Author: Andres-Papazian

ST. SARKIS CHURCH OF DALLAS MARKS 20 YEARS
By Mary Mukhtarian

February 16, 2012

DALLAS, Texas-On Sat., Feb. 4, the Armenian community of Dallas-Fort
Worth marked the 20th anniversary of the consecration of the St.

Sarkis Armenian Church of Dallas with a banquet at the Hilton Lincoln
Centre Ballroom. Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presided
over the festivities.

Zovig Koulian, a beloved parishioner, was named this year’s ‘Steward
of the Church’.

Mistress of Ceremonies Maral Aznavourian introduced the evening’s
cultural program, which included performances by young local talent.

Njteh Keleshian sang an affecting “Giligia”; Lucine Dayian skillfully
performed “Erevan Erepouni” on a grand piano; Bedig Bozigian sang
“Hayrenik,” accompanied on piano by Stefan Sarokhanian; and Maggie
Aznavourian and Lena Ohanian recited poetry in Armenian and English,
conveying the pride that all Armenians feel through the words,
“We are. We shall be. And we will multiply.”

The young dancers of St. Sarkis Church then performed “Sardarabad”
and “Vartavar.” Maral Aznavourian thanked Kristina Kheshvadjian, who
had come from California to train the St. Sarkis youth in preparation
for the local ArmeniaFest.

The parish council chair and vice chair, Raffi Ohanian and Dr. Vahe
Dayian, expressed the community’s appreciation for the presence of the
dignitaries. They listed significant parish accomplishments, including
its enrollment of 40 students in the Armenian school, its 50 members
in the ACYOA, and the countless others who make up the St. Sarkis
Sunday School, Women’s Guild, Seniors’ Program, and Social Committee.

Zovig Koulian, a beloved parishioner, was named “Steward of the
Church,” to everyone’s delight. Archbishop Barsamian then paid tribute
to two parishioners who purchased and donated a plot of land for the
future, larger St. Sarkis Church. “It is a joy and pleasure to present
the ‘St. Vartan Award,’ which is given for exemplary leadership in
the Armenian Church, to Mr. and Mrs. Elie and Ella Akilian,” he said.

On behalf of the couple, Elie Akilian thanked the primate and the
community for the honor, and accepted the award on behalf of “all
the kind deeds that people did for us through the years.”

Elie and Ella Akilian were recognized at the Feb. 4 banquet for their
donation to the church.

The Akilians, and their children Natalie and Michael, have long been
supportive members of the community. From humble beginnings in Lebanon,
Elie Akilian became a resident of Dallas in the early 1970’s.

After years of working as an engineer for local electronics companies,
he co-founded, with friend Sam Simonian, Inet Technologies, a
successful telecom company that was eventually sold to industry
giant Tektronix. He later founded the company that produces the
popular Wizard 101 video game, acknowledged as one of the safest,
parent-approved games.

The new church property was purchased in October 2011, out of the
community’s desire to build a church with traditional Armenian
architecture, and spacious enough to include classrooms, sports
facilities, and a hall.

To conclude the evening, Archbishop Barsamian reminisced about the
day 20 years earlier when he consecrated the St. Sarkis Church, and
he praised the parish godfather, Dr. Sarkis Kechejian. He noted that
the Dallas church held a special place in his heart, for it was the
first one he consecrated as a bishop.

On Sun., Feb. 5, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church,
accompanied by the parish’s deacon-in-charge, Dn. Justin Ajamian.

Diocesan Music Ministry director Maestro Khoren Mekanejian played
the organ and directed the choir.

Following services, the Women’s Guild served a luncheon in Kechejian
Hall, after which the primate and others drove to tour the new 4.5-acre
church property in nearby Hebron.

From: A. Papazian

HENRI REYNAUD: THE YEAR 1915 IS AN OPEN SORE, WHICH WILL NOT HEAL UP UNTIL THE GENOCIDE DENIAL CAMPAIGN IS STOPPED
by Oksana Musaelyan

arminfo
Thursday, February 16, 14:31

In an interview to ArmInfo, French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud
comments on the situation around the bill adopted by French Senate

The relations between Armenia and France have reached heights after the
French Senate adopted the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides,
including the Armenian Genocide. How would you assess this event
in general?

The relations between Armenia and France cover a wider context. The
issue of criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial has already
been discussed after adoption of the relevant bill on 29 Jan 2001,
by which France publicly recognized the Armenian Genocide. By this
decision France wanted to protect its citizens in its territory by
putting an end to the questioning or palliation of the crime of the
genocide, as defined in Article 211-1 of the Criminal Code.

The bill does not mention any historical event or any country. In
general, it aims to protect the insulted memory, and it will be
applied in France only in case of extremely insulting statements. The
bill meets the expectations of a great number of French citizens of
Armenian origin, for whom the year 1915 is an open sore, which will
not heal up until the Genocide denial campaign is stopped.

You are well aware that a group of MPs have laid two actions to the
Constitutional Council of France, which is to give a legal force to
the decision by late February. Various political forces of Armenia
perceived this bill as a crucial stage in the almost 100-year struggle
against the genocide denial. On this occasion, numerous Armenians
expressed their gratitude to France.

What do you think about Ankara’s reaction and threats to introduce
sanctions regarding military, economic and political ties with France?

Turkey is an ally and an important partner of France, and for many
years the sides have fixed essential progress in many spheres. We
have been always cooperating in the matter of development of the
bilateral relations, as well as within NATO or the G8. We exerted
joint efforts aimed at stopping the violence in Syria, establishing
peace and stability in Afghanistan, as well as within the programs on
development of cooperation with the Mediterranean countries. Under the
current circumstances, France comes out for a dialogue with Turkey,
as well as for preserving the way to mutually beneficial cooperation,
since France is the third big foreign investor in Turkey, and the
French companies provide 100,000 job places in Turkey.

What is Paris going to do to consolidate its position in this issue
and to neutralize the negative consequences of the ultimatum of Ankara?

We advocate maintenance of peaceful relations with Turkey. France
has called on the authorities of Turkey to abstain from “strong
counteraction” and to understand that it is necessary to appreciate
the whole depth of the bilateral relations.

What do you think about the accusations of the Azeri ruling parties,
which qualified France’s stance as “biased” and pointed out the
necessity to withdraw France from the OSCE Minsk Group?

Azerbaijan has not made any statements demanding that France should
be excluded from the OSCE Minsk Group. On the contrary, on January 23
in Sochi the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan highly estimated the
intermediary efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries. They
want Russia, the United States and France to continue playing an
active role in the Karabakh peace process until peace and stability
are established in the region.

From: A. Papazian

MURDERED SOLDIERS’ PARENTS ON ARMENIAN MILITARY PROSECUTOR’S HEALTH PROBLEMS

Tert.am
16.02.12

The parents and other relatives of soldiers murdered in the armr hold
regular meetings in front of Armenia’s government on Thursdays.

According to them, the reason for Armenian Military Prosecutor Gevorg
Kostanyan’s health problems is that “his efforts are hindered.”

“How long can he remain patient? I am sure he fell ill because of
this,” the father of Tigran Ohajanyan, who was murdered in the army
in 2008, told Tert.am.

“My son was brutally murdered in the Karcharghyur military unit, but
the investigation has not shown any progress for five years,” he said.

“The investigation depaertment of the Ministry of Defense and the
military prosecutor’s office do not in any way differ from hothouses
for growing melons and gourds,” said a murdered soldier’s father. The
murdered solders’ relatives were holding posters saying “Rigged-suicide
injustice”, “Save our soldiers”.

“Late in November 2009, my son was drafted. On March 15, 2010, they
brought my son. He had been strangled and then hanged,” said Valeri
Muradyan’s mother.

The investigation is going on, but the woman is sure that the persons
concerned are doing their best to cover up the traces. “They claim
he committed suicide, but I know he was murdered.”

From: A. Papazian

FRENCH OFFICIAL BANNED FROM EVENT IN ANKARA

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 16, 2012 – 15:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey hosts annual meeting of organizers of the
event honoring the memory of those perished in Gallipoli Campaign
during the First World War.

However, this year French military attache was banned from the meeting
due to deterioration of Turkish-French ties in the light of the French
Senate’s adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide
denial, according to Turkish media outlets.

“Two Turks in uniforms requested the French representatives to leave
the conference hall,” Milliyet reports.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected
to be signed into law by President, the bill will impose a 45,000
euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this
crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Two separate groups of French politicians who oppose the legislation
– from both the Senate and the lower house – said they had formally
requested the constitutional council examine the law. The groups said
they each had gathered more than the minimum 60 signatures required
to ask the council to test the law’s constitutionality. The council
is obliged to deliver its judgment within a month, but this can be
reduced to eight days if the government deems the matter urgent.

From: A. Papazian

‘IRAN DOES NOT HAVE MORAL-POLITICAL RIGHT TO GIVE NOTE TO AZERBAIJAN’

News.Az
Thu 16 February 2012 12:00 GMT | 12:00 Local Time

Iran has neither moral nor political right to give note or any other
statement to Azerbaijan.

Chairman of the Azerbaijani Islamic Democrat Party Tahir Abbasli told
the statement to Gun.Az.

“I am surprised to see how Iran sends a note to Azerbaijan. And
moreover, it attempts to form spy networks in our country. Instead
of asking Azerbaijan for apology, it gives a note.

As a saying goes ‘it is easy to dance if there is no embarrassment’.

Iran’s note is alike. It wants to put its terrorist image to
Azerbaijan. Today, it’s clear to all that in essence, Iran was formed
on false ideology,” Abbasli said.

He said that Iran will gain nothing with such acts which are done to
divert the attention of its people from socio-economic and political
problems dominating in the country and make compensation by looking
for an enemy outside.

“Iran would better review its ties with Armenia instead of showing
such attitude to Azerbaijan,” the party chairman said.

From: A. Papazian

LEGALLY SPEAKING, KARABAKH WAS NEVER PART OF AZERBAIJAN – ANALYST

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 17:01

STEPANAKERT. – Azerbaijan never had an effective full sovereignty over
Nagorno Karabakh, and, furthermore, legally speaking, Karabakh was
never a part of Azerbaijan, International Law expert Shahen Avagyan
said during the international symposium, entitled “20th Anniversary of
[Nagorno-Karabakh Republic] NKR Independence: Realities and Prospects,”
being held in NKR capital, Stepanakert.

Avagyan also introduced a series of international documents that
attest to the legality of this provision.

“Pursuant to international laws, Nagorno-Karabakh is considered a
disputed territory at the very least, whereas numerous resolutions
present it as a separate factor,” the analyst noted.

In his words, Karabakh has three branches of power, which function
effectively, and all the national symbols.

Shahen Avagyan also noted that there are three principles at the
basis of the conflict settlement talks: territorial integrity,
self-determination of people, and non-use of force or threat of force.

And with these principles, Karabakh has a full right to independence.

The analyst also maintained that there are many legal grounds to prove
Karabakh’s independence, but, sadly, they are not being made use of.

From: A. Papazian

OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT PRESERVING OF TENSION AT THE LINE OF CONTACT BETWEEN NAGORNYY KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN

arminfo
Friday, February 17, 16:56

Within the framework of the visit to Vienna, on 16 February Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Lamberto Zannier,
the OSCE Secretary General.

As press-service of Armenian Foreign ministry reported, the
interlocutors had a thorough talk on the recent developments in the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. In this context, the OSCE
Secretary General expressed concern over the maintenance of tension
on the line of contact and stressed the importance to create mechanism
for the investigation of incidents.

The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Secretary General
touched upon the preparatory works for the upcoming parliamentary
election to be held in Armenia, as well.

In Vienna Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with his Russian counterpart
Sergey Lavrov, as well. Edward Nalbandian and Sergey Lavrov discussed
issues related to the improvement of the legal framework existing
between the two countries. The Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
reiterated the invitation to his Russian counterpart to visit Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

AZERI OFFICIAL CALLS FOR CHANGING MINSK GROUP FORMAT

Tert.am
17.02.12

A deputy speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, Bahar Muradova,
has said her country will voice its opinion on the OSCE Minsk Group
format once the French Constitutional Council issues a ruling on the
bill criminalizing the denial of genocides.

Following the passage of the bill by the French National Assembly
in late December, the Azerbaijani and Turkish media have numerously
slammed France, arguing that the country cannot be a neutral mediator
in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks.

After the bill passed in France’s upper house, several lawmakers
lodged an appeal with eh country’s Constitutional Court, questioning
the constitutionality of the document.

“The Minsk Group’s (US, Russia and France) efforts did not yield
any result in the past 20 years. Azerbaijan is voicing its concerns
in that connection. The recent developments were the last straw,”
Muradova said, referring to the French parliament’s move.

According to the Azeri official, President Ilham Aliyev reiterated
his commitment to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict at a recent trilateral presidential-level meeting in the
Russia’s Sochi resort.

“We’ll continue our efforts in that direction. Neither Azerbaijan
nor its people have a boundless patience, of course,” she said. “The
necessity to change the Minsk mission format is realistic but it is
impossible to say definitely whether the co-chairmanship institution
can be changed. The OSCE member states will decide the procedures of
replacing the countries whose policies do not satisfy us. Once the
question is real, we’ll get our message heard,” she added.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA WILL HAVE BORDER INFRASTRUCTURES THAT MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS – SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY

news.am
February 17, 2012 | 16:01

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s National Security Council (NSC) Secretary
Arthur Baghdasaryan chaired Friday’s session of the interdepartmental
committee that moderates the implementation of the programs envisioned
by the strategy for guaranteeing Armenia’s border security and
comprehensive managing of the state border, NSC Press Service informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Arthur Baghdasaryan noted that the final phase is now being held in
the competition for selecting the construction companies.

“Our activities have entered a crucial phase, and we will soon yield
good results and have border infrastructures that meet international
standards. These developments enable us to assert that the measures
being taken along the entire length of Armenia’s national border
will further raise and strengthen our border security,” Arthur
Baghdasaryan stated.

From: A. Papazian

PARLIAMENT VICE SPEAKER: EFFORTS TO TARGET INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ARTSAKH

Panorama.am
17/02/2012

“Artsakh is actually an independent state that has won its independence
in an aggressive war unleashed by Azerbaijan and unlike Azerbaijan
Artsakh creates a state which, as President Serzh Sargsyan said, is
based on democratic values,” Armenian Parliament Vice Speaker Edward
Sharmazanov said in Stepanakert.

“Our efforts should target the international recognition of Artsakh,”
Sharmazanov said. Recent political processes have signified nations’
self-determination right.

“I’m sure the conflict of Artsakh has one resolution – the
international recognition of Artsakh,” NA Vice Speaker said.

From: A. Papazian