Author: Ani Kharatian

Please find the attached press release of the Ministry of Diaspora.
Sincerely,
Media and PR Department:
( 374 10) 585601, internal 805
----------------------
Sincerely
Department of Press and Public Relations
( 374 10) 585601, extension 805

230. The press conference about the "Step to Home" program took place. docx
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August 3, 2018 
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.westernprelacy.org
ARCHPRIEST FR. VAHAN GOSDANIAN APPOINTED PARISH PASTOR OF ST. GARABED CHURCH
OF LAS VEGAS
        We hereby announce to our faithful that by the decision of H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and the Religious and Executive
Councils, Archpriest Fr. Vahan Gosdanian has been appointed Parish Pastor of
St. Garabed Church in Las Vegas as of August 1st, 2018. He will be replacing
Rev. Fr. Arsen Kassabian, who has served as Parish Pastor since 2013.
        On Sunday, August 5, the Prelate will preside over Divine Liturgy at
St. Garabed Church in Las Vegas to introduce the new Parish Pastor to the
congregation. Fr. Vahan will celebrate his first Divine Liturgy and deliver
his first sermon at the parish.  
        Fr. Vahan was ordained to the priesthood in 1993. He previously
served as Parish Pastor of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Pasadena
(presently St. Sarkis Church) and Holy Trinity Church of Fresno. 
        We wish Fr. Vahan success in his new mission.  
***
ARMENIA'S MINISTER OF DIASPORA VISITS THE PRELACY
        On Tuesday, July 31, 2018, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy Armenia's new Diaspora Minister Mkhitar
Hayrapetyan, who is on first official visit to the United States. The
Minister was joined by his assistant Mr. Vagharshak Hakobyan and Counsellor
at the Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles Mr. Razmik Stepanyan. His
Eminence was joined by Vicar General Bishop Torkom Donoyan, Religious
Council Chair Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Central Executive member Mr.
Gaidzag Zetlian, ARF Central Committee member Mr. Levon Kirakosian,
Executive Council Chair Mr. Garo Eshgian and members, and members of the
Ladies Auxiliary.
        The visit began with a prayer at the "St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen"
Chapel, and continued at the "Sulahian" reception hall. Following
introductions, the Prelate welcomed the Minister and guests on behalf of the
Prelacy family and noting that he has been closely following the positive
changes in Armenia wished for our compatriots to live a free, independent,
safe, and good life in our motherland. His Eminence gave a brief overview of
the Prelacy's mission and endeavors over the past forty-five years,
expressed hope that the visit will be a new beginning for stronger
collaboration and strengthening of ties between Armenia, Artsakh, and the
Diaspora, and wished the Minister great success in his new mission.
        Remarks were delivered by Mr. Garo Eshgian, who affirmed the
Prelacy's support for the government and people of Armenia, and by Bishop
Torkom Donoyan, Mr. Gaidzag Zetlian, Mr. Levon Kirakosian, and Executive
Council Vice-Chair Mr. Meher Der Ohanessian, all of whom commended the
Minister and the efforts of the Ministry and conveyed well wishes. 
        Mr. Hayrapetyan expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and
sentiments. He highlighted the role of the Armenian Church in the
preservation and advancement of our heritage in the Diaspora and its unique
role throughout history in that regard. He stressed the importance of unity,
collaboration, and productivity, commended the leadership of Diaspora
institutions, such as the Prelacy, which aptly fulfill their role and
mission to bridge the people with our nation and heritage. 
        A discussion followed, during which the Minister thoroughly and
openly answered all questions and suggestions. The visit concluded with an
exchange of mementos.
        On the evening of Monday, July 30 a community town hall hosted by
Mayor Zareh Sinanyan under the auspices of the Ministry of Diaspora and the
Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles was held at Pacific Community
Center in Glendale. In the afternoon, a luncheon hosted by Armenia Fund in
honor of the Minister was held at Los Angeles Club. The Prelate attended
both events. On Sunday afternoon, the ARF Central Committee hosted a
reception at Holy Martyrs Church "Dikranian" Hall, which the Vicar General
attended.
***
SUMMER ACADEMY FOR YOUTH UNDERWAY AT THE CATHOLICOSATE IN ANTELIAS
        Under the auspices of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, on Monday,
July 30, 2018, the Summer Academy for Youth convened at the Catholicosate of
Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon with the participation of nearly 20 youth from
the Prelacies of the Eastern U.S., Western U.S., and Canada. The aim of the
Academy is to introduce participants to the Bible, Armenian Christianity and
the Church, as well as address various contemporary moral and ethical
issues. Stole-bearers Gary Markarian (Holy Martyrs Church, Encino), Vartan
Baltayan (St. Sarkis Church, Pasadena), Hrag Harboyan (Holy Cross Cathedral,
Montebello), and Menas Arisian (Holy Trinity Church, Fresno) are
participating from the Western Prelacy. 
        His Holiness presided over the opening session where he addressed
the participants and delivered the first lecture of the Academy titled "The
Armenian Church in World Christendom." Lecturers Very Rev. Fr. Boghos
Tinkjian, Very Rev. Fr. Zareh Sarkissian, Prof. Teni Pirri- Simonian and
Prof. Joe Pirri participated.
        In his message to the youth, His Holiness stressed that though they
come from different communities they belong to one nation and one church,
adding that each participant will enrich the Academy with their unique
experiences and input. His Holiness stated that though the Academy is an
opportunity for the youth to increase their knowledge, it is important that
they implement what they learn in their service, adding, "Service within the
Armenian Church is not limited to serving at the altar; it extends to active
participation in the life of the Armenian nation." In his lecture, His
Holiness touched on the history of the Armenian Church, ecumenical and
inter-faith relations, social issues, and contribution to the Armenian
Cause. These topics will be discussed in further detail by the
aforementioned lecturers as well as by Dr. Mohammed Sammak, Dr. Nora
Bayrakdarian, Mrs. Seta Kedeshian, and Dr. Hovannes Geokjian. His Holiness
also spoke briefly about the Armenian community in Lebanon and the Church's
role in community life. 
        Participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with one
another and received a tour of the Catholicosate and its various
departments. At the session's conclusion, the youth engaged in a dialogue
with His Holiness. 
***
 

                                                Thursday, 
Pashinian Blasts Unannounced Russian Drill (UPDATED)
        • Karlen Aslanian
Armenia - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian holds a cabinet meeting in Yerevan, 19 
July 2018.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday strongly condemned Russian troops 
stationed in Armenia for holding an apparently unannounced military exercise 
that caused panic in an Armenian village.
“That was an inadmissible incident,” Pashinian said at a weekly cabinet meeting 
in Yerevan. “I regard that as a provocation against friendly Russian-Armenian 
relations and a provocation against Armenia’s sovereignty. I think that the 
guilty individuals must be held accountable.”
Amateur video posted on social media showed chaotic scenes in Panik, a village 
in the northwestern Shirak province, on Tuesday, with local resident terrified 
by the sound of gunfire and explosions. Some of them angrily confronted Russian 
soldiers training very close to village houses, demanding explanations.
The soldiers stopped the exercise as a result. They are part of a Russian 
military base headquartered in the nearby city of Gyumri.
The commander of the base, Colonel Vladimir Yelkanov, and his deputy Alexey 
Polyukhovich apologized for the incident on Wednesday at separate emergency 
meetings held with Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan and Shirak’s 
governor respectively. They said that the Russian military launched an internal 
inquiry.
Pashinian said that Armenian authorities must also investigate the incident. “I 
am told that the police are preparing materials [for a probe,]” he told 
ministers.
Panik is located very close to one of the two shooting grounds used by the 
Russian base. Local residents say that the scandalous drill was held within the 
administrative boundaries of the village.
Pashinian’s strong reaction was criticized as disproportionate by Armen 
Ashotian, the chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on foreign 
relations and a senior member of the former ruling Republican Party (HHK).
“Any infringement of Armenia’s sovereignty is undoubtedly unacceptable,” 
Ashotian wrote on Facebook. “But this incident did not constitute one.”
“It is not comprehensible what Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s sharp 
assessment given at the government meeting was aimed at, considering the 
apologies and regrets that were voiced by the Russian military base yesterday,” 
he said.
Warning of serious damage to Russian-Armenian relations, Ashotian added that 
Yerevan should now scramble to “freeze this dangerous process through 
diplomatic channels.”
Armenian Security Chief Eyes Top Football Role
        • Karlen Aslanian
Armenia - Artur Vanetsian, director of the National Security Service (NSS), 
speaks to journalists in Yerevan, 18 June 2018.
The chief of Armenia’s most powerful security service, Artur Vanetsian, 
admitted on Thursday his desire to also run the national Football Federation 
(FFA) currently headed by a reputedly violent businessman.
“I love football,” Vanetsian told reporters. “I have no final decision on 
taking up the post of federation chairman but won’t make secret of having such 
a desire and thinking in that direction.”
“I am ready to run [for the post of FFA chairman,]” said the recently appointed 
director of the National Security Service (NSS), the former Armenian branch of 
the Soviet KGB. “Time will tell whether or not I will get elected.”
The FFA has been managed by Ruben Hayrapetian, a wealthy businessman linked to 
Armenia’s former government, for the last 16 years. The 55-year-old better 
known as “Nemets Rubo” has long been dogged by controversy resulting from his 
reportedly violent conduct. As recently as in August 2015, he avoided 
prosecution despite admitting that he beat up another entrepreneur.
In 2012, Hayrapetian was forced to step down as parliament deputy representing 
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) following a brutal attack on 
several army medics who dined at a Yerevan restaurant owned by his family. One 
of them died while two others were seriously injured after arguing with men 
working for Hayrapetian.
Armenia - Ruben Hayrapetian, chairman of the Football Federation of Armenia, 
hands an award to national team captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Yerevan, 22 
March, 2018.
In recent years, Hayrapetian has faced growing calls to resign from angry fans 
holding him responsible for the poor performance of the national football team. 
The pressure on him grew further following mass protests that led to the 
resignation of Armenia’s longtime leader, Serzh Sarkisian, in April.
Hayrapetian continued to publicly refuse to quit until this week. He said on 
Tuesday that he will step aside if Vanetsian is nominated as a candidate in the 
next election of FFA chairman slated for September.
Vanetsian, 38, insisted that the NSS has not raided any businesses owned by 
Hayrapetian in recent weeks. Nor has it threatened to conduct such audits if 
the embattled FFA chairman refuses to step down, he said.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, who harshly criticized Hayrapetian when he 
launched the street protests in April, spoke of “inevitable changes” in 
Armenian football on Sunday. Earlier this month, Pashinian made a point of 
watching together with Vanetsian a football game in Yerevan between retired 
European and South American soccer stars.
Iran-Armenia Rail Link Still Long Way Off, Says Minister
        • Sargis Harutyunyan
Armenia/Iran - The Arax river separating Armenia and Iran.
An expensive railway connecting Armenia to neighboring Iran will not be 
constructed anytime soon, Transport and Communications Minister Ashot Hakobian 
acknowledged on Thursday.
The Armenian and Iranian governments have discussed the extremely ambitious 
project since the early 2000s. Shortly after taking office in 2008, then 
President Serzh Sarkisian announced that work on the rail link will get 
underway in the next few years.
However, his administration failed to attract an estimated $3.5 billion needed 
for building the 305-kilometer-long Armenian section of the railway that would 
mainly pass through the mountainous Syunik province. In January 2017, it 
decided to dissolve a state-owned company that was supposed to oversee the 
planned construction.
According to Hakobian, the project is not a top priority for Armenia’s new 
government because of its very high cost exceeding the entire Armenian state 
budget for this year.
“As things stand now, that idea is just a goal, there is no [concrete] 
project,” the minister told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “There 
have been studies showing that the construction of that railway would cost a 
lot of money. Therefore, it’s not part of our short-term plans at the moment.”
“The idea is good and, depending on the country’s development, if we can afford 
it in the future we could go for it,” he said. “But it is not topical now.”
According to official Armenian statistics, Armenian-Iranian trade stood at a 
modest $263 million last year. Iran also serves as a transit route for 
Armenia’s much greater trade with China.
Yerevan Hospital Accused Of Fraud
        • Artak Hambardzumian
Armenia - Health Minister Arsen Torosian speaks to journalists in Yerevan, 19 
July, 2018
Health Minister Arsen Torosian on Thursday accused a hospital in Yerevan run by 
a relative of former President Serzh Sarkisian of engaging in fraudulent 
practices that cost the state at least 300 million drams ($620,000).
Torosian said an audit of the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center conducted 
by his ministry found that its management embezzled government funds allocated 
for free examinations and treatment of civil servants.
“The bulk of the violations had to do with sums charged for patients who were 
actually not treated,” he told reporters. “Patients were not hospitalized, did 
not receive medical aid but the state was still charged [by the hospital.] As 
of now, 300 million drams worth of such cases have already been detected.”
Torosian said the Ministry of Health has already asked prosecutors to look into 
the allegations and decide whether they warrant a criminal investigation.
A statement released on behalf of the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center 
staff last week voiced support for the hospital’s longtime executive director, 
Ara Minasian. It accused the Ministry of Health of waging a “political 
campaign” against Minasian.
The hospital chief is the father of Mikael Minasian, Sarkisian’s son-in-law 
serving as Armenia’s ambassador to the Vatican. Minasian enjoyed considerable 
political and economic influence in Armenia until nationwide mass protests 
brought down Sarkisian in late April.
Torosian pledged last month to crack down on the “healthcare oligarchy that has 
misused millions” of dollars. He said on Thursday that he has ordered ministry 
officials to also inspect other Armenian hospitals. The minister suggested that 
they too committed financial irregularities.
Press Review
For “Zhamanak,” U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills’s Wednesday remark that it is 
still too early to expect a major increase in U.S. investments in Armenia means 
that Washington has trouble making sense of the new Armenian government’s 
economic policies. “Many experts also speak about the ambiguity of those 
policies,” writes the paper. “Having said that, it is objectively very hard to 
expedite a quick transition from a highly corrupt system to a qualitatively 
different economic model until the key mechanisms of that system are 
neutralized.”
Ryszard Czarnecki, a senior member of the European Parliament, tells “168 Zham” 
that European Union Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski came up with good 
counterarguments against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s criticism of the EU. 
He says that EU cannot give Yerevan more additional aid “without knowing this 
government’s ambitions.” Czarnecki welcomes the announcement that Pashinian’s 
government will soon propose concrete projects which it believes require EU 
funding.
Commenting on Pashinian’s criticism of the EU, “Aravot” says that his diehard 
supporters in Armenia must realize that he is no longer a parliament deputy or 
a journalist who can always speak his mind. “He is the country’s number one 
leader who implements its foreign policy vis-à-vis his foreign partners,” 
editorializes the paper. “The priorities of that policy have to be clearly 
formulated. And no matter how popular he is at home, the prime minister cannot 
answer all questions only through his intuition.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” says that unlike other state institutions Armenia’s courts 
have been largely unaffected by the recent “velvet revolution.” “The only thing 
that has changed there is that the judicial system no longer receives 
instructions from the presidential palace and has to act independently,” writes 
the paper. “That is certainly a necessary but not sufficient condition for 
having a normal judicial system.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org