Author: Andres-Papazian

CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN-FRENCH DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

armradio.am
07.10.2010 13:52

An Armenian-French conference on decentralized cooperation kicked off
in Yerevan today. A 130-member French delegation comprising heads of
25 local self-government bodies of France has arrived in Armenia to
participate in the forum.

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan, Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian, Mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan delivered opening remarks.

>From the French side speeches were made by French Ambassador to
Armenia Serge Smessow and Hubert Julien-Laferrière, president of
the French commission organizing the Armenian-French conference on
decentralized cooperation.

French Ambassador Serge Smessow read out the address of the Minister
of Foreign and European Affairs of France Bernard Kouchner to the
participants of the conference.

Greeting the attendees, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
stated: “Our today’s meeting takes me back to October 2006, when
we organized the first conference on Armenian-French decentralized
cooperation at the French Senate within the framework of the Year of
Armenia in France.”

Minister Nalbandian attached importance to the cooperation between
Armenian and French cities as an important component of interstate
relations.

The Armenian Foreign Minister appreciated the fact that more than fifty
programs are being implemented in the fields of education, culture,
tourism, economy, healthcare and agriculture every year within the
framework of the decentralized cooperation between the two countries.

Edward Nalbandian highly appreciated the adoption of the Charter of
Armenian-French Decentralized Cooperation, voicing confidence that
it will become an important mechanism of development of decentralized
cooperation.

From: A. Papazian

Society Without Violence Issues Open Letter Regarding Zaruhi Petrosyan’s Death

Epress.am ()
Oct. 7, 2010

Society Without Violence, a local NGO that focuses on women’s
empowerment and young girls’ awareness and education, issued an open
letter yesterday to all interested parties regarding the death of a
20-year-old woman in the town of Masis, who is believed to have died
at the hands of her abusive husband and mother-in-law.

The open letter reads, in full, as follows:

“As you are already informed, on October 1, 2010, in Masis town a
shocking murder was committed. 20-year-old Zaruhi Petrosyan was killed
by her husband and mother-in-law as a result of torture and physical
violence.

“The link and video materials provided by News.am are the vivid
evidence of the inhuman tortures and treatment that Zaruhi Petrosyan
underwent during her lifetime, violence which brought to the death of
20-year-old young woman.

“Unfortunately, the cases of physical violence are not rare in our
reality, and in some context the indifference of the society and
unfair attitude towards violence victims can lead to such irreversible
losses.

“As women’s rights NGO members, we call Human Rights organizations,
activists, interested people, mass-media and international
organizations to be observant, to highlight this case by every
possible way of dissemination, to provide the publicity and
transparency of the case investigation and the trial for reaching the
fair judgment of 20 year-old woman’s murderers.

“Otherwise the stereotypes, that such crimes are inter-family issues,
that such cases do not deserve to be in the public’s and law
enforcement bodies’ attention will have more and profound roots in our
society.

“With our silence we will allow such crimes to be justified and guilty
people to avoid the punishment determined by law. In other words, by
our silence we will have more innocent victims.

“If you are interested in the participation of the discussion on this
case, please do not hesitate to contact by the following e-mail:
[email protected]

“Regards,

Society Without Violence”

Note that the video which has been widely circulated in social
networks is now available with English subtitles and can be viewed
here:

Note that, RA military prosecution’s Yeghegnadzor military prosecutor
Tigran Sargsyan told News.am that Zaruhi’s husband, Yanis Sarkisovi,
has been detained and charged under RA Penal Code Article 112 Section
2 Point 14 for “infliction of grave damage to health” (causing severe
bodily harm). The investigation is ongoing.

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 7, 2010
LINKED iN GATHERING THIS WEEKEND
The Prelacys annual LinkedIn gathering will begin tomorrow evening and
continue through Sunday, October 10, under the directorship of His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy. The
annual gathering is a popular educational and social weekend for young
professionals and college students, featuring informative and
thought-provoking lectures, spiritual enrichment through Bible
studies, meditations, and liturgical services, and bonding with peers
through discussion groups and fellowship hours.
The gathering takes place at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. This years general theme is The
Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Relationships.
CLERGY RETREAT
A retreat for the clergy serving the Eastern Prelacy will immediately
follow the Linked iN gathering at the same venue in Massachusetts. The
clergy retreat will take place October 10 to 13. The main topic of
this years retreat (October 10 to 13) is Holy Week services.
VICAR WILL PRESIDE OVER CELEBRATION
Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar General, will preside over the 30th
anniversary celebration of the Armenian Independent Radio of Boston,
this Saturday evening, October 9, at the Armenian Cultural and
Educational Center in Watertown, Massachusetts.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I SPEAKS ABOUT THE
URGENCY OF CHRISTIAN UNITY
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, was
invited to address the International Meeting of Prayer for Peace 2010,
which took place in Barcelona. The meeting brought together a
selective number of religious leaders, statesmen and women,
politicians, and academics to discuss urgent issues of injustice and
conflict, possibilities for peace-building and offer intercessory
prayers.
In his address on the urgency of Christian unity, His Holiness
said that to speak about Christian unity means to speak about the
ecumenical movement. Indeed, he noted, unity is the raison detre of
the ecumenical movement. However, he said, churches have lost their
interest in multilateral ecumenism and they are more interested in
bilateral theological dialogue and inter-religious relations. Although
significant achievements have been made through the ecumenical
movement in the area of the visible unity of the church, Christian
unity is no more a top priority on the agenda of the churches and the
ecumenical movement. After outlining the significant progress that
has been made in the past, His Holiness explained the steps that must
now be taken to continue with renewed pace the endeavor for unity.
In concluding his remarks, the Catholicos reminded the
participants that unity is a gift of God and we must respond to it
obediently and faithfully. Unity is not a self-centered reality. It
must be at the service of mission, evangelism and Diakonia. In our
search for unity we must engage the whole people of God, clergy and
laity, youth and women, and people with different abilities. The
vision of visible unity must sustain the life and witness of the
churches in each and in all places, said His Holiness.
NORTH ANDOVER ARMENIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS
COMMENT ON MISSING CROSS ON AGHTAMAR CHURCH
Students at the Armenian School of St. Gregory Church in North
Andover, Massachusetts, were concerned about the lack of a cross on
the Soorp Khatch Church on the island of Akhtamar in Lake Van. This
sad situation caused the church hierarchy, including the Catholicos of
All Armenians, and the Catholicos of Cilicia, to decline to
participate in the Armenian Liturgy that recently took place.
The students in North Andover took pen in hand and expressed
just exactly how they felt about this situation. Here are just a few
of the comments:
The cross is the symbol of Christ, and you cant pray without
it. (Anna Shahtanian, age 10).
What bothers me more than the missing cross is why it took 95
years to celebrate a Badarak at this church, and why Armenians didnt
complain when it was turned into a museum. (Joanna Duffy, age 11).
Some might argue that the cross is with us spiritually, not
physically. If thats the case, then Jesus died on a cross that wasnt
there. (Nick Kochakian, age 14).
Nine year old Meline Almasian wrote that a lifetime of
hostility doesnt appear to be getting any better. Make peace, not
war. Thats the Christian way.
The reason behind the Badarak is because Turkey wants to look
good in the eyes of the European Union and show the world they arent
all that bad. (Denis Teague, age 14).
Aghavny Bebirian, age 17, would have attended the service and
prayed. By keeping our faith strong, were showing God our
dedication. Were proving to Turkey that Armenian Christianity will
never die, no matter how inconsiderate their actions may be.
(Taken from an article written by Tom Vartabedian)
Armenian School students write their thoughts about the Aghtamar
church.
BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM AT
ST. SARKIS CHURCH (DOUGLASTON, NY)
Women in the Bible, a five-part program is scheduled to be held at
St. Sarkis Armenian Church on five consecutive Tuesdays, starting
October 19 through November 16, 2010. The church is located at 38-65
234th Street, Douglaston, New York.
Sponsored by St. Sarkis Church and the Prelacys Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC), the program will take place in
Pagoumian Hall beginning at 8 pm with a 45-minute presentation
followed by Q and discusson (45 minutes), conducted by Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, Director of AREC.
For registration or information contact the church office at
718-224-2275 or the Prelacy offices at 212-689-7810.
GARIN HOVANNISIAN VISITS PRELACY
Archbishop Oshagan welcomed Garin K. Hovannisian to the Prelacy this
morning. After a private meeting with the Prelate, Vicar, and Iris
Papazian, Prelacy staff members joined in a round-table meeting with
the author of the newly-published book, Family of Shadows.
Garin answered the questions posed about his book and the
writing process about three generations of his family. Family of
Shadows, is an engrossing account of the Armenian story told through
three generations. Garin is the great-grandson of Kaspar, survivor of
the Armenian Genocide; grandson of Richard, the pioneer professor of
Armenian studies in the United States; and son of Raffi, the first
foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia, who renounced his
American citizenship in order to become a citizen of Armenia.
Garin is currently on a book tour, appearing at bookstores
along the east coast, and at various events sponsored by Armenian
American organizations. Tomorrow evening he will be at St. Leons
Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Family of Shadows: A Century of Murder, Memory and the Armenian
American Dream , is available at the Armenian Prelacy
Bookstore. Hardcover, 272 pages, $27.99, plus shipping & handling.
Archbishop Oshagan with Garin Hovannisian at the Prelacy this morning.
REMINDER: CHILDREN OF ARMENIA AUTHORAT RAMAPO COLLEGE TONIGHT
Michael Bobelian will discuss his recent book, Children of Armenia: A
Forgotten Genocide and the Century-long Struggle for Justice, at 7:30
pm tonight at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 201-684-7409.
BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, October 10, Fifth Sunday of the Exaltation
of the Holy Cross, are: Isaiah 19:1-11; Galatians 2:1-10; Mark
12:35-44.
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, How can the
scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, by
the Holy Spirit, declared, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand, until I put your enemies under your feet. David himself calls
him Lord; so how can he be his son? And the large crowd was listening
to him with delight.
As he taught, he said, Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the
marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places
of honor at banquets! They devour widows houses and for the sake of
appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater
condemnation.
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd
putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A
poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a
penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, Truly I tell
you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of
their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
had, all she had to live on. (Mark 12:35-44)

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

).
FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS
This Saturday, October 8, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast
of the Holy Translators, one of our most popular feasts. There are, in
fact, two such commemorations in our liturgical calendar. One is on
the Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, which can
occur in June or July, and the other on the second Saturday of
October.
The October commemoration focuses on the creation of the
Armenian alphabet (406) and on the accomplishments of the Holy
Translators. Mesrob Mashdots, the founder of the alphabet, and
Catholicos Sahak, together with some of their students, translated the
Bible. Schools were opened and the works of world-renowned scholars
were translated. Their work gave the Armenian Church a distinct
national identity.
In modern times the entire month of October has been designated
as a Month of Culture. Armenians throughout the Diaspora and Armenia
mark this with cultural events not only in remembrance of the past,
but in celebration of modern-day scholars, theologians, writers, and
translators.
Specifically remembered this Saturday, along with Mesrob and
Sahak, are: Yeghishe, a renowned student of Sahag and Mesrob, who
served as secretary to Vartan Mamigonian and wrote the great history
of the Vartanantz wars; Movses of Khoren, also a student of Sahag and
Mesrob, is revered as the father of Armenian history; David the
Invincible was a student of Movses. He received most of his education
in Athens, where he was given the title Invincible because of his
brilliance in philosophy; Gregory of Narek, who is considered the
greatest poet of the Armenian nation and its first and greatest
mystic; and Nerses Shnorhali, a great writer, musician, theologian,
and ecumenist.

O God, through the holy teacher you bestowed on us of the north divine
and heavenly gifts; through his prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you bestowed on the sons of Torgom the divinely-inspired
books in letters revealed to Saint Mesrob in a vision; through his
prayers have mercy on us.
O God, you generously spread your heavenly knowledge and
spiritual wisdom in the churches of the Armenians by the holy
translators; by their prayers have mercy on us.

(From the Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church for the
Holy Translators).
MONDAY IS COLUMBUS DAY
This Monday, October 11, is Columbus Day, a holiday celebrated in many
countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher
Columbuss arrival in the New World in 1492. A sailor on the Pinta
sighted land early in the morning of October 12, 1492, and a new era
of European exploration and expansion began. The next day the ninety
crew members of Columbuss three-ship fleet (Nina, Pinta, and Santa
Maria) landed on the Bahamian Island of Guanahan, ending a voyage that
began ten weeks earlier from Palos, Spain.
President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed October 12 a
national federal holiday in 1937. Since 1971, when the dates of
holidays were moved in the U.S. to create long weekends, Columbus Day
has been commemorated on the second Monday in October.
JUST ARRIVED AT THE BOOKSTORE
Armenian Constantinople
Edited by Richard G. Hovannisian and Simon Payaslian

This 493-page softcover book is the ninth published volume in the UCLA
series Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces. Scholars from various
disciplines offer the story of the Armenian presence in Constantinople
across the centuries.

$35.00 plus shipping & handling.
AND THE FINAL WORD:
Translators, in the precise and historical sense of the word, refers
to St. Sahag and St. Mesrob and their disciples of the 5th century
who translated the Holy Scriptures from Greek into Armenian. But, the
word translators has acquired a wider sense in our Armenian
understanding; it refers to all such Church Fathers who in the course
of the past centuries made a marked contribution to the growth of
Armenian culture taken in its entirety. It has become now a symbolic
name which is applied in this broadest sense to all those who
translate Gods Word to Gods people particularly through their literary
activities and cultural services. This is why October has been
proclaimed as The Month of Culture (Meshagouytee Amees). This means
that we are called to focus our thinking on the value of culture in
human life within our Armenian communities around the world.

>From a message delivered in Antelias, Lebanon on October 10, 1982 by
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 7The Aftermath of Genocide, a lecture by Michael Bobelian,
author of recently published Children of Armenia, at Trustee Pavilion
at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey, sponsored by the Center for
Holocaust & Genocide Studies and the Armenian National Committee of
New Jersey, 7:30 pm, free and open to the public. For information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 201-684-7409.
October 8-10The Eastern Prelacys Linked In workshop weekend for young
adults at Holy Virgin Marys Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.
October 13Peter Balakian will read from Ziggurat, his recently
published book of poems, at National September 11 Memorial & Museum,
20 Vesey Street at Liberty Street and Broadway, New York City, at 6
pm. A suggested donation of $10 will help support the ongoing
programming.
October 1620th anniversary dinner-dance, honoring the ladies of
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York. All ladies attending will be
honored. $60 per person, paid reservations required. For information
and reservations: Amy 718-476-3050; Louiza 516-248-2955; church
secretary, Raya 718-224-2275.
October 14-17Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar. Information: 301-229-8742.
October 15-16Annual Fall Fair/Bazaar, St. Gregory Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 11 am to 7 pm each day. Full
menu, country store, handmade gifts, Armenian gifts, raffles, white
elephant table.
October 16Armenian Bazaar at St. Gregory Armenian Church, 135 Goodwin
Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, 9 am to 8 pm. Shish kebob and
chicken kebob dinners, raffles, baked goods, forgotten treasures. Take
out available.
October 17St. Illuminators Cathedral, New York City, Hayrenikin, debut
of Huyser Musical Ensemble, 1 pm. Special appearance by the AGBU
Antranig Dance Group. Admission: $15.00. For information:
212-689-5880.
October 24St. 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 30Comedy & 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 31St. 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 5-6-7Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
November 767th anniversary, All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview,
Illinois.
November 13-14Soorp 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 19-20Holy 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.
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: [15]
Links:
15.

TOP STORY October 7, 2010

_ACYOA Leadership Conference to Focus on Identity_

This weekend the Eastern Diocese will host a young adult leadership
conference on the topic of the Armenian identity in 21st -century America.
Themed `Leading with Faith,’ the conference will be held at the Diocesan
Center in New York, from October 8-10.

Participants will discuss the connection between the Armenian faith and
identity, as articulated by St. Vartan and his followers in the 5th-century
Battle of Avarayr. Participants will hear from exemplary leaders in the
Eastern Diocese and brainstorm ways young Armenians can take up leadership
roles in the Armenian Church.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), will address the group and preside over the weekend
conference. The Primate, Diocesan leaders, clergy, and staff, and members of
the ACYOA Central Council planned and organized the three-day event. More
than 60 college students and young professionals are scheduled to take part
in the sessions.

The conference follows on the success of a similar symposium held in March
on the topic of young adult leadership. For a video on the March event,
[4]click here.
Links:
4.

Scripture of the Week

Is 19:1-11
Gal 2:1-10
Mk 12:35-44

Prayer of the week

You created the visible light, separated the day and night, shed forth on
us, O Lord, by night the rays of spiritual light. Give us at all times the
shadow of your protecting hand, that by day and by night we may give you
glory incessantly. Amen.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

_9 October_: Holy Translators Mesrob, Yeghishe, Moses the Poet, David the
Philosopher, Gregory of Narek, and Nersess the Graceful

_16 October_: Holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Bishop Mkrtich Proshian blesses a cornerstone of the new church.

_New Armenian Church to be Built in Russia _

Plans are underway to build a new Armenian church in Shakhty, a city in
Russia’s Rostov Oblast.

On September 25, a cornerstone blessing was held for the new house of
worship. Bishop Mkrtich Proshian, the Locum Tenens of the Diocese of
Aragatsotn in Armenia, traveled to Shakhty to preside over the service, and
to bless a new _khatchkar_ on church grounds.

Armenians began settling in the Rostov region in the 18th century; later,
some went on to work in the coal mining industry in Shakhty (the city takes
its name from the Russian word for `mine shafts’). Today Shakhty is home to
a growing Armenian community. In 2007, local Armenians established the Soorb
Sarkis Church parish and an Armenian cultural center named `Andranik.’

Between 2008 and 2009, Bishop Mkrtich Proshian served as pastor of the St.
Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, PA.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian and religious leaders with Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton.

_Diocesan Legate Meets with U.S. Secretary of State and White House Officials
_
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Director of Ecumenical Relations at the Eastern
Diocese, met last month with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Assistant
Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, and National
Security Adviser Gen. James Jones.

In meeting with the State Department and White House officials, Archbishop
Aykazian joined Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders taking part in
sessions organized under the umbrella of the National Interreligious
Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East.

The Wednesday, September 29, meeting focused on the Israeli-Palestinian
peace talks, which resumed last month. Religious leaders shared their views
and concerns and presented a joint statement on the issue, stressing that
peace is possible, and urging U.S. leadership and guidance in the process.
[5]Click here to read more.
Links:
5.

FAR benefactor Dr. John Ounjian invites his friends to join him on a trip to
Armenia each year.

_FAR’s Ounjian School Benefactor Visits Armenia__ _

Dr. John Ounjian, a major supporter of the Fund for Armenian Relief, and a
group of friends recently paid a visit to Armenia, where they toured FAR
projects and met with staff and beneficiaries.

Dr. Ounjian, a retired New York doctor, is the chief benefactor of FAR’s
Ounjian School in Gyumri, Armenia. Each year, he invites his friends to join
him on a trip to Armenia, where he visits the school and other FAR sites.

During this year’s trip, Dr. Ounjian’s group marked the 10th anniversary of
the Ounjian School, which serves more than 500 students and teachers. FAR
Programs Director Arto Vorperian presented Dr. Ounjian with a congratulatory
letter from Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate and FAR president.

The group also visited FAR’s Children’s Support Foundation Center in
Yerevan, where they learned about the center’s programs and met with its
dynamic young residents, and stopped by FAR’s Yerevan office, where staff
members celebrated Dr. Ounjian’s 90th birthday. [6]Click here to visit
FAR’s blog and to read more.
Links:
6.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian with Jerusalem students Vasken Panossian and
Karin Hagopian.

_Jerusalem Students Reflect on Summer Conferences at St. Nersess Seminary _

Two students from Jerusalem’s Sts. Tarkmanchatz Armenian School took part in
the St. Nersess Seminary summer conferences last July. The students traveled
to New York as part of a program launched by the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian
five years ago to give talented Armenian youth in Jerusalem an opportunity
to learn and interact with peers in the Eastern Diocese.

In addition to studying at St. Nersess Seminary, the students=80’Vasken
Panossian and Karin Hagopian-visited the Diocesan Center and met with
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate.

They shared their impressions and spoke about the benefits of the exchange
program in a recent article. [7]Click here to read more.
Links:
7.

_Diocese Searches for Executive Director_

The Eastern Diocese is searching for candidates for the position of
Executive Director.

Based in New York City, the Executive Director will be responsible for the
management of the administrative and operational functions at the Diocese,
in accordance with the policies established by the Primate and the Diocesan
Council. Responsibilities will encompass the areas of finance,
administration, development, communications, education, and facilities
management.

[8]Click here to view a complete job description and list of qualifications.
Applicants should send a resume and cover letter to
[9][email protected].
Links:
8.
9. mailto:[email protected]

PARISH NEWS

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian with newly-ordained
altar servers at St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ. (Photo by Linda
Harutunian.)

_St. Leon Church Celebrates Continued Growth_

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, celebrated the Divine Liturgy
at St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, on Sunday, October 3, where he ordained
a deacon and 21 acolytes, and presented awards to six long-serving
parishioners.

Sarkis Pilvadjian was ordained to the diaconate. The following young
parishioners were ordained to the rank of acolyte: Derek Ajamian, Ara Araz,
Nikolas Aslanian, Richard Bohajian, Karnic Boudoughian, Paul Chamesian,
Nicholas Dadekian, David Dovlatian, Richard Egazarian, Aram Haroutunian,
Kevin and Ryan Jessourian, Troy Karanfilian, Armen Kasparian, Connor
Kazanjian, Daniel and Christopher Murray, Alexander and Gregory Nargizian,
Nicholas Tokmanian, and Nicholas Zoraian.
.
A luncheon was held after the Divine Liturgy as the parish gathered to honor
the dedication of some its longest-serving members. Deacons Charles Pinajian
and Hacik Sariminasyan, and choir members Lucy Dabagian, Florence Gulkasian,
Rose Kirian, and Emerald Noorigian, were honored for their years of service
and commitment to the church.

Archbishop Barsamian spoke about the community’s humility and warmth. He
added that the altar servers, choir members, and other lay leaders who
helped set the foundation of St. Leon Church are an inspiration to a young
generation of faithful, who today are beginning to take up the call to serve
the Armenian Church. [10]Click here to read the full article on Sunday’s
ordinations and luncheon.
Links:
10.

_Upcoming Parish Festivals and Gatherings _

_St. Mary Church | Washington, DC_
St. Mary Church of Washington, DC, is hosting its 62nd annual food festival
this week. The festival is being held on October 6, 7, and 8, with lunch
served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and on October 9, with lunch from 11 a.m. to
2 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, contact the church at (202) 363-1923, or [11]click
here to visit the parish website.
Links:
11.

_St. Mary Church | Livingston, NJ_
The Women’s Guild of St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ, will host a Luncheon
Tricky Tray with harp soloist Odarka Stockert on Wednesday, October 13, at
11:30 a.m.
.
The event will be held at The Manor restaurant, 111 Prospect Avenue, West
Orange, NJ. The donation is $50 per person. To make a reservation, call
Janet Ariyan at (908) 464-5427.

_St. Vartan Cathedral | New York, NY_
The St. Vartan Cathedral Council is sponsoring a fall gathering at Michael
Aram’s flagship store in Manhattan on Friday, October 29, from 6:30 to 8:30
p.m.
Come mingle and meet members of the cathedral community. Meet artist and
designer Michael Aram and browse his latest collection. Light food and
refreshments will be served.

The Michael Aram Flagship Store is located at 136 West 18th Street in
Manhattan (between 6th and 7th avenues). [12]Click here to view a flyer.
RSVP is requested but not required. Call Deacon Sebuh at (212) 686-0710,
ext. 141.
Links:
12.

_Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale Marks 10 Years_

The Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale celebrated its 10th anniversary with
a concert on September 19. The event was attended by Worcester mayor Joseph
C. O’Brien.

Founded in February 2000, the chorale is comprised of singers from area
churches; it also supports a children’s chorus and dance group. The chorale
is under the direction of Maestro Konstantin Petrossian (pictured at right),
who serves as its artistic director and conductor. In the past decade, the
group has given more than 20 concerts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

EVENTS

_An Evening with Agop J. Hacikyan to be Held at Diocese_

The public is invited to attend an evening with Agop J. Hacikyan=80’author of
`A Summer Without Dawn’ and `The Lamppost Diary’-at the Diocesan Center on
Friday, October 29, at 7:30 p.m.

The event is being organized by several Armenian organizations in the
greater New York City area in celebration of Mr. Hacikyan’s literary career.
It will be held in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium of the Diocesan
Center (35th Street and Second Avenue) in Manhattan.

For more information, [13]click here to view a flyer.
Links:
13.

YOUTH NEWS

The ACYOA Juniors Fall Sports Weekend will take place this weekend in
Philadelphia. Pictured above is last year’s Wynnewood-Cheltenham team.

_ACYOA Juniors Sports Weekend to be Held in Philly_

This weekend, more than 180 ACYOA Juniors from 18 parishes across the
Eastern Diocese are scheduled to participate in the ACYOA Juniors Fall
Sports Weekend-a gathering focusing on worship, fellowship, and a little
friendly competition.

Held in various cities every Columbus Day weekend, the event is designed to
bring together young Armenians between the ages of 13 and 17 who are
actively involved in the life of their local parish and ACYOA chapter.

This year the festivities are being hosted jointly by the parishioners of
St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood, PA, and Holy Trinity Church of
Cheltenham, PA. All of the participants will be housed by members of the
parish and supervised by their chaperones throughout the weekend’s
activities. Participants will have an opportunity to reconnect with old
friends and meet new people as they come together to pray, reflect on their
role in the Armenian Church, and take part in athletic events.

For more information about upcoming events for ACYOA Juniors, please contact
Jennifer Morris, Youth Outreach coordinator at the Diocese, at
[14][email protected].
Links:
14. mailto:[email protected]

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA, IRAN, AZERBAIJAN: DEPENDENCE AND BENEFITS
Naira Hayrumyan

ArmeniaNow
Analysis | 06.10.10 | 13:47

Iran appears to be paying closer attention to its neighbors after some
latest developments that put more strain on the Islamic Republic,
including the toughening of UN sanctions against Teheran, Russia~Rs
refusal to sell S-300 air defense systems, as well as the winding-up
of operations of several large oil and gas companies in Iran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani is expected to pay a visit
to Armenia in the coming days. A delegation of Iran~Rs Chamber
of Commerce, Industry and Mines, headed by its Chairman Mohammad
Nahavandian was on a visit to Armenia recently. The Chamber called
for boosted cooperation in the sphere of production.

Three high-ranking representatives of the Islamic Republic are expected
to pay visits to Azerbaijan, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
Parliament Speaker Larijani, and Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.

The status of the visitors may indicate what Iran actually wants from
Armenia and from Azerbaijan.

~SThere is some tension in the relations between Azerbaijan and Iran.
The Iranian side is waiting for statements that Azerbaijan will
not raise the issue of Southern Azerbaijan [territory of Iran~Rs
northern provinces], that Azerbaijan~Rs territory will not be used
as a springboard for launching strikes against Iran. And Azerbaijan
wants to hear Iran publicly support the position of Azerbaijan in
the Karabakh conflict,~T writes Karabakh analyst Vardan Mamikonyan.

In its turn, independent Azerbaijani expert Togrul Sofiev stated that
~SIran is trying again and again to feel the ground in Azerbaijan to
make sure there is no threat to the security of its border from its
northern neighbor; to get new guarantees from it.~T

>From time to time Baku provokes Iran to make statements about
recognizing Azerbaijan~Rs territorial integrity. The latest such
recognition was made in Baku by Iranian Minister of Culture Ahmed Ali
Reza Beygi. He said that Iran has always supported Azerbaijan in the
Karabakh conflict.

Nevertheless, those in Azerbaijan are dissatisfied with Iran~Rs
behavior. In Baku, they say that Iran has ~Qspoilt~R the whole effect
of the blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey against Armenia.

~SDuring the war, Iran rendered every assistance to Armenia. And,
it was through Iran that Armenia gets a considerable part of its
foodstuffs and industrial goods, which makes the blockade imposed by
Azerbaijan and Turkey ineffective,~T says Sofiev.

The Azeri expert says that at least 20 million Iranian Azeris have
no schools to study in their native language, while 250,000 Armenians
in Iran have several national schools.

There are several large projects that exist between Armenia and Iran.
New projects are likely to be discussed during Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan~Rs visit to Iran due to take place later this month.

From: A. Papazian

PROSECUTOR GENERAL OFFERS TO INSTALL GUARD STATIONS ON ALL FOREST-ADJACENT ROADS TO PREVENT CARRIAGE OF CUT TREES

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 09:58:00

ArmInfo. An extended session dedicated to illegal deforestation was
held in the Prosecutor General’s Office on October 5.

As press service of Prosecutor General’s Office told ArmInfo,
Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan said that fighting against illegal
deforestation should not be of temporary nature and should not be
connected just with public alarms.

According to him, it is necessary to implement purposeful measures in
this issue. He instructed to send materials on all the revealed cases
of illegal deforestation to regional prosecutor offices for further
inspection and decision-making. A. Hovsepyan also offered to install
guard stations on all the forest-adjacent roads to prevent carriage of
trees cut. According to him, control in this issue should be carried
out jointly with public organizations. He said this measure will allow
to increase transparency and effectiveness of guard measures. In his
turn, deputy Prosecutor General A. Tamazyan spoke of the legislative
initiative, according to which it is scheduled to make punishment in
the area of illegal deforestation more severe and create legislative
bases to bring violators to criminal responsibility.

To note, the problem of illegal deforestation in Armenia over the
last years is one of the most topical ones. Noteworthy, cases of
deforestation become often known due to the monitoring by green
activists and members of public organizations but not by Environmental
Inspection. Ecological NGOs say trees are cut in a great quantity
and transported by lorries without state numberplates.

From: A. Papazian

PROSPECTS OF NKR’S RECOGNITION AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE WERE DESTROYED BY ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND SERZH SARGSYAN
David Stepanyan

ArmInfo
2010-10-05 16:53:00

Interview with Coordinator of Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan

What measures the ANC is going to take in its political struggle
against the regime before the parliamentary elections 2012?

We are not at all striving to the blind and severe revolt in Armenia.

We do not want it. The whole strategy of Armenian National Congress is
directed to turn the democratic movement in Armenia into the willful
movement of the people and citizens which remember their rights and
require respecting them.

Unfortunately, today these elementary rights of our citizens are broken
everywhere. But this does not at all mean that we should or are going
to call the people to revolt. Today ANC is acting and is going to act
only by means of the constitutional democratic methods. History shows
that a blind and severe revolt or terror has never led to the goal. It
only led to the bad results. Naturally, we do not want it, and we are
not going to create ruins via breaking the grounds of the regime which
the Armenian society does not like, as later we shall be forced to
struggle against the consequences of these ruins for dozens of years.

Armenia faces many external challenges, including the challenges
of its own security. This is why taking into account the fact that
Armenia faces many external challenges, including the challenge of
its own security, the Armenian National Congress is not going to
organize open confrontation in Armenia. Under the current conditions
of constantly progressing threat of military aggression by Azerbaijan,
as well as permanent threats connected with the blockade of Armenia,
we should act and we act carefully without any desire to damage the
country’s interests.

This makes the opposition to be very careful, but this doesn’t mean at
all that it will fail to be resolute in its actions when the relevant
moment comes. We should do our best to mobilize people to protect
their own rights by means of legal methods being in the arsenal of any
democratic state: rallies, processions, demonstrations. That is to
say, we shall consistently involve the society in the fight against
the criminal, oligarchic, kleptocratic regime, however, we’ll do it
within the frames of the Constitution.

During the last rally the ANC leader Levon Ter-Petrossyan expressed
conviction that Serzh Sargsyan would not finish his term as president.

Is this possible considering that the next presidential election is
scheduled for 2013 and keeping in mind your assurances that you will
use only constitutional methods?

This is quite possible by means of the methods used by Polish,
Czech and even Pakistani people. During the change of power in these
countries they used no axes, swords or guns. The opposition just
managed to mobilize the society in the fight for their rights, and
people stood up for protection of their legitimate right to create
legitimate power in the country. I mean the technology of “velvet”
revolutions, which repeatedly demonstrated its efficiency in many
countries.

This technology is really effective but only in the countries having
relevant conditions. Do we have any prerequisites for this?

First of all, these are domestic premises, as the society is completely
on our side. The society hates the ruling dictatorship in Armenia,
which deprives it of freedom, property and the opportunity to
freely develop and conduct business. As regards external factors,
today the Armenian authorities failed practically in all directions
of foreign policy. The matter concerns the “football diplomacy”, and
the great many problems related to the Karabakh conflict settlement,
particularly, anti-Armenian resolutions adopted within international
organizations and growing pressure on Karabakh, as well as ignoring
Karabakh as a party to the conflict.

It is already obvious today that Azerbaijan is gradually increasing
its diplomatic and military-political prevalence amid total inactivity
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. The situation in the social-economic
sphere has no prospects. Outflow of the population has again reached
large scales, even by official data. The authorities failed everything
they could.

Such scenario is quite logical in Armenia because it is impossible
for one to govern the public that did not elect him. The incumbent
authorities were elected by a group of oligarchs, importer-
monopolists, who needed them to subdue the power levers to make
themselves rich.

Thus, all these failures in the foreign and domestic policy of Armenia
are not just the result of the wrong approach by the authorities
or their low intellectual level. It is first of all the result of
illegitimate regime, the creation of the plutocratic oligarchy that
cares for itself and neglects public interests.

Armenian Foreign Ministry has presented the withdrawal of Azerbaijan’s
resolution from the UN General Assembly as a victory. Don’t you
think that by putting off the discussion for the next session Baku
has attained its execution?

That is quite natural, as an international mission to inspect the so
called “occupied territories” is going to visit Nagornyy Karabakh.

This is what Azerbaijan wanted to reach in its resolution. And the
draft resolution was recalled just for this purpose. Moreover, it
was for the first time during the whole negotiating process that an
official document has appeared in the form of the recent statement by
the OSCE MF co-chairs, in which the placename Khankendi was mentioned.

Although earlier the Armenian party gained the situation when only
the pre-conflict names of towns were mentioned in all the documents.

It is impossible not to recall about the statement by Bernard Fassier,
which said when crossing the line of contact between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani armed forces that the co-chairs do not cross the border
but stay in one state.

As for the last resolution, Azerbaijan has already passed the
resolution it needed in UN on 14 March 2004, in which Baku practically
gained all its goals. In general, these resolutions are not so much
important for Baku. It is more important for it to implement threats
and impose pressure upon Armenia, the NKR and intermediary by means
of these resolutions.

It is simply necessary because the Azerbaijani points of view
is gradually prevailing the Armenian one behind the sciences of
international diplomacy. Therefore, the ANC has presented a draft
resolution to the public, which the Foreign Ministry of Armenia
should have been submitted to the UN. The draft resolution is a
document prepared by professionals unlike the criticism far from being
professional saying that the ANC did not set forth more radical goals.

However, our initiative received just few quite irresponsible
responses by the Foreign Ministry and a number of political forces
in Armenia. These responses contain absolutely demagogic viewpoint,
specifically, they say that discussion of the Karabakh problem at the
UN will lead the process beyond the Minsk Group, which is extremely
unfavorable to the Armenian party. In the meantime, this process has
already exceeded the framework of the Minsk Group and we have nothing
to do but response to it. As for Azerbaijan, it delicately uses its
levers and influences the process within the frames of the OSCE MG
through discussions at the UN. All this is taking place amid total
inactivity of the Armenian party.

What is Azerbaijan after by insisting on the field mission in
Nagorno-Karabakh?

Azerbaijan wants the international community to express its opinion
on what is going on in “occupied territories” and to state that this
situation is the result of “Armenia’s destructive aggression against
Azerbaijan.” These are the consequences of the biggest mistake of our
present regime, to be more precise, Robert Kocharyan, who allowed a
change in the very concept of the conflict.

The concept used before 1998 said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
was a conflict between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, who was unable
to give the Nagorno-Karabakh people liberty, protection of human
rights and elementary security. The very essence of the conflict was
the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s struggle for these values.

The armed conflict started only after Azerbaijan’s aggressive
response. For many years this concept protected Armenia from the
world community’s charges of aggression but now that the Armenian
authorities have discarded it this has become impossible.

This happened after Armenian presidents with Karabakh origin swallowed
the bait of the international community and refused the successful
concept, according to which the conflict was not between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, but between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. For its part,
it would be much easier for the international community to negotiate
only with Armenia’s leadership, consequently, they shut their eyes
to all the crimes and illegal actions committed by the two Armenian
presidents for the single purpose: to consolidate their personal
power in Armenia. This allowed constructing the negotiation process,
in which the Armenian party represented Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
simultaneously due to the Karabakh origin of the two presidents.

This strengthened the domestic political positions of both Robert
Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan, but destroyed the conflict concept
making the position of Karabakh and Armenia practically invulnerable.

“Now that the talks are going on between Armenia and Azerbaijan
with the full consent of Kocharyan ans Sargsyan, and Karabakh as a
political formation is not noticed, a quite grounded question arises
in the international community – what for does Armenia occupy the
territories of Azerbaijan? Thus, we state quite openly that the
prospects of recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent
political state formation were destroyed by Robert Kocharyan and
Serzh Sargsyan. And this was done to consolidate their suspicious
legitimacy and in the prejudice of positions of the Armenian parties
to the Karabakh peace process.

From: A. Papazian

THEY IN ARMENIA CLEANING DIASPORA OUT WHILE GOVERNMENT KEEPS SILENCE
Elita Babayan

ArmInfo
27. 09. 2010

ArmInfo’s exclusive interview with Christian Gelici, German-Armenian
WKS Armenia Director General

WKS Armenia – is the Armenian subsidiary of German WKS Textile
Solutions, part of German Huniel Group

Mr. Gelici, the Armenian Economy Ministry told ArmInfo that WKS Armenia
is expected to open a new textile factory on the basis of the old
plant “Electron” in Vanadzor. As far as we know, reconstruction of
the factory should have been launched already.

If opening of the new textile factory on the basis of the former
“Electron” plant in Vanadzor depended mostly on WKS Armenia, the
factory would have been put into operation already, I assure you. It
would become one of the biggest factories and not only in the region
and would employ over two thousands of people in the country. However,
after privatization 51% of the factory’s shares were distributed among
privates and the remaining 49% was owed by the government. We had an
arrangement with the government for trust management of the 51% stake.

Thanks to the government’s efforts, we achieved an agreement with
the director of the “Electron” factory who promised to acquire all
the 51% shares and transfer them to us. Of course, we paid both for
the services of the director and the whole process of the factory’s
liquidation. At the very beginning of the negotiations the factory was
more or less subject to modernization, whereas now it has been fully
ruined, more precisely, devastated by the shareholders and is no longer
subject to reconstruction. Only the walls are still standing there.

Have you applied to the government for resolution of this problem?

In October 2009 we applied to the government for suspension of the
factory’s demolition and the German party even threatened to freeze
the project. The government demanded that demolition is stopped but
the process is still continued. The government as the holder of the
49% stake in the factory could ban illegal actions by the privates,
but didn’t! The leadership of the German WKS Textile Solutions has
decided to freeze this project and it is not known when it will be
resumed. After it all, Economy Minister of Armenia Nerses Yeritsyan
took the liberty to call me and our German company unserious partners.

I have brought you all the facts. Choose for yourself who is unserious
our company or the Economy Ministry of Armenia.

I have no right to blame the government for this situation. I do not
blame the president either. He has the same problems as any other
businessman in Armenia. I employ hundreds of people and there are
irresponsible employees among them who constantly violate the labor
discipline. Our president and prime minister face the same problem
and many of their people just do not deserve their positions.

What is the way out of the situation? How to settle the problem?

I welcome Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s position who has repeatedly
tried to submit a bill on the state property privatization program
to the parliament saying that the enterprises privatized in early
90s must be returned to the government if not used. Yet 15 years
ago I asked for one of such plants for temporary use and not for
privatization by our company, but my request was rejected. No one
needs these plants today and no one is going to launch production at
these plants for lack of sales markets. However, sales markets can
be found if desired. But there is no desire, unfortunately, because
it is much easier to devastate than create something new. Besides me,
many other foreign businessmen Armenians by origin repeatedly tried to
develop the light industry sector in Armenia, but all they left. Why?

They were deceived and even cleaned out.

A few months ago we planed to set up an Association of Armenian
Diaspora Representatives in Armenia. The association could become
a peculiar bridge linking two extremely different wings of the
Armenian people: the Armenians of Armenia and Diaspora. If we want
our Motherland to prosper and it we want to introduce our production
in the global market and be competitive, our people should, first of
all, unite around these goals. The problems of our country will not be
finally resolved by Russia, America or through opening of the border
with Turkey. Armenians worldwide must unite to settle these problems.

We planned also to create an Association in the sphere of light
industry to unite entrepreneurs engaged or willing to be engaged in
the sphere and develop it.

Did you give up your plans to unite into associations?

There are several reasons. First, this plan must be coordinated with
the government and local businessmen, which will take rather long
time. There is another serious problem: local industrial enterprises
lack infrastructure meeting the requirements of foreign businessmen. I
mean the state of industrial equipment and buildings. In addition,
local businessmen lack the culture of business communication so far.

Perhaps, this is the most serious problem.

An exhibition had been recently held in Yerevan under slogan “Support
Local Producers”. Our company also participated in the event and in
the Roundtable organized on sidelines of the exhibition. I voiced the
problems of local businessmen and the necesity of infrastructures for
doing business. For their turn, representatives of the economy ministry
of our country offered a program of light industry development and
the project of free economic zone in Gyumri has become one of this
program’s components. I visited Gyumri and made sure that nothing
specific has been done under the given project yet, whereas at the
exhibition the economic power representatives were speaking of the
final stage of that program. I do not think that industry is developed
by empty rhetoric.

As far as we know you are going to implement a number of big investment
projects in the sphere of light industry and machine building.

German Huniel Group having 27 billion US dollars annual turnover is
making big investments in textile industry and in motor-car industry.

I offered some businessmen engaged in German automobile industry to
move their production to Armenia and have achieved certain serious
arrangements with several of them. I will not name those businessmen
but I can say that they are going to make big investments in Armenia
if the Association of Diaspora Representatives is established to
control over financial flows.

WKS Armenia is a tolling operation company. Why the company’s
production has not been introduced in the local market yet?

The company is producing uniforms made of expensive raw-materials
imported from Germany. In fact, the production is too expensive for
the local market. However, in 2011 we are likely to open the first
WKS Armenia brand fashion shop. We plan regional expansion in future.

Clothes are imported in Armenia mostly from Turkey, China, and Dubai
which is, to put it mildly, far behind fashion trends. We want to
offer our citizens high quality cloths and follow the global fashion
trends. WKS Armenia shops will offer products made in Armenia. I hope
we will activate the factory in Amasia besides the one in Yerevan.

Would you please tell a little more about that factory? How many jobs
will it open?

The new textile factory in Amasya will allow opening nearly 150 jobs.

It is the largest factory in the region of Shirak. Head of the State
Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan provided us with the premises
for the factory. But we did not avoid problems there either. We were
seriously short of human resources. Gyumri Employment Center could not
help us settle that problem. It has turned out that in the country with
so big number of the unemployed few people want to work. Most of the
unemployed prefer being on the dole in the amount of 18,000 drams and
earn a bit on the side. People working at almost all the enterprises
in the region are not registered officially, which is violation of
the law and the State Employment Center is well aware of that.

Have you settled the problem with human resources after all?

Yes, and we did that independently without support of the state
structures. If a foreign businessman has a problem with any state
structure in Armenia, he has to apply to the prime minister to settle
it. The prime minister, for his part, charges relevant department
to settle the problem. But, even in this case one cannot be sure in
settlement of the problem.

Back to the new project of factory, how much have you invested in
this project? What production volumes do you plan for the first year
of activity?

We plan monthly production capacity of nearly 18,000 units of garment.

In two-three years we will double this figure. Within the first months
the factory will make men’s shirts. In future, we will produce other
garments for men and women. I’d like to say to our government, in
particular, Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan that we are a serious
company that will not rest on its laurels. The next step will be
acquisition or construction of a factory in Charentsavan.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIA PLANS TO BUILD NPP DUE TO EXTRABUDGETARY FUNDS

ArmInfo
2010-10-06 13:45:00

ArmInfo. No funds are envisaged in the budget 2011 for construction
of a new nuclear power unit at the Armenian NPP, Finance Minister of
Armenia Tigran Davtyan said at a press-conference, Wednesday.

According to him, it is scheduled that construction of the power
unit will be carried out due to extrabudgetary funds, in particular,
due to banks or investment companies.

“We have no legal basis to allocate budgetary funds, since no
agreement has yet been signed on construction of a power unit. The
same refers to the project of construction of Iran-Armenia railway”,
the minister said.

T. Davtyan added that the government of Armenia switches from an
extensive policy to a restrictive one beginning with 2011, and ‘it
will be more restrained in attraction of additional loans’.

To recall, at late 2009, the government of Armenia approved signing of
an agreement with Russia on construction of a new nuclear power unit
with capacity of 1060 MWt in its territory, with 60 years of lifetime.

According to preliminary estimates, the cost of construction of a
new power unit in Armenia will make up $5 bln. Russia and Armenia
will invest 20% each in this programme, and the lacking 60% will be
attracted from other sources.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN COMMISSION ON CAPTIVES, HOSTAGES AND MISSING PERSONS: MANVEL SARIBEKYAN WAS EITHER KILLED OR DRIVEN TO SUICIDE

ArmInfo
2010-10-05 22:12:00

ArmInfo. “We were deeply sad to learn the news about Manvel
Saribekyan’s death disseminated by Azerbaijani media with reference
to a joint statement of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry and Military
Prosecutor’s Office”, – said Head of the Working Group of the Armenian
Commission on Captives, Hostages and Missing Persons Armen Kaprielyan
to ArmInfo correspondent when commenting on the statement about Manvel
Saribekyan’s suicide.

He pointed out that no official confirmation of the fact of Manvel
Saribekyan’s death has yet been received from the Azerbaijani party
via the International Committee of the Red Cross. “At the moment we
are working in various directions. I can say that the Azeris have
once again shown their true colors to the world. After suspension of
active military actions dozens of Armenians were cruelly tortured
and killed in Azerbaijani torture chambers, and many of those who
managed to return to the motherland were atrophied and crippled.

We have repeatedly drawn international organizations’ attention
to the outrageous facts of Azerbaijan’s ignoring the generally
accepted norms of the International Humanitarian Law and The Law
of International Human Rights Protection, elementary human rights,
however, unfortunately, those guilty for Armenians’ deaths and tortures
in Azerbaijan are still at liberty and continue doing evil”, – said
Kaprielyan. He added that Azerbaijani authorities still conceal the
truth about saribekyan and expressed confidence that Saribekyan, who
is insistently called diversionist by the Azerbaijani propaganda,
underwent beating, tortures, measures of psychological influence,
treatment that humiliates human dignity and is condemned by the
civilized international community as reflected in the Geneva
Conventions and additional protocols to them.

According to Kaprielyan, the conclusion is: Saribekyan, whom Azeris
tries to label as diversionist, terrorist and filicide to find approval
in their own public, was either killed or driven to suicide.

“In either of the versions we deal with a dirty crime directed
against humanity”,- he said and stressed that the culprits should
be condemned with all strictness of the law because the death of an
Armenian citizen forcibly kept in Azerbaijani captivity can have no
justification and remain unpunished.

Manvel Saribekyan was a civilian, a shepherd and he was captured last
month. He found himself on the Azerbaijani side when looking for the
lost cattle.

From: A. Papazian