Author: Andres-Papazian

TIGRAN KARAPETIAN MENACE DE SE RETOURNER CONTRE LE GOUVERNEMENT
Marion

armenews.com
jeudi 20 janvier 2011
ARMENIE

Tigran Karapetian, le proprietaire de la chaîne de television ALM, a
de nouveau rassemble des partisans a Erevan, mercredi 19 janvier. Dès
jeudi 20 janvier, la chaîne doit stopper ses emissions suite a la
decision, le mois dernier, de la Commission nationale de television
et de radio (CNTR).

Karapetian, a la tete d’un petit parti politique, a peu mentionne la
decision qu’il considère comme injuste. En revanche, il a presente
aux autorites armeniennes une longue liste de revendications
socio-economiques.

Parmi lesquelles, la liberation de tous les ” prisonniers politiques
“, le doublement du salaire minimum national, des retraites et des
aides sociales, une forte reduction des impôts, et un plafond a 7%
des taux de pret bancaire.

” S’il n’y a pas d’accords avec nous [sur ces exigences], si les
autorites ne prennent pas de mesures d’ici le 28 fevrier, nous nous
rassemblerons ici et leur dirons “non” lors d’elections anticipees
“, a-t-il declare.

Karapetian a par ailleurs attaque sans les nommer des membres du
gouvernement en les accusant ” de se faire de l’argent jour et nuit
au detriment des travailleurs “. ” Leurs activites ne peuvent pas
continuer indefiniment. ”

Malgre ses ambitions politiques, Karapetian s’est jusqu’a present
abstenu de menacer ou d’appeler a un changement de gouvernants dans
le pays. Il a egalement pris soin de ne pas attaquer personnellement
l’actuel et les precedents presidents de l’Armenie dans ses talk-shows
quotidiens diffuses sur ALM.

” Je vais me presenter aux elections presidentielles et devenir le
president de la Republique “, a declare Karapetian a RFE / RL après
son discours.

From: A. Papazian

La Greece et l’Armenie critiquent la Turquie
Marion

armenews.com
jeudi 20 janvier 2011

Le ” barbare ” turc a ” massacre ” Grecs et Armeniens au debut du
XXe siècle, a declare mardi le president grec Karolos Papoulias
en accueillant son homologue armenien Serge Sarkissian, en visite
a Athènes.

” Nous avons ete massacres par le meme barbare “, a declare le
president grec a M. Sarkissian qui a entame mardi une visite de trois
jours en Grèce.

” Beaucoup de choses ont change ” depuis le debut du XXe siècle et
les massacres d’Armeniens et de Grecs etablis sur les bords de la
mer Noire, a cependant ajoute M. Papoulias, 81 ans.

” Si nous n’avions pas a supporter le fardeau de l’equilibre militaire
(avec la Turquie), nous n’aurions pas besoin du Fonds monetaire
international “, a-t-il poursuivi, en reference au plan d’aide de
l’Union europeenne et du FMI a la Grèce, etranglee par une dette
publique abyssale.

La Grèce a entrepris une normalisation de ses rapports avec la Turquie,
mais les relations butent toujours sur la delimitation du plateau
continental et de l’espace aerien en mer Egee, ainsi que la question
de Chypre.

Athènes argue de cette tension persistante pour renvoyer a plus tard
une baisse radicale de son très important budget de defense, en depit
de la grave crise financière traversee par le pays.

La Turquie et l’Armenie sont, elles, divisees par la question des
massacres d’Armeniens sous l’Empire ottoman (1915-1917), qu’Erevan
entend voir reconnaître comme un genocide. Les deux pays ont signe
en octobre 2009 deux protocoles prevoyant des relations diplomatiques
et la reouverture de leur frontière commune. Mais le processus s’est
enlise dans des accusations mutuelles.

Le leader armenien a critique la position d’Ankara sur la normalisation
turco-armenienne en termes encore plus forts, lors de son allocution
au Parlement de Chypre, lundi 17 janivier.

L’un des accords signes lors de la visite de Sarkissian a Athènes
prevoit une cooperation continue entre les ministères de la Defense
grec et armenien. Sarkissian a souligne l’importance de cet accord
lors de la conference de presse commune avec Papoulias.

Armenialiberty.com avec AFP

From: A. Papazian

L’ANCA REMPORTE UNE BATAILLE JURIDIQUE
Jean Eckian

armenews
jeudi 20 janvier 2011

NEGATIONNISME AUX USA

Une bataille juridique initiee en 2005 par l’Assemblee des Associations
Turco Americaines (ATAA) contre l’Etat du Massachusetts visant a
inclure la posture turque (negationnisme) eu egard au genocide des
armeniens dans le Guide pedagogique de l’enseignement des genocides et
dans divers sites internet turcs, dont celui de l’ambassade de Turquie,
a ete deboutee par La Cour supreme refusant d’entendre les requerants.

Rejete a plusieurs reprises depuis 2005 par plusieurs tribunaux,
l’acharnement de l’organisation turque soutenue par Ankara en sera
donc pour ses frais.

C’est une grande victoire pour le Comite National Armenien d’Amerique
(CDCA aux USA).

Le Middle East Studies Association, a adresse cette semaine une
lettre ouverte a la coalition turque, l’ exhortant a abandonner
toute poursuite.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

January 20, 2011

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL TO THE VATICAN
FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE
Next week Archbishop Oshagan will travel to the Vatican where he will
participate in the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between
the Roman Catholic and Oriental Orthodox churches. This is the eighth
plenary meeting of the Commission. Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop
Nareg Alemezian are representing the Armenian Church (Catholicosate of
Cilicia).
The Oriental Orthodox churches include the Armenian Church,
Coptic Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Church, and Eritrean
Church.

ECUMENICAL MEETING AT PRELACY
The Christian and Arab Middle Eastern Churches Together (CAMECT) met
yesterday at the Prelacy offices in New York City. The meeting was
presided by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, President of CAMECT.
The main points of discussion were: How to broaden engagement
of all churches and communities in CAMECT; How to reach out to the
media and political leaders; Organize a symposium in conjunction with
NOURSAT (Tele Leumiere) on April 1-3, 2011, in Detroit, hosted by
Chaldean Catholic community.
CAMECT is a common effort of the following faith communities in
the United States who belong to or are associated with their
respective churches in the Middle East: Antiochian Orthodox Christian
Archdiocese of North America; Armenian Orthodox Church; Armenian
Catholic Church; Armenian Evangelical Church; Assyrian Church of the
East; Chaldean Catholic Church; Coptic Orthodox Church; Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America; Maronite Catholic Church; Melkite Greek
Catholic Church; Presbyterian Church; Syrian Orthodox Church of
Antioch; Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch.
CAMECT gathers two times per year, or more as needed, for the
purposes of Communion, Common Service, Preaching the Gospel, Witness
and Dialogue.
Some of the participants at the CAMECT meeting.
The Executive committee of CAMECT: (left to right), Bishop Manuel
Batakian, Archbishop Oshagan, Bishop Gregory Mansour, and Mrs. Ann
Makhoul.

PRELATE WILL PRESIDE AT ST. SARKIS (DOUGLASTON) THIS SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy this Sunday,
January 23, at St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York.

ANEC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET
The governing committee of the Armenian National Education Committee
(ANEC) will convene this Saturday for its first meeting since a recent
re-organization. The meeting will take place at the Prelacy
headquarters in New York under the presidency of the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan.
ANEC is a joint project with the Armenian Relief Society and
the Prelacy. It is administered by the director, Vartan Matiossian,
under the guidance of the governing committee. ANEC provides guidance,
coordination, and assistance to the Saturday Armenian schools and day
schools within the jurisdiction of the Prelacy.
Members of ANECs governing committee are: His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, President, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Harout
Misserlian, Asbed Vassilian, Sossi Essajanian, Lucine Keomurjian, Suzy
Jarkezian, Margaret Babikian, and Valentina Berberian.

YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN CHILD
The Prelate has asked all clergymen within the Eastern Prelacy to
feature the Encyclical issued by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I,
proclaiming 2011 the Year of the Armenian Child, during the Liturgy on
Sunday, January 30, and to make the Year of the Armenian Child a focus
of the days sermon.

ANNUAL GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING
The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the Priests will take place beginning Monday evening,
February 21 and continuing through Thursday, February 24. This year
the three North American Prelacies (Eastern, Western, and Canadian)
will join to celebrate this holiday together. The gathering will be
hosted by the Prelacy of Canada and will take place at St. Mary
Church in Toronto.
CATHOLICOS ARAM MEETS WITH DER ZOR MONUMENT COMMITTEE
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
presided over a meeting of the supervisory committee of the Der Zor
Martyrs Monument last week. His Holiness designated the Genocide
Martyrs Monument as a national pilgrimage destination three years ago,
and formed a committee to plan and implement activities for pilgrims.
Bishop Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Syria, presented the
annual report of the committee, and new proposals for future
activities. The following initiatives will be implemented:
1. To ask dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Armenian
organizations, and travel agencies to contact either the Prelacy in
Aleppo or Mr. Haroutiun Vartanian in Der Zor, as soon as a pilgrimage
is planned.
2. To ask Armenian families to donate memorabilia of victims of
the Genocide as part of the initiative to renovate the museum and
reorganize activities.
3. To create a Der Zor Genocide Memorial Monument webpage with
links to the Home pages of the Holy See of Cilicia and the Prelacy of
Syria.

HIS HOLINESS WILL CELEBRATE EASTER LITURGY AT DER ZOR
During the meeting mentioned above, His Holiness announced that he
will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Easter, Sunday, April 24, at the
Martyrs Church in Der Zor. The date of Easter is variable and can
fall from March 21 to April 26. This year, for the first time in more
than 150 years, Easter falls on April 24, bringing together
Christendoms holiest feast and Armenian Martyrs Day.
2011 POCKET DIARY BRINGS APPRECIATION
Every year when the Prelacy Diary is sent, words of thanks are
received. This year, the appreciation is greater than ever. Here are
just a few examples of the comments received:
Received my 2011 Diary with pleasure and good feeling. I get a
lot of use from it, especially when friends need some info.
Thank you for the 2011 Diary. I find it useful and interesting.
I like the Eastern Prelacy Diary
This Armenian Diary is the greatest thing! Thank you for all your hard
work in the design!
Keep up the good work. The new diary is beautiful. All my best
for a wonderful new year.

BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, January 23, Second Sunday of the Octave of
Theophany, are: Isaiah 58:13-59:7; 1 Timothy 4:12-5; John 3:13-21.
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended
from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever
believes in him may have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the
world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those
who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are
condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the
only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come
into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because
their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not
come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those
who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen
that their deeds have been done in God. (John 3:13-21)

HOLY FATHERS ATHANASIUS AND CYRIL
This Saturday, January 22, the Armenian Church remembers the Holy
Fathers Athanasius and Cyril.
Athanasius was a bishop and doctor of the church. He was born
and died in Alexandria. While a deacon, he attended the Council of
Nicaea in 325, where he was a strong opponent of Arianism. He served
as Bishop of Alexandria for 46 years; about 17 of those years were
spent in exile because of disagreements with the emperor. Much of his
writings have survived, as well as some of his letters. Athanasius in
one of the four great Greek doctors of the church, along with Basil
the Great, John Chrysostom, and Gregory of Nazianzus.
Cyril of Alexandria was a father and doctor of the church, born
in Alexandria and nephew of the patriarch of that city. He presided
over the third Ecumenical Council at
Ephesus. He wrote treatises that clarified the doctrines of the
Trinity and the Incarnation. He was a brilliant theologian of the
Alexandrian tradition and highly revered by the Church of Armenia.

VAHAN OF KOGHTN
On Tuesday, January 25, the Armenian Church remembers Vahan
Koghtnatzi. As a young child he and many other children of Armenian
nobility were taken to Damascus for education. When they reached
adulthood, the Arab overlords granted them permission to return to
Armenia. Vahan promised his overlord he would return. Vahan married
and established himself over his fathers lands; however the Arab
overlords demanded his return. After fleeing from place to place,
Vahan surrendered and expressed his desire to remain in Armenia and
practice his Christian religion. He was imprisoned and martyred. It
is believed that the melody and words of the sharagan (hymn) dedicated
to Vahan (Zarmanali e ints) were written by his sister.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF KENNEDY INAUGUARAL
Today, January 20, 2011, is the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedys
inauguration and the inaugural address that has since become
legendary. The most often quoted passage, of course, is the famous ask
not what your country can do for youask what you can do for your
country. However, the entire speech is a masterly crafted message to
the American people and the nations of the world, in the face of the
growth of communism and the dangerous arms race.
So let us begin anew, remembering on both sides that civility
is not a sign of weakness and sincerity is always subject to
proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to
negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of
belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the
first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection
and control of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other
nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek
to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let
us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the
ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides
unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah to
undo the heavy burden(and) let the oppressed go free. And if a
beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let
both sides join in creating a !
new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law,
where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 21-24Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering of Eastern, Western, and
Canadian Prelacies, hosted by the Prelacy of Canada. This is the sixth
combined Ghevontiantz clergy conference.

February 26Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey, for clergy,
board of trustees members, and NRA delegates. Members of the Religious
and Executive Councils will be present. Conference will begin at 10
a.m. and continue to 4 p.m.

March 5St. Stephens Ladies Guild (Watertown, Massachusetts) presents
Mezze, Music, March Madness, and Mardi Gras, at the church hall at 7
p.m. Music by Mal Barsamian, Leo Derderian, Steve Megerdichian, Ron
Tutunjian. Donation $25. For info contact Mary Derderian by email at
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or telephone
781-762-4253.

March 27Musical Armenia Concert. Sponsored by Eastern Prelacy, Weill
Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City.

May 11-14National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted
by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

From: A. Papazian

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 686-0710 | Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web: [13]

TOP STORY January
20, 2010

_Primate to Attend Roman Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Churches Commission Meeting
in Rome _

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), will travel to Rome next week to attend a meeting of
the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the
Roman Catholic Church and Oriental Orthodox Churches. The Primate will
represent the Armenian Church at the request of His Holiness Karekin II, the
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Participants in the meeting, which convenes annually, will discuss the
centuries-old relations between the Roman Catholic and Oriental Orthodox
churches. This year’s gathering will give special consideration to the
historic role of monasticism in enhancing communication between these faith
traditions.

On Tuesday, January 25, religious leaders will take part in a Vespers
Service at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls Basilica, with Pope Benedict XVI
presiding. The evening of prayer will serve as the conclusion of the Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity.

The commission includes representatives from the Roman Catholic Church, as
well as from the churches in the Oriental Orthodox `family’: the Armenian,
Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Malankara (Indian) churches.

Scripture of the Week

Is 58:13-59:7
1 Tm 4:12-5:10
Jn 3:13-21

Prayer of the week

Jesus, Wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom, that I may, at all times,
think, speak, and do before you that which is good in your sight. And save
me from evil thoughts, words, and deeds. Have mercy upon your creatures and
upon me, a great sinner. Amen.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

_22 January:_ Holy Fathers Athanasius and Cyril

_23 January:_ Second Sunday of the Octave of Theophany

_25 January:_ St. Vahan of Goghtn

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian.

_Archbishop Aykazian Discusses Situation of Armenian Churches in Georgia With
Vatican’s Secretary of State _

On Tuesday, January 18, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Eastern Diocese’s
Director of Ecumenical Relations, met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Vatican’s secretary of state and a close associate of Pope Benedict XVI, to
discuss the situation of the Armenian Church in the Republic of Georgia.

Archbishop Aykazian spoke about the Armenians’ historic presence in Georgia,
where more than 600 Armenian churches exist today, and presented the
cardinal with a dossier outlining Georgia’s unwillingness to formally
recognize the country’s Armenian churches and to turn over jurisdiction over
the places of worship to the local Armenian diocese. He also noted the
deliberate destruction and vandalism of Armenian churches and monuments.

Archbishop Aykazian expressed the Armenian Church’s desire to find a
solution rooted in peace, and to pursue conversations with other religious
leaders to raise awareness of the issue. Cardinal Bertone agreed that the
matter deserved serious attention on the part of the Roman Catholic
hierarchy and the world religious community.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian speaks with Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Naples.

_Eastern Diocese Helps Welcome Cardinal Sepe to U.S. _

On Tuesday, January 18, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, and
the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, attended an Appeal of
Conscience Foundation luncheon in honor of Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Naples, who is currently on a visit to the
United States.

Archbishop Barsamian, who is a long-serving vice president of the Appeal of
Conscience Foundation, gave the afternoon’s invocation. Themed
`Interreligious Action in a Turbulent World,’ the gathering gave religious
leaders an opportunity to discuss ways they could help address pressing
global issues.

The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, a coalition of business and religious
leaders established in 1965, promotes peace, tolerance, and ethnic conflict
resolution. The Eastern Diocese has been a strong supporter of the Appeal of
Conscience Foundation since its inception, and both Archbishop Torkom
Manoogian and Archbishop Barsamian have been deeply involved with the
foundation’s activities.

Daniel K. Dorian (1922-2011).

_In Memoriam: Daniel K. Dorian (1922-2011)_

On Saturday, January 15, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate,
presided over the funeral service for Mr. Daniel K. Dorian at Holy Trinity
Church of Cambridge, MA. Mr. Dorian passed away on January 11.

Daniel Dorian was a veteran of World War II, in which he served as a master
sergeant, and returned from the war to become one of the early leaders of
the ambitious generation that greatly expanded the Armenian Church in
America.
His leadership began in New Jersey’s St. Mary Church, then located in the
city of Irvington. Later in life, he was involved with the Boca Raton, FL,
community, and its St. David Church.

But Mr. Dorian was most well-known for his enduring role as a pillar of the
Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA. He was a Diocesan delegate from
Cambridge, a frequent officer of the Diocesan Assembly, and the first
delegate from his parish to serve on the Diocesan Council.

In that role, he was a respected counselor to two Diocesan Primates. He went
on to become a member of the Diocesan Board of Trustees, and was awarded the
St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal by the Catholicos of All Armenians.

Archbishop Barsamian remembered him as `a man of strength and conviction,
who followed our Lord all his days…always smiling, always encouraging,
always inspiring others to reach higher.’

GTech graduate Taron Sargsyan instructs local teachers in Stepanakert.

_FAR’s GTech Graduates Train Teachers in Karabagh _

The Fund for Armenian Relief’s Gyumri Information Technology Center
(GTech) recently concluded a computer training program for teachers in
Nagorno-Karabagh’s capital, Stepanakert.

GTech graduates taught web technology, computer engineering, and programming
skills to 18 participants, while also familiarizing them with relevant
teaching methods. The Armenian Educational Foundation funded the project,
which began on November 1.

By signing up to prepare local teachers to lead computer classes, GTech
participants not only promote computer literacy, but also acquire more
hands-on training in their field.

GTech was established in 2005 by FAR, in partnership with several technology
companies. The goal of the center is to strengthen the information
technology skills of young Armenians and to expand opportunities in the
region. GTech also helps to bolster development by providing an incubator
space for new start-up IT businesses.

[4]Click here to visit FAR’s blog and to read more.
Links:
4.

_St. Nersess Seminary to Offer Course on Hymnography_

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary will offer a course titled `Armenian
Hymnography: History, Theology, and Function,’ on Wednesday evenings,
beginning next week. The course will be taught by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel
Findikyan, seminary dean and professor of Liturgical Studies.

Weekly sessions will explore one of Christendom’s most ancient traditions of
sacred hymnody and discover how it compares with and differs from other
great sacred musical traditions of the Christian world.

Participants have the option of attending lectures at the seminary’s New
Rochelle, NY, campus, or enrolling via the seminary’s Global Classroom-an
online platform featuring live-streaming. [5]Click here for more
information.
Links:
5.

PARISH NEWS

The Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra in concert at Holy Trinity Church in
Cambridge, MA.

_Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra Gives Concert at Holy Trinity Church of
Cambridge, MA_

On Sunday, January 2, the Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra presented its
44th annual Christmas Holiday Concert in the sanctuary of Holy Trinity
Church of Cambridge, MA.

Composer Konstantin Petrossian led the 47-member ensemble and 25-piece
orchestra in a mixed program of traditional Armenian sacred and secular
music and Christmas favorites. A highlight was the world premier of Levon
Chaushian’s “Ode to Armenia_”_ (Dzon Hayrenikin), a piece honoring the 20th
anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.

The program also featured performances by mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan
and baritone Rene de la Garza. A15-member children’s choir from Holy Trinity
Church, recruited and coached by Avetisyan, joined the ensemble for three
songs.

The Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, parish pastor, offered closing remarks, and
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian gave the benediction. [6]Click here to view a
video of the concert.
Links:
6.

The Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra was founded by the Very Rev. Fr.
Oshagan Minassian of blessed memory. It is currently under the direction of
Konstantin Petrossian.

The Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian performs the Blessing of Water service in
Jacksonville, FL, with Grigorie Mirzoyov serving as the godfather.

_Armenian Christmas Observed in Jacksonville, FL _

The Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of the Department of Mission Parishes
at the Eastern Diocese, visited the mission parish of Jacksonville, FL, last
weekend.

On Saturday, January, 15, Fr. Abdalian conducted a Saturday evening Bible
study session-a program he offers during monthly visits to the parish.
Participants examine scripture passages pertaining to Sunday’s services or
to an upcoming feast day in the Armenian Church.

On Sunday, January 16, Fr. Abdalian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
performed the Blessing of Water service. Grigorie Mirzoyov served as the
godfather. More than 100 people took part in the service.

Later in the afternoon, the community gathered for a buffet-style meal
prepared by the parishioners. Children presented a special program, reciting
poems, singing Armenian, English, and Russian songs, and dancing a
traditional Armenian dance. Elmira Grigorian, Parish Council chair,
presented each child with a gift on behalf of the Parish Council.

Fr. Abdalian expressed his appreciation to the Parish Council and the
community, and offered a prayer asking God to bestow His blessings on the
local parish. [7]Click here to view photos.
Links:
7.

The Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian and Dn. Sebuh Oscherician at the New York
Armenian Home.

_Blessing of Water at the New York Armenian Home _

On Friday, January 7, the Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian visited the New York
Armenian Home in Flushing, NY, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
performed the Blessing of Water and Home Blessing services. He was
accompanied by Dn. Sebuh Oscherician.

Local clergy regularly visit the home to pray and to spend time with
residents. Fr. Kadehjian’s visit was part of the Armenian Church tradition
of blessing homes in the post-Christmas season.

This month the New York Armenian Home was also visited by Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, who distributed Holy Communion and shared in
conversation with the residents.

_Upcoming Parish Events _

_Church of Southwest Florida | Bonita Springs, FL_
On Sunday, January 23, the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida will welcome
the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of the Department of Mission Parishes
at the Eastern Diocese, for the celebration of the community’s first Divine
Liturgy of the New Year.

A dinner will follow services in celebration of the mission parish’s 10th
anniversary. [8]Click here for more information.
Links:
8.

_St. Gregory the Enlightener Church | White Plains, NY _
On Wednesday, January 26, the Men’s Club of St. Gregory the Enlightener
Church of White Plains, NY, will host a book discussion and signing with
Garin Hovannisian, author of _Family of Shadows_.

The event will take place in the church’s Aslanian Atrium (1131 North Street
in White Plains), beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Chris Bonfiglio at (914) 707-2152,
or [9][email protected].
Links:
9. mailto:[email protected]

EVENTS

_Armenian Film to be Screened at Lincoln Center Theater_

The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Dance Films Association Inc., with
the participation of the Eastern Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab
Information Center, present “The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia”=80’a
55-minute documentary which follows two of Armenia’s most celebrated
tightrope dancers and highlights the vanishing art form they practiced at
the height of their careers.

The film will be shown on January 29 and 30 as part of the Dance on Camera
Festival at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street, between Broadway
and Amsterdam Avenue, in New York City). [10]

Click here
for more information.
Links:
10.

YOUTH NEWS

ACYOA members make sandwiches for a soup kitchen in Pompano Beach, FL, as
part of a service project at last weekend’s Chapter Workshop.

_At Chapter Workshop, ACYOA Members Reflect on Goals _

Members of the Eastern Diocese’s Armenian Christian Youth Organization of
America gathered in the warm, palm-dotted environs of southeast Florida for
the third annual Chapter Workshop, held at the St. David Church of Boca
Raton, January 14-16.

The ACYOA Central Council co-sponsored the workshop with the Diocese’s
Department of Youth and Education. More than 30 young adults, representing
13 Diocesan parishes, participated in the weekend-long program.

The goal was to support local-parish ACYOA chapters in their efforts, and to
help chapter executives plan and implement programs that incorporate the
ACYOA ideals of worship, witness, service, education, and fellowship=80’five
components that make up what is known as the ACYOA’s `five circles of the
cross.’

Florida-area clergy-including the Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of
St. David Church; the Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfayan, pastor of St. Mary Church
of Hollywood; and the Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, pastor of St. Hagop Church
of St. Petersburg-along with ACYOA executive secretary Nancy Basmajian
addressed participants on different ways they can incorporate these
objectives into their daily life and parish activities.

A highlight of the weekend was a service component during which participants
and clergy made sandwiches for a local soup kitchen.

From: A. Papazian

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief

===============================================
Thursday 20 January 2011
ARMENIA: “WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT KEEP PUSHING LAWS THAT GET NEGATIVE
REVIEWS?”

Nora Sarkisyan of Armenia’s Justice Ministry has stated that draft
Amendments restricting freedom of religion or belief will be changed to
reflect the recommendations of a Council of Europe / Organisation for
Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) legal review. This found that
the Amendments do not comply with international human rights law. However,
Vardan Astsatryan of the Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs Department
claimed “the draft Amendments were in accordance with international human
rights standards”. Many human rights defenders and religious communities
are concerned at what Pastor Rene Leonian described as “limitations on
freedom of conscience, freedom of expression of our faith and limitation on
human rights generally”. Stepan Danielyan of the Collaboration for
Democracy Centre thinks the Amendments “had the strong backing of Prime
Minister Tigran Sarkisyan”. But, “why does the government keep pushing laws
in this area that get negative reviews?” Maria Aghajanyan of the Open
Society Foundations asked. Danielyan and Aghajanyan are organising a civil
society-government round table “to get the government talking – this is a
question of transparency”, Aghajanyan told Forum 18.

ARMENIA: “WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT KEEP PUSHING LAWS THAT GET NEGATIVE
REVIEWS?”

By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service , and
John Kinahan, Forum 18 News Service

Nora Sarkisyan, advisor to Armenia’s Justice Minister Hrair Tovmasyan, has
pledged that the Ministry will bring the text of proposed Amendments to the
Religion Law, the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offences and
the Charity Law into line with the recommendations of a joint Council of
Europe / Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) legal
review. “We recognise that the review was negative and we are taking into
account its views,” Sarkisyan told Forum 18 News Service from the capital
Yerevan on 20 January. “A Justice Ministry working group is now revising
the proposed Amendments to bring them into line with the recommendations.”
She said the Justice Ministry aims to present revised texts to the Venice
Commission for discussion at its next plenary meeting on 25 and 26 March.

However, government religious affairs official Vardan Astsatryan of the
Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs – who said he was
involved in drafting the 2010 Amendments – disagrees. “The draft Amendments
were in accordance with international human rights standards,” he claimed
to Forum 18 from Yerevan the same day. “We didn’t have very sharp
differences with the Venice Commission. Only a few points need
reconsideration.”

The published review – an Interim Joint Opinion – clearly states that parts
of the latest proposed Amendments do not comply with international law and
so with Armenia’s international human rights commitments.

“They said some things in favour and some against”

Religious affairs official Astsatryan reluctantly told Forum 18 that
representatives of the Evangelical Church (one of Armenia’s evangelical
Protestant churches) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(commonly known as the Mormons) had separately come to him about the 2010
Amendments. He refused to say if these communities were in favour or
against the proposed Amendments. “They said some things in favour and some
against.”

Pastor Rene Leonian, head of the Evangelical Church, which has 45
congregations across Armenia, told Forum 18 in December 2010 that they
feared “the limitations on freedom of conscience, freedom of expression of
our faith and limitation on human rights generally” in the proposed
Amendments. These concerns have been echoed, sometimes in private, by a
wide range of human rights defenders and religious communities (see F18News
8 December 2010 ).

A number of religious communities have also approached the OSCE Office in
Yerevan, as its Human Rights Officer Vladimir Tchountoulov told Forum 18 on
20 January. “We are keeping a close eye on developments – it’s part of our
mandate.”

Amendments prepared in secret

The current draft Amendments were prepared in secret by the Justice
Ministry and sent for review – in English only – to the Council of Europe’s
Venice Commission. They only became known when the Venice Commission
published them on its website on 30 November 2010. The draft Amendments to
the Religion Law are available at
, and those to
the Criminal Code, the Code of Administrative Offences and the Charity Law
are at .

The Armenian government has refused to make the original Armenian text
public (see F18News 8 December 2010
).

The Venice Commission opinion – produced jointly with the OSCE Advisory
Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief – was approved at the Venice
Commission plenary meeting in Venice on 16 and 17 December 2010. They were
made public on 22 December 2010 on the Venice Commission website
, as well as
on the OSCE Legislation Online website.

Armenian government representatives at the plenary meeting in Venice
insisted to the Venice Commission that Amendments would be made to the
draft and a new text would be presented again. In response, the opinion was
renamed an “interim opinion”.

2009 critical review ignored?

The December 2010 Opinion came one and a half years after the similarly
critical Venice Commission / OSCE review of restrictive proposed Amendments
to Armenia’s Religion Law and Criminal Code was made public in June 2009.
The 2009 proposed Amendments were fiercely criticised by many human rights
defenders and religious communities in Armenia at the time (see F18News 2
July 2009 ).

The latest Opinion notes that “a good deal of the [2009] specific comment
also remains relevant since the drafters in many instances do not appear to
have taken into account the recommendations in the 2009 Joint Opinion”.

Unclear wording affects wide range of human rights

The latest Opinion by international legal experts notes that the latest
Amendments are “often difficult to understand and vague so that the public
will not be in a position to be certain of their rights and obligations”.
It calls for the Amendments “to make more precise and clear the scope of
application of the law”, and to “clarify which provisions of the Current
and Draft Laws apply to all religious organisations and which apply only to
those which are registered”.

The Opinion also notes that the Amendments affect “the linked rights of
freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as the right to freedom
of expression and opinion and freedom of association and the right to
non-discrimination which are protected in the Armenian Constitution as well
as in the international treaties by which the Republic of Armenia is
bound”. These include the European Convention on Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR).

Ongoing serious problems

Serious problems are common to both of Armenia’s recent sets of proposed
Amendments. As was the case with the previous Amendments, the latest
Opinion bluntly indicates that parts of the latest proposed Amendments do
not comply with international law and so with Armenia’s international human
rights commitments. Issues identified by the latest Opinion include:

– that human rights are for everyone, whatever their citizenship. As the
2010 Opinion puts it, the proposals should be amended “so as to guarantee
freedom of conscience, religion or belief to everyone regardless of
citizenship”;

– that the Amendments’ defining of the scope of freedom of conscience,
religion or belief is much narrower than international law requires of
Armenia. For example the latest Opinion calls among other things for the
Amendments “to recognize the freedom to change religion or belief”, as well
as “to expressly guarantee the freedom to manifest religion or belief in
public or private, and to act according to one’s religion or belief in
daily life”;

– that the right to legal status must not be restricted. The latest Opinion
calls for the Amendments “to clarify that any religious organisation is
entitled to legal personality and has access to it if it wishes to avail of
such status”;

– that the Amendments’ defining of what a religious organisation is, what
it can do, and how it can be registered is too unclear and restrictive. As
the latest Opinion states, Armenia should:

* “reconsider the definition of ‘religious organisation’ and ensure its
compliance with international law”;

* “specify with greater precision which particular laws should a religious
organization’s statute comply with in order to satisfy registration
requirements”;

* “ensure that the administrative requirements set by the Law are
appropriate and consistent with international standards”;

* and “clarify that the prescribed list of rights of religious
organisations is not an exclusive list whereby any activities not specified
therein are automatically prohibited”;

– that registration is not a pre-condition for being able to exercise the
right to freedom of religion or belief. As the Opinion states, “it is not
clear whether individual groups are free to practise their religion without
registration and this should be expressly permitted”;

– that the Amendments should narrow the scope for the authorities to stop
the activities of religious organisations. As the Opinion states, there
should be “a range of sanctions of varying severity, with liquidation being
a measure of last resort applicable only in cases of repeated and/or grave
breaches of the law committed by religious community as a whole or by a
substantial number of its adherents”;

– that the possibility to share beliefs should not be narrowed in ways that
break international law. The Opinion calls for the Amendments to
“reconsider the blanket prohibition on religious advocacy and preaching in
all ‘learning’ and ‘social institutions’ “, as well as “to ensure that the
Law (and the Criminal Code) allow for some forms of proselytism and only
prohibit ‘improper’ proselytism, in line with international law”. The
Opinion notes that “the right to discuss one’s belief is protected” by both
the freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression articles of the
ECHR and ICCPR, and that “the terms defining proselytism are too broad and
vague”.

* The Opinion also states that “the wording ‘distortion of religious
convictions’ appears to be aimed more at protecting ‘the exclusive mission’
of the Armenian Church than at protecting the forum internum and other
rights of those harassed by improper proselytism”. As the Opinion notes, “a
general notion of respect for religious feelings is not itself a right
found within the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. On the
contrary, it is inconsistent with the ‘pluralism indissociable from a
democratic society’ entrenched in Article 9” of the ECHR;

– that discrimination should not be permitted against followers of any
religion or belief. The Opinion calls for the Amendments “to ensure that
the expressly recognized privileged position of the Holy Apostolic Armenian
Church is consistent with the principles regarding equality of treatment
between religions”;

– and that Armenia should “consider allowing for charitable financial
support for religious advocacy” The Amendments define “religious advocacy”
as “the dissemination (irrespective of the form – a book, brochure,
electronic carrier, etc.) of certain religious ideas and knowledge
(doctrines) by a follower believing in them”.

February round table “to get the government talking”

Civil society activists complain that no official government statement has
yet been made in Armenia, responding to the critical Opinion. The
government has also not announced how it intends to proceed.

The Opinion has been welcomed by civil society activists. “It was a serious
review which will prove very helpful here in Armenia”, Stepan Danielyan,
head of the Yerevan-based Collaboration for Democracy Centre, told Forum 18
from Yerevan on 20 January.

Collaboration for Democracy and the Open Society Foundations – Armenia are
planning a joint round table conference on the proposed Amendments in
Yerevan in early February, with participants from the government and civil
society, including religious communities. They hope the Yerevan offices of
the OSCE and Council of Europe will also be involved.

“The whole idea is to get the government talking – this is a question of
transparency,” Maria Aghajanyan of the Open Society Foundations told Forum
18 on 20 January. “Why does the government keep pushing laws in this area
that get negative reviews? It happened in 2009 and again in 2010.” To help
public discussion, Open Society Foundation has sponsored a translation into
Armenian of the Venice Commission / OSCE Opinion, which has been published
on the Religions in Armenia website at .

The Venice Commission with the OSCE has in recent years published a number
of other critical legal reviews of various proposed Armenian laws
.

What will government do now?

Sarkisyan of the Justice Ministry told Forum 18 that the Ministry will
rework the current Amendments in the light of the Venice Commission / OSCE
recommendations. “They will work from the draft text in hand, but it may
become a new text,” she said. Only after the Venice Commission and OSCE
have completed a further review and given its comments will it be presented
to other relevant Armenian government agencies and the government itself
for comment and approval. After that the Amendments will be presented to
Armenia’s parliament, the National Assembly, she said.

However, Astsatryan of the Department for Ethnic Minorities and Religious
Affairs denied this. “I believe the Justice Ministry will send the text to
us – and to other parts of the government – before it goes back to the
Venice Commission,” he told Forum 18.

Sarkisyan pledged that the text of any new proposed Amendments would be
published in Armenian on the Justice Ministry website “in line with usual
procedures”. She said she has been working at the Ministry only for one
month, so could not explain why the 2010 Amendments were not made public in
Armenian.

The 2010 Amendments had been prepared by the then Justice Minister Gevorg
Danielyan and Ministry officials, but Danielyan was sacked in December
2010. So both the Justice Minister Tovmasyan and his advisor Sarkisyan have
been in their jobs for only one month.

Amendments to the 2003 Law on Alternative Service are also with the Justice
Ministry for review. As of 1 December 2010, 73 Jehovah’s Witness young men
were prisoners of conscience for refusing to do compulsory military
service, or military-controlled alternative service (see F18News 7 December
2010 ).

But does Prime Minister support restrictions?

Given the apparent difference of opinion within the government, Danielyan
of Collaboration for Democracy remains wary. “I believe the 2010 Amendments
had the strong backing of Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan,” he told Forum
18 from Yerevan on 20 February. “A year ago he spoke in public that the
idea that the Church and the State should be separate is an outdated
concept. He has special contacts with the Armenian Apostolic Church, and
there’ll be lobbying from him and the Church to make the Amendments
harsher.”

Prime Minister Sarkisyan is the current head of the board of the Armenian
Apostolic Church’s Ararat Diocese, which includes the capital Yerevan, the
Chancellery of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s headquarters in Echmiadzin
told Forum 18 on 20 January.

Astsatryan of the Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs Department told
Forum 18 on 20 January that Prime Minister Sarkisyan has made no comment on
the proposed Amendments, and plays no role. An aide to the Prime Minister
told Forum 18 the same day that the government has “one position”, not
several, and that this issue is being handled by the Justice Ministry.

2009 proposed Amendments not dead?

Aghajanyan of the Open Society Foundations points out that the 2009
proposed Amendments restricting freedom of religion or belief remain on the
National Assembly agenda (see F18News 24 March 2009
). They were approved
by the National Assembly before being criticised by the Venice Commission
and OSCE (see F18News 2 July 2009
). “Since these
Amendments are also on the agenda, they will have to be discussed,” she
told Forum 18. (END)

More coverage of freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Armenia and
the unrecognised entity of Nagorno-Karabakh is at

A compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
(OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments can be found at
.

A printer-friendly map of Armenia is available at
.
(END)

© Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855
You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to
F18News

Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at

From: A. Papazian

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, January 20, 2011

AGBU Young Professionals Go Green by Uniting Worldwide to Build a Park
in Khachik, Armenia

Development Initiatives Underway to Transform Khachik Village Into
Income-Generating Tourist Destination

After 18 months of preparation and planning, the AGBU Young
Professionals (YP) Network recently completed the development and
implementation of its first pan-YP project to build a park in the
rural village of Khachik, Armenia. Flexing their global muscle for the
very first time, ten YP Groups and YP Partner organizations from four
continents participated, including YP Buenos Aires, YP Brazil, YP
Greater New York, YP Los Angeles, YP Marseille, YP Northern
California, YP Philadelphia, YP Toronto, YP Yerevan, and HAIK in
Frankfurt, Germany, in cooperation with the Center for Agribusiness
and Rural Development (CARD).

With international cooperation as a main priority, the project was
initiated in July 2009 during the AGBU Young Professionals Biennial
Assembly held in Chicago over AGBU FOCUS weekend. Worldwide YP
representatives concluded that the time had come to pool their
resources as a cohesive whole for Armenia. Breaking new ground, the
AGBU Young Professionals decided to launch an environmental project
which would be conceived, funded, and developed entirely by them. As a
result of this initiative, the new park will now provide a green space
of beauty and relaxation for the 300 families of Khachik to enjoy; the
park is expected to also help attract visitors and tourists, thus
providing a future source of income for residents.

With the funds raised by the YP Groups in the diaspora and project
implementation in Khachik overseen by YP Yerevan, this unified effort
by the YP Network sets an exemplary model that cooperation reaps
results to create a more positive future for the people of
Armenia. Throughout 2010, several groups organized benefit events
dedicated specifically to the project, including YP Northern
California’s signature Winter Gala (), YP Los
Angeles’ St. Patrick’s Day Mixer, YP Toronto’s Noir & Blanche Soirée,
YP Marseille’s Bio Fair, and HAIK’s Classical Summer Concert.

Imparting the enthusiasm of YP Marseille’s role in the project,
Chairwoman Maral Hékimian expressed, “As a member of an international
network, getting involved with the pan-YP project was one of YP
Marseille’s main goals. We really wanted to organize a benefit event
which was in the same spirit as the project in Khachik. As such, we
organized our first Bio Fair & Conference in May 2010, which promoted
fair trade and sustainable development. We are very happy to see that,
today, thanks to our joint efforts, we have managed to develop this
park that many families can enjoy and which will allow residents to
stay in their village.”

Development of Khachik

Situated on a high plateau on the Azerbaijani border, Khachik is a
rural village of 300 families in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia,
located 20 kilometers from the town of Areni and approximately 2.5
hours from Yerevan. The villagers’ principal income is derived from
the sale of their produce to intermediaries, who then resell the goods
in the Yerevan markets at three times the price.

In addition to the new park, there have been other development
initiatives underway in Khachik recently. Providing its residents
much-needed exposure and a connection to the outside world, YP
Yerevan, in cooperation with CARD, built an Information Center in
Khachik’s village hall in April 2010, furnishing it with computers and
Internet access. Less than a kilometer outside Khachik, a 9th-century
church is also being renovated by the Ministry of Culture and UNESCO.

In tandem with the other development initiatives, the hope is that the
creation of the park will help improve the village’s economic
viability and sustainability, as Khachik is viewed as a future
income-generating tourist destination. The park will serve as a venue
for agricultural festivals, fairs, and events to attract churchgoers,
visitors, and tourists, where the villagers can sell their local
produce without intermediaries, thus providing a direct source of
income. In addition, these initiatives will help contribute towards
ensuring the survival and sovereignty of the village’s borders,
improving the overall welfare of its residents, and providing an
incentive for its young people to remain in Khachik rather than move
to Yerevan or emigrate.

Khachik Park

Between the 9th-century church and the village, there existed a large
abandoned area with a water source and sparse trees. YP Yerevan, CARD,
villagers, and workers transformed this desolate area into a green
haven for the young and old by planting trees, installing wooden
tables and benches, and constructing an open-air kitchen. In April
2010, YP Yerevan broke ground for Khachik’s new park, planting
seedlings donated by the Republic of Armenia Nature Protection
Ministry. The opening ceremony took place in October 2010.

Thanks to the goodwill and efforts of the AGBU Young Professionals,
the new park provides an environment that its 1,000 residents can be
proud of, where parents can visit with their children for recreational
activities, and where the youth can gather and feel that they have an
area to call their own. “I would like to thank all AGBU YPs and every
person who participated in implementing this project for Khachik,”
said YP Yerevan Vice Chairwoman Anna Karapetyan. “Thanks to your
efforts and fundraising, we together accomplished this great project
for the youth and adults of Khachik village.”

The development of the new park will have an important impact on the
way the residents view their village, helping to modify their
attitudes and become more environmentally conscious. The youth of the
village have been tasked with maintaining the park and, to this end,
two workshops have been delivered to the residents on maintenance of
the area and environmental awareness and responsibility. Future
development of the park is also expected. For more information,
pictures, and news coverage about the project, please visit

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 program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Studies Program
Ingrid Peterson, Administrator
University of Michigan
1080 S. University, Suite 3633
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
Phone: 734.763.0622; Fax: 734.763.4918
email: [email protected]

The Caucasus: Old Conflict and New Geopolitical Design

The University of Michigan Armenian Studies speaker discusses the
Russian-Georgian War

ANN ARBOR, MICH., Jan. , 2011 –
On Monday, January 10, 2011 Moscow-based researcher and author
Dr. Sergey Markedonov presented an analysis of the brief August 2008
war between Georgia and Russia in the context of geo-political
rivalries in the region. The speaker argued that a new status quo has
emerged in South Ossetia and Abkhazia following that conflict. The
elements of that status quo, argued Dr. Markedonov, include a new
agenda for Abkhazia and South Ossetia; new roles for Russia, Turkey,
and Iran; and new challenges and motivations for violence in the
Caucasus. Elaboration on these points can be found in Markedonov’s
2009 book, The Big Caucasus: Consequences of the “Five Day War,” New
Challenges and Prospects (International Centre for Black Sea Studies).

Markedonov contextualized the post-2008 consequences by describing
previous policies and dynamics. Using the collapse of the Soviet Union
as a point of entry, this first stage is characterized as a time of
frozen conflict, attempts to reconsider the status quo, the search for
resources and the internationalization of the Caucasus. The fall out
of the August 2008 war included the definitive abolition of old
political-legal agreements between Georgia and Russia, the first
post-Soviet violation of inter-state borders, a change in the presence
of international organizations, emergence of semi of partial
recognized entities, and parallel geopolitical and political-legal
realities.

Sergey Markedonov completed his Ph.D. in 1999 at Rostov-on-Don State
Pedagogical University. Currently a Visiting Fellow at the Center of
Strategic and International Studies, Markedonov has published
extensively on the Black Sea and the Caucasus. A recording of this
lecture is available on the Armenian Studies website:

Armenian Studies Program
The University of Michigan’s Armenian Studies Program promotes the
study of Armenian history, culture, and society. A member of the
University of Michigan International Institute, the program organizes
educational opportunities for students, faculty and the community.
For more information, contact the Armenian Studies Program at (734)
763-0622 or visit

University of Michigan International Institute
The University of Michigan International Institute houses 18 centers
and programs focused on world regions and global themes. The institute
develops and supports international teaching, research, and public
affairs programs to promote global understanding across the campus and
to build connections with intellectuals and institutions
worldwide. For more information, visit

From: A. Papazian

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 10-20, 2011

HIGHLIGHTS:

“E-CLUB” LAUNCHED ON “A1+” ONLINE BROADCAST

CAR OF HEAD OF “LORI” TV COMPANY SET ON FIRE

MPs SUE OWNER OF “HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK”

NCTR PROVIDED “A1+” WITH THE REQUESTED INFORMATION

“ASPAREZ” MONITORING: DURING NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS PUBLIC TELEVISION FIRST
CHANNEL EXCEEDED PERMISSIBLE ADVERTISING VOLUME

APPEAL OF “INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” PARTIALLY SECURED

“E-CLUB” LAUNCHED ON “A1+” ONLINE BROADCAST

On January 18, 2011 the first program from “E-Club” cycle launched on the
online broadcast of “A1+” TV company (). The “E-Club” is
produced by Yerevan Press Club in cooperation with “A1+” TV company under
“Alternative Resources in Media” project, supported by USAID.

The “E-Club” is aired weekly, on Tuesdays, with several blocs, right after
the “Ayb-Fe” newscasts. The blocs are of information and education profile:
news from and about the Internet; pieces on some hints of using the Global
Network, on the advantages and potential risks for the users; plots on the
weekly sites and blogs ratings, as well as the web headlines for the last
week. The final, discussion bloc, reflects different viewpoints on the
alternative media situation and its development. The host of this part is
Lilit Bleyan, “A1+” Correspondent.

On January 18 the guests of the “E-Club” discussion bloc, Ruzan Khachatrian,
Observer of Public Radio of Armenia, and Sergey Sargsian, Editor of
“Armenian Comedy News Network”, considered the WikiLeaks phenomenon.

The next “E-Club” will be aired on “A1+” on January 25.

CAR OF HEAD OF “LORI” TV COMPANY SET ON FIRE

In the early morning of January 17, 2011 in Vanadzor (Lori region) the car
of the Chief Editor of “Lori” TV company Narineh Avetisian was set on fire.
The journalist found this out in the morning, when she opened the doors of
the garage. According to her, there were rags on the burnt body of the car,
which were allegedly thrown through the ventilation hole of the wall. The
head of “Lori” did not express any possible versions on the incident reason.
Vanadzor Department of the RA Police of Lori region has instituted criminal
proceedings on the case by Article 185 of RA Criminal Code (“Premeditated
destruction or spoilage of property”).

On January 17 the Vanadzor Branch of Helsinki Citizens Assembly released a
statement, considering the incident with Narineh Avetisian as another
infringement upon a journalist, and demanded to find and punish the
criminals.

It is already the third incident with Narineh Avetisian for the last years.
On February 23, 2006 she was threatened by the owner of two lines of the
city mini buses. The discontent of the entrepreneur was caused by the topic
on ungrounded increase of city transportation fees, constantly raised by the
journalist on the air of “Lori” TV. While, in the early morning of May 16,
2006 in Vanadzor her car was pelt with stones (see details in Report “On
Freedom of Speech in Armenia” for 2006 on ).

MPs SUE OWNER OF “HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK”

On January 17, 2011 the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash administrative districts of Yerevan started hearing the case on
the suit of RA National Assembly MPs Samvel Aleksanian (unaffiliated), Levon
Sargsian and Ruben Hayrapetian (members of Republican Party of Armenia
faction) versus the founder of “Haykakan Zhamanak” daily, “Dareskizb” LLC.
The reason for the suit became the piece “Seven of the Eight Are in the
List”, published in “Haykakan Zhamanak” on October 14, 2010. The article
told that some of the Armenian officials and businessmen, including the
abovementioned RA NA deputies (who are at the same time major
entrepreneurs), appear in a number of criminal cases, instituted by the
Russian law enforcement bodies. The MPs demanded to refute the information
that discredits their honor, dignity and business reputation, as well as to
compensate the moral loss in the amount of 2 million AMD each. Besides, each
of the plaintiffs assessed its’ court expenses with 500,000 AMD. Thus, the
overall amount of the financial claims versus the defendant makes 7.5
million AMD (about $ 16,600).

At the session of January 17 the court secured the petition of “Dareskizb”
attorney, who demanded to provide time for examining the case materials.

The next session will take place on January 24.

NCTR PROVIDED “A1+” WITH THE REQUESTED INFORMATION

On January 11, 2011 the RA Administrative Court started hearing the suit of
“A1+” founder, “Meltex” LLC, versus the National Commission on Television
and Radio. As it has been reported, on December 1, 2010 “Meltex” made a
request to the NCTR, demanding to grant the copies of the applications of
“ArmNews” CJSC and “Armenia TV” CJSC, submitted for the licensing
competitions in the digital network, announced by NCTR on July 20, 2010. On
December 6 NCTR replied that the copies can be provided only after January
20, 2011. The results of the competitions were announced on December 16. The
winner of competition No.11, which was attended by “Meltex” LLC and
“ArmNews” CJSC, became the founder of “ArmNews” TV company. Thus, NCTR
members denied a broadcast license to “A1+” for the thirteenth time. On
December 20 the “A1+” founder filed the court requiring to bind NCTR to
provide with the requested information (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December
17-23, 2010).

At the court session of January 11 the NCTR representative expressed his
readiness of granting the plaintiff with the copies of the competition
applications of “ArmNews” and “Armenia” on January 20. On the date agreed
the requested information was provided, and at the court session, held on
the same day, the suit was revoked.

“ASPAREZ” MONITORING: DURING NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS PUBLIC TELEVISION FIRST
CHANNEL EXCEEDED PERMISSIBLE ADVERTISING VOLUME

Levon Barseghian, the Board Chairman of “Asparez” Journalists’ Club of
Gyumri, addressed letters to Grigor Amalian, Chairman of the National
Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR), informing about the legislation
violations by the First Channel of the Public Television of Armenia on the
air of December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011. The reason for inquiring NCTR,
the broadcast regulatory body, was the monitoring results of the PTA First
Channel, administered by “Asparez” on the New Year days. The letters were
attended by detailed tables on the monitoring findings.

The letter of Levon Barseghian of January 10, 2011, particularly, noted that
on December 31, 2010 commercial advertising on the air of PTA First Channel
exceeded the legislative limits. Thus, in TV programs of overall duration of
16 hours 7 minutes and 34 seconds (since 07:52:26 till 24:00:00) the
advertising made 2 hours 1 minute and 57 seconds, or the 12.6% of the total
airtime. Hence, the provision of the RA Law “On Television and Radio”,
defining a 7% restriction on the advertising volume for the total airtime,
was violated: the limit was exceeded by 80% of the permissible maximum.
Besides, the “Retro-22:30” TV program, aired since 22:50:41 till 23:44:29,
was four times interrupted by advertising blocs and/or sponsor references.
Thus, the requirement of Point 2 of Article 9 of the RA Law “On Advertising”
was also violated (a TV program can be interrupted by an advertisement only
every 20 minutes).

Similar cases were fixed by “Asparez” on the air of the First Channel on
January 1, 2011. The “Asparez” letter addressed to NCTR on January 14, 2011,
particularly, notes that on the 24-hour air of the New Year first day (since
00:00:00 till 24:00:00) the duration of commercial advertising made 2 hours
20 minutes and 28 seconds, or 9.8% of the total air, given the restriction
of 7%. The requirement of Point 2 of Article 9 of the RA Law “On
Advertising” was violated in several programs: “Concert”, “22:30”, “Anna”
soap opera.

In the letters to the NCTR head “Asparez” demanded to consider the presented
findings, call the lawbreakers to account, as well as to inform about the
measures taken. The copies of the letters were sent to the Chairman of the
Council of the Public TV and Radio Company Alexan Harutiunian and the Head
of RA President’s Control Service Hovhannes Hovsepian.

APPEAL OF “INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS” PARTIALLY SECURED

On December 27, 2010 the RA Civil Court of Appeal partially secured the
application of the “Investigative Journalists” NGO, which had appealed the
July 9, 2010 decision of the court of general jurisdiction versus Ijevan
municipality (Tavush region). As it has been reported, the reason of more
than a two-year litigation became the articles “Whose Pocket Receives Money
from Sand Mine?” and “Will the Three Commissions Notice the Illegal Use of
Sand?”. The pieces were published in “Hetq” online, founded by
“Investigative Journalists”, on May 5, and June 23, 2008, and also printed
on May 20 and July 9, 2008, respectively, in the supplement to “Azg” daily,
“Transparent Local Self-Government”. The information reflected in the
articles discredited the honor, dignity and business reputation of Ijevan
Mayor Varuzhan Nersisian – as seen by the city administration. Passing
through several court hearings (see details in Yerevan Press Club Reports
“On Freedom of Speech in Armenia” for 2008 and 2009 on ), the case
was redirected to reconsideration by the court of general jurisdiction of
Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts of Yerevan. On July 9, 2010
the court bound the “Investigative Journalists” to refute the information
and to compensate the expenses of 930 thousand AMD (about $ 2,500) made for
the attorney services, as well as to pay the state duty for filling the
court by Ijevan municipality (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 9-15, 2010).

At the session of December 27, 2010 the Civil Court of Appeal reduced the
amount to be compensated by the “Investigative Journalists” to 450 thousand
AMD, upholding the other parts of the decision of the court of general
jurisdiction.

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

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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]
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From: A. Papazian

INSIDE HIGHER ED

Quick Takes
January 19, 2011

[…]

Middle East Studies Group Urges End to Suit Against U. of Minnesota

The Middle East Studies Association is urging the Turkish Coalition of
America to withdraw a lawsuit against the University of Minnesota
over
materials, since removed from the university’s genocide studies website,
calling a website of the Turkish group an “unreliable” source for
information about the Armenian genocide, which most scholars say
happened, and which the Turkish group questions.

In a letter to the coalition,

the Middle East studies group said: “Your organization, and those who
hold perspectives different from those expressed by scholars associated
with the Center, certainly have the right to participate in open
scholarly exchange on the history of the Armenians in the late Ottoman
Empire or any other issue, by presenting their views at academic
conferences, in the pages of peer-reviewed scholarly journals or by
other means, thereby opening them up to debate and challenge. We are
distressed that you instead chose to take legal action against the
University of Minnesota and its Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies, apparently for having at one point characterized views
expressed on your website in a certain way. We fear that legal action of
this kind may have a chilling effect on the ability of scholars and
academic institutions to carry out their work freely and to have their
work assessed on its merits, in conformity with standards and procedures
long established in the world of scholarship. Your lawsuit may thus
serve to stifle the free expression of ideas among scholars and academic
institutions regarding the history of Armenians in the later Ottoman
Empire, and thereby undermine the principles of academic freedom.”

Bruce Fein, one of the lawyers for those suing the University of
Minnesota (a group that includes a student there), rejected the
criticisms from the Middle East scholars. Via e-mail, Fein said that “it
is obvious that the letter writers never bothered to read the
complaint…. The complaint explicitly renounces what the misinformed
letter authors assert: that we are challenging the right of professors
to voice their opinions about the reliability of web or other
information sources. The complaint questions the authority of a state
school to de facto prohibit students from visiting websites solely
because of the viewpoint expressed and not for any bona fide educational
purpose. If I were a teacher, I would give an F grade to the letter for
failure of the writers to do their homework and egregiously
misrepresenting the facts without even contacting the opposing side.”

From: A. Papazian