Month: November 2006

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN MET WITH THE DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
Yetsreday in the Greek Parliament Deputy Speaker of RA National
Assembly Vahan Hovhannisyan met with the Deputy Chairman of the Greek
Parliament Georgios Surlas.
Vahan Hovhannisyan briefly presented the current situatuion in
Armenia. He expressed gratitude to the Parliament of Greece for
recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 1996.
For his part, Georgios Surlas referred to the policy of annihilation
of Armenians and Greeks in the Ottoman Empire.
The parties discussed also the activity of the Armenian-Greek
Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Vahan Hovhannisyan and NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan are in
Greece to participate in the events dedicated to the 10th anniversary
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Greek Parliament.

RA GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THE FREEDOM HOUSE REMARKS SERIOUSLY
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The Armenian Government should take the remarks of the Freedom House
advocacy organization seriously, representative of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation in Armenia Alex Rusin told the journalists. He
reminded that the means provided in the framework of the Millennium
Challenge Program are meant for poor countries and take as a basis
the indices of independent organizations like the Freedom House.
“Despite the fact that Armenia has been fit for the program ever
since 2004, it should keep the proper characteristics during the
whole course of the grant program, Mr. Rusin noted. Besides, the
indices are expected to improve. Every year the Directorate of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, chaired by the Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, gives new evaluation to the fitness indices.
“Currently Armenia is fit for receiving financing in 2007. However,
some indices, particularly the political ones that tend to fall, are
worrisome,” the representative of the Corporation noted. He noted
that conduct of free and fair elections in 2007 will considerably
improve the political indices. If the elections are held improperly,
it will have a negative impact on the indices, which will in its turn
result in the disqualification of the country.

SERGE SARGSYAN RECEIVED UK SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
November 8 Secretary of the Presidnetial Counil on National Security,
RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the delegation headed
by Sir Brian Fall, Speacial Envoy of the United Kingtom to the South
Caucasus. The meering was attended by the Ambassador Extraordianary
and Plenipotentiiary of Great Britain to Armenia Anthony Cantor.
After mutual greetings Brian Fall turned to the Wilton Park conference
and emphasized the fact that Armenia was the first among the countries
of the South Caucasus to host the conference.
Welcoming Armenia’s policy of resolving the Karabakh conflict in a
peaceful way, Brian Fall stressed the readiness of the United Kingdom
to assist the OSCE Minsk Group.
Emphasizing the importance of mutual meetings for the maintenance
of the cease-fire regime, the parties turned to the recent meeting
of the Defense Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan at Ijevan-Ghazakh
part of the contact line.
Turning to the current state of Armenian-British military cooperation,
the parties stressed he importance of continuity of English courses
for Armenian servicemen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAGHDASAROV IS LOYAL TO SERGE SARGSYAN
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
In almost every country in the world rich businessmen back one
government official or another, and Armenia, which is building
capitalism, cannot be an exception. Mikhail Baghdasarov, one of the
big businessmen of Armenia stated this idea on November 7, the day
of the Bolshevist revolution.
“Capitalism supposes that big businessmen, as well as all the
ordinary voters have their opinion and support someone. For instance,
from America to Angola, there are big companies which support the
government, the president. This is widely known,” says Baghdasarov.
Also it is known that Mikhail Baghdasarov’s name is directly related
to Serge Sargsyan’s name. Therefore, the society wants to know what
Mikhail Baghdasarov and generally all the businessmen surrounding
the defense minister would be doing if Serge Sargsyan suddenly has
to quit power.
“You should ask those people. You are asking me instead of everyone.
I can say that there were cases when Serge Sargsyan was having hard
times, and we stayed as we were. There is a certain group who first
support one, then they support the other. Everyone has their policy,
some people are loyal to someone, others go to the one who is standing
in the sun,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov. In this case it is interesting
why this businessman, who is so close to Serge Sargsyan, did not
enter the Republican Party with the defense minister in July 2006.
“First of all, every businessman has their opinion. Some people want
to become engaged in politics, I have stated for a number of times
that I do not want to be in politics,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov. He
says he is a citizen of Russia and could not join the Republican
Party. Besides, Mikhail Baghdasarov has another reason not to become
engaged in politics. The reason is that in 2003 he became engaged in
politics. Mikhail Baghdasarov, who is a citizen of Russia, supported
the Union of Women of Armenia. This union got 2.5 percent votes
in the election of 2003. Baghdasarov was disappointed. Not about
2.5 percent but that an unknown party, the unknown members of this
political party, the Women of Armenia, got so many votes. This helped
Baghdasarov understand the political sphere of Armenia and made him
decide not to take part in the processes of this sphere where unknown
women can get a rating equal to that of well-known male figures.
“In the previous election I understood what Armenian politics is.
With a weak team we got 2.7 percent and I understood what it is. At
the same time, I saw what our women are like, and I decided that
our women will hardly enter the Armenian parliament and therefore I
disagree with them, those men,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov.
Baghdasarov says in the previous election they supported a political
force, understood the situation and now they think that no force
needs their support.

RUSSIANS BUY EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND THEY DON’T NEED
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The Russian companies buy everything they can buy in the CIS, even if
they do not need to buy, says Mikhail Baghdasarov, citizen of Russia
running businesses in Armenia. He explains this tendency by the fact
that the CIS space is closer to the Russians in cultural and social
terms, and it is easier and more attractive to buy property in this
territory. And they buy because Russia is the richest country in the
CIS. Even despite the tensions with Georgia the Russian companies
buy property there. Gagik Abrahamyan, who owns a diamond company,
agrees with him. He says recently the Russian capital has especially
been interested in Armenia.
“Especially after the recent statement of the Russian president that
Russia is the third by its investments in Armenia, I think soon we’ll
see how many companies will make investments in Armenia,” says Gagik
Abrahamyan. According to him, the Russian capital is mainly involved in
building, but presently they are negotiating over Russian investments
in diamond processing.
“I think, in the upcoming meeting with the Russian prime minister, I
think I will participate in it as well, we will discuss this with the
Russian Alrosa Corporation,” Gagik Abrahamyan says. He mentions that
the circumstance of the Russian investments certainly has a political
motivation, and the evidence to this is Putin’s statement that it is
a shame to be the third by the amount of investments in Armenia.

TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP IS USEFUL
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
Speaker Tigran Torosyan thinks Turkey’s membership to the EU may be
useful for Armenia because “every country which becomes member of
this organization should honor the principles that exist within the
EU. And these principles are favorable for Armenia.” In particular,
Tigran Torosyan mentioned the problem of opening the borders, and
said it would be strange if the question were not solved but Turkey
became member of the EU.
On the other hand, Tigran Torosyan is not optimistic about Turkey’s
moves because “in meetings with their representatives over the past
years he noticed that they have a fossilized approach and do not feel
free with regard to questions related to Armenia.” In addition, the
prime minister of Turkey has announced today that Turkey is ready to
revise Article 301 of their Crime Code. This article bars expressing
an opinion on the Armenian Genocide, which differs from the official
standpoint.

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
========================================== ======
Thursday 9 November 2006
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: NO GUARANTEES FOR RELIGIOUS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
The proposed Nagorno-Karabakh Constitution may have little practical
impact. However, human rights activists and religious believers are
concerned, they have told Forum 18 News Service, about the absence of any
guarantee of alternative non-military service. “If alternative service is
not there in the constitution, it doesn’t make it impossible for it to be
introduced later – the Constitution is not dogma. But it does make it more
difficult,” Albert Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives told
Forum 18. “It is bad that such a provision is not there, just as it is bad
it is not there in the Armenian Constitution,” Jehovah’s Witness lawyer
Lyova Markaryan told Forum 18. Two Jehovah’s Witnesses and one Baptist
have been jailed in recent years for refusing military service on grounds
of conscience. Some have also expressed concern about the draft
Constitution’s recognition of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s “exclusive
mission” as the “national church.”
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: NO GUARANTEES FOR RELIGIOUS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service <; Human rights activists and religious believers have told Forum 18 News Service of their concern about the absence of a guarantee of alternative non-military service in the draft Constitution. This was approved almost unanimously by the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament on 1 November and is due to be voted on in a referendum on 10 December. If approved, the Constitution will be the first for the unrecognised entity of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. As with constitutions in other parts of the region, this constitution is unlikely to be more than a decorative document. Despite this, it may still cause problems. The proposed article 57 requires all to take part in the entity's defence and makes no mention of any alternative service. "Society and the authorities here are not ready for this," Albert Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives told Forum 18 from the capital Stepanakert on 2 November. "If alternative service is not there in the constitution, it doesn't make it impossible for it to be introduced later - the Constitution is not dogma. But it does make it more difficult." Hoping for the introduction of alternative service were the Jehovah's Witnesses, two of whom have been sentenced in Nagorno-Karabakh in recent years for refusing military service on grounds of conscience. One, Areg Hovhanesyan, is still serving his four-year sentence in the prison in Shusha (see F18News 22 February 2005 < e_id=517>). “It is bad that such
a provision is not there, just as it is bad it is not there in the Armenian
Constitution,” Jehovah’s Witness lawyer Lyova Markaryan told Forum 18 from
the Armenian capital Yerevan on 6 November. “It would be better if it were
there. This would enhance the rights of individuals to confess their
religion.”
A Baptist conscript, Gagik Mirzoyan, has also been jailed in
Nagorno-Karabakh for refusing to swear the military oath and bear arms on
grounds of conscience. Although now out of prison and back in a military
unit, it is unclear whether the authorities will take further action
against him (see F18News 18 September 2006
< e_id=841>). Fellow Baptist
Garnik Abreyan told Forum 18, from Stepanakert on 6 November, that
Mirzoyan is “well” and “has no complaints” in his unit.
Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives told Forum 18 that
Mirzoyan was visited twice in his unit by the military prosecutor’s office
since being freed from prison, but is now being left to serve without
swearing the military oath and without weapons. “The authorities don’t
want any fuss about his case right now, but we don’t know what will happen
to Gagik in future.”
Voskanyan said his group wrote to the entity’s parliament on 30 October,
calling for the provision of an alternative non-military service to be
introduced in the draft constitution. “Fully realising the complexity of
the situation of ‘neither war, nor peace’,” his group told parliament, “we
are sure that the given measure would not pose a threat to national
security, as international practice shows that those who take up
alternative civilian service comprise an insignificant percentage of the
total number of those called up.”
However, Ashot Gulyan, the speaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament,
told Forum 18 from Stepanakert on 6 November that, given the absence of a
final peace agreement, “we can’t allow other forms of service”. He
dismissed suggestions that only a handful of people would opt for
alternative service were it to be introduced, even if such service were
for example in medical facilities along the frontline. But he claimed the
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities would consider such alternative service “in
the future”.
Nagorno-Karabakh has adopted Armenia’s Criminal Code, which also punishes
conscientious objection – see eg. F18News 23 February 2006
< e_id=733>. With backing from
Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh fought a bitter war with Azerbaijan in the late
1980s and early 1990s. One Armenian citizen, Jehovah’s Witness
conscientious objector Armen Grigoryan, who was illegally deported from
Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, was given a two-year prison term in Karabakh
and sent back to Armenia to serve the sentence (see F18News 7 July 2005
< e_id=600> and 17 May 2005
< e_id=563>).
Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives – who has campaigned for
the release of imprisoned conscientious objectors – stressed to Forum 18
that his group will continue to lobby for alternative service to be
included both in the constitution and in other laws and practice.
Some human rights activists and religious minorities have also expressed
concern about a provision in the draft Constitution recognising the
Armenian Apostolic Church’s “exclusive mission” as the “national church in
the spiritual life of the people of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] and in the
cause of the development of its national culture and preservation of
national identity”. Markaryan of the Jehovah’s Witnesses described the
provision to Forum 18 as “a sign of no tolerance”.
But parliamentary speaker Gulyan dismissed any concerns. “The word
‘exclusive’ does not exclude anything,” he told Forum 18. “This will have
no negative impact on other faiths.”
Asked why, if the provision will have no impact, it was included in the
draft, Gulyan responded: “It is to show we come from a long Christian
tradition over many centuries and that we respect the role of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.” Asked whether this provision referred solely to the
past, he replied: “It applies to the past, to today and to the future.”
The controversial provision – which is lifted almost word-for-word from
the 2005 constitution of neighbouring Armenia – comes in Article 10 part 2
of the draft constitution.
Parliamentary speaker Gulyan stressed to Forum 18 that part 1 of Article
10 guarantees that religion is separate from the state. “For us, part 1 is
more important. The state doesn’t interfere in religious issues.” He also
pointed out that Article 26 guarantees freedom of thought, religion and
belief and the free functioning of religious communities “functioning in
the order prescribed by law”. Asked to explain this phrase, Gulyan said
that this refers to religious communities which have state registration.
Asked what this means for religious communities that do not have or do not
want legal status he gave contradictory replies. “Religious communities
can’t function without registration,” he declared first. He then mentioned
Baptists and others who function without legal status. “They meet, don’t
they? That’s OK.”
The Jehovah’s Witnesses – who claim more than 200 adherents in
Nagorno-Karabakh, mostly in Stepanakert – are one of the more visible
religious minorities. Markaryan said they are not obstructed in holding
meetings in private homes. He said the community has not sought legal
status in Karabakh as no religion law exists setting out such rights to
such status. He said partly for that reason the community has not tried to
build a Kingdom Hall for meetings in Stepanakert.
Abreyan, a leader of the Council of Churches Baptist congregation in
Stepanakert, who refuse on principle to register with the authorities,
said he had not studied the draft of the constitution. “Maybe this
provision would be a minus,” he told Forum 18, “but I don’t have time to
devote to politics.” He said his church can currently meet for worship. In
the past, his and other small Protestant congregations have been obstructed
in trying to meet for worship (see F18News 27 September 2004
< e_id=420>).
Members of other Protestant denominations with small groups in
Nagorno-Karabakh declined to comment on the draft constitution or on the
life of their communities.
Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives rejected the idea of
giving the Armenian Church any exclusive mission in the new constitution.
“I believe this is not right,” he told Forum 18. “There should be no
monopoly for any one Church. Our people have just copied this from the
Armenian Constitution.” (END)
A printer-friendly map of the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is
available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=azerba& gt; within the map titled 'Azerbaijan'. (END) © Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855 You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to F18News Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at From: Baghdasarian

Eurasia Daily Monitor
Thursday, November 9, 2006 — Volume 3, Issue 208
GAZPROM’S `PURE COMMERCE` IN GEORGIA
by Vladimir Socor
Gazprom’s deputy chairman and head of Gazexport, Aleksandr Medvedev,
confirmed on November 7 the price hike to $230 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas
to Georgia in 2007, up from $110 in 2006. Gazprom will stop deliveries to
Georgia on January 1, 2007, unless the new contract is signed before that
date, Medvedev warned. At the same time, he proposed that Georgia pay the
higher price by handing national assets over to Gazprom. `This is pure
commerce,’ he told a Moscow news conference (Itar-Tass, Interfax, November
7).
Moscow had first informed Tbilisi of this move on October 31, the day
when Minister of Foreign Affairs Gela Bezhuashvili was arriving in Moscow
for yet another Georgian effort to defuse tensions. Thus, Gazprom’s initial
announcement of an extortionate $230 price was timed to actually increase
the tensions. A hike of such magnitude adds a further dimension to Russia’s
economic blockade and political assault against Georgia.
Gazprom’s stated new price for Georgia is an arbitrary decision in a
monopolized `market.’ It equals the average price for Russian gas in Western
Europe and is more than double the $110 price currently charged to Georgia’s
neighbors, Armenia and Azerbaijan, per 1,000 cubic meters of
Russian-delivered gas. It is also far higher for Georgia than the price set
for Ukraine at $130 for 2007 or the prices now being demanded from Belarus
and Moldova at $140 and $160 or $170, respectively, for 2007. Those
ostensible discounts are explained in part by Gazprom’s takeovers of
controlling stakes in Armenia’s and Moldova’s gas transport and distribution
systems and its expectation to achieve similar results in Belarus and with a
Russia-leaning Ukrainian government.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told an international
conference in France on November 3 that Moscow’s extortionate price hike to
Georgia and overall political use of energy is a `bad precedent for
everyone. Energy should not become a political tool’ (AP, November 3). On
the same day, however, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told
the media, `We believe that market forces should determine the price levels.
So Georgia and Gazprom are going to work out a price. Our general take on
this is that Russia should be a good partner for its clients [sic] and a
reliable supplier of energy.’ The statement inadvertently implied that
Russia and Georgia are negotiating as equivalent actors in normal market
circumstances — an implication all the more disconcerting as the spokesman
had sought official guidance before giving this answer to a press query from
the previous day (state.gov, November 3).
Top Georgian officials including Bezhuashvili, Prime Minister Zurab
Noghaideli, and Parliamentary Chair Nino Burjanadze are publicly asking
Moscow to explain the commercial formula it is using to arrive at such a
price. These and other Georgian officials describe that price as politically
motivated and amounting to blackmail — an interpretation substantiated by
Gazprom’s refusal to explain it, against the backdrop of Russia’s blockade
measures and political campaign against Georgia.
Gazprom has not officially identified the Georgian national assets it
seeks to take over. Clearly, its primary target remains Georgia’s gas
transport and distribution system, as was the case in 2005. Georgian
officials unanimously rule out the idea of transferring assets to Russia in
return for price restraint on energy. State Minister for Economic Reforms
Kakha Bendukidze had in 2005 and early 2006 favored selling to Gazprom the
gas transit pipeline that runs via Georgia to Armenia. However, Bendukidze
was speaking of a straight commercial sale for cash, not in payment for gas,
not linked to the annual negotiations over the gas price, and in any case to
be carried out at a time chosen by Georgia. In common with the other
Georgian officials, Bendukidze rules out any non-commercial sale of assets
in return for gas and `under blackmail.’
Tbilisi regards the Gazprom-named price as not final and is prepared
to negotiate it down. However, officials assert in consensus that Georgia
would not accept a Gazprom price that could not be justified commercially.
Georgia has some limited but real options to de-monopolize gas imports
this coming winter through arrangements with Azerbaijan and Iran.
Ministerial-level negotiations have been under way since October with Baku
and Tehran, in anticipation of a possible emergency similar to that of
January 2006. At that time, never-explained sabotage blasts on three energy
lines running to Georgia on Russian territory in the North Caucasus stopped
gas and electricity deliveries for several weeks. Georgia survived last
winter amid great hardship, on meager volumes of energy imported from
Azerbaijan and Iran.
This coming winter will be the last one in which Georgia may be forced
to survive without Russian gas after January 1. With its current annual
requirement estimated at some 1.6 to 1.7 billion cubic meters, the country
needs some 300 to 400 million cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan and Iran
in January-February to tide Georgia over on an emergency basis. Stable
deliveries of Azerbaijani gas from Shah-Deniz beginning next year should
finally emancipate Georgia from Gazprom’s monopoly.
(Interfax, 24 Saati, Imedi and Rustavi-2 televisions, November 3-8)

–Vladimir Socor

Armenian Relief Society, Inc.
Telephone: 617-926-5892 Central Office
Fax£:617-926-4855
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
e-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Hamesd Beugekian

FIRST LADY, DR. BELLA KOCHARIAN VISITS THE ARS MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH
AND BIRTHING CENTER
On Wednesday, October 18, Armenia’s First Lady, Dr. Bella Kocharian
visited the ARS Mother and Child Health and Birthing Center in
Akhurian. This was Dr. Kocharian’s first visit to the ARS center’s
new maternity ward and recently completed Radiology & Scanning
Department.
Dr. Kocharian was accompanied by ARS Armenia Chairperson Alvard
Petrosian, who is also a member of the Republic of Armenia’s National
Assembly, as well as ARS Armenia Regional Executive Board members.
On the occasion of Dr. Kocharian’s important visit, the ARS invited
representatives of various women’s and social service organizations to
be present, including Minister of Health Norair Davtian; Armenia’s top
cancer expert Dr. Sergey Sayirian; ARF Supreme Council members Lilit
Galstian and Rouzan Arakelian; ARF Commission on Women’s Issues
Chairperson Maria Titizian; Shirak Province Governor Romik Manukian; and
ARS Central Executive Board member Karine Hovhannisian.
The visit was fully covered and broadcast on television and radio. All
the guests were deeply impressed and expressed their admiration for the
Health Center’s new additions. As a token of appreciation, First Lady
Kocharian presented the center with a television set.
The Mother and Child Health Center tour was followed by a visit to the
Psychological Center in Gyumri which recently inaugurated a new wing
built and subsidized by the Swiss “Armenianos” Fund. Center director and
noted psychologist Armine Gmuir-Karapetian cooperates closely with the
ARS Armenia Regional Executive Board. Over the last few years,
Gmuir-Karapetian has provided expertise to the ARS Armenia on various
in-depth ARS studies devoted to psychological issues faced by various
segments of the population.
Dr. Kocharian was visibly impressed by what she saw at both centers and
expressed her deep satisfaction for having the opportunity to witness
the ARS’s important work in Gyumri. In a parting promise, the First Lady
pledged to support all present and future ARS programs.
Established in 1910, the ARS is the oldest Armenian women’s
organization with entities in 24 countries. To learn more about the ARS
and its programs, visit the ARS’s website at or call
(617) 926-5892.
November 8, 2006
Hamesd Beugekian
Administrative Secretary
ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY,INC
80 Bigelow Avenue
Watertown MA, 02427
Tel: 617-926 5892
Fax: 617-926 4855
E-mail: [email protected]

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
November 9, 2006
ARKADY GHUGASIAN AT PRELACY
Arkady Ghugasian, President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh
(Artsakh), visited the Prelacy office yesterday afternoon where he was
welcomed by the Prelate and Vicar, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan,
and representatives of various organizations. The President was accompanied
by Mrs. Ghugasian, Kevork Toroian, chairman of Armenia Fund USA, and several
staff members.
Archbishop Oshagan welcomed Mr. Ghugasian saying that it has become
a pleasant tradition to welcome him each year at this time in anticipation
of the Thanksgiving Telethon. His Eminence said that it is the duty of all
Armenians to participate in the Telethon to the best of their ability. He
emphasized the importance of supporting the people of Artsakh.
President Ghugasian spoke about the tremendous improvements and changes
that have already taken place in Artsakh. He spoke in particular about the
vast improvement in the roads and noted that journeys that previously took
hours now take only half an hour. He described this year’s project of the
redevelopment of villages that have been ravaged by war. The goal is to
provide all of the basic necessities and to create jobs so that the people
do not leave the villages.
Mr. Toroian reiterated the sentiments expressed by Archbishop Oshagan of
the need for every Armenian to participate in the telethon. Every donation,
large or small, is needed, he said.
For information about the Telethon, including the broadcast schedule go
to www.ArmeniaFund USA.org.
A reception, hosted by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, provided an opportunity
for intimate discussions.
YOUTH GATHERING WITH CATHOLICOS ARAM I
“We need to listen more to our youth to know what they are thinking, to
let them know that the Church needs them and they need the Church,” said
Archbishop Oshagan recently as he described his enthusiasm for the upcoming
gathering with the youth which will take place in Dearborn, Michigan,
December 2 and 3.
It was these same thoughts that prompted His Holiness to suggest that
such a gathering be organized during his visit to the Midwest where he will
be the keynote speaker at a conference on “Faith and Health” at Notre Dame
University. The three Prelacies (Eastern, Western, and Canadian) joined
together to organize the gathering.
The theme selected by the young people for the gathering is Your Church.
Your Future. Engage. The weekend activities will include speakers, film,
music, worship-all with the goal of answering the questions on the mind of
the youth while gaining a better understanding of the Church.
For details about the youth gathering click

REQUIEM SERVICE FOR ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
Requiem services in memory of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, former prelate
of the Eastern Prelacy, will take place on Sunday, December 3, at St.
Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New York City. Rev. Fr.
Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, will preside. Archbishop Ashjian
died three years ago on December 2, 2003.
PRELATE WILL ATTEND ARMENIA FUND USA RECEPTION
Archbishop Oshagan will attend a reception hosted by Armenia Fund USA
tomorrow evening, Friday, November 10, at the Harvard Club in honor of
President Arkady Ghugasian.
PRELATE WILL PARTICIPATE WITH NATIONAL CHURCH LEADERS
Tomorrow, Friday, November 10, Archbishop Oshagan will attend a
symposium of National Church Leaders at the Bible Society in New York City.
PRELATE WILL VISIT WASHINGTON DC
Archbishop Oshagan will visit the parish of Soorp Khatch Church, in the
Washington DC suburbs of Bethesda, Maryland. His Eminence will attend the
church’s anniversary celebration on Saturday and will officiate the Divine
Liturgy on Sunday morning.
VICAR AND AREC DIRECTOR OFF TO THE MIDWEST
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar, and Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of the
Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council will head toward the Midwest
tomorrow where they will lead the Midwest Datev program at the Colombiere
Retreat and Conference Center in Clarkston, Michigan. The program, based on
the popular summer program, will include interactive presentations and
instructions on faith-related topics, discussions of religious and current
issues, Bible studies, short worship services, fellowship and recreational
activities.
On Sunday Bishop Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St.
Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan. Dn. Shant will visit the parish’s
Sunday school classes.
RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS WILL MEET THIS WEEKEND
The Religious and Executive Council of the Prelacy will meet Friday and
Saturday at the Prelacy offices in New York City.
CHILDREN’S CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 18
A few tickets are available for the children’s concert featuring the
popular children’s entertainer, TALINE from California, on Saturday,
November 18. The concert venue is Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise,
New York City. For information call the Prelacy office 212-689-7810 or click
B IBLE TRANSLATION RESUMES
The translation of the Bible will continue with a four-day session in
Montreal, Tuesday to Friday, November 14 to 17. The new translation team,
led by Archbishop Oshagan, includes Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, and
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the Canadian Prelacy.
This project, endorsed by the Bible Society, was pioneered by the late
Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. The passing of
Archbishop Zareh in 2004 temporarily halted the project and is now being
continued, after consultation with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I.
The translation of the New Testament was completed and the Old Testament
translation was underway when Zareh Srpazan became ill. The books of the Old
Testament that had already been completed include Genesis, Exodus, I and II
Samuels, Psalms, Proverbs, Jonah, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes and many
passages from the major prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.
During next week’s sessions the team will work on the prophetical books
of Joel and Amos.
TOM VARTABEDIAN ARTICLES ABOUT ARMENIA
The October 12th issue of The Haverhill Gazette featured articles and
photographs by popular journalist Tom Vartabedian about his recent trip to
Armenia. Under the heading of “Forum” he wrote an article titled “I left my
heart in Armenia,” which describes his sentiments after his first trip to
Armenia along with others from the Merrimack Valley (Massachusetts). It is
accompanied by a full page article with ten color photographs detailing the
trip.
ARCHANGELS MICHAEL AND GABRIEL
This Saturday, November 11, we commemorate the Archangels Michael and
Gabriel. Archangel is a title given to an angel of high rank in the
celestial hierarchy.
Michael, meaning “Who is like God,” is the great prince of all angels
and the leader of the celestial armies. He is considered to be the protector
of Christians against the devil.
Gabriel, meaning “Strength of God,” is one of God’s chief messengers. He
was God’s messenger to Daniel to explain his vision (Dan. 8:16-26) and
prophecy (Dan. 9:21-27). He also foretold the birth of John the Baptist, and
was chosen to announce the forthcoming birth of Christ to Mary (Luke
1:11-21).
VETERANS’ DAY
This Saturday, November 11, is Veterans’ Day, once known as Armistice
Day, the anniversary of the 1918 armistice that brought to an end the “Great
War”-World War I. More than 10 million soldiers died by the time the
armistice was declared on the eleventh hour or the eleventh day of the
eleventh month, and an estimated 20 million were wounded, many maimed for
life.
In 1954 Armistice Day was renamed Veterans’ Day to honor all veterans.
In 1968, during the era when holidays were moved to Mondays to create long
weekends, Veterans Day was changed to the fourth Monday of October. There
was such a great outcry of indignation because the significance of the
number 11 was now totally lost, that in 1978 Congress returned the
observance to its traditional November 11th date.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 10-12-Mini Datev program for teens, ages 13 to 18. At Colombiere
Retreat Conference Center in Clarkston, Michigan.
November 11-Holy Cross Armenian Church, Troy, New York, Dinner and cultural
program featuring Dr. Herand Markarian who will speak on “Hovhaness
Tumanian, the great Armenian poet.” For information 518-274-1477.
November 11-42nd Anniversary of Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, in
the church hall.
November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian Fest” at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
November 12-Food Festival and Bazaar. St. Sarkis Armenian Church,
Douglaston, New York, 1 to 5 pm. The newly published St. Sarkis Cookbook
will be available. For information 718-224-2275.
November 17 & 18-Annual Bazaar, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts.
November 18-Children’s Concert, “FALL COLORS”, sponsored by the Eastern
Prelacy at Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise, New York City, featuring
TALINE AND FRIENDS.
November 18-“Christian Spirituality and the Armenian Apostolic Church,” a
lecture by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, at St. Sarkis Armenian Church,
Douglaston, New York.
November 19-Thanksgiving luncheon by Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, New York City, following the Divine Liturgy, under the auspices
of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor. For information: 212-689-5880.
December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 2-3-Gathering of the Youth with Catholicos Aram I, Hyatt Regency,
Dearborn, Michigan. For details click

December 3-Requiem service in memory of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian on the third anniversary of his passing, St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian will
preside.
December 10-52nd anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.
December 10-General Membership meeting and elections of auditing and
nominating committees, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.
December 10-Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York, Archbishop
Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy.
December 13-Thanksgiving Luncheon with the local NYPD and Fire Fighters, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.
December 16-“A Celebration of Service” in honor of past chairmen and board
of trustees members. Under auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, 8 pm. For information and
reservations 718-224-2275.
December 17-50th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Archpriest Fr.
Moushegh Der Kaloustian, sponsored by the Prelacy Religious Council, at
Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. Der Moushegh will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221 E. 27th Street, New
York City) on Sunday morning.
December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact the church
office 201-943-2950.
December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston,
New York.
January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
January 6-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party and
special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.
January 28-Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.
February 4-St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of the church
and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.
February 11-General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.
February 18-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
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