Author: Jagharian Tania

ARMENIAN AUTHOR PUBLISHES BOOK ON TURKISH EXPANSION IN GEORGIA
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

The Messenger, Georgia
July 19 2007

A new book on Georgian and Turkish economic relations, written by
an assistant professor at Yerevan State Institute of Economics,
was published in Moscow.

Ashot Egiazaryan’s "Georgia: Structural Problems of the Economy
and Turkish Economic Expansion (1994-2007)" claims that the current
Tbilisi administration looks at Turkey as an alternative to Russia
for trade and investment.

This warm reception gives Turkey an opportunity to widen its influence
in Georgia and the South Caucasus, writes the Armenian author.

Egiazaryan argues that the Caucasus and Central Asia are a priority
for Turkey’s foreign economic policy, reports the news agency Regnum,
with a strong focus on developing transit links across the continent.

Turkey reoriented its transit tactics in the early 90s, pushing for
new railways and increasing port infrastructure.

Istanbul is paying particular attention to the Kars-Akhalkalaki
railway, which is set to connect the South Caucasian rail networks
(notably bypassing Armenia), allowing for unimpeded rail transit from
Asia to Europe.

According to Egiazaryan, this railway will actually reduce Georgia’s
importance as a transcontinental transit state.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE AMBASSADOR OF CYPRUS

His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Cyprus to Lebanon H.E. Dr.
Kyriakos Kouros in Antelias on July 18. The Pontiff and the Cypriot diplomat
met for about an hour, discussing issues related to the current situation in
Lebanon and the Armenian community of Cyprus. The Catholicos also talked
about his initiative to reconcile two Christian Orthodox Church during his
recent visits to Ethiopia and Cairo.

Ambassador Kouros conveyed to the Catholicos the greetings of the new
Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, a personal
acquaintance of the Pontiff. The meeting also presented an opportunity to
discuss urgent issues related to the conflict in the Middle East.

;nid=148

—– —-

Utah

Girlfriend Allegedly Confesses to Stabbing Man to Death
April 6th, 2007 @ 10:00pm
Whit Johnson Reporting

A woman stabbed her boyfriend to death at a Weber County campground.
Investigators have the woman in custody but are still looking for answers.

The stabbing took place in South Fork Canyon at the Weber County Memorial
Campground. It’s about 20 miles west of Ogden off of State Road 39. The
campground is actually closed for the season, so investigators don’t know
why the group was there at all.

Apparently, after the stabbing the woman drove up the road to get some help.
She told U.S. Forest Service officers she had stabbed her boyfriend to
death. The man was found just outside the gate to the campground.

Captain Klint Anderson with the Weber County Sheriff’s office said, "We
found an adult male lying in front of the gate. He had been killed…Whether
it was self defense or not, that’s something they’ll have to determine. Of
course that plays a role in what we decide to do, whether charges are
appropriate or not."

Several children witnessed the stabbing. Police say their statements will be
vital in figuring out what happened.

"Children are especially vulnerable and impressionable, so it’s always
tragic if a child is a witness to an event like this, or any kind of violent
event," Captain Anderson said.

Thirty-four-year-old Monkika Dilmaghanian from Ogden has been charged with
one felony count of homicide. There has been some question as to the
possibility of this being self-defense, but that seems to be unlikely now.

The victim has not been identified as his family is still being notified.

lraper.org
THE PATRIARCH IN SAMATYA

On Sunday, 1 July 2007, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul and All Turkey, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the
Samatya St. George Armenian Church. Father Diran Reisyan led the
Divine Liturgy. The church was completely filled with
worshipers. Accompanying His Beatitude the Patriarch were his personal
guard, Ergun Karagoz, and a member of the Security Branch, Bora
Baloglu.

ion=DisplayNews&NewsCode=N000001985&Lang=E NGSERMON
Preaching just prior to the Lord’s Prayer, His Beatitude the Patriarch
spokeas follows.`He put before them another parable: `The kingdom of
heaven may be comparedto someone who sowed good seed in his field; but
while everybody was asleep,an enemy came and sowed weeds among the
wheat, and then went away. So whenthe plants came up and bore grain,
then the weeds appeared as well. And theslaves of the householder came
and said to him, `Master, did you not sowgood seed in your field?
Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ Heanswered, `An enemy has
done this.’ The slaves said to him, `Then do youwant us to go and
gather them?’ But he replied, `No; for in gathering theweeds you would
uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them growtogether until
the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers,Collect the
weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gatherthe wheat
into ! my barn.’ ‘ ` (Matt 13:24-30)After reading the passage from
the Gospels, His Beatitude the Patriarchcontinued as follows. `My Dear
Community, this parable of Our Lord JesusChrist concerns the Kingdom
of God. When living in this transient world thebeliever sometimes is
sometimes tested by evil. What is important is not tobe influenced or
come under the sway of bad things. In the parable the ownerof the
field is the Lord God. He sees both what the good and what the
evildo. Before the harvest The Owner of the Field does not want to
separate outthe evil ones. But when it is harvest time, the evil ones
will be sent toHell to burn in eternal torture, while those who are
good, who do what theycan to live according to the Lord’s will, will
go to Heaven. The definitionof the ones who are good is those people
who live by the Lord’s will. We cangive some examples as needed in
regard to the Lord’s will.`Do not think that I have come to abolish
the law or the prophets; I havecome not to abolish b! ut to
fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven andearth pass away, not
one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass fromthe law until
all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of theleast of
these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will becalled
least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teachesthem
will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt 5:17-19)`You
have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, `You shall
notmurder’; and `whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I
say to youthat if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be
liable tojudgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be
liable to thecouncil; and if you say, `You fool’, you will be liable
to the hell of fire.So when you are offering your gift at the altar,
if you remember that yourbrother or sister has something against you,
leave your gift there beforethe altar and go; first be reconciled to
your brother or sister, and ! then come and offer your gift. Come to
terms quickly with your accuser while youare on the way to court with
him, or your accuser may hand you over to thejudge, and the judge to
the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. TrulyI tell you, you
will never get out until you have paid the last penny.'(Matt
5:21-26)`You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit
adultery.’ But I sayto you that everyone who looks at a woman with
lust has already committedadultery with her in his heart. If your
right eye causes you to sin, tear itout and throw it away; it is
better for you to lose one of your members thanfor your whole body to
be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causesyou to sin, cut it
off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose oneof your members
than for your whole body to go into hell. It was also said,`Whoever
divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ButI
say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground
ofunchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a
divorcedwoman commits adultery.’ (Matt 5:27-32)`Again, you have heard
that it was said to those of ancient times, `Youshall not swear
falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’But I say
to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is thethrone of
God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem,for it
is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for
youcannot make one hair white or black.7Let your word be `Yes, Yes’ or
`No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’ (Matt
5:33-37)`You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a
tooth for atooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if
anyone strikesyou on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if
anyone wants to sue youand take your coat, give your cloak as well;
and if anyone forces you to goone mile, go also the second mile. Give
to everyone who begs from you, anddo not refuse anyone who wants to
borrow from you.’ (Matt 5:38-42)“You have heard that it was said,
`You shall love your neighbor and hateyour enemy.’ But I say to you,
Love your enemies and pray for those whopersecute you, so that you may
be children of your Father in heaven; for hemakes his sun rise on the
evil and on the good, and sends rain on therighteous and on the
unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, whatreward do you
have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if yougreet only
your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?Do not
even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as yourheavenly
Father is perfect.’ (Matt 5:43-48)`Do you not know that wrongdoers
will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do notbe deceived! Fornicators,
idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes,sodomites, thieves, the
greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers – none of thesewill inherit the
kingdom of God.’ (1 Cor 6:9-10)His Beatitude the Patriarch encouraged
the entire congregation with these words: `Let us trust in our
Lord. God is true to His Word. May God’s graceand blessings be with
us. Let God equip each of us with His gifts. Amen.’After the sermon
most of the worshippers came forward to share in the Lord’s Table.

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
80 Maiden Lane, S-301,
New York, NY 10038
T/1-212-689-5307
F/1-212-689-5317
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

The 16th Meeting of Armenia Fund Board of Trustees Convenes in Yerevan

NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund is pleased to announce that the 16th
meeting of Armenia Fund Board of Trustees convened in Yerevan on June 19,
2007. Chaired by President Robert Kocharian, the meeting opened with the
spirit of the Fund’s 15th anniversary and an acknowledgement of the
importance of the organization in carrying out nation-building tasks since
the birth of the independent Armenian Republic. `Armenia Fund is a most
important institution uniting Armenians in the homeland and in the Diaspora,
and has brought together the efforts of all the segments of our people
vis-à-vis pan-national tasks and goals for one-and-a-half decades now. For
this, I congratulate the Fund on its 15th Anniversary’, President Kocharian
addressed the audience.

Led by the prayers of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All-Armenians,
the session began with a review of the completed projects for the past year
and approved the undertakings of the coming year. An end-of-the-year
statement of the Fund’s activities was introduced with its various programs
and results. Rebirth of Artsakh Regional Development Program was assessed as
contributing significantly to the economic upsurge of Nagorno-Karabakh and
the well-being of its people.

As a natural development of the Fund’s mandate, Armenia Fund affiliates
adopted the Rural Development Program to extend the comprehensive
infrastructure and economic development to Armenia’s villages.
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, member of the Board of Trustees, presented
to the representatives of all affiliates of the Fund with an overview of the
Rural Development Program – its mission, objectives and approaches in
partnership with individuals, Diaspora organizations, local Armenian NGOs,
international organizations, as well as individual countries. An agreement
was reached by all the affiliates to continue the regional development
program already in place in the Mardakert and Hadrut regions of Karabakh and
to expand it into Martuni. At the same time, Rural Development Program will
begin with a cluster of villages in Tavush region of Armenia. Minister
Oskanian, later appointed to be the coordinator of the Rural Development
Program by the Board, noted that this program will complement the Armenian
Government’s efforts in this area. There are already several dozen
individuals and organizations ready to sponsor specific infrastructure and
economic needs of each village. The leadership of the Fund acknowledged that
this is a complex program with noble goals, and joining efforts is a
prerequisite for success.

The Board of Trustees’ of Armenia Fund approved Vahe Aghabekiants as
Executive Director of the Fund. Mr. Aghabekiants succeeded Ms. Naira
Mekloumian who had served for nearly four years in the position leading the
organization into one of its most significant phases and having had great
input in its growth.

Mr. Aghabekiants, an engineer by training, has served as advisor to Foreign
Minister Oskanian since 1999. In the last 18 months, he has worked
specifically on the conceptualization and planning of the Rural Development
Program. Born in Tehran, Mr. Aghabekiants was educated in the U.S. where he
established several successful businesses in the IT sector serving Fortune
500 companies. `I believe in the mission of Armenia Fund. This is the unique
institution that can make it possible for Armenians around the world to
contribute to Armenia’s development. I am one of those lucky Diasporans that
dreamed about an independent Armenia, and today have the opportunity to help
turn that Armenia into the land of our dreams’, he says.
The affiliates of Armenia Fund also discussed the preparatory works for the
Annual Armenia Fund Telethon to be held on Thanksgiving Day, November 22,
2007. The Telethon will feature the 15th Anniversary of Armenia Fund
presenting the organization’s successes in changing countless lives in
Armenia and Karabakh.

An important highlight of the Trustees’ meeting was a reward ceremony during
which several individuals were awarded with Anania Shirakatsi medals for
their devotion, leadership and valuable service to the Fund. Kevork Toroyan
was among the awardees, and was handed the medal by President Kocharian..
Mr. Toroyan chaired Armenia Fund USA’s Board of Directors for several years,
and has been closely involved with the planning and implementation of the
Agricultural Initiative, the economic underpinning of Regional Development
Program in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Initiative proved successful in creating
jobs and raising family income of small farming communities in more than 21
villages in Karabakh.

Raffi Festekjian succeeded Mr. Toroyan as chairman of Armenia Fund USA in
January, 2007. Mr. Festekjian headed the Fund’s participation to the 16th
meeting of the Board of Trustees. `We have had a very productive exchange of
ideas and opportunities. Armenia Fund is given a strategic task –
revitalization of Armenia’s villages. Today, we can build on our 15-year
experience of nation-building and make rural areas a great place to live and
raise a family. The Rural Development Program is a complex initiative, but
together we can meet these challenges. I call upon the Diaspora, supporters
and friends of Armenia Fund to join efforts and help us develop rural
Armenia one village at a time, and assist in creating the `Armenian Dream’.
Our vision is for Armenia to become an economically independent and
competitive nation where its citizens’ aspirations can be fulfilled and
dreams realized’, said Mr. Festekjian after the meeting.

The Armenia Fund Trustees’ meeting closed with an agenda full of new
undertakings and collaborations. The annual meeting elected National
Assembly President Tigran Torosyan and Prime Minister Serge Sargsian ex
officio members of the Board of Trustees.

The year 2007 marks the 15th Anniversary of Armenia Fund – a pillar
organization created after Armenia’s independence and mandated with the
vital task of uniting all Armenians around the world to direct efforts
toward development and revival of the nation. For 15 years the Fund, with
its 20 affiliates across the globe, has touched countless lives in Armenia
and Karabakh. Combining aid, development and direct investment, Armenia Fund
has engaged Armenia’s leaders, its people and the worldwide Diaspora to
promote education, create jobs, improve public health and develop
infrastructure, among other critical humanitarian needs. Today, Armenia
Fund’s contributions to social and economic prosperity of Armenia and
Karabakh are unprecedented.
The 15th Anniversary of Armenia Fund is a celebration of the past, present
and future of the Armenian people. It is a celebration of overcoming
challenges by working together. Above all, it is a celebration of humanity,
courage and hope.

Boxing: SPORTS WIRE – Carl takes a Euro beating

The Mirror
Published: Jul 14, 2007

CARL JOHANNESON’S revenge bid against big-punching Armenian Leva
Kirakosyan went badly wrong in Barnsley last night when the man from
Leeds was rescued in the fourth round by the French referee after being
knocked down four times.

Johanneson, stopped in one by Kirakosyan in 2004, was always on the
receiving end against the European super-featherweight champion and was
treated on the ring floor by paramedics after the finish.

Police seek suspect in fatal hit-and-run BY EUGENE TONG, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
Last Updated: 07/13/2007 09:50:15 PM PDT

GLENDALE – Police are looking for a man believed to be involved in a
hit-and-run crash that killed a 24-year-old woman earlier this week,
but their efforts were stymied Friday when an automaker refused to
cooperate with investigators trying to locate the suspect’s car.

Police said Ara Grigoryan, 21, of Glendale is a "person of interest"
who matches witness descriptions of the man behind the wheel of the
black Mercedes-Benz sedan that struck and killed Elizabeth Sandoval on
Tuesday.

Grigoryan is described as about 5-foot-9, with black hair and brown
eyes.

Sandoval was crossing the street at Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road
at 9:45 p.m.

Police identified the car as a 2003 black four-door Mercedes S430
sedan with a California license plate of O7TT777. It has front-end
damage.

The car is registered to one of Grigoryan’s relatives, but he has been
cited for seven traffic violations over two years while driving the
car, police spokesman John Balian said. They include failure to yield
to pedestrians and three cases of speeding.

Police attempted to locate the car by requesting Mercedes-Benz
activate the vehicle’s onboard tracking system.

Many recent model luxury cars are equipped with global-position
systems, allowing the vehicles to be located if they are
stolen. Police presented two separate court orders Friday, but
attorneys at the German automaker’s North American headquarters in New
Jersey refused to comply.

"It’s one of the most frustrating thing to ever occur in my 35 years
in law enforcement," Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams said. "We’re
very disappointed we haven’t received their cooperation. If the GPS
was activated, we could pinpoint the vehicle in a matter of moments."

A message left with Frank Berenz, an attorney representing
Mercedes-Benz, was not immediately returned Friday.

The Glendale City Council is expected to approve a $10,000 reward for
information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the hit-and-run
suspect.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich will also be
asking for another $10,000 reward to be provided by the county.

Anyone with any information can call the Glendale Police Department at
(818) 548-4840. They can also call the Glendale Crime Stoppers
anonymous hotline at (818) 507-7867.

[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])
(818) 546-3304

OSCE OFFICE SUPPORTS PUBLICATION OF DIRECTORY OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
12.07.2007 17:53

An OSCE-supported book with information on the platforms, activities
and goals of all political parties in Armenia will be presented in
Yerevan tomorrow.

The publication was developed by the Civil and Social Development
Foundation with support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan and USAID
Counterpart International’s Civic Advocacy Support Programme in
Armenia.

The directory is available in Armenian and English and has a
circulation of 800 copies. It will be distributed among political
parties, NGOs, media and the public. An electronic version of the book
as well as the electronic database of political parties is available
online at

"This directory provides comprehensive, accurate, impartial
and up-to-date information on all registered political parties
in Armenia. It not only serves to raise public awareness on the
political platforms, but also contributes to enhancing accessibility,
responsibility and accountability of parties in Armenia," said Marc
Bojanic, the Acting Head of the Office in Yerevan.

Ahead of the May 2007 National Assembly Elections, the OSCE Office
in Yerevan has also supported publishing a shorter version of this
directory.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION URGED RUSSIA AND USA NOT TO INTERFERE IN KOSOVO PROCESS

Yerkir
12.07.2007 17:09

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The European Commission called on sooner end to the
process of determining the status of Kosovo. European commissioner for
Enlargement Olly Rehn made this statement during the plenary session
of the European Parliament on behalf of the organization on Wednesday.

"Dragging out the process of determining the status of Kosovo leads
us to nowhere. It only increases the risk of instability in Kosovo,
continues Serbia’s agony and slows down region’s movement towards
the European Union," he underscored. "Kosovo is a deeply European
issue and Serbia must become an EU part. Neither Russia nor the USA
is so directly touched with events in the Balkans like Europeans. Only
Europe will have to pay for failure of the process," O. Rehn said.

"We cannot allow followers of hard line policy to prevail, the Balkans
and Europe would have to sup consequences of it," the commissioner
stressed. He called on Serbia to "play a constructive role", as well
as other participants of the process to avoid from unilateral actions,
let it be declarations on Kosovo’s independence or threats to use
veto power in UN security Council, Vesti reports.

VARDAN MALKHASYAN DID NOT FIND HIMSELF GUILTY AND SAID THAT POLITICAL PUNISHMENT IS CARRIED OUT OVER HIM

arminfo
2007-07-11 14:59:00

"I do not find myself guilty as I have ponderable proofs which tell
about the political punishment being carried out against us", activist
of the movement "Union of Armenian Volunteers" Vardan Malkhasyan,
charged with calls to forcible overthrow of the constitutional system,
said at today’s sitting of the court.

He said it is quite apparent that there are people in the country’s
leadership who esteem themselves higher of all the laws and legal
propositions, and "as a result of their criminal inclinations, me and
my team- mates have been under illegal arrest over 8 months already".