Category: News

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

“GENOCIDE, IMPUNITY AND JUSTICE”
AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ANTELIAS, LEBANON

(22-23 APRIL, 2004)

ANTELIAS, LEBANON – An International conference on Genocide, Impunity and
Justice which has been initiated by His Holiness Aram I and organized by the
Armenian Cathoilcosate of Cilicia, will take place in the Headquarters of
the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon.

The conference will focus on the question of impunity, which will be
analyzed from juridical, religious and political perspectives. The Armenian
Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th century (1915) and the Rwandan
Genocide, the last genocide of the 20th century (1994) will be presented as
two different cases of impunity. An international body of scholars,
politicians and academicians will take part in the conference. The
presidents of Lebanon and Rwanda will send their messages through their
personal representatives. His Holiness Aram I will give his message at the
opening session.

The question of impunity has become a critical issue on the agenda of the
world community. The conference will provide a framework for people coming
from different religions and backgrounds to discuss this question in a
spirit of creative dialogue.

In the following two weeks you will find on the website of the Catholicosate
the detailed program and schedule of the conference with
related information. We have limited space to accommodate those interested
in this conference. You may fill out the attached Application Form, or
contact us at [email protected] .

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APPLICATION FORM:

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

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

March 16, 2004

ANEC ORGANIZES ARMENIAN JEOPARDY

Who is Toros Roslin?
Who is called “The Poet of all Armenians”?
What was the original name of Etchmiadzin?

Armenian students from the Mid-Atlantic region will contend with similar
questions during the Armenian Jeopardy tournament scheduled to take place at
the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church Hall in Ridgefield, NJ on Saturday,
March 27, 2004 at 3:00 PM.

Organized by the Jeopardy Committee of the Armenian National Education
Committee (ANEC), plans are underway for the highly anticipated innovative
cultural event that will engage students from Armenian schools in regional
competitions.

In the function of its original namesake, this ethnic, electronic version
will feature cultural topics running the gamut of Armenian literature,
history, geography, religion, politics, current events and fine and
performing arts.

Participating students from the following Mid-Atlantic schools and parishes
are hard at work preparing for the tournament: Siamanto Academy, NY; Holy
Martyrs Armenian Day School, NY; Nareg School, NJ; St. Gregory Armenian
Sunday School, PA; Armenian Sisters Academy, PA; and Hamasdegh School,
Washington DC.

The objective of activities such as this one, is to reinforce the cultural
edification of the new generation, to strengthen pride in their shared rich
background and to bolster well rounded citizenship in a young generation
that would be securely anchored in their national heritage.

Dr. Ara Caprielian has been invited to serve as the Armenian Alex Trebek, to
pose the questions to the participants. The Jeopardy Committee is comprised
of: Dr. Meline Karakashian, Mr. Hovsep Melkonian, Mrs. Nayiri Balanian, Mrs.
Sossy Jeknavorian, Mrs. Sossy Shekookian, Ms Ann Marie Bokatzian and Ms
Gilda B. Kupelian. Dr. Herand Markarian and Mr. Haroutune Misserlian have
contributed questions to the program and Mrs. Silva Kouyoumdjian has been
helpful in logistical matters.

The public is invited to attend and encourage the students.

For further information, kindly contact the ANEC office at 212.689.7810 or
[email protected].

Paul Goebel says no democratic revolution in Azerbaidjan yet

Pravda
14:42 2004-03-16

To date, there has not been a democratic revolution in Azerbaidjan,’
according to American political scientist Paul Goebel. In a radio
interview Monday with the Voice of America, Goebel said that ‘the
holding of elections does not indicate the presence of democracy. In
addition, the majority of the people in Azerbaidjan are inheritors of
the Soviet system and continue to display that mentality. Such people
hope that the presence of even a modicum of stability is a good thing,
but what they don’t understand is that it’s impossible to sustain such
stability.’

He expressed the hope that the current president of Azerbaidjan will
consider the long-term interests of the country. ‘The question doesn’t
concern the next two or three years, but the condition of the country
in 40 or 50 years. In order to achieve success, it is imperative that
Azerbaidjan shift over to democracy. That shift has to be carried out
by the people of Azerbaidjan themselves,’ he said.

The most worrisome factor, in Goebel’s opinion, is the fact that the
government is not yet based on the rule of law, that civic
institutions are absent, and that elections are neither free nor
fair. ‘One shouldn’t consider the preservation of independence since
1991 as an accomplishment,’ he said. ‘Negative influences on the
development of Azerbaidjan consist of a lack of fundamental
governmental institutions, the presence of corruption and problems
with democracy. Currently, the government of Azerbaidjan merely
appears strong. In fact, the system is extremely weak and must be
strengthened,’ said Goebel. Blaming the lack of democratic reforms on
the persistent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaidjan is not good
enough. External threats are often used to justify the absence of a
government based on the rule of law.’

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Foreign Press Office
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
March 16, 2004

Rev. Fr. Aren Shahinian Appointed as Spiritual Pastor of the Armenian
Community of Rome

By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Rev. Father Aren Shahinian is appointed as
spiritual pastor of the Armenian community of Rome. The Armenian
communities of Italy are under the jurisdiction of the Pontifical Legate for
Western Europe, His Eminence Archbishop Kude Nakkashian, Primate of Paris.
Fr. Shahinian is a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

* * *

Father Aren Shahinian
(baptized Shant)

Father Aren Shahinian was born on January 20, 1970, in Baghdad, Iraq. He
received his primary education in the local elementary school.
>From 1989-1992, he studied at the College of Mechanical Sciences in the city
of Kirkuk.
In 1993, he began attending a five-year ecclesiastical course organized by
His Eminence Archbishop Avak Assadourian, Primate of the Armenian Church
Diocese of Iraq. Concurrently, he pursued his education at the “Babylon”
Theological University of Baghdad.
On January 29, 1999, he was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Avak
Assadourian.
On March 2, 2000, he was ordained a celibate priest by Archbishop Avak
Assadourian, in the Armenian Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, of
Cairo, Egypt. The same year, he successfully defended his thesis entitled:
“The Gospel and the Koran”, and was awarded with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Theology and Philosophy from the “Babylon” Theological University.
Following his ordination, Father Aren departed for Rome to continue his
theological education.
In 2004, upon the Pontifical Order of the Catholicos of All Armenians, he
was appointed spiritual pastor of the Armenian community of Rome.

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BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PLEDGES TO MEDIATE IN KARABAKH PROBLEM

Khorizont Radio, Sofia,
16 Mar 04

Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi, who is currently touring the Caucuses
region in his capacity a chairman of the OSCE, is in Baku on 16
March. He is to meet President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in the
afternoon.

Earlier today, Pasi held talks to Foreign Minister Vilayat
Quliyev. Quliyev expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of
the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. He
said that for 12 years the Karabakh problem remained unsolved. The
enclave is populated mainly by Christians of Armenian stock and makes
up 20 per cent of the territory of Azerbaijan. It has remained with an
unclear status for 10 years. Only Armenia has recognized its
self-declared independence.

Pasi, who is to visit Yerevan on 17 March, pledged to raise the issue
to the Armenian leadership.

OSCE chairman sees dialogue as only way of solving Karabakh crisis

ANS Radio, Baku
16 Mar 04

Solomon Passi, chairman-in-office of the OSCE, who is on a two-day
official visit to Azerbaijan, thinks that there is only one way of
solving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

The problem can be resolved only through dialogue. That must be the
first step. We can take other steps after the first one, end of quote.

As for his visit to the region, the OSCE chairman-in-office, who
arrived in Azerbaijan from Georgia, said that he would leave for
Armenia from Azerbaijan and added he was not planning to visit
Karabakh.

Before his appointment as chairman-in-office, Passi stated that the
OSCE would concentrate its activities on the resolution of regional
conflicts in the Caucasus.

AJARIAN LEADER TELLS AZERI TV HE FOLLOWS CONSTITUTION

ANS TV, Baku
15 Mar 04

(Presenter) We had an interview with Ajarian leader Aslan Abashidze
before the news bulletin.

(Correspondent over the phone) Good evening, Aslan Georgiyevich.
(Abashidze) Good evening.

(Correspondent) What is happening in Ajaria and on the administrative
border?

(Abashidze) The situation was difficult, but it is quite now.

(Correspondent) What foreign forces, do you think, are interested in
the escalation of the tension?

(Abashidze) Without a thorough analysis and without documents, we can
only make assumptions. But these forces did not come on their own.

(Correspondent) Aslan Ibragimovich, we learned that Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan had phoned you several times in the past two
days. What did he want, if it is not a secret?

(Abashidze) I received no such calls. I had a call several days ago,
before my trip to Moscow. They phoned on the day of Saakashvili’s
visit to Yerevan. An aircraft of a businessman took off from here
(presumably to Yerevan) as well. Presumably, there was a report at
Yerevan’s airport about this, so they wanted to know who is flying –
was it Abashidze or somebody else. They were told the aircraft
belonged to an individual. That is all.

(Correspondent) How is the situation going to develop after the expiry
of an ultimatum?

(Abashidze) I have not heard about the ultimatum and have not thought
about it. I don’t understand when people within a country talk to each
other in the language of ultimatums, to put it mildly. I do not pay
any attention to such things. I am following the constitution.

A1 Plus | 17:09:16 | 16-03-2004 | Social |

ENVIRONMENT IS UNDER THREAT

Activists of thirty four Armenian organizations engaged in environment,
education and public health issues and united in an alliance on February 28
held Tuesday a news conference in Yerevan.

Deforestation was pointed out as the Armenian environmentalists’ biggest
worry.

“It is our top concern. We have already embarked on very serious work and
want all the programs to be put into reality”, said Tapan Eco Club chairman
Hrant Sargssyan.

—

PRESS RELEASE
March 16, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Ambassador Kirakossian Meets with National Geographic Society’s Executives

On March 16, 2004, Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian
visited the National Geographic Society where he met with Mr. John Fahey,
President and CEO of the National Geographic Society and other executives of
the NGS and the National Geographic Magazine. On behalf of the Government,
Ambassador Kirakossian expressed satisfaction with the article “The Rebirth
of Armenia” that appeared in the March 2004 issue of the National Geographic
Magazine and generated great interest towards Armenia in the United States.

Ambassador Kirakossian presented issues relating to modern Armenia’s
history, culture, and traditions. Issues related to travel and tourism in
Armenia were also discussed during the meeting.

Assembly of Armenians of Europe
Rue de Treves 10, 1050 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 647 08 01
Fax: +32 2 647 02 00

16/3/2004- INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL:
“Turkey and its prospects for accession to the european union”

On March 23-26 a conference titled “Turkey and its prospects for accession
to the European Union” is to be held in Istanbul on a joint initiative of UK
Foreign Office, Wilton Park Conference Center (UK) and Turkish Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.

The objective of the conference, which brings together Representatives of
the EU institutions, European Ambassadors in Turkey, Turkish diplomats and
researchers, is to discuss different aspects related to the Turkish apply
for EU membership.

The main discussion concerns the following topics:

Does Turkey fulfill Copenhagen criteria to join the EU? (M. Emmerson, CEPS)

What is already achieved (Volkan Bozkir, Turkish ministry of foreign
affairs) what still should be done? (Ari Oostlander, MEP)

How can human rights and civil society be strengthened? (Anne Dismor,
Swedish Ambassador in Turkey)

What would be the consequences of Turkish membership for both EU and Turkey
in social, cultural and economic terms? (Serif Mardin, Kemal Kersci, Per
Brekk, Omer Aras)

The geopolitical aspect is largely discussed in two directions: 1. the
implication of the Turkish membership on Turkey’s and EU’s roles in the
Caucasus and the Middel East (Ali Karasoglu, Gareth Winrow) and 2. its
implication on the EU security.

The main concerns of Turkish public opinion regarding Turkey’s membership
are also presented by Ali Carkoglu.

The panel discussion will be launched on acceptance of Turkey’s membership
by the the European public opinion. Anna Palacio (Foreign Minister, Madrid),
Annemie Neyts (Minister of State, Belgium), Pierre Lequiller (Paliament
member, France), Dr. Christoph Jessen (Federal Foreign Office, Berlin) are
invited to this session.

For more information see:

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