Author: Karagyozian Lena

TURKEY’S KURDISH AND ARMENIAN POLICY CONCERN RULING PARTY

APA
15 Dec 2009 15:43
Ankara

Ankara. Mais Alizadeh – APA. "Kurdish initiative" proposed by the
Turkish government, as well as protocols signed with Armenia created
concerns inside the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). A group
of parliamentarians in the party expected to issue statement against
the government’s policy because its actions toward the solution of
Kurdish and Armenian problems put Turkey face to face with a number
of challenges, APA Turkish bureau reports.

The government’s policy called as "Kurdish initiative" or "democratic
initiative" intensified tensions in some regions of the country and
life-sentenced leader of the terrorist organization tries to use it
to ease his situation. Despite that the protocols signed with Armenia
are linked with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, it Armenia unlikely
have an intention to leave the occupied Azerbaijani lands. It creates
coldness in the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations and Armenian Diaspora
in the West didn’t leave its claims against Turkey. Even Armenian
president Serzh Sargsyan threatens to appeal the international legal
institutions if the protocols are not ratified.

According to reliable sources, after the meeting with US president
Barack Obama Prime Minister Erdogan hinted that the ratification
of the protocols signed with Armenia depend on the free will of the
Turkish lawmakers, which aim to ease concerns of the AKP activists.

Ankara conditioned the ratification of the protocols with the
withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands. But
Turkey put forward the phrase of "free will of the parliament"
as a counterattack against the possible pressures from the West,
particularly from the United States.

Safar Abiyev: `The war will be unavoidable if the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is not solved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan’

[ 12 Dec 2009 12:41 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. `Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s
transition to the J-structure is continuing up to schedule and certain
part of the work was already done’, Azerbaijani Defense Minister,
Colonel-General Safar Abiyev told journalists, APA reports.

Abiyev noted that the parliament is working on the draft law on
alternative service and it will bring a result in near future.

Responding the question about the new appointment to the post of
Azerbaijani Air Force and Air Defense Commander, the minister said
Major-General Altay Mehdiyev performs this office now and he has no
problem with that.

Reminding about the continuation of the Nagorno Karabakh talks, Abiyev
said he couldn’t detail about the negotiations. `I can not say
anything about that. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has details about
the negotiations’.

However the defense minister of Azerbaijan didn’t rule out the version
of war. `If the conflict is not solved within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, the war will be unavoidable’.

IRELI PUBLIC UNION CHAIRMAN: AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA SHOULD BE FORMED AND DEVELOPED AS INSTITUTE

AZG DAILY
12-12-2009

Azerbaijan

Below we present Trend News interview with Azerbaijan’s Ireli Public
Union Chairman Ceyhun Osmanli published by the Azerbaijani news agency
Today.az on December 10.

Trend News: – The Diaspora’s role in informing the world community
of the truth about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Azerbaijan is
indispensable. Are you satisfied with the activities of the diaspora
in this direction?

Ceyhun Osmanli: – An action will be held outside the Euronews office
at French young people’s initiative on Dec. 11. The Diaspora must
not be a matter only of volunteers.

Diaspora must be formed as an institution. There must be professional
employees in the diaspora working on a permanent basis in the cities,
which are important for Azerbaijan, and getting salaries. Today
there is a need for special attention to this area. The diaspora’s
activity is at a satisfactory level in some cities and countries
as opposed to other countries. This issue is related to people. The
work is better organized if people are more experienced. For example,
Azerbaijani diaspora in London was always active. We are satisfied
with its activity.

It is incorrect to blame volunteers. There is a need to form the
diaspora as an institution. Employees of the Jewish Diaspora are
those who have graduated from the faculties of diasporas in different
universities. They are experienced people in this area.

Their salaries are higher and paid constantly. Azerbaijani diaspora
operates at the level of voluntary participation. The chairman of
the organization has affairs to do.

He can not pay attention to Diaspora affairs. It is necessary to
use managers of the diaspora. The Azerbaijani diaspora’s work, its
psychology, and look at the issue must be studied. The policy must be
determined in accordance with the mentality of each country. Views of
the Russians and the English on this issue is different. The policy
aimed to these countries must be introduced. There is a need for a
special relation to this issue. We see a lack of social managers.

– Is Azerbaijani youth’s political activity at the proper level?

– Political activity of the population is measured by membership
in political parties. There is an electorate of five million in
Azerbaijan. But approximately 500,000 people are members of political
parties. If members of the parties hit 10 percent of electorate,
then the political activity is not enough.

Activity among young people is higher. There are enough active
people among young people. Interest of young people for the municipal
elections is great. It testifies that attitude of people towards these
issues changes by the gradual development of democratic institutions,
organizations in the country. They become more active.

– How do you assess young candidates’ chances in parliamentary
elections?

– I hope that the political activity of young people will increase in
the next parliamentary elections. Activity in the municipal elections
gives us hope that young people will be more active in parliamentary
elections.

ZHIRINOVSKY: RUSSIA MUST RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH

armradio.am
11.12.2009 16:02

"If Nagorno-Karabakh declares indepenedence, then Russia must
recognize that," said Vice-Chair of the State Duma of the Federal
Assembly of the Russian Federation and Leader of Liberal Democratic
Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky, appearing at the European and
Asian Media Forum in Moscow organized by RIA Novosti.

"Otherwise, Azerbaijan and Armenia will never agree on whom
Nagorno-Karabakh belongs to. I have neither an Armenian- nor an
Azerbaijani-leaning position.," stated the Russian politician.

Asked by a journalist what is Russia’s role in the process of
establishing Armenia-Turkey relations, Zhirinovsky said: "We wouldn’t
want Turkey, in that rapprochement, to make use of the entire South
Caucasus in order to increase its influence. Though they have had
such plans."

According to the politician, Russia needs peace and stability in
the South Caucasus. "If that is secured, then let Armenia cohabit
with whoever it so chooses, whether that be Turkey, Iran, Georgia,
or Azerbaijan. But if there’s aggression, then we will stand by the
victim countries and completely wipe out the aggressor," concluded
Zhirinovsky.

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:

December 10, 2009

GRANITE CITYS ST. GREGORY CHURCH CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY
A grand celebration took place last weekend in celebration of the 55th
anniversary of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City,
Illinois. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and Rev. Fr. Stephan
Baljian joined representatives of various parish and community
organizations as well as members of the Board of Trustees in attending
a concert given by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. The
guest conductor was Mr. Peter Oundjian, a critically acclaimed
virtuoso violinist, chamber musician and conductor who is currently
music director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. After the concert
the Prelate, along with Fr. Baljian and some parish members met with
Maestro Oundjian to congratulate him. His Eminence presented him with
a certificate of appreciation commemorating his visit along with a
reprint of a page from the Marshal Oshin Gospels, which is part of the
Armenian manuscript collection of the Morgan Library and Museum in New
York.
On Sunday Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy,
during which he blessed and installed a new Holy Chrism Aghavni (dove)
and hand cross. The Aghavni was donated by Dn. & Mrs. Jeffrey Hagopian
and the hand cross by Mr. & Mrs. Hagop Varadian. A commemorative
banquet followed with the Prelate as the guest speaker.
(Reported by Susan Spataro)
Photo: Archbishop Oshagan and Fr. Stephan Baljian with parishioners of
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois.
RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS TO MEET
The Religious and Executive Councils of the Prelacy will convene their
monthly meeting tomorrow and Saturday at the Prelacy offices in New
York City.
SERVICE AND LUNCHEON FOR
POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS
Archbishop Oshagan presided over the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas
luncheon yesterday, December 9, at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New
York, in honor of the local New York City police and fire departments
(111th precinct). The day began with a worship service led by the
Prelate, Bishop Anoushavan, and Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of
St. Sarkis. A luncheon followed the service with delicious food and
fellowship.

POSTHUMOUS AWARD TO KARL SOGOIAN
Last Saturday, December 5, a posthumous award for Karl Sogoian was
presented to his widow, Mrs. Emma Sogoian, by the Armenian Engineers
and Scientists of America (Michigan Section) in recognition of
Mr. Sogoians engineering accomplishments as well as for his many
undertakings for society, industry, and to the Armenian community. The
event took place in the Ararat Room of St. John Armenian Church in
Southfield, Michigan. Tributes were offered by Mr. Tatoul Markarian,
Armenian Ambassador to the United States and Mr. Robert Avetisyan,
Representative to the
United States from Nagorno-Karabagh.
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian and Rev. Fr. Daron Stepanian attended and
offered congratulations to Mrs. Sogoian. The late Mr. Sogoian and his
wife Emma have been generous benefactors to the Armenian Church as
well as to the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh.
STUDY OF THE CREED CONTINUES
The second of a six-part program on The Creed (Havadamk), will take
place this Monday, December 14 at St. Illuminators Cathedral, 221
E. 27th Street, New York City. The program begins at 7:15 pm with a
presentation, followed by Q and discussion. The series is sponsored by
the Prelacys Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) and the
Cathedral. The lectures are by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC.
Chanted or recited by countless Christians every Sunday during
the Divine Liturgy, the Creed represents a concise summary of biblical
faith, formulated by the Church Fathers of the first two Ecumenical
Councils and endorsed by all the ancient churches.
All are welcome. Refreshments will be served. For information:
[email protected] or 212-689-7810; [email protected] or
212-689-5880.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, December 10, are: Proverbs 1:1-9;
Nahum 2:1-7; Romans 5:1-5; Matthew 5:1-12.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of
insight, for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness,
justice, and equity; to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and
prudence to the younglet the wise also hear and gain in learning, and
the discerning acquire skill, to understand a proverb and a figure,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools
despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my child, your fathers
instruction, and do not reject your mothers teaching; for they are a
fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck. (Proverbs
1:1-9)

ST. JAMES (HAGOP) OF NISIBIS
This Saturday, December 12, is the feast of St. James (Hagop) of
Nisibis (Mdzbin). He was a participant at the first ecumenical council
in Nicaea (325), where he earned great respect from the Emperor
Constantine and other attendees. He was educated in Caesarea and was a
cousin of St. Gregory the Illuminator. He was born, raised and died in
the city of Nisibis (modern day Nusbyien in southeastern Turkey), an
important early Christian center in Asia Minor and a transit point of
the caravans traveling east and west.
St. Hagop is one of the most beloved saints in the Armenian
Church (and also in the Syriac Church). Gregory of Nareg dedicated one
of his hymns to him. Although there is not much known about his
personal life, we do know that at an advanced age he attempted to
reach the summit of Mt. Ararat in search of the Ark. During the
difficult climb one night while he slept an angel appeared telling him
he was too old to continue the climb. The angel gave him a piece of
the Ark and asked him to be satisfied with this and return home. He
complied with the angelic wishes. This piece of the Ark is kept in
Holy Etchmiadzin.
Conqueror and holy bishop like the great Moses fighter against
the evil spirits, with pride you took on yourself the cross; we have
you as intercessor for us before the Father in heaven.
When you participated in the hymn-singing of the spirits on
high like the great John by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you
were called from the wilderness to high honor; we have you as our
intercessor before the Father in heaven.
By the power given to you, you were able to perform wonderful
signs, like the great Peter you were given by God as shepherd to
Christs chosen flock; we have you as intercessor before the Father in
heaven.
The heavenly hosts rejoiced at the greatness of your feats by
which you in the flesh became like the angels on high; we have you as
intercessor for us before the Father in heaven.
And we with a joyful voice celebrate your holy memory, O
venerable witness of Christ, holy bishop James; we have you as
intercessor for us before the Father in heaven.
You decided on severe toils to see Noahs ark and from the
angels hands received a portion of the wood which served the human
race as salvation; we have you as intercessor for us before the Father
in heaven.

>From the Canon to St. James, Bishop of Nisibis, according to the
Liturgical Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 12Second Armenian Holiday Food Fair, St. Hagop Church, 4100
Newman Road, Racine, Wisconsin, noon to 5 pm. For information:
262-632-2033.
December 13Christmas Boutique by ARS Mayr and Erebouni chapters of New
York at St. Sarkis Church, Pagoumian Hall, 38-65 234th Street,
Douglaston, New York, following church services. New and pretty gifts,
homemade delicacies, gifts from Armenia, original art, and more.
December 20St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Christmas
Pageant.
December 31St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, New Years Eve
celebration, Seroonian Community Center.
December 31Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. New Years
Eve Dinner-Dance.
February 6St. Stephens (Watertown, Massachusetts) Ladies Guild, Mardi
Gras celebration, 7 pm at church hall. Costumes optional; masks are a
must. For information: Mary Derderian, [email protected] or
781-762-4253.
July 17A Hye Summer Night V, dance hosted by Ladies Guild of
Sts. Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode
Island. Watch for details.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys 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]

ARMERIABANK TO LAUNCH LARGE SCALE PROJECT ON BUSINESS FINANCING

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.12.2009 13:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armeriabank has launched a large scale business
financing project. The project will stipulate for beneficial crediting
terms for enterprises with an annual turnover of AMD 5 million to 5
billion, with a personnel of under 250 people. USD 1.5 million credits
are provided both for legal persons and private entrepreneurs. Credits
are provided at the annual rate of 12%, for 7 years, including a
2-year grace period.

Besides, Ameriabank offers a unique possibility of crediting at
preferential terms: credit rate will keep decreasing during the first
3 years of crediting.

The project aims at intensifying business activities and development
of different sectors in Armenian economy.

EURONEWS MAY BE BANNED IN AZERBAIJAN

Yerkir
07.12.2009 14:18

Yerevan (Yerkir) – Azerbaijan National Television and Radio Council
(NTRC) might ban the broadcasting of international cable TV channels,
that are of anti-Azerbaijani nature, NTRC Chairman Nushiravan
Maharramli has told the Azerbaijani Trend News.

"If any foreign television channel continues broadcasting such biased
programs, we will demand their cessation," he said, speaking of
"Nagorno-Karabakh – wind of change" program by Euronews.

The report provoked a negative reaction in Azerbaijan up to a note
of protest by Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Under NTRC decree, the broadcasting of BBC, Azadlig (Liberty) and Voice
of America was suspended in accordance with law "On TV broadcasting".

HAMPARIAN: TURKEY SUCCEEDED IN DICTATING PRECONDITIONS

Yerkir
07.12.2009 13:26

Yerevan (Yerkir) – With the White House meeting between President
Obama and Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan just days away,
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) once again voiced
its concerns over the Turkish government’s increasingly energetic
efforts to cement in place the Obama Administration’s refusal to
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide.

"Prime Minister Erdogan having succeeded in using the Ankara-inspired
Protocols to enlist the cooperation of yet another U.S. Administration
into its campaign to block recognition of the Armenian Genocide is
now coming to Washington to cement his gains and further press his
advantage," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"High on his agenda, it seems, will be showcasing Turkey’s public
disregard for President Obama’s twin priorities for Armenia-Turkey
normalization, namely that they be established without preconditions
and within a reasonable time-frame. Today, more than seven months after
our President’s speech in Ankara during which he broke his pledge to
recognize the Armenian Genocide it’s patently clear that Turkey has in
fact imposed preconditions, will not act in a reasonable time-frame,
and, more broadly, views this entire process as simply a way to extend
U.S. complicity in Turkey’s denials from one April 24th to the next,"
added Hamparian.

Armenian Americans concerned about Erdogan’s agenda have participated
in the ANCA’s "Countdown to Erdogan" campaign the month-long grassroots
initiative to encourage President Obama to challenge Turkey’s Prime
Minister with the facts of the Armenian Genocide during their December
7th White House meeting.

The "Countdown" has generated media coverage in the U.S., Turkey,
and Armenia, and, as participation in the campaign grew with each
passing week, came under increasingly heavy attack from the Turkish
lobby. The United Press International reported, on December 1st, that,
"The Armenian National Committee of America stepped up its lobbying
efforts ahead of the [Erdogan] visit, calling on its supporters to
contact their Washington representatives to encourage Obama to make
true on his campaign pledge to recognize the Armenian genocide." The
Turkish Coalition publicly criticized the campaign as a political
"blitzkrieg."

The final days of the effort are devoted to calling directly on
President Obama through phone calls, letters, and social networking
vehicles to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and urging him to demonstrate resolve in working to end the ongoing
cycle of genocide and denial. The calls are increasingly important
following a letter issued by President Obama earlier today praising
the Turkey-Armenia protocols, and once again, refraining to properly
characterize that crime against humanity.

On the day of the meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister
Erdogan, the ANCA has organized a final push of phone calls to the
White House. Links to a sample phone script and phone number will be
available at

IT’S A PITY, THAT RUSSIA HAS BEEN PUSHED OUT FROM THE NEGOTIATIONS
Laura Grigoryan

Azat Artsakh Newspaper NKR
December 08, 2009

An interview with deputy director of Caucasian researches’ centre of
the state institute of international relations of Moscow, historian,
professor Vladimir Zakharov -Mr Zakharov, what aim pursues your next
visit to Artsakh? -I’m in NKR on the invitation of the management
of Artsakh State University. I’m also a honorary Doctor of Artsakh
State University. I performed many times there with my lectures
on the themes "Today’s situation in Transcaucasus", "Tendencies
of NATO in Transcaucasus’s countries", as well as "Lermontov and
Transcaucasus". It’s known, that Lermontov spent rather long time in
Caucasus (1837, 1840-41). My brochure has been published recently,
which is called "Lermontov in Karabakh in 1837". In 1837 the author
visited Shushi and returning to St. Petersburg, wrote to his friend –
Svyatoslav Raevsky about his impressions. He wrote, that he had been
in Shushi, Shamakhi, had slept in open-air fields, had woke up from
voices of jackals… We have brought various materials, documents,
which testify, that Lermontov was really in Karabakh. We have for an
object to open a museum in Shushi devoted to Lermontov, but now in
Stepanakert we have organized an exhibition in municipality’s gallery.
– What connects you with Karabakh? – Unfortunately, I’m not connected
rootly with Karabakh. But after my first visit, which was in 2005,
it has become my second land for me.

Really, Nagorno-Karabakh is a place, where your soul is openned
and you are relieved. I think, that all this is conditioned by
Karabakhi people’s honesty and wonderfulness. And just they create
the surroundings which is called a sphere. I’m from Armavir by origin.

An armenian family from Ardvin lived in the neighbourhood. I
still remember the stories of old house owner Agnessa Bagratyan
about the genocide. Her husband’s brother Hakob Ter-Bagratyan was
an archimandrite, he managed to save a great number of armenians
from the massacre, closing them inside the church. She was very
kind and woderwul woman, interesting interlocuter. I’ve learnt to
speak armenian a little from her. I have met many armenians after
leaving Armavir, but some armenian words have stuck in my memory…
– Mr Zakharov, your attitude towards armenian-turkish relations
and generally border’s openning. – It can’t be two opinions, that
negotiations should be carried out in that direction. It’s a pity ,
that Russia has been pushed out from these negotiations. It has done
by the Americans’ hand. And the last – by Turkey’s.There would be
complications, of course, because Turkey and Azerbaijan act in the
same direction. And all, what they speak and do – is a game.

Turkey needs in Armenia. They know, that great load transportations
will be through Turkey’s territory, which will cost much sums. From
the other hand Turkey wants to protect Azerbaijan. Nobody can say,
how long this double game of Turkey will last. Only a thing is clear,
if the border is openned, Turkey will never close it. Also for the
simple reason: Turkey is eager to be admitted to EU. And if it suddenly
closes again the border, nobody will want to have such a partner.

And what about the problem of recognition of the Genocide, various
opinions are sounded about it. Yes, many years passed, and during
these years many facts have been collected, published concerning to
the Genocide… And to say, that the Armenians are guilty, It’s merely
a shame, funny. – In your opinion, will the international community
ever recognize Armenian Genocide? – You know, it’s difficult to say
yes or not. Just there, in Turkey, there are pro and contra. In all
cases, something must be changed. They shoud understand, that the
facts speak not in favour of Turkey.

RA PRESIDENT LAID WREATH TO 1988 EARTHQUAKE MEMORIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.12.2009 12:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan who arrived Monday
morning in Gyumri laid a wreath to the 1988 earthquake memorial.

Later, a service for the dead was held in Amenaprkich Church, a
PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent reported from Gyumri.

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Territorial Administration Minister
Armen Gevorgyan, Shirak region governor Lida Nanyan, Gyumri Mayor
Vardan Ghukasyan and Russia’s Ambassador to RA Vyacheslav Kovalenko
also attended the mourning ceremony.

On December 7, 1988, at 11:41 a.m. local time a magnitude 6.9
earthquake shook northwestern Armenia and was followed four minutes
later by a magnitude 5.8 aftershock.

The earthquake leveled the cities of Spitak and Gyumri and left 25
000 people dead, 100 000 wounded and 500 000 homeless.