Author: Hakobian Adrine

NEW POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

AL-AHRAM
9 – 15 August 2007

A win for a Hizbullah ally in a by-election was another blow to US
plans for Lebanon, Lucy Fielder reports

Former general Michel Aoun’s victory in the weekend by-election north
of Beirut was a slap in the face for Lebanon’s US-backed government,
although he won by a hair’s breadth. The balance of power remains
roughly as before, but the poll was a test of the strength of Lebanon’s
two battling factions in the run-up to flashpoint presidential
elections in September.

This was also the first test of whether Aoun’s strategic alliance with
the Shia guerrilla group Hizbullah over the past year and a half had
cost him support, as his detractors believe.

Both sides claimed victory, at first literally, then symbolically as
the dust cleared and the official results were announced. Aoun led
by only 418 votes.

But nonetheless, victory it was. Aoun overcame considerable obstacles
to beat former president Amin Gemayel in his own constituency to win
the seat left empty by his son Pierre’s assassination in November. The
Phalange party and militia founded by his father is based in the family
seat of Bikfaya, a mountain village perched high above the capital.

Gemayel conducted an emotional campaign flanked by photographs of his
son and other "martyrs" from Lebanese Christian ranks. Anti- Syrian
politicians and columnists queued up to accuse Aoun of stepping into
a dead man’s shoes.

Despite Aoun’s war against the Syrians at the tail-end of the civil
war and opposition to Syrian interference until it withdrew troops
in 2005, he was dubbed Syria’s man because Damascus supports his ally
Hizbullah. This was particularly significant because the US-backed 14
March movement blames Syria for a string of assassinations in Lebanon,
including that of Pierre Gemayel.

A Sunni seat was simultaneously contested in Beirut, following MP
Walid Eido’s assassination in a car bomb in June. As expected, the
Future Movement of Saad Al-Hariri, which dominates the government,
held on to it with ease.

But this, too, was hardly a resounding victory. Turn-out was a meagre
19 per cent in the majority Sunni area, and the opposition didn’t back
any candidate. Hizbullah’s decision not to back anyone for the Sunni
seat was most likely aimed at avoiding stirring Sunni-Shia tensions.

Both by-elections played out according to parochial politics, but at
heart was the usual struggle for Lebanon, said Paul Salem, head of the
Carnegie Endowment’s Middle East Centre in Beirut. "The Christians are
not the ones leading Lebanon, this was part of the stand-off between
the Sunni-dominated government, the Shia-led opposition and an array of
regional backers, the Iranians, the Saudis, the Americans and so on."

The elections passed more peacefully than expected, although two people
were treated for gunshot wounds in Metn. A wave of flags swept over
the mountains above Beirut while the army and security forces kept
rival groups apart.

The real drama began after polling stations closed, with both Aoun
and Gemayel delivering victory speeches and sending supporters to a
square east of Beirut to celebrate — divided by armoured personnel
carriers and soldiers.

Presidential hopeful Aoun’s win by such a slight margin showed a
significant drop in support from the 2005 election, shortly after the
Syrian withdrawal, when he commanded around 70 per cent of support
in Metn, Salem said. "Aoun can no longer claim to represent 70 per
cent of the Christians in the run-up to presidential elections," he
said. "That’s a chink in the opposition’s armour," he said, though
Aoun remains a strong Christian leader.

Salem said the low-turn out for Beirut’s second district was likely
because the victory of Future candidate Mohamed Amine Itani was a
foregone conclusion.

Karim Makdisi of the American University of Beirut said the poll laid
to rest the idea that Aoun no longer represented Christian voters,
despite the mobilisation of the "sympathy vote" for a bereaved father
and blatantly sectarian attempts to portray him as more a Shia and
Syrian choice than a Maronite one.

"Perhaps the most important outcome is that now the president cannot
really be chosen without at least Aoun’s approval. If he had lost,
14 March would just have been able to choose someone and push ahead
with their agenda," Makdisi said. Hariri and other anti-Syrian
leaders have threatened to appoint a president with the approval of
only half of the MPs, rather than the two-thirds quorum required by
the constitution. Public criticism even from prominent politicians
within 14 March ranks threw the attempt into doubt.

Although parochial and not a decisive blow, the Aoun by-election
combined with regional developments such as the Hamas victory in
Palestine and Israel’s failure to defeat Hizbullah last summer to
show that neo-conservative US foreign policy-makers cannot simply
impose their will, Makdisi said. "Aoun’s win will not stop the US and
Europe from vetoing someone they don’t like, but they’ll now have to
consult and go through the arduous campaign of finding a compromise
presidential candidate. Despite all the media and diplomatic support,
the US couldn’t even ensure their candidate’s by-election victory."

The defeat of the "House of Gemayel" was a nail in the coffin of
Lebanon’s traditional Maronite political class, Makdisi continued. The
Taif Accord that ended Lebanon’s 1975-90 Civil War transferred powers
from the once-strong Maronite president to the Sunni prime minister
and, to a lesser extent, the Shia parliamentary speaker. The war and
post-war period saw Lebanon’s traditional zuama landlord-leaders’ power
decline, especially among the Shia and Sunnis. Now, a new generation
of Maronites were also turning their backs on the past. "Gemayel
belongs to the old Maronite political class that rejects the idea
that its time is over," Makdisi said.

"This puts a dent in Gemayel’s resurgence as an elder statesman of
the Lebanese establishment."

Gemayel’s speech before the final results, with a silent Lebanese
Forces leader Samir Geagea at his elbow, was replete with gaffes. He
accused the Armenian Tashnag Party, which backed Aoun, of cheating and
called for the ballot in the largely Armenian quarter of Bourj Hammoud
to be cancelled. He himself had fared better "among Christians",
he said, accusing the Armenian party of trying to "impose its will
on the people of Metn" and implying the Armenians were neither proper
Lebanese nor true Christians. His ally MP Gabriel Al-Murr made similar
statements, and Hariri’s Mustaqbal newspaper concluded the next day
that Aoun had only won because of the Armenian vote, apparently
ignoring the fact that opportunistic alliances are a fixture of
Lebanese elections and helped propel the incumbents to power.

Gemayel’s comments drew a furious response from the Tashnag Party and
the Armenian clergy. "The irrational and heated statements delivered
by some Lebanese leaders are nothing but an outburst of anger that
showed the hatred they have been hiding for decades," Tashnag said
in a statement.

Gemayel committed a faux pas, says Karim Makdisi of the American
University in Beirut, but it was nonetheless an honest response from
the leader of the Phalange party, which participated in a number of
civil war massacres. "The Phalange is after all a very right-wing
Christian nationalist party that believes that the only real Lebanese
that count are the Maronites," he said.

AZERI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS KARABAKH TALKS DEADLOCKED

Turan news agency
3 Aug 07

Baku, 3 July: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and
the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, held
consultations at the Foreign Ministry in Baku today.

When commenting on the three-hour talks, Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov made an unexpected acknowledgement that the talks on the
Karabakh solution "have reached an impasse". The reason for this is
the position of Armenians who have been avoiding specifics recently.

Azimov views a stage-by-stage solution as a way out of the situation,
however, the Armenian side sabotages it.

Commenting on arms supplies to Armenia from Russia, Azimov said
that Russia "has to decide on" this matter. He said that European
countries are refusing to supply Armenia with weapons as was the case
with Albania.

BAKU DOES NOT RULE OUT POSSIBILITY OF RUSSIA SELLING ARMS TO ARMENIA

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug 3 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Araz Azimov, the
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, stated in Baku on 3 August that
Baku does not rule out the sale of arms to Armenia by Russia.

Azimov said that the cooperation between Armenia and Russia is at a
level of military alliance and they determine issues of defense and
military development. He was commenting on the possibility of the
Russian arms delivery to Armenia. He did not rule out the realization
of any joint policy occupation of between Armenia and Russian,
particularly, in the armament policy.

In case the announcement turns out to be true, Russia should realize
that the outcome could be unpleasant. The current situation in the
region requires the conflict sides to continue talks in accordance
with international standards. " Azerbaijan will not ignore armaments
from Armenia," he emphasized.

He recalled that from the efforts of the Azerbaijani diplomacy,
it was possible to prevent supplies to Azerbaijan by many countries.

"There is no country or enterprise in Europe delivering arms to
Armenia. Russia should make a choice, either cease the policy on
armaments of Armenia for a peaceful resolution to the conflict or
promote the commencement of a crisis in the region," Azmiov stressed.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus began in 1988
due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992, these
territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations

Boston Globe Editorial
A genocide not to be denied
August 3, 2007

THE ANTI-DEFAMATION League is caught in a controversy not of its making.
Still, as an organization concerned about human rights, it ought to
acknowledge the genocide against the Armenian people during World War I, and
criticize Turkish attempts to repress the memory of this historical reality.

Some members of Watertown’s Armenian-American community want the league, a
predominantly Jewish group that sponsors a No Place for Hate campaign in
that neighborhood, to condemn the genocide or end its sponsorship of the
campaign. Armenian-Americans are seeking recognition of the genocide in
Congress, and the ADL would seem like a natural ally. Its No Place for Hate
program has been successful nationally at improving relations across ethnic,
racial, and religious lines.

Armenian-Americans are frustrated that Turkey has failed to acknowledge the
1915-1916 genocide orchestrated by leaders of the Ottoman Empire,
predecessor to modern Turkey. "An end must be put to their existence," wrote
Talaat Pasha, the Ottoman interior minister, in 1915. In his 1918 memoir,
Henry Morgenthau, the US ambassador, wrote that "The whole history of the
human race contains no such horrible episode as this." Perhaps 1.5 million
people died.

The slaughter of the Armenians would be followed a generation later by the
Holocaust, a crime against humanity with a greater death toll. There is some
evidence that Hitler saw the genocide as a precedent for his atrocities.
This is disputed by those who falsely dismiss the Armenian slaughter as
exaggerated. In any case, the historical record needs to be affirmed.

The matter is complicated by ADL support for Israel, which needs to keep on
good terms with Turkey, one of its few friends in the Islamic world. But the
ADL is not an arm of Israel, and whatever it does will not affect Turkish
foreign policy.

Moreover, Turkey’s genocide denial is being used as one of the pretexts to
keep it out of the European Union. It would be in Turkey’s interest to
acknowledge the crime, apologize, and get this controversy out of the way.

"Facing History and Ourselves," the nonprofit educational organization,
pioneered study of the Holocaust in the public schools 30 years ago. Its
curriculum includes sections on the mistreatment of Chinese immigrants in
the United States, the Cambodian genocide of the 1970s, and — with
particular emphasis — the Armenian genocide. An outline of this section
concludes: "Following the First World War, an absence of political and moral
will dashed any hopes for justice."

The bloodshed in the Darfur region of Sudan is the first test of whether
genocide can be stopped in this century. Failure to acknowledge past
atrocities will encourage would-be perpetrators to believe they can get away
with them, just as the Ottoman Empire did.

© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

EXHIBITION ORGANIZED ON ACCASION OF 190TH ANNIVERSARY OF HOVHANNES AYVAZOVSKI IN INDIA

Noyan Tapan
Aug 2, 2007

DELHI, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An exhibition dedicated
to the 190th anniversary of marine artist Hovhannes Ayvazovski was
organized by the RA Embassy in India jointly with the Scientific and
Cultural Center of the Russian Federation on July 31. The duplicates
of the famous canvases of the great artist and other materials as
well were introduced during the exhibition.

Ashot Kocharian, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to India,
made an opening speech and presented details about the biography and
activities of Hovhannes Ayvazovski. Parag Shukla, a famous Indian
art critic and the special guest of this event, also made a speech.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Press
and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
representatives of the Indian government, those of the diplomatic
community accredited in New Dehli, as well as art critics were present
at the exhibition organized in the building of the RA Embassy.

The exhibition will be open for visitors until August 4.

IN ARMENIA, AN ANSWER TO THE KURDISH QUESTION
By Lydia Wilson / Armavir

TIME Magazine
/0,9171,1647219,00.html
July 26 2007

It’s 4 a.m. and the groom is tucking into what looks like raw trout,
stopping every now and then for a shot of vodka. He’s 25 and a
fledgling entrepreneur, flush with Russian money. The bride is 16
and a village girl. Earlier in the day, she arrived at the wedding
to a traditional Kurdish welcome – which in this part of Armenia
consists of being showered with red apples and sweets, hurled down
from a rooftop by her new husband’s drunken cohorts. But she has long
since left the party, and retired to the conjugal bed.

As we wait for our homeward taxi to arrive, we wonder, pityingly,
why her husband hasn’t joined her. Custom demands that the marriage be
consummated on the wedding night (and a red apple be presented to her
family on the morrow if the bride is found to be a virgin). "She’s
probably exhausted and just lying there waiting for him," whispers
my scandalized companion Nahro. But here’s the groom, heedlessly
drinking vodka with his friends, and with us – for we, too, are
pouring more shots.

In Armenia, there are rural, mountain-dwelling, poverty-stricken Kurds
and there are urbanized, lowland-living, comparatively wealthier
Kurds. We are sitting among the latter in the village of Argavand,
located in the province of Armavir on the Turkish border – and when
it comes to which group makes the better first impression, there’s no
contest. The lowland Kurds of Armavir mostly migrated to this region
during World War II and live as a tiny minority among the Armenians,
with whom relations are often strained. Racism and harassment are a
fact of daily life. Violence is common. Their religion, Yezidism,
has strong similarities to the Abrahamic religions of Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, yet is branded heretical by all three. All of
this means that the lowland Kurds can be a bit circumspect in the way
they carry themselves, and sometimes reticent about their ethnicity.

There’s none of that in the mountains. In fact, there’s not much
of anything in the mountains except snow and the cheery, forthright
welcome of a people who have hardly anything else to offer. The Alagyaz
district – a cluster of 11 Kurdish Yezidi villages – is just 50 km
from the Armenian capital Yerevan, but in terms of development it
might as well be a universe away, for the people there live a spartan
if not subsistence-level life. They moved to these mountains nearly
200 years ago – fleeing persecution in Turkey – and very little has
changed since. There is no running water; people and livestock live
under the same ramshackle roof; the schools are unheated and woefully
underequipped; and the only health care for miles around is provided
by a single nurse and clinic – funded not by the state but by private
donations, and responsible for everything from delivering babies to
pulling teeth. The state, in fact, is glaringly absent in many facets
of life. Perhaps this is the price the district pays for its open
sympathy for the militant separatist guerillas, the Partiya Karkeren
Kurdistan, or Kurdistan Workers’ Party – a sympathy that the Kurds
in Armavir would almost certainly not express if they shared it.

These political realities mirror the apparent social differences
between the lowland Kurds and their highland relations. Encounters
with the lowlanders are self-conscious and awkward, leaving me feeling
as if I’m on display; meetings with the highlanders are marked by
spontaneous warmth and the ready inclusion of the traveler in their
midst. The contrast strikes me hard as we sit in Argavand, waiting
for a taxi that seems like it will never arrive, and wondering for how
much longer the young groom will sit up drinking when he ought to be
in bed with his new wife. I recall an evening in the mountains, when
we were invited to the local schoolmaster’s for dinner, and I got out
my violin to learn some of the simple, beautiful Kurdish tunes. Before
long others joined in, and after a few more vodkas dancing started. It
all seems so remote from the morose gathering we now find ourselves in.

But the taxi does finally pull up outside. As we putter home, Nahro,
who understands the Kurmanci form of Kurdish, talks with the driver
about the groom’s reluctance to go to his bride on their wedding
night. The driver says something in reply and Nahro blanches. "What?

What is it?" I ask. Nahro translates: as well as consummation on the
wedding night, local custom equally stipulates that the groom not
leave the party until the last guest departs. So if anyone had been
forcing the bride to stare at the ceiling, waiting for her husband
during tonight’s lonely, agonizing hours, it was us. Suddenly, I’m
mortified by my own presumption. In fact, I want the night to swallow
me up – but dawn is already breaking.

BIPARTISAN DUO OF EX-CONGRESSIONAL HEAVYWEIGHTS BLOCKING ACTION AGAINST ETHIOPIA
By Ken Silverstein

Harper’s Magazine, NY

D epartment Washington Babylon
July 25 2007

There have been a series of accounts out of Ethiopia recently that
describe a nasty situation there, including a Human Rights Watch report
earlier this month that said the Ethiopian military had "forcibly
displaced thousands of civilians in the country’s eastern Somali
. . . while escalating its campaign against a separatist insurgency
movement." Government troops were "destroying villages and property,
confiscating livestock, and forcing civilians to relocate," according
to Peter Takirambudde, Africa director of Human Rights Watch. "Whatever
the military strategy behind them, these abuses violate the laws of
war." Eyewitness accounts offered to Human Rights Watch said Ethiopian
troops had been "burning homes and property, including the recent
harvest and other food stocks intended for the civilian population,
confiscating livestock and, in a few cases, firing upon and killing
fleeing civilians."

Despite that record, the Bush Administration views Ethiopia as an
important counterterrorism ally, especially given Ethiopia’s recent
involvement in Somalia, and annually provides the regime of Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi with hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.

But some in Congress have grown weary of abuses committed by Zenawi’s
government. Earlier this month a House subcommittee passed a bill
that would limit American aid to Ethiopia and ban government officials
linked to human rights abuses from coming to the United States. In the
Senate, Patrick Leahy of Vermont is seeking passage of a measure that
would review some of the military assistance that is being provided.

But two congressmen-turned-lobbyists-former House Majority Leaders
Richard Armey, the Republican from Texas, and Missouri Democrat Richard
Gephardt-are working hard to block full congressional action against
the Zenawi regime. The duo work with the firm of DLA Piper, which
federal disclosure records show is being paid at least $50,000 per
month by the Ethiopian government for "strategic advice and counsel."

In 2006, the House International Relations Committee approved the
Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act, which
criticized the government for its human rights record, called for it
to free jailed opposition leaders and restricted security assistance.

But the full House never voted on the bill. Two sources that follow
the issue-one a former Hill staffer and the other a lobbyist on
African affairs-tell me that Armey twisted the arm of then-House
Speaker Denny Hastert to ensure that it didn’t come up for a vote.

"Armey has a lot of influence over there," the former Hill staffer
said. "A lot of people in the GOP leadership owe their positions
to him."

Armey has no pull with the new Democratic leadership so now Gephardt
has apparently been called on to block full passage of this year’s
version of the bill. Gephardt, incidentally, also lobbies for the
government of Turkey (another Piper client to the tune of $100,000 per
month), as was recently detailed in a terrific New Republic piece in
which author Michael Crowley wrote about Gephardt’s efforts to stop
Congress from declaring as genocide the Turkish massacre of Armenians
during the early twentieth century:

A few years ago, [Gephardt] was a working-class populist who cast
himself as a tribune of the underdog-including the Armenians. Back
in 1998, Gephardt attended a memorial event hosted by the Armenian
National Committee of America at which, according to a spokeswoman
for the group, "he spoke about the importance of recognizing the
genocide." Two years later, Gephardt was one of three House Democrats
who co-signed a letter to then House Speaker Dennis Hastert urging
Hastert to schedule an immediate vote on a genocide resolution. "We
implore you," the letter read, arguing that Armenian-Americans "have
waited long enough for Congress to recognize the horrible genocide."

Today, few people are doing more than Gephardt to ensure that the
genocide bill goes nowhere. It’s one thing to flip-flop on, say,
tax cuts or asbestos reform. But, when it comes to genocide, you
would hope for high principle to carry the day.

Piper’s lobbyists have been working the "war on terrorism" angle hard,
arguing that even a hand-slap of Ethiopia for human rights abuses
will jeopardize its support in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

(And we all know what a smashingly successful collaboration that’s
been.)

I called Armey and Gephardt but never heard back from them. Piper did,
however, send me a statement which said:

The U.S. first established diplomatic relations with Ethiopia more than
a century ago and Ethiopia remains a close ally today, particularly
in the global war against terrorism. It is crucial for the United
States to have friends and allies in the strategically important
Horn of Africa region who are committed to democracy, stability
and moderation. The firm is assisting Ethiopia in strengthening
bilateral relations with the U.S., including increasing humanitarian,
economic and development assistance, expanding trade and investment
opportunities, and enhancing relationships with financial, academic
and public policy institutions.

I had heard that former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of
Maine, Chairman of the Global Board of Piper and Co-Chair of its
Government Controversies Practice Group, was also working on the
account. The firm’s statement said that Mitchell "has never lobbied or
done legal work on behalf of Ethiopia in connection with DLA Piper’s
representation." However, Piper declined to say whether Mitchell had
played a role in winning the Ethiopia deal or whether he was offering
strategic advice or playing some other role in the contract.

CONFERENCE "MEDIA AND DEMOCRATIZATION IN ARMENIA" TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 24 2007

YEREVAN, July 24. /ARKA/. A conference entitled "Media and
democratization in Armenia" is to be held in Yerevan on July 26, 2007.

The public relations department Konrad Adenauer Stitung, reports that
the representative of the Fund Michael Wintzer is to make a speech
at the opening of the conference. His speech will be followed by the
participants’ reports.

Among the speakers will be Director of the Caucasian Institute of Mass
Media Alexander Iskandaryan, who will delivered a report entitled
"Media development in Armenia and socio-political stability in the
state: media after elections"; representative of the Association
of Investigatory Journalists Laura Baghdasaryan, who will deliver a
report "Present-say mass media in Armenia: professional and ethical
standards"; Chairman of the National Press Club Narine Mkrtichyan,
who will deliver a report entitled "The public’s role in Armenia’s
democratization: media and NGOs".

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

July 24, 2007
___________________

DIOCESAN KHRIMIAN LYCEUM PROGRAM MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH TRIBUTE TO
NAMESAKE

One by one the students came forward to the front of New York City’s St.
Vartan Cathedral. As the teens approached the altar, their Azkahayrs and
Azkamayrs reiterated a pledge that they would continue their study of and
work for the Armenian Church. The powerful pledge was but a part of the
Azkatroshm graduation ceremony of the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum program.

The Khrimian Lyceum is a six-year course of study offered to graduates of
local Armenian Schools. Students study the Armenian faith, language,
heritage, and art. This year’s service marked the 20th anniversary of the
program, which in the past few years expanded to Boston with plans to grow
into Chicago.

It was also a celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the passing of
Catholicos Mgrdich Khrimian, the program’s namesake, and his contributions
to the Armenian Church and nation.

HONORING SUCCESS

During the graduation ceremony presided over by Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian
and held at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral on June 16, 2007, 11 young
students were honored. Also joining in the celebration was Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, dean of the cathedral.

"These students represent our future. Their dedication and devotion to our
faith and heritage will help strengthen our culture," said Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern). "The goal of this institution is to bring Armenian students
together to inspire and strengthen their hearts."

Each student rose to address the assembled friends and family, showcasing
their mastery of the Armenian language, before they themselves were honored
in tributes by Khrimian Lyceum teachers Shake Kadehjian and Janet Demirozu.

"As we mark 20 years of the Khrimian Lyceum, we thank our primate and the
teachers and the past director who have contributed to the religious and
cultural education of a generation of young Armenians," said Gilda
Buchakjian Kupelian, coordinator of Armenian studies at the Diocese.
"Through programs such as the Khrimian Lyceum, we’re encouraging young
Armenians to remember what distinguishes us Armenians from others. Our
church, nation, language — all of these elements are part of our shared
identity. It is up to us — teachers, parents, clergy, other adult mentors
— to inspire another generation that will not say ‘My parents are
Armenian,’ but rather say ‘I am Armenian’ and mean it."

MARKING 20 YEARS

Following the ceremony in the cathedral, the program moved to the Haik and
Alice Kavookjian Auditorium, where students participated in a Dagh u Daghant
cultural and artistic talent show. Many alumni were on hand to help
celebrate the program’s two decade anniversary. And a choir performed, led
by Maro Partamian and accompanied by Florence Avakian.

The students’ performances and artistic displays during the Dagh u Daghant
program focused on celebrating and honoring the life and work of Khrimian
Hayrig. Students read excerpts from his work in the original Armenian.
Displayed during the evening were portraits done by the students of Khrimian
Hayrig as well as artworks done in the style of famed Armenian artist
Martiros Sarian, created in art classes led by Susan Kirby.

The portraits of drawn by the students were used to create U.S. postage
stamps, which sold out almost as soon as they were printed.

HONORING A LEADER

The Khrimian Lyceum was started 20 years ago to honor Catholicos Mgrdich
Khrimian, affectionately called Khrimian Hayrig. This year marks the 100th
anniversary of his death. During his tenure, Khrimian Hayrig established
the Diocese in America.

Born in Van in 1820, Khrimian Hayrig served the Armenian people as a
teacher, writer, newspaper editor, poet, priest, dean of the Varak
Monastery, Patriarch of Constantinople, and Prelate of Van. In 1892, he was
chosen to serve Catholicos of All Armenians, a position he held until his
passing on October 27, 1907.

In 1878, at the request of Patriarch Nersess and the National Assembly,
Khrimian Hayrig donned his political hat to represent the Armenians at the
Congress of Berlin, with "great hopes that the Congress would bring peace to
the world and liberation to the small and oppressed nations, among which we
count ourselves."

His famous "Iron Ladle" sermon delivered upon his return to the Armenian
Cathedral in Constantinople drew the analogy of the big pot of herisseh
(stew) where all other nations partook their share with iron ladles.

"I drew near with the paper petition from the National Assembly, presented
it and asked that they fill my plate too with herisseh," said Khrimian
Hayrig. "Then, the officials standing before the bowl asked me, ‘Where is
your iron ladle? It is true that we are serving herisseh here, but he who
does not have an iron ladle cannot draw from it. Listen up. In the future,
if this herisseh is distributed, do not come without a ladle or you will
return empty handed.’"

"Dear Armenian people, Could I have dipped my paper ladle in the herisseh?
It would have become soggy and stayed there. There, where guns talk and
swords make noise, what significance do appeals and petitions have? And so,
dear and blessed Armenians .. above all, place the hope of your liberation
on yourself. Use your intellect and muscle! Man must toil himself in order
to be saved."

For more information on the Khrimian Lyceum in New York City, Boston, or
Chicago, contact Gilda Buchakjian Kupelian by calling (212) 686-0710 ext.
148 or via e-mail at [email protected].

— 7/24/07

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

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Graduates of the Khrimian Lyceum join their teachers,
Fr. Mardiros Chevian, and Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian during the graduation
ceremony on June 16, 2007, at New York City’s St. Vartan Cathedral. (Photo
by Berch Manukian)

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Khrimian Lyceum students perform in the Dagh u Daghant
program during the graduation festivities. (Photo by Berch Manukian)

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Khrimian Lyceum students recite in Armenian as a group
during the graduation celebration on June 16, 2007. (Photo by Berch
Manukian)

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Khrimian Lyceum graduate Deanna Gulmezian takes part in
graduation ceremonies with her Azkahayr and Azkamayr Shemavon and Nushig
Atamian. (Photo by Berch Manukian)

ARMENTEL COMPANY INTRODUCED BILLING FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATION USERS

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 23 2007

YEREVAN, July 23. /ARKA/. The ArmenTel Company has completed the
introduction of a billing system for cellular communication users
in Armenia.

ArmenTel’s public relations department reports that the novelty is
first if all expected to be beneficial to Easy Card users, offering
them a wider range of cellular communication services, including
different price lists.

>From July 19 cellular communication users can use the new service
by calling 0674 or sending an SMS.

By the end of 2006, ArmenTel had had 608,500 users of stationary
communication znc 452,000 users of cellular communication.