Author: Andres-Papazian

FREEDOM OF SPEECH REQUIRES CONCRETE STEPS

news.am
Oct 20 2010
Armenia

The fact that Armenia has moved 10 points upward in the Press
Freedom Index by the Reporters Without Borders (RWB) organization
is evidence of the reforms implemented by the Armenian authorities,
Razmik Zohrabyan, Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA), told NEWS.am.

Ensuring freedom of speech requires specific steps rather than
show-rallies, he said.

Armenia is ranked 101st (out of 178 states) in the 2010 Press Freedom
Index list issued by the Reporters Without Borders organization. In
2009 Armenia ranked 111th.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

October 21, 2010

LINKED-IN GATHERING AND CLERGY RETREAT
The weekend of October 8-10, 2010, once again saw the convening of the
Prelacys Annual Youth Gathering, Linked-In, for young adults ages
18-35. As in past years, the gathering took place at the Holy Virgin
Mary Spiritual Vineyard, a picturesque retreat and meditation center
in Charlton, Massachusetts, owned by the Coptic Orthodox Church and
operated by the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Parish of Natick,
Massachusetts.
This year, forty-three participants took retreat amongst their
peers to learn, pray, be enriched and enjoy fellowship. The theme for
this years Linked-In was The Multi-Dimensional Aspects of
Relationships, and as such the topics of all the lectures and
discussions were focused accordingly. The retreaters were privileged
to enjoy dynamic and engaging speakers throughout the weekend. They
also participated in group discussions, Bible study, communal worship,
and music sing-alongs.
Participants went home uplifted and enhanced by this unique
experience.

A longer report and more photographs will be on the Prelacys web page
tomorrow.
Linked-In participants and their leaders.
Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian leads a discussion group outdoors.

CLERGY RETREAT IN MASSACHUSETTS
For the third year the clergy of the Prelacy came together for a
retreat. The retreat began Sunday evening, October 17, and continued
through Wednesday, following the Linked In weekend for young adults at
the same location, Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard in Charlton,
Massachusetts. The retreat was directed by His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan, and the general discussion focused on Holy Week. The days
were filled with prayer services, meditations, Bible readings as well
as fellowship. All participants led a meditation session focusing on
the Epistles of St. Paul (Ephesians, Galatians, Colossians, and
Philippians). The clergy also shared a meal at the residence of
Fr. Aram Stepanian, chairman of the Religious Council, upon his kind
invitation.
The participating clergy at the retreat in Massachusetts.
A group study session.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL PRESIDE OVER
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING AND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the monthly meeting of the
Religious and Executive Councils this Friday, October 22, and on
Saturday he will preside over a one-day Leadership Conference which
will be attended by the members of the Religious and Executive
Councils, and invited guests from various parts of the Prelacy
jurisdiction.

VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO ILLINOIS
Bishop Anoushavan will be in the Chicago area this weekend where on
Sunday he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the Sermon at
All Saints Church in Glenview, Illinois, on the occasion of the Feast
of the Discovery of the Holy Cross.

BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, October 24, Seventh Sunday of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Discovery of the Holy Cross, are: Wisdom
14:1-8; Isaiah 33:22-34:1; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; Matthew 24:27-36.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For
it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the
discernment of the discerning I will thwart. Where is the one who is
wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not
God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of
God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through
the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For
Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ
crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but
to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of
God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 18-24)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).
FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, October 24, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of
the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Giut Khatchi). Empress Helena, mother
of Constantine and a devout Christian, wanted to find the True
Cross. She went to Golgotha (Calvary), which had become an obscure and
neglected place. According to some chronicles, it was an informed Jew
named Juda who pointed out the location. After excavation of the site,
three wooden crosses were found. In order to identify the True Cross,
the three crosses were successively placed on the body of a youth who
had just died. When one of the crosses was placed on him, the young
man came back to life. This was determined to be the True Cross. The
commemoration of this event takes place on the Sunday closest to
October 26, and can vary from October 23 to 29.
Christs exact burial site was also located, and the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher was built on that spot in 335. The church was
destroyed by fire in 614 when the Persians invaded Jerusalem, and
subsequently rebuilt. The current dome dates back to 1870. Three
denominations (Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Russian
Orthodox) administer and maintain the church and surrounding grounds,
unfortunately not always harmoniously. Agreements strictly regulate
times and places of worship for each denomination. Ironically, for
centuries a Muslim family has been the custodian of the keys to the
church, which is within the walled Old City of Jerusalem.

PATRIARCH ZAKKA VISITS CATHOLICOS ARAM
His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I Iwas of the Syrian Orthodox Church,
accompanied by his assistant, and the Diocesan Bishops of Lebanon met
with His Holiness Aram I, in the presence of Bishop Nareg
Alemezian. The leaders of the two Oriental Orthodox Churches discussed
relations with the sister Coptic Orthodox Church and the problems in
church relations within the Middle East Council of Churches. The
discussions continued over lunch hosted by Catholicos Aram.

DELEGATION FROM WORLD COUNCIL VISITS CATHOLICOS
Staff members of the World Council of Churches including Mr. Michel
Nseir, Middle East Issues; Dr. Tamara Grdzelidzae, Faith and Order
Commission; Rev. Dr. Buda, Relations with Orthodox churches; and
accompanied by Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the
Catholicosate, met with His Holiness Aram I on October 14 in Antelias.
They updated His Holiness on the current plans and future
activities of the World Council of Churches. His Holiness affirmed
the commitment of the Armenian Church to the ecumenical
movement. Based on his past experiences as Moderator, he strongly
advised that the WCC help member churches to consider ecumenical
commitment a priority.

PREMIER PERFORMANCE OF HUYSER MUSIC ENSEMBLE
AT ST. ILLUMINATORS CATHEDRAL
Last Sunday, October 17, the first public performanceHayrenikinby the
Huyser Musical Ensemble took place at St. Illuminators Cathedral in
New York City. The newly-formed ensemble of young people is under the
sponsorship of the Cathedral and is directed by Harout
Barsoumian. This introductory performance was well-attended and
received enthusiastically.
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illumintors Cathedral with
the Huyser Ensemble and members of the AGBU Antranig Armenian Dance
Group.

PBS WILL AIR ARMENIAN DOCUMENTARY
ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Public television stations across the United States will air an
award-winning documentary about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict this
Sunday, October 24. Check your local listings for the exact time of
broadcast.
A Story of People in War and Peace, directed by Vardan
Hovhannisyan, is a powerful and passionate portrayal of life in the
trenches for Armenian soldiers and medics struggling to defend their
homeland as the Soviet Union collapses.
The film has already been seen on BBC, ARTE and other
international channels, and has won over 20 awards, including the
International Federation of Film Critics prize. Hovhannisyan received
a Best New Documentary Filmmaker Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival in
New York.

ARTICLE BY PETER BALAKIAN CHALLENGES
ISRAEL TO RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE
The October 19 issue of Tablet Magazine published a beautifully
written article by Peter Balakian entitled State of Denial: Its time
for Israel to rethink its rejection of the Armenian Genocide.
Balakian writes: In recent years, the Israeli government has
mimicked the Turkish governments propaganda about 1915. Shimon Peres,
then Israels foreign minister, went as far as to say, We reject
attempts to create a similarity between the Holocaust and the Armenian
allegations. Nothing similar to the Holocaust occurred. What the
Armenians went through is a tragedy, but not genocide…
Given Turkeys relentless campaign to deny the Armenian Genocide
and insinuate its own extreme national narrative into democratic
societies around the world, Israels call for the genocides proper and
long overdue recognition would have important ethical meaning. It
would, among other things, be a redress to genocide denial in
general. As scholars have noted, denial is the final stage of
genocide. The distinguished Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt has
written that denial of genocide, whether that of the Turks against the
Armenians or the Nazis against the Jewsstrives to reshape history in
order to demonize the victims and rehabilitate the perpetrators.

To read the entire article click here (

).

Today the God-loving queen seeks the precious wood of the cross placed
on Golgotha, come, you faithful, worship the divine holy sign.
Today Golgotha gives us what had been hidden in the earth by
the help of blessed Judas brought out in the burning of incense; come,
you faithful, let us adore the divine holy sign.
Today by the saving holy sign the dead young man is returned to
life and Satan bewails his fall; but let us who believe in Christ
adore the divine holy sign.

>From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Canon for the Discovery of the Holy Cross

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 23 & 30 Screening of the 1919 American-made silent film,
Ravished Armenia, on two consecutive Saturdays, at 4 pm, at Theatre of
St. Clements Episcopal Church, 423 West 46th Street (between ninth and
tenth avenues), New York City. Co-sponsored by ANC of NY & NJ, and The
Anahid Sofian Dance Company. Dr. Antonia Lant, chair of the Department
of Cinema Studies at New York University, will present and discuss
this 1919 Hollywood film. Please note that this film is not
appropriate for children. Donation $15 (all proceeds will benefit Near
East Foundations work in Armenia). For information: 212-741-2848.
October 24 St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New
York, celebrates the Year of the Armenian Woman. Lecture by Marilyn
Martone, Ph.D, professor at St. Johns University, Women in America,
immediately following church services.
October 30 Comedy & Mezza Night, sponsored by the ARS of Eastern USA
(Agnouni & Spitak chapters), featuring comedian Vahe Berberian in a
new repertoire, 7 pm at the Hovnanian School, 817 River Road, New
Milford, New Jersey. For information: [email protected].
October 31 St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, New
York, celebrates the Year of the Armenian Woman. Lecture by Mrs. Nayda
Voskerijian, member of Ladies Guild and Armenian Relief Society,
Armenian Women in America, immediately following church services.
November 5-6 St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts. 54th
annual bazaar, at ACEC, 47 Nichols Ave., 10 am to 9:30 pm. Delicious
lamb, losh, & chicken kebab, kheyma, kufta & yalanchi, Armenian
pastries, gourmet foods, soujoukh, arts & crafts, attic treasures,
raffles, live auction, and much more. Childrens games on Saturday. For
information, 617-924-7562.
November 5-6-7 Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Friday 5 pm-10 pm; Saturday, 5 pm-11
pm with live music by Jaq Hagopian and his band. Sunday 12 noon 4 pm,
featuring traditional Kavourma dinner. Menu for Friday and Saturday
includes kebabs (chicken, luleh, and lamb), various homemade
appetizers, plus tourshe, string cheese, lahmejun, choreg, manti, sou
boreg and kufte to take home, and dessert table. Tricky Tray Friday
and Saturday; host of vendors for shopping; childrens activity
room. For information contact the church by email
([email protected] (mailto:[email protected])) or
phone, 201-943-2950.
November 6-7 St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Annual Bazaar
featuring lavish Armenian delicacies, exclusive shops, kids carnival
games, raffles, attic treasures, and much more.
November 7 St. Stephens Church, Hartford/New Britain, Connecticut,
85th anniversary dinner and program in the church hall, begins at 1
pm.
November 7 67th anniversary, All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview,
Illinois.
November 13-14 Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 46th
anniversary banquet Saturday evening. Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated
by the Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Oshagan. Information: 301-229-8742.
November 13-14 Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
Armenian Fest 2010 at Rhodes-On-The-Pawtucket, Cranston, Rhode
Island. Saturday, 12 noon to 10 pm; Sunday, 12 noon to 8 pm. Shish
Kebob, Losh, and Chicken dinners, sandwiches, falafel, served all
day. Armenian pastries, Country Store, hourly raffles, silent auction,
gift baskets, and much more. Live Armenian music, Mourad Armenian
School students to dance on Saturday at 5 pm and Sunday at 4 pm.
Admission free. For information call the church, 401-831-6399.
November 14 Thanksgiving Luncheon and Cultural Program, sponsored by
Ladies Guild of St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New
York City, following Divine Liturgy, adults $25; children $10. For
information/reservations: 212-689-5880.
November 19-20 Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival, Friday, November 19, 4 pm to 8 pm, with dinner
beginning at 5 pm. Saturday, November 20, 10 am to 4 pm with dinner
beginning at noon. Shish, Losh, and Chicken Kebob and Kheyma
sandwiches. Variety of baked goods and Armenian Country Store.
December 4 4th annual banquet, sponsored by the Armenian National
Committee of America, Eastern Region, at Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Rhode
Island. Cocktails and silent auction at 6:30 pm; dinner and awards
program at 8 pm. Warwick Mayor, Scott Avedisian, will host the
evening. ANCA-ER Freedom Award to go to the late Senator Edward
Kennedy. Vahan Cardashian Award to Tatoul Sonentz-Papazian. For
information/reservations, Stephanie at 401-523-0205.
December 9 Film screening of award-winning Aghet: A Genocide,
sponsored by Armenian National Committee of New Jersey and Center for
Holocaust & Genocide Studies, Ramapo College, 505 Ramapo Valley Road,
Mahwah, New Jersey, 7:15 pm. Free and open to the public. For
information: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
201-684-7409.
March 27, 2011 Musical Armenia Concert. Sponsored by Eastern Prelacy,
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York City.
May 11-14, 2011 National 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

NO COMPULSORY MEDICAL INSURANCE IN ARMENIA YET

news.am
Oct 20 2010
Armenia

RA Deputy Minister of Finance Pavel Safaryan is ready to discuss the
issue of medical insurance in the context of the 2011 draft budget
if a relevant program is proposed.

At the Oct. 20 discussions of the 2011 draft budget in the Armenian
Parliament he stated that no relevant program is on the agenda.

RA Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkyan proposed joint work at a
relevant program to the MP Artsvik Minasyan, who raised the issue.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. CONSUL GENERAL IN ISTANBUL VISITED ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE IN CONSTANTINOPLE

news.am
Oct 20 2010
Armenia

On October 18, the newly appointed U.S. Consul General to Istanbul
Scott Frederic Kilner visited Armenian Patriarchate in Constantinople
to get acquainted with the patriarchate and local Armenian community.

Vicar of Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Archbishop Aram
Ateshyan congratulated the U.S. official on the appointment to the
post and provided him with information on the history of Armenians
in Turkey and the current issues of the community.

From: A. Papazian

BAKO SAHAKYAN : LA REUNION AVEC L’ARMENIE PAS A L’ORDRE DU JOUR
Stephane

armenews
mardi19 octobre 2010
KARABAGH

“La question de la reconnaissance finale du Nagorno Karabakh est
a l’ordre du jour. La jonction avec l’Armenie n’est pas discutee ”
a declare le President du Karabagh Bako Sahakyan dans une interview
au journal Ukrainien ” Segodnya “.

Selon Bako Sahakyan, ce n’est pas un conflit entre l’Armenie et
l’Azerbaïdjan. Le conflit a eclate entre le Nagorno Karabakh et
l’Azerbaïdjan, tandis que cette dernière a reussi a y impliquer
l’Armenie. Erevan ne reconnaît pas l’independance du Karabagh ne
voulant pas gener le processus de paix. ”

Bako Sahakyan a rappele qu’il a suggere au Groupe de Minsk de l’OSCE
d’organiser une reunion avec le President azeri.

“Cependant les mediateurs sont incapables de comprendre l’initiative en
raison de l’approche non constructive de Bakou ” a-t-il dit, ajoutant
que de nombreuses propositions de retirer les tireurs isoles (snipers)
ont ete aussi rejetees par l’Azerbaïdjan.

Bako Sahakyan a dit que le conflit du Karabakh doit etre resolu par
des compromis, mais l’independance du Karabagh et sa securite ne
peuvent pas faire l’objet de concessions.

From: A. Papazian

LA VISITE OFFICIELLE DU PRESIDENT SLOVENE DANILO TURK A EREVAN
Stephane

armenews
mardi19 octobre 2010
ARMENIE

La visite officielle du President slovène Danilo Turk a Erevan
constitue le principal sujet d’actualite. Les deux chefs d’Etat
se sont entretenus en tete-a-tete avant d’etre rejoints par leurs
delegations. Au terme des negociations, quatre documents ont ete
signes entre les Gouvernements d’Armenie et de Slovenie relatifs
: a l’exclusion de la double imposition sur le revenu et sur la
propriete et a la prevention de l’evasion fiscale ; a l’abolition
du regime visa pour les diplomates ; a la cooperation economique ;
a la cooperation dans le domaine de l’education, de la science et de
la culture. Lors d’une conference de presse conjointe, le President
Sarkissian a rappele qu’il s’agit de la première visite d’un chef
d’Etat slovène en Republique d’Armenie depuis l’independance des
deux Etats. Les negociations ont davantage porte sur des questions
economiques. Ce n’est pas un secret, d’après le President, que c’est
l’interet economique qui definit l’ordre du jour politique et que
le renforcement des relations economiques doit devenir la pierre
angulaire des relations bilaterales armeno-slovènes. En Armenie l’on
est impressionne par les indices economiques de la Slovenie qui occupe
des positions avantageuses parmi les nouveaux membres de l’UE. Le
chef de l’Etat a ajoute qu’en Armenie l’on considerait la cooperation
armeno-slovène dans le contexte general de la politique d’amarrage
europeen. Serge Sarkissian a en outre note qu’il a presente a son
homologue le conflit du HK, l’etape actuelle des negociations et la
position de la partie armenienne qui demeure inchangee : le conflit
du HK doit etre resolu par la voie pacifique, sans recours a la force
et sans menace d’y recourir, dans le strict respect des normes du
droit international. Plus vite le HK rejoindra les negociations,
plus vite l’on parviendra au denouement du conflit.

Le President slovène, quant a lui, a ajoute qu’il a discute avec
son homologue armenien des questions de securite. Il a considere
que l’initiative recemment presentee par le President Medvedev sur
la nouvelle architecture de securite pour la zone eurasienne merite
d’etre prise au serieux. L’OTAN elabore un nouveau concept strategique
de securite qui doit etre adopte a l’occasion du sommet de Lisbonne.

L’on peut attendre a ce qu’il offre de nouvelles opportunites en
matière de securite a toute la zone eurasienne et euro-atlantique. La
cooperation de l’Europe avec la Russie ainsi qu’avec les pays du
Partenariat oriental peut donner un nouveau sens et contenu a la
future politique de securite de l’Europe dans la zone eurasienne
et euro-atlantique. L’Armenie est l’un des principaux participants
de cette strategie, selon lui. Le monde doit ecouter et comprendre
l’Armenie et ~uvrer avec elle pour resoudre les problèmes regionaux.

Les conflits geles doivent etre ” degeles ” et resolus sur la base
de la confiance mutuelle. Interroge sur le cas de Kosovo et sur sa
position a l’egard des principes du droit international (integrite
territoriale et droit des peuples a disposer d’eux-memes), le President
slovène a observe que les deux principes ne fonctionnent jamais de
manière spontanee. Tout cas [de conflit] est unique et particulier
et necessite des solutions qui repondront a la fois aux normes du
droit international, mais aussi aux particularites de la situation
concrète. La CIJ a considere que la proclamation de l’independance
par l’AN du Kosovo n’a pas viole les normes du droit international,
mais la Cour s’est très prudemment abstenue de se prononcer sur la
question de l’autodetermination. Le President Sarkissian a ajoute de
son côte que tout cas d’autodetermination est particulier et qu’il ne
faut pas mettre tous les cas dans le meme panier. Mais les decisions
judiciaires doivent decouler, selon lui, des memes principes. Le
precedent du Kosovo est important pour l’Armenie du fait que la CIJ
a très clairement repondu a la question de savoir si la proclamation
unilaterale d’independance contredit le droit international ou non. La
reponse est non. Pendant quelques decennies, en depit de sa volonte,
le peuple du HK a vecu sous la domination azerbaïdjanaise. Dès que
l’occasion s’est presentee, le peuple du HK s’est autodeterminee
par le biais d’un referendum en proclamant unilateralement son
independance, dans le respect des normes du droit international. En
consequence, l’Azerbaïdjan a impose une ” guerre cruelle ” au peuple
du HK, mais celui-ci a su, certes a l’aide de l’Armenie, organiser
son autodefense. C’est ca la difference entre le Kosovo et le HK
dont le peuple a su organiser sa defense sans l’OTAN. Le HK a le
droit de declarer aujourd’hui a l’intention de toute la communaute
internationale qu’il n’a viole aucun principe international et attend
a ce que cette communaute reconnaisse son droit a l’independance.

Turquie- Interroge sur la position de son pays quant a l’adhesion de
la Turquie a l’UE, le President slovène a rappele que chaque candidat
a cette adhesion, y compris la Turquie, doit repondre a certains
critères. La Turquie franchit actuellement la periode des negociations
qui s’avancent toutefois très lentement. Il a espere que non seulement
la Turquie prend conscience de ces critères, mais est disposee a les
satisfaire. La Slovenie a salue la signature, l’annee dernière, des
protocoles armeno-turcs et appelle aujourd’hui la Turquie a poursuivre
le processus de normalisation des relations avec l’Armenie et a
s’avancer vers la ratification des protocoles. Enfin, les quotidiens
signalent aussi la visite du President slovène au Memorial du genocide
et la tenue d’un forum economique armeno-slovène avec la participation
de quelques dizaines d’hommes d’affaires de part et d’autre.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

From: A. Papazian

ECOUTER LA BIBLE SUR CD LE NOUVEAU PROJET DU CATHOLICOSAT DE CILICIE
Stephane

armenews
mardi19 octobre 2010
LIBAN

La première serie de CD avec les lectures orales de la Bible vient
d’apparaître. Le CD comprend les lectures des quatre Evangiles,
Matthieu, Marc, Luc et Jean.

Le projet a ete execute avec les benedictions de Sa Saintete Aram 1er
par deux anciens diplômes du Seminaire d’Antelias, residant maintenant
en Californie a Fresno, les Diacres Mark Shirin et Raffi der Simonian.

Le but du projet est d’enregistrer la Bible entière sur CD.

Mark Shirin et Raffi der Simonian ont decide d’amorcer ce projet pour
rendre la Bible disponible aux gens qui n’ont pas le temps de lire
la Bible, de prier ou de mediter regulièrement.

From: A. Papazian

LANCEMENT DE LA CONSTRUCTION DE CENTRALES HYDRO-ELECTRIQUES DES 2011
Marion

armenews
mardi19 octobre 2010
Armenie – Iran

Les ministres de l’Energie armeniens et iraniens ont annonce, vendredi
15 octobre, que l’Armenie et l’Iran vont lancer la construction de deux
grandes centrales hydro-electriques dès le debut de l’annee prochaine.

Armen Movsisian, le ministre armenien de l’Energie a declare, le
16 septembre, que les travaux d’un montant total de 323 millions de
dollars, commenceront lors de la prochaine visite de son homologue
iranien, Majid Namju, en Armenie.

Toutefois, les deux hommes ont seulement signe un memorandum confirmant
la decision des deux gouvernements de lancer la construction, qui
doit durer cinq ans. ” Les travaux debuteront l’annee prochaine “,
a assure Movsisian lors de la ceremonie de signature.

” Nous sommes determines a annoncer le lancement de ce projet très
important dès que possible “, a declare Namju. Les derniers details
du projet seront fixes au cours de la visite du Premier ministre,
Tigran Sarkissian, a Teheran prevue pour la fin du mois d’octobre.

Sarkissian et Namju ont discute de la question lors d’une reunion
plus tôt dans la journee. Selon le service de presse du gouvernement
armenien, ils ont tous deux souligne l’importance du developpement
des relations armeno-iraniennes.

Les deux centrales, d’une capacite respective de 130 megawatts,
seront construites de chaque côte de l’Araxe, rivière marquant la
frontière armeno-iranienne. Elles seront construites par la compagnie
iranienne Farad-Sepasad

Jeudi 14 octobre, Namju et Movsisian ont inaugure le lancement d’un
autre projet energetique armeno-iranien, qui prevoit la construction
d’une troisième ligne haute tension reliant les deux pays. La ligne
permettra une augmentation substantielle des exportations d’electricite
armeniennes vers la Republique islamique.

From: A. Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA LIBRARIES
Contact: Eileen M. Thornton
Assistant Director of Communications, USF Libraries
Tel: 813-974-5004
Email: Ethornton-at-usf-dot-edu

Dr. Mark Greenberg
Director of the USF Libraries Holocaust and Genocide Studies Center
Director of Special and Digital Collections, USF Libraries
Tel: 813-974-4141
Email: Migreenberg-at-usf-dotedu

09/28/2010 – Tampa, Florida

USF Tampa Library Hosts Armenian Culture & History Symposium
“Rediscovering Armenia”

forges ties with local communities

Richard G. Hovannisian
,
preeminent scholar of Armenian history and UCLA Holder of the Armenian
Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History, speaks Friday,
October 29th at the USF Tampa Library , during a
symposium on Armenian history and culture
.

Kicking off the USF Libraries Holocaust & Genocide Studies Center
¹s Armenian programming and collections
focus, the one-day event will examine lesser-known elements in the Armenian
past, with an emphasis on the historical context of the little-known
Armenian genocide of 1915-1918.
Dr. Hovannisian¹s two lectures at Friday¹s symposium are entitled,
³Descended from Mount Ararat: An Introduction to Armenian History and
Culture,² and ³The Armenian Genocide as Prototype.²

The symposium also features USF Professor Manoug Manougian, speaking on
³Armenians of the Holy Land,² with reflections on growing up Armenian in
Jerusalem; and local Armenian community leader Chris Sassouni, whose talk
³Rediscovering my Armenian Roots and the Legacy of My Family² traces the
highly improbable journey that led him to rediscover his Armenian heritage.

A full weekend of related programming across the Tampa Bay Area includes
outreach visits by Dr. Hovannisian to Kol Ami
synagogue, where his Friday evening talk, ³Genocide as a Defining Moment:
Armenian-Jewish Connections,² draws parallels between shared Armenian and
Jewish experiences, and his Saturday morning lecture, ³Remembrance and
Denial: Armenian and Jewish Experiences,² explores the complex and often
highly politicized nature of writing and teaching history.

Saturday evening, Dr. Hovannisian will speak across the Bay at St. Hagop
Armenian Church (Pinellas Park),
presenting ³The Vanishing Landscape of Historic Armenia and Cilicia: A
Pictorial Journey,² with visual accompaniment. A cocktail reception honoring
Dr. Hovannisian will be held prior to the presentation.

A full schedule of the weekend¹s events can be found at:
, along with directions to the event venues.

All events are open to the public. USF¹s ³Rediscovering Armenia² symposium
and the Saturday morning Sabbath services at Kol Ami synagogue are free of
charge.

In related events:

Reservations are required for the Friday evening dinner at Congregation
Kol Ami, telephone (813) 962-6338. Kol Ami is located at 3919 Moran
Road, Tampa, 33618, and for the Saturday evening reception and lecture
at St. Hagop Armenian Church, telephone Mallory Maslar at (727)
481-3271. St. Hagop is located at 7010 90th Avenue N., Pinellas Park,
33782.

The University of South Florida is among the nation’s top 63 public research
universities and one of 39 community-engaged public universities as
designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It is
one of Florida’s top three research universities. USF was awarded more than
$300 million in research contracts and grants last year. The university
offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and
doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8
billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves
more than 45,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg,
Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic
Conference.

From: A. Papazian

TATEV PREND SON ENVOL

armenews
mardi19 octobre 2010
ARMENIE

Les autorites armeniennes ont inaugure en grande pompe, sous la
conduite du president Serge Sarkissian et du catholicos Karekine
II, le samedi 16 octobre le telepherique de Tatev, dans le sud de
l’Armenie. Avec ce telepherique, baptise les ” Ailes de Tatev “,
l’Armenie enregistre cette annee un nouveau record : le cable portant
la cabine qui relie le village de Halidzor au monastère de Tatev, l’un
des hauts lieux de la spiritualite et aussi du tourisme armeniens,
s’etire en effet sur 5,7 kilomètres, ce qui en fait la plus longue
liaison telepherique du monde. Une prouesse technique aussi, puisque
le telepherique enjambe des gorges vertigineuses, dans les montagnes
du Zanguezour. Le president du Haut-Karabagh Bako Sahakian, etait
venu lui aussi, en ” voisin “, pour assister a l’inauguration de ce
telepherique qui doit contribuer au developpement de la region et
y amener davantage de touristes, avec les retombees que cela induit
aussi pour le Karabagh.

Ce tramway des airs fonctionnera toute l’annee et permettra aux
visiteurs de faire l’economie de 90 minutes d’une route certes
spectaculaire, mais dangereuse et epuisante, qui serpente le long
des gorges escarpees du Vorotan, seule voie d’accès jusque la au
monastère. Lors de la ceremonie d’ouverture, M. Sarkissian a declare
que cet axe de communication nouveau etait ” d’une importance majeure
pour Tatev et pour toute la region ” et a salue la reussite d’un
projet dont la realisation a dû faire face a de multiples difficultes.

“Cette liaison aerienne montre que les reves les plus fous peuvent
etre realisees avec la foi et la perseverance “, a declare le chef de
l’Etat. Le monastère de Tatev est l’un des plus anciens monastères
d’Armenie et l’un des joyaux de son architecture medievale. Presque
entièrement detruit a la suite d’un tremblement de terre en 1936,
sa restauration ne s’est achevee que recemment. Il pretend a juste
titre a integrer la liste du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, et la
creation des infrastructures comme le telepherique joue en faveur
de sa candidature. Mais d’ires et deja, les ” ailes de Tatev ” ont
permis a toute la region, jusque la tenue relativement a l’ecart
du developpement, de prendre son envol, redonnant au monastère le
rôle determinant qu’il jouait dans l’ancien principaute de Siounie a
l’epoque medievale. Tatev etait alors un foyer spirituel, mais aussi
culturel et politique majeur de la region et de toute l’Armenie. Il
constitue aujourd’hui un atout très precieux pour la region, où il
pourrait servir de catalyseur pour le developpement du tourisme.

Karekine II a declare pour sa part lors de la ceremonie inaugurale que
le lancement de la liaison telepherique a ete une etape importante pour
la rehabilitation d'”un lieu saint vieux de plusieurs siècles sainte
qui a ete un centre de pèlerinage depuis les temps apostoliques.” ” Par
sa beaute et le genie de sa construction, le magnifique monastère de
Tatev est l’une des creations les plus spectaculaires de l’architecture
armenienne et a ete, des siècles durant, un centre dynamique de la
vie spirituelle armenienne, mais aussi de la science et de la culture
“, a ajoute le Catholicos.

La mise en place de la liaison telepherique a coûte quelque 18 millions
de dollars (13 millions d’euros), dont une grande partie provient
de dons prives, selon la Fondation nationale de la competitivite de
l’Armenie, qui a supervise le projet ” Renaissance de Tatev “. Le
projet prevoit de faire de Tatev l’un des grands centres du tourisme
armenien, la region devant etre dotee d’ateliers d’artisanat et de
centres charges de developper le folklore et les traditions regionales,
ainsi que d’infrastructures où les touristes pourront se loger et
se restaurer. Le câble court d’un seul tenant depuis le village
de Halidzor, près de la sortie d’une autoroute reliant la capitale
armenienne Erevan au village de Tatev proprement dit, d’où l’on se
rend facilement a pieds au monastère. Le telepherique se deplace a
une vitesse de 37 km / h, parcourant ainsi le trajet en 11 minutes,
alors qu’il faut compter presque dix fois plus de temps pour se rendre
en voiture au monastère. La cabine du telepherique domine la gorge du
Vorotan de 320 mètres a son point de passage le plus eleve. La liaison
dispose en fait de deux cabines, chacune capable de transporter jusqu’a
25 passagers. Les habitants de la region seront en mesure d’utiliser
la telecabine gratuitement, les autres passagers devant s’acquitter
de 3.000 drams ( ~@ 6.) .

From: A. Papazian