Month: April 2007

Habitat For Humanity Armenia
Yerevan 0037, Cholakyan street, No.38
Tel: (+374 10) 246 023
Cell (+374 91) 206 468
Email: [email protected]

His Holiness gave his blessing to the "Catholicos Karekin II Work Project"
2007

Under the motto "Building on Faith", with renewed hope of eradicating
poverty housing from Armenia, the Habitat for Humanity-Armenia kicked off
the second annual "His Holiness Karekin II Work Project" at the Etchmiadzin
Gevorgyan seminary, Tuesday, April 10. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos
of all Armenians, blessed the opening and called on Armenian Apostolic
Church members to take up the mantle of helping lift an estimated 40,000
families across Armenia out of poverty housing.
The Church must reach out to the neediest people, the Catholicos
said to some 100 volunteers, church members, government leaders and other
humanitarian aid workers gathered at the opening ceremony. Working together
and with the help of God, the Church and Habitat for Humanity-Armenia can
make a positive difference in the lives of people struggling to provide for
their families, he said.
For His Holiness Karekin II Work Project, the Catholicos has
called on the estimated 8 million Armenians living outside their motherland
to assist Habitat for Humanity-Armenia in completing 37 half-built homes to
lift these families out of poverty housing. The homes are remnants of the
economic collapse Armenia experienced in the early 1990s in the wake of a
devastating earthquake, a war and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Haroyan family in the village of Khor Virap will be the first to host a
work team during the 2007 construction season. The couple and their three
children have resided in a neighbor’s basement for seven years.
"We all understand well that family is the foundation of
preserving our nation; the stronger our families, the stronger our country,"
said Norayr Voskanyan.
But too many Armenian families continue to struggle to make ends
meet, said Norayr Voskanyan, the mayor of Khor Virap. Fifty-two of the 1,200
families in Khor Virap have half-built homes. Small farming operations,
averaging one hectare (about two acres), dominate. Money is tight. This
second annual project between the Church and Habitat for Humanity-Armenia
will change that situation.
"Thanks to international and local organizations giving a hand
to the people of this land, that number will drop to 46 in Khor Virap this
year," Voskanyan said.
"Together, hand-in-hand, we are building our house on a robust foundation,
strengthening our communities with their deep roots and empowering our
homeland," added Vardan Tovmasyan, president of the Habitat for
Humanity-Armenia board of directors. He explained that the international
nondenominational Christian organization teamed with the head of the
Armenian Apostolic Church less than a year ago to host Diaspora who helped
reconstruct a 24-family apartment building.
"Thanks to His Holiness Karekin II, the project has become a tradition,"
Tovmasyan said. "We are acquiring supporters from around the world to expand
the army of volunteers helping families in need."
The Right Reverend Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, represents the church as a
director of Habitat for Humanity International. He said the goal of
completing 37 homes symbolizes the Armenian Apostolic Church’s 36 dioceses
and the Holy See of Mother Etchmiadzin. Churches and other Diaspora groups
are sending teams of volunteers between now and October to work alongside
homeowners to complete the work.
Individuals and businesses such as K-Telecom CJSC (which operates VivaCell
in Armenia) are also contributing money. As the largest local corporate
donor this year, VivaCell General Manager Ralph Yirikian said his company
realizes its corporate social responsibilities "because we are all the sons
and daughters of Christ. As a company, we are successful due to the sons and
daughters of Armenia, so we are showing we believe in the future of the sons
and daughters of Armenia through our donation to build homes for them."

In Armenia, a country of 3 million nestled in the southern Caucasus,
more than 40,000 families live in poverty housing. Over the past
decade, a devastating earthquake, conflict, the Soviet Union’s
collapse, and a newfound independence have led to economic crisis.
Thousands still live in metal "domiks", iron containers used for
temporary earthquake relief, which act like refrigerators in the
winter; and boilers in the summer. Habitat for Humanity Armenia has
been working with families in need since 2000, and provided homes for
more than 1,400 people.

About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian charity dedicated to
eliminating poverty housing. It has built more than 200,000 houses; more
than one million people are living in Habitat homes they helped build and
own through low-cost, no-profit mortgages. We have positively affected lives
in nearly 100 countries around the globe.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity in Armenia, please visit:

APA
Jonathan Henick: The occupied territories are part of Azerbaijan
11 Apr 2007 16:06
The US embassy has not yet received the letter of Public Union "Nagorno
Karabakh’s Azerbaijani community", the US Embassy public affairs officer
Jonathan Henick told journalists, APA reports.

Commenting on the reports about the US Company Sutter Emergency Medical
Associates’ (SEMA) preparing general plan of Azerbaijani region of Shusha
occupied by Armenian Armed Forces, Jonathan Henick said investigations are
being held regarding this company.
"The embassy has no information about this company. But I can say that the
information we gave to the US citizens and companies have not changed, we
always state that the occupied territories are part of Azerbaijan, and we do
not recognize the so-called government and officials there. We said that it
is difficult to get to Karabakh passing through Azerbaijan. The country is
in the state of war and if our companies get to Nagorno Karabakh through
another country they might violate Azerbaijan’s laws," Mr. Henick said.

APA
Armenia-made napkins sold in Azerbaijan
11 Apr 2007 12:49
"VioleT" napkins sold in Khachmaz markets caused discontent of residents.
City residents told APA’s North bureau that the napkins are produced in a
company owned by an Armenian Markaryan A. E.

City resident Samire Bakhshiyeva told APA’s bureau that there are many
napkin producer companies in Russia, so it should be investigated why mainly
the napkins produced in the company owned by Armenian should be brought to
Azerbaijan.
"We understand that there are trade relations between Azerbaijan and Russia
and the personality of producer does not matter. But it is interesting who
brings the Violet napkins to Azerbaijan and what is his benefit?" she said.
APA’s bureau confirmed the fact that VioleT napkins are sold in Khachmaz
markets. The investigations of the agency proved that this company functions
in Krasnodar and is owned by Armenian Artur Eduardovich Markaryan. The
company produces only napkins. The head office of the company is situated in
Novorossiysk, Russia.

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]

April 10, 2007
U.S. Government Provides Funding for New Physical Security System for
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
On April 10, 2007, the staff of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant dedicated
an improved and upgraded Physical Security System. This new system,
developed with $3.5 million in technical and financial support from the U.S.
Department of Energy, includes upgraded physical access infrastructure,
badges and video monitoring. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Robin Phillips
presented the remarks below at the dedication ceremony.
ANPP Dedication of the Physical Safety Upgrade Project
Remarks as prepared for Delivery
April 10, 2007
It is a pleasure to be here today to mark another milestone in the
long-standing cooperation between Armenia and the United States on improving
safety at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.
We appreciate the Armenian government´s commitment to promoting safer
operations at the plant while at the same time working towards plant
decommissioning.
Since 1996, the USG has provided more than $35 million to upgrade the plant
and to ensure the safest possible operation until its closure.
We are here today to dedicate an upgraded physical security system at the
plant. New access and badge policies, improved security infrastructure and
video surveillance are all tools which we are proud to provide to help you
maintain high levels of security.
Strong nuclear security is particularly important given the current threat
environment and the risk that terrorists and others will try to use nuclear
material against innocents.
In addition to improved security, it is critical that the Armenian
government continue to build a culture of safety at the plant, by completing
IAEA identified safety upgrades, and reinvesting a sufficient portion of the
cash flow obtained from the energy sector into plant safety and maintenance.
As Armenia follows through on its commitment to a culture of safety and a
comprehensive decommissioning plan, we will continue to work with Armenia to
develop safer and more sustainable alternatives to the Armenian Nuclear
Power Plant including providing technical assistance to support plans for a
new nuclear power plant.
The U.S. government will not, however, be able to fund plant construction
directly and any proposal for U.S. assistance would have to compete for
scarce development assistance funds.
I thank you for our excellent and on-going cooperation on nuclear safety
issues and urge you to make the most of this new equipment to better protect
this plant and the Armenian people.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

CONGRATULATORY VISITS TO ANTELIAS ON THE OCCASION OF EASTER

Following the Holy Mass in Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in
Antelias on Easter Sunday, on April 8, His Holiness Aram I received
congratulatory visits from diplomats, government, political, religious and
charity officials in the Veharan (residence of the Catholicos).

The Armenian Pontiff also received phone calls from Lebanese government
officials, the President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency General
Emile Lahoud, the Speaker of Parliament, Nebih Berri, several ministers and
members of parliament, congratulating him on the occasion of Easter. He also
received congratulatory calls and personal visits from the heads of several
Lebanese communities.

##
View the photo here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the 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.

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Lusine Mnatsakanyan
Tel: 3741 56 0106
Fax: 3741 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.himnadram. org

11.04.2007
The Archut Village is Gaining its Footing

With support of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, the Archut community of Lori
Marz is gaining its footing. A few days ago, in collaboration with the
Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia and within the Archut Agricultural
Development Project, the Hayastan Fund donated a wheeled tractor of SAME-603
and other agricultural facilities to the community of Archut.
Since the collapse of the Soviet regime, the village has been facing serious
difficulties, one of the most important problems being lack of agricultural
machinery. `Even one tractor is great support for the 480 small households
of the community’, Vardan Khachatrian, the head of the community, says.
`This is not the first time during the 17 years of the existence of the
community that the Fund renders assistance to us in various spheres,’ notes
Mr. Khachatryan with gratitude. In 2000, the Fund constructed a secondary
school in Archut village. In 2005, the school received new furniture worth
AMD 2,5M donated by the Funds Local Committee of France. In the coming
months, the committee will finance sport facilities for the school worth
4000 Euros.
Archut is a newly established village in 1989. Most of the 1500 inhabitants
are refugees from Azerbaijan. The village was formerly inhabited by the
Azerbaijanis, and then was abandoned in 1980s. When Armenians moved in, the
village was all devastated and ruined. The rehabilitation of the village
requires serious efforts and support. Among other acute needs are
construction of roads, installation of gas supply and phone networks,
drinking and irrigation water systems.

PR Department

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian General Benevolent Union Inc.
Rita Kuyumjian MD
Chairperson
805, Manoogian street
Ville St-Laurent, QC H4N 1Z5
Tel: 514-748-2428
Fax: 514-748-6307
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Montreal, April 4, 2007 – On March 28th, the AGBU Montreal Jirair and Elise
Dervishian hall was filled by about 100 attendees who came to listen to the
lecture of Dr. Armen Ayvazian, given within the popular and unique Armenian
Studies program of AGBU. The topic of the lecture was "What is the true
purpose of preserving Armenian identity"?

Dr. Ayvazian heads the Ararat Center for Strategic Studies in Armenia. Mr.
Chahe Tanachian, a member of the Executive Committee introduced him and his
accomplishments. After he took the podium, Dr. Ayvazian convincingly argued
for an Armenia-centric policy for all of the Diaspora and its institutions.
He presented the key issue of lack of human capital and its erosion in
Armenia. He went over the history and showed the lack of official
institutions within current Diaspora/Armenia relationship. Finally, he
outlined some potential solutions to this critical matter such as organizing
re-immigration into Armenia, particularly for the endangered communities of
the war-torn Middle Eastern countries, which could create win-win scenarios
for both sides. He also made the case for the ongoing exchange of people
and ideas between Armenia and the Diaspora, especially within the context of
the current critical lack of long term strategic thinking expertise in
Armenia proper.

At the end of the lecture, Dr. Ayvazian graciously answered several
questions from the audience. This was the fifth and final lecture that Dr.
Ayvazian gave during his Montreal tour.

For further information, please contact the AGBU at 514-748-2428 or at
[email protected]; information about Dr. Ayvazian and his strategic
analysis can be found at or

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

April 11, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

CELEBRATION OF EASTER IN PRELACY CHURCHES

Throughout the past week, Western Prelacy churches were filled
with faithful commemorating Holy Week and preparing to celebrate the
Glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, April 8, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, celebrated Easter with Holy Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
In his sermon the Prelate reminded the faithful that the Resurrection is a
celebration of the triumph of good over evil and of light over darkness, and
prayed for the light of Christ to illuminate our lives.

On Monday, April 9, by the ordinance of the Prelate requiem
services took place at the Hollywood Hills and Glendale Forest Lawn with the
participation of Prelacy clergy and presided over by His Eminence.

In keeping with tradition, on Monday, April 10, the Prelate and
clergy visited Ararat Home in Mission Hills and conducted Easter Holy Mass
celebrated by Rev. Vazken Atmajian of St. Mary’s Church, who also delivered
the sermon. Prior to Mass, the ceremony of house blessing was conducted in
the hospital section of Ararat Home. Following church services, the Prelate
and clergy met with the directors and residents of Ararat Home and conveyed
their well wishes.

On Good Friday and Easter Eve, Prelacy faithful commemorated the
burial of Christ and the lighting of candles ceremony respectively. The
Prelate commemorated Good Friday at Forty Martyrs Church in Orange Country
and Easter Eve at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood.

Armenian-Turkish Relation
Common Celebration Without Armenian Flags

Turkey spoils own attempts of rapprochement

Trouw (Dutch daily newspaper)
30 March 2007

By Foreign Editor Iris Luduker,

The opening of a restored Armenian church in Turkey was supposed to be a
sign of reconciliation. It degenerated in a good quarrel.

It could have been such a beautiful rapprochement: Turkish and Armenian high
officials together opening a renovated Armenian church on Turkish soil. But
what took place yesterday on the small island of Akdamar in the Lake Van in
Eastern Turkey was still mainly a Turkish celebration.

Turkish flags and a portrait of Ataturk brightened up the 10th century
church. The opening ceremony started with the Turkish national anthem. And
despite the presence of a delegation from Armenia the Armenian flag was
nowhere to be seen.

The level of the dignitaries was another disappointment. The Turks delegated
their Culture Minister, while Armenia was represented by a delegation of 20
persons headed by a Secretary of State.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan was supposed to be present, as well as the
Armenian Church leader, Catholicos Karekin II. The latter kindly declined
the honour and consequently also Erdogan stayed at home.

Karekin cancelled his visit as a mark of protest against the Turkish
decision to make a museum out of the restored church. The opening ceremony
yesterday was a non-religious one. The Turks also decided to not place a
cross on the roof of "the museum".

The leader of Turkish section of the Armenian orthodox church, patriarch
Mesrob II, did come to the event. Mesrob tried to safe the atmosphere by
thanking the Turkish government for its efforts. But he also asked to open
the church as a place for prayers at least once a year. "If our government
agrees with this, it will contribute to peace between the two communities" .

In general the Turkish promotion stunt turned out to be a failure. This as
Turks just invested 1.1 million euro to improve the relation with Armenia.
The two neighbouring countries have had ice cold relations for decennia and
maintain no diplomatic relations.

The borders are closed ever since in 1993 Armenia waged a war with
Azerbaidjan an ally of Turkey. The Armenian economy suffered considerably
from this war. That is why Armenia said that it welcomes the restoration,
but opening of the borders would have been an even better idea. In that case
the Armenian delegation leaders would not have had to travel to Van by a
roundabout route.

The most painful issue in the relation between the countries is the fact
that Turkey denies that in 1915 Genocide has taken place of the Armenian
inhabitants of the former Ottoman Empire. According to Armenia 1.5 million
people then lost their lives. That the Turkish rapprochement may have been
not entirely sincere is proved by the fact that the opening of the church at
first was planned for April 24. This is the day, that the Armenian community
commemorates the genocide.

Background Information

The church is ready, Let¹s deal with the city now

The church on Akdamar is far from being the only Armenian monument in
Turkey. At the extreme east of the country lies Ani, the capital of Armenia
in the 10th century, by then already counting 100.000 inhabitants. In the
enormous area, right at the border with Armenia, there are tens of rests of
churches and mosques. Ani is hard to reach and despite the impressing
location few people visit the place. To the anger of Armenians, the Turkish
authorities have neglected the matter for years. Just recently, along with
Akdamar it has been placed high on the restoration list. Strange enough the
Armenian government opened a stone quarry opposite Ani. This destroyed the
landscape and affected the restfulness in the area.

*ARPA INSTITUTE*
18106 Miranda St.
Tarzana CA 91356
Phone/Fax: 818-881-0010

24 B, Baghramian, Mech. Inst. Bldg. of ASc, 3rd flr, Yerevan, Armenia.
Tel:(374 2)545538
(39), Fax:151167**

Presents : Lecture/Seminar

By *Dr. David Gaunt** *

"Massacres, Resistance, Protectors of the Armenians

and Assyrians in the 1915 Genocide"

*Friday, May 11, 2007 @ 7:30PM*

*Merdinian Auditorium*

13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 **

Directions: On 101 FY Exit Woodman, go North 1 block, turn Right on
Riverside Dr.

*Abstract:** * The lecture will discuss what happened to the Armenian and
Assyrian populations living in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Bitlis, Van and
Iranian Azerbaijan during World War I. This will be based on extensive use
of primary sources in Turkish, Russian, Iranian as well as Western archives.
Also previously unused witness testimonies and oral history will be used.
This is a region where Armenians and Assyrians lived side by side in the
cities and had rural villages close to each other. Often the Armenians would
be seized first and the Assyrian sources explain what happened, then came
the turn for the Assyrians. In some places both groups put up a common
defense, for instance Antranik’s volunteer brigades had Assyrians fighting
side by side with the Armenians. Some Assyrian tribes joined the Russian
army that was on its way to relieve Van and fought with the Turks. The
greater part of the massacres, ethnic cleansings and other atrocities
occurred between May and September of 1915, and the extent of population
loss was close to 90% in the Diyarbakir province. The latter was also used
as killing fields for deportation caravans coming from the north. The
lecture will be based on the recent book *Massacres, Resistance, Protectors:
Muslim-Christian relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I* (
Piscataway, N. J.: Gorgias Pres 2006).

*David Gaunt* is professor of history at Södertörn University College in
Stockholm, Sweden. This university is in the midst of one of the largest
Assyrian Diaspora communities in the world. He is a social historian and has
previously written primarily on the Scandinavian workers movement, and
family history. A few years ago he began with genocide studies and
edited *Resistance
and Collaboration in the Holocaust: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania*(Bern 2004).

For more Information Please call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818) 586-9660 **