Author: Kalantarian Kevo

DIASPORA BUSINESSMAN BLAMES FRAUD ON PRESIDENT’S BROTHER

asbarez
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

President’s brother, Levon Sarkisian YEREVAN (A1-plus)-Armenian
businessman Edmond Khudyan demanded compensation of $7 million in
court, as much as he invested in Armenia before his involuntary
bankruptcy.

The businessman said he has been swindled and cheated out of millions
of dollars while engaging in commercial enterprises in Armenia and
blames the financial fraud on Serzh Sarkisian’s brother, Levon.

At the Criminal Court of Appeal Edmond Khudyan Wednesday demanded
that those involved in the financial fraud be exposed and punished.

In 2005, the Diaspora businessmen founded Arin Capital & Investment LLC
and developed a high-rise building at 33 Mashots. Before finishing the
construction, some of the flats had been sold to 17 Diaspora Armenians.

His partner and contractor was Vladislav Mangasryan, unofficial owner
of VERM, VMG, KAMAR companies. In 2007, Edmond Khudyan had appointed
Eduard Yesayan, as director of the company. Eduard was his long
time friend.

In 2010, Vladislav Mangasryan, and EdikYesayan mutually decided to
sell the flats and pocket the money without Khudyan’s knowledge. Later
they claimed that it was done to save the company from bankruptcy,
for everybody’s benefit.

Since then E. Khudyan placed several lawsuits against the parties
to return stolen properties and to bring them to justice but those
efforts have been unsuccessful.

LES SENATEURS ONT ECRIT L’HISTOIRE
Jean Eckian

armenews.com
jeudi 26 janvier 2012

Le Senat a ratifie la loi permettant de reprimer le negationnisme du
genocide armenien.

Le negationnisme d’Etat existe encore en Turquie. En France,
nous allons bientôt feter les 11 ans de la loi du 29 janvier 2001
reconnaissant le genocide armenien. La France le reconnait, mais les
Francais pouvaient le nier, en toute impunite.

Cette loi est un moyen de condamner ceux qui nient la realite de
l’Histoire dans ses heures les plus sombres. Les negationnistes de la
Shoah, nous les connaissons, ils ne discutent pas seulement des faits,
ce sont les plus grands antisemites. Ils s’inscrivent dans l’heritage
des nazis. Tout comme les negationnistes du genocide armenien et
Tutsi s’inscrivent dans la lignee du Gouvernement Jeune Turc et des
milices Interahamwe.

Alors que le faux debat sur la liberte des historiens a ete utilise
pour dissuader le vote des senateurs, 15 000 personnes ont participe
samedi a un defile laissant place a des slogans negationnistes. Le
negationnisme ne s’attaque pas seulement a un fait historique, tout
comme le racisme et l’antisemitisme ne s’attaquent pas a une religion
ou a une idee, ils s’attaquent a des individus. Dans l’air du temps
ambiant, celui de la banalisation des idees extremistes, celui de
la liberation de la parole raciste, rien n’est vraiment grave tant
que le cadre est celui du debat. Un propos negationniste serait une
opinion qui en vaudrait une autre.

* Jonathan Hayoun est President de l’UEJF (Union des Etudiants Juifs
de France)

Fondateur de InProdWeTrust. Diplôme en Master de Communication
Politique PAris XII. Diplôme en Master de Production audiovisuelle
INA’Sup.

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LOI SUR LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN : ” ERDOGAN ATTEND LE TROISIEME TOUR DU CONSEIL CONSTITUTIONNEL ”
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 26 janvier 2012

InterviewPour Ahmet Insel, professeur a l’universite stambouliote
de Galatasaray, la Turquie espère encore que les Sages ne valideront
pas le texte vote par le Parlement.

Recueilli par Quentin Girard

Ce mardi matin, le Premier ministre Erdogan a juge la loi francaise
sur le genocide armenien ” raciste ” et ” discriminatoire “…

Pour le moment, le Premier ministre a adopte une position moderee
par rapport a ce qui etait attendu. Il juge que cette loi etait
anticonstitutionnelle en France selon l’avis de plusieurs deputes et
senateurs. Il a dit : ” Notre patience continue, le processus n’est
pas termine et il faut attendre. ” Pour Erdogan, la saisie du Conseil
constitutionnel, evoque par le depute UMP Jacques Myard, est devenu
reellement l’equivalent d’un troisième tour.

Espère-t-il encore dans le jeu du lobbying ?

Exactement. C’est l’apparition du Conseil constitutionnel comme
perspective qui fait que je ne pense pas que la Turquie executera
ses menaces a court terme.

La presse turque semble elle etre vent debout contre la loi
francaise…

Comme après le vote de l’Assemblee nationale. Ni plus ni moins,
c’est exactement le meme niveau de reactions.

Dirigeons-nous vers une grave crise diplomatique, si le Conseil
constitutionnel n’est pas saisi ou s’il valide la loi ?

La, il y aura des menaces mise en ~vres de manière substantielle.

Erdogan peut difficilement revenir en arrière par rapport a tous
ses engagements. On a un peu du mal a imaginer ce que cela sera mais
cela peut etre par exemple d’ecarter les entreprises francaises des
marches publics. C’est le plus facile a faire.

Au-dela, il est très difficile de faire un boycott officiel car il y
a tout de meme les règles de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce. Les
relations bilaterales entre la France et la Turquie sont en grande
partie des relations multilaterales, donc les remettre en cause n’est
pas très facile.

En creux de cette loi, y-a-t-il des tensions autour de l’adhesion a
l’Union europeenne ?

Il y a de cela. La question s’est exacerbee autour de la personne de
Nicolas Sarkozy qui s’etait deja prononce contre l’adhesion a l’UE.

Pour la Turquie et Erdogan, le fait que Nicolas Sarkozy soit
directement le maître d’oeuvre de cette loi irrite. Les Turcs voient
des incoherences majeures dans le processus mis en place car ils ont
du mal a comprendre les arcanes, les negociations, les procedures de
l’Assemblee et du Senat et ils jugent que la loi vient d’un forcing
du gouvernement.

Sarkozy est donc vu comme l’instigateur qui agit seul contre l’avis
d’une part significative de l’opinion publique, des juristes, des
historiens et y compris de certains politiques.

La Turquie critique la France, mais elle aussi possède des lois qui
encadrent la parole historique…

Tout a fait, c’est la où on peut mettre en cause la position de
ceux qui manifestent contre la loi en France et qui disent qu’ils
font ca pour defendre la liberte d’expression. J’ai envie de dire :
” D’accord, très bien, mais defendons avant la liberte d’expression
en Turquie qui est bien plus menacee ici qu’en France. ”

De votre côte, vous vous etes prononce contre cette loi…

Cette loi est une mauvaise idee pour des questions de principe. Je
suis pour la liberte de l’histoire, je suis oppose a ces lois où le
parlement se substitue aux historiens. La France a deja suffisamment
de lois pour reprimer le racisme et les discours haineux.

En 2008, vous aviez publie une lettre demandant pardon aux Armeniens,
et vous aviez ete beaucoup critique…

La question du genocide armenien touche aux racines de la constitution
de l’Etat turc et relève toutes les questions autour de notre
identite. Nous aurions pu resoudre ce problème dans les annees 20
voire 60 mais 100 ans après, c’est très loin d’etre le cas.

Deuxièmement l’Etat organise la negation de manière systematique
parce que la aussi cela touche directement aux fondements de sa
constitution en 1915. Il y a eu trop de mensonges, trop de silence,
et tous les pays europeens en sont responsables car ils auraient pu
aussi mettre ca sur le tapis il y a bien longtemps. Les reproches
actuelles de la France donnent l’impression aux Turcs qu’il y a une
volonte malveillante de raviver les douleurs refoulees du passe.

TURKEY SHOULD DEVELOP CREATIVE POLICIES TO THWART GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS

Today’s Zaman
Jan 25 2012
Turkey

Twenty-two Parliaments around the world have recognized the killings
of Armenians by Ottoman Turks around a century ago, which I will
refer to as the 1915 events, as genocide.

The French Assembly recognized the killings as genocide in 2001. The
French Senate passed a law late on Monday that makes it a crime to
deny that the killings of Armenians constituted genocide. Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Wednesday that this
move would deal a heavy blow to relations between the two countries.

We Turks have become used to hearing similar reactions from Turkish
governments each time various nations’ parliaments have passed a bill
that recognizes the Armenian killings as genocide.

The genocide allegations damage Turkey’s national pride. Ankara
says that there was no systematic campaign to kill Armenians and
that many Turks also died during the chaotic disintegration of the
Ottoman Empire. Most historians worldwide, however, say evidence of
the genocide is indisputable.

The Turkish argument, in the meantime, has fallen short of convincing
many nations. Hence, more states can be expected to follow the example
of the nations that have already recognized the alleged genocide
of Armenians.

Until then, Turkey will continue wasting its energy on criticizing
the nations that recognize the 1915 events as genocide while imposing
sanctions that, in general, do not work.

Turkey, which is an integral part of the global world, should seriously
think about developing creative policies to thwart allegations of
genocide instead of allowing itself to be hijacked by this issue,
which has turned into a never-ending story.

For example, it can begin with an apology for the events that took
place under the waning Ottoman Empire. However, an apology would
not mean that Turkey must recognize the genocide of Armenians. This
is because, in my opinion, there does not exist clear evidence that
Armenians were killed systematically. Turkey expressed its willingness
to open all the archives related to that period to Turkish as well as
foreign historians. Turkey should be encouraged to keep this promise.

Unlike the state, Turkish intellectuals have already expressed their
apology for the killings of Armenians. They launched a campaign in
December 2008 stating that they were apologizing for the deportation
policy of Armenians in 1915 as a humanitarian gesture.

Turkey, which recently apologized for the killing of more than 13,000
Kurds in the late ’30s in the southeastern province of Dersim, known
as Tunceli, can also apologize for the 1915 events.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan apologized last November for the
Dersim events, commonly known as the massacre of the Kurds. The
killings occurred when security forces, acting upon orders from the
then-decision makers, crushed a Kurdish rebellion in Dersim using
aerial bombings and poison gas.

“Dersim is the most tragic event in our recent history. It is a
disaster that should now be questioned with courage,” Erdogan declared.

He became the first Turkish leader to make the apology.

Another step that should be taken by Turkey as a means to ease
increased pressure exerted upon it by other nations is to educate
the extremely nationalistic public about the events surrounding the
1915 period, which are defined officially by Turkey as the “Armenian
deportation.” This is one of the dark chapters in Turkish history
that has remained closed to its citizens.

But the curtain has been raised gradually, and we have been witnessing
increased public debate over the events that took place close to 100
years ago.

Turkey says it would punish France over the Senate’s decision to
criminalize denying that the killing of Armenians constituted genocide,
but did not disclose the new sanctions to be imposed on Paris.

Turkey’s earlier sanctions, both against France and other countries
that recognize the Armenian killings as genocide, have not deterred
further states from adopting similar bills.

Therefore, Ankara should seriously revise its reactive policies and
consider the thoughtful ones mentioned above that I believe will work.

LEGAL AMENDMENT: ILLEGAL WORKERS OUT

BIAnet.org

Jan 25 2012
Turkey

The Law Related to Residence and Travels of Foreign Subjects will
be amended. Göc-Der President Gurbuz evaluated the amendment as a
“threat to Armenian people”.

IÅ~_ıl CÄ°NMEN [email protected] Istanbul – BÄ°A News Center25
January 2012, Wednesday The amendment regarding Law No.5683 Related
to Residence and Travels of Foreign Subjects will be passed into law
in one week’s time.

The amendment will affect Armenian citizens – their number estimated
by the prime minister at about 100,000 – and citizens of other
nationalities who are working in Turkey as well as their employers.

Bianet talked to Å~^efika Gurbuz, President of the Migrants’
Association for Social Cooperation and Culture (GOC-DER) about
the change.

Gurbuz explained that the ministry worked out these amendments in
order to prevent illegal employment, to make it easier for Turkish
citizens to find a job and to avoid outflows of foreign exchange.

However, in Gurbuz opinion, this amendment should have been handled
in conjunction with the process when the French Parliament accepted
the draft bill on punishing the “denial of genocide”. She deems the
law a “threat to Armenians”.

Amendment on its way since 2010 The first sign that the amendment
was on its way was given by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in
an interview given to BBC in London in March 2010. The prime minister
said that the Armenians were the ones who were going to pay the price
for the recognition of the Armenian genocide in national parliaments
of other countries.

The prime minister said, “There are 170,000 Armenian people in my
country. 70,000 of them are my fellow-citizens. But we are tolerating
another 100,000 people in our country. So, what am I going to do –
I will tell them to go back to their country tomorrow if necessary”.

Who is going to be affected?

However, the amendment that is going to be enacted on 1 February 2012
is of course not going to affect only almost 100,000 Armenians working
“without permission” but also people who came to work in Turkey from
other countries.

In the current system, people from countries like Turkmenistan,
Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Ukraine, Moldova or Indonesia come to Turkey
with a tourist visa and work in various business segments without
security. They stay for three to six months before they leave and
re-enter the country in order to obtain a new tourist visa.

The new regulation increases the time between two entries to 90 days
after the exit from Turkey. In general, the absence of 90 days for
people who work in child care, patient care or as masseuse/masseur
means the loss of job.

Option: Payment of TL 1.330 TL+ insurance premium An alternative option
has been developed for people who do not want to lose their employee:

People who want to stay in the country for work will apply to the
Ministry of Labour and Social Security for a work permit. The employer
will pay a salary of TL 1,330 (â~B¬530) plus insurance premium.

“No sincere approach” Å~^efika Gurbuz emphasized that providing
social security for employees in the scope of this law instead of in
the context of contolling informal economy was a “matter of action
and reaction”.

* This law will have much more negative effects rather than positive.

Furthermore, in political terms this is a threat against Armenians.

* If the approach would have been sincere the duration of 90 days
could have been shortened. A person in patient care does not have
the option to leave the patient for three months. This person will
lose his/her job.

* In a country with a minimum wage of TL 701 (â~B¬280), the demanded
figure of TL 1,330 is another factor that makes things more difficult.

* The purpose of this law is to create difficulties for the ones who
enter the country for work and the ones who want to employ them. The
aim is to close the door for their arrival.

* For many years, people from different nationalities came to Turkey
for work. Most of them are from Moldova, the Ukraine and Turkmenistan.

Until now, there was no reaction voiced against any person with a
different nationality apart from Armenian people. The people coming
from Turkmenistan in particular were protected. They established
their own associations and it was made easier for them to find jobs.

* People coming from Armenia however can only work at workplaces
together with their Armenian fellow citizens. This law will narrow
that restriction even further.

* There are thousands of people working/being employed off the record.

Thousands of people work in the construction or textile sector, as
cleaning ladies, in child and patient care without social security
and officially not visible. Especially the problems of these people
have to be solved. (IC/VK)

FRANCE’S STANCE IMPLIES RETURN TO INQUISITION, SAYS DEPUTY PM ARINC

Anadolu Agency
Jan 24 2012
Turkey

Strasbourg (A.A) -Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said
Monday that “France’s stance (on the Armenian bill) implied a return
to the Inquisition”.

In a press conference held at the Council of Europe, Arinc said that
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his close colleagues supported an
Armenian bill that would criminalize the denial of Armenian allegations
pertaining to the incidents of 1915 due to local political reasons.

A bill that would punish a certain thought would imply going back to
the inquisition in France, Arinc stressed.

Certain international news agencies ignored Turks’ protests in Paris
against the Armenian bill and acted as if these protests did not take
place. This is a saddening situation, Arinc added.

Bulent Arinc said that Turkey had A and B plans regarding the Armenian
bill being debated at the French Senate today.

Arinc said that “in the event the Armenian bill got adopted at the
French Senate on Monday, Turkey had its A and B plans ready”.

We hope that the French senators act with common sense. Otherwise,
Turkey would react by utilizing legal, political and diplomatic
channels, Arinc stressed.

If adopted, the Armenian bill at the French Senate would criminalize
the denial of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

January 26, 2012

PONTIFICAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
TO EASTERN PRELACY IN OCTOBER ANNOUNCED

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and the Religious and
Executive Councils are pleased to announce that His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has accepted an invitation
to visit the Eastern Prelacy in October.

Jack Mardoian, Esq., a member of All Saints Church in Glenview,
Illinois, and Karen Jehanian, a member of St. Gregory Church in
Philadelphia, have been appointed co-chairs of the Pontifical Visit
National Steering Committee. The co-chairs have served in leadership
positions on the Prelacys Executive Council for a number of
yearsMr. Mardoian as chairman and Ms. Jehanian as secretary.

The Catholicos is expected to arrive in the United States on October
4, and remain until October 31. With guidance from His Holiness, the
theme of the visit has been designated as Witness and Renewal: Taking
the Church to the People. With this in mind, His Holiness will visit
all of the parishes and will focus his attention on parish renewal and
making the life of the Church a part of everyday life for the faithful
of all ages.

A National Steering Committee is currently being formed to oversee the
Pontifical Visit, as well as a number of sub-committees with specific
responsibilities.

Archbishop Oshagan noted, We are grateful to His Holiness for
accepting our invitation. This visit will be an occasion for all of
our parishes and faithful to welcome our beloved Vehapar, and a
magnificent opportunity to rededicate ourselves to our Christian faith
and Armenian heritage.

OBITUARY: ARMEN TANIELIAN

Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive Council expressed
profound sorrow on the death of Armen Tanielian, eldest brother of His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern
Prelacy. Mr. Tanielian passed away on Tuesday, January 24, in Beirut,
Lebanon, following a stroke. Bishop Anoushavan immediately left for
Lebanon upon receiving the news of his brothers serious illness.

Funeral services took place on Wednesday, January 25, at Forty Martyrs
Armenian Church in Beirut. Interment followed at the National Cemetery
in Bourdj Hamoud.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Bishop Anoushavan and all members
of the Tanielian family. May he rest in heavenly peace.

FRENCH SENATE PASSES GENOCIDE BILL

The French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian Genocide early this week, despite continuing threats of
retaliation by the Turkish government. The bill easily passed the
Senate; the lower house had already passed it in December.

Vive la France.

YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN BOOK

This Sunday, January 29, all of the Eastern Prelacy parishes will read
portions of the pontifical message of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia, declaring the year 2012 as the Year of
the Armenian Book.

His Holiness designation coincides with the 500th anniversary of the
printing of the first book in Armenian utilizing newly-developed
technology, and the recent selection of Yerevan by UNESCO as the Book
Capital of 2012.

In a recent sermon delivered at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the
Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness said that the Armenian
book should remain the reliable friend of every Armenian and called on
Armenians in all walks of life to value the Armenian book. The
Armenian book should remain the reliable companion of the Armenian
family, the school, and community organizations. It will contribute to
the spiritual and intellectual growth of every Armenian. Because of
its power to enrich and enlighten, it will equip our people to enter
into dialogue with civilizations.

In his pontifical message His Holiness also noted: The book is a rich
source of knowledge; and knowledge generates faith and faithfulness,
responsibility and commitment; it enhances self-understanding and
promotes mutual respect and understanding. It is our wish that through
these efforts and other ways that you may think of, we shall
re-establish the centrality and vital importance of the book in the
life of the Armenian church and nation. We also hope that through our
commitment to Armenian published works, we shall strengthen our
national identity and deepen and broaden the dialogue with our
neighbors in different environments in which we live.

To read His Holiness message in English click here (

). For Armenian click here (

).

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EXHIBITION WILL OPEN IN APRIL

In honor of the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing, the Library of
Congress is planning an exhibit of Armenian treasures. The exhibit
entitled To Know Wisdom and Instruction, will open on April 19 and
will include a collection of Armenian manuscripts and printed
books. The exhibit will remain open to the public from April through
summer.

VICARS 40th ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

TO BE CELEBRATED ON MARCH 25

The 40th anniversary of the ordination of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy, will be celebrated on Sunday,
March 25. His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday morning
at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, where he served as the
parish priest for many years. This will be followed by a celebratory
banquet at Terrace on the Park in Flushing, New York.

GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING

The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the Priests will take place February 13 to 16. Clergy
from the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies will be meeting jointly this
year at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey.

SEMINAR AT ST. ILLUMINATORS CATHEDRAL

At the invitation of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor, and the Board
of Trustees of St. Illuminators Cathedral in New York, a three-hour
seminar was held for the board members on Christian Basics, conducted
by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Prelacys Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), yesterday evening, January 25.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, January 29, Third Sunday after Nativity,
Eve of the Fast of the Catechumens, are: Isaiah 61:10-62:9; 2 Timothy
2:15-26; John 6:15-21.

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force
to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When
evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and
started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had
not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was
blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus
walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were
terrified. But he said to them, It is I; do not be afraid. Then they
wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the
land toward which they were going. (John 6:15-21)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).

ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN

This Saturday, January 28, the Armenian Church commemorates
St. Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory of Nazianzus). He is
a Doctor of the Church and one of the three Cappadocian Fathers (Basil
the Great and Gregory of Nyssa are the other two). He was a scholar in
Christian writings, especially the works of Origen and Greek
philosophy. His own writings, notably his five Theological Orations,
earned him the title The Theologian and he is remembered as one of the
great Fathers and Doctors of the Church.

By the light of the divine word you beatified the Church and dispelled
the darkness of ignorance from the souls of men; O master holy
Gregory, be our intercessor before the only-begotten Word of the
Father.

You revealed to the Church to confess as one the consubstantial nature
of the undivided Trinity; O master Saint Gregory, be our intercessor
before the only-begotten Word of the Father.

You taught to confess the saving economy of him who became man for us
as one Christ from two natures, a marvelous mixture; O master Saint
Gregory, be our intercessor before the only-begotten Word of the
Father.

Hymn to Saint Gregory the Theologian according to the Liturgical
Canons of the Armenian Church.

PAREGENTAN OF THE FAST OF THE CATECHUMENS

This Sunday, January 29, is the Paregentan (Mardi Gras) of the Fast of
the Catechumens. This occurs three weeks before Poun Paregentan (Eve
of Great Lent) and ten weeks before Easter, ushering in five days of
strict fast (dzom). According to tradition, the Catechumens were
instructed for several hours daily and required to stand through every
church service, separate from the baptized congregation. This
continued until Easter when the catechumens were baptized, anointed
and received their first Communion.

CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM CONFERENCE AT CATHOLICOSATE

A Christian-Muslim Conference on the Christian presence and witness in
the Middle East is taking place at the Catholicosate of Cilicia this
week. The conference, organized by the World Council of Churches, is
focusing on issues and challenges facing the Christian communities at
this critical time.

In his remarks during the opening of the conference, His Holiness Aram
I said, In view of the changing political landscape in the Arab world,
the Christian communities are called to engage in dialogue with all
trends of Islam which advocates democracy, coexistence, and
non-violence. The Catholicos told the participants that the Christians
are deeply concerned about their future in the Middle East, and
emphasized that the Middle East is at a crucial juncture of its modern
history and that although the present situation is depicted by some as
an Arab spring or Arab revival, and by others, the end of autocracies
and emergence of democratic processes or simply regime change, the
common denominator in all these characterizations is that the region
is in a process of transformation.

ERIC BOGOSIAN IN SEARCH OF TEHLIRIAN

Writer and actor Eric Boghosian will discuss his writing and acting
career as well as his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters
series, next Thursday, February 2 at The Cornell Club, 6 East 44th
Street, New York City, 7 to 9 pm. Admission is $75 for advanced orders
and $85 at the door. For students with valid ID the fee is $40 in
advance and $50 at the door. Advance orders accepted up to January
30. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) and for tickets go to
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 29Unprecented performance of two plays: The Foolish Man and
The Birthday Gift, and a concert of Armenian folk songs by the
celebrated State Puppet Theater of Armenia, organized by
St. Illuminators Cathedral and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Society of New York. Donation: $10 for children; $20 for
adults. Event will take place at John Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminators
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. For tickets write to
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call
the Cathedral office 212-689-5880 or 404-538-5323.

February 2Inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters Series,
Searching for Tehlirian, by Eric Bogosian, discussing his writing and
acting career and his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street, New York City, 7
to 9 pm. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) and for tickets:
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric.

February 2Grammy composer Hayg Boyadjian will discuss his music during
a noontime Avak luncheon at St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North
Andover, Massachusetts. Public is invited.

February 12St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts,
Consecration of new baptismal font and special prayer for the newly
renovated sanctuary, and 42nd anniversary celebration, under the
auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, at 1 pm in the churchs
Jaffarian Hall. Adults $40; children $10. Tickets must be purchased in
advance.

February 13-16Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, Eastern and Canadian
Prelacies, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Hovnanian Schools 35th Anniversary Gala at Westmount Country
Club, Woodland Park, New Jersey. Honorees are Dr. John Apovian and
Mr. Hratch Kaprielian. Cocktail hour 6 pm; dinner and dancing 7:30
pm. Art Exhibition during cocktail hour. Entertainment by Kevork
Artinian and his band; Ara Dinkjian; and Yuri Yunakov. $175 per
person. For reservations, information or sponsorship contact at:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
201-967-5940.

March 17Mid-West Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am to
3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

March 24New England Regional Seminar for Sunday school teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

March 25Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielians ordination to the priesthood. Save the date.

May 9-12National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. Clergy conference on
May 9; full delegation May 10 to 12. Accommodations at Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Warwick, Rhode Island. Details will be forthcoming to parishes
and delegates.

May 11-12National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 30th
anniversary celebration and annual conference in conjunction with the
National Representative Assembly, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Rhode
Island. For information: Mary Derderian 781-762-4253.

May 4 thru May 24Sixteen performances in May (including matinee
performances on Saturdays and Sundays) of Herand M. Markarians new
play commissioned by the New York State Theater Institute,
Silence. With award-winning actress Lorraine Serabian. This story of
love, loss, and relentless search by a women for her son after the
Armenian genocide of 1915, is directed by Kevin Thomson. Performances
at the Shell Theater in the Times Square Arts Building, 300 West 43rd
Street, New York City. Reserve tickets now ($18): SmartTix.com or
212-868-4444. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]).

July 14Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and ARS Ani Chapter,
Providence, Rhode Island, A Hye Summer Night VI dance, featuring
Hachig Kazarian, Richard Hagopian, Kenneth Kalajian, Jason Naroian, 8
pm to 1 am; $35 adults; $15 children 16 and under. At the Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church, 175 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston, Rhode
Island. Mezza will be served. Limited seating. For tickets and
information: 401-434-4467 (Joyce Bagdasarian); 401-354-8770 (Joyce
Yeremian).

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

MOSCOW REPEATS HOPE FOR KARABAKH TALKS PROGRESS

News.Az
Thu 26 January 2012 13:37 GMT | 13:37 Local Time

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that the work of all the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs contributed to the recent statement by the
Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian presidents. The three presidents
issued the statement following their meeting in Sochi on 23 January
to discuss resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The statement noted the importance of moving on to draft a peace
agreement and said that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
expressed readiness to speed up agreement on the basic principles
for a peace deal.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Russia
hoped that this acceleration of the talks would have the desired
effect, Rossiya 24 reported.

“We do hope that acceleration of the negotiations will clarify
positions and lead to the adoption of the basic principles to clear the
way for work on a more complicated document – the peace agreement on
the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” the Russian Foreign
Ministry spokesman said.

NEW ANTI-HAIL STATIONS TO BE PLACED IN LORI PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
14:52, 26 January, 2012
VANADZOR

Last year anti-hail stations were laced in two communities of Lori.

This year with the co-financing of the state and the communities
anti-hail stations will be placed in other four communities, an
official from the agriculture and nature protection department of
Lori governor’s office told Armenpress. Besides, with the financing
of international donor organizations works are being carried out for
placing anti-hail stations in other communities of the province.

ARMENIA’S RULING COALITION PARTNER JOINS PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION’S INITIATIVE

news.am
January 26, 2012 | 15:48

YEREVAN. – Armenian ruling coalition’s Rule of Law Party, and the
National Assembly’s (NA) opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage
parties jointly petitioned to NA Speaker Samvel Nikoyan, and chairman
Davit Harutyunyan of NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

With the petition, these parties request the holding of parliamentary
hearings devoted to the matter of conducting 100-percent proportional
elections.