IRAQ: BISHOP NEGOTIATES FOR KIDNAPPED PRIESTS

Compass Direct News, CA
http://compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=lead&lang=en&length=long&idelement=5072
Oct 15 2007

Islamists threaten Christians in Mosul. Father Pius Affas and Father
Mazen Ishoa

ISTANBUL, October 15 (Compass Direct News) - An Iraqi bishop said
today that he is negotiating for the release of two Christian clergymen
kidnapped in Mosul this weekend.

Syrian Catholic Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa said that he had
spoken by telephone with the priests' captors at 4 p.m. local time.

"Until now, we do not have any sign of the liberation of the two
priests," Casmoussa said. "We continue to pray and hope."

A source close to the archbishop said that the kidnappers had demanded
an enormous ransom, widely reported as $1 million. Casmoussa denied
media reports today that Father Pius Affas, 68, and Father Mazen Ishoa,
newly ordained and in his 30s, had been released.

Unknown men abducted the Syrian Catholic priests in Mosul's Hay
al-Thawra neighborhood on Saturday afternoon (October 13). The
clergymen had gone to the area following the death of an elderly
parishioner. ( Read more... )

Noyan Tapan
Sep 6, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. A project presenting national
minorities' culture will be held in Armenia on the initiative of the
Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation's Armenian branch and
Narekatsi art union.

As Aram Talalian, a senior lecturer at Yerevan State Conservatory,
said at the September 6 press conference, days of Jewish music and
poetry will be held on September 9-18 in Yerevan, Gyumri, Kapan,
and Vanadzor within the framework of the festival. According to him,
works by Jewish artists, including those of composer Willie Winer
residing in Armenia will be presented.

A. Talalian also said that music and poetry days of Assyrians,
Kurds, Greeks, and other national minorities will be also organized
in Armenia in the future.