Author: Felekian Ara

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:

May 21, 2004
___________________

NEW YOUTH GROUP FINDS HOME IN FAMILY PARISH

By Jake Goshert

Last fall, Gregory Andonian, 24, thought he was the only young person
involved at the St. Gregory of Narek Church in Cleveland, OH. He didn’t
think he could even find five people needed to revive the parish’s ACYOA
chapter.

He started with a soccer team, then a discussion on an Armenian
philosopher, then social dances and altar-server training. Now the
local chapter of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America
(ACYOA) has about 30 people. Some young members are born in America,
others come from Armenia, Baku, and the Middle East. One is
half-Armenian and half-Polish.

“And he’s the ACYOA secretary,” Andonian says of the young man whose
mother is Armenian and father is Polish. “Now that he’s involved in
ACYOA, he’s taking Armenian lessons and writing and reading almost
better than Armenians can and is coming to church.”

“A lot of the young people involved in our ACYOA are coming to church
more often, too, which is the core of what ACYOA is about,” Andonian
added. “Young Armenians want to be part of the church. It’s just a
matter of whether you can make them feel comfortable enough to feel
truly special inside.”

YOUTHFUL SPIRIT

During a recent pastoral visit to the Cleveland community on Saturday
and Sunday, April 17 and 18, 2004, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), spent more
than three hours eating pizza and talking with the young members of one
of the Diocese’s newest ACYOA chapters.

“The interaction was wonderful; they were talking about all kinds of
stuff. It was important for them to get to know him,” said Mona
Karoghlanian, parish council chairman at St. Gregory of Narek Church.
“I’m so happy our ACYOA is growing, because I grew up in ACYOA. Now our
youth will be able to enjoy the same experiences I had. That is why I
am so tied to the church: because of that involvement in ACYOA and the
relationships I developed over the years.”

The Primate and former Cleveland priest Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian, now a
pastor in Los Angeles, also met with about 50 young Sunday and Armenian
School children during the visit. Joining the Primate on the visit was
Dr. Sam Mikaelian, executive director of the Diocese.

The parish, with about 100 active families, has been without a parish
priest since the untimely passing of Fr. Haroutiun Dagley in 2002. But
thanks to the tight family feel of the parish, it emerged from the
mourning period stronger.

“There’s just something different here,” Karoghlanian said. “Our parish
— we’re a family. Even though we’re not all related, we feel like a
family. When something happens to somebody, good or bad, everybody’s
there. We’re a very supportive, loving, welcoming type of parish.”

The warmth of the parish has kept it going for more than 40 years.
During the Primate’s visit, the parish marked the 40th anniversary of
the church’s consecration. The original dream of the parish extends
back another 40 years, when the grandparents of today’s leaders — who
were then fresh immigrants in America — went door to door selling
hard-boiled eggs on Easter to raise money for the church.

“It’s hard to imagine the amazing journey our founding generation went
on, as they moved from one way of life to another,” the Primate said
during a banquet commemorating the anniversary. “Our church, too, was
led on this journey. Carried in the hearts of the Armenian faithful,
the flame of our faith moved from the Old World, and settled into the
New. Here, in America, the Armenian people and their church moved
forward together, to achieve strength and prestige in the surrounding
society.”

The Primate stressed the dedication of generations of leaders that went
into making St. Gregory of Narek Church a reality.

“As a community, we have been blessed with something else, as well:
visionary leaders, who dreamed about what could be in the future, and
set to work laying a solid foundation on which to build,” said the
Primate. “The idea of building this church required profound vision and
imagination. Like many bold actions, it took courage to accomplish.”

FINDING STRENGTH

Along with the young spirit of the community members, the parish has
been held together by the dedication of Dn. Serop Demirjian, who was
honored by the Primate with the ST. Vartan Medal. With Dn. Demirjian,
the parish is able to hold weekly services. He has also served in
various other positions, such as on the parish council and as an advisor
to the newly restored ACYOA chapter.

For Dn. Demirjian, who came to America in 1981 from Jerusalem, where he
attended seminary, serving on the altar each Sunday is natural.

“If I miss a Sunday, I feel I am missing something. I feel an emptiness
if I don’t attend church services,” he said. “At the same time, it’s
very rewarding to serve the people. I see the joy and faith in them
that I bring to them, so that is my reward.”

Even though he has to drive 45 minutes each way to the church, the young
father of three who owns his own international shipping company gladly
gives of his time to work with the young ACYOA members. He meets with
them on a regular basis and has taken several under his wing to train as
altar servers.

“They’re very faithful and strong Armenians,” Dn. Demirjian said. “But
I want to encourage them to continue and not only attend services but to
partake, in the choir or on the altar or as an usher. That is more
rewarding for them, because they come and participate and feel they are
actually part of it. When you partake, everything becomes more
meaningful than just standing in the pews.”

— 5/21/04

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

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), celebrates the Divine
Liturgy at the St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, on Sunday,
April 18, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Barsamian joins present and former parish
leaders in cutting an anniversary cake on Saturday, April 17, 2004, at
the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the consecration of the St.
Gregory of Narek Church in Cleveland, OH.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): The Primate listens as former Cleveland pastor Fr.
Arshag Khatchadourian speaks to the parishioners during a banquet
marking the 40th anniversary of the St. Gregory of Narek Church.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): The Primate visits with some of the youngest members
of the St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, during a pastoral
visit there on Saturday and Sunday, April 17 and 18, 2004.

# # #

RUSSIA NOT TO PARTAKE IN NATO WARGAME IN AZERBAIJAN IN SEPTEMBER – SERGEI IVANOV

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, May 20 (RIA Novosti) – Russia will not take part in the
military exercise of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation within
the Partnership for Peace programme due to be held in Azerbaijan
in September, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov told the press
conference in Yerevan on Thursday.

“We participate in an exercise only when we see practical benefit
for us proceeding from the national interest, otherwise we are not
interested”, he said.

In turn, the Armenian head of the military establishment, Serj
Sargsian, said: “Armenia it ready to participate but only as a
full-fledged member”.

“What is proposed now – the observer status – is unacceptable”,
Sargsian said.

Sergei Ivanov sees no serious problems in Russian-Armenian relations,
which have been developing dynamically in recent time.

“There are not a single big problem existing in our mutual relations”,
he told journalists.

During the two-day visit, Sergei Ivanov is going to discuss with his
Armenian analogue interaction in the military field, regional security
and the situation in some flashpoints.

Russia has no plans for the build-up of the numerical strength of
the 102nd military base in Armenia, the Russian defence minister
said. It is not quantity but quality, the provision of arms, the
military hardware that matter, he said Serj Sargsian said that he
sees it as a rhetoric matter.

“The answer to this question is certainly ‘no'”, said the Armenian
foreign minister. “We have many times said that we view military
contacts with Russia as a component of our national security. This is
why the answer will be plain and clear – there will be no withdrawal
of the Russian base from Armenia”.

As regards the Russian bases in Georgia, there will be no haste with
their pullout from Georgia, the Russian foreign minister said.

He recalled that the relative talks with Georgia have of late slowed
down due to the objective reasons — the governments in both the
countries have changed. “The talks will be continued, and not only
on a timeframe for withdrawal but also on a status for the bases”,
Sergei Ivanov said.

He said that Armenia has bought two military transport planes Il-76
at the domestic Russian prices in line with the mechanism existing in
the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (its members are Belarus,
Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tajikistan, Armenia). “The two Il-76
planes, bought by Armenia from Russia according to the CSTO methods,
have today landed in Armenia”, Sergei Ivanov said.

The Russian defence minister voiced surprise over the information on
the possibility of the joint use by Russia and the United States of
the Gabaliski radar in Azerbaijan.

“However imaginative, I cannot think of it”, Sergei Ivanov joked. He
recalled that the Gabalinski radar is Russia’s military installation
working in the interest of the Russian Federation. The agreement on
its use has recently been concluded with Azerbaijan.

Asked by journalists about his approach to the GUUAM association
(Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova), Sergei Ivanov
said that he “just does not have any”.

“It is, to put it mildly, premature to talk of its military-political
component”, Sergei Ivanov said.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 19 2004

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV ADDRESSES BRIEFING IN BRUSSELS
[May 19, 2004, 23:47:00]

On the 19th of May, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the
lunch and briefing “European Union – Azerbaijan – New Horizons For
Partnership” organized by the European Policy Center in the Conrad
Hotel in Brussels.

Opening the briefing, EPC Chief Executive Hans Martens warmly greeted
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and introduced him to the
audience. He noted the meeting is attended by influential politicians
of the Kingdom of Belgium, and that the address by the Head of
Azerbaijani State would be rather useful for them.

President Ilham Aliyev has made a speech at the briefing. The Head of
State dwelt on the difficulties Azerbaijan faced after gaining its
state independence, Armenian military aggression and its hard
consequences, restoration of stability after national leader Heydar
Aliyev’s return to power in 1993, as well as reforms carried out in
the Republic and successes achieved. President Ilham Aliyev
especially stressed that Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, which remains unresolved for years, is the main
factor posing a serious threat to the region.

Later on, the Head of Azerbaijan responded to the questions from the
briefing participants.

The Ticking Time Bomb?

Transitions onLine, Czech Republic
May 17 2004

BAKU, Azerbaijan–The Azeri president’s words were far from reassuring.

“Azerbaijan is ready to start a war to liberate its territories if the
peace talks do not produce any results,” Ilham Aliev said on 12 May,
adding that he would do his best to further strengthen the national
army and improve the economy in the country in order to sustain the
army’s capacity.

The timing of his comments–made on his arrival in the Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic–was significant, coming on the 10th anniversary
of the 1994 Russian-brokered cease-fire that ended the conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the largely ethnic Armenian
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

By the time the agreement had been signed, 30,000 people had been
killed and many more injured in one of the bloodiest conflicts in the
post-Soviet space. More than a million Azeris and 300,000 Armenians
had been driven from their homes, and nearly 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s
land had come under Armenian control.

In the intervening 10 years, both nations have benefited from the
economic development that the end of hostilities allowed, but few in
either Azerbaijan or Armenia are satisfied with the status quo. For
many Azeris, the past 10 years symbolize time that has been wasted
in solving the conflict through peaceful negotiations and continued
hardship for the displaced people.

The majority of people who talked to TOL on the street said that the
anniversary only reawakened in them a sense of having been tricked
and feelings of humiliation.

“These 10 years showed that it is impossible to liberate the lands
by peaceful means. The only way to do it is to fight now,” said Rufat
Askerov, a graduate student at Western University in Baku.

FROZEN IN MINSK

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk
group–created in 1992 and charged with finding a peaceful solution to
the conflict–offered a number of proposals in the 1990s to end the
standoff, but either Baku or Yerevan rejected each one. Since 1998,
no new proposals have been made, and the majority of Azeris have lost
faith in the international efforts.

“They only come, talk, and go. No real progress. They are useless.
The international community does not care about us [refugees and
displaced people],” says Fatima Gulieva, a 43-year-old displaced person
from the Agdam region, which is currently under Armenian control.

Two days prior to the anniversary, the Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO)–a radical group that unites a number of opposition
activists–staged a march to the Karabakh town of Shusha to mark the
12-year anniversary of its occupation. Considered the cradle of Azeri
music and art, Shusha is an especially painful loss for many Azeris.

“We want to go back to our homes in Shusha,” said Akif Nagi, the
chair of KLO.

The Azeri authorities have so far been successful in keeping radical
groups and refugees out of the negotiation process, but as time goes
on and the peace talks languish, calls for a military solution have
become louder.

Although frustration with the deadlock has hardened the hearts of
most Azeris toward the peace process, many also believe that fighting
would produce no better results.

“Russia is behind Armenia, and it would be hard to fight the two of
them,” Nureddin, a local barber, said in a reflection of the general
attitude in Azeri society. Others believe that the Azeri army is still
not strong enough to overcome the Armenian defense, even though in
the past 10 years it has become more united and strong, often with
the help of Turkish instructors.

JUST WORDS?

Still, despite the recent radical statements by the Azeri leadership,
few believe there could be war again soon. During their recent meeting
in France, both the Azeri and Armenian presidents confirmed their
commitment to the peace talks, and the foreign ministers of the two
countries met in Strasburg on May 13 to revitalize the peace process.

Ilham Aliev seems content to continue the policy of his late father,
former President Heidar Aliev, and it is unlikely that he will change
it any time soon, despite his words to the local audience in the
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Aliev does, however, insist that the
peace talks focus on the liberation of the seven regions of Azerbaijan
adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh, the return of internally displaced
Azeris to their homes, and the opening of trade and communications
links with Armenia, followed by further negotiations on the legal
status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia has previously rejected this proposal, known as a
“step-by-step” process. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
called it “absurd” in an interview with Radio Liberty, insisting that
all of the above-mentioned issues must be resolved at the same time.

So another year goes by with both sides marking a bitter “no war,
no peace” stalemate. The majority of local experts believe that a war
is unlikely to erupt again in the next few years, but the situation
remains a time bomb, ticking down year by year.

New French envoy to Azerbaijan appointed

Turan news agency, Baku
17 May 04

Paris, 17 May: Roland Blatmann has been appointed as new ambassador
of France to Azerbaijan.

A corresponding resolution was signed by the French president and
prime minister on 13 May, Turan has learned from a diplomatic source.

According to the source, Blatmann used to hold the post of France’s
general consul in the Greek city of Saloniki. The new ambassador is
expected to come to Baku in June.

Russia-Armenia confer on regional cooperation opens in Samara
By Lyudmila Yarmakova

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 14, 2004 Friday

SAMARA, May 14 — A conference devoted to inter-regional cooperation
between Russia and Armenia opened in the city of Samara on Friday.

Delegations of the two countries comprising parliamentarians,
businesspeople, public leaders and regional officials are headed by
Speaker of the Federation Council (upper house of Russia’s parliament)
Sergei Mironov and Chairman of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur
Bagdasaryan, respectively.

The conference participants expressed the view that direct ties
between regions are a vital component of cooperation between Russia
and Armenia, which also can boost this cooperation strengthening and
developing it.

Mironov called Armenia “Russia’s reliable strategic partner in the
international arena.” He stressed that bilateral economic cooperation
is also developing rather dynamically.

Last year’s bilateral trade turnover increased by almost 35 percent,
as against 2002. Mironov admitted, however that “the economic
potential is just 35-40 percent used.” According to the Russian
speaker, the two states have reserves for expanding cooperation,
such as interregional ties.

Bagdasaryan has agreed with Mironov saying “ties between regions make
it possible to solve many problems more quickly and effectively than
it is done in the centre.”

The Armenian official pointed out that Armenia has adopted the law on
local self-government, which does not restrict the sphere of activities
of local administrations, but encourages them in every way, including
international activity.

Badgasaryan also admitted, “the positive dynamics in bilateral
relations exists, but the cooperation falls short of possibilities.”

Conferences of this kind, in the view of the Armenian speaker, should
be held annually. He proposed to hold the next conference in Yerevan.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
May 5, 2004

ONLY HUMANISM WILL SAVE THE WORLD

So far the minefields are a serious problem for post-war Artsakh,
endangering the life and health of the peaceful population and
hindering postwar rehabilitation, restoration and development of
agriculture. The British humanitarian organization The HALO Trust has
been working in Karabakh for three years already. This organization
specializing in mine clearance in the post-conflict areas of the
world, works in 24 countries. The activity of this organization
requiring significant financial means is funded by the USAID, the
Royal government of the Netherlands, the foundation “Gafesjian”,
“Cooperative Bank” and other organizations. In the beginning The HALO
Trust cooperated with the field engineer battalion of the Karabakh
Defence Army then it started implementing the program separately.
According to the director of the program Ed Row, so far 3 million
523967 square meters of area has been cleared of mines, about 3377
projectiles, 26396 ordnance were rendered to pose no threat. Within
the organization strict control and order is maintained. To our
question why the managers of the program are rotated often, the head
of the office said the manager of the program is rotated once in two
years against the background of the promotion of quality. Due to the
hard work of the organization the mines of Drmbon and Chldran operate
at full. The HALO Trust also carries out popular teaching programs at
schools and among the village population. The organization has
distributed hundreds of signs warning against minefields. The manager
of the program complained of people who deliberately spoil the signs,
as a result of which accidents are sometimes reported. According to Ed
Row, the program of mine clearance of the entire territory of NKR will
take 5-7 years. The HALO Trust also solves a problem of unemployment,
providing jobs to 205 young and middle-aged men.

LIRA MIRZOYAN.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 28 2004

European economic summit opening in Warsaw

WARSAW, April 28 (Itar-Tass) – A European economic summit, organized
by the World Economic Forum, opens here later Wednesday.

The conference entitled Europe’s Enlargement and Future Prospects
will take three days and is organized under the patronage of Polish
President Alexander Kwasniewski.

It is expected to bring together 700 people representing the economic
and political elite of 45 nations, including the presidents, prime
ministers and ministers from 31 countries.

Expansion of the European Union coming May 1 and its impact on the
future economic and political activity of the EU, as well as the
pressing issues of competition, demography, public health, and
pensions make up the core of the agenda.

Russia has delegated to the conference President Vladimir Putin’s
special spokesman on the EU expansion, Sergei Yastrzhembski, and a
group of businessmen.

Some other high-rank participants are Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, Malta’s Prime Minister Tonio Berg, Lithuanian Prime Minister
Algirdas Brazauskas, Romanian President Ion Iliescu, Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma,
President Svetozar Marovic of Serbia and Montenegro, German President
Johannes Rau, Georgian President Mikhai Saakashvil, Slovak President
Rudolf Schuster, and Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin.

Alexander Kwasniewski, Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller, Foreign
Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, and Labor Minister Erzy Hausner
will play host to the participants.

The Charleston Gazette
AP-ES-04-28-04 0820EDT

Political and business leader gather in Poland to discuss economic
challenges facing Europe

By VANESSA GERA
Associated Press Writer

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Police sealed off parts of the Polish capital as
business and political leaders opened a forum Wednesday on the challenges
facing the European Union after eight former Soviet bloc countries join this
week.

The European Economic Summit brought together hundreds of dignitaries,
including 20 presidents and prime ministers and representatives from leading
corporations, for talks on EU expansion.

The three-day event — organized by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum,
which is best known for its annual summit in Davos, Switzerland — concludes
Friday, hours before midnight celebrations in several cities usher in the
historic expansion.

The 650 delegates will focus on Europe’s economic competitiveness as well as
social and environmental issues, said World Economic Forum head Jose Maria
Figueres.

“All of those are vital components of a better — of a more sophisticated —
Europe as we move forward with enlargement,” Figueres said.

Anti-globalization groups have mobilized against the meeting, viewing the
forum funded by many leading corporations as an exclusive club for the rich.
About 5,000 protesters are expected to march Thursday, organizers say.

Downtown Warsaw shops — from elegant boutiques to fast-food chains —
protected their windows with slabs of wood, corrugated tin and cardboard.
Police helicopters whirred above the city center as officers in riot gear
guarded a barricaded perimeter of several blocks around the conference
venue, a hotel.

But government leaders also can expect criticism from other quarters.

Daniel Gros, director of the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels,
said economic dialogue in Europe has been reduced to “a charade” as
countries pay lip service to limiting their budget deficits and economic
reform, but then do little to measure up.

“In economic terms they don’t have to talk to each other a lot — they just
have to go home and do their homework,” Gros said.

Alongside workshops on the benefits of adopting the euro currency and the
competitiveness of the EU countries, one-on-one talks between political
leaders also were planned.

These include a planned meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia,
which have been locked in a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic
Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan.

Ethnic Armenian forces drove out Azerbaijan’s army from the region in the
1990s and ethnic Azeris fled. Though a cease-fire was established in 1994,
the two sides periodically exchange fire.

Presidents Johannes Rau of Germany, Ion Iliescu of Romania and Mikhail
Saakashvili of Georgia also are expected to address the meeting.

On the eve of the summit, Poland President Aleksander Kwasniewski stressed
the importance of bringing together generally richer Western countries with
the new EU members and countries further east that face difficult obstacles
in their search for prosperity.

“I am convinced that the conference hosted by Poland will show that no new
curtain will appear in our continent — not even a velvet one,” Kwasniewski
said.

AP-ES-04-28-04 0820EDT

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 29, 2004

Representatives of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the Western Diocese

Upon the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Rev. Fr. Baruyr Avetisian and Rev. Fr. Khoren
Kirakosian are in the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North
America to participate in the Diocesan Assembly convened at St. John Garabed
Armenian Church in San Diego, California, and to represent the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin.

The Diocesan Assembly is scheduled to take place from April 29 through May
2, 2004. The clergymen also brought their participation to the annual
Clergy Conference convened by the Western Diocese preceding the Assembly.
During the month of May, the Reverend Fathers will visit Armenian
communities and parishes throughout the diocese.

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