Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Armenians in Turkey return to their religion

13:08, 7 July, 2012

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS: Armenians from Turkey more and more often
restore their Christian identity. Armenpress reports that Armenian
patriarchal vicar Aram Archbishop Ateshyan informed Ermenihaber.am
that each year 60-70 Armenians restore their identity of Christian.
`Those Armenians who can introduce facts that they have Armenian
origin, their root is Armenian are immediately accepted and they pass
a six-month course on Christianity, being Armenian. Then he is
officially mentioned as a Christian, baptized and becomes a member of
Armenian Church’ mentioned Ateshyan.

The latter informed that before 1914 in Ottoman Empire had been around
2170 Churches and 2000 schools under the control of the Patriarchy.
But then during the Republican turkey the number of Churches decreased
to 45, schools to 13. Acting churches are considered those which open
their doors at least once a year for mass. Speaking about the bad
state of the Churches Ateshyan mentioned that Armenian Patriarchy does
not have money to reconstruct them. He also informed that the number
of Armenian clergies in the Patriarchy is 22-23.

From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIE
Le village frontalier d’Aykétsor se dépeuple

Le journal arménien « Jamanag » s’inquiète du dépeuplement du village
d’Aykétsor dans la région frontalière de Davouche. Aykétsor qui a une
frontière d’un kilomètre avec l’Azerbaïdjan se trouve à 229 km
d’Erévan et à 89 km du chef-lieu de la région de Davouche. Selon le
maire de la commune, Sassoun Safarian, en 2000 la population du
village était de 2 752 mes. Aujourd’hui elle n’est plus que de 2 528.
Aykétsor compte qui comptait 796 familles ne compte plus que 650
familles aujourd’hui. Pire, le nombre d’élèves de l’école du village
est passé de 487 à 308 entre 2000 et 2012. La commune s’étend sur 2
358 hectares sont 467 sont des terres cultivées, 567,9 sont des
prairies. Aykétsor compte également 97,8 hectares de vignes et 462,4
hectares de forêts. Près de 30 % des terres cultivables ne sont pas
cultivées du fait du danger des tirs azéris.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 7 juillet 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

July 6, 2012
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:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ORANGE
COUNTY

On Sunday, July 8, 2012, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Forty
Martyrs Church in Orange County.

PRELATE EXPRESSES SUPPORT TO THE
37TH NAVASARTIAN GAMES

This past week the 37th Homenetmen Navasartian games and festival
has been taking place at Birmingham High School.
On Thursday, July 5, the Prelate visited the booths of the
Navasartian festival and conveyed his blessings and encouragement to the
organizers and participants. His Eminence was accompanied by St. Mary’s
Church pastor Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian and Holy Martyrs Church pastor Rev.
Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian.
On Saturday, the Prelate will attend the closing ceremony and convey
his message. His Eminence will be accompanied by St. Mary’s Church pastor
Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian. Executive Council members will also be in
attendance.
On Sunday, July 1st, the Prelate attended the 37th annual Homenetmen
Victory Ball where he delivered his message. On this occasion, the Prelate
read the letter of blessing of H.H. Catholicos Aram I and officially
presented Homenetmen Regional Executive members with the letter.

COMMITTEE FOR ARMENIAN STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THANKS ITS SUPPORTERS

The Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools, which
operates under the auspices of the Prelacy held a reception at the Prelacy
“Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian” Hall on Tuesday, July 3rd to express
their appreciation to their supporters for their continued encouragement of
their mission.
The Prelate attended the reception, joined by Executive Council
Chair Mrs. Rima Boghossian and member Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, St. Mary’s Church
representatives, and members of the Armenian Educational Foundation.
Members of CASPS gave a brief overview of their recent endeavors and
upcoming plans, and thanked the guests for their ongoing support.
Remarks were delivered by CASPS chair Mr. Ruben Gourjian, and the
evening continued with friendly discourse.
The Prelate commended the service of CASPS’s members and thanked the
donors and supporters of the committee.

PRELATE VISITS “ZAVARIAN” SUMMER YOUTH CAMP

By the invitation of the Crescenta Valley “Zavarian” Gomideh, on
Friday, June 29, 2012, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
visited the Crescenta Valley Armenian Center where he met with and addressed
the participants of the youth summer camp. Crescenta Valley Church Pastor
Rev. Fr. Ghevont Kirazian also participated in the visit.
Upon his arrival, the Prelate was welcomed by the camp directors and
participants. Welcoming remarks were delivered by director Mrs. Arpi
Dabbaghian and camp participant Patil Keleshian, both of whom gave a brief
background of the educational nature of the summer camp and also thanked the
Prelate for his visit.
After the opening prayer and the singing of the Armenian national
anthem, the Prelate conducted the blessing of bread, salt, and water.
The participants then presented a cultural program they themselves
had organized comprised of musical selections on the violin, flute, and
piano, a group song, and a poetry recitation. They informed the Prelate
that the week’s theme was Armenian Heroes, and throughout the week they had
followed a special program to learn more about this subject. Given that the
day before was the Feast of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, and the next day was
the feast of our first Christian king and queen St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen,
the Prelate spoke to the youth about our saints and Armenia’s first
Christian royal family and how they are among our national heroes. He also
explained the meaning of blessing the bread, salt, and water. In
conclusion, the Prelate spoke of the characteristics of being a good
Armenian, stressing the importance of learning and speaking Armenian,
praying in Armenian, and participating in our church life by attending and
being active in our church. Finally, the Prelate led the students in the
singing of the Lord’s Prayer.
In the ensuing question and answer session, the students expressed
that in their summer program, a great deal of time is devoted to reading
Armenian books, especially since H.H. Catholicos Aram I has dedicated this
year to the Armenian Book. They vowed that they would heed the Prelate’s
suggestions and would be good Armenians in all aspects of their lives.
The nearly two hour visit was held in a warm and familial
atmosphere, and the students returned to their activities inspired and
enlightened with prayer books presented to them by the Prelate.

PRELATE WELCOMES COMMUNITY ACTIVIST SAM KBUSHYAN

On Friday, June 29, 2012, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed to the Prelacy community activist Mr. Sam Kbushyan.
Mr. Kbushyan had come to personally inform the Prelate of his
candidacy for L.A. City Council District 13, which encompasses the
neighborhoods of Hollywood, East Hollywood, Thai Town, Little Armenia,
Virgil Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Temple-Beverly, Korea Town, Historic
Filipino Town, Westlake, Wilshire Center, Melrose Hill, Elysian Valley, and
Atwater Village.
Mr. Kbushyan also gave the Prelate some background information on
his fields of service which include community organizing, vocational
education, business advocacy, and social and economic justice.
The Prelate commended his service to the community and wished him
success in his aspirations.

From: Baghdasarian

Trend, Azerbaijan
July 5 2012

Unique conditions for progress in settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 5 / Trend E.Mehdiyev /

Unique conditions have been formed for progress in the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh, the director of the Centre of Political
Innovations and Technologies, Mubariz Ahmedoglu, told reporters on
Thursday.
He said both Azerbaijan and Armenia raised the issue of ethnic
cleansing at the United Nations.

“Both parties accuse each other of ethnic cleansing. This creates an
excellent opportunity for the UN to establish a commission to
investigate two applications of the same content. The UN, based on the
appeals of both sides is to determine whether or not ethnic cleansing
was carried out in the conflict region during the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict,” Ahmedoglu said.

The presidents of both countries said they are supporters of the
settlement of the conflict on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act, the
political scientist said.

“Three principles of the Helsinki Final Act (non-use of force or the
threat of use of force, territorial integrity, equality and
self-determination of peoples) were adopted in 1975. It is impossible
to arbitrarily interpret these principles. Among the first documents
signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia immediately after gaining
independence while being admitted to the UN, is the Helsinki Final
Act. It is possible, taking agreement of both parties as a basis, to
sign a document for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,”
Ahmedoglu said.

He said ‘presidential elections’ held in Nagorno-Karabakh provide a
reasonable basis for resolving the conflict. An opinion poll conducted
by the Armenians, shows a rather low rating for the current leadership
of this fictional government.

“It is the cry of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Mediators can
take a group of Azerbaijanis who once lived there to Nagorno-Karabakh
and direct the current political activism to the settlement of the
conflict,” the analyst added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. – are
currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: Baghdasarian

Canwest News Service, Canada
July 5, 2012 Thursday 09:04 PM EST

CHEO to house world’s largest permanent display of Karsh portraits;
Hospital ‘meant a great deal to Yousuf,’ says his widow

BY: Maria Cook, The Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA – Renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh was “a child without a
childhood,” says his widow, who has given 30 portraits to the
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), making its collection
the largest permanent Karsh display in the world.

“The hospital means a great deal to me,” says Estrellita Karsh. “It
meant a great deal to Yousuf. He was a young boy in the middle of a
terrible political situation at the time in Armenia, where when you
got sick there was nothing you could do about it. You either died or
you lived.

“He told me when a typhoid epidemic ravaged his little town his mother
said to him, ‘I’m giving you a tin cup and your own spoon. Don’t let
anybody else use it. This is all I can do for you my son.'”

The photographs to be unveiled next Tuesday include portraits of such
luminaries as Albert Einstein, Jacques Cousteau, Muhammad Ali, Jean
Sibelius, Marc Chagall, Helen Keller, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso,
Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Martha Graham and Anna Magnani.

“When he came to Ottawa, which was a blessing, we thought one of the
nicest ways to say thank you was to do something for the children of
Ottawa,” says Karsh.

“The photos have Yousuf’s spirit in them and they would always know
that he cared for them.”

In 2005, CHEO celebrated the first donation of 20 Karsh portraits with
the naming of the Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh emergency department.
They hang in a hall near the department.

“The Karshes have been unbelievably generous to CHEO over the years,”
says Alex Munter, the hospital’s president and CEO.

“Their donations have supported patient care, staff training and new
equipment – these world-famous photos are literally an illustration of
that generosity,” he says.

“It’s quite something to be headed to a meeting and catch the eye of
Winston Churchill or Walt Disney.”

The latest gift brings the hospital’s total collection to 50
portraits, which is said to be the biggest permanent display of Karsh
photos anywhere.

“Others may have more than 50 photos (such as the Library and Archives
Canada) but not 50 on display at once,” says Sylvie Corbin, CHEO’s
director of major gifts.

“There are future gifts coming,” she adds.

Karsh, who died in 2002 at age 93, was one of the masters of
20th-century photography. He worked in Ottawa from 1931 until he
retired in 1992. The couple moved to Boston in 1997.

From: Baghdasarian

EuroNews, France
July 6 2012

France, Turkey move to mend ties after Paris ditches genocide law for good

Turkey on Thursday moved to repair ties with France after Paris said
it will not resurrect a law on the mass killing of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks in 1915.

French MPs from the centre-right UMP party put forward a bill last
year that would have made it a crime to deny that their deaths
amounted to genocide.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters that Ankara
had lifted all diplomatic and economic sanctions taken against France.

`As a result of the few difficulties which we have experienced in the
past, Turkey took a series of measures against France, but I’d like to
announce that these measures have been completely removed,’ he said.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius `hailed a new period of
relations on every level’ between the two countries.

France, which has half a million citizens of Armenian descent, already
recognised the killings as genocide in 2001.

But last year’s bill sparked protests across Turkey.

Turkish officials recognise atrocities were committed but deny there
was any systematic attempt to wipe out the Armenian people.

From: Baghdasarian

United Press International UPI
July 6 2012

Van Rompuy: Armenia must settle conflict

Armenia needs to do more to settle its conflict with Azerbaijan if it
wants closer political ties with the EU, the European Council’s leader
said this week.

YEREVAN, Armenia, July 6 (UPI) — Armenia needs to do more to settle
its conflict with Azerbaijan if it wants closer political ties with
the EU, the European Council’s leader said this week.

EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy, speaking Wednesday in Yerevan,
praised efforts by Armenia’s leaders to hold more transparent
parliamentary elections in May, adding relations generally are “on the
right track.”

But, he warned, violence along the line of contact between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh last month
showed more progress is needed to keep the long-simmering “frozen
conflict” from escalating.

“What is needed now is more trust, more contacts, more
confidence-building,” Van Rompuy said. “The status quo is no option.

“Without trust, there will never be peace,” he added. “And trust will
depend on both sides showing leadership and compromise.”

Ten soldiers were killed in clashes along the Nagorno-Karabakh front
line and on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in May,
representing the worst outbreak of violence for several years.

The conflict began when Armenia-backed separatists seized Karabakh
from Azerbaijan during the 1990s, leaving 30,000 dead. No final peace
deal was ever signed.

The recent deaths came as Azerbaijan has threatened to re-take the
disputed region by force if negotiations fail, with Armenia vowing a
large-scale military response in such a case.

The EU, Van Rompuy told Armenia’s National Assembly in an address, is
anxious to continue work on an “association agreement” and a
free-trade pact with Yerevan, bringing it closer to Europe through its
Eastern Partnership plan offered to the former Soviet republics.

But that won’t come without renewed efforts to solve Yerevan’s
differences with its Muslim neighbors, Azerbaijan and Turkey, he
warned.

“The European Union will continue to insist that Armenia and
Azerbaijan step up their efforts to reach agreement,” Van Rompuy said.
“The so called Madrid Principles remain a valid basis for peace, in
accordance with the commitments made by the presidents of both your
countries to France, Russia and the United States as co-chairs of the
Minsk Group” of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe.

He told lawmakers the EU would continue to ask for “unconditional
access” for its representatives into Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding
regions.

“The situation in the region is a major challenge,” Van Rompuy said.
“A resolution of the conflict on Nagorno-Karabakh is the key to
unlocking the region’s enormous development potential and the
prosperity that it can bring.”

But for this to happen, he said, “much depends on the will not just of
politicians, but also of citizens, to take difficult decisions and to
work together, resisting the temptations of populist rhetoric and
entrenchment.”

The address came after a meeting with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, who asserted his country is committed to a Karabakh conflict
settlement through the Minsk Group talks and denounced the recent
violence, PanAmenian.net reported.

“Military rhetoric and border attacks are unacceptable in the 21st
century,” the Armenian leader said. “We welcome EU readiness to help
boost trust and establish peace in the region.”

Van Rompuy’s address came as part of a regional official visit to the
South Caucasus this week. He was also to visit Georgia and Azerbaijan.

From: Baghdasarian

Xinhua General News Service, China
July 4, 2012 Wednesday 1:16 AM EST

European Council pledges full support for Armenian reforms

YEREVAN Armenia, July 4

Visiting President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy pledged
here Wednesday EU’s full support for the reforms of Armenia.

Von Rompuy made the pledge while meeting with Armenian parliamentarians.

According to Armenian News Agency “Armenpress” , Van Rompuy told the
Armenian parliamentarians “The greater are the ambitions and
achievements the more financial and technical support will be.”

“The reforms are important for the region, are important stimulus of
hope and changes. You enjoy our full support as I consider Armenia as
a partner” , said the president.

“We have things to be done, joint work. I am glad that the
negotiations on Associative Agreement and creating Free and
Comprehensive Trade Area are moving forward.”

Van Rompuy is visiting South Caucasus from July 3 to 5.

Armenia is the member of the Eastern Partnership Initiative of the
European Union which aims to provide an institutionalized forum for
discussing visa agreements, free trade deals and strategic partnership
agreements with the EU’s eastern neighbors.

From: Baghdasarian

Armenia’s parliament has numerous `bright’ faces – opposition MP

news.am
July 06, 2012 | 13:48

YEREVAN. – A fair examination must be conducted, in connection with
the incident that occurred at Harsnaqar Restaurant belonging to MP
Ruben Hayrapetyan, and all those who are guilty must be punished,
Armenia’s opposition Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan stated during
a press conference on Friday, reflecting on the beating and subsequent
death of medical physician Vahe Avetyan.

As per the MP, everything had started during the tenure of Armenia’s
second President Robert Kocharyan, when a man was killed at a capital
city Yerevan café.

`If that well-known incident had not occurred, perhaps Vahe Avetyan’s
incident likewise would not have transpired.

The society needs to take measures so that oligarchs like Ruben
Hayrapetyan would be compelled to give up their [parliamentary]
mandates. Ruben Hayrapetyan is not alone at the Parliament. There are
`brighter’ faces in the [National Assembly] NA [and] who should not
have any connection with the legislative body,’ noted Zaruhi
Postanjyan, and added:

`Obligating such people to renounce [their NA] mandates should become
an ongoing process. It is possible that the renunciation [from the NA
seat] was not Ruben Hayrapetyan’s decision, it is possible that he was
not the one who wrote the statement on giving up the mandate, but
what’s important is that such decision was reached under public
pressure.’

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, an incident had occurred at
Armenian capital city Yerevan’s Harsnaqar Restaurant on June 17, where
several military doctors including Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan,
Garik Soghomonyan, Artak Bayadyan and Vahe Avetyan were brutally
beaten by Ruben Hayrapetyan’s security personnel.

And Vahe Avetyan died in hospital on June 29.

A criminal case is launched and the Police have detained six people.

The Restaurant’s owner is senior ruling party MP – who on Tuesday
submitted his resignation from his parliamentary seat – , Football
Federation of Armenia President, and businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan.

From: Baghdasarian

Glendale hosts fund-raising for deaf children in Armenia

tert.am
12:43 – 06.07.12

A fund-raising event in the United States city of Glendale
(California) is thought to have helped collect $100,000 for Armenian
children with hearing impairments, Asbarez reported.

The event organizer was the Armenian International Medical Fund
(Chairperson: Salbi Agarakyan; Vice Chair: Avo Avetisyan).

Speaking at the ceremony, Agarakyan introduced their activities,
noting that 49 deaf and dumb children and teenagers in Armenia
acquired the ability of hearing and speaking thanks to the medical
interventions carried out under their funding.

The fund-raising was also attended by members of the Glendale City
Council, Laura Friedman and Ara Najaryan, President of the
Armenian-American Medical Society Vigen Sepilian, prominent lawyers
Karo Martirosyan and Armen Agarakyan, and other representatives of the
Armenian community.

The Fund is to hold a gala dinner this autumn.

From: Baghdasarian