noted, that Armenia till now has not executed
the requirement of the United Nations of four resolutions adopted by
Security Council on the unconditional withdrawal of occupational forces
from the Azerbaijan lands. Besides, joining the “PfP” program of the
NATO, Armenia has taken obligation about recognition of territorial
integrity of partner states. The NATO can demand from it performance
of the given obligations.

Occupation of a part of the Azerbaijan lands by Armenia is the
fact, which cannot be denied. Therefore, we are surprised that
the international public till now has not recognized Armenia as a
state-aggressor. It speaks about the approach to settlement of the
conflict from a position of double standards.

Having thanked colonel-general S. Abiyev for the stated position of
principle, Mr. J. Furne has told: “We in the NATO perfectly know
about everything, that you spoke, and are looking for new ways of
settlement of the conflict”.

In conclusion, colonel-general S. Abiyev has wished successes to the
NATO forthcoming week in Azerbaijan.

CREDIT FOR ARMENIA SOCIAL PROTECTION AND ADMINISTRATION PROJECT

IPR Strategic Business Information Database
June 13, 2004

The World Bank Thursday approved a US$ 5.15 million equivalent credit
for the Armenia Social Protection and Administration Project. The
International Development Association (IDA) Credit will assist the
government in improving the performance by the public employment,
pension and social assistance agencies in providing services
to the population. The performance will be improved through the
introduction of improved business processes, administrative procedures
and techniques designed to enhance social protection to poor and
vulnerable population groups.