Author: Andres-Papazian

LAKE SHERWOOD RESIDENT PENS BOOK ON MARRIAGE
By Philip Allmen

Hometownlife.com

Aug 13 2010

With 59 years of marriage under his belt to Marguerite, George
Mouradian thinks he knows a thing or two about the subject.

But when he wrote Guideline to Your Magical Marriage, he wanted to
make sure he knew even more.

“It’s not just my own experience,” he said. “I looked up the experts
to see what they have to say. Still, there’s no guarantee. Not even
all them have lasting marriages.”

Mouradian is a well-published author, too, although this was his first
venture into less technical subject matter. He’s written several books
related to engineering from the time he worked for AM General. He’s
also penned several works on Armenian history.

Like with those books, the focus of Guideline to Your Magical Marriage
is his effort to making things better, easier for others.

“I wanted to help somebody, especially newlyweds,” said the Lake
Sherwood resident.

Mouradian reminds readers that everything in the book should also be
taken with a grain of salt.

“These are recommendations. Take them for what they’re worth,” he
said. “But it’s loaded with all kinds for recommendations. It even
gets into Christian aspects of the thing.”

Faith isn’t necessarily required, although Mouradian said Christian
aspects and ideas complement various subjects in the book.

Ultimately, a successful marriage boils down to communication. No
marriage can be flawless, he said, but if couples work together,
they can approach it.

“People should talk to each other. If you hold it inside you, it just
builds up and your mate doesn’t know what’s bothering you,” Mouradian
explained. “No marriage is what you call perfect. Couples argue with
each other. We still do, but we don’t get mad at each other. You
can approach the magic, but probably never really get the magic,
I suppose.”

The book includes planning for marriage, communication between couples,
compatibility, health, stress, finances, Hollywood and TV, continuous
improvement, raising children, causes of divorce, retirement and
Christian principles.

Possible pitfalls are presented with explanations on how to cope with
them. The book covers the mundane and tedious times of a marriage that
couples may often experience, but more encouragingly the enchanting
and captivating aspects of a marriage.

Guideline to Your Magical Marriage is published through Publish
America, which Mouradian said he found through a friend. The book
retails online ()

From: A. Papazian

“ARTSAKH ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE DECIDED PERSONALLY”

Aysor
Aug 13 2010
Armenia

People’s Party Chairman Tigran Karapetyan at a news conference shared
his impressions of his recent visit to Artsakh where he had met local
authorities, servicemen and population.

He mentioned that people live in peace in Artsakh, yet they are ready
for war at any moment.

According to Karapetyan, after meeting Artsakh President he can say
that Artsakh is committed to the principle “not an inch of land will
be conceded.”

“Artsakh is against concessions or compromises, it thinks it should
take part in the negotiations without fail. The Artsakh issue should
not be decided personally,” political figure stressed.

Karapetyan also said that social condition of people is in the focus
of attention in Artsakh unlike Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

AMERICAN ARMENIANS CANNOT GET ANY COMPENSATION

Journal of Turkish Weekly

Aug 13 2010

Two American Armenians in Los Angeles brought a compensation suit
against Turkish Republic, Central Bank of Turkish Republic and Ziraat
(Agricultural) Bank, which caused great reactions. The citizens living
in the regions where Armenians lived in the past, have become concerned
with the possibility of losing their properties and land.

Prof. Dr. Kemal Cicek, head of the Armenian Studies Desk at Turkish
Historical Society, has proved by the records from American archives,
that Armenians cannot get any compensation from Turkey.

According to Treaty of Lausanne the U.S., acceding to the treaty
as an observer, claimed compensation for Rums and Armenians who
had been Ottoman subjects and were living in the U.S. and for the
American companies doing business in Turkey at that time. This claim
for compensation was accepted by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on 24 December
1923 and two compensation commissions were set up both in the U.S. and
Turkey. However, commission officials determined that the claims were
not based upon evidence.

The commissions’ studies continued until 1934. Armenians, Rums and
American companies brought $55M compensation; however, the U.S.

commission found the evidence insufficient and reduced the amount of
compensation to $5M. After the negotiations, Turkey accepted to pay
$1.3M as a compensation. After the payment of $900,000 by Turkey,
the U.S. commission refused to take any more, stating there was no
person left that deserved compensation.

Prof. Dr. Cicek stated that, there is no need to worry about
compensation claims, because compensation issue was ended 75 years
ago. He emphasized once again that American Armenians cannot get any
compensation from Turkey.

From: A. Papazian

MANOYAN: “ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS PROGRESS”

Aysor
Aug 13 2010
Armenia

“Armenia-Russia rapprochement is observed lately as compared with
the past period when these relations were not so good,” Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Armenian Cause (“Hay Dat”) and Political
Affairs Bureau Director Giro Manoyan told reporters.

According to him, the decision on extension of the term of deployment
of the Russian military base in Armenia is evidence of Armenia-Russia
rapprochement. In politician’s opinion, probably, Russia chose a
convenient time to get that agreement for solving some problems in
Armenia. Russia may be also thinking it will not be able to sign such
an agreement with the future Armenian authorities.

Speaking about possible sales of the S-300 missile systems by Russia
to Azerbaijan Manoyan said: “Russia tries to keep peace or stability
in the region. However, there can be negative developments if peace
is only ensured by Russia and not by international forces.”

He noted that regional countries have a possibility to defend their
interests only when non-regional competing forces control the region.

From: A. Papazian

NUMBER OF ARMENIANS IN KARABAKH PLANNED TO BE RAISED TO 300,000

news.az
Aug 13 2010
Azerbaijan

Govhar Bakhshaliyeva Armenia has created a plan to change the
demographic situation in the occupied Azerbaijani lands, said a source
in the National Academy of Science.

He said the Armenian plan on changes of demographic situation in
Nagorno Karabakh is spoken of in the statement of Milli Majlis member,
director of the Oriental Studies Institute of the National Academy
of Science of Azerbaijan Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, placed in the monthly
bulletin of the OIC Parliamentary Assembly released in three languages.

In particular, the statement of the Azerbaijani parliamentarian
says that the so-called Armenian plan is implemented under the title
‘Return to Artsakh’. The plan sets the goal to raise the number of
Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh to approximately 300,000 people. The
statement also featured the details of the disastrous implications of
the Armenian aggression in Azerbaijani lands. It says that over 20,000
Azerbaijanis were killed, over 50,000 disabled and 4,000 taken hostage.

Bakhshaliyeva lists the names of Azerbaijan’s ancient monuments,
mosques, cemeteries which were terminated and recalls the termination
of Khojaly civilians by Armenian militants.

The statement places a special accent on the activity of Armenian
terror organization ASALA and the absence of control over the situation
in the occupied lands, which allows the world terror using the occupied
Azerbaijani lands for illegal actions on arms trading, drug business
and travel of persons on the international wanted list.

In this connection, the deputy urges the world to stop Armenian
aggression against Azerbaijan and take effective measures to settle
the Karabakh conflict on the basis of norms of international law.

From: A. Papazian

SALE OF S-300 TO AZERBAIJAN TO STRENGTHEN CSTO MISSILE DEFENSE, EXPERT

news.az
Aug 13 2010
Azerbaijan

According to Ramil Latipov, the sale of S-300 to Azerbaijan will
strengthen the missile defense system of CSTO.

Despite the leadership of Russia’s Rosoboronexport dismissed the
reports of the plans to sell S-300 complex to Azerbaijan, I believe
the possible supply of S-300 Favorit from Russia to Azerbaijan would
have a number of advantages on the background of the planned expansion
of the functions of the Russian military base in Gyumri on provision
of Armenia and prolongation of its term of stay.

The due statement came from director of the Center of Analysis of
Terror Threats and Low Intensive Conflicts (Moscow), creator and chief
of the CSTO International Center of Information Support, Ramil Latipov.

‘First, if the sale of S-300 complex is conducted, I think this
will raise the capacities of the missile defense system of the CIS
countries, as well as the missile defense system of CSTO states. In
this case it will be possible to speak of the assistance of the
Azerbaijani side to raising security of the CSTO states, as well
as Azerbaijan’s possible joining CSTO in the nearest future, for
example as an associate member. Naturally, the CSTO leadership will
have to develop and introduce a definite tool to reach this goal’,
Latipov said.

From: A. Papazian

UNSUNG HEROES IN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RECONCILIATION

Hurriyet Daily News
Aug 13 2010
Turkey

In light of our story yesterday on the nongovernmental organizations
carrying the baton of otherwise stalled reconciliation between Turkey
and Armenia, we think a few words are in order for the unsung heroes
in this process.

We have acknowledged, and still do, the diplomatic efforts to normalize
relations between two neighbors that began nearly two years ago with
President Abdullah Gul’s visit to a football match in Yerevan. Yes,
when the effort turned to the diplomatic playing field, the ball
was fumbled in late play. Had Turkey put more and earlier effort
into assuaging the concerns of Azerbaijan, for whom the potential
Turkish-Armenian border opening is anathema, the process might still
be alive. For Azerbaijan, the loss of its Nagorno-Karabagh territory,
and the resulting flight of nearly 1 million refugees, remains an
open wound.

We believe that better relations between Turkey and Armenia can aid
resolution of Nagorno-Karabagh. But for Azerbaijan to reach this
conclusion, much more work needs to be done by Turkish diplomats.

Nonetheless, the government and Foreign Ministry has worked tirelessly
toward rapprochement and the foundations for progress that have been
laid remain in place. We salute their work.

The NGO community, of course, established the road that diplomacy
followed. And as we noted yesterday, they are still at it. Over the
weekend, a Turkish NGO in Ankara joined with 20 organizations from
Armenia in what might be called a “brainstorming” session toward
better ties. Preparation of a Turkish-Armenian dictionary, tallying
the cost of a closed border and promoting Turkish exports with the
help of Armenian-American businessmen were among the ideas. We salute
these, too.

But behind the scenes of such high official and unofficial diplomacy,
there is another group deserving of acknowledgement. For if NGO
efforts enable government initiatives to follow, much work of civil
society is enabled by mid-level officials in such ministries as health,
education and culture.

An orphans camp on the island of Kınalı near Istanbul is now seeking
ways to allow use of the facility by needy children from Yerevan,
not just those who are Turkish citizens. Last April, it was doctors
at Istanbul University’s CerrahpaÅ~_a Medical Faculty who insisted
a technically “illegal” patient from Armenia be given a residence
permit so treatment unavailable in his homeland could continue.

Later this month, a mass will be held in the newly restored church
on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, an event occurring only because of
Herculean efforts by the Ministry of Culture. Even the local governor
has opened a guest house to visitors as the city’s hotel rooms are
all sold out.

The unsung heroes making all these small but important steps possible
deserve the thanks of Turks and Armenians both.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN CHURCH OFFICIALS TO ATTEND SERVICE IN SE TURKEY

Hurriyet Daily News
Aug 13 2010
Turkey

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, headquarters of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, has officially been invited to a historic service
in Van by the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul. The See welcomed
the invitation and will send two clerics for the service on Sept. 19.

Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian, a patriarchal candidate in Istanbul, was
not invited, however

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenia-based spiritual and
administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has
accepted an invitation from the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul to
attend a special mass on Van’s Akdamar Island on Sept. 19.

The See will send at least two clerics to attend the service, in
addition to the clerics who will attend along with Deputy Istanbul
Patriarch and Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan.

Speaking Thursday to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Bishop
Sebouh Chouldjian, primate of the Church’s Diocese of Gougark in
northern Armenia, confirmed there would be attendance from Etchmiadzin.

Bishop Margos Srpazan and Father Gomidas will attend on behalf of the
See, according to Chouldjian, who is one of the most likely candidates
to be the next Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul.

Chouldjian, however, said he could not understand why he was not
invited despite being a patriarchal candidate.

“Etchmiadzin left the decision to me,” said Chouldjian, who can
still attend if he chooses. “I will declare my decision to attend or
not several days before the service, without expecting any protocol
application from the Patriarchate if I do decide to attend on Sept.

19.”

Explaining why only two clerics were attending from the See, Chouldjian
said it was “because Turkey’s decision to allow one service a year
[on the island] is perceived as a political one.”

Chouldjian stood for the election of deputy Istanbul patriarch after
Mesrop II became unable to fulfill his duties due to frontal dementia,
forcing the Armenian Apostolic Church in Istanbul to begin discussing
new leadership options.

Since the patriarch’s illness, the Patriarchate and the rival
Initiating Committee have disagreed on how to fill left by Mesrop II
becoming incapacitated.

Finally, the Interior Ministry intervened after the disagreement
could not be overcome and stated that no election for the position
of patriarch could be held while Mesrop II is alive.

In response, the Divine Council of the Patriarchate made a snap
decision that was not announced publicly and assigned AteÅ~_yan as
deputy patriarch. The incident remains a point of debate.

Sarkisian’s party discouraging Armenian participation at Akdamar

Meanwhile, Radio Free Europe – Radio Liberty, or RFE-RL, reported on
Thursday that Armenian President Serge Sarkisian’s Republican Party,
or HHK, spoke out against Armenian participation in the landmark
service to be held Akdamar Island’s Surp Hac Church in the eastern
province of Van.

HHK spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov denounced the Turkish government’s
decision to reopen the church for a one-day religious ceremony on
Sept. 19, calling it a publicity stunt and a “provocation” aimed at
misleading the international community.

“Once again, instead of taking a serious step, the Turks are staging
an imitation show,” Sharmazanov told Radio Free Europe. “I don’t think
you can achieve tolerance and solidarity of civilizations in that way.”

Giro Manoyan from the opposition party Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, or Dashnaktsutyun, also spoke to RFE-RL and called on
Armenians to boycott the service.

“I don’t want to blame believers willing to go there, but they must
know that they somewhat contribute to the Turkish provocation,”
he said.

In the same story, Father Vahram Melikian, a spokesman for Catholicos
of All Armenians Karekin II, said, “We believe that if we are given
an opportunity to cherish a shrine that had functioned for centuries
but is devoid of prayer today for some reason, we must use even that
single day in order to assert our rights and ownership of the shrine
with our participation.”

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY’S CHIEF EU NEGOTIATOR URGES UNION TO HONOR ITS WORD

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Aug 13 2010

Turkey’s chief European Union negotiator reiterated his country’s
call for the Union to stay loyal to its commitments.

“We are expecting the European Union to meet its obligations. The joint
drive of Turkey and the EU for a common future is a mutual promise
based on agreements, conventions and anonymously voted EU resolutions,”
Egemen Bagis said in a letter he sent to the British daily The Times.

Bagis said Turkey should become an EU member for many reasons including
its contributions to the European economy, and its key role in the
EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The Turkish negotiator said his country had been taking steps to
normalize its relations with Armenia, and that it extended support
to ongoing settlement talks in Cyprus.

Bagis said Turkey had made “impressive reforms” including a
constitutional amendment package and a laws expanding rights and
freedoms.

The Turkish official rejected a much-criticized call for “a privileged
partnership” for Turkey, saying that a status short of full-fledged
membership was against the founding principles of the Union.

From: A. Papazian

TANKIAN’S CONCERT TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN

Aysor
Aug 13 2010
Armenia

“System of a Down” rock band soloist Serj Tankian’s long-awaited
concert took place yesterday evening at Yerevan Karen Demirchyan
Sports and Concerts Complex.

The concert gathered together thousands of rock lovers in a crowded
hall who had come to enjoy high-class music.

The VIZA rock band invited as a special guest opened the concert. Then
Tankian, his musicians and the Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra
performed. Works from Tankian’s old and new albums as well as syntheses
of rock and classical music were performed. Tankian also performed
a work in Armenian composed by him under the impression of a book on
Armenian Genocide.

Note that VivaCell-MTS is the general sponsor of Serj Tankian’s
Armenian concert.

From: A. Papazian