Author: Emil Lazarian

RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE COOPERATES WITH 30 COUNTRIES WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS AND PROGRAMS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 35 post-graduate scholarships, 20
master’s places and 80 ones for bachelor and specialists with diplomas
are envisaged for RA citizens every year. Corresponding competitions
are implemented for envisaged places. Vahe Grigorian, the Chief of the
International Cooperation Department of the RA Ministry of Education
and Science informed about it at the June 23 press conference.
According to Grigorian, according to interstate treaties, agreements,
practical programs, memoranda of mutual understanding, the Ministry
of Education and Science cooperates with about 30 countries, including
the Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Egypt.
According to him, the competition for places for the bachelor and
the educational degree of a specialist with diploma continues in
the RF at present for what the Russian side allocated 70 places this
year. 50 applications were presented for the 70 places at the first
stage of the competition organized in May, 36 people were recognized
winners. A new competition was announced for the vacant 34 places,
agreeing beforehand with the side allocating scholarship.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BBC WRITES ABOUT “MASKED” ARMENIANS OF TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The unpleasant
event taken place on the day of the visit paid by the Catholicos
of All Armenian to Istanbul, when Turk nationalists were holding a
demonstration of complaint at the airport, became a reason for BBC
correspondent Sara Rainford touches upon this theme as well as the
present state of Armenians in Turkey and the issue of blockade of
Armenia by Turkey. She spoke to Armenians from Contstantinople who
were conditionally named “Vardan” and “Anush.”
“Turks ask me till now from where I am. They have no notion that
hundred of thousands of us lived here once,” “Vardan” said. The
journalist mentions that 60 thousand Armenians live in Turkey, in a
territory where their forefathers lived more than 2 thousand years
ago. It is a very difficult community,” the BBC correspondent noticed.
“We have seen only violence since we were born. Insults are written
on walls of churches, we are humiliated in streets. I think twice
till now wheather to say my name or not,” “Anush” said.
“Life of previous generations was more difficult. It is not surprising
that they do not make public their opinion about the 1915. Armenia
wants that Turkey recognizes the universal slaughter, qualifying it
as a genocide,” the journalist continues.
She mentions that “Anush” and “Vardan” are those scanty exclusions who,
living in Turkey, say what happened in 1915. They forefathers were
by force removed to south. They gave their children to Turk neighbors
for safety and never returned. “Anush” says that it is terrible. Such
a tradegy took place in the family of any Armenian there.
“The international community puts pressure on Ankara now, imposing
to review its position concerning this issue. “Vardan” greets it but
he also feels that in response to it, Turk nationalists’ aggression
increases gradually,” the BBC correspondent writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ONE MORE NGO CREATED IN JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The constituent
congress of the United Javakhk people’s union NGO was held on June
24 in Akhalkalak.
The congress announced the organization’s main goals – improvement of
the socio-economic position of Armenians of Javakhk, giving the status
of the second state language to the Armenian language in the region,
giving a cultural autonomy to the region.
According to the A-Info agency, the congress also elected chairmanship
of the organization consisting of 13 persons.

NKR MFA: BAKU AGAIN TRIES TO DISTORT KARABAKH CONFLICT ESSENCE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 17:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The fact that official Baku does not cease attempts
to attribute religious nature to the Azeri-Karabakh conflict, based on
infringement of basic rights of the Armenian population of the former
Azeri SSR and Azeri party’s lack of desire to recognize NKR people’s
right to decide their fate themselves,” says a comment of the NKR
MFA to the Caucasian Knot portal over the final declaration adopted
at the latest forum of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) in Baku.
“At the 33rd session of the OIC FMs of the Azeri party made another
attempt to distort the essence of the conflict by presenting
Azerbaijan as a victim. Being unable to solve the issue within the
legal framework, Azerbaijan resorted to armed aggression against
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and ignored UN SC urges to stop
hostilities. The NKR MFA notes with content that in spite of the
increased militant hysteria in Azerbaijan, the OIC announced its
firm position that it is necessary to solve the conflict peacefully,”
says the NKR MFA comment, reports De-Facto.

LINKING KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS INCORRECT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:24 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By his latest statement new Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
Matthew Bryza probably meant that he understands the issue and
possesses information, Head of Hay Dat Office of ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Kiro Manoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, linking
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict with normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations is incorrect. “When Turkey opens the border
with Armenia, Azerbaijan will have to come to an agreement with the
Armenian party in the Karabakh issue. Turkey’s stand is the opposite:
it is going to open the border after settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict,” Kiro Manoyan said.

THE AZERIS DID IT
A1+
[09:09 pm] 26 June, 2006
“The cup is half full”. These were the words of Murad Mergan, the head
of the Turkish delegation to PACE with which he offered to confirm
the authorities of the Azeri delegates. In the January session they
were given a chance to prove that Azerbaijan is following the path
of democracy. The chance was the May 13 Parliamentary reelection in
several polling stations.
Today Resolution 1480 was being discussed in PACE which was prepared
by co-reporters Andreas Gross and Andreas Herkel. During the listening
10 delegates addressed the session five of whom were delegates from
Azerbaijan and Turkey. The Azeris announced with voices trembling
with excitement that theirs is a democratic country and follows the
path of democracy at the same time thanking the CE for support.
Gultekin Hajieva from Azerbaijan was so “excited” that she announced
Azerbaijan was on fire at that very moment when they were discussing
the issue. And those who burned her country were the Armenians. Hajieva
did not miss the chance to say that “Armenia has occupied 20% of the
territory of Azerbaijan, uses the natural resources and burns the
Azeri forests”.
Resolution 1480 was adopted with several amendments, that is to say,
the authorities of the Azeri delegates were confirmed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES STATE THERE WILL BE NO ARMENIAN AUTONOMY IN JAVAKHETI
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.06.2006 18:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In response to the demand of Javakhk Armenian NGO,
which advocates creation of an Armenian autonomy in Samtskhe-Javakheti
region of Georgia, populated by Armenians, and announcing the Armenian
language as the state one, Georgian PM Zurab Nogaideli said, “there
are autonomous republics already present in the republic and a new
one will not be formed.” In her turn Georgian Speaker Nino Burjanadze
stated, “demands like those are absurd and may cause exacerbation of
the situation in the region.” In her words, statements like those
are not in the interests of either Armenia, or Georgia. Meanwhile,
Javakhk NGO has announced its intention to launch protest actions,
reports IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2006 13:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, army
general Rashid Nurgaliyev will arrive in Armenia on an official
call. Within the framework of the visit Rashid Nurgaliyev and Armenian
Police Chief Hayk Harutyunyan will take part in a joint session of
boards of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armenian
Police. Besides, joint anti-terror exercises of Russian Ministry of
Internal Affairs special destination troops and the Armenian Police.
Specifically, during the exercises the special forces soldiers will
hold an operation to release hostages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AN ORDEAL FOR THE DIASPORA REPRESENTATIVES DURING THE FESTIVAL
A1+
[02:35 pm] 27 June, 2006
The PanArmenian second festival “One nation, one culture” initiated in
the sports-concert complex after Karen Demirchyan with the belief that
only the complex hall may hold all the participants of the festival
that have arrived with large delegations this year.
But many Diaspora representatives had to vacate their seats as they
were “occupied in advance” (though the entrance was free) and they
either took seats on the stairs or being offended missed the opening
ceremony.
As for the festival program the concert was over late at night with
firework. Then the fire brigades had to extinguish the burning electric
lamps which were set on fire as a result of the firework.
The festival continued in other regions of the republic the following
days as well. The most striking were the scenes in Tsaghkadzor and
in Sevan where all the participants were to be present and a fire of
union was to be lit. But the fire was not lit.
Besides, the concert ended just before it began because of the lack
of organization, sudden unexpected rain and severe cold.
As for the food they were certain problems on this score as well. The
participants got sandwiches with cheese and sausage only on the buses
on their return way. Prior to that, “Each person was to feed himself
the way he could,” says one of the participants from Lebanon.
The same can be said about the hygienic state. Many people found the
existence of the lake even in such conditions great happiness. Three
members of the Russian chorus couldn’t get on busses and missed the
Tsaghkadzor concert and had to go to Sevan immediately.
By the way, each participant of the Russian delegation which is the
largest group this year took 2 – 3 friends or acquaintances with him
as a result of which the busses became overcrowded and this caused
extra problems for the initiators.
Nevertheless, the Diaspora representatives try to conceal their
displeasure and the drawbacks of the festival enjoying every ounce
of their stay in their homelands especially those who were in Armenia
for the first time.
They even put candles during their Echmiadzin visit wishing to return
to their homeland more frequently.
“We are very delighted to meet and get acquainted with our compatriots
from all angles of the world. This is an exclusive chance for us,”
says Eran Zeytuntsyan, an actress from Syria.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Berjouhi Saladin
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 94; Fax: (212) 683-2609
E-mail: [email protected]
June 26, 2006
___________________
WHITE PLAINS CHURCH USES CHALLENGE TO PROMOTE GIVING TO ARMENIAN CHURCH
ENDOWMENT FUND (ACEF)
Last year the parishioners of the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of
White Plains, NY, were challenged to create a secure financial footing for
future generations of that parish.
Harry Keleshian, a member of the board of directors of the Armenian Church
Endowment Fund (ACEF), stood up during the parish assembly and spoke about
the importance of creating endowment funds to benefit the parish.
“I told them how enthusiastic I am about the endowment fund. I feel the
endowment fund dictates the future of our church,” Keleshian said.
At that time, the parish benefited from about $650,000 in endowment funds.
Keleshian thought the parish should have $1 million. So he and his wife
Edna challenged parishioners to establish endowment funds to benefit the
parish or put more principle into existing funds. Over the next five years
he would match any new $1,000 endowment funds benefiting the parish or
$1,000 added to existing funds.
“The idea is to get us up to $1 million over the next couple of years,” he
said. “And I made it clear that you don’t have to be creating new
endowments. The people who gave before, if they give again I will match
that as well.”
Last year, six new funds were started with $1,000, and Keleshian made a
matching $6,000 donation. So far this year, five new funds were started
with $1,000 and $4,000 was added to an existing fund.
CREATING A FUTURE
Keleshian said building the endowment funds which benefit his parish allows
the church to do more ministry, outreach, and children’s programming, today
and well into the future.
“I believe so much in endowment funds and what they stand for: creating a
perpetual income for our parish,” he said. “I really don’t want to see our
parish dependent upon our children. I want us to be able to minister to and
educate them, and the next generation and the next.”
If his goal of building the endowment fund to $1 million is successful, the
St. Gregory the Enlightener Church would receive approximately $45,000 a
year in income in perpetuity. “That is a very good piece of change,”
Keleshian said.
The Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF) is an independently chartered
organization which manages investments for endowment funds earmarked for
parishes, Diocesan ministries, organizations such as St. Nersess Armenian
Seminary, and the operations of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
“I think the endowment fund is probably not fully understood, but with
gestures like this it will be much more understandable to the lay people in
the parish,” Keleshian said. “The endowment fund is looked upon as
something for only those who have greater means. I don’t think people
understood that even $1,000 is valuable because the $1,000 is not spent and
instead generates income for generations.”
PERPETUAL INCOME
The principle of the funds is never touched, only the interest made from the
investments is used to provide income to the designated beneficiaries.
ACEF’s policy is to provide beneficiaries with annual payments worth
approximately 4.5% of the invested principle, which allows organizations to
more accurately plan their budgets.
If the ACEF investments generate more than the guaranteed 4.5% needed, the
balance, minus expenses, is attached to the original principle as
undistributed appreciation. That undistributed appreciation generates more
interest in the future. It is also used to provide beneficiaries with 4.5%
distribution in years when the financial markets are not doing well.
“Endowment funds are very important, not only for the church in general, but
also for our parish,” said Fr. Karekin Kasparian, pastor of the St. Gregory
the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY. “It is especially important
because our endowment funds give some sort of guarantee that in the future
we will be able to meet our demanding and challenging expenses.”
“If we reach the goal which Harry has set for us, which we will, that will
give us a substantial amount of revenue annually; that will be a great
help,” Fr. Karekin added. “It certainly helps us a great deal, especially
with our education and youth work and the various liturgical programs we
have here.”
Currently there are several endowment funds benefiting St. Gregory, with a
total principle of $817,038. Adding the attached undistributed
appreciation, the value of the funds increases to $980,449. That translates
into annual income of approximately $44,120 for the parish.
“Down the road, what’s happening with the cost of living, especially in our
neighborhood, the burden on the next generation will be very heavy just to
cope with their own mortgages,” said former St. Gregory parish council chair
Zaven Tachdjian, who has created an endowment fund benefiting the parish.
“But we, the present generation, are working hard to leave a big chunk of
money in ACEF, so there will be money in perpetuity to help the next
generation balance budgets. For the sake of our children and their children
we’re trying to foresee potential issues that might come up and provide
funds to help.”
EXCELLENT RETURN
ACEF is able to provide a steady income stream because its highly skilled
board makes decisions with the advice of talented consultants. Also, with a
portfolio of $73 million, ACEF can access investment tools individuals
cannot approach.
Those advantages have lead ACEF to generally outperform the market. In
2005, the S&P 500 saw a return of 4.9%, while the portfolio managed by ACEF
provided an annual return of approximately 7.5%.
The security of ACEF investments is making it easier to promote Keleshian’s
challenge, Tachdjian said.
“Parishioners are eager to participate knowing that this is secure money and
that it is an income stream to the parish and its budget,” he said. “Any
parish has good years and bad years, and to be able to cover up any
potential deficits with this steady income is welcome. ACEF is such a great
tool, I think all parishes should push it.”
LIVING LEGACY
Establishing an endowment fund is a way to leave a living legacy. Not only
does it provide future income, donors are also remembered by having their
names live on through their endowment fund.
“One good aspect of endowment funds is that once you give, your name is up
there with the endowment. Your name is there forever and you won’t
disappear,” Keleshian said.
He was introduced to the idea of endowment funds by fellow parishioner Suren
Fesjian, one of ACEF’s original leaders, who himself lives on through his
endowment funds benefiting St. Gregory the Enlightener.
“I think that it is very important that people know when they give their
hard earned dollars, they will not be forgotten,” Keleshian said. “I hope
that people understand the importance of having an endowment fund for any
parish or for the Diocese. It is important for us to maintain our identity
and our spiritual leadership, so we don’t lose the spirit of Armenia we were
brought up with.”
ESTABLISH YOUR FUND TODAY
With as little as $1,000, ACEF endowment funds can be established to benefit
any parish, Diocese, or Armenian Church related non-profit organization.
For more information on establishing an endowment fund, contact Berjouhi
Saladin by e-mailing [email protected] or by calling
(212) 686-0170 ext. 34.
* * *
Over the past two years, the following members of the St. Gregory the
Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY, have answered Harry Keleshian’s
challenge to increase the parish’s endowments by establishing or adding to
funds held by the Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF):
Leon Chutjian
Thomas Daw
John and Laura Damboragian Jr.
Anahid Anita Essayan
Shahen and Sally Guiragossian
Lisa and Lenna Kouzoujian
George and Catherine Papalian
Avadis and Alice Sakalian
Irene Shadoian
Zaven and Gladys Tachdjian
John and Anita Wolohojian
— 6/26/06
E-mail photos available on request.
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Harry Keleshian, a member of the board of directors of
the Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF), is personally matching endowment
funds created by his fellow parishioners to benefit his parish, the St.
Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress