PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
June 4, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for Official Visit to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Finland
On June 2, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians, departed for Finland upon the invitation of Most
Reverend Dr. Jukka Paarma, Archbishop of Turku, for an ecumenical
visit to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The official
delegation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, headed by
the Archbishop Paarma, had previously visited the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin in August 2002.
During the five-day trip, His Holiness is scheduled to visit to
the Finnish Bible Society, the Department of Orthodoxy and Eastern
European Studies, and will deliver lectures at the Departments of
Theology of the Universities of Helsinki and Joensuu. Also planned
are meetings with His Beatitude Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All
Finland of the Finnish Orthodox Church; Mr. Matti Taneli Vanhanen,
the Prime Minister of Finland; and other high-ranking state officials.
His Holiness will deliver sermons in the Orthodox Cathedral of
Uspenksi on Friday, June 4, and on Sunday, June 6 in the Finnish
Mother Cathedral of Turku. In the course of the visit, His Holiness
will meet with the local Armenian community as well.
His Holiness is accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob
Krikorian, Pontifical Legate for Central Europe; His Grace Bishop
Yeznik Petrosian, Director of Inter-Church Relations for the Mother
See; His Grace Bishop Yezras Nersissian, Primate of the Armenian
Diocese of New Nakhijevan and Russia; and Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamian,
Staff-bearer of His Holiness.
His Holiness is scheduled to return to the Mother See on June 7.
##
From: Baghdasarian

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN TO RESIGN BECAUSE OF KARABAKH ISSUE?
Baku Urges for Conflict Phase Settlement
Azg/am
4 June 04
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian stated during
yesterday’s meeting with Yerevan State University students that the
Karabakh issue was not the most solemn reason of Levon Ter-Petrosian’s
resignation.
Mr. Oskanian said that he dreads the Armenian press as the newspapers
distort the reality. He suggested that some high-rank officials should
write objective memoirs on this issue.
Speaking of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr. Oskanian said that
Azerbaijan desires phase settlement for the conflict.
According to that option, the armed forces should be removed from
Karabakh and only then the sides will decide what is the status of
Karabakh. The first president of Armenia (Levon Ter-Petrosian) this
alternative considered acceptable. But today’s authorities believe
that only the package alternative, which puts the status of Nagorno
Karabakh first, is the way out.
According to the Foreign minister, the negotiation processes took a
good course and in 1 or 2 months it will become clear if Azerbaijan
will take the path of Robert Kocharian and Heydar Aliyev or not.
To a student’s question about the future of Karabakh as Armenia
pictures it Mr. Oskanian said that Armenia pushes for Karabakh
people’s self-determination. He also noted that reunion of Karabakh
with Armenia is desirable.
Concerning the Balkan model of peace imposing Mr. Oskanian said that
the world community takes such steps only in case when a conflict
persists and the number of casualties increase. In case of the Balkans
we had a leader like Slobodan Moloshevic who was acting against the
world community.
Speaking of Azerbaijan’s belligerent statements Mr. Oskanian
said that the chances for war restarting are theoretical but not
practical. He said that Azerbaijan hopes to earn millions of dollars
from Baku-Djeyhan oil-pipe line to solve the Karabakh conflict
with military means but the oil consortiums and investors will need
stability and peace in the country they invest. In that case Azerbaijan
won’t be able to decide for himself. From this perspective Mr.
Oskanian viewed the oil-pipe line as a positive factor.
By Tatoul Hakobian

ARMENIA SEES NO NEED TO JOIN NATO YET – MINISTER
Mediamax news agency
3 Jun 04
Yerevan, 3 June: The South Caucasian countries’ admission to NATO will
be a long process and will not become a reality in the near future,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today.
Oskanyan said that proceeding from the reality and its interests,
Armenia believes that it is expedient to expand its relations with
NATO, but not to raise the issue of the country’s possible membership
of the alliance.
“We see no need for this yet,” he said.

UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION TV SEES PROGRESS ON AZERI OIL
TV 5 Kanal, Kiev
3 Jun 04
(Presenter) In all likelihood, the Odessa-Brody oil pipeline will be
pumping Azeri oil. The deputy prime ministers of Ukraine and Azerbaijan
have signed an agreement on cooperation in the oil sector. Kiev and
Baku agreed to provide conditions for the transport of oil through
Ukraine and Azerbaijan, but within the existing capabilities. It
is unclear where the limit of the existing capabilities lies. The
agreement is the main outcome of the first day of (Azerbaijani)
President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Ukraine.
For the first time throughout his years in office, (Ukrainian)
President Leonid Kuchma has openly taken sides with a post-Soviet
country in its conflict with another country. Kuchma resolutely
supported Baku in its fight for the return of Nagornyy Karabakh to
Azerbaijan. Kuchma said openly that Ukraine has always supported
and will continue to support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
His counterpart Ilham Aliyev said that the truth in the conflict is
on the side of his homeland.
(Passage omitted: background to Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia)
(Kuchma, in Russian) Over 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territory is
occupied by Armenia. It is necessary to call a spade a spade.
(Aliyev, in Russian) Ukraine’s unequivocal position on a just
settlement of the conflict on the basis of international law commands
great respect.
(Audio and video available. Please send queries to
[email protected])

RIGHTS CHAMPION SAYS NO POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ARMENIA
Ayots Ashkar, Yerevan
3 Jun 04
An interview with the director of the Human Rights Centre, Levon
Nersisyan.
(Levon Nersisyan) The point is that there is no classical
definition of the term of political prisoner that may be applied
in all cases. Moreover, more than once I took part in Ago Group
(of the Council of Europe Cabinet of Ministers) meetings, and every
time the question arises: who can be considered to be a political
prisoner? Leaders of some of our organizations and me have quite
contradictory views concerning this problem. They (the leaders) think
that political prisoners are Jehovah’s Witnesses who refuse to serve
in the army and are called to justice.
I do not agree with this view. Why? Because there is the law. It is
quite a different problem that it could be good or bad. A group of
human rights champions think, proceeding from international norms
and moral, cultural and other kind of norms, that this or that law
violates human rights. In this case, struggle to improve that law
should be a priority in their activities. But in any case one should
not break the law.
(Passage omitted: Nersisyan on terms used by Amnesty International)
On the whole, a person who is arrested for his or her political
beliefs, the beliefs which did not lead to a violation of the law,
should be considered to be a political prisoner. Though there is
no classical definition of the term of political prisoner that is
universally accepted.
(Correspondent) Nevertheless, are there political prisoners in Armenia?
(Nersisyan) No, I do not think there are. First, today no-one in
Armenia has been sentenced under the “political article”. There is no
clause in the legislation of the country which makes one answerable
for his or her political convictions.
Second, I do not think there are really “political convictions”
in Armenia. There are kinship, clan, corporate and other kind of
convictions, but not political ones. To be convinced of this, it
is enough to look at the “political field” of our country. Tell me
please, according to what “political convictions” do our political
forces differ from one another? What are their programmes? I am afraid
that the only difference is that part of the forces are in power,
and the second part want to find themselves there.
It means that the fight is for satisfaction of their own interests.
Unfortunately, here I do not see policy and “political convictions”.
And second, many political leaders are members of the nomenklatura
which used to enjoy power and some material values stemming from it
and which has now been deprived of this. That is, I would call them
“protestants” whose protest stems from certain conditions. This could
be personal hatred of somebody, but this is not policy.
(Passage omitted: minor details)

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION TO GO AHEAD WITH UNAUTHORIZED RALLY ON 4 JUNE
Mediamax news agency
3 Jun 04
Yerevan, 3 June: Armenia’s united opposition is planning to stage
a rally in central Yerevan tomorrow despite the mayoral office’s
decision to ban it.
According to Mediamax, one of the leaders of the opposition Justice
bloc, Albert Bazeyan, said today that the mayoral office’s decision
was legally unsubstantiated.
He said that members of the opposition bloc tried to file a
lawsuit against this decision on 2 June, but the court upheld this
decision. “The opposition will stage its rally tomorrow at all costs,”
Bazeyan said.

SEPARATIST LEADER SAYS USE OF GEORGIA’S EXPERIENCE IMPOSSIBLE IN KARABAKH
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
3 Jun 04
Stepanakert, 3 June: “Azerbaijan will sooner or later be forced to
conduct negotiations with Nagornyy Karabakh despite its attempts
to avoid this,” the president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic,
Arkadiy Gukasyan, has told a briefing.
According to Gukasyan, the repetition of the Georgian scenario
for the settlement of conflicts is impossible in Artsakh (Nagornyy
Karabakh). He expressed his hope that the Azerbaijani authorities
will sooner or later become politically mature for talks with Artsakh.

UKRAINE BACKS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
ANS TV, Baku
3 Jun 04
Visiting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Ukrainian President
Leonid Kuchma have held a joint news conference. Kuchma made a
statement supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. He expressed
the hope that Karabakh will soon be returned to Azerbaijan peacefully.
Leonid Kuchma noted that there are no differences in the two countries’
positions on the Karabakh problem, the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani
districts and the situation in the region.
He said that it was necessary to call a spade a spade. He described
as a tragedy the fact that 750,000 people who used to live in those
areas are now looking for vacant accommodation. Ukraine has always
supported and will continue to support Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. In these terms, we have no other point of view. I think,
time will work in your favour, end quote.
(Passage omitted: Similar ideas)

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: June 3, 2004
40th DAY REQUIEM SERVICE THIS SUNDAY
FOR ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVOURIAN
Fortieth Day Requiem Service for the late Archbishop Zareh Aznavourian
will take place this Sunday, June 6, 2004, in the Mother Cathedral of the
Holy See of Cilicia and in all churches of the Eastern Prelacy. His Eminence
died on April 30 in Antelias, Lebanon, at age fifty-seven.
Archbishop Zareh faithfully served the Armenian Church as a celibate
priest for 38 years. He was an eminent teacher at the Theological Seminary
in Antelias, Lebanon, and director of the Christian Education Department. He
was a noted composer of both religious and secular music, a gifted scholar,
a Biblical translator, and an author of textbooks and commentaries. He was
considered to be one of the most noted Biblical scholars within the Armenian
Church.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
established the Zareh Aznavourian Christian Education Fund. Donations to
this fund can be made payable to the Armenian Prelacy and mailed to 138 E.
39th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us
and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts
and strengthen them in every good work and word. (II Thessalonians 2:16)
ORDINATION OF DEACON JOSEPH GARABEDIAN
WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 6 IN ANTELIAS
This Sunday, June 6, Deacon Joseph Garabedian will be ordained and
consecrated as a celibate priest in the Mother Cathedral of the Holy See of
Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon. In accordance with the canons of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, the Service of Calling to the Priesthood will begin
Saturday evening immediately after Vespers service. The candidate’s life,
faith and readiness to enter the ministry of priesthood will be examined.
The ordination and consecration will take place on Sunday.
Dn. Joseph was born in Beirut, but grew up in River Edge, New Jersey,
and he has been preparing for this day for several years. After his
ordination the newly ordained priest will remain in Lebanon to serve the
Church for one year before returning to the United States where he will be
assigned to a parish.
In an interview with Outreach last year, Dn. Joseph talked about his
calling: I attended Sunday School at Sts. Vartanantz Church from 5th to 10th
grades and then completed two years of internship and taught at the Sunday
School. During that time I felt that my place was at the altar. I just felt
I belonged there. It was an innate thing, a calling. I was ordained an
acolyte in 1999 and deacon in 2000. I didn’t feel that ready for it, but I
was honored, and it gave me a chance to rely on God, rather than my own
power, which is what God wants us to do.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Deacon Joseph. May our Lord Jesus
Christ make him worthy of his priesthood.
PRELACY CHURCHES BLESS THE TRICOLORS
ON THE OCCASION OF MAY 28TH ANNIVERSARY
The parishes of the Eastern Prelacy performed a special Blessing of the
Flag ceremony last Sunday, May 30, on the occasion of the 86th anniversary
of the first Armenian Republic, which was proclaimed on May 28, 1918.
The ceremony, in most parishes, took place with the participation of the
HMEM scouts.
Bless, O Lord, this flag in order that as the rainbow-which shone in the
skies over Mt. Ararat after the deluge-became the sign of your eternal
covenant with man, likewise, this flag, after the huge floods of our blood,
becomes the symbol of our indissoluble covenant with you. . Bless, O Lord,
our homeland, where you first established the paradise of happiness, which
was then for long centuries reduced to a place of ruins by our impious
enemies. Let the fountains flow again for the enjoyment of all. . Sanctify
our churches and monasteries, seminaries and schools in Armenia (as well as
in the Armenian Diaspora) and fortify their frontiers with your protection
against the assaults of enemies. Bless, O Lord, all that is good in our
country, first and foremost her name, Armenia.
From the Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Republic of Armenia, prepared in
1920 by Archbishop Torkom Koushagian in Cairo, Egypt.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN VISITS COMMUNITY OF
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
On Sunday, May 30, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan visited the
community of the St. John the Baptist Church in Syracuse, New York.
Accompanying the Prelate were current and former executive council members,
Noubar Megerian and Karen Jehanian, respectively.
After nearly fifty years, the Armenian Community Center of Onondaga
County/St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church, was sold on May 25,
2004. This small but one-time vibrant and active community gathered in its
home one last time to pray and remember the events and moments shared in
that building by the families of Syracuse and environs. During his sermon,
Oshagan Srpazan remembered the founding members and their courage to
purchase the land and build the church and community center. He later
compared his feelings as a bishop, to those of a parent who loses a child.
A wonderful luncheon was highlighted by the words of the founding
members, Vartkas Minassian and Arpena Mesrobian and the current
Chairperson Anoush Minassian Santangelo.
The Reverend James Young, pastor of the Gethsemane Baptist Church (the
new owners of the building) recalled his experience of meeting Professor
Vahakn Dadrian, who taught him about the Armenian Genocide and gave him an
appreciation of the Armenian struggle. Rev. Young said he thought that God
showed him the way to the St. John the Baptist Church and offered words of
encouragement to the group gathered. He also most graciously offered use of
the building for services. While the building may have been sold, the
community will continue to be served by the Prelacy with visiting clergy.
Reported by Karen Jehanian
PHOTO GALLERY OF PLG MOTHERS’ DAY LUNCHEON
IS ON PRELACY WEB PAGE
Each year at the Mothers’ Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies
Guild, one person is honored as the Mother of the Year. This year the honor
was kept secret until its announcement at the luncheon. Speaking on behalf
of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar
General, announced that this year, on the 30th anniversary of the PLG, the
Prelacy was honoring all of the current members of the Guild. Explaining
that the original founding members had been honored a few years ago, Hayr
Anoushavan called each current member individually to receive her special
certificate of appreciation. The event took place at the St. Regis in New
York City.
The full press release and photographs from the event are on the web
page,
IF YOU THINK THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC FAITH SAYS
NOTHING ABOUT CURRENT MORAL ISSUES, THINK AGAIN!
Abortion, reproductive technologies, homosexuality, gay marriage,
suicide, and euthanasia, are issues that are hotly debated and highly
politicized. Various faith communities and organizations are grappling with
them for all sorts of different agendas. Whether we like it or not, we are
forced to face these issues in our personal, professional and communal
lives. For this reason, the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) has
organized a unique program for adults entitled Critical Issues of Life and
Faith, scheduled to take place at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, June 25-27, 2004. The eminent Armenian Orthodox ethicist and
theologian, Vigen Guroian, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Loyola
College in Baltimore, will be the main speaker for the Saturday portion of
the program. Participants also include, Rev. Fr. Krikor Chifjian, Media
Relations Officer, Catholicosate of Cilicia; Dr. Carlo Bayrakdarian,
Psychiatrist; and Dr. Meline Karakashian, Psychologist and Educator.
For full details and registration information go to:
CATHOLICOS ARAM IS INTERVIEWED
ON OCCASION OF RWANDAN ANNIVERSARY
On the occasion of the World Council of Churches (WCC) delegation visit
to Rwanda to mark the 10th anniversary of the genocide, an interview with
Catholicos Aram I, the Moderator of the WCC Central Committee, was conducted
by the WCC Public Information Team. Here are some excerpts from the
interview:
This visit has a profound pastoral and ecumenical significance. First,
this is a concrete expression of the Council’s commitment to Africa as this
region, at this juncture of its history, is facing tremendous challenges.
Second, it is a manifestation of the Council’s solidarity with the people of
Rwanda as the people of this small African country are involved in a process
of transformation and reconciliation after the genocide of 1994.
Healing and forgiveness are interconnected and they are an integral part
of our Christian vocation. We cannot neglect our past; the memory will
always remain with us, but we can heal and reconcile our memory.
Reconciliation is based on forgiveness and forgiveness must be based on
confession. Therefore, it is confession that generates healing and
forgiveness. I don’t believe in a cheap forgiveness and reconciliation. The
truth must be told and accepted; the memory must be respected.
Africa is becoming an important region for many reasons. The ecumenical
movement must take Africa very seriously. Africa cannot remain on the
periphery of the international community; its problems are our problems, its
dreams our dreams, its struggle our struggle. The ecumenical movement is
called to participate in all processes and actions that are aimed at
establishing lasting peace in Africa.
MEMORY OF HRIPSIMIANK AND GAYANIANK
WILL BE OBSERVED JUNE 7 AND 8
The Armenian Church commemorates the memory of the Hrisimiank and
Gayaniank on two successive days, eight days after Pentecost, on Monday and
Tuesday. This year the dates are June 7 and 8.
According to the historian Aganthangelos, the young women we now refer
collectively as Hripsimiank and Gayaniank were Roman maidens of noble birth
who became Christians and lived in a Convent. The Mother Superior of the
Convent was Gayane. The Roman leader of the time wanted to marry a member of
the convent, Hripsime, who was considered to be very beautiful. Hripsime
refused. Realizing that their lives would become much more difficult the
women decided to leave Rome and eventually settled in Armenia. The Roman
Emperor informed the Armenian King Tiridates about the flight of the women.
Tiridates became obsessed with the idea of marrying Hripsime and forced her
to come to the palace. She refused with the support of Gayane. Consequently,
the entire group was put to death. The Armenian Church commemorates their
martyrdom each year. Their memories are also kept vivid by building churches
in their name, the most famous being the beautiful Hripsime and Gayane
churches in Etchmiadzin which contain their tombs.
This is perhaps an appropriate time to mention the publication of a new
book by the Prelacy. Antsink Nuvirialk, by musicologist Krikor Pidedjian,
was issued a month ago. The book is a detailed study of the hymn (sharagan)
Antsink Nuvirialk dedicated to the Hripsimyank saints. The book is in
Armenian and can be purchased through the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810.
You can visit the Bookstore on the Prelacy web page
The Church of Hripsime in Etchmiadzin was built during the reign of Gomidas
Catholicos (7th century). We end with two stanzas from his poem, Devoted
Persons.
Those who are dedicated to the love of Christ
those wise virgins, and holy martyrs celebrate
with Mother Zion and her daughters,
the resurrection and its glory, Lord.
Once more, powerful creator, and anew,
Eden is adorned with divine growth
because the tree of life transplanted to heaven
bears such fruit as holy Hripsime.
From Anthology of Armenian Poetry,
Diana Der Hovanessian and Marzbed Margossian, translators and editors
Visit our website at

PRESS RELEASE
June 6, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
USAID SUPPORTS AUA STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM
USAID/Armenia’s Spring 2004 Newsletter highlights its support of
the American University of Armenia’s (AUA) student loan program.
Through a USAID-funded grant program, created by its implementing
partner, the Eurasia Foundation, AUA received a $40,035 grant to
continue providing financial aid options to make certain that every
deserving student can afford a quality education. This grant enabled
AUA to provide $28,800 in loans and $11,235 to administer the program.
The USAID newsletter notes that higher education is essential for
Armenia’s development, but it must be both affordable and sustainable.
AUA piloted and structured Armenia’s first student loan program in
2002 in response to the global economic downturn and rising student
fees. Currently the $6,000 tuition fee is subsidized by AUA, and the
student is asked to pay $1,750 per year, which is comparable to many
of the other private institutions in Armenia. Over 70% of AUA students
receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, work-study, and
loans. The student loan program is an innovative concept and a model
for replication by other universities.
“In AUA’s commitment to admit and retain students with demonstrated
scholastic achievement and high intellectual potential, the
University is determined to support student decisions to seek and
complete a degree at AUA,” stated AUA President Haroutune Armenian.
“The loan program is a great step forward in increasing access to AUA
and instilling a sense of personal and institutional responsibility
among students as they repay their loans and extend the privilege to
other students in succeeding years.”
Private contributions in memory of Dr. Steven Abashian and Nishan and
Eskohee Abashian, and from the Turpanjian Family Foundation, Mr. Heros
Noravian and Dr. Emma Zargarian, Dr. and Mrs. Haroutune Armenian,
and Dr. Patricia Boyle more than match the Eurasia Foundation grant
to make AUA’s education more accessible.
—–
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit
educational organization in both Armenia and the United States and is
affiliated with the Regents of the University of California. Receiving
major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the
Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information about
AUA, visit or