Author: Vanyan Gary

New iron curtain divides Europe over Bush

Guardian, UK
28 Oct. 2004

In the run up to the US election EducationGuardian.co.uk will be asking
the UK’s leading academic experts on US politics to deliver their
verdict on the repercussions across the world of defeat or victory for
George W Bush. First up, Donald MacLeod looks at Europe

Wednesday October 27, 2004

In Europe the impact of next week’s presidential election will be felt
directly – the countries of “old” and “new” Europe will react very
differently to the result – and indirectly on the EU’s relations with
the middle east, central Asia and Africa.
Emil Kirchner, professor of European studies at Essex University, sees
the possibility of a surprising amount of cooperation in a second Bush
term – but also the potential for even deeper splits, notably over
Iran.

Europe is divided over President George W Bush, with the “new Europe”
of former Soviet bloc countries like Poland and the Baltic states much
more favourably disposed towards him than France, Germany and (since
this year’s election) Spain.

The European security strategy adopted at a summit last September is
clearly at odds with the Bush policy of pre-emptive force, Professor
Kirchner points out. Europe’s recipe for dealing with conflict is
“pre-emptive engagement” – the use of diplomatic, economic and
political tools to head off conflict rather than getting your
retaliation in first. Iraq is the most glaring example of how the US
and its European allies – apart from Britain of course – have fallen
out over this. “Europeans would feel there would be continuous clashes
with Bush at the helm unless he learns from Iraq and changes policy.”

He may learn something different from Iraq, of course. If, as expected,
Colin Powell steps down from the State Department, the influence of
Donald Rumsfeld and the vice-president, Dick Cheney, could grow and a
successful assault on Faluga might reinforce their belief that force is
working and could be applied to Iran, the other member of the “axis of
evil”. The question of how to deal with Iran could strain relations
with Europe further. Even Tony Blair would find his loyalty stretched
if a future Bush administration opted for military measures there.

Professor Kirchner doubts whether president John Kerry would change
policy radically but he would be viewed more favourably. “At least
there would be a feeling that we have a fresh start and we’re not
dealing with the same adversary.”

In his view Kerry would try for a more multilateral approach but he
would be unlikely to back the Kyoto agreement on global warming or the
international criminal court. Professor Kirchner, who has lived and
taught in the US, adds: “I don’t think the American character will
change. The 9/11 attacks have done something to their psyche that will
carry on for some time.”

It’s not clear whether the Poles and other east Europeans are pro-Bush
or simply pro-American, and in any case their involvement in Iraq could
have repercussions on the incumbent president’s popularity there, he
says. Professor Kirchner does not see the fractured state of Europe
being healed by the new constitution, even if it is adopted, but by
growing prosperity.

“Europe has always delivered economically. If it can do that
sufficiently for the new countries they will come around much more to a
kind of shared understanding and similar values. The ethos of the EU is
peaceful coexistence.”

When it comes to the admission of Turkey to the EU, the US has always
been strongly in favour because it fits with its policy in the middle
east; that won’t change under Kerry. What is changing, argues Professor
Kirchner, is the attitude of Germany and France. Joschka Fischer, the
German foreign minister, has spoken strongly in favour of Turkey as a
secular state that could bridge Islam and Europe and Jacques Chirac has
been making similar noises. With the UK broadly in favour, Professor
Kirchner argues Italy will fall into line. Beyond Turkey, Europe’s
attempts to build partnerships with the kingdoms of the middle east and
achieve a settlement in Palestine will become even more important – but
a potential source of argument with the US.

Europe’s borders have shifted to the east and Turkey would bring it
into contact with the states of the Caucasus like Georgia and Armenia,
and with central Asia.

“The Americans understand there is a rough division of labour if the EU
gets involved in the Caucasus and central Asia – that’s burden-sharing.
Take Afghanistan – the Europeans are running the peace-building
programme,” notes Professor Kirchner, who concludes that Germany is
still anti-war but behind the scenes is prepared to work with the US.

“I think there will be more of a division of labour emerging in the
next four years, certainly under Kerry but even under Bush – but there
are still the risk of rupture points, especially Iran.” In November the
issue of Iran’s nuclear programme comes to the UN and if Bush is in
belligerent mood that would provoke a deeper split with Europe.

· The University of Essex is holding a one-day conference on the
European constitutional treaty next Wednesday November 3 at the Moot
Hall, Colchester. The public, including school and college students,
are welcome. Contact [email protected]

· Tomorrow: Polly Curtis looks at how the outcome of the US election
will impact in Asia.

–Boundary_(ID_mUJCHtzElZ0xYMFypje3Mg)–

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 21 2004

USA SUPPORTS PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNY
KARABAKH CONFLICT
[October 22, 2004, 11:30:05]

Foreign minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov met US
aide to Secretary of State for Europe and Asia affairs ambassador Ms.
Lora Kennedy, 21 October.

Expressing confidence that the visits of the US representatives will
play positive role in gaining comprehensive knowledge on Azerbaijan,
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated that the US-Azerbaijan relations
are developing successfully in all fields and expressed hope these
relations would acquire higher level due to joint efforts in the
years coming.

Ms. Lora Kennedy said she adheres expansion of relations with
Azerbaijan, which is strategic partner of her country, and these
relations should certainly acquire higher level in future.
Underlining that the United States supports economic projects
promoting development of Azerbaijan and peaceful settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, said that the OSCE
Minsk Group is keen in solution of this problem. Representative of
the Department of State expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s
participation in global combat against terror, saying, the US
government has given high assessment to the role of Azerbaijani
militaries in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov emphasized that partnership with
the United States is of great importance for the country and as a
sign of this partnership he named the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects especially stating that the necessary
efforts would be made for realization of transportation of the
Azerbaijani gas to the European markets through the said gas
pipeline. Also noting the necessity of quick resolution to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict threatening economic
and political stability in Azerbaijan, the Minister has called the US
to be more active in this process as one of the co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group. The Minister expressed hope that US would hold fair
position related to illegal inhabiting of the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan by Armenia. Elmar Mammadyarov stated that, as a part of
Europe, Azerbaijan would carry out the democratic reforms and
henceforth on the base of international legal norms.

Also were discussed other questions of mutual interest.

Forward, NY
Oct 21 2004

Church Flap In Jerusalem: Bad Blood – And Saliva
By Eric J. Greenberg
October 22, 2004

It has been Jerusalem’s dirty little secret for decades: Orthodox
yeshiva students and other Jewish residents vandalizing churches and
spitting on Christian clergyman as they walk along the narrow,
ancient stone streets of the Old City.

Now, however, following a highly publicized fracas last week between
a yeshiva student and the archbishop of Jerusalem’s Armenian Church,
the issue is generating unprecedented media attention in Israel. The
fight started after a yeshiva student at the respected Har Hamor
yeshiva spat on Archbishop Nourhan Manougian during a Christian holy
procession in the Old City.

In the wake of the incident, a top Armenian Church official told the
Forward that his church is calling on the Israeli government and on
rabbis around the world to help put a stop to the offensive,
decades-long abuse.

“These ultra-Orthodox Jews are the ones causing this scandal, those
that live here in our neighborhood and the ones that come visit the
Western Wall,” said the church official, Aris Shirvanian, in a phone
interview Monday. He spoke from the patriarchate’s world headquarters
in the Armenian Quarter, one of the famed four quarters of the Old
City of Jerusalem.

“We would like to see the authorities… become more strict with the
offenders,” said Shirvanian, director of ecumenical and foreign
relations of the Armenian Patriarchate. “We would also ask rabbis to
get involved in educating this one sector of the Jewish society.”

Har Hamor is one of the leading institutions of religious Zionism,
Israel’s equivalent of Modern Orthodoxy. Most sources interviewed for
this article suggested that the abusive practices were more common in
the ultra-Orthodox or Haredi community, which is characterized by
greater insularity.

The controversy comes as the Israeli government and Diaspora Jewish
organizations have been viewed for this article suggested that the
abusive practices were more common in the ultra-Orthodox or Haredi
community, which is characterized by greater insularity. But sources
told the Forward that the pratice has recently been picked up by
other segments of the Orthodox world, including visiting American
yeshiva students.

The controversy comes as the Israeli government and Diaspora Jewish
organizations have been attempting to focus international attention
on what they describe as a surge in antisemitism across the globe.
Beyond potentially undermining these efforts, the reports of
anti-Christian harassment could weaken Israel’s claim to be an
effective guardian of Christian and Muslim rights in Jerusalem.

“Protection of everything sacred to other religions is one of the
justifications for Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem, whose
legitimacy will be undermined if this spitting becomes prevalent,”
said a former Israeli chief rabbi, Israel Meir Lau. Lau condemned the
harassment, and warned that such incidents could fuel antisemitism
outside of Israel.

Besides the Armenian rite, clergy of other Christian churches have
been targeted, Shirvanian said. “This is not happening only to
Armenian clergy, but also to the Catholics, Syrians, Romanians and
Greek Orthodox.”

Following the incident involving Manougian, numerous Israeli
government officials and Jewish religious and organizational leaders
have stepped forward to condemn the acts.

Interior Minister Avraham Poraz called the yeshiva students’ behavior
“intolerable,” and asked Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra to
“take all the necessary steps to prevent these incidents in the
future.”

The chairman of the Knesset’s Interior and Environment Committee,
Yuri Stern, said the incidents resulted from ignorance and stupidity.
He called for changes in how Christianity is taught in Israeli
schools.

Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupoliansky, the city’s first ultra-Orthodox
chief executive, announced that he would appoint an adviser to deal
with the problem of Jewish harassment of religious minorities in
Jerusalem and to provide recommendations to improve interfaith
relations in the city.

According to Shirvanian, church officials are frequently subjected to
spitting, from yeshiva students as well as from ultra-Orthodox women
and young children. He said ultra-Orthodox Jews also throw garbage on
church doorsteps and break windows at churches and at Christian
homes.

Daniel Rossing, a former adviser on Christian affairs at Israel’s
Religious Affairs Ministry, said there has been an increase in the
number of such incidents recently, “as part of a general atmosphere
of lack of tolerance in the country.”

“I know Christians who lock themselves indoors during the entire
Purim holiday” for fear of being attacked by Jews, said Rossing, now
the director of a Jerusalem center for Christian-Jewish dialogue.

A spate of recent incidents has been reported in the press:

– A few weeks ago, an elderly man wearing a yarmulke spat on a senior
Greek Orthodox cleric who was entering a government office in
Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul section.

– Stars of David were spray-painted on the entrance to the Monastery
of the Cross, not far from the Knesset. The Holy Trinity Russian
Orthodox Cathedral, near Jerusalem police headquarters in the
so-called Russian Compound in downtown Jerusalem, suffered similar
vandalism.

– Officials at a church located near several yeshivas complained that
the students were watching them through binoculars and making
offensive gestures when they passed by. Churches located in several
Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem complained that neighbors had
thrown garbage into their yards.

The Armenian call for action comes several days after Manougian was
spat upon while leading a procession marking the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City.

In response, Manougian slapped the yeshiva student, Natan Zvi
Rosenthal, 21, a resident of Beersheva. During the ensuing brawl
Manougian’s cross medallion, worn by Armenian archbishops since the
17th century, was damaged.

Police questioned both men. The Jerusalem District Court barred
Rosenthal from entering the Old City for 75 days.

Israel’s failure to impose a harsher penalty drew sharp criticism
from Manougian. “When there is an attack against Jews anywhere in the
world, the Israeli government is incensed,” the patriarch was quoted
as saying. “So why, when our religion and pride are hurt, don’t they
take harsher measures?”

Rosenthal later apologized to Manougian during a special meeting at
Jerusalem police headquarters late last week. In apologizing, he said
he had been raised to view Christianity as idol worship, which is
forbidden by the Torah.

Shirvanian later said the church had accepted Rosenthal’s apology, as
required by its religious tenets. “We had to forgive him in the
Christian spirit,” Shirvanian said, adding that the church now favors
canceling Rosenthal’s punishment.

On Sunday, Israel’s Knesset held an emergency meeting and launched an
investigation into the apparently rising level of assaults against
Christian clergy and churches.

But by then, the incident was reverberating throughout the world,
with more stories in the Israeli press of harassment and vandalism
directed by Orthodox Jews against several denominations.

Even as the Knesset’s Interior and Environment Committee was
interviewing Christian leaders and Jerusalem officials, a 6-year-old
Haredi boy spat on a young Armenian priest, Shirvanian told the
Forward.

In keeping with a long-standing approach, the church did not report
the second spitting incident to the police. “When a little boy and
little girl do this, they are being taught by their parents,”
Shirvanian said. “Shall we punish them? It’s more a matter of
educating them and educating the adults.”

The spitting on priests has been occurring “since the unification of
Jerusalem in 1967,” Shirvanian said.

Scholars contacted by the Forward cited several ancient rabbinic
sources as potential sources of anti-Christian attitudes.

At least one talmudic passage advises Jews to say pejorative things
when passing the homes or graves of idolators, and while most
rabbinic authorities have denied Christianity was intended, some
medieval commentators seem to suggest that some Jews viewed it that
way, presumably reflecting Jewish resentment of Christian
persecution.

Shirvanian said the Armenian church has generally “tried to ignore”
the spitting incidents. He said most Christians do not report the
incidents to the police because the authorities ignore them. “They
just take the reports and of course, they release the offenders.”

A Jerusalem police spokesman, Gil Kleiman, said that before the
recent altercation involving the Armenian patriarch, it had been two
years since the police handled a spitting incident.

Kleiman confirmed that Christian clergy complain the harassment is
frequent. But it took the attack on the Armenian leader to transform
the matter into a public issue and national embarrassment.

Shmuel Evyatar, a former adviser on Christian affairs to the mayor of
Jerusalem, called the situation “a huge disgrace,” adding that most
of the instigators are yeshiva students studying in the Old City who
view the Christian religion with disdain. “I’m sure the phenomenon
would end as soon as rabbis and well-known educator denounce it. In
practice, rabbis of yeshivas ignore or even encourage it,” he said.

Rabbis from the Har Hamor yeshiva said that Rosenthal was the first
student at their institution to be charged with such an offense. They
said that they educate their students to be courteous to others and
expressed regret over the spitting incident.

Rabbi Avi Shafran, a spokesman for Agudath Israel of America, the
leading advocacy organization of ultra-Orthodox Judaism here, said he
was unfamiliar with assaults on Christians and his organization has
no role to play in stopping the harassment.

“Were something of the sort to occur in the United States, our
rabbinic leadership would likely address the issue,” Shafran said.
“Since, though, the incident and the accusation of more widespread
abuse have taken place in Israel, our rabbis would leave any response
to the incident and to the demands of Armenian clergymen to the
rabbinic leaders in the Holy Land.”

Another American organization, the Anti-Defamation League, is
speaking out on the issue. The ADL sent a letter to Israel’s two
chief rabbis, urging them to take quick and forceful action.

Rabbi David Rosen, the Jerusalem-based international director of
interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee, said his
Christian counterparts are “extremely upset” over the recent
incidents. At the same time, he added that “they are also content, in
a way, that the matter is now being taken seriously by the Israeli
authorities.”

Russia, Armenia considering cargo shipments by Caspian Sea
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 14, 2004 Thursday

YEREVAN, October 14 — Russia and Armenia are looking into the
possibility of using the maritime route between Astrakhan in the
delta of the Volga and the Iranian Caspian port of Enzeli for cargo
shipments, alternative to land haulage across the Russian-Georgian
border, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said here Thursday.

As he addressed a news conference upon the end of talks in Yerevan,
Levitin quoted experts as saying the Caspian route is “shorter and
less expensive”.

“For this, we’ll have to settle some formalities with the Iranians,”
he indicated.

He also mentioned the closure of the Verkny Lars border-crossing post
on the Russian-Georgian state border.

“The goal of the measures underway there is to deny the entry to the
cars and people, who may do things like that ones that occurred in
Beslan,” Levitin said.

“But this will not affect in any way the cargos and people that have
nothing to do with terrorism,” he said.

That is why a decision was taken a few days ago to open Verkhny Lars
again, he indicated.

The automobile jam has been liquidated by now,” Levitin said.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Ottobre 12, 2004

MO: GERUSALEMME, ZELOTA SPUTA SU CROCE VESCOVO ARMENO / ANSA ;
HAARETZ DENUNCIA, CRESCONO EPISODI INTOLLERANZA IN CITTA’ SANTA

GERUSALEMME

(Di Francesco Cerri)

(ANSA) – GERUSALEMME, 12 OTT – E’ una “vergogna per
Gerusalemme”, afferma in un editoriale il quotidiano liberal
israeliano Haaretz che oggi dedica anche un articolo in prima
pagina dal titolo ‘I cristiani di Gerusalemme vogliono che gli
ebrei smettano di sputare su di loro” all’aggressione subita
dal vescovo armeno della Citta’ Santa, oltraggiato da un
giovane zelota estremista.

L’episodio che ha fatto infuriare i giornalisti di Haaretz,
l’ultimo ma non il solo, e’ avvenuto domenica nel quartiere
armeno, uno dei quattro che compongono (con quelli musulmano,
ebreo e cristiano) la citta’ vecchia di Gerusalemme. Durante la
tradizionale processione della Esaltazione della Sacra Croce
della comunita’ armena, guidata dal vescovo Nourhan Manougian,
un giovane studente ebreo ultra-ortodosso si e’ avvicinato e ha
sputato sull’antica croce – del 17mo secolo – che il prelato
stava portando. Nel parapiglia suscitato dalla provocazione
dello zelota, la croce si e’ rotta, e il giovanotto si e’ preso
un ceffone dal vescovo.

La polizia israeliana e’ intervenuta ed ha fermato lo
studente, Zvi Rosenthal, che e’ stato denunciato. In attesa del
processo gli e’ stato vietato di entrare nella citta’ vecchia
per i prossimi 75 giorni.ATZ Secondo Haaretz il fattaccio
purtroppo non e’ isolato. I religiosi armeni, il cui quartiere
e situato lungo un asse di transito fra le aree della citta
nuova abitate dagli ultra-ortodossi e le scuole religiose del
quartiere ebreo della citta’ vecchia, con il Muro del Pianto,
sono i piu’ colpiti. Ma anche religiosi di altre comunita
cristiane hanno subito aggressioni. Il giornale cita il caso di
un prete greco-ortodosso che alcune settimane fa, uscendo in
macchina da un parcheggio, ha visto avvicinarsi una signora con
un fazzoletto annodato sul capo, come usano le ultra-ortodosse:
“ha bussato al finestrino e quando il religioso ha aperto, gli
ha sputato in faccia”.

Secondo il direttore del centro per il dialogo fra
cristiani e ebrei di Gerusalemme, Daniel Rossing, c’e stato un
aumento negli ultimi tempi di questo tipo di incidenti, nel
contesto di “un’atmosfera generale di assenza di tolleranza in
questa terra”. Shmuel Evyatar, l’ex-consigliere del sindaco di
Gerusalemme responsabile per i rapporti con le comunita
cristiane, ha parlato di “grande vergogna”, dovuta alle azioni
di una infima minoranza: gruppi di studenti delle Yeshiva (le
scuole religiose) ultra’ che considerano la religione cristiana
con disprezzo.

“E’ intollerabile che cittadini cristiani di Gerusalemme
soffrano per questi sputi” ha tuonato Haaretz nell’editoriale
di oggi. Il quotidiano ha chiesto al governo e ai servizi di
sicurezza di prendere “misure severe contro questi giovanotti
esaltati che cercano di sabotare i complessi equilibri della
vita a Gerusalemme”.

Czech Republic 3, Armenia 0 in World Cup qualifying

Associated Press Worldstream
October 13, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN, Armenia — Jan Koller scored two goals and his Dortmund
teammate Tomas Rosicky added another, lifting the Czech Republic to
an easy 3-0 victory over Armenia in their World Cup Group 1 qualifier
Wednesday.

The Czechs kept a clean sheet for a second straight game while scoring
more than once for the first time since their 3-0 victory over Denmark
in the Euro 2004 quarterfinals in June.

The win leaves Karel Bruckner’s team with six points from three games,
three points behind group leaders Finland and Romania but with a game
in hand. Armenia remains winless in four games. The Netherlands played
Finland in Amsterdam later Wednesday.

“We could’ve won by a larger margin, but perhaps that would be too much
to ask,” Bruckner said. “The match wasn’t boring. We never lost out
concentration and we only have ourselves to blame for not converting
more of the opportunities we created.”

The Czech Republic opened strongly, with Dortmund striker Koller
scoring three minutes into the game off a pass from Marek Heinz.

Edgar Manucharyan missed a clear chance to equalize seven minutes
later when his power shot from the right hit the crossbar of Petr
Cech’s goal.

Two minutes later, referee Jacek Granat disallowed a goal because of
an offside after Armen Shahgeldyan played one-two with Karen Aleksanyan
and beat Cech.

In the 30th minute, Dortmund midfielder Rosicky made it 2-0 after he
collected Tomas Uifalusi’s pass in the center and moved closer to the
Armenian box before hitting the target with a powerful drive from 25
meters (yards).

Zdenek Grygera missed a clear opportunity for the visitors two
minutes before the interval when Koller nodded down Marek Heinz’s
volley cross from the right, but the Ajax Amsterdam defender’s shot
was blocked by goalkeeper Apoula Bete.

The Czechs dominated the second half and Koller was close to scoring
again on a solo effort in the 68th minute. Goalkeeper Apoula Bete
blocked his close-range shot with a stunning save.

Koller made it 3-0 nine minutes later, firing home from the edge of
the box for his 32nd goal in 59 international matches.

Lineups:

Armenia – Apoula Bete; Yeghisne Melikyan, Karen Dokhoyan (Artur
Mkrtchian, 46), Sargis Hovsepyan, Harutyun Vardamian, Artur
Petrosyan, Hamlet Mkhitarian, Rafael Nazaryan, Armen Shahgeldyan
(Andrei Movsisian, 80), Edgar Manucharyan, Karen Aleksanyan (Albert
Sargsian, 65).

Czech Republic – Petr Cech; Zdenek Grygera, Rene Bolf, Marek
Jankulovski, Tomas Ujfalusi, Tomas Galasek (Radoslav Kovac, 55),
Tomas Rosicky, Stepan Vachousek (Jiri Jarosik, 74), Libor Sionko,
Marek Heinz, Jan Koller (Vratislav Lokvenc, 84).

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]
October 11, 2004

Episcopal Ordination in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On September 26, on the feast of the Holy Cross of Varak, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians celebrated a
Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the liturgy, His Holiness consecrated and ordained the Very Rev.
Father Arshak Vardapet Khatchatrian as a bishop of the Armenian Church.
Assisting His Holiness during the service were His Grace Bishop Yeznik
Petrossian and His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan. The intercessor for Father
Arshak was His Grace Bishop Paren Avedikian.

During evening services the previous day, Father Arshak kneeled before the
Holy Altar of Descent in the Cathedral and solemnly read and signed the oath
to remain faithful to his episcopal vow and to the Catholicosate of All
Armenians.

On Sunday morning the Pontifical procession led by the Catholicos of All
Armenians entered into the Cathedral. The public examination of the faith
and worthiness of Father Arshak took place before the Altar of St. Stephen
the Protomartyr, during which his profession of the orthodox faith was
confirmed.

According to accepted tradition, representatives of each ecclesiastical and
hierarchal rank – acolytes, deacons, priests and two laymen representing
different classes of society approached His Holiness and publicly bore
witness on the behalf of the candidate. His Holiness then confirmed the
testimonials and presented the candidate with his episcopal omophorion.

The Divine Liturgy then continued before the Main Altar of the Mother
Cathedral. Reciting prayers from the “Mashtots” (ritual book) of
ordination, His Holiness called the candidate to the rank of bishop. The
Supreme Patriarch consecrated the candidate’s forehead and the thumb of the
right hand with Holy Chrism, following which the symbols of episcopacy – the
episcopal staff and ring, were presented to the newly consecrated bishop.

In his Pontifical message, His Holiness stated in part, “Every time we
ordain a clergyman to spiritual service by giving him ecclesiastical,
particularly episcopal rank, we experience moments of consolation inside our
hearts, as we feel our Lord’s presence and assistance; we witness the
reawakening of our Church and we believe that we shall be able to fulfill
our Lord’s message of service directed to us. We strongly believe that the
souls, hearts and spirits of our priests and bishops of Holy Etchmiadzin
that have been confirmed by the seal of the Holy Chrism, will contribute to
the vibrancy and well-being of Holy Etchmiadzin, and thus to the well-being
of the worldwide Armenian Church and people.

“We believe that the miraculous Holy Chrism will grant new strength, zeal
and wisdom to our new bishop. In our understanding, the sacred mystery of
Holy Etchmiadzin and the grace of spiritual power are woven together in an
unbreakable bond. That is why our holy and gloried forefathers decided to
grant the awarding of the highest ecclesiastical rank – the ordination to
bishop, exclusively and only in the Mother Cathedral of All Armenians, as
Holy Etchmiadzin is the very soul of the whole body of all Armenians.”

After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reception was hosted in the
Mother See in honor of the new bishop. His Holiness presented an episcopal
panagia to His Grace Bishop Arshak and congratulated him, asking for God to
grant him greater devotion and dedication in his mission of service.

* * *

HIS GRACE BISHOP ARSHAK KHACHATRIAN

Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian (baptismal name Samvel) was born on August 5,
1973 in the village of Voskehat, district of Armavir.
>>From 1980 to 1990 he received his secondary education in the local school.
In 1990, he entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. On May 19, 1996 he was ordained to the diaconate by
Bishop Anania Arabajian.
He graduated from the Seminary in 1996, and in 1997 he successfully defended
his graduation thesis entitled “The Indo-Armenian Colony and the Legates of
the Mother See in India”.
>>From 1996 to 1997 Deacon Samvel worked in the Secretariat (Divan) of the
Catholicosate.
On December 14, 1997 he was ordained as a celibate priest and given the
priestly name “Arshak” by Archbishop Zaven Chinchinian of blessed memory,
then Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Egypt.
In 1998, he served in the administration of the Mother See.
In March 1999, under the direction of the Pontifical Vicar General,
Archbishop Karekin Nersissian, Fr. Arshak was appointed to serve in the
editorial office of “Etchmiadzin” monthly (the official journal of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin) as Acting Editor in Chief.
In June 2000, upon the order of the newly-enthroned Catholicos of All
Armenians His Holiness Karekin II, he was appointed the director of the
newly established office in charge of Mother See / Diocese Relations.
In January of 2001 by the Pontifical order of His Holiness, he was assigned
as Chancellor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
In 2001 he successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled “The
Legateship of the Armenian Church”. On February 22 of the same year he
received the rank of Vardapet (Archimandrite) by the Vicar General of the
Araratian Pontifical Diocese, His Grace Bishop Navasard Kjoyan.
On September 26, 2004, Fr. Arshak was consecrated and ordained as a bishop
by His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. His Grace Bishop
Arshak will continue to bring his service to the Armenian Church as
Chancellor of the Mother See.

##

The Xinhua News Agency.
October 9, 2004 Saturday 9:30 AM EST

Starters for Finland v Armenia World Cup qualifier

STOCKHOLM

Following are the starters for Saturday’s World Cup European zone
Group One qualifier between Finland and Armenia in Helsinki:

Finland: 1-Antti Niemi; 2-Petri Pasanen, 3-Janne Saarinen,4- Sami
Hyypia, 6-Mika Vayrynen, 7-Mika Nurmela, 11-Joonas Kolkka, 14- Toni
Kuivasto, 16-Aki Riihilahti, 18-Shefki Kuqi,20-Aleksei Eremenko.

Armenia: 12-Armen Ambartsumyan; 3-Karen Dokhoyan, 4-Sarkis Hovsepyan,
5-Arutyun Vardanyan, 6-Romik Khachatryan, 8-Rafael Nazaryan, 9-Hamlet
Mkhitaryan, 10-Armen Shakhgeldyan, 11-Andrei Movsesyan, 16-David
Grigoryan, 18-Alexander Tadevosyan.

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)

Reuters
Oct 9 2004

Kuqi double helps Finland beat Armenia 3-1

HELSINKI, Oct 9 (Reuters) – Stand-in striker Shefki Kuqi struck twice
either side of a goal by Aleksei Eremenko as Finland beat Armenia 3-1
in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

Kuqi, replacing the injured Mikael Forssell, got his first
international goal for three years with an easy tap in after eight
minutes when he was set up by Eremenko.

Eremenko then made it 2-0 with a 28th minute free kick — his fifth
goal in four World Cup qualifiers — before Armen Shakhgeldyan got
one back for Armenia with a free kick deflected by Finland defender
Sami Hyypi past keeper Antti Niemi.

Finland dominated the second half but could not add a third goal
until Kuqi wrapped up the points in the 87th minute with a curling
strike from long distance that went in off the post.

After four games Finland are level on nine points at the top of Group
One with Romania, who were playing their fourth match against Czech
Republic on Saturday. Finland travel to Amsterdam to face the
Netherlands in their next qualifier on Wednesday.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

October 7, 2004

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA MAKES VISIT TO PRELACY

John Evans, the new United States ambassador to Armenia, visited Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America, on Friday, October 1, 2004.

Ambassador Evans, who took office in Armenia last month, exchanged
information and ideas with the Prelate on various areas of interest for the
Armenian American community.

“We especially spoke about the upcoming 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, education, and issues of emigration, ” said Archbishop Oshagan. “I
found the Ambassador to be very well informed about Armenian concerns and
history and was very satisfied with the scope of our conversation,” said the
Prelate.

The Ambassador visited the St. Nerses Shnorhali Library during his visit and
was impressed with the library’s collection, especially the extent of
important resources not readily accessible elsewhere.