Author: Badalian Vardan

Lraper Church Bulletin 26/07/2005
Contact: Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970, 517-0971
F: +90 (212) 516-4833, 458-1365
[email protected]
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Pastoral Visit To The Buyukada Armenian Community

;NewsCode=N000000769&Lang=ENG

On Saturday morning, 16 July, the Divine Liturgy in Armenian was
celebrated at the Buyuk Island St. Pacifico Latin Catholic Church, at
the wish of the Buyuk Island Armenian community. Father Tatul Anusyan
led the services and preached. Community members from Buyuk Island and
the other islands filled the church. Deacons Vagarsak Seropyan, Sevan
Civanyan, and Hayk Koparyan served the Eucharist. Sacred hymns were sung
by a group of youths successfully under the direction of Diran Allen
Nergizyan.

Father Tatul preached on the scripture passage Luke 11:30: “The Son of
Man will be a sign to this generation.” He touched on the place of
Christ in our lives and described how He enlightens us day by day. After
summarizing the characteristics of a believer, Father Tatul stressed
that becoming informed is not sufficient. We have to carry the same
light to those around us, we need to engage in charitable works, and we
need at all times to praise God for what Christ has done in our lives.

After the Divine Liturgy the congregation expressed its pleasure and
hoped to have pastoral visits and divine services more often on Buyuk
Island.

Official denies Russian grid in control of Armenia’s energy system

Mediamax news agency
22 Jul 05

Yerevan, 22 July: The head of Interenergo B.V. (affiliate of RAO UES
[Unified Energy Systems of Russia]), Mikhail Mantrov, today described
as “illusions” the claims that the Russian energy giant is in control
of the whole energy system of Armenia.

At a new conference in Yerevan today, Mantrov said that in Armenia
RAO UES owns the Sevan-Razdan Cascade hydroelectric power plant,
which provides only 10 per cent of whole energy produced in Armenia.

Despite the widespread opinion, RAO UES is not the owner of the Razdan
thermal power plant, he added.

INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION WITH SUCH AN APPROACH?

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
19 July 05

Fundamental reform in secondary education is a vital necessity, because
all the spheres of life, social, political and economic, require a
high level of education of the people. However, with mistakes and
hastiness in this system we will lose rather than gain. Later we
will have to pay a higher price. We are now raising a generation in
a period when the gene pool of the people has been damaged because
of the war and the natural disaster, which does not allow any delay
(I mean prolonging the secondary education to 12 years) for a socially
insecure people. This is the second year that children go to school
at the age of 6 and study by textbooks meant for seven-year-old
children. Such load may harm the normal physical and mental development
of children. It should be noted that children who start school at
an earlier stage differ from other children in the negative sense of
the word. Experienced teachers will confirm this. It is not easy to
understand why there was such haste when event there were no textbooks
for the new schedule. Is it possible to achieve qualitative changes
corresponding to the international standards through groundless
and pointless quantitative changes? In all the times the system of
education has been a superstructure which has always been “sensitive”
to its economic basis. Do we possess the necessary economic basis and,
more importantly, the psychological background? Isn’t it a vital need
to set an aim of international integration in these important and
necessary spheres as well? In think, in our reality it would have been
more practical to join the Soviet school, i.e. fundamental knowledge,
with the national school, i.e. upbringing. With a model of national
education and Armenian teacher it is possible to have school graduates
corresponding to international standards. It is necessary to revise
the textbooks and change the form of examination tickets. For example,
the pointless requirement of memorizing all the dates, nicknames and
names of relatives of historical figures, because even the teacher
may not always recall all these details. This helps to develop memory
while ignoring the analytical approach to the cause and effect of
this or that historical event. By the way, the textbooks of Russian
and the programme of exams in Russian in the 8th and 10th grades are
quite good in terms of what was said above.

NAZIK NALBANDIAN. 19-07-2005

GUD VELSIGNE OS…

Azg/arm
21 July 05

God bless us…

This is the title of a documentary about Armenians of Denmark and
Armenia shot in this Scandinavian country in 2002.

The Armenian Christian Cultural Center of Denmark headed by its
president Alexander Aghabalian decided to familiarize the Danes with
Armenia, its people, culture and history.

Celebration of 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia in 2001
gave the idea of the film. The first part of the film is dedicated to
the Armenian culture and history with a focus on Armenian Genocide of
1915. But the main theme of the film is the integration of Armenians
in Denmark.

The Armenian community of Denmark, greater after the collapse of
the USSR, managed not only to keep the homeland in heart but also
did everything to create a small Armenia in Copenhagen. “I wanted
to sculpt something that would remind me my home though so far away”
sculptor Armen Matinian author of “Origin” statue says.

“It cost me great efforts to get the right to serve Armenian liturgy
at the St. Andreas church in Copenhagen”, Aghabalian says, “There
is no Armenian church in Denmark, and I decided to give a chance to
compatriots to feel the breath of the homeland behind the walls of
that church. Moreover, in 1995, we managed to erect a khachkar at
the churchyard in memory of the Genocide victims”.

Many Armenians have succeeded in Denmark.

A number of Armenian scientists are doing research in cancer. “I
had to leave Armenia like many others as I had decided to get on
in science”, Mariam Grigorian says. “It’s better to be a good baker
in Denmark than a bad architect in Armenia”, Karen Kocharian says.
Sergey Azizian is considered the first violin of Denmark.

Alexander Aghabalian skillfully featured all these in the documentary
titled “God Bless Us…” that was first shown in Copenhagen. The film
helped the Danes, almost unaware of Armenia and Armenian culture,
understand who the Armenians are.

By Anna Harutyunian

Georgia to invest in gas storage tanks
By M. Alkhazashvili

The Messenger, Georgia
July 20 2005

A natural gas storage facility: Rehden, pictured here, is the largest
storage facility in Western Europe

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is allotting USD 1
million for research into the possibilities of constructing a natural
gas storage facility in Georgia – storage tanks widely viewed as
vital for energy security.

Gas storage facilities exist in all developed countries. There are
reportedly 634 in the world, including three underground facilities
in the South Caucasus – two in Azerbaijan and one in Armenia.

Energy experts consider the construction of a gas storage facility
in Georgia a matter of urgency on the grounds that the tanks would
make Georgia’s energy supply more stable as it would be possible to
continue to supply the country with energy for several months in the
event of some interruption in imports.

Furthermore, it is argued that a storage facility would reduce gas
prices as the tanks would allow the country to import gas in the
summer when prices are lower and save it until winter.

Ongoing construction of the South Caucasus pipeline which will carry
gas from the Shah-Deniz gas fields in Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean
mean that it would be even more prosperous for Georgia to build a
storage facility, as the country will receive 5 percent of transported
gas and will be able to buy additional gas at special prices for
twenty years.

Some work has been done in preparation for construction of a storage
facility, with two abandoned oil mines in Rustavi and Ninotsminda
seen as the best locations for such a facility. The new research is
aimed at identifying which location would be better.

Saknavtobi Head Mikheil Sidamonidze says it is possible to store
at least 300 million cubic meters in the Rustavi mine and at least
750 million cubic meters in Ninotsminda. Georgia currently uses
approximately 900 million cubic meters of natural gas annually.

In addition to having the greater capacity of the two, a facility at
Ninotsminda would likely only take two years to construct, while a
storage facility at Rustavi would take five years to construct. While
the Rustavi tank would cost an estimated USD 45 million, estimates
for a facility at Ninotsminda range from USD 25 million up to USD
90 million.

WB NOT GOING TO REVIEW PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA

Pan ARMENIAN Network, Armenia
July 20 2005

20.07.2005 06:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The World Bank does not see any reason for reviewing
the projects implemented in Armenia, head of WB Armenia Country
Manager Roger Robinson stated when commenting on the decision by
the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to reconsider
the package of the assistance to Armenia in view of the information
about the sale of the Armenian Distribution Networks. According to
Mr. Robinson, in several days the World Bank will officially comment
on the contradictory information on purchasing of the Armenian
Distribution Networks by RAO UES of Russia branch. He noted that
«neither he nor the WB should convince the Armenian government that
law should be observed in the country.»

–Boundary_(ID_rAfLMiX3GjmCYQ7msVRkgw)–

ARMENIANOW.COM DIGEST July 15, 2005
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NEWS DIGEST JULY 11TH – JULY 15TH 2005

By Ruzanna Amiraghyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter

As part of their recurrent regional visits the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs for the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict settlement Yuri Merzlyakov,
Bernard Fassier and Steven Mann arrived on July 10 th in Baku. On
Monday they held closed consultations with Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. After Baku the MG Co-
Chairs left for Yerevan to hold analogous consultations with the
Armenian leadership.

Azeri Minister of Education Masir Mardanov told on July 12th that the
Council of Europe has authored and sponsored the Caucasus History
new handbook stating the Azeri party has met all its commitments
on preparation of the book, while accusing the Armenian party of
expressing discontent, leading to a delay of publishing. The book was
to be issued before the beginning of the new academic year. The Council
of Europe has not expressed its stand over Armenia’s biased attitude.

“Armenia should withdraw its troops from the seized territories
of Nagorno-Karabagh and return them to Azerbaijan”, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated at the international conference
initiated by the World Affairs Council of Northern Carolina on July
13th. When touching upon the Armenian-Turkish relations he said
that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the parliaments of
third states does not solve the problem of the Armenian- Turkish
relations. Tayyip Erdogan called upon Armenia not to “use common
past for stirring up enmity.” “There are more important problems to
be settled first of all”, he stated.

Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary Namik Tan told
journalists that Turkey is willing to establish normal relations
with Armenia. Noting that Turkey abides by its policy of establishing
peace and stability with all the neighbor states, Mr. Tan stated that
the Turkish party wishes to settle relations with Armenia within the
framework of this policy. “It is known that during a long period of
time contacts at different levels have been established under the
aegis of the Turkish MFA and bilateral and regional issues of mutual
interest have been discussed”, he stated.

The regular meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs Vartan Oskanian and
Elmar Mamedyarov is scheduled for August 22 nd in Moscow during the
sitting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers. Their last meeting
took place in ParisJune 17 th- 18 th.

The Armenian community of Samtskhe-Javakhetia in Georgia adopted a
resolution during a forum called “Intelligentsia – an Institute of
Civil Society” calling upon the government of Georgia to take measures
for eliminating the created situation with the policy of ousting the
ethnic Armenian population from that region with the aim of settling
the Meskhetian Turks to that area.

Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukyan stated it at
a press briefing July 14 th that ArmenTel will provide uninterrupted
cellular phone service beginning today (July 15). The provider’s
service has been practically shut down since competitor VivaCell
entered the cellular market July 1. Specialists from Greece and
Germany were brought to Armenia to troubleshoot and repair the service.

” Armenia is ready to take part in restoration works at the Abkhaz
lot of the Transcaucasian railway, provide technical, however by
no means financial assistance,” Armenian Minister of Transport and
Communication Andranik Marnukyan said at a press briefing July 14
th. In his words, Russia and Georgia will have to carry the financial
burden, which makes some $150 million. “The opening of the railway is
favorable both to Armenia and Georgia. The latter does not have direct
rail communication with Russia, uses the territory of Azerbaijan for
transit and pays large sums for it. In case of opening the Abkhazian
part of the railway, Armenia will give up ferry communication with
Russia,” the Minister said.

The Armenian Church announced with great sadness the death of one
of the most senior members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin,
His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian on June 13 th following a long
illness. At the time of his death, Abp. Ajemian was the dean of the
Theological Faculty of Yerevan State University. He was 79 years old.

On July 14 th Reporters without Borders criticized the current trial
of a Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink for “insulting Turkish
identity” and said the government taboo against publicly discussing the
1915 genocide against Armenians was a “continuing barrier to freedom
of expression” in Turkey. It said that with only three months to go
before negotiations were due to start about Turkey joining the European
Union, Dink risked being jailed under article 301 of the criminal code
for publishing an article (on February 13 th 2004) called “Getting
to know Armenia” in the Turkish- Armenian bilingual weekly, Agos,
that he runs. His trial began on July 7 th before a court in Istanbul.

Sources: , , ,

SPORT DIGEST: WRESTLING IN LITHUANA; TENNIS IN IRELAND . . .

By Suren Musayelyan ArmeniaNow Reporter

FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND:

July 13, Wednesday. Haka ( Finland) v Pyunik ( Armenia) – 1-0.

(The return match will take place in Yerevan on July 20).

UEFA CUP:

July 14, Thursday:

Banants ( Armenia) v Lokomotiv (Georgia) – 2-3

Mainz ( Germany) v Mika ( Armenia) – 4-0

(Second-leg matches of these pairs are slated for July 28).

WRESTLING

MEDALS FOR JUNIORS: The Greco-Roman style wrestling world
junior championships ended in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius
recently. Armenia’s Shavigh Gevorgyan (50 kg) beat all his opponents on
the way to the final where he lost earning only the silver medal. Artur
Shahinyan (84 kg) won the bronze.

Earlier, freestyle wrestlers Hovhannes Yenokyan also landed a bronze
medal. (A1 Plus)

ATHLETICS

In an Olympic tournament held in the Italian town of Lignano Haykanush
Beklaryan representing Armenia in triple jump showed a result of 12
meters, 74 centimeters, finishing 3 rd in the competition. (A1 Plus)

CHESS

The Chess Federation of Armenia has decided the composition of
Armenia’s men’s and women’s teams that will represent the country in
the European team championships to be held in Sweden from July 29 to
August 7.

Armenia ‘s men’s team includes five grandmasters: Vladimir Hakobyan,
Levon Aronyan, Rafael Vahanyan, Smbat Lputyan and Ashot Anastasyan. The
team’s coach is grandmaster Tigran Nalbandyan.

The women’s team includes grandmasters Elina Danielyan, Lilit
Lazarian, Nelli Aghinyan, international master Lilit Galoyan
and master Miranush Andreasyan. The coach of the women’s team is
grandmaster Arsen Yeghyazaryan.

Both teams will participate with four main and one reserve
players. (Armenpress)

TENNIS

Armenia led by Sargis Sargsyan got to a good start in Europe/Africa
Zone Group III 2005 Davis Cup being held in Dublin, Ireland, from 11
th-18 th July by beating Iceland on Wednesday. However, on Thursday,
Armenia lost to hosts Ireland, but still has a good chance to qualify
for the next round if it beats Nigeria today (July 15).

Competing teams in this pool are Turkey, Iceland, Nigeria, San Marino,
Ireland, Tunisia, Armenia, Cyprus.

The eight competing teams are formed into two round robin groups
of four. The first two teams from each pool will advance to another
round-robin group. The teams finishing first and second in this final
pool will be promoted to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2006.The
teams finishing third and fourth in each pool will advance to a
round-robin pool. The teams finishing in third and fourth in this
subsequent pool will be relegated to Europe/Africa Zone Group IV
in 2006. Results in the round robin phase will be known by late
Friday and will determine further stage of play over Saturday and
Sunday. ()

PanArmenian News Network
July 14 2005

SPEAKING OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES PREMATURE

14.07.2005 05:48

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady
Ghukasyan met with Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Steven Mann (US), Bernard Fassier
(France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia). The mediators informed the NKR
leader on the details of the meetings between the Armenian and Azeri
Presidents, as well as the FMs of the two countries, presented the
approaches of the mediator countries over prospects of making
considerable progress in the peace settlement. They reaffirmed their
concept implying that a new opportunity has appeared during the
settlement process of the NK problem. They noted at that the matter
does not concern any new proposals made to parties to conflict. In
his turn, A. Ghukasyan remarked that in spite speaking of mutual
understanding between the parties to conflict is premature, there are
considerable expectations of progress. He expressed hope for the
current visit of the Co-Chairs to the region to be productive and to
make everyone closer to a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of
the Karabakh conflict. The Co-Chairs thanked the NKR President for
the constructive conversation and readiness of the Karabakh party to
continue a mutually acceptable settlement model. NKR FM Arman
Melikyan took part in the meeting.

5-DAY DEMONSTRATION OF “GOLDEN APRICOT” FILMS IS OPENED WITH PREMIERE
OF “MARIAM”

YEREVAN, JULY 13. ARMINFO. The premiere of “Mariam” film by Armenian
director Edgar Baghdassaryan took place Jul 12 at “Moscow” movie
theatre within the framework of “Yerevan premieres” program of “Golden
Apricot” Second International Film Festival. The film made in Armenia
in 2005 has a deep psychological and philosophical coloring.

REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NOTHING TO DO IN THE FIELD OF CONSTRUCTIVE OPPOSITION

A1+
11-07-2005

«Today the political circles are discussing a completely different
document ` the presidential one which has been agreed with the Venice
Commission and the President’s Residence. And where is the National
Assembly? », announced member of the Republican Party Smbat Ayvazyan
after the session of the Justice bloc. In his opinion the illegal
authorities have no right to change the main law of the country.

«The restoration of the Constitutional order must be done via
elections. First there must be fair and transparent elections and
legal authority, and only then reforms must come», said another member
of the party Gegham Haroutyunyan.

The members of the party think that the society is estranged from the
reforms process. Smbat Azvazyan is sure that «even if they try to pass
the Constitution illegally, they will not be able to get 830 thousand
votes for it».

Today there is a statement confirmed by everybody: the establishment
of democracy is indispensable. But the authorities want to say they
have resources, and they want to do it via evolutional way. «We say
the authorities do not have the resources, and we speak about
revolution. If the opposition tries to «cooperate» with the
authorities in order to reform the constitution, it becomes
constructive, and we have nothing to do in the field of constructive
opposition», said Gegham Haroutyunyan.