Author: Chilingarian Babken

Azeri journalists to protest against opening of Armenian-Turkish border

ANS Radio, Baku,
6 Apr 04

On the initiative of independent TV company ANS, a group of leading
Azerbaijani journalists left for Turkey this morning to stage a
protest action on the Armenian-Turkish border under the banners:
“Turks must support Turks” and “No to the opening of borders”.

Let us remind you that the action will be launched in the towns of
Kars and Igdir near the border and continue in numerous populated
areas. The protest action will end in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The action by the well-known Azerbaijani journalists will aim to urge
Ankara not to yield to pressure on the issue. They will explain to the
people the consequences of such a step for the region. The journalists
and the local population will create a human chain of goodwill.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

April 6, 2004
___________________

THE EASTER MESSAGE OF ARCHBISHOP KHAJAG BARSAMIAN
Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America

(Attached pdf file includes English and Armenian version of the Easter
message)

SOMETHING MORE THAN SACRIFICE

He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him
was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:3-5)

* * *

THESE SOMBER, SOBERING WORDS come from the inspired pen of the prophet
Isaiah. For seven centuries, they remained pregnant with meaning: an
indistinct glimmer of something yet to come, something waiting to happen,
sometime, somewhere. One can envision the ancient Hebrews faithfully
reading and re-reading the words, generation after generation, for seven
hundred years–until what was once an anguished plea from the soul had
become tame and familiar. Until prophecy had become mere poetry.

And then, suddenly, at the most unexpected moment, Isaiah’s words became
neither poetry nor prophecy, but history. Fact. The searing biography of
one in whom all the prophecies and promises, all the hopes and dreams of
prior generations, found their long-awaited fulfillment.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our Savior.

Imagine, if you will, how heavily Isaiah’s words must have weighed on Jesus,
every day of His earthly life. His very consciousness of the sacrifice to
come is what would have made Him a “man of sorrows.” Imagine Him in the
synagogue of His boyhood, attending to those well-rehearsed verses, alone in
His understanding that they were not a symbolic abstraction, but an
all-too-concrete prediction of His own future.

And how accurate a prediction it was! We sense it simmering just below the
surface of the gospel reports of the Crucifixion, where the same sense of
scorn and affliction come heartbreakingly to life:

“And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they
crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And
Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And
they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching;
but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, He saved others; let him save
himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’ The soldiers also
mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar, and saying, If you are the
King of the Jews, save yourself!'” (Lk 23:33-37)

Of course, Jesus was not the only one who understood the terrible
significance of this spectacle. In the aftermath of their master’s
crucifixion, it must have dawned on Christ’s followers that Isaiah had been
referring, not just to Him, but also to them. Jesus was the suffering
servant; but it was His own friends who cravenly “hid their faces” at the
decisive hour. What a demoralizing jolt it must have been to the disciples,
when they realized at last the full meaning of Isaiah’s seven hundred
year-old words.

Recently, a similar realization seems to have dawned with the film, “The
Passion of the Christ.” The sufferings of our Lord have been depicted many
times–in film as well as in literature, art, and music–but not, in recent
memory, so vividly, so publicly, and in so focused a way on one aspect of
the Christian drama: our Lord’s suffering. For many people, viewing the
film has opened a new window onto the events surrounding Christ’s final
hours.

What have we seen through that window? In many ways, a reflection of our
own times and our own selves. Take away the exotic languages and costumes,
and the society depicted in the film (and in the gospels) does not differ so
greatly from our own. Careerist politicians; cynical priests; the fickle,
roiling mob, which can acclaim you a king one day, and condemn you as a
criminal the next–sadly, these are still recognizable characters in the
human drama, down to the present day. Evil still walks with an easy
familiarity through our city halls, our religious temples, our public
squares and private gardens.

And yet–there is good in the world, too. The steadfastness of John, the
penitence of Magdalene, and rarest of all, the precious holiness of Mary,
each has its analog in our own time. God sees all these things, as He saw
them from the cross. Against the dark voices that tempt us to just give up,
He insists that there is hope. In Christ, He showed us that we are worth
struggling for, worth sacrificing for–even worth dying for. Despised and
rejected, wounded and bruised, Christ would not relinquish His love for
mankind. And not simply mankind at its finest, but also at its worst, its
most venal and cruel. That is the meaning–is it not?–of Christ’s
anguished plea for mercy on His persecutors: “Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do.”

He pleads for us, as well. Perhaps that, finally, is what people have seen
in the film–the reason they have been so affected. It has jolted them into
a deeper realization that their own lives are bound to Christ’s sacrifice.
“With His stripes, we are healed.”

Of course, Christ did not stop at simply healing us. The story does not end
with His sacrificial death, but with His resurrected life. Unknown to His
followers on the first Good Friday, unguessed even by the prophet Isaiah,
our Lord had something more to offer those He loved. Death on the cross was
only the vehicle to give us something greater: the promise of life with Him,
for eternity, in God’s Kingdom.

That is the gift He holds out to us–the gift that is ours, if we will
accept it. These past weeks, people have been deeply moved to reflect on
the great debt we owe to Jesus. But in so doing, let us not fail to respond
to the gift He offers, which transformed suffering and death into hope: the
gift of Easter Sunday. It is hope born of that gift, and not guilty
self-consciousness, which truly distinguishes us as Christians, and inspires
our joyous greeting:

Krisdos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee!
Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!

Easter 2004

# # #

Baku Today
April 6 2004

Turkish Ambassador states stance over Armenia

Turkish Ambassador in Azerbaijan Ahmat Unal Chevikoz has clarified
Turkey’s position over ongoing rumors that conclude Turkey is
establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia.
In his interview with ANS TV Chevikoz said, the relations between
Turkey and Armenia will not be normalized unless Armenia stops
claiming territories from Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Last week a non governmental organization Karabakh Lliberation
Movement accused Turkish Embassy in Baku, which has primary
responsibility to represent Turkey’s stance for the issues regarding
Azerbaijan and Turkey as well as any third country, of delaying with
official statement for the matter.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
April 4, 2004

MILITARY ACTIONS NOT PROFITABLE FOR ARMENIA

In his interview to the Baku newspaper “Echo” the chairman of the
Helsinki Association Mikael Danielian announced that the authorities
of Armenia have no way out in solving problems with the opposition but
to resume military actions with Azerbaijan. In the announcement it is
even mentioned that the military actions in the conflict area will be
resumed in April. Several days after the publication M. Danielian
appeared in hospital after an assault. In this reference the chairman
of the NKR National Assembly committee of foreign relationships Vahram
Atanessian mentioned that such announcements are based upon
suppositions and personal opinions on the home political tensions. He
mentioned that the resumption of the military actions is possible as
long as the conflict is not settled. On the other hand, the
destabilization of the situation is unreal on the part of the Armenian
authorities. He proves this opinion by two circumstances: first, any
destabilization arouses a more uncontrollable situation, and second,
if Yerevan officially declares war, it will have to assume the
responsibility for today’s situation as well, which is
favourable for Baku. That is to say, the authorities of Armenia do not
need the resumption of the military actions. According to V.
Atanessian, neither the government, nor the opposition of Armenia use
the whole potential of the dialogue. “Even if there is serious
disaccord between the government and the opposition of Armenia, there
exist constitutional ways of settling it,” mentioned V. Atanessian,
supposing that in the upcoming months a buffer force will form in
Armenia, which will undertake the responsibility of starting dialogue
between the government and the opposition. Commenting on the mentioned
announcement, the coordinator of the Karabakh non-governmental
organization “Helsinki Undertaking 92” Karen Ohanjanian said that in
the current situation it is almost impossible to solve any home and
foreign problem through military ways, as any disruption of the
maintained balance may bring about sad consequences for the
breaker. According to K. Ohanjanian, judging by the results of the
OSCE Minsk Group monitoring, at the Karabakh-Azerbaijani border
nothing prompts about preparations for starting military actions. As
to the accident with Mikael Danielian, K. Ohanjanian appeals to the
government of Armenia to start a serious prosecution involving the
public representatives. “The protector of human rights is the face of
the state. If something similar takes place, it means the country is
approaching a dangerous line,” said K. Ohanjanian.

NAIRA HAYRUMIAN

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:

April 5, 2004
___________________

NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY BLESSES CORNER STONES OF NEW CHURCH

By Jake Goshert

On a bright Sunday, March 28, 2004, 300 people watched and deacons and choir
members sang psalms, honored stewards washed each stone with wine and water,
then wrapped them in clean cloth. The people gathered listened to Bible
readings in English, Armenian, and Russian. They felt their spirits soar.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), led the Armenian community of Charlotte, NC, that day
as they blessed the cornerstones of what will soon be a new Armenian
Church — the first ever to go up in North Carolina.

“This historic day for our community is filled with mixed emotions,” said
Lena Kupelian Neau, parish council chairman and a driving force behind the
mission parish in Charlotte. “There are emotions of joy, happiness,
excitement, tears, and even disbelief that this groundbreaking event is
actually taking place.”

The new sanctuary — blessed cornerstones and all — is scheduled to be
completed early in 2005 and consecrated in January 2005, on the Feast of St.
Sarkis.

“We celebrate the mystery of God’s miraculous activity in our Armenian
community in Charlotte,” said Fr. Daniel Findikyan, visiting pastor for the
mission parish. “We have much to be thankful for: a diverse and growing
family of Armenians who are unified in their love for one another and for
their love of God; and for the spirit of self-sacrifice on the part of so
many people who have given of their time, talent, and treasure to realize
the great dream of a sanctuary.”

THANKING THEIR SUPPORTERS

Countless parishioners and supporters have helped the church become a
reality. The community is made up of a large number of new immigrants, who
followed the example of parish leaders and gave generously.

But one individual was recognized during the cornerstone blessing ceremony
as playing a major role in the realization of the dream. Sarkis Acopian, a
devout, successful businessman from Philadelphia, pledged $1.7 million to
build the new Armenian Church in honor of his mother, Arax.

He chose to support the parish because its members valued the church, hoped
to raise their children in the church family, and found strength in their
Christian faith.

“For years we kept praying that God would answer our prayers and enable us
to build a spiritual home. We never gave up. We kept our faith and God
answered our prayers,” Kupelian Neau said. “I don’t know why he chose
Charlotte. I was praying so hard for it to happen; maybe my mother in
heaven talked to his mother.”

Mr. Acopian was joined at the standing-room only reception after the
blessing by his wife, Bobbye, his son Gregory, granddaughter Shea, and
daughter-in-law Helen, wife of Jeffrey Acopian, and his executive assistant
Georgia Harinton.

“All these efforts reached their fulfillment through the generosity of Mr.
Sarkis Acopian,” Archbishop Khajag Barsamian said. “The Acopian family has
been so very generous to our church, here in America and in our homeland.
The Acopians are a wonderful, close, Armenian family, and I’m so happy that
they’ve now become a part of this family, of Armenians in North Carolina.”

SO MANY SARKISES

The entire parish learned of the generous gift on February 8, 2004, during
the Feast of St. Sarksi. Fr. Findikyan noted that the construction was
announced and will be completed on the St. Sarkis name day; that the major
donor’s name was Sarkis; and that Sarkis was also the name of the father of
two brothers — Zaven and Hagop Touloukian — whose initial matching
donations and support allowed the parish to purchase the land for the church
four years ago.

“With so many connections to the name Sarkis, it shows that this is truly
God’s doing,” Fr. Findikyan said. “It is because of God, who sent us an
angel, a man who does not live in Charlotte. God guided him to help the
Charlotte community. He was inspired to build the church and use some of
the gifts God has given him to give glory to God. God can do everything.”

Like St. Sarkis, a warrior who was strengthened by his faith in God, the
Charlotte community has been fighting to build a solid Armenian Christian
foundation for their children, Fr. Findikyan said.

“The Armenians of Charlotte, for eight years, have been waging a battle,
fighting together to realize a dream,” he said. “We have been spiritual
soldiers. We have fought a battle for our Armenian Christian traditions.
We have fought to build our Armenian church. Nine years ago, just a handful
of Armenians were in Charlotte, and they didn’t know each other, but there
was faith, like the faith of St. Sarkis. That group believed God would keep
us together. And because you had faith, God helped you grow as a family.”

HARD WORK STILL AHEAD

While the donation by Mr. Acopian will allow the Charlotte church to be
built, the work of the local community is far from over. Community leaders
are energetically working to raise a $1-million endowment, to provide a
solid financial base for the ongoing operation of the parish.

Seeing Mr. Acopian give so generously — building on the examples set by
Mrs. Kupelian Neau, the Touloukian brothers, and many others — will help
encourage the community to donate.

“Mr. Acopian is building this church in memory of his mother. Let us
consider this church as our ‘mayrig’. Children, cherish her and care for
her with love,” Mrs. Kupelian Neau said. “Mr. Acopian, I hope the members
and children of this community also follow your example of not only giving
generously to the immediate community, but to the Armenian community at
large, and especially to our motherland Armenia.”

The leaders of the mission parish must continue to strengthen their programs
and activities in their new facility, in an effort to engage every Armenian
family in the Charlotte area. Currently, about 100 families are regulars
during the monthly badarak and social events hosted by the parish. But Mrs.
Kupelian Neau said there are easily another 100 Armenian families in
Charlotte that she would like to see more involved. Building this church,
having regular services, and offering Sunday and Armenian schools will be a
major attraction.

“My profound appreciation goes out to those who had the vision to establish
a parish in this area,” the Primate said. “And to those who have taken up
that vision, built upon it, and expanded it. I am proud of the work
accomplished by your parish leaders, your church members, and benefactors
from all walks of life.”

— 4/05/04

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Sarkis Acopian, left, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese, and Fr. Daniel Findikyan, visiting pastor for the
mission parish in Charlotte, NC, bless a cornerstone for the future church
building on March 28, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Hundreds of people turned out for the cornerstone
blessing ceremony in Charlotte, NC, on March 28, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): A model of the new church building to be completed by
early 2005 in Charlotte, NC.

# # #

The Daily Star, Lebanon
April 2 2004

Hariri describes the situation in region as ‘complicated’
Prime Minister speaks out on visit to Armenia

By Karine Raad
Daily Star staff

Prime Minister Rafik Hariri described the situation in the region as
“complicated and difficult,” but that a solution was not impossible
if there was a true will to respect international laws.

Hariri said that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories
was a dangerous move that could detonate the region at any minute,
stressing that peace was always possible if Israel implemented the UN
resolutions.

The premier arrived on Thursday in Armenia where he was welcomed by a
delegation of Armenian officials led by the Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Gargarian and Lebanon’s Ambassador to Armenia Gabi Geara.

A meeting was held at the Armenian government headquarters for the
Joint Lebanese-Armenian Governmental Committee.

Armenian Deputy Speaker Tigran Torossian praised Armenian-Lebanese
relations and called for consolidating ties on the political,
economic and commercial levels.

Torossian said both countries were linked by historic ties and hoped
obstacles would be removed to allow the implementation of bilateral
agreements.

Hariri applauded the role Armenians played in developing and
rebuilding the economy and industry in Lebanon after the civil war.
He said that agreements between the two parliaments required the
contribution of the private sector.

Commenting on the regional situation, Hariri condemned the latest
developments in Iraq and Palestine. The premier said that Israel was
trying to evade the implementation of UN resolutions, he said that
Lebanon’s relations with states across the world were excellent
except with Israel because of the latter’s occupation of Lebanese,
Syrian and Palestinian territories.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
April 2, 2004

COMMUNIQUE FROM THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL

With deep concern, the Supreme Spiritual Council received the news from the
Diocesan Council of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Church, that the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has brought to its painful
conclusion, the process of the establishment of a parallel administrative
structure within the region of the Canadian Armenian Diocese, canonically
comprised as part of the Pontificate of All Armenians, in spite of the
fraternal exhortations made by the Catholicos of All Armenians and the
Supreme Spiritual Council.

This move has neither justifiable explanation nor foundation whatsoever,
from ecclesiological or hierarchical perspectives, or within the context of
the unspoiled preservation of the spiritual unanimity of the Armenian
people. The issue is more than the establishment of one more un-canonical
diocese. It is the confirmation that the Catholicosate of the Great House
of Cilicia, is not ready to reconsider its divisive spirit adopted in 1956,
and in accord with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to reestablish the
canonical status within the Armenian Church. In spite of its assurances of
being dedicated to the motto “One Nation, One Homeland, and One Church”, the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, with “new reorganizations” is
attempting to persistently expand and to solidify the dioceses it seized
with political motivations, from the Catholicosate of All Armenians during
the years of the cold war, deepening the division within the Armenian
Church, and jeopardizing the improved relations which began in 1988 with the
Mother See.

The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia does not desire to see the
changed circumstances prevailing in this present world or the imperatives
conditioned by the reality of the independence of the Homeland, nor does it
value the spirit of the new era, which proposes the demand to reestablish
and keep unspoiled the unity of the Armenian Church and Nation.

Any attempt to breach the unanimity and unity of our people dispersed
throughout the world, which is the supreme and timeless goal of the Armenian
Church, will face the firm resolve of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to
keep that unity unspoiled and unshaken.

Holy Etchmiadzin appeals to all faithful children of Canada and all seized
dioceses of the Mother See, stating that her paternal love towards all is
unchangeable, because regardless of under what guise and despite references
to “the will of the people”, (a transparent old device used to attempt to
justify such measures), undoubtedly no nation has the desire to be in
dissention.

The Mother See once again fraternally calls on the Catholicosate of Cilicia
to sound judgment, welcoming every step directed to overcoming the discord
and the reestablishment of the canonical status within the Armenian Church,
and invites her children to be zealous and unified on the road of the
settlement of disunity – a rift born from the dictates of difficult times,
and in effect for half a century. “Primacy of Love” – here is the mystery
of the supremacy of the Mother See, as it was yesterday, as it is today, and
forever.

(signed)
Supreme Spiritual Council
Catholicosate of All Armenians

##

ArmenPress
April 2 2004

THREE DIE, SIX OTHERS GET INJURIES IN FUNICULAR ACCIDENT

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS: Three people were killed and six
others received heavy injuries when a funicular railway car fell on
the ground today. The accident occurred at 2 pm when the car was
taking passengers to Nor Nork borough from downtown Yerevan. Another
car that was sliding towards the center did not fall down due to
braking system.
The injured were rushed to hospital. An official of the
emergencies department said the accident may have been caused by the
obsolete machinery.

ArmenPress
April 2 2004

LEBANON’S PRIME MINISTER WRAPS UP YEREVAN VISIT

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS: Wrapping up a two-day visit to
Yerevan, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, said the maiden
session of a joint intergovernmental commission focused on ways for
boosting commercial exchange between the two countries and reviewing
all previously signed agreements.
Speaking to a news conference together with his Armenian
counterpart, Andranik Margarian, Hariri said Armenian and Lebanese
officials agreed to set up a permanent joint structure that would
explore and facilitate investment opportunities in the two countries
and discuss new transportation schemes to promote bigger trade
exchange.
Armenian prime minister in turn said a lot has to be done for
proper study of the countries’ markets, which he said can be achieved
through reciprocal visits, exchange of information and other relevant
actions. He also said that Armenia has a lot to learn from Lebanon’s
burgeoning tourism industry.
Hariri, arrived in Yerevan accompanied by cabinet ministers and
four ethnic Armenian members of the Lebanese parliament. Before the
1975 civil war Lebanon was home to one of the most influential
Armenian communities abroad numbering more than 300,000, but despite
that thousands of them chose to emigrate to Europe and USA, the
community is represented in the government and parliament, being also
instrumental in contributing to warm political relations between the
two nations.

Foreign investment in Armenia tops 200m dollars in 2003

Mediamax news agency
1 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Foreign investment in the Armenian economy stood at approximately 230m
US dollars in 2003, the National Statistics Service told Mediamax
today.

Direct investment last year was 153m, an 8.9 per cent increase on
2002.

Funds received from the privatization of state enterprises accounted
for 43.8 per cent of direct investment (or 67m dollars).