Month: July 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
July 6, 2007

Alex and Marie Manoogian to be Interred in Holy Etchmiadzin

On July 13, the earthly remains of Alex Manoogian, National Hero of the
Republic of Armenia, Life President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
and national benefactor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, along with
those of his wife, Marie Manoogian, will arrive in the homeland via the
Paris – Yerevan flight.  They had previously been interred in Detroit,
Michigan (U.S.A.).

The interment service of the renowned Armenians will take place in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin on July 17 at 10:00 AM, at which time the
remains shall be committed to the earth in sight of the Treasury Museum
built through their sponsorship.  The funeral will occur with full state
honors and church services, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; and with the
participation of the President of the Republic of Armenia, high ranking
state officials, the children and family of the Manoogians, and our pious
faithful.

The bodies of the benefactors of blessed memory will lie in state in the
Monastery of St. Gayane until July 17, where faithful Armenians can offer
their prayers and respect.

Blessed be the Memory of the Righteous, Amen.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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

July 6, 2007
___________________

ACYOA VOLUNTEERS IN HOMELAND TO SERVE ARMENIANS IN NEED

On Thursday afternoon, July 5, 2007, participants of the ACYOA Armenia
Service Program (ASP) left for the homeland. The 27 young adults, ages
18-27, will be touring the country and working as counselors and instructors
at Tzitzernak Camp in Vanadzor in the northern part of Armenia.

This year’s ASP leader is the Dn. Artak Khachikyan, deacon-in-charge of the
St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio. Assisting him on the trip
is ACYOA Central Council member Talin Hitik, an ASP alumna herself and a
parishioner of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Chicago, Illinois.

The participants represent eleven parishes in nine states in the Eastern
Diocese. They will have a day-long layover in Prague, where they plan to
spend the day touring the city. The participants will arrive in Yerevan on
Saturday, July 7, to begin their journey of self-discovery and service to
others.

"I was attracted to ASP because a number of my friends who have been to
Armenia were deeply affected by it," said ASP participant Arda Paylan, a
parishioner of the St. James Church of Evanston, Illinois. "They felt a
deep connection to Armenia and I was inspired by their love of the country
and its people. But the most important thing that appealed to me was the
service dimension of the program."

The participants are John Flanagan from Connecticut; Gevorg Azizi and Arda
Paylan from Illinois; Amanda Kavjian from Massachusetts; Karen Dardarian,
Kimberly Karakashian, Brent Palaian, Allison Parks, and Mary Parsigian from
Michigan; Lauren Ashbahian and Alissa Bonjuklian from New Jersey; Olivia
Derderian, Paul Der Ohannesian, Michael Givelekian, Emily Krolian, Callan
Schanz and Christina Sirabian from New York; Christina and Zachary Kowalski
from Ohio; Jim Keshgegian, Garen Nigon, Paul Sookiasian and Danielle Uber
from Pennsylvania; Sasoon Hovsepian, Aleen and Jack Klachian from Texas, and
Syona Marout.

Many of the participants are following in the footsteps of friends and
family whose life found their own ASP trips life-changing experiences.

"My father (Dn. Albert Keshgegian) was an ASP participant back in 1972, so
I’ve been hearing about Etchmiadzin, Yerevan and Mount Ararat all my life,"
said 2007 ASP participant Jim Keshgegian, a parishioner at the Holy Trinity
Church of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. "I can’t wait to finally experience
these sites for myself. I’m hoping to learn more about my family, our
people and who I am during this trip as well as strengthen my faith."

The ASP trip is organized annually by the ACYOA. In recent years, record
number of young people have signed up to selflessly serve others in Armenia.

"The ASP is one of the best things we do," said Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA
Executive Secretary, who coordinates the ASP trip. "I’m always amazed at
how the young people who participate are profoundly transformed by the
experience of living and working in the homeland. I always look forward to
their enthusiasm when they return!"

— 7/6/07

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

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants in the 2007 Armenia Service Program (ASP)
trip to Armenia gather in New York City’s JFK airport ready to depart on
Thursday, July 5, 2007.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): ASP group leader Dn. Artak Khachikyan, deacon-in-charge
of the St. Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, Ohio, with some of the
participants.

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

July 6, 2007
___________________

MIDWEST COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO MOURN LOSS OF ARTIST

Kira Simonian, a 32-year-old in Minneapolis, was found dead in her apartment
last week, on Thursday, June 28, 2007. Police believe the young woman was
murdered, though no arrests have been made.

The daughter of Ferryl and Raffe Simonian, parishioners of the St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church of Chicago, Illinois, her husband, Matthew Gretz, was
in New York City at the time on business.

The family is devastated by the loss, said Fr. Aren Jebejian, pastor of the
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, especially given that she was a young,
talented artist with an eclectic, free style. She was a graduate student at
the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Fr. Jebejian conducted the funeral service in Chicago on Friday, July 6,
2007.

"This girl met Satan face to face," he said. "None of us were supposed to
be here, in church on this Friday morning. We were supposed to be going
about our daily business, but because of Satan we were forced to be here.
But we can overcome evil and Satan through love, the love that Christ taught
us."

He noted that Kira Simonian and her husband moved to Minnesota about a year
ago for his work and that the St. Sahag Church in St. Paul has been actively
offering support and prayers.

As an artist, Kira Simonian’s work has been featured in six shows in
Minneapolis and nine shows in Chicago.

The Diocese asks all faithful to offer their prayers for the repose of the
soul of Kira Simonian; and for prayers of comfort for her grieving family.

— 7/6/07

HAYPOST ISSUES NEW STAMP AT FIRST ARMENIAN APRICOT SCIENTIFIC FORUM

armradio.am
06.07.2007 10:19

The 1st Armenian Apricot Scientific Forum marks its official opening
today at the Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan. The purpose of this
forum is to inform the public about the historic importance of the
Armenian apricot fruit known as Fructus Armeniacus in Latin.

Honorary guests during the event will include the RA Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan, the RA Minister of Agriculture David Lokyan, Consuelo
Vidal, the UN Permanent Representative and UNDP Coordinator, and Hans
Boon, Trust Manager of HayPost Trust Management.

To commemorate this important event, the national postal operator
of the Republic of Armenia, HayPost CJSC, has officially issued
a postal stamp entitled Armenian Apricot. This distinctive stamp
has been designed exclusively for the opening of the ceremony and
can be used for general postal circulation as well as a philatelic
collector’s item.

"The meaning of this stamp is to help inform the world the story behind
this Armenian fruit – the apricot – and we are proud that HayPost
CJSC is taking part of this important event," states Hans Boon,
the Trust Manager of HayPost.

GORAN LENMARKER: NEW WAR BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN IS UNTHINKABLE

armradio.am
06.07.2007 10:53

"New war as an alternative to resolving the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan is unthinkable," Goran Lennmarker, the President of
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, stated in an interview on the eve
of its 16th Annual Session that begins in Kiev on July 5.

"The advantages of a peace accord for the two countries, Armenia and
Azerbaijan, are huge," he assured.

He said a good framework agreement that addresses the main concerns
of all parties has been presented by the Minsk Group, co-chaired by
France, Russia and the United States. It is ready to be signed by
the leaders of the two countries, if the political will is there.

The Assembly’s increased focus East of Vienna is in the interest
of the OSCE as well as of the region itself, he said. Intensified
dialogue about common problems and the sharing of experiences can be
of great benefit to all.

Lennmarker expanded on his own active involvement in seeking a
peaceful solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
about Nagorno-Karabakh – first as the Special Representative on
Nagorno-Karabakh of the Parliamentary Assembly and now as its President
"For some time now, I have talked about ‘a golden opportunity’ for
an agreement and now, after another visit to the Caucasus, I believe
more than ever in that opportunity," said the President.

AZERI MFA ISSUES A STATEMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NKR

armradio.am
06.07.2007 11:48

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement
on the presidential elections in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, in
which it "reiterates that the unrecognized separatist regime in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan represents nothing but an illegal
structure established by Armenia on the basis of ethnic cleansing of
Azerbaijani population."

It is noted in the document that "the so-called "elections" are
conducted in order to camouflage the annexation policy of Armenia and
are aimed at consolidation of the results of the continued occupation
of the Azerbaijani territories.

Conduct of such "elections" gravely violates the relevant provisions
of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the norms and
principles of international law, since they are held in absence of
the original Azerbaijani population of the Nagorno-Karabakh region,
and, therefore shall have no legal effect whatsoever.

Any kind of elections in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic
of Azerbaijan may be recognized as fair and free once the expelled
Azerbaijani population takes full, direct and equal part in their
conduct in lawful and democratic environment equally to the Armenian
population of the region.

Holding such elections will be possible after the withdrawal of the
Armenian occupying forces, normalization of life in the region,
creation of necessary conditions for restoration of the dialogue
and cooperation between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities
of Nagorno-Karabakh. These steps will open up possibility for the
elaboration of an autonomy model for the Nagorno-Karabakh population
within Azerbaijan.

The Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the Armenian side to stop
its destructive practice of illegal steps, which does not have
any prospects, and instead to demonstrate a good will and take a
constructive position in the negotiation process in order to find
a soonest and durable solution to the conflict on the basis of the
norms and principles of international law."

RA FOREIGN MINISTER ATTENDS ARMTECH ’07

armradio.am
06.07.2007 12:38

On July 5 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian left for the
United States to participate in the ArmTech ’07, a two-day global
high-technology-focused conference and exhibition held San Francisco,
Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
reports.

July 7 the Foreign Minister is expected to make a speech at the
conference.

ARMENIA – AZERBAIAN 0:0

armradio.am
06.07.2007 13:49

The match between the national football teams of Armenia and Azerbaijan
in the framework of the First Black Sea Games held in the Turkish
city of Trabzon ended a draw (0:0). Both teams dropped from further
competition. The teams of Moldova and Russia, included in the same
group, have advanced to the next round.

In the competition of Greek-Roman style wrestlers Gevorg Gevorgyan
(54kg) achieved a silver medal, Joseph Babayan (42kg) and Arthur
Alexanyan (63kg) occupied the third place. Haykaz Samvelyan (55kg)
achieved a bronze medal in taekwondo.

SIX ARMENIAN BOXERS TO PARTAKE IN THE EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

armradio.am
06.07.2007 14:28

Six Armenian sportsmen will participate in the European Youth Boxing
Championship to be held in Belgrade July 8-14. The chief coach of the
Armenian team is Derenik Voskanyan, the coach is Karen Aghamalyan. The
team comprises Arthur Grigoryan (51kg), Samvel Barseghyan (54kg),
Azat Hovhannisyan (57kg), Ara Puluzyan (60kg), Michael Ohanyan (64kg)
and Drastamat Aslanyan (91kg).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GABRIEL SARGSYAN DEFEATED V. TIKHONOV OF BELARUS

armradio.am
06.07.2007 14:35

Armenian Grand Master Gabriel Sargsyan defeated V. Tikhonov of Belarus.

Gaining five points from seven possible, he is now yielding 0.5 points
to the leaders of the memorial tournament after Nikolay Aratovski
held in the Russian city of Saratov. 5.5 points have been achieved
by A. Evdokimov and A. Devyatkin of Russia, A. Fyodorov of Belarus
and E. Sutovski of Israel.