Author: Chakrian Hovsep

BELARUSSIAN AIR FORCE TO BE ARMED WITH RUSSIAN S-300 MISSILE SYSTEMS

Xinhua General News Service
September 10, 2005 Saturday 1:30 PM EST

The defense ministries of Russia and Belarus signed a contract in
Minsk on Saturday, under which Belarus will receive Russia’s S-300
air defense missile systems, the Interfax news agency reported.

“The missile systems will be of the S-300PS modification,” and will
arm one air defense brigade, a source of Belarussian Defense Ministry
was quoted as saying.

Under the terms of the contract, the S-300 missile systems will be
on duty for common air-defense of Russia and Belarus, according to
the source.

The Russian-made S-300PS missile system is one of the most advanced
air-defense missile systems in Russia and also one of the most demanded
weapons in the world weapon market.

Russia before sold the missile systems to Belarus, Armenia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and other countries.

The dates for delivering the missile systems to Belarus have not been
discussed, the Belarussian source said.

ETHNICALLY-ARMENIAN BUSH ATTACKER TO STAND TRIAL IN GEORGIA

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 12 2005

Baku, September 9, AssA-Irada
The Armenian terrorist charged with attempting on US President George
Bush’s life during the latter’s visit to Tbilisi, Georgia on May 10,
will stand trial in Tbilisi on September 20, according to Georgian
interior minister Vano Merabishvili.

Vladimir Arutunian, 27, will be imprisoned in Georgia and no other
measures are planned, Merabishvili said.

The US Department of Justice has charged Arutunian with two offenses
– an attempt on President Bush’s life and illegal possession of
weapons. However, the United States has not demanded his extradition.

The results of the investigation into Arutunian’s case carried out
by US experts will be handed over to the Georgian interior ministry
on September 20.

Arutunian will face life in prison if he is convicted under US laws.

Meanwhile, the Georgian media quoted Arutunian’s former lawyer as
saying that Arutunian has demanded a meeting with US investigators
to provide them with important information. Arutunian has demanded
$50,000 for the information that is allegedly not related to the
unsuccessful terror attack on Bush.*

70% PASSIVE VOTERS

A1+
| 15:23:17 | 10-09-2005 | Politics |

September 18 community heads will be elected in three communities of
Yerevan. After than each Sunday in different communities the citizens
will elect the community head and alderman. “Will you take part in
the election to the local self-government?” We addressed this question
to 100 citizens September 5-8.

30% of the respondents found it hard to answer our question. Some
of them were unaware of the coming election. 40% said they will not
vote. Only 35% answered they will take part in the election.

“I have no belief. They speak well but do nothing”, a woman said. To
note, 80% of the respondents mentioned of the absence of any belief.

“I will certainly go and vote. It’s my civic duty,” a woman of 40
said. “In case we do not go there will be more falsifications” said
a man, who, in his words, was a member of the electoral committee
for 5 times. About 30% of those surveyed are going to vote against all.

A1+

| 19:43:55 | 09-09-2005 | Politics |

KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARIS

With this first substantive meeting of a special PACE ad hoc sub-committee
on the conflict on September 12 in Paris, representatives of Armenia and
Azerbaijan, members of the OSCE Minsk Group and an EU representative will
discuss the latest situation in the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. It is already known that the discussion will not be open to the
press.

According to the revised draft program, the works will start at 9.30 a.m.
with the opening speech of Lord Russell-Johnston, Chairman of the Ad-hoc
Committee. First the historical background of the conflict will be
represented by the Executive Director of the London Information Network on
Conflicts and State-Building (LINKS). Within the framework of the
discussions Armenia will be represented by Mr. Varoujan Nersissian, Head of
Department on OSCE, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Azerbaijan will be
represented by Mr. Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan. Besides the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, Mr. Goran Lenmarker,
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Nagorno-Karabakh
Conflict and Mr. Heikki Talvitie, EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus will participate in the discussion.

According to the agenda, the work of the Committee will last a day.

Pan Armenian News
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
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ARMENIA TO ALLOCATE $200 THOUSAND FOR KARTINA VICTIMS

08.09.2005 08:57

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian government has assigned $200 thousand as a
humanitarian assistance to the people, who fell victim to Katrina hurricane
in New Orleans. Earlier Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated
that the RA MFA instructed the Armenian Embassy in Washington to inform the
U.S. leadership that Armenia stands ready to render the essential assistance
and take part in the rescue works. `Armenia is ready to render its humble
material and technical assistance,’ Vartan Oskanian stated, IA Regnum
reports.

3 AZERI SERVICEMEN CHARGED WITH COOPERATING WITH SECRET SERVICES OF ARMENIA

AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005

Neighbors

A legal process against 3 Azerbaijani servicemen started yesterday
in Baku. Ruslan Bakirov, Khayal Abdulayev and Hikmet Tagiyev are
accused of parricide. According to Regnum agency, the court in Baku
charges them with crossing the Armenian border on 15 February of the
current year and cooperating with the Armenian special services. The
servicemen spending their compulsory army service refused all charges
saying that that they were taken captive. The Armenian side handed
Azeri soldiers over to Baku.

Iranian visas for Armenian citizens at the airport

The Embassy of Iran Islamic Republic to Armenia informed Liberty
Radio that Armenian citizens visiting Iran can get 7-day visas at
the Tehran airport.

GREECE BEGINS SALE OF 10 PERCENT OF OTE TELECOMS GIANT

Agence France Presse — English
September 7, 2005 Wednesday 10:49 AM GMT

The Greek state has begun selling an additional 10 percent share of
the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), Finance Minister
George Alogoskoufis said Wednesday.

“The process to sell a 10-percent share in OTE began last night,
following a decision by the inter-ministerial committee (on
privatisation),” Alogoskoufis told reporters.

The sale of OTE shares, which will reduce the Greek state’s holding in
the company to 27.7 percent, began on the New York Stock Exchange late
on Tuesday and continued on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday,
Alogoskoufis said.

Partially controlled by the Greek state, the OTE group, which comprises
the profitable Cosmote Greek mobile telephony unit and subsidiaries in
Armenia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, reported last week first-quarter
net profits of 212.5 million euros (265 million dollars).

The profits of OTE group had risen by 107.7 percent from the equivalent
figure in 2004, the company said at the time.

Eight banks, four of them international and the remainder Greek,
are involved in the sale, which will also available on the Athens
Stock Exchange, Alogoskoufis said on Wednesday.

About 49 million shares will be sold, translating into earnings of
800 million euros for the Greek state, Net state television reported.

NKR PRESIDENT: RETURN TO DISCUSSION OF PHASED TALKS SCENARIO HARDLY POSSIBLE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6. ARMINFO. The return to the so called phased talks
scenario that is to what was discussed in 1998 is hardly possible,
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassyan said after his Monday meeting with
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel.

He said that it is unacceptable for the Armenian side to first settle
Azerbaijan’s problems and only then its own ones which is what the
phased scenario says. If Azerbaijan is ready to discuss the status
of Karabakh what phased resolution are we talking about, Ghoukassyan
wonders noting that it is impossible to discuss the status of Karabakh
implying just a little of independence like it is impossible to be
a little pregnant. Any solution should be accepted in a the context
of Karabakh’s security.

Commenting on Ilham Aliev’s recent belicose statements Ghoukassyan
said that thereby the Azeri president is solving his internal problems
but such statements are not good for the peace process.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

September 7, 2005

PRIMATE HEADS TO TEXAS CAPITAL TO ORDAIN NEW DEACON

By Jake Goshert

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), traveled to the mission parish in Austin,
TX, on Friday, September 2, 2005, to ordain Ken Maranian as a deacon.

“Ken has a deep love for the Armenian Church and has worked hard to make
this ordination a reality,” the Primate said. “When you talk with Ken,
look in his eyes, you can tell that he is truly answering a heavenly
call to serve his beloved Armenian Church.”

More than 100 people turned out for the celebration of the Divine
Liturgy and the ordination and following banquet, including lay leaders
and deacons from Houston and Dallas and Fr. Mikael Devejian, pastor of
the St. Sarkis Church in Dallas, TX, and the visiting pastor for the
Austin community mission parish.

RETURNING TO THE PATH

Ken Maranian, son of Robert and Mary Maranian, grew up outside of
Watertown, MA, and attended the local St. James Church. He was
influenced by his early involvement in the Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America (ACYOA) and the St. Nersess Seminary summer
sessions. He later went on to study for a year at St. Nersess, and
three years at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA, earning a
master’s of divinity degree.

After spending a year as the part-time youth director at the Holy
Trinity Church in Cambridge and working with the mission parish in Cape
Cod, MA, Maranian moved to Austin for a job in the high-tech industry.
He now works as a computer engineer for Dell Computer.

He has assumed a spiritual leadership role in the mission parish,
leading monthly Jashu services.

“My grandmother, a Genocide survivor and a very faith-filled member of
the Armenian Church, played a large part in teaching me our faith and
love for our church,” Maranian said. “I’m being ordained because it
feels like the path I’ve been on is taking me there.”

“I’ve always had a deep love of the Armenian Church and our faith, and
have been serving on the altar since I was a child,” he added. “I guess
it always felt like a part of who I am. And this ordination feels like
a furthering of my commitment to the church: a deepening of the
commitment.”

SMALL, BUT GROWING

Moving from one of the Armenian hubs of the Northeast to the middle of
Texas 12 years ago meant a change for Maranian, but he luckily found a
small community that is growing. More importantly, he says, it is a
family-like community.

With more than 60 dues-paying members and a mailing list of 100
families, Maranian said his ordination is about more than him. It is a
community event.

“People have been asking about when I was going to be ordained, about
and how they can help me get ordained,” Maranian said. “It’s important
for us and our parish. It’s hard to describe why, but I think it’s a
step in our own mission parish’s development.”

And the community is indeed developing. About 50 people attend the
monthly services, and all join in singing since there is no established
choir. They have an active Armenian school for children, and just
started an adult class this month.

The parish is also blessed with a large number of young people who lead
the singing of sacred music, play the organ, and help organize social
events. Some are local high school students, others are students from
the nearby University of Texas.

And the Austin Armenians are proud of their ability to bring a lot of
events together, such as the first state-wide gathering of Armenians on
the steps of the state capitol this April 24.

“The Austin community is small, but it is a very tight-knit community, a
very hard working community,” Maranian said. “For the amount of people
we have here, we do get a lot done. We do a lot of activities and work
real hard to get things done.”

Lately Maranian has been impressed by the way the community is coming
together not just socially but spiritually.

“We’ve been growing quite a bit, but it’s been a slow growth. We’ve
been around for a while, but lately we’ve sort of become more formed
around the church,” he said. “We’ve started to form more of an identity
around the church and the spiritual aspect of our identity. So I guess
this ordination is a step along the way. It feels like it’s not just
for me, but like we are all going down this path together.”

The Primate met with the parish council members on Saturday, September
3, 2005, as well as with a group of area students who participated in
the ordination service. He stressed that the ordination of deacons is a
sacrament with Biblical origins, and that by ordaining a new deacon, the
community was establishing a foundation for future growth.

“The apostles saw the number of faithful growing and wanted to do
something to reach the people, so they ordained deacons,” the Primate
said. “And in Austin we did something similar, ordaining a young man to
help meet the needs of a growing, vibrant community.”

— 9/7/05

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, ordains Ken Maranian as a deacon in front of the Austin, TX,
Armenian community on Friday, September 2, 2005.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Ken Maranian kneels before the Primate during the
deacon ordination ceremony on September 2, 2005.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian is joined by Fr. Mikael
Devejian, right, visiting pastor of the mission parish in Austin, TX,
during the ordination of Ken Maranian as a deacon.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): The Primate meets with parish council members and
young parishioners from the Austin, TX, mission parish on Saturday,
September 3, 2005.

# # #

OPENING OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER – ONE OF CONDITIONS FOR PEACE IN SOUTH CAUCASUS

Pan Armenian News
07.09.2005 03:07

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European community openly urges to open the
Armenian-Turkish border, Turkish-Armenian Business Development
Council head Kaan Soyak stated, APA Azeri news agency reported. In
his words, Europeans treat the issue not like the Azeris do. “The
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot be settled with the
borders closed. Azerbaijan presses upon Turkey to keep the borders
blocked. However, the review of such policy will not only alleviate
Turkey’s problems but also promote the conflict settlement supported
by the international community”, he noted. “I believe in the soonest
establishment of peace in the South Caucasus. However, the opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border and reconciliation of Azerbaijan and
Armenia is the first condition for the establishment of peace in the
South Caucasus. The Kazan meeting was very important and certainly
the determination of the status of Karabakh in the most important
task. Thus the parties should work out a formula admissible for both if
them”, Mr. Soyak added. When asked whether the Turkish entrepreneurs
could establish trade relations with the Karabakh businessmen, Kaan
Soyak stated, “There should not be any obstacles for trade. But
Nagorno Karabakh is a region not recognized by the international
community. That is why credits are not allocated and the commodities
imported are not insured, international banks do not function on the NK
territory and the investments have no international guarantees. Thus
before the determination of Karabakh’s status free trade only can
develop with the region.” In his words, if peace is established and
the borders are unblocked Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia
should first of all revive tourism. The South Caucasus is one of the
world’s richest regions from the viewpoint of tourist potential, the
Turkish businessman noted. When touching upon TABDC’s initiative on
building Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline via Armenia K. Soyak said,
“The TABDC called such oil pipeline “the peace belt”, which would unite
us for many years. All the countries of the world including Azerbaijan
recognized that the construction of the pipeline through Armenia would
be economically more beneficial, since the expenses could be cut to
20%. There are pipelines in Armenia laid during the soviet period and
they can be used at present time. As result, Turkey and Azerbaijan
can derive a greater income form these pipelines”, Kaan Soyak resumed.