Author: Janoyan Ana

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:

March 11, 2004
___________________

ARCHBISHOP MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), focused on the Diocese’s ecumenical work this week,
through a series of meetings with religious leaders from around the New York
City area.

On Monday, March 8, 2004, the Primate, along with Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean
of St. Vartan Cathedral, met with Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the recently
installed head of the Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn.

The Primate knew Bishop DiMarzio from the many years he had been involved in
the Newark, NJ, Diocese. The Primate and Fr. Chevian congratulated Bishop
DiMarzio on his recent appointment to head the Brooklyn Diocese — which has
290 parishes and 135 schools — and presented him with an icon from the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

On Wednesday, March 10, the Primate had a lunchtime meeting with Bishop Mark
Sisk, head of the Episcopal Church in New York City. The discussion covered
a variety of topics of concern to both denominations.

Next week, the Archbishop Barsamian will attend a series of meetings and
events with All His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of the
Orthodox Church, who is visiting New York City and delivering a public
lecture on Thursday, March 18, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
City, which has an exhibition on Byzantium art.

“It is important to meet with other religious leaders, to educate them about
the vital Armenian Church and to learn from their experiences,” the Primate
said. “By working together we can further our individual relationships with
God.”

— 3/11/04

E-mail photos available on request.

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presents Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio,
head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, NY, with an icon from the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during a meeting on March 8, 2004.

# # #

Submitted by Janoyan Ana

Georgian leader links opening of Moscow-Yerevan railway to return of Abkhaz
refugees

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
12 Mar 04

[Presenter] The restoration of the Abkhaz section of the railway
connecting Russia with Armenia is the main issue for the official
Yerevan. Not a single train has arrived in Yerevan from Moscow since
the Abkhaz war.

Today Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that the railway
link would be restored if refugees [from Abkhazia] returned to their
homes and political issues were resolved. Saakashvili intends to use
Armenia’s good relations with Russia in settling Georgian-Russian
relations. The president has already met his Armenian colleague
[President Robert Kocharyan]. Now he is at Echmiadzin where he is
meeting Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

[Saakashvili, video starts in mid-sentence] – especially in
[Abkhazia’s] Gali District, connected with the creation of security
guarantees for people who return [to their home], as well as with
general economic restoration in the whole region. Naturally, all of
this will facilitate economic development, including the restoration
of the transport infrastructure.

We are working within a trilateral commission, with Russia and
Abkhazia’s de-facto authorities. We think that Russia could play a
constructive role in this issue. There is the Geneva process, as well
as the group of the UN secretary-general’s friends in Georgia. They
are addressing [inaudible] issues there.

I think that now the Georgian side is ready to pursue a peaceful
course in a much stronger manner. After the [presidential] election in
Russia – we have already found a common language with Russia – I think
that Russia will spend more time on this issue. As regards the Abkhaz
authorities, there too a change of leadership is planned this year. I
think that with the change of leadership, problems will start to be
resolved within a much shorter time.

In principle, we realize the importance of this railway for
Armenia. It is important for Georgia as well. Of course, it is linked
to the general security climate and the peaceful resolution of the
problem. All of this cannot be resolved by a one-sided approach. This
issue has several aspects. Of course, we are ready – I repeat once
again – to make bold decision in the interests of the entire region.

[Kocharyan] I will simply add the following. You know that this
situation has been continuing for a long time. In such situations,
normally, people get used to the status quo. Changing the situation
requires, of course, political efforts and will on the part of all
participating sides.

Submitted by Janoyan Ana