Author: Basmajian Ani

Report of the Second Meeting of the
International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue
Between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches

Rome, Italy, 26-29 January 2005

Catholic and Oriental Orthodox representatives, delegated by their
churches, held their second meeting from 26-29 January 2005, as
members of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue
between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, under
the co-chairmanship of H.E. Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and
H.E. Metropolitan Amba Bishoy of Damiette, General Secretary of the
Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.

The meeting was held in Rome at the Domus Internationalis Paulus VI,
hosted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Delegates were present from the Catholic Church and from the following
Oriental Orthodox Churches: the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Syrian
Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of All
Armenians), the Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia),
the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian
Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahido Church.

The representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Church held their
separate preparatory meeting on Tuesday 25 January 2005. Both
delegations held additional separate meetings during the
dialogue. Each working day commenced with morning prayers and
concluded with evening prayers and the meetings were conducted in a
very cordial atmosphere.

The delegates were invited to attend the ecumenical vespers
traditionally celebrated at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (25
January) at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which were
presided over by H.E. Cardinal Walter Kasper.

The members of the Commission were received in audience by H.H. Pope
John Paul II on Friday 28 January 2005. On behalf of the Commission
Metropolitan Amba Bishoy addressed the Pope conveying the greetings of
the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, and the Pope responded
with a brief message of welcome and encouragement.

On Friday 28th January the Commission was invited to share in vespers
and a meal with the Benedictine Community of Sant* Anselmo.

As had been agreed upon at the first meeting of the International
Joint Commission in Cairo in January 2004, the principal themes were:
a) Understanding of Communion, Constitutive Elements of Communion; b)
Particular and Universal Communion, Meaning of Sister Churches and of
Church Families; c) Full Communion and Degrees of Communion, Common
Ecumenical Goal.

During the course of the meeting papers were presented from the
Catholic Church and Oriental Orthodox Churches on these themes: 1)
*The Church as Communion in Early Christian Thought* (Fr. Mark
Sheridan); 2) *Communion-Sister Churches-Church Families* (Archbishop
Mesrob K. Krikorian); 3) *Full Communion and the Degrees of Communion,
Common Ecumenical Goal* (Fr. Philippe Luisier); 4) *Full Communion and
Degrees of Communion, Common Ecumenical Goal* (Metropolitan Amba
Bishoy and Fr. Shenouda Maher); 5) *Particular Church/Universal
Church, Sister Churches, Ecclesial Families* (Fr. Paul Rouhana); 6)
*Understanding Communion, Constitutive Elements of Communion*
(Rev. Megabe Biluy Seife Selassie Yohannes and Lique Hiruyan Getachew
Guadie).

Discussion in the plenary sessions on the papers allowed the
participants to reach the following common affirmations:

1) The Church by its very nature is a communion, which finds its
source and model in the communion of the Holy Trinity, the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit. This communion finds its expression in
conciliarity/collegiality. The question of primacy should be
further studied.
2) The constitutive elements of communion include:
a. the Apostolic faith as lived in the Tradition and as expressed in
the Holy Scriptures, the first three ecumenical councils, and the
Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed; we believe in Jesus Christ the
Incarnate Word of God, the same being true God and true man; we
venerate the Holy Virgin Mary as Mother of God;
b. the celebration of the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation/
chrismation, eucharist, penance/reconciliation, ordination, matrimony,
anointing of the sick); we consider baptism as essential for
salvation; with regard to the Eucharist, we believe that it is the
true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ;
c. the ordained ministry in Apostolic succession. However, from a
Catholic point of view, the question of the mutual recognition of
baptism must be a point of further discussion,
3) Thanks to the many shared elements of communion, the Catholic
Church uses the phrases *real though incomplete communion* and
*degrees of communion*. However, from the point of view of the
Oriental Orthodox Churches, these terms require further study.
4) The Oriental Orthodox Churches, being in full communion with each
other in faith and sacraments, refer to their unity by the term
*family of Churches*. However, from the point of view of the
Catholic Church, this concept requires further study, since it is
not a part of its tradition.

The next meeting of the International Joint Commission will be hosted
by the Catholicosate of All Armenians at Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia,
from Wednesday 25 January (day of arrival) till Tuesday 31 January
2006 (day of departure). Both delegations will have separate meetings
on Thursday 26 January. Friday 27, Saturday 28 and Monday 30 will be
full meeting days for the Joint International Commission.

Three papers from each side will be prepared on the following issues:
1. Bishops in Apostolic Succession;
2. Primacy and Synodality/Conciliarity;
3. Synods, local and ecumenical (their ecclesiological meaning).
Papers will be sent to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity in the Vatican, by November 15th , 2005, for communication to
the members of the Commission, not later than December 1st, 2005.

The members of the International Joint Commission were:

Representatives of the Oriental Orthodox churches

Coptic Orthodox Church : H.E. Amba Bishoy (co-chair), Metropolitan of
Damiette, General Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox
Church; Rev. Fr. Dr. Shenouda Maher Ishak (Rochester, U.S.A) ;
Syrian Orthodox Church : H.E. Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Archbishop
of Mount Lebanon, Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Syrian Orthodox
Church; H.G. Dr. Kuriakose Theophilose, M.S.O.T. Seminary, Vettickal,
India;
Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of all Armenians):
H.E. Dr. Mesrob K. Krikorian, Archbishop of Vienna; H.E. Khajag
Barsamian, Archbishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America;
Armenian Apostolic Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia): H.E. Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy in the U.S.A.;
H.G. Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia;
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church: Rev. Megabe Biluy Seife Selassie
Yohannes, Member of the Scholar Council of the Patriarchate; Lique
Hiruyan Getachew Guadie; Head of Department of Foreign Relations;
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church: H.E. Philipos Mar Eusebios,
Metropolitan of Pathanamthitta; Rev. Dr. John Mathews (co-secretary),
Secretary of the Committee on Inter-Church Relations;
Eritrean Orthodox Tewahido Church: Rev. Fr. Kaleab Gebreselassie,
Co-ordinator for Foreign Affairs; H.G. Bishop Abuna Shenouda Zeamanuel
(Rome), substitute for Mr. Yoftahe Dimetrios, General Director of the
Eritrean Orthodox Church (prevented).

Representatives of the Catholic Church

H.E. Cardinal Walter Kasper (co-chair), President of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity;
H.E. Paul-Werner Scheele, Bishop em. of Würzburg, Germany;
H.E. Amba Kyrillos William, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Assiut,
President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Church in
Egypt;
H.E. Mons. Jules Mikhael Al-Jamil, Procurator of the Syrian Catholic
Patriarchate to the Holy See and Apostolic Visitator in Europe;
H.E. Mons. Boutros Marayati, Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo,
President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic Church in
Syria;
H.E. Mons. Woldetensae Ghebreghiorghis, Apostolic Vicar of Harar
(Ethiopia), President of the Ecumenical Commission of the Catholic
Church in Ethiopia and Eritrea;
Rev. Fr. Mathew Vellanickal, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Changanacherry, India;
Rev. Fr. Ronald Roberson, C.S.P., Secretariat for Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Washington, USA;
Rev. Fr. Frans Bouwen, M.Afr., Consultant to the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity, Jerusalem;
Rev. Fr. Philippe Luisier, S.J., Pontificio Istituto Orientale, Rome;
Rev. Fr. Mark Sheridan, O.S.B., Dean of the Faculty of Theology,
Pontificio Ateneo S. Anselmo, Rome;
Rev. Fr. Boghos Levon Zekiyan, Pontificio Istituto Orientale, Rome;
Rev. Fr. Paul Rouhana, O.L.M., Université Saint-Esprit, Kaslik,
Jounieh, Lebanon;
Prof. Dietmar W. Winkler, School of Theology, Boston University, USA;
Msgr. Johan Bonny (co-secretary), staff-member of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Metropolitan Bishoy
Cardinal Walter Kasper

Rome, 29 January 2005

PanArmenian News Network
Jan 27 2005

PACE RESOLUTION ON NAGORNO KARABAKH POSITIVE FOR ARMENIA, TIGRAN
TOROSIAN CONSIDERS

26.01.2005 15:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We have got a good resolution”, head of the
Armenian delegation to PACE, Vice Speaker of the Armenian National
Assembly Tigran Torosian stated in his interview with the Armenian
Public Television. In his words, PACE views Nagorno Karabakh as a
negotiating party and the proposal of the Armenian delegation to
consider Karabakh the party to conflict was fixed in the resolution.
Another proposal on replacing the word “separatists” by “the forces
struggling for independence” was also approved by the Political
Committee but was not included in the document only due to a trick of
Turkey’s representative, who misled the PACE deputies, while a second
voting is banned by the regulations. The proposals submitted by the
Azeri party were turned down during the preliminary reading in the
Political Committee. Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE also
noted that the necessity of the creation of atmosphere of trust and
the inadmissibility of solving the problems by force were discussed
at the session.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Jan 25 2005

ABKHAZIA PLANS TO COORDINATE ITS FOREIGN POLICY WITH RUSSIA – BAGAPSH

MOSCOW, January 25 (RIA Novosti) – Abkhazia plans to coordinate its
foreign policy with Russia, announced president-elect of the
self-proclaimed republic of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh during a joint
press conference with vice-president Raul Khadzhimba in Moscow.

“The future of Abkhazia in becoming an independent state. We will
build partnership relations with Russia and will orient ourselves on
Russia and strengthening economic relations with it,” Mr. Bagapsh
underlined.

“We will participate in the meeting of the Russian Security Council
today. We plan to discuss existing economic issues and problems at
the meeting,” Mr. Bagapsh continued.

He said the discussion of economic issues at the meeting would be
held with participation of “representatives of other structures that
deal with economic issues in Russia.” The participants also plan to
discuss the reopening of the railway transit through Abkhazia to
Armenia and the issues related to energy industry.

Talking about the necessity of coordinating the Russian and Abkhazian
legislation, Mr. Bagapsh explained, “We have to do it in order to
avoid controversy in our economic relations, in order to protect
investments.” “Nobody is trying to change the Russian legislation,”
Mr. Bagapsh added.

Answering the question about the future relations with the Georgian
leadership, Mr. Bagapsh stated that the Abkhazian position on the
Georgian-Abkhazian settlement remains unchanged.

Mr. Bagapsh stated that the forcible solution of the
Georgian-Abkhazian conflict was unacceptable and all issues must be
settled through negotiations.

One of the journalists asked Mr. Bagapsh whether Abkhazia was going
to choose the alliance with Russia or it would prefer the alliance
with Georgia.

“If we are forced to make a choice, and the issue does not include
only Georgia, but also some Western countries, we will make it
immediately,” Sergei Bagapsh stressed.

Speaking about the possibility of his personal meeting with Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili, Mr. Bagapsh stated that such a meeting
would have to be thoroughly prepared. “If the sides have too many
antagonisms, such a meeting will be unreasonable. Meeting without a
purpose does not make any sense,” Mr. Bagapsh said. He mentioned that
there were Georgian-Abkhazian working groups and committees that must
tackle the entire range of bilateral issues.

Nashua Telegraph, NH
Jan 23 2005

Church backers want suit reconsidered

By ALBERT McKEON, Telegraph Staff
[email protected]

NASHUA – Objectors to the closure of St. Francis Xavier Church want a
judge to reconsider their rejected civil lawsuit.

Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge William Groff dismissed the
suit this month, backing a previous probate court ruling that allows
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester to sell the property to the
Armenian Orthodox Church.

But former parishioners of the closed Catholic church still argue
their bishop can’t complete the deal. They want Groff to review the
statutory trust under which Bishop John McCormack oversees the church
and to decide if he has not acted in the best interests of
parishioners.

`I don’t know if . . . the court weighed the decision on whether
(McCormack) had the right to sell it or not,’ said attorney Randall
Wilbert, who represents a small group of former parishioners and a
few preservationists who admire the century-old building’s
architecture.

The superior and probate courts have upheld the potential $1 million
sale to local real estate developer Vatche Manoukian, who has said he
wants to donate the property to the Armenian Orthodox Church. The
purchase awaits the final approval of the Armenian Orthodox
Patriarchate of Jerusalem, according to those involved.

But Wilbert and his clients think Groff focused on ancillary issues
concerning the church and did not focus solely on the statutory trust
question. For instance, Groff ruled he couldn’t make decisions on the
diocese merging St. Francis Xavier with St. Louis de Gonzague because
of constitutional provisions separating church and state.

`We’ve never questioned the diocese’s right to suppress parishes,’
Wilbert said of the merger and closure process that occurred in 2003.
`We’re talking about the building. Would we be having this discussion
if instead of a church it was Michelangelo’s `Pieta’?’

Looking at the church strictly as a building, and not as a parish, is
the center of Wilbert’s reconsideration request. He believes the
diocese’s argument to dismiss the lawsuit – that parishioners wanted
the court to review the bishop’s authority on parish mergers –
unnecessarily appeared in Groff’s ruling. Rather, the parishioners
want the court to review their lawsuit only as a bricks-and-mortar
issue, Wilbert said. Does the bishop have the statutory authority to
sell the property in trust, the reconsideration request asks the
court.

Wilbert furthered his `Pieta’ example to highlight the statutory
question. He hypothetically asked if the diocese could sell the Pieta
– an object it owned on behalf of parishioners – for $1 million, even
if the proceeds would benefit those parishioners.

Groff did give the parishioners legal standing on any deed challenge
because they are beneficiaries of the statutory trust. But he found
no evidence McCormack, as the trustee, would use sale proceeds for
any purpose other than the benefit of parishioners.

The statutory question rests on a 119-year-old deed granted by a
now-defunct textile manufacturer, The Jackson Co., that once operated
in the French Hill neighborhood. The company granted the hilltop land
on which the church sits, under the stipulation that the land always
have a place of religious observance.

Ovide M. Lamontagne, an attorney representing the diocese, hadn’t
read Wilbert’s filing as of Friday, but said he was familiar with its
premise. He said the basis behind the reconsideration request tries
to eliminate a bishop’s ability to manage any parish property.

`The statute quite explicitly finds that a bishop can use the
property to advance the interests of parish,’ Lamontagne said.

The parishioners interpret the trust to read that the bishop can
never act in any fashion on a parish property, contradicting the sole
purpose of the trust, he said.

Former parishioner Francis Bonner points to the argument in the new
filing that claims the Catholic Church has many churches that are
separate from a parish. A mission, oratory or college church exists
outside the parish structure, and St. Francis Xavier should be
legally reviewed as such – simply as a Catholic Church building, he
said.

The former parishioners haven’t lost hope in their long struggle to
preserve the church, Bonner said.

`If this one is destroyed or sold, it won’t be there for future
(Catholic) bishops,’ Bonner said. `This is the essence of our
position. We’re trying to save a grand church for future
generations.’

Lamontagne has another perspective.

`At some point in time, when the laws and decisions in a case are
clear, it does become unreasonable to continue a battle,’ he said. `I
never fault (people) for exhausting their options, but I do think
it’s in the best interest of St. Louis de Gonzague for this matter to
be concluded and this to be completed.’

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Armenia Signs Memo of Understanding with the Arab League

Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding with the League of Arab States.
On January 19, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Secretary General of the
League, Amr Musa, signed the Memorandum on regular political consultations
and cooperation in the fields of science, education and culture.

In the course of the meeting which took place before the signing, they
exchanged views on the international situation, as well as recent regional
developments. Minister Oskanian and Secretary General Amr Musa spoke at
length about the upcoming elections in Iraq and issues relating to the
settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Minister Oskanian briefed the
Secretary General on the present situation in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia¹s relations with its neighbors. Minister
Oskanian invited Amr Musa to visit Armenia.

One day earlier, Minister Oskanian had met with the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Egypt, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The ministers expressed their
satisfaction with bilateral relations and the high level of cooperation
within international organizations. Minister Oskanian presented President
Kocharian¹s letter addressed to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

On the same day, Minister Oskanian met with Egypt¹s Minister of
International Cooperation and President of the Armenian-Egyptian
intergovernmental commission, Ms. Faiza Abul Naga. In the course of the
meeting, they discussed issues on the agenda of the regular, fourth session
of the Armenian-Egyptian intergovernmental commission, as well as prospects
for deepening cooperation in various fields.

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail:
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
George Shirinian
DATE: January 11, 2004
Tel:416-250-9807

Dr. Roger W. Smith Elected Academic Chair of Zoryan Institute

Dr. Roger W. Smith, internationally renowned genocide scholar, has
been elected chairman of the Zoryan Institute’s Academic Board of
Directors, namely, Professors Stephan Astourian, Yair Auron, Levon
Chorbajian, Vahakn Dadrian, Eliz Sanasarian, Lisa Siraganian, and
Khachig Tölölyan. Their responsibility is to recommend and approve
new scholarly projects, and to oversee and ensure the overall quality
of academic programs undertaken by the Zoryan Institute and its
subsidiary, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies.

New Chairman’s Vision

Regarding his election as chairman, Smith says, “I have very much
enjoyed working with the outstanding scholars on the Zoryan Board over
the years. It is a challenge and honor to assume the responsibilities
of Chair of the Academic Board of Directors. In the term ahead, I hope
to continue to encourage activities that Zoryan has excelled at for
many years — sponsorship of conferences and lectures on the Armenian
Genocide, support for research and publication on the Armenian
Genocide and Diaspora Studies, and, above all, the Genocide and Human
Rights University Program (GHRUP). But I also see Zoryan
collaborating more with our colleagues at universities in Europe and
North America to offer courses based on the GHRUP model, as we have
already done with the University of Minnesota. I wish to encourage
students of all nationalities to engage in the study of other
genocides in comparison with the Armenian Genocide as a point of
reference. In this respect, Zoryan is initiating in 2005 a program
providing dissertation fellowships to Ph.D candidates. I think it is
also very important that Zoryan continue to reach out to the Armenian
community at many levels with lectures and educational programs, and
also encourage all Armenian and non-Armenian organizations and
individuals to support the Zoryan Institute, morally and financially,
in its endeavors to fulfill its mission.”

Background

A pioneer and major authority on the subject of genocide, Smith has
written widely on its nature, history, and prevention, and, in
particular, on denial of the Armenian Genocide. Educated at Harvard
and the University of California, Berkeley, Roger W. Smith is
Professor Emeritus of Government at the College of William and Mary in
Virginia. There he taught political philosophy and the comparative
study of genocide for twenty years. Dr. Smith taught his first course
on genocide, entitled “Human Destructiveness and Politics” in 1982. To
his dismay, he found that material on the Armenian Genocide was
extremely scarce, and due to the Turkish government’s tremendous
efforts to deny the event, few people outside the Armenian community
had even heard of the Genocide.

Describing how he came to his field of specialization, he stated, “My
interest in genocide, the ultimate denial of equality, is rooted in my
childhood. A moral commitment to equality was entrenched in me while
growing up in Birmingham, Alabama. It came partly out of a love for my
parents, who were strong and inspiring, despite the hierarchies and
valuations imposed on them by society, and partly from witnessing the
various socially sanctioned indignities inflicted on black people in a
deeply segregated south.”

Early Involvement with Zoryan

Recalling how he first got involved with Zoryan, Smith related that he
had been invited to attend its one-day conference on “Genocide and
Denial” in May 1986. He gave a very well received talk on the
psychological roots of denial, which he subsequently expanded and
published in 1990 as “Genocide and Denial: The Armenian Case and its
Implications.” As a result, he was invited to participate in many
scholarly and memorial forums thereafter. He began to focus his
research and teaching on Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. A
groundbreaking 1995 article co-authored by Smith, Robert Jay Lifton
and Eric Markusen, entitled “Professional Ethics and the Denial of the
Armenian Genocide,” exposed the secretive process by which the Turkish
government funds academics to discredit scholarship on the Armenian
Genocide. The article fueled a major protest by over one hundred
prominent scholars and intellectuals against the corruption of
American universities by the Turkish government.

Dr. Smith joined the Zoryan Board of Directors in 1988. “I was aware
of the institute’s Open University Program, Oral History Program,
research projects, and publications, including Hitler and the Armenian
Genocide, A Crime of Silence: The Armenian Genocide, and The Karabagh
File. As a non-Armenian, my understanding from the beginning was that
the Armenian Genocide was a crime committed not only against the
Armenian people, but also against all of humanity. I found the work on
the board that first year exciting, and my understanding of the
Armenian Genocide was confirmed, as the experience deepened my
knowledge, and perhaps made me even more of an activist on issues of
human rights and genocide.”

GHRUP

One of the experiences at Zoryan that has become exceptionally
engaging for Smith is the Genocide and Human Rights University
Program, run annually by the International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute). He believes
strongly that the form of education necessary to prevent further
occurrences of genocide is one that promotes “tolerance, respect for
individuals, and a more humanistic view of the world.” His vision made
him an ideal choice in 2003 for Director of the GHRUP, which explores
the major genocides of the 20th century from historical, political,
sociological, legal, and human rights perspectives.

Many graduates of the program cite Dr. Smith as an inspiring teacher
and mentor. Smith is equally impressed with the students’ drive and
motivation to make a difference in the world. “Twenty years ago, there
were only a handful of us interested in the subject,” he recalls. “The
success of the GHRUP has made me feel overwhelmingly optimistic for
the future of genocide studies. The course plants a seed of knowledge
in every student who attends. Whether they use this knowledge to
become a human rights activist, a genocide scholar, or simply a person
who can influence others through informed dialogue, each and every one
of them now has the tools needed to spread awareness about genocide,
the world’s worst violation of human rights.”

The Zoryan Institute is the first international center in the Diaspora
devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues
related to the history, politics, society, and culture of Armenia,
Armenians around the world, and the Armenian Genocide, and in
conceptualizing Armenia’s place within a universal context. It
maintains offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Toronto, Canada.

Would-be Karabakh guerrillas lawyers appeal against Azeri court ruling

Bilik Dunyasi news agency, Baku
11 Jan 05

Baku, 11 January: Lawyers for an armed group, formed to wage a
guerrilla war on the Armenian army in Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories, have appealed to the Azerbaijani Court of Appeal.

Azerbaijan’s Grave Crimes Court sentenced members of the group to
three to 10 years in prison on 22 December 2004.

The lawyers asked the Court of Appeals to overturn the ruling, saying
that the Grave Crimes Court had not taken into account extenuating
circumstances, including the “guerrillas'” desire to liberate the
occupied territories.

[Passage omitted: background information]

Georgian-Russian border to remain closed for large vehicles till April

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
5 Jan 05

[Presenter] A group of [15] Italians who were stopped at the Lars
checkpoint [by Russian border guards] has turned back. The members of
the peace caravan left the border and are now trying to enter Georgia
through other routes. [Passage omitted]

Meanwhile, Armenian citizens stuck at the Lars checkpoint are still
waiting for permission from the Georgian side to cross the border. In
addition to bad weather conditions, another reason for their delay is
the size of the buses on which they are travelling from
Russia. Because of the frozen roads, the Georgian Department for Roads
has banned the movement of large passenger buses on the
Qazbegi-Kobi-Gudauri-Mleta section of the highway. This restriction
will probably remain in force until mid-April. The head of the
department, Roman Dalakishvili, will hold a news briefing on this
issue later today. Now he answers our questions live. Greetings Batono
[polite way of addressing a man] Roman.

[Dalakishvili] Greetings.

[Presenter] What are you going to say at today’s briefing which will
also be attended by the economic development minister?

[Dalakishvili] The news briefing will be held by Economic Development
Minister Lekso Aleksishvili. We should provide an explanation of why
this is happening. Now, there is no problem with the movement of
people. The only problem concerns the means of transportation. In
fact, the movement of this kind of vehicle used to be restricted on
the Kobi-Gudauri section of the highway every winter, and this year is
no exception. Advance notice was given to all sides, including the
Armenian side, their embassy and their ministry of transport. This
information was relayed by Armenpress [news agency] and it was also
published on the Internet. Everyone was aware of that.

[Presenter] Batono Roman, the road will probably remain closed until
April, until the snow melts. Meanwhile, the Armenians stuck at the
Lars checkpoint are talking about political and economic motives. Is
it possible to make an exception, or has it been firmly decided not to
let them pass until April?

[Dalakishvili] As I have said, there is no problem with the movement
of people. They can travel by any other vehicle: a minibus, a bus with
no more than 30 seats, a Zhiguli car or any other light car. There is
no restriction on that. The problem is with buses, the movement of
which is restricted for the sake of their own safety. [Passage
omitted]

CHINA KEEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – ENVOY

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
4 Jan 05

Baku, 4 January: The Chinese ambassador to Azerbaijan, Zhang Xiyun,
has said that his country respects Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
and sovereignty. “We have no vested interests in the Caucasus and
would be glad to see a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh problem on
the basis of principles of justice and international law. In this
sense, we are ready to maintain close contact with the Azerbaijani
government and to contribute to a settlement, including a settlement
within the framework of the UN Security Council,” the ambassador said.

Asked whether the investigation into the illegal supplies of Typhoon
rocket mounts to Armenia had been completed, the ambassador said the
transaction had been carried out by a Chinese commercial firm without
the knowledge of the Chinese government.

Zhang Xiyun added that the Chinese side had provided an explanation
and informed the Azerbaijani authorities of the measures it had taken
to prevent this from happening again.

“I don’t think this incident should affect the development of
bilateral relations. We have to build our relations with a view to the
future, not to the past,” the diplomat said.

It should be remembered that facts of weapons supplies from China to
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh emerged several years ago. Eight Typhoon
rocket mounts were secretly shipped to Armenia, four of which were
immediately transferred to Nagornyy Karabakh. Azerbaijan regarded it
as an unfriendly gesture on the part of the People’s Republic of China
and issued an official protest note.

ARMENIAN GDP GREW 10% DURING JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2004

RIA Novosti
2005-01-04

YEREVAN, January 4 (RIA Novosti, Gamlet Matevosyan) – Armenian GDP grew
by 10% in January-November 2004 compared with the same period in 2003
reaching 1 trillion and 672 billion and 198 million dram ($3,113,962,000).

According to Armenian National Statistics Service, the GDP dropped by
22.1% in November 2004 compared with October 2004.

The volume of industrial production during 11 months of 2004 grew by
1.4% and reached 474 billion dram ($882 million and 680 thousand).

The volume of agricultural production during the same period grew by
14.3% and reached 412 billion and 500 million dram ($768 million and 150
thousand).

Armenian 2004 state budget establishes the average GDP growth rate of 7%
in 2004. The average currency exchange rate during January-November 2004
was 537 dram for $1.

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