Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

GYUMRI AMERICAN CORNER OPENING
A1plus
| 17:30:32 | 28-06-2005 | Culture |
On Tuesday, June 28 the official opening of the second American Corner
in Armenia was held at the Gyumri branch of the Armenian Center for
Scientific and Technological Information. U.S. Embassy Public Affairs
Officer Kimberly Hargan opened the ceremony.
American Corners are small, American-style libraries that are funded
by the U.S. Department of State. These libraries help increase mutual
understanding between Armenia and the United States by providing
information about America in various electronic and print sources. Each
American Corner features a diverse collection of English language
books, reference materials about the United States, computers with
Internet and access to online databases, CDs, and videos.
Through this program, the U.S. embassy provided the American Corner
in Gyumri with three computers, approximately 300 books, and a wide
variety of electronic and print resources. The American Corner in
Gyumri is open to the general public, free of charge, Monday through
Friday from 09:00 to 17:00. In addition to a being full multi-media
reference resource, the American Corner will host regular programming,
including lectures, workshops, and video series.
The U.S. Embassy opened its first American Corner in April of this
year at the Yerevan City Isahakian Central Library. The U.S. Embassy
plans to create a network of American Corners throughout Armenia in
the coming years.

PROTEST ACTION AGAINST “SPIRITUAL GENOCIDE”
A1plus
| 15:59:52 | 27-06-2005 | Social |
“Numbering is spiritual genocide”, this is the opinion of a group of
believers who organized an act of complaint opposite the Government
building today. Together with Khachik Stamboltsyan and a group of old
people they prayed and demanded the Government members not to make
them get the social cards. They also demanded their old-age pensions
and the wages they failed to get.
“I do not want to get the devil number”, said Laura Barsegyan, member
of the “Against People’s Numbering” council and noted, “I’m 70 years
old, and I have not received my pension for 6 months. My husband is
dead and I have no children, what shall I do? “.
The participants of the action have written 168 letters to different
parties but they have received no written answers for the past
4 months.
The participants of the action were received by the Government Religion
and National Minorities Administration head Hranoush Kharatyan and
agreed to informed the higher officials about their demands.
By the way, Hranoush Kharatyan informed, that she will tell them about
the demand of the people, but she is not responsible for the results.
The sit-down strike has started and it will continue until “the hungry
people are fed”, informed Khachik Stamboltsyan.

Christian saint’s anniversary celebrations in Iran:-
Tehran | June 27, 2005 1:44:01 PM IST
Webindia123, India
June 27 2005
Christians from all over the world will gather at Iran’s Saint Thaddeus
Church July 1 for the annual commemoration of the martyrdom anniversary
of St Thaddeus.
The St Thaddeus Church, also known as the Black Church (Ghara Kelisa),
is Iran’s most notable Christian monument, located near the Chalderan
region in Maku, West Azerbaijan, reports Mehr News Agency.
One of Jesus Christ’s 12 disciples, St Thaddeus, also known as St
Jude (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot), was martyred while
spreading the Gospel. He is revered as an apostle of the Armenian
Church. As legend has it, a church dedicated to him was first built
on the present site in 68 AD.
Nothing appears to remain of the original church, which was extensively
rebuilt in the 13th century, but some sections around the altar may
date back to the 10th century. Most of the present structure dates
to the 17th century and is of carved sandstone.
The apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew travelled through Armenia in 45
AD to preach the word of god. Many people were converted and numerous
secret Christian communities were established.
When the Armenian kingdom split into two parts, King Ananun gave the
order to kill St Thaddeus in Edessa. The king’s daughter Sandokht,
who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her
tomb is located near the St Thaddeus Church.
Only Christians will be allowed to visit the church during the
ceremony.

NAIRIT PLANT’S PRODUCTION MAKES 4.2 BLN DRAMS IN JANUARY-MAY
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the head of the Industry
Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
Meruzhan Hakobian, in January-May, 2005, the production of the Nairit
Plant CJSC made 4.2 bln drams, with production of May amounting to 1.1
bln drams. The plant produces on average 860 tons of chloroprene
rubber a month, 520 tons of caustic soda, 220 tons of synthetic
hydrochloric acid, 180 litres of natrium hypochloride and 178 litres
of vendible hydrochloric acid. Meruzhan Hakobian noted that the cost
price of the rubber highly depends on the raw materials. After solving
some problems it will be possible to organize the production of
butadiene rubber with lower cost price by using imported raw
materials.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #116, 24/06/2005
Diaspora
AKHALKALAKI ARMENIANS RENDER HELP TO AZERIS IN TROUBLE
Armenians living in Samtskhe-Javakhk Ninotsminda region of Georgia rendered
first aid to the Azeri shepherd and their families, to about 200 people, who
suffered of stormy wind. The policemen took the victims to the regional
hospital, where Chirstine Arzumanian, doctor, gave first aid to them. The
Azeris who came to the summer pasture from Sagarejo region of Georgia had
bodily injures and concussion of the brain. The employees of the Tbilisi
Emergency Department arrived in Ninotsminda to settle the issues of their
further treatment.
By Ruzan Poghosian

Kocharian approves CSTO cooperation
MOSCOW. June 23 (Interfax) – Armenian President Robert Kocharian considers
the cooperation between Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO] to be
effective.
The current members of the organization “don’t argue, but aim for practical
results,” he said.
“Cooperation here is developing very rapidly and efficiently, and the main
thing is a lot of issues are specifically discussed,” Kocharian told a press
conference following a summit of the organization on Thursday.

A1plus
| 16:17:33 | 23-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |
CoE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC AND REFORMERS’ GROUP CONCERNED OVER CONSTITUTIONAL
REFORM IN ARMENIA
Today the PACE Monitoring Committee rejected one of the three proposals
submitted on the draft resolution of constitutional reform in Armenia. The
proposal advanced by the Turkish delegation was rejected with the difference
of one vote, which belonged to Mr. Matyas Eorsi, head of the Liberal
Democratic and Reformers’ Group.
‘The Armenian delegation cannot take part in the vote, since the issue
refers to our country, while Turks and Azeris were free to pass their
suggestion on determining the state borders of Armenia. The vote of Matyas
Eorsi became decisive’, Shavarsh Kocharyan said.
According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, such an attitude displayed by Mr. Eorsi is
conditioned by the fact that he is really concerned over the establishment
of democracy in Armenia and perfectly realizes that Turks’ proposal is
absurd and the people are sure to vote against a constitution containing
such an item. `Thus the Turkish delegation purposed the objective to fail
the referendum on the Constitution.’
To note, Mr. Matyas Eorsi intends to deliver a speech on the draft
resolution on constitutional reform adopted by the PACE Monitoring
Committee.

LRAPER Church Bulletin
Contact: Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
[email protected]
PATRIARCH’S NAME AND BIRTH DAYS CELEBRATED
16 June 2005, Thursday, Feast of the Holy Translators: Saints Sahag and
Mesrob, the traditional name day for all Armenians bearing the names Sahag,
Mesrob and Mashdots, was also the day when His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, completed his 49th year of age.
A reception was held in the garden of the Patriarchate between 20:00 and
23:00 hours, with 300 guests attending, mostly hieromonks, priests, deacons,
acolytes, teachers, members of church youth groups and community leaders who
had all attended His Beatitude’s Bible Study and spirituality classes during
his 26 years of ministry as priest and bishop.
Also celebrating their birthdays at the reception were Dr. Araik Sargsyan of
the Armenian Academy of Sciences; Attorney Luiz Bakar, the press
spokesperson of the Patriarchate; Srpuhi Bilalyan, Armenian language teacher
at the Kalfayan community school; Kegham Erzrumluyan, member of the PTA
Board at the Sahakyan Parish School in Samatya.
Celebrating their name day together with the Patriarch were the Very Revd.
Fr. Sahag Mashalian, hieromonk and Vice-Chairman of the Patriarchal
Spiritual Council; the Revd. Fr. Mashdots Kalpakciyan, Pastor of the Surp
Hripsime Church in Buyukdere; Deacon Sahag Bicakciyan of the Turkish Bible
Society, serving at St. John the Evangelist Armenian Church in Narlikapi;
and Mesrob Yildirimyan, a second grade student at the Bezciyan Parish School
in Kumkapi.
The reception soon became a celebration of Armenian faith and culture when
numerous guests spontaneously joined in singing, in unison and a capella,
Armenian hymns and traditional songs for nearly an hour. A cranberry cake
was ushered in which was cut by all those celebrating their name and
birthdays.

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY YEAR OF
RUSSIA IS HELD IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, June 22. /ARKA/. The Presidents of Russia and Armenia
Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharian are satisfied with the way the
Year of Russia in held in Armenia. According to RIA Novosti, during
the meeting of the two Presidents, Kocharian noted that “everything is
just excellent concerning the Year of Russia in Armenia”. In his turn,
Vladimir Putin added that the Year of Russia in Armenia is held quite
well. The Russian leader believes that “the tour of Bolshoy Theatre in
Armenia proved to be a success”. “I am very glad to know that”, said
Putin. He expressed hope that “all the planned events will be held on
a very high level”. The Russian President also said that Russia plans
to open a “large exhibition” in Armenia. ”
According to Kocharian, Russia carries out many events in Armenia, but
most important ones are “those carried out in economic block”.
“Russian Governors are visiting Armenia, contacts with regions are
being established, the Year of Russia in Armenia appears to be very
interesting, including almost all the aspects of bilateral
cooperation”, noted the RA President. L.V.-0–

Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 21 2005
Turkish FM: Karabakh Elections Illegal
Turkey says the elections in occupied Karabakh is illegal.
Press Secretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Namik Tan made an
official statement, which says that the `elections held by Armenians
in occupied Nagorno Karabakh are illegal’.
Namik Tan noted that Turkey is for the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict via dialogue within the frames of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and in accord with the principles of jus gentium.
Armenian forces occupied Karabakh and many Azeri towns almost a
decade ago. Yerevan rejected all calls to withdraw. The EU and OSCE
call Armenia ‘occupier’ in Karabakh.