Author: Kanayan Tamar

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

TOP STORY March
15, 2012

Sunday of the Judge
Parable of the Unjust Judge by John Everett Millais (1863).

Sunday of the Judge

A common image runs through the Gospel reading for Sunday, March 18=80’the
Sunday of the Judge, in Great Lent.

In one parable, our Lord tells the story of a widow who would not cease
calling on a judge for justice-and we are meant to think about our own
prayers to heaven. In a second parable, a Pharisee and a tax collector
pray in the Temple, displaying very different attitudes towards God.

Both of these stories are offered in the context of Jesus telling about
the end of the world, the coming of God’s kingdom, and the judgment of
all mankind.

Listening to these passages, we are forced to realize that as human
beings, every day, we stand before God. Indeed, one day, at the coming
of His kingdom, we will stand before Him as our judge. And so we must
ask ourselves: How should we stand before God? How should we prepare
to show ourselves to Him?
[4]
Click here to learn more about Lent in the Armenian Church.
Links:
4.

Ordination at St. Vartan Cathedral

Two Seminarians to be Ordained Acolytes on Sunday

On Sunday, March 18, Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian will
ordain two seminarians to the rank of acolyte at St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral.

Levon Asdourian and Arman Uzunyan, students of St. Nersess Armenian
Seminary, will be made `tbirs’ by the hand of the Primate, which
incorporates the four minor orders of porter, lector, exorcist, and
acolyte. These minor orders have, by and large, been abandoned by the
Western churches, but are still retained in the Armenian tradition.
Among the holders of the minor orders, only the acolytes may accompany
the priest and deacons onto the holy altar.

The ordination will be performed in the course of the Divine Liturgy,
which beings at 10:30 a.m. [5]Click here for information on the
cathedral’s service schedule and location.
Links:
5.

Scripture of the Week

Mk 13:1-37
Is 65:8-25
Phil 3:1-4:9
Lk 17:20-18:14

Prayer of the Week

O Lord, send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them
bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Then I will go to the
altar of God, and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Amen.

Upcoming Saints & Feasts

17 March: Forty Martyrs of Sebastia

18 March: Sunday of the Steward

CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Holy Etchmiadzin new library
An aerial photo of the new library and research center building (in the
foreground) at Holy Etchmiadzin.

Holy Etchmiadzin to Open Library and Research Center

A new building to house the library and manuscript collection of Holy
Etchmiadzin has been completed on the grounds of the Mother See. The
sponsors of the project are Vatche and Tamar Manoukian of London.

The temperature-controlled building will help preserve the more than
3,000 ancient volumes of the Armenian Church. It will also serve as a
center for Armenological and theological studies, and host exhibitions
open to the public.

The next phase of the project will include the installation of
furnishings and other equipment. The center is expected to open in the
fall of 2012.

[6]Click here to view a video about the project in Armenian.
Links:
6.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Diocesan Clery Retreat
Clergy who took part in this week’s Lenten retreat in Mundelein, IL.

Clergy Retreat Held in Illinois

Clergy from Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida, and Texas
gathered this week for a three-day Lenten retreat at the Cardinal
Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein, IL. The program began on Monday,
March 12, with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate,
presiding.

Themed `Follow Me,’ the retreat explored Christ’s call through Bible
study and group discussions facilitated by the clergy, as well as
spiritual reflections offered at the various prayer services. A special
guest at the retreat was Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate of the
Diocese of Canada.

The retreat was organized by Diocesan Vicar, the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon
Odabashian. Similar retreats are scheduled for the New England and
Mid-Atlantic regions.

Lenten video series continues

Lenten Video Series: On Temptation

On our website homepage and YouTube channel, the Eastern Diocese is
offering a series of brief online videos on Great Lent.

For this week’s edition, Diocesan communications director Christopher
Zakian speaks about the significance of the 40-day period Christ spent
in the wilderness following his baptism. Lent is typically thought of
as a time of quiet withdrawal and introspection; but as this week’s
video explains, the story behind it is something different: a story of
combat and resistance, which pits the Son of God against the great
Enemy of mankind.
[7]
Click here to view the latest Lent video. And refresh your memory of
the [8]first video in the series: a primer on Armenian Church fasting
traditions, with Fr. Simeon Odabashian.
Links:
7.
8.

Sahan Artsrouny
Sahan Arzruni gave a food preparation demonstration at the Diocese on
Tuesday.

Lenten Cuisine, Orchestrated by a Master Musician

On Tuesday evening, March 13, at the Diocesan Center in New York,
master pianist and ethnomusicologist Sahan Arzruni offered a unique,
creative presentation on Armenian Lenten cuisine.

The presentation featured a food preparation exhibition with a witty,
informative running narrative by Mr. Arzruni. He explained Armenian
traditions of Lent, and showed how he prepares various dishes using
contemporary ingredients.

The result was a full five-course dinner, which participants enjoyed as
Mr. Arzruni fielded questions on everything from the novel ingredients
(including Swiss chard and quinoa) to the similarities between Lenten
cooking and the modern “vegan” diet.

The evening came to a close with a Rest Service in the sanctuary of St.
Vartan Cathedral, led by the cathedral dean, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros
Chevian.

[9]Click here to read more.
Links:
9.

FAR trip to Armenia

FAR’s Young Professionals Trip Scheduled for June

This year the Fund for Armenian Relief’s Young Professionals Trip will
again include a tour of historic Armenian lands in eastern Turkey.
Participants will be able to visit incredible historic sites like
Armenia’s magnificent former capital of Ani, the holy island of
Aghtamar, as well as Kars and Van. The two-week trip, now in its 17th
year, will also include an extensive and enriching tour around Armenia.

The trip provides an ideal opportunity for young professionals between
the ages of 23 and 40 to travel to Armenia as a group, and to go beyond
a tourist’s itinerary to learn firsthand about Armenia’s place in the
world. Participants will visit FAR’s projects, engage in dialogue with
religious and government leaders, and gain an understanding of how
Armenia’s future is being shaped with the support of the diaspora.

The trip is scheduled for June 17-30. [10]Click here to learn more
about this year’s program.
Links:
10.

Diocesan Center News

Diocese Seeking Development Director

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) is currently
seeking candidates for the position of Director of Development.

The Development Director will report to the Diocese’s Executive
Director. He or she will be responsible for planning and implementing
all fundraising strategies for the Eastern Diocese. Responsibilities
include the areas of donor research, cultivation, and solicitation;
leadership identification and planning; reporting to donors and the
public; among other areas.

Qualified applicants should have a bachelor’s degree (advanced degree
preferred) and a significant record of success in fundraising. Please
consult the job description and list of qualifications posted on the
[11]Eastern Diocese’s website.
Links:
11.

Send résumé and cover letter via e-mail to
[12][email protected]. Only those applicants meeting
the requirements for the position will be interviewed. The review of
applications will begin immediately.
Links:
12. mailto:[email protected]

PARISH NEWS

St. James Church, Evanston, IL
Archbishop Barsamian presided over the celebration of the Divine
Liturgy at St. James Church on Sunday.

St. James Church of Evanston, IL, Welcomes Primate

On Sunday, March 11, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate,
visited St. James Church of Evanston, IL, where he presided over the
celebration of the Divine Liturgy and delivered the day’s sermon. The
Rev. Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, pastor of St. James Church, celebrated
the Divine Liturgy.

In his sermon, Archbishop Barsamian reflected on Jesus’ parable about
an unjust steward and spoke about its significance to today’s faithful.
`God has entrusted man with Creation, and mankind has to preserve and
protect, and ultimately pass on, what he has been entrusted with,’
Archbishop Barsamian said. `This kind of stewardship is the job of
every member of our church.”

Following services, the parish Women’s Guild hosted a mid-Lenten
luncheon in the church’s Nishan Hall. The St. James Bell Choir
performed a selection of melodies.

Divine Liturgy celebrated in Southwest Florida

Winter Season Concludes in Southwest Florida

The Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church of Chicago, IL, visited the Armenian Church of Southwest Florida
mission parish on Sunday, March 11, where he celebrated the Divine
Liturgy with assistance from Dn. Allan Tossoonian of St. Hagop Church
of Pinellas Park, FL. Organist Pierre Abadjian and 14 choir members
sang the hymns of the Badarak.

More than 120 people took part in the service, including the Rev. Fr.
Nersess and Yn. Aurora Jebejian, parents of Fr. Aren Jebejian. A light
luncheon and the parish’s annual bake sale followed services.

The day concluded the winter season at the Armenian Church of Southwest
Florida, which runs from November to early spring. To join the parish’s
mailing list for updates on future programs, contact Parish Council
chair Carole Meghreblian at [13][email protected].
Links:
13. mailto:[email protected]

Celebrating Armenian Armed Forces
Ambassador Tatoul Markarian (second from left) and Fr. Hovsep
Karapetyan with representatives of the Armenian armed forces at St.
Mary Church.

St. Mary Church Salutes Armenia’s Armed Forces

On Sunday, February 26, St. Mary Church of Washington, DC, celebrated
the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s armed forces. The day began with a
celebration of the Divine Liturgy and a Requiem Service for fallen
Armenian soldiers and the victims of pogroms in Azerbaijan in the late
1980s and early 1990s.

Following services, more than 120 parishioners gathered for a luncheon
and program organized by the Parish Council. Among the special guests
were His Excellency Tatoul Markarian, Armenia’s Ambassador to the
United States; Colonel Mesrop Nazarian, Armenia’s Defense Attaché in
Washington; other representatives from the embassies of Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabagh; and officers of the Armenian military who are
currently studying in the United States.

The Rev. Fr. Vertaness Kalayjian opened the program with a prayer.
Students of St. Mary’s Shnorhali School presented a cultural program of
songs and poems. Mr. Markarian spoke about the role of the armed forces
in the life of independent Armenia. Colonel Nazarian highlighted the
army’s achievements.

Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, parish pastor, noted that during our history
battles were always fought for the peace, justice, and religious
identity of the Armenian nation. He presented Colonel Nazarian with a
plaque bearing the Lord’s Prayer. Gregory Manougian served as the
master of ceremonies.

[14]Click here to view photos.
Links:
14.

EVENTS

Prof. Abraham Terian
Professor Abraham Terian will give a lecture at St. Nersess Seminary on
March 22.

Lecture on Armenian Mosaics at St. Nersess Seminary

On Thursday, March 22, Professor Abraham Terian, Professor Emeritus of
Armenian Theology and Patristics at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, will
give a lecture on a recently-discovered Armenian mosaic in Jerusalem.
The lecture will be held at St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, NY,
beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The mosaic sheds light on the role of Armenians in ancient Jerusalem.
It was excavated during the past decade, and the findings were
published in the December 2011 issue of the Israel Exploration Journal.

The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
[15]Click here for more information.
Links:
15.

Sacred Music at St. Vartan Cathedral

Sacred Music at the Cathedral

`An Evening of Worship, Scripture, and Sacred Music’ will be held at
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral on Saturday, March 24, beginning with a
Vespers Service at 7 p.m.

The program will include hymns from the Sunrise, Peace, and Rest
services of the Armenian Church. The hymns will be sung by the St.
Vartan Cathedral Choir under the direction of Maestro Khoren
Mekanejian.

[16]Click here to view a flyer for more information.
Links:
16.

Art at the Cathedral

Easter Art Exhibit at the Diocese

New York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral is pleased to announce that a
special art exhibit will be on display in the Diocesan Complex as part
of the upcoming observance of Easter Eve and Easter Sunday on April 7
and 8, 2012.

Behold, All Things Have Become New: Armenian Artists Celebrate Easter
is an exhibition of works by prominent Yerevan-based painters as well
as by prolific Armenian artists based in America. Curator for the
exhibit is Vasken Kalayjian, renowned graphic designer and artist.

Behold, All Things Have Become New will be on display in Guild Hall and
Yerevan Hall of the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral complex (630 Second
Avenue, New York City).

[17]Click here to view a flyer for more information.
Links:
17.

YOUTH NEWS

Camp deadline approaches

Last Day to Receive St. Vatan Camp Early-Bird Discount

Today, March 15, is the last day to receive the early-bird discount for
St. Vartan Camp. [18]Click here to register online.
Links:
18.

St. Vartan Camp CIT applications are also due today; staff and
volunteer applications are due on March 30. [19]Click here to download
the applications.
Links:
19.

Applications for Hye Camp will be available online by March 30.

St. Vartan Camp, housed at the Ararat Center in Greenville, NY
Staff Training: Wednesday, June 27 – Saturday, June 30
Session A: Sunday, July 1 – Saturday, July 14
Session B: Sunday, July 15 – Saturday, July 28
Session C: Sunday, July 29 – Saturday, August 11

Hye Camp, housed at Camp Hickory in Ingleside, IL
Staff Training: Wednesday, July 25 – Saturday, July 28
Camp Session: Saturday, July 28 – Saturday, August 4

For more information about St. Vartan Camp or Hye Camp, contact
Jennifer Morris, Youth Outreach coordinator, at (248) 648-0702, or via
e-mail at [20][email protected].
Links:
20. mailto:[email protected]

ASYOA Central Council met at the Diocesan Center
ACYOA Central Council members reviewed plans for upcoming programs
during last week’s meeting.

ACYOA Central Council Meets at Diocesan Center

The ACYOA Central Council met on Saturday, March 10, at the Diocesan
Center in New York to review plans for upcoming programs. Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate; the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon
Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar; and Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA executive
secretary, were present for the meeting.

The meeting began with a Bible study led by Nancy Basmajian on Christ’s
commission to his disciples. Council members then discussed goals they
have set for the year, including efforts to strengthen local chapters,
engage more alumni in the organization, and expand faith-based
programming and service projects.

Council members also spoke about the recent Lenten retreat held at Holy
Martyrs Church of Bayside, NY, and looked forward to another retreat
planned for April 14 at St. James Church of Evanston, IL. They also
reviewed plans for the General Assembly and Sports Weekend, scheduled
for May 24-28 in Chicago, IL; the summer internship program at the FAR
Children’s Center (May 29-August 8); and the 2012 Armenia Service
Program (June 29-July 19).

For more information about the ACYOA, visit [21]
Links:
21.

ACYOA Juniors retreats continue
Fr. Yeprem Kelegian speaks with young people at the ACYOA Juniors
retreat in Illinois.

ACYOA Juniors Retreats Underway

The third ACYOA Juniors retreat of the season took place last weekend,
with close to 20 young people from five parishes in Wisconsin and
Illinois taking part in the program at Camp Hickory in Ingleside, IL,
the home of Hye Camp.

The retreat sessions focused on this year’s Diocesan theme of
`Vocations: The Call to Serve-Ministry of the Faithful,’ and
participants were encouraged to explore how each of them can share his
or her God-given talents for the benefit of others.

Jennifer Morris, the Diocese’s Youth Outreach coordinator, led the
retreat. The Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian served as the retreat chaplain
and led two of the sessions on Saturday. Other clergy who led morning
or evening services include the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, the
Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian, the Rev. Fr. Paren Galstyan, and the Rev.
Fr. Tadeos Barseghyan.

In addition to Bible studies and educational sessions, participants
enjoyed time for outdoor games and activities in the sunny, warm
weather. On Sunday morning, participants took part in the celebration
of the Divine Liturgy at St. George Church of Waukegan, IL, and joined
the local parish for a Lenten lunch.

[22]Click here to view photos from the Wisconsin/Illinois ACYOA Juniors
Retreat.
Links:
22.

Below is a schedule of upcoming retreats. To register, contact your
parish pastor or youth minister, or e-mail Jennifer Morris at
[23][email protected].
Links:
23. mailto:[email protected]

March 17-18 Florida (St. Petersburg, FL)
April 13-15 New York, New Jersey, and the Mid-Atlantic (Stony Point,
NY)
April 21-22 Texas (Dallas, TX)

PARIS ” CONTINUE A PARLER ” AVEC ANKARA, ASSURE ALAIN JUPPE
Ara

armenews.com
vendredi 16 mars 2012

PARIS, 15 mars 2012 (AFP) – Alain Juppe a affirme jeudi que la France
“continuait a parler” avec la Turquie, en depit du differend avec ce
pays sur un texte de loi visant a sanctionner la negation du genocide
armenien, finalement annule par le Conseil constitutionnel. “Nos
relations avec la Turquie ne sont pas rompues, bien au-dela. Nos
relations economiques restent extremement fortes (…), nos liens
culturels restent entiers et nous continuons a parler avec la
Turquie”, a declare le ministre des Affaires etrangères sur France
Culture Partisan d’un rapprochement avec la Turquie aujourd’hui acteur
incontournable dans la gestion de la crise syrienne, M. Juppe a evoque
ses divergences avec le president Nicolas Sarkozy sur le bien fonde
de cette loi.

“Nous avons eu des difficultes avec la Turquie pour une question qui
a ete le seul point de desaccord que j’ai eu avec Nicolas Sarkozy,
la penalisation de la mise en cause du genocide armenien”, a-t-il dit.

Interroge le 2 fevrier sur ce sujet, M. Juppe avait declare qu’il n’y
avait “pas de divergences au sein du gouvernement puisque, de toute
facon, quand il y a des divergences, c’est le president qui preside
et le Premier ministre qui decide”.

“Un ministre, ca ferme sa gueule ou ca s’en va. Donc je suis dans une
situation où je ferme ma gueule… sur ce point très particulier que
vous avez evoque”, avait-il dit.

La Turquie avait gele fin decembre ses relations politiques et
militaires avec la France après l’adoption par les deputes francais
d’un texte condamnant la negation du genocide de 1915. La loi,
votee ensuite au Senat, a finalement ete annulee par le Conseil
constitutionnel mais le president Sarkozy a reaffirme depuis sa
determination a faire adopter un tel texte.

Le chef de la diplomatie turque, Ahmet Davutoglu, a mis en garde la
France contre toute nouvelle tentative de legiferer sur ce sujet. Mais
malgre ces tensions diplomatiques, le president turc Abdullah Gul,
en visite en Tunisie la semaine dernière, a implicitement confirme
la presence de la France lors de la prochaine reunion a Istanbul des
Amis du peuple syrien.

TURKEY’S EU MINISTER ADVISES ARMENIA ON EUROVISION

Vestnik Kavkaza
March 15 2012
Russia

Turkey would rather Armenia withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh than the
Eurovision song contest, Turkey’s European Union Minister Egemen
BagıÅ~_ said today, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“Turkey would prefer Armenia to pull out of Nagorno-Karabakh, rather
than from the Eurovision song contest. I think they should revise
their decision,” BagıÅ~_ said. Armenia announced last week it would
not be competing in this May’s Eurovision song contest, to be held
in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Can Bonomo, the singer
who will representTurkey in this year’s contest, at the European
Ministry’s office in Ortaköy, BagıÅ~_ said that competing with an
English-language song was the right choice. “I like the song ‘Love Me
Back’ very much. English is a universal language so it is the right
choice to send Turkey’s message to the international community,”
BagıÅ~_ said.

Armenia’s state broadcaster announced the country was pulling out
of the 2012 Eurovision song contest, saying there was “no logic to
sending a participant to a country where he will be met as an enemy.”

BagıÅ~_ said Azerbaijan had earned the right to host this year’s
contest. “It is all technical. When a country wins the contest one
year, it is assigned to host the next year’s contest. Azerbaijan is a
United Nations member country. No country has the right to condemn it.”

ARMENIAN AND INDIAN SPECIALISTS TO COOPERATE IN THE SPHERE OF ARCHEOLOGY

ARMENPRESS
MARCH 15, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Culture Minister Hasmik
Poghosyan received today Indian Ambassador to Armenia Achal Kumar
Malhotra.

The minister presented to the ambassador the most important cultural
programs of Armenia for the running year, and then referred to
developments of Armenian-Indian bilateral cultural relations.

Among the significant cultural programs Hasmik Poghosyan pointed out
the celebrations dedicated to Yerevan – Book Capital 2012 and 500th
anniversary of Armenian Book Printing, in which cultural delegations
and high-raking officials from different countries throughout the
world will participate. Hasmik Poghoyan invited the Indian party to
participate in ArmBookExpo, specifically presenting foreign-language
literature about Armenia published in India, Armenpress reports.

It was also suggested to conduct Days of Indian Literature during the
year, to organize a visit of Indian writers to Armenia, to participate
in an exhibition of the world’s early printed books due in Yerevan.

Minister Poghosyan also singled out the exhibition of Armenian early
printed book due in Madras, India.

The Indian Ambassador expressed gratitude to Culture Minister Hasmik
Poghosyan for the invitation and promised to support organization of
the joint events both in Armenia and India.

Referring to the bilateral cooperation, Minister Poghosyan expressed
interest in cooperation in the sphere of archeology with “Archeological
Research of India” organization.

The cooperation in other spheres was discussed as well.

ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: “AZERBAIJAN WILL CONTINUE PEACE TALKS”

Milaz.info
March 14 2012
Azerbaijan

“Despite the negotiations on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict remain without results, Azerbaijan will continue peace
talks”, said the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov in
his interview to Germany’s Die Welt.

“I hope that at last Armenian leadership will show political wisdom
to find acceptable solution”.

Elmar Mammadyarov also added that Nagorno Karabakh is the part of
Azerbaijan and has been under occupation of Armenian armed forces
for 20 years: “Though the UN Security Council adopted resolutions
on the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied
territories, the occupation has not yet ended.”

ATESYAN WANTS NEUTRAL DEFINITION OF CITIZENSHIP IN NEW CONSTITUTION

Today’s Zaman
March 13 2012
Turkey

Armenian Deputy Patriarch Archbishop Aram AteÅ~_yan, who visited the
parliamentary sub-committee working on drafting a new constitution
for Turkey on Monday, said the Armenian community would like to see
a new constitution with no reference to ethnicity in its definition
of citizenship, unlike the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarch
Bartholomew, who said that he had no problem being called a Turk
during his visit to the commission earlier.

During his visit to the parliamentary Constitutional Reconciliation
Sub-committee, AteÅ~_yan said that the purpose of his visit was
to present his views as an individual, as well as the demands of
Armenian society. “We want a constitution like a mother. Embracing,
compassionate and conscientious, like a mother who doesn’t discriminate
among her children,” he told the commission’s members.

The commission has been hearing the views of different civil society
groups, and AteÅ~_yan’s one-hour visit was part of the meetings with
civil society representatives. AteÅ~_yan spoke to journalists after
his meeting with commission members, where he noted that this was the
first time in the history of the Turkish Republic that an Armenian
patriarch was visiting Parliament.

He noted that the demands he voiced concerned all segments of society.

Noting that the constitution should serve all equally, he said: “We
believe that [the new] constitution will serve this cause. Ninety-five
percent of the demands we presented are the same as every other
segment’s. The small differences are about the issues that concern us
as a minority group. After this, it’s all up to the committee and the
higher commission; they will work and draft the new constitution. I
wish them success. Anyone who has an identity [card] issued by the
Republic of Turkey and a citizenship number is a citizen of the
Republic of Turkey. It is this simple. There is no need to dwell on
or emphasize ethnic backgrounds.”

AteÅ~_yan proposed leaving out a definition of citizenship altogether
to avoid controversy, or, alternatively, defining citizenship as such,
“Anyone who was born within the borders the Republic of Turkey, has
citizenship through their parents, or later acquired citizenship,
is a Turkish citizen.”

The proposals AteÅ~_yan introduced emphasized freedoms of speech,
expression and religion. He also said that members of minority groups
did not want privileges but, rather, equal citizenship. The proposals
also emphasize that the state should respect religious pluralism and
stand at an equal distance to all religions, as well as be completely
impartial.

The Armenian community also wants minority schools to be supported
by the state, saying that these schools should be given equal access
to public funds for education.

AteÅ~_yan’s views on citizenship differ from those expressed by
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I in February. During his visit to
the commission, Bartholomew also demanded equal citizenship rights
but proposed a more ethnic definition of Turkishness, “Anybody who is
tied to the Republic of Turkey through citizenship is a Turk.” Often,
minority groups in Turkey, both Muslim and non-Muslim, advise against
using words that describe a particular ethnic group.

SPECIAL MILESTONE AT FRESNO STATE

CBS 47

March 13 2012

Fresno State’s Armenian studies program is celebrating its 35th
anniversary.

There was a special banquet ceremony Sunday recognizing the department
and its students.

Fresno State is one of the few universities in the country to offer
courses in Armenian studies.

Students in the department learn about Armenia’s rich history and
the language.

DOCUMENTING THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN ARMENIA
Emily Haas, Paige Prince and Henni Alpermann.

ianyan Magazine

March 12 2012

Emily Haas, Paige Prince and Henni Alpermann all met as volunteers
in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor Marz. After spending much time with women
in the region as part of their ‘extended’ families, they took it upon
themselves to photograph them for their Women in Armenia project. The
exhibit made its first showing at the Yeghegnadzor Social Service
Center, then moved to the Vayk Social Service, Gyumri and even made
its way to the U.S. and British Embassies in Yerevan.

“We were all so amazed by the women in Armenia, how hard they worked
to support their families, keep up a household and in the face of
such tough times,” said Emily Haas, a Peace Corps volunteer based in
Yeghegnadzor from 2009 to 2011.

“Many of the women came to the opening show in Yeghegnadzor and were
so emotional when they saw and read how we viewed them, as they had
never thought of themselves as so important,” said Haas. “The biggest
reward to us was to see how special these women felt on that day.”

Below are some of the photographs and stories from the lives of women
in Armenia taken and written by Haas, Prince and Alpermann.

Aghavne Khorenyan, 76, Armenuhi Muradyan, 49, Marine Hovhannisyan,
25, Aghavne Khorenyan, 19

When you follow the street up from the river in Getap village,
at some point you will reach the house of the Khorenyan’s just
underneath a huge rock. From afar you can hear the turkeys, which are
running around in the backyard and perhaps the cry of their youngest
grandchild. Laundry is blowing in the wind and smoke is coming out
of the woodstove. If you enter the house during the day, you will
not meet any men in the house. The head of the household died seven
years ago and the son is working. All men of this family drive trucks
all over Armenia. The father was a driver, as is the son, and if you
ask them what the youngest will do later, they’ll tell you that he
is going to do the same job.

We met Aghavne in the mashrutka to Getap. She invited us to
come to their house. When we entered, it was nice and warm. The
great-grandmother and the eldest grandchild were lying in the bed
and the others were immediately preparing coffee, apples, nuts and
cookies for us. Armenuhi tells us that they are six people living in
the house; her mother-in-law Aghavne, her youngest daughter Aghavne,
her son and her daughter-in-law Marine, along with their two children
and herself. She has another daughter who is already married and lives
with her husband’s family. Although all the women are unemployed,
they are busy taking care of the children, the house and the garden.

Anahit Hachnasaryan, 20

Anahit Hachnasaryan is student and mother. She studies English in
the third course of “Gitelik” University. While she is studying, her
mother or her mother-in-law are taking care of her 9-month-old son
Artyom. When you see Anahit for the first time, you would not think
that she has a baby. She is small, very thin and very young, but she
is more quiet and mature than the other girls in her class. Anahit is
originally from Yeghegnadzor. Now she is living with her parents-in-law
and her husband in the village Malishka. She moves between the two
houses to organize day care for her son. She got to know her husband
when she was 18. After both his and her parents agreed, they decided
to get married.

Nazik Harutsunyan

Nazik Harutsunyan is a friendly neighbor to everyone living on
Komissarneri Street in Vayk, and spends her days working in her garden,
taking care of her home and her 14-year-old daughter Narine.

She is always laughing and joking and her sense of personal happiness
is easy to see. She was born in the village of Bartsruni to a large
and loving family. She came to Vayk to live in the house that her
uncle built about 15 years ago. She is a single mother, and does
a fantastic job raising her daughter alone. When her mother became
ill, Nazik cared for her all day, everyday for the last 10 months
of her life up to moment she died. She remembers her mother’s life
and carries on her mother’s way and traditions with respect and
love. She works very hard to keep up all the work that it takes to
run a house alone: cooking, cleaning, chopping wood, repairing broken
machines and electrical outlets, harvesting and planting the garden,
and teaching her daughter about what is important in life. She is
a very exceptional woman and is recognized for her happy spirit and
her lifestyle that is full of honor and dignity.

Sona Vanyan, 40

“When you enter the yard of Sona Vanyan, you can smell her profession:
lavash, cheese, baklava and many other things appreciated by the
whole village. Sona works from sunrise till sunset. She bakes, cooks,
milks the cows, cleans house and yard, she does everything. She has
had a hard life, but she is strong, smiles and says,

“We don’t live very well, we are not rich, but we thank God for
everything we have every day.”

She was 21 when she married, together the couple had a one-year-old
son and she was two months pregnant with her daughter. After only one
year of marriage her husband died. All alone at 22, she had just moved
from Yeghegnadzor into her husband’s house in the village Getap. Since
then she lives with her parents-in-law and raises her children alone.

Now she is 40. Her son who is now 19, is serving in the army in
Sisian. She shows his picture with pride. Her daughter studies in
Getap school and helps her bake lavash when she comes home from
school. People from the village bring her flour and she bakes for
them the delicious bread. That’s how she earns money.

Emma Yepremyan, 73 years old

Emma is Sona Vanyan’s mother-in-law. When she tells us about her
son’s death at the age of 30, she has still tears in her eyes, 18
years later. She cannot see very well, she says,

“The world is cloudy to me.”

With patience is she sitting on her bed and waiting until we have the
right picture. She smiles and tells us openly about their life. She
is originally from Getap village, married a man from the same village
and has stayed there her whole life. Everybody in the village knows
her and appreciates her open-minded, friendly character.

Nunufar Karapetyan, 31 years old

Nunufar is specialist in selling wine. Coming from Yerevan you can see
the yellow parasol, the sign that says ice cream and her conspicuous
red hair as one of the first points of sale on the right. Cars honk,
people wave out of their window; Nunufar is known all over the road
Yerevan- Yeghegnadzor. If you were wondering if ever cars stop on the
road to buy something at Nunufar’s place, they definitely do. Maybe it
is an ensemble of her tasty wine and her prepossessing character. Her
cheerful laugh and her hospitality are remarkable. She serves her
customers big glasses of wine, coffee, cookies and apples. Nunufar
was selling wine in several markets in the area for 13 years before
her family opened the place on the road.

She works from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. every day and never takes a vacation.

In her small selling house she has a stove to cook and a radio. She
says that she could never leave her village, even though she is very
interested in other cultures and languages. Maybe if she wouldn’t have
this point of sale, maybe. Nunufar speaks not only Armenian, she also
remembers German and Russian that she learned in school. She learned
Persian on her own and knows Turkish from the trips she went on with
her father to Nakhchivan, which was easily accessible from the village
Areni. Nunufar is the oldest child in her family. Her brother died and
her sister is married in Karabakh. She is not married and stays with
her parents. She never had the chance to study after school, but she
studies herself languages and reads a lot about environmental issues.

Ruzan Khatchatryan, 55 years old

Mother of many and master of most, Ruzan Khatchatryan doesn’t spend
much time sitting idle. The mother of two girls and one boy is also
surrogate mother to seven Peace Corps Volunteers, one of whom is
currently serving in Yeghegndadzor (Emily Haas), while the others
have safely returned to America and call their Armenian mother
occasionally. While she may recall with fondness the times she had
spent with the Americans living with her in the past, it also brings
back memories of what her house was like when it was full. Ruzan’s
husband died just one year ago, her son is serving in the army in
Sisian, her oldest daughter is married and lives in Russia and the
other is married with two young children and rarely gets an opportunity
to visit.

Ruzan works 12 hours a day, seven days a week in a khanut (store)
preparing kebabs, selling various sundries and most recently gold
jewelry. Work, she said, is something that still keeps her going.

While her children were studying in university, all of her children
graduated with college degrees from universities in Yerevan, Ruzan
kept a cow, her garden and the household. She worked from sunrise
until sunset everyday and gave every thing she earned to her children
so they could pay their tuition and afford to live in Yerevan. She is
tremendously proud of what her children have accomplished and says that
she has always held the future of her children as her highest priority.

Henni Alpermann goes to university in Leipzig, Germany. She was a
Weltwaerts Volunteer in Yeghegnadzor in 2009 to 2010. She has worked
with a few NGOs that work with Armenian refugees in Germany.

Paige Prince is a part time student living in Austin, Texas. She
worked at the grade school in Vayk as a Peace Corps volunteer from
2008 to 2010 and is now studying to be a nurse.

Emily Haas lives and works in Portland, Oregon. She created a media
center in Yeghegnadzor, where she was a Peace Corps volunteer along
with her Armenian counterpart, and now works at a bakery in Portland.

These photos and stories originally appeared on Emily Haas’ Armenian
Experience and were used with permission as part of a series written in
honor of International Women’s Day. You can find the complete exhibit
here. All photos © Emily Haas, Paige Prince and Henni Alpermann and
should not be used without permission.

TURKEY COURT RELEASES JOURNALISTS IN CONSPIRACY CASE

WHNT.com
,0,1404975.story
March 13 2012

Ece Toksabay

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish court released four journalists on
Monday pending trial on accusations they were part of a conspiracy
to overthrow the government, in a case that has become a focus for
criticism of Turkey’s record on media freedom.

Among the four released were Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik, two well-known
investigative reporters held for just over a year in a top-security
prison outside Istanbul. Six other defendants, mostly journalists,
were still in custody.

Relatives, friends and colleagues of the freed journalists shouted
for joy outside the court and some cried and hugged each other on
hearing the news.

“Ahmet and Nedim are free”, people shouted, shocked at the
decision. “At last.”

Sik’s brother Bulent Sik told Reuters: “Today’s decision was a surprise
for Ahmet and Nedim. They didn’t expect it either”.

The defendants are accused of belonging to ‘Ergenekon’, an alleged
ultra-nationalist group accused by prosecutors of being behind
multiple conspiracies against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s AK
Party government.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc welcomed the decision.

“One can only be glad at their release. It is saddening that they
spent 375 days inside,” Arinc told a news conference following a
cabinet meeting in Ankara.

The United States, the European Union and rights groups have criticized
Ankara’s prosecution of journalists which they say taints Turkey’s
image as a role model for democracy in the Middle East.

Ilhan Cihaner, a deputy from the opposition Republican People’s Party
(CHP) and a former top prosecutor, told Reuters outside the court
that foreign pressure had played a role in the decision.

“The gradually increasing pressure from the EU and foreign media had
a great effect on today’s decision,” Cihaner said.

Turkish jails hold nearly 100 members of the news media, one of
the highest numbers worldwide, although the government says that
journalists are not being prosecuted because of what they have written
or broadcast.

NEXT HEARING IN JUNE

The court based its decision on the length of time the defendants
had already spent in prison and the low risk of them being able to
tamper with evidence in the case.

Critics accuse the government of scare-mongering over Ergenekon
to silence opponents. The government denies any such motive. Rights
groups also criticized the length of time defendants remain in custody
awaiting trial.

Lawyers for the defendants argue that computer documents central
to the evidence against their clients were introduced by computer
viruses and that this had been confirmed by investigations conducted
by four universities.

If found guilty the defendants face a maximum of 15 years in prison.

The next hearing is scheduled for June 18.

Sener and Sik have already set out their defense, calling the charges
against them politically motivated and “a massacre of justice”.

Sik has written a book about alleged infiltration of the police by
an Islamic movement led by reclusive theologian Fethullah Gulen, who
is living in self-exile in the United States and considered close to
parts of the ruling AK Party.

Sener is an award-winning journalist who has written about police
negligence in failing to prevent the 2007 murder of prominent
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

Several hundred suspects, including retired senior military officers,
academics, lawyers and journalists have been detained in cases related
to Ergenekon.

(Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Writing by Simon Cameron-Moore; Editing
by Ben Harding)

ARMENIA TO INCREASE CSTO ROLE AS KEY ELEMENT OF ITS SECURITY

ITAR-TASS
March 12, 2012 Monday 09:45 PM GMT+4
Russia

Armenia plans to increase the role of the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation (CSTO) as a key element of its national defence, Security
Council Secretary Artur Bagdasaryan said.

“We plan to increase the role of the CSTO as one of the key elements
of Armenia’s security. The CSTO is evolving, and Armenia, as one of
the most active members of the organisation, is actively involved in
this process,” he said at a meeting of the officials from Armenian
interested ministries and agencies and the CSTO Secretariat on Monday,
March 12, which focused on draft new documents of this organisation.

According to Bagdasaryan, “a new strategy and a new CSTO planning
concept are being drafted, which makes it possible to increase the
role, weight and importance of this international organisation for
ensuring the security of its member states.”

These documents will be submitted to the organisation’s Collective
Security Council shortly.

Armenia will host a large-scale CSTO rapid reaction force exercise this
year to show the capability of the Armed Forces, secret services,
emergencies ministries, and police, and the high level of their
interoperability among the 7 CSTO member states,” Bagdasaryan said.

According to Collective Security Treaty Organisation Secretary-General
Nikolai Bordyuzha, the “security of the CSTO member states, including
Armenia’s, is several times higher than a couple of years ago”.

“A new CSTO strategy reflecting the current geopolitical situation is
very important and will provide the basis for our further activities,”
he said.

Armenia is the first country to discuss a new strategy and a new
planning concept of the organisation. These documents will also
be considered by the CSTO Committee of National Security Council
Secretaries, Council of Defence Ministers and Council of Foreign
Ministers, and then submitted to the Collective Security Council.

The CSTO is a military-political alliance of seven countries: Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

It was created on the basis of the Collective Security Treaty of the
May 15, 1992, which was turned into an international organisation on
May 14, 2002. The CSTO received the status of observer at the U.N.

General Assembly on December 2, 2004.

The purpose of the CSTO is to guarantee the national security of each
of its members and to ensure their territorial integrity. In case
of a menace, looming over any member-country, all the other CSTO
participants will be duty-bound to give it all the necessary aid,
including military assistance.