Author: Emil Lazarian

March 7, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

DURING THE WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
MAY THE EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN WOMEN
BE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION
DECLARED THE PRELATE

It has become a beautiful tradition for Christian Churches to
come together for prayer and reflection each year on the occasion of Women’s
World Day of Prayer. The Armenian Church commemorates this day on the first
Friday of March with prayer, hymns, scripture readings, and a cultural
program.

On the morning of Friday, March 2nd, the spiritual leaders and
parishioners from the Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, and Protestant Churches
gathered at the Armenian Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena to celebrate
Women’s World Day of Prayer, the theme of which was "United Under God’s
Tent". In attendance and participating in the program were H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, Rev. Fr. Andon Saroyan of the Armenian
Catholic Church, and Rev. Joe Matossian, Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian, and Rev.
Paul Doctorian of the Armenian Evangelical Church. Messages and scripture
readings were also presented by the participating women.

During the program, the Prelate conveyed his words of wisdom and
offered the benediction. In his remarks, the Prelate reflected on the
virtue and sacrifices of our first Christian martyr St. Santoukht, our first
Christian queen St. Ashkhen, as well as the wives of the Armenian princes
who fought in the Vartanants battle, emphasizing that this gathering is the
embodiment of their faith and spirit of devotion. He stressed that the
church is the foundation of faith for Christians and the theme "United under
God’s Tent" best expresses the meaning of prayer.

OSKANIAN AND RICE DISCUSSED U.S. INITIATIVES ON NORMALIZATION OF TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS

Yerkir
06.03.2007 16:33

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian currently
in the United States with a working visit, the day before met with U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice , the RA MFA Press Office reports.

At the meeting the sides discussed issues concerning bilateral
relations.

The officials stressed the great importance of "Millenium Challenges"
program in the framework of realization of such programs, which will
allow to decrease level of poverty in rural areas of Armenia.

In this regard V. Oskanian presented preparation works, which were
done up till now for realization of the program. The two officials
also discussed coming parliamentary elections in Armenia, stressing
the importance to conduct them in accordance with the international
standards.

Alongside Vartan Oskanian and Condoleezza Rice discussed regional
issues, situation in Armenian-Turkish relations and mediatorial
initiatives of the United States for their normalization. The sides
exchanged views concerning the process and perspectives of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VIC WON’T CHANGE KNOCKOUT ATTITUDE

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
March 7 2007

VIC Darchinyan said yesterday he would not chang his approach or
attitude to fights despite being saddened by the damage he inflicted
upon Mexican Victor Burgos last weekend.

The IBF and IBO champion returned to Sydney yesterday after his
12th-round stoppage of Burgos, who underwent emergency brain surgery
after being carried from the ring on a stretcher.

On Monday, Burgos awoke from a medically induced coma after surgery
that involved a blood clot being removed from his head. Darchinyan
was heartened to hear about his opponent’s improving condition after
speaking to his own agent in the US shortly after returning to Sydney.

Prior to the fight, Darchinyan predicted a first-round knockout and
yesterday felt that Burgos would have suffered far less if that had
eventuated, rather than the 12 rounds of punishment the 32-year-old
Mexican endured in California.

Asked whether what had happened would trigger a change in his attitude
and renowned attacking approach, Darchinyan said: "I am a professional
fighter with 23 years’ boxing experience, I just can’t change. It’s
boxing, this can happen to anyone."

Darchinyan’s trainer, Billy Hussein, also felt his charge wouldn’t
be adversely affected by the events of last weekend and thought they
would actually make him mentally tougher.

"Vic is pretty strong, mentally very strong and I don’t think this
will stop him, I think it will make him a better fighter," Hussein
said. "In his head he knows he can hurt people – at the end of the
day, unfortunately, that’s boxing. You’ve got to knock your opponent
out and that’s what he loves doing."

However, Hussein noted Darchinyan had still been hit pretty hard
by the events of last weekend, saying: "He is a human being, too;
as much as he likes to knock his opponents out, he’s got a big heart
and soft heart, too."

The undefeated southpaw felt a fight in the super-flyweight division
against his main target, Jorge Arce of Mexico, was 60 per cent likely
to happen later this year. He would also like to move up another couple
of divisions to challenge the winner of the re-match of last weekend’s
main event, in which Rafael Marquez took the WBC super-bantamweight
title from Israel Vazquez.

Darchinyan said he would discuss his options with his American
promoter, Gary Shaw.

"He is very interested in putting me in a big fight in Australia,"
he said. "Also, we have decided after my next fight in America to
travel together to Armenia and meet government people and put on a
big fight in the capital, Yerevan, in [an] 8000-seat stadium."

Former IBF light-flyweight Burgos’s problems in stepping up a division
have made Hussein wary of exposing Darchinyan to power punchers in
higher divisions. "That’s something we’ve got to be careful with when
we fight in the next division up. Obviously, Burgos went up against
a big puncher and I don’t think we will make that same mistake,"
Hussein said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXPERT: IF WE MAKE CHINA CLOSER TO US, NO AMERICA WILL FRIGHTEN US

Regnum, Russia
March 6 2007

"Today, many latter-day states formed after the collapse of the USSR
and the Warsaw Treaty want to shift off the burden upon Russia, in
particular, receive oil, gas and other raw materials with which our
country is rich at a cheap price. If they fail to achieve it, they
start blackmailing us threatening to enter NATO and deploy US military
bases and air defense systems in their territories. All this is very
profitable to the United States, as it is going to put pressure upon
Russia this way," Ruslan Abazov, head of the legal committee of the
Kabardino-Balkar Parliament, told a REGNUM correspondent commenting
on a statement of the US administration on intentions to deploy its
air defense systems in Caucasus.

"Georgia and Azerbaijan’s willingness to join NATO has a special
nuance: thus they are trying to put Russia aside in settling problems
of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh. But we shall not be
frightened of them. Unfortunately, we will have to spend more money
for arms instead of settling social issues. Of course, we must continue
talks with those countries to cool them down. Nowadays, Vladimir Putin
has established good ties with Arab countries. If we manage to make
China closer to us, no America will frighten us," Abazov added.

Earlier, on March 2, director of the US Missile Defense Agency Henry
Obering said that in the framework of deploying the air defense in
Eastern Europe, the USA plans to place a radar system in the Caucasus,
but he did not specify where the radar will be placed exactly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WPOST: DOES NONBINDING ARMENIAN RESOLUTION MATTER?

New Anatolian, Turkey
March 6 2007

The New Anatolian / Ankara

A resolution alleging a so-called Armenian genocide expected to
face a vote next month in the U.S. House of Representatives has the
potential to "explode U.S. relations with Turkey," argued Washington
Post columnist Jackson Diehl yesterday.

Assessing the possible impact of a vote on the nonbinding House
resolution describing a "genocide" in the Ottoman Empire beginning
in 1915, the Post columnist asked whether a nonbinding congressional
resolution — one having no legislative effect, unlike measures in
some other countries — really matters.

"The Armenian genocide resolution sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff
does matter, logically or not," Diehl stated, underlining that the
consequences of passage could be deadly serious.

Diehl argued that one of the most important consequences would be
a military restriction on the U.S. capacities in the Middle East,
stating,"Turkey’s powerful military has been hinting that U.S. access
to the Incirlik air base, which plays a key role in the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, could be restricted."

Telling how Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul spent several days
in Washington last month lobbying against the resolution, Diehl stated
that Gul faced powerful opposition in "the well-organized and affluent
Armenian American community, 1.4 million strong, and some powerful
friends — including the new House speaker, Nancy Pelosi."

Diehl characterized the debate in Washington on the Armenian resolution
as "a bizarre mix of frivolity and moral seriousness, of constituent
pandering, far-flung history and front-line foreign policy," stating
that there is also the painful struggle of a deeply nationalist society
in Turkey to come to terms with its past, and in the process become
more of the Western democracy it wants to be.

Speculating on the odds the resolution will be passed, Diehl stated,
"If Pelosi allows the resolution to be brought up, as she has
reportedly pledged to do, it will probably pass."

"Imagine the 435 members of the House, many of whom still don’t know
the difference between Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis, solemnly weighing
whether Schiff’s version of events 92 years ago in northeastern Turkey
deserves congressional endorsement."

Diehl cited that Gul warned that a nationalist tidal wave could sweep
Turkey and force the government to downgrade its cooperation with the
United States, which needs Turkey’s help this year to stabilize Iraq
and contain Iran.

Diehl stated, "No wonder the Bush administration as well as even
Democratic-leaning foreign policy experts, such as Clinton-era
ambassador Mark Parris, are trying to stop the resolution."

Diehl stated that maybe Congress has no business debating Turkish
history, and maybe it is doing so for the wrong reasons.

"Yet if Turkey is to become the stable, Western-oriented democracy
that it aspires to be, its politicians will have to learn, at least,
to react the way everyone else does to nonbinding House resolutions:
that is, with a shrug," he concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA ALLOCATES AMD 22.5MLN FOR ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN FIRST SPORTS COMPETITIONS IN BSEC COUNTRIES

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 6 2007

YEREVAN, March 5. /ARKA/. The RA Government allocated AMD 22.5mln
($63.7ths) for Armenia to participate in the first sports competitions
of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) countries.

The RA Government’s Public Relations service reported that the State
Committee of physical education and sports will receive the money
from the Government’s reserve fund and give it to the "Centre of
Organizing sports events".

The BSEC countries are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece,
Georgia, Moldavia, Russia, Romania, Turkey and the Ukraine.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BULGARIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS ACTIVELY DEVELOP

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 6 2007

YEREVAN, March 5. /ARKA/. The Bulgarian-Armenian relations actively
develop, said Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Armenia Stefan Dimitrov during
the event devoted to the 129th anniversary of Bulgaria’s liberation
from the Ottoman yoke.

"Bulgarian-Armenian relations actively develop, and every year we
develop these relations on a more pragmatic basis," Dimitrov said.

In particular, the presidential visits, the visits of the countries’
ministers, as well as sessions of intergovernmental committees and
business forums are held.

Among the important achievements of the Armenian-Bulgarian relations,
Dimitrov pointed out the publishing of the Armenian-Bulgarian
dictionary and the opening of the museum in the school after Bulgarian
poet Yavorov.

In January 1, 2008, Yavorov’s 130th anniversary will be celebrated
with the support of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Culture,
and the head of Armenian-Bulgarian society.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LITHUANIAN MPS FACE ‘GENOCIDE’ DISPLEASURE

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 6 2007

A parliamentary delegation’s visit from European Union member
Lithuania to the Turkish Parliament offered an opportunity yesterday
to the Turkish side to express their uneasiness over the Lithuanian
Parliament’s approval of a resolution supporting Armenian genocide
allegations at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire in the last
century.

Although the Lithuanian Parliament’s resolution dates back to December
2005, the issue has never dropped from Turkey’s agenda, particularly
taking into consideration the fact that another resolution for official
recognition of Armenian allegations was introduced at the US House
of Representatives just in January.

The Lithuanian delegation — consisting of members of EU and foreign
affairs commissions at the Lithuanian Parliament — held talks with
Mehmet Dulger, head of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission.

During the meeting Dulger referred to a recent decision by the
International Court of Justice in The Hague which ruled that the
killings of Bosnian Muslims at Srebrenica in 1995 was genocide but
determined that Serbia itself was not guilty of the enormous crime
and said that what European institutions were doing concerning the
labeling of genocide reflected "a double-standard."

"This ruling narrowed the definition of genocide, while declaring a
genocide without a perpetrator," Dulger said.

Ankara vehemently denies Armenian allegations that some 1.5 million
Anatolian Armenians were killed as part of a genocide at hands of
the Ottoman Empire during World War I and calls for an objective
scientific study of the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN CASE OF WAR AGAINST IRAN ARMENIA TO OCCUR CUT FROM WHOLE WORLD

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.03.2007 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad constantly
states that in case of U.S. military aggression Iran will strike
Washington’s allies. And first of all these are Israel, Azerbaijan
and Georgia," Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated to a press conference in
Yerevan. In his opinion, Iranian missiles can reach the above mentioned
countries without particular difficulties, while Americans need
military bases in the Middle East. "Already today Tehran has marked
900 targets in territories of Israel, Azerbaijan and Georgia. And if
the war breaks out Armenia will occur cut from the whole world, since
Georgia too can be attacked by Iran. But the danger of humanitarian
catastrophe threatens not only Armenia, but Also Azerbaijan. Such
a motion of refugees will not sustain any economy, moreover the
Armenian one.

Don’t forget, there are 80 million population in Iran, almost half
of which resides near Armenian, Azeri and Turkish borders," Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan told.

As to Turkish "Incirlik" Air Base, in expert’s opinion, it may become
a terminal station for U.S. air forces, but "Turkey, as usual, will
demand concessions, particularly abolition of the Armenian Genocide
resolution."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BY ONE CANDIDATE FOR DEPUTACY BY MAJORITARIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM NOMINATED AT 5 ELECTORAL DISTRICTS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. 173 candidates, including 9 women,
have been nominated at 41 electoral districts by the majoritarian
electoral system for the parliamentary elections to be held on
May 12. One third of the nominated candidates are deputies of the
parliaments of the current and previous convocations. Out of the acting
deputies, 43 have been nominated by majoritarian system, including 19
ones from the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), 4 – from "Orinats
Yerkir" Party, two – from "Prosperous Armenia" Party, two – from
"Democratic Way" Party, and one from each of the following parties –
ARF, People’s Party of Armenia, National Democratic Party, while 13
candidates have been nominated on citizens’ initiative. The largest
number of candidates – 10 have been nominated at electoral district
No 4 of Yerevan’s Arabkir community and at electoral district No 31
that includes the cities of Alaverdi and Vanadzor of Lori marz. Most
of candidates nominated at electoral district No 4 are party members,
including leader of the NA ARF faction Hrayr Karapetian, member of
the Armenian All-National Movement, deputy of the 1st convocation
NA Aram Manukian, deputy chairman of "National Unity" Party Sargis
Muradkhanian, member of "Orinats Yerkir" Party, former head of the NA
juridical service Suren Mamikonian, and member of "Prosperous Armenia"
Party, chairman of Hayrapetian Eghbayrner CJSC, co-owner of the trade
center "Hayastan" Hayrapet Hayrapetian. By one candidate has been
nominated at 5 electoral districts: No 7, 20, 27, 28 and 32. Samvel
Alexanian, businessman, NA deputy, nonpartisan, has been nominated on
citizens’ initiative at electoral district No 7 that includes Yerevan’s
Malatia-Sebastia and Ajapniak communities. Hrant Grigorian, NA deputy,
RPA member, nephew of RA deputy defence minister Manvel Grigorian, has
been nominated by the RPA at electoral district No 20 of Armavir marz.

Deputy minister of agriculture Surik Poghosian has been nominated at
electoral district No 32 of Lori marz. He is the son-in-law of Karen
Karapetian, head of the NA deputy group "National Deputy". By the way,
H. Grigorian and S. Alexanian were also elected as deputies without
rivals at the 2003 elections. Melik Manukian, businessman, NA deputy,
and Gagik Tsarukian, businessman, NA deputy, chairman of "Prosperous
Armenia" Party (PAP) and chairman of the National Olympic Committee
of Armenia, have been nominated by PAP at electoral districts No 27
and 28 respectively.