Author: Zaminian Bedik

APPROXIMATELY 110 THOUSAND FLOWERS EXPORTED FROM ARMENIA TO RUSSIA IN
2004

YEREVAN, January 5 (Noyan Tapan). In 2004, 100 thousand lilies and
about 10 thousand roses were exported from Armenia to Russia (mainly
Moscow). These flowers were grown within the framework of Florian
program implemented by gratis funding of the Dutch government.

According to Koryun Hovakimian, executive director of the Agroproject
center, it is envisaged to export about 100 thousand lilies and 80-100
thousand roses this year. In accordance with the Florian program with
a budget of 700 thousand euros, modern equipment has been installed
and the experts advice provided to 4 greenhouses located near Yerevan
in order to organize growing flowers there. Unlike the Dutch roses and
lilies that are sold for 1.5-2 euros apiece on the Russian market, the
Armenian roses and especially lilies cost 2-2.5 apiece. According to
K. Hovakimian, this is conditioned by these roses’ high quality, which
is ensured by using the modern Dutch technology and bulbs imported
from the Netherlands, as well as thanks to most favorable climatic
conditions in Armenia.

Burbank Leader , CA
LATimes.com
Jan 8 2005

‘An opportunity to remember the past’

By Rima Shah, The Leader

This year’s Armenian Christmas bore special poignancy, one of the
most important leaders in the Armenian Church said Thursday in a
holiday ceremony.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, primate of the Armenian Church of North
Western Diocese, presided over the ceremony at the Western Diocese
Headquarters in Burbank.

The primate is the most important position in the Western Diocese and
the second most important position in the world, said Matthew Ash,
youth director of the Western Diocese.

The ceremony, besides celebrating the birth of Christ, also
commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

The genocide is normally observed on April 24, but reflecting on it
on Christmas Day has a special meaning, Ash said.

“There is going to be an opportunity to remember the past,” Ash said.
“It is also an opportunity to celebrate life and to celebrate the
fact that there are strong thriving communities throughout the world
who have survived the effects of the genocide.”

The ceremony included blessing the Armenian stone crosses, which are
an important part of the Armenian church and are blessed at special
events.

Youth from about 30 parishes of the Western Diocese who attended the
ceremony will each carry a stone cross back to their respective
parishes.

Derderian plans to visit the diocese’s parishes until April 24 to
consecrate and install the stones.

The future was also celebrated at Glendale Memorial Hospital when a
baby was born at 5:10 a.m. Thursday.

“It’s like a gift for me,” said Anna Sarukhanyan, the girl’s mother,
who sat at the hospital bed holding the newborn. She will name her
daughter Mary or Elizabeth.

Glendale Memorial Hospital workers distributed Armenian sweet bread
called, “gatta,” to the patients in the hospital to celebrate
Armenian Christmas.

“This is the fifth year I am doing this,” said Vazrik Abtekian, who
works at physician services in the hospital. “It’s kind of tradition.
The sweet bread signifies the whole celebration of happiness.”

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

================================================
Wednesday 5 January 2005
COMMENTARY: AZERBAIJAN’S DEMOCRACY “IS BEING SOLD FOR OIL”

In this personal commentary for Forum 18 News Service
, an Azerbaijani Protestant, anonymous to avoid
state persecution, pleads for the international community to promote
religious freedom for all, as “it seems to us that our democracy is
being sold for oil. Foreigners are afraid to call things by their real
name. They are afraid to tell our government bluntly that human rights
violations must end.” He argues that “religious freedom cannot
exist without other freedoms, such as freedom of expression and
association, as well as press and literature freedom. Because of this,
religious freedom is a litmus test for freedom and democracy in any
society, including Azerbaijan.” He concludes by proposing practical
steps for effective dialogue with Azerbaijan’s leaders, leading to real
religious freedom, and how religious minorities can be involved in this
process.

COMMENTARY: AZERBAIJAN’S DEMOCRACY “IS BEING SOLD FOR OIL”

By an Azerbaijani Protestant

In the nearly fifteen years since my country, Azerbaijan, regained its
independence, we Christians have faced all kinds of obstacles and problems
functioning freely. Although Azerbaijan gained a new constitution that
unambiguously recognises the independence of religious communities from the
state, freedom of conscience for all and the equality of citizens
regardless of their religious adherence, gender or political views, in
practice the opposite is the case.

While religious communities in Azerbaijan theoretically largely have the
right to function freely (with some exceptions), in practice they do not
have freedom. Restrictions and obstacles abound.

When churches and other minority religious communities try to register with
the government and gain legal status it can be very difficult – at
times even impossible. Obstruction comes from the State Committee for Work
with Religious Organisations – the government agency with the duty of
registering religious communities that wish to do so. But not just from the
Committee. Local administration officials up and down the country –
who also have to approve registration applications – often
deliberately and arbitrarily obstruct them.

In principle a community collects the required documents and sends them in,
but what happens if the state notary refuses to certify the signatures? The
application stalls – and there is little redress. Communities can
wait for years as applications languish on this or that official’s desk
– and believers do not know what they can do to gain the registration
they are entitled to.

The same difficulty faces Christian parents if they want to give their
children Christian names. That’s no problem in most countries of the world,
but in some parts of Azerbaijan officials often refuse to register the
birth of a child with a Christian name – the child then cannot go to
kindergarten or school, get treatment in a hospital or travel to other
countries. (See eg. F18News 1 December 2004
)

And when religious communities seek to meet for worship – with or
without registration, as is their right under the constitution and in
international law – the police or secret police can raid them. Those
without registration are told (wrongly) that registration is compulsory
before a community can meet for worship.

Worse still, believers are at times detained, intimidated and fined, simply
for practising their faith in the way they see fit. Religious literature
remains censored, a Soviet-era practice long overdue for abolition.

Even defending religious freedom for all is obstructed. Two years ago local
believers of a variety of faiths founded a local affiliate of the
International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA). Officials from the
United States, Russian and Turkish embassies were present at the official
launch at Baku’s Irshad Hotel, along with parliamentarians from Kyrgyzstan
and other international representatives, among them Denton Lotz, general
secretary of the Baptist World Alliance. Local officials were led by Rafik
Aliev, head of the State Committee.

Yet two years on, the IRLA affiliate still cannot register. So many of us
are asking this simple question: why not?

Many representatives from international bodies – such as the Council
of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
and the United Nations (UN) – come to examine the human rights
situation here. So too do officials of foreign governments and parliaments,
as well as human rights organisations. But we see no practical changes.

Speaking frankly, it seems to us that our democracy is being sold for oil.
Foreigners are afraid to call things by their real name. They are afraid to
tell our government bluntly that human rights violations must end.

For its part our government is carefully playing a game to pretend that
religious freedom and respect for minority faiths exist. Each time a
religious delegation goes abroad or when foreigners interested in religion
wish to meet local believers the government brings together a
representative of the state-sanctioned Caucasian Muslim Board, the Russian
Orthodox Church and the community of Mountain Jews. Doesn’t anyone ask
where are the Protestant Christians? We are now a sizable community and
have been here for more than a century. And what about independent Muslims
or representatives of other faiths?

It is right and proper for us Protestants to be included, but no-one hears
our voice. Of all the Christians, visitors hear only the voice of the
Orthodox. Independent Muslims are not heard – only Sheikh-ul-Islam
Allahshukur Pashazade, the head of the Muslim Board, is presented to
foreign visitors. The state deceives its visitors – who themselves
should also know better. This is a return to the Soviet system. The state
wants to control everything.

Instead of just meeting those the government wants them to meet, visitors
themselves should seek out and meet Protestants, independent Muslims and
others and hear their views. They should then pass on these views back to
our government. Given that the government in some way acknowledges that
foreigners have a role to play, they could be a bridge between us and the
state. We have tried to build this bridge ourselves, but we do not have the
power to do so: the state sends the police and secret police against us.

It would be good if visitors ask our country’s leaders why religious
communities cannot freely register, meet for worship, publish or import
religious literature. They should ask why we cannot print or import as many
Bibles as we want – the Bible is not banned literature. How much
pornography is allowed here, yet we are not allowed to provide Christian
literature.

Our previous president, Heidar Aliev, was educated by the KGB secret police
and was a KGB man through and through, but since 2003 we have a new
president, Ilham Aliev (Heidar’s son). He has been educated properly, not
by the KGB. He is young, knows several foreign languages, including
English, and looks to the future.

Azerbaijan is considered an Eastern country. In the Eastern mentality it is
the president who decides everything. Politicians, business leaders and
other visitors from the West could tell our president – whether in
public or in private – what needs to be changed and improved in the
area of religious freedom. Such visitors could also invite representatives
of all faiths to such discussions, including Protestants.

Sad though it is to say, I believe the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the
US and other Western governments are not telling our leaders the truth. If
they spoke about the violations of religious freedom in Azerbaijan to our
president in private over a cup of tea, such problems could be resolved.

Western claims of “quiet diplomacy” with unjust regimes can be a
cloak for inaction – a useful excuse for the West to avoid telling
the truth. But the diplomats usually know what they are doing. Our
obligation as members of Azerbaijan’s religious minorities is to explain
our point of view clearly and allow the diplomats to do their job
effectively to make such diplomacy work. At the same time, we need to be
wise to make sure we are not being used in any “cup of tea”
diplomacy that is not effective.

If independent representatives of all faiths, including Protestants, were
ever invited to genuine discussions with visitors and the president, we
would say that we want our constitution to be obeyed. We are not calling
for laws to be changed but for our rights to be defended. The State
Committee for Work with Religious Organisations gets funds from our taxes
to be the liaison between the state and religious communities, but instead
is using taxpayers’ money to obstruct religious communities’ work. This
needs to change. Indeed, the State Committee should be abolished – we
do not need such a body.

We Protestants are Azerbaijani citizens, but no-one listens to us. An
unwritten law says that as Muslims represent 95 per cent of the population
all other faiths, including Protestants, should be ignored. The media, the
police and the secret police regard Christianity as an enemy of the people,
working for Russia, Armenia or some other “enemy”. Fear abounds.
Although we are trying to fight for our rights, we cannot do so alone. We
need the West. Normally citizens of a country should resolve their problems
themselves, but we cannot. Let the state give us the rights we have in the
constitution. The constitution is good, but the practice is bad.

Why is the West not doing anything? We do not understand what they are
waiting for. We think oil and gas are closing their eyes to democracy
here.

Each year Western governments give several million dollars to promote
democracy, but where is this democracy? Are these funds being used to
promote democracy or the opposite? No-one asks why there is a need for so
many police and secret police. Why are there so many? What do we need them
for? How are they fed?

Religious freedom is an inseparable part of the other human rights which
need to be observed here – and these other rights must also be
raised. Freedom of conscience cannot exist without other freedoms, such as
freedom of expression and association, as well as press and literature
freedom. Because of this, religious freedom is a litmus test for freedom
and democracy in any society, including Azerbaijan. Democracy is power. If
people have no power, the regime presides over nothing other than a police
state.

One problem is that officials here are given no training on what democracy
means. The constitution is only a formal document. We find it difficult to
explain to officials our constitutional rights – they do not
understand them. Officials at the State Committee for Work with Religious
Organisations may be a little bit smarter. They know the rights that
believers should have but carry out different instructions – those
come from the KGB secret police.

It is also crucial that international pressure is exerted on the government
to stop regarding religious activity as criminal activity. In contrast to
the government’s current attitude, criminal activity as understood by
international organisations is just that – not religious activity. Criminal
activity is just criminal activity – the religious faith of the
criminal does not matter.

Some media here are very quick to react to any religious events, working
hand in glove with the State Committee and the KGB in fulfilling their
commands. Pro-government television companies like Azerbaijan News Service
ANS, Space and Lider often work with officials to slander believers –
they are a weapon in the authorities’ hands (eg. See F18News 22 November
2004 ). These media
outlets violate the rights of religious believers, manipulating interviews
and cutting segments together to make the believers look bad. They make
believers out to be enemies of the people. As a result, ordinary people are
afraid to visit places of worship.

We hear many promises from the international community, but these promises
are not followed through. If I send my son out with money to buy bread and
he does not get it, I no longer give him money. Western donors should
follow this principle. As Azerbaijan has signed international agreements
guaranteeing rights to religious freedom, such donors must demand that it
fulfils these agreements. Otherwise they should tell our government to stop
its violations and if it continues its abuses they should go further,
isolating the country’s leaders. Officials and pro-government media workers
responsible for violating believers’ rights should be blacklisted for entry
to Western democracies. This should include the police and secret police
leadership, as well as the top five or six leaders of the State Committee
for Work with Religious Organisations, an agency that depends on the
president.

International bodies of which Azerbaijan is a member must be tougher. The
Council of Europe and the OSCE should issue warnings over violations of
believers’ rights then, if the situation does not improve, suspend
Azerbaijan’s membership. This would give a positive signal for change.
Knowing our mentality, it is better for these organisations to start off
exerting pressure in a quiet, friendly way. But the pressure must be
followed through, with a series of steps which do not exclude harsher
measures.

When representatives of such international organisations meet our president
to press these demands, it is important that the heads of the KGB secret
police, the Interior Ministry and the State Committee are present also
– so that they hear the answers our president gives. Such demands are
best made first of all in private, the second time in the open, so that
everyone can see what the West is demanding.

It would be very helpful for international organisations to be guided by
local believers, who should be involved as partners in devising suitable
approaches. It is of course difficult for religious minorities to know
whether such approaches are sincere efforts to promote religious freedom or
merely excuses for inaction. This makes it all the more important for
religious minorities to watch the process carefully to ensure that their
views are listened to – and to be prepared to keep up the pressure
until the approaches bring success.

Religious believers in Azerbaijan are hoping that it is not true that our
democracy is being sold for oil. The test of whether or not this is true is
the West’s concrete actions.

(END)

Commentaries are personal views and do not necessarily represent the views
of F18News or Forum 18.

The F18News report on Azerbaijan before this commentary was 17 December
2004 “We want freedom – freedom in society, freedom of faith and
freedom to worship”
.
For more background information see Forum 18’s Azerbaijan religious freedom
survey at ‘

A printer-friendly map of Azerbaijan is available at
;amp;Rootmap=azerba

an Azerbaijani Protestant, contributed this comment to Forum 18 News
Service. Commentaries are personal views and do not necessarily represent
the views of F18News or Forum 18.

(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved.

You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

On cusp of 75th birthday, Indio exults its progress

The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)
January 2, 2005

By Xochitl Peña

This year, Indio turns 75.

It’s come a long way since its incorporation on May 23, 1930. Back then,
it had a population of 1,875.

Now, it boasts almost 60,000 and is the valley’s fastest growing city.

“It kind of blows you away,” former Mayor Jacquie Bethel said about the
city’s progress.

To celebrate its humble evolution from railroad town to a booming city
known for its festivals, Indio is gearing up for a yearlong celebration.

There will be new events– such as the 75th Anniversary Gala on May 7
and Heritage Days this fall– created specifically to celebrate its
anniversary.

And annual festivals, such as the Southwest Arts Festival later this
month, will provide an opportunity for residents to share in city tradition.

“The community is working very diligently to recognize all of the
essential parts of the city as it’s grown to its 75 years,” said Bethel.

Indio resident Pamper Rodriguez is helping organize Heritage Days this
fall, which will honor Indio’s roots.

“It will include all heritage, not just Latino. There’s a lot of
heritage here,” she said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 75 percent of Indio residents are
Latino, but its roots also include Japanese and Armenian communities.

“It remembers and appreciates those that have made Indio what it is
today,” Rodriguez said about Heritage Days.

Although not finalized, Bethel said organizers want to get kids involved
in the celebration and are planning an art and essay contest for
specific grades that showcases their ideas on Indio’s past, present and
future.

Bethel said residents will have plenty of opportunities to help
celebrate the city’s anniversary.

“There will be a considerable amount of activities. There are … many
different venues for this upcoming year,” she said.

To help commemorate the city’s anniversary, a new city logo and seal
have been created specifically for use throughout 2005.

The city held a contest, and Graphtek Advertising and Design of Palm
Desert was selected as the winner.

The diamond-shaped logo has a “75” overlayed on colorful flags that
symbolize the city’s many festivals.

Xochitl Peña covers Indio and Coachella for The Desert Sun. She can be
reached at 760-360-1340 or by e-mail.

Jan. 03, 2005

KSCI joins tsunami relief effort

By Cynthia Littleton

KSCI-TV harnessed its platform as the nation’s leading Asian-themed
television station to mount a four-hour New Year’s Day telethon to
raise money to aid relief efforts for survivors of Southeast Asia’s
tsunami disaster.

Meanwhile, Australia’s three commercial television networks have put
aside their traditional rivalry and will hold a historic joint
national appeal Saturday to aid victims of the Asian tsunami
disaster. It is believed to be the first time the networks have joined
together to raise money for a cause. “No one can remember if it has
ever happened before,” a spokesperson for the Seven Network said.

The Seven, Nine and Ten networks will produce and simultaneously
broadcast “Australia Unites: The Tsunami Relief Event” live from
Sydney’s Opera House forecourt with top names in Australian
entertainment appearing free of charge, while the networks will
provide crews, telecast infrastructure and production resources.

The CEOs of the three nets — Seven’s David Leckie, Nine’s David
Gyngell and Ten’s John McAlpine — said in a joint statement, “Given
the magnitude of the tsunami disaster, it’s appropriate that the
Australian television industry gets together in a nonpartisan way to
raise a substantial amount of money for the victims of this tragedy.

In Southern California, Saturday’s 1-5 p.m. live broadcast from
KSCI’s studio in West Los Angeles reflected the depth and breadth of
the Asian population in Southern California. The telecast featured a
mix of Hollywood celebrities and local personalities and diplomats
from some of the most hard-hit countries — including Indonesia,
Thailand and Sri Lanka — discussing the crisis and appealing to
viewers to call in with pledges.

The death toll in the region, devastated Dec. 26 by a 9.0-magnitude
earthquake and resulting tsunamis, is projected to climb to at least
150,000, international aid agencies told the Associated Press on
Sunday.

Peter Mathes, chairman of KSCI parent AsianMedia Group, said the
station’s roughly 55 employees scrambled last week to line up guests
and talent for the four-hour telecast.

Launched in 1977, KSCI carries a range of Asian-themed programming in
14 languages, from Arabic to Tagalog. The telethon was presented in
English in an effort to reach the widest possible audience, Mathes
said.

“We talk to this community more than anyone else in the market,” said
Mathes, a broadcast TV veteran who joined AsianMedia in April. “We
felt it was the right thing to do. We could have had a lot more
(Hollywood) talent participating if we had waited a week, but it felt
like we needed to do something now.”

KSCI partnered with the Red Cross and international Christian relief
organization World Vision to process the pledges; viewers were given
the option of making donations through either organization.

Estimates of the total raised through Saturday’s telethon won’t be
available for about a week, Mathes said. Toward the end of the
telecast, the hosts reported receiving a few pledges for $1,000 and
one as high as $3,000. In 1988, KSCI produced a telethon that raised
$3 million for victims of the devastating earthquake in what was then
known as Soviet Armenia.

The primary hosts of Saturday’s telethon, Sheeraz Hasan, known to KSCI
viewers as host of the “Tinseltown TV” program on Hollywood and
Bollywood showbiz news, and his sidekick Zarina Ramzan, kept stressing
how survivors in the hardest-hit areas have few basic necessities and
that those conditions are sure to lead to more suffering through
communicable diseases and tainted water supplies.

“There’s no food, no water, no soap, no medicine,” Ramzan said. “They
do not have the basics.”

The two also noted that earthquake-prone Southern California with its
hundreds of miles of coastline is vulnerable to tsunami conditions.

The telecast drew the support of a handful of Hollywood celebrities,
including “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” star Marg Helgenberger and
her husband, actor Alan Rosenberg, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mindy
Sterling and cast members from ABC’s “General Hospital,” including
veterans Stuart Damon and Jackie Zeman.

Leila Feinstein, a news correspondent at KTLA-TV Los Angeles who is of
Thai descent, taped a segment offering her personal perspective on the
tragedy. KTLA also supported KSCI’s effort by running stories about
the telethon on its Friday morning and 10 p.m. newscasts, Mathes
said.

Among the most compelling moments of the telethon was a segment
featuring a Santa Monica couple who miraculously survived the
disastrous tsunami even though they were diving off the Thai coast
near the time that it hit.

Gene Kim and his wife, Faye Linda Wachs, spoke of the chilling scene
that greeted them at their beachfront resort as they returned from a
morning of deep-sea diving. Wachs described watching more and more
unusual debris — including refrigerators and other large items —
turning up on the roadside until they finally realized their hotel had
nearly been leveled and the beach was covered with bodies, piles of
rubble and rescuers frantically searching for survivors.

Jacqueline Lee Lewes in Sydney contributed to this report.

Tasks clear for coming year

Yerkir/arm
24 Dec 04

Summarizing the ARF activities for this year, Hrayr Karapetian,
National Assembly’s ARF faction secretary said that there have been
three major directions on which the faction presented initiatives in
the National Assembly this year. First of all, it is the package of
laws regarding the social sphere, namelyth e law on minimal
consumption basket.

Karapetian says: `Note that all previous parliaments
unsuccessfullytried to adopt such a law, but only this one
succeeded. It is becoming a precedent for this law to be reflected in
the budget of each year, and the size of the minimal wage will be
raised in accordance with rise of the overall budget. This mainly
concerns socially insecure layers and simultaneously regulates the
activities of the government.’

He also outlined the laws on taxes. It is no secret that shadow
economy tells upon the budget income and laws should be designed so
that to bring the shadow economy into light. Karapetian said that over
47 billion drams of extra income were provided due to recovered money
from the shadow economy.

The faction also prioritized the adoption of the law protecting the
interests of small and medium entrepreneurs. And due to the consistent
action of the faction the budget credit for the latter business have
increased by 300 million drams.

As to national security issue, the new law on `State financial
maintenance’ is unprecedented. The faction has also prioritized
anti-corruption legislation and the law on `Lobbying’ which will be
discussed at the next session.

In addition, the law on `Fight against terrorism’, which has passed
the first reading and was send to European experts, will be discussed
at the next session.

The Electoral Code has been agreed on principle points, and the
faction hopes that its recommendations will help to avoid violations
during the elections.

Over 500 letters with requests and complaints on various issues were
received by the parliament in 2004. The secretary says most of them
were addressed and appropriate solutions were maximally provided. Yet,
the secretary believes the parliament’s work has not been satisfactory
and a new program for 2005 is being developed.

Karapetian also said that some instability arose in regards to the
deposits issue at the end of the year, which, as Karapetian believes,
will not cause serious conflicts within the coalition. He also said
that the opposition tried to speculate on this issue, but failed.

Turkish Press
Dec 27 2004

Turkey’s Millennium

BY ZEYNEL ABIDIN ERDEM

STAR- Turkey is now ready to integrate with the European community, a
group made up of developed countries respectful of democracy and
human rights. Since we Turks are hardworking, careful and friendly, I
believe that our partnership with the European Union could be formed
sooner than expected.

Let’s take a look the EU’s requirements of our country:

* Withdraw our troops from Cyprus. Recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration.

* Open the Heybeliada Seminary.

* Grant the Alawites minority rights

* Recognize the `ecumenical patriarch’

* Recognize the so-called Armenian genocide

* Abolish the National Security Council (NSC), or transform it into
an institution compatible with EU norms.

* Permit an international organization to manage the waters of The
Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

What must (or mustn’t) Turkey do during its membership negotiations?
All countries have their own `red lines,’ but it isn’t always
possible to retain all of them once your start negotiating. The most
important issues that Ankara will have to deal with during this
process will probably be the Cyprus issue, minority rights and
northern Iraq. Turkey must first take measures to protect its
territorial integrity from certain well-funded, well-organized groups
which can use such devastating means against our country as
terrorism.

We shouldn’t forget that Turkey isn’t like Belgium, France or Spain,
none of which have problems regarding their national borders. Of
course we’ll discuss these issues for 5-10 years, but what we will
say and accept in the initial phase of the negotiations will shape
our future course. We must discuss these issues from the very
beginning, and also try to find the best solutions possible for all
the parties involved.

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – Lebanon

Beirut, December 15, 2004
Haigazian University inaugurates the automation of its Library.
Haidostian: Partnerships encourage excellence and knowledge; help the weak
and needy;
close the gaps among peoples, classes and hearts.
On December 15, 2004, the president of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian, and the mission director of the United States Agency for
International Development in Lebanon, Mr. Raouf Youssef, inaugurated the
automation of the Haigazian University Library, in the presence of the
minister of youth and sports, Dr. Sebouh Hovnanian, the president of The
Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev. Meguerditch
Karagoezian, vice governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Mr. Alain
Balian, members of the board of trustees, faculty and press representatives.
The ceremony started with a welcome speech by the Director of Public
Relations of the university, Mrs. Mira Yardemian, who highlighted the
importance of technology in learning, the proliferation of electronic
knowledge, and the transition from paper to digitized information.
In his word, the president of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian pointed out that the project of the library automation was the
fruit of a partnership between Haigazian University and the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID). He explained the meaning of
partnership as two entities that enjoy separate identities and resources
which go through a process of joining forces for better and fuller
existence, where truth, freedom and service abide. This is applicable to
this partnership, since on one hand, Haigazian University and its libraries
with their 80,000 volumes, rare books and periodicals have nurtured
generations of young people in the past 50 years, and on the other hand,
the noble ideals of the Unite States constitution, pave the way for just
relationships, free minds and consciences.
Then the mission director of the United States Agency for International
Development, Mr. Raouf Youssef, addressed the audience, by noting that this
partnership will benefit more than 750 students in Haigazian University,
and the automation will promote information technology, manage and exchange
knowledge between educational institutions in Lebanon and abroad. He hoped
that Haigazian University will continue to further develop this project and
other projects that will prepare to endow educated professional citizens to
have responsibility in leadership and in the contribution of the Lebanese
socio-economic development.

Afterwards the audience had a tour in the 2 libraries, the English and the
Armenian. Mr. Raouf Youssef was especially touched when he saw a copy of
the first Armenian Bible published in 1666 in Amsterdam by Voskan Yerevantzi.
A reception followed.

The Islamic Republic’s Christian Minority
By Golnaz Esfandiari

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Iran is officially designated the “Islamic Republic,” yet among its more
than 66 million people is a small but important Christian minority. Most
of Iran’s Christians are Armenians and Assyrians, who remain relatively
free to follow their faith. The numbers of Protestants and evangelical
Christians are said to be growing. For these people, life is often much
more difficult. RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari takes a look at
Iran’s Christian minority.

Prague, 23 December 2004 (RFE/RL) — Christian Armenians and Assyrians
have lived for centuries on the territory of what is today Iran.

Vigen, one of Iran’s most famous singers, came from the country’s Armenian
community. He was loved by all Iranians in spite of the fact his faith was
different from the vast majority. He died recently, but remains a legend.

The number of Armenians, Iran’s largest Christian minority, was estimated
at about 300,000 in 1979. It has declined in recent times but remains
culturally important.

Mardo Soghom, the director of RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, is Armenian by origin
but grew up in Isfahan, in central Iran.

“The 400-year history of the Armenian community in Iran is perhaps the
greatest example of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, even at
the time when the country experienced isolation and socio-economic
backwardness,” Soghom said. “In the 20th century, as the country
modernized, the Armenian community thrived both economically and
culturally. After the revolution, dislocations and restrictions affecting
the general population also created hardships for Armenians, nearly half
the community left Iran. Some discriminatory policies and restrictions
came into effect, but still community rights are generally protected.”

Armenians have two seats in the Iranian parliament but continue to face
cultural, social, and administrative difficulties. They report
discrimination in finding work, and just a few Armenian schools are
fortunate enough to have an Armenian schoolmaster.

The Assyrian Christian population is estimated at some 10,000. They have
one seat in the parliament.

Iran is also home to a small number of Catholics and a small but growing
number of Protestants.

A relatively new phenomenon is the rising number of Muslim-born Iranians
who convert to Christianity.

Issa Dibaj is the son of reverend Hassan Dibaj, a Christian convert who
was jailed and later found murdered in 1994. Issa Dibaj left Iran five
years ago and now lives in the U.K.

“There is another Christian minority that people know little about, these
are Iranians who are born as Muslims and then later become Christians,”
Dibaj said. “Their number is growing day by day. [There] may be around
100,000 [of them], but no one really knows the exact number.”

Such Christians run a potentially dangerous risk. Under Islamic law as
practiced in Iran, a Muslim who converts to another faith can face the
death penalty.

The government has refrained from executing people for this in recent
years, nevertheless it has taken measure to curb proselytizing by
Christians.

Some churches have been closed and reports say the authorities are putting
pressure on evangelicals not to recruit Muslims or to allow them to attend
services.

In September, 85 member of the Assemblies of God church were arrested
during a conference in Iran. One remains in jail.

Dibaj said in spite of the restrictions, he sees a growing interest in
Christianity: “[Iranians] see that the establishment which came in the
name of Islam has brought them only war, rancor, hatred, and killings. At
the same time, they see the message of Jesus, which is love. It attracts
them through programs they see on satellite or through their Christian
friends.”

He added: “People are very curious, very interested. Iranians [are] open
and they like to know more about different cultures, ideas, and religions.
I had friends who had been prisoners of war in Iraq, at the university
they were my best friends, they were very interested [about my faith], and
I gave some of them the Bible.”

Iranian Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus pretty much like other
Christians around the world. They decorate Christmas trees, exchange
gifts, and attend services. Depending on the calendar, Armenians and
Assyrians celebrate Christmas on 6 January. Others celebrate usually on 24
December.

According to some reports Persia may even be the land of origin of the
“Three Wise Men” who — according to the Bible — arrived bearing gifts
for the birth of Christ. Some say they were Persian “Magi” — members of
priestly caste at the time.

85,000 EUR REQUIRED TO SAVE LIFE OF BOY SICK WITH LEUKAEMIA: JANUARY 5, 2005 DEADLINE

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22. ARMINFO. To save the life of a 16-year-old
citizen of Armenia Arshak Haroutiunyan, 85,000 EUR are required for
operation on marrow transplantation at Benjamin Franklin Hospital in
Berlin (Germany).

Speaking at a press-conference, Wednesday, a relative of the boy
Ninnel Vardanyan stated that the deadline for operation is Jan 5,
2005. The necessary sum must be collected by this date. The relatives
and friends of Arshak have managed to collect only 1 mln 800,000 AMD
(3,600 USD). His parents sell their real estate, which is estimated at
15,000 USD. Ninnel Vardanyan noted that the head of a number of medical
establishments of Yerevan, Artyom Kushyan, promised a considerable
financial assistance, but has not helped by anything in practice.
The First Lady of Armenia, Bella Kocharyan, who is President of the
National Marrow Register, could not render financial assistance,
but she promised to negotiate with the German party for reduction
of the sum. Ninnel Vardanyan noted that numerous calls by Mass Media
for assistance proved to be in vain.

Informed of Arshak’s disease, the country’s Health Ministry, first
of all, “took an interested in how he had occurred in Germany.” No
real assistance is rendered to the boy, referring to financial
difficulties and lack of ties with the Association of Medics of Berlin,
she stated. For conclusion, Ninnel Vardanyan noted that a donor for
Arshak has already been found in Armenia, but his life is hanged by
a thread which may break on January 5, 2005. All those who want to
help the boy, can transfer money to the accounts with ARMSAVINGSBANK
in AMD – 160485273918, in USD – 160482127398 and in EUR – 160482227396.