Author: Varosian Antranik

Pan Armenian News

BRANCH OF UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

29.09.2005 05:50

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian met with Chairman of the
Union of Armenians of Russia (UAR) and the World Armenian Congress Ara
Abrahamyan, reported the Press Service of the Armenian MFA. In the course of
the meeting A. Abrahamyan presented the 5-year activities of the UAR and
programs being implemented in Armenia. UAR joint programs with the National
Academy of Sciences of Armenia and Union of Writers of Armenia, as well as
numerous educational and cultural institutions were also presented. A.
Abrahamyan informed the Armenian FM that aiming at coordination of the
programs being implemented in Armenia he intends to open a branch office in
Yerevan. In his turn V. Oskanian noted the need for adjusted work of
Armenian Diaspora organizations. The parties also discussed active
participation of organizations led by A. Abrahamyan in the Armenia-Diaspora
forum, planned next year. At the instance of A. Abrahamyan V. Oskanian
briefed him on regional developments.

ARMENIAN CULTURE MINISTER TO VISIT CYPRUS

Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus
Sept 29 2005

Nicosia, Sep 29 (CNA) – Armenian Culture and Youth Affairs Minister
Hovik Hoveyan arrives in Cyprus Friday for an official visit during
which he will hold meetings with Cypriot officials.

According to the official programme of the visit, Hovenyan will meet
with his Cypriot counterpart, Minister of Education and Culture Pefkios
Georgiades, House President Dimitris Christofias and Director of the
President’s Press Office Marios Karoyan.

THE ARMENIAN COLOR OF REVOLUTIONS – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

A1+
| 19:04:19 | 28-09-2005 | Politics |

According to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the adoption of
the draft Constitution will have the effect of a revolution. “Our
social-political life has the possibility to be subverted in case
of voting for the draft Constitution”, said member of the ARF,
chief editor of the weekly “Yerkir” Spartak Seyranyan today during
the seminar “The RA Amended Draft Constitution on the Eve of the
Referendum” in the “Tekeyan” cultural center.

The representative of ARF Armen Roustamyan made it clear for those
who say “revolution” and understand “change of authorities” that “the
revolution is not an end in itself”. Pointing at the post-revolution
developments in Georgia and Ukraine, Mr. Roustamyan said, “We saw what
revolutions can result in. They must be ended after coming to power,
not with it”.

Referring to the Constitutional referendum Mr. Roustamyan said
that in case of saying “No” we will have serious problems with the
CoE. According to him, only the positive answer will open a door to
the processes of realization of democratic and human rights.

According to the head of the non-governmental organization “Democracy”
Vardan Pogosyan, the constitutional reforms are a step forward from the
previous one, “which had one primitive conception – to give everything
to the RA President as he is always right”. But in the amended version
the mechanisms of the relations between the President and the NA are
not processed either.

According to the head of the program “Armenia to Europe” Aram
Safaryan who had organized the seminar, this discussion is not the
last one. The next seminar will be devoted to the theme “Armenia
after the referendum”.

DOUBTS OVER AZERIS’ PARTICIPATION AT NATO SEMINAR IN YEREVAN

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2005

NATO Parliamentary Assembly will hold its Rose Roth seminar in Yerevan,
Armenia on October 6-9 that will draw 60 parliament members from 22
countries, Armenian media reported.

The participants will focus on regional cooperation, reforms in
defense and the police system, as well as ways of settling the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh.

Azerbaijani MPs have not received an invitation to attend the event
yet, the Milli Majlis (parliament) press-service told AssA-Irada.

According to the reports, Armenia has stated its readiness to receive
Azeri parliamentarians and ensure their security.*

TURKEY AT TURNING POINT AHEAD OF EU TALKS
Christopher Wade | Ankara, Turkey

Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa
Sept 28 2005

Last minute-wrangling aside, Turkey’s long-awaited accession talks
with the European Union are to finally get under way on October 3
marking a major victory for the Ankara government and the beginning
of one of the country’s biggest diplomatic endeavours.

“This is an historic turning point ahead of Turkey,” Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the nation in a televised address during
the week. “October 3 will be a new and unforgettable date.”

Turks won’t be waking up to find their country radically changed on
October 3 but Erdogan is right to call it a “turning point”.

Turkey became an associate member of the EU in 1963 and formally
applied to become a member in 1987. It took another 12 years however
before the EU brought itself to actually recognise Turkey as a
candidate.

Now, more than 40 years after Turkey first signalled its intentions
to join the bloc, the negotiations are finally about to start.

To say that Turkey has changed significantly since it was accepted
as a candidate in 1999 is an understatement.

In just six years the country has undergone a revolution in human
rights thanks to its efforts to conform with the political criteria
laid down by the EU.

The death penalty has been lifted, Kurdish language classes are
allowed, torture in custody has dropped considerably, women’s rights
have been strengthened, notoriously strict press laws have been
relaxed and a completely new criminal code introduced.

These reforms are impressive when one considers that Turks are
predominantly conservative, religious and have a high level of respect
for the state.

Even more surprising has been the way that the reforms have been
pushed through by Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP),
a party with its roots in moderate Islam who just a few years before
preferred Turkey to look to the east and its Muslim neighbours.

Before coming to power in 2002, the AKP wasn’t expected to be so keen
on “European values”, but a realisation that the rights of religious
conservatives could be easier guaranteed inside the EU led to a
dramatic turnaround.

With the strictly pro-secular military and establishment looking on
warily, Erdogan has largely avoided issues close to his supporters —
such as lifting a ban on the wearing of headscarves at universities
or by public officials — instead choosing to focus on the reforms
needed to get the EU on side.

Despite the significant progress, officials on both sides acknowledge
that the reforms still have some way to go.

Detainees are still tortured in custody, police still resort to
their batons almost immediately when faced with an illegal protest
and opinions out of line with “official thinking” can still land you
with fines or a prison sentence.

Turkey’s most famous author, Orhan Pamuk, has been charged over
comments made about the deeply contentious World War I-era Armenian
genocide.

“A million Armenians were killed in these lands and nobody but me
dares talk about it,” Pamuk told a Swedish magazine. The author has
been charged with “denigrating the Turkish identity” and faces up to
three years jail if found guilty.

However change is evident even on the Armenian genocide issue.

Turkey denies that mass killings of Armenians in the then Ottoman
Empire during and after World War I constitute a “genocide” and has
bitterly contested any such allegations.

However just a week before the beginning of EU accession talks a
conference was held in Ankara at which such allegations were aired;
something that analysts say would have been impossible only a short
time ago.

Despite last minute legal hitches the conference went ahead with the
blessing of the government. Turkey has realised that open discussion
of even the darkest parts of its own history is not as destructive
as feared.

“At the conference they said ‘genocide’. The world is still turning.

Turkey still exists,” the liberal Radikal newspaper said after the
conference.

Analysts say October 3 marks yet another milestone in Turkey’s mission
to be fully accepted by the West. However it could be 25 years before
the country is ready to join the 25-member bloc.

In the meantime there will be many hiccups and no doubt a few crises
over issues as diverse as Turkey’s non-recognition of the Republic
of Cyprus, to the first time that a factory will have to be closed
due to stringent EU pollution laws.

“In the end it is the process that is important to Turkey,” said one
government official.

“We are implementing these reforms both to comply with the EU and
for ourselves. Who knows, perhaps in 15 years, when we are ready the
Turkish people won’t want to join.”

“Who knows what the EU will be like in 15 years?”

Turkey’s 40-year struggle Turkey first applied in 1959 for membership
in the European Economic Community, as the EU was then known. The
following is a chronology of developments:

1959: Turkey makes its first application to join the European Union

1963: Europeans respond to the request by proposing — and signing —
an Association Agreement with Ankara

1970: Signature of an Additional Protocol to the Ankara pact focusing
on a timetable for eliminating tariffs and quotas on goods traded by
the two sides

1980: Temporary freeze in relations because of Turkish military
government

1983: Restoration of relations following multi-party elections

1987: Turkey applies for full membership

1990: The European Commission and the European Council confirm Turkey’s
eligibility for membership

1995: Establishment of a customs union between Turkey and the EU

1999: Turkey is officially recognised by the European Council as a
candidate state

2003: The European Council adopts a revised Accession Partnership
for Turkey, focusing on preparations for membership

2004: The European Council defines the perspective for opening talks,
sets October 3, 2005 date for start of negotiations

June 2005: European Commission sets out negotiating mandate for the
October 3 talks

September 2005: EU governments agree a unilateral declaration on
Turkish-Cyprus relations and adopt negotiating framework – Sapa-DPA

TURKISH PM: DO NOT BE AFRAID OF FREEDOMS
By Cihan News Agency

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Sept 26 2005

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with a female protester
over the Armenian Conference during the opening ceremony at Bahcesehir
University. Erdogan, determining that they want everyone to live free,
called everyone not to be afraid of freedoms.

A forty-year-old woman, who stood up during Erdogan’s speech,
struggled to make her voice heard. The protester also showed her
poster that wrote “Whose prime minister are you that you want the
Armenian Conference to be held so much?”

While security guards took the female protester away from the incident
area, the Turkish Prime Minister changed the topic of his speech and
said protests aimed to prevent Turkey’s European Union (EU)membership:
“Freedoms turn green in places where there are people who do not
respect opposition views against those who could not digest opposition
views. Whether you accept it or not, freedoms develop through
respecting opposition views and providing opportunity for those views.”

Erdogan pointing that people should not be scared of freedoms added:
“If we trust our views and beliefs, we should not be afraid of those
kinds of freedoms. As I explained before, I do not approve the court’s
decision on the Armenian Conference. I want to live in a Turkey where
freedoms are widely extended. This is my dream for Turkey.”

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan expressed that he found the discussion
to be held just before the start of EU negotiation’s meaningful.

“Precipitation of the discussions on the eve of EU negotiations
is intentional, according to me. I perceive them as provocative
movements,” Erdogan concluded.

Californians on Forbes magazine’s ranking of the 400 richest Americans

.c The Associated Press

A list of Californians who are among the 400 richest Americans, as
compiled by Forbes magazine. The list includes: rank on the overall
list, age, net worth, hometown and source of wealth.

Where more than one name is listed under a number, there is a tie.

California

5. Ellison, Lawrence Joseph, 61, $17 billion, Silicon Valley, Oracle

16. Brin, Sergey, 32, $11 billion, San Francisco, Google

16. Page, Larry E., 32, $11 billion, San Francisco, Google

19. Kerkorian, Kirk, 88, $10 billion, Los Angeles, investments, casinos

25. Redstone, Sumner M., 82, $8.4 billion, Beverly Hills, Viacom

38. Bren, Donald L., 73, $5.7 billion, Newport Beach, real estate

39. Broad, Eli, 72, $5.5 billion, Los Angeles, investments

44. Moore, Gordon Earle, 76, $4.6 billion, Woodside, Intel

45. Geffen, David, 62, $4.5 billion, Malibu, DreamWorks

52. Davis, Barbara and family, 75, $4 billion, Beverly Hills, inheritance,
oil

52. Murdock, David Howard, 82, $4 billion, Los Angeles, investments

52. Schmidt, Eric, 50, $4 billion, Atherton, Google

58. Schwab, Charles R., 68, $3.8 billion, Atherton, discount stock brokerage

59. Johnson, Charles Bartlett, 72, $3.7 billion, San Mateo, Franklin
Resources

61. Lucas, George, 61, $3.5 billion, Marin County, Star Wars

67. Jobs, Steven Paul, 50, $3.3 billion, Palo Alto, Apple Computer, Pixar

70. Hughes, Bradley Wayne, 72, $3.2 billion, Malibu, Public Storage

72. Johnson, Rupert Harris Jr., 64, $3.1 billion, San Mateo, Franklin
Resources

73. Arnall, Roland, 66, $3 billion, Holmby Hills, mortgage banking

73. Filo, David, 39, $3 billion, Mountain View, Yahoo

78. Saban, Haim, 60, $2.8 billion, Beverly Hills, television

83. Spielberg, Steven Allen, 58, $2.7 billion, Pacific Palisades, movies

89. Perenchio, A. Jerrold, 74, $2.6 billion, Bel Air, Univision

93. Roberts, George R., 61, $2.5 billion, San Francisco, leveraged buyouts

93. Yang, Jerry, 36, $2.5 billion, Los Altos, Yahoo

109. Bechtel, Riley P., 53, $2.4 billion, San Francisco, engineering,
construction

109. Bechtel, Stephen Davison Jr., 80, $2.4 billion, San Francisco,
engineering, construction

112. Burkle, Ronald, 52, $2.3 billion, Los Angeles, supermarkets, investments

116. Getty, Gordon Peter, 72, $2.2 billion, San Francisco, inheritance, oil

116. Soon-Shiong, Patrick, 53, $2.2 billion, Los Angeles, generic drugs

125. Mann, Alfred, 79, $2.1 billion, Los Angeles, inventor, entrepreneur

125. Udvar-Hazy, Steven, 59, $2.1 billion, Beverly Hills, International
Lease Finance

133. Brandes, Charles H., 62, $2 billion, San Diego, money management

133. Hearst, William Randolph III, 56, $2 billion, San Francisco, Hearst Corp

133. Milken, Michael Robert, 59, $2 billion, Los Angeles, investments

133. Nicholas, Henry Thompson III, 46, $2 billion, Laguna Hills, Broadcom

133. Sobrato, John Albert, 66, $2 billion, Atherton, real estate

153. Cooke, Phoebe Hearst, 78, $1.9 billion, San Francisco, Hearst Corp

153. Hearst, David Whitmire Jr., 60, $1.9 billion, Los Angeles, Hearst Corp

153. Hearst, George Randolph Jr., 78, $1.9 billion, Los Angeles, Hearst Corp

153. Rady, Ernest S., 68, $1.9 billion, San Diego, banking, insurance

164. Cargill, Margaret Anne, 85, $1.8 billion, La Jolla, inheritance

164. Jackson, Jess Stonestreet, 75, $1.8 billion, Healdsburg, Kendall-Jackson

164. Samueli, Henry, 51, $1.8 billion, Newport Beach, Broadcom

181. Booth, Franklin Otis Jr., 82, $1.7 billion, Los Angeles, Berkshire
Hathaway

181. Gonda, Louis L., 57, $1.7 billion, Beverly Hills, International Lease
Finance

181. Gores, Tom T., 41, $1.7 billion, Beverly Hills, leveraged buyouts

181. Jacobs, Irwin Mark, 71, $1.7 billion, La Jolla, Qualcomm

181. Pritzker, Anthony, 44, $1.7 billion, Los Angeles, hotels, investments

181. Pritzker, Daniel, 46, $1.7 billion, Marin County, hotels, investments

181. Pritzker, John A., 52, $1.7 billion, San Francisco, hotels, investments

198. Hsieh, Ming, 49, $1.6 billion, Los Angeles, Cogent Systems

207. Emmerson, Archie Aldis “Red”, 76, $1.5 billion, Redding, timberland,
lumber mills

207. Whitman, Margaret C., 49, $1.5 billion, Atherton, Ebay

235. Anderson, John Edward, 88, $1.4 billion, Bel Air, investments

235. Dolby, Ray Milton, 72, $1.4 billion, San Francisco, Dolby Laboratories

235. Fisher, Robert J., 52, $1.4 billion, San Francisco, Gap

235. Fisher, William Sydney, 48, $1.4 billion, San Francisco, Gap

235. Munger, Charles T., 81, $1.4 billion, Los Angeles, Berkshire Hathaway

235. Wiskemann, Elizabeth S., $1.4 billion, San Rafael, mutual funds

258. Argyros, George Leon, 68, $1.3 billion, Newport Beach, investments

258. Fisher, John J., 44, $1.3 billion, San Francisco, Gap

258. Michelson, Gary Karlin, 56, $1.3 billion, Los Angeles, medical patents

258. Shriram, Kavitark Ram, 49, $1.3 billion, Mountain View, Google

258. Siebel, Thomas M., 52, $1.3 billion, San Mateo, Siebel Systems

258. Waitt, Theodore W., 42, $1.3 billion, San Diego, Gateway

283. Berg, Carl Edwin, 68, $1.2 billion, Atherton, real estate, venture
capital

283. Casden, Alan I., 59, $1.2 billion, Beverly Hills, real estate

283. Copley, David C., 53, $1.2 billion, La Jolla, newspapers

283. Day, Robert Addison, 61, $1.2 billion, Los Angeles, money management

283. Disney, Roy Edward, 75, $1.2 billion, Los Angeles, Walt Disney

283. Gallo, Ernest, 96, $1.2 billion, Modesto, wine

283. Gonda, Leslie L., 85, $1.2 billion, Beverly Hills, International Lease
Finance

283. Gores, Alec, 52, $1.2 billion, Beverly Hills, leveraged buyouts

283. Joseph, George, 84, $1.2 billion, Los Angeles, insurance

283. Morgridge, John P, 72, $1.2 billion, Portola Valley, Cisco

283. Naify, Robert Allen, 83, $1.2 billion, San Francisco, movie theaters

320. Cook, Scott D., 53, $1.1 billion, Woodside, Intuit

320. Fisher, Kenneth L., 54, $1.1 billion, Woodside, Money management

320. Gross, William H., 61, $1.1 billion, Laguna Beach, bonds

320. Roski, Edward P. Jr., 66, $1.1 billion, Los Angeles, real estate

320. Sandler, Herbert M., 73, $1.1 billion, San Francisco, banking

320. Spanos, Alexander Gus, 82, $1.1 billion, Stockton, real estate

320. Teel, Joyce Raley, 74, $1.1 billion, Sacramento, supermarkets

346. Arrillaga, John, 68, $1 billion, Palo Alto, real estate

346. Blixseth, Timothy, 55, $1 billion, Rancho Mirage, timber, real estate

346. Doerr, L. John, 54, $1 billion, Woodside, venture capital

346. Hilton, William Barron, 77, $1 billion, Los Angeles, hotels, casinos

346. Peery, Richard Taylor, 65, $1 billion, Palo Alto, real estate

346. Rock, Arthur J., 79, $1 billion, San Francisco, venture capital

346. Sandler, Marion O., 74, $1 billion, San Francisco, banking

384. Bowes, William, 79, $900 million, San Francisco, venture capital

384. Glazer, Guilford, 84, $900 million, Beverly Hills, shopping malls

384. Oates, Marvin L. “Buzz”, 82, $900 million, Sacramento, real estate

384. Osher, Bernard A., 78, $900 million, San Francisco, banking, investments

384. Shorenstein, Walter Herbert, 90, $900 million, San Francisco, real
estate

09/22/05 23:18 EDT

The Independent (London)
September 24, 2005, Saturday

EU REBUKE FOR TURKEY AFTER JUDGES BAN CONFERENCE

BY STEPHEN CASTLE IN BRUSSELS

Turkey received a direct rebuke from the European Commission
yesterday after a Turkish court ordered the cancellation of a
conference of historians to discuss the massacre of Armenians early
in the last century.

Coming just 10 days before Ankara is due to open EU membership
negotiations, the court order prompted an unusually blunt
condemnation from the Commission, which described it as ‘yet another
provocation’.

Last night efforts were under way to salvage the conference and
bypass the legal ruling by holding it today at a new location.

But the court order, which was condemned by the Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, is a reminder of how far Turkey still needs to travel
to guarantee freedom of expression.

Evidence of the power of the conservatives in Turkish society is
likely to embolden critics of the country’s EU membership bid.
However Ankara’s supporters say that internal reforms will only
continue if Turkey is given the prospect of joining the bloc.

The row is unlikely to derail plans to start EU membership
negotiations on 3 October in Luxembourg. The two leading sceptics
over Turkey’s EU membership, France and Cyprus, have been placated by
language in a declaration stating that Ankara must recognise Cyprus
before it joins the EU. Austria is isolated in its efforts to inject
a new pledge that the negotiations could lead to a ‘privileged
partnership’ instead of full membership.

But the European Commission’s spokeswoman for enlargement, Krisztina
Nagy, said: ‘We strongly deplore this new attempt to prevent Turkish
society from freely discussing its history. The timing of this
decision the day before the opening of the conference looks like yet
another provocation.’ She said the court order ‘illustrates the
difficulties of Turkey, and in particular of the judiciary, to ensure
effective and uniform implementation of the reforms’.

The killing of Armenians during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire
remains a sensitive issue. A number of countries have recognised the
massacres as genocide though that description is flatly rejected by
Turkey.

The furore comes after one of Turkey’s most acclaimed writers, Orhan
Pamuk, was charged with insulting the country’s national character.
The charges, arising out of comments made on Turkey’s killing of
Armenians and Kurds, could lead to a prison sentence of up to three
years.

The conference, which had already been postponed once, was scheduled
to be held at Bogazici University. Aydin Ugur, president of Istanbul
Bilgi University, said the gathering would take place this morning at
Bilgi. He said the court’s order was directed at two other
universities, and had ‘nothing to do with Bilgi’. But Laurent
Leylekian, executive director of the European Armenian Federation,
said: ‘We would be surprised if this kind of conference takes place
in Turkey. There is no will in the government to open the Armenian
file because this issue is deeply linked with the founding of the
Turkish republic.’

One EU diplomat described the court order as ‘stupid’ but added: ‘It
is not going to cause a problem between now and 3 October. The EU has
been very ready to criticise but not so ready to come through with
its commitments.’

The Commission said it would note the issue in its annual report on
candidate countries which is used as a yardstick of the membership
preparation.

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES ECUMENICAL DELEGATION TO TOUR ETHIOPIA

ChristianToday, UK
Sept 22 2005

An international ecumenical delegation headed by World Council of
Churches’ (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, will gather
in the largest and oldest church on the African continent this month.

An international ecumenical delegation headed by World Council of
Churches’ (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, will gather
in the largest and oldest church on the African continent this month.

The delegation will be held at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
from 24-30 September.

“Ethiopians have been part of the church from the very beginning,
and Ethiopia is a country with a profound spiritual ancestry,”
emphasised Kobia.

“The ancient church and the culture of Ethiopia continue to offer a
source of identity and dignity for many Africans and to humankind.

Ethiopia is going through challenging and trying times, and the WCC
desires to be with the church and the people in times of difficulty
as well as joy.”

The invitation of the WCC delegation to Ethiopia comes from H.H.,
Patriarch Abune Paulos, who has been the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox
Tewahedo Church since 1992.

The delegation will meet with Ethiopian Orthodox officials, make
visits to church holy sites and social and educational initiatives,
and meet with leaders of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane
Yesus which is the second WCC member church in Ethiopia. They will
also hold talks with political leaders and representatives of regional
organisations in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is one of the largest national
churches in the world, with approximately 38 million members. It is
a founding member of the WCC in 1948.

Along with the WCC general secretary, the delegation will include: : Dr
Agnes Abuom, WCC president from Africa, Kenya; Bishop Nareg Alemezian,
Armenian Apostolic Church (Cilicia), Lebanon; Rev. Ingrid Vad Nilsen,
Norway; Mr Nicholas Otieno, Kenya; Mr Melaku Kifle, and Rev. Dr Andre
Karamaga, WCC staff.

PRESS RELEASE

Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: [email protected]

For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group

U.S. House of Representatives Marks Upcoming Visit of Catholicos Aram I

(Los Angeles, CA – September 22, 2005) – Two prominent Members of Congress
have submitted official statements in the Congressional Record marking the
upcoming visit in October of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia. Los Angeles area U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-29)
and Brad Sherman (D-27) both expressed their great anticipation of the
arrival of His Holiness.

Congressman Schiff stated “The main theme of the Pontiff’s visit is ‘Towards
the Light of Knowledge.’ This theme reflects the Pontiff’s deep faith that
only with greater education and dialogue can the world’s conflicts be
properly addressed.” Meanwhile Congressman Brad Sherman followed by saying
“Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing His Holiness Aram I, a man who
has been a strong voice for mutual understanding among religions, cultures
and civilizations; a true spiritual leader committed to peace, justice, and
human rights.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and
debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States
Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when Congress is in session.
Following are the full statements that were submitted by the two
congressmen.

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff
Member of Congress

In Recognition of Catholicos Aram I’s Pontifical Visit to California

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my Armenian American constituents in
California’s 29th Congressional District in welcoming the upcoming
Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia. His Holiness will be visiting the State of California this October
at the invitation of His Eminence, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia is the
spiritual leader for hundreds of thousands of Armenians around the world and
one of the most prominent Christian leaders in the Middle East. The Pontiff
presently serves as the Moderator for the World Council of Churches (WCC).
This prominent ecumenical organization is comprised of more than 340
churches from different cultures and nations around the world representing
over 400 million Christians. The Pontiff, who is the first Orthodox and the
youngest person to be elevated to this post, is currently serving his second
term as Moderator.

The main theme of the Pontiff’s visit is “Towards the Light of Knowledge.”
This theme reflects the Pontiff’s deep faith that only with greater
education and dialogue can the world’s conflicts be properly addressed.

The Catholicos’s visit will be marked by a number of major events, including
a speech he will deliver on October 14th at the Los Angeles World Affairs
Council concerning the challenges to inter-religious dialogue in the Middle
East. He will also participate by giving the main address at a symposium to
be held at the University of Southern California focusing on “Christian
Responses to Violence.”

Of special significance to the 29th Congressional District, the Catholicos
will be consecrating the Saint Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Pasadena
and blessing a new headquarters for the Western Prelacy. I ask all Members
to join with me and the Armenian American community throughout the State of
California in welcoming the upcoming Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram
I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.

U.S. Representative Brad Sherman
Member of Congress

Tribute To His Holiness Aram I

Mr. Speaker it gives me great pleasure to join my Armenian American
constituents of California’s 27th Congressional District in welcoming His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, to the State of
California.

His Holiness Aram I was elected Catholicos on June 28, 1995. Four years
earlier, His Holiness had been selected to serve as the Moderator for the
World Council of Churches (WCC). This prominent ecumenical organization is
composed of more than 340 churches from around the world and represents over
400 million Christians. His Holiness is the first Orthodox Christian and
the youngest person to be elevated to the post of Moderator of the WCC.

Aram I was ordained a priest in 1968 and obtained the title of Vartabed
(Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. In 1979 he was elected Primate of
the Armenian Orthodox community in Lebanon. The next year he received his
Episcopal ordination. His tenure as Primate of the Armenian community in
Lebanon coincided with the Lebanese Civil War. During this time and after,
His Holiness reorganized parishes and schools, restructured and reactivated
church-related institutions, and renewed community leadership.

As a strong supporter of inter-religious relations, dialogue and
cooperation, Aram I has played a significant part in promoting common
values, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among religions. He
has worked tirelessly as Primate to foster tolerance and build mutual
confidence between Christian and Muslim communities.

His Holiness is also active as a scholar and has written several books in
which he frequently admonishes the vital importance of dialogue and
collaboration among the living faiths of the world.

We can expect a message of peace and unity when His Holiness addresses the
Los Angeles World Affairs Council on October 14th, 2005. His Holiness will
also present the main address at a symposium to be held at the University of
Southern California that will focus on how Christians respond to violence. I
am honored that the Catholicos will be visiting the 27th District on October
7th to preside over church services to be held at Holy Martyrs Armenian
Apostolic Church in Encino, California.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing His Holiness Aram I, a man who
has been a strong voice for mutual understanding among religions, cultures
and civilizations; a true spiritual leader committed to peace, justice, and
human rights.