Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

Washington and Moscow Unanimous on RA Future Presidentia Contender
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2006 18:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S.’s informal opinion is that Serge Sargsyan
will be the next President of Armenia, military and political expert
Richard Giragossian said in Yerevan. According to him, the incumbent
Defense Minister suits both Washington and Moscow. “Only he can secure
the stability of the state. This is the most important thing for
us. Democracy in Armenia will develop step by step, without shocks
and it’s convenient for all. The opposition is too weak to come to
power and all the more to secure stability,” the American expert said.

Visit of Members of PACE Subcommittee on Karabakh May Be Postponed to Next Year
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 15:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker, PACE Armenian delegation leader
Tigran Torosyan met with Chair of the PACE Subcommittee on Karabakh
Lord Russell-Johnston and PACE Azeri delegation leader Samed Seidov,
reports the Press Office of the Armenian Parliament. During the meeting
Russell-Johnston noted that the visit of Subcommittee members to the
region is not in the most favorable time and proposed to postpone
the visit to the next year. He also proposed a discussion with
participation of members of Armenian and Azeri delegation at PACE
January meeting. The interlocutors agreed to specify the agenda of
the discussion soon.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN DEPRIVED OF AIR
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[12:53 pm] 06 October, 2006
TV Company “Mig” in Vanadzor has been ordered not to broadcast the
interview with Arthur Baghdasaryan, the press service of Orinats
Yerkir Party informed.
According to the statement made by the party, two days ago the TV
Company conducted an interview with Arthur Baghdasaryan informing that
it will be broadcast on Saturday. Nevertheless, yesterday the head
of the TV Company said that they have been prohibited to broadcast
the interview.
“Moreover, according to our information the interview has been watched
according to the rules of the 1937 censorship, and the TV Company has
factually been oppressed. Alongside with this, the governing parties
have flooded the television with political commercials. “Orinats
Yerkir” condemns the obstacles artificially created on their path
and the oppressions of freedom of speech”, the statement says.

Turkish candidate running for the Dutch Parliament recognizes the Armenian Genocide
Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 6 2006
06.10.2006 16:48
Member of the Social-Democratic Worker’s Party of Netherlands to run
for Parliament on November 22, Turkish in origin Nebahat Albeyrak
has recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Turkish “Zaman” reports that Nebahat Albeyrak, who is the second in
the party list, said in an interview to HP De Tijd periodical that
he accepts the Armenian Genocide, but at the same time considers that
it is necessary “to investigate the way it was carried out.”
Let us remind that earlier the names of Turkish candidates Erdinch
Sachan, Ayhan Tonja and Osman Elmaj were omitted from the lists of
the Social-Democratic Workers’ Party and the Christian-Democratic
Party for defending the position of official Ankara.

AZG Armenian Daily #191, 07/10/2006
Neighbors
AZERBAIJAN GETS READY FOR ELECTIONS AND PROHIBITS DOESN’T ALLOW TO
BROADCAST BBC, LIBERTY AND VOICE OF AMERICA RADIO STATIONS
Azerbaijan is likely to prohibit broadcasting BBC, RFE/RL and Voice of
America radio stations in its territory. Turan agency informed that
the representatives of Azeri ANS TV, Anten TV and the Azeri State
Radio were invited to the Azeri Public TV and Radio Council. There
they where were warned that the broadcasting of BBC and Voice of
America is illegal and they need to have a special license for
that. Though the experts stated that the Azeri legislation doesn’t
prohibit re-broadcasting, generally, this approach is characterized
as illogical, and these media representatives may be punished.
Perhaps, the only logical point in all this is that any freethinking
and independent mass media is prohibited in the information field of
Azerbaijan. This approach may be conditioned by the coming elections.
By Aghavni Harutyunian

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
October 7, 2006
Pontiff of All Armenians Awards
the Order of “St. Sahak and St. Mesrop” to Tom Samuelian
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has decorated Tom Samuelian with the Order of “St. Sahak and St. Mesrop”. 
The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the head of the Armenian
Church on faithful sons and daughters who have greatly contributed to the
literary, scholastic and cultural life of the Armenian Nation.
The event took place on August 30 in the Pontifical Residence on the grounds
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and began with welcoming remarks by
Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.  His Grace
Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir, presented the
biography and works of Mr. Samuelian, noting that his creative efforts have
accompanied his life from a very early age.
His Excellency John Evans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia, thanked His
Holiness for paying such a tribute and honoring an exemplary citizen of the
United States and a true son of Armenia.  The ambassador stated that “Tom is
a man within whom the worlds of knowledge and practical life are unified”.
Academician Rafael Hambardzumian presented his thoughts, highly evaluating
the virtues and dedication of Mr. Samuelian, noting that “Our literature,
culture and science have always progressed due to individuals like Tom.  He
is one of the brightest and best representatives of our people.”  Mr.
Hambardzumian also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for recognizing
individuals within the spheres of science, culture and the arts in such a
high manner.
As the Hover Chamber Choir sang the church hymn “Etchmiadzin”, the
Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians was brought into
the hall and read by Bishop Adamian.  In the encyclical, His Holiness
Karekin II highly commends the manifold and multifaceted works of Mr.
Samuelian, who for decades has willingly brought his service to the parishes
of the United States, taught Armenian language classes in Philadelphia,
Boston and New Jersey, and actively participated in the progress of national
and ecclesiastical life of the Armenian American communities.
The encyclical states in part, “…your readiness to contribute your
abilities to the strengthening and progress of our homeland, and your kind
motivation to always see the national and church life of our people bright
and prosperous, directed your paths to Armenia, where you continue to enrich
your nation-helping and church-building legacy under the blessings of our
Lord.  Happiness envelopes our Pontifical soul, that your fidelity to our
national values and traditions is manifested in your achievements and
accomplishments, in service to our Christ-loving people, homeland and Holy
Apostolic Mother Church.
“We reflect with pleasure on your academic, literary and creative labors. 
Due to your years of diligent work, your scholarly essays, books,
dictionaries, textbooks and translations are available for the reader. 
These have truly earned you the recognition and title of ‘intellectual’. 
Through your translations, non-Armenians and English-speaking Armenians now
have the opportunity to know literary monuments such as the ‘Book of
Lamentations’ by St. Gregory of Narek, ‘Refutation of the Sects’ by Yeznik
of Kolb, and others…”
Following the reading of the Encyclical, His Holiness Karekin II decorated
Mr. Samuelian with the Medal of St. Sahak – St. Mesrop.  Mr. Samuelian, in
his remarks, expressed his deep gratitude to the Pontiff of All Armenians
for honoring him in this manner.
The event concluded with the message of His Holiness Karekin II.  Recalling
the words of Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I of blessed memory, His
Holiness stated, ” ‘On the path of searching for God, I found Holy
Etchmiadzin and my Homeland…’  Searching for God has been the way of life
for our nation and people.  Our parents, holding the hands of their children
in their palms, have always led them to church, so that the child, from the
earliest of years, would learn to walk on the road that leads to God, to
search for God and to find God through His unending mercy.  For they
realized and recognized the great sacred mystery that the guarantor of
Armenian identity, existence and being is found within God.”  His Holiness
noted that this was the same in Tom Samuelian’s case as well, who on his
path of searching for God, found Armenia and became a worthy child of our
nation.
His Holiness extended his blessings to all assembled, thanked the Hover
Chamber Choir for their musical presentations throughout the evening and
once more commended the dedication, love and faithfulness of Tom Samuelian
to the Armenian Church and Nation.
##
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For verse junkies – your weekly fix of poetry
The Armenian Weekly
September 30, 2006
R E D T H O R N S
It was morning when she left,
leaving me with an entire night.
There was no yearning~Wwhen she
left me with memories in the bud.
Was she soft, coarse~Wornament, or a rose?
She was still dewy, as she took off,
leaving me with red thorns~E
* * *
A single seed planted by love
can cool down entire infernos,
One single drop of a lover~Rs tear
can turn a desert to ocean.
Eons may come, eons may go,
Varand, your songs carry on,
imparting fire to frozen hearts,
and cooling seared ones~E
* * *
A drop of wine imbibed when injured in love
is a flame shot up the arm, a bribe
To silence a lover~Rs suicide~Wa gory blade.
It is tears of sobs caused by love~Rs pain,
Or, when it reaches the tip of the pen,
it is~Wif you will~Wink,
a quatrain~E
* * *
As you know, a burn on living flesh smarts
and hurts with agonizing pain~W
Intolerant, sensitive even to the caress
of a soothing, gentle breeze~E
Imagine then the pain of a heart scorched
by the flames of searing love~W
as the victim sighs: Burn me!
Burn me again!
Varand
Translated by Tatul Sonentz
R E J E C T I O N
Mediterranean blue eyes,
Sunshine in her hair, like resurgent
Phoenix…
My own hands that rebuffed the nude
maiden of Lebanon ~W
What makes them feel so upright…?
They should have set her bare breast alight,
Infused breath into her coral fingers… yet
With their haughty Armenian hubris,
They merely unbuttoned her garment…
Soaring Mediterranean moment ~W
Wings of Phoenix roasted by a reborn sun…
Silent words of disdain to a maiden
of Lebanon
What makes them sound so proper…?
They should have been a sweet whisper
at her silken ear.
Soft caresses on her satin brow… yet,
With the arrogance of an ultimate oath
They asked her to leave~E to forget…
* * *
A mere Mediterranean morning…
And a nagging yearning for the
paternal roof.
Varand
Translated by Tatul Sonentz

LISTS OF RUSSIAN CITIZENS WISHING TO LEAVE FOR RUSSIA COMPILED IN GEORGIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 14:37 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian Embassy in Georgia starts compiling
lists of the Russian citizens who wish to depart for the homeland,
the Embassy said.
“The Russian Embassy in Tbilisi informs that Russian citizens can
appeal to the Embassy to discuss their wish to return to the homeland,”
it said.
Russia has suspended transport communications with Georgia since
October 3. According to RF Federal Aeronautical Service Alexander
Neradko, the suspension is conditioned by Georgia’s $3.6 million
overdue debt and $176 thousand current debt. Presently Russian
citizens can return to Russia via third states – Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Ukraine, reported RIA Novosti.
To remind, the relations between the two states tensed after the
arrest of Russian officers accused of espionage and terrorism. On
Monday the Georgian authorities conveyed four Russian officers to
OSCE CiO Karel De Gucht. Meanwhile Russia has applied a number of
sanctions against Georgia.

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S BROTHER NOMINATED
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[05:24 pm] 04 October, 2006
06:00 p.m. of October 4 was the deadline for putting forward
candidacies for the post of the head of the Ajapnyak community. There
are four candidates for the post.
The first three of them are – former head of the community Norik
Galstyan, member of “Democratic Path” party Ishkhan Arshakyan, and
member of ARF Dashnaktsutiun Gagik Sargsyan.
And today another event took place which has been discussed much
lately: Ruben Hovsepyan, the brother of RA Public Prosecutor Aghvan
Hovsepyan, was nominated for election in Ajapnyak.
Let us remind you that present head of the community Artsrun
Khachatryan and member of Republican party Arman Sahakyan waged
cold war over their participation in the elections. Arman Sahakyan
announced that he will not put forward his candidacy only if Artsrun
Khachatryan does not do so. Both of them have decided to refrain from
participating in the October 29 elections.

AZERI MEDIA MISREPRESENTED FASSIER’S WORDS
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 20:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The only obstacle for continuation of talks and
success in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is the absence
of trust between the peoples, OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza
said at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, the goal of the
current visit has been achieved, since there is readiness to resume
talks. “We do not say that we overcame the obstacles but we noticed
the readiness to move forward,” Bryza said.
For his part Yuri Merzlyakov underscored that the resumption of
contacts will proceed on the basis of the documents submitted by the
mediators in May 2006.
According to French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the Bucharest talks
form the foundation of the talks. “I would like to reiterate that
the parties will fail to come to an agreement without mediation,” he
said. He also remarked that the Azeri press misrepresented his words
in Baku. “I did not say anything about NKR’s participation in the
talks. In general, media was inaccurate in quoting,” Mr Fassier said.