PRESS OFFICE
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;
NEWS FROM ARMENIAN HOLY APOSTOLIC CHURCH CANADIAN DIOCESE
A) Bishop Bagrat Galstanian attended an Interfaith luncheon hosted by
His Eminence Abp Joseph Khoury
On Wednesday, April 14, 2004 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese attended an interfaith
luncheon hosted by the Primate and the Archbishop of the Maronite
Church of Canada His Eminence Joseph Khoury. During the cordial
reception, discussions focused on ecumenical relations, the role of
Christian Churches in Canada, Interfaith Dialogues as well as the
current situation in the Middle East.
In his word, Bishop Galstanian conveyed the greetings of the
Catholicos of All Armenians His Holiness Karekin II and thanked the
Maronite Primate for the “warm reception”, he highly appreciated
Abp. Khoury’s efforts in “bringing spiritual brothers
together”. Bishop Galstanian also emphasized the necessity and
importance of Interfaith and multicultural Dialogue in today’s
World. His Eminence expressed his gratitude and invited the religious
leaders to visit the Diocesan headquarter for a similar
meetings. Accompanying the Primate were the Vicar General Very Rev Fr
Ararat Kaltakjian and Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the
Primate.
B) Armenian Art Exhibition visits Vancouver, British Columbia
It was with great pride and anticipation that three parishes of The
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese, under the auspices of
His Grace Bishop Bagrad Galstanyan, had the honour to host exhibitions
in their respective parishes during the month of April from the 1st to
the 22nd.
Mrs. Hasmik Ginoyan and Mr. Karen Matevosyan from the “Momik Cultural
Centre and Armenian Art Magazine” arrived in Vancouver on the 8th
along with a vast collection of art, both paintings and artifacts. The
exhibition was arranged in a small boutique gallery in downtown
Vancouver for showing all day Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The
exhibit was a great success both from the artistic point of view and
financially, when one considers the size of the Vancouver Armenian
Community of approximately 2,000.
The Pastor and Parish Council wish to thank Mr. Arto Tavukciyan a
member of St. Vartan parish council who organized the rental of the
hall and publicity in the media both print and audio. We also wish to
thank Mrs. Araxie Evrensel for her tireless effort in running the
exhibition and Mr. Hagop Evrensel who supplied the refreshments for
the closing of the exposition Sunday evening. The total sale for
Vancouver was almost $15,000, which will help support the continuation
of the work Mrs. Hasmik Ginoyan and Mr. Karen Matevosyan are doing to
promote and financially support The Art Centre and Armenian Art
Magazine in Yerevan, Armenia.
C) Holy Week Celebrations in the St. Gregory Armenian Cathedral of
Montreal
As in all Armenian Holy Apostolic Churches around the world, the
St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Cathedral of Montreal was the site of
traditional and symbolic ceremonies of the Holy Week preceding Easter.
On Maundy Thursday Rev. Fr. Vazken Boyadjian, pastor of the church,
celebrated the Divine Liturgy in commemoration of the Last Supper of
Christ. Hundreds of faithful received the Holy Communion. H.E. Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Canada, explained the sacrament of communion of receiving God by
taking part in the Last Supper of Christ. Following the Liturgy, a
reception was held in the Marie Manoogian Hall by the Committee of
Patient-Visitation.
At 7 pm traditional ceremonies of “washing the feet” was held. The
primate knelt before the Altar and symbolically washed the feet of 12
individuals, including chairmen of the community’s cultural
associations, the clergy and deacons serving the church, as a sign of
humility and service. In his sermon Bishop Galstanian related the
Lord’s message of love, devotion and servitude towards humanity. A
Lent meal that excludes all animal food products was then served to
the faithful.
Ceremonies were resumed dedicated to Christ’s betrayal, torture and
crucifixion. Readings from the Bible and hymns relating the events
were carried on till midnight. Rev. Fr. Hayrik Hovannisian, who had
recently arrived from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, presided the
services.
In the evening of Good Friday the ceremonies symbolizing Christ’s
burial were conducted as four youth carried the flower laden Tomb of
Christ to four corners of the church, while the faithful eagerly
traversed under the Tomb to be blessed. The Primate talked briefly
about the meanings and the messages of this traditional service of
Good Friday.
At 5 pm on Holy Saturday, deacons and students from AGBU Armen-Quebec
Alex Manoogian School presented passages from the Old Testament,
before the Altar’s curtains opened for the celebration of the Divine
Liturgy by Fr. Vazken Boyadjian and the declaration of Christ’s
Resurrection. Rev. Fr. Boyadjian, thanked the children of the
Armenian school for their authentic readings and read the Easter
Message of HH Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. Following the
ceremonies, the faithful were led by a procession of the clergy, the
deacons and the choir to the church’s hall where the traditional
service of “Blessing of Homes” (Dnorhnek) was held.
D) Easter Celebrations in the Canadian Diocese
The feast of Our Lord’s glorious Resurrection was celebrated in all of
the churches of the Canadian Armenian Church Diocese from Montreal to
Toronto and Vancouver. His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate
through weekly telephone communication with all pastors of the Diocese
was informed that Holy Week and the Feast of Resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ was celebrated with appropriate Holy Liturgy and Blessing
of Water in presence of thousands of our faithful all across
Canada. Bishop Galstanian commended the pastors’ dedicated services to
their parishes and wished them to continue their missions with renewed
enthusiasm.
Over one and half thousand faithful attended Easter Liturgy held in
St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of Montreal, where His Eminence
Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the Diocese, celebrated the
Divine Liturgy, assisted by Rev. Fr. Hayrig Hovhannisian and
Rev. Fr. Vazgen Boyadjian (Pastor of St. Gregory the
Illuminator). “Gomidas” choir of the Cathedral was conducted by
Mr. Ara Toshigian, accompanied by Mr. Arto Muhendissian on the
organ. Serving on the altar were the deacons and the sub-deacons of
the church.
According to an ancient Christian tradition when the faithful brought
their Easter food to be blessed, during the Holy Mass a procession of
children carrying food baskets and their blessing was held. In his
sermon the Primate exalted the Lord’s glorious Resurrection and said,
“2004 years have transpired since then, and faced with the luminous
feast of Resurrection once again, we should ask ourselves, what has
changed in us and what significance does the Resurrection of Jesus
have for us?. This is not only a feast but the feast of feats, for it
brings us light, hope, victory, and confidence. That is our God is
living God and He has concurred the world so we may do”. On behalf of
Canadian Armenians the Primate expressed love and faithfulness to His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and prayed that God
keeps Motherland Armenia safe, in a state of brotherly love,
solidarity and prosperity.
Following the Holy Liturgy a reception was held in the Diocesan hall
for exchanges of Easter felicitations and to receive from the Primate,
for the first time this year, the blessed bread (Neshkhar) to be taken
home by the faithful.
An Easter luncheon was then served in the Marie Manoogian hall, where
following the invocation, Rev. Fr. Vazken Boyadjian, Pastor, welcomed
the faithful and expressed good wishes of success to the Primate on
the occasion of the Holy Resurrection. A brief cultural program was
staged by the newly formed children’s choir of the church conducted by
Varoujan Markarian. Miss Nayiri Tankarian played Aram Khatchaturian’s
Tokkata on the piano with a tremendous gusto, that prompted Mr. and
Mrs. Meguerditch and Shake Malkhassian to donate 500 dollars towards
the purchase of a new piano.
In his concluding remarks the Primate expressed appreciation to the
pastor, the Parish Council, the children’s choir and Nairy Tankarian
as well to Mr. and Mrs. Malkhassian for a heart rendering communal
celebration of Easter. That was a truly and deeply spiritual joyous
day to remember for a long time.
E) Holy Easter Liturgies in North Western Communities and Ottawa
Upon the directive and with the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian, Primate of the Canadian Armenian Diocese, Very Reverend Fr
Ararat Kaltakjian visited the North Western communities of the
Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.
Very Rev Fr Ararat celebrated Divine Liturgy in Winnipeg on 15th April
and in Edmonton on the 16th, Calgary on the 17th and Yellowknife on
the 18th of April.
On Sunday April 18, 2004 on the occasion of Holy Resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ Rev Fr Hayrik Hovhannisian officiated the Divine
Liturgy at Ottawa’s St Mesrob Armenian Church. The Mission Choir,
recently founded by the Primate, accompanied Rev Fr Hayrik
Hovhannisian.
DIVAN OF THE DIOCESE
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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
April 19, 2004
Musical Armenia Artists
Perform to sold-out Audience
NEW YORK, NY-The twenty-first Musical Armenia Concert took place in front of
an enthusiastic and sold-out audience at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
on Sunday afternoon, March 28, 2004. This year’s concert featured the
outstanding talents of the pianist Karine Poghosyan and the cellist Ani
Kalayjian. Ms. Kalayjian was accompanied by the gifted pianist Barbara
Podgurski.
The Musical Armenia concert series was established in 1982 by the
Armenian Prelacy and the Prelacy Ladies Guild, under the leadership of the
late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who passed away suddenly in December 2003.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, the Ladies Guild, and the Musical Armenia
Committee dedicated this year’s concert to Archbishop Mesrob’s memory, in
recognition of the many cultural programs that he conceived, and for his
dedication to Armenian culture and to young artists. Archbishop Mesrob was
very proud of the Musical Armenia program’s longevity and of the consistent
virtuosity of its artists.
Karine Poghosyan led off the concert with a spirited performance of
Beethoven’s Sonata No. 27. She followed that work with two short pieces by
Arno Babajanian, “Elegie” and “Dance of Vagarshapat.” The audience responded
warmly as Ms. Poghosyan captured the emotional depth of these two familiar
Armenian compositions. Her section of the program concluded with the Sonata
No. 2 by Rachmaninoff, which gave her the opportunity to showcase her
technical command and her interpretive approach to the Romantic repertoire.
Ani Kalayjian, accompanied by Barbara Podgurski, led off the second half
of the concert with a confident performance of Robert Schumann’s lyrical
“Stucke im Volkston.” They continued with two Armenian compositions, a
charming “Impromptu” by Aram Arutunian and the familiar “Krunk” by Komitas.
The communication between the performers was apparent in their command of
these pieces. The concert concluded with the Sonata No. 2 by the Czech
composer Bohuslav Martinu, a challenging composition that the performers
addressed with clarity and enthusiasm. Their efforts generated a strong
audience reaction. The three artists appeared together on stage at the end
of the concert and were once more saluted for their excellence.
Twenty-three-year-old Karine Poghosyan was born in Yerevan and began her
musical instruction at the Yerevan School of Fine Arts. Her studies at the
School culminated with a concert performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto
No. 1. She graduated with distinction in 1994 and entered the Romanos
Melikian Musical College to began studies with the renowned Vatche Umrshat.
In 1998, she graduated with high honors from the Melikian College and, that
same year, was awarded Second Prize (no First Prize was earned) at the Arno
Babajanian Second State Piano Competition. At that competition, Ms.
Poghosyan also received special recognition for “Best Concert Etude.”
Ms. Poghosyan relocated to the United States in October 1998 and, in
1999, began the bachelor of music program at California State University,
Northridge under Françoise Regnat. During her studies, she won the CSUN
Symphony Concerto Competition, was a semifinalist in the Hilton Head
International Piano Competition, received scholarship awards from the
Glendale Symphony Orchestra and the Etude Music Club, and, in October 2000,
performed the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 with the CSUN Symphony Orchestra.
In 2001, Ms. Poghosyan won the New West Symphony Discovery Artist
competition and auditions for the Beverly Hills “Sundays at Two” Recital
Series, received the Jakob and Bronislaw Gimpel Memorial Award, and was
awarded a scholarship from the National Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences. That same year, Ms. Poghosyan performed in the “Sundays at Two”
series in Beverly Hills, “Sundays at Two Previews” at Manhattan Beach, as
well as at a commemorative concert in recognition of September 11th tragedy.
In November 2002, she won Fourth Prize at the Los Angeles International
Liszt Piano Competition. Her 2003 performances included the Los Angeles
Liszt Competition “Winners’ Concert” at the Nixon Library, and the
International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City. In fall
2003, Ms. Poghosyan moved to New York City as a scholarship student in the
masters program at the Manhattan School of Music, under the direction of
Arkady Aronov.
Cellist Ani Kalayjian has appeared in concert both as a soloist and
chamber musician in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Her recent
performances include appearances at Weill Recital Hall, Steinway Hall, St.
Paul’s Chapel, Scandinavia House, and at Casalmaggiore and Mantova in Italy.
In April 2003, Ms. Kalayjian made her debut at Columbia University’s Miller
Theatre, where she performed the Saint-Saens cello concerto. She was also
selected to participate in Michael Tilson Thomas’ Aaron Copland workshop at
Carnegie Hall where she performed at Zankel and Weill Recital Halls in
November 2003.
Ms. Kalayjian is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music, where she
was a student of Timothy Eddy. She has also studied with Orlando Cole, Aldo
Parisot, and Eleonore Schoenfeld, and has participated in master classes
with Steven Isserlis, Peter Wiley and other notable artists. In addition,
Ms. Kalayjian has studied chamber music with Pamela Frank, Carter Brey,
Colin Carr, Ida Kavafian, Michael Tree, Isidore Cohen, Laurence Lesser,
Jeffrey Kahane, Gilbert Kalish, and the Orion and Emerson string quartets.
Her festival appearances include concerts at Banff, Sarasota, International
Musician’s Seminar at Prussia Cove, Encore, Brevard, Oberlin at
Casalmaggiore, Quartet Program, Music at Menlo, and the New York String
Seminar. At Prussia Cove, she was featured in a BBC documentary playing in a
master class with Steven Isserlis. Currently, Ms. Kalayjian is pursuing her
masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester,
England, where she is a student of Ralph Kirshbaum.
New York native Barbara Podgurski holds a bachelor of music degree in
piano performance and a master of music degree in both piano performance and
theory from the Mannes College of Music. Her performance work has included
instruction with Martin Canin, Thomas Sauer and Fiorella Canin, and she has
studied music theory with Robert Cuckson and Carl Schachter.
Ms. Podgurski has performed as soloist and chamber musician in the
United States, Canada, and Europe. She has been featured in numerous
television and radio broadcasts, including a number of recent appearances on
WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase and on WNYC’s “Soundcheck.” Her collaborators
include Seymour Lipkin, Jacob Lateiner, Steven Isserlis, Pamela Frank, and
members of the Orion, Borromeo, and Brentano String Quartets. Ms. Podgurski’
s festival appearances include the Banff Arts Festival, Bowdoin Summer Music
Festival, and the Academie Franco-Americaine in Provence.
Ms. Podgurski has performed as soloist and collaborative pianist at Merkin
Hall, Steinway Hall, the Caramoor Center for the Arts, and at Yale
University. She is on the faculty of the Mannes College of Music, the Music
Conservatory of Westchester, and the Point Counterpoint Summer Chamber Music
Festival. Ms. Podgurski is currently in the DMA program at The CUNY Graduate
Center, where she is pursuing her studies with Martin Canin.
The Armenian Prelacy extends its thanks to Musical Armenia’s many
friends for their continued support of the program. Young artists with an
interest in being considered for future concerts in the series are
encouraged to contact the Prelacy.

Turkey Seeks “Catalyst” Role To Resolve Karabakh Issue
Anatolia news agency
19 Apr 04
Ankara, 19 April: Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said on Monday (19 April) that Turkey was holding talks
both with Azerbaijan and Armenia for solution of Nagornyy Karabakh
issue, stating that rumours which said that border between Turkey
and Armenia would be opened before solution of the issue were not
true. Gul replied to questions of the AA (Anatolia) correspondent.
When the AA correspondent said that there were rumours, especially in
Azerbaijan, which said that border between Turkey and Armenia would
be opened, Gul said: “This is out of question. People in Azerbaijan
are discussing this issue very much. Azerbaijani reporters also ask
this question whenever we meet.”
Stating that they believed that Nagornyy Karabakh issue should not be
left as an abandoned issue as there was an occupation, Gul said: “We
think this issue should be discussed and it should be solved.” Turkey
was holding talks both with Azerbaijan and Armenia for solution of
Nagornyy Karabakh issue, he stated and noted: “We think of holding
a trilateral meeting on this issue in the following months.” Gul
stressed that Turkey was trying to play a catalyst role, stating that
they wanted the issue to be solved peacefully. Gul said that although
Turkey and Armenia have not recognized each other officially yet, he
met with Armenian foreign minister under international and regional
meetings three times last year.
Foreign Minister Gul said that they thought that foreign ministers
of Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan should hold a trilateral meeting
before NATO summit in Istanbul in June and added that Armenia would
attend summit in Istanbul under Caucasian countries related to NATO.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Moscow Times
Monday, Apr. 19, 2004. Page 3
Russia Wraps Up Iraq Evacuation
The Associated Press
Chris Helgren / Reuters
A boy headed for a Russian flight hugging his father goodbye Friday in
Baghdad.- Photo
A plane filled with 117 workers evacuated from Baghdad arrived in Moscow on
Friday evening, the last flight of a mission to pull out employees of
Russian companies in the wake of a kidnapping.
The abduction Monday of eight workers for a Russian company — who were
released the next day — led to plans for a massive evacuation. But the
effort was scaled back after hundreds of workers chose to stay, including
the eight former captives.
Eight flights were envisioned originally, but the mission ended with four
and a total of 483 workers; three other flights took place Thursday.
One of those brought back Friday was Sergei Brazhnikov, who had been wounded
by a stray shot this week, news reports said. Some reports said Brazhnikov
was hit in the leg by a bullet fired by a U.S. soldier near the power
station where he was working south of Baghdad.
But in footage on state television from Baghdad, Brazhnikov said, “Who and
what I don’t know. … I was caught by the fire.”
He said U.S. forces airlifted him to a field hospital, where he was operated
on.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said it was up to Russian
companies to decide whether to evacuate their employees.
“The Russian side cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens in Iraq today,
just as the coalition forces cannot do so,” he said.
Russia strongly opposed the U.S.-led war and has no military presence in
Iraq. But Russian media reports estimated Russian contracts in Iraq at up to
$1 billion and said some companies were trying to avoid massive losses
resulting from the evacuation.
Yakovenko said the evacuations do not mean that Russia is abandoning its
contracts in Iraq.
“As soon as the situation stabilizes in terms of security, our specialists
will return there,” he said. “In no way are we leaving Iraq.”
Ukraine has 1,650 soldiers under Polish command in southern Iraq. Itar-Tass
said those evacuated Thursday also included citizens of Belarus, Tajikistan
and Armenia, which do not have troops in Iraq.

Armenian leader calls opposition protests temporary
Agence France Presse
April 19, 2004
MOSCOW, April 19 — Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian said a wave
of opposition protests sweeping the country over the past several
weeks was a “misunderstanding” and unlikely to continue for long.
“It is certainly a temporary phenomenon,” he said in an interview
with the Izvestia daily.
Opposition parties in Armenia, a nation of three million people in
the Caucasus mountains, have recently staged a series of protests,
drawing comparisons with last year’s “rose revolution” that ousted
the leadership in neighbouring Georgia.
“Our opposition, under the impression of Georgia’s events, has decided
to stage a similar situation in Armenia,” he said. “But our reality
cannot be compared with Georgia’s.”
The Armenian opposition says that Kocharian rigged a run-off
presidential vote in March 2003 to secure a second term in office
and is demanding that he step down.
But despite the widespread discontent in Armenia over low living
standards, analysts say Kocharian is too strong, and the opposition
too weak, for the Georgian scenario to be repeated in Armenia, the
world’s first state to adopt Christianity.
Kocharian said the opposition would be allowed to proceed with protests
as long as they did not cause major disruptions.
“If the opposition tries to attract attention to itself by blocking
major thoroufares or government buildings, then police will do what
it is obligated to do,” he said.
Last Monday, the police broke up an anti-government demonstration in
the capital Yerevan using water cannon and reportedly injuring dozens
of protestors.
yad/lp
Armenia-politics-demo-Kocharian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US mediator intends to take responsible position on Karabakh
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS
April 19, 2004
New U.S. co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno-Karabakh
Steven Mann said he intends to take a responsible position on the
solution of the Karabakh problem.
After the talks with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on Monday
Mann said he would meet Ashot Gulyan, the non-recognised foreign
minister of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The U.S. official declined to comment on the details of the
consultations between the Minsk Group mediators and the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers that took place in Prague on Friday.
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who is also National
Security Council secretary, confirmed that Yerevan would convince
all sides to solve the Karabakh problem by peaceful means.
Mann, who used to be the U.S. special representative for energy
policy on the Caspian Sea, will leave for Georgia on Tuesday and then
for Baku.

EBRD to increase investment in seven poorest CIS countries
ITAR-TASS
April 19, 2004
MOSCOW, April 19 — The European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) announces plans to increase investments in Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
to help them fight poverty.
In order to help the seven poorest CIS nations, the EBRD is ready to
take great risk and increase investments and donor financing. “The Bank
is ready to take on the risk as we seek to invest more in countries
at the earlier stages of transition,” EBRD President Jean Lemierre
said at the Board of Governors Annual Meeting in London on April 18-19.
In his words, more tan 50 percent of people in Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan live
in poverty. The economy of these countries is less consistent
with market standards than the economy of other countries. A large
state debt complicates foreign borrowing for economic development and
social needs. Other obstacles to borrowing are underdeveloped markets,
the closed borders, lack of banking and other services, insufficient
infrastructures in these countries.
The EBRD will invest in the private banking sector to enable it to
small and medium-size business in these countries, as well as the
housing and communal sector, energy sector and transport.
“We will finance the kind of projects that we have found work best
in these circumstances: small businesses, microfinance, investment
to facilitate cross-border trade, small-scale infrastructure,”
Lemierre said.
He said the EBRD might invest from 500,000 to two million euros in
these projects.
In addition, Lemierre asked the donor nations to increase their grants
to the EBRD for use in other countries. He said additional grants
would allow the bank to invest up to 150 million euros in each of
these countries annually (currently it invests 90 million euros).
“We cannot do this on our own,” Lemierre continued. “In order to
strengthen the initiative, the Bank has invited donor countries to
contribute to provide technical cooperation, and to help prepare and
co-finance projects. But the EBRD takes the full burden of added risk
on its own books.”

Iran, Armenia ratify gas pipeline construction project
ITAR-TASS
April 19, 2004
YEREVAN, April 19 — Iran and Armenia have ratified a gas pipeline
construction project worth 5 billion U.S. dollars, the Prime-Tass
economic news agency reports.
The pipeline will carry gas from Iran to Armenia via Georgian
territory.
The two parties plan to sign the final agreement during a visit of
Iranian Oil and Gas Minister Bezhan Zagane to Armenia.
Under this project, Iran intends to pump natural gas not only to
Armenia but also to the European market, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia
Parhad Collain said.
The pipeline will run to the Black Sea, Ukraine and farther to
Europe. In addition, Armenia will be able to get energy supplies
from alternative sources.

Armenian minister tells OSCE official Karabakh conflict to be solved
peacefully
Mediamax news agency
19 Apr 04
Yerevan, 19 April: The secretary of the Armenian Security Council and
defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, and the newly-appointed US
cochairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, held a meeting in
Yerevan today to discuss the state of and possible solutions to the
Karabakh conflict.
During the meeting Serzh Sarkisyan reiterated Armenia’s intention to
settle the conflict peacefully, Mediamax was told by the press service
of the Armenian Defence Ministry.

Armenian foreign minister says next meeting with Azerbaijan over
disputed enclave will be in May
Associated Press
April 19, 2004
YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said
Monday that he planned to meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart in
May to continue discussions on resolving the countries’ dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Oskanian said that the meeting he held last week in Prague with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov was useful but did not
break new ground.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.
Ethnic Armenian forces drove out Azerbaijan’s army from the region in
the 1990s and ethnic Azeris fled. Since a 1994 cease-fire,
Nagorno-Karabakh has been run by an internationally unrecognized
government.
Despite the cease-fire, shooting still breaks out sporadically across
the so-called “line of control,” a demilitarized strip separating
Azeri and Armenian forces.
The unresolved status of Nagorno-Karabakh keeps tensions high between
the countries and apparently discourages foreign investors fearful
of a new outbreak of fighting and instability.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani officials met under the auspices of the
“Minsk Group,” an arm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe devoted to resolving the dispute. The Minsk Group is led
by a troika of diplomats from the United States, France and Russia.
The newly appointed top U.S. official for the group, Stephen Mann,
met on Monday with Armenian officials.
“What I will be doing in this position is representing the
U.S. national interests and it is in the American national interest
to work for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue,” Mann told reporters.