Month: October 2008

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
________________________________________ _______________________

UPDATE – ARMENIA

8 October 2008

Amendments to broadcasting law will prevent TV station from returning to
air

SOURCE: ARTICLE 19, London

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 6 October 2008 ARTICLE 19 press
release:

Armenia: Legislative Change in Spite of the ECtHR Decision

ARTICLE 19 is seriously concerned about the recent amendments to the
Armenian Law on Television and Radio introducing a moratorium on the
granting of broadcasting licences until mid-2010 due to the planned digital
switchover which, despite the recent judgment of the European Court of
Human Rights (ECtHR), will further prevent the TV station A1+ from
returning to air.

These legislative amendments were adopted on 10 September 2008 in an
extraordinary session of the Armenian Parliament without any prior
consultations with relevant stakeholders. The amendments are largely
believed to be directed against A1+, contrary to the ECtHR decision. A1+ is
an oppositional TV company, which lost its broadcasting licence in a
controversial tender in 2002 and has been unable to regain it in the twelve
consequent tenders ever since.

Following lengthy and unsuccessful domestic litigation, the case of A1+
subsequently came before the ECtHR, which in June 2008 held that the
company’s right to freedom of expression had been violated as a result of
domestic legislation that lacked any explicit requirement for the national
regulatory authority to provide reasons for its decisions on refusal of
broadcasting licences.

While fully appreciating the endeavours of the Armenian government to keep
abreast with countries in the vanguard of technological progress, ARTICLE
19 asserts that legislative amendments that prevent rather than contribute
to restoring the rights of A1+ against the findings of the ECtHR do little
to improve the protection of freedom of expression in Armenia. ARTICLE 19
calls on the authorities in Armenia to lift the moratorium on the licensing
procedure and to ensure that A1+ participates in an open, transparent and
fair tender prior to the planned digital switchover.

ARTICLE 19 notes that Armenia has ratified the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedom (ECHR), which in Article 19 and Article 10 respectively
guarantee the fundamental human right to freedom of expression. Accession
to the ECHR implies, inter alia, unequivocal compliance with the judgments
of the ECtHR. ARTICLE 19, therefore, urges the Armenian authorities to
remain mindful of their international commitments on freedom of expression
by taking measures that uphold rather than depart from them.

ARTICLE 19 further urges the Armenian authorities to undertake more
profound reform of its legislation to bring about greater independence,
pluralism and diversity of its audiovisual services.

In particular, ARTICLE 19 calls on the Armenian government to explore the
mechanisms and approaches to amend the Constitution to ensure greater
independence of the country’s regulatory authority, since the current
practice whereby appointments to the regulatory body are made solely by the
President and the Parliament falls foul of international standards on the
independence of the regulatory authorities.

Updates the A1+ television station licence denial case:
40

For further information, contact ARTICLE 19, 6-8 Amwell Street, London,
EC1R 1UQ, U.K., tel: +44 20 7278 9292, fax: +44 20 7278 7660, e-mail:
[email protected], Internet:

The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of
ARTICLE 19. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit ARTICLE 19.
______________________________________________ _________________
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Cooperation between cities and regions, an alternative to conflict:
Round Table in Brussels

Strasbourg, 09.10.2008 – "We must counter ethnic divide and
confrontation with interaction and dialogue between communities,
transcending national borders – especially in the Black Sea basin, which
harbours four "frozen" conflicts but offers an enormous potential for
cooperation."

This was the key message of Yavuz Mildon, President of the Congress of
Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, in his speech
at the opening of the Round Table "The Black Sea between cooperation and
conflict", in Brussels on 8 October.

He expressed his conviction that transfrontier cooperation between
cities and regions in the Black Sea basin can serve as a sound
alternative to conflict between states, and regional autonomy, with
panoply of existing flexible models, as a counterbalance to separatism.
"Creating a network of communities with shared interest in addressing
common problems would certainly influence their choice between
cooperation and conflict, in a region which is at a crossroads of major
political and economic interests, energy routes, migratory flows and
cultural and commercial exchanges," President Mildon said.

He stressed that the Black Sea Euroregion, launched by the Congress on
26 September, will offer a platform for cooperation and a launching pad
for multilateral projects and initiatives between regions and
municipalities in the protection of the environment, coastal management,
migration, transport, sustainable tourism, cultural exchanges, and
others aspects of economic and social development. The new Euroregion is
open to local and regional authorities from Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia,
Turkey and Ukraine.

The Round Table, moderated by Quentin Dickinson, journalist of Radio
France, was held on the occasion of the European Week of Regions and
Cities, organised by the Committee of the Regions of the European Union.
Among the participants were Asen Gagauzov, Minister of regional
development and public works of Bulgaria, Vasil Kuybida, Minister of
Regional development of Ukraine, Gheorghe Magheru, General Director of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Mamuka Jgenti Deputy
Permanent Representative of Georgia to the Council of Europe, Oriano
Otocan, Representativeof the President of the Adriatic Euroregion, Janos
Herman, Deputy political Director, External Relations DG, European
Commission (Belgium).

They exchanged opinions on what local and regional authorities can do to
tackle the present challenges of the Black Sea basin and what structures
are required to support their initiatives, and gave examples of good
practices and successful projects.

Addressing the Round Table as a guest speaker, Luc van den Brande,
President of the EU Committee of the Regions, underlined the need of
cooperation in regions faced with conflicts. "Institutions can help to
resolve conflicts but ultimately they do not secure our future and the
future of our children. In fact the future is very much in your hands,
the hands of the locally and regionally elected representatives who are
closest to the citizen. I am convinced that regional and local
authorities can and have to assume more responsibility in the field of
conflict prevention and the promotion of dialogue. Local and regional
politicians will be sucessful in preventing conflicts if they strengthen
their capacity to solve problems without being enslaved by any feeling
of revenge," he said.

Press contact: Dmitri Marchenkov, Communication Unit of the Congress,
[email protected] ; Mobile: +33 6 75 65 03 49

Press Release
Communication Unit of the Congress
of Local and Regional Authorities
Ref:706a08
Tel: : +33 3 90 21 49 36
Fax : +33 3 88 41 27 51
[email protected]

The Congress has two chambers, the Chamber of Local Authorities and the
Chamber of Regions.
It brings together 318 full and 318 substitute members representing
more than 200 000 European territorial communities.

President of the Congress : Yavuz Mildon (Turkey, EPP/CD), President of
the Chamber of Regions: Ludmila Sfirloaga (Romania, SOC),

President of the Chamber of Local Authorities : Ian Micallef (Malta,
EPP/CD).
Political Groups : Socialist Group (SOC), Group of the European People’s
Party – Christian Democrats (EPP/CD),
Independent and Liberal Democrat Group (ILDG).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Info rmation website of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group

08.10.2008
Omar Uzarashvili
source:

When a country is ill, you hear cries of `They’re coming in hordes’

A plane lands at Boryspol Airport from Tbilisi – the capital of a country
were Ukrainians are seen as a brother people and are met with Caucuses
hospitality.

Yet the first passengers from the Tbilisi flight, stepping on Ukrainian
soil, are within minutes swearing: `Magis deda vatire’ (`may your mother
weep’ – Georgian). They mutter this curse at the Ukrainian border guard
officials. Those Georgian nationals not met by Ukrainians prepared to
guarantee that the person will live with them and will leave Ukraine at the
right time, are put back on the plane and forcibly returned to their
homeland.

In Ukrainian legislation there is nothing to prohibit a citizen from Georgia
or any other country from entering Ukraine if he doesn’t have relatives or
friends here. Maybe he just comes to admire the Dnipro River or to drink
coffee in Lviv like thousands of tourists from western countries. Yet the
border guard officials explain their action which should outrage any
Ombudsperson by saying that their internal instructions allow them to hold
`special talks’ and to not allow people into the country who strike them as
suspicious.

It sometimes seems like the Ukrainian enforcement bodies are
deliberately pinning the image of enemy on people from the Caucuses who are
quite legally in Ukraine.. If some burglar turns out to be Georgian,
Armenian or Azerbaijani, you can be sure that the Public Liaison Department
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs [MIA] will circulate that information
with a headline stressing that a Ukrainian’s flat was cleaned out
specifically by a Georgian, Armenian or Azerbaijani criminal.

According to the same MIA there are no organized ethnic gangs in Ukraine
unlike in the USA where the most powerful criminal syndicate `Casa Nostra’
is made up entirely of Italian immigrants, and its heads exclusively of
Sicilians. Yet nobody in the US would think of not allowing tourists or
immigrants from Sicily into the country just because their fellow country
people have organized one of the world’s most notorious criminal syndicates.
What is more in most states journalists are not allowed by law to mention
the nationality of a criminal. They understand there that the word
`criminal’ is just as international as `peasant’ or `worker’.

In 1993 Georgia lost a war which it was effectively waging with Russia and
lost Abkhazia, 80% of the population of which was made up of ethnic
Georgians. A fair number of the 300 thousand refugees from Abkhazia were
scattered around the world, with a good number settling in Ukraine. There
are an especially large number in the Donetsk region. These Georgian
nationals can’t find official jobs in Ukraine like other foreign nationals.
Ukraine at one time passed extremely strict legislation on immigrants. A
business which takes on a foreign national, according to this legislation,
has to provide the relevant services with documents certifying that
Ukrainian citizens do not want the job. Poles, incidentally, after joining
the European Union, when their workers went to Western Europe were forced to
soften their restrictions with regard to Ukrainian workers. And is Ukraine
really faced with the risk of unneeded workers? Aren’t there enough job ads
around businesses to make it clear that they need drivers, construction
workers, joiners and turners? Yet refugees from other countries who live in
Ukraine don’t have the right to find work in order to earn an honest living
to feed their families. After the latest events in the Caucuses the
Russian-speaking East of Ukraine which has been well worked on by the Party
of the Regions, the Communists and Russian television, see every Georgian as
their enemy just because Georgia dared to stand up to Russia. My relative
had a shop assistant shout at her that `Your Saakashvili should be hung’ and
refuse to serve her during the war.

In hospitable Ukraine people from the Caucuses are better off not going on
to the street for no reason. Every time I have to be at a railway station
(with my Ukrainian passport and face of a person from the Caucuses) the
border control people invariably hassle me, in front of hundreds of people
humiliatingly looking through my suitcase and studying my documents. One
time when I didn’t have my passport with me, the border guard actually went
to the trouble of accompanying me to my flat – to make sure that I have the
right to breathe Ukrainian air.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 3-9, 2008

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND THE ROLE OF OBSERVER
MISSIONS

CLARIFICATION OF POLICE DID NOT BRING CLARITY

"ARTICLE 19" CALLS ON ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON
BROADCASTING LICENSING, AND RA GOVERNMENT OFFERS A NEW INITIATIVE

"MOSCOW" CINEMA MANAGEMENT REFUSED TO SHOW "EXPROPRIATION" DOCUMENTARY BY
TIGRAN PASKEVICHIAN

"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND THE ROLE OF OBSERVER
MISSIONS

On October 8 another show of "Press Club" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Open Society Institute Human Rights and Governance Grants Program. The
guests of the "Press Club" host, the President of Yerevan Press Club Boris
Navasardian, were the President of Anti-Corruption Center "Transparency
International" Amalia Kostanian, Expert of the International Center of Human
Development Vahan Asatrian, and Chief Editor of "Basis" magazine Ashot
Aramian. The topic of discussion was the fight against corruption and
working out of an anti-corruption strategy.

The next program of "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Wednesday, October 15, at 23.00.

On October 4 another show of "Press Club+" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Embassy of Great Britain in Armenia. The "Press Club+" host, YPC President
Boris Navasardian, and the participants, President of "This is Your Choice"
NGO Harutyun Hambartsumian and Expert of the Association of Women with
University Education Anahit Agoyan, discussed the role of observer missions
during the elections to the local self-administration bodies. The audience
composed of representatives of civil society of Armavir, Gyumri and Yerevan
also participated in the discussion.

The next program of "Press Club+" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Saturday, October 11, at 17.40.

CLARIFICATION OF POLICE DID NOT BRING CLARITY

On October 3 an information appeared on the web site of RA Police, entitled
"Necessary Clarification" and regarding the incident of September 20-21 with
the Head of "Radiolur" news program of Public Radio of Armenia Artur
Sahakian. As it has been reported, a friend of the journalist fell a victim
of the incident and died in the hospital after the beating that took place
on September 21. On the same day another journalist , who was in one of
Yerevan cafes together with Artur Sahakian, was beaten (see details in YPC
Weekly Newsletter, September 26 – October 2, 2008)

According to police information, criminal proceedings by Clause 1, Part 3,
Article 258 of the RA Criminal Code ("Public Disorder") were instituted
against one of the incident participants that went to the police to give
himself up. Two other persons, questioned on October 27 and detained on
October 30, were instituted criminal proceedings against – by Clause 1, Part
3, Article 258 as well as Clauses 6 and 14, Part 2, Article 112 of the RA
Criminal Code ("Intentional Harm to Health"). Police also stressed that some
of the persons involved in this case gave contradictory evidence.

Meanwhile, the "necessary clarification" of the police, in its turn,
contains
obvious contradictions and does not bring any clarity to this complicated
story.

"ARTICLE 19" CALLS ON ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON
BROADCASTING LICENSING, AND RA GOVERNMENT OFFERS A NEW INITIATIVE

On October 6 the Global Campaign for Free Expression "Article 19" expressed
its concern about the addition to the RA Law "On Television and Radio"
adopted on September 10, 2008 by the RA National Assembly. It is suspending
broadcast licensing competitions till July 20, 2010 (see YPC Weekly
Newsletter, September 5-11, 2008). Statement of "Article 19" points out that
the adopted amendments are directed against "A1+" TV company, contrary to
the decision of European Court of Human Rights regarding the case of "A1+"
and pronounced on July 17, 2008. It also contradicts to Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 10 of the
European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom – both
conventions are ratified by Armenia and guarantee freedom of expression.
"Article 19" called on the authorities in Armenia "to lift the moratorium on
the licensing procedure and to ensure that "A1+" participates in an open,
transparent and fair tender prior to the planned digital switchover".

Meanwhile on October 8 RA Government approved another draft law on
amendments to the RA Law "On Television and Radio". It regards the same
abovementioned addition to Article 59 of the broadcast Law. The Government
offers to allow not only TV companies (as stipulated by now), but also radio
companies, whose licenses expire before January 21, 2011, to request
prolongation of the license from the National Commission on Television and
Radio.

Besides, the governmental draft law provides for abolishing limitation on
Public TV and Radio Company broadcasting in the languages of national
minorities. According to Article 28 of the acting Law "On Television and
Radio", duration of programs in the languages of national minorities is
limited to 1 hour a week for the public television, and 1 hour a day – for
the public radio.

"MOSCOW" CINEMA MANAGEMENT REFUSED TO SHOW "EXPROPRIATION" DOCUMENTARY BY
TIGRAN PASKEVICHIAN

The premiere of "Expropriation" documentary scheduled for October 10 will
not take place in "Moscow" cinema in Yerevan, by the decision of the cinema
management. According to the author of the film, journalist and publicist
Tigran Paskevichian, in the morning of October 7, the cinema management
asked for a copy of the film for watching and announced in the evening that
they will not show it, because the film is "political". Tigran Paskevichian
thinks that the film touches only social-legislative issue: the 38 minutes
long documentary introduces the problems of the dwellers of Kentron
community of Yerevan, whose houses were situated in the territories
expropriated with the definition "for the needs of the state". The film was
screened by the order of "Victims of State Interests" NGO under the project
supported by the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia. As
Tigran Paskevichian stressed, the ordering NGO was dealing with the
organization of the presentation in "Moscow" cinema, and as far as he knows,
it hasn’t yet received a written refusal to demonstrate the film from the
cinema management.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

wap.apa.az
09 Oct 2008
Matthew Bryza: `The Unites States considers that Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity should be the main principle of the settlement’

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. `The Unites States considers that Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity should be the main principle of the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict,’ American Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza said in his interview to BBC Russian service, APA reports.

`We think we should start with the principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, then the other principles should be added to bring the
negotiations to comprise and framework agreement. This means that we all
should admit that from legal aspect and in terms of international laws
Nagorno Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan,’ said Matthew Bryza and added that
Armenia should admit it in order to end the negotiations with agreement.

`We know that Armenia has a different view. But we should help Azerbaijan
and Armenia to reach an understanding using creative and constructive ways,’
the co-chair underlined.

(REGNUM Agency): American co-chair of the Minsk Group Mathew Bryza, in
an interview to BBC, has confirmed the announcement by Russia’s
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the sides have reached final
agreement on the key principles and are now hurdling over a few minor
issues.

`There are a few key elements we have to resolve. These are difficult
questions, which, as always are discussed at the end of
negotiations. But they can be resolved if both sides express a good
will.’ Bryza did not disclose exactly which issues remain unresolved
so far. He did mention, however, that `Armenians have to realize that
Karabagh is part of Azerbaijan’.

Original article in Russian:
.html

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies
(A Division of the Zoryan Institute)
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736

Righteous Turks and Armenian Righteous Among Nations: Rescuers in the
Armenian Genocide and the Jewish Holocaust

A Public Lecture
by
Prof. Richard G. Hovannisian

As the Ottoman Turkish government was rounding up the Armenians in the
Empire for mass deportation and slaughter in 1915, a number of Turks and
other Muslims risked their lives to help them escape certain death. Years
later, as the Nazis were rounding up the Jews throughout Europe, a brave few
risked their lives to help Jews escape annihilation. Among them were a
small number of Armenians, officially recognized as "Righteous Among the
Nations." There is no way to know today how many such individual acts of
courage occurred in either of those tragic cases.

This lecture will describe the activities of these Armenians and explore the
various motivations of rescuers generally. These acts of kindness and
heroism stand in stark contrast to the cruelty and evil so prevalent during
genocide, and serve as a common lesson arising from both genocides. Today,
when genocide shows no signs of abating, and governments with the power to
intervene prefer the role of bystander, the actions of these rescuers
highlight a moral imperative, as well as reassure us of the human potential
for courage and humanity.

These lectures are part of the United Jewish Association’s Holocaust
Education Week in Toronto, the largest such program in the world, and are
organized by the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights
Studies (A Division of the Zoryan Institute), with the participation of the
Armenian Community Centre of Toronto, the Armenian General Benevolent Union
of Toronto, and the Canadian Jewish Congress Ontario Region.

Richard G. Hovannisian is Professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History and
Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is the author of Armenia
on the Road to Independence (1967); The Republic of Armenia, 4 volumes
(1981-1996), and has edited and contributed to twenty other volumes on
Armenian history, the Armenian Genocide, as well as other subjects. A
Guggenheim Fellow, he is the first recipient of the "I Witness Award"
conferred by Jewish World Watch for his work on the comparative study of
genocide and prevention.

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, 8:00pm
The Sephardic Kehila Centre, 7026 Bathurst St., Toronto
&
Sunday Nov. 2, 2:00pm
The Armenian Community Centre, 45 Hallcrown Place, Toronto

For more information contact the International Institute for Genocide and
Human Rights Studies at [email protected] or call 416-250-9807.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Cairo Hosts "Armenia – Arab World: Past and Present" Forum

An unprecedented international forum "Armenia – Arab World: Past and
Present" took place at the Faculty of Arts of the Cairo University on
Tuesday, April 29, 2008. The forum was held under the auspices of
Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Hani
Hilal, and it was sponsored by the Center for Armenian Studies at Cairo
University, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Egypt, as well as
various Egyptian-Armenian civic and cultural organizations, including
AGBU. AGBU Cairo contributed to the event by inviting three lecturers
from Syria.

The forum gathered approximately 20 prominent lecturers from Egypt,
Armenia, Syria and Lebanon, who specialize in various domains of
Armeno-Arab relations, including politics, history, culture and
literature. It was a distinctive gathering of the Arab world’s top
historians, researchers and experts of Armeno-Arab relations and
studies.

The event, which can be described as unique in the Arab world, included
various presentations that demonstrated the breadth and prominence of
Armenians through the centuries. The history of the Armenian communities
in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon was presented respectively by Drs. Mohamed
Refaat Al Imam, Nora Arisian and Arda Arsenian.

Other notable presentations were by Egyptian academic Dr. Gamal Mohamed,
who spoke about "The Armenians during the Ottoman Period," the Lebanese
academic Dr. Hana El Haj who discussed "The Armenians and Islam," Dr.
Nezar Khalili of Syria who addressed "Armenians & Arabs through
Translation," Dr. Adonis El Ekra of Lebanon who presented on "The
Position of Arabs in Welcoming Armenian Refugees in Various Arab
Countries (1915-1923)," Dr. Saad El Din Kolayeb of Syria who delved into
a little-known topic, "The Role of Armenian Intellectuals in the Arab
Renaissance," and Dr. Nicolai Hohanessian of Armenia who spoke about
"Armenia as Center of Arab Studies."

The following academics also participated in the event: Dr. Shawkat
Youssef (Syria), Dr. Varoujan Kazandjian, Fayez Iskandar, Mohamed El
Beyaly, Abou El Yosr Farah and Fouad Raslan (Egypt), Venera Markarian &
Hayk Kotcharian (Armenia), Fouad El Marei, Shawkat Youssef & Samir
Arbash (Syria).

An exhibition of books on Armenian Studies was also held on this
occasion.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest Armenian
non-profit organization. Headquartered in New York, AGBU preserves and
promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational,
cultural, and humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000
Armenians in 37 countries.

Untitled DocumentPress 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
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 9, 2008

ANDRE TABOURIAN, 78
National funeral services for Andre Tabourian took place today in the
Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon. Mr. Tabourian
was a former member of the Lebanese Parliament, and the current chairman of
the Central Executive Council of the Holy See of Cilicia. Mr. Tabourian, who
was 78 years old, was a benefactor of the Catholicosate and was recipient of
the Prince of Cilicia insignia, the highest award bestowed by the
Catholicosate..
Archbishop Oshagan expressed sympathy to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
on behalf of the Eastern Prelacy.

ANNIVERSARY BANQUET SET FOR OCTOBER 25;
DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR INVITATION?
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT MESSAGE: The invitations for the
banquet as well as donor cards for the booklet were mailed out to our entire
mailing list more than two weeks ago. It seems some people did not receive
the mailing. If you receive Outreach and other mail from the Prelacy you
should have received it. If you have not received this mailing please
contact the Prelacy to make your reservations or to make a donation toward
the booklet. The deadlines for both have been extended. All of the
information is on our web page ().
The dual anniversaries of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of
the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America and the 50th
anniversary of the Prelacy’s affiliation with the Great House of Cilicia
will be marked with a gala
banquet on Saturday, October 25, at the Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck
New Jersey. An exhibit about the history of the Prelacy and a DVD film, "A
Journey of Faith" will be on display during the cocktail hour.
A special issue of Crossroads will be sent early next week with
up-to-date information about the events.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN VISITS HOLY TRINITY, WORCESTER
On Sunday, September 21, Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy at
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, and
elevated Acolyte Shaheen Adelinia to the rank of sub-deacon, under the
sponsorship of the parish’s priest, Der Khatchadour Boghossian.
Following the services, His Eminence presided over the celebrations of
the 74th anniversary of Holy Trinity Church and the 50th anniversary of the
Prelacy.

PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO MID-WEST
Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Detroit this weekend where on Sunday
he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, deliver the sermon, and officiate over
the Blessing of Water with the newly blessed Muron from the Holy See of
Cilicia, at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan. Following the services,
His Eminence will preside over a banquet celebrating the 46th anniversary of
St. Sarkis Church.

PRELATE WILL ATTEND RECEPTION IN DC
On Monday, October 13, Archbishop Oshagan will attend a reception in
honor of Tigran Sargsian, Prime Minister of Armenia, at the Armenian Embassy
in Washington, DC.

PRELATE ATTENDS 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF HAMAZKAYIN
On Tuesday, October 7, Archbishop Oshagan attended an 80th anniversary
celebration of Hamazkayin at the Armenian Embassy in Washington, DC.
Attending were Armenian ambassador Tatoul Markarian, Dr. Lilit Galstian, a
member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, and the director
of the Hamazkayin office in Yerevan, friends and members of the central and
regional executives of Hamazkayin.

VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO BOSTON
Bishop Anoushavan will travel to Boston where on Saturday evening he
will attend the 75th

anniversary banquet of the Armenian Youth Federation. On Sunday he will
preside over the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon at St. Stephen’s
Church in Watertown, Massachusetts.

NEW PROGRAM OF QUARTERLY FORUMS WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY
The Prelate and the Religious and Executive Councils recently announced
a new program of discussion forums beginning next year. The first in the
series will take place on January 22, 2009, and feature Dr. Helen C. Evans,
who is the Mary and Michael Jaharis Curator for Byzantine Art at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Dr. Evans will speak about the
significance of khatchkars and especially the 12th century khatchkar that
was recently installed at the Met. The Forums will take place at the Prelacy’s
Vahakn and Hasmig Hovnanian Hall.
Future forums will feature varied topics such as the martyred clergy
during the 1915 genocide; entrepreneurship; technology; Armenian women in
history; and Armenian manuscripts.

CATHOLICOS ARAM CHAIRS MEETING OF MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
convened in the Kykko Monastery in Cyprus last week. As one of the
presidents of the MECC, His Holiness actively participated in the activities
of the executive committee.
The MECC was restructured in 1970 with the inclusion of the region’s
orthodox Churches. With the participation of the Catholic Churches in 1990,
the MECC includes all of the churches in the Middle East. The Council’s
General Assembly convenes once every four years. The Council is composed of
the executive committee, which includes 30 members, the General Secretary
and an 80-member staff. The Council’s headquarters are located in Beirut
with offices in Cyprus, Egypt and Amman.

MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Major renovation of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City is
continuing. Until the interior renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy is
being offered every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th
Street, Woodside, New York.

JAMES HADDAD RETURNS TO ANTELIAS
TO CONTINUE STUDIES AT SEMINARY
Prelacy staff bid James Haddad bon voyage and Godspeed as he prepares to
returns to Lebanon to continue his studies at the Cilician See’s Theological
Seminary. James was born and educated in the United States and completed his
college education before entering the Seminary. This will be his second year
in the Seminary in a program leading to ordination and priesthood. During
the summer months James has been serving at the Prelacy offices in New York
in the religious education department.
We wish James a successful year at the Seminary and look forward to his
return.

MEDICAL WORKSHOP AT STS. VARTANANTZ, NEW JERSEY
On Sunday, October 19, Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey
will host a Medical Workshop that is being sponsored by the Armenian
American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO). Each doctor or health
professional will speak for 20 to 30 minutes about his or her area of
expertise. Questions from the audience will be answered. For information go
to or contact Dr. Raffi Kaprielian, 201-943-8746.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, October 9, are: Proverbs 4:20-27;
Jeremiah 15:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12:1-7, Matthew 9:35-10:1.
Therefore thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall
serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.
And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will
fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to
save you and deliver you, says the Lord. Jeremiah 15:19-20.

FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS
This Saturday, October 11, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives
and accomplishments of the Holy Translators, which is one of our most
popular feasts. There are, in fact, two commemorations in our liturgical
calendar. One is on the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost
which can occur either in June or July, and on the second Saturday of
October.
The October commemoration focuses on the creation of the Armenian
alphabet (406) and on the accomplishments of the Holy Translators. Mesrob
Mashtots, the founder of the alphabet, and Catholicos Sahak, together with
some of their students, translated the Holy Bible. Schools were opened and
the works of world-renowned scholars were translated. Their work gave the
Armenian Church a distinct national identity.
In modern times the entire month of October has been designated as a
"Month of Culture." Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia mark this
with cultural events not only in remembrance of the past, but in celebration
of modern-day scholars, theologians, and translators.
Specifically remembered this Saturday, along with Mesrob, are: Yeghishe,
a renowned student of Sahag and Mesrob, who served as secretary to Vartan
Mamigonian and wrote the great history of the Vartanantz wars; Moses of
Khoren, also a student of Sahag and Mesrob, is revered as the father of
Armenian history; David the Invincible was a student of Movses. He received
most of his education in Athens, where he was given the title "Invincible"
because of his brilliance in philosophy; Gregory of Narek, who is considered
the greatest poet of the Armenian nation and its first and greatest mystic;
and Nerses Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian, and ecumenist.

O God, through the holy teacher you bestowed on us of the north divine
and heavenly gifts, through his prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you bestowed on the sons of Torgom the divinely-inspired books in
letters revealed to Saint Mesrop in a vision; through his prayers have mercy
on us.
O God, you generously spread your heavenly knowledge and spiritual
wisdom in the churches of the Armenians by the holy translators; by their
prayers have mercy on us. (Canon to the Holy Translators, from Liturgical
Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, translated by Steven
Sarafian).

YEREVAN CELEBRATES 2,790TH BIRTHDAY
This weekend festivities begin in Yerevan in celebration of that
historic city’s 2,790th birthday. Opening ceremonies of the celebration will
take place tomorrow, October 10, at the National Theater of Opera and
Ballet. Exhibitions, concerts and other events will follow.
The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC (it is as old as
Rome, Babylon, Nineveh and Carthage), with the founding of the Urartian
fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by King Arghisti. Archeologists have
reconstructed the ruins of the Erebuni fortress. The cuneiform inscription
citing the date of the establishment of the fortress has been preserved.
The city of Yerevan is situated in the historic Ararat Valley, on the
banks of the Hrazdan River. Always an important center of Armenian
civilization, Yerevan has been the capital of Armenia only since 1918, and
the twelfth capital in the history of Armenia.

MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY
This Monday, October 13, is Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated in many
countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher Columbus’s
arrival in the New World in 1492. A sailor on the Pinta sighted land early
in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new era of European exploration
and expansion began. The next day the ninety crew members of Columbus’
three-ship fleet (Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria) landed on the Bahamian
island of Guanahani, ending a voyage that began ten weeks earlier from
Palos, Spain.
President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed October 12 a national
holiday in 1937. Since 1971, during that era when dates of holidays were
moved (in the U.S.) to create long weekends-Columbus Day has been
commemorated on the second Monday in October, which is also Thanksgiving Day
in Canada.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES.
This week’s photo is from the first Pontifical Visit of Catholicos
Khoren I in 1969. A National Reception Committee composed of more than 150
prominent Armenians from the United States and Canada was formed under the
chairmanship of Mr. George M. Mardikian. A national steering committee was
headed by Prelacy Executive Council member Mr. Moushegh (Michael)
Haratunian, responsible for all of the details and arrangements of the
extensive visit.
Khoren Vehapar arrived in New York on April 10, 1969, accompanied by
Archbishop Sahag Ayvazian, Prelate of Greece, and Mr. and Mrs. George
Mardikian, who traveled to Antelias to
escort His Holiness to the United States. V. Rev. Fr. Souren Kataroian
(later Archbishop) served as staff bearer. The Catholicos was met at the
airport by the Prelate Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian; the Vicar, V. Rev.
Fr. Yervant Apelian; Central Executive members, parish priests, national
reception and steering committee members.
Seen in this photo are, left to right, Mr. and Mrs. George Mardikian,
Dr. Christopher Babigian, chairman of the Executive Council; His Holiness;
Mr. Yeghishe Melikian, a member of the Central Executive Council; Archbishop
Hrant; V. Rev. Fr. Yervant Apelian; and Rev. Fr. Datev Kaloustian, a member
of the Central Religious Council. One clergyman, between the Prelate and
Vicar, cannot be identified since only his veghar (hood) is visible.
However, it may be V. Rev. Fr. Souren Kataroian, who at the time was pastor
of Sourp Hagop Church in Montreal, Canada, and who joined His Holiness at
the airport to serve as his staff bearer.

A MINI SERMON
St. Paul reminds us that it is a good thing to remain faithful to those
traditions that have been passed down to us over the centuries and one of
those traditions is to remember those who came before us such as our Saints
and Church Fathers. This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Holy
Translators (Srpotz Tarkmanchatz Vartabedatz)-those who gave us the language
that all of us speak as Armenians. Our Church Fathers saw the need for a
written and spoken word to transmit the Word of God to our people in a
language of their own. So great was the faith and determination of these
men, that the very first book that was translated was the Holy Bible which
is known as the "Queen" of all Biblical translations. The Armenian word for
the Gospel is known as Asdvadzashounch, literally "the breath of God." We
can imagine how holy and God-inspired our Church Fathers were in their
devotion to Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom
of God. On this feast day we celebrate the living testimony of those who
came before us and bequeathed to us their faith. As the Apostle Paul writes,
we need to examine ourselves to see if we are as faithful as we should be to
all that has been given to us as Armenian Orthodox Christians. It is not
enough for us to proclaim ourselves as the first nation to accept the
Christian faith; it is far more important for us to be the best Christians.
Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian, pastor
St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts

AND CHECK THIS ARTICLE ON ATLANTIC ON LINE..
We call your attention to an article posted on Atlantic On Line
entitled, "McCain’s Armenia Problem," by Daniel Nichanian. The article gives
a good picture of promises made and broken regarding the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by both parties. While noting that, "Historically,
neither party has owned the support of Armenian Americans," Nichanian
states, "Bush’s record is sure to haunt McCain’s 2008 presidential run, but
it’s not as if the Arizona senator needed any help in alienating Armenian
Americans. McCain’s own stance against genocide recognition and his relative
indifference toward bilateral relations with Armenia have been a matter of
record since well before George W. Bush emerged on the national stage."
Daniel Nichanian is the son of Professor Mark Nichanian and Anahid
Garmiryan, principal of the Hovnanian School in New Jersey. Daniel graduated
from Yale University in May and is an intern at The Atlantic.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October 11-St. Hagop Armenian Church, Racine, Wisconsin, "The Changing
Landscape of Historic Western Armenia: Reflections on a Journey into the
Past," a lecture by Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, 7 pm. Dr. Hovannisian will
present his impressions of his "imagined" Western Armenia with the "real"
Western Armenia. For information: [email protected].

October 12-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. Lecture by Rev. Fr.
Nareg Terterian, "The Sacraments of the Church." For information,
718-224-2275.

October 12-St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, New York, Annual
Book Fair, dedicated to the Holy Translators in celebrating of the Cultural
Month. Immediately after the Badarak at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th
Avenue, Woodside, New York. For information, 212-689-5880.

October 17-18-Annual Fall Fair of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall.

October 19-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Lecture by Dn. Shant
Kazanjian, "Prayer: Personal and Communal." For information, 718-224-2275.

October 19-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, first Connecticut
performance of "Hello Ellis Island," at Silas Deane Middle School, 551 Silas
Deane Highway, Wethersfield, Connecticut. Program starts at 3 pm; reception
follows. Advance reservation desired. Adults $25; Students $10; Children
under 12 $5. Tickets at door $30. For information: 860-229-8322.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.

October 31, November 1 and 2-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.

November 1-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Harvest Dinner Dance.
For information: 516-248-2955.

November 2-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, Connecticut, 83rd
anniversary banquet at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf Street, Newington,
Connecticut. Reception 1 pm, dinner at 2 pm. For information: 860-229-8322.

November 7 & 8-Annual bazaar, St. Stephen’s Armenian Church, 10 am to 9 pm,
at the ACED, 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown, Massachusetts. Dinners and gourmet
delicacies, arts and crafts, games and activities for children. For
information, 617-924-7562.

November 8-Mid-West Regional Conference with Executive Council, Pastors,
Boards of Trustees, and Delegates to the National Representative Assembly,
9:30 to 4:30 pm, hosted by All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview, Illinois.

November 8 & 9-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, largest
Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday 12 noon to 10 pm; Sunday 12 noon to 8
pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and
kufta dinners. Live Armenian music. For information: 401-434-4467.

November 9-38th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, and 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the Holy See of
Cilicia, presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan at Jaffarian Hall
following Divine Liturgy.

November 16-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Annual Bazaar and Food
Festival by Ladies Guild.

November 15-70th Anniversary of St. Hagop Armenian Church, Racine,
Wisconsin, dinner and program, 6 pm at the Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring Street,
Racine. The keynote address will be given by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy. For information, 262-886-6709.

November 21-Sacred Armenian Music, featuring Onnik Dinkjian, Armen Babamian,
Krikor Pidedjian and Ara Dinkjian, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
jersey. For information and tickets contact Bea at 201-445-6867 or Margo at
201-461-1676.

November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival.

November 23-William Saroyan Centennial Celebration, co-sponsored by the
Anthropology/Armenian Museum at Queens College and the AGBU, 3 pm at Lefrak
Concert Hall, Queens College, Flushing, New York. Archbishop Oshagan will
participate. The program includes readings and a play by Saroyan. Also
special performance by the Aaron Copeland School of Music students of the
music of composer Arno Babadjanian. For information: 718-428-5650.

December 6-Annual Holiday Bake Sale, St. Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois. 9
am to 3 pm. Favorite Armenian and American pastries and stay for a Lahmejoon
and Kufta lunch. Phone ahead for orders, 847-244-4573.

December 7-Membership meeting, St. Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois. For
information: 847-244-4573.

February 7-50th anniversary celebration of Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Dinner Dance at Rockleigh Country Club.

March 8-Musical Armenia, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City,
sponsored by Prelacy and Prelacy Ladies Guild.

March 28-ARS Centennial Gala Banquet, Yale Club, New York City.

May 3-50th anniversary celebration of consecration of Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

MAY 7-9-National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted by All
Saints Armenian Apostolic Church, Glenview, Illinois. Clergy Conference
begins May 6.

JUNE 29 – JULY 5-St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute, St. Mary of
Providence Center, Elverson, Pennsylvania.

JULY 18-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Ladies’ Guild/ARS
Ani Chapter present A Hye Summer Night 4 Dance at The Annunciation Greek
Church, Cranston, Rhode Island. For information, 401-434-4467.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WEF: CORRUPTION, LOW LEVEL OF TAX ADMINISTRATION, REGULATION OF EXCHANGE RATES AND UNSATISFACTORY WORK OF STATE MACHINE ARE MAIN OBSTACLES FOR ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

ArmInfo
2008-10-09 13:21:00

ArmInfo. Armenia holds the 97th position out of 134 in the Global
Competitiveness Report 2008-2009 published by the World Economic
Forum, Wednesday. Armenia has dropped by 4 positions as compared
with the previous ranking. The United States tops the overall
ranking. Switzerland is in the second position followed by Denmark
and Sweden. Azerbaijan holds the 69th position, and Georgia – the 90th
position. According to the ranking, the main obstacles for Armenia’s
economy are corruption, low level of tax administration, regulation
of exchange rates and unsatisfactory work of the state machine.

By the efficiency of public structures Armenia holds the 96th
place. The most unfavorable situation is fixed in the sphere of
intellectual property protection (106th place), public confidence
in politicians (104), independence of judicial system (123), ethic
behavior of firms (115), and protection of interests of minority
shareholders (124). By the general state of infrastructure, Armenia is
in the 90th place in the ranking. By the efficiency of motor highways,
railroads, as well as electric power supply, Armenia holds the 79th ,
83rd and 89th positions respectively. By the quality of telephone lines
Armenia holds the 65th place. The country has comparatively higher
indices in the group of macroeconomic stability criteria (83). By
inflation rate the republic holds the 61st place, and the government
debt rate is qualified as Armenia’s competitive advantage (26).

The rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and the
Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted
by the World Economic Forum together with its network of Partner
Institutes (leading research institutes and business organizations)
in the countries covered by the report. In 2008, about 12 thsd
businessmen from 134 countries took part in the survey.