Author: Chakrian Hovsep

PRESS RELEASE
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church
3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91504
Contact: Raffy Kendirjian
Tel: +1 (818) 558-7474
Fax: +1 (818) 558-6333
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Primate of the Western Diocese Visits Twin Towers Penitentiary

On April 19th, upon the invitation of Sheriff Leroy D. Baca, His Eminence
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, made a pastoral
visitation to the Twin Towers Penitentiary. Accompanying the Primate were
Fr. Vazken Movsessian, Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church Youth Center in
Glendale, Mashdots Chobanian, and Dn. Mayis Ksachikyan.

This visitation marks the first time the Primate celebrated the Divine
Liturgy within a California correctional facility. The Primate formally
established the tradition to perform annual Liturgies during the Easter
season. Prior to the celebration of the Liturgy, the Rev. Fr. Vazken
Movsessian offered an introduction to the services that were about to be
conducted. He also thanked the Sheriff Baca as well as Division Chief Sam
Jones. Holy Communion was administered to those in attendance. At the end
the Primate delivered the Sermon.

In his sermon the Primate said, "We are here to extend to you the love of
Christ and assure you that Christ is with you. We expect from you that you
should always cherish your prayerful lives even though you are in prison. Do
not imprison your souls; remember that even in freedom there are many who
have imprisoned their souls by rejecting God in their lives."

His Eminence then invited Fr. Vazken to address the inmates. In his
passionate words he inspired the inmates saying, "We all have crosses in our
lives. The resurrection reminds us and promises us that the day will come
when our crosses will be taken away. Therefore, stay steadfast in faith and
never lose your hope."

At the conclusion the Primate sincerely thanked the Honorable Sheriff Baca,
Chief Sam Jones, Mr. Tevan Aroustamian, accompanying the Sheriff, and the
entire staff of the Twin Towers facility for their good works and especially
for helping to coordinate the day’s visitation.

PHOTOS

Inmates rise during the Divine Liturgy as the Holy Chalice is blessed
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Inmates gather to take communion
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The Primate administers Holy Communion to those in attendance
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BANANTS AND ARARAT WIN IN FIRST MATCHES OF HALF-FINAL OF ARMENIAN FOOTBALL CUP TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. First matches of Armenian Football
Cup Tournament’s half-final were held on April 18. At the republican
stadium Banants defeated Mika (1 to 0) and at Ararat’s Araks stadium
Ararat defeated Pyunik (1 to 0).

It is noteworthy that for the first time the tournament is served by
judges invited from abroad.

The return matches of Armenian Football Cup Tournament are scheduled
for May 1.

ONLY 10% OF HIV POSITIVE PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE AWARE OF THEIR DISEASE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. A three-day consultation on the subject
"Improvement of Accesibility of Medical and Social-Medical Aid and
High-Quality Services for AIDS/HIV Patients" started in Yerevan on
April 18 on the initiative of the European Regional Office of the
World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Director of the Republican Center of AIDS Prevention
Samvel Grigorian, representatives of legislative, governmental,
social organizations of CIS countries, as well as of international
organizations are participating in the consultation. He said that
during the consultation, in particular proposals aimed at improving
HIV-related research and advisory services will be worked out.

In the words of S. Grigorian, HIV-related research and provision
of high-quality advisory services continues to be one of the major
health care problems in CIS countries. He noted that only 10% of HIV
positive people worldwide are aware of their disease.

The center director said that the number of persons undergoing medical
examination with the aim of diagnosing AIDS/HIV (free of charge) is
increasing in Armenia with every passing year, which is conditioned
by measures taken within the framework of the national program on
fight against AIDS/HIV. S. Grigorian noted that the program enabled to
increase accesibility of medical services in the country. For example,
there were only 3 points for HIV diagnosing in Armenia 5 years ago,
whereas now their number reaches 150.

‘HOT LINE’ OF RA POLICE RECEIVED 77 CALLS ALREADY IN VIEW OF INACCURACIES IN VOTER’S LISTS

Arminfo
2007-04-19 15:30:00

The "Hot line" of RA Police has received 77 calls already in view of
inaccuracies in the voter’s lists, Head of the Passport-Visa Department
of RA Police, Colonel Alvina Zakaryan said at today’s press-conference.

The "Hot line" has been functioning from April 9 every day from 10:00
AM to 10:00 PM. All the citizens may call and inform about inaccuracies
in the voting lists. According to A. Zakaryan, 497 citizens have
addressed the Passport-Visa Department of RA Police, as of April 18,
to get new RA passports and change the USSR passports. The General
Headquarters of RA AF again passed the lists of servicemen who are in
service for a fixed period. Upon the check-up results, corrections were
introduced to the lists concerning 3680 people. The names of 2275 died
persons were expunged from the lists as a result of check-ups. There
is still the issue of specifying and expunging the names of the former
owners of flat, which remain on the books along with the new ones. As
a result of check-ups, 290 citizens are taken off the books and 4125
citizens are registered in their new residence places.

TURKEY URGED TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS

Agence France Presse — English
April 19, 2007 Thursday

Current EU president Germany urged Ankara on Thursday to take
measures to protect religious freedoms after one German and two
Turkish protestants were killed in the east of the country.

The appeal followed a meeting in Istanbul of the ambassadors of the
27 European Union member countries to discuss the gruesome murders
in Malatya on Wednesday in the latest attack against minorities in
EU-hopeful Turkey.

"These despicable murders were strongly condemned and all member
countries expressed sympathy to the families of the victims, who
include a German national," German Ambassador Eckhart Cuntz said in
a statement.

"We see the murders as an attack not only against individuals, but
also against the principles of freedom and tolerance," he said.

The assailants tied the three men up and cut their throats at the
offices of a publishing house, which belongs to Turkey’s tiny
Protestant community and published Bibles and other books on
Christianity.

"I believe that Turkey will guarantee the safety and particularly the
religious freedoms of both Turkish and foreign nationals," Cuntz said.

He called for support for "the implementation of reforms that aim at
(ensuring) a modern, open and tolerant society" in Turkey.

The EU has often pressed Ankara to guarantee the freedoms of its
tiny non-Muslim communities, which consist mostly of Orthodox Greeks,
Armenians and Jews concentrated in Istanbul.

Wednesday’s murders followed the killings of Italian Roman Catholic
priest Andrea Santoro in the northern city of Trabzon in February 2006
and of prominent ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in Istanbul
in January.

The attack raised concerns that nationalism and hostility towards
non-Muslims is on the rise in Turkey, which has long argued that its
EU membership would build a bridge between East and West.

ROSE ROTH SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS CAUCASUS-NATO-EU RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.04.2007 15:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NATO PA 63rd Roth-Roth seminar starting in
Tbilisi April 18 will focus on conflicts in the South Caucasus
and Georgia’s integration into the European family. Besides, the
attendees will discuss NATO and EU relations with the South Caucasian
states, the role of Russia in the region and other issues. Georgian
parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze, NATO PA President Jose Lello and
other officials are expected to address the seminar.

OSCE MISSION REGISTERS NO CEASE-FIRE VIOLATION

armradio.am
17.04.2007 15:00

According to an earlier agreement with NKR authorities, on April 17
the OSCE Mission carried out planned monitoring of the contact line
of the Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan to the east
of Seysulan settlement of NAR Martakert region.

ArmInfo was told at the Press Service of NKR Ministry of Foreign
Affairs that from the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring
was conducted by Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Peter Kee (Great Britain) and Miroslav
Vimetal (Czech Republic). No violation of the cease-fire regime was
registered. The monitoring mission was accompanied by representatives
of NKR Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

FROM MOSCOW THEY CALL ARMENIANS OF JAVAKHK FOR PERSUADING THEIR COMPATRIOTS LIVING IN ARMENIA TO VOTE FOR RPA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Unity of
Georgian Armenians NGO registered in RA has lately organized a meeting
with Armenians of Javakhk in the central square of Akhalkalak.

At the meeting deputy of Georgian parliament Hamlet Movsisian
introduced to those present candidates for RA deputacy Tachat
Vardapetian, Andreas Srabian and Hayk Sanosian nominated by the list
of the Republican Party of Armenia.

T. Vardapetian read the address of Norayr Tevanian, Chairman of
Union of Armenians in Moscow, by which he called for "maintaining
the Armenian-Georgian friendship" and inciting Armenians of Javakhk
residing in Armenia to vote for the Republican Party of Armenia.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from A-Info, the Armenians of Javakhk
taking part in the meeting expected discussion of political, language,
educational and cultural, socio-economic problems they are anxious
about, but seeing that their expectations were not justified, left
the square, so that only about 50 people took part in the concert
planned after the meeting.

European observers present findings, note shortcomings in Armenian polls

Arminfo
13 Apr 07

Yerevan, 13 April: "The forthcoming parliamentary election will be an
exam to assess Armenia’s democracy level," the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe [PACE] observation mission says in a
statement.

The statement was made public by Leo Platvoet, head of the mission, at
a news conference in Yerevan today.

The statement points out that the PACE observers note Armenian
officials’ readiness to conduct free and democratic elections and
underscore that responsibility also lies with all the political
parties and interested parties to hold elections in line with
international standards. The observers also indicate that Armenia’s
current legislation is a good basis for democratic elections if
applied in full in practice.

The observers condemn the recent blasts in the Prosperous Armenia
Party offices and voice concern about some shortcomings on the voters’
lists. The observers also expressed regret that many participants in
the election process took a negative stance on a PACE initiative to
use special ink in order to thwart multiple voting. "Besides, we are
concerned that voters do not show a significant interest in free
elections, and what’s more, it gets to cynicism sometimes. The
impression is that the forthcoming election is viewed by many as a
struggle of political elites, not of political ideas. We are also
concerned that in some of the constituencies under the
first-past-the-post system non-alternative elections will be
conducted," the statement says.

The observers also note the lack of serious differences in the
platforms of political forces. Based on their monitoring of media
outlets, they expressed concern over the campaigning process and a
very high number of political advertisements on Armenian TV
channels. They are also unhappy with the ban on voting outside
Armenia.

The observers also point out that the fraud and violations committed
during the past elections were never investigated, saying that the
2003 elections did not meet the Council of Europe standards. They urge
the Armenian authorities to investigate any protests and violations
during the forthcoming election. "If Armenia wants to be a part of
the European community, it should take a step towards free elections,"
Platvoet said.

Memorial to the victims of the May 3 air crash to be raised in Yerevan

ArmRadio.am
16.04.2007 15:40

A monument dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Yerevan-Sochi
plane that crashed on May 3, 2006 will be raised in Nor Nork 5th
block. Chief Architect of Yerevan Samvel Danielyan told `Noyyan Tapan’
that the project of the monument has already been presented to RA
Government. Other detail about the monument will be reported after the
project is confirmed.

In Samvel Danielyan’s words, after the confirmation by the
Government and correspondent financing the construction of the
monument will start.