Author: Boshkezenian Garik

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

August 17, 2007
___________________

WOMEN’S GUILD CONTINUES MOMENTUM WITH SEVERAL PROGRAMS

The Women’s Guild Central council is continuing to gain momentum on a number
of programs and initiatives.

After a successful Annual Assembly, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz, the Central
Council held its quarterly meeting at the Diocesan Center in New York City
on June 22 and 23 to firm up program ideas and outline new initiatives.

One of the major points of discussion was exploring ways to incorporate the
Diocesan theme — "Church and Home: One in Spirit" — into the activities
and programs of local guilds. Joining the Central Council members to
further the discussion were Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate; Diocesan
Vicar Fr. Haigazoun Najarian; Elise Antreassian, Diocesan coordinator of
Christian education; and Gilda Buchakjian Kupelian, coordinator of Armenian
studies for the Diocese.

"The Women’s Guild is an important channel to bring the teachings of Christ
into our homes, into the daily lives of our families," Archbishop Barsamian
said. "So I was pleased to see all the good work being done by these women
who have chosen to serve their Church by giving their time and skills to the
Women’s Guild organization."

A program is being developed to include "Church and Home" related workshops
or lectures for Lenten retreats as part of the Saintly Women’s Day
celebrations, which can be held in local parishes or regionally. All local
guilds are being encouraged to participate, as a percentage of the proceeds
will go to the WGCC Saintly Women’s Day Fund. Once the goal of $10,000 is
achieved, these money will be given to the Diocese to offset the cost of a
second printing of "The Holy Bible, Armenian Church Edition," which is
currently out of print.

WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM

The Women’s Guild will also soon host the third annual Women’s Guild
Symposium, focusing on the "Mind, Body, and Spirit," of participants. The
session will be held at the Ararat Center in Greenville, New York, from
September 21 to 23, 2007.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to get away for the weekend and enjoy
learning, fellowship, and laughter with other women from the Diocese and
beyond," said Women’s Guild Chairman Lucy Murad.

This year, the schedule includes presentations by psychotherapist Dr. Anie
Kalayjian, who will speak on "Healing the Body and Spirit." Literature will
be discussions in a session led by Georgianne Ensign Kent, author of
"Vartanoush: My Grandmother’s Story," and through a book club led by Yn.
Roberta Kochakian, whose participants will discuss "The Bastard of
Istanbul."

Many sessions are designed to foster fellowship and tap creativity. Yn. Pat
Butero will lead classes in dance, Carol Loshigian will help participants
tap into their artistic selves to create collages, and Fr. Stepanos
Doudoukjian will show how to make Nishark and teach participants about its
significance and meaning. Additionally, participants will find ways to
enhance their beauty with help from licensed esthetician Betty Ajamian. Yn.
Violet Kasparian will also teach participants how to see with their hearts
and not their eyes.

All the programming, food and lodging costs only $145. For more information,
visit the Ararat Center website at:

CHILDREN OF ARMENIA

The Women’s Guild is helping many children in Armenia through its Children
of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP). During the Central Council meeting,
members were told that 140 new children are on the waiting list to be
sponsored and efforts are underway to identify new sponsors to help those
children. Through a $220 annual donation, sponsors are able to provide
direct financial help to a child who has lost one or both its parents.

To learn more about CASP, visit the program’s new website:

Some money will be raised for CASP during a raffle, with the prize being a
trip for two to Armenia. The drawing will be held the weekend of the
symposium. For more information on sponsoring a child or donating to the
CASP program, contact Tanya Bukucuyan at [email protected] or (516)
939-6175.

BUILDING HOMES

During the quarterly meeting, Central Council members also discussed plans
to raise money for Habitat for Humanity’s work in Armenia.

During the course of the year they will be working with local parish guilds
to embark on a fundraising campaign. The goal is to raise enough money for
the Women’s Guild to fund the construction of a house in Armenia to
commemorate the October visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, to the Eastern Diocese.

JOIN THE GUILD TODAY

To get involved in these and many other efforts, join your local women’s
guild today. If your parish does not have an active guild, talk to your
parish priest or contact Louise Demirjian via e-mail at
[email protected] or by calling (440) 331-1668.

— 8/17/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Members of the Women’s Guild Central Council meet with
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate; Diocesan Vicar Fr. Haigazoun Najarian;
and members of the Diocese’s Department of Youth and Education to explore
ways to create Women’s Guild programming that builds off of the Diocesan
theme: "Church and Home: One in Spirit."

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Members of the Women’s Guild Central Council, Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate, and Diocesan Vicar Fr. Haigazoun Najarian,
outside St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City following the WGCC quarterly
meeting on June 22 and 23, 2007.

"EREBUNI – YEREVAN" FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 12-13

Noyan Tapan
Aug 13 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The events envisaged within the
frameworks of the "Erebuni-Yerevan" festival will be held between
October 12 to 13.

According to the information provided by Kamo Movsisian, the Head of
the Department of Culture, Youth Affairs and Sport of the municipality
of Yerevan, at the press conference held on August 13, the preparatory
measures dedicated to the day of Yerevan have already been taken. He
mentioned that the solemn opening ceremony of the festival will
take place in the National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet
named after A. Spendiarian on October 12. On October 13 various
holiday measures will be taken in the parks of the capital and as
for the closing ceremony of the festival, it will take place on the
Republic square in the evening. In addition to this, exhibitions,
including the photo exhibition titled "Yerevan through my eyes",
will be opened within the frameworks of this festival.

U.S. DIPLOMAT DISCUSSES USE OF GABALA RADAR STATION WITH AZERI
Interfax – Russia
Published: Aug 06, 2007

DEFENSE MINISTER

BAKU. Aug 6 (Interfax) – U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for
southeastern Europe and Central Asia Matthew Bryza met with Azeri
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev in Baku and discussed the use of Gabala
radar station on Friday, the Azeri Defense Ministry said.

Azeri-U.S. military cooperation, as well as issues concerning energy
security and settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were also
discussed at the meeting, it said.

"Abiyev stressed that extension of the process of peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is harmful for Armenia, and Azerbaijan
has the right to liberate its occupied territories by a military way.
Bryza confirmed the U.S.’ recognition of Azeri territorial integrity,"
it said. ###

ARMENIA MISSION TO HELP CHILDREN

Bristol Evening Post, UK
August 6, 2007 Monday

A Bristol receptionist is off to a former Soviet state to work with
disadvantaged children.

Tracy Thurlow, pictured, a receptionist at Bristol property maintenance
firm Integral is visiting the town of Armavir in Armenia to help set
up and run two clubs for youngsters up to the age of 13.

Integral also helps to sponsor a cultural exchange between Russian
children and students at the Ridings School in Winterbourne.

Tracy, of Bradley Stoke, will be working with the students helping
them to improve their English and practising her Russian, which is
widely spoken in Armenia.

She has already visited Russia and Romania several times, working
with her local church and other volunteers to establish children’s
clubs and help with a drugs rehabilitation project. Each volunteer
has to fund their own travel costs and Tracy has held cake sales,
mufti days, raffles and done a sponsored skydive. So far she has
raised more than 1,000.

Tracy said: "I’ve been learning Russian with an audio-tape every day
on my way to and from work and in my lunch hours. I’m not sure how well
I’m doing as I have no one to practise with. I’m really looking forward
to the trip. It’s hard work but when you get to the end of the trip and
see the difference we have made to the children, it’s all worth it."

Bryan Glastonbury, Integral’s managing director, said: "The children’s
club makes an important difference to the lives of children who have
few opportunities. We are pleased to support Tracy."

ALIZADE: ACTUALLY WORLD COMMUNITY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.08.2007 17:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "In the Nagorno Karabakh issue we appeal to the
rule of law of the international law. We announce that the whole
world has recognized Karabakh as a territory of the Azerbaijani
Republic. But it’s not so. Only by word of mouth the world community
states that it recognizes Karabakh as a territory of Azerbaijan,
simultaneously refusing to recognize as aggressor the country, which
has occupied Karabakh and avoiding to use sanctions against that
country supposed by international laws," Azeri political scientist
Zardusht Alizade stated. He says in order to achieve respect of
Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized rights it is necessary
for the authorities of the country to respect the internationally
recognized rights of its citizens. "If our authorities do not do
that and violate civil rights of Azeri people, naturally the whole
world considers it possible to violate the rights of Azeri nation,
including in the issue of territorial integrity," Alizade underlined
adding that only democratic and reach countries have the priority to
respect Azerbaijan’s lawful rights and the opportunity to appeal to
the rule of law.

"Authorities in our country violate the rights of people, which are
fixed in the UN Regulations.

Authorities violate the right of people to elect the government,
since power in our country is usurped.

Rights to hold meetings, free expression, economic activity are
being violated every day. Everything and everywhere is monopolized,
authorities steal and rob everything. Does such a country and nation
deserve respect? No. That’s why nobody respects us and recognizes
our right to territorial integrity," the political scientists said,
Baku based "Zerkalo" newspaper reports.

Spero News
Aug 6 2007

Feast of the Transfiguration: a gift from the east

The Feast of the Transfiguration, which has always been celebrated in
Eastern Christianity, has been on the Universal Calendar only since
the 15th Century. It marked a turning point in history that is
relevant today.

Sunday, August 05, 2007By Jay Scott Newman

Praised be Jesus Christ! Now and forever!

The Feast of the Transfiguration (described with slightly different
emphases by Matthew, Mark and Luke) recalls the manifestation of His
divine glory by the Lord Jesus to Peter, James, and John on Mt.
Tabor. During this revelation of His divine nature to human eyes,
Jesus was accompanied by Moses and Elijah, living symbols of the Law
and Prophets, who spoke to their Savior about the suffering which He
would endure in His passion and death. This combination of suffering
and glory reveals the paradox at the heart of the Gospel and spoken
of by the Lord Jesus just before His Transfiguration: "If anyone
wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross
daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Luke
9:23-24)

The oldest known liturgical celebration of this feast was in the
Armenian Church, and the 7th century Armenian Bishop Gregory
Arsharuni wrote that the feast was placed in the liturgy in the early
4th century by St. Gregory the Illuminator. In the Orthodox Church,
the Feast of the Transfiguration is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of
the liturgical year, and it is both preceded by a fast and celebrated
with a Vigil and an Octave, in the way Latin Rite Catholics celebrate
Christmas and Easter. These liturgical observances underscore the
importance of the truths revealed to us by the Transfiguration of the
LORD.

The Feast of the Transfiguration, which from antiquity has been kept
on August 6th, gradually entered the liturgical life of the Western
Church through our monasteries, and by the tenth century this feast
was observed in many of the dioceses of England, France and Germany.
But despite the importance and widespread celebration of this feast,
it was not placed by the Pope on the Universal Calendar until the
15th century, and the reason for that change is a timely one for us.

In 1453, Sultan Mohammed II conquered the great Christian imperial
capital of Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul; the armies of
Islam seemed to be invincible, and the Turks were on the move north
and west. But on 22 July 1456, János Hunyady, the Governor of Hungary
and a devout Catholic, led a Christian army to victory over the Turks
at Belgrade, marking a turning point in the centuries-long struggle
between the Christian West and militant Islam. In celebration of this
victory, Pope Callistus III extended the Feast of the Transfiguration
to the universal Church and ordered that it be kept each year on
August 6th. Callistus died two years later on 6 August 1458.

Reverend Jay Scott Newman is pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church
in Greenville, SC. Father Newman’s other articles and homilies can be
seen at his blog .

Yemen Observer, Yemen
Aug 4 2007

Beyond Kemalism

Written By: Ömer Erzeren
Article Date: Aug 4, 2007 – 6:08:07 AM

Currently 4.00/512345 Rating: 4.0/5 (1 vote cast)
Political calm has returned to Turkey following the massive election
victory of the conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s party won almost 47% of the votes and
now holds a wide majority in parliament. Every second voter chose the
AKP. During the last elections held in 2002, by contrast, only 34% of
Turks voted for the party. The election results are a slap in the
face for the military and opposition parties, who thought they could
score with nationalist slogans and militaristic poses. The military
had rattled its sword against the government.

Both the military and the opposition parties joined forces in
preventing parliament from electing Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül,
the AKP’s preferred candidate, to the post of president. The strategy
of the general staff was to force the AKP into submission with
threats. The election has given them their comeuppance. At the same
time, the election results also served as a referendum on the
military’s desire to intervene in state affairs. In addition, the
results have put to rest the lie that the AKP is merely an obscure
Islamic secret society. If the regional voting patterns are carefully
analyzed, it becomes clear that the AKP has succeeded in becoming a
national popular party. Ethnic and religious affiliations played much
less of a role than in previous Turkish elections.

Armenians and Alawites were also among AKP voters. Even the number of
Kurds supporting the party rose dramatically. The party garnered
votes from across all social classes. The times are long gone since
the AKP was primarily the party of upwardly mobile Islamic Anatolian
businessmen and it fished for votes in the poor quarters of the
country’s larger cities. The party has seen a breakthrough in both
working class and middle class districts. This is reflected in the
composition of the AKP parliamentary group, which is,
correspondingly, very ideologically heterogeneous.

It includes members such as the social democrat Ertugrul Günay, who
stresses the importance of state directed social policies, the
left-wing liberal constitutional lawyer Zafer Üskül, who wants to
remove all anti-democratic articles from the constitution, as well as
parliamentarians who began their political careers as cadres of the
Islamic movement. What unifies the AKP is pragmatism. It has a
pro-European course, liberal economic policies, and wants to
integrate the Turkish market into the capitalist global economy. Such
a program requires the dismantling of the state apparatus, which not
only used to control the economy, but also determined the political
and ideological pillars of the system.

The old Kemalist apparatus has already been toppled in the economic
sphere. It is now set to lose control of politics. One of its last
bastions remains the army. The new government has no plans to storm
this bastion, but aims to weaken its power step-by-step. The election
results offer Turkey an opportunity. One example is the unresolved
Kurdish conflict. The Kurdish Democratic Society Party will be able
to build a parliamentary group with its 21 members. The candidate
Sebahat Tuncel, who sat in prison during the election campaign for
her support of the banned PKK, will take up a seat in parliament. For
the first time since 1993, the Kurds have their own voice in
parliament. Yet, the results also present a great danger.

The newly found strength of the AKP will be difficult to control.
Despite this transformation, the party leadership is still in the
hands of men who entered politics to promote Islamic values. A strong
parliamentary opposition is needed. Deniz Baykal’s Republican
People’s Party (CHP) received almost 21% of the vote – a bitter
defeat. With Baykal (`The cement holding our society together is
nationalism.’) at the helm, the once social democratic leaning party
has nothing to counter the AKP’s political project other than the
claim that the CHP will remain true to the state.

A ruling party, however, has no political future in Turkey. More than
ever before, the country needs a democratic left-wing party as a
counterbalance to the AKP. The future will show if the CHP is
prepared to undergo such a transformation. Otherwise, Turkey is faced
with being effectively ruled by a one party regime.

ARF WILL HAVE ITS OWN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Yerkir
August 4, 2007

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia chairman Armen
Rustamian Friday reiterated that his party will nominate its own
candidate for the 2008 presidential elections.

"I am sure that that person will be a member of the party," Rustamian
said of the presidential candidate.

He said the ARF will convene a congress in the fall to decide on the
candidate. "Our party will not defend a candidate nominated by other
political groups and will not nominate a candidate that was already
nominated by another party," he told journalists at a press conference.

Commenting on National Assembly speaker Tigran Torosian’s statement
that a president would be stronger if he had a majority in parliament,
Rustamian said that authoritarianism cannot be effective. "Strong
authority should be based on rightful concepts. … There should be
mechanisms of balance and restriction in the government. It would
be even better if the president represents another political force,"
he explained.

Asked where the incumbent president would be after the 2008
presidential election, he said, "I don’t think he would be where the
first president is."

"I don’t think the president will back our candidate," he told
reporters.

"It will be good if he does but I’m sure he will back the prime
minister," Rustamian said.

Nonetheless, Rustamian said he believes that the presidential ballot
will be tightly contested and will likely involve two rounds. "I find
it very likely that the elections will not end in one round," he said.

Rustamian, who heads the Armenian parliament’s foreign relations
committee, further announced that the ARF will hold consultations
in September with other major political groups, including those
opposed to Kocharian, on ways of ensuring the proper conduct of the
vote. He confirmed that it is particularly keen to cooperate with
Raffi Hovannisian’s Heritage Party, one of the two opposition forces
represented in the new National Assembly.

"There is some ideological similarity between us," Rustamian said.

"Hovannisian’s approaches are totally acceptable to us. Our
relationship has always been constructive and based on [shared support
for] national ideology. … This enables us to see possibilities of
closer cooperation and even some future programs," he added without
elaborating.

At the end of the news conference, Rustamian blamed flaws in the
elections on the majoritarian (single-mandate) election system,
saying it must be eliminated to ensure clean and fair voting by party
lists only.

AZERI, ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS TO MEET IN AUTUMN – US DIPLOMAT

Trend news agency
3 Aug 07

Baku, 3 August: The next meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents is likely to take place in November, Matthew Bryza, the
US Assistant Deputy State Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs
and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairman, said in Baku today.

After the meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
Bryza said that the [OSCE Minsk Group] co-chairs were disappointed in
the outcome of the presidents’ meeting in St Petersburg. "However,
after visiting Azerbaijan and Yerevan, we saw that the process was
continuing," the US co-chairman added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
following Armenia’s territorial claims to Azerbaijan. A total of 20
per cent of Azerbaijani territory, specifically Nagornyy Karabakh and
seven surrounding districts, are under the occupation of the Armenian
armed forces. In May 1994, the sides agreed on a cease-fire. The
OSCE Minsk Group, chaired by Russia, France and the USA, has been
brokering a solution to the conflict although the peace talks have
yielded no results yet.

EU SUPPORTS THE OSCE MINSK GROUP ACTIVITY

armradio.am
02.08.2007 15:06

The European Union defends the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group,
but it understands that the OSCE had to take more motivating steps,
Wolfgang Sporrer, Coordinator of the Europe House in Baku, said in an
interview with Trend agency. In his words, the European Commission
has promised support to Azerbaijan in certain spheres, particularly
mine cleaning, reconstruction and rehabilitation of collapsed houses.

"However, we still cannot speak about provision of means for the
solution of the Karabakh conflict, since there is no concrete political
decision," the EU representative noted.