Author: Tashjian Arbi

KurdishMedia, UK
Dec 10 2004

Authors from Middle East get together in Diyarbakir

09/12/2004 Roj TV
Kurdish and Arabic writers Taha Xelîl, Lokman Dêrikî, Mihemer Ebû
Hamra, Yussef Bazzî and Ferec Beyraqdar came together at the panel
named “Two Languages, A World: Kurdish and Arabic Authors Tell” and
organized in the scope of the 2nd Literature Days.

The panel was arranged by Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality to
strengthen inter-cultural relations. To the panel held in theatre
hall of Metropolitan Municipality and started with the presentation
of Taha Xelîl , Lokman Dêrikî, Mihemer Ebû Hamra, Yussef Bazzî and
Ferec Beyraqdar attended as speaker.

Stating he had a long-past friendship with his Kurdish counterpart
Selim Berekat, Muhammed Ebû Hamra, author living in Beirut, says:
“While in Beirut Selîm Berekat was telling his adventures, we could
understand that Baas regime in Syria was implementing a cruel
dominance over Kurds. Before I have met him, I did not know how much
he is devoted to Kurds and Kurdistan. Mr.Berekat was treating the
Arabic Language in a romantic manner. My character was deeply
influenced by him. I have traced Berekat on his way. His hatred
against Arabic administrations caused me to have similar anger
against Arabic rules. The reason is that why the underdeveloped
countries do not see salvation in Europe? The reason of which, for
me, is that they have not been aware of their deficiencies.”

‘I have grasped we are not Arabic’

Lokman Dêrikî, who lives in Syria and writes in Arabic, by touching
on his childhood spoke as such: “While I was very young , I was happy
and speaking Kurdish but when I started school , I encountered a
language that left an impression on all my life, Arabic. At the
beginning of school, because I did not know Arabic, one of my
teachers, Emel, sometimes was teaching the lessons in Kurdish to me.
That time I would be very happy. As time passed, speaking in Kurdish
lessened day by day but speaking in Arabic increased. I was a kid so,
that is why I could not understand the reason is what? Later I
understood that we are not Arabic but Kurdish, namely, we are
minority.”

“The reality of history will be written by literature”

Yussef Bazzi, who jointed the activity from Beirut, stated that his
mother was Armenian and father Christian. “Because my father and
mother were from different religions, they much difficulty. My father
was killed in the Beirut Inner War and mother immigrated. That is to
say, I was an orphan and war kid. But I am also a man of the peace in
languages, and of dialog and compromise. My adventure shows the
history of the Middle East, which will fluctuate between peace and
war. And the reality of History will written down by literature.”

“Due to violence the Middle East remained back”

The last speaker of the panel, Syrian Author Ferec Beyreqdar said
People’s in the Middle East have deep knowledge but they are not as
learned as Westerners are. “This privilege is seen not only among
Peoples in the Middle East but also among the regimes. The reason of
this is the religious, tribal and sect violence that has been lasting
for a long. That is why Publics in the Middle East remained back. The
salvation is the brotherhood of People’s so we should hold
conferences and panels in many countries” he says

The open session ended with the panelist’s responses to participants’
questions.

Iran providing technical aid to Armenia?

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 6 2004

Iranian Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf and his Armenian
counterpart Armen Movsisian have signed an agreement on laying the
third electricity line between the two countries. This is expected
to double the existing exchange of electricity (400 kVt) between Iran
and Armenia.

Armenian press reports quoted the Iranian minister as saying that
the new line will be put into operation in two years and that Iran
has provided technical assistance to Armenia.

The Armenian minister Armen Movsisian stated that $25 million is
required for the project. He said that in case Armenia buys gas from
Iran, it will pay for it based on a 1:3 principle, which means 3 KVt
of electricity per cubic meter of gas.

The source of funding for the $25m project has not been determined yet.

The agreement on building the second electricity line connecting Iran
and Armenia (Agarak-Shinakhur) was reached by the two countries in
2002 and operations started on November 30, 2004. $8.4 million needed
for the project was provided by the Iranian side as a loan.*

The ‘NKR’ will hold a population census in 2005

Ekho, Baku
20 Nov 04

By E. Alakbarov

The government of the unrecognized “Nagornyy Karabakh Republic” [NKR]
(quotation marks inserted by us here and throughout – author) has
decided to conduct a population census in 2005 (RIA
Novosti). According to the national statistics service of the “NKR”,
as of 1 October 2004 the population of Nagornyy Karabakh was 146,592
people. The last population census in the “NKR” was carried out in
1989.

The State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan has told Ekho that
according to the last census, the “NKR” population was 120,000
people. The source said that the Karabakh separatists had distorted
the real figures.

“The indicated figure has been deliberately blown out of
proportion. The figures suggest that about 20,000 people have moved to
Karabakh over the last five years. It is hard to believe that the
‘NKR’, an economically backward region, is being settled
voluntarily. The indicated figures are most likely to be wide of the
mark,” the source at the State Statistical Committee said.

While commenting to Ekho on the separatists’ intention to conduct a
population census in 2005, the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry’s press service, Matin Mirza, said Azerbaijan was against the
artificial settlement of the Azerbaijani region. A population census
cannot be held in Nagornyy Karabakh as long as the Karabakh conflict
remains unresolved. He said the separatists are flouting international
law and the principles of the Geneva convention. The head of the press
service added that this was why Azerbaijan had insisted that the issue
of the situation in Nagornyy Karabakh be included in the agenda of the
UN General Assembly session.

Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov, who visited the occupied Nagornyy
Karabakh several years ago, has told Ekho that the Karabakh population
figures are not accurate. He said the Karabakh population had sharply
fallen as compared to the pre-conflict period.

“The current figure is several times lower than that. The Armenians
understand very well that the cease-fire will end sooner or later, and
therefore, they are trying to leave. Those remaining in the ‘NKR’ live
in ramshackle and slightly refurbished houses and buildings. I didn’t
see any densely-populated areas,” Cafarov said.

He believes that by making such statements the Karabakh separatists
are trying to create the impression that people are moving to the
region. In this way, they want to “fish” assistance out of
international humanitarian organizations.

“If the Armenians show the real figures, the humanitarian assistance
will be reduced,” the expert said.

IRAN IS INTERESTED IN THE 5TH BLOCK OF HRAZDAN HEAT STATION

A1+
01-12-2004

Robert Kocharyan has today received the delegation headed by
Habibollah Bitaraf, Iranian Energy Minister. The delegation is in
Armenia in connection with launching construction of the Armenian
sector of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and signing a contract.

Iranian delegation head informed that erection of the Iranian sector
of the gas pipeline will start during coming 2,5 months.

Iranian side keeps focus on hydroelectric power stations, cooperation
with Armenia in the sphere of generating alternative energy. It is
also interested in the 5th block of Hrazdan Heat Station.

During the meeting the parts referred to the issues regarding
construction of Qajaran tunnel, import of fuel from Iran to Armenia
etc.

CATHOLICOS OF GREAT CILICIAN HOUSE HAS MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ARF
BUREAU, ARF ATTENDANT ORGANIZATIONS AND RAP

ANTELIAS, November 29 (Noyan Tapan). Armenia-Diaspora relations, as
well as the programs and issues regarding the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide were discussed during the November 18 meeting of
Catholicos of the Great Cilician House Aram I with Hrant Margarian, a
representative of the ARF Bureau, and members of the Bureau.

The same day, Supreme Patriarch Aram I visited the central
administration of the Union of Armenian Relief headed by Chairwoman
Maro Minasian. The guests submitted programs regarding Armenia,
Karabakh and Javakhk. Patriarch Aram I expressed gratitude for the
benevolent work carried out by the Union of Armenian Relief.

According to the press divan of the Catholicosate of the Great
CIlician House, members of the Ramkavar Azatakan Party visited
Catholicos Aram I the day before. They discussed concerns and goals of
the Ramkavar Azatakan Party. His Holiness stressed that the
Catholicosate of the Great Cilician House is the house of all the sons
and all the organizations of the Armenian nation.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Nov 29 2004

Azeri Envoy Pledges to Unblock Rail Traffic for Georgian Freight

On November 29 the Georgian Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijani
Ambassador to Georgia Ramiz Gasanov to speak regarding the recent
seizure of Georgian freight by the Azerbaijani side at the border of
the two countries.

After the talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikheil Ukleba, the
Azeri Ambassador said that freight which is designated for Georgia
will be released.

`However, the Azerbaijani customs will ascertain the route of
transportation of other freight…if the detained freight is
designated for Armenia, this contradicts the national interests of
Azerbaijan,’ the Ambassador told reporters on November 29.

Azerbaijan fears that some of the freight might be imported to
Armenia via Georgia.

Over 900 train cars loaded with fuel and grain have been stuck at
Georgia’s border with Azerbaijani border for a week.

Commenting on the recent seizure of the Georgian freight, Prime
Minister Zurab Zhvania said, `nothing dramatic is occurring, the
situation will be clarified by the relevant agencies of Georgia and
Azerbaijan.’

A delegation from the Georgian Railway Company has already left for
Azerbaijan to clarify the situation.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Nov 23, 2004

RELIGIONE: FOCOLARINI, A ISTANBUL CONFERENZA ECUMENICA ;
PRESENTI AL CONVEGNO OLTRE 5O VESCOVI DI DIFFERENTI CHIESE

ROMA

(ANSA) – ROMA, 23 NOV – Si apre oggi a Istanbul la Conferenza
ecumenica di vescovi amici del Movimento dei Focolari, che si
terra’ fino al primo dicembre, promossa dal card. Miloslav Vlk,
arcivescovo di Praga. Sulle rive del Bosforo sono attesi oltre 50
Vescovi da 23 Paesi di quattro Continenti, di varie Chiese d’Oriente e
d’Occidente: ortodossi, siro ortodossi, armeni apostolici, anglicani,
evangelico-luterani e cattolici di vari riti.

Momenti-culmine di questa settimana saranno gli incontri-dialogo
con il patriarca ecumenico Bartolomeo I, con il card. Walter Kasper,
presidente del Pontificio Consiglio per l’unita’ dei cristiani, il
patriarca Armeno Apostolico di Costantinopoli Mesrob II, e il vicario
patriarcale Siro-ortodosso per la Turchia, Filuksinos Yusuf Cetin.

Chiara Lubich, fondatrice dei Focolari, ha incaricato alcuni dei
suoi piu’ stretti collaboratori e collaboratrici a trasmettere
i suoi interventi sulla tematica del congresso e sull’esperienza
ecumenica del Movimento. Da loro viene evidenziato la sintonia della
spiritualita’ dell’unita’, tipica dei Focolari con la spiritualita’
ecumenica fortemente incoraggiata dal Papa.

I vescovi parteciperanno all’accoglienza delle reliquie dei padri della
Chiesa indivisa Giovanni Crisostomo e Gregorio di Nazianzo, Vescovi
di Costantinopoli nel IV-V secolo, consegnate da Giovanni Paolo II al
Patriarca Bartolomeo, per felice coincidenza, proprio sabato prossimo.
Il 29 e 30 novembre i vescovi assisteranno nel Fanar alle
solenni celebrazioni per la Festa di S. Andrea apostolo, Fondatore e
Patrono del Patriarcato ecumenico, presiedute dal Patriarca Bartolomeo
I, a cui partecipera’ la delegazione della Santa Sede, guidata dal
card. Kasper. (ANSA).

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:

November 23, 2004
___________________

ARMENIA’S ACADEMY OF SCIENCES GREATFULLY RECOGNIZES ARCHBISHOP BARSAMIAN
WITH HIGHEST HONOR

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) and President of the Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR) Board of Directors, was recently honored by the Armenian
National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

During a reception on November 8, 2004, the Primate was presented with
the Academy’s highest award, the Gold Medal by the president of the NAS,
Fadey Sargsyan.

“I thank the Academy for this honor, but truly it belongs to the members
of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America, the members of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Armenian
Relief, and the faithful members of the Eastern Diocese,” the Primate
said in remarks during the ceremony.”

“It is truly the responsibility of the church to continue supporting
learning and education,” the Primate added. “The first words of the
Bible say that God told us to go forth and multiply and be masters —
and that is something we do with education. There’s so much potential
in humans; and through education and science we learn more each day.”

Also attending the ceremony were the academics who make up the NAS; the
heads of the different departments at the University of Yerevan and the
school’s rector; members of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese;
Garnik Nanagoulian, the executive director of FAR; and Krikor Tatoulian,
FAR’s country director in Armenia.

“We all know how important a strong education is, not just for the
scholar but for the larger community,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “The
Armenian Church will continue to ensure that Armenian scientists,
professors, scholars, and researchers have resources and support to do
the type of work that will allow Armenia to be active in the modern
world economy.”

During the award presentation ceremony, the president of the National
Academy of Sciences, Fadey Sargsyan, reflected on the enormous support
Archbishop Barsamian has been able to provide Armenian academics and
researchers. He said the Primate was one of the earliest supporters of
science and academics in Armenia, as the nation became independent. He
thanked the Primate and the Eastern Diocese for its work, especially the
Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF). ANSEF,
spearheaded by FAR, provides grants for research projects. Those grants
are awarded only after applications are peer-reviewed by American and
international experts.

“Our support to scientists and professors is helping halt a ‘brain
drain’ which would be disastrous for all Armenians,” the Primate said.
“We need brilliant thinkers to feel they can succeed on a global scale
while staying to work in Armenia. They serve as role models to the next
generation and provide a creative spark of ingenuity which can ripple
through the rest of Armenian society.”

ANSEF is not the only way FAR is working to promote education, science,
and academics in Armenia. Each year it awards a number of scholarships
to undergraduate students through its Mathevosian Scholarship program.
To promote study of the arts, FAR’s Maestro Arsen Sayan Scholarship
program aids students at Yerevan’s Komitas Conservatory of Music. The
FAR-run Ounjian School in Gyumri is an elementary through secondary
institution, which also offers college scholarships to its graduates.

“It is important for us to aid every level of study and research,” the
Primate said. “We need to support Armenians who are making strides to
better themselves, to improve the future of our homeland.”

— 11/23/04

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 Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of the Fund
for Armenian Relief (FAR), is presented with the Gold Medal, the highest
award of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, on November 8, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate speaks to members of Armenia’s National
Academy of Sciences and other academics during a ceremony presenting him
with the Academy’s highest honor, the Gold Medal, on November 8, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian, members of the Diocesan
Council, and staff from the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), at Armenia’s
National Academy of Sciences.

# # #

Daily News Tribune, MA
MetroWest Daily News, MA
Nov 16 2004

Hopkinton woman lived an eventful century

By David McLaughlin / News Staff Writer

HOPKINTON — Rose Vartanian, a survivor of the Armenian genocide as a
young girl who later ran a poultry farm with her husband in
Hopkinton, was remembered yesterday for her dedication to her family,
her love of hard work and her homemade yogurt.

Vartanian, who died Friday at 104, spoke six languages, played
three instruments and always cooked from scratch. She held
Hopkinton’s Boston Post Cane, presented to her in 2001 for being the
town’s oldest resident.

“She had such a long, full life. She was just so versatile and
did so many things,” said her grandson Dennis Robinson. “She was the
grand matriarch of the family, and everyone gravitated to her.”

Robinson, 58, said he would remember how much Vartanian loved
the beach. As a young man, he drove his grandmother from
Massachusetts to her winter home in Miami 12 times, three times
without stopping, while she gave him instructions all the way down to
Florida, he said.

Even at 93, he joked, she was driving from her home to the beach
and leaving a wake of accidents behind her.

“She lived everything to the fullest. She could go from being a
farmer to being totally dressed up,” he said.

Born in Armenia, Vartanian escaped the genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Empire. Between 1915 and 1923, more than 1 million
Armenians died, according to varying historical accounts. She and her
family bribed their way through checkpoints during their escape by
hiding gold coins in their belts and the hems of their dresses, said
George Robinson and Jeff Doherty, two of her other grandsons.

In 1921, Vartanian and her husband, Lazarous, moved to
Watertown, where he owned a variety store. The couple, who had an
arranged marriage, Doherty said, then bought 30 acres at the corner
of West Main and School streets in 1935 for their farm, Hilltop
Poultry Farm. Doherty said she sold all her gold jewelry to help buy
it.

“I learned how to cook, how to sew, how to clean just watching
my two grandmothers,” he said. “The most important thing I got from
this grandmother is her faith in God and that there is nothing that
can set you back.”

Vartanian’s grandsons said she lived so long because she ate
well, exercised and never smoke or drank alcohol. She disliked eating
in restaurants and preferred her own food, including her homemade
yogurt, and drank a spoonful of castor oil a day.

She loved God more than anything, then came family and work,
said George Robinson. She was a dancer and a singer and played the
accordion, mandolin and piano. Even after she moved into a Milford
nursing home, she kept playing the piano for people she lived with.

“She always had a song in her heart. She’d be sitting down in
the nursing home tapping her fingers to a song or humming a song,”
George Robinson said.

Vartanian leaves her daughters, Rose Smith, of Florida and New
Hampshire, Alice Reardon of Hopkinton, and Angel Doherty of
Hopkinton; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral service is scheduled for today at 11 a.m. at Chesmore
Funeral Home, 57 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton. Burial will follow in
Mount Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE
11 November 2004

Minister Oskanian Receives Heads of Policy Planning Departments of French
and German Foreign Ministries

On 11 November, Minister Vartan Oskanian received Political Director
of Germany’s Foreign Office Dr. Michael Schafer and French Deputy
Secretary General for Political and Security Affairs Stanislas Lefevre
de Laboulaye in the framework of their three-day visit to Armenia
following similar trips to Baku and Tbilisi.

This visit is the first time when a format including senior officials
of French and German foreign policy agencies is used in the context
of regional policy of these two EU axis states.

The discussion that evolved within political framework of The Wider
Europe and The New Neighborhood policy explored issues related to
increased level of interaction between the countries of the South
Caucasus and European Union and new opportunities offered by this
new EU policy.

The parties stressed the importance of France-Germany axis for the
success of this new EU policy and noted that this model could be
followed in the South Caucasus in pursuit of peaceful and civilized
co-existence in the region.

The parties further explored issues related to Armenia – Turkey
relations against the background of imminent negotiations for Turkey’s
accession.

The parties also discussed the current stage and issues of Nagorno
Karabagh conflict settlement. Minister Oskanian stressed Armenia’s
adherence to her commitment to settle the conflict through peaceful
negotiations and the country’s readiness to restart the negotiations
at any moment subject to reciprocal readiness of Azerbaijan.

On the same day, the Foreign Ministry hosted a round table with
participation of French-German delegation.