Author: Babajanian Karo

National Assembly of RA, Armenia

Dec 28 2011

RA National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan Receives the Newly
Appointed Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia

On December 27 the RA National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan
received the Ambassador Traian Hristea, the newly appointed Head of
the EU Delegation to Armenia.

The NA Speaker congratulated him on the occasion of his appointment
and highlighted making the cooperation established with the EU Office
more active. He noted that continuing the created traditions, the
cooperation should be effective and practical, also expecting Traian
Hristea’s endeavours in that process.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia highly appreciated the
cooperation with the National Assembly and the willingness of the NA
Speaker Samvel Nikoyan to fulfill the joint work as effectively as
possible. He welcomed the parliament and the NA Speaker’s
announcements and actions to make the works with the press more
transparent.

The Speaker of the National Assembly Samvel Nikoyan has noted that the
parliament is a body elected by the people, and it shall not be cut
from them and shall be transparent for them. Informing the Head of the
EU Delegation to Armenia that after being elected NA Speaker, one of
his first undertakings was making the journalists’ access to the
National Assembly more free; Samvel Nikoyan also expressed readiness
to work with NGOs more closely.

The interlocutors emphasized the conduct of free and transparent
elections, and taking them as granted by the society and international
community. The EU representative expressed satisfaction on the
occasion of the authorities’ willingness to hold free, fair and
transparent elections and expressed hope that the results of the
elections would be accepted by all those parties, which play an
important role in the political life.

The interlocutors also touched upon the programs being implemented
with the EU, in particular, the Eastern Partnership and Cooperation
within the framework of the EURONEST PA.

TURKISH FM WARNS FRANCE

Anadolu Agency
Dec 29 2011
Turkey

Turkey’s foreign minister Thursday called on the French parliament
not to make imperialist plans on agonies of other people.

Ahmet Davutoglu addressed the French parliament and drew attention
to the difference in leaderships of French President Nicolas Sarkozy
and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of Republic of Turkey.

“Every nation thinks that its agony is unique, however we can
understand agonies of all nations because we felt the biggest agony,”
Davutoglu told a conference on “From Balkan War to Balkan Peace:
Turkish Foreign Policy in its 100th Anniversary” at the Trakya
University in the northwestern province of Edirne.

Davutoglu said the French parliament should not make imperialist
plans on agonies of other people, and referred to difference between
Mustafa Kemal and Sarkozy.

“One of them abandoned the place he was born, and burst into tears
in every Thracian song he listened. He could incite his nation as the
founder of a new nation state, and could make his nation remind their
agonies by telling them that ‘the Greeks occupied the territories’.

However, he did not say so, but extended his hand to Venizelos
because a leader like Ataturk was the outcome of a 10-century blend,”
Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu also said, “however, I am not only telling it for Sarkozy,
but French leaders came to today by making other nations suffer,
and now they are trying to build a new history on agonies of others.”

The lower house of the French parliament adopted on December
22 a resolution that criminalizes rejection of Armenian
allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915. Only 70 out of 577
parliamentarians joined the voting of the resolution which was adopted
with majority of votes.

The resolution envisages “one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine for
those who deny genocide recognized by French laws.” French Parliament
had recognized so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 on January 29, 2001.

The draft criminalizing the rejection of Armenian allegations had
first been approved in 2006, but it could not become a law as French
President Nicolas Sarkozy prevented its presentation to Senate.

Now, the senate’s approval is necessary to make the resolution a law.

Turkey strongly opposes the issue of the incidents of 1915 being
used as a tool in French politics. Many believe that French President
Sarkozy supports the Armenian resolution in order to garner support
from France’s Armenian population that number around 500,000.

France will hold the first round of next year’s presidential election
on April 22 and the second round run-off on May 6. Sarkozy is running
for a second term.

If the resolution is not adopted at the senate till February 22, 2012
when the parliament and senate will recess for presidential elections,
it will be invalid.

BEST OF 2011: THE CHILDREN’S LITERATURE NETWORK
by Lise Lunge-Larsen

Snipp, Snapp, Snute column

Posted December 22nd, 2011

The New Year is approaching and it’s time to take stock. Here, from
every corner of the world and in no particular order, are some of my
favorite folktales published this year.

The Boy From the Dragon Palace by Margaret Read MacDonald is a funny
Japanese tale that reminded me a little of The Fisherman’s Wife. One
day, a poor flower sellers drops his leftover flowers into the sea
as a gift for the Dragon King and in return he receives a snot-nosed
boy-with the power to grant wishes! Of course the flower seller
wishes for everything under the sun. He becomes rich but in the end,
he forgets the meaning of “thank you,” and loses everything. “You
just can’t help some humans,” say the snot-nosed little boy and the
Dragon King.

Another tale about a creature that just can’t be satisfied is
The Greedy Sparrow, an Armenian Tale by Lucine Kasbarian. It is a
wonderful story about a cheeky sparrow that can turn every trade to
his own advantage. Of course, he becomes so cocky that in the end, he
(literally) falls from glory. Illustrator Zaikina’s portrayals of both
animal and human characters beautifully convey the tale’s goofy fun.

The Sticky Doll Trap by Jessica Souhami is another traditional
trickster tale, this one from West Africa. One by one, Hare tricks
the other animals out of the water they have so carefully dug for.

Naturally, the animals decide to take revenge which succeeds, but
only to a point. In the end Hare outwits them again. The stunning,
brilliantly colored collage burst with fun and energy.

Monkey, A Trickster Tale from India by Gerald McDermott is a story
I have loved telling for decades and I am happy to see this retelling.

For those who do not know the story it is about a monkey that is
hungry for mangoes, which grow on an island in the river, but he can’t
swim! Crocodile offers to carry Monkey across the water on his back,
but the trouble is, Crocodile is hungry, too-for Monkey! McDermott
tells this classic tale with a sense of play that is a perfect match
for the vibrant illustrations.

I have loved the stories about Mulla Nasruddin, a legendary character
whose misadventures are famous all across the Islamic world, so I was
delighted to discover The Wise Fool, Fables from the Islamic World
by Shahrukh Husain. It is a witty collection of stories about this
eccentric and irreverent character, who you never quite know is wise
or foolish. The stories always make you chuckle and think.

The Orphan: A Cinderella Story from Greece by Anthony Manna and
Soula Mitakidou is a lovely version of the traditional tale. As
in all the other Cinderella stories, there is a wicked stepmother
and stepsisters, but this young girl receives gifts from nature:
brilliance from the Sun, beauty from the Moon, gracefulness from the
Dawn-and even a tiny pair of blue shoes from the Sea. It plays out
much as the traditional tale but has enough unusual twists to hold
the interest even of someone who has read scores of Cinderella stories.

How the Leopard Got His Claws is a fable by Nigerian writer Chinua
Achebe about the dangers of power taken by force. In the beginning,
all the animals lived as friends with wise and gentle Leopard as
their king. Only Dog rebels. He attacks Leopard and takes over as
king. But when Leopard gets new claws (I won’t give away the story
here), he manages to regain his throne. Mary GrandPre’s expressive
and action-filled paintings really help bring this tale to life.

Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissack is a dark and quite difficult
story about the pain of those that were left behind when the slave
traders came. McKissack’s emphasis on the storyteller’s voice truly
invites listeners to participate and engage and the amazing art by
Leo and Diane Dillon is stunning. The content is difficult, but it
is so engaging on every level that it leaves you thinking for days.

Big Turtle by David McLimans is one folktale I ended up buying. The
story of how the earth was brought up on Turtle’s back is not new,
but McLimans’ telling is so clear and fluid and his artwork so striking
I felt like I understood the story in a new way.

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN – ABDULLAH GUL PARLE D’UNE ERREUR IMPARDONNABLE DE LA PART DE LA FRANCE
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 29 decembre 2011

Le president turc Abdullah Gul a critique la France pour l’adoption par
l’Assemblee nationale francaise d’un projet de loi qui criminalise la
negation du ” genocide” des Armenien a l’epoque ottomane, declarant
que la France a commis “une erreur terrible”, ont rapporte mercredi
les medias locaux.

“C’est une erreur, une erreur impardonnable de la part de la France
et du president francais”, a declare M. Gul lors d’une interview
accordee a la chaîne de television privee Channel 24 mardi soir.

L’approbation du projet de loi etait le resultat de calculs politiques
internes avant les elections presidentielles francaises prevues pour
le mois de mai, a affirme M. Gul, ajoutant que le texte jette une
ombre sur la democratie francaise.

De plus, M. Gul a declare que les intellectuels et ecrivains francais
sont les plus a blâmer.

Il espère egalement que le projet de loi ne sera pas presente au Senat.

Les deputes de l’Assemblee nationale francaise, chambre basse
du parlement, ont vote jeudi en faveur du projet de loi sur la
criminalisation en France du denie de “genocide” armenien. Toute
personne niant ce genocide encourt un an d’emprisonnement et une
amende de 45.000 euros (58.950 dollars americains). Le projet de loi
sera debattu devant le senat francais.

‘GRANDMA’S TATOOS’ SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON THE FEMALE VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE
By Alin K. Gregorian

Mirror-Spectator Staff
December 28, 2011

A photo of Grandma Khanoum

WATERTOWN, Mass. – Families are closest to one’s heart, or so goes
conventional thinking. But what happens if there’s a member of the
family who is so physically and emotionally detached that others
either have no memories of their presence in family events or what
memories there are, are bitter?

That is the starting point of documentary filmmaker Suzanne
Khardalian. Her film, based on her own grandmother, “Grandma’s
Tattoos,” shown at Watertown Middle School on December 14, was
sponsored by the National Association for Armenian Studies and
Research, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Boston Sardarabad
Gomideh and the Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA). She
spoke and took questions after the showing.

Her paternal grandmother, Khanoum, lived in the apartment above her
family’s. The camera captures the emotions of Khardalian, her sisters
and their mother, who express their resentment of and dislike for the
dour woman with the repulsive tattoos, who was incapable of displaying
any love to her husband, children or grandchildren.

The denouement, of course, brings tears to their eyes, when they see
her with the eyes of adults, realizing her horrific childhood and
its effect on her psyche.

Khanoum’s story is unraveled by the very same despised tattoos. Where
did they come from?

Khardalian successfully merges the personal and the universal,
with Khanoum as starting point. The filmmaker, by chance, saw some
long-forgotten documents and photographs from the Near East Foundation
on the fate of about 90,000 young Armenian girls kidnapped and forced
into prostitution or sexual slavery during the Genocide. The girls had
markings similar to her grandmother. A light bulb went on in her head
and she decided to find out if her grandmother was one of those girls.

The film, which is recommended for audiences ages 13 and over,
succeeds in taking us on a journey of understanding by the whole
family as they come together for a relative’s engagement in Beirut.

For a documentary on such a disturbing subject, there are many moments
of lightness and the family members’ love for each other as well as
tremendous honesty, as they gather from all corners of the earth,
is apparent.

It is Khardalian’s mother, who through dribs and drabs, confirms
the story of Khanoum, a woman who was broken, rendered incapable
of loving. She was only 12 when she, her younger sister and mother,
accepted the help of a man with a boat to escape certain death.

Unfortunately, the mother gave all their valuables to the man, in
hopes that he would let them go. Sadly, his depraved reasons for
helping the family become apparent all too soon. It would be several
years before the sisters could escape. Khanoum eventually reaches an
orphanage in Beirut and there she is coerced into marriage. Khardalian
stresses that her grandmother could not open up to anyone and that
marked women like her were looked down upon. Also, she noted that it
is probable that her grandmother had given birth to several children
and was forced to leave them before forming her family in Beirut.

Khardalian goes on a pilgrimage to the Syrian dessert to the area
where most probably her grandmother was held captive, along with
many others. There she runs into several people who say they have
Armenian grandmothers, all probably women who were forcibly brought
into their families.

All in all, Khardalian deftly connects her family’s story with a
painful, still-hidden chapter of the Armenian Genocide, which is
much like the fate of women in later genocides, including Rwanda,
Darfur and even Congo today.

Denial and shame about these incidences have helped the issue remain
hidden. She spoke about one tattooed Armenian woman whose experiences a
cousin revealed to Khardalian in Fresno. When she arrived at her home
to interview her, she was kicked out of the woman’s house by her son,
who suggested that nothing of the sort had happened to his mother.

Closer to home, she speaks to her great-aunt in Los Angeles, also with
similar tattoos, who denies ever being forced into sexual slavery
and instead says that when she was little and played with little
Turkish children, they suggested tattooing her fingers and she just
went along with it, as part of a game.

One of the most touching scenes in the film was that of a 104-year-old
survivor who now lives in Yerevan. As she tells her story, her tears
roll down her face and she starts crying for her mother who was
kidnapped along with her. The passage of time had clearly not made
the memories any easier to live with.

Khardalian has made numerous other documentaries, including the first
one on the Armenian Genocide, “Back to Ararat,” in 1988. She noted
that the film is going to be released in DVD form in the near future.

DIPLOMAT: THE PURPOSE OF ANTI-SYRIAN PROGRAMME IS TO TURN ISRAEL INTO THE STRONGEST COUNTRY OF THE REGION

arminfo
Wednesday, December 28, 21:32

The true purpose of the anti-Syrian programme is to turn Israel
into the strongest and most powerful country of the Middle East,
Syria’s Charge d’Affaires in Armenia Mamun Hariri said at today’s
press-conference.

Syrian diplomat presented the situation in the country starting from
the beginning of the crisis when peaceful demonstrators took the
streets calling for reforms and release of some detainees.

“The programme guided from outside and fully supported by the West
is being implemented in Syria. The biggest TV channels of the world
have become a part of this programme, as they distort events taking
place in Syria. These TV channels broadcast videos which do not meet
reality. For instance, representing the demonstration of 10 people
as a thousand-member rally against the government or the frames with
blooded people, which were actually shot in Libya”, – he said.

Touching on the two recent explosions in Damascus, Hariri said that
selection of the high-traffic areas and the acting style say that Al
Qaeda organized and implemented these terrorist acts. “Lebanon warned
us about transportation of a group of rebels. For this reason, we were
very much surprised by the reaction of friendly Turkey and Qatar, which
supported these forces”, the diplomat said and advised Turkey to draw
attention to the war against Kurds within the country for many years.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

TOP STORY December 29, 2011

Christmas Servicese at St. Vartan Armenian Cathderal

_Christmas Services at St. Vartan Cathedral _

The Feast of the Nativity and Baptism of Jesus Christ will be observed at
New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Thursday and Friday, January 5
and 6. [4]Click here to view the special liturgical schedule for these
“Armenian Christmas” services.
Links:
4.

Following services and the Blessing of Water ceremony on January 6, a Home
Blessing service and Christmas reception will be held in Haik and Alice
Kavookjian Auditorium. The Akh’tamar Dance Ensemble of the St. Thomas Church
of Tenafly, NJ, will perform during the reception, which is free and open to
the public.

Concurrent with the Armenian Christmas observances, an art exhibit will be
on display in Guild Hall and Yerevan Hall of the cathedral complex. In
“Armenian Christmas and the Legacy of Armenian Artists,” curator Vicki
Shoghag Hovanessian has assembled works by prominent Yerevan-based painters
and by prolific American-Armenian artists. [5]Click here for more
information about the exhibit.
Links:
5.

Click here to read Archbishop Khajag Barsamian’s 2012 Christmas Message in
[6]English and [7]Armenian.
Links:
6.
7.

Scripture of the Week

Is 51:15-52:3
Heb 13:18-25
Lk 22:24-30

Prayer of the Week

Guard us, O Christ our God, in peace under the shadow of your holy and
venerable Cross. Deliver us from the visible and invisible enemy. Make us
worthy to give you thanks and to glorify you together with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, now and always. Amen.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

_29 December: _Holy Apostles James and John, “Sons of Thunder”; Barekendan
of the Fast of Nativity

_5 January:_ Eve of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ

_6 January:_ Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

New Church consecrated in Georgia
Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian at the consecration service in Akhaltsikhe,
Georgia last Sunday.

_19th-Century Church Reconsecrated in Georgia_

On Sunday, December 25, a 19th-century Armenian church was re-consecrated in
Georgia’s Akhaltsikhe region. Bishop Vasken Mirzakhanian, the Primate of the
Armenian Church of Georgia, officiated at the service.

According to an inscription on the church wall, the building was constructed
between 1861 and 1863. It was named Holy Cross Church, and dedicated in
memory of the martyrs of the 5th-century Battle of Avarayr. The church
served the local Armenian community until the Soviet period, when it was
converted to a warehouse.

In 1993 local Armenians began efforts to restore the house of worship. By
1995 the church was opened, but due to friction with the Georgian
government, it was not until this year that Holy Cross Church was officially
re-consecrated by an Armenian priest. Prior to this month’s consecration,
another series of renovations were completed.

A _madagh_ blessing and celebratory gathering were held following services
on December 25.

Ordination of deacons at Holy Etchmiadzin
Bishop Moushegh Babayan ordains deacons at Holy Etchmiadzin.

_Deacons Ordained at Holy Etchmiadzin _

On Monday, December 26, the Feast of St. Stephen the Protodeacon and First
Martyr, 31 young men were ordained to the diaconate at Holy Etchmiadzin by
Bishop Moushegh Babayan. Of those ordained, 29 are recent graduates of the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary, and two are altar servers at the Araratian
Pontifical Diocese and the Diocese of Aragatsotn in Armenia.

Ordinations to the diaconate are held every December at Holy Etchmiadzin, on
the Feast of St. Stephen the Protodeacon and First Martyr. St. Stephen-the
first deacon of the universal Church-was ordained by the Apostles and went
on to preach in Jerusalem. He was persecuted for his faith and stoned to
death, becoming the first Christian martyr.

On this feast day, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, extended his blessings and fatherly message to
all the deacons serving at Holy Etchmiadzin. He reflected on the sacrifices
of St. Stephen, and encouraged the newly ordained deacons to seek
inspiration from St. Stephen’s life. [8]Click here to read more.
Links:
8.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian
Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian visited the Diocesan Center in New York this week.

_Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian Visits Diocesan Center_

The Diocesan Center in New York was pleased to welcome a dear friend and
former colleague, the newly-consecrated His Grace Bishop Vahan
Hovhanessian.

The former pastor of Holy Martyrs Church of Bayside, NY, who was appointed
in 2010 by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, to serve as the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of the United Kingdom and Ireland, visited the center on December 28. He met
with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, and the Very Rev. Fr.
Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar.

Bishop Hovhanessian was one of six clergymen elevated to the episcopate by
the Catholicos in early November. Bishop Hovhanessian is now based in
London, and oversees parishes across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In the past two years, he has worked on strengthening these communities
organizationally. A parish was formally established in Dublin in October
2010, and other parishes and mission parishes in Manchester, Birmingham, and
elsewhere have been developing new programs and ministries.
[9]
Click here to visit the website of the Diocese of the United Kingdom and
Ireland.
Links:
9.

Sacred Music Council meets at the Diocesan Center
The Sacred Music Council met at the Diocese earlier today.

_Sacred Music Council Plans Programs for 2012_

Members of the Sacred Music Council met at the Diocesan Center on Thursday,
December 29, to discuss plans for the coming year.

The organization’s goals include the publication of two volumes of the
Divine Liturgy book for choirs, and a special volume for youth choirs. The
council will also offer a series of choir workshops in the Midwest, New
England, and New York/New Jersey regions. Other goals include strengthening
the Sacred Music Council’s presence on the Diocesan website, and launching a
blog.

Young choir members will have the opportunity to take part in the Boyajian
Youth Choir Directors Program, and to apply for scholarships offered by the
Sacred Music Council to young musicians.

_January Giratsooyts Available Online _

The `Giratsooyts,’ or schedule of hymns for Sunday services, is now
available on the Diocesan website for the month of January. [10]Click here
to access the listing.
Links:
10.

The information has been gathered and translated from several liturgical
resources published by the Armenian Church. The accessible schedule helps
guide parish choirs in preparation for Sunday services.

Fund for Armenian Relief ANSEF
Armen Sargsyan, a physicist at the Institute for Physical Research in
Armenia, received an ANSEF grant in 2011.

_Through FAR, ANSEF Gives Research Grants in Armenia_

For the last 12 years, the Armenian National Science and Education Fund
(ANSEF), which is sponsored by the Fund for Armenian Relief, has supported
world-class scientific research and education in Armenia by awarding grants
to top research groups.

ANSEF’s review board recently completed its review of more than 200
proposals for the 2012 ANSEF awards, and selected 25 winners. The awardees
include researchers in the physical sciences, natural sciences, engineering,
and the humanities.

In the coming year, the ANSEF Board of Trustees will conduct a first-ever
symposium in Armenia to celebrate ANSEF’s successes, and to unite the many
scientists and scholars who have conducted research through the ANSEF
program.

Scientific research in Armenia is typically underfunded, and as a result
many researchers must seek support outside the nation’s borders. ANSEF
combats this drain by providing yearlong research grants to a select number
of Armenia’s top scientists whose findings contribute to innovation.
Established in 2000, the fund has provided more than $1.4 million to fund
research by more than 700 scientists in Armenia.
[11]
Click here to read more.
Links:
11.

Call for Christmas photos

_Christmas Photo Album: A Call for Submissions_

How do you celebrate Armenian Christmas in your hometown? Send us digital
photos from your local Christmas church services and other celebrations, and
we will feature them in our online album the week after Christmas.

Please e-mail photos (with your name, city, and country) to
[12][email protected] by Wednesday, January 11.
Links:
12. mailto:[email protected]

We look forward to receiving submissions from the parishes of the Eastern
Diocese, as well as from our readers in Armenian communities across the
globe.

Advent

_Visit our Blog for Daily Advent Reflections_

Last month marked the beginning of the Advent season. Advent means
`coming’-the coming of Christ. In Armenian it is called Hisnag, from the
word for `fifty.’

Advent is the 50-day period during which we prepare to celebrate the
Nativity and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time to reflect on
our relationship with God and to rededicate ourselves to Christ through our
actions, thoughts, and prayers. Advent can also be an occasion to discover
God’s gifts all around us.

This year the Department of Youth and Education is offering daily Advent
reflections on our blog. [13]Click here to view today’s reflection, and come
back every day to read and reflect on a new post.
Links:
13.

PARISH NEWS

Holy Trinit ACYOA fundraiser for FAR
(from left) Yn. Arpi Kouzouian, Archbishop Barsamian, and the Rev. Fr.
Vasken Kouzouian with ACYOA Juniors members at Holy Trinity Church on
December 17. The ACYOA members presented a check and card for the FAR
Children’s Center.

_ACYOA Juniors of Cambridge, MA, Raise Funds for FAR _

The ACYOA Juniors of Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, recently raised
funds for the Fund for Armenian Relief Children’s Center in Yerevan,
Armenia.

The fundraising idea came about earlier this year, when during a parish
visit to Cambridge, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, met with
the young people and encouraged them to develop a lay ministry project. The
ACYOA Juniors embraced the challenge and decided to donate a portion of
their Christmas Ball proceeds to the FAR Children’s Center.

They raised $300 at the December 10 ball. ACYOA chair Lilit Der Kevorkian
and vice chair Christina Azarian presented the sum to Archbishop Barsamian
on December 17, when he returned to Cambridge for a Diocesan Council
meeting. Diocesan Council treasurer Papken Megerian generously offered to
match the ACYOA contribution, and a total of $600 was sent to the FAR office
for the Children’s Center.

In addition to the donations, ACYOA members encouraged parishioners to
submit cards for children at the Yerevan facility, and the young people
themselves created an oversized Christmas card for the center. The cards
will be distributed to the children during the center’s Christmas party on
January 5.

Massachusetts Council of Churches

_Parishes in Mass. to Host Ecumenical Delegations_

On Armenian Christmas delegations of Protestant and Roman Catholic church
leaders from the Massachusetts Council of Churches (MCC) will visit two
parishes of the Eastern Diocese: Holy Translators Church of Framingham, MA,
and St. James Church of Watertown, MA.

The MCC’s special visits, or `ecumenical pilgrimages,’ give church leaders
an opportunity to learn more about the liturgical rites of other Christian
communities.

“Three years ago, we began these ‘ecumenical pilgrimages’ in order to show
the distinctive gifts of each of our churches,’ said the Rev. Laura Everett,
MCC executive director. `We trust that God will use these experiences to
draw Christians closer to the unity Christ desires for His Church.”

The visit to Holy Translators Church will take place on Christmas Eve,
January 5. The visit to St. James Church will follow on January 6, the Feast
of the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord.
[14]
Click here to register for the pilgrimages, or visit the Massachusetts
Council of Churches [15]website for more information. To contact the Rev.
Laura Everett, e-mail [16][email protected].
Links:
14.
15.
16. mailto:[email protected]

Choir concert in Providence, RA
The Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra held its annual Christmas Holiday
Concert at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge, MA, this month.

_Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra Christmas Concert _

On Sunday, December 11, the Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra held its
44th annual Christmas Holiday Concert at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge,
MA.

In addition to commemorating and continuing the legacy of the late Very Rev.
Fr. Oshagan Minassian (1930-2008), the concert celebrated the 20th
anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.

Artistic director Konstantin Petrossian conducted the choir and orchestra in
a program that reflected Fr. Oshagan’s dedication to both the Armenian and
Western musical and spiritual traditions.

The December concert also featured three distinguished soloists: soprano
Noune Karapetian, tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan, and mezzo-soprano Victoria
Avetisyan. The musical evening concluded with a blessing by Archbishop
Yeghishe Gizirian.

_Upcoming Parish Events _

_Soorp Haroutiun Church | Orlando, FL_
Soorp Haroutiun Church of Orlando, FL, will host a New Year’s Eve dinner and
dance on Saturday, December 31, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy live Armenian music and a buffet dinner. The event will be held in the
church hall (9274 Winter Garden Vineland Road in Orlando). [17]Click here to
view a flyer for more information.
Links:
17.

_St. Leon Church | Fair Lawn, NJ_
St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ, will host its 5th annual Christmas Dance
on Saturday, January 7, from 7 p.m. to midnight, in the church’s Community
Center.

The evening will feature the Michael Gostanian Ensemble. Tickets are $35 for
adults; $20 for students (ages 10-22). [18]Click here to view a flyer for
more information
Links:
18.

YOUTH NEWS

St. David Armenian Church, FL

_Register for the ACYOA Chapter Workshop _

The ACYOA Central Council will sponsor its 4th annual Chapter Workshop at
St. David Church of Boca Raton, FL, from January 13-15. The workshop will
focus on the basics of being an ACYOA leader and working together to build a
vibrant and successful organization.

The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, will preside over the
weekend’s program. The Very Rev. Fr. Nareg Berberian, pastor of St. David
Church, will serve as chaplain.

The ACYOA Central Council strongly encourages all those who are currently in
leadership positions in their respective chapters to attend the workshop.
Representatives from parishes who lack organized chapters but have young
people who are interested in establishing them are also welcome.

Participants will stay at the Hilton in Deerfield Beach, FL. All workshop
sessions will take place at St. David Church, which has graciously
volunteered to host the program again this year. The registration fee is
$175. For more information, or to register, contact Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA
executive secretary, at [19][email protected].
Links:
19. mailto:[email protected]

THE ECONOMIST: TURKEY IS HARDLY IN POSITION TO PREACH ABOUT FREE SPEECH

PanARMENIAN.Net
December 29, 2011 – 11:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey is hardly in a position to preach about free
speech, says a report in The Economist.

Its own laws, in a mirror image of the French proposal, prohibit
descriptions of the 1915 killings as genocide. More than 100
journalists are in jail, many of them on flimsy charges of backing
terrorism, it says.

As for Mr Sarkozy’s manoeuvres, many Armenians would say they are no
more cynical than Turkey’s decision in 2009 to sign a set of protocols
establishing formal ties and reopening borders with Armenia just as the
United States Congress was gearing up to pass a genocide-recognition
bill. In the event Barack Obama convinced American lawmakers to desist,
the report says.

It also says that Turkey promptly shelved the protocols, reverting
to its old line linking reconciliation to resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

On December 22, 2011, French National Assembly passed a bill
criminalizing public denial of the Armenian Genocide. If passed and
signed into law by the Senate, the bill would impose a 45,000 euro
fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime
against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire. Following the vote,
Ankara recalled its ambassador from France.

NEW SCANDAL AROUND MOLDOVAN-ARMENIAN ARMS DEAL

APA
29 Dec 2011 12:25

Baku – APA. A new scandal occurred in Chisinau around the arms
deal with Moldova. According to Nezavisimaya Gazeta, secretary of
Moldova’s Supreme Security Council Yuriy Rikichinsky was invited
to the parliament on Tuesday to make comment on the letter sent to
acting president Marian Lupu.

Rikichinsky was asked to assist the fulfillment of arms deals. The
question was about the sale of 20-ton missile launchers and appropriate
ammunitions to Armenia.

Nezavisimaya Gazeta said that 40-ton ammunitions have been already
delivered to the purchaser in September and this event caused protest
in Azerbaijan and scandal in Latvia. Commander of the Moldovan National
Army, Chief of General Staff, General Yuriy Dominik, who acknowledged
that the arm deal was fulfilled on order from above, was dismissed. And
the country’s leadership denied its awareness of this deal.

Moldovan Defense Ministry said they sold old, unusable ammunitions to
Armenia. Later it became clear that usable ammunitions were shipped to
the transport planes in Merkuleshti airdrome. There were Cobra 9B862,
9B863 control missile systems, Concurs-M anti-tank missiles, Fagot,
Concurs, Shturm-S, Metis missiles among the arms sold to Armenia. The
ammunitions’ market price is $5 million. Moldovan defense minister
Vitaly Marinuta acknowledged during the parliamentary hearing that
his country sold arms and military hardware to Armenia in amount of
$3.3 million.

The arms deal was suspended. On February 27, MP from Communist faction
Alexander Petkov demanded explanation from the Supreme Security
Council’s secretary. Rikichinsky refused to give explanation and the
lawmakers accused him of acting on order of the president reminding
that he was the chief of the president’s security guard.

Expert of Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces
Viorel Cibotaru said the scandal rose because Moldovan parliament
was not informed about the arms deal with Armenia and Chisinau
didn’t negotiate this issue with Baku. “The route of arms shipment
caused misunderstanding with Latvia, but other issues were within the
framework of international law. Moldova has a right for arms deal,
including the sale arms shown in the list”.

ISRAELI LAWMAKERS DEBATE RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty

Dec 27 2011

JERUSALEM — Israeli lawmakers have ignored government objections
and discussed the possibility of recognizing the 1915 mass killings
of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide, RFE/RL’s Armenian
Service reports.

The three-hour session on December 26 was held by the Israeli
parliament’s Education and Culture Committee and attended by committee
members, government officials, and representatives of the country’s
Armenian and Turkish communities in a first-ever public hearing on
the sensitive issue held in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

The committee made no decision after the session, saying it will hold
more discussions on the issue in the future.

Knesset panels have held such hearings in the past but only behind
closed doors, reflecting the close political and security ties
between Israel and Turkey until recently. This was the first time
such a discussion was open to the public.

Hagop Sevan of the Armenian National Committee in Jerusalem called
that fact a “small victory” for local Armenians who have been pushing
for an official Israeli recognition of the killings as genocide.

Successive Israeli governments have opposed such a move, citing the
strategic character of the Turkish-Israeli relationship. That stance
has officially remained the same even since a sharp deterioration of
those ties that followed last year’s deadly Israeli commando raid on
a Turkish ferry bound for Gaza.

“I can say that at this time, recognition of this type can have very
grave strategic implications,” Irit Lillian, a representative of
the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told the hearing on what the Knesset
committee defined as the possibility of “the Jewish people’s
recognition of the Armenian genocide.”

She added that “our relations with Turkey today are so fragile and
so delicate that there is no place to take them over the red line.”

Ariyeh Eldad of the right-wing National Union party, who along with
Zehava Gal-On of the left-wing Meretz party initiated the hearing,
dismissed those objections.

“In the past it was wrong to bring up the issue because our ties with
Turkey were good; now it is wrong because our ties with them are bad.

When will the time be right?” he said.

Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin also attended the debate and signaled
support for genocide recognition. He denied any connection between
the hearing and Turkish-Israeli tensions.

Knesset committee chairman Alex Miller likewise denied any political
reasons for the development.

Gal-On spoke of Israel’s “moral and historical obligation” to
recognize the genocide “especially when we are still struggling
against Holocaust denial.”

She cited the recent passage by the French lower house of parliament of
a bill criminalizing genocide denial in officially recognized cases,
which currently include Rwanda in 1994, the Nazi-era Holocaust, and
the mass killing of Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turkey in 1915.

Meanwhile, the main author of that bill said she has received death
threats after her website was apparently hacked by Turkish nationalists
on December 25.

Valerie Boyer, a deputy in French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Union
for the Popular Movement party, was the main sponsor of the draft
law approved by the National Assembly and strongly condemned by the
Turkish government late last week.

Boyer told the BFM-TV station that she, her children, and her parents
have received “extremely grave” threats since then.

“It’s totally paradoxical to be the author and the rapporteur of a
text which speaks of human rights, human dignity, recognition, and
protection of the weak and legislate under threat; be threatened by
a foreign state and then be subjected to extremely grave personal
threat,” she said. “Death threats, threats of rape and threats of
destruction, name-calling and insults. I find this very shocking.”

Boyer, who is also the deputy head of the French parliamentary
caucus promoting ties with Armenia, said visitors to her website were
automatically redirected to a website purportedly owned by a Turkish
hacker group presenting itself as GrayHatz.

It displayed the Turkish national flag and contained a message
addressed to the French government and France’s 500,000-strong
Armenian community.

“You, the diaspora Armenians, are such cowards that you don’t have
guts to open up the Armenian archives and face the truth,” read the
message posted in Turkish and English. “You, the French people, are so
pitiful and pathetic that you are disregarding the truths for votes.”

The draft law next must be approved by the Senate, which is dominated
by members of the opposition Socialist Party.

An adviser to French Interior Minister Claude Gueant told the daily
“Le Figaro” on December 26 that Boyer and her family will be given
“discreet and effective protection for some time.”