Author: Andres-Papazian

KARABAKH WAR VET HOLDS GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY MASKED PEOPLE

News | 17.12.14 | 15:10

Alina Nikoghosyan
ArmeniaNow intern

A Karabakh war veteran who was beaten up by masked people last week
sees the government as responsible for the attack that elicited a
wide public response in Armenia.

“The biggest criminal is the Government of Armenia, because of their
impunity there are armed groupings in Armenia who can take revenge,”
Freedom Fighters’ Alliance member Suren Sargsyan claimed on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters Sargsyan also suggested that the attack on him and
two other Karabakh war veterans was “a failed attempt to destabilize
the country”.

Addressing the opinions of what the freedom fighters have to do with
politics, Sargsyan said that the fact that freedom fighters stood up
is not surprising.

“We, young fellows, went to defend our homeland, tried to conquer
independence, and now we are losing our country from our hands,
shall we just sit and wait?” he said.

Sargsyan said that freedom fighters unite around one idea and they
do not tolerate such occurrences, they will also cooperate with
non-governmental forces, those that are concerned by the future of
the country.

“We meet with everyone – Heritage, the Armenian National Congress,
the Prosperous Armenia Party, even if one day the Republican Party
of Armenia comes and says that they want to stand by us, we will
cooperate with them as well,” Sargsyan concluded.

From: A. Papazian

COMMERCIAL ADS BANNED ON PUBLIC TV IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. Armenia’s parliament passed the
amendments to the laws “About Television and Radio” and “About
Advertisements” on Wednesday.

The bill bans the Public TV Company of Armenia from broadcasting
commercial adverts, Novosti-Armenia reported.

The justification for the bill is that the ban is a widely used measure
to leave more airtime for socially important programs, says the report.

According to the law, ads should not exceed 7% of the airtime on the
Public TV and may include only social adverts, as well as information
about sponsors of cultural and sports programs. Not more than one
sponsor may be advertised during a broadcast, according to the report.

-0–

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES $37 MILLION LOAN AGREEMENT WITH ADB FOR REHABILITATION OF ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

YEREVAN, December 17. / ARKA /. The parliament of Armenia has
approved today a loan agreement signed September 5 with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB). The $37 million loan is expected to help
Armenia rehabilitate its electricity transmission system. The loan
will be granted from ADB’s special concessional fund, according to
Manila-based bank.

Earlier Armenian energy and natural resources minister Yervand
Zakarian said the loan will be used to modernize the SCADA control
and data acquisition system and to rehabilitate Agarak-2 and Shuniayr
substations.

The reconstruction work will begin in January 2015 and end in 2019.

The loan repayment period is 25 years, with a five-year grace period
and an interest rate of 2% per annum.

The loan program will be implemented by High-Voltage Electrical
Networks and Electricity System operator companies which also signed
relating agreements with the Asian Development Bank.

According to the ADB, “the loan is designed to help Armenia make a
major overhaul of its electricity transmission system inherited from
the Soviet era, including the expansion of the management and sharing
of data and modernization of two high-voltage substations.”

The project is supposed also to reduce losses in transmission lines,
to increase the capacity of substations and improve the quality and
reliability of power supply in urban and rural communities, which,
in turn, is beneficial in both economic and social aspects.

Armenia joined the ADB in 2005. As of 2014 April it had invested $133
million in Armenia’s private sector. -0-

From: A. Papazian

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS” ANNUAL REPORT: 10 JOURNALISTS IN AZERBAIJAN UNDER DETENTION

16:05 17/12/2014 ” SOCIETY

10 journalists from Azerbaijan are included in the international
organization “Reporters Without Borders” investigation “Press Freedom
Barometer” regarding the prosecution of media representatives around
the world in 2014. According to the data presented by the organisation,
in total, 178 journalists and many netizens around the world, are
under detention, “Caucasian Knot” reports.

The journalists mentioned in the list are as follows: Parviz Hashimli,
independent newspaper “Bizim Yol” (Our way) co-worker and Moderator.az
site director; Sardar Alibeili, editor-in-chief of the newspaper P.S.

Nota; Hilal Mammedov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Tolishi Sado”
(Voice of Talish); Avaz Zeinallov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper
“Khural”; Araz Guliev, editor-in-chief of the religious site
xeber44.com; Nijat Aliyev, editor-in-chief of the religious-oriented
site Azadxeber.org; investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova,
Azerbaijani service of “Radio Liberty” co-worker; Rauf Mirkadyrov,
columnist of Russian-language newspaper “Zerkalo”; Tofig Yagublu,
“Yeni Musavat” newspaper columnist; Seymur Khazi, “Azadliq” (Liberty)
newspaper columnist.

Yesterday “Reporters Without Borders” launched a petition addressed
to the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, demanding the immediate
release of the journalist Khadija Ismayilova.

On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija
Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor’s
office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for
two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault
of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of
3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of
attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova
is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption
in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is
conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of “Radio Liberty”.

From: A. Papazian

RICHARD M. MILLS CONFIRMED AS US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 17. /ARKA/. The US Senate approved the nomination
of Richard M. Mills as ambassador to Armenia, the Armenian Assembly
of America twitted, as cited by Novosti-Armenia.

In early July US President Barak Obama nominated Mills for ambassador
to Armenia. Mills will replace the current ambassador John Heffern.

Mills is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign
Service. He also holds a law degree from the University of Texas School
of Law and received a Masters Degree in International Security Affairs
from the National Defense University in 2005. Prior to joining the
Foreign Service, Rick practiced law in Washington D.C.

Mills is currently Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy Beirut,
where he began his tour in 2012.

Mills joined the Foreign Service in 1988 and has worked in Malta,
Russia, Ireland, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq since then. He
dealt with Armenia-Azerbaijan problems after the countries gained
independence. -0–

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA
Diana Manukyan, AUA PR Coordinator
40 Baghramyan Ave.
Yerevan 0019, Republic of Armenia
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Facebook

AGBU Pledges Continued Support by Launching New Scholarship Program

YEREVAN, Armenia- The American University of Armenia (AUA) is proud to
announce that the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) will be awarding
scholarships to qualified AUA students. AGBU, as one of the founding
organizations of AUA alongside the University of California and the
government of the Republic of Armenia, has been involved with the
university since its inception in 1991. In addition to its continuous
financial support to the school, the 2014-2015 academic year will launch
AGBU’s new scholarship program, an act of generosity that they plan to
continue every year.

10 undergraduates and 20 graduates were selected to receive scholarships,
ranging from 25-90% of their tuition costs. Students were chosen on the
basis of financial need coupled with high academic performance.

AUA President, Dr. Armen Der Kiureghian, stated, “We are grateful to AGBU
for providing scholarship funds in support of our students. This fund
allows us to admit students based on their scholastic qualifications,
regardless of their financial ability to pay the tuition. Thanks to this
and similar scholarship funds, we are able to ensure an economically
diverse body of students.”

This year, AGBU is providing a total of $50,000 in scholarships. The award
is contingent upon remaining in good academic standing, enrolling
full-time, and maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
Scholarship recipients will be recognized during the 2015 graduation
ceremony. In general, 50% of AUA students currently receive some kind of
financial assistance.

In April 2013, AGBU and AUA launched the AUA Extension-AGBU NKR Program to
help reignite the workforce in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) through
various training courses. To date, 1,062 participants have already
participated in the program.

Earlier this year, representatives from AGBU and AUA met with Minister of
Defense of the Republic Armenia, Mr. Seyran Ohanyan, to sign a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU), by which AUA will provide leadership and English
language training to representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the
Armed Forces.

AGBU has proven to be a champion for AUA and for the successful development
of the Armenian youth through their financial assistance in the
establishment of many academic programs. Now, with the start of the
scholarship program, they are making their impact directly felt in the
lives of AUA students.

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

*Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private,
independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the
University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and
the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies,
encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic
values.*

*DIANA MANUKYAN | AUA PR MANAGER*

Office of Communications

American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave. | Yerevan, 0019, Armenia
Tel: +374 60 612 522; Email: [email protected] |

From: A. Papazian

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

December 15, 2014

__________________

A New Priest Ordained in Charlotte

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), ordained Dn. Benjamin Rith-Najarian to the holy
priesthood last weekend at St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, N.C.

The two-day ceremony began on Saturday evening, December 6. Dn. Benjamin
knelt before the altar in a traditional calling service that symbolizes a
deacon’s formal presentation to the Lord as a candidate for the priesthood.
At the conclusion of the service, Dn. Benjamin recited the great
proclamation of the Christian faith by St. Gregory of Datev.

On Sunday, December 7, Archbishop Barsamian ordained Dn. Benjamin to the
priesthood during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

Also participating in the ordination service were Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel
Findikyan, and Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian. Fr. Findikyan served as the
sponsoring priest and Dn. Yervant Kutchukian served as the godfather at the
ordination.

Archbishop Barsamian performed the “laying on of hands” ritual, which binds
all priests of the Armenian Church into the “apostolic succession,” linking
clergy through the generations back to the Apostles Thaddeus and
Bartholomew-who brought Christianity to Armenia in the 1st century-and back
before them to Christ himself.

Archbishop Barsamian later consecrated Dn. Benjamin’s forehead and his hands
with holy muron (chrism), and gave him the priestly name “Samuel.” At the
conclusion of the service, the newly ordained priest gave his first blessing
to the faithful at St. Sarkis Church.

In his sermon, the Primate spoke about the priestly vocation and the
pastor’s role in the life of a parish. “He will represent Christ before his
flock,” Archbishop Barsamian said, “and he will also represent his flock
before God: speaking on behalf of the people, conveying our wants and needs,
asking for God’s mercy and blessing.”

He went on to describe Fr. Samuel’s journey to the priesthood-his dedication
to his studies and his love for the Armenian Church and people.

“When Fr. Samuel felt that he was being called, he considered carefully the
road God was calling him to,” he said. “And having searched his heart, he
committed himself to that road with all his strength and determination. As
he embarks on this noble path of service to the church, we pray that Fr.
Samuel will always be refreshed by that rare sense of purpose, which comes
from the love of his people, and the love of God.”

Humility, patience, prayer

Born in Philadelphia, Fr. Samuel grew up in Bemidji, Minn. His parents, Drs.
Janet and Stephen Rith-Najarian, instilled in their son the Christian values
of service and outreach.

While an undergraduate student at St. John’s University in Collegeville,
Minn., the young Benjamin was inspired by the university’s monastic setting
and the Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey. In 2002, when a new Armenian
sanctuary was consecrated in St. Paul, Minn., the Rith-Najarian family began
attending services at St. Sahag Church.

Following his graduation from St. John’s University in May 2005, where he
studied the natural sciences and theology, Benjamin continued his studies at
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in upstate New York. He also earned a master
of divinity degree from St. John’s University School of Theology.

Upon the completion of his studies in May 2010, he married Danielle
DerAsadourian. Together the couple traveled to the Armenian Patriarchate of
Jerusalem, where Benjamin continued to prepare for the priesthood and
Danielle taught at the Sts. Tarkmanchatz Armenian School.

Benjamin has also spent time abroad in Armenia and Damascus, Syria, and he
has interned at St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, under the direction of the
Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, parish pastor. He was ordained to the diaconate at
St. Leon Church in September 2011. In August 2013, he was assigned as
deacon-in-charge at St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, N.C.

“As Christians, children of God, we are all universally called to live and
to preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, loving God with all our
heart, all our soul, and with all our mind, and loving our neighbors as
ourselves,” Fr. Samuel said. “Within the church, we are all called to do
this in different ways. As a priest, the critical responsibility is to feed
the Lord’s flock, to share God’s love with all.”

He went on to recall a passage in the Gospel of John when Jesus asks Peter
to nurture his flock. “This means caring for those in need, serving both the
physical and spiritual needs of God’s children, and illuminating the
presence of God in the monumental as well as the ordinary everyday moments
in the lives of our people,” Fr. Samuel explained. “This, first of all,
requires that I be a faithful disciple of Christ, through humility,
patience, and prayer.”

“Tuned to a life-giving frequency”

At a celebratory banquet on Sunday afternoon, some 200 people-including the
ACYOA Central Council and Diocesan Council chair James Kalustian and vice
chair Paul Mardoian-gathered to congratulate Fr. Samuel and his family.
Archbishop Aykazian opened the gathering with a prayer.

Master of ceremonies Diane Tudor, who also chaired the banquet committee,
welcomed guests. Remarks were also made by parish council chair Hagop
Sarkissian and Dn. Yervant Kutchukian.

Fr. Daniel Findikyan recalled meeting the young Benjamin 12 years ago in St.
Paul, Minn., working with him through the St. Nersess summer conferences,
and later mentoring him when he enrolled as a seminarian at St. Nersess.

“One of the greatest blessings I have enjoyed as a priest of the Armenian
Church has been the privilege to accompany a number of young men on the path
of discerning and responding to God’s call for them to serve our church as
priests,” Fr. Findikyan said. “What I can testify as Fr. Samuel’s sponsoring
priest, teacher, friend, and brother in Christ, is that with our prayers and
the loving support of the St. Sarkis Church community, Fr. Samuel will
always keep his heart and mind tuned to the life-giving frequency of our
Lord’s love, and he will eagerly, compassionately, and creatively share that
love with all those whom the Lord entrusts to his care.”

Women’s Guild member Noelle Sarkissian presented Fr. Samuel with a hand
cross on behalf of the organization, with which he has worked closely while
serving as deacon-in-charge at St. Sarkis Church. Alex Manucharov presented
Fr. Samuel with a Bible on behalf of the parish ACYOA. Several parishioners
presented a musical program of piano, violin, and duduk performances.

Parish council chair Hagop Sarkissian said the parish is very excited to
work with Fr. Samuel to enrich existing programs and to launch new
initiatives. “He is well liked by everybody,” Mr. Sarkissian said. “He has
reached out to the elderly and to young people. He has been training altar
servers and taking an active part in our community life, and we are looking
forward to this new chapter in the history of St. Sarkis Church.”

Fr. Samuel said he is passionate about Christian education programs. “In the
Armenian Church, this means finding ways to make our beautiful and unique
traditions, customs, and practices through which we come to know God
accessible to the modern world,” he said.

“At St. Sarkis, we already have in place regular ACYOA Bible studies, we
have reopened the Sunday School, and we are planning to reopen the Armenian
School in the near future. I also look forward to developing more
opportunities for community members to serve and minister to those in need,
such as visiting sick or homebound parishioners.”

Archbishop Barsamian congratulated Fr. Samuel and Yn. Danielle. “May Christ
our Lord inspire, guide, and protect Fr. Samuel, as he embarks on this new
ministry. May he bless Yn. Danielle, who will stand beside and strengthen
Der Hayr in the years to come,” he said.

The newly-ordained Fr. Samuel will complete his 40-day seclusion period of
fasting, meditation, and prayer at St. Nersess Seminary.

Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, the Diocese’s Music Ministry coordinator,
directed the choir during the weekend’s services. Following Saturday’s
service, the Women’s Guild hosted a reception. Later that evening, parish
council member Ara Yessayan and his wife Dr. Sylvie Bastajian Yessayan, who
is a parish delegate, hosted a reception for out-of-town guests.

###

Photos attached (by Andrew Hagopian).
Photo 1: Dn. Benjamin Rith-Najarian kneels before the congregation during
the ordination service.
Photo 2: Archbishop Barsamian consecrates Dn. Benjamin Rith-Najarian’s hands
with holy muron.

Photo 3: Yn. Danielle DerAsadourian receives Fr. Samuel’s blessing at the
conclusion of the service.

From: A. Papazian

CHINA TO PROVIDE ARMENIA WITH 60 MILLION YUAN IN GRATUITOUS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

17:09, 16 December, 2014

YEREVAN, 16 DECEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Governments of Armenia and China
will be signing an agreement on technical and economic cooperation. As
“ArmenPress” reports, the issue on giving consent to the agreement is
included in the agenda for the December 18 session of the Government
of the Republic of Armenia. The agreement “On Technical-Economic
Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and
the Government of the People’s Republic of China” envisages the
provision of 60 million Yuan in gratuitous technical assistance from
the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government
of the Republic of Armenia. The content of the specific program
carried out through those funds will be additionally agreed upon by
the parties,” as stated in the justification.

Based on the above mentioned, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia considers the signing of the given agreement
appropriate.

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY SPARES NO EFFORT TO WATER DOWN TRUTH ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – TIGRAN KOCHARYAN

15:51 * 16.12.14

The centennial of the Armenian Genocide is going to be the greatest
challenge in the media environment, which requires thorough
preparations, expert in information security Tigran Kocharyan told
reporters on Tuesday.

“Turkey has allocated dozens of millions to water down the topic
and make an impression that Turks have reformed and relations are
improving,” he said.

Mr Kocharyan warns of “many shows” by Turkey.

Armenia has much to do because April 24, 2015, is not the end.

“Our struggle must continue until Turkey is held responsible for what
it did,” he said.

He calls on Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of
Diaspora to be more active.

“We must do our best to reduce the impact of Turkey’s window-dressing
on the international community to a minimum” Mr Kocharyan said.

He also predicts certain steps by Azerbaijan. While oil prices are
falling, Azerbaijan will not be able to show previous luxury.

“The threat of war will grow along with discontent inside the country,”
the expert said.

According to him, Azerbaijan’s society is sure that Azerbaijan is
capable of getting Nagorno-Karabakh back at any moment.

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN HOSTS INTERIM MEETING OF U.S.-ARMENIA ECONOMIC TASK FORCE

17:23, 16 Dec 2014

On December 16, 2014, an interim meeting of the U.S.-Armenia Economic
Task Force was held at the Ministry of Finance with participation of
officials from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan and relevant agencies of
the Armenian Government.

In addition to celebrating the visa reciprocity arrangement that was
announced last week, the sides reviewed the progress made to date on
implementing the 2013 USATF Action Plan.

The two sides highlighted potential areas for further cooperation ahead
of the next USATF meeting scheduled for Spring 2015. The parties also
discussed the scope of issues to be included in the agenda of the
next USATF meeting, including the conclusion of possible bilateral
agreements that can further the two nations’ bilateral economic and
commercial engagement.

From: A. Papazian