Month: November 2006

ARMENIAN TEAM LOSES RIGHT OF CONTINUING STRUGGLE
Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006
LARNACA, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian team competed on
November 1 with representatives of Hungary by the group tournament
program of the elective stage of the Europe championship of below 19
football players being held in Cyprus. It was defeated with a score
of 1;4 and, with the team of Cyprus, lost the right of continuing
the future struggle. Teams of Hungary and Azerbaijan entered the
next stage.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FORUM ON “MASS MEDIA AS BUSINESS” OPENED IN TBILISI
ArmRadio.am
02.11.2006 15:35
The third forum on “Mass media as business” of the mass media of
the South Caucasian countries opened in “Sheraton Metechi Palace”
Hotel of Tbilisi.
The event has been organized by the OSCE Office in Georgia. Editors and
media managers from Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are participating
in the forum.
“Kavkazpress” informs that the participants of the conference were
greeted by OSCE Representative to Georgia Giyom Semneski, Head of the
International Organizations Department of the Georgian MFA Alexander
Nalbandov and others.

TURKISH SCHOLAR WHO MOCKED HEAD SCARVES IS ACQUITTED
New York Times, NY
Nov 2 2006
ISTANBUL, Nov. 1 – In the latest case challenging freedom of expression
in Turkey, an Istanbul court on Wednesday acquitted a 92-year-old
academic of inciting religious hatred by putting the head scarf
in ancient history in a sexual context and by criticizing abusive
religious marriages.
In one of her published letters, Muazzez Ilmiye Cig, an expert on
Sumerian civilization, asserted that 5,000 years ago, the head scarf
was a symbol to distinguish the temple priestess who had ritual sex
with young men to celebrate fertility. As such, her satirical letter
argued, the wearing of a head scarf should not indicate a woman’s
morality or religious devotion in today’s world.
This comparison and other satires appeared in her book “My Reactions
as a Citizen” and prompted Yusuf Akin, an Islamic-oriented lawyer
based in Izmir, to file a complaint against Ms. Cig and her publisher,
Ismet Ogutcu.
More than 50 people chanted slogans supporting Ms. Cig and applauded
as she left the courthouse after a hearing of only half an hour. She
and Mr. Ogutcu each faced up to a year and a half in jail if convicted.
So far, most of the cases challenging freedom of expression in Turkey
have concerned references to the mass killings of Armenians in the
1910s, partly because it is illegal to insult the Turkish state or
identity. Intellectuals like the Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and the
novelist Elif Shafak have been tried in that regard. Ms. Cig’s case,
however, falls under a separate law.
Charges of insulting the Turkish identity brought against Mr. Pamuk
were dropped, and Ms. Shafak was acquitted. But the laws under which
the cases have been brought cause contention within the European Union,
which Turkey wants to join. The recent cases are likely to generate
scorn when the union reports next on Turkey, next Wednesday.
Ms. Cig, a devotee of Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic,
and his secular principles, said her case was not a blot on Turkey’s
progress in human rights or freedom of expression. Instead, she said:
“My trial acted as a tool to display the strength of the secular
tradition in Turkey against the fundamentalists. This will encourage
people like me to think more, act more courageously and voice their
opposition more openly.”
In Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, head scarves are common in
public life but banned from government offices, including universities,
to protect the secular character of the state. Head scarves were an
electoral issue in 2002 when the current government came to power
with promises to remove the ban. The secular establishment, however,
backed by strong institutions like the military, upholds the ban.
Ms. Cig has also criticized Emine Erdogan, the wife of Turkey’s prime
minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for wearing a head scarf that excludes
her from state functions, and asked her to give up her covered looks
to prevent a misrepresentation of modern Turkish women.

40 REFUGEE FAMILIES IN GORIS GIVE HOUSE-WARMING ON NOVEMBER 1ST
Noyan Tapan
Nov 02 2006
GORIS, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. 40 refugee families in Goris gave
house-warming on November 1 within the framework of the “Program on
Providing with Flats Refugees Taken Shelters in Administrative Houses”
being jointly implemented by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
and the Government of Armenia. RA Minister of Urban Development
Aram Haroutiunian, Syunik Governor Surik Khachatrian as well as UN
High Commissioner for Refugees Peter Nicolaus participated in the
solemn ceremony of putting the building into operation. To recap,
construction of the building having 1-4-room flats lasted 1.5 years. It
is e nvisaged within the framework of the program to build another
dwelling building in Goris.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]
Fo r Immediate Release
October 30, 2006
Contact: Kevork Manguelian
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Canadian Media Tricked by Turkish Propaganda
Ottawa-In the past few days some Canadian media outlets have
published articles about the Turkish government’s so-called proposal
for a commission of historians to study the Armenian Genocide. The
Canadian-Armenian community is appalled and outraged to see respected
media institutions being manipulated by the Turkish government’s public
relations machine and accepting Ankara’s big lie hook, line and sinker.
The Turkish government’s public relations strategy of so-called
“opening of archives” and its “call for a historians commission”
to study the mass annihilation of Armenians are diversions from
its culpability in the first genocide of the 20th century. Despite
decades of costly international public relations campaigns, the Turkish
government’s revisionist stance of denying the Armenian Genocide has
failed to persuade the international community.
Over 450 historians, international law experts and global organizations
have already researched and studied the Armenian Genocide and have come
to the unanimous decision that it’s an incontestable historical fact.
In February 2003, upon the request of the Turkish-Armenian
Reconciliation Commission (which included six Turks, among them
former Turkish ambassador and army general, and four Armenians) the
International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) conducted an
independent study on the Armenian Genocide. The ICTJ study concluded:
“The 1915 mass killing and deportations of Ottoman Armenians meet
the four basic criteria laid out by the 1948 UN Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the crime of Genocide.” After the ICTJ
conclusion, the Turkish side abruptly pulled out of the commission
and did not accept the ICTJ report.
Aris Babikian, executive director, Armenian National Committee of
Canada, said: “Why does the Turkish government want to re-invent the
wheel all over again? Why try to prove something that has been proved
again and again by bipartisan historians and scholars? Rather that
trying to distract and mislead the media, why doesn’t the Turkish
government allow its own historians and intellectuals to express
their convictions on this vital subject without fear of persecution?
“We urge the Canadian media to be more vigilant in their handling
of Ankara-issued news releases intended to confuse and mislead our
media,” added Babikian.
#
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.
Regional Chapters Montreal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton –
Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

PRESS OFFICE
Office of the Legate
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
Website:
November 1, 2006
___________________
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BUILD “CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II WORK PROJECT” IN
ARMENIA
BY FLORENCE AVAKIAN
For the first time in its six year program in Armenia, Habitat for
Humanity and the Armenian Apostolic Church will join together to
combat the severe housing shortage for families in need in Armenia.
This latest agreement solidifies the already growing relationship
between the Armenian Church and Habitat for Humanity (HFH).
In this latest project, HFH will build the “Karekin II Work Project”
with the blessings of the Catholicos of All Armenians. The work which
was recently completed, resulted in 37 homes being built in Gavar near
Lake Sevan. The 106 volunteers who gave their devoted services, were
mostly priests and seminarians from Armenia, but they also included
several volunteers from the United States. The Diocese of the Armenian
Church in America had sent teams from different parishes.
Bishop Vicken Aykazian who is currently the President-Elect of
the National Council of Churches, and Executive Director of the
Ecumenical Office of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church,
played an important role in this latest program, convincing Dr. Bob
Edgar, President of the National Council of Churches of the crucial
importance of this latest work.
During the ten day program which ran from September 1 to 10, the work
focused mainly on the completion of the construction. Both Catholicos
Karekin II of All Armenians, and Bishop Vicken Aykazian played
important roles, joining the group in the painting of the buildings.
Before this final phase, the volunteers had performed the initial
part of the project.
“Through this partnership, we are “putting our faith into action,”
said Bishop Vicken, in an interview at the Diocesan headquarters in
New York. “Spiritually, we share the same values with Habitat for
Humanity. We are especially enthusiastic about sharing this important
program for our people in Armenia.”
The disastrous Armenian earthquake in 1988 which left half a million
homeless, resulted in hundreds of thousands living in unfinished
basements which were basically holes in the ground with makeshift
roofs, or in metal containers called domiks. Many families called
these domiks which were excruciatingly hot in summer and frigidly
cold in winter, home for more than a decade.
Since 2000, Habitat for Humanity Armenia has centered its activities
on eliminating poverty housing. Hundreds of devoted volunteers, have
devoted their time and expertise to this monumental task during the
past six years, providing homes for more than 1000 poverty-stricken
people, using the riches of Armenia’s locally-mined tufa stone in
the construction.
In 2005, Catholicos Karekin II participated in the Carter Work Project
(named for President Jimmy Carter) in Michigan. A simultaneous project
was instituted in Armenia by Habitat for Humanity, led by the Very
Rev. Fr. Torkom Tonikyan, Vicar of the Araratian Dicoese.
Habitat for Humanity International which was founded in 1976, is a
non-denominational Christian, non-governmental, non-profit housing
organization that has been instrumental in assisting more than one
million people all over the world to have a decent and affordable
place to live.
— 11/1/06
PHOTO CAPTION (1): A family in Armenia works on its new home.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, with Bishop Vicken Aykazian
and other dignitaries at the Habitat for Humanity worksite.
# # #

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Meets with California State Assembly Speaker Nuñez
Los Angeles, CA – Members of the Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA-WR) Board of Directors met with the California State
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-46th district) earlier this month to
discuss various issues of concern to the Armenian American Community.
The ANCA-WR discussed Senate Bill 1524, the Genocide Assets and Recovery
Bill which was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 25,
2006. The new law provides that Armenian Genocide victims, or their heirs
or beneficiaries who reside in the State of California, can have claims
arising out of a financial institution’s failure to pay or turn over
deposited assets or looted assets from the Genocide era. This will allow
cases that bring an action or continue a pending action on these matters in
California’s courts.
In addition, the ANCA-WR Board members briefed the Speaker on the progress
of the California Armenia Trade Office (CATO), which was opened in Yerevan
earlier this year with the financial assistance of the California Armenian
American community. CATO was created to facilitate commerce between
California and Armenia. Speaker Nuñez expressed support for the California
Armenia Trade Office and pledged to examine possible state funding for the
successful endeavor during the next Assembly term.
Also on the agenda was the racist campaign attack against the Armenian
community during the 43rd Assembly District’s democratic primary last June,
during which Candidate Paul Krekorian prevailed against Glendale City
Councilman Frank Quintero. An independent expenditure committee, known as
the California Latino Leadership Fund, had sponsored racist anti-Armenian
mailers against Krekorian in support of Frank Quintero’s campaign. The
Speaker condemned these tactics and stated that the Latino Caucus in the
Assembly was firmly against this sort of dirty campaigning.
Finally, the ANCA discussed the need for greater participation of Armenian
Americans within state government through appointments and other
opportunities for involvement. Speaker Nuñez expressed great interest in
considering qualified Armenian American candidates for such positions and
expressed a desire to work with the ANCA-WR in this area.
Speaker Nunez was first elected to the Assembly in 2002 and was sworn in as
Speaker in 2004. If re-elected in the November elections, he will be
serving his final term through 2008 due to term-limits.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots
political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of
the Armenian-American community on a broad range of issues.
–Boundary_(ID_RSOGln1B8K4O7gb+l2XL8A)–

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE EASTERN PRELACY OF THE UNITED STATES PARTICIPATES IN THE WCC
MEETING IN NEW YORK
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Ecumenical Officer in the Prelacy of
the United States of America, participated in the meeting of the
World Council of Churches’ (WCC) American branch held in New York on
October 26-27.
The delegates discussed the effects of the change in the WCC agenda
on the mission and witness of American Churches. They examined the
role of new advisory committees in helping to overcome the challenges
facing the development of the Ecumenical movement.
The participants highlighted the important role of the Council’s
American branch and the need to use mainstream media to make WCC an
everyday presence in the lives of American Churches.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities 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
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I MEETS WITH THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE ARMENIAN
CATHOLIC
AND ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES
His Holiness Aram I met with the spiritual leaders of the Armenian Catholic
and Evangelical Churches in two separate meetings on October 30. V. Rev. Fr.
Norayr Ashekian, V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian and Mr. Tsolag Tutelian from
the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate accompanied His Holiness.
The meeting with Patriarch Nerses Bedros Tarmouni XIX was held in the
presence of several Armenian Catholic Bishops and priests. His Holiness then
met Rev. Meguerditch Karageozian, President of Armenian Evangelical Churches
in the Near East. The President of Haigazian University, Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian as well as several Evangelical pastors and community leaders also
attended.
The main focus of the talks was the relationship between Armenia and the
Diaspora particularly in light of the Third Armenia-Diaspora conference held
this summer in Yerevan. The three spiritual leaders also discussed the
importance of strengthening the Diaspora and reviving Armenian schools in
particular. They reiterated the crucial importance of preserving the
internal unity of the Armenian community of Lebanon.
On these and other issues, all three highlighted the role of close
cooperation between the Armenian Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Churches
and the adoption of united stands towards issues of national concern.
Following these two meetings, His Holiness made the following statement:
“The main purpose of our meetings was the reinforcement of our internal
national unity. There might be difference in our approaches and evaluations,
but we consider that a natural phenomenon in the life of any nation.
However, it is essential that our communities, our nation become united in
basic issues affecting our life. Today more than ever, it is imperative that
we gather around pan-national projects and visions.”
“The Armenian community of Lebanon should concretely prove that it has a
unique role and place in the life of our nation in general and the Diaspora
in particular. Therefore, the energizing of our institutions and in this
context the revival of the Armenian school, the backbone of the Armenian
community of Lebanon, should become a priority for all of us. The stronger
an Armenian school becomes, the stronger an Armenian community becomes.”
“The Catholicosate of Cilicia and We personally in cooperation with the
“Gulbenkian”, “Lincy” and “Khatchig Babikian” Foundations, are striving to
keep the Armenian school strong in its educational mission. Financial
assistance alone, however, is not enough. It is our expectation that
Armenian parents send their children to Armenian schools. An Armenian school
becomes truly an Armenian School when it is filled with Armenian students;
when it conveys the Armenian language, religion and history as a spirit,
faith and commitment to Armenian students, making them the pillar of
Christian Armenian formation. Therefore, Christian education and Armenian
education for us, are closely interconnected; they are two dimensions of one
process”, said His Holiness Aram I.
The Pontiff concluded by calling on the Lebanese Armenian Members of
Parliament, parties and community leaders to work together for safeguarding
the rights of the Lebanese Armenian community and for preserving the
integrity and independence of Lebanon.
##
View photos here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS MEETS EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF
His Holiness Aram I met with Xavier Solana, the European Union High
Commissioner for foreign and security policy, on his return from Geneva. The
meeting, which lasted about half an hour, was held in the VIP hall at the
Beirut airport.
His Holiness Aram I and the EU official discussed the Middle East crisis and
particularly the international efforts to end the conflict in Lebanon. Aram
I expressed his views on the peaceful ways of solving the conflict.
Catholicos Aram I had held several ecumenical meetings in Geneva, in the
past couple of days.
##
View the photo here: 2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
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.