Author: Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS

In Jerusalem’s contested Old City, shrinking Armenian community fears displacement after land deal

Emil Lazarian
June 7 2023

A general view of a parking lot that is part of a contentious deal in the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The 99-year lease of some 25% of Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter has touched sensitive nerves in the Holy Land and sparked a controversy extending far beyond the Old City ramparts.

Maya Alleruzzo – staff, AP

A real estate deal in Jerusalem’s Old City, at the epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has sent the historic Armenian community there into a panic. Residents search for answers about the apparent loss of their homes to a mysterious investor. The fallout from the 99-year lease of 25% of Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter has forced the highest authority of the Armenian church to cloister himself in a convent and prompted a disgraced priest to flee to Southern California. In a dramatic move, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority have suspended recognition of the Armenian patriarch. The saga reflects real estate and political struggles that have long been a stand-in for the entire decadeslong Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

https://www.hjnews.com/world/jerusalem-armenian-quarter-crisis/image_be478343-9a32-5f76-bcd2-9075a02f0077.html
ALSO AT
https://www.hjnews.com/world/jerusalem-armenian-quarter-crisis/image_a080dbab-2a6f-5c4b-b4e5-528710f0b85f.html
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2023/06/07/in-jerusalems-contested-old-city-shrinking-armenian-community-fears-displacement-after-land-deal
https://www.galvnews.com/news_ap/international/in-jerusalems-contested-old-city-shrinking-armenian-community-fears-displacement-after-land-deal/article_8e104508-bdcf-5878-a294-1b6ac1400fc4.html?block_id=531919
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/historic-armenian-community-jerusalem-fear-displacement-following-real-estate-deal
https://www.goskagit.com/news/world/in-jerusalems-contested-old-city-shrinking-armenian-community-fears-displacement-after-land-deal/article_5219a9d7-1cbf-5698-adf7-65b86fd0bd5b.html

British culture minister aware of Azeri destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

 11:25, 8 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Alen Simonyan has met with the UK minister of culture John Whittingdale to discuss multi-sector cooperation, as well as cooperation in culture between the two countries.

John Whittingdale, Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport,  a long-time member of the UK-Armenia parliamentary friendship group, said that he is well aware on the situation in Armenia and the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage by Azerbaijanis in Nagorno Karabakh as a result of the 2020 war. Whittingdale said that any encroachment against fundamental human rights is unacceptable, referring to the Azerbaijani military’s continual aggression against Armenia’s sovereign territory. The sides also discussed the need to establish lasting peace in the region, strengthen and develop democratic values.

Belarusian leader Lukashenko calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to find mutually acceptable solution

Emil Lazarian

 12:25, 8 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to find a mutually acceptable solution to end the conflict.

“Patience and efforts, to find a solution that would be acceptable both for Armenia and Azerbaijan,” TASS news agency quoted President Lukashenko as saying at a meeting with CSTO Secretaries of Security Council.

Asbarez: EU’s Armenia Mission to Open 3 Additional Operational Hubs

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 June 7, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Latest, News, Top Stories
The 100-person EU Civilian Mission in Armenia launched on Feb. 20

The European Union’s Mission in Armenia plans to open three additional operational hubs in Kapan, Ijevan and Yeghegnadzor in the upcoming months, EUMA Head of Mission Markus Ritter said Wednesday.

Ritter reported that last week the EU’s Head of Delegation to Armenia, Andrea Wikorin welcomed a delegation from the EU’s working groups on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, known as COEST. The delegation visited Martuni, with Ritter providing a briefing and discussing the mission’s activities.

In the first three months of EUMA’s deployment, a press statement said, the mission conducted more than 300 patrols in total from its operational hubs in Goris, Jermuk and Martuni.

“Every week, the patrols cover more than 3800 km of distance. “The mission was launched in an unprecedented speed, starting its operations this February,” Ritter said.

The mission plans to open the three additional operational hubs in Kapan, Ijevan and Yeghegnadzor in the upcoming months, gradually reaching full operational capability in the near future.

“Our goal is – among others – to contribute to stabilising the security in border areas. And according to numerous Armenian officials, EUMA has contributed to a certain stabilisation of the situation. However, the situation remains volatile,” Ritter added.

EUMA is a non-armed, civilian and non-executive mission with the aim to observe and report to the EU on the security situation on the ground. The mission is deployed on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, with Headquarters in Yeghegnadzor, six operational hubs (also called Forward Operating Bases) and a small Support and Liaison office in Yerevan.

During the last two incursion by Azerbaijani forces into Armenia’s sovereign territory, the EUMA observers were reportedly not present at the attack sites.

Armenia, Azerbaijan Deny Agreeing Return To 1975 Borders

Emil Lazarian
June 5 2023

 Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir)  Published | 06:18 PM

Armenia and Azerbaijan denied on Monday that a deal between them was in the pipeline to draw demarcation lines based on 1975 maps

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik – 05th June, 2023) Armenia and Azerbaijan denied on Monday that a deal between them was in the pipeline to draw demarcation lines based on 1975 maps.

On Sunday, Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan had said in a televised comment that the leaders of the two South Caucasus countries had made some progress in border dispute talks in Moldova on June 1, agreeing to use Soviet-era maps as the basis for border delimitation discussions.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry fiercely denied the allegation on Monday and accused the Armenian security chief of trying to “distort the essence of issues.”

“Instead of insisting on special reference to some 1975 map, it would be more useful for the Armenian side to start the delimitation work,” the statement read.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan confirmed on Monday that no deal had been reached at the negotiations in Moldova but added that Armenia saw the 1975 borders as acceptable.

Mirzoyan reiterated Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s assurances that Armenia recognized Azerbaijani territorial claims set out in the 1991 Almaty Declaration. Pashinyan said that Azerbaijan should discuss the ownership of the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh with local authorities.

“Neither the people of Nagorno-Karabakh nor their elected administration tasked us with negotiating their status. We are not negotiating their status,” Mirzoyan said.

“The Republic of Armenia has always recognized and still recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. We are aware of Azerbaijan’s commitment to respect Armenia’s territorial integrity,” he added.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/armenia-azerbaijan-deny-agreeing-return-to-1-1703158.html

Faith and Action Shine at 2023 ACYOA Sports Weekend

Emil Lazarian
PRESS OFFICE 

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) 

630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016 

Contact: Chris Zakian 

Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558 

E-mail: [email protected] 

Website: www.armenianchurch.us 


June 5, 2023

__________________ 


ATTENTION EDITOR: Three photos attached with captions below. Additional photos can be downloaded from the galleries linked here:

https://easterndiocese.smugmug.com/ACYOA/2023-ACYOA-General-Assembly-and-Sports-Weekend

 

 

HEADLINE:

 

By Andrew Yenicag

 

More than 350 ACYOA Seniors and young adults from across the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America met for the 2023 ACYOA General Assembly and Sports Weekend. This year’s gathering over Memorial Day Weekend was hosted by the ACYOA Seniors of St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ.

 

Presiding over the General Assembly, addressing the delegates, and taking part in the whole weekend of spirited fellowship was the Primate of the Eastern Diocese, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan.

 

The weekend kicked off on Friday, May 26, with the 2023 ACYOA General Assembly. Some 65 ACYOA chapter delegates, observers, and Diocesan clergy came together for a day of reflection on the ACYOA’s past year of ministries, discussions about the organization’s bright future, and elections to the ACYOA Central Council.

 

The 2023 Assembly also marked the dawn of a new era for the ACYOA, as the voting body officially approved a series of revisions to the ACYOA Bylaws. The ACYOA will move forward with a Stewardship Program for its membership, in place of fixed membership dues. In addition, current and future ACYOA chapters will have the option to form regional chapters and to establish campus groups, providing additional opportunities for young adults to engage with the ACYOA.

 

In addition to the Primate, and St. Leon pastor Fr. Diran Bohajian, a large contingent of clergy attended the ACYOA Assembly and Sports Weekend. These inlcuded Fr. Simeon Odabashian (Diocesan Vicar), Fr. Aren Jebejian (St. John, Southfield, MI), Fr. Andreas Garabedian (St. Gregory, Chicago, IL), Fr. Avedis Kalayjian (St. Mesrob, Racine, WI), Fr. Krikor Sabounjian (Holy Translators, Framingham, MA), Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian (Holy Resurrection, New Britain, CT), Fr. Nigoghos Aznavourian (St. Mark, Springfield, MA), Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian (St. Peter, Watervliet, NY), Fr. Daniel Karadjian (St. Stepanos, Elberon, NJ), Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan (Holy Martyrs, Bayside, NY), and Fr. Voski Galstyan (St. George, Hartford, CT).

 

The ACYOA members were overjoyed by this show of support, and expressed thanks to all of the clergy of the Diocese for their continuing encouragement of the organization and its youth.

 

 

* Elections and Awards

 

During the assembly sessions, delegates elected the officers to serve on the 2023-24 ACYOA Central Council. Re-elected for a second two-year term were Ani Misirliyan (who will serve as Chair) and Andrew Yenicag (Communications). Jackie Russell was elected as a new member, and will serve as Vice Chair. These will join returning Central Council members Mardig Klachian (Ministries and Outreach), Yn. Lucine Sabounjian (Ministries and Outreach), Maddie Ovassapian (Secretary), and Michael Sarafian (Treasurer). The elected alternate is Elizabeth Kalfayan (Holy Resurrection, New Britain, CT).

 

The ACYOA Central Council members expressed gratitude to outgoing member Christine Beylerian McNally for her dedicated and passionate service to the ACYOA and Armenian Church.

 

During the Friday afternoon Primate’s Luncheon, ACYOA Central Council presented its annual awards to individuals and chapters for their service and dedication to the organization and Armenian Church. Awards and recipients appear immediately below.

 

ACYOA Seniors “Chapter A” Award

St. Gregory the Illuminator ACYOA (Chicago, IL)

 

Sam Nersesian Service Award

Charles Babikian (St. Gregory the Illuminator, Chicago, IL)

 

Gregory Arpajian Leadership Award

Aline Tashjian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)

 

Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Melkonian Award

Rev. Fr. Ghevond Ajamian (St. Sarkis, Carrollton, TX)

 

Rev. Fr. Haroutiun and Yn. Patricia Dagley Award

Zaven and Marilyn Dadian (St. John, Southfield, MI)

 

 

* Social Functions and Sports Competitions

 

On Friday evening, weekend attendees relaxed at Stumpy’s Hatchet House in Upper Saddle River, NJ. Guests participated in axe throwing and a variety of other games, while getting to reunite with old friends and meet new ones.

 

Saturday marked an action-packed day of sports as teams representing ACYOA chapters across the Diocese competed in Co-Ed Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Backgammon, Chess and two e-sports. Crowds gathered to witness the spirited competition at River Dell High School in Oradell, NJ and at the St. Leon Armenian Church Youth Center for the championship games on Sunday.

 

The following teams and individuals brought home first place trophies to their parish communities: 

 

Co-Ed Volleyball

St. John (Southfield, MI)

 

Men’s Basketball

St. Leon (Fair Lawn, NJ)

 

Women’s Basketball

St. John (Southfield, MI)

 

Backgammon

Lucine Beylerian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)

 

Chess

Hovsep Nahapetyan (St. Sarkis, Carrollton, TX)

 

Mario Kart

Jack Dadian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)

 

Super Smash Bros.

Andre Balian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ)

 

On Saturday evening, participants danced at Carpaccio’s, a restaurant at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, NJ, offering views of New York City and MetLife Stadium.

 

 

* Final Blessings

 

On Sunday, attendees participated in the Divine Liturgy at St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, celebrated by the Primate, Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan. Following the badarak, attendees mingled with parishioners of the St. Leon community during fellowship hour and watched the championship games.

 

The weekend concluded with the Sunday evening gala banquet. After inspiring messages from the Primate and Fr. Diran Bohajian, attendees enjoyed live entertainment by Harout Bedrossian.

 

The ACYOA Central Council congratulates the New Jersey General Assembly and Sports Weekend Committee, St. Leon ACYOA Seniors, and the parish community for their incredible efforts in organizing the weekend.

 


By Andrew Yenicag, ACYOA Central Council Communications. Photos by Vardan Sargsyan and Diran Jebejian.

 

—6/1/23

 

* * *

 

PHOTO CAPTION 1:

More than 350 young adults from across the Eastern Diocese met over Memorial Day Weekend, for the 2023 ACYOA General Assembly and Sports Weekend at St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ.

 

PHOTO CAPTION 2:

Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan at ACYOA Sports Weekend, with the athletic squad from hosting parish St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ.

 

PHOTO CAPTION 3:

Diocesan Primate Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan at ACYOA Sports Weekend, with the athletic squad from St. John Church of Southfield, MI.

 

# # #


Armenia: Young European Ambassadors workshop on ecology and climate awareness in Gyumri

Emil Lazarian
June 5 2023

On 25 May, on the occasion of Europe Day celebrations in Armenia, a one-day Ecology/Climate Awareness Workshop was organised by Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from Armenia in Gyumri.

The event was hosted by the Youth Initiative Centre NGO in Gyumri.

The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the importance of ecology and climate change among young people aged 13-20, while educating them on ways to make a positive impact on the environment. The event brought together almost 20 enthusiastic individuals eager to learn about ecological issues and engage in interactive sessions and group activities, presentations and discussions.

One of the workshop participants, Lianna Sargsyan, said she gained valuable insights into sustainable living practices and urban gardening. 

“I have learned about the impact of human activities on the environment and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint. Additionally, I honed my skills in properly caring for plants in urban settings, including selecting suitable plants, understanding soil composition, and providing the necessary water and sunlight for their growth,” said Lianna.

https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/latest-news/armenia-young-european-ambassadors-workshop-on-ecology-and-climate-awareness-in-gyumri/

Residents will be armed if necessary, says provincial governor of Armenia’s Syunik

Emil Lazarian
NEWS.am
Armenia – June 6 2023

The residents will be armed if necessary. Robert Ghukasyan, Governor of Syunik Province, told this to reporters Tuesday at the National Assembly of Armenia.

Asked whether there were all the conditions for arming, the Syunik governor responded: “The MoD should be asked if everything is there. Naturally, I can’t have all that information.”

When asked how many residents of Tegh village cannot go to their arable lands, he answered: “We are talking about two things. One that the MoD tells the resident it’s not desirable; that is, it is a dangerous area. About 50 business owners, families have a problem there. On the one hand there is their [i.e. the Azerbaijanis’] advance, on the other hand there are deployments related to our army. Between the two there is a fallen area. On the other hand, how close they can stand, there are defensive things there.”

Construction of Tatev-Ltsen road completed, offers alternative to Tatev switchbacks

Emil Lazarian

 13:32, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The asphalting of the Tatev-Ltsen road in Syunik is completed and the road will allow cargo trucks to bypass the Tatev switchbacks, Governor of Syunik Robert Ghukasyan told reporters.

“Tatev-Ltsen is completed, the opening of the Ltsen-Noravan section will take place soon. This road will completely solve our problem,” the governor said.

Speaking about the results of the opening of the Iranian consulate general in Kapan, Ghukasyan said that he and mayors of his province’s cities are having many meetings with Iranian colleagues to discuss economic and social programs. “We are discussing various programs related to investments, social and cultural programs. The programs haven’t yet started in this phase, but we have numerous programs that will start soon,” the governor said.

He added that Iran has always had very warm relations with Syunik, but technical problems related to connectivity were occurring. “Now these problems are eliminated because we have a consul general, with whom we discuss various issues,” Ghukasyan said.

Number of confirmed cases of measles reaches 209 since March 3

Emil Lazarian

 16:58, 6 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS. The number of confirmed cases of measles in Armenia since the outbreak began on 3 March has reached 209, the ministry of healthcare said in a statement on Tuesday.

8 of the 209 patients are Armenian nationals who’ve returned from abroad.

The ministry warned that the measles epidemiological situation could get worse given the active tourism season.

The healthcare ministry advises travelers to get vaccinated at least 10 days before departure to their destination.

The epidemiological situation concerning measles is tense throughout the world. Data shows measles cases to have increased 80% in 2022 compared to 2021.