Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE

Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information
Department Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

JOINT DECLARATION

BETWEEN

THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR
INTERNATIONAL INTER-RELIGIOUS RELATIONS OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

We give thanks to Almighty God who gave us the opportunity, as the
representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia, to meet again to reflect together on common
issues and challenges facing humanity in general, and Christianity
and Islam in particular. The conference took place under the auspices
of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, and Hojat e-Islam
ou Muslimin Mohammad Iraki, the President of the Organization for
International Inter-religious Relations of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, from 20-22 May 2004, in Antelias, Lebanon.

We addressed common matters pertaining to the place and role of
religion in society. We also dealt with issues and concerns of
spiritual, moral, social and legal nature, related to the co-existence
of Armenians and Iranians in Iran and the long-standing relations
between these two nations. We devoted two sessions for dialogue
with the representatives of the Middle East Councils of Churches,
the Committee of Christian-Muslim Dialogue and Christian and Muslim
community leaders. In our presentations and deliberations we emphasized
the following points:

1) In spite of their differences, dialogue is imperative between
religions and particularly between Islam and Christianity. As
monotheistic religions, the two religions share common values
and traditions. It is vitally important, therefore, that organized
dialogues aimed at closer collaboration take place between Islam and
Christianity on local, regional and international levels and according
to specific contexts and environments.

2) Spiritual and moral values and principles constitute the esse and
the basis of a society without which a given society is doomed to lose
its identity, raison d’être and purpose. These values and principles
must under gird the life of all societies, including decision-making
as well as internal and external relations.

3) In a world marked by growing crises working for peace must occupy
a central place in Christian-Muslim collaboration. But it is not
possible to establish peace without justice. In fact, peace and
justice are God’s gifts to humanity. Without peace and justice the
life of a society will be dominated by evil forces, wars and violence.

4) Islam and Christianity reject violence in all its forms and
expressions and support non-violent action. They also reject all forms
of occupation and associate themselves with the struggle of people
for freedom, justice, sovereignty and human rights. In this respect,
the conference underlined the following:

First, we fully support the right of the Palestinian people to
have an independent state, and the return of all refugees to their
homeland. The State of Israel must withdraw its forces from all
occupied territories including the Shebaa farms in South Lebanon,
Golan hights and Jerusalem. Only justice can bring about lasting,
real and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Second, we strongly support the right of Iraq to restore its freedom,
territorial integrity and sovereignty. The occupying forces must
leave Iraq and the reconstruction and rehabilitation process must
soon start with the full and active participation of all communities
and citizens of Iraq.

5) The coexistence between the Christian and Muslim communities must
be based on mutual respect and trust. In this context, the organized
presence of the Armenian communities in the Muslim countries
and particularly in the Arab world, the religious and cultural
liberties that they enjoy and the active participation that they
bring in the progress of the region is, indeed, a concrete example of
Christian-Muslim peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, the centuries-old
coexistence of Iranians and Armenians in the Islamic Republic of
Iran, strengthened by historical affinities and close friendship, is
another eloquent example of dialogue of life which characterize our
societies in this part of the world. We believe that many possibilities
of greater collaboration between Muslims and Christians, as well as
between Muslims and Armenians in Iran and the world at large do exist,
which need to be explored together in the near future.

22 May 2004

Antelias, Lebanon

##

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Parish or perish: Armenians in Santa Clarita establish a new church
By Eugene Tong, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
May 24 2004

VALENCIA — Sweetened with incense and soft hymns, a drab hall at
Valencia High School was transformed into a house of God Sunday for
dozens of parishioners seeking solace at the only Armenian church
service in Santa Clarita.

“They couldn’t believe this thing finally happened,” said Vartan
Vahramian, who helped organized the parish that held its first service
earlier this month. “The first four that came through it was a one-time
thing, but we told them it was going to be every week.”

The parish is the latest outpost in the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church of North America, and a testament to how faith and
demographic shifts are changing this increasingly diverse North Los
Angeles County suburb.

Bringing the church’s services to Santa Clarita has been a long-time
goal for Vahramian, who moved to Valencia from Van Nuys in 1984 in
pursuit of affordable housing and open space.

“I sold everything and bought a house here really cheap,” said
Vahramian, who runs a local escrow and loan firm. “Now I can’t even
buy the house I live in. We grew with the area.”

At the time, the Santa Clarita Valley was home to only 64 Armenian
families, according to diocese estimates. With too few worshippers
to support a local church, the faithful made weekly sojourns to the
San Fernando Valley or such ethnic hubs as Glendale for services.

“The closest one was St. Peter (Armenian Apostolic Church) on Sherman
Way in Van Nuys, and that’s at least half an hour,” said Vahramian,
president of the parish council. “It was a test, especially when the
kids were young. You have to get them all dressed up, put them in
the car, you’re driving and the kids beat up on each other.”

As Santa Clarita bloomed in over the last two decades into a city of
more than 150,000, its Armenian community also grew. By 1992, the
number of families has almost tripled to 180, Vahramian said. When
planning for the parish began last year, he tallied about 500.

Most of the families arrived after the 1994 Northridge earthquake,
when faced with the choice of either rebuilding or moving on, he said.

“They looked at what they have in the San Fernando Valley,” Vahramian
said. “They have a 30-, 40-, 50-year-old house, or with the money
they can get a brand new house and a brand new car, and all they have
to sacrifice was about an hour’s drive every day. That formula was
very attractive.”

But no community is complete without its own parish. Many Armenians
still take pride as one of the first ethnic groups to accept
Christianity, and religion has been central to forging together a
nation from a diaspora that has undergone centuries of upheaval.

“Traditionally, it’s been one country, one church,” Vahramian said.
“Armenians were held together for 1,700 years through their church
unity. … It’s the backbone of our beliefs, and it’s the center of
a nation that’s scattered all over. It’s to get together and thank
God that we’re still alive.”

Vahramian also credited Archbishop Hovnan Derderian with helping
to usher in the parish. Elected primate last May, he pressed the
formation of a dozen new parishes throughout the diocese, which covers
the western United States and Canada.

“It’s an obligation,” Derderian said. “We cannot ignore the fact
that there now exists a community (in Santa Clarita). We have to make
sure, in the shortest period of time, that we can reach out to those
families. … On a regular basis, you cannot expect them to drive
the distance to reach the (San Fernando) Valley and Glendale.”

Shepherding the fledgling congregation falls to Father Zareh Mansuryan,
who served at a church in Armenia for a decade before moving to the
United States in 2001. He is working on community outreach — only
60 people attended the first liturgy May 9 — and to eventually build
a permanent church.

“We are starting a new church so the Armenian spirit and Christianity
stays with the people in this community,” said Mansuryan, 40. “With
the help of the Armenians here, we want to establish an Armenian
church. … But we can’t do it quickly. The important thing is
for Armenians to come together and realize they are a family and
a community.”

Vahramian expects a parish church will be built within five years.
Meantime, he is searching for another home for the weekly services
before June 30, when most Valencia High buildings will be closed for
the summer.

“We’ll be looking for a piece of dirt to build on it soon,” he said.
“The money is there. If we shake down the diocese, they have the
money. But we have to show good cause — that there is plenty of
attendance. And it needs to be attractive — something more than a
high school.”

Staff Writer Naush Boghossian contributed to this story.

Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 [email protected]

Why Hughes needs his stars to turn up May 24 2004
By Paul Abbandonato, The Western Mail

ic Wales, UK
May 24 2004

THIS time last year, 17 of Mark Hughes’ players suddenly found they
didn’t know the way to San Jose and pulled out of the “meaningless”
friendly against the United States in California.

Wales, at the time, were top of Euro 2004 Group Nine, having won four
games out of four in their bid to reach Portugal.

Hughes wanted to use the Californian clash to build on the team spirit
and buzz generated from that brilliant start and to work on new ideas
for the second half of the qualifying campaign.

His plans were shot to pieces when one by one the stars withdrew from
the US game. Coincidence or not, Wales did not win another match in
the race for Portugal.

Hughes has never said so in public, but privately he has confided to
being stung by what happened before that San Jose match and believes
it had an impact upon Wales’ Euro 2004 fate.

Roll on 12 months and Hughes will be hoping he is treated a bit
better this time around as Wales prepare for two more “meaningless”
May friendlies, first away to Norway on Thursday and then against
Canada in Wrexham on Sunday.

Meaningless? The sort of word Sir Alex Ferguson and a few other
Premiership managers would give to Wales friendlies.

And, to be fair, in the grand scheme of things the results of Norway
v Wales and Wales v Canada will mean next to nothing.

But just as Hughes wanted the US match to try out things – something
he was unable to do in the end – so he has handpicked these coming
games for a reason.

A Thursday night in Oslo and a balmy spring Sunday afternoon at the
Racecourse would appear at this stage to have little bearing on the
intensity and passion of our coming World Cup qualifiers with England,
Poland, Austria, Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

But what Hughes learns in the next few days could actually hold the
very key to our hopes of qualifying for Germany 2006.

And that is why Hughes, already shorn of John Hartson, probably Simon
Davies and play-off finalist Andy Melville, needs the rest of his
first-choice XI around him to work upon and implement his ideas.

So, what are these ideas? A bold new way of playing?

Four-three-three instead of Hughes’ rigid 4-5-1 system?

Ryan Giggs as a central midfield playmaker?

No. Hughes has gone hi-tech and scientific. He wants to know why,
when it comes to double-headed back-to-back games, Wales tend to tail
off in the second of those matches.

Is it down to diet? The hour at which his team train? What time they
fly to and from matches?

Response and recovery times. These are the issues Hughes will be
looking at after arranging back-to-back friendlies within the space
of a 72-hour time period for the first time I can remember for a
Wales team.

As I say, the results of the games themselves don’t really matter.
The results of what Hughes learns, by doing things a bit differently,
will, come the World Cup.

Hughes has noted that every single World Cup fixture is part of
a double header. Including England v Wales and Wales v Poland
on October 9 and 13, and Wales v England and Poland v Wales the
following September.

But he has also looked at what his team have achieved on the five
occasions they have played double-headers during his reign as boss.

Like the Russia play-offs last November, for example. Wales produced
a brilliant performance in drawing in Moscow, only to turn in a
tentative, insipid and weary display four days on at the Millennium
Stadium?

Why, and what can I do to change that, Hughes has been asking himself?

Prior to that, Wales lost to Italy on September 6 and four days
afterwards produced perhaps their worst display of the Euro 2004
qualifying campaign when they only drew with Finland at home.

Why were Wales so awful that night, Hughes has been asking himself?

Even before that, Wales drew with Armenia and lost to Norway in a
double header before World Cup 2002.

They drew with Armenia and the Ukraine; drew with Norway and Poland.

In other words, of 10 double-headed matches played, Wales have yet
to win a single one of them.

And Hughes wants that issue addressed before the World Cup qualifiers
kick in.

So, with results not really mattering, he will experiment with
preparation of the team for the Norway and Canada games.

He has changed training schedules. He will alter the times players eat.

Instead of flying straight back to Wales after the Norway game and
getting to bed at 3am, Hughes will keep his players in Oslo for an
extra night.

They will do an extra training session in Norway the following morning
before returning on a mid-afternoon flight.

Changes, Hughes hopes, which will give the players extra stamina,
keep them more refreshed, give them an extra buzz for the second game
with Canada.

It sounds boring and scientific. And to you and me it is. But at the
top level you need any edge you can get.

Hughes’ No 2 Eddie Niedzwiecki has an old motto; fail to prepare
properly and you prepare to fail.

However irrelevant these issues may appear to be, Hughes believes he
has to look at them in his bid to get it right for the World Cup.

Trouble is, if, like the United States last year, most of his stars
don’t turn up, the whole exercise will be rendered pointless.

Many of them didn’t know the way to San Jose. Let’s hope that come
11am this morning, when the Wales squad are due to assemble, most of
the World Cup stars to be are there.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
May 23 2004

Blaming others

The Costa Ricans look down on the Nicaraguans. The Mexicans bad-mouth
Guatemalans. In Japan they discriminate against Koreans. In New
Zealand, the native Maoris are the underclass.

The Germans spit on the Turks, who have done quite a bit more in
recent history than just spit on the Armenians and Greeks. In Sudan,
militias of lighter-skinned Arabs are slaughtering darker-skinned
Africans. The Palestinians and Israelis blow each other up so often
that it’s no longer big news.

It doesn’t matter where you go in the world, there’s always a group
that gets the blame for everything from economic woe to the spread of
disease. And in the United States, the scourge du jour is the “Latino
invasion.”

It always comes down to the same complaint, no matter if you’re
talking about the ethnic Nicas in Costa Rica, the Koreans looking for
jobs in Japan, the Pakistanis raising their families in London: They
steal our jobs. They threaten our way of life. We didn’t ask them to
come here. They won’t abandon their odd foreign ways for our good old
American/Mexican/Muslim/Teutonic traditions. They aren’t like us.
They are parasites that we have to support with our hard-earned tax
dollars. They should go home.

Last week, I wrote about the rising tension in Los Angeles and
elsewhere over the ever-growing Latino population in the United
States, as well as the fears that raises. I didn’t delve into the
whole question of illegal immigration, leaving that treacherous
subject for another day.

The piece drew a few very thoughtful letters from readers who are
individually working out what all this change means for them and
their communities.

But, like Mexicans in Maine, those were a distinct minority.

>>From the East Coast to the Midwest, I was inundated with angry,
sputtering letters from people incensed by the growing numbers of
Latinos. Some used the opportunity to disparage me personally for
taking up the topic, calling me “shallow and narrow-minded,” noting
that clearly I am only a columnist because I am Latina, that if I
don’t like the tension “I should go back to where I came from.”
(What, Indiana?)

All of which, sadly, just proved my point that there are some very,
very bad feelings in this country.

Nearly all of the angry writers couched their anger in terms of the
“illegals,” turning their intolerance into a policy question. Yes,
it’s true there are millions of Mexican and Central American illegal
immigrants in the country, and we don’t even know how many. Yes, they
use government services they are not entitled to. But there’s plenty
of data, not to mention common sense, showing that while they may be
using the emergency rooms for primary care, illegal immigrants also
contribute into a system from which they are legally unable to
benefit.

They do so by providing dirt-cheap labor in the fields and factories,
and even Wal-Mart, which means we legal Americans benefit from lower
prices. They pay taxes. They pay thousands of dollars to independent
businesses for usurious fees because they’re unable to conduct
business in anything other than cash. They work cheaply in our yards,
our kitchens and caring for our kids, but without any insurance or
worker’s comp protection or Social Security.

Who benefits? We do. We like to be proud of the idea that the United
States is a strong beacon of hope for the downtrodden around the
world, but then we cringe when we find that the actual downtrodden at
our doorstep are often poor, uneducated, in need of help, maybe even
a little smelly. All that generosity fades away.

I’m not advocating illegal immigration. But our federal government
has turned a blind eye to a great many of those downtrodden creeping
inside the gates. They are here, among the many millions of legal
immigrants. And that’s no excuse for intolerance.

There was more bad news the other day for those worried about the
“Latino invasion.” The California Department of Finance predicts that
within a decade, Latinos will be a majority in Los Angeles County
and, by 2040, a majority of the state’s population.

And when that happens, don’t be surprised when the comfortable Latino
majority starts agitating against how the new foreign invaders —
maybe it’ll be North Koreans next — are trashing the country and
ruining the fabric of society.

Mariel Garza is an editorial writer and columnist for the Los Angeles
Daily News. Write to her by e-mail at [email protected]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘Excluding Turkey would be the Failure of EU Arguments’

Zaman, Turkey
May 23 2004

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul declared that using lame excuses
to exclude Turkey from the EU would mark the failure of EU arguments
and warned that a soulless bureaucratic structure would remain instead.

Gul, delivering the opening speech of the ‘New Horizons in Turkish
Foreign Policy’ meeting held at the Dedeman Hotel, said that if the EU
could overcome the Dark Ages’ arguments then it would give Turkey a
date for talks at the December summit. Gul emphasized that it would
be grave injustice towards Turkey if the EU said it did not meet
Copenhagen Criteria. He said that the “Lists of to-do have turned
into the tally of already-done.”

Gul also pointed out that the narrow-minded powers that object
Turkey’s membership are condemned not only in Europe but also in
other regions. He added, “Whenever an unfair opinion is spoken against
Turkey, its response is given within Europe.”

‘We Pursue Soft Power Strategy’

Gul talked about the shift in the mentality of Turkey’s foreign
policy, stressing that Turkey now pursued the ‘soft power’ strategy.
He explained that this method was both more effective and respected.
Gul added that the ideals of big country could only be achieved by
self-confidence.

Gul said that the government’s foreign policy has the content and
dynamism that spreads a culture of compromise. Gul stressed that
Turkey has a few active and inactive problems around itself, but
added that an atmosphere of cooperation and dialogue should take the
lead in helping Turkey to progress beyond the mentality that it is
“surrounded by enemies”. Gul pointed out that relations with Greece
are developing into a ‘strategic partnership’, and that Turkey wants
to be a ‘catalyst’ in Azeri-Armenian conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sergei Ivanov Says Gabala Station Will Serve Only To Russia

Baku Today
21/05/2004 16:27

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on Thursday denied rumors
that his government was planning to allow the United States to use
its Gabala radar station that is located in Azerbaijan.

“I don’t foresee that. Even if I had a rich imagination, I couldn’t
foresee that,” Ivanov told reporters in Yerevan, according to the
Associated Press. “This station is for the sole use of the Russian
military.”

Russia’s Interfax new agency quoted Ivanov as saying that the Gabala
radar station could only work for the interests of the space forces
of his country.

Put into operation in 1988, the Gabala radar stating was aimed to
monitor jets and missiles in the Southern Hemisphere.

The former Soviet Union had nine such radar stations, the Gabala
station and the station at Mukachevo in Ukraine being the last to
be constructed.

After the fall of the Soviet Union in late 1991, Azerbaijan allowed
Russia to continue using the station.

The Defense Minister Ivanov expressed satisfaction with the state of
military cooperation between Russia and Armenia.

Itar-Tass quoted Ivanov as saying that relations between the two
countries in the field of defense and security have been improving
dynamically and steadily and that there have been no major problems
between them.

He mentioned that 600 Armenian cadets were currently studying in
Russian higher military schools.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Montreal Gazette, Canada
May 22 2004

Widow ‘didn’t trust banks’
Savings loss a painful end for mom: son. As bitter lawsuit crawls
through court, disciplinary panel considers penalties

Paul Delean
THE GAZETTE

Saturday, May 22, 2004

Ketty Papazian was a 76-year-old widow when she put her north-end
Montreal home up for sale in April 2002 after her savings were
drained by what she believed was misconduct by her broker. She died
in November. Her estate is now seeking millions in damages for what
one lawyer calls “fraudulent manoeuvres” of former broker Harutyun
Migirdicoglu at CIBC Wood Gundy’s downtown office.
CREDIT: PHIL CARPENTER, THE GAZETTE

Two years ago, after her investment account had been emptied by CIBC
World Markets Inc. to pay for somebody else’s trading losses,
76-year-old widow Kiganouchi (Ketty) Papazian put her house in
north-end Montreal on the market.

Then she had an abrupt change of heart.

“She got a very good offer for the house,” son Richard recalled, “but
then she thought, ‘If I sell it, where do I put the money?’ She
didn’t trust banks any more.”

Papazian didn’t sell. It remained her home until last November, when
she died of cancer at age 78.

It was a painful end to a life complicated in its final years by a
bitter, drawn-out and still-unresolved lawsuit with CIBC World
Markets over what happened to her savings.

Ketty Papazian – and now her estate – wanted reimbursement of the
$299,275 that CIBC withdrew from her account.

The estate is seeking $10 million in punitive damages, $400,000 for
portfolio mismanagement, restitution for losses suffered from
liquidation of her investments and payment of legal costs for what
her lawyer called the “fraudulent manoeuvres” of a former broker at
CIBC Wood Gundy’s downtown office.

The lawsuit, filed two years ago, alleges CIBC was professionally
negligent in failing to adequately supervise and control the trading
practices of broker Harutyun Migirdicoglu (also known as Harry
Migirdic), and abusive in making her liable for huge trading losses
run up by people she didn’t know.

There is still no trial date set in Quebec Superior Court.

But a lawyer for the Investment Dealers Association of Canada said
yesterday Migirdicoglu should be barred for life for a long list of
misdeeds.

After an IDA disciplinary hearing in March, the securities industry’s
self-regulatory body found him guilty of multiple counts of trading
without the knowledge or authorization of a client, obtaining account
guarantees under pretense, altering investment objectives and risk
tolerance on Know-Your-Client forms without consent, knowingly
accepting a forged power of attorney and offering a client a $400,000
promissory note to compensate for trading losses without the
knowledge of CIBC.

Migirdicoglu didn’t deny the allegations, but did not plead guilty.

At his hearing yesterday to receive submissions on a suitable IDA
penalty, lawyer Caroline Champagne said the severity of the former
broker’s breaches of the rules warrants a lifetime ban from the
securities industry. She also recommended $370,000 in fines and
another $80,000 to cover investigation costs. An IDA panel is
expected to make its decision by mid-June.

In connection to other civil actions against Migirdicoglu and CIBC,
the IDA said some have settled out of court with CIBC. But lawsuits
seeking $5 million for losses and $55 million in punitive damages
still are making their way through the legal system. The first is due
to come to trial in January.

For Richard Papazian, the death of his mother only strengthened his
resolve to see the matter dealt with by the courts. Of Armenian
descent, she was born in Greece and lived in Argentina prior to
moving to Canada in 1964 with her late husband, Dicran.

When his mother began cancer treatments, he informed CIBC by letter
late in 2002. The bank didn’t budge.

“When she was in hospital, I had to leave her side twice (for
deliberations with CIBC’s lawyers) and felt horrible about it. But
she told me, ‘You have to take care of this. You have to make it
right,’ ” Papazian said.

“We tried every possible way to get back her money without a
$10-million lawsuit, but got nowhere. I want to make sure no bank or
financial institution acts in this way again.”

His mother, whose principal language was Armenian, did not read or
understand English well, Papazian said. She had entrusted about
$400,000 to Migirdicoglu after her husband died in 1990. Migirdicoglu
had looked after her husband’s affairs.

In the lawsuit, it’s alleged Migirdicoglu had her sign a document in
1993 that unknowingly made her responsible for any deficit in the
trading accounts of two other parties – Bedros S.F. Papazian and Aida
Papazian – who were not only unrelated to her, but complete
strangers.

CIBC’s position, as outlined in Superior Court filings by its law
firm Heenan Blaikie, is that Papazian was fully aware of the
guarantee and that she and her son were “complicit in their own
misfortunes.”

It claims it acted in good faith, never failed to properly supervise
its financial consultants and is not legally responsible for the
actions of the broker and any losses suffered by his former clients.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZATUTYUN BROADCAST INTERRUPTED

A1 Plus | 22:23:53 | 21-05-2004 | Politics |

Broadcast of Azatutyun radio station, having broadcasting hours on
state-owned Public Radio, about the opposition rally was interrupted
just after the broadcaster said the live report from the correspondent
on the scene is expected in five minutes.

Music was heard on the radio channel till the very end of Azatutyun
broadcasting time. The Public Radio broadcaster said Azatutyun’s
newscast was interrupted because of satellite connection problems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT OF FRANCE JACQUES CHIRAC SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN
ILHAM ALIYEV

AzerTag
[May 22, 2004, 19:22:25]

President of France Jacques Chirac has send a letter to President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in which he welcomes the presidential Decree
on Pardon of May 10, and appreciates the Azerbaijan’s policy towards
integration into Europe.

The letter in particular says:

Mr. President, dear friend, on the 10th of May You signed the Decree on
pardoning prisoners named n the Council European’s list. I consider it
my duty to welcome this humane step proving once again Your aspiration
to national unity. Be confident that France will always be alongside
You to help continue this course and build pluralist society.

Mr. Jacques Chirac expressed hope that the initiative strongly
supported by France – inclusion of Azerbaijan and other South Caucasus
countries in the sphere of application of the “European Neighborhood
Policy” – would be concretized in a few weeks.

I know that You attach great importance to integration into the
European Union, and I would like to note with satisfaction that I
was certain of it again during Your recent visit to Brussels.

According to the letter, this integration will foster resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem as well. Restarting under the auspices
the Minsk Group of the direct dialogues between You and Armenian
President, as well as between the two countries’ Foreign Ministers
is a hopeful factor. This, the French President says, will allow all
of us to use our capabilities for elimination of existing obstacles.

In conclusion President Jacques Chirac expressed to President Ilham
Aliyev assurances of his highest consideration.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenians’ Ties With Iranians as Old as History: Armenian Orthodox Patriarch

Tehran Times
22/05/04

BEIRUT (IRNA) – Patriarch Aram I Keshishian, the Leader of the Armenian
Orthodox Church, said here during the 2nd session of a conference
titled ‘Dialogue Between Islam and Christianity’ that the relations
and cooperation between Armenians and Iranians date back to remote
past in world history. Speaking under the title ‘Peaceful Coexistence
between Muslims and Armenian Christians’ at Beirut’s Antlias Church,
the archbishop opined, “In addition to the historical ties between
the world Armenians and the Iranians, the Armenian minority in
Iran are native Iranians, enjoy full religious freedom, have three
Apostolic churches there, and send two representatives to the Iranian
parliament.” Aram I highlighting the importance of holding dialogue
among the followers of various monotheist faiths, particularly between
the Muslims and Christians, said, “Such dialogues have so far paved
the way for trust-building, and boosting cultural cooperation and
ties between the Muslim nations and the world Armenians.”

He expressed hope that the continuation of consultations in the
framework of Dialogue among Civilizations would lead to the elimination
of misunderstandings, and boosting true and wholesome cooperation in
the region and at international level.

During the same session, Iranian researcher and author Mahdi Hadavi
Moqaddam and the head of Tehran Apostolic Church Sibouh Serkisian,
too, talked about the role played by Islam in shaping up the Iranian
culture and civilization, as well as the role played by Christianity
in the lives of the world and Iranian Armenians.

The other speakers at the two-day conference in Beirut included
a Tehrani Armenian Christian Jeans Salmanian, who focussed on the
history of Armenians’ ties with Muslims, and Iranian researcher Zohreh
Rashid-Beig who spoke on relations between Iranians and Armenians in
the past and present eras.

The second conference between Islam and Armenians in the framework
Dialogue among Civilizations, sponsored by the Islamic Republic of
Iran’s Cultural Attache in Lebanon, started its activities in Beirut
on Thursday.

The Head of Culture and Islamic Communications Organization
Hojjatoleslam Mahmud Mohammadi Araqi heads the Iranian delegation to
the conference.

The first conference in this series was held in Tehran in May, 2000,
and was attended by the Leader of the world Armenians Archbishop Aram
I Keshishian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress