Author: Jilavian Emma

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: NAGORNO KARABAKH PEOPLE~RS CHOICE IS NOT SUBJECT TO CASSATION

DeFacto.am, Armenia
Sept 2 2005

RA President Robert Kocharyan circulated a message in connection with
the 14th Anniversary of NKR independence.

The message runs in particular: “We celebrate the 14th Anniversary
of independence of Artsakh reaffirming our commitment to the ideas
of freedom and democracy.

Historic choice made by the people of Artsakh is irrevocable. This
is proved by the strengthening of its army, state structures, and
economic progress and, overall, by the very existence of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.

The Republic of Armenia is and will always be the unshakable safe
guarder of Artsakh. We will do our best to bring closer a fair
resolution of the NK problem, remaining committed to the principles
of the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue”, runs the
RA President’s message.

GAREGIN II CONGRATULATES STUDENTS, TEACHERS ON NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

ARKA News Agency
Sept 1 2005

YEREVAN, September 1. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II
congratulated Armenia’s teachers and students on a new academic year.
In his congratulatory message Garegin II said that on the occasion
of the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet, which is to be
celebrated in Armenia this year, the new academic year acquires a
special sense. Garegin II snet his blessings to teachers and students
and wished them success in the new academic year. P.T.

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

August 31, 2005
___________________

ACYOA MEMBERS HELP YOUNG KIDS, STRENGTHEN THEIR CONNECTION TO HOMELAND

By Christine Williames, age 18
Parishioner of the Holy Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA

Twenty-six young adults gathered on June 21, 2005, for a pilgrimage that
would last three and a-half weeks and change their lives forever. We
were taking part in the Armenian Service Project (ASP), a program run by
the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA).

Through the trip, we young Armenian Americans would discover what it was
like to walk in the footsteps of our grandparents, great-grandparents,
and figures from the Bible as we journeyed, many for the first time,
into the historic land of our ancestors.

LANDING HOME

Having traveled 11 hours on the plane from New York to Yerevan, via
Prague, yawns and murmurs filled the cabin of the plane as we arrived.
Looking out the window from far above in the vast, ashen sky, the lights
of the capital city illuminated the ground like a thousand shimmering
stars. We were wide awake now, filled with wonder, fascination,
excitement, and fear of the unexpected.

Once all the bags were claimed, we traveled to the hotel, where we were
greeted with a warming sight. “Our rooms were assigned, and we went up
to settle in. My room has a beautiful view of Mount Ararat,” said
Adrienne Ashbahian from the St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ.

The next morning, flinging open the curtains, we saw the sun’s rosy
fingers stretched over the mountain peaks, birds in flight singing in
ageless voices, and an ancient town nestled in the emerald mountains.
We realized we were far away from home.

TRAVELING TO THE PAST

After breakfast on our first day, the “Great Green Machine” — a.k.a.
our green tour bus — arrived to carry us to one of the most
heartbreaking sites in Armenia: the Genocide Memorial. As we entered
its underground museum, it felt as though we were entering a tomb. We,
children of the diaspora, learned important lessons that day. We
grasped the reasons, and methods of the Genocide, and learned how our
grandparents and great-grandparents managed to escape. We are indeed
the greatest survivors on earth; and that we should be proud of who we
are.

Outside the museum, at the eternal flame, prayers were said to comfort
the souls of the fallen, and to let them know that even though they are
with our Almighty Father, their efforts and lives have not been wasted,
and that we are the product of their sacrifices.

SEEING TODAY’S ARMENIA

Along such reminders of the past, we also witnessed Armenia’s present
during a stop to Yerevan’s Children’s Reception and Orientation Center,
run by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). At the center, we were hit
by the harsh reality of life in a developing nation like Armenia.

We met children who lived on the streets with no family or friends and
very little money. One 9-year-old boy touched the heartstrings of our
group. His named is Yoni. Every few days we would run into him and buy
the items he was selling then buy him treats. In his shimmering,
youthful eyes we saw ourselves at that age and thought: “What is it like
to go hungry at night? To have nothing of what we have? What is it like
to be in his shoes?” We could only imagine the answers.

SPENDING TIME AT CAMP

After touring many of Armenia’s historic sites, we traveled to Camp
Siranoosh, where we met dozens of Armenian children from various parts
of the country. Our time serving as counselors there gave us a chance
to learn Armenian, the way they lived, and how they played. In turn, we
taught them how to play hopscotch and American football, American hand
games, and some English. All of us came out of camp with a deeper
appreciation for the shower, the washing machine, and beds without bugs.

After days working at the camp, our final four days in Armenia seemed
incredibly sad. We knew we would miss being together as a group. But
we were able to smile with the knowledge that we all had grown closer
together in such a short time. We had experienced something incredible
and knowing that we hugged and said our goodbyes. But they were more
like “see you laters,” for this group will never be able to truly say
goodbye. Not after what we’ve seen together.

— 8/31/05

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

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants in the Armenian Service Project (ASP)
2005 look out across their Armenian homeland.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Members of the ASP trip, organized by the Armenian
Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA), with some of the campers
at Camp Siranoosh.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Karinne Hovnanian, a participant in the 2005 ACYOA
ASP trip, is greeted by a young Armenian.

# # #

GOVERNMENT REGULATORY UPHOLDS ITS DECISION TO FINE ARMENTEL

Armenpress

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: A government-affiliated commission
for protection of economic competition upheld yesterday its August 12
decision to fine ArmenTel telephone operator company $400,000 for the
more than month-long breakdown of its network that caused widespread
anger among its nearly 300,000 subscribers from June 30 to July 10.

The ruling came in retaliation to ArmenTel August 26 complaint. The
commission ruled yesterday that the Greek-owned company, which
maintains its legal monopoly on fixed-line telephony and Internet
services in Armenia, has abused its “dominant position” in the
cellphone business. ArmenTel will have to pay the fine within one day
after it receives the commission’s decision, otherwise the commission
said it will take the case to court.

In the meantime ArmenTel telephone operator has denied today rumors
that it is going to switch off cellphone communication for ten days
offering all its clients instead a 5,000 drams worth compensation
for further conversations. A spokeswoman for the operator, said the
company is working to improve the quality of communication which will
‘once and for ever improve in a couple of weeks.”

She also confirmed that the operator is going to ask transport and
communication minister ‘to balance the tariffs for fixed telephone
lines,” which may implicate that ArmenTel is going to raise them.

SOCCER-ARMENIA NAME SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Reuters
Aug 29, 2005

YEREVAN, Aug 29 (Reuters) – Armenia’s Dutch coach Henk Wisman named the
following 25-man squad for World Cup, European Group One qualifiers at
home to the Netherlands on September 3 and away to the Czech Republic
four days later:

Goalkeepers: Roman Berezovsky (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Edela Bete
(Pyunik Yerevan), Gevorg Kasparov (Mika Ashtarak)

Defenders: Arutyun Vardanyan (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Karen Dokhoyan
(Krylya Sovietov Samara, Russia), Sarkis Hovsepyan, Alexander
Tadevosyan, Agvan Mkrtychyan, Rafael Nazaryan, Valery Aleksanyan and
Robert Arzumanyan (all Pyunik Yerevan), Egishe Melikyan (Metalurg
Donetsk, Ukraine)

Midfielders: Karen Aleksanyan and David Grigoryan (both Pyunik
Yerevan), Ararat Arakelyan and Samvel Melkonyan (both Banants Yerevan),
Romik Khachatryan (OFI Crete, Greece), Aram Voskanyan (Esil-Bogatyr
Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan), Hamlet Mkhitaryan (MTZ-RIPO Minsk, Belarus)

Forwards: Edgar Manucharyan (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Armen
Shakhgeldyan (Pyunik Yerevan), Nshan Erzrumyan (Kilikia Yerevan),
Aram Akopyan (Banants Yerevan), Ara Akopyan (Stal Alchevsk, Ukraine),
Galust Petrosyan (Zimbru Chisinau, Moldova).

GIBRAHAYER BURY FAMILY OF AIR TRAGEDY
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Gibrahayer. Nicosia 30 August 2005. The Armenian community of Cyprus
bid a final farewell to four victims of the air tragedy of August 14
on Saturday 27 August 2005. Hagop and Hilda Tutundjian and their two
sons Ara (16) and Baret (12) were buried in a family grave in the new
Armenian Cemetery. The funeral ceremony of the Tutundjian family,
which took place at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church last Saturday was a
shocking experience. It was an early goodbye of a family that lived
amongst us. In the biggest tragedy after the Turkish invasion the
participation of our community in the common losses of our homeland was
again proportionately far bigger than our numbers. The community was
dumbfounded and the collective trauma of its new loss will perhaps stay
with us every day of our life. The funeral procession was concluded
with the words of Archbishop Hergelian, former Nareg School Principal
Vartan Tashdjian and Hagop Tutundjian’s former AYMA football club’s
team-mate, Director of Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos’s Office,
Marios Garoyian. However, words are so inadequate at times like this.

The coffins lay side by side unable to respond to the thousands of
“whys” that echoed endlessly with the sobbing mourners, bringing
comfort to no one. All we could do was cry. Throughout Saturday I
thought of multiple coffin processions. The first one was in 1983 when
the Lisbon boys were being buried amid almost “joyful” celebrations
and machine-gun fire in Beirut. In 1991 we escorted the first four
freedom fighters of Gedashen in a public funeral at Opera Square in
Yerevan, that resembled more like a demonstration of hope, commitment
and victory. Then too, all we could do was cry… but we were not sad.

Mourning the victims of an accident or air crash as this one, is
empty in meaning. Unlike the deaths of martyrs of a national cause,
it is much more difficult to overcome. For the family, friends
and the Armenian community of Cyprus that loved the Tutundjians,
it probably will be IMPOSSIBLE to overcome. There is however an
important deed we can all engage into. The Tutundjian family have
created the Tutundjian Fund that will be assisting community students
in their quest for better education. Perhaps we can take comfort in
their loss by knowing that their memories will be best cherished by
contributing to the Tutundjian Fund. In these times that we all feel
helpless, perhaps we can best ease the pain of losing our loved ones
by helping surviving students in the land of the living. After all,
both Hagop and Hilda were committed in the cause of better education
of the young generation of our community in the Melkonian Alumni,
Nareg Committee and Sunday School. May they rest in peace.

PARIS AND BERLIN DENT TURKEY’S EU HOPES By George Parker in Brussels,
Bertrand Benoit in Berlin and John Thornhill in Paris. August 26,
2005 Turkey’s hopes for a smooth start to European Union membership
talks on October 3 were Friday shaken by separate warning shots from
France and Germany. Jacques Chirac, France’s president, on Friday
appeared to throw up a new hurdle to the start of talks, suggesting
that Turkey needed to recognise Cyprus. Meanwhile Angela Merkel,
the German conservative leader widely expected to become chancellor
in next month’s elections, repeated her demand that Turkey could
settle for a “privileged partnership” short of full membership. The
prospect of Ms Merkel and Mr Chirac placing obstacles in the path
of the Turks would be a huge setback for Ankara but would be in tune
with public opinion in Germany and France, where opposition to Turkish
membership is strong. It would also be a headache for Tony Blair, UK
prime minister, holder of the rotating EU presidency, who insists the
talks must start on schedule on October 3. British officials noted with
concern Mr Chirac’s criticisms of Turkey on Friday. Until now he has
been one of the few French politicians backing Ankara’s membership bid.

Mr Chirac’s spokesman said Turkey’s refusal to recognise the state of
Cyprus “poses political and legal problems and is not in the spirit
expected of a candidate to the union”. The comments echo those of
Dominique de Villepin, France’s prime minister, who said it was
“inconceivable” the EU would open accession talks with Turkey if
it did not recognise another EU member state. Both London and the
European Commission stressed yesterday that Turkish recognition of
Cyprus was not one of the conditions laid down to Ankara for the
start of talks at an EU summit in June. If France insists that
Turkey backs down and Ankara refuses, Paris could theoretically
veto the adoption of the negotiating framework needed to start
talks. “We don’t know where Chirac is going on this,” admitted one
British official. Turkey has made its own position more difficult by
issuing a declaration confirming its refusal to recognise the Cyprus
government and calling for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus
dispute. Ms Merkel reiterated her opposition to Turkish membership
when she called on EU leaders to include a “privileged partnership”
a beefed-up trade agreement as an alternative goal in their accession
talks with Turkey. In a letter addressed to 10 conservative heads of
government, Ms Merkel called for a modification of the Commission’s
proposed framework for the talks, which spells out full membership
as the only goal. Ms Merkel, who opinion polls suggest will succeed
Gerhard Schroder as chancellor at next month’s election, is seeking to
influence a meeting of Europe’s foreign ministers convened to discuss
Turkey’s bid next Thursday in south Wales. The European Commission
says the prospect of membership talks failing they could last a decade
or more is already countenanced in a draft negotiating statement saying
the talks are “open-ended” and not certain to succeed. “We are pretty
sure the voice of reason will prevail at the end and that we will be
able to get through this difficult period,” a Turkish official said.

RECOMMENDED SITES

DALLAS MORNING NEWS
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20cb9aae.html_ .

( /religion/stories/082005DNrel-armenian.20cb9aae.ht ml)
ARMENIKA

_www.armenica.org_ ()

Journal of Turkish Weekly Attacks Appo Jabarian, Managing Editor of
USA Armenian Life Magazine _
() #

TIME’S CHIEF EDITOR CLAIMS MAGAZINE WAS DUPED BY TURKS

August 23, 2005. The June 6, 2005 issue of the European edition of
TIME magazine included a DVD as a paid ad. The DVD had a 70-minute
segment that completely denied and distorted the facts of the Armenian
Genocide. In the same issue, along with the DVD, TIME ran a four-page
ad, placed by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, promoting tourism
in Turkey. In an earlier column, I pointed out that the 70-minute
“documentary” was hidden behind several other segments on the DVD all
of which dealt with tourism. This revisionist DVD created a worldwide
uproar against TIME for acting as a conduit for Turkish distortions.

In response to complaints from many readers, TIME printed in the
June 20, 2005 issue of its European edition the following letter:
“I was rather disappointed to see a DVD in your magazine [June 6]
accompanying a Turkish ad that portrayed Armenians as terrorists
and the Armenian genocide as a myth. TIME has a good reputation for
unbiased reporting. The DVD is an insult to all Armenians across
the world.” The letter was signed by Gagik Mikaelian, Chicago, Ill.

The editors of TIME added the following note to that letter: “TIME
is an independent newsmagazine and does not endorse the views of
any organization or government. We regret any offense caused by
the advertisements.” Given the gravity of the offense committed
by TIME, this brief letter and the briefer response fell far short
of what is expected, particularly in view of the fact that TIME¹s
European edition had violated anti-racism and genocide denial laws
of several European countries, besides offending the sensibilities
of its readers. Simon Maghakyan of Colorado was so offended with
TIME’s denialist DVD that he sent a letter of complaint to Norman
Pearlstine, the Editor-in-Chief of TIME, Inc. After receiving no
answer to his several letters, Mr. Maghakyan fired off an angry
e-mail to Mr. Pearlstine, making a parallel between the sending of
the Turkish DVD to distributing Nazi propaganda. That e-mail got
Mr. Pearlstine’s attention. He sent the following reply, making this
interesting and important revelation: “We have, of course, apologized
in the magazine for accepting a DVD whose contents were different from
what we had been led to believe they would be.” Regardless of whether
the Editor-in-Chief of TIME is being honest in his assertion that the
magazine’s executives were misled by Turks, such an admission opens the
door for Armenians to ask that TIME now redress the damage it caused
by disseminating the Turkish DVD to 500,000 subscribers in more than
a dozen European countries. In an earlier column, I suggested that
TIME take the following 6 steps to make up for its grave error:

1) Publish a real apology for disseminating this fraudulent DVD 2)
Issue a formal memo to all its divisions around the world not to accept
this DVD as an insert (the Ankara Chamber of Commerce has announced its
intention to place the same DVD in TIME¹s Asian and Pacific editions)
3) Issue a written warning to all its advertising executives not to
accept any more ads from Turkish entities that deny the Armenian
Genocide (just as they would not run an ad that denies the Jewish
Holocaust and glorifies Hitler; the New York Times recently rejected
an ad from Turkish organizations denying the Armenian Genocide) 4)
Destroy the extra 116,000 copies of this DVD that are still in TIME’s
possession 5) Agree to insert and disseminate free of charge a DVD,
prepared by a reputable research institute, on the Armenian Genocide 6)
Donate the payment it received from the Turkish Chamber of Commerce
for this ad to an Armenian charity

After admitting that TIME magazine ran an ad that it shouldn’t
have, Mr. Pearlstine must now meet with Armenian community leaders
to discuss the next steps in order to avoid a costly and embarrassing
lawsuit in several European countries and a loss of subscribers as
well as advertisers in the U.S. and other parts of the world!

By Harut Sassounian; publisher, The California Courrier

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Alternately, you can call the PANDA office in Cyprus at 22 441514
or email [email protected] YOUR EMAILS Dear Simon, It is
with deep sorrow that we learned of the death of our dear friend
Rev.Vazken Sandrouni. As a popular clergyman who served the Armenian
community for so many decades he will be remembered for his devotion,
his incredible love to his people and his faith to God. His dedication
and love will remain as an inspiration in the lives of all those
who knew him and respected him. On behalf of the Sinanian family
please accept our heartfelt condolences to your beloved community.

Vartkes Sinanian – Montrose, California.

We overseas Armenian Cypriots will not be able to attend the funeral
procession of dear departed Hagop, Hilda, Ara & Baret. Nevertheless, we
pay our sincerest respects by remembering them in our hearts, for they
are still with us in spirit and live in our childhood memories. Due
to the extend of the tragedy we send our deepest condolences to the
bereaved Costanian & Tutundjian families via your newsletter. May they
now find peace. Ben & Karin, Vartan & Raffi, TAMIZIAN. Leicester –
England

“I heard the terrible news about the loss of my classmate Hilda and
her family. I still cannot believe it!!. My heart goes out to their
relatives left behind. I met Hilda in 1975 when I moved to Cyprus
from the United States. She was always kind and never had a bad word
to say about anyone. She was a gentle person. After our graduation,
we all parted ways. I returned to the United States but thought of
her often. I never met her husband and children but I am sure they
were wonderful people. This is not only a great loss to the Armenian
community but to all of us as well. Our class will have a void now, it
will not be the same. May we all find peace in knowing that Hilda and
her family are in a better place now. A place where there is no pain or
suffering. Hilda, my friend, you gave us great memories and you
will be
greatly missed.” Love, Fay Kassapis Mili – Michigan USA

Dear Simon, I will like to express my condolences to the family of
Hagop, Hilda, Ara & Baret Tutundjian. May they all rest in peace. We
will offer a Mass this Sunday 21 August for them. Family Papazian-
Chile-South America

To Hilda and her family, There are no words to express the sorrow
Your classmate Andry Achilleos – Virginia,USA

SIRELI SIMON, STEPAN SHAHOUMIAN HARACHATIMAKAN SHARJOUMI YEV IM
KOGME KOUZEM GIBRAHAYER TERTIN MITCHTSAV HAYTNEL MER XOR VRTOVOUME
MER SIRELI HAGOP , HILDA , ARA , YEV BARET TUTUNDJIANNEROU ANJAMANAG
MAHVAN KABAKTSOUTIAMP . AYS CHAPAZANTS TXOUR BATAHARIN HAMAR KE
HAYNENK NAEV MER SRTAKIN TSAVAKTSOUTIOUNNERE TUTUNJIAN YEV COSTANIAN
ENTANIKNEROUN POLOR ANTAMNEROUN IRENTS MAXTELOV HAMPEROUTIOUN YEV
YERGNAIN MXITAROUTIOYN. HAGOP , HILDA , ARA YEV BARET TUTUNJIANEROUN
HISHATAKE MISHT VAR PITI MNA MER SIRTEROUN MECH. I TIMATS STEPAN
SHAHOUMIAN HARACHATIMAKAN SHARJOUMI VARCHOUTIAN SARKIS DEMIRDJIAN

>>From the pages of _www.savemelkonian.org_
()

Memorial Service for Tutundjian family Earlier this week a memorial
service was held at the Armenian Church in Nicosia for Hagop Tutunjian
and his family who so tragically perished in the Helios air crash
in Greece last week. A very large part of the Armenian community
was there to pay their respects. Hagop was for years a member of
the Melkonian Alumni, a tireless worker for the school. His son
was a student there. At the memorial service there was no official
representative of the school. Have they no shame?

Sireli Simon, Still I can’t believe the tragic event of losing so
many friends especially that of Tutundjian family. How can we forget
Hagop – our brave Goalkeeper (Trnaban) during AYMA’s golden days….

May God rest their innocent souls in his eternal and divine peace.

Our deepest condolences to the Cypriot Government and the Armenian
community of Cyprus. Sincerely. Shoghig & Leon Agopian – Beirut,
Lebanon

Dear Cypriot Armenians, Please allow me to present all of you my
deepest condolences for the death of our Derhayr Vazgen. I know that
you all knew him well, and knew how long he has served the Cypriot
Armenian community. May his soul rest in peace Vram R. Nalbandian
Lagos – Nigeria

To the Kouyoumdjian family, Alex was my neighbor for fifteen years,
and I always knew him the courageous and optimistic and also realistic
person. I will miss him very much. My deepest condolences to all the
family and may The Lord give you patience and strength to overcome this
loss, and may He also rest his soul near to Him Vram R. Nalbandian –
Lagos – Nigeria

To the Tutundjian Family, I wish to convey my and my families deepest
condolences to the Tutundjian and Costanian families. May they rest
in peace. Sirov – Mihran Keheyian and Family. – London

My Dear Simon, I knew Hagop personally and I could not believe it
when my wife shocked me with the sad news. I will not describe now
what kind of thoughts I had in that moment, but all I can say is that
The Lord must have a very good reason to make us suffer and take
such a loss. My deepest condolences to all the Tutunjian family &
friends, and may their gentle souls rest in peace. Best Regards –
Vram R. Nalbandian – Lagos Nigeria

Simon, We just returned from our family vacations in Syria. I kept
track of the news over there, and since I wasn’t in Cyprus physically
at the time, I’d like to extend our condolences to Albert & the
rest of the Tutundjian family, as well as Mr&Mrs Vartkes & Lily
Gostanian and Seta, for the loss of Hagop, Hilda and their two sons.

I’m sure that their decades’ long presence and voluntary service to
our Community and Church will be long remembered. I’d also like to
extend condolences to our community and Darakdjian, Megerditchian &
Tahmazian families for the passing away of Der Vazken. Hours before I
boarded my plane to Syria on Friday the 12th, Der Momig and I prayed
at Der Vazken’s death bed. Der Vazken had been our pastor for five
decades. He baptised most of the present day Armenian Community, taught
us to be Christians, led us in our weekly Church Services, conducted
us in the Church Choir, and blessed our Marriage vows. I’m sure every
one of us has sweet memories from Der Vazken and we all pray that the
Creator he so diligently served will accept his soul in the ranks of
the Righteous. I also convey my condolences to Sirvart Kouyoumdjian,
Rose-Mary & Bedros Jamgotchian & family, as well as our Mukhtar, Vahe,
on the loss of their beloved husband, father & brother Alex. He will
always be remembered for his hundreds and hundreds of pamphlets, which
served as an information source in our Community long before computers,
the internet and Gibrahayer were around. May God rest their souls.

Antranik & Aline Ashdjian & family

SDHP Condolences to our Community and Family Members. Click here to
read it

FROM THE PAGES OF HAYEM.ORG

For the last 15 days I have been trying to put my thoughts on paper
and write a few words about Hagop, Hilda Tutundjian and their two
children Ara and Baret who perished in the worst airline tragedy in
Cyprus history, but I just couldn’t do it. Maybe because I could
not accept his lose, and putting it on paper would have confirmed
what I didn’t want to believe. I have known Hagop for more than 35
years and I will continue to cherish his family’s friendship in my
memories. I have nothing else to say, in such a tragic situation,
words are useless. Useless are also bulletins sent by Armenian
Political Parties. Yesterday I got an email from SDHP (An Armenian
Social Democratic Party) with an attachment announcing the Parties
condolences. I don’t know what their intention was, but I see it
as exploitation of this tragic event. They could have passed their
condolences silently as everybody else, or maybe because they are a
Political Party (and as every political party they consider themselves
important) they could have done it with a paid advertisement in the
local newspapers and not through a mailing list, to which I never
subscribed. Nazaret Armenagian – Limassol

To Hilda and her family “May God rest your souls, you will always be
in our hearts” – Your classmate Ani Darakdjian – Nicosia

This is to convey our heartfelt condolences to our friend and colleague
Alber Tutunjian and his entire family on the tragic loss of his beloved
brother and family. May God bless their innocent souls and give the
Tutunjians and their extended family the patience to endure this
very much untimely loss. Asdvadz hokinin lusavore. With heartfelt
sympathies – Daniel and Anahid Janoyan

Please extend my condolences to the Tutundjian and Costanian families,
very tragic and so sad to hear the entire family had perished on
the Helios plane. I cannot imagine what their families are going
through or the Armenian community in Cyprus, all I can say is my God
Bless all of you and give you all strength to go on, unfortunately,
some things do not have an explanation in life and this is one!

Ani Sinanian and family – USA

“Hilda mou, na eine elafri to choma pou tha skepasi esena kai tin
oikogenia sou” your classmate Skevi Havadja

Hello Simon, With a heavy heart I have been reading the heartfelt
condolences from all over the world…We would like to express
our shock and sadness for the untimely passing of the Tutundjian
family. May their souls rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are
with their relatives. Sincerely – Varto,Yola Papasian, and family –
Vancouver, Canada

“Hilda mou, Den vriskoumen ta katallila logia na ekfrasoume tin
lipi mas gia ton xafniko kai adiko xamo esena kai tis agapimenis sou
oikogenias. Parameni mono na sas efchithoumen kalo taxidi”. From her
classmates Eleni Timotheou and Alexandra Poulitta. FROM THE PAGES OF
.. the school will now only function as a “Hotel”
for the students, who . will be bussed to the local American Academy
for their lessons and will only use the Melkonian as somewhere to live.

No doubt some form of limited Armenian language and cultural tuition
will be
available.

After all who needs to be taught our language and culture?

Look at how Armenian Louise Simon is, with her lack of fluency
in Armenian language, ignorance of Armenian customs and culture.

Is she not the head of the AGBU, that august body dedicated
to preserving the Armenian culture in the Diaspora? All you
need is a few millions from daddy and a bunch of subservient
poodles as co directors and you are an “azkayin parerar”.

more at:
ARTSAGANG You can read the Armenian community’s 20- page monthly
Armenian publication in front of your computer in pdf format at:

ARMENIA – BORROWING INTO POVERTY

By Ardavast Avakian – Boca Raton, Florida U.S.A.

Economic genocide has been committed against Hayastan since the
declaration of its sovereignty from the Soviet system. The application
of the International Financial Institutions (IFI) structural adjustment
programs that have been put in place favor the internationalism of
macro-economic policy under the direct control of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. At no time in history has the
“free” market played such an important role in shaping the destiny
of a supposed “sovereign” nation.

Since the early 1980s the “macro-economic stabilization” and
“structural adjustment” programs imposed by the IMF and the World
Bank on developing countries (as a condition for the renegotiation
of their external debt) had led to the impoverishment of hundreds of
millions of people. Contrary to the spirit
of the Bretton Woods Agreement which was predicated on “economic
reconstruction” and the stability of major world exchange rates,
the structural adjustment program has contributed largely to
destabilizing national currencies and ruining the economies of
developing countries. Its social impact has been devastating.

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BOOKSTORES THE FLEA PALACE by Elif Shafak (author of The Saint
of Incipient Insanities) Tel:22665155 [email protected] ,
â~@¢On Saturday, August 20, His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received Howard
Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (United States)
and former presidential candidate. Mr. Dean was accompanied by ARF
Dashnaktsoutiun Bureau Member Vicken Hovsepian and other ARF members.

â~@¢The disputed Armenian Conference at Bosporus University which
was postponed after the public reactions will be opened by Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The Rector of the University has
invited FM Gul and he accepted the invitation. Kemalcan YUREKLI (JTW)
ISTANBUL – A conference on Armenians, which was postponed due to sharp
reactions in the media and the Turkish public, has been rescheduled for
September 23-25 at Bosporus University in Istanbul. The preparation
committee for the conference has decided to limit its comments on
… more at â~@¢His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia will begin
a 15-day Pontifical visit to the State of California on October 5,
2005. The historic trip of the Pontiff, who is the Moderator for the
World Council of Churches (WCC), an organization representing over
400 million Christians worldwide, will be framed around the theme of
“Towards the Light of Knowledge.” His Holiness represents hundreds of
thousands of Armenian American Christians whose ancestors made Armenia
the first nation to officially adopt Christianity as a state religion
in 301 AD. â~@¢On Sunday, 14 August 2005, at the morning Feast of
the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, His Beatitude Mesrob II,
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and All Turkey, presided over the
celebrations in the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church, celebrated
the Divine Liturgy, delivered the homily and blessed the grapes. For
the same religious feast, on the same day, at the Armenian Church of
St. Gregory the Illuminator on Kinali Island, Father Tatul Anusyan,
Armenian Pastor of the Princes’ Islands, officiated at Vespers and
later led the Vigil on Saturday night. â~@¢Transport ministers of
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey met in Constantinople to discuss
a new railroad that would link Georgia and Turkey. The project,
estimated at $800 million – with completion time at one year – is
championed by Azerbaijan in an apparent effort to keep the Turkish
blockade of Armenia in place. The new rail connection would run
in parallel to the existing Turkey-Armenia-Georgia rail line, its
Turkey-Armenia section closed as part of the Turkish blockade since
1993. â~@¢Greek PM Constantinos Karamanlis received Armenia’s first
Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian at his government
office last week. Both men studied together at the Fletcher School
of Law and Diplomacy 25 years ago. â~@¢Donald Anderson, Edinburgh
City Council chairman has said he is sure the “1915 events are a
genocide,” and that the issue to recognize the Armenian Genocide
would be discussed by the city council in October â~@¢Azerbaijan will
host U.S. military bases on its territory, following the announced
departure of U.S. military forces from Uzbekistan. Baku has agreed
to the bases and that several dozen U.S. military officials are in
the country to conduct a base survey. Baku had resisted allowing the
U.S. to station troops or aircraft in the country for two years.

â~@¢Global Gold Corp has bought gold producing plant Tukhmanuk in
central Armenia for $3.5 million from the Armenian company Mego Gold,
a company official said on Thursday. “We have already transferred
$1.5 million for a 51 percent stake and will pay off the rest within
two years,” Ashot Boghossian, the head of the Global Gold office in
Armenia, told Reuters. He said the company had already got a licence
for exploration works. It planned to start works at the Tukhmanuk
mining site soon and invest about $2 million there.

SPORTS NEWS AND CALENDAR â~@¢Marcos Baghdatis was defeated in the
first round of the US Open. He lost to Dmitry Tursunof 6-4, 6-3,
6-7, 6-2. â~@¢European Football: Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus) lost
to Glasgow Rangers 0-2 (aggregate 1-4) in a sensational bid to make
it to the Champions League, during which they eliminated Turkish
titans TrabzonSpor. In UEFA, APOEL Nicosia eliminated Mackabi Tel
Aviv after drawing away 2-2 (aggregate 3-2). OMONIA lost a golden
opportunity for moving to the next round of UEFA against Dynamo
Bucharest. While having secured the needed 2-0 in Nicosia (first
match 1-3) they conceded a goal in the second half.

ARMENIAN MUSIC By Arek Dakessian in Beirut This section is dedicated to
bringing Armenian Music closer to us, shedding light on the Armenian
music scene, its history and how all this has affected the Armenian
Question.

The last decade of the golden age of rock, the second half of the
nineties was the half in which Rock started to take a fall. However
in Armenia, this wasn’t the case. Bands like “Ro De U” rocked on,
new bands like “Dumbarton Oaks” turned up on stage with a style very
similar to that of “Jethro Tull”/”Yes”… The fall of
the iron curtain paved the way for English to turn up on stage. Rarely
did
we understand what we were singing but some bands did learn it all
alone, and ended up writing songs in English and performing them on
stage. All this started when Ian Gillian had his tour in the former
USSR Republics. Gillian apparently loved Armenia which was in the
spotlight of the rock world for a few years. Gillian summoned some
of his fellow rockers and we wound up with “The Earthquake Album”,
Ian Gillian and Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Rush were
all in the recording studio for this one. The ninetees were also
the birth years for our current stars, Aramo and co… The only
decade which can’t be described in just one issue. Hundreds of bands
came alive, and for the first time in quite some time, they lasted
for a while! During the same time Roupen releases a new album for
“Zeroits Harouyr Daregan”. Costs around forty dollars. He also had a
small book of lyrics and drawings with the cd, another booklet of the
sheet music and a poster. Roupen also performs some songs with other
artists. There is Baroque music in this one and it’s an innovation,
some songs like “Im Pokrik Navag” are performed in different ways,
others like “Glorig Glorig ay Lorig” are wonderfully sang with another
musician… Roupen’s back!

Dear readers,

During Gibrahayer’s two week break, sad stories of death overtook
us. An Armenian family, an Armenian Reverend, a prominent figure in
the Gibrahay community, and for the “icing” on the cake, one of the
biggest Estrada singers of our time, Bella Tarpinian passed away.

May they all rest in peace. A special edition on Bella Tarpinian
will follow this month…. g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r

â~@¢CANCELLED The Varich Marmin of the Armenian Youth Federation of
ARF Dashnaktsioutiun announces that due to the tragic airline crash
that took the lives of 117 of our fellow citizens as well as four of
our fellow community members, Hagop, Hilda, Ara and Baret, the annual
Panagoum of the AYF – scheduled to take place at the Camp site of
The Archbishopric of Morphou in Kalopanayiotis – has been cancelled.

Varich Marmin of The Armenian Youth Federation Tuesday 16 August,
2005 â~@¢AYF weekly meetings continue every Monday at AYMA at 8:00
pm â~@¢ Badanegan meetings – for children from 7- 12 years old –
have begun. They take place every Saturday at 4:00 pm at AYMA.

â~@¢Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation via
real audio on . Broadcast 17:00-18:00 local Cyprus
time (14:00-15:00 GMT). Armenian news every Friday, Saturday, Sunday
and Tuesday.

Dear subscriber thank you for your interest in Gibrahayer, which
is an independent electronic environment, now in its fifth year,
disseminating news & posting upcoming events about the Armenian
community of Cyprus, Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora. The
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–Boundary_(ID_VDjff6buSkdOnKDWjBW3wg)–

Jackson Clarion Ledger, MS
Aug 29 2005

For whom the dinner bell tolls? Ah, for us

By Orley Hood
[email protected]

What a relief! Finally, the news is in. We successfully defended our
title as the nation’s fattest state.

I’m telling you, if I’d eaten one more Twinkie my stomach would have
exploded and my belly button would have shot down the space shuttle.

I want to thank all my fellow Mississippians for going that extra
mile (in your cars), to get on the outside of one more hot fudge
sundae, one more bucket of fried chicken, one more sno-cone, one more
dollop of gravy.

Orley Hood
Texas has “Remember the Alamo.”

We have “Remember to upsize.”

Ah, the most beautiful words in the language: “Would you like gravy
on that, sir?”

“Durn tootin’, little lady.”

So, here we are, late August, our kids going back to college, and we
can proudly proclaim that we’ve given the term “big man on campus” a
whole new slant.

We are the only argument left for gigantic gas-guzzling SUVs. We wear
them with pride.

We are to the all-you-can-eat buffet what Tiger Woods is to golf: We
never give up. We never quit. We keep grinding no matter what.

Our poster boy is John Daly, the plus-sized power-hitting
chain-smoking golfer who said the other day that he couldn’t care
less if he gained more weight. I’ll just buy bigger clothes, he said.
Now there’s some logic all Mississippians can swallow. You go, boy
…

A job well done

We squeezed out Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Tennessee as
the Americans most likely not to be able to button our britches.

Our more elegant neighbors to the west and the north – Colorado and
Massachusetts – might be quick to point out that our demographic
sports a definite hillbilly redneck patina.

Our profile goes something like this: A bunch of big ol’ guys in
Wranglers and Stetsons, leaning on fence posts, chewing tobacco and
dipping snuff, slugging down beers while we wait to pull the
inch-thick pork chops off the grill.

That unsightly generalization can be easily disputed: We don’t wear
Stetsons. They’re for Texans. We wear tractor hats and ball caps.

My late grandmother, bless her heart, made us understand that choking
down one more chicken leg at Sunday dinner was not only patriotic but
a humanitarian gesture of epic proportions.

“Remember the starving Armenians,” Grandma would say. Be thankful for
what you have. Eat up.

Be proud

We were in a restaurant near a beach a month or two back, surrounded
by country ham, redeye gravy, hash brown potatoes and fried eggs. We
were feeling, as Grandma used to say, extra blessed. I’m proud to
report that we fulfilled our responsibilities as Americans and as
Mississippians.

My English muffins with jam and butter might have been just the menu
item that put us over the top in the latest survey.

I look at it this way: It’s not often that you get to be the best in
the country at something. So, waddle on Mississippi! Wear your belly
like a badge of honor.

OK, then. What’s for lunch?

NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ON CANADIAN TELEVISION
By Hakob Tsulikian

AZG Armenian Daily #151, 26/08/2005

Armenian Genocide

On July 16-19, the Canadian Glob Prime television network aired a
new documentary on Armenian Genocide by Montreal-born young lawyer
Harry Tigranian.

The 30-minute-long film features Harry’s grandfather Harutyun Tigranian
from Cesaria in Turkey who, having survived the Armenian Genocide,
arrived in Armenia and met with foreign minister Vartan Oskanian and
historian Verzhine Svazlian, visited Tsitsernakaberd and New Cesaria.

Film director Rohan Fernando and producer Suzan Gerard are sure that
the documentary will contribute to the international recognition of
the historic truth, Armenian Mirror Spectator weekly informs.

Years ago, Harry Tigranian helped an Armenian from Turkey to win a
lawsuit in Canada to have the right to change his last name “Baghpan”,
forcibly accepted in Turkey, for Armenian “Pahapan(ian)”.

It’s incredibly difficult to change a surname in Canada (almost
impossible) even for married couples. Applying his skills in law, Harry
managed to prove that the man’s wish was not an idle whim but an issue
of social status. The name of “Baghpan” imposed by Turks reduced his
status to one of a gardener (baghpan means gardener), whereas “Pahapan”
(meaning guard) presupposes a higher status of a protector (in somewhat
Biblical sense). Giving in to such explanation, the judge satisfied
the petition. This “minor” case, as it may seem from the first sight,
become a chance to tell the judges, the jury and all participating
at the sitting about the tragedy that the Armenians of Turkey endured.

Tigran Tigranian is Harry’s son. He is a doctor and a wonderful
translator and commentator of Argentinean stories and poetry.

AZERBAIJANI JOURNALISTS CALLS FOR ERADICATION OF “ARMENIAN PROBLEM”

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. Armenians and Azerbaijanis cannot live
as neighbors in Nagorny Karabakh, writes a certain A.Asalyati in
an article on the web-site MiK “Country is me, you and all us!” The
article was not so against Armenia as against their own authorities.

He says that as wise people Armenians are well aware that co-residence
in Karabakh in impossible that is why they do not yield in the issue of
separation from Azerbaijan, and will never do. He calls the authorities
to stop feeding the people with false promises and primitive lie. “Now
the authorities decided to do the same with Karabakhi Armenians, open
your eyes wider, it won’t work with Armenians!” “Karabakh problem has
become a chewing gum for repeated use for our deserving the title of
politicos at the best. Unfortunately, chewing of the problem will not
put an end to the historical caries of our dignity!” The journalists
writes: “the only way out is to eradicate this disease which has not
allowed us to live calmly for over 200 hundred years.”

ARMENIA TO SELL CEMENT AND WINES TO RUSSIAN PROVINCE

Armenpress
August 24, 2005

YEKATERINBURG, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Under an agreement signed today
in Russian Yekaterinburg by its governor Eduard Rossel and the governor
of Armenian Ararat province the Armenian province will sell cement,
wines and brandy to the Russian region.

Rossel was quoted by Itar-Tass as saying that during the visit of the
Armenian delegation, headed by Ararat governor Alik Sarkisian, the
two regions signed several agreements. Rossel said that the Armenian
province has a plant producing high quality cement and its wines are
also known for their quality.

The trade between the Russian province and Armenia in the first half
of this year amounted to $1.5 million, a 3.7 percent higher from a
year ago.

The Russian province sells to Armenia machines, food and
metals. Armenia sells there machines and food.