Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 11, 2005
____________________
EASTERN DIOCESE AND THE FUND FOR ARMENIAN RELIEF HOST WELCOME RECEPTION
FOR ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TATOUL MARKARIAN
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of American (Eastern) and the Fund
for Armenian Relief (FAR) hosted a reception to welcome the new Armenian
Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, on
Friday, October 7, 2005, in the Kavookjian Auditorium of the Diocesan
Center in New York City.
Randy Sapah-Gulian, secretary of the FAR Board of Directors, served as
master of ceremonies for the event and, while welcoming the evening’s
guest of honor, shared his enthusiasm for Armenia’s growth since
independence 14 years ago. Summarizing FAR’s humanitarian and
development work, he stressed that FAR and its family of supporters are
dedicated to addressing the needs of the people of Armenia and Karabagh
and guiding them toward a bright future.
FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 16 years, FAR has
implemented various relief, development, social, educational, and
cultural projects valued at more than $250 million. It is the
preeminent relief and development organization operating there.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and
President of FAR, congratulated Ambassador Markarian on his new position
and wished him all the best in his endeavors. Highlighting the link
between the Church and Armenia and stressing the role of the Diaspora,
the Primate said, “from the very first moments of the free Republic of
Armenia, our Diocese has been eager to support and advance our
homeland’s aspirations. We have also tried to stand for the conviction
that the Republic of Armenia is not simply a remote expression of our
Armenian identity. Rather, it is the centerpiece of that identity, in
the modern world. The existence of the Republic of Armenia is not
merely important to us, as members of the Diaspora: it is absolutely
vital to our own continued existence, and our own success or failure
depends on the prosperity of our free and independent Homeland.”
Ambassador Markarian expressed gratitude to everyone for the warm
welcome and said he was happy to begin his tenure with a visit to the
Church.
“It is not surprising to feel at home in the Church,” he said. “Because
during the darkest chapters of Armenian history, when Armenia had lost
its statehood, the Church brought Armenians together and helped the
people to survive.”
OUTLINING HIS VISION
Ambassador Markarian outlined his vision for the Armenian Embassy in
Washington, D.C. and stressed the need to have the strong support the
Armenian-American people and Armenian organizations in the United
States to achieve any plans.
Ambassador Markarian was appointed Armenia’s ambassador to the United
States on March 19, 2005, by President Robert Kocharian. He holds the
diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Prior to assuming this position, Ambassador Markarian served as Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia since 2000. In that capacity, he
was the Armenian coordinator for the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue, as
well as the NATO-Armenia Political-Military Dialogue. In 2002 and 2003,
Ambassador Markarian was the Special Representative of the President of
Armenia for Nagorno Karabagh negotiations.
PROMINENT GUESTS
Along with the Primate, other dignified guests welcoming the new
ambassador at the reception included Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian,
former Pontifical Legate and Primate of the Armenian Church of Great
Britain; Bishop Manuel Batakian, Exarch of the Armenian Catholic Church
of America; Bishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan legate; Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral; Haig Yaghoobian, executive
director of the Eastern Diocese; and Vasken Setrakian, owner of
Setrakian Financial Group LLC.
The reception was also attended by Ambassador Armen Martirossyan, the
representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations; and Dr.
Movses Abelian, United Nations Secretary of Administrative and Budgetary
Committee and Committee for Program Coordination and a former Armenian
ambassador to the U.N.
After recognizing the Eastern Diocese and FAR for organizing the
reception, Ambassador Martirossyan reminisced about working with the
recently-appointed ambassador in the past. He also emphasized the
importance of having the Armenian-American community united to help
advance the causes of the Republic of Armenia.
Almost 100 representatives from the Armenian community and various
Armenian organizations were also on hand to meet the new ambassador
during the Diocesan- and Fund for Armenian Relief-sponsored welcome
reception.
— 10/11/05
E-mail photos available upon request.
Caption 1: Newly-appointed Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul
Markarian (left), Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and President of the Fund for
Armenian Relief (center), and Armenian Ambassador to the U.N. Armen
Martirossyan (right).
Caption 2: Randy Sapah-Gulian, secretary of the FAR Board of Directors,
served as master of ceremonies for the reception welcoming Armenia’s
Ambassador Tatoul Markarian to the U.S. held at the Diocesan Center in
New York City on October 7, 2005.
Caption 3: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America and President of the Fund for Armenian
Relief, congratulated Armenian Ambassador to the U.S. Tatoul Markarian
on his recent appointment and extended a warm welcome on behalf of the
Diocese and FAR.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 11, 2005
New Appointments in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
October 11, 2005 – By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the following
appointments have been made:
Very Rev. Fr. Markos Hovhannisian has been assigned as Locum Tenens for the
Diocese of Gegharkunik (Armenia); and Rev. Fr. Abgar Hovakimian has been
assigned to serve in the Diocese of Syunik (Armenia) under the jurisdiction
of the primate of the diocese.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT DISMISSED FRONTIER TROOPS COMMANDER
A1+
| 13:33:12 | 11-10-2005 | Official |
By Robert Kocharian’s decree of October 10, 2005 Colonel Vyacheslav
Voskanyan was removed from the position of Commander of the frontier
troops of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia.
Details are not revealed.

‘FAMILY DISPUTE ENDED IN DEATH’
Nicki Walker
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK
Oct 11 2005
Two men killed an associate by stabbing and shooting him at a Norfolk
factory before dumping his body in an isolated field, dousing it in
petrol and setting it alight, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.
Armenians Nishan Bakunts, 28, and his father-in-law Misha Chatsjatrjan,
44, allegedly killed their countryman Hovahannes Amiran over a ‘family
quarrel’, then sought to destroy evidence linking them to the crime.
But after an exhaustive two-year police investigation to establish
the dead man’s identity and track down his killers, the two defendants
were caught following a breakthrough lead – stemming from a scrap of
memo which was found near the burning body at Upton, near Peterborough,
in December 2002.
Bakunts, of Litchfield Road, Yarmouth, and Chatsjatrjan, who was
living in Holland, appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday charged
with the murder of 42-year-old Mr Amiran, alias Sako, who was the
godfather of Bakunts and his wife Arpine Karapetian, 24. Both men
have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor David Farrell QC, told the jury that police believed Sako
was murdered some time around Saturday, December 21, 2002 and the
two defendants then took his body by car to the field at Upton and
set it alight.
The body was discovered at 10am on the Saturday by an off duty fireman
Jake Ellard, who was cycling in the area.
Giving evidence, Mr Ellard told the court that he recognised the smell
of burning flesh and, after going to investigate, he saw that it was
in fact a body on fire and contacted the police.
A post mortem revealed the man had been shot in the face and neck by
home made bullets and stabbed in the trunk of his body. The man’s arms
had been cut and had wounds, indicating he had tried to defend himself.
At the murder scene police found a number of items, which had also
been set on fire.
Among these was a scrap of a medical memo with the names Talbot and
Armstrong on it.
A specialist who examined the body advised police that the dead man
could have been staying in the eastern region prior to his death.
This prompted detectives to send out more than 2000 letters to all
the people with the surnames of Talbot and Armstrong, in the hope it
would give them the breakthrough to identify the dead man and find
his killers.
And in September 2003 police got the vital lead they needed.
Vanessa Armstrong, a secretary at the Cooper Roller Bearings at King’s
Lynn, recognised the memo and contacted the police, the court heard.
Mr Farrell said it emerged memo had been sent out to a Paul Talbot
on December 18, three days before the body was discovered at Upton.
Mr Talbot was contacted and confirmed he had been in the medical room
and had dropped the memo in the bin as he left.
Police and scenes of crime officer visited the medical room and found
some surgical gloves – identical to a pair found at the site where
the body was dumped.
A thorough forensic investigation was then launched and blood matching
the victim was discovered in the medical room. Police had found their
murder scene, but at that stage had still not identified the dead man.
The court was told the investigation was then concentrated on the
Lynn factory and it was discovered Bakunts was working as a security
guard on the weekend of the murder.
A series of investigations showed Bakunts had known the dead man, and
had purchased guns and weapons prior to the murder. On the morning
of the murder, he had bought petrol and a can from a nearby garage
in Lynn.
Bakunts was arrested in October 2003, but was not psychologically
fit for interview until later in 2004.
During police interviews he replied “no comment”, but was later
charged with the murder of the dead man who was subsequently to be
identified as Sako.
Mr Farrell told the court there were a number of factors which linked
Bakunts and his father-in-law to the murder.
This included the identity and relationship between the accused and
the dead man, financial inquiries and purchases made by Bakunts,
forensic evidence, the foreign travel of Chatsjartrjan, and the sale
of Bakunts car, which the prosecution alleges, was used to transport
the body the 40-mile journey from Lynn to Upton.
Mr Farrell told the court it would be proved that on the day before
the murder, Chatsjatrjan travelled to Yarmouth after taking a ferry
to Britain from Holland and booked into a guest house then left the
country on December 22.
There was also forensic evidence found on a lighter to link him to
the murder scene.
Mr Farrell also told the court that a relative had contacted
Chatsjatrjan after hearing of Sako’s death.
He said Chatsjatrjan: “Confessed to her he had killed Sako at Bakunts’s
place of work.”
Mr Farrell added: “He confessed because he believed he only had three
months to live, because he believed he had cancer. He said the reason
was a family quarrel.”
Following the police investigation Chatsjatrjan was extradited in
January this year and charged with the murder of Sako.
Bakunts wife Karapetian, also of Litchfield Road, Yarmouth, was
arrested and charged with perverting the course of justice in
connection with the case.
The court heard although the couple were married in Belgium, their
marriage ceremony was infact invalid.
The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
;category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED10%20Oct%202005%2022%3A05%3A53%3A967

KERSAN AHARONIAN CLASSROOM IN DICKRANIAN SCHOOL
AZG Armenian Daily #182
11/10/2005
Diaspora
Tekeyan Cultural Association, cognizant of its nation-building mission,
in conjunction with its many chapters and centers worldwide, as well
as educational and publication endeavors, 25 years ago planned and
achieved one of its goals – the establishment of an Armenian Day school
in densely-populated Hollywood, adjacent to St. John Armenian Church.
This educational institution, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade high
school, played a basic and important role because of its visionary
and dedicated leaders, as well as the generous public at large.
Thanks to the princely donation of philanthropists Mrs. Eleanor
and the late Arshag Dickranian, the school was named after them –
The TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School.
The School has graduated over 300 students, who have already graduated
from respectable California universities and colleges, specializing in
medicine, law, education, science, business administration and others,
giving pride to their parents, the school and the Armenian community.
A couple of years ago, this educational institution embarked on an
expansion project and completed the construction of a three-story
imposing building this year. The students started to enjoy the new
building with all its facilities.
A few individuals, students and friends of the late Kersan Aharonian –
teacher, editor, historian and civic leader – came together and decided
to raise funds to name a classroom in his name, in the conviction
that the students passing through that classroom, will be inspired
by Kersan Aharonian’s legacy and enthusiasm in pursuing The Armenian
Case until the realization of ” The Great Dream”.
We expect from his friends and others, and specially his students,
who have been educated under his tutelage, to come forward and make
contributions to honor the life and memory of Kersan Aharonian.
The committee is composed of Suzy Bahadrian. Prof. Osheen Keshisian,
Dr.
Minas Kojoyan, Avo Magarian and Harout Yeretsian.
Please send your tax-deductible donation to TCA Arshag Dickranian
School, For Kersan Aharonian classroom, 1700 N, Cahuenga, Hollywood,
CA 90038.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS ATTRACT OVER 1 YEAR DEPOSITS AT HIGHESAT INTEREST RATE IN EARLY OCTOBER
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 10 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. In the period of September 29 –
October 6, the RA commercial banks attracted over 1 year deposits
at the highest interest rate of 8% and 90-day deposits at the lowest
interest rate of 4%. According to the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
data, in the same period, the banks extended 30-day and 90-day loans
at the highest interest rate of 20% and 360-day loans at the lowest
interest rate of 17%.
The dynamics of interest rates of deposits attracted by the commercial
bank was as follows:
29.09.05 06.10.05
30 days 7% 6%
60 days 4% 5%
90 days 2% 4%
180 days 7% 6%
360 days 7% 6%
over 1 year 8% 8%
The dynamics of interest rates of the loans extended by the commercial
banks was as follows:
29.09.05 06.10.05
30 days 14% 20%
60 days 20% 19%
90 days 21% 20%
180 days 21% 18%
360 days 16% 17%
over 1 year 19% 18%
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WON THE WILL
Panorama
12:07 10/10/05
According to the counting committee, the elections of the president of
Armenian Bar had the following results; 227 participants voted ‘for’
Ruben Sahakyan, and 136 ‘for’ Enoq Azaryan. So the next 4 years Ruben
Sahakyan will chair AB.
“Won the will’, this is how the minister of justice Davit Harutiunyan
qualified the elections. His participation in the organization of
the AB assembly the minister commented in such way, “I haven’t had
any interference in the elections, I was here only to implement fair
and organized election”.
The new president of AB Ruben Sahakyan didn’t accept his election with
a great pleasure, and as he noticed, “I must continue to work with
my colleague Enoq Azaryan. It will be really difficult for both of us”.
According to participnats’ opinion AP elections were top level, as
there was no invalid bulletins. Even Ruben Sahakyan was astonished
with the level of organization. “I must take the video record of this
assembly to copy the experience for my future activity. We will try
to pass the next assemblies just this way”, promised the president.
The concept “opposite team” doesn’t exist for R. Sahakyan, “We are
all colleagues”, he stated and added that he took the obligation to
accept the all written suggestions of the attorneys. By the way, the
defeated candidate Enoq Azaryan was not present during the publication
of the results.

IN ARMENIA L’ULTIMA FRONTIERA PER GLI IMPRENDITORI ITALIANI: CAUCASO – OPPORTUNITA DI INVESTIMENTO
Dal Nostro Inviato
Il Sole-24 Ore, Italia
6 Ott 2005
Dopo Ucraina e Moldavia l’azione si sposta verso l’Asia centrale
EREVAN – Dopo Ucraina e Moldavia la nuova frontiera per i “pionieri”
del made in Italy si sposta verso il Caucaso, in Georgia e Armenia.
Paesi nati dalla disgregazione dell’ex impero russo che, nonostante i
numerosi problemi di natura politica, offrono interessanti opportunita
di investimento.
Il compito di accompagnare lo sbarco di un primo drappello di quaranta
imprenditori italiani in Armenia se l’e assunto il viceministro delle
Attivita produttive, Adolfo Urso, giunto ieri a Erevan per inaugurare
le “Giornate dell’amicizia italo-armena”, una manifestazione che
durante tutto il mese di ottobre illustrera il meglio della musica,
del cinema e della gastronomia italiani.
Un’iniziativa incentrata sulla mostra dei tesori dell’isola veneziana
di San Lazzaro (la cosiddetta Isola degli Armeni) e affiancata dal
Business forum tra imprese italiane e armene, che si pone l’obiettivo
di far conoscere l’Italia ai rappresentanti delle istituzioni locali.
Negli incontri che il viceministro Urso ha avuto ieri con il ministro
degli Esteri armeno, Vartan Oskanian, e con quello dello Sviluppo
economico, Karen Tchshmarityan, e stata resa esplicita la volonta
del sistema imprenditoriale italiano di rafforzare la cooperazione
economica con il Paese in coincidenza con la maggiore stabilizzazione
politica che si attende dal referendum istituzionale previsto a
novembre per riportare maggiori poteri al Parlamento, e in vista di
un compromesso con Baku per avviare a soluzione il vecchio conflitto
“congelato” con il Nagorno-Karabakh. Una volonta che Urso manifestera
anche oggi nel colloquio previsto con il presidente Robert Kocharian.
‘I rapporti culturali e istituzionali tra Roma e Jerevan – ha precisato
Urso – sono straordinari da molto tempo, non si puo dire lo stesso
per i rapporti commerciali. L’Italia e in effetti l’ottavo partner
dell’Armenia e il decimo investitore. Le cifre registrano segnali
di interesse ma c’e ancora molto da fare per migliorare scambi e
investimenti diretti’.
In realta nel Paese gia da tempo sono presenti ditte come la Renco
di Pesaro, attiva nelle costruzioni, e la Lovable (intimo) ha un
suo stabilimento, ma nel settore del credito e dell’energia nessuna
azienda italiana ha preso parte al processo di privatizzazione avviato
da tempo.
Le banche sono state quasi tutte privatizzate da russi o da gruppi
legati alla cosiddetta “diaspora” armena, e solo di recente Banca
Intesa ha manifestato interesse per aprire sportelli nel Paese.
Per quanto riguarda le prospettive di collaborazione economica
futura, i settori di interesse restano quello dell’edilizia,
dell’agroalimentare (tra le imprese presenti al Business forum anche
il produttore umbro di olio Rapanelli), delle macchine utensili,
del tessile e del turismo. ‘Ma le autorita del Paese – ha spiegato il
viceministro Urso – guardano a noi anche come punto di riferimento per
rendere piu efficiente il loro sistema amministrativo. A questo scopo
hanno chiesto un progetto di formazione per le Camere di commercio’.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN SAYS SOLDIER KILLED IN ATTACK BY ETHNIC ARMENIAN FORCES
Associated Press Worldstream
October 10, 2005 Monday 2:07 PM Eastern Time
BAKU, Azerbaijan
An Azerbaijani soldier was killed during a firefight with ethnic
Armenian forces near the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Azerbaijan’s military said Monday.
The 19-year-old conscript was killed Sunday in the gunfire exchange
on the cease-fire line that separates Azerbaijani and Armenian-backed
troops, Defense Ministry spokesman Ilgar Verdiev said.
Verdiev said the Armenian forces started the shooting, and Azerbaijani
forces responded. Armenian officials could not be immediately be
reached for comment.
Nagorno-Karabakh and swaths of surrounding territory inside Azerbaijan
have been under control of ethnic Armenians since a six-year war
against Azerbaijan ended with a 1994 cease-fire. The enclave’s status
remains unresolved, and tensions remain high along the cease-fire
line with both sides regularly exchanging fire.

ARMENIAN JOURNALIST GETS SUSPENDED SENTENCE, FACES FURTHER DEFAMATION CASE
NTV Online website, Turkey
Oct 7 2005
Hrant Dink, the chief editor of the Armenian daily Agos, has been
sentenced to six months in prison. The sentence has been suspended
due to Dink’s good behaviour during the trial.
Dink was on trial for defaming Turks in an article he wrote. At
the trial which was held at the Sisli Second Criminal Court, Kemal
Kerincsiz, a member of the Jurists Union who is known for having
asked for the injunction on the Armenian conference and who attended
Dink’s trial as a complaining party, called for the punishment of
the suspect. The defence lawyers said there was no crime involved
and asked for Dink’s acquittal.
The judge ruled that in his column in Agos on 13 February 2004, Dink
insulted and vilified Turks. The judge sentenced him to six months
in prison. The judge then suspended the sentence on the grounds of
Dink’s good behaviour during the trial and because the judge believed
Dink would not commit another crime.
Dink faces another trial for a speech he delivered at the Global
Security, Terrorism and Human Rights panel meeting held in February
2002. He will stand trial for defamation. The trial is to be held at
the Urfa Third Criminal court on 9 February 2006.
Author Orhan Pamuk, too, will stand trial for defamation at the Sisli
Ninth Criminal Court on 16 December 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress