Author: Kalantarian Kevo

January 18, 2007
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

DIVINE LITURGY AND BLESSING OF MADAGH
ON THE NAME DAY OF ST. SARKIS CHURCH

On Sunday, January 20, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will celebrate Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church in Pasadena on
the occasion of the Feast of St. Sarkis and the name day of the church. The
Prelate will also preside over the blessing of madagh.
Assisting at altar will be Christian Education Department
Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Khoren
Babochian.
On the evening of Saturday, January 19th, evening services will take
place at St. Sarkis Church in celebration of the Feast of St. Sarkis.

PRELATE HOSTS ANNUAL
ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CLERGY CONFERENCE

On Thursday, January 17th, the annual Oriental Orthodox clergy
conference and joint Divine Liturgy took place with the participation of the
Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops, at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello.
Celebrating the Divine Liturgy was H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, with the participation of H.E. Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, H.G. Bishop Serapion of the Coptic Orthodox Church, H.E.
Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, and clergy from each Diocese.
Following Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion, Christian Education Department
Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian gave a brief lecture on the Feast
of the Birth and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The clergy then headed to Tumanjian Hall where the Prelate and
Pastors and Board of Trustees of Holy Cross hosted lunch. During the lunch
remarks were made by the visiting clergy and Christmas hymns were sung by
the participants. The Prelate offered his well wishes to all and presented
the Bishops with a memento.

CELEBRATION OF THE NAME DAY OF ST. GARABED CHURCH

On Sunday, January 13th, Episcopal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, at St. Garabed Church in
honor of the name day of the Church.
The Prelate was assisted at the altar by Christian Education
Co-Director Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Vicken
Vassilian. During the service, the Prelate ordained Hagop Latorigian and
Yervant Sarian as acolytes.
The Prelate began his sermon by giving thanks to God for the
occasion and by advising the newly ordained acolytes to live their lives
piously and with faith. In speaking of the day’s feast, the Prelate
reiterated that Jesus was born to save mankind and continued by reflecting
on the life of St. John the Baptist who, even before Christ was born,
professed to His being our Savior. He concluded by urging the faithful to
live their lives devoted to our Savior and filled with faith, hope, and
love. At the conclusion of Divine Liturgy, the Prelate conducted the
blessing of madagh.
The faithful then headed to "Karapetian" Hall for a reception to
celebrate the name day of the church. During the reception, Mr. George
Sahagian was honored for his decades-long service to St. Garabed Church.
An artistic program also took place with the participation of Rose and Alex
Pillibos School students.

PRELATE CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY AT THE
PRELACY "ST. DERTAD AND ST. ASHKHEN" CHAPEL

On the evening of Saturday, January 12th, the first Divine Liturgy
of the New Year was celebrated at the Prelacy "St. Dertad and St. Ashkhen"
Chapel by the Prelate, assisted at the altar by Very Rev. Fr. Barthev
Gulumian. The Prelate also consecrated icons during the service.
During the service, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian offered the English
explanation of the Liturgy to the faithful in the adjacent "Dikran and
Zarouhi Der Ghazarian" Hall. Among the faithful in attendance were
Executive Council, Ladies Auxiliary, and Sunday Schools PTO members.
The next Divine Liturgy at the Chapel will be celebrated on
Saturday, February 2nd, at 6:00 p.m.

PRELATE ATTENDS RECEPTION HONORING
MR. GABRIEL INJEJIKIAN

On the evening of Friday, January 11, the Ferrahian School’s Alumni
Association had organized a reception to honor the founding principal of the
school, Mr. Gabriel Injejikian. The Prelate attended the reception and
presented Mr. Injejikian with a letter of blessing and commendation.

PRELATE ATTENDS 17TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
OF LILIA DANCE STUDIO

On the evening of Sunday, January 13th, the Prelate attended the
annual concert of Lilia Dance Studio which took place at Glendale High
School.
The Prelate congratulated the dance school on its 17th anniversary
and conveyed his blessings to Mrs. Lilia Margaryan and her students. The
Prelate was accompanied by Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian.

80 PERCENT OF YEREVAN RESIDENTS CHOOSE THEIR DOCTORS

Panorama.am
16:28 21/01/2008

"This year 54 billion 482 million 700 thousand drams were appropriated
from the state budget to health and this is more by 14,5 percent than
the last year," Armen Soghoyan, health and social department head of
the municipality, told a news conference today. He said 19 billion 168
million of the total fund is envisaged for out-of-hospital services
and 19 billion 11 million drams for hospital services.

The department head assured that primary circles received more money
this year. "The purpose is to strengthen the primary circle avoiding
complications of citizen illnesses as well as expensive medical aid
of hospital service," he mentioned.

Speaking about program 2008, Soghoyan said that this year the institute
of family doctors will be continued in the primary circles. He said
43 community doctors will be trained. He said as a result Yerevan
will have 427 family doctors and 285 family nurses. The department
head informed that as of January 1, 80 percent of capital residents
have already chosen their family doctors.

Lragir, Armenia
Jan 18 2008

HE IS A PRO-ARMENIAN CANDIDATE AND WILL ACHIEVE PRO-ARMENIAN SOLUTION
FOR KARABAKH

Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan, presidential candidate, is aware of
the talks, which he announced during his visit to the EU, and if he
becomes president, a pro-Armenian decision will prevail. This is the
idea of the spokesman for Serge Sargsyan’s election headquarters
Edward Sharmazanov who uttered it in a news conference on January 18,
answering the question whether Serge Sargsyan will continue to
represent both Armenia and Karabakh like Robert Kocharyan or will
foster the recognition of Karabakh as a party in the talks if he
becomes president.

Edward Sharmazanov said the stance of their candidate on the
settlement of the Karabakh issue is distinct, and has been announced
for a number of times. `Every part of the Armenian people, let them
be convinced that Mr. Sargsyan will stand to his triumphant, and his
friends’ achievements and all our achievements,’ Edward Sharmazanov
says.

By the way, he also stated that Serge Sargsyan is neither
pro-Russian, nor pro-American, not pro-Europe, he is pro-Armenian,
and his policy is in the interests of Armenia.

TURKEY: CALLS FOR REFORM AHEAD OF ANNIVERSARY OF JOURNALIST’S MURDER

Amnesty International UK
ID=17612
Jan 18 2008

New report shows increase in use of Article 301 ‘Gagging Law’

On the eve of the first anniversary of the killing of the
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Amnesty International today
called on the Turkish authorities to condemn all forms of intolerance
and to bring all those involved in the killing to justice in accordance
with international fair trial standards. The organisation also issued
a memorandum to the Turkish authorities outlining key human rights
concerns in the country.

Andrew Gardner, Amnesty International’s researcher on Turkey, said:

‘The scope of the investigation must be widened to examine the full
circumstances of Hrant Dink’s killing, including the role of law
enforcement officials in failing to act on warnings that he was being
targeted for assassination.

"Human rights activists have a right to the protection of the state,
like any other citizen. The failure to prevent the murder of Hrant Dink
and the subsequent flaws in the investigation must not be repeated.

"Hrant Dink’s case is not an exception. Many in Turkey continue to be
prosecuted for the peaceful expression of their non-violent opinions.

This is due both to the existence of flawed legislation and the
arbitrary implementation of the law by judges and prosecutors."

Hrant Dink had reported threats to his life to the Public Prosecutor
in Sisli. According to the indictment in the murder trial, one of
the defendants also acted as a police informer and told the police of
plans to assassinate Hrant Dink in the months before the murder took
place. Nevertheless, steps were not taken to ensure his protection.

Subsequently two gendarmerie officers were charged with dereliction
of duty; however, lawyers for the family have called for more law
enforcement officers to be brought to justice.

An initial statement by the Istanbul Police Chief that the killing
was the act of a gunman working alone and the photographs of military
police with the alleged killer as if he was a ‘hero’ illustrate
an official reluctance to examine the full scope of the crime and
contribute to the perception that sections of Turkey’s law enforcement
agencies may be biased.

Amnesty International considers that Hrant Dink was shot on 19 January
2007 because of his work as a journalist who championed freedom of
expression and promoted the universality of human rights.

Hrant Dink was repeatedly prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code that criminalises ‘denigrating Turkishness’. Amnesty
International has continually called for Article 301 to be abolished
on the grounds that it poses a grave threat to freedom of expression,
as it is worded in such broad and vague terms. Amnesty International is
concerned that the number of cases opened under this article appears
to have increased in 2007. The organisation notes that in the past
year, violations of human rights increased and measures to combat
them remained insufficient.

Andrew Gardner said:

"The continuing suppression of freedom of expression in Turkey has
created an atmosphere of deadly intolerance culminating in the killing
of Hrant Dink.’

In a memorandum to the Turkish government, Amnesty reminded it of
its commitment, repeated after elections last year, to press ahead
with legislative reform and advance guarantees of human rights and
freedoms. Amnesty International believes that the current government
must take action on a number of issues to achieve lasting, substantive
improvements. These issues include torture and ill-treatment in
detention and impunity for the perpetrators, fair trial concerns,
obstacles that block the work of human rights activists and freedom
of expression.

Andrew Gardner said:

"In addition to implementing current legal reforms, urgent legislative
reform must be adopted. The authorities must seize the opportunity
to advance the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms for all
in the new constitution that is being drafted.’

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ADOPTED

A1+
18 January, 2008

The European Parliament adopted the resolution on a more effective
EU Policy for the South Caucasus.

The European Parliament resolution on a more effective EU Policy for
the South Caucasus passed on January 17, 2008 with several paragraphs
referring to specifically Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict.

The resolution refers extensively to the need to resolve regional
conflicts as well as transport and energy issues, and economic
cooperation.

The resolution affirms that "a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict — a conflict which exacerbates relations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan — and of Georgia’s internal conflicts in
Abkazia and South Ossetia, is essential for stability in the EU
neighbourhood, as well as for the economic and social development of
the South Caucasus region."

Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the resolution states
that "the project bypasses the existing and fully operative rail
line in Armenia; urges the South Caucasus republics and Turkey to
pursue effectively policies of regional economic integration and to
refrain from any short-sighted and politically motivated regional
energy and transportation projects which violate ENP principles of
sound development."

Further, regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict specifically,
the European Parliament "notes that the contradiction between the
principles of self-determination and territorial integrity contributes
to the perpetuation of the unresolved post-Soviet conflicts in the
South Caucasus region; considers that this problem can be overcome
only through negotiations."

Finally, the Parliament "calls on key actors in the region to play
a constructive role in resolving unresolved post-Soviet conflicts
in the region and to take steps to normalise its relations with
neighbours; reiterates its call upon Turkey to engage in serious and
intensive efforts for the resolution of outstanding disputes with
all its neighbours, in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant
UN Security Council resolutions and other relevant international
conventions, and including a frank and open discussion on past events;
reiterates its call on the Turkish and Armenian Governments to start
the process of reconciliation for the present and the past, and calls
on the Commission to facilitate this process while taking advantage
of the regional cooperation realised within the ENP and Black Sea
Synergy policy; calls on the Commission and the Council to address
the opening of the Turkish border with Armenia with the authorities
of those two countries."

NO INCIDENT OCCURS DURING MONITORING OF CONTACT FRONTLINE OF TROOPS HELD WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 16 2007

Under the mandate of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, contact front line of troops near Yusifjanli
village of Azerbaijani Agdam region was monitored with the
participation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs today, APA Karabakh
bureau reports.

The monitoring was held by the field assistants of personal
representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Antal Herdich and Imre
Palatinus from Azerbaijani side.

The monitoring in the opposite side of the contact line was held by
personal representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kaspszyk,
his field assistants Peter Ki, Jaslan Nurtaz, Miroslav Vimetal
internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan. The Co-Chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Yury
Merzlyakov of Russia, and Matthew Bryza of the United States also
participated in the monitoring of the opposite side of the frontline.

TURKEY: MURDER CASES UNDERSCORE TROUBLES WITH JUDICIAL, POLICE REFORM
Yigal Schleifer

EurasiaNet, NY
Jan 16 2008

The brutal murders of three Christians in a Bible publishing house
last April in the central Turkish city of Malatya shocked many Turks.

The country has continued to be scandalized by reports that have come
to light amid the trial of the five people charged in the case. Among
the more sordid allegations is that police officers may have colluded
in the killings, and that investigators have mismanaged the criminal
probe.

The killings of the Christians — a German and two Turks — occurred
only a few months after the Istanbul murder of Hrant Dink, an outspoken
Armenian journalist. Dink’s killing, the first anniversary of which
will be commemorated on January 19, has also been surrounded by
accusations of police and prosecutorial impropriety. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The cases have led to renewed concerns about the continuing influence
of rogue nationalist elements in Turkey’s security forces. They have
also helped refocus attention on the conduct of the country’s police
force and judiciary. Recent reports produced by international human
rights groups argue that law-enforcement structures in Turkey are in
urgent need of reform.

"Torture, ill treatment and killings continue to be met with persistent
impunity for the security forces in Turkey," Amnesty International said
in a report released last summer. "The investigation and prosecution
of serious human rights violations committed by officers of the police
and gendarmerie are flawed and compounded by inconsistent decisions
by prosecutors and judges. As a result, justice for the victims of
human rights violations is delayed or denied."

Dink’s murder on an Istanbul sidewalk was quickly followed up by
reports that top police officials had been informed months before
about a plot by Turkish nationalists to kill him. Meanwhile, a video
showing several policemen proudly posing with the murder suspect –
a 17-year-old from the Black Sea city of Trabzon – after he was caught
soon surfaced after the murder.

In the Malatya case, press reports have indicated that the suspects,
also young nationalists, had phone conversations with police officials,
and possibly even with a prosecutor from Istanbul, in the months before
the murders. Prosecutors have not followed up on these reports. The
defendants’ trial began in late November.

According to various media accounts, police in Malatya are purported to
have destroyed videotapes recorded in the hospital room of one of the
accused, who injured himself during the crime. "The security forces
and the judiciary here are protecting each other by not conducting
a detailed investigation," Husnu Ondul, head of the Human Rights
Association (IHD), a Turkish watchdog group, told the English-language
Today’s Zaman on December 8.

"The common point among all these similar incidents is this
protection," Ondul added.

Says Volkan Aytar, a researcher at the Turkish Economic and Social
Studies Foundation (TESEV), an Istanbul-based think-tank: "There is
a huge lack of transparency and a huge lack of accountability in the
Turkish security services."

In response to the questions swirling around the Malatya case,
Turkish Interior Minister Besir Atalay announced in early December
that two senior police officials would be conducting a probe. "Be
sure of this: as a ministry, we will increase our transparency,"
the minister told reporters.

Observers say that as shocking as the allegations of misdeeds in the
Dink and Malatya cases have been, the fact that they are coming to
light so quickly in itself represents a kind of step forward. "There
have been a lot of political murders and crimes in the past in Turkey,
but it was always very difficult to find out who did it," says Hakan
Bakircioglu, a lawyer who is monitoring the Dink murder trial on
behalf of the slain journalist’s family.

"These two cases might be the first time we can find the murderers and
maybe not catch, but at least touch, the members of state organizations
who might be behind the crimes," Bakircioglu added.

The Turkish police force has already taken some unilateral steps
towards reform. Under one program, about 250 police officers over
the last decade have been sent to study in the United States and
European Union, where they obtained advanced degrees in criminal
justice. Upon their return, it was envisioned that this corps of
foreign-trained officers would play a key role in fostering a more
transparent culture within the broader Turkish police force.

"There is no doubt that there has been an improvement in the last
10 years," says Onder Aytac, a lecturer at Turkey’s national police
academy in Ankara.

"But there is a kind of fighting between the old system and the new
system," he continued. "There are some people in the police force
who are trying to go along the old way."

Turkey’s judiciary, today seen as one of the pillars maintaining
Turkey’s secular system, has also made some reform efforts. Over the
last few years, more than 9,000 judges and prosecutors have undergone
European Union-sponsored training concerning European human rights
law. Turkey is a candidate for EU membership and is a member of the
Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights.

Still, a recent survey of judges and prosecutors conducted by TESEV
found that a majority still believe that the interests of the state
take precedence over those of the individual. Of those surveyed, 51
percent said they believe human rights could pose a threat to state
security. Only 28 percent said they didn’t. Meanwhile, 63 percent
said they did not believe that Turkey’s EU-inspired reform process
was benefiting the country.

"At the end of the day, we need judiciary reform and police reform,"
says TESEV’s Aytar. "If that doesn’t happen, then we will have a
very static bureaucracy that will not be able to adapt itself to the
realities of a modern Turkey that is on its way to the EU."

Editor’s Note: Yigal Schleifer is a freelance journalist based in
Istanbul.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2008

OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visit the region

[ 14 Jan 2008 13:08 ]

Matthew Bryza: We will learn the parties’ opinion of the proposals
presented in Madrid

The Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group arrived in Baku yesterday
afternoon. The American co-chair Matthew Bryza and French co-chair
Bernard Fassier arrived in Baku in the evening. APA’s special
correspondent in Heydar Aliyev International Airport Tamara
Grigoryeva reports that Matthew Bryza told journalists they will
continue negotiations. The co-chair said that the aim of the visit is
to learn the parties’ opinion of the new proposals presented at the
recent meeting with Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers. The
American co-chair also said that they are expected to attend the next
OSCE monitoring on the frontline. According to the co-chair, they
hope they will attend such a process.
Matthew Bryza said signing any peace agreement before the
presidential elections in Armenia is not realistic and underlined
that the possibility of improving the process of negotiations during
this period is not an exception.
The French co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Bernard Fassier wished
progress to the parties concerning Nagorno Karabakh process in the
New Year. According to the co-chair, those who say there was no
improvement in the process in 2007 are unaware of the details of
Madrid meeting. Bernard Fassier said that the OSCE member countries
worked together in Madrid and presented new proposals to the parties.
The co-chair also said he does not await that one of the parties will
accept all proposals or be ready for all compromises.
`This is a process where both parties should compromise,’ he said.
Bernard Fassier gave a positive answer to the question concerning the
meeting with head of Nagorno Karabakh’s Azerbaijani community Nizami
Bahmanov. He said that working in large composition will possibly
produce positive results. The French co-chair expressed his hope that
the elections in Azerbaijan and Armenia will not freeze the process
of negotiations.
The co-chairs will today have a meeting in Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry. /APA/

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2008

Co-chairs to visit Azerbaijan, January 18 again

[ 14 Jan 2008 18:55 ]

The co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group mediating in the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict – Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza
(US) and Yury Merzlyakov (Russia) have completed their talks in Baku.

APA reports quoting diplomatic sources that the co-chairs had
discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov concerning the written proposals presented
to the parties by the co-chairs on November 29 and learned official
Baku’s opinion of the document. The mediators will take a charter
flight to Yerevan this evening and learn the attitude of Armenian
officials towards the proposals presented in Madrid.
The co-chairs will leave Yerevan for Khankandi and along with Andrzej
Kasprzyk, personal representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office follow
the monitoring near Yusifjanli village of Aghdam on January 16.
Diplomatic sources also told APA that the co-chairs will arrive in
Baku again on January 18 and brief Azerbaijani officials about the
negotiations carried out in Armenia. /APA/

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2008

WHY THE ARMENIAN YOUNGSTER DOES NOT WANT TO RETURN TO HIS HOMELAND?

The `Armenian News’, a French daily newspaper funded by the Armenian
lobby, has published an article about Narek Aleksanian, an
18-year-old Armenian student at the Toulouse-Lautrec Lyceum in Albi,
France, AzerTAc special correspondent reported.

The article says Aleksanian was detained by police officers on
January 5 for allegedly having no documents, and was handed over to
the Armenian Embassy in Paris for deportation.

The Embassy, however, temporarily placed the young Armenian, who,
resolutely refused to return to Armenia, at the center for illegal
immigrants near the Charles de Gaulle International Airport.

The `Armenian News’, which by all means tries to defend the Armenian
youngster, accused local government and law-enforcement bodies of
violating his rights, and claimed that teachers and Aleksanian`s
schoolmates had stood by him.

But the newspaper concealed the true reason why Narek Aleksanian did
not want to get back to his homeland, which the Armenians – remaining
committed to their habit to lie and pretend to be a suffering nation
– are trying to describe as a `paradise’.

In fact, during interrogation at the police station, Aleksanian
pointed to Armenia’s extremely bad socio-economic situation and its
citizens` living even below the poverty level as major reasons for
why he never wants to return there again.

According to his statement, the majority of Armenian students face
huge problems in entering higher educational institutions and then in
finding jobs.

Aleksanian also said that the level of unemployment is also rapidly
increasing in his country, while more and more youth become involved
in criminal activities.

The Armenian youngster’s statement also said there is a really bad
demographic situation in Armenia as thousands of his fellow
countrymen are leaving the country due to the economic crisis.
Aleksanian said he had left Armenia with a hope to get higher
education and job.