VATICAN CITY (VIS) - Made public today was the Apostolic Letter, dated February 2, written by the Pope for the occasion of the anniversary of the Baptism of the Armenian People.

John Paul II recalled that the conversion of the Armenian people to Christianity occurred seventeen centuries ago. "It was an event which profoundly marked your identity; not only your personal identity, but that of the community as well. For this reason one can speak of the 'Baptism' of your nation, even if in reality the spreading of Christianity had already begun some time earlier in your land."

After a brief narration of the events which, according to tradition, were at the origin of the massive conversion of the Armenian people, the Pope writes: "The preaching of the Good News and the conversion of Armenia are, above all, founded on the blood of witnesses to the faith. ... The component of martyrdom constitutes a constant element in the history of your people. ... The entire culture and very spirituality of the Armenians are pervaded by the boldness of the supreme sign of the gift of life in martyrdom. ... One such emblem is the sacrifice of Vardan Mamikonian and his companions" who, facing attempts to impose mazdaism (Zoroastrianism), "gave their life to remain faithful to Christ and defend the faith of the nation." The Pope emphasized that since then similar events have been repeated, "up through the massacres suffered by the Armenians in the years spanning the 19th and 20th centuries and culminating in the tragic events of 1915, when the Armenian people suffered unspeakable violence, the painful consequences of which are still visible in the Diaspora into which many of its sons have been constrained. It is a memory which cannot be lost."

Furthermore, the Holy Father recalled, these bloody events have compelled the Armenian people "to continual migrations throughout the world." But, he writes, "the Christian faith, even in the most tragic moments of Armenian history, has been the propulsive spring which has marked the beginning of the rebirth of this tried people."

Another element "of great value in your troubled history" is comprised of the "relation between evangelization and culture." From the term "'Illuminator,' as St. Gregory the Apostle of Armenia is named" is derived 'Illumination', a term which indicates that "through Baptism, the disciple ... is inundated by the splendor of Christ 'light of the world'." Such a term also indicates "the spreading of culture through teaching, entrusted in particular to the monk- teachers, who continue the evangelical preaching of St. Gregory."

The Pope then pointed to the "powerful force of faith, which prompts us not to give in to the temptations of power and of the world, and which enables us to resist atrocious sufferings as well as the most seductive flattery." When man distances himself from God, "he loses his own dignity, debasing himself, and thus becoming a prisoner of his own avidity." An important truth in all of this emerges, he says: "An absolute sacredness of power does not exist, and this doesn't mean to say that it is always justified in everything one does. One must, rather, recognize the personal responsibility of one's choices: if they are wrong, they remain such, even if a king makes them."

The Holy Father said he wants to express to the Lord "the gratitude of the entire Church for having inspired in the Armenian people a faith which is so firm and courageous and for having always supported them in their witness to it. ... I want to express my thanks to the Armenian people, above all for their long history of fidelity to Christ, a fidelity which has known persecution and martyrdom."

"The Armenian people's patrimony of faith and culture has enriched mankind with treasures of art and talent, which are now spread throughout the world. ... Ambassadors of peace and industriousness, Armenians have traveled the world and ... have offered a precious contribution to transforming it and making it closer to the Father's project of love." John Paul II expressed "a special thought to all those who worked so that Armenia could rise from the sufferings of so many years of a totalitarian regime."

"I also fervently hope that the faithful will courageously continue their commitment and their already notable efforts so that the Armenia of tomorrow will bloom again in the human and Christian values of justice, solidarity, equality, respect, honesty and hospitality which are at the basis of human coexistence."

He underscored how "the already cordial relations between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church have had, in recent decades, a decisive thrust through meetings between the Pope and the highest authorities of that Church." In particular, he cites the encounter with His Holiness Karekin II to whom he gave the relics of Gregory the Illuminator for the new cathedral in Yerevan.

Remarking on tomorrow's liturgy in the Armenian rite in St. Peter's Basilica, "with Armenians and for Armenians ... to praise God for the gift of faith they have received," the Pope writes: "It is my great hope that that sacred thanksgiving will embrace all Armenians, wherever they are."

Armenian Tragedy and the Meaning of Genocide Discussed in February 8 issue of the London Review of Books:

Ukrainian television

2 March 2001

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, who came to Ukraine on an official visit  and spent the first day in Kiev, has visited Odessa and Illichivsk today.  Apart from economic issues, the Armenian president was interested in how his  compatriots live in Ukraine. The Armenian diaspora in Odessa Region is the  biggest one in Ukraine.

[Correspondent] Our guests were primarily interested in the sea transport  centre in Illichivsk and the Odessa-Varna and Odessa-Poti-Batumi ferries  successfully operating nearby. They paid much attention to them as the ninth  European transport corridor connecting the Balkans and Transcaucasian  countries is successfully operating due to the normal work of the Ukrferry  Ukrainian shipping company. This is an Armenian goal too. Robert Kocharyan  met the Armenian diaspora, which is the biggest in Ukraine. Almost 50,000  Armenians live in Odessa Region. An Armenian church was the first to be  constructed in independent Ukraine. There had been no Armenian temple built  before that in the former USSR and post-Soviet countries. People of Caucasus  origins have an opportunity to have their children learn the Armenian  language, traditions and culture at school. Even the place for the church is  a prestigious one - in the Arkadiya area at the seashore. So Ukraine is  becoming mother to many people living comfortably here, the Armenian  president said in his speech to businessmen from the two countries.

Azerbaijani Space TV

2 March 2001

[Presenter] The settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem has been one of  the most widely discussed subjects among the Azerbaijani public recently. The  public does not have a single opinion on the settlement of the problem. While  some support a peaceful resolution, there is a considerable number of those  who want war. Let us recall that the head of state is to leave for France  soon. As for the opposition, they say that [Azerbaijani President] Heydar  Aliyev will sign a defeatist agreement. At the same time they assert that in  this way [Heydar Aliyev's son] Ilham Aliyev will be brought to power. Ilham  Aliyev granted an exclusive interview to Space today. He said that this  version did not correspond to reality. He also presented his own version:   [Ilham Aliyev, captioned as vice president of State Oil Company of the  Azerbaijani Republic] They [the press] are writing that Heydar Aliyev wants  to go for concessions [on Nagornyy Karabakh] because there is the issue of  succession and he wants to facilitate his successor's job. You know, when I  read such things I hate those people who spread such rumours. I can present a  different scenario. It is no secret to anyone that the big powers want to  expand their influence in Azerbaijan. Until 1993 the big, or not big,  neighbouring states' influence here was extremely great. And even some  countries' ambassadors were in a certain sense formulating the foreign and

internal policy of Azerbaijan.

An end was put to these tendencies after 1993 because a strong personality  like Heydar Aliyev could never allow other countries' interests to prevail  over Azerbaijan's interests in the foreign or internal issues of Azerbaijan.  For this reason, an end was put to this. And during the last seven to eight  years that Heydar Aliyev has been head of state, neither America nor Russia  nor our other friendly neighbouring countries have been able to implement  their interests however they please, because Azerbaijan's own interests are  paramount for us, and we must defend these interests, and after that we can  establish bilateral or multilateral relations.

And certainly, the Azerbaijani authorities' strength probably does not suit  other countries. There is a version currently circulating in the press that  Western states are looking for the weakest group among the opposition in  Azerbaijan. For this reason they are exerting pressure on Heydar Aliyev to  compel him to agree to a defeatist peace, so the situation could accelerate  and they could bring more suitable forces to power.

They have selected the weakest group among this opposition, this is the  current People's Front [of Azerbaijan] Party and they want to slightly  increase their authority here. This version, I repeat, has not been invented  by me. This version exists in the press and among political scientists.   [Presenter] We should note that Ilham Aliyev has recently been sympathetic to  the youths who want to wage war. According to him, lands which cannot be  taken peacefully must definitely be regained by war. We will present details  of the exclusive interview with Ilham Aliyev in our 2100 [1700 gmt].

Friday, March 2

Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Australian Open champion Andre Agassi advanced to the  semifinals of the Sybase Open with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over his friend and  hitting partner Sargis Sargsian on Friday night.

Top-seeded Agassi improved to 10-0 this year in the lighthearted  quarterfinal match, as girlfriend Steffi Graf looked on. Fans, including  musician Carlos Santana, cheered for both the seven-time Grand Slam winner  and his underdog opponent.

"It's always tough playing somebody you want to see win," Agassi said. "You have to stay focused. You have to concentrate."

Serving with a 4-2 advantage in the second set, Agassi rallied scoreboard.

Top-ranked Agassi, who has won the Sybase four times, faces Jan-Michael

Gambill in a semifinal match on Saturday.

Sixth-seeded Gambill defeated Spain's Juan Balcells -- who upset third-seeded Mark Philippoussis in a marathon match Thursday -- 6-2, 6-0 in the late match Friday night.

In an earlier quarterfinal match, Greg Rusedski used his size and power to  upset Australian sensation Lleyton Hewitt 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.  Eighth-seeded Rusedski, who advanced to his third semifinal this year,  easily took the second set as Hewitt struggled with his first serves. He won  the match with a cross-court drop shot that Hewitt couldn't get to.  "He definitely got better and better as the match went on," Hewitt said.  Second-seeded Hewitt, wearing his trademark backward baseball cap, needed  quickness and agility to overcome Rusedski's booming serve in the first set.  He took the opening set with a 105-mph serve that Rusedski returned into the  net.

Rusedski said he varied his chip-and-charge strategy a bit to throw Hewitt

off after getting off to a jittery start.

"My main plan was to go to the net with him because I think from the back he's a better player," he said.

Hewitt, who turned 20 last Saturday, beat Rusedski in their previous two meetings. The quarterfinal loss spoiled hopes of a final between Australian Open winner Andre Agassi and Hewitt.

Rusedski made it to the Sybase final in 1997, but retired from the match against Pete Sampras with a wrist injury.

Rusedski's opponent for Saturday's semifinals was decided when fourth-seeded Tommy Haas couldn't finish his match against qualifier Xavier Malisse of Belgium because of a right hip injury.

Haas said he dove twice in the final set, bruising his right knee and aggravating a hip injury he'd been nursing all week.

"When I came up, I didn't feel right, and I knew I couldn't risk any more," he said.

In quarterfinal doubles matches played earlier Friday, Simon Aspelin and Johan Landsberg of Sweden defeated second-seeded Americans Justin Gimelstob and Scott Humphries 6-3, 7-6 (8). Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and American Brian MacPhie defeated American wild card entries Paul Goldstein and Jim Thomas, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Yerkir

2 March 2001

The number of Armenians living in southern districts of Russia has increased  in recent years. They have united to form the Association of Azov-Black Sea  Armenian Communities and Armenian Societies. Anatoliy Saakyan, the chairman  of the association, and Grigor Martirosyan, the head of the Union of Artsakh  (Karabakh) Compatriots, talk here about the life of these Armenian communities.

Anatoliy Saakyan: Each Armenian family lives relatively well, and their main  concerns are everyday problems. There are 32 Armenian communities and  societies involved in the Association of Azov-Black Sea Armenian Communities.  They are not operating at a satisfactory level today. Although all these  communities organize Armenian language courses and there are song and dance  groups and libraries, none of these are satisfactory yet. Armenia should play  a serious role in the organization, activation and development of the life of  Armenian communities and the maintenance of the Armenian spirit. We would appreciate visits by cultural groups from Armenia to Armenian communities outside the republic and would be grateful if Armenian publications, particularly newspapers, could be sent to these communities. We will give a warm welcome to cultural groups from Artsakh and Armenia.  Grigor Martirosyan: Since the first years of the Artsakh movement, a large  number of Armenian refugees from Baku, Sumgait [Sumqayit], Gyandzha [Ganca]  and other districts of Azerbaijan have resettled in Krasnodar Region. More  than one million Armenians live in this region. According to estimates, more  than one hundred of them are from Azerbaijan [figures as given]. Armenians  living here have good relations with them.

The Union of Artsakh Compatriots is today not only interested in assistance  to refugees, but also organizes charitable aid to Artsakh's population. But  today our ties with mother Armenia and Artsakh have weakened. And it is not  our fault. Formerly, our representatives transported aid to Artsakh, so there  was a tie. Cultural groups from Armenia and Artsakh also used to visit our  region regularly, but now they have forgotten us. But our union is working.  There are many refugees from Artsakh who want to return there. We organize  their return and allocate money for their journey and their first few months  in their homeland. Thanks to our help, 62 refugees from Artsakh returned  there in 2000.