Month: March 2007

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

March 9, 2007
___________________

ST. VARTAN CAMP OFFERS FAITH, FRIENDSHIP, AND FUN

Summer is just around the corner, and with the sunshine will come the summer
camp season. The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) will
once again offer two unique camping experiences: the Midwest Hye Camp and
St. Vartan Camp in Upstate New York.

Registration for St. Vartan Camp 2007 has begun. There are three two-week
sessions. The dates for Session A are June 24 to July 7, Session B will run
from July 8 to July 21, and Session C covers July 22 to August 4. Session B
is already filled!

Entering its 27th year, St. Vartan Camp provides a well-rounded blend of
Armenian religion, culture, language, history, dance, music, arts, and
fellowship, as well as a full sports program that includes soccer,
basketball, softball, volleyball, tennis, and swimming. The program also
includes special daily activities such as dances, talent shows, camp
Olympics, theme days, nature hikes, and campfires. Campers range in age
from 8 to 15.

St. Vartan Camp will once again be held at its permanent home: The Ararat
Youth and Conference Center in upstate New York. And this year the campers
will take advantage of a new pavilion and five new classrooms being built at
the Ararat Center.

"We are very excited about the addition of our newly constructed pavilion
and classrooms," said Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, director of St. Vartan Camp.
"This will allow us much more flexibility for creative programming."

LOOKING FOR STAFF

St. Vartan Camp is staffed by counselors who have been specially chosen from
throughout the Diocese based on their devotion to Armenian youth. Fr.
Sabounjian said the camp is looking for qualified staff who will be positive
Christian role models and encouraged interested people to apply.

"Whether in the classroom or on the sports field; at the pool or in an
activity; in the dining room or in the dorms, everything that we do will be
designed to promote lessons in Christian living," he said. "And to that
effect, we are looking for staff members who will create an atmosphere in
which we all can learn to live a Christian lifestyle."

Additionally, the camp offers a counselor-in-training program for qualified
young people between 16 and 17 years old. CITs will participate in a
leadership training program that includes both "on-the-job" training through
working with staff and campers and daily leadership and team-building
classes. CITs must apply to be accepted to the program.

Anyone interested in joining the St. Vartan Camp staff, serving as a CIT, or
sending their children to the camp can find more information and register
on-line at Additional information can be found by
contacting Lydia Kurkjian, the camp office coordinator, by e-mailing
[email protected] or by calling (212) 686-0710, ext 142.

HYE CAMP

While registration for Midwest Hye Camp is not open yet, the one-week camp
is already being planned.

This year’s Hye Camp will run from July 29 to August 4, 2007, in Ingelside,
Illinois. More information can be found on-line at

— 3/09/07

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

March 9, 2007

ACNIS Hosts Policy Forum on Armenian Parliamentary Elections

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
today convened the latest in its international visitors’ series entitled
"Elections and Democratic Consolidation," an off-the-record presentation and
panel discussion on Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

The discussion brought together scholars, policy specialists, diplomats,
commentators, political leaders, and other public figures. After ACNIS
founder Raffi K. Hovannisian’s opening remarks, the visiting experts
presented their views on Armenia’s political scene. Dr. Valerie J. Bunce,
Chair of the Government Department at Cornell University, spoke on elections
and democratic consolidation. Dr. Sharon L. Wolchik, Professor of Political
Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, made the
case for women’s participation in elections. The discussion was moderated by
ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2007, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, democratic development, conflict resolution,
and applied research on critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the
state and the nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

February 9, 2007
___________________

YOUNG PEOPLE OF NEW BRITAIN, CT, TURN OUT TO MEET WITH DIOCESAN STAFF

Jennifer Morris, the youth outreach coordinator for the Eastern Diocese,
traveled to the Church of the Holy Resurrection of New Britain, Connecticut,
to help the parish kick off its "Church and Home" activities.

She was there during Armenian Christmas season, on Sunday, January 7th.

At the conclusion of the day’s Divine Liturgy, the parish’s young adult
liaison distributed special items sent by the Diocese to each family. These
resources included a miniature illustrating The Presentation of Christ to
the Temple, a family prayer book and a companion to the family prayer book.

More than 100 members of the New Britain community attended the program,
hosted by the parish’s ACYOA chapter.

Morris spoke during the luncheon, introducing herself to the parish. Though
a first time visitor, she said she felt at home from the moment she walked
in. She spoke about her work with the youth and this year’s Diocesan theme.

"During this ‘Year of Church and Home: One in Spirit,’ it is imperative that
we take time to bring the church into our homes," she said. "As a church
family, we must strive to live by the teachings of the Armenian Church each
and every day, and to better understand what we believe as Armenian
Christians and why we believe it."

"It is my hope that each of us feels at home in the Armenian Church," she
continued. "In order for this to happen we must work together and make a
concerted effort to reach out to everyone in our church communities."

She noted that one simple way for the parishioners to teach their children
about the connection between church and home was to invite the local priest,
Fr. Kapriel Mouradjian, to conduct a Home Blessing service. This year, as
part of its "Church and Home" initiative, the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern) encourages every Armenian family to conduct this unique
service.

More information about the Armenian Home Blessing Service can be found on
the Diocesan website:

— 3/9/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Jennifer Morris, coordinator of youth outreach for the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), and Fr. Kapriel
Mouradjian, pastor of the Church of the Holy Resurrection of New Britain,
Connecticut, gather with the children of the parish during Armenian
Christmas celebrations.

SENTENCE OF FIRST INSTANCE COURT TO VAHAGN CHAKHALIAN KEPT UNCHANGED

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The trial on case of
Vahagn Chakhalian, presidency member of United Javakhk democratic
bloc, took place on March 9 at RA Appeal Court. To recap, on December
4, 2006 Shirak region’s first instance court had found the latter
guilty for trespassing RA state border illegally. According to the
Javakhk-Info agency, RA Appeal Court kept unchanged the sentence of
first instance court.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

March 9, 2007
___________________

ACYOA BREAKS RECORDS AT EIGHTH ANNUAL YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

When Nancy Basmajian, executive secretary for the Armenian Church Youth
Organization of America (ACYOA), realized 75 young people would be attending
the organization’s Young Adult Leadership Conference March 2 to 4, 2007, she
was excited, because it would be a record number of attendees to the annual
gathering. But she was also worried, being told by others that bringing
that many young people together for a weekend could cause trouble.

During the conference, held at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point,
New York, she was approached by a Catholic priest, attending a different
meeting at the center. He asked her if she was with the group of
youngsters.

"I thought, ‘Oh no, here it comes. What’s the trouble,’" Basmajian said.
"And then he told me that the Armenian Church should be proud to have such
well mannered young people willing to delve into their faith and heritage so
deeply."

FOCUS ON FAITH AND LEADERSHIP

By all accounts the conference was a critical success. The 75 young people,
ranging in age from 17 to 29, represented 24 parishes. Guided by 13 clergy
and Diocesan staff, the young participants explored their personal faith,
talked about ways to strengthen the bonds between young Armenians and the
church, and gained valuable insight into how to be leaders of their local
communities.

"This weekend had a very special effect on me," said Violet Mirzoyan of the
Armenian Church of Atlanta, Georgia. "I met a lot of new Armenians, and I’m
going home with great, new ideas. I hope I can bring young Armenians
together in my parish."

The participants gathered on Friday night for an opening prayer and to be
welcomed by ACYOA Central Council Chair Greg Andonian. In introducing
themselves to each other, participants were encouraged to share memories of
how their home life intersected with their Christian faith.

The act of worship plays an integral part of every National Young Adult
Leadership Conference. Vespers services were conducted on Friday and
Saturday nights and Matins on Saturday morning. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean
of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary of New Rochelle, New York, celebrated
the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, with several participants joining him on the
altar.

In his sermon he related the conference theme of "Church and Home" to the
story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, found in the Gospel of Luke
(19:1-10).

"Just as Jesus took the initiative to visit Zacchaeus in his home, Jesus too
wants to come into our homes," Fr. Findikyan said. "He wants to be our
guest. He wants to experience our hospitality. He doesn’t want to be
locked up in the church or in the sacraments. Your home travels with you and
is not a home until you invite Jesus in."

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited with the participants on Saturday morning.
Addressing the youth, he said he was pleased they chose to spend their
weekend at the conference worshipping, learning, and making friends. He
then answered questions of the young participants.

"You are the engine that will drive our church and our local communities for
years to come," he told the youth. "And it is encouraging to see you making
the choice to come here, to equip yourself with knowledge and a deeper
understanding of your faith. It shows that the next generation is preparing
for the challenge to lead."

Before the Primate left, he greeted each one of the participants and
presented them with a wooden cross from Armenia and a copy of "A Dictionary
of the Armenian Church," by Archbishop Malachia Ormanian.

WORKSHOPS AND LESSONS

During the weekend, participants took part in a number of sessions designed
to strengthen their faith and prepare them to lead.

"This conference helped me get back in touch with the Armenian Church after
having been away at college," said Taleen Terjanian of the St. Stepanos
Church of Elberon, New Jersely. "It helped me determine how I can still
make a difference in my parish through the ACYOA, and gave me ideas on how
to keep the youth active in their faith."

"Ten Things You Should Know about Our Liturgy," led by Fr. Findikyan
included discussion on such topics as "it’s all about love," "it’s about God
and us, not just God and me," and "it’s a matter of life and death."

In a related workshop, "Ten Things You Should Know about Scripture," Fr.
Vahan Hovhanessian, pastor of the Church of the Holy Martyrs of Bayside, New
York, and perhaps one of the foremost Biblical scholars in the Diocese,
offered his "list" of the top ten things everyone should know about the
Bible. Participants found the session very informative and were especially
interested in how the Armenian Church interprets Scripture.

"This conference was an amazing experience that gave me a better
understanding of the Armenian Church," said Anush Djaniants, from the St.
Sarkis Church of Charlotte, North Carolina. "The lectures were full of
information that will strengthen my personal faith."

Participants also heard from several seminarians during a session titled
"Vocations: Responding to God’s Call." Justin Ajamian, Greg Andonian, Maria
Derderian, Dn. Vahe Hovsepyan, Megan Jendian, and Ryan Tellalian all shared
their personal journeys and discussed their vocational goals, which range
from entering the priesthood to serving in lay ministry. The consensus of
the panelists was that a calling is usually not a single dramatic moment but
a gradual process over time.

In a workshop titled "ACYOA: What Are We Called To Be?" Central Council Vice
Chair Ani Tovar of Dallas, Texas, Chapter Relations Coordinator Stan
Sheridan of Racine, Wisconsin, asked participants to respond to questions on
the mission of the ACYOA and to explore if the group was living up to its
mission and what participants were called to do.

During a session on "Leadership at Church and Beyond," former ACYOA Central
Council member and a current Parish Council member and Diocesan delegate
from the Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, Antranig Garibian
spoke about his experiences as a young adult parish leader and as a new
attorney. He talked about the importance of character and morality during
the college years and in the professional world.

"Stay true to yourself, serve as role models for the next generation and
share yourself, your gifts and talents with your parish and the larger
church," he told participants.

Participants also heard from Dr. Thomas Samuelian, an Armenian American who,
after receiving his doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and
a law degree from Harvard, returned to Armenia. For the past ten years he
has practiced law in Armenia and now considers the nation his home. In a
workshop titled "Home to Church via the Homeland," he spoke about the
various homeland immersion experiences available to Armenian Americans and
encouraged the participants to accept the challenge of helping strengthen
the Armenian nation. He said that the experience can restore and
reinvigorate an individual’s faith, while strengthening our local parishes
and homes.

"This conference not only taught me a lot about being an Armenian Christian
and a leader, but it gave me the opportunity to meet new Armenians and
strengthen bonds with those I already knew," said Tamar Pounardjian of the
St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio.

Along with formal sessions, participants joined in a Leadership Conference
tradition by asking questions anonymously for Fr. Findikyan to answer.
Known as "hot topics," this experience helps build a deeper understanding of
our heritage and faith in the participants.

"I really learned a lot about Christianity," said Allina Choudanian of the
St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois. "Now more than ever before, I am
motivated to be more a part of the ACYOA."

EXPANDED PARTICIPATION

There is no charge for the conference, the ACYOA picks up all of the cost
except for the participants’ travel. That meant that past conferences were
open only to two people from each parish. This year, however, thanks to
additional funding made available by the Diocese, parishes were encouraged
to send as many youth as they could.

The change in availability resulted in the record number of attendees coming
to seek nurturing of their spiritual side.

"This conference does a fantastic job of adding a powerful spiritual aspect
to the lives of young people. It was truly inspiring," said Nareg
Korogluyan of the St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois.

Participating clergy included: Fr. Findikyan, who served as conference
chaplain; Fr. Yeprem Kelegian; Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian; Fr. Mikael
Devejian; Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian; Dn. Artak Khachikyan; and Dn. Vahe
Hovsepyan.

Diocesan staff who led sessions and attended the weekend included ACYOA
Executive Secretary Nancy Basmajian, Youth Outreach Coordinator Jennifer
Morris, and College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian.

"This was a fantastic experience that expanded my knowledge of the Divine
Liturgy," said Margo Voskanian of the Church of the Holy Translators in
Framingham, Massachusetts. "ACYOA Sports Weekends are always fun, but these
types of gatherings are rewarding in the sense that you spend quality time
with clergy, Diocesan staff, and other young Armenians in a more intimate
setting."

— 3/9/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): A record number of 75 young people joined the Primate,
clergy, and Diocesan staff for the ACYOA National Young Adult Leadership
Conference, which ran from March 2 to 4, 2007.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Participants in the 2007 ACYOA National Young Adult
Leadership Conference discuss their faith and the future of the youth
organization.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), meets with some of the
participants of the ACYOA National Young Adult Leadership Conference, which
was held from March 2 to 4, 2007.

EU starts bridge building

09-03-2007 18:57:14 – KarabakhOpen

In Brussels the conference on building bridges in the Black Sea region
and the role of the EU kicked off yesterday. The conference is held in
the framework of the project Civil Society Participation in the
European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) – A Regional Approach to Conflict
Resolution. This meeting was organized by the Crisis Management
Initiative (chairman Martti Ahtisaari, ex-president of Finland). The
participants are the partners of the Institute from Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, national experts and representatives of
the civil societies of Transdnyestr, Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. Nagorno Karabakh is represented by the chairman of
Stepanakert Press Club Gegham Baghdasaryan.

Gegham Baghdasaryan told KarabakhOpen from Brussels that the purpose
of the meeting is to set up an open dialogue with the EU politicians
and to enlarge the civil society network sharing the outlook and
interests for peace and stability in the Black Sea region. The
expected outcome is the creation of an EU-Black Sea expert council
which is thought to be a flexible association of local and European
experts dealing with a peace settlement of the frozen conflicts in
terms of engagement of the EU in the process of regional cooperation
and dialogue.

The objectives of the meeting are: to outline a common vision of the
future region to mark the spheres in which regional cooperation and
the engagement of the EU is necessary; to provide a similar perception
of the EU policy, organizations and tools; as well as acquaintance
with the standpoint of the civil society.

The participants will work out and prepare the vision of the Black Sea
region in 2020. Besides discussions there will be meetings with
officials of the EU, the European commission, the Council of Europe,
the European parliament, as well as representatives of the
transatlantic community.

Lectures in different parts of the country

09-03-2007 18:56:41 – KarabakhOpen

Stepanakert Resource Center NGO kicked off an education project in
Shushi. Janna Krikorova, Secretary General of the NKR Foreign
Ministry, member of the Caucasian Forum, delivered the first lecture
on the topic `The current state of the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict’. According to Irina Grigoryan, the administrator of the
Resource Center, about 10 lectures are foreseen this year in
Stepanakert, Shushi and Martuni. The lectures will be delivered by
outstanding politicians and experts. The project is funded by the
International Alert, a British organization.

The Discussion Club of Martuni funded by the International Alert held
a round-table meeting in the village of Kert for schoolchildren from
the villages of Kert and Sos. The participants talked about the
outlook for the settlement of the Karabakh issue, the image of the foe
and the education of the young generation.

Discussions will continue in the villages of Kert and Berdashen of
Martuni region. During the round-table meetings both internal and
external political problems will be discussed, as well as the
opportunities for contact between young people of Karabakh and
Azerbaijan.

A few days ago the International Alert brought 100 calendars with
photographs of Armenian and Azerbaijani children. The administrator of
Stepanakert Resource Center Irina Grigoryan said the calendars will be
distributed in the regions of the republic.

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 9 2007

Turkish shooting suspect says his target was Armenian patriarch

A Turkish man accused of firing in the air outside an Armenian church
claimed Wednesday his real target had been Patriarch Mesrob II, the
spiritual leader of the tiny Armenian community, the Anatolia news
agency reported.

"I had prepared it for (Mesrob) Mutafyan II," Volkan Karova shouted
to reporters here as he and fellow suspect Yýlmaz Can Özalp were
being escorted to the prosecutor’s office to give their testimony,
the agency reported.

It was not clear whether he had intended to physically attack the
patriarch or scare him. Later Wednesday, a court charged the two men
with "threatening by firing shots" and "carrying an unlicensed gun"
and sent them to jail pending trial, the agency said. The pair were
arrested late Sunday just hours after two men fired a shot in the air
outside a church in the city’s Kumkapý district. At the time, a
ceremony was being held for slain ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink.

Factory of whey solids will be located on the Iran-Armenia border

07-03-2007 17:15:36
KarabakhOpen

In the recent meeting of the NKR National Assembly Member of
Parliament Maxim Mirzoyan raised the question of the Arvard Company’s
whey solids processing unit. The minister of territorial
administration and development of infrastructures ArmoTsatryan said
the government had given the permission to sell the factory. However,
the sale of the unique equipment underwent hard criticism in the
Karabakh media. On March 6 KarabakhOpen.com got a letter from Narineh
Aghabalyan, the vice president of Arvard, which contains the answers
to a few questions. The letter runs: `The dairy factory of Stepanakert,
by an order of the NKR government, is the property of Mr. and
Mrs. Anivyan, which means they can do with their property whatever
they wish. Over the past few years a number of companies have bid for
Vardges Anivyan’s factory’s expensive equipment for production of milk
powder because the factory did not work. However, the owner of the
factory disagreed to take the equipment away from Armenia and refused
lucrative proposals. The representative of the Ashtarak Kat Company
also proposed to buy Arvard’s equipment but there was no deal because
at the last moment the buyer stated that it cannot operate the full
capacity of the processing unit.

Specialists say 90-100 tons of milk is needed to operate the full
capacity of the unit. According to statistical data, an annual 33.3
tons of milk is produced in Karabakh. It means even if all the milk
produced in Karabakh in a year is used for producing evaporated milk
or milk powder, it will not be enough. Considering this, the owner of
the factory decided to sell the equipment to Segal-Hall, a company
registered in Armenia, which is likely to install the equipment on the
border with Iran to export milk from this country as well.

The equipment was sold for 200 thousand dollars, including 33.3
thousand dollars of the VAT was paid to the state budget of
NKR. Vardges Anivyan is likely to invest the rest in dairy business
and several other projects in Karabakh.

Agence France Presse — English
March 8, 2007 Thursday 11:23 AM GMT

Turkish Nobel laureate to tour Germany after cancellation

BERLIN, March 8 2007

Turkish Nobel literature laureate Orhan Pamuk’s German publisher said
on Thursday he would visit Germany in May for a reading tour which
was planned for February but reportedly cancelled for security
reasons.

"We are delighted that Orhan Pamuk is prepared so soon already to
carry out the visit cancelled on short notice in February," Carl
Hanser Publishing said.

German newspapers had said the writer called off the trip because he
feared for his life after the murder in January of ethnic Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul, but Pamuk did not confirm the
reports.

Dink is believed to have been killed by ultra-nationalists in revenge
for remarks he made about the massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman
empire.

Pamuk, the author of "Snow" and other novels mulling Turkey’s clash
between Muslim and Western culture, has angered Turkish authorities
with similar remarks.

He was prosecuted for telling a Swiss magazine that 30,000 Kurds and
a million Armenians had been killed during World War I under the
Ottoman Turks, but the case was dropped on a technicality.

Pamuk’s tour of Germany will begin in Hamburg on May 2 and will also
take in Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Stuttgart. He will receive an
honorary doctorate from Berlin’s Free University on May 4.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress