ASBAREZ Online [01-03-2005]

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01/03/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) President Congratulates Armenians Worldwide, Emphasizes Karabagh's Independence 2) US, Turkey Review Touchy Iraq, Mideast Issues 3) WCC, His Holiness Aram I Forward Condolences, Encouragement to Tsunami Victims 4) Primate's Christmas Message 5) ARS Contributes to Worldwide Relief Efforts for Tsunami Victims 6) Armenian American Veterans Open Doors for Young Armenians 7) Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale Announces Competition for Design 1) President Congratulates Armenians Worldwide, Emphasizes Karabagh's Independence YEREVAN (Armenpress)--In his annual congratulatory New Year's address, President Robert Kocharian bid farewell to a peaceful and stable year for Armenia and welcomed a more productive and successful one in 2005. The president noted the advancement of Armenia-diaspora relations, referring specifically to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund telethon that yielded a considerable amount of funds from the diaspora, for the completion of Karabagh's North-South highway. He called it an important step in strengthening the factual independence of Karabagh, an independence which he called "nonnegotiable." On the foreign affairs front, Kocharian said he was pleased with Armenia's involvement in the European Union "New Neighborhood" program as it shows the Union's readiness to build special relations with Armenia. He also underscored cooperation with partner-foreign states and Armenia's continual active participation in international developments. Referring to the country's deep social polarization, Kocharian said reforms must continue in an effort to raise living standards and fight poverty. The work carried out in 2004 will be noticeable in the coming year, he stressed, with the state budget's qualitatively new structure allocating more to health care and education. He also commended Armenia's Armed Forces, which have kept the country peaceful and safe, while paying respect to the memory of Armenia's fallen heroes. 2) US, Turkey Review Touchy Iraq, Mideast Issues ANKARA (AFX)--US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reviewed touchy regional issues, including Iraq and the Middle East, which have led to coolness between the two countries. The presence in northern Iraq of an estimated 5,000 armed militants of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is also known as KONGRA-GEL), held responsible by Ankara for a 15-year civil conflict that claimed more than 30,000 lives in southeast Turkey between 1984 and 1999, is one of several reasons for recent coolness in ties between Ankara and Washington. Armitage reiterated that US, Turkish, and Iraqi officials will hold three-way talks to discuss the PKK, whose activities Ankara wants US forces in Iraq to curb. Another bone of contention is Ankara's unhappiness with the expulsion from oil-rich Kirkuk of Turkish-speaking Iraqi Turkmens by the Kurds, who in turn were expelled from the area by Arabs under Saddam Hussein. "There have been many segments of Iraqi society who have had their situation changed by force," Armitage told reporters. "The Turkmens are, of course, in this category and the Kurds themselves have been forced out, of particularly Kirkuk, to some degree. "These are things that have to be corrected in the transitional administrational law...to redress these wrongs for all those who are dispossessed," he said. "We stressed our concern over Kirkuk," said the Turkish diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We explained that we had serious concerns over efforts to change the demographic structure and said that this could lead to serious problems." He said Armitage assured Gul that he was discussing the matter with Massud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, allies of the US and leaders of the two mainstream Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, which borders Turkey. 3) WCC, His Holiness Aram I Forward Condolences, Words of Encouragement to Tsunami Victims --His Holiness Aram I, Moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) together with Dr. Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the WCC, forwarded the following message to churches in South-East Asia, after the massive devastation and tragic loss of human life caused by the tsunamis there. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On behalf of the entire fellowship of the World Council of Churches we send you sincere condolences and express our sorrow at the loss of more than 125,000 thousand lives in one of the deadliest natural catastrophes that has faced the people of South East Asia and regions surrounding the Indian Ocean. We are also aware that the devastating earthquake followed by the tsunami has left more than five million people homeless who are in dire need of immediate humanitarian aid as well as psychological and spiritual accompaniment. With our deepest sympathy we pray and think of those who have lost their loved ones. We are greatly encouraged by the exemplary efforts of our member Churches in responding even with meager resources to bandage the wounded and bond with the sorrowful. In prayer, we yearn to God that we may all overcome this cosmic anguish together with all peoples of faith in the region. The WCC together with our partners in ecumenical disaster and emergency management will continue to reach out with the resources available at our disposal to prevent more human suffering and bring about relief to those in this great affliction. Please let us know in what other ways you would wish the global ecumenical community to be in solidarity with you as you try to come to terms with this unprecedented catastrophe. During this holy season we have witnessed through liturgy and the sacred narratives of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ that even in the face of so many contradictions in life God is still part of our broken world. The miracle of the incarnation reminds us in the most profound way of the dwelling presence of God that transforms even probabilities of annihilation into new possibilities of life in history. And now we must reach out to one another, and not only weep with those in anguish but also make a new place for those seeking shelter as we struggle to find lasting solutions to future tragedies in this world. One lesson to learn from this tsunami tragedy is the need for the international community and the religious communities to unite in one spirit and reinvent the capacity for preparedness to face such tragedies together. It is also a moment to be re-awakened to our God given responsibility to care not only for one another but for the health of the creation as well. On the eve of the new year may God's grace be with you, comfort you, and give you peace in 2005 and beyond. Yours in Christ, HH Catholicos Aram I Rev Dr. Samuel Kobia December 31, 2004 4) Primate's Christmas Message "God is an interactive God. The Incarnation is God's interaction with human life. Therefore, the man who does not live an interactive life with others is fundamentally emptied of the Christian faith, i.e. of the interaction of love." Catholicos Karekin I The Incarnation symbolizes God's interaction in human life. Therefore, the man who does not live an interactive life is deeply emptied of the life of the Christian faith. In other words, the person who withdraws from the interactive life withdraws also from the conscious awareness that his life could serve as a means of distributing love. The Nativity of Jesus is the greatest miracle recorded in the history of the world, a miracle the impact of which can be measured only by the depth of faith. The Nativity of Jesus reveals God's penetration into human life, the revelation of God's infinite love. The truth that emanates from the Gospels enlightens our entire being, and in the rays of the same light the Christian person re-baptizes himself, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (John 3:16) The Nativity of Jesus is the presence of light. The person whose life is enriched with prayer, in view of the Birth of Jesus rejects the dark and its works, and allows the vision of the interactive life to dawn in him. Today mankind is living in two, essentially opposing, worlds. In one world are people who live their lives dedicated to God, and in the second world are those who reject God. Those who live with God have chosen the path that leads to holiness, and those who live without God grope in the dark and are deprived of their ability to spread light. The Birth of Jesus inspires the power to transform one's life into a presence equal to a miracle. In the Birth of Jesus individuals and society as a whole live a spiritual rebirth. In today's world we can relive the Birth of Jesus when, with the power of one's spirit and the awareness of faith, we see in the Incarnation of Jesus the visitation of God to mankind. It is this inner life in the depth of our essence that will change the old man and give birth to the New Man. The Nativity of Jesus becomes a real and true feast when one is transfigured and with the transformation of his inner world he becomes a new man. The importance of the transformation of the inner world of the individual is beautifully described in the thoughts of Karekin I, the late Catholicos of All Armenians: "The world changes. This phenomenon of change is not new. The world has always known change and it has always witnessed change and has always been subjected to change. As human beings we live in this cycle of change. We are not the objects but the subjects, not the victims but the witnesses of change." We send our heartfelt greetings to all the faithful of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Mother Church that they may stay in communion with the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, that through the Nativity of Jesus we may lead our God-given lives into new births. The lives of each of us necessarily needs spiritual rebirth, which is leavened in our inner self through the power of prayer and faith. Spiritual rebirth must be evident in our Christian and national lives. The spiritual rebirth becomes meaningful with service to our Holy Church, our Motherland, our national heritage, and particularly to our blessed land of America where we enjoy every blessing that opens before us the path of life as a mission. On the threshold of a New Year and the Feast of the Nativity, let us make a new covenant with God. Let us transform our lives into new covenants at the altar of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Bethlehem of Armenians, which penetrates into the hearts of our children scattered throughout the world with the rays of the light that emanates from its lantern. It is in that light that the Infant Jesus, the Lord and Savior of the world, is born. We lift up our good wishes and prayers to God to bless our Holy Church and her faithful children, headed by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, whose fatherly love and blessing we in the Western Diocese will enjoy in June 2005 when His Holiness graces us with his pastoral visit. It is our heartfelt prayer that God will move the hearts of the people of the world so that they may transform their lives into instruments of love and peace, that nations will live in peace and productive life. In anticipation of the Birth of Jesus let us transform our lives into living miracles. In prayer and with warm greetings of love, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian 5) ARS Contributes to Worldwide Relief Efforts for Tsunami Victims The Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS-CE) conveyed sympathy and support to the diplomatic representatives of countries devastated by the recent Tsunami in South-East Asia, and made a donation to the International Red Cross's relief funds set up to assist the countless victims of the unprecedented disaster. The ARS has also instructed its entities throughout 24 countries to contact the local embassies of those countries stricken to pledge their support and assistance, as needed. The ARS, in addition, announced the establishment of the following email addresses, based on various projects: Central Executive Board: [email protected]; Office Manager: [email protected]; Executive Secretary: [email protected]; ARS Orphans Program: [email protected]; ARS Publications: [email protected]. 6) Armenian American Veterans Open Doors for Young Armenians $10,000 Contribution to assist ANCA Capital Gateway Program WASHINGTON, DC--The Armenian American Veterans Post of Milford Massachusetts (AAVO) has added to their legacy of charitable giving with a generous $10,000 donation to the ANCA Capital Gateway Program--a pioneering initiative to open the door for recent Armenian American college graduates to political, government, media, and foreign policy jobs in the nation's capital. "The AAVO have long represented the proudest tradition of the Armenian American community," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "The children of Genocide survivors who themselves went to war to protect our freedoms, today continue to give back, opening doors for a new generation of Armenian Americans dedicated to public service." Launched in August 2003, through a generous donation from the Cafesjian Family Foundation, the ANCA Capital Gateway Program assists Armenian Americans across the US to find job opportunities on Capitol Hill or other government offices, the media, and think tanks in Washington, DC The program builds on the successful 20-year old ANCA "Leo Sarkisian" summer internship program, which has brought hundreds of youth leaders to Washington, DC to learn about the American political process and the growing role Armenian Americans play in advancing issues of concern to our community. Qualified Capital Gateway Program Fellows are provided free housing and full use of ANCA facilities and staff support in their quest for the right job or internship in the Nation's Capital. The over 20 participants in the program have secured positions in a myriad locations including with Members of Congress, US Chamber of Commerce, Export-Import Bank, Congressional Quarterly, Center for the Prevention of Genocide and the American Civil Liberties Union. AAVO was founded in 1946 in Milford, MA by returning veterans of World War II. Over the years, it has counted over three hundred members, including veterans of both the Second World War and the Korean War, who have called Milford home. During the 1950's, the group completed work on an attractive building and grounds, a Veteran's and community center, which was a vibrant home to area Armenian American veterans for many years. With the passing of so many veterans in the decades following the War, the group sold the building in 1989, and has used the proceeds from this sale to contribute to a number of worthwhile causes. The AAVO have been recognized for their generosity in newspapers, official proclamations, and through the appreciation of the many recipients of their humanitarian gifts. Among those that the Veterans have assisted over the years include: The Armenian Library and Museum of America, the national repository for collecting, conserving and documenting Armenian artifacts, books, textiles, archives and works of art; Project Save, the pioneering program that collects and archives visual information about Armenian people and their history; The Milford Senior Center, the town's gathering place for members of the "Greatest Generation;" Milford Whitinsville Regional Hospital, allowing this community hospital to expand its facilities and services; St. Jude's Children's Hospital, which provides free of charge medical care to the most vulnerable children, suffering from cancer and other catastrophic diseases; and the Armenian Children's Milk Fund, a life-saving charity that has been sending soy-based infant formula and dry powdered milk to Armenia since 1989. In addition, the Veterans have contributed to the Armenian Tree Project, Armenian Eye Care Project, Armenian General Benevolent Union, several Armenian churches, and individual families in need. The Veterans group is also working closely with local attorney Gregory Arabian, an Armenian American community leader, who is preparing oral histories of the lives of Armenian American World War II and Korean War veterans. 7) Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale Announces Competition for Design --Council Launches Website for Monument Design Competition GLENDALE--The Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale (AGMCG) launched their new website on December 22--<;www.armeniangenocidemonument. com--and announced the beginning of their Monument design competition. The AGMCG will oversee the design and construction of a commemorative monument in the City of Glendale dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide. The monument will serve as a befitting venue to begin the educational process of honoring the memory of those who perished and acknowledging the memories of the heroic deeds and acts of the Americans whose actions helped save thousands of helpless Armenian men, women and children from the rage of the genocide. In August of 2001, the City Council of Glendale adopted a motion to accept the gift of a monument to honor the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian genocide and the memory of Americans whose actions helped save thousands of Armenian men, women, and children from perishing in the genocide between 1915 and 1918. On April 8, 2003, the Glendale City Council approved the final location/site for the genocide monument. The AGMCG has been working very closely with City staff to oversee the monument selection process and has established a Selection Committee comprised of community leaders, architecture and design experts, and public officials. The announcement of the winner will take place in April, as this year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. All parties interested in submitting a design may do so by following the guidelines and rules for submission made available on the AGMCG website. The AGMCG is a newly established organization dedicated to enhancing cross cultural understanding among the different cultural and ethnic groups in the City of Glendale by promoting respect for past historical events and the recognition thereof through continuous education, specifically that of the Armenian genocide. For more information, visit All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress