Author: Kalantarian Kevo

POLITICAL MAUSOLEUM OF EX-PRESIDENTS

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – Friday, 28 February 2014, 12:25

Russia has become a shelter for ex-presidents, literally and
politically. The ex-presidents of Armenia also seek “protection”
in Russia. Robert Kocharyan has found employment in Russia, he is a
member of the board of one of the big Russian companies.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan could be an exception who resigned in 1996 after
his reelection in 1996 through fraudulent elections but he returned
to politics in 2007 and seemed to be putting everything in their
right places – Ter-Petrosyan relied on the society, on the people.

He launched an efficient movement which brought together not only
Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters and those whose faith in him was almost that
of worship but also those who had a negative attitude to Ter-Petrosyan
but joined the movement. One thing that distinguished and empowered
the movement was the content of the movement itself, not the person
who led it.

However, a few months after the violent clampdown of March 1, the
movement headed by Ter-Petrosyan gradually became prone for worship
of individual and those who disagreed were humiliated. The movement
ended up in another political party. But the problem is content, not
only format. The movement established by declarations on democracy and
power of people eventually drifted to a pro-Russian line, refraining
from any critical word about the Russian policy.

Instead of relying on people Ter-Petrosyan went on to seek protection
in Moscow, renouncing those fighting for sovereignty as “marginal”
and announcing that Armenia cannot have an anti-Russian movement.

The anti-Russian sentiment is a bait of propaganda that is used
everywhere when the Russian government goes against the interest of the
given state and encounters counteraction of citizens. For example, the
Russian propaganda is seeking for anti-Russian or pro-West sentiment
in Ukraine to excuse and justify its own destructive actions, blackmail
and threat.

They have been looking for anti-Russian or pro-West sentiment in
Armenia, trying to interpret expressed concerns about the sovereignty
of Armenia and the imperialistic policy on Armenia as anti-Russian
or pro-West sentiment.

And the first president of Armenia has actually got down to this task.

On the eve the ANC member Gagik Jhangiryan announced in parliament that
there will be no repetition of Maidan and anti-Russian movements in
Armenia. He announced this in answer to Hrant Bagratyan’s question
about the draft resolution on setting up an ad hoc committee on
March 1.

Jhangiryan and Ter-Petrosyan are one of those people in Armenia who
know a lot. And they know better than anyone else how Armenia gained
independence and when it started losing it, giving away the country
to electoral fraud and having to look for an influential sponsor in
the face of Russia.

Afterwards Ter-Petrosyan stood an exceptional chance to form a
government that enjoyed public support. This was his special role in
the club of ex-presidents. He did half of the job – formed a movement
that enjoyed public support.

It seemed that knowledge would become Ter-Petrosyan’s weapon to carry
out a reform of the movement and set the idea of independence at its
basis and to shape public mentality with sovereignty as its goal and
then as its tool.

Meanwhile, the opposite happened, and knowledge became his weakness,
returning him to the traditional Armenian political mechanisms of an
imperial province.

– See more at:

LES FORCES ARMENIENNES TUENT UN SOLDAT AZERBAIDJANAIS SELON BAKOU

HAUT KARABAGH

BAKOU, (AFP) – Les forces armeniennes ont tue mercredi un soldat
azerbaïdjanais a la frontière entre les deux pays, en conflit depuis la
fin des annees 1980 au sujet de la region separatiste azerbaïdjanaise
du Nagorny Karabakh, ont annonce les autorites de Bakou.

“Le sergent Kerem Nokhbalayev a ete tue le 26 fevrier (mercredi)
après une violation du cessez-le-feu par l’Armenie”, a indique le
ministère azerbaïdjanais de la Defense dans un communique.

La violence s’est intensifiee ces deux derniers mois a la frontière
entre l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan, les deux parties du conflit
s’accusant mutuellement de mener des raids dans lesquels au moins
cinq soldats ont ete tues.

L’an dernier, quelque 20 soldats des deux parties auraient ete tues
dans des echanges de tirs a la frontière, qui ont lieu regulièrement
autour du Nagorny Karabakh. Rattachee a l’Azerbaïdjan a l’epoque
sovietique, cette region separatiste a majorite armenienne a ete
l’enjeu d’une guerre qui a fait 30.000 morts et des centaines de
milliers de refugies entre 1988 et 1994.

Un cessez-le-feu a ete signe en 1994, mais Bakou et Erevan n’arrivent
pas a se mettre d’accord sur le statut de la region qui reste une
source de tension dans le Caucase du Sud, une zone strategique situee
entre l’Iran, la Russie et la Turquie.

L’Azerbaïdjan menace de prendre le contrôle de la region par la force
si les negociations n’aboutissent pas, mais l’Armenie a promis des
represailles contre toute action militaire.

vendredi 28 fevrier 2014, Ara (c)armenews.com

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:

VARTANANTZ

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, the Armenian Church celebrates the
Feast of Vartanantz, commemorating the war between pagan Persia and
Christian Armenia in 451. The king of Persia ordered all Christians
under his rule to abandon Christianity and embrace Zoroastrianism. The
Armenian clergy and ruling princes refused to follow this dictum. As
recorded by the historian Yeghishe, the Christian soldiers took an
oath to fight the enemies of truth: =80=9CWe are ready for persecution
and death and every affliction and torture for the sake of the holy
churches which our forefathers entrusted to us
by the power of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby we were
reborn ourselves by torments and blood. For we recognize the Holy
Gospel as our Father, and the apostolic universal church as our
Mother. Let no evil partition come between us to separate us from
her.’

Vartan Mamigonian was the leader of the Armenians in the decisive
battle of Avarayr, and although outnumbered, the Armenians put up a
valiant defense. Vartan and many of his soldiers were killed, but the
Persians suffered greater casualties and with this battle the Persians
recognized the strong commitment the Armenians had for their Christian
faith.

On the eve of the battle of Avarayr, Vartan spoke to his men, assuring
them that righteousness was on their side and encouraged them to be
brave and fearless:

`I entreat you, therefore, my brave companions, especially because
many of you surpass me in valor and precede me in princely rank. But
since
you, of your own free will, have selected me as your leader and
commander,
let my words be pleasant and agreeable to you all, great and small:
Fear not the heathen hordes and never turn your backs to the frightful
sword of mortal men; because should our Lord grant us victory, we
shall destroy their
might and the cause of righteousness shall be exalted. But if the time
has
come for us to meet a holy death in this battle, let us accept our
fate with joyful heart, without mingling cowardice with our valor and
courage. … Our Commander is not a mere man, but the
Commander-in-chief of all martyrs. Fear is a sign of doubt; but as we
have repudiated doubt long since, let fear also disappear from our
hearts and minds.’

The struggle continued for more than thirty years. In 484 Vahan
Mamigonian, nephew of Vartan, successfully negotiated the Treaty of
Nvarsag, the first document in history granting religious freedom and
home rule, preceding the Magna Charta by nearly 750 years.

PRELATE WILL CELEBRATE LITURGY COMMEMORATING
VARTANANTZ IN NEW JERSEY AND RHODE ISLANÕ=8F

In keeping with his traditional commemoration of Vartanantz,
Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
sermon tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, at Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, on the occasion of the Feast of Vartanantz and
the name day of the New Jersey parish. Students from the Hovnanian
School, grades five to eight, will attend the liturgy, take communion,
and present a Vartanantz program following a luncheon hosted by the
Ladies’ Guild.

His Eminence will travel to Rhode Island on Sunday, March 2, where he
will
celebrate the liturgy and deliver the sermon at Sts. Vartanantz Church
in celebration of Vartanantz and the parish’s name day. A traditional
Armenian dinner hosted by the Ladies Guild will take place in Aramian
Auditorium following the liturgy. A program will be presented by the
students of
the Mourad Armenian School.

GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING

Clergy from the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies gathered Monday for
their annual clergy conference on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the
Priests, at Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York. The conference is
coming to
an end today.

MUSICAL ARMENIA: MARCH 28

The 31st Musical Armenia concert will take place Friday evening (8
pm), March 28, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, featuring Narek
Arutyunian (clarinet) and Friends (Hahnsol Kim, violin; and Yun-Chin
Zhou, piano). For more information click here
().

SAVE THE DATES FOR NRA

The 2014 National Representative Assembly (NRA), along with the Clergy
Conference, and the Conference of the National Association of Ladies
Guilds (NALG), will take place May 13-17, hosted by St. Sarkis Church,
Dearborn, Michigan. Delegates and guests will find more information
here ().

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, March 2, Poon Paregentan (Eve of Great
Lent) are: Isaiah 58:1-14; Romans 13:11-14:23; Matthew 6:1-21.

Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by
them;
for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may
be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their
reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, so
that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you.

And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to
stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that
they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their
reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and
pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you.

When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do;
for
they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not
be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your
name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as
we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of
trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also
forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.

And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for
they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are
fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when
you fast, put oil on your
head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by
others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees
in secret will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moss nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:1-21)

For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().

150 FATHERS OF HOLY COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE

This Saturday, March 1, we celebrate the Feast of the 150 Fathers of
the Council of Constantinople, the second ecumenical council convened
by Emperor
Theodosius in 381. This council confirmed the work of the first
council at
Nicaea, and added five articles to the Nicene Creed regarding the Holy
Spirit, the Church, Baptism, and Resurrection. The Council of
Constantinople is one of the three ecumenical councils recognized by
the Armenian Church.

POON PAREGENTAN

This Sunday, March 2, is Poon Paregentan, the eve of Great Lent (Medz
Bahk). Poon means `real’ or `genuine,’ and distinguishes this
paregentan from others in the liturgical calendar prior to other
periods of fasting. Paregentan literally means `good living.’

Poon Paregentan ushers the faithful into the Lenten period of fasting,
penance and reconciliation. During Lent the Church takes on a solemn
appearance. The altar curtain is closed starting from the evening of
Poon Paregentan, symbolic of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden. Holy Communion is not offered during Lent and the
faithful are encouraged to use this period leading to Easter as a time
of prayer and meditation to strengthen their faith.

Paregentan Sunday is the last day before the start of Lent. It is
marked with good and abundant food, merriment, entertainment and
festivities of various kinds. Traditionally, all the food in the house
that is forbidden during Lent would be consumed on Paregentan and
leftovers would be given to non-Christian neighbors. During Lent all
animal products, including dairy and eggs, are forbidden. The earliest
Armenian tradition was even stricter and was referred to as Aghouhatz
(salt and bread) because of its stringent restrictions.

GREAT LENT BEGINS MONDAY

Great Lent (Medz Bahk or Karasnortk) begins this Monday, March
3. Great Lent is the longest of the fasts in the liturgical
calendar. It begins on the
Monday immediately following Poon Paregentan, and continues for 40
days until the Friday before the commemoration of the raising of
Lazarus on the Saturday before Palm Sunday. A new period of fasting
begins during Holy Week.

Great Lent, a time of penance, abstinence, and devotion, is a very
personal spiritual journey that is based on the 40 days Christ spent
in the wilderness following his baptism. `Then Jesus was led up by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty
days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished’ (Matthew 3:1-2).

LENTEN LECTURES BEGIN MARCH 5

The 2014 Lenten Lectures will begin next Wednesday, March 5, and
continue through subsequent Wednesdays during Lent. The theme of the
lectures will be The Nicene Creed, based on the recently published
Commentary on the Nicene Creed, by Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian, of
blessed memory. The newly published bilingual book was translated by
Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), who will begin the series with an
introduction to the Creed and its origin and function.

Subsequent lecturers are: Archpriest Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of
St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown, on March 12; Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar General of the Prelacy, on March 19; Rev. Fr. Nareg
Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston on March 26;
Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC on April 2; and Archpriest
Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of
St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia, on April 9.

The Prelacy’s Lenten Lectures continue a decades-old tradition. The
series is sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council, the
Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), and the Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral. The lectures take place at the Cathedral, 221 East 27th
Street, New York City, with church service at 7:30 pm; Lecture and Q &
A at 8 pm; Table Fellowship at 8:45 pm.

For information contact the Prelacy office at 212-689-7810, or
[email protected] or the Cathedral office at 212-689-5880.

DIRECTOR OF GOGUIKIAN FOUNDATION VISITS

Ms. Soheila Y. Hayek, Executive Director of The Goguikian Foundation,
visited the Prelacy offices last week where she met with the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan, and the Vicar, Bishop Anoushavan.

The Goguikian Foundation was founded in 2008 as a non-profit,
apolitical, philanthropic foundation with the aim of helping the
Lebanese Armenian community. Ms. Hayek described how the Foundation
wants to help the Armenian community in Lebanon to be well represented
and well served by the government, and to help Armenians benefit from
all health and education services available. The Foundation also aims
to strengthen the participation of the Armenian community in Lebanese
society while also preserving their Armenian heritage, identity, and
culture.

The Foundation provides scholarships, training, and assistance in
establishing careers in the public sector by publicizing the benefits
and opportunities available.

Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan with Ms. Soheila Y. Hayek,
Executive Director of The Goguikian Foundation.

THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])

The Reform of Armenian Orthography (March 4, 1922)

The reform of Armenian orthography in 1922 unleashed a decades-long
controversy throughout the Armenian world that has not stopped until
this day.

In January 1921, historian Ashot Hovhannisian (1887-1972), Commissar
of Popular Education of the newly-established Soviet Armenian
government, organized an advisory meeting about the orthography reform
as part of a policy to
foster education and fight illiteracy. Linguist and philologist Manuk
Abeghian (1865-1944), who had written extensively on the issue since
the late 1890s, presented a position paper on the issue. The paper
repeated in its essentials the main theses of another paper (published
in the same year) that
he had read during a commemoration of the 1500th anniversary of the
creation of the Armenian alphabet in 1913. Abeghian suggested to
suppress the letters Ö=85 (o) and Õ§ (e) and replace them by Õ¸ (vo)
and Õ¥ (ye), as well as a series of orthographic changes that
signified a radical departure from the standard usage that had been
the general norm since the Middle Ages.

Hovhannisian presented the paper to a special committee, which
accepted its suggestions, and had it printed and sent to various
parties, with the wish of `hearing the voice of the users of the
Armenian language, particularly those worried with education.’ No
replies were received. After the end of the February rebellion in
April, Hovhannisian was replaced by translator and journalist Poghos
Makintsian (1884-1937), who continued his predecessor’s efforts and
created a new special committee in February 1922. This committee
presented to Makintsian the conclusions of its discussions of
Abeghian’s paper. Makintsian, instead of transmitting
them to the Soviet of Popular Commissars (equivalent to the Council of
Ministers), chose to present Abeghian’s suggestions. The Soviet, under
the chairmanship of Alexander Miasnikian, approved them on March 4,
1922, and ordered their execution. In the same year, Abeghian
published his paper
with the title `Guide of the New Orthography of the Armenian
Language.”” It was the first book in the new spelling.

The reform stirred huge discontent in Armenia and in the Diaspora. The
great poet Hovhannes Tumanian wrote a letter to the Soviet of Popular
Commissars in May 1922, where he expressed his disagreement: `I, as an
Armenian writer and chairman of the Union of Armenian Writers, come to
declare my astonishment and to protest against the attitude of the
Commissar of Education of Armenia in this important
issue. Mr. M. Abeghian has made a proposal and published it. Very
well. But where did the Commissar of Education of Armenia learn that
both Mr. M. Abeghian and himself, the Commissar of Education, are
infallible, and without subjecting the proposal to examination,
have decreed to adopt it and write and print only with that
[spelling]?’

The reform was actually spearheaded by the Soviet regime as part of a
general policy of adopting the Latin alphabet to write the languages
of non-Russian peoples of the Soviet Union. Makintsian himself, who
had presented a paper in 1919 (`On an Uniform Latin Alphabet for the
People of the Socialist Federative Soviet Republic of Russia’) at a
conference in Moscow, admitted in an article published in Russian on
November 29, 1924, in the daily Zarya Vostoka of Tiflis: `I would have
not cast my vote
in favor of that reform under any circumstance if I had not considered
it a step towards facilitating the work of going to the Latin
characters . . .
If the reform of the Armenian alphabet is bound to freeze and remain
halfway, in that case it would be better to return to the old spelling
without further ado. . . The sooner we throw to the archive the
angular, ugly, and eye-damaging `Sahak-Mesrobian’ alphabet, the sooner
we will get rid of Abeghian’s spelling.’

On August 22, 1940, yet another reform of spelling was decreed,
executed by linguist Gurgen Sevak (1904-1981). It marked a partial
return to the traditional spelling and it is the one in use until
today in the Republic of Armenia, as well as among its emigrated
citizens throughout the world. The Diaspora which was born after 1915
uses the traditional spelling, which Iranian Armenians also use, with
small differences, as Eastern Armenians used it
before Soviet times.

Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History’ are on
the Prelacy’s web site ()

The title page of Sayat Nova’s Armenian poems published in 1931 which
utilizes the Soviet Armenian orthography of 1922.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THE NEED IS REAL.
THE NEED IS GREAT.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON LINE.
TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE () AND
SELECT SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU.

The Fund for Syrian Armenian Relief is a joint effort of: Armenian
Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy); Armenian Catholic
Eparchy; Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America; Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA, Inc.); Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

Thank you for your help

ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER
(Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee[ANEC])

A Particular Way to Enjoy

Western Armenian has an interesting couple: Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ¥Õ¬Õ¥Õ¬ (vayelel)
and Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ¬Õ¥Õ¬ (vaylel). It is interesting because both words derive
from Classical Armenian vayelel, and also because . . . the couple
does not exist in Eastern Armenian, which has only adopted the latter.

What is the difference between them? One has kept the original
meaning, while the other has turned into a specialized meaning. Thus,

Vayelel means `to enjoy.’ For instance, `ÔµÕ½
Õ¨Õ¶Õ©Ö=80Õ«Ö=84Õ¨ Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ¥Õ¬Õ¥Ö=81Õ«’ (Yes entrikuh vayeletsi – `I
enjoyed the dinner’).

Vaylel means `to suit’ (which may be regarded as a certain
way of enjoying). For instance, `Ô½Ö=85Õ½Õ¥Õ¬Õ¸Ö=82 Õ¡ÕµÕ½ Õ±Õ¥Ö=82Õ¨
Ö=84Õ¥Õ¦Õ« Õ¹Õ« Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ¬Õ¥Ö=80′ (Khoseloo ays tsevuh kezi chi vayler –
`This way of talking does not suit you’).

This is not an isolated case. We may recall the Classical Armenian
word Õ¡Õ·Õ¡Õ¯Õ¥Ö=80Õ¿ (ashagerd, `student’), which in both branches of
Armenian also gave birth to a second word:
Õ¡Õ·Õ¯Õ¥Ö=80Õ¿ (ashgerd, `apprentice’).

It is common to confuse vaylel with vayelel. In any case, you cannot
say
`ÔµÕ½ Õ¨Õ¶Õ©Ö=80Õ«Ö=84Õ¨ Õ¾Õ¡ÕµÕ¬Õ¥Ö=81Õ«’ (Yes entrikuh
vayletsi). How could you `suit’ the dinner?

Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner’ are on the
Prelacy’s web site ()

GIVING FROM THE HEART

As we prepare to enter the Lenten season, we end this week’s
Crossroads with this heartwarming story.

A short handwritten letter was received earlier this month, addressed
to the Prelate, with a simple message:

`Your Eminence: Enclosed please find check in the amount of $50.00
to use at your discretion. As long as I live, you will be receiving
the above amount every 3rd of the month, as I receive my Social
Security check. I
am an 88 year old Senior Citizen, and a widow, and my mother instilled
in me that we take care of our churches. In Faith, Mary Antonian.’

`As I read that simple note, I felt that I was reading a modern
parable,’ said Archbishop Oshagan. I was poignantly reminded that it
is not the amount of the gift that sets one gift above another. It is
the passion and commitment of the giver that defines the gift. I
thought of Saint Paul, who in his missionary journeys throughout the
Roman provinces, spoke about `strengthening the churches,’ and urged
believers to give regularly by setting aside a sum of money in keeping
with their incomes.’ (1 Corinthians 16:2)

In the sentiments of Saint Paul, `May her enthusiasm stir others to
action.’ (2 Corinthians 9:2)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2014 Prelacy Lenten Program, on Wednesdays, starting March 5, at
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (New York City),
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the
Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), and the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral Ladies
Guild. For information, please contact the Prelacy office at
212.689.7810, or [email protected] or the Church office at
212-689-5880 or [email protected].

March 1-St. Sarkis Sunday School, Dearborn, Michigan, Poon Paregentan
Costume Party for everyone, at Lillian Arakelian Hall.

March 2-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York City, Poon Paregentan
Manti Luncheon and Program, at John Pashalian Hall, 1 pm, sponsored by
the Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral. Admission $30.

March 8-Sunday Teachers’ Seminar for NY-NJ region, at
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral (New York City), sponsored by the
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme: The Nicene Creed.

March 8-Anthropology/Armenian Museum will present `The Mark Kyrkostas
Remember Me with Music’ Dance and Music Concert with audience
participation in Kaloustian Hall at the Armenian Church of the Holy
Martyrs, Bayside, New York, at 7 pm.

March 16-Armenian Earthquake Rescue Efforts…Remembered, at Soorp
Khatch Church (Arabian Hall), Bethesda, Maryland, at 1
pm. Presentation by Lt. Michael Regan and the Fairfax County Fire and
Rescue Department, Virginia Task Force 1, the U.S. emergency rescue
team deployed to the 1988 Armenian earthquake. Rescue team members
will be recounting their experiences.

March 26-St. Sarkis Ladies Guild, Dearborn, Michigan, Mid-Lenten
Luncheon following the Lenten morning service, Lillian Arakelian Hall.

March 28-Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm,
featuring Narek Arutyunian (clarinet) & Friends, Hahnsol Kim (violin)
and Yunqing Zhou (piano).

March 27-April 6-Third Annual Online Auction hosted by Armenian Relief
Society, Eastern USA, Inc. Auction items include Weekend Getaways,
Unique Gifts, Restaurants, Hotels, Spa and Salon Services, Jewelry,
Electronics, Artwork, Sports Memorabilia, and more. To view and bid on
auction items during the auction dates:
To contact the ARS Auction
committee: [email protected].

March 8-Sunday School Teachers’ Seminar for NY-NJ region, at
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral (New York City), sponsored by the
Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) and hosted by
St. Illuminator’s Sunday School. Theme: The Nicene Creed.

March 14-St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, Commentary
on the Nicene Creed book presentation at 7:30pm, by Dn. Shant
Kazanjian, Executive Director of Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC) of the Prelacy.

March 28-Musical Armenia Concert presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm,
featuring Narek Arutyunian (clarinet) & Friends, Hahnsol Kim (violin)
and Yun-Chin Zhou (piano).

March 28-St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, book presentation, Commentary on the Nicene Creed, at
8:00pm, by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Executive Director of Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC) of the Prelacy.

March 29-Concert by Zulal Armenian A Capella Folk Trio at Holy Trinity
Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, 4 pm, followed by a reception in the
church hall. Tickets $25, if purchased before March 8; $30 after March
8. To purchase tickets email Janis at [email protected] or Carol at
[email protected]. Also online at
For information call the church,
508-852-2414.

April 5-Sunday School Teachers’ Seminar – New England region, at
St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Theme:
The Nicene Creed.

April 24-`Walk to Honor our Martyrs,’ organized by the New York ARF
and the ANC of New York, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New
York City. Badarak and Hokehankist, 10:30 am to 12 noon. Walk begins
12:30 pm from the Cathedral. For information:
[email protected] or 212-689-5880.

April 27-Annual Times Square Gathering, in commemoration of the 99th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Sponsored by the Knights and
Daughters of Vartan with the support and participation of all churches
and organizations. Free bus transportation from area Armenian
churches, and other locations.

May 13-17-Clergy Conference and National Representative Assembly, and
Annual Conference of the National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG)
of the Eastern Prelacy, hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn,
Michigan.

June 1-Ladies Guild Annual Brunch, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York.

June 1-St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, Toronto Children’s Choir
concert in the church sanctuary.

June 29-July 6, 2014-St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program for
youth ages 13-18 at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC). For information, contact the AREC office at
212.689.7810 or at [email protected].

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [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]

LA JUVENTUD DE LA COMUNIDAD ARMENIA RESPONDE A LAS PROVOCACIONES AZERES

Palermo Online, Argentina
25 feb 2014

PalermOnLine Noticias. Ciudad de Buenos Aires 25 febrero, 2014 Editado
por Palermonline

(Agencia Prensa Armenia).- En la tarde del lunes 24 de febrero, un
grupo de jovenes de la comunidad armenia asistio a la Embajada de
Azerbaiyan en Argentina para entregar una carta a los diplomaticos
azeríes que estaban realizando un seminario titulado “La resolucion
del conflicto entre Armenia y Azerbaiyan y sus implicaciones para
la region”.

“Nos dirigimos a Ud. a fin de comunicarle nuestro mas energico repudio
por la actividad que esta realizando en la Embajada de Azerbaiyan
en Argentina. En reiteradas oportunidades, desde su radicacion en
la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, ha llevado a cabo encuentros
que tienen como único objetivo tergiversar la historia del Caucaso,
desplegando la línea racista y antiarmenia que el gobierno de Ilham
Aliyev sostiene en acciones y discursos”, decía la carta, que los
diplomaticos azeríes se negaron a recibir.

El seminario tuvo lugar dos días antes de la manifestacion que
tendra lugar frente a la embajada de Azerbaiyan para recordar el
26 aniversario de los pogromos de Sumgait. “Este seminario es una
provocacion. Esto nos da mas fuerza para continuar nuestra lucha”,
dijo uno de los manifestantes. El acto organizado por la Union Juventud
Armenia se celebrara el miercoles 26 de febrero en Buenos Aires. Al
día siguiente, habra una “intervencion urbana” en Montevideo.

ARMENIA TO FORM FREE ECONOMIC ZONE FOR JEWELLERS

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Feb 27 2014

27 February 2014 – 11:45am

The Armenian government has decided today to form a free economic
zone for jewellers in Yerevan, News.am reports.

The AJA Holding in the new economic zone will be founded by the
Armenian Jewellers Association (AJA). The Association has about 5,000
Armenian and foreign jewelers. 15 companies from the US, Russia,
Turkey and Arab states have expressed interest in the zone.

The programme for development of the free zone was developed by EV
Consulting. It plans to attract 150 companies to work there and create
about 2,000 jobs with an average salary of $500 a month. According
to the programme, the zone will generate exports of $200-250 million.

The free economic zone will be free from VAT, taxes on profit and
property and import customs fees. The zone will focus on exports of
products abroad. Sales of jewellery in Armenia will be taxed.

The Armenian government has decided today to form a free economic
zone for jewellers in Yerevan, News.am reports.

The AJA Holding in the new economic zone will be founded by the
Armenian Jewellers Association (AJA). The Association has about 5,000
Armenian and foreign jewelers. 15 companies from the US, Russia,
Turkey and Arab states have expressed interest in the zone.

The programme for development of the free zone was developed by EV
Consulting. It plans to attract 150 companies to work there and create
about 2,000 jobs with an average salary of $500 a month. According
to the programme, the zone will generate exports of $200-250 million.

The free economic zone will be free from VAT, taxes on profit and
property and import customs fees. The zone will focus on exports of
products abroad. Sales of jewellery in Armenia will be taxed.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MEMBER REACTS TO US AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT ON PENSION REFORMS

February 27, 2014 | 13:42

YEREVAN. – By defending the new funded pension law adopted in Armenia,
US Ambassador John Heffern violated the system of values of his
country.

Opposition Democratic Motherland Party Chairman Petros Makeyan stated
the aforesaid at a press conference on Thursday.

Makeyan reflected on the statement which Heffern had made, at the Third
Annual International Pension Conference that was held on February 21
in capital city Yerevan, where he had noted that the pension reform
is very important for Armenia.

“[The ambassador] praised this [pension] system [thereby] violating
their own country’s system of values that the US is a democratic
country, and it considers its people’s view when making important
decisions. But Heffern, knowing that the Armenian people are against
the [new] pension law, defends it,” he said, in particular.

In Makeyan’s words, the American diplomat had no right to make such
a statement.

“The ambassador should go and solve his country’s problems; he should
not deal with us. Regardless of what the US ambassador thinks, the
‘mandatory’ pension component [in the new law] shall not be passed
[in Armenia],” Petros Makeyan argued.

Ambassador John Heffern’s statements at the aforesaid conference had
caused large protests among the opponents of the new pension reform.

The “I am against” civic initiative members had even sent open letters
to the American diplomat.

The new funded pension plan, which formally came into force in Armenia
on January 1, 2014, is mandatory for those born in and after 1974
and voluntary for those born before 1974. In line with this plan,
5 to 10 percent of the monthly salaries in Armenia will be deducted
and mandatorily be allocated to cumulative pension funds; the latter
will be reimbursed as pensions once a person turns 63 years old.

On January 24, however, the Constitutional Court decided to suspend the
execution of some components in the Law on Funded Pensions pending
the hearing–on March 28–of the petition submitted by the four
non-ruling-coalition parliamentary forces–the Armenian National
Congress, Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and Heritage–,
and into the constitutionality of the several articles of the law.

Notwithstanding this, some employers already are deducting the
mandatory pension payment from the salaries of their employees.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIA TO OPEN CASINOS NEAR IRAN BORDER

February 27, 2014 | 13:23

YEREVAN. – Criteria are developed for the setting up of gaming halls
in the Armenian City of Meghri, which borders Iran.

The respective decision was adopted at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

In line with the decision, the casinos must be at least 300 meters
away from educational, historical and cultural objects, state and
local government agency buildings, and hospitals.

In late 2012, legislative changes were made, pursuant to which gaming
halls may operate in Armenia solely in four cities (Tsaghkadzor,
Jermuk, Sevan, and Meghri). The law went into effect on January 1,
2014, but it caused discontent among the proprietors of the casinos
that are located not far from capital city Yerevan. Some of these
gaming halls already have been closed down.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

LES ARMENIENS DE LOS ANGELES ONT PROTESTE DEVANT LE CONSULAT D’AZERBAIDJAN

USA

Lundi 24 fevrier les representants de la communaute armenienne aux
Etats-Unis ont organise une manifestation devant le Consulat general
de l’Azerbaidjan a Los Angeles dans le cadre de la commemoration
du massacre du 26 fevrier de Sumgait et du 10e anniversaire de
l’assassinat a la hache de Gurgen Margaryan.

Le rassemblement a ete organise par les Jeunes Armeniens Unifies
et vise a informer la communaute internationale sur les horreurs
infligees aux Armeniens par les Azerbaïdjanais.

La politique anti-armenienne de l’Azerbaïdjan ne s’est pas arrete
depuis les pogroms de Sumgait et la glorification Ramil Safarov,
meurtrier de Gurgen Margaryan est une preuve de cela.

L’un des orateurs, David Arakelyan, a condamne les autorites de
l’Azerbaïdjan pour leur politique anti-armenienne et la communaute
internationale pour son silence ce qui permet l’Azerbaïdjan a
poursuivre son agression contre les Armeniens du Haut-Karabagh.

jeudi 27 fevrier 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

WESTON RESIDENT GETS ANOTHER CHANCE AT JUDGESHIP

Wicked Local- Weston, MA
Feb 27 2014

By Colleen Quinn
State House News Service

Attorney Joseph Berman of Weston, whose nomination for a seat on
the Superior Court has been shrouded in controversy, got another
shot Wednesday to convince the Governor’s Council he would make a
good judge, apologizing for some impressions he may have left with
council members during his initial vetting.

Attorney Joseph Berman of Weston, whose nomination for a seat on
the Superior Court has been shrouded in controversy, got another
shot Wednesday to convince the Governor’s Council he would make a
good judge, apologizing for some impressions he may have left with
council members during his initial vetting.

“I am grateful for today’s second chance to show you who I am, what
drives me, and how I have taken your concerns to heart,” Berman said.

Berman waited quietly for nearly two-and-half hours before he first
spoke while witnesses spoke for and against his nomination.

Gov. Deval Patrick withdrew Berman’s nomination last week and
resubmitted it in order to give his nominee another hearing. After his
November hearing, a majority of council members said they planned to
vote against Berman. Patrick delayed the vote and has tried to sway
council members.

Councilors cited concerns about Berman’s hefty campaign contributions
to Democratic candidates, his representation of a prisoner at
a Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and his leadership role in
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) – an organization that refused
to recognize the Armenian genocide, and worked against efforts in
Congress to acknowledge it, critics charge.

Some councilors questioned why he did not resign from his position as
a board member of the New England chapter of the ADL because of the
organization’s stance on the genocide by the Turks that took place
in the early 20th century.

Witnesses spoke against Berman becoming a judge because of his
leadership role in the ADL, the international organization that was
founded in 1913 to fight anti-Semitism.

David Boyajian, who described himself as a member of the
Armenian-American community, lambasted the ADL for its refusal to
recognize the Armenian genocide and for “consciously and deliberately”
working to defeat genocide resolutions in the U.S. Congress. He
questioned why Berman, as a national and regional board member, did not
speak out publicly against the ADL’s stance on the Armenian genocide
when he says he does not support it, and why he did not resign.

“Surely the New England ADL and its commissioners, including Mr.

Berman, knew what the national ADL was up to. Did they ever speak out?

No,” Boyajian said.

Boyajian pointed out that the Massachusetts Municipal Association,
and several Massachusetts communities, cut ties with the ADL’s “No
Place for Hate” campaign in 2007-08 in the wake of the controversy
that became an international affair.

During his first confirmation hearing, Berman said he thought about
resigning, but decided against it because of the good work the ADL
does. Boyajian said that was not good enough.

“Did Mr. Berman ever speak out publicly? No,” Boyajian said.

“Only now are we hearing from Mr. Berman on the Armenian genocide
issue just when he wishes to become a judge,” Boyajian said.

Boyajian said the ADL must apologize to Armenians and recognize the
genocide unambiguously. He asked the Governor’s Council to reject
Berman’s nomination because he is a “top member of an organization
that engages in genocide denial.”

Councilor Christopher Iannella told Boyajian he understands his
opposition to the nominee because of the history between the ADL and
the Armenian community, but wanted to know if he had any personal
knowledge of Berman’s trial experience and demeanor. Boyajian did not.

“I look at character. I look at experience. I look at demeanor. I am
not diminishing what you say,” Iannella said.

Councilor Terrence Kennedy said he appreciates Boyajian’s passion,
but added he does not think it is inconsistent to recognize the
Armenian genocide and to vote in favor of Berman at the same time.

“I think he was very clear, in his testimony last time, that he tried
to get the policy changed,” Kennedy said.

Councilor Jennie Caissie said she is concerned about “truthfulness
and veracity” of a judicial nominee and questioned Berman’s statement
during the last hearing that he led an “insurrection” at the New
England chapter to change national ADL policy. Caissie said Berman
could not provide any verification that he actively worked to fight
the ADL’s stance on the Armenian genocide.

Councilor Robert Jubinville said, “I guess for me, it is about Mr.

Berman.” He added that “there are times when I should have spoken up
about issues and I didn’t, and I regret it.”

Councilor Marilyn Devaney asked Boyajian if the national ADL has
ever recognized the Armenian genocide. Boyajian said the national ADL
has never “forthrightly” acknowledged the genocide, and continues to
fight genocide resolutions in the U.S. Congress.

Devaney said she was called “ignorant” in editorials in The Boston
Herald and The Boston Globe. “I just want to make that clear, that
I’m not ignorant,” she said. Several council members defended Devaney,
saying she was criticized unfairly.

Criticisms of the council made headlines in Boston newspaper editorials
after Berman’s first confirmation hearing. They were chastised for
making his membership in the ADL an issue.

Berman is a partner at the Boston law firm Looney & Grossman. He
graduated from Dartmouth College and received his law degree from the
University of Michigan Law School. His practice focuses on commercial
litigation.

Berman thanked the council for giving him another hearing, adding he
respects the state Constitutional process that dictates how judges are
selected and “for the indispensible role of the Governor’s Council.”

“I know I will be a better judge because of this process. This process
has given me a chance for self-reflection and a recognition that I
always have more to learn,” he said.

He addressed concerns about political donations, his understanding
of drug addiction, and philosophy of a judge’s role.

Berman apologized for impressions he may have given some council
members that he does not understand drug addiction. Since the first
hearing, he said he educated himself more on addiction, reading a
book recommended to him by Jubinville and spending time in a Newton
drug court. He also took a course related to drug addiction.

During the last hearing, Berman was also criticized for hefty campaign
contributions, approximately $110,000 during the past decade, largely
to campaigns at the federal level. At the hearing, he was asked how
much he gives to charity. Afterward, Berman submitted a list detailing
his family’s charitable contributions in the past three years, which
total approximately $100,000.

“I wish that money did not play such a large role in politics, but
it does,” he said, adding he donates three times as much to charities
than political candidates.

Iannella said campaign and political contributions are not a
factor when he makes a decision. “The federal and state political
contributions, I don’t care. You’re a wealthy guy,” he said.

Iannella said what does mean something to him is that Berman took
time to educate himself on drug addiction after the first hearing.

Several council members said they were more impressed with Berman’s
performance at the second hearing.

Berman again defended his decision to represent a prisoner at a
Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, saying it was a constitutional
issue. No criminal charges were ever brought against his client,
but he remained detained.

“I wasn’t doing it to make a point publicly,” he said. “It was an
important constitutional issue there.”

Berman said he is passionate about the legal system. In 2004,
he applied for a position on the district court, but the Judicial
Nomination Commission did not advance his name.

The council will meet again next week. While the council has over
the years often voted on nominees a week after their hearing, the
governor decides when a vote is taken on any nominee.

In January, more than 100 attorneys wrote to the council urging
approval of Berman’s nomination. Among the lawyers was former Gov.

William Weld, former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, and Attorney
General candidate Warren Tolman.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN ASKS FOR ADVICE IN FINDING EFFECTIVE WAYS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND EU

YEREVAN, February 25. /ARKA/. Secretary of Armenia’s National Security
Council, Arthur Baghdasaryan, had a meeting today with members of the
EU Advisory Group and asked for assistance in finding effective ways
of cooperation between Armenia and EU having in mind Armenia imminent
accession to the Russia-led Customs Union.

“We need advice of economic experts in order to make our cooperation
with the Customs Union and the European Union as smooth as possible,”
Bagdasaryan said.

Baghdasaryan highlighted a set of priority programs, for which he would
like to get expert advice from the EU. They are the modernization
of the Armenian- Georgian border crossings and the introduction of
“one stop – one window” system. He said this program has already
received EU’s advice, but it is very extensive and requires a more
in-depth research and advice of European experts.

Baghdasaryan said Armenia needs European experts’ assistance also in
the justice system, particularly, in the introduction of the probation
service and the system of alternative penalties.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea, said
that a number of issues require extensive EU assistance, “however,
we would like to have additional discussion of the methodology of
this support.”

In a surprise move last September 3 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
signed a joint statement with Russia, confirming Armenia’s decision
to join the Customs Union and its readiness to participate in the
formation of the Russian sponsored Eurasian Union. Together with
other Eastern Partnership states, it was due to sign Association
as well as Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreements (AA/DCFTA)
with the EU last November in Vilnius.

President Sargsyan explained the decision to join the Customs Union
by pointing at Armenia’s membership in CSTO and saying that “it was a
rational decision based on Armenia’s national interests.” He further
added that “this decision does not preclude our dialogue with the
European structures.” -0-

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