Author: Kalantarian Kevo

SARGIS HOVSEPIAN PURSUES A FOOTBALL CARRIER

Aysor
Jan 19 2010
Armenia

A spokesperson to Armenia’s Pyunik Football Club, Vahan Danielian,
denied the misinformation, released by some media outlets including
foreign editions that Club’s and national team’s player Sargis
Hovsepian is going to finish his carrier in sport.

Vahan Danielian told Aysor’s correspondent that 37-year old Sargis
Hovsepian hadn’t participated in the training exercises because of
the injury. Besides, he has returned to the field since yesterday,
told Vahan Danielian.

Sargis Hovsepian was involved in 109 matches as national team’s player
becoming a record-holder in this. In 1998-2003s he played for St.

Petersburg’s Zenit Club, and Torpedo-Metallurg Club. He was trice
titled as the best Armenia’s footballer. Sargis Hovsepian won Russian
Cup in 1999, and took bronze in 2001, when played for Zenit club.

RA PRESIDENT MEETS WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP AMERICAN CO-CHAIR

Noyan Tapan
Jan 18, 2010

YEREVAN, JANUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan met
with OSCE Minsk Group American Co-chair Robert Bradtke on January 16.

According to RA President’s Press Office, the interlocutors exchanged
thoughts over the current negotiations stage of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 15 2010

Azerbaijani official calls upon Moscow Patriarchate to be careful in
statements on Karabakh issue

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 15 / Trend News K.Zarbaliyeva /

State Committee for Working with Religious Associations Chairman
Hidayat Orujov called upon Moscow Patriarchate to be careful in
statements on the Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The fact that the Patriarchate’s representative included the church
in the Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, speaks about negligence," Orujov
told journalists today.

Regarding Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill’s Armenia visit
scheduled for March, Deputy Head of the Department for External Church
Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate monk Philippe (Ryabykh), said
that today Armenia has three temples of the Moscow Patriarchate: "One
of them is located in Yerevan and the other in Russia’s military base
in Gyumri, and the third – in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan, the
Azerbaijani official said.

In connection with this issue, Orujov met with the head of the
Baku-Caspian diocese and is awaiting a formal response from senior
clergy of Russia.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

news.am, Armenia
Jan 15 2010

I call on Russia to be initiative in Karabakh issue: Erdogan

13:54 / 01/15/2010After his return from Moscow, Turkish Premier
Erdogan restated his stance on Armenia-Turkey reconciliation and
Karabakh conflict settlement.

According to Turkish Bugun website, Erdogan said, `It is obvious that
Armenia-Turkey reconciliation and Karabakh conflict settlement are
interrelated processes off-stage.

Armenia-Turkey border closed as a result of Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. In order to tackle this issue peace should be ensured. The
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan should be resolved.
&`Occupation’ of Karabakh should end, thereafter Armenia-Turkey issue
will be easily solved. Turkey undertook certain steps, opened air
service, carried out reforms. Presently, numerous Armenians reside in
Turkey without citizenship.

I once again call on Russia to be more initiative in Karabakh issue. I
had open conversation with Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin. Russia impacts
Armenia most of any other OSCE Minsk Group states. Once it becomes
less initiative in Karabakh peace process, the settlement will become
more complex,’ Turkish Premier stated.

Today’s Zaman , Turkey
Jan 16 2010

Initiative encourages Armenian-speaking anchorwoman

Melisa Boz is a 25-year-old Turkish-Armenian. What brings her into the
media spotlight is the fact that she is doing something no one else
has done — until now. Boz presents news in Armenian on SU TV, known
by many as an `Alevi channel.’

The young woman, who received threats before the television program
began airing, said she gets her courage from the government and the
democratic initiative process. `At the time of earlier governments, I
would not have dared do something like this. But I trust the
government now,’ she said.

In her program, Boz presents news not only on Turkey but also news
that concerns Armenia and Turkish-Armenians. `If I can contribute to
peace between the two countries, I will be very happy,’ she says. Boz,
who was the interpreter for the Armenian national soccer team at last
year’s Turkey-Armenia soccer game in Bursa, said the Armenian players
liked Turkey very much.

Police officers responsible for providing security to the team were
very kind, Boz said. `The police officers became friends with the
players and the delegation and even played backgammon together with
them. The police officers acted like a part of the initiative and
represented our country very well. I was very proud of my country that
day.’ After she was chosen from a pool of applicants to become an
anchorwoman, her family started to receive threats, she said. `My
family was concerned because their daughter was in the public eye, but
I was not afraid at all. If it is brave to go on television, then yes,
I am brave. But I would not want to commit an injustice to any of the
many older people that have struggled on this road. The Agos daily has
been publishing in Armenian for years and we lost an important person,
Hrant Dink, on this road. I get my courage from them. I think I
finally trust my government,’ Boz said.

Boz, whose family is from Sivas, went to Yerevan to attend university
after graduating from high school. While there, she majored in English
language and literature. The young woman also said she was excluded
and made to feel like a foreigner during her five years in Yerevan,
noting that she was different in the way she dressed, styled her hair
and talked. She explained that she always defended Turkey in Yerevan
and added: `Some Armenians didn’t think Turkey was a developed country
and considered it backward. They always asked me questions about
Turkey. At first they would get mad at me because I always defended
Turkey, but as they got to know me, their views about Turkey changed.’

While Boz has not experienced any major form of discrimination in
Turkey over her ethnicity, she has encountered some upsetting
attitudes. `For example,’ she says, `if a Turk says, `I am sick and
tired of this city’ when getting off a crowded bus after being stuck
in traffic for several hours, no one gets mad or says anything to that
person. But when I say it, they tell me, `If you don’t like it, go
somewhere else.’ This offends me because this is my country, too.
Where else am I to go?’

Noting that her parents never told her even a single negative story
about problems between Turkey and Armenia, Boz explained that her
father always says that `a child should not be brought up with enmity
and hatred. This is not healthy.’ Proud of her Armenian identity, Boz
said she takes her mother’s advice on being proud of who she is. Boz’s
mother tells her to `never hide the fact that you’re Armenian. A
person who likes others will have developed an affinity toward
Armenians.’

Recalling that her mother could not dare listen to Armenian music 20
years ago, Boz said she believes they can live more freely today. The
democratic initiative plays a major role in the expansion of freedoms,
she said, adding that both SU TV and she have the courage to present
news in Armenian as a result of the initiative. The young woman, who
presents news every day between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m, prepares the
program herself.

16 January 2010, Saturday
DILEK HAYIRLI Ä°STANBUL
web/news-198707-101-initiative-encourages-armenian -speaking-anchorwoman.html

ARMENIAN-TURKISH RAPPROCHEMENT AND KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT – SEPARATE PROCESSES

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.01.2010 18:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish premier’s visit to Moscow and Russian FM"s
visit to Yerevan proved once again that RA-Turkish rapprochement
is not linked with Karabakh process, Secretary of RPA parliamentary
group Edward Sharmazanov finds.

"During the meeting with Turkey’s Erdogan, Russian premier Vladimir
Putin said the two processes are separate from one another,
while Russia’s Lavrov announced in Yerevan that Russian-Turkish
economic interests could not be superior to NKR people’s right to
self-determination," Mr. Sharmazanov told a news conference in Yerevan.

At that, he ruled out possibility of signing an Armenian-Azerbaijani
framework agreement without Karabakh’s direct involvement.

The Republican Party of Armenia is a national conservative political
party in Armenia. It was the first political party in independent
Armenia to be founded (2 April 1990) and registered (14 May 1991). It
is the largest party of the centre-right in Armenia, and claims to have
140,000 members. The party controls most government bodies in Armenia.

At the 2003 parliamentary elections on May 25, the party received
23.5% of the popular vote, winning 31 out of 131 seats. At the last
parliamentary elections on May 12, 2007, the party received 33.91%
of the popular vote, winning 64 out of 131 seats. The former prime
minister, Andranik Markaryan, was the leader of the party. Current
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, is the chairman of RPA board.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) is a de facto independent republic
located in the South Caucasus, bordering by Azerbaijan to the north
and east, Iran to the south, and Armenia to the west.

After the Soviet Union established control over the area, in 1923
it formed the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) within the
Azerbaijan SSR. In the final years of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan
launched an ethnic cleansing which resulted in the Karabakh War that
was fought from 1991 to 1994.

Since the ceasefire in 1994, most of Nagorno Karabakh and several
regions of Azerbaijan around it (the security zone) remain under the
control of Nagorno Karabakh defense army.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have since been holding peace talks mediated
by the OSCE Minsk Group.

Armenian-Turkish rapprochement and Karabakh conflict settlement are
separate process, according to Secretary of Republican Party Edward
Sharmazanov.

GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING WORLD CUP 2010 TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON FEBRUARY 13-14

ArmInfo
2010-01-14 18:45:00

ArmInfo. The Greco-Roman wrestling world cup 2010 to be held in Yerevan
on February 13-14, Eduard Kalantaryan, the tournament coordinator of
work with mass media, told ArmInfo. Sportsmen from Russia, Georgia,
Turkey, Hungary, Iran and Cuba will take part in the tournament. An
invitation has been sent to the national team of Azerbaijan as
well. The issue of Azerbaijan’s participation will be specified
later. The competition will be preceded by 2 press-conferences to be
given by the leadership of Armenian Wrestling Federation and coaches
of the Armenian national team.

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS BUILDS UP ITS PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN 2009

ARKA
Jan 15, 2010

YEREVAN, January 15. /ARKA/. South Caucasus Railways has built up
its interstate passenger traffic 32.4% from 27,500 in 2008 to 36,400
in 2009 and local traffic 10.4% from 651,400 to 719,200 passengers,
the company’s press office reported on Friday.

South Caucasus Railways’ interstate passenger turnover was 13918
thousand passenger/km in 2009 (42.4% growth) and local 20368 thousand
passenger/km (30.1% growth, compared with 2008).

The company operates interstate runs on two routes – Yerevan-Tbilisi
and Yerevan-Batumi.

Runs in the latter route are operated in summer season.

Vanadzor-Ayrum, Yerevan-Arax, Yerevan-Armavir, Yerevan-Yeraskh,
Yerevan-Ararat, Yerevan-Gyumri, Kanaker-Hrazdan and Gyumri-Pemzashen
runs are operated inside the country.

The South Caucasus Railways CJSC is concession manager of the Armenian
Railway Company.

Armenian Railway Company was handed over to

South Caucasian Railways fully owned by the Russian Railways Company
on February 13, 2008 for 30-year management with a right for one-decade
prolongation.

1988-90S MASSACRES IN AZERBAIJAN MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS GENOCIDE

Aysor
Jan 13 2010
Armenia

"Events in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku happened 20 years ago is
nothing but the Genocide. There is not any other determination for
what happened," told Aysor’s correspondent chairman of ‘Return to Hyke’
Social Organisation, Robert Melik-Pashayev.

Deported from Azerbaijan Armenians will receive neither contribution,
according to Robert Melik-Pashayev. "Who will compensate? Azerbaijan
will not compensate, while our people and government remain silent.

Our organisation gives to the world that Armenians left more than
100,000 houses in Baku. Moscow government has investigated and approved
that there took place massacres, marauding, and larceny.

There are confirming documents at state archives. Azerbaijan’s
government must appear in court," he said.

Armenia’s government can apply to Russian archives for cases of those
years to recognize those massacres and deportations against Armenian
population in Azerbaijan as Genocide, according to Melik-Pashayev. The
public man also pointed that those Azerbaijanis who lived in Armenia
never become victims of massacres and deportations while the Armenian
community of Azerbaijan became the victim of atrocious and intolerable
premeditated massacres.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

January 11, 2010
___________________________________________

CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), reminded the faithful gathered for Christmas services
at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Wednesday, January 6, that "Christ’s
purpose in life was to exemplify God’s love – and to call everyone to make
that love a reality in our hearts."

"God, our Heavenly Father, from His infinite love gave the most precious
gift to us: He sent His Only Begotten Son in order to save us," Archbishop
Barsamian said. "Christ came to this earth, walked among us, preached,
performed miracles, carried the heavy burden of the cross, and was crucified
because.He loves each one of us."

"This feeling of joy and love is what God calls each of us to discover, in
our own lives," the Primate said. "Our Lord calls to each and every one of
us – and we must be attentive to hear his call, and accept our God-given
roles in life. To some, that role is to take up our Lord’s pastoral staff:
to serve him, and serve his people, as priests of the church. In the coming
year, throughout our Diocese, we will explore and encourage this most
precious calling in our ‘Year of Vocations: The Call to Serve.’"

Sharing his personal story of becoming a priest in the Armenian Church, the
Primate said that it was love that "first motivated me to answer God’s call.
Love is what strengthens me every day as I live out my vocation as a
priest."

On January 6, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
performed the Blessing of Water ceremony. Randy Sapah-Gulian, chair of the
board of directors of the Fund for Armenian Relief, served as the godfather
for the Blessing of Water ceremony.

During the ceremony, which symbolizes Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist
in the River Jordan, Mr. Sapah-Gulian took up the ornate hand-cross after it
was immersed in water by Archbishop Barsamian. At the conclusion of the
service, Mr. Sapah-Gulian held up the cross for the faithful to kiss as they
walked up to receive the water blessed with the Holy Muron (Holy Oil). Mrs.
Corinne Sapah-Gulian, Mr. Sapah-Gulian’s wife, also attended the service.

"It was very moving," Mr. Sapah-Gulian said of the Blessing of Water
ceremony. "I am very happy and honored to have been asked by Srpazan Hayr to
be the godfather, and it’s something I shall remember forever."

Reflecting on his role as the chair of the board of directors of the Fund
for Armenian Relief, he stressed the importance of the organization and its
array of programs for families in Armenia. This year the Fund for Armenian
Relief is marking its 20th anniversary.

"Corinne and I are very involved," he said, "and everything that the Diocese
does [through FAR] – whether it’s FAR’s child protection programs or the
senior citizen programs – is an integral part of helping our brothers and
sisters in Armenia."

More than 900 people took part in services at the cathedral. In the
sanctuary, the energy was palpable throughout the morning as some rose to
light candles and people entered and left the building. The St. Vartan
Cathedral Choir sang the sacred music under the direction of Maestro Khoren
Mekanejian, with Florence Avakian on the organ.

A Joyous Celebration

After the January 6 services, a home blessing service and Christmas luncheon
were held in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

The event featured remarks by the Primate; toasts by St. Vartan Cathedral
dean the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Randy Sapah-Gulian, and Armenia’s
Ambassador to the United Nations Garen Nazarian; and performances by the
Antranig Dance Ensemble and members of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir. Dr.
Raffy Hovanessian, vice chair of the Diocesan Council, served as the master
of ceremonies.

Garen Nazarian made the first toast of the afternoon, thanking the Eastern
Diocese for a wonderful year and close cooperation on new projects. "May
2010 bring newly-found prosperity to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh," Mr.
Nazarian said.

Fr. Mardiros Chevian made a toast to Randy Sapah-Gulian, godfather for the
Blessing of Water ceremony. Fr. Chevian thanked Mr. Sapah-Gulian for his
dedication to the Armenian Church and to the people of Armenia, many of whom
benefit from the programs offered by the Fund for Armenian Relief, which Mr.
Sapah-Gulian chairs.

Maestro Khoren Mekanejian led performances of Armenian songs by Hasmik
Mekanejian and 10-year-old Dzovinar Aghavian. Anahid Zakarian was
accompanied by Vagharshag Ohanian on the piano.

Eight members of the AGBU’s Antranig Dance Ensemble performed two dances.
Archbishop Barsamian presented the dancers with small gifts in appreciation
of their hard work. He also mentioned that Mr. Sapah-Gulian, once a member
of the ensemble, is one of its founders.

Mr. Sapah-Gulian offered the last toast of the program, thanking Archbishop
Barsamian for the opportunity to serve as godfather for the Blessing of
Water ceremony.

Archbishop Barsamian thanked everyone for taking part in the day’s
celebration. "Participating in today’s Christmas badarak is a great
opportunity for us to feel unity with Jesus Christ," he said. "That is the
ultimate goal for all of us, that connection with God."

Concluding his remarks, Archbishop Barsamian said, "This is the season when
we have to remember that love has to be at the center of who we are and what
we do. When there is love, there is peace. When there is love, there is
understanding. When there is love, there is unity."

The day’s meal was prepared by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.

Youthful Voices

On Tuesday, January 5, the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian celebrated the Divine
Liturgy at St. Vartan Cathedral.

Students from the Diocesan Khrimian Lyceum read scriptures in Armenian and
assisted the Cathedral Choir. The Khrimian Lyceum is an Armenian language
and culture school for students ages 12 to 17.

Many parishes across the Eastern Diocese also held Christmas services on
January 5 and January 6, with some celebrating the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, January 10.

###

Photos attached.

Photo 1: Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St.
Vartan Cathedral on the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of
Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Blessing of Water ceremony
at St. Vartan Cathedral on January 6.

Photo 3: The St. Vartan Cathedral Choir sings the sacred music under the
direction of Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, with Florence Avakian on the organ.

Photo 4: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Blessing of Water ceremony
at St. Vartan Cathedral on January 6.

Photo 5: Randy Sapah-Gulian receives the ornate hand-cross after it was
immersed in water by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian during the Blessing of
Water ceremony on January 6.

Photo 6: Randy Sapah-Gulian, chair of the board of directors of the Fund for
Armenian Relief, served as the godfather for the Blessing of Water ceremony
on January 6.

Photo 7: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian delivers a sermon at St. Vartan
Cathedral on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.

Photo 8: The faithful kiss the cross during the procession at St. Vartan
Cathedral on the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus
Christ.

Photo 9: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian performs the home blessing service with
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

Photo 10: Ambassador Garen Nazarian delivers a toast at the Christmas
luncheon. Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, vice chair of the Diocesan Council, served
as the master of ceremonies.

Photo 11: The Antranig Dance Ensemble performed at the Diocesan Center
following services on January 6.