Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenpress

ARMENIA TAKES UP CHAIRMANSHIP IN CAUCASIAN
PARLIAMENTARY INITIATIVE

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian
parliament member who traveled to London a week ago to
take the rotating chairmanship in the low-profile
South Caucasian Parliamentary Initiative from Georgia
for the next six months, reiterated today the official
Yerevan’s arguments that economic cooperation between
rivals and open borders can serve as an extra tool to
help the involved parties to resolve their conflicts.
The lawmaker, Ararat Malkhasian, told Armenpress
that during its six-month chairmanship Armenia will
place focus on urging cooperation in nature protection
and banking sectors. He said the parliaments of
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia have assumed to set up
task forces which will be assigned to outline concrete
steps for each direction.
The Armenian lawmaker said contacts between South
Caucasian lawmakers are very important because they
are frank and immediate. He said the lawmakers also
agreed to consider the idea of designating a Caucasus
Day.
Malkhasian said the Armenian side hopes that the
Initiative would eventually turn into the
Parliamentary Assembly. He also said in London Azeri
counterparts agreed that war rhetoric in Baku is only
deteriorating chances for the peaceful settlement of
the Armenian-Azeri dispute.
The next meeting is expected to take place in Dubai
on December 16-17 when Armenia will hand the
chairmanship to Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

July 27, 2006

Armenian media situation improved, but more diversity needed, OSCE
media watchdog says in new report

VIENNA, 26 July 2006 – Armenia has made significant progress in
improving media legislation, but media pluralism remains limited to
the independent, but financially weak, print media, OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti said in a
report released today.

Haraszti prepared the report following an assessment visit to Yerevan
between 19 and 21 July.

"In order for Armenia to continue the process of media
democratization, the broadcasting sector needs to reflect diversity
of opinion, and the composition of all boards should represent the
political and social diversity of the country," Haraszti said.
"Although Armenia has a good set of laws and has adopted a
progressive Freedom of Information Law, their proper implementation
should be ensured."

The report also offers detailed recommendations to further promote
free and pluralistic media.

Armenian and Russian translations will follow shortly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO CITIZENS OF ARMENIA ARE LEFT AT ERGNETTI

Lragir.am
28 July 06

The deputy foreign minister of Armenia Arman Kirakosyan told the news agency
ARKA that no citizens of Armenia are left at the checkpoint of Ergnetti.`At
present, they have been transported to Armenia in a motorcade,’ said the
deputy foreign minister, adding that the Armenian embassy to Georgia did
everything for their secure return.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPUBLICAN IS NOT A PARTY ANY MORE

Lragir.am
28 July 06

`Tax avoiders, bribers, corrupt officials centered in ministries and
business monopolies were rounded up in a place,’ stated Member of
Parliament Manuk Gasparyan July 28 at the National Press Club in
connection with the unification of the Republican Party and Serge
Sargsyan. He does not know how to define the situation in the
political sphere of Armenia.

Manuk Gasparyan thinks there are two main reasons for enlargement and
consolidation of the Republican Party. `First, they rounded up in this
half-criminal organization, as they call it, and decided that power
reproduction may be impossible. What do they have to do for
reproduction? They have to round up.

They fear too. Do no think that it was just a call for
consolidation. It was made out of fear,’ says the member of
parliament.

`Second, the call for consolidation was such that if power
changessuddenly in the country, because there are two scenarios, one
is an early election,I do not deny that it may take place this year,
the second is a scheduled election. Reproduction of power is 100
percent impossible in an early election, and in a scheduled election
this consolidation may lead to something, but it is their
scenario. Because people saw during the extraordinary conference who
was sitting there in the hall of the conference, especially in the
upper part,’ Manuk Gasparyan says.

The member of parliament says 80 percent of people enjoying the hatred
of the public were sitting at the chair during the extraordinary
conference of the Republican Party. Earlier he had even presumed that
Serge Sargsyan would be elected president if the opposition were
divided and passive. `ButI immediately realized that it was
impossible, for the mask was torn and it became clear with what team
Serge Sargsyan is going to come to power,’ says Manuk Gasparyan.

He thinks that Serge Sargsyan’s team `marred’ the Republican Party,
`which was partly marred in 1999, and now it stopped being a political
party at all.

‘Manuk Gasparyan has not found a definition for the present
Republican Party.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Artyom Movsisyan: Human factor was the cause of the A-320 crash

ArmRadio.am
28.07.2006 14:32

Unfortunately we can state that the reason for the A-320 crash was the
human factor ` the uncoordinated actions of the crew during the last
17 seconds of the flight. However, it’s not clear so far what was the
cause of such activity of the pilot, and it needs to be clarified,
Head of the Chief Board of the Civil Aviation of Armenia Artyom
Movsisyan said during a press conference, commenting on the
conclusions of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) on the causes
of the Armavia A-320 crash.

`It’s not clear for us what served as a reason for the uncoordinated
actions of the crew, since the modeling of the flight in Toulouse
revealed that during the last 17 seconds the flight of the plane was
stable. Suddenly, 17 seconds before the crash, the actions of the
crewmembers became uncoordinated. Possibly, this was connected with
the pilot’s health condition, which worsened under extreme
circumstances or the state of mind caused by the actions of the flying
control officer, or even the loss of orientation in the space,’
Movsisyan said. He added that decoding of the voice recorder revealed
that the crew was extremely nervous and discontent with the activities
of the flying control officer. However, he avoided providing a direct
answer to the question whether the Civil Aviation Committee agrees
with the conclusion of the Interstate Aviation Committee that the
responsibility for the accident falls on the crew. He noted only that
the information in the IAC conclusion corresponds to the data of the
A-320 flight recorders.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

"Mika" out of the contest for the UEFA Cup

ArmRadio.am
28.07.2006 15:15

July 27 `Mika’ football team of Ashtarak lost 0:1 to the Swiss `Young Boys’
in the response game of the first qualification round of the UEFA Cup, thus
staying out from the further competition.

To remind, in the first game in Yerevan `Mika’ lost with the score of 1:3.
Thus, all of the four Armenian teams left the race for 2006 European Cups
from first qualification rounds.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Brazil and Armenia to cooperate in the spheres of tourism, trade and economy

ArmRadio.am
28.07.2006 17:30

July 26 the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro received the Consul General of
Armenia Ashot Yeghiazaryan.

Issues related to the development of cooperation between Armenia and
Brazil, establishment of direct ties between the states and cities of
the two countries were touched upon during the meeting.

Ashot Yeghiazaryan conveyed the letter of the Mayor of Yerevan Yervand
Zakharyan to his Brazilian counterpart, which included an invitation
for to visit Armenia to learn about the life of our country and the
capital, to discuss questions of mutual interest and conclude an
agreement on cooperation.

The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro highly appreciated the invitation and
assured that his government will apply every effort to establish
cultural, tourist, trade and economic cooperation between the two
cities.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZ Central.com, AZ
July 27, 2006

Turkish court acquits author of charges of turning people against
military service

ANKARA, Turkey – A Turkish writer was acquitted Thursday of turning
people against military service by defending a conscientious objector
in her weekly magazine column. Human rights groups hailed the
decision as a victory for freedom of expression in Turkey.

A court in Istanbul ruled that Perihan Magden’s article amounted to
"heavy criticism conveyed within the scope of freedom of expression"
and did not constitute a crime.

Turkish authorities have put a string of Turkish writers and
journalists on trial for expressing opinions, despite pressure from
the European Union – which Turkey hopes to join – to scrap repressive
laws. advertisement

Author Elif Safak, a University of Arizona assistant professor, was
recently charged with "insulting Turkishness" based on the lines
uttered by fictional Armenian characters in her novel "The Bastard of
Istanbul."

Magden is the second defendant to be acquitted in recent months. A
court in November acquitted Internet journalist Rahmi Yildirim of
charges of insulting the military.

Magden faced up to three years in prison if convicted.

In her column, published in the weekly Yeni Aktuel magazine in
December, Magden defended conscientious objector Mehmet Tarhan, who
was sentenced to a record four-year term in a military prison for
disobedience after refusing to wear his military uniform. She argued
that Turkey needed to establish a civilian service as an alternative
to compulsory military conscription.

Conscription in Turkey is obligatory for men over 20, and the country
does not recognize the right to conscientious objection. Objectors
also have been prosecuted on charges of turning people against the
military.

Rights groups praised Thursday’s verdict.

The lack of "press freedoms had become unbearable in recent months
and put Turkey in a humiliating position," said Ahmet Abakay, the
head of the Contemporary Journalists’ Association.

"I want to congratulate the judge who made this decision. It should
be an example to other judges and prosecutors."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has said it has no
plans to change laws governing expression, saying that inappropriate
charges are eventually dropped and defendants are acquitted.

EU officials argue that even if the charges are dropped, the threat
of prosecution remains a deterrent to people freely expressing their
opinions.

A Turkish court dropped charges last year against Orhan Pamuk, one of
the country’s most famous novelists, who faced trial on charges of
insulting "Turkishness" for commenting on the mass killings of
Armenians by Turks around the time of World War I. The charges were
dropped for technical reasons amid intense international pressure.

Earlier this month, a high court confirmed a six-month prison
sentence imposed on Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink for
attempting to influence the judiciary after his newspaper ran
articles criticizing the law that makes it a crime to insult
Turkishness. Dink’s sentence was postponed. (AP)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

July 28, 2006
___________________

FR. CHEVIAN MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral, marked
more than 20 years of his priestly ministry during a reception at the
cathedral complex on May 19, 2006, during which he was granted the right to
wear the floral pilon by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, who
officiated during the service.

"Everyone who takes up the holy orders of the church believes deeply in his
heart that he is carrying forward something worthy and valuable: our
heritage, an ancient tradition of service to God, the succession of Christ’s
apostles," the Primate said, speaking about how Fr. Chevian personifies the
Diocesan theme of the past year "Carrying the Flame." "Der Mardiros is
surely a man who has chosen to carry that flame, and he does so with the
utmost respect and love for what our flame represents. But more than
carrying the flame himself, Der Mardiros has devoted his ministry to
inspiring others to carry it beside him."

Following the vesper service, during which he was honored the floral pilon,
Fr. Mardiros was celebrated at a reception and program attended by 350
people in the cathedral’s Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium, where
friends, deacons, and community members, spoke about Fr. Chevian and his
impact on the Armenian Church community.

"I express deeply felt gratitude to Der Hayr, for being a pastor in every
sense of the word to our little community," said Elise Antreassian,
coordinator of Christian education for the Eastern Diocese, who spoke for
the Diocesan staff and was one of 14 people from all parts of the community
to offer testimonials on Fr. Chevian. "With him we are generally smiling,
often laughing — sometimes at his very gracious expense. When we have been
exasperated, he has provided solace; when we’ve been confused, he has given
sound and welcome advice, when we’ve been unsure, he has provided the
comfort of his confident leadership and hope."

LIFE OF FAITH

Fr. Chevian has been active in the life of the Armenian Church since he was
a young altar server in his home parish of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of
Providence, RI. After receiving a degree in social sciences from Barrington
College and a master’s of divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox
Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, he spent two years studying at
the Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.

After returning to the United States, he served as deacon-in-charge of the
St. George Church of Waukegan, IL, before being asked to play a leadership
role in the reopening of the St. Nersess Seminary in its new location in New
Rochelle, NY. That began his lifelong ministry with young Armenians.

"Der Mardiros has a unique ability to relate to the youth in a way that
makes young people comfortable speaking to clergy," said David Kasparian,
one of the speakers at the banquet. "He provides a link between the younger
generation and the church that is important."

Kasparian credits Fr. Mardiros’ tenure at St. Nersess for his repartee with
younger generations. It was while his brother and sister were attending a
St. Nersess Conference in 1979, when David was 11 years old, that his father
passed away. Fr. Mardiros brought his siblings home and stayed with the
family. "From then, he has always had a special place in the heart of our
family," he said.

Fr. Mardiros, whose baptismal name was Michael, was ordained in the end of
April 1985, being given the name Mardiros, or martyr or witness. In
discussing the ordination name, then-Primate Archbishop Torkom Manoogian
told Fr. Mardiros that "It is not the name that will make you, it is you who
will make the name."

"I have learned that the name you are given can inspire you and motivate
you," he said. "I learned that I must be a witness. You must be sure of
who you are in order to witness. It is only someone who is confident in who
he is that can truly witness to what he believes. And who we are is a
combination of what gifts and talents God has given us, and what our parents
and family and teachers have planted within us. And also what we have
accepted upon ourselves."

He said his connection to the generation of Armenian priests killed during
the Genocide was strengthened not only by his new priestly name, but also by
learning shortly after his ordination that his great-great grandfather was
Der Mardiros, a village priest in Sebastia.

"He was, like so many other priests, killed during the Genocide," Fr.
Mardiros said. "That further deepened in me the belief that each new priest
is an answer to the losses, righteous revenge against those who tried to
erase the Armenian people of the face of the earth."

In 1991 he was asked to establish a new youth ministry effort at the
Diocesan Center. He was then named dean of St. Vartan Cathedral in 1994.
In 1999 he was elected to the Diocesan Council, where he continues to serve.

BUILDING A COMMUNITY

While serving at St. Nersess he began a life of devoted service to young
Armenians, who today are young parents who seek out his pastoral guidance.
But his ministry is not limited to the young nor the American-born.

"I’m sure that every person here — myself included — could offer a story
about how Der Hayr’s counsel or presence made a difference to them at a
critical time," the Primate said. "What impresses me is the broad range of
lives he has affected. Der Hayr has always been closely associated with our
younger generation; but he also has a wonderful, loving touch with our Avaks
(senior citizens). As an American-born priest he speaks in a special way to
others born in this country. Yet he has made it a special part of his
ministry to reach out to the newest of our newcomers."

The Primate’s thoughts were echoed by many of the other speakers.

"Fr. Chevian is a worthy shepherd who for 20 years has served his church and
community with great dedication," said Shakeh Kadehjian, principal of the
St. Vartan Armenian School and chairperson of the committee which organized
the program honoring Fr. Chevian. "I have worked with him closely and my
respect for him grows by witnessing his good deeds — caring and supporting
young and old alike — through the various programs implemented by him."

And while building a community Fr. Mardiros and his wife, Yn. Diane, have
also built a family, with two daughters Alexandra and Kristina. His eldest
daughter, Alexandra, surprised her father during the program by delivering
her own remarks to the crowd.

"To you he is Der Hayr or Fr. Mardiros. "To my sister and I, he is just
dad," she said. "We were blessed when God made him our dad."

— 7/28/06

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, presents Fr. Mardiros Chevian with the granting of the floral pilon
during a vesper service marking the 20th anniversary of Fr. Chevian’s
priestly ordination.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Barsamian addresses the crowd at New York
City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on May 19, 2006, during a service honoring the
priestly ministry of Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the cathedral.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Fr. Mardiros Chevian speaks about his ministry during a
reception marking the 20th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Fr. Mardiros Chevian’s daughter Alexandra speaks to the
crowd of 350 people who turned out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her
father’s ordination to the priesthood.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REFUGEES FROM MIDDLE EAST NOT TO SETTLE IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Panorama.am
15:40 27/07/06

The Armenian government has not intent to settle the refugees
from Lebanon and Israel in Nagorno Karabakh, Vladimir Karapetyan,
press spokesperson of the Armenian ministry of foreign affairs told
Panorama.am. The Armenian foreign policy agency does not pursue such
policy, he said. In his words, the refugees settle at their relatives’
houses or rent flats on their own. Up to today, 584 Armenians evacuated
to Armenia, including 530 from Lebanon and 54 from Israel.

Note: The Azeri media sources claim that the Armenian government
intends to settle the refugees from Lebanon and Israel in Nagorno
Karabakh. /Panorama.am/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress