Author: Andres-Papazian

UN HOMME S’ATTAQUE AU KHATCHKAR DE L’EGLISE ARMENIENNE SAINTE-MARIE DE GLENDALE
par Krikor Amirzayan

armenews
vendredi13 août 2010
VANDALISME

L’eglise armenienne Sainte-Marie de Glendale (Californie, Etats-Unis)
a ete vandalisee. L’auteur de l’attaque est un habitant de Glendale
âge de 23 ans qui a degrade a coups de marteau la representation
de Sainte-Marie sur le khatchkar (croix de pierre armenienne) qui
se trouvait dans la cour de l’eglise. Il fut aussitôt arrete par la
police. Il s’agit de Victor Petrescu. Il confia a la police qu’en tant
que Juif, il devait ” obeir a la Bible qui dit que l’on devait detruire
de tels objets de culte “. Mais le lendemain meme de son arrestation,
l’auteur du vandalisme de declarait etre chretien. La police a
confie l’affaire a des specialistes psychiatres qui determineront si
V. Petrescu n’est pas desequilibre. Le khatchkar avait ete inaugure
il y a dix ans a l’occasion du 1700e anniversaire de l’adoption du
christianisme en Armenie. Le père Ardak Demirdjian, le responsable de
l’eglise a estime que les degâts etaient de l’ordre de 80 000 dollars.

From: A. Papazian

LA TURQUIE AURAIT UTILISE DES ARMES CHIMIQUES CONTRE LES COMBATTANTS KURDES
par Krikor Amirzayan

armenews
vendredi13 août 2010
TURQUIE

La presse allemande a revele que la Turquie a utilise des armes
chimiques lors des affrontements de l’armee turque avec les combattants
kurdes au sud-est du pays. Les journaux allemands ” Der Spiegel “,
” Die Welt ” et ” Die Tageszitung ” reprennent l’information selon
laquelle lors des combats au Kurdistan, depuis le 1er juin, les
forces d’Ankara ont utilise des armes chimiques lors des affrontements
sanglants contre les Kurdes. Les soldats Turcs detruisent ensuite les
corps des combattants Kurdes pour effacer les traces de l’utilisation
de produits chimiques. Dans une interview au ” Der Spiegel ” Claudia
Roth qui co-preside en compagnie de Cem Ozdemir (d’origine turque)
le parti des Verts allemands, a demande a la Turquie de repondre a
ces accusations. Un depute allemand a en outre demande la mise en
place d’une commission internationale chargee de faire la lumière
sur cette affaire d’utilisation d’armes chimiques par l’armee
turque. L’occident qui avait a juste titre condamne jadis l’attaque
par des armes chimiques d’un village kurde de Halabdja (Irak) par
Saddam Hussein, fera-t-il le meme geste pour la Turquie ?

From: A. Papazian

VICTOIRE SUR LE NEGATIONNISME TURC AUX ETATS UNIS
par Jean Eckian

armenews
vendredi13 août 2010
USA

La Cour d’Appel de la première circonscription du Massachusetts
a rejete, hier 12 août 2010, l’Appel de la Commission Driscoll et
de l’Assemblee des associations turques americaines qui plaidaient
pour la suppression des termes “genocide armenien” dans les manuels
scolaires du Massachusetts.

La cour d’appel estime que l’enseignement sur le genocide armenien
entre dans les programmes scolaires et que le droit ne permet pas
sa negation.

C’est donc une grande victoire juridique qui, sans nul doute fera
jurisprudence aux Etats Unis.

From: A. Papazian

SASSOUNIAN : DES SENATEURS BLOQUENT LA NOMINATION DES AMBASSADEURS EN AZERBAÏDJAN ET EN TURQUIE
par Jean Eckian

armenews
vendredi13 août 2010

Diplomatie

Cet episode dans la politique etrangère des USA vis a vis du duo
turco-azeri a trop de similitudes avec le vote du 4 mars de la
Commission des Affaires Etrangères de la Chambre des Representants
sur le Genocide Armenien, pour qu’on n’y voit pas un lien politique.

L’avenir dira si c’est en soi un reel avantage pour les Armeniens.

Mais il ne fait aucun doute que tout ce qui pourra etre fait pour
arreter les ingerences turques et la corruption dans la vie politique
des USA (et d’autres) est utile a notre cause. Il faut rappeler
l’action courageuse de Sibel Edmonds dans ce sens. La nomination
de John Kerry a la presidence de la commission du Senat a sûrement
contribue a sa decision de diffferer le processus de confirmation.

Saluons en tous cas ce resultat de nos compatriotes americains.

G. Beguian – J. Eckian

Los Angeles Times Daily.com

par Harut Sassounian :

Embarrassant gravement l’administration Obama, des Senateurs ont
pris une decision sans precedent la semaine passee, bloquant les
nominations d’Ambassadeurs du President a la fois pour l’Azerbaïdjan
et la Turquie !

L’Administration a montre son manque total d’experience et la pauvrete
de son jugement en ignorant les avertissements selon lesquels Matthew
Bryza et Francis Ricciardone, pressentis pour Bakou et Ankara,
feraient l’objet d’une forte opposition au Senat.

La Maison Blanche, le Departement d’Etat et le President de la
Commission des Affaires Etrangères du Senat s’etaient prealablement
mis d’accord pour accelerer le processus de confirmation de ces deux
pressentis, avant que le Senat ne se mette en vacance jusqu’a la
mi-septembre. Bryza etait a ce point confiant sur sa nomination a
Bakou qu’il avait pris les dispositions pour mettre en location sa
maison de Washington dès le debut du mois d’août !

La communaute armenienne d’Amerique s’opposait a la nomination de
Bryza, exprimant l’inquietude que Bryza ne puisse pas representer les
interets des USA en Azerbaïdjan de facon objective. Le rude parcours
du pressenti a la Commission des Affaires Etrangères a fait suite a de
nombreuses allegations de conflit d’interet concernant sa personne et
l’employeur de son epouse native de Turquie, l’Hudson Institute. Les
Bryza etaient critiques pour etre “trop intimes” avec les officiels
azeris et turcs, ayant recu des cadeaux pour eux-memes a l’occasion
de leur mariage a Istanbul.

Les reponses evasives et insatisfaisantes aux questions des senateurs
lors de son audition de confirmation ont convaincu la Senatrice
Barbara Boxer (Democrate- Californie) de demander au President de la
Commission le Senateur Kerry de suspendre sa confirmation jusqu’a la
mi-septembre. Entre-temps, les officiels des USA et d’autres auront
plus de latitude pour examiner toutes les questions soulevees au
cours de l’audition au Senat. Au cas où les senateurs jugeraient que
les allegations contre Bryza ne sont pas suffisamment serieuses pour
meriter un rejet, il pourrait dès lors etre confirme comme le prochain
ambassadeur en Azerbaïdjan. Cependant, si les preuves de mefaits
existent, il serait mieux qu’elles soient revelees maintenant plutôt
qu’une fois installe dans son poste a Bakou, evitant a l’Administration
Obama des revelations scandaleuses et embarras

Par ailleurs, Francis Ricciardone, candidat pour la Turquie, semblait
etre le choix ideal sur le papier. C’est un veteran de 32 ans de
service aux affaires etrangères ayant ete ambassadeur delegue en
Afghanistan, comme a l’ambassade a Ankara, et parle couramment le turc.

Malheureusement, Ricciardone porte une responsabilite majeure que
l’administration Obama a imprudemment ignoree. Il y avait de forts
griefs de neoconservateurs au cours de sa mission en Egypte, de 2005 a
2008, Ricciardone s’etait avere incapable de soutenir les soi-disant
efforts de l’administration Bush pour la promotion de la democratie
et des droits de l’homme dans ce pays. Lorsque les neoconservateurs
ont realise que l’Administration etait sourde a leurs objections,
ils se sont efforces de bloquer sa nomination. Le Senateur Sam
Brownback (Republicain-Kansas) a mis Ricciardone “en attente”,
jusqu’a sa confirmation par la Commission des Affaires Etrangères,
bloquant en consequence sa nomination par l’ensemble de Senat.

Le magazine Foreign Policy (Affaires Etrangères) ecrit que ceux qui
critiquent Ricciardone estiment que “sa forte personnalite et son
expression quelquefois abrupte font un mauvais melange etant donnee
la facon dont se presente la tâche – et qu’il a tendance a trop se
rapprocher de ses interlocuteurs etrangers.” Le magazine cite egalement
Danielle Pletka, Vice-presidente de l’American Enterprise Institute,
qui disait ;”Le temps n’est pas pour nous d’avoir un ambassadeur a
Ankara plus interesse a servir les autocrates locaux qu’a servir les
interets de sa propre administration.”

Bloquer la confirmation des Ambassadeurs en Azerbaïdjan et en
Turquie a attire une attention particulière a Washington, Bakou
et Ankara. Les principaux journaux americains, azeris et turcs ont
accuse la communaute armenienne d’Amerique de saboter la nomination
de Bryza. Le journal influent de Washington “Politico” a rapporte que
Bryza s’etait heurte “a l’opposition de l’Armenian National Comitee
of America, un groupe de pression.” L’hebdomadaire “Azernews Weekly”
a fustige la “diaspora armenienne” et Hurriyet, l’un des plus grands
journaux turcs, a ecrit que la nomination de Bryza etait reportee
“en reponse a l’action de groupe de pression armeniens.”

Selon quelques articles, l’Administration Obama peut se refuser
a engager son potentiel politique pour le sauvetage de l’un ou de
l’autre des candidatures. Lincoln Mitchell, un expert du Sud Caucase
a l’Universite de Columbia, a dit a RFE qu’il ne pensait pas que
l’Administration affronterait des Senateurs de son propre parti pour
sauver Bryza. Une supposition identique figurait dans le magazine
Foreign Policy de la part du collaborateur d’un senateur republicain
sur l’intention de l’Administration a l’egard de Ricciardone.

L’absence prolongee d’Ambassadeurs des USA a Bakou et Ankara arrive
a un point de plus forte tension dans les relations entre ces deux
capitales et Washington. Etant donnees les multiples crises auxquelles
l’Administration Obama est confrontee a l’interieur et a l’etranger
a la veille delections en Novembre, il est douteux qu’elle puisse
maintenir avec vigueur la confirmation de ses candidats ambassadeurs
pour l’Azerbaïdjan et la Turquie !

——————————————————————————–

A noter que Jean-Francois julliard, Secretaire general de Reporters
Sans Frontières et Clotilde Le Coz, Directrice de RSF a Washington,
emettent toutes reserves sur la nomination de Matthew Bryza comme
ambassadeur des Etats Unis en Azerbaïdjan, compte tenu de ses positions
sur le conflit du Haut karabakh, et par ailleurs parce qu’il a ete
implique dans une plainte et un procès contre un journal.

Sur cet aspect, l’organisation doute des promesses de Bryza quant a son
desir de voir l’Azerbaïdjan se democratiser : ” Si elle est confirmee
[sa nomination comme ambassadeur], je vais continuer a encourager le
gouvernement de l’Azerbaïdjan a avancer sur des questions cles telles
que la liberte des medias, la liberte d’expression, le pluralisme
politique, la primaute du droit et la participation civique “, a-t-il
declare dernièrement devant une commision senatoriale des Etats Unis.

From: A. Papazian

FOXMAN AND ADL SHOULD END THEIR HATRED OF MUSLIMS IN AMERICA; CHRISTIANS IN TURKEY
Executive Publisher / Managing Editor

Issue # 1220
Thursday, August 12, 2010

As if the 2007 ADL-Armenian Genocide denial controversy and its
fallout wasn’t enough, now Foxman has sunk driven into a new low of
religious bigotry.

The Anti-Defamation League continued to be the target of public

backlash as a result of its controversial position last week against
the Islamic cultural center to be built a few blocks away from the
site of the 9/11 attack.

CNN host and Newsweek columnist Fareed Zakaria strongly criticized
ADL’s anti-mosque position.

Zakaria stated on CNN: “Ever since 9/11, the United States has
been trying to engage in a battle of ideas of radical Islam. In
fact many conservatives have argued that we should be engaged
in much more extensive efforts to find moderates to de-legitimize
violent and radical Islam. There are politicians who have shamefully
and shamelessly capitalized on the public’s weariness. The public
is weary, understandably because there is so much disinformation
about the [Islamic] centre. But perhaps the most puzzling stand was
taken by the Anti-Defamation League which was founded to support the
freedom of religion. The Director of ADL Abraham Foxman explained that
the victims of the 9-11 had feelings on this matter that should be
respected even if they were irrational. First of all, there were many
dozens of victims of 9-11 who were Muslim. Do their feelings count?

More important, are irrational feelings, prejudices, and hatred
OK because those expressing them are victims or see themselves as
victims? Will the ADL defend the rights of Palestinian victims to
be anti-Semites?”

“I have to say, I was deeply saddened by ADL’s stand. Because five
years ago, the [ADL] organization honored me with its Hubert H.

Humphrey award for First Amendment Freedoms. Given the position that
they have taken on the core issue of religious freedom in America,
I can not, in good conscience, keep that award. Later he wrote
in Newsweek: “I returned both the handsome plaque and the $10,000
honorarium that came with it. I urge the ADL to reverse its decision.

Admitting an error is a small price to pay to regain a reputation,”
he added.

“The much larger issue that this center raises is, of course, of
freedom of religion in America. Much has been written about this,
and I would only urge people to read Michael Bloomberg’s speech on the
subject last week. Bloomberg’s eloquent, brave, and carefully reasoned
address should become required reading in every civics classroom in
America. It probably will,” he concluded.

Taking the ADL to task were diverse leaders and ethnic American groups
including a many righteous Jews — cantors, filmmakers, lawyers,
authors and musicians, who posted a letter in the Huffington Post in
response to ADL National Director Foxman’s highly insulting statement
against the building of the Islamic center. They wrote: “We can
relate to these ‘irrational feelings’. … Many of our families lost
members to the Holocaust. And yet we believe that your position on the
Cordoba House is wrong and that it goes against the ADL’s description
of itself as an organization that fights ‘all forms of bigotry.'”

ADL’s intolerance is nothing new to the citizens of Massachusetts and
thousands of anti-genocide activists throughout the United States. It
is not limited to religion but it also entails ethnic and racial
prejudice. Back in 2007 several MA municipalities protested against
ADL’s hatred against Armenian-Americans and their heritage.

Over a dozen MA municipalities categorically rejected ADL’s siding
with Turkey in its denial of the Armenian Genocide. They canceled
their joint sponsorship of ADL’s discredited “No Place For Hate”
programs. David Boyajian of MA who led the successful “No Place For
Denial” campaign, condemned ADL’s bigotry.

Interestingly, there is a subdued link between ADL’s and Turkey’s
religious intolerance. While ADL does not tolerate an Islamic center
in New York, Turkey’s deep state despises not only the Christian
religion but also the Muslim faith.

ADL’s Turkish allies have even gone further.

The Armenian Genocide was primarily masterminded and executed by
secular Turks who continue to be in power in today’s Turkey; and
closely co-operate with Foxman’s ADL in furthering genocide denial
in the United States.

Are Mr. Foxman and his organization aware that contrary to the
genocidal secular Turks, devout Muslim Turks – especially of Konya,
the center of Turkish Holy Islam, were among several righteous Muslim
Turks who at the risk of losing their own lives saved many Armenians
from certain death?

Does he care to learn that thousands of deported Armenian survivors of
the 1915-1923 Genocide were embraced with open arms by Muslim Arabs
in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, other Arab countries and in
what was then Palestine?

Uprooted orphaned Armenians were also given refuge in predominantly
Islamic Iran.

The exiled Christian Armenians were granted rights to build their
churches alongside mosques all over the Middle East.

During the last millennium no church has been forcibly converted to a
mosque by Muslim Arabs or Muslim Iranians in the entire Middle East,
except in Turkey.

ADL’s ally Turkey is the only country in the Mediterranean basin
that has illegally confiscated thousands of Christian Armenian,
Greek and Assyrian places of worship, heritage, and higher learning,
and converted many of them into mosques, warehouses, and stables.

Mr. Foxman and his ADL should end their hatred of Muslims in America
by recognizing an Islamic center’s right to exist — not on ground
zero, but a few blocks away from it.

They should also end their prejudice against Christians and other
minorities in Turkey by encouraging tolerance among racist Turks
through the creation of genuine “No Place for Hate” programs in
municipalities all over Turkey.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

August 12, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA WELCOMES LANDMARK COURT DECISION AGAINST GENOCIDE DENIERS

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
has issued the following statement welcoming the United States
Court of Appeals First Circuit decision affirming a lower court’s
dismissal of the Griswold vs. Driscoll case. Spearheaded by the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), the Griswold vs.
Driscoll lawsuit sought to compel the inclusion of historically
inaccurate Armenian Genocide denial materials in the Massachusetts
education curriculum.

Statement by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian:

“We welcome the Court’s landmark decision rejecting profoundly
hateful and misguided pressure on educators to teach Armenian
Genocide denial in America’s public schools. We are deeply
gratified to have played a meaningful role, along with our partners
in the Armenian Bar Association, Irish Immigration Center, Jewish
Alliance for Law and Social Action, the Genocide Education Project,
and the Zoryan Institute, in this major legal victory. We also
want to especially thank Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr for
their representation to ensure that America’s schoolchildren learn
the truth about the Armenian Genocide and all instance of man’s
inhumanity to man.’

To read the First Circuit Court decision, visit:

#####

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:

August 12, 2010
PRELATE IS OVERSEAS

Archbishop Oshagan left for Lebanon this week where he will confer
with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia. Thereafter, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Armenia where
he will represent the Holy See of Cilicia in Holy Etchmiadzin as a
member of committees concerning the ongoing dialogue between the Holy
See of Etchmiadzin and the Holy See of Cilicia; the discussion on
church rituals and rites; and preparation for the General Assembly of
all Bishops of the Armenian Church which will convene in Etchmiadzin
next year.

PILGRIMAGE TO LEBANON AND SYRIA NEARS CONCLUSION
The pilgrimage to Lebanon and Syria, which was organized by the
Prelacys St. Gregory of Datev Institute, is nearing its final
days. The pilgrims will return this Monday, August 16, eager (we hope)
to share their impressions and photos.

DATEV IMPRESSIONS.
We continue with three more impressions from students who attended the
2010 St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute. To read the full press
release, student impressions, and view photographs click here.

Datev is an indescribable experience every year. We are all sent here
to learn many valuable lessons, develop and rekindle great
friendships, and to be with God in a much more personal, yet communal
way. Its truly a blessing to feel the refreshment that the week at
Datev brings, and to go back to our lives, feeling rejuvenated and
guided by God. It always seems as if the short time we spend together
is never enough, but the experience of being a part of Datev is
something for which I will be forever grateful.
Arpi Shetilian, PostGrad

Datev is a place where you get to learn about the Armenian Church and
history while being in a fun environment with other Armenian
Christians. We also had Armenian history classes and Bible studies,
and other fun activities, like the picnic and the Talent Show, so our
days werent filled with just classes. Datev is a great opportunity to
learn about our Church and to make lifelong friends.
Vrej Agopian, 2nd Year

My experience at Datev has been beyond brilliant. The activities, the
friendships and the classes that teach so much in just a week, combine
to make Datev so inspiring. Every time I come home from Datev, I feel
like a totally different person.
Nazelie Doghramadjian, 2nd Year
LINKED IN WEEKEND IN OCTOBER
The Prelacys annual LinkedIn gathering is a popular educational and
social weekend for young professionals and college students. Beginning
Friday evening and continuing to Sunday,
the weekend provides education through informative and
thought-provoking lectures, spiritual enrichment through Bible
studies, meditations, and liturgical services, and bonding with peers
through discussion groups and fellowship hours.
This years gathering will take place October 8-10 at the Holy
Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. The general
theme for 2010 is The Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Relationships.
For details about the weekend program and registration form
click here (

).

BIBLE READING
Bible readings for Sunday, August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of
the Holy Mother of God, are: Song of Songs 4:9-15; 8:14; Isaiah
7:10-16; Galatians 3:29-4:7; Luke 2:1-7. Lections for blessing of
grapes: Proverbs 3:9-10; Isaiah 65:8-10; Hebrews 6:16-7:7; John
15:1-8,
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all
the world should be registered. This was the first registration and
was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own
towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in
Galilee to Judea, because he was descended from the house and family
of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged
and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came
for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)
For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here
(

).

FEAST OF THE SHOGHAKAT OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN
This Saturday, August 14 is the Feast of the Shoghakat of Holy
Etchmiadzin, which always takes place on the Saturday prior to the
Feast of the Assumption. The title of this feast, Shoghakat, refers to
the vision of St. Gregory and the rays of light when God chose the
site for the Mother Cathedral. This feast is celebrated on Assumption
because the Cathedral in Etchmiadzin is named in honor of the Holy
Mother, although through the years it became known as Etchmiadzin and
Shoghakat referred to the three other nearby churches built by Gregory
the Illuminator.

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
This Sunday, August 15, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of
the Assumption (Verapokoum) of the Holy Mother of God and the Blessing
of the Grapes. Although in modern Armenian the word verapokoum means
change again, in classical Armenian it means transport up. According
to tradition, when Mary, the mother of Christ, died she was buried by
the apostles. Bartholomew, who was not present at her funeral, wished
to visit her grave. When the gravestone was lifted they were surprised
to find that the body had disappeared. It was believed that Christ had
come and taken his mother to the Heavenly Kingdom. Based on this
event, the Church Fathers established the Feast of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the five tabernacle feast
days in the Armenian Churchs liturgical calendar. The feast is
preceded by a week (five days) of fasting and followed by a memorial
day.
Because Bartholomew was very fond of the Holy Mother, the
apostle John gave him a image of her (which she had given to John).
Bartholomew took this image with him to Armenia to Darbnots Kar in the
province of Antsev, Vaspourakan (Western Armenia) where a convent of
nuns, Hagyatz Vank (Monastery of the Spirits) was built and where the
icon was kept. Most images of Bartholomew show him holding this icon.
The concept of the Virgin Marys Assumption is an old one as
seen in sacred prose and poetry dedicated to the Holy Mother.
However, it did not become a basic doctrine of the church until the
ninth century and it was in the twelfth century that the feast was
called The Assumption.
The Feast of the Assumption is the name day for those named
Mariam, Maro, Mary, Mari, Mayrenie, Maroush, Serpouhi, Takouhi,
Lousig, Arpine, Arpenig, Markarid, Nazig, Azniv, Arousiag, Verzhin,
and Arshalouys.

BLESSING OF THE GRAPES
The Blessing of the Grapes takes place on the Feast of the Assumption,
although there is no connection between the two. Similar to other
holidays, it coincides with a pagan era festival, which the Church
Fathers incorporated into the liturgical calendar. The hymn Park
SourpKhatchesi (Glory to Your Sacred Cross) is sung; Biblical passages
are recited, followed by a prayer composed by Catholicos Nerses
Shnorhali specifically for this occasion. After the prayer, the grapes
are blessed three times with the words Orhnestsee Bahbanestsee and
then the blessed grapes are distributed to the faithful, many of whom
have refrained from eating grapes until this blessing takes place.
Certainly we can say that the Blessing of the Grapes is a
celebration of the fruitfulness of the earth. Grapes are one of the
oldest cultivated plants in the world. According to biblical history,
Noah planted a vineyard immediately after disembarking from the Ark
(Genesis, chapter 9) in Nakhichevan. And, of course, the wine of the
Divine Liturgy comes from grapes.

Bless, O Lord, the grape plants and vineyards from which these grapes
are taken and presented to the holy church, and make them bountiful
and fruitful; let them be like good and fertile land, protect the
vineyards from all kinds of misfortune and destruction which come from
above because of our sins, from hail, from cold, from hot winds, and
from destructive insects, so that we may enjoy that which You have
created in this world for our enjoyment and for Your glory, and grant
that we may be worthy to eat and drink with You from the bounty of
Your most fruitful vine at the table of Your Fathers Kingdom,
according to the just promise which You made, to the honor and glory
of Your coexisting Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the most Holy
Spirit to whom is due glory, power, and honor, now and forever. Amen.

(From the prayer written by Nerses Shnorhali for the Blessing of the
Grapes)

MONDAY IS MEMORIAL DAY
Monday, August 16, is Memorial Day (Merelotz). In accordance with the
tradition of the Armenian Church, the day after each of the five
tabernacle feasts (Daghavars) is designated as a Memorial Day, a day
of remembrance of the dead. Traditionally, on Merelotz Divine Liturgy
is celebrated with requiem service for all souls and for those
specifically requested. Following the service the clergy and faithful
would go to the cemeteries where the graves were individually
blessed. This tradition is maintained in some areas overseas, but here
in the United States the blessing of graves was generally done on the
American national Memorial Day in May. Certainly it is not the same
now, but we vividly recall how hundreds, if not thousands, of
Armenians would gather at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Flushing, New York,
where large numbers of Armenians are buried. We children skipped
together amongst the graves stopping to read the tombstones in both
Armenian and English. Th!
e air was filled with the smell of incense. Adults sought out friends
and relatives, and all of the clergy from the area churches were there
going from grave to grave all day long performing grave blessings.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August 13The Preservation and Teaching of Western Armenian in Armenia,
a report by Hagop Balian, editor in chief of Pakine Periodical from
Paris, on the recently convened forum in Armenia, sponsored by the
Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of New York, at
the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Avenue, Woodside, NY, 8:35 pm.

August 14-15Armenian Fest/Grape Blessing, All Saints Armenian Church,
Glenview, 1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois.

August 15Badarak and annual picnic of St. Stephen Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts, at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts (12 noon to 5
pm). For information: 617-924-7562.

August 15Annual picnic and blessing of grapes, Holy Trinity Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts.

August 15Luncheon hosted by Ladies Guild of St. Illuminators
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, on the occasion of the
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and the Blessing of the
Grapes. For information: 212-689-5880.

August 15Annual picnic and blessing of grapes, Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, at Dunkerhood Park, Pavillion D, Paramus, New
Jersey. In case of rain, head to Sts. Vartanantz Church hall.

August 15St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church,
Granite City, Illinois, Annual Blessing of Grapes Picnic, St. Gregory
Community Center, 12 noon to 4 pm. Blessing of Grapes begins at 2 pm.

August 15Armenian American Night at Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre,
Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, New York. Free concert under the stars,
featuring Zareh Kasbarian, Nora Armani, Ruthann Turekian, Yeraz Dance
Ensemble and more. Bring your chairs, enjoy the program. Information:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]).

August 15St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Feast of the
Assumption of St. Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Blessing of grapes and
Madagh (Herisa). Celebrant V. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Sarkissian, member of
the Brotherhood of the Great House of Cilicia. Morning service at 10
am; Divine Liturgy at 10:45 am; Blessing of Grapes and Madagh
following Badarak.

August 22Annual picnic of St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville,
Massachusetts. Beginning at 12 noon on the church grounds, following
church services at 10 am. Delicious Armenian food and homemade baked
goods. Live Armenian music by the John Berberian Ensemble. Dance
performance by Siroun Dancers. Traditional Blessing of Grapes
officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, with participation of
New England clergy.

August 22Lecture at St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street,
Douglaston, New York, Our Wild Queens. Representative of the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation will speak about local
wildlife and lead hands-on family activities. Free admission, 1 pm
following church services.

August 29Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York,
Blessing of Grapes picnic from 12 noon to 4 pm, on the church grou8nds
at 255 Spring Avenue, Troy, New York 12180.

September 122nd Annual Picnic-Festival in North Andover,
Massachusetts, jointly sponsored by St. Gregory Armenian Church and
St. Michael Parish, 12 noon to 6 pm. Main Street in front of both
parishes will be closed to traffic. Featuring traditional delicious
Armenian and American picnic food. American and Armenian music, games
and activities.

September 12St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, grand
opening of the newly built Founders Hall. Archbishop Oshagan will
celebrate the Divine Liturgy and preside over the luncheon.

September 176th Annual Golf Outing, All Saints Armenian Church,
Glenview, Illinois. For information: Armen Kholamian (847) 323-5452;
Hagop Soulakian (847) 858-7685; Sevon Torosian (847) 722-3289.

September 19Annual picnic of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York,
on the church grounds. A relaxing, exciting, joyful, old fashioned
picnic. Good food, best shish kebob, entertainment by FJ-Erevan,
KidZone, special supervised activities for children starting at 1 pm.

September 20St. Stephens Armenian School/ACEC 15TH Annual Golf Outing
at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf, lunch, dinner and
contests. For information: Astor at (781) 326-5764.

September 26Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Providence,
Rhode Island, 70th anniversary of the church and Rev. Fr. Gomidas
Baghsarians elevation to Archpriest, and 10th anniversary of service
to Sts. Vartanantz. Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and preside over the celebratory banquet at Crowne Plaza,
Warwick, Rhode Island. For information: Ramon Zorabedian,
401-884-6626.

September 27Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 7th Annual Golf Outing at Sterling National Country
Club, Sterling, Massachusetts. $140 per person includes golf, cart,
breakfast, dinner and prizes. For information: Kap Kaprielian,
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or 508-872-9629.

October 350th anniversary celebration of Nareg Saturday Armenian
School of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, under the
auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and presided by His Grace
Bishop Anoushavan.

October 8-10The Eastern Prelacys Linked In workshop weekend for young
adults at Holy Virgin Marys Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts.

November 767th anniversary, All Saints Armenian Church, Glenview,
Illinois.
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

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Armenian Assembly of America
August 12, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS RULES AGAINST DENIERS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court David Souter Writes Decision

Washington, DC – In a unanimous opinion written by retired Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court David Souter, sitting on a three judge
panel including Michael Boudin and Jeffery R. Howard of the United
States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, today affirmed the decision of a lower court dismissing
the Griswold v. Driscoll case, in which plaintiffs argued for the
inclusion of genocide denial literature in the Massachusetts human
rights curriculum, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).

The suit filed in 2005 under the guise of a First Amendment case by
the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and its
supporters hoped to undermine the teaching of the Armenian Genocide in
public schools by inserting genocide denial literature in the state
mandated curriculum. ATAA was joined in its campaign by the Turkish
American Legal Defense Fund, whose principal spokesperson, Bruce Fein,
is one of the most vocal deniers of the Armenian Genocide. The
Court’s decision effectively marks a major defeat for deniers.

The court explicitly ruled against ATAA for waiting so long to
complain, and ruled against the individual plaintiffs on First
Amendment and standing grounds. Significantly, the court decided that
the Guide on Armenian Genocide instruction fit into the curriculum
classification rather than a school library, and even if the school
library cases did apply, that law would not allow the genocide denial
actions that the plaintiffs sought.

The plaintiffs’ attorney Harvey Silverglate took the position that
“contra-genocide” websites should be included in the curriculum,
overlooking the inherent contradiction of “contra-genocide”
information, which does hold a position on the Armenian Genocide by
disputing or denying it. Silverglate also failed to advise the court
that the websites in question, whether of the ATAA or the Turkish
Embassy, display brazenly denialist pages on the Armenian Genocide,
therein holding yet again a very distinct view of history,
disqualifying them as either pedagogically objective or scholarly.

“The Court of Appeals’ decision is a major victory for sound education
on the Armenian Genocide. The Court defended free speech today and
struck a blow to the spurious tactics used by genocide deniers to
engage under the pretext of debate. It was especially disturbing that
the plaintiffs took to distorting the U.S. Constitution in court and
after in public,” said Van Z. Krikorian, Assembly Board of Trustees
Counselor.

“I want to thank the Commonwealth’s Attorney General Martha Coakley,
Assistant Attorney General William W. Porter who defended the
Massachusetts Department of Education, Aram Kaloosdian, as well as
Duke University School of Law Professor Erwin Chemerinsky, who along
with Arnold R. Rosenfeld of K&L Gates LLP, joined in filing the first
amicus brief in 2006 on behalf of Armenian Genocide survivors and
descendants of survivors,” added Krikorian.

In December 2009, the Armenian Assembly filed another amicus curiae
(friend of the court) brief in support of the Commonwealth, when the
ATAA and its supporters appealed the June 2009 decision by District
Judge Mark L. Wolf.

In its brief, the Armenian Assembly stated that: “This lawsuit is an
unprecedented attempt by the plaintiffs to utilize the federal courts
as a vehicle for their unconstitutional intrusion into educational
policy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is motivated by the
plaintiffs’ claim based on its historically and educationally
unsupported assertions, that there is a credible position that the
Armenian Genocide did not occur, and therefore that view point should
be part of the Curriculum Guide on teaching about the Armenian
Genocide issued by the state Department of Education.”

“The Armenian Assembly appreciates the court’s ruling in this matter.
It sends a clear message to Turkey and its revisionist allies that
history cannot be rewritten to further Ankara’s state-sponsored denial
campaign,” said Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.
Carolyn Mugar, the Board’s President, added, “Given the overwhelming
historical and legal evidence documenting the incontestable fact of
the Armenian Genocide, this ruling is a victory for all those
concerned about genocide education and prevention.”

“The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Armenian Bar
Association and all others who filed amicus briefs should be
congratulated for standing up for the truth and for the importance of
human rights education,” added Hovnanian, “and the Assembly thanks
them again for addressing this serious challenge to freedom of
expression, human dignity, and educational integrity.”

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR# 2010-060

From: A. Papazian

,0,4056103.story

Glendale News Press
Armenian church vandalized
Glendale man allegedly smashed a monument at St. Mary’s with a sledgehammer.
By Veronica Rocha, [email protected]
August 12, 2010

SOUTH GLENDALE – A 23-year-old Glendale man who allegedly used a
sledgehammer to smash a sacred monument outside St. Mary’s Armenian
Apostolic Church could face felony vandalism charges, police said.
Victor Petrescu was arrested about 10 a.m. Tuesday after he was seen
using a sledgehammer to break off pieces from the church’s monument on
the 500 block of South Central Avenue, causing roughly $80,000 in
damage, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.
Petrescu told police he was Jewish, and that “it said in the Bible he
must destroy sacred pillars,” Lorenz said.
The act was not a hate crime because Lorenz said detectives have
questioned his mental stability.
Petrescu on Wednesday allegedly changed his initial story, telling
police that he was Christian, Lorenz said.
Church staff and congregants saw Petrescu and tried stopping him, but
he didn’t answer as he raised the sledgehammer and cracked the
monument, the Rev. Ardak Demirjian said.
When they called out to him, Petrescu reportedly turned and showed
them his sledgehammer, so they backed away, Demirjian added.
The monument was donated to the church more than 10 years ago and
commemorates the day 1,700 years ago that Armenians adopted
Christianity, he said.
Church officials are still trying to determine how they will repair
the monument since its one piece of stone with intricate carvings,
Demirjian said.
“Any vandalism caused to something is sad for all the people, all
nations and all religions,” he said. “If he is not normal, we pray for
him.”
Petrescu listed the Bible and “Jerusalem in Prophecy” as his books of
interest on his MySpace page.
Detectives were slated to present evidence of alleged vandalism today
to prosecutors, who will decide whether to file charges.
“It would be very nice to get this guy off the streets and put him
away,” Lorenz said.
If Petrescu is charged, he will likely be arraigned by Friday.

From: A. Papazian

Armenian Economy Recovers Faster Than Expected

August 12, 2010

Emil Danielyan
Armenia’s economy is emerging from its first major downturn since the
early 1990’s faster than expected, helped by similar recovery
globally.
Official statistics show that it expanded by 6.7 percent in the first
half of this year and surpassed even the most optimistic government
expectations. The Armenian authorities now expect full-year growth to
reach between 5 to 7 percent, sharply up from the 1.2 percent forecast
last December.
Armenia was one of the countries hardest hit by the global recession:
GDP contracted by as much as 14.4 percent last year after a decade of
robust growth. A slump in construction, international prices of base
metals (the country’s main export item) and multimillion-dollar
remittances from Armenians working abroad was instrumental in the GDP
decline. It would have been even sharper without the large-scale
anti-crisis loans obtained by Yerevan from Moscow, the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and other international lending
institutions.
Year-on-year negative growth stopped and even moved into positive
territory in the fourth quarter of 2009. It progressively accelerated
from 2.2 percent in January 2010 to 8.8 percent in January-May. The
growth rate slowed in June because of a sharp fall in agricultural
production resulting from highly unfavorable weather conditions. It
was more than offset by a 12.3 percent rise in industrial output, the
main driving force behind the first-half year growth, which has
benefited from rallying international prices of copper, molybdenum and
other base metals. Other export-oriented manufacturing sectors of the
economy, notably food and diamond processing, also reported strong
production increases. That translated into a 56 percent surge in
Armenian exports totaling $443 million in the six-month period. The
National Statistical Service (NSS) registered more modest gains in
construction and services other than the retail trade (The National
Statistical Service, ).
Another factor behind the recovery is renewed growth in cash transfers
from Armenian migrant workers abroad. According to the Armenian
Central Bank, the total amount of non-commercial remittances, most of
them coming from Russia, rose by over 10 percent to $380 million in
January-May: equivalent to 14.4 percent of GDP. The improved
macroeconomic performance led the Armenian government to declare an
end to the economic crisis, which is estimated to have pushed up the
country’s official poverty rate from over 25 percent to about 29
percent. `We have entered a renewed phase of stable economic
development,’ Finance Minister, Tigran Davtian, told journalists
(Arminfo, July 4). Opposition politicians dismissed these assurances,
again questioning the credibility of the government’s macroeconomic
data. `The economy remains in serious crisis,’ insisted Hrant
Bagratian, a former Prime Minister now affiliated with the main
opposition Armenian National Congress (, July
20).
Nevertheless, the IMF, which trusts the official figures, essentially
shared the government’s assessment of the improving economic
situation.
`The Armenian economy is emerging from a deep downturn,’ the fund’s
deputy managing director, Murilo Portugal, said in a June
28 statement () that announced the release of a new IMF
loan package for Armenia worth $395 million.
The fund cut short the $830 million lending program, which it had
launched in March 2009 to help the authorities in Yerevan cope with
the recession. They have since received $560 million worth of loans
under that scheme. Portugal explained that Armenia’s ongoing economic
recovery is necessitating a change in the authorities’ economic
priorities and that the new program will enable them to renew their
focus on `medium-term challenges.’ Achieving `strong growth’ is one of
those challenges, he said.
Visiting Yerevan in May, Mark Lewis, another senior IMF official,
warned that Armenian growth will continue to be hampered by poor and
arbitrary tax collection and `powerful oligopolies,’ which he said
play an important role in the domestic economy. He repeated IMF
arguments that the amount of taxes collected by the Armenian
government is `very low by international standards,’ in both absolute
and relative terms (ARKA, May 19).
The subsequent IMF statement, quoting Portugal, said the government
has drawn up a `broad tax administration reform’ program and pledged
to implement other `wide-ranging structural reforms’ that would
improve Armenia’s flawed business environment. The country’s
technocrat Prime Minister, Tigran Sargsyan, has repeatedly (and
vocally) described such reforms as a top priority. However, his reform
record has been patchy so far, with many Armenian government-linked
businessmen continuing to enjoy privileged treatment by tax
authorities and the under reporting of their earnings. Some of them
have also effectively monopolized lucrative forms of business, such as
fuel and food imports.
The government’s first-half year tax revenues soared by 23 percent to
286.2 billion drams ($785 million), bringing the state budget down to
a level equivalent to 1.3 percent of GDP. Data from the Armenian
finance ministry indicates that increased proceeds from value-added
tax generated much of this increase, whereas government revenues from
corporate profit tax shrunk by more than 3 percent
(, August 3). This is a clear indication that
tax evasion among Armenian companies remains widespread.
However, the tax revenue total was almost 12 percent higher than the
government had projected for the first half of 2010. The government
further highlighted its improving fiscal position in early July, when
it restored the practice of drawing up three-year budgetary
expenditure plans, which were suspended in 2009 because of the
economic crisis. The government’s spending targets for the next three
years are based on the expectation that the Armenian economy will
continue to grow in 2011-2013 at an average annual rate of roughly 4
percent.
Source:

From: A. Papazian