Author: Antonian Lara

ARMENIAN EX-LEADER TO ANNOUNCE PLANS TO BID FOR PRESIDENCY

Mediamax news agency
23 Aug 07
Yerevan

A member of the Armenian Pan-National Movement board has said that
former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan will announce his intention to
run for presidency at a party congress in late September.

"Ter-Petrosyan is capable of ensuring the people’s unity and
counteracting present-day challenges and increasing threats to
Armenia’s independence," Aram Manukyan told Arminfo news agency.

Manukyan added that political consultations are under way to discuss
the possibility of nominating Per-Petrosyan as the opposition’s single
candidate, the agency said.

The next presidential election in Armenia will be held in 2008. Levon
Ter-Petrosyan was Armenian president in 1991-98.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
August 23, 2007
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES OPENING OF WESTERN REGION OFFICE IN
PASADENA, CA

Pasadena, CA – Armenian-American community leaders and supporters joined
the Armenian Assembly of America in celebrating the official opening of
its new Western Region Office in Pasadena, California, home to more than
25,000 Armenian-Americans and represented by Congressman Adam Schiff
(D-CA).

The Assembly hosted an open house on August 11th to welcome members of
the community to the new office, located in a 1930’s historic building
in Old Town Pasadena. Special guests included Armenian Consul General
Armen Liloyan and Reverend Khoren Babouchian, representing Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church. The offices of Congressmen Schiff and Brad Sherman
(D-CA), California State Senator Jack Scott (D-Pasadena) and California
State Assembly Member Paul Krekorian (D-Glendale) were also represented.

Representatives from the following organizations were also on hand:
Armenian Council of America, Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization,
California Armenia Trade Office and Social Democratic Hnchakian Party.

"We wish you continued success in your new location," Liloyan told
guests. "We are sure that this will enable the Armenian Assembly to
accomplish even more for Armenian-Americans and Armenia. On behalf of
the Armenian Government, we appreciate the work of the Armenian Assembly
and we look forward to continued cooperation."

"We look forward to continuing to serve the Armenian community in the
Western United States and the Republic of Armenia from our base in
Pasadena," said Richard Mushegain, chairman of the Assembly’s Western
Region Office and a member of the Board of Trustees.

The Assembly’s Western Office was previously located in Beverly Hills.
The new office is located at 16 N. Marengo Avenue, Suite 305, Pasadena,
CA 91101. To contact the office, please call 626-577-0025.

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

###

NR#2007-095

Editor’s Note: Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the
following links:

ges/PRESS_RELEASES_2007/Aug_23
__2007-095.jpg

Caption: L to R: Assembly Western Office Director Lena Kaimian,
Armenian Consul General Armen Liloyan, Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny, Assembly Board of Directors Member Richard Mushegain and
Reverend Khoren Babouchian, who represented Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
August 22, 2007
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web:
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES CONGRESSMAN BISHOP’S PLEDGE TO JOIN THE
ARMENIAN CAUCUS

Salt Lake City, Utah – At the urging of the Armenian Assembly of
America, Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) has pledged to join the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, making him the first
Representative from the state of Utah to join this 155-member body.

"I’m proud to join the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues," Bishop
told the Assembly. "I look forward to working with my Caucus colleagues
to help ensure that Armenian-American issues are represented in
Washington."

Assembly Western Office Director Lena Kaimian and ARAMAC activist Berge
Depoyan met with Bishop at his district office in Ogden, Utah to discuss
issues facing the Armenian community and to encourage the lawmaker’s
membership to the Caucus. During their August 7th meeting, Kaimian and
Depoyan discussed the importance of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide and briefed the Congressman on the status of H. Res. 106, the
Armenian Genocide resolution pending in the House of Representatives.

"We welcome Congressman Bishop’s decision to join the Caucus as a result
of direct meetings with the Assembly," said Kaimian. "The Congressman
has been highly receptive to our issues. We look forward to working with
him and his colleagues on issues critical to Armenian-Americans and
Armenia."

Bishop serves on the House Armed Services, Education and Labor, and
Natural Resources Committees.

While in Utah, Kaimian also met with the office of Congressman Chris
Cannon (R-UT) to discuss Armenian legislative issues pending before
Congress, including the Armenian Genocide resolution.

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

###

NR#2007-094

ARMENIA IS NOT A "NOSTALGIC, ROMANTIC" HOMELAND

Panorama.am
18:57 21/08/2007

"For years, the Genocide has been the only motivator for Diaspora
Armenians," Lebanese Armenian Asbed Koochigian stated at the "Friday
Club." He added that for the new generation of Armenians, Armenia isn’t
merely a place of nostalgia, as it was for their parents’ generation.

"We don’t have the pretension that all Armenians need to look at
Armenia as a homeland. This is fine, let everyone look at things
their own way. But let them look at Armenia as a real place, with a
government, not as a place for nostalgia," he said, adding "the idea of
homeland has a different meaning for different people. For the third
or fourth generation American-Armenian the homeland is, for example,
Kharberd, but when they see Armenia as a state, an organic state,
their ideas will change, and they will say ‘this is my Armenia.’"

3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

======================== ====
WESTERN DIOCESE E-NEWSLETTER
===========================
Diocesan News
—————–

PRIMATE VISITS SUMMER CAMP

On July 30th, 2007 His Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Western Diocese, visited the second week session of the Diocesan
Summer Camp.
( php?id=549)

THE PRIMATE AND MR. ARMEN HAMPAR ATTEND LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISORS MEETING

On the morning of July 31st, the Diocesan Mother Cathedral Building
Committee Chairperson, Mr. Armen Hampar and His Eminence Abp. Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese attended the meeting of the
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.
( /story.php?id=550)

ABP. SUREN KATAROYAN VISITS THE DIOCESE

Abp. Suren Kataroyan visited the Headquarters of the Western Diocese
on July 31st, and met with his Eminence Abp. Hovnan Derderian.
( tory.php?id=551)

ST. SARKIS ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH PARISH COUNCIL MEETS WITH THE PRIMATE

St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church’s newly appointed Parish
Council along with Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian, pastor, met with
Diocesan Primate Abp. Hovnan Derderian on Tuesday, July 31st at the
Diocesan Headquarters.
( s/story.php?id=552)

MEETINGS AT THE DIOCESE

On July 30th – August 4th, 2007 the Primate presided over
several meetings at the Diocesan Headquarters.
( s/story.php?id=553)

PILGRIMAGE TO THE DIOCESE

On August 2nd, a group of pilgrims from St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic
Church of Fowler visited the Diocesan Headquarters led by Parish
Priest Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian.
( /story.php?id=554)

THE PRIMATE MEETS WITH PASADENA HOVSEPIAN SCHOOL BOARD

We are happy to announce that the Primate has remained focused on
St. Gregory Armenian Church of Pasadena’s Alfred and Margret
Hovsepian School.
( y.php?id=555)

JOINT CHOIR MEETING

On Saturday morning, August 4th, at the Diocesa Headquarters, the
Primate held a meeting with the Central Council of the Choir
Association of the Western Diocese.
( ry.php?id=556)

MASIS WEEKLY 27TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

On the afternoon of Sunday August 5th, Masis Weekly’s 27th
Anniversary was celebrated during a private reception.
( tory.php?id=558)

BONE MARROW FUNDRAISING

On Sunday, August 5th, a special event was organized to raise funds
for the Bone Marrow Foundation where Fr. Zaven Markosyan and
Dn. Dickran Gharibjanian attended on behalf of the Primate.
( ry.php?id=559)

Upcoming Events
—————–

8/26: Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles Celebrates the 80th
Anniversary of the Western Diocese
( detail.php?id=61)
9/15: Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Celebrates the 80th Anniversary
of the Western Diocese
( detail.php?id=62)

============================
Th e Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing
spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community,
is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 47
churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the
Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United States
and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to exclusivly serve
the western United States.

ARMRоSGASPROM: RUSSIAN GAS FLOW TO ARMENIA TO BE CEASED BECAUSE OF KAVKAZ-ZAKAVKAZIE PIPELINE REPAIR

ARKA
Aug 20, 2007

YEREVAN, August 20. /ARKA/. Russian gas flow to Armenia will be ceased
because of Kavkaz-Zakavkazie pipeline repair, Shushan Sardaryan,
press secretary of Armenian-Russian ArmRosgaspeom CJSC, said on Monday.

She told ARKA News Agency that the gas supply was ceased on Monday
and will be resumed in six days.

Armenian consumers will have their gas supply uninterrupted – they
will receive gas from Abovyan underground depot.

Sardaryan said that on Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 23:00 p.m., Yerevan’s
some districts and two villages in Kotayk will do without gas. But
cutoff here is due to the work on gas-conveying network enlargement,
not Russian gas supply.

"This is a mere coincidence, and is not caused by gas pipeline
breakdown", the press secretary said.

ArmRosgasprom CJSC enjoys monopoly on importing and distributing
Russian gas in Armenia.

Russian gas comes to Armenia through Georgia. The company was
established in 1997. Its capital totals $398.8mln.

The company’s shares belong to Russian Gasprom (57.59%),
Armenian Energy Ministry (34.7%) and Itera Oil and Gas Company
(7.71%).

–Boundary_(ID_76nRxXnkBIS+sGkrK rp6iw)–

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
August 13, 2007

Commentary: Armenian eatery courts Worcester lawyers, judges

Shiraz 259 Park Ave. Worcester(508) 767-1639 Lunch, Monday through
Saturday

I ask a Worcester attorney to recommend a restaurant that his
downtown colleagues might patronize at lunchtime. When he directs me
toward Shiraz, an Armenian eatery, I am a bit surprised. After all,
the restaurant is nearly a mile and a half from the old (albeit soon
to be demolished) Worcester courthouse complex and is definitely not
within easy walking distance by car-crazy Worcester standards.

Also, there’s a Middle Eastern restaurant that serves nearly
identical fare right by the courthouse on Highland Street, making
Shiraz seem anything but convenient to courthouse regulars.

But sure enough, the lively luncheon crowd at Shiraz includes an
entire table of Probate & Family Court judges, one of the attorneys
in our party tells us. Nearby are two public safety officials, we are
told. Behind them, says another fellow diner, members of the history
department of Worcester State College are rubbing shoulders with
blue-collar workers.

We suspect that these patrons are at Shiraz more for its food than
for its anything-but-elegant decor. Each of the several dozen place
settings is set with a paper placemat, which is covered with
advertisements from local businesses that inform visitors they are
being served by the Kochian family.

Our waitress quickly takes our orders and promises us the soup that
comes with each luncheon special would be served shortly.
Unfortunately, the wait is seemingly interminable for what should be
the easiest course of the meal to deliver.

When the lentil soup finally arrives, it proves to be worth the wait.
Each bowl is loaded down with hearty lentils and flavored with a
spritz of lemon.

After observing several other patrons enjoying basketfuls of pita
bread along with their soup, we ask for the same and, again, endure
an unnecessarily lengthy wait for a restaurant staple that should not
have been overlooked in the first place.

Still, the tasty soup and bread are helping us forget the service
hiccups. Provided by a nearby bakery, the pita is chewier and much
fresher than one normally finds when that sort of bread is served.

Thankfully, the entrees soon follow. One attorney has ordered a Greek
salad with chicken ($7.25), which he praises as being flavorful and
fresh. Another lawyer has a wrap that combines grape leaves with
hummus ($6.50); he likes the tangy lemon taste that the hummus adds
to the sandwich.

Another member of our party has no complaints about a wrap that mixes
chicken with tabouleh ($6.50), a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine,
and also includes bulgur, parsley, mint, herbs and lemon juice.

A fattoush salad with tuna ($6) containing fresh mint, olive oil,
lemon juice and toasted pita chips can only be described as heavenly;
it is topped with a generous scoop of tuna salad. It was among the
most refreshing salads this writer has sampled.

After we complete our entrees, we determine that dessert is out of
the question. A few in our party have to return to the courthouse for
afternoon sessions, their lunch "hour" having been extended by the
service glitches at Shiraz.

Although not for those in a hurry or for those seeking to dazzle
clients with the trappings of an upscale restaurant, Shiraz proves
itself well worth the trek up the street for those seeking a hearty,
healthy lunch.

WATERTOWN PULLS OUT OF NO PLACE FOR HATE PROGRAM

Bostonist, MA
.php
Aug 16 2007

Watertown has been the site of an intense debate over whether or not
to halt its participation in the "No Place for Hate" program. The
Anti-Defamation League is a sponsor of the program, which helps
communities fight hate crimes. The "No Place for Hate" program sounds
like a good thing – who doesn’t want to stop hate crimes?

Unfortunately, to many Watertown residents, the Anti-Defamation
League is indeed a place for hate. Many Armenian Americans live in
Watertown, and the Armenian Library and Museum of America is right
on Main Street. The fact that the Anti-Defamation League will not
acknowledge the Armenian genocide, when Ottoman Turks slaughtered
up to 1.5 million Armenians in 1915, was not going to go over well
in Watertown.

The Watertown city council, including the infamous Marilyn Devaney,
voted unanimously last night to get out of the No Place for Hate
program. However, the town wants to keep fighting hate crimes –
without the help of the Anti-Defamation League.

According to Chris Helms at the Watertown TAB, the city council
meeting was "packed" with people. Andy Tarsy, the regional director
for the Anti-Defamation League, tried to defend the group’s position
and met with "hisses and boos and cat calls."

The TAB notes that the "No Place for Hate" sign outside Town Hall has
already been taken down. Some residents of other towns participating
in the No Place for Hate program, like Arlington, want to follow in
Watertown’s footsteps.

As H20Town points out, the ADL’s refusal to recognize the genocide
is a "bizarre and disappointing stance for an organization formed to
protect the rights of Jewish people from bigotry." The ADL clearly
has a lot to work out, only they won’t be doing it in Watertown.

AKCAM: I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED

BÝA, Turkey
posted Aug 16 2007

Historian Taner Akcam, of Minnesota University, is receiving death
threats because he terms the events of 1915 a genocide. He has
described the threats as a threat to the freedom of expression.

Prof. Dr. Taner Akcam of the history department at Minnesota University
has declared that he fears for his life since receiving death threats
per email.

In his academic work, he has consistently described the events of
1915 a "genocide".

Persecution by newspaper

Researching the source of the threats, Akcam has found a person with
the assumed name "Holdwater".

The "Hurriyet" newspaper reported on this, saying that Akcam was
"targeting a person who was opposing his Armenian theses". The
newspaper has published a string of news items on Akcam.

Akcam told bianet over the Internet that "Hurriyet" did not give him
the opportunity to have a say. The same reporters who claim that he is
"making himself scarce" had no problems contacting him when a bridge
collapsed in Minnesota recently.

"Very frightened"

What frightens Akcam is the connection between the email threats and
the "Hurriyet"’s campaign and the fact that the newspaper was able to
claim in its headlines that he was "making himself scarce". "I have
overcome much danger, but I don’t remember being this scared", he said.

"When they created that headline, they did not call anywhere. They did
not attempt to find me. This is a very frightening situation for me",
he continued.

He added that he could not but find mysterious similarities with the
lynch campaign against journalist Hrant Dink before his murder.

On 11 June, Akcam received an anonymous email, saying, "Today we
have started the struggle against you and those creatures you call
friends. If we do not get results, we will use alternative measures.

For the peace and truth in the world it is better if sewer germs
like you are eradicated…Tomorrow will be much more difficult for
you…Pray that the devil takes you at once, or you will experience
hell on earth…

The message continued, "You think you know who ‘Holdwater’ is. From
now on, the world will be full of millions of Holdwaters. One day you
and your Armenian blood brothers will drown in a sea of Holdwaters…"

"You will find out who I am"

The message ended, "Who am I? That you will find out, Taner, you will
find out."

Akcam has drawn attention to frightening similarities between the
language of the email threat and the newspaper publications. The
publications started ten days after he received the message.

Akcam argues that the "Hurriyet" newspaper has ignored the most basic
principles of journalism in its publications.

In a statement on 16 July, he had said: "Again, intellectuals and
activists brave enough to question the state’s official history
are being warned. This shameful campaign does not only threaten
me, my family and my colleagues. It makes light of the freedom of
expression."

–Boundary_(ID_WrrNw69STU53V ayRW/wp3A)–

ARONIAN EDGES OUT ANAND TO LIFT 960 CHESS TITLE

rypage.aspx?id=06469e7c-4676-4dc2-9e6f-365d85a6e94 8&&Headline=Aronian+beats+Anand+to+lift+96 0+chess+title
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August 17, 2007
Mainz, Germany

Viswanathan Anand fought back hard but Armenian Levon Aronian proved
to be too good, beating the Indian Grandmaster in tiebreaker in a
thrilling final to clinch the Chess 960 World Championships.

Playing this variant of the game for the first time where the position
of the pieces at the start is set randomly for each game, Anand fought
from behind to level the scores 2-2 after the rapid games.

Aronian, however, produced a scintillating performance in the shoot-out
to score 1.5-0.5 to lift the title at Mainz on Thursday.

In the playoff for third place, Etienne Bacrot of France who mauled
Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan 3-1.

Anand lost the first game of the four game match after spoiling a
promising position against Aronian who played with white.

After a lot of manoeuvring the players arrived at a chess-like
position where Anand had little to worry about. However, for once,
the Indian ace was under pressure on the clock which eventually had
a telling effect.

After drawing the next two games Anand took the match to tiebreaker
that Aronian won eventually.

"I am happy to retain my title for the second time. It was a tough
match and Anand played well but he committed many mistakes in the
first game and lost," Aronian said.

It will be time for some normal chess again as Anand will start his
campaign for the 10th overall title in Chess Classics Rapid.