Author: Ekmekjian Janet

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, met with the Honourable Mr. Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defense of Canada, on June 3, 2015, Horizon Weekly reports.

His Holiness and Minister Kenney reflected on their meeting in Antelias, Lebanon back in July 2014, during the Minister’s special mission to assess the political situation and to discuss the problems of Christian communities in the region.

His Holiness Aram I decorated the Honourable Mr. Jason Kenney with Knight of Cilicia, an insignia of the Catholicosate, bestowing the Minister of Defense and Multiculturalism for his courage, dedication and continued support of the Armenian Community and the Armenian cause.

Prior His meeting with Minister Kenney, His Holiness was invited to a special luncheon on Parliament as the guest of the Honourable Dr. Harold Albrecht, Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party and the Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group.

His Holiness was joined by the following delegation, Bishop Meghrig Parikian, Prelate of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, Most Reverend Father Housig Mardirossian, Ecumenic Relations Officer of the Catholicosate, Krikor Der Ghazarian, Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Armenian Prelacy of Canada, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, member of the Central Executive Council of the Catholicosate, Raffi Donabedian, Chairperson of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, and Hagop Der Khatchadourian, President of the Armenian National Committee International Council.

More than 1,200 people gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument at Sunset Park which is the largest area park and centrally located in Las Vegas, reports.

Armenian-American Cultural Society of Las Vegas (AACS) is leading this project with the support of all Las Vegas Armenian churches and organizations. The project was initiated in 2006. Since then, AACS Board Members had several meetings with Las Vegas city authorities and Sunset Park was selected as the future location for the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument.

Clark County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the monument proposal on January 5, 2015. The monument is a gift from AACS and the Nevada Armenian-American community and Clark County Board of Commissioners accepted the monument to be placed at Sunset Park.

The project is estimated to cost $200,000 which will cover the design and construction of the monument in addition to a maintenance agreement reached with Clark County Parks and Recreation Department.

The $200,000 is anticipated to cover all groundbreaking, inauguration, maintenance expenses as well as funds to publish a book regarding the Las Vegas Armenian-American community history leading to the construction of the monument. The book will be authored by UNLV History Department Professor Michelle Tusan.

Mistress of Ceremonies Lenna Hovanessian invited the guests to stand for the flags presentation by Las Vegas Homenetmen Artsakh chapter scouts followed by both the Armenian and USA national anthems sang by Maral Saccoyan. After the emcee’s introduction, the newly appointed Honorary Consul of Republic of Armenia in Las Vegas, Adroushan Andy Armenian delivered the keynote speech. Armenian provided a brief history of the Las Vegas Armenian community going back to 1911, when the first Armenian family settled in the area. Armenian also referred to the State of Nevada saving the lives of tens of thousands of Armenian orphans by donating in 1919 over $100,000 to the Near East Relief Fund as part of fundraising efforts that was taking place across USA during that period.

Armenian concluded his remarks by thanking America and thanking the State of Nevada for providing the Armenian-American community an opportunity for new beginnings in fabulous Las Vegas. The monument at Sunset Park will be a gift from the Armenian-American community in Las Vegas to the people of Southern Nevada so that new generations remember the tragic history in order not to repeat such terrible deeds in the future.

Armen Anooshian provided the latest update regarding the monument fundraising progress stating that all building department approvals are in place and that $122,000 in donations have already been raised. We estimate construction to start in July with completion by end of September 2015. Anooshian shared the podium with AACS veteran Board members Hriyr Dadaian, Arpiar Babikian and Garry Deratzou who all emotionally expressed their appreciation of this landmark event.

Hovanessian invited official guests who took the podium and expressed their support for the construction of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Monument at Sunset Park while condemning the Armenian Genocide and urging President Obama to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Among the speakers who presented proclamations were US Senator Dean Heller, US Congresswoman Dina Titus, US Congressman Cresent Hardy, Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner Mary Beth Scow, City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian and Councilman Stavros Anthony. Also Present was Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald and representatives of Nevada Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison, Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Joe Heck.

As a guest speaker, Deputy Consul General, Valery Mkrtumian from the Consulate General of Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, on behalf of the Republic of Armenia greeted the official guests and members of the Las Vegas Armenian-American community. Mkrtumian expressed his appreciation for State of Nevada’s official recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well as Nevada Legislators who on April 14, 2015 adopted proclamations at the State capitol, Carson City, in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

After the official remarks community members gathered at the future monument site for the groundbreaking service lead by the clergy. Archpriest Fr. Nareg Matarian, Archpriest Fr. Avedis Torossian, Fr. Arsen Kassabian, Pastor Sam Agulian, Pastor Nerses Kopalyan, Father Nadim Abou Zeid from the Lebanese Maronite St. Sharbel church as well Pastors from the Ethiopian and Assyrian churches participated in ground blessing prayer service.

The ceremonial first turning of the earth took place with the participation of Senator Dean Heller, Congressman Cresent Hardy, Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner Mary Bath Scow, City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, City of Las Vegas Councilman Stavros Anthony, Honorary Consul of Republic of Armenia in Las Vegas Andy Armenian and AACS President Levon Gulbenkian.

Reverend Fathers, followed by representatives of all local Armenian-American organizations, major donors and past and present AACS Board members took their turn for ceremonial turning of the earth.

A cultural program followed where dancers from Armenian Dance Academy of Las Vegas performed several dances followed by recitation, songs and dances performed by ARS Shoushi Chapter Saturday School students.

At the conclusion of the program, Emcee Lenna Hovanessian thanked the Centennial Commemoration Organizing Committee members and recognized the efforts of the committee chairman Abe Kassamanian for his hard work. Hovanessian also thanked Clark County Parks & Recreation Department management, staff and the park police for their valuable support.

A large number of community members then headed to Las Vegas Boulevard where a caravan of “Billboard Trucks” drove along the Strip all night long raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide Centennial to tens of thousands of tourists on Las Vegas Boulevard.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev won’t be able to participate in the summit of the EU Eastern Partnership program to be held in Riga on May 21-22.

President’s aide for public and political affairs, Ali Hasanov made the remark on May 20 while talking to media, Azeri media report.

He noted that “the President has an extremely busy schedule as very little time is left to the start of the first European Games and preparations for this important event have entered the final stage.” “That’s why the head of state will not be able to attend the Summit.”

Hasanov said Azerbaijan will be represented at the Riga Summit by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Chief of the Administration’s Foreign Relations Department Novruz Mammadov and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

The meeting is expected to bring together the political leadership of the 28 EU Member States and six EaP partner countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – as well as the EU institutions, including Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission.

Pope Francis has canonised two 19th Century nuns who lived in Ottoman-ruled Palestine, making them the first Palestinian saints in modern times, the BBC reports.

Marie Alphonsine Ghattas and Mariam Bawardy were among four new saints declared in Rome’s St Peter’s Square.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and over 2,000 Christian pilgrims from the region attended the ceremony.

The move is seen as a token of Vatican support for dwindling Christian communities in the Middle East.

On Saturday, Pope Francis met Mr Abbas at the Vatican, calling him “an angel of peace.”

France has offered to refund about 785 million euros ($865 million) besides re-export rights for cancelling the Mistral amphibious assault ship deal with Russia, but the latter has demanded 1.163 billion euros ($1.32 billion).

According to Sputnik News, Moscow disapproves the motion since the costs and losses of Russia due to the breach of the contract are estimated at about 1.163 billion euros ($1.32 billion). Moreover, Russia does not intend to issue any re-export permit before the money is returned, according to Kommersant.

Russia and France sealed a $1.5-billion deal for two Mistral-class ships in 2011. The handover of the first ship was slated for November 2014, but the ceremony did not take place. French President Francois Hollande put the delivery on hold, citing alleged interference by Moscow in the Ukrainian crisis.

Presidents of Russia and France Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande discussed the issue at a meeting in Yerevan, as the two attended the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide Centennial in the Armenian capital.

 

 

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Archbishop Choloyan Visits ANRC
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Thu, May 20 2010
By:Armenian Weekly

EMERSON, N.J. – On March 31, during the Lenten Season, the Armenian
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) had the privilege and
pleasure of hosting the visitation of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America, along with Rev. Fathers Hovnan Bozoian, pastor of St.
Vartanantz Church Ridgefield, N.J.; Narig Terterian, pastor of St.
Sarkis Church; Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator Cathedral,
New York; and Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, vicar of the Eastern
Prelacy.

Together they conducted the Badarak for the ANRC residents who, in
turn, were gratified by the message given by Archbishop Choloyan. The
archbishop later visited each of the residents individually. Torigian
expressed his deep appreciation to the archbishop and thanked him and
his entourage for their uplifting visit during the week before Easter.

CIS PMs discuss events to mark Commonwealth 20th anniversary

May 22, 2010 – 11:24 AMT 06:24 GMT
PanARMENIAN.Net –

On May 21, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan attended a meeting
of the heads of government of CIS member countries in Saint
Petersburg, the RA government’s information center said.

The agenda included 20 drafts targeting intensification of economic
and humanitarian cooperation. The participants also discussed energy
issues, approved protocols and debated the list of events to mark the
20th anniversary of the Commonwealth.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES 2010 PROGRAM ON SERVICES FOR IT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

NOYAN TAPAN
20 MAY, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 20 session, the Armenian
government approved the 2010 program on services for the development
of the information technology sector. Minister of Economy Nerses
Yeritsian said that this year it is envisaged implementing programs
of 80 million drams in several directions. In particular, steps will
be taken to present and promote Armenia’s IT sector abroad.

As regards international cooperation, according to N. Yeritsian,
it is planned to open an Armenian-Indian educational and research
center at Yerevan State University, as well as Microsoft’s Innovation
Center at State Engineering University of Armenia. The work will be
done within the framework of state-private sector cooperation.

8% YEAR-ON-YEAR INFLATION IN ARMENIA IN JAN-APR 2010

ARKA
May 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Armenia had 8% inflation in Jan-Apr 2010,
compared with the same period a year before, National Statistical
Service of Armenia reports.

Consumer prices rose 4.2% in Jan-Apr 2010, compared with December 2009.

Inflation is planned at 4% (±1.5%) in Armenia’s 2010 state budget.

US-TURKEY NEGOTIATIONS IN WASHINGTON

APA
May 21 2010
Azerbaijan

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Jemil Chichek came to the US capital
to discuss Iran and Armenian issues

Washington. Isabel Levine – APA. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister
Jemil Chichek has discussed the regional security issues with the
Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and US coordinator for
counterterrorism, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin in Washington DC, on
May 20th 2010.

According to APA’s Washington correspondent, a high level Turkish
official came to the US capital to discuss Iran and Armenian issues
as well as peace and cooperation in the region with American officials.

Official Washington didn’t report on the details on the negotiations.

"We’ve had a number of conversations with Turkey going over several
months", Philip J. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State pointed out
in at his Daily Press Briefing. He said the meeting was constructive
though and the sides expressed their views on a number of issues.

On May 20th, Mr. Chichek met with the members of Turkish Diaspora in
Washington DC. Diaspora members told APA that, during the meeting Mr.

Chichek praised the activity of Turkish community against the Armenian
Diaspora in Washington DC and UN on the whole. He said creating a
positive image of Turkey is important not only as an opponent effort
to the Armenians’ activities, but just to bring the rest of the world
to the understanding that Turkey is a friendly and peaceful country.

He called successive the joint Turkish-Azerbaijani protest action
against Armenians that was held last month and praised the co-operation
between Turkish and Azerbaijani communities in US.