Author: Kanayan Tamar

TEGHUT CJSC TO RECEIVE 350 MILLION DANISH KRONES

by Arthur Yernjakyan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, August 21, 12:30

PensionDenmark Fund will provide 350 million Danish Krones to Teghut
CJSC for acquisition of manufacturing equipment, the company said in
a press release. The funds will be provided through the State Agency
of Demark.

The company highlights the positive results of the exploitation of the
cooper and molybdenum mines and construction of a mining-and-processing
works in Teghut in line with international standards. Before earmarking
the above funds, representatives of PensionDenmark Fund and the State
Agency of Denmark visited the areas of mining, monitored and studied
the related documents and action plans.

Teghut CJSC was founded on 22 May 2006 by Vallex Group. 100% of
its shares belong to Teghut Investments Ltd. (Cyprus), whose 100%
preferred shares are owned by the Armenian Copper Programme belonging
to Valery Mejlumyan. By its reserves, Teghut deposit holds the second
place in the republic after the Kajaran copper and molybdenum deposit
in Syunik. In 1991 the approved reserves amounted to 450 mln tons of
ore, including 1.6 mln tons of copper (with 0.355% content), and 99
thsd tons of molybdenum (with 0.022% content).

KARABAKH REPORTS FURTHER GROWTH IN TOURISM

14:54 21/08/2013 ” SOCIETY

The number of foreign tourists visiting Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is
continuing to increase rapidly after substantial growth recorded in
recent years, Karabakh authorities have said, according to Asbarez.com.

Official figures released by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s Tourism
Department show a doubling of visitors in the first quarter of
this year.

According to the department, some 16,000 tourists from 86 nations
visited Karabakh last year, up by 40 percent from 2011. They spent
an estimated $6 million on accommodation, food and services.

These figures do not include residents of Armenia, who also appear
to be traveling to Karabakh in larger numbers these days.

The authorities in Stepanakert had reported similar annual growth since
2007 when the official number of non-Armenian tourists stood at around
5,000. The tourism sector’s expansion is evidenced by the emergence of
new hotels and guesthouses not only in Stepanakert but also in Shushi.

Sergey Shahverdian, the head of the Tourism Department, said the
growing influx shows that the NKR leadership is succeeding in promoting
the once war-ravaged disputed territory as a tourist destination
despite Azerbaijani obstruction.

“The state is implementing a coordinated policy on tourism,” he told
RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “That includes forming a
favorable image of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in targeted tourist
markets through special brochures and promotional articles in various
authoritative publications.”

“The other direction of our efforts is to create more comfortable
conditions for visiting tourists,” Shahverdian said. That means not
only upgrading the local tourism infrastructure but also exposing
foreigners to more historical sites in Karabakh, he said.

Karabakh’s main tourist attractions are mountainous scenery, medieval
Armenian monasteries as well as a cave complex thought to be the site
of one of the most ancient proto-human habitations in Eurasia. They
are located several dozen kilometers away from the heavily militarized
“line of contact” separating Karabakh and Azerbaijani armies.

“I thought that Karabakh is a small place like a village, but this
place is much bigger. I didn’t expect to see so much natural beauty
here,” one tourist, an Armenian man from Kuwait, said as he spent
time in a Stepanakert cafe with several other Kuwaiti Armenians.

“As you know, Kuwait is a desert country,” said one of them. “There
are practically no green areas there. People living there don’t see
so much greenery and so many mountains.”

The Azerbaijani authorities regard private or business trips to
Karabakh not authorized by them. More than 300 foreign dignitaries and
ordinary visitors have been declared personae non gratae in Azerbaijan
for ignoring these warnings. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry released
their updated blacklist earlier this month.

Source: Panorama.am

OPINION: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, ARMENIAN STYLE

14:34, August 21, 2013

By Stepan Danielyan

Every day, the media in Armenia reports about numerous crimes
perpetrated by state officials. Sadly, none of these revelations
translate into the criminals being punished.

This is a system-wide phenomenon and we would be well served to
understand the reasons why.

The political history of Armenia in the past few years is chock-full
of crime, serious offences. But one would be hard-pressed to recollect
one major case where the perpetrators have been held responsible.

What’s the reason? We all know that the judicial system is not
independent and is subject to the executive.

We can state that contrary to the ruling Republican Party, to which
state bodies are apparently subject and which, if we follow the press,
has been transformed into an apolitical structure, the judicial system
is the most politicized institution in Armenia and this characteristic
is manifested in its verdicts and decisions.

The reason for the apolitical nature of the Republican Party and
the politicization of the judicial system is one and the same –
the anti-constitutional nature of the country’s governance. That’s
to say, constitutional bodies should not perform their obligations,
and the opposite – they must carry out that which is expected of them
from the guarantor of anti-constitutional governance.

The populace of Armenia can be divided into two categories for whom
different sets of laws are applied. The second category is the society,
for whom the law is applied with full force, and which is regarded
by the first category as a source of enrichment. Here, everything
is clear.

However, the composition of the first category is quite complex and it
is much more difficult to understand the laws that govern this sector.

It is natural that this group, which includes the state bureaucracy,
institutions of power, big business and the elite of the criminal
world, cannot be governed by the same standards that restrict the
bulk of society.

The rallying hymn of this governance is well-known.

At the end of the congress of the Republican Party, when members were
lined up to bid farewell to their leader, what rang out was a live
performance not of the national hymn, but rather the refrains of the
song “Betrayal is Infamy”. The party members, by singing the tune,
were exhibiting their personal allegiance to the leader as well as
accepting the “inner rules” imposed on them to extend the scope of
authority. Understandably, appropriate modes of punishment must be
crafted for such betrayal.

It is also clear that a criminally-based group cannot be punished
by the laws envisaged for common mortals. During the events of 2008,
contrary to arrested political prisoners, big businessman Khachatour
Soukiasyan was declared a “traitor” and was punished in unique
fashion. In this way, traitors, those who were part of the group
and took advantage of the favors and opportunities so afforded the,
or more correctly, those who participated in illegal processes, must
be punished in other ways – they must be banished from the club,
suitably denigrated and stripped of their property. In case their
offence is much more serious, they must be subjected to maximum
punishment, for which there are numerous examples.

This, then, is the most important methodology for Armenia’s system
of governance. If we understand it, we will be able to comprehend
the meaning and content of internal political science articles.

RUSSIA CANNOT MAKE USE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT – NEWSPAPER

August 21, 2013 | 07:52

YEREVAN. – Chairman of Free Democrats party believes neither Karabakh,
nor Azerbaijan and Armenia influence the Karabakh peace process as
much as the super powers do.

“The conflict will be settled only if the interests of super powers
coincide. None of the parties will succeed in unilaterally using the
conflict to press Armenia on initialing the EU Association agreement,”
Aravot quotes Khachatur Kokobelyan.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

DID SERZH SARGSYAN SPEAK OF ALIYEV IN THE LANGUAGE OF TURKISH DIPLOMACY?

August 21 2013

During the closing ceremony of “Baze -2013â~@³ All youth gathering in
Tsakhadzor, the President Serzh Sargsyan responding to the question
of members of the Youth gathering on who might be the most preferable
presidential candidate for Armenia at the coming presidential elections
in Azerbaijan on October 9. Serzh Sargsyan said, “Armenia, and not
only Armenia, is interested in the neighbors which have taken the
democratic path of development. Thus, when it comes to a neighbor,
especially to a partner in negotiations, Armenia in invariably
interested in a democratic Azerbaijan. However if we disregard this
fact for a moment, the answer to the question is the following:
we’d rather see the incumbent President Ilham Aliyev win. We have
been going through a tough and long process of negotiations, and if
we outline the framework for the solution of the problem it will at
least contain the public endorsement of the principles proposed by
the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group. They have been actively negotiated
for the last four years. Certainly, I wouldn’t say that the process is
very lively now, nevertheless a certain progress has been made, and if
after the elections President Aliyev is able to display political will
and to rise above his fanatical Armenophobia, I believe that would be
the most acceptable choice for us.” Aravot.am asked the psychologist
Ashot Hakobyan to evaluate the response of the President, to which
he responded this way: “If judgments in the policy begin with “if”,
I do not admit it, I do not consider that kind of thinking in policy
serious. The course of several years showed that the “if”s said
by Serzh Sargsyan are excluded, what miracles should make Aliyev’s
Armenophobic position change. It is the same as to say that if the
war were not to happen in such-and-such year, my grandfather would
not to go to war, and I would have a grandfather. We do not expect
qualitative changes, and here the diplomacy of a familiar Satan is
working, in other words, I know that the opposite side is a Satan,
but I am negotiating. Our President estimates Ilham Aliyev at
least slightly positive, because this figure is familiar to us,
he is understandable, guessable. But, unfortunately, I think we
should seek for the charges, accumulation of quality changes not
among political figures of neighboring countries, but among us, we
should want that,”-said Ashot Hakobyan. According to historian Arshavir
Gasparyan’s opinion, the response of our President was more diplomatic,
but not original. “Our President tends to see a democratic candidate in
Azerbaijan, this is the good will of our President, and Azerbaijan is
far from having a democratic candidate, even registering one of such,
Aliyev’s clan is so strengthened in Azerbaijan that democracy can
not be even a far away dream for this country. I think it was correct
answer, our President actually wants to have a correct and delicate
relations with neighboring countries.” Levon Mutafyan, renowned
theater critic and publicist, posts on his Facebook page regarding
the same issue, – “Many have raised their concerns in the Facebook,
brandish swords, saying help, RA President supports Ilham Aliyev,
saying that he supports Aliev to be reelected for the president of
Azerbaijan… And they are labeling the President … And I’m very
happy to know that Serzh Sargsyan has expressed such an idea.

Finally, our President entered the diplomatic original games and
filled his idleness and indifference of recent months with a very
interesting statement, which is actually not a support to Aliyev,
but, on the contrary, shakes the faith towards him in his country,
raises significant layers of society against him… Armenophobia
for Aliyev, animosity against Armenia has became a public policy,
Azerbaijani community accepts him first of all for Armenophobia,
while RA President declares that Aliyev is preferable … This is
the true diplomacy appropriate to nowadays, when you can disable
the enemy with its own weapon… Now Azerbaijani opposition will
declare everywhere that Aliyev is in business with Armenia, that his
statements about war are agreed with authorities of Armenia … And
such statements will help Azerbaijani community to finally understand
that the war is needed not for him, but Aliyev clan to become rich and
to oppress his own people … I welcome the move of our President,
especially when I have inserted similar statement-advice… My dear
friends, the enemy is won by not only fighting against him, but also
expressing positive opinion of him. It’s time for us to master the
secrets of Turkish diplomacy….”

Nune AREVSHATYAN

Read more at:

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 August 22, 2013
————————————————————
Sts. Joachim and Anna
Detail of a 14th-century illumination of the “Annunciation to Anna,”
by Sarkis Pitsag (collection of the New York Public Library).

** Tuesday is the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anna
————————————————————
The Armenian Church styles her
Sourp Asdvadzadzin: the `Holy Mother-of-God’: an almost cosmic title
which has elicited reverent love from generations of Armenian
Christians, and is honored as the name of many of our churches. In
more common parlance she is St. Mary: the girl of humble piety who
carried the Hope of the world within her body, and delivered Him as a
baby in Bethlehem.

She began life as the child of a devout Hebrew couple, whose earnest
prayer was answered with the birth of a precious daughter. This coming
Tuesday marks the Feast of Sts. Joachim and Anna, the parents of the
Holy Virgin Mary, who are remembered with honor in the Armenian
Church. The parents who guided St. Mary onto the path of holiness
truly deserve to be celebrated.

At New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral, their feast day will be observed
on Tuesday, August 27, with a special Divine Liturgy beginning at 10
a.m. The public is encouraged to take part in the celebration. Contact
your local parish for information on other observances.

To read more on the holy feasts of St. Mary, click here
()
.

Dn. Justin Ajamian
Dn. Justin Avedis Ajamian will be ordained into the holy priesthood on
August 24-25, at the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX.

** Dn. Ajamian to be Ordained as a Priest
————————————————————
The parishioners of the St. Sarkis Church of Dallas, TX, are
anticipating an extraordinary milestone this weekend, as their
deacon-in-charge, Dn. Justin Avedis Ajamian, becomes a priest of the
Armenian Church.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), will ordain Dn. Justin into the holy
priesthood, in services at the Dallas church. The ordination will
begin with the traditional service of calling on Saturday, August 24,
from 5 to 9 p.m. A reception will follow the service.

On Sunday, August 25, Archbishop Barsamian will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy and ordain Dn. Justin. The service will run from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m., with a celebratory banquet to follow.

The newly-ordained priest will travel to St. Nersess Seminary for his
40-day period of seclusion, which will involve fasting, meditation,
and prayer. He will later return to St. Sarkis Church as its pastor.

Dn. Justin holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Ramapo College of
New Jersey, and is a 2010 graduate of St. Nersess Seminary, who has
also studied in Jerusalem and Armenia. He was appointed
deacon-in-charge of St. Sarkis Church in 2011. Dn. Justin and his wife
Hasmik have a daughter, Noelle Srbouhi.

Click here
()
to view information on the ordination services.

** Scripture of the Week
————————————————————

Prv 11:30-12:4
Zec 2:10-13
2 Cor 6:16-7:1
Lk 1:39-56

** Prayer of the Week
————————————————————

Jesus, Wisdom of the Father, grant me wisdom, that I may, at all
times, think, speak, and do before you that which is good in your
sight. And save me from evil thoughts, words, and deeds. Have mercy
upon your creatures and upon me, a great sinner. Amen.

** Upcoming Saints & Feasts
————————————————————

27 August: Sts. Joachim and Anna, parents of the Holy Mother-of-God

29 August: St. Jeremiah the Prophet

** CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
————————————————————
Blessing of Grapes at Holy Etchmiadzin
His Holiness Karekin II performs the “Blessing of Grapes” ceremony.

** Holy Assumption at the Mother See
————————————————————

On August 18, the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God was celebrated
at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Bishop Mushegh Babayan
celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the homily, during which
he reflected on the meaning of the Holy Mother-whose qualities of
virtue, modesty, and sacrifice stand as examples not only for women,
but for all Armenian Christians.

Following the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, led the faithful outside to
the St. Tiridates open-air altar, where he conducted the `Blessing of
Grapes’ ceremony. Deacons of the Holy Etchmiadzin Brotherhood
distributed the blessed grapes to the faithful.

To read more, click here
()
.

Coptic cross
A Coptic Orthodox cross.

** Coptic Christians Pray at St. Vartan Cathedral
————————————————————

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York opened its doors to the
regional Coptic Christian community on Tuesday, August 20, for a
solemn service of prayer and remembrance.

The Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America organized the
service, which was conceived as a memorial for their countrymen in
Egypt who have been victims of the ongoing-and
escalating-anti-Christian violence. High-ranking clergymen from the
Coptic Church, along with a large crowd of their faithful from
throughout the region, gathered for the emotional occasion.

In this time of tribulation for so many people-the Copts in Egypt, our
fellow Armenians in Syria, and others-we ask you to offer prayers for
their safety, for an end to violence, and for general peace in the
Middle East.

** DIOCESAN NEWS
————————————————————
Youth choir visits Diocese
Participants in the `Boyajian Young Choir Directors Program’ meet with
the Primate.

** Young Choir Leaders Visit Diocese
————————————————————

Participants in the `Boyajian Young Choir Directors Program’ visited
the Diocesan Center and met with Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian on Friday, August 16. The program was organized by the
Diocese’s Sacred Music Council, whose chairman, Dn. Rubik Malian, led
the group of young musicians on their trip to New York.

The Primate spoke to the young people about the beauty of the Armenian
Church’s musical heritage, and the importance of the role they are
playing to preserve that tradition, and bring it to a new
generation. The group also received a tour of St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral, visited the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center, and
met some of the Diocesan staff.

The Boyajian Youth Choir Directors Program ran from August 14 to 20,
and was held at St. Nersess Seminary. This year’s effort attracted a
large group of talented young people interested in serving and leading
their church choirs. Click here
()
to view photos from their visit to the Diocese.

Christian education workshop at Western Diocese
Educators of the Western Diocese’s Sunday Schools at their annual
meeting.

** Collaborating on Christian Education
————————————————————

Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian Education at the Diocese,
visited the Western Diocese on August 16-17 to attend a strategy
meeting of the Christian Education Council (CEC). Western Diocesan
Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian led the meeting, which was
facilitated by Diocesan Council chair Adrienne Krikorian. Participants
discussed ways of collaborating for the benefit of educators and
parishioners throughout the two U.S. dioceses.

The next day, some 30 teachers and superintendents from area Sunday
Schools gathered for their annual `Kick-Off Workshop,’ where Elise
presented the new generation of We Believe curriculum developed by the
Eastern Diocese. CEC chair Debbie Derderian organized the workshop
with the council.

`It was such a pleasure being once again with educators in the Western
Diocese-who are so proactive about working together,’ Elise noted. The
first joint project to come out of the gathering is a proposed
`one-room schoolhouse’ curriculum for the many smaller Sunday School
programs throughout the two dioceses.

FAR
Children and staff of the Nor Hachn Soup Kitchen.

** Photo Exhibit Shows Life at Nor Hachn Soup Kitchen
————————————————————

On June 21, the European Union Centre in Yerevan hosted a photo
exhibit highlighting life at the Nor Hachn Soup Kitchen. The kitchen
was established by the Bay Area Friends of Armenia and is operated by
the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).

The exhibit revolved around three volunteers from Poland and
Germany=80’part of the European Voluntary Service (EVS)-and some 20
children from Nor Hachn. The volunteers have spent the past year
working together at the Nor Hachn Soup Kitchen, in the process
developing deep mutual bonds with the local children.

In addition to their work at the soup kitchen, the volunteers led
artwork and creative design classes, and helped develop the English
language skills of the young beneficiaries of the soup kitchen.

To read more, click here
()
.

Zohrab Information Center
Zohrab Center summer intern Diana Nikolyan, cataloging books.

** Zohrab Center Seeking Interns for Fall
————————————————————

College students in the New York/New Jersey area who are interested in
Armenian history, literature, arts and contemporary issues are invited
to apply for internships at the Diocese’s Krikor and Clara Zohrab
Information Center this autumn. Interns will help digitize rare
materials, catalog books, assist students and scholars with research,
take part in Zohrab Center events, and maintaining the center’s blog.

College students in the metropolitan area who are able to devote up to
10 hours per week at the center are encouraged to apply. Hours are
flexible. Reading knowledge of Armenian is preferred but not
required. A modest hourly stipend will be provided. Limited
internships are available.

For information, contact the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, the
Zohrab Center’s director, by filling out the contact form here
()
.

** PARISH NEWS
————————————————————
Nishanians Honored in Washitgton, D.C.
Anahid and Jirair Nishanian.

** Nishanians Honored with St. Nersess Medal
————————————————————

Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian visited the St. Mary
Church of Washington, DC, last Sunday, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy
and perform the `Blessing of Grapes’ ceremony on the Feast of the Holy
Assumption-the parish’s name day.

After the services, Archbishop Barsamian presented the `St. Nersess
Shnorhali Medal’ to Mr. and Mrs. Jirair Nishanian: longtime members of
the Washington parish, and benefactors at the local, Diocesan, and
international levels. The Primate presented the medal to the
Nishanians on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Some 300 people-including diplomatic dignitaries from Armenia and
Karabagh-took part in the occasion, which included a luncheon and
program. Parish pastor Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan called the occasion
`a day of joy for all of us, as we celebrate the name day of our
beloved home.’

Click on the links to read more
()
, and to view a gallery of photos
()
.

St. Haroutiun Church, Orlando, FL
Fr. Odabashian at the Orlando parish.

** Vicar Celebrates Assumption in Orlando
————————————————————

The Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Vicar of the Diocese, traveled to
the Soorp Haroutiun Church in Orlando, FL, last Sunday to celebrate
the Divine Liturgy during the Feast of the Holy Assumption.

Following the badarak, Fr. Odabashian performed the `Blessing of
Grapes’ ceremony, and offered a special back-to-school prayer for the
children of the parish.

The Orlando parish also presented its young members with
back-to-school gifts. About 70 adults and 20 young people took part in
the day’s celebrations.

Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA
Jerusalem pilgrims Ashot Avakyan and Krikor Javardian.

** Holy Land Pilgrims Tell Their Stories in Cheltenham
————————————————————

On August 18, two young members of the Holy Trinity Church of
Cheltenham, PA, gave their fellow parishioners a presentation on their
experiences in the Holy Land this summer.

Through photos and personal commentary, Krikor Javardian and Ashot
Avakyan, both ACYOA Seniors, described their respective pilgrimages to
Jerusalem. Krikor had gone on pilgrimage with 15 fellow parishioners
from Holy Trinity, led by the parish pastor, the Rev. Fr. Hakob
Gevorgyan. Ashot was part of the ACYOA Young Leaders Pilgrimage, led
by Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian with the assistance of
the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, which brought together 27 young adults
from parishes throughout the Diocese.

Both presenters expressed how much they had grown culturally,
intellectually, and spiritually during their journeys to the roots of
the Christian religion. A question and answer session allowed
intrigued parishioners to learn more about the Holy Land.

Mission Parish in Baton Rouge, LA
Fr. Abdalian at the Baton Rouge parish.

** Assumption Celebrated in Baton Rouge
————————————————————

The Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of Diocesan Mission Parishes,
traveled to Baton Rouge, LA, last weekend for the parish’s monthly
celebration of the Divine Liturgy. As part of the observance of the
Feast of the Assumption, Fr. Abdalian performed a special service to
honor the names traditionally associated with St. Mary, and to bless
with women who bear those names.

The Baton Rouge parish will gather for its annual barbecue brunch on
September 11; its next badarak will be on September 29.

Church of Our Saviour, Worcester, MA
Students and teachers of the bible school program in Worcester, MA.

** Vacation Bible School in Worcester
————————————————————

The Armenian Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, MA, held a lively
Vacation Bible School from August 12 through 16. Some 31 children,
ages 5 to 12, took part in the school, which included a daily Bible
lesson with parish pastor the Rev. Fr. Aved Terzian; arts and crafts;
music; Armenian dancing, language, and cooking; sports, and other
recreational activities.

Fr. Terzian and choir director Linda Bullock coordinated the program,
with the assistance of several adult and teenage volunteers.

Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church members visit Armenia
Providence’s “Project Graduation” pilgrimage group in Armenia.

** Providence Sunday School Grads Visit Armenia
————————————————————

Sunday School graduates of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of
Providence, RI, went on a pilgrimage to Armenia from July 14 to
25. Parish pastor the Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin led a group of 37
pilgrims, which included 19 Sunday School graduates from the past
several years, as well as parents and faithful of the parish.

The pilgrims had an audience with His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians at Holy Etchmiadzin. (Click
here
()
to see a video of the audience.)

The `Project Graduation’ group also visited sacred and historical
monuments, including Khor Virab, Noravank, Geghard, and
Dzidzernagapert. They also visited the Nubarashen Orphanage, where
they offered a package of aid from the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob parish
and spent time with the resident children.

A highlight of the trip was a service project in the village of
Hatsig, where the pilgrims renovated a classroom and distributed new
shoes to village youth. The funds for the project as well as the
pilgrimage were raised through the efforts of the graduates, with
support from the faithful of Providence.

Upcoming Events

** Upcoming Parish Events
————————————————————

Hye Pointe Church | Haverhill, MA
The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe of Haverhill, MA, will host its
annual picnic on Sunday, August 25, at the American Legion Farm (1314
Main Street in Haverhill), from 12 to 5 p.m.

Enjoy music by the Jason Naroian Ensemble, and Armenian favorites,
including shish, losh, and chicken kebab dinners; kheyma; pastries;
and more. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information, or call (978) 372-9227.

Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church | Providence, RI
Holy Translators Armenian School of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of
Providence, RI, will hold its registration and first day of school on
Tuesday, August 27, beginning at 6 p.m. Classes will be held on
Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. during the 2013-14 academic year.

The school offers classes in reading, writing, and conversation for
children and adults. In addition, students can attend lectures on
Armenian history, literature, music, art, and more.

For information, contact Hagop or Marie Ghajanian at (401) 862-6815,
or e-mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

St. Mary Church | Hollywood, FL
St. Mary Church of Hollywood, FL, will host `Persian Armenian Kef
Night’ on Saturday, September 7, beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy Persian
cuisine and dancing in the church hall. Click here
()
to view a flyer for information.

Church of Our Saviour | Worcester, MA
The Greater Worcester Armenian Chorale will present its 10th
anniversary concert and dinner on Sunday, September 8, at 12:30 p.m.,
at the Armenian Church of Our Saviour (34 Boynton Street,
Worcester). Conductor Konstantin Petrossian will lead the chorale,
joined by featured soloist Narine Ojakhyan and the `Arevig’ Armenian
Children’s Dance Group.

For reservations call Elizabeth Orsi at (508) 865-9432.

St. Stepanos Church | Elberon, NJ
St. Stepanos Church of Elberon, NJ, is holding a unique fundraising
event on Saturday, September 14: the `Great Gatsby Gala.’ The gala
will take place at the home of Peter and Amanda
Haytaian=80’reminiscent of the splendid surroundings immortalized in
the Fitzgerald novel and its film adaptations-and will feature a 1920s
theme, including a live jazz band, in addition to an array of Armenian
delicacies.

Proceeds will benefit the parish. Click here
()
to view a flyer, or call Diane Pekmezian at (732) 546-0436 for
information.

Holy Ascension Church | Trumbull, CT
Holy Ascension Church will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, September
15, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy shish kebab, pilaf, vegetables, baked
goods; music and games for children. For information call the Trumbull
parish at (203) 372-5770, or click here
()
to view a flyer.

St. Mary Church | Livingston, NJ
St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ, will host its annual Armenian Food
Festival on Saturday, September 21 (1:30-10:30 p.m.) and Sunday,
September 22 (12:30-5:00 p.m.) at the parish’s new Toufayan Hall.

The event will feature live music by the John Vartan Band and dancing
by the Hamazkayin Dance Ensemble. Enjoy homemade Armenian food, shish
kebab and other grilled items, pilaf, pastries, lahmajun and other
delicacies. Click here
()
to view a flyer, or call the parish office at (973) 533-9794.

** EVENTS
————————————————————
St. Vartan Cathedral
St. Vartan Cathedral during its construction in 1967.

** St. Vartan Cathedral to Mark 45th Anniversary
————————————————————

The celebration of the 45th anniversary of the consecration of New
York’s St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will take place on Sunday,
September 15, with services and a luncheon and program.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy in the cathedral sanctuary, beginning at 10:30 a.m. A
hokehankisd (requiem) service will be held directly after the badarak
for the souls of the departed cathedral godfathers and Cathedral
Project committee members. Immediately following the Divine Liturgy
and requiem service, a luncheon and program will be held in Haik and
Alice Kavookjian Auditorium.

Tickets to the luncheon are $40 per person. To make reservations,
please mail a check payable to St. Vartan Cathedral to the Diocesan
Center (630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016) by September 10.

Click on the following links to view a flyer
()
, learn more about the cathedral’s history
()
, and view rare photos
()
from the 1968 consecration service.

St. Nersess Seminary
St. Nersess Seminary, in New Rochelle, NY.

** St. Nersess to Hold `Evening Under the Stars’
————————————————————

St. Nersess Seminary will hold its annual `Evening Under the Stars’
benefit reception and silent auction on Saturday, September 28, at
7:30 p.m.

With the seminary poised to move to a new campus in Armonk, NY, this
will be the final `Under the Stars’ event at the seminary’s current
New Rochelle campus. All funds raised will benefit the ongoing mission
and operation of the seminary.

Click here
()
to log onto the St. Nersess Seminary website for information, and to
view an invitation.

** YOUTH NEWS
————————————————————
St. Sarkis Church, Dallas, TX
St. Sarkis Church in Dallas, TX.

** ACYOA Central Council to Meet in Dallas
————————————————————

The ACYOA Central Council will meet on Saturday, August 24, at the
St. Sarkis Church in Dallas, TX. Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian will preside over the meeting.

During the meeting, the Central Council will review strategic goals
and solidify plans for upcoming events in the fall, including the
annual ACYOA Youth Leadership Conference.

While in Dallas the Central Council members will also attend the
priestly ordination of Dn. Justin Ajamian.

UNE VIELLE FEMME ARMENIENNE AGRESSEE A ISTANBUL

ARMENIENS DE TURQUIE

La vague d’agression d’armeniennes âgees qui sevit a Istanbul entre
decembre 2012 et janvier 2013 continue. Dans le quartier Ferikoy
d’Istanbul, une armenienne de 80 ans, Markarit Djamkosoglu a ete
violemment agressee par un inconnu le 17 août a l’entree de son
immeuble, alors qu’elle revenait des courses effectuees dans un magasin
du quartier. L’agresseur serait un homme de moyenne corpulence. Il
aurait tente de s’introduire chez la vieille dame, la jeter a terre
pour la tuer. La dame recut de violents coups de poings au visage. ”
Depuis 50 ans que j’habite ici, je n’ai jamais vu un acte pareil ”
dit-elle le visage tumefie par la violence des coups de l’agresseur. Ce
dernier lui aurait vole son sac a main contenant 70 livres turques.

Krikor Amirzayan

mercredi 21 août 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

EN TOUTE CONFIANCE AVEC LA RUSSIE

Armenie

Un parlementaire pro-gouvernemental armenien s’est dit confiant
mardi au sujet des rapports entre l’Armenie et la Russie. Selon lui,
Moscou n’imposera pas de sanctions commerciales a l’Armenie meme si
elle conclut un accord avec l’UE.

Gagik Minasian, le president de la commission parlementaire armenienne
pour les finances et les affaires budgetaires, a declare qu’Erevan ne
doit pas ceder aux pressions de la Russie. Moscou fait notamment du
chantage a l’Ukraine et a effectivement ferme son marche a la plupart
des produits ukrainiens le 13 août, avec pour motif ” risque eleve en
raison de problèmes d’authenticite et de douanes “. Une association
d’affaires ukrainienne a declare par la suite que les entreprises
ukrainiennes risquent de perdre plus de 2 milliards de dollars si
rien n’est fait pour resoudre le problème rapidement. L’Ukraine a
reagi en suspendant les importations de ble en provenance de Russie
et a egalement menace de deposer plainte auprès de l’Organisation
mondiale du commerce. Les premiers ministres des deux Etats sont
censes se rencontrer ce mois-ci.

Sergey Glazyev, un conseiller economique du president russe, Vladimir
Poutine, a reconnu ce week-end que les ” mesures prophylactiques
” russes sont connectees avec les plans du gouvernement ukrainien
qui souhaite signe un accord avec l’UE. Moscou souhaitait que Kiev
rejoigne l’Union eurasienne dirigee par la Russie.

Minasian a insiste sur le fait que l’Armenie ne subira pas les memes
sanctions commerciales parce que, contrairement a l’Ukraine ainsi
qu’a la Georgie et a la Moldavie, elle n’aspire pas de rejoindre l’UE.

” La Moldavie, la Georgie et l’Ukraine ont clairement indique que
l’adhesion a l’Union europeenne est leur objectif “, a dit Minasian au
service armenien de RFE /RL (Azatutyun.am). ” L’Armenie n’a jamais dit
qu’elle vise a rejoindre l’UE. Ce que nous avons dit, c’est que nous
allons sur la voie de l’integration europeenne, mais que l’adhesion
a l’UE n’est pas dans notre agenda politique. ”

Le parlementaire, qui est membre du parti republicain au pouvoir (HHK),
a egalement fait valoir que l’Armenie est membre de l’Organisation du
Traite de securite collective (OTSC), une alliance militaire dirigee
par la Russie et qui regroupe six anciennes republiques sovietiques.

Les politiciens de l’opposition sont moins optimistes quant a la
reaction russe. ” Rien n’exclut que la Russie ne nous traite pas
de la meme manière “, a declare Alexander Arzoumanian, un depute de
l’opposition et ancien ministre des Affaires etrangères.

Vahagn Khachatrian, membre eminent du Congrès national armenien (HAK),
a ete plus categorique. ” Le meme problème va certainement se poser
pour l’Armenie “.

Moscou n’a pas critique publiquement les plans d’Erevan pour sceller
un accord de grande envergure avec l’UE a ce jour. La Russie est le
premier partenaire commercial de l’Armenie, ce qui represente 22%
du commerce exterieur de l’Etat du Caucase du Sud et plus de 20%
des exportations armeniennes au premier semestre.

mercredi 21 août 2013, Laetitia ©armenews.com

TURKEY ACCUSES EGYPT OF MASSACRE, EGYPT RESPONDS BY ENDORSING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DECLARATION

FrontPage Magazine
Aug 20 2013

August 20, 2013 By Daniel Greenfield

Game set and match.

Turkey’s Islamist leader, Prime Minister Erdogan, threw another fit
over the defeat of his fellow Islamists in Egypt, and disregarding
his own brutal assaults on the Gezi Park protesters, demanded trials
and intervention.

Erdogan also said Egypt’s leaders should stand a “fair and transparent”
trial for what he called a “massacre” that unfolded live on televisions
as police smashed two protest camps of supporters of the deposed
Islamist president.

“Anyone or any international organization that remains silent and
takes no action has the blood of those innocent children on their
hands, just like those who carried out the coup.”

Speaking of the blood of innocent children on their hands, Erdogan
is backing a murderous Islamist campaign against Syria. And there’s
also that pesky Armenian genocide in his country’s political DNA.

So Egypt apparently decided to directly retaliate by hitting Turkey’s
sore spot.

Al Bawaba News reported, from the Egyptian President Twitter account,
that President Adli Mansour asked Egypt’s UN delegate to sign on
the behalf of his Government on the Declaration of recognition of
the Armenian Genocide at the United Nations. If such diplomatic move
occurs it would be psychological equivalent of President Sadat visiting
Israel in 1977.

“While this move is a political retaliation at Prime Minister Recep
Erdogan’s aggressive stance against Egypt and in favor of the Ikhwan,”
said an observer in Egypt, “this goes beyond the simple retaliation.

It shows that the new leading team in Cairo is a group of secular,
strategic and long term planning policy makers.

For them to sign on the Armenian Genocide Declaration means that
they intend to wage an ideological war against the Islamists and
the Jihadists in the region. This is not directed against Turks,
particularly secular Turks, this is a strike against Erdogan’s
Sultanate and in general terms against the notion of a political
Caliphate as a rallying point of all Islamists in the region.”

I wouldn’t go quite that far myself. But, if true, it does remind
Turkey that there is a price to pay and that Erdogan has been too
loose in accusing other people of massacres.

ALIYEV’S VICTORY IN AZERBAIJAN’S ELECTION WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR ARMENIA – PRESIDENT SARGSIAN

Interfax, Russia
August 19, 2013 Monday 6:18 PM MSK

YEREVAN. Aug 19

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian hopes that Azerbaijan’s President
Ilham Aliyev will win the upcoming presidential election.

“Neighbors moving along the road of democracy are preferable for
Armenia and not only Armenia. Hence the conclusion – democratic
Azerbaijan is definitely preferable for us as a neighbor, especially
as a partner in talks. But if we put this circumstance aside, the
answer to the question is – it would probably be best for us, if
incumbent president Ilham Aliyev won,” Sargsian said at a meeting
with participants in Baze youth convention.

Yerevan and Baku “have covered a difficult but long road of
negotiations and the way of resolving problems has almost been
outlined, at the least the public acceptance of the principles proposed
by Minsk Group cochairmen,” he said.

“We have been conducting active talks on them for four years already.

I would not say just now that the negotiating process is active,
nevertheless, we have traversed quite a long road, and if after
the talks Aliyev succeeds in demonstrating will and rising above
his mania of Armeniaphobia, I think this is the most acceptable and
preferable option for us,” the Armenian presidential press service
quoted Sargsian to Interfax as saying.

Speaking of Azerbaijan’s warnings concerning the resumption of the war
and reports of Azerbaijan purchasing big quantities of arms Sargsian
said that the possession of armaments cannot be a guarantee of victory
or influence the correlation of forces in any way.