Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE NEWLY ELECTED COMMITTEE
OF ACUSA VISITS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

His Holiness Aram I received the newly elected committee of the Armenian
Church University Students’ Association (ACUSA) in his office in Antelias on
November 19.

The new committee is formed of Sarkis Avedisian, Viken Djamboulian, Garen
Tashdjian, Gacia Koyoumdjian and Saro Kindirdjian. The spiritual adviser of
ACUSA, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Sarkissian, accompanied the committee.

The chairman of the committee and its spiritual adviser briefed His Holiness
on the union’s proposed agenda of activities for next year.

His Holiness Aram I congratulated the committee on its election and praised
the work of the Association in general, emphasizing on a number of points.

The Catholicos first stressed the importance of preserving the Association’s
unique identity as an association dedicated to spreading the values and
traditions of the Armenian Church.

Secondly, His Holiness highlighted the importance of maintaining the
national identity of the Armenian Church in the work of ACUSA through a
comprehensive approach to issues related to the Armenian Church and its
mission.

Finally, he emphasized that the Armenian youth should be more actively
involved in the mission of the Armenian Church with all its various aspects.

Dwelling on each point separately, His Holiness called on the Armenian youth
to gather around the Armenian Church away and safe from the various harmful
addictions afflicting the current world.
##

View the photo here:

s24.htm#3

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

The Economist: Looks Like Armenia Has Mastered
Levitation
23.11.2006 16:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Despite the war, the economic
collapse that went with it and a terrible earthquake
that preceded it, Armenia seems to have levitated out
of trouble. The Economist writes in an article titled
The Art of Levitation: the Caucasian Version, Armenia
benefits from an indulgence not afforded to
pro-Western Georgia. Per person, Armenia is one of the
biggest recipients of American aid (thanks to the
powerful Diaspora there, which remembers vividly the
massacres of 1915). Yet that American help does not
trouble Russia, which has a military base in Armenia.

Some in Russia want the Armenians to take sides
against the Georgians, perhaps by stirring up the
Armenian minority there. `We refuse to choose,’ says
Vartan Oskanian, the foreign minister. Indeed:
alienating Georgia would be suicidal.

But the Kremlin’s leverage is growing. Russian firms
already control the energy sector and want a greater
stake elsewhere. Mr Oskanian says `our needs today are
too dire’ to worry about future risks. Azerbaijan’s
hydrocarbons windfall makes it sound confident, even
bellicose, stoking Armenian reliance on Russia.

`American interest in the pipelines that link the
Caspian to the Mediterranean, doglegging round
Armenia, mean that renewed fighting would echo far
beyond the Caucasus. Internationally sponsored talks
about Karabakh limp on – Mr Oskanian met his Azerbaijani
counterpart this week – and Western diplomats try to
sound upbeat. But a deal, or even a fudge that would
at least allow normal trade relations, looks all but
impossible. Sporadic shooting continues at the
dividing line,’ the newspaper writes, reports InoSMI.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #225, 24/11/2006

Concern

KHACHKARS OF JUGHA’S ARMENIAN CEMETERY ARE NO MORE

Azerbaijan `Wipes Away’ the Armenian Trace and the
World Community Turns a Blind Eye

History is a chain of evidence that is often "edited"
and "supplemented" as one wishes. It’s especially easy
to do when the evidence is an unprotected manuscript
or an oral speech. Stone can also be an eyewitness of
history and events if it is not crashed down in a
barbaric attempt to "edit" history.

When in December of 2005 Azeri soldiers pulled down
the last Armenian khachkars (stone-crosses) of Old
Jugha in Nakhijevan and threw them into the Araxes
river, in this way Azerbaijan was keeping to its
policy of eliminating the trace of the Armenians. In
Azeri logic this was the simplest way of denying the
Armenian presence in Nakhijevan.

It was in December that daily Azg along with other
media representatives following the alarming news from
the Armenian Embassy to Tehran informed that around
100 Azeri soldiers infiltrated into the Armenian
cemetery of Old Jugha on the bank of the Araxes and
crashed down with huge hammers, spades and bulldozers.
To remind, these very khachkars were saved from
sacrilege in 2000.

Yet, there was no reaction from international
structures and not a single organization that holds
forth on lofty topics raised a finger. Destruction of
Bamyan Buddha statues by the taliban in Afghanistan
pushed those in charge to create additional mechanisms
for protecting cultural heritage. But the khachkars of
Old Jugha must be neither cultural heritage nor they
were deliberately annihilated, otherwise the
Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage adopted in 2003 would be applicable
here.

Part of the monuments was destroyed in 1903-1904 when
a railway was being built. In Soviet era the khachkars
were used as construction materials in various
buildings. In 1970s there still were 3000 khachkars
and around 2000 tombstones. In 1998 nearly 800
khachkars were destroyed, in November and December of
2002 not only khachkars were crashed down but also
church remains.

In 2005 there still was a semi-ruined Armenian church
in one of Nakhijevan’s villages, and during
reconstruction works sponsored by a Norwegian
humanitarian organization the Armenian inscription on
the church’s wall was destroyed. After the incident
the Norwegian organization ceases financing the
project, and the Norwegian ambassador to Baku accused
Azerbaijan of "vandalism". In 2005 Scot architect
Stefan Seam was in Nakhijevan to study the state of
the Armenian monuments. Soon after he witnessed that
no such monuments were saved as "all of them were
destroyed by bulldozers during 1995-2005." In December
of 2005 the remaining few khachkars and tombstones
were also crashed down.

In 1998 the Armenian Foreign Ministry sent letters to
international organizations dealing with protection of
cultural heritage. Letters calling for stopping
cultural genocide in Nakhijevan were sent to Koichiro
Matsuura, UNESCO Director-General, in 1998, 2002 and
2005.

Suchlike letters were also sent to Council of Europe
Secretary General Walter Schwimmer (2003) and as a
reply the Committee on Culture, Science and Education
of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
decided to send a fact-finding mission to Nakhijevan
in April 2003 to assess degree of the damage done to
the monuments.

Curiously, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura’s reply to the letter
sent on December 16 2005 is dated February 24 and
politely assures that UNESCO will discuss what is
possible to do "to ensure protection of this cultural
wealth." As it transpires, UNESCO and other suchlike
organizations need years to react to crimes and take
measures for protecting already inexistent heritage.
Moreover, the fact that by acting as it did Azerbaijan
has violated a number of international regulations on
protection of cultural heritage seem not to bother the
international structures, and one can only wonder what
the mission of these structures is.

Condemnation of the barbaric acts on Old Jugha is
first of all important for preventing such acts in
future. Though the destruction of the Armenian
cemetery on Azerbaijan had a political end of wiping
away the Armenian trace form Nakhijevan, those
khachkars and tombstones were not mere graveyard
articles but also cultural value. Moreover, they were
Christian monuments that should be more protected in
country’s practicing Islam.

By Aghavni Harutyunian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UPI Reporte LatAm
20 Noviembre 2006

Con una ley en la mano para combatir genocidios

BUENOS AIRES, Noviembre 20

En la Cámara de Diputados se debatirá esta semana una norma clave
para la defensa local y global de los derechos humanos.

Esta semana será trascendental para la cuestión de los derechos
humanos y la lucha contra los genocidios y genocidas en la Argentina.
La Cámara de Diputados debatirá un proyecto de ley que declara al 24
de abril "Día de acción por la tolerancia y el respeto de los
pueblos". Esa fecha conmemora el genocidio contra el pueblo armenio.

La iniciativa legislativa, impulsada por un calidoscopio de diputados
(Rafael Bielsa, Frente para la Victoria-PJ; Hermes Binner, Partido
Socialista; Carlos Raimundi, ARI; Federico Storani, UCR; y Federico
Pinedo, PRO) busca erigir ese día en el símbolo de la condena a las
prácticas genocidas y la protección de los derechos de los pueblos.

El proyecto demuestra un amplio respaldo multipartidario en torno a
la causa de los derechos humanos. El tratamiento del tema será
intenso y difícil ya que la unanimi- dad en este tipo de asuntos no
se logra de manera natural ni sencilla. La vocación pluralista de los
legisladores que lo promueven y el compromiso de los respectivos
partidos con la defensa de los principios humanitarios es esencial.

Sin embargo, ello no significa que la ley vaya a tener un fácil
procedimiento. Hay que asumir que lo que está en juego es de enorme
significación aunque el texto legislativo en trámite sea escueto. Las
potenciales voces contra la ley no debieran ser desoídas: habrá que
ver -y escuchar- si sus argumentos son de principio y sensibles al
derecho internacional o si obedecen a las exigencias de particulares
grupos de presión refractarios al reconocimiento de la atrocidad del
genocidio en todo tiempo y lugar.

Habrá que ver -y escuchar- si el eventual debate legislativo tiene
características parroquiales e ideológicas o se inserta en las nuevas
corrientes transnacionales y transversales que, independiente del
espectro político que se ocupe, entienden que en esta hora hay que
multiplicar los esfuerzos mundiales contra el olvido de los horrores
del pasado y a favor de la prevención de nuevos holocaustos.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #225, 24/11/2006

Neighbors

205 MEMBERS OF IRANIAN PARLIAMENT ACCUSE AZERBAIJAN OF
ENCROACHMENT ON ISLAM

Last week, a Baku court sentenced the editor and the
journalist of "Sanat" newspaper to two months of
imprisonment for the article that criticized the
Islamic values and stated that Islam arouses
aggression among the people. Moreover, the 209 members
of the Islamic Parliament of Iran made a joint
statement in which they condemned Azerbaijan for the
encroachment on Islam and called for the international
organizations to avert such cases."

According to IRNA agency, 209 members of the
parliament stated that it was much worse to see such
cases of encroachment on Islam in an Islamic state
like the Republic of Azerbaijan is, taking into
account the recent cases of encroachments on Islam in
the West and the humiliating statements made by the
Pope of Rome.

The parliament members emphasized that the Zionist
representatives have penetrated the Azeri printed
press, they also condemned the Azeri authorities for
not resisting the enemies of Islam. At the same time,
they demanded that the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic
republic of Iran should warn the Republic of
Azerbaijan against the repetition of encroachment
cases on Islam.

By Hakob Chakrian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+

RAP NEEDS A MILCH COW NO LONGER
[03:04 pm] 23 November, 2006

Haroutyun Arakelyan, chairman of Ramkavar Azatakan
Party (RAP), is indignant at Ara Abrahamyan, the
President of World Congress of Armenians and the Union
of the Armenians of Russia.

`I shall pursuit him to the end’, declared Haroutyun
Arakelyan in the club `Urbat’ today.

RAP is no longer a member of the World Congress of
Armenians as they came to realise who `Ara Abrahamyan
is in reality’.

Mr. Arakelyan claims that they realised it long ago
but they have decided to abandon the structure now,
after three years’ work. In Mr. Arakelyan’s words, the
World Congress of Armenians is in a terrible state, on
the verge of collapse.

Haroutyun Arakelyan says that RAP was one of the
founders of the structure which then had over 2000
members.

Mr. Haroutyun’s offence is not determined by the fact
that Ara Abrahamyan refused to sponsor their party in
the forthcoming elections. They merely don’t want to
trust the fate of the party to a man like Mr.
Abrahamyan who is `far from being a generous person’.

As for the alliance RAP-Ara Abrahamyan during the
previous elections, Mr. Arakelyan says, `We found a
milch cow. Why shouldn’t we fleece him?’ Then Mr.
Arakelyan added that they really respected and had
close ties with Ara Abrahamyan’s family and his
brothers.

Mr. Arakelyan didn’t say which party they will join in
the 2007 Parliamentary elections. He only noted that
they currently cooperate with Samvel Babayan and it is
upon the party’s congress to decide.

He claims that ideological struggle is apparent in the
political field and the political mentality has not
developed in the country since 1988.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress

ASSOCIATION DEVELOPS PLAN TO RESTORE YEREVAN GREEN ZONE

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian
Association for Sustainable Human Development said
today it has developed a plan of actions to improve
the ecological situation in the capital city and wants
to call it into action in cooperation with the nature
protection ministry. This plan calls for establishment
of an inter-agency commission to tackle the problem.
The Association said they suggest that provisions
of their plan be taken into account when the division
of Yerevan into zones be done. Karine Danielian, the
chairwoman of the Association, described the current
ecological situation in the capital city ‘typical of
an ecological catastrophe zone,’ adding that relevant
data shows the emergence of smog in Yerevan.
She said the urban-industrial environment of the
city is no longer able to self-purify. She said the
risk of desertification has increased indicated by
appearance of snakes in the city’s streets and yards.
She said these phenomena affect the people’s health
and cited official figures which say that two third of
the city’s green zone has been destroyed in the last
years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 24 2006

Armenians Breach Ceasefire on Front line

Source: Trend
Author: S.Jaliloglu

24.11.2006

The Azerbaijani Defense ministry announced that on November 24, 2006,
the Armenian Armed Forces located in Bash Garvand Village of the
occupied Azerbaijan region, Agdam, opened fire at the Azerbaijan
National Army from 11:15 for 30 minutes, Trend reports.

In addition, the Armenian Forces located in the territory of
Gulchuluk farm also fired at the Azerbaijani positions in Chiragly
village of Agdam District.

The Azerbaijan National Army retaliated and no injuries were
reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Nov 24 2006

Armenia always supports Cyprus, says Armenian President

24/11/2006

Armenia has always supported Cyprus in the international
organizations and sincerely wishes to see the Cyprus issue resolved
in a way which is most preferable for Cyprus, stated here tonight
President of Armenia Robert Kocharian.
`Turkey cannot pave its way to Europe without establishing normal
relations with its immediate neighbours’, the Armenian President told
an official dinner given in his honour by Cyprus President Tassos
Papadopoulos, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.
An EU member-state Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish
troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.
Kocharian said the inclusion of his country in the European
Neighbourhood Policy is of great importance. `It shall raise our
relations with the European Union to a qualitatively new level.
Armenia strives to fully utilize the possibilities provided by this
European initiative,” the Armenian President noted.
He added his country attaches great significance to the establishment
of good friendly relations with its neighbour, as well as to the
regional cooperation.
Kocharian said unresolved conflicts hamper the process of natural
development of the South Caucasus. `We are committed to the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, which must be based on
the principles of self-determination of peoples and on the
international recognition of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic,’ he
noted.
The Armenian President said in recent years Cyprus has registered
impressive achievements. `The country’s membership of the European
Union is of historic significance. Your experience in incorporating
European standards as well as in strengthening the banking system,
and developing tourism is of interest to us’, he told the Cypriot
President.
He remarked that the Armenian community in Cyprus is among the oldest
in Europe, adding that that Armenians are not only actively
participating in the social and economic life of the country but have
also struggled together with the Greek Cypriot people against foreign
conquerors. They also bring their important contribution to the
strengthening of Armenian – Cypriot relations, the President of
Armenia concluded.

November 24, 2006
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: <;

PRELATE WELCOMES MR. JIRAYR TANIELIAN, PRINCIPAL OF HOVAGIMIAN-MANOUGIAN
SCHOOL IN LEBANON

On Friday, November 17, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
welcomed Mr. Jirair Tanielian, Principal of Hovagimian-Manougian School in
Lebanon, and alumni committee member Mr. Avo Markarian, at the temporary
Prelacy offices in Encino.
Mr. Tanielian reported to the Prelate about the condition in
Lebanon and specifically in Armenian schools, and expressed his gratitude
for the Lincy Foundation’s recent generous donation. The Prelate then
imparted information about the endeavors of our Prelacy.

FUNDRAISING BANQUET OF FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH
IN ORANGE COUNTY WAS A SUCCESS

On Saturday, November18, the Prelate and Executive Council representatives
attended the fundraising banquet of Forty Martyrs Church in Orange County,
which was held to raise funds for the renovation of the church.
The evening began with the invocation of pastor Rev. Hrant
Yeretsian, followed by welcoming remarks by Board of Trustees Chair Mr.
Nazareth Dishoian. An artistic program also took place with the
participation of Mr. Aram Aghababian, the church choir, Mrs. Anna
Bedrossian, and the dance group of Mrs. Perly Varjabedian.
In his remarks, the Prelate expressed appreciation to all the
donors and friends for their continuous support and devotion to the church.
The event was a success with a sum of over $100,000 being
raised.

ARMENIAN ECCLESIASTICAL BROTHERHOOD
ANNUAL EVENT

On Monday, November 20, the annual event of the Armenian Ecclesiastical
Brotherhood took place at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood. Very Rev. Fr.
Barthev Gulumian represented the Prelate and conveyed his blessings.

PRELATE VISITS CONSUL GENERAL
OF ARMENIA, ARMEN LILOYAN

On the morning of Tuesday, November 21st, the Prelate and members of the
Executive Council paid an official visit to the Consulate General of the
Republic of Armenia to meet with Consul General Armen Liloyan.
Accompanying the Prelate were Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian,
Central Executive Council member Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Executive Council
Chair Dr. Garo Agopian, and secretary Mr. Boghos Sassounian.
At the end of the meeting, the Prelate invited the Consul
General to the Prelacy’s New Year’s and Christmas Dinner.

PRELATE REPRESENTED AT THE
COUNCIL OF ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES MEETING

On Tuesday, November 21st, Prelacy Christian Education Department Directors
Very Reverend Fathers Muron Aznikian and Barthev Gulumian represented the
Prelate at the quarterly meeting of the Council of Oriental Orthodox
Churches of the Western U.S.A. that took place at the Diocese.
At the meeting, the success of the Oriental Orthodox Sunday
School spiritual gathering was discussed, and it was suggested that such a
gathering take place on a yearly basis.
Also discussed was the upcoming youth camping trip, as well as
upcoming one-day seminar to take place by invitation of the Prelate on April
19, 2007 at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.

PRELATE WELCOMES PRESIDENT ARKADY GHOUKASIAN
AT HE PRELACY NEW BUILDING

On Wednesday, November 22nd, the Prelate and Executive Council officially
welcomed H.E. Arkady Ghoukasian, President of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh, at the Prelacy new building.
The honorable guest and his entourage arrived at the Prelacy just after
11:30 and were welcomed by the Prelate and Executive Council members.
Accompanying the President were H.E. Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, Prelate
of Artsakh, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Armen Lilolyan, and
other officials. The President congratulated the Prelate and Council members
on the completion of the renovation of the new building and wished them
success in their future endeavors.
Later on, the Prelate and the Executive Council had organized a reception in
honor of President Ghoukasian at the Phoenicia restaurant in Glendale.
Among the invited guests were Executive Council members, A.R.F. Central
Committee representatives, Glendale City Council members, members of
community organizations, and Prelacy donors and friends.
During the reception, the Prelate welcomed the President and
offered his blessings for a successful Telethon. Archbishop Barkev
Mardirossan, Consul General Armen Liloyan, ARF Central Executive
representative Mr. Avedik Izmirlian, and representatives of Armenian
organizations also welcomed the president and conveyed their wishes of a
bright future for Artsakh and our homeland.

ON BEHALF OF OUR PRELACY H.E. THE PRELATE PARTICIPATED IN THE 9TH
INTERNATIONAL
ARMENIA FUND TELETHON

On Thanksgiving Day, the 9th international Armenia Fund Telethon took place
on Thursday, November 23rd, with the participation of the Western Prelacy
and its affiliated bodies, along with the government and spiritual leaders
of Artsakh.
The Telethon started with the opening prayer by the spiritual
leaders of the Western United States. On this occasion, the Prelate urged
our community members to fulfill their national duty and participate in the
Telethon to support the rebuilding of Artsakh.
The Thanksgiving Day Telethon raised a total amount of $13.7
million.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress