Turkey Promises not to Open Armenian Border until Karabag is Solved
ZAMAN
04.13.2004 Tuesday
At the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Azerbaijan
President Ilham Aliyev is in Turkey for a two-day official
visit. Speaking to Zaman before the visit, Aliyev told ZAMAN before
the visit that Turkey has promised not to open the Armenian border
until the Mountainous Karabag problem is solved. He said the reaction
of the Azeri people has stemmed from the latest statements made by
American officials. Aliyev said that the promise given by Ankara is
enough for him, saying, “our power is our union.” The Azerbaijan
President stressed that he would maintain a policy of mutual
relations. Aliyev noted that they wanted Ankara to be a mediator for
the problem in Karabag, but said the Armenian side would need to
agree.
Aliyev called on Turkish businessmen to investment, noting that
Turkish high
schools have trained qualified people for Azerbaijan’s future. He
said,
“As President of the country, I want these high schools to continue
their activities”. Aliyev said the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline would be
completed on time, Aliyev added that Kazakhstan also wanted to join in
on the project.
President Aliyev thanked Zaman newspaper for its decent press policies
that have
brought the two countries closer together.
Aliyev’s first visit as President is significant as it is taking place
amongst rumors in Azerbaijan that Turkey will open its doors to
Armenia.
04.13.2004 Enes Cansever Baku

AUTHORITIES FIRM TO STAVE OFF NEW MANIFESTATIONS OF EXTREMISM, PRESIDENTIAL
SPOKESMAN SAYS
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: Ashot Kocharian, a spokesman for
president Kocharian (no relation) said today the demeanor of the
“opposition minority,” its calls for change of power and violence,
unsanctioned rallies and marches developed into political extremism,
which he said were jeopardizing Armenia’s stability and damaging its
international image, of a country that has chosen the path of
democracy and radical reforming of its economy.
The spokesman argued that the law-enforcement bodies had to
interfere to maintain public order, and that their actions did not go
beyond the frameworks, set by laws. “The police interfered after the
anti-government rally had disrupted the work of the president and the
parliament, endangering the county’s constitutional order,” he said.
He said the police intervened after the demonstrators refused to
obey their orders. “The capital is under the full control of the
authorities andall government agencies are functioning normally. The
authorities are firm in their resolution to apply all measures,
envisaged by laws, to preserve stability and stave off manifestations
of extremism,” he said.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: George Kassis, Executive Director
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 54; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 13, 2004
___________________
ACEF SENDS $2.7 MILLION TO ORGANIZATIONS, PARISHES
It was a big payday this year for local parishes and other Armenian
organizations.
The Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF) recently distributed $2.7 million
to 151 beneficiaries, income generated in 2003 from endowments managed by
ACEF. Because of successful investment planning, ACEF was able to
distribute $2.7 million compared to last year’s distribution of $2.4
million.
Individuals who establish funds with ACEF designate beneficiaries. The
principal investment is never touched. Each year part of the income is
added to the principal, allowing it to grow in the face of inflation. The
other half of the income is sent to the Diocese, Armenian organizations, and
local parishes. This plan assures these organizations receive annual
financial support for generations.
Because of successful investment planning, ACEF was able to distribute $2.7
million this year, compared to last year’s distribution o $2.4 million.
The largest amount, $1.25 million, went to help fund ministries and programs
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) — efforts such
as youth ministry, college outreach, Armenian and Sunday Schools, music and
deacon training, and mission parish support.
“With the ongoing support of the funds invested in ACEF, the Diocese is able
to spend less time worrying about raising funds and more focused on reaching
Armenians with the Lord’s word,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Eastern Diocese. “When people create endowments for the Diocese,
we’re assured they’ll continue to support our ministries for generations to
come.”
The second largest check was sent to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New
Rochelle, NY, which received $286,000 for 2003. With the support offered by
the money invested in ACEF, St. Nersess is able to identify future clergy
and lay ministers, train them to assume responsibility, and offer programs
that support and educate current lay and clergy leaders.
Funds earmarked for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin brought in $244,000
in income in 2003.
HELPING AT HOME
Local parishes are often named as beneficiaries of ACEF funds. St. James
Church of Watertown, MA, was the parish with the largest income from ACEF
investments in 2003, a total of $104,000. That’s a large portion of the
parish’s yearly $700,000 budget.
St. James has a total of $2.1 million invested by ACEF. Of that, $400,000
is in endowments established by individuals and designated to benefit the
parish. The rest of the principal is money raised by the parish
specifically for its endowment.
Since assuming the pastorship in Watertown in 1999, Fr. Arakel Aljalian has
made it a mission to increase the parish’s endowment, with the goal of
eventually having half the parish budget covered by endowment income. He
said the steady income allows the parish to do more programming and frees it
from fund-raising worries.
“If you have a strong endowment fund, you can do more educational,
spiritual, youth, outreach programs,” Fr. Aljalian said. “Our church was
built by the hands of the parishioners in the difficult times of the
Depression. I try to remind my parishioners that it is our obligation to
continue that legacy left by our grandparents, to make sure this church will
be here for a long time. And with the continued, yearly financial support
of endowments, we can bring our community together at St. James.”
The principal donations invested in ACEF remain untouched in perpetuity.
The income generated from the investments is distributed to beneficiaries
named by the establisher of the fund. Some income is also used to build up
the principal, so future distributions can keep pace with inflation and even
grow.
For more information on the Armenian Church Endowment Fund and to establish
your own fund, contact George Kassis, executive director of ACEF, by
e-mailing [email protected] or calling (212) 686-0710 ext. 54.
* * *
Top 10 Beneficiaries of 2003 ACEF income
Eastern Diocese: $1,251,097
St. Nersess Seminary: $286,692
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: $244,639
St. James Church, Watertown, MA: $104,370
Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School, NY: $101,516
St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ: $69,385
Fund for Armenian Relief: $63,769
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem: $50,503
ST. Tarkmanchatz School: $43,876
Holy Cross Church, New York, NY: $43,176
St. Gregory the Enlightener, White Plains, NY: $30,382
# # #

Azeri paper speculates on replacement of envoy to Georgia
Azadliq, Baku
13 Apr 04
Text of Information Department’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper
Azadliq on 13 April headlined “Ilham Aliyev has sent his university
mate to Georgia” and subheaded “Witnesses of old regimes are being
‘disposed of'”
The Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia, Hacan Haciyev, has been
recalled and replaced by Ramiz Ayvaz oglu Hasanov.
Hasanov, 43, was born in Georgia. He studied at Moscow’s State
Institute of International Relations together with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev. His father, Ayvaz Hasanov, used to command a
lot of respect among ethnic Azeris in Georgia and was a deputy
agriculture minister of Georgia.
According to people who know the new ambassador, his appointment to
Georgia is like an “honorable exile” for he could aspire to become a
minister considering his contacts with Aliyev and other factors.
According to some circles, Haciyev’s recall may have to do with the
new Georgian leadership’s irk at dubious cooperation between the
regimes of Heydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze the former
Azerbaijani and Georgian presidents . Haciyev was, to put it mildly,
too well informed about the forms of this cooperation. The recent
seizure of the smuggled oil on the Georgia-Armenia border is part of
such “cooperation”.
The incumbent Azerbaijani leadership reckons that there are too many
differences between Georgia under Shevardnadze and under the
incumbent, and that hence it should rid itself of all people who
served such “cooperation”.
Prior to this appointment, Hasanov was deputy chairman of the
joint-stock company Azarkontrakt.

PARLIAMENT FAILED TO RESUME WORK
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian parliament failed to
convene today a regular session for the second running day after its
Monday sitting was disrupted by the lack of quorum with members of the
majority of deputies representing the three governing parties refusing
to attend it, citing the escalating standoff with the opposition.
The three members of the coalition-the Republican Party, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and the Orinats
Yerkir Party had explained the move by their desire to avoid
artificial tensions and stave off possible clashes between their
supporters and the opposition crowd, that approached the presidential
palace and parliament building. Only 15 lawmakers turned up for
today’s session.

Iranian, Armenian Top Diplomats Discuss Regional, Int’l Issues
04/13/04
TEHRAN (IRNA) — Iran and Armenia here Tuesday discussed expansion of
bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues,
including Karabakh.
Visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, in a meeting with
his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, called for expansion of
relations with Iran.
Oskanian pointed to the increasing trend of political, economic,
cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries, and
voiced his country’s determination to boost mutual ties through
increased regular consultations.
He further highlighted the positive outcomes of the two countries’
joint gas projects, saying they are in line with the two countries’
interest and hoped such projects would be implemented seriously.
He termed developments in Karabakh and his country’s upcoming
negotiation with Azeri officials as “important,” and stressed the need
to maintain regional consultations, particularly with Iran, to
establish stability in the region.
Kharrazi, for his part, outlined the two countries’ potentials for
cooperation and said providing facilities to increase trade exchanges
would double the motivation of tradesmen, industrialists and state and
private companies for promotion of bilateral cooperation. Kharrazi,
referring to the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks, termed the talks “positive”
and proposed continuation of these talks at the ministerial level as
well as with other senior officials, adding that “the Islamic Republic
of Iran supports the strategy of dialogue to settle the Karabakh
issue.”
“Iran’s cooperation with Armenia is in line with efforts to achieve
regional stability and is not against any country,” Kharrazi said.
The Iranian minister referred to the project to transfer gas via
Armenia and Ukraine to Europe as “important” and in line with efforts
to promote regional cooperation, adding that current talks regarding
the project have been fruitful and constructive in establishing
greater participation and collaboration in the region. SNSC secretary:
Tehran Keen on Developing Relations with Neighbors
Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rowhani
said on Tuesday that Iran is keen on developing economic and political
relations with neighboring states.
In a meeting with Armenian foreign minister, Rowhani said that
longstanding cultural affinity between Iran and Armenia contributed to
common interests in the field of economy and boosting Tehran-Yerevan
cooperation.
He appreciated the current cooperation between Iranian and Armenian
energy ministries over the project of dam building and setting up
power plant over Aras River as symbol of economic cooperation.
He hoped that the agreement on setting up pipeline to carry Iranian
gas to Armenia will be signed soon.
Rowhani said that Armenian government is expected to help resolve
problems of Iranian nationals and organizations based in Armenia.
Referring to the developments in Caucasus and Karabakh, Rowhani said
that as much as the regional states succeeded to resolve the crisis,
their interests would be guaranteed and regional stability would be
reinforced.
Rowhani pointed to crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Caucasus
as the four dangerous places which should be dealt with politically to
help bring about economic development and social welfare for the
people living in those areas.

Armenian opposition leader accuses president of “unprecedented crime”
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The leader of the opposition Justice bloc, Stepan Demirchyan, said in
Yerevan today that the dispersal of an opposition rally last night was
“an unprecedented crime against the Armenian people”.
Mediamax news agency quoted Demirchyan as telling a briefing in
Yerevan that “both the author of the order to disperse the peaceful
rally and its direct perpetrators are criminals”. Demirchyan said that
“we witnessed the thoroughly-planned mean military operation, the
purpose of which was to smash the will of the people rising against
the illegally-elected president”.
Demirchyan dismissed as “a shameless lie” the Armenian police’s
statement that the demonstrators had behaved aggressively and provoked
the clashes. Demirchyan said that the special-purpose police forces,
which attacked the demonstrators, were hiding in the building of the
Armenian National Assembly. Demirchyan said the ruling coalition,
which has the majority in parliament, and Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan
should share responsibility for the incident.
“Our people will never forget this crime or forgive it,” Demirchyan
said.
The leader of the National Democratic Union (NDU), Vazgen Manukyan,
said that “the authorities took this step because they were fully
aware that had the demonstrators spent the night on Prospect
Bagramyana Bagramyan Avenue , the whole of Yerevan would have joined
them tomorrow, thus making Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s
resignation inevitable”.
As for the opposition’s future moves, Manukyan said that “the struggle
against the illegal regime will continue”. According to him,
opposition leaders will hold consultations on future moves. In
addition, Manukyan said, it is not ruled out that they might “change
their fighting methods”.

Armenian police statement justifies use of force against protesters
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
13 Apr 04
Presenter Our correspondent is now at the main police station to tell
us via the phone about a statement issued by the police information
and press department on the events which took place last night.
Correspondent over telephone A spokesman for the Armenian police,
Sayat Shirimyan, read out the statement which said:
An unsanctioned rally which was organized by the leaders of the
Justice bloc and National Unity Party on Freedom Square on 12 April
resulted in disturbances following aggressive calls. At 1900 1400 gmt
the protesters flooded into Bagramyan Avenue and stopped traffic.
The police repeatedly told the protesters to stop their illegal
actions or face the consequences. They continued with their illegal
actions and broke the law. Despite the police warnings, the protesters
acted against the police and threw Molotov cocktails and stones at
them. Their actions were becoming more and more aggressive and
uncontrollable, endangering the policemen’s lives and health.
Taking into consideration the dangerous developments and illegal
actions and the fact that the protesters refused to obey the police,
the latter had to resort to force and take special measures against
the protesters in keeping with the law on the Armenian police.
Some police officers were injured and some were hospitalized. Some
protesters were detained and taken to police stations, for example MP
Shavarsh Kocharyan who brought a rifle with him to the rally. The
organizers and many participants escaped.
An investigation has been launched. The identities of those detained
are being established. The Armenian police said that the operational
situation in the capital is under control. Everything necessary is
being done to liquidate the consequences of the disturbances, to
identify the organizers and participants and to bring them to book.

Armenian deputy speaker says room remains for dialogue with opposition
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Deputy Speaker Vahan Ovanesyan said today that there is still
room for dialogue with opposition leaders.
According to Mediamax news agency, Ovanesyan told journalists today
that yesterday’s events, particularly the dispersal of the opposition
rally in central Yerevan, were the consequence of the fact that “the
opposition has overestimated its own capabilities and made maximalist
demands”.
Ovanesyan recalled that representatives of the ruling coalition,
particularly the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun, had
recently kept suggesting to the opposition that they begin dialogue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian journalist “brutally” beaten up during rally dispersal
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Gayk Gevorkyan, correspondent of Haykakan Zhamanak Armenian Times
newspaper, was brutally beaten up by police during the dispersal of an
opposition rally last night.
Arminfo news agency has learnt from the editorial office of the paper
that Hayk Gevorkyan was taken to the medical centre Nork and that his
life is not in danger. There was an unexpected power cut on Bagramyan
Avenue at about 0030 2030 gmt local time last night. Barbed wire was
removed and water cannons moved forward from behind the
special-purpose police detachments at the scene that evening.
Passage omitted: known details about the use of water
The law-enforcement agencies detained the most active protesters,
including deputies of the Armenian parliament Shavarsh Kocharyan and
Aleksan Karapetyan; members of the political board of the Anrapetutyun
Republic Party, Artak Zeynalyan and Vagarshak Arutyunyan; and the
press secretary of the People’s Party, Ruzanna Khachatryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress