Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

KERRY VOWS TO CONTINUE HIS FIGHT AGAINST
THE DENIAL OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

— Reinforces Strong Pro-Genocide Recognition Stand
in Message to “Armenstock” Music Festival

“There can be no compromise on the
clear moral imperative to end genocide.”
– John Kerry, August 28, 2004

WASHINGTON, DC – In his strongest campaign statement to date on
Armenian issues, John Kerry publicly committed this weekend that a
Kerry-Edwards administration would “fight against the denial of the
Armenian Genocide,” reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

The strongly worded statement was read by a long-time friend of the
Armenian American community, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), at
the “Armenstock – Kef for Kerry” music festival on August 28th in
Franklin, Massachusetts. In the statement, Senator Kerry thanked
the “organizers of Armenstock, Armenians for Kerry and the Armenian
National Committee of America, for bringing so many Armenian
Americans together,” for the music festival. Joining Congressman
Frank in making presentations at the program were U.S.
Representative James McGovern (D-MA), who represents the Franklin
area, and State Representatives Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham) and
Rachel Kaprielian (D-Watertown). The all-day concert and rally in
celebration of the Kerry-Edwards campaign, attracted over eight
hundred Armenians to hear Armenian musicians and to kick-off a
nationwide voter mobilization and get-out-the-Armenian-vote
campaign for the fall of 2004. The program was produced by
“Armenians for Kerry” and Pomegranate Music Events –
For additional information, visit:

In his statement, Senator Kerry explained that it has been his
“privilege, over the past two decades, to work with the Armenian
community on important issues including U.S. recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, strengthening U.S.-Armenia relations and trade,
lifting the devastating blockades of Armenia and working for a fair
and lasting peace in Nagorno Karabagh.” He added that he is
“honored to have the endorsement of the ANCA,” and appreciates the
organization’s “work to encourage Armenian Americans around the
country to go to the polls in record numbers for the Kerry-Edwards
ticket on November 2nd.” The ANCA endorsed the Kerry-Edwards
ticket on July 25th of this year.

Speaking directly to concerns about the actions of a future Kerry-
Edwards administration, Senator Kerry said,” I want to assure you
that, as President, I will continue to fight against the denial of
the Armenian Genocide. My administration will recognize April 24,
2005 as the 90th Anniversary of this atrocity and will work to
ensure that the lessons of this crime against humanity are used to
prevent future genocides. There can be no compromise on the clear
moral imperative to end genocide.”

During his long tenure in the US House and Senate, Senator Kerry
has consistently been a leading advocate of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans. As a U.S. Senator, Kerry has forcefully fought
for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and is currently a
cosponsor of the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164. In 1990, Senator
Kerry voted on the Senate floor for Senator Bob Dole’s (R-KS)
Genocide Resolution.

The Massachusetts Senator has been a vocal and effective champion
of stronger U.S.-Armenia relations and has consistently backed
legislative initiative to increase aid and expand trade with
Armenia. He is currently a cosponsor of legislation, S.1557, which
would grant Armenia permanent normal trade relations status.

Senator Kerry has spearheaded a number of initiatives to lift the
Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. In 1991, he was the lead sponsor
of legislation, which was later enacted as Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act, restricting U.S. aid to the government of
Azerbaijan until its blockades of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh
are lifted. He also worked for the adoption of the Humanitarian Aid
Corridor Act, which called for US aid to Turkey to be cut off
unless Turkey lifted its blockade of Armenia. As recently as this
January, Senator Kerry formally called on President Bush to press
the visiting Prime Minister of Turkey to lift his nation’s illegal
blockade of Armenia.

For more information about the ANCA’s endorsement, visit:

For information about Armenians for Kerry, visit:

Complete coverage of Armenstock will be forthcoming. The full text
of the Kerry-Edwards statement is provided below.

#####

Letter from John Kerry to Armenstock Attendees:
August 28, 2004

I am sorry that I can’t join you today at Armenstock, and I want to
thank all of you – the organizers of Armenstock, Armenians for
Kerry and the Armenian National Committee of America – for bringing
so many Armenian Americans together today to help move America
forward.

I have been honored to represent tens of thousands of Armenian
Americans as a Massachusetts Senator. And I look forward to
representing hundreds of thousands of Armenian Americans as the
next President of the United States.

It has been my privilege, over the past two decades, to work with
the Armenian community on important issues including U.S.
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, strengthening U.S.-Armenia
relations and trade, lifting the devastating blockades of Armenia
and working for a fair and lasting peace in Nagorno Karabagh.

I am honored to have the endorsement of the ANCA. By bringing
together Armenian Americans from several states in the Northeast,
Armenstock is generating enthusiasm and inspiring political
involvement, especially among young Armenian Americans. I
appreciate your work to encourage Armenian Americans around the
country to go to the polls in record numbers for the Kerry-Edwards
ticket on November 2nd.

I want to assure you that, as President, I will continue to fight
against the denial of the Armenian Genocide. My administration
will recognize April 24, 2005 as the 90th Anniversary of this
atrocity and will work to ensure that the lessons of this crime
against humanity are used to prevent future genocides. There can
be no compromise on the clear moral imperative to end genocide.

Please accept my appreciation for all that you are doing for our
campaign, for our communities, and for our great nation.

Dogs of war? These men in shackles have been whipped into submission
By Raymond Whitaker in Malabo

Independent/UK
01 September 2004

Their wrists and feet shackled, the accused half-crawled, half-fell
out of the high four-wheel-drives that had delivered them to a garish
conference centre-turned courtroom in Equatorial Guinea’s capital.

The flashing lights, blaring sirens and escort of camouflage-clad
troops merely made the gaunt, grey crocodile of men, shuffling silently
through the rain in their T-shirts, shorts and rubber sandals, seem
more pathetic. If these were dogs of war, they had been whipped into
submission long ago.

Since their arrest on 8 March on charges of attempting to overthrow
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, eight former members of South Africa’s
apartheid-era special forces, six Armenian air crew and five local
men have been kept chained 24 hours a day in Malabo’s notorious Black
Beach prison.

Although their leader, Nick du Toit, faces a possible death sentence,
even he must have welcomed the start of their trial last week as an
escape from the uncertainty. But, yesterday, Mr du Toit and his 18
co-accused were thrust back into limbo.

Diplomats and lawyers gathering at the conference centre were expecting
yesterday’s hearing to be the last, with the defence team making
their final pleas before the three judges retired to consider their
verdict, possibly as early as Friday. But after a delay lasting well
over an hour, Equatorial Guinea’s Attorney General, Jose Olo Obono,
began by asking for the case to be suspended indefinitely. All the
proceedings were conducted in Spanish, the language of the country’s
former colonial rulers, but in the midst of the unfamiliar legalese,
the name “Mark Thatcher” could clearly be understood.

The defence objected that it would be inhumane to keep the alleged
mercenaries locked up in harsh conditions with no knowledge of when
they might be freed, but after an adjournment lasting only a couple
of minutes, the judges granted the suspension. Their spokesman, Judge
Salvador Ondo Ncumu, said the case had acquired an “international
dimension”, and it should not continue until investigations elsewhere
had been completed.

The misfortune for Mr du Toit and his colleagues is that two days after
their trial began last week, it was upstaged by the arrest in Cape
Town of Baroness Thatcher’s son. Even though the Equatorial Guinea
arrests coincided six months ago with the seizure of a planeload
of private soldiers in Zimbabwe, led by Simon Mann, an Old Etonian
former SAS officer, the affair generated only moderate international
interest until South Africa’s elite Scorpions crime-busters turned
up at Sir Mark’s mansion in Cape Town.

President Obiang’s regime, which wants to demonstrate the conspiracy
against him went to the highest levels, suddenly found it might be
able to land a much bigger fish. With Mr Thatcher under house arrest
in South Africa and Mr Mann on trial in Zimbabwe – he was convicted of
illegally attempting to buy arms, though the rest of the 90 arrested
with him were acquitted or found guilty of minor offences – the Malabo
case risked becoming a sideshow.

Equatorial Guinea wants Mr Thatcher and Mr Mann to be extradited
but it has received little encouragement from the South Africans or
the Zimbabweans.

Like Britain, South Africa refuses to send suspects to countries
that retain the death penalty, although it may allow lawyers from
Equatorial Guinea to question Sir Mark in Cape Town. But the whole
affair has already drawn more attention to this tropical dictatorship,
which consists of a few lush volcanic islands and a jungle-covered
strip of the African mainland, than it has enjoyed since the Spanish
loosened their grip in the 1960s.

President Obiang appears to be revelling in it. Yesterday he summoned
the foreign press for what turned out to be little more than an
opportunity for him to be photographed giving them an audience. The
men on trial, he told us, were “individuals without morals who
attempted a crime against our country which would have resulted in
blood being spilt”.

But since he deposed and executed his despotic uncle in 1979, the
President has been accused of spilling plenty of blood on his own
account, and even of eating the testicles of his murdered enemies to
imbibe their masculinity.

The accused were not in the courtroom to hear the debate that will
prolong their uncertainty. But a door to their holding room was ajar
as they were told the news, and one could see the looks of defeat
as they shuffled back out to the prison vehicles, a young soldier
clapping his hands to speed them up.

Mr Mico, their defence lawyer, said: “All the accused apart from Mr
du Toit have told me they were tortured.” Belinda du Toit, who says
her drawn, grey-bearded husband was once the same, ample shape as her,
looked on wondering when she would see him again.

AGBU PRESS OFFICE
55 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone (212) 319-6383
Fax (212) 319-6507
Email [email protected]
Webpage

PRESS RELEASE
Monday, August 30, 2004

AGBU SPONSORS KARABAKH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
CONTINUES TRADITION OF PROMOTING PERFORMING ARTS

New York, NY – As part of AGBU’s ongoing mission to promote and
preserve the Armenian heritage and to encourage cultural life in
Karabakh, AGBU, responding to the request of the Karabakh government,
has agreed to sponsor a Chamber Orchestra in Karabakh.

Consisting of 26 members, the Orchestra will initially be housed at
the Musical College is Karabakh’s capital of Stepanakert. At first,
the Karabakh Chamber Orchestra will operate as a string orchestra with
19 musicians and will eventually expand to include brass and drums. In
a show of support, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Armenian
Chamber Orchestra and the Serenade Chamber Orchestra will assist the
new Karabakh Orchestra with musical notes and publications. Rehearsals
are expected to commence in September 2004.

AGBU has long recognized the importance of the performing arts
throughout its history – in just the past year, the organization has
sponsored the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Armenia, the
production of Armenia State Opera’s “Anush” and Gayane Ballet, the
Zvart Operetta in California, and the special 100-year Aram
Khachaturian Anniversary tour with performances and lectures by Sahan
Arzruni.

“On behalf of the Central Board of AGBU, it is with a great sense of
pride and enthusiasm that we engage in this project to advance the
government’s call for cultural programs and revival,” said AGBU
President Berge Setrakian. “We look forward to the Chamber’s
successful debut,” Setrakian continued.

With the addition of the Chamber Orchestra, AGBU’s presence in
Karabakh continues to grow. In fact, AGBU recently opened an office
in Stepanakert to oversee its numerous projects including: the
AGBU-launched Norashen Centennial Project, which is currently helping
to rebuild and repopulate Karabakh; and the reconstruction of a
building to house the widows and veterans of the Karabakh war, as well
as Stepanakert School # 7, among others projects.

AGBU ( is the largest international, non-profit Armenian
organization in the world, and is dedicated to preserving and
promoting the Armenian heritage and culture through humanitarian,
educational, cultural and social programs that serve some 400,000
Armenians annually.

The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney, Australia)
August 29, 2004 Sunday

Cocky attitude a threat to title

by Grantlee Kieza

THE supreme confidence of Australian boxer Vic Darchinyan is his only
danger going into the IBF world flyweight title fight in Florida on
Saturday.

That’s the opinion of the powerful southpaw’s trainer Jeff Fenech,
who won three world titles himself and sees a similar future for the
2000 Olympian.

Darchinyan, 28, fights undefeated Colombian world champion Irene
Pacheco, 33, at the Seminole Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on
Saturday afternoon (AEST) and has been training for two weeks in Los
Angeles with Fenech and world super-middleweight champ Danny Green.

Born in Armenia, he has lived in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics and
is undefeated in 21 fights with 16 knockouts.

“Vic has been sparring some great fighters in LA,” Fenech said.

“He has gone in with Orlando Salido, who fights for the world
featherweight title in a couple of weeks, and he has boxed with IBF
super-bantamweight champ Israel Vasquez and the Hawaiian Olympian
Brian Viloria.

“He looks tremendous in sparring but my only fear is that he’s going
to be too confident against Pacheco and try to take his head off in
the first round.

“I’ve told Vic that he has to give Pacheco the utmost respect as a
great champion who has never lost and has held the title for five
years.

“Our tactics will be to put pressure on Pacheco from round one and
just wear him down constantly with body shots.”

The Straits Times, Singapore
Aug 26 2004

Wooing the stork: No easy solutions across the world
By Joseph Chamie

‘SWEETIE, please have a baby!’ No, this is not the gentle plea of a
would-be father or eager grandparent-to-be. It is the appeal of a
growing number of governments concerned with the consequences of low
birth rates.

Today, in one country out of three, fertility is below two children
per woman, the level necessary to ensure stable population numbers,
or, in the term preferred by demographers, the ‘replacement’ of
generations. In some countries, such as Armenia, Italy, South Korea
and Japan, average fertility levels are now closer to one child per
woman.

In the absence of immigration, when fertility remains below the
two-child replacement level long enough, a population shrinks and
ages. This is the projected future for most low-fertility countries.

In a couple of generations, for example, the Italian population is
projected to be 20 per cent smaller than it is today, with the
working age population (15-64 years) shrinking by some 40 per cent.
It is not difficult to imagine the social and economic consequences
of such a drastic change.

The picture for Europe as a whole is not much different than Italy’s.
By mid-century, Europe’s population is projected to be 13 per cent
smaller, with the working age population declining by 27 per cent,
and the median age increasing by a third, reaching 50 years.

Population decline and ageing is also in the future for Japan,
Singapore and South Korea. In contrast, Australian and Canadian
populations, which also have below-replacement fertility levels, and
the United States, which has fertility near replacement, are expected
to continue growing throughout the century – a trend due largely to
immigration.

Many governments view low birth rates, with the resulting population
decline and ageing, to be a serious crisis, jeopardising the basic
foundations of the nation and threatening its survival. Economic
growth, defence, and pensions and health care for the elderly, for
example, are all areas of major concern.

While population decline has been an issue in the past, today’s
concerns are more widespread, involving virtually all regions of the
world. Also, these concerns have extended over a lengthy period of
time and consequences have become progressively evident to gov-
ernments as well as the general public. In addition, the problem of
below-replacement fertility is spreading rapidly.

Why are birth rates falling? With expanding opportunities for higher
education, careers and economic independence, combined with highly
effective contraception, young women are postponing – or altogether
avoiding – motherhood.

In many parts of Europe, for example, more than 10 per cent of women
in their early 40s are childless. In Finland, Germany, Italy and the
Netherlands, the number approaches 20 per cent.

Moreover, for women choosing to have children, the average age at
first birth has risen in most low fertility countries. Today, that
average is in the late 20s, with many women having their first child
in their early 30s.

Postponing the first birth often translates into fewer subsequent
births. The end result: an average family with fewer than two
children.

The responses governments can take to raise fertility rates closer to
replacement levels may be grouped into seven broad categories.

The first category relates to restricting or limiting access to
contraception and abortion. While most countries have policies
regulating the use of contraception and abortion, however, few
governments are prepared to ban their usage in order to raise
fertility levels.

A second category of options focuses on limiting the education of
girls, employment of women and the broader participation of women in
society. Here again, few, if any, countries are prepared to take such
steps in order to encourage childbearing.

A third set of measures centres on promoting marriage, childbearing
and parenting through various means, including public relations
campaigns and matchmaking services. Many public relations campaigns
promote the vital role of maternity and motherhood, stressing that
women are making a valuable contribution to the welfare of the family
and societal development.

These campaigns have been especially prominent among a number of East
Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea and Singapore. For
example, a recently launched campaign by the South Korean government
has the slogan: ‘Let’s Have One More Kid.’

The most recent example comes from Singapore, where the Government
launched a drive to give a package of incentives for childbirth.

MODEST EFFECT ON FERTILITY

A FOURTH category of pro-natalist measures aims at transferring some
of the costs and activities related to childbearing and child-rearing
from the parents to the larger community. Examples of these policies
include cash bonuses and/or recurrent cash supplements for births or
dependent children, infant and childcare facilities, as well as
pre-school and after-school care facilities. Recently, payments of
cash bonuses for the birth of a child (or additional child) have been
popular in such countries as France and Italy, at 800 euros (S$1,700)
and 1,000 euros, respectively.

A fifth set of policies aims primarily at helping women balance work
and family responsibilities. These include maternity leave, part-time
work, flexible working hours, working at home, and nurseries and day
care at the office. In addition to the financial costs, such measures
are often difficult to implement, due to resistance from employers as
well as the reluctance of some women to interrupt their careers.

In parallel, a sixth category of policies is aimed primarily at men.
These policies are intended to increase the involvement of men in
activities that have been traditionally considered the realm of women
(for example, parenting, family maintenance and household chores).

Although these measures include paternity leave, the principal
emphasis of this category of measures is to encourage husbands to
share in the rearing of children. Here again, such policies are
difficult to implement, both for economic and cultural reasons,
especially among countries where gender roles tend to be more rigidly
defined.

A seventh category of policy measures centres on financial, political
and legal preferences to couples with children. This includes
granting parents priorities or assistance in securing mortgages,
loans, low-cost or subsidised housing, welfare assistance, increased
pensions, government services and benefits.

More recently, some governments are considering changes in the
political system in order to be more responsive to the needs and
concerns of couples with children. For example, granting extra voting
rights to the parents of minor children, as is being discussed in
Austria, may provide an opposing counterweight to the increasing
political strength of elderly voters.

Will government policies, incentives and various other pro-natalist
measures be sufficient to raise birth rates to replacement levels?

Taking into account the considerable social, economic and political
constraints, the policies most governments will be able to offer may
have only a modest – and temporary – effect on raising fertility. It
also seems likely that fertility may increase somewhat above the very
low rates of today as the lowering effect of postponing childbearing
runs its course over the coming years.

Nevertheless, current and foreseeable efforts available to most
governments to raise their fertility rates seem highly unlikely to
succeed, at least for the near term. In other words, a government
appeal to Sweetie to have a baby is unlikely to reverse the trend any
time soon – even with a little sugar on it.

The writer is the director of the Population Division, Department of
Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations. Rights: YaleGlobal
Online,

ARMY TO LOSE ITS ROLE IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF TURKEY

Azg/am
21 Aug 04

The importance of the Turkish army in the political life of the
country is out of doubt. Having assumed the role of a guarantee for
secular and republican order it also controls the legislative and
executive powers of the country. The National Security Council,
having more military than civil members, became the means of
supervision.

In other words, the president, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
foreign and home ministers oppose the head of the supreme
headquarters, commanders of the land, marine and air forces. The first
deputy of the supreme headquarters is also the secretary general of
the National Security Council.

The National Security Council was the body that discussed and made
decisions on issues like Turkey and the EU, the Cyprus issue, the
Kurdish issue as well as the issues of Armenian-Turkish relations and
the Karabakh conflict.

Though the Turkish policy towards all these issues of national
importance remained unchanged with the Justice and Progress party
coming into power, the role of the National Security Council reduced
as another major power, the EU, with its demands emerged. The discord
between Erdogan’s government and the supreme headquarters grew worse.

Though the pressure from the EU didn’t result in the dissolving of the
Council, there were created preconditions for considering its
staff. As a result of this the number of civilians in the Council
multiplied, two more ministers were included and the military
secretary general was replaced by a diplomat.

The former Turkish ambassador to Greece Mehmed Yighit Alpogan became
the new secretary general. On its August 19 publication the Turkish
Vakit writes that the president Ahmed Naced Sezer confirmed his
appointment.

This refill of the National Security Council with civil members
supposes weakening of military forces in its structure. We can
conclude that the supervision over the legislative and executive
powers will reduce, as the National Security Council was the main body
of control for the army. Now Erdogan will have more freedom to act
apart from the army. The initiative in national issues will pass to
executive power now, which will not have the backing of the army any
more.

By Hakob Chakrian

SOLEMN OPENING OF “ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” FIRST PAN-ARMENIAN
CULTURAL FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE ON AUGUST 15

YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). On August 15, the solemn opening of
the “One Nation, One Culture” first Pan-Armenian cultural festival
took place in the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after
A.Spendiarian. RA President Robert Kocharian, Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II, Vardan Oskanian, RA Foreign Minister, Hovik
Hoveyan, RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, and other officials
were present at the ceremony. Numerous well-known cultural workers
from France, Austria, Great Britain, the US, Syria, Lebanon, Iran,
Turkey, Russia were also taking part in opening of the festival.

Greeting the participants of the festival, V.Oskanian mentioned that
the “One Nation, One Culture” festival is a historic event. Quoting
the words of the President, he emphasized: “Every generation living in
its homeland or the Diaspora should newly reveal the depth and wealth
of one united culture of the national originality of his origin,
should be newly filled with aesthetic and moral spirit of national and
human real values.” The State Dance Ensemble of Armenia and the
“Barekamutiun” ensemble, dudukist Jivan Gasparian, RA People’s Artist
Gegham Grigorian, singers Hasmik Papian, Hasmik Hatsagortsian,
Svetlana Navasardian, Ruben Matevosian, actors Vladimir Abajian,
Hovhannes Babakhanian, Zhenia Avetisian and other well-known Armenian
art workers performed at the concert that followed the opening of the
festival.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Communications Officer
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 12, 2004
___________________

Week of August 6 to August 12, 2004
* * *

SUNDAY IS THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

This Sunday (8/15) is one of the five tabernacle feast days of the Armenian
Church: the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God. The story
of the Assumption, preserved in extra-Scriptural tradition, tells how St.
Mary was taken up in body and soul into heaven, after having completed her
life on earth. This was a special courtesy performed by Christ many years
after His Ascension, out of love for the mother who bore and raised Him.

For more on St. Mary, resources to help teach your children about this
feast, and a description of the “Blessing of the Grapes” tradition that
accompanies the feast day, click to our website:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 8/11/04)
* * *

PRIMATE HEADS TO BELLEVILLE THIS WEEKEND

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), will be in Belleville, IL, at the Holy Virgin Mary
and Shoghagat Church. He will celebrate the Divine Liturgy (starting at
10:00 a.m.) and ordain Mark Marifian as a tbir on Sunday (8/15) before
taking part in the “Blessing of the Grapes” service. The church is located
at 400 Huntwood Rd., in Belleville, IL.

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 8/11/04)
* * *

EUROPE REFUSES TO LABEL SUDAN MASSACRES AS “GENOCIDE”

On Monday (8/9), the European Union said the mass murders, rape, and
burning of villages in the Darfur region of the Sudan should not be
classified as “genocide”. Critics say the finding underlines Europe’s
reluctance to intervene in the ongoing violence. European officials did
acknowledge that there is “”widespread, silent and slow killing and village
burning of a fairly large scale.” However, no nation is yet willing to
send troops to stop the violence and if it were deemed a genocide, United
Nations rules would require them to act to end the slaughter.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously voted to
designate as “genocide” the violence in Sudan which has lead to the deaths
of 30,000 people and the displacement of one million.

The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America has been working with
ecumenical groups in urging American political and media leaders to
strongly affirm that the campaign of mass killing is indeed a
genocide. The Primate will issue a parish directive to that effect in the
coming week.

To read about the Eastern Diocese’s effort to bring light to the Darfur
genocide, go to our website:
;selmonth=8&selyear04

(Source: The Guardian, 8/10/04)
* * *

HOLY ETCHMIADZIN OPENS NEWLY RENOVATED SEMINARY

Last Thursday (8/5), the newly renovated Gevorkian Theological Seminary of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin was re-opened during a ceremony presided
over by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. Present for the opening ceremonies were hundreds of clergy and
faithful, including Kevork and Sirvart Hovnanian, who sponsored the
year-long construction and renovation work on the historic building. (Mr.
Hovnanian is chairman of the Fund for Armenian Relief and the Armenian
Church Endowment Fund.)

Speaking at the opening celebration was Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Eastern Diocese, who told of the unique role the Gevorkian
Seminary plays in the preparation of young clergymen, noting that it has an
irreplaceable duty in guaranteeing the future of the Armenian Church.
Currently, more than 300 seminarians study at the school, which was founded
in 1874 by Catholicos of All Armenians Gevork IV.

(Source: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 8/7/04)
* * *

LEARN ARMENIAN

Preserve your heritage — and have a lot of fun — this fall by taking an
Armenian language course. Classes aren’t just for kids; many parishes have
adult classes at nights or on the weekends. And classes are for everyone:
beginners who can’t say “parev” or more skilled speakers who want to learn
to read. Check with your local parish today to see if it offers Armenian
classes. For a list of parishes, click to our website:

If you’re in the New York City metro area, the Diocese is offering 15 weeks
of classes on Wednesday nights starting September 22. For more information
click here:

TEACH ARMENIAN

If you speak Armenian, volunteer in your parish to be a teacher. Or, if
your parish doesn’t have an Armenian language class, start one! You can
pass on your love for your culture and make new friends. Call your parish
pastor or chairman today to volunteer your time and skills. You don’t have
to be an expert to be a teacher, just be energetic about sharing your love
of Armenian.

To volunteer, call your parish or contact Sylva der Stepanian, coordinator
of Armenina studies at the Diocese, by e-mailing
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected].

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 8/9/04)
* * *

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS HEADED TO DIOCESE

Starting Sunday (8/15), a dozen Sunday School teachers from throughout the
Diocese will be in New York City for the Mardigian Institute, a special
one-week session focusing on educational plans and resources. The
participants in the free program will learn from experts during workshops
at the Diocesan Center and spend time studying at St. Nersess Armenian
Seminary. For more on the program, click to our website:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 8/11/04)
# # #

Centre for Public Opinion and Democracy, Canada
Aug 10 2004

Armenians Plead For New Economic Policies

(CPOD) Aug. 10, 2004 – Many citizens of Armenia are unhappy with the
way their elected officials are pursuing financial strategies,
according to a poll by the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS). 48.4 per cent of respondents believe
their government is not pursuing an economic policy that supports the
development of enterprise and investments.

Armenia’s national currency – the dram – has gained strength in the past
few months. While Central Bank officials believe the fluctuation is a
result of incoming United States dollars, finance and economy
minister Vardan Khachatrian admitted that the phenomenon could be the
result of speculation.

Most Armenians would like to boost their country’s financial profile.
32.6 per cent of respondents believe the country should pursue closer
economic ties with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) – a
coalition encompassing 12 former Soviet republics – while 13.9 per cent
favour cooperation with the European Union (EU).

President Robert Kocharyan was re-elected to a new four-year term in
March 2003 in an election marred by fraud allegations.

Polling Data

Do you think Armenian authorities pursue an economic policy that
supports the development of enterprise and investments?

Yes
22.0%

No
48.4%

Difficult to answer
28.6%

In your view, Armenia should have the closest economic relations
with…

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
32.6%

European Union (EU) member states
13.9%

Countries of the region, including Turkey,
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran
7.0%

Countries of the American continent,
particularly the United States and Canada.
2.7%

All of them
35.3%

Source: Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS)
Methodology: Interviews with 1,127 Armenian adults, conducted from
Jun. 20 to Jul. 12, 2004. No margin of error was provided.

Albawaba Middle East News, Middle East
Aug 8 2004

Elham Shaheen loves taking on good challenges

Prominent Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen was chosen to head the
committee to judge movies in the Rabat Film festival held in the
Moroccan city of Rabat. Movies from all over the world participated
in the festival like France, Russia, Armenia, Algeria, Morocco,
Senegal, South Africa and many others. Elham added that participating
in such events enables her to see other cultures and watch different
ways of making movies, which gives her more experience in the
industry.

According to the Egyptian based daily, Al Ahram, Elham expressed her
happiness to be chosen for such an important event and commented that
the films competing were overall very good. The movie that won the
prize for this year was Armenian.

Elham revealed that it was very hard to decide the wining film
because all the movies were done professionally and every judge had
his point of view and tendency but after a long discussion they gave
the grand prize to Armenia.

About the Egyptian movies, Elham said that she noticed the bad
quality of movies that dominated the market lately but she also said
that this phenomenon is going to fade and many good movies are now
being made like `Sahar El Layali, Ahla Alawqat, Hub Albanat’.

Elham said that the Egyptian movie AHla Alawqat was very good and the
panel had a problem deciding to whom to give the prize to then they
agreed to give Tunisian actress Hind Sabri an award for best actress.

The movie `Khali Min Elkolistrol’ (Cholesterol Free) was Elham’s last
film experience. The actress revealed that she is very bold in
choosing her roles and loves challenges in her career which lead her
to taking risks and accepting different parts.

Elham is currently working on her role in the television drama series
`Bint Afandina’ where she performs the role of a poor girl who goes
from rags to riches during the period from the thirties till the
sixties. About her future projects she is doing a movie entitled
`Reesh Na3am’ directed by Khaled Yousef. -Albawaba.com