Author: Karakhanian Suren

IRANIAN SPEAKER TO VISIT ARMENIA AND KYRGYZIA
Author: Y. Ibrahimzadeh
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
The delegation of Iran`s Parliament headed by Iranian Speaker Golam
Khaddad Adel has left for Armenia and Kyrgyzia on a four-day visit,
Trend reports.
The main aim of the visit is development of inter-Parliamentary
relations between Iran and the two above-mentioned countries, Trend
Special Correspondent to Teheran reports.
The Iranian Speaker is expected to hold meetings with his counterparts,
the Presidents, and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Kyrgyzia, as
well as to deliver a speech to MPs of these countries during the visit.
Two Iranian MPs of Armenian origin – Robert Biglerian and George
Vartan will accompany Mr. Golam Khaddad Adel in his visit.

YOUNG LEADERSHIP FOR STUDENTS: THEY COULDN’T DREAM OF MORE
Lragir.am
11 Sept 06
The new or comparatively new rector of Yerevan State University Aram
Simonyan met news reporters September 11 and gave his first press
conference. Aram Simonyan gave the press conference after 100 days of
office, even more. And it is not accidental that he chose September 11
for the 100 days news conference. 9/11 is considered as a beginning
of a new situation in the world, a new epoch, new relations. And the
interview of the new rector was about this, not in global terms, of
course, but in terms of the university. Despite huge difference in
space, over the past 3 or 4 months Aram Simonyan managed to change
so many things that Bush did not manage over the past 5 years.
Simonyan’s changes are connected with the structure and staff.
Aram Simonyan dismissed ones and appointed others, closed down some
departments and opened others. The new rector appointed vice rectors,
heads of departments. He says what he did is not an end in itself
but a necessity that occurred long ago.
“When a new leadership comes, they must select people from their
so-called team he can work with and trust. Therefore, considering
the fact that the leadership of the university are elderly people,
and almost half are aged 70 and more, it was therefore necessary to
renew the leadership of the university,” says the rector of Yerevan
State University Aram Simonyan. He denies the news that by the new
appointment he rewarded people who elected him rector and Serge
Sargsyan head of the Managing Board of YSU.
Aram Simonyan says the appointments were not made at random. He named
people who have corresponding work experience, knowledge and have
worked in the administration of the university for many years. Simply
they were occupying lower positions, they were promoted, but it does
not mean that Simonyan had to. “There was no pressure on me,” the
rector says. Nevertheless, people who participated in the election
of rector and voted for Aram Simonyan profited from most of his
appointments. For instance, the department of public relations he
set up is led by students who are members of the board and voted in
the election, not hiding that they preferred Aram Simonyan. However,
this and the other staff changes do not mean that we deal with rewards
by the rector and the chair of the board of the university.
This is God’s will rather than a black arrangement.
Aram Simonyan also decentralized the financial levers. He
divided planning and finance from accountancy and set up a separate
department. Besides, the new rector established a department of reforms
in the university, a center of culture, a psychological center, a
career center, and several other centers. Meanwhile, the personnel
of service was laid off, and the university thus economized for new
jobs. Eventually, a renewed and young university appeared, and in order
to see it there will be very many people who would even gladly pay,
if not for themselves, they will surely pay for their children. For
the changes are for nobody else but the children.

AZERI & FRENCH PRESIDENTS TO EXCHANGE OFFICIAL VISITS IN 2007
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2006
In 2007, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and French President Jacques
Chirac will exchange official visits, Trend reports with reference
to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.
In keeping with the close ties between Azerbaijan and France, the Azeri
President is making his official visit to France in January 2007 at
Chirac’s invitation, the message said. In turn, Mr Chirac will make
an official visit to Azerbaijan during the first quarter of 2007.
In recent years, Azeri-French relations have developed signifncantly
and politically the discussions between the two countries cointinues
at the highest level. France, alongside USA and Russia, is working to
settle the Nagono-Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group. The
two countries’ economic relations are progressing rapidly in such
fields as aviation, energy and infrastructure, especially under such
projects as BTC and BTE.
The Presidents’ scheduled visits will create opportunities to further
strengthening relations between the two countries and nations, says
the message.

ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT IN ARMENIA STEPPING INTO A NEW STAGE
Lragir.am
09 Sept 06
The Lragir has learned about a call addressed to political parties
and organizations, which are establishing the Anti-Criminal Movement.
We think some extracts of this statement may interest the reader.
… Before using the notion of the criminal, especially the criminal in
power, one should know what it denotes. In speaking about criminalized
politics, this notion should be made clear first. And there is nothing
to invent anew: for over a thousand years the community, which denies
the laws of the state, is called a criminal community. The community
of people who live under their own law and impose their own law on
the rest of the society through violence, coercion and bribe. The
notion of “own law” denotes the rules of behavior accepted within
the given community, the violation of which is punished severely.
The aim of the criminal is to usurp the system of government and take
away the rights of citizens, and guarantee their welfare at the expense
of others. The famous notions of the criminal world, the criminal
moral and punishment are merely a form of existence of the criminal.
Therefore, before making anti-criminal efforts it is worthwhile to
define this phenomenon in Armenia. And the situation is such that
the community of people who deny the law of the state of Armenia have
usurped government offices and the corresponding powers, turning the
system of government into a means of legal pressure on the citizens.
This practice guarantees the welfare of the members of this community
at the expense of others. Along with the government levers coercion,
corruption and violence are applied as well.
Consequently, the group of figures who have usurped the state machine
can be called a criminal community. All the provisions of the law,
which are directed against every representative of the criminal
community in the world, are applicable to them. Moreover, in the
current situation there is an additional accusation, which can be
defined as state crime (for every act of violation of the law by a
government official can be defined as state crime).
The following offenses committed by Armenian government officials
can be considered a state crime: creation and sustenance of the
machine of electoral fraud, misappropriation of the public property,
accruing slush funds, violence against citizens, bribing persons and
organizations (namely the media), etc.
All the abovementioned arguments are sufficient ground for accusing
Armenian high-ranking government officials of criminal activities.
Moreover, their activities corresponding to the definition of state
crime. This evaluation enables figuring out the state criminals,
the members of the criminal community, which has usurped the power.
Currently, the following persons are at the hub of this community
(we have learned some names from the list): Serge Sargsyan, Gagik
Beglaryan, Mher Sedrakyan, Ruben Hairapetyan, Sashik Sargsyan, Karineh
Kirakosyan, Galust Sahakyan, Hovik Abrahamyan, Aghvan Hovsepyan, Flora
Nakshkaryan. The list of the members of this community is being made
clear. The main political shelter of this community is considered to
be the organization called the Republican Party of Armenia.
… All the political forces of Armenia, as well as the active
members of the forming anti-criminal movement should understand the
abovementioned arguments what the criminal in power is. The incorrect
definitions and accusations enable state criminals to deny these
accusations hypocritically. The phrases “where is the criminal here?”,
“we have never been in prison, there are no facts”, etc, which are
very popular with Armenian officials and are upheld by the mass media,
are the result of incorrect definitions and accusations, which give
a chance to the criminal in power.
… The public does not need to offer facts. The duty of the society
is to take the criminal it detects to the court. The law enforcement
agencies must provide facts. The society can see all these crimes,
and knows the criminals in face. If the crime is not proved legally,
it does not mean that there is no crime. It may only mean that the
criminal is at large for the time being.

AZG Armenian Daily #171, 08/09/2006
Middle East
JEWISH MINISTER STATES WAR AGAINST IRAN IS INEVITABLE
Jaakov Edry, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, said in
the interview to a German newspaper that Iran should
be inevitably attacked. He said that the military
operation could be carried out before the end of the
tenure of US President George Bush.
Thus, the aim of the “limited” military operation will
be the annihilation of the components of Iran’s
nuclear program. Edry stated that USA should spare no
efforts to settle this issue.
“As the Iranian authorities emphasize the importance
of both armed forces and the oil factor, there is no
choice left,” he said.
“The only way out is the military settlement. The
sooner it begins, the better. It will be much more
complicated in the future, as the Iranians will
isolate their nuclear industry and that will be more
difficult to annihilate their weapon,” the Jewish
minister underscored.
By Petros Keshishian

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
September 7, 2006
NEW PRELACY OFFICE IN YEREVAN TO BE NAMED
IN HONOR OF ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
The Eastern Prelacy’s charitable work in Armenia began immediately after
the December 1988 earthquake in northern Armenia, but it was in 1993 that an
office was officially opened in Yerevan, under the supervision of the then
Prelate, the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian. It was Mesrob Srpazan who named
the agency “The St. Nerses the Great Charitable and Social Organization,” in
honor of Catholicos Nerses (c. 326-373) who is remembered for the great
charitable work he accomplished, building schools, hospitals and other
institutions that served the needs of the people.
Since its establishment thirteen years ago, the St. Nerses Charitable
Organization has been operating from a small two-room office. Two years ago
an apartment on Koryun Street was purchased and has been undergoing
renovations for use as an office. The official opening of this new office
will take place on Tuesday evening, September 19, and the office will be
named “The Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian Center.” The Prelate, Archbishop
Oshagan, will preside over the opening and naming ceremonies, which is
expected to be attended by a number of dignitaries and guests.
“The Executive Council and I deemed it appropriate to name the office in
honor of Mesrob Srpazan, because of the extraordinary service he performed
in Armenia. He created the St. Nerses Charitable Organization and nurtured
it from its earliest days paving the way to the current status of this
charitable organization, which provides assistance to hundreds of
individuals and institutions in Armenia and Artsakh. I hope this will be
another link in remembering the splendid legacy he left,” said Archbishop
Oshagan.
VICAR GENERAL RETURNS TO NEW YORK
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, returned to New York last
week after more than two weeks in Armenia where he directed the program of
summer religious studies for some of the children sponsored by the Prelacy’s
Orphan Sponsorship Program, which took place at the summer camp in Vanadzor
in northern Armenia.
PRELATE AT THE AYF OLYMPICS
As he does every Labor Day weekend, Archbishop Oshagan opened the 73rd
annual AYF Olympic games, which this year took place in Milwaukee.
In his opening message and prayer, His Eminence praised the Armenian
Youth Federation for its years of service to the youth, and said, “.the AYF
has taught you to participate and not remain in the margins of Armenian
American life. May you always be faithful to these traditions in the
footsteps of our forefathers, looking ahead to the future.”
To read the entire message click
EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION OF BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 1
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the celebration in honor of the
recent Episcopal consecration of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian. A
community-wide banquet will take place on Sunday, October 1, 3 pm at the
Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows, New York. In the morning, Bishop
Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York, a parish he served for more than a decade. Bishop
Anoushavan’s elevation and consecration took place on June 4, in ceremonies
officiated by Catholicos Aram I in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the
Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon.
For more information about the October 1st event click
V. REV. FR. DANIEL GARABEDIAN SAYS FAREWELL AND
PREPARES FOR NEW MINISTRY IN MIDWEST
Yesterday, September 6, was V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian’s final day at
the Prelacy offices in New York City, where he has been serving in the
religious education department for the past year. The Prelate, Vicar, and
staff members enjoyed a luncheon together with expressions of good wishes
and prayers for Fr. Daniel who will begin his ministry to St. Hagop Church
in Racine, Wisconsin and St. Paul Church in Waukegan, Illinois.
Besides working in the Christian education department, Fr. Daniel served
as interim priest at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, as well as visiting priest
to other parishes. For several weeks during the summer Hayr Sourp was at
Camp Haiastan in Franklin, Massachusetts, where he assisted in the
educational program for campers, especially in religious education.
Godspeed, Hayr Sourp.
VICAR WILL TRAVEL TO RACINE THIS WEEKEND
Bishop Anoushavan, the Vicar General, will travel to Racine, Wisconsin,
this weekend where he will introduce V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian to the
congregation of St. Hagop Church. Joining the Vicar will be the chairman of
the Prelacy’s Executive Council, Jack Mardoian. Hayr Daniel will begin his
service as pastor of St. Hagop Church and St. Paul Church in Waukegan,
Illinois. Hayr Daniel will officiate over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at
St. Hagop Church.
AREC DIRECTOR WILL LEAD RETREAT
Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education
Council, will lead a retreat for the Sunday School teachers and staff of St.
Gregory the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September
22-23, 2006. The theme of the retreat is “Nurturing Faith.”
NEW SERIES OF BIBLE STUDY AT PRELACY
An eight-session course on the “Letter to the Hebrews” will start on
Monday, October 2, 2006, at the Prelacy from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm, and will
continue to be held on the first and third Mondays of the month. Sponsored
by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the course will be
conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of AREC.
The Letter to the Hebrews is a profound written homily, a “word of
exhortation” (Hebrews 13:22). One of the main themes of the Letter is that
the old covenant has been superseded through the sacrificial death of
Christ. And for that reason, studying the Letter to the Hebrews will give
the participants a solid biblical understanding of the “Soorp Badarak” (Holy
Sacrifice) that we celebrate on Sundays.
Registration is required (suggested donation: $25). For registration and
information, please call 212-689-7810 or e mail at [email protected].
QUARTER OF MILLION IS ALLOCATED TO SCHOOLS IN LEBANON
FROM KHATCHIG BABIKIAN FUND
The recently established “Khachig Babikian Fund,” of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia will donate $250,000 to the Armenian national schools in Lebanon.
In making the announcement, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, said: “As we had previously announced, the yearly income
of this fund will be used for educational, cultural, social and publishing
projects. However, considering the hardships created in Lebanon as a
consequence of the recent war, we decided to grant the largest part of the
fund’s allocation this year to our schools. We believe this is a wise
decision considering the importance of the Armenian school in the life of
the community.”
We remind readers that the Prelacy continues to accept donations for
Lebanese aid. Checks payable to Armenian Prelacy can be mailed to 138 E.
39th Street, New York, New York 10016.
FIRST MEETING OF NEW WCC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The first meeting of the new WCC Central Committee began last week, on
August 30 in Geneva and is scheduled to end today. Attending on behalf of
the Armenian Church are: Bishop Nareg Alemezian and Dr. Nora Bairakdarian,
representing the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and Bishop Vicken Aikazian and
Paula Devedjian on behalf of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.
CATHOLICOS ARAM I RECEIVES U.S. AMBASSADOR
The Ambassador of the United States to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, visited
His Holiness Aram I at the Catholicos’s summer residence in Bikfaya,
Lebanon, on August 30. The Ambassador and His Holiness discussed the
post-war efforts of the various Lebanese communities and the peace process.
WHITINSVILLE PARISH FEATURED
The local newspaper, Blackstone Tribune, printed an extensive feature
article on the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony and picnic of Sts.
Aasvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, with many photographs,
including a beautiful color photo on page one showing the blessing of grapes
ceremony led by Archbishop Oshagan, assisted by the parish’s priest, Rev.
Fr. Aram Stepanian, and clergy from area Prelacy churches including Rev. Fr.
Gomidas Baghsarian (Providence), Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian (Watertown), Rev.
Fr. Khachadour Boghossian (Worcester), Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian (North
Andover). The article’s focus was on the many young people who attended and
participated in the services and the picnic that followed.
SAVE THE DATE: CHILDREN’S CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 18
With the extraordinary success of the Prelacy’s Children’s Concert two
years ago, another concert for children will take place on Saturday
afternoon, November 18, at Florence Gould Hall, at the Alliance Francaise in
New York City, featuring the talented and popular TALINE AND FRIENDS, from
California.
SPEAKING OF CONCERTS..
Speaking of concerts, a number of events are scheduled in the coming days
in New York featuring Armenian artists.
Sunday, September 17, a concert in celebration of the 15th anniversary of
the Republic of Armenia, will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at 7 pm.
“Now and Then: Music in Armenia after Khatchaturian,” will feature a number
of well known musicians including Sahan Arzruni, Kim Kashkashian, Andre
Emelianoff, Shushi Dance Ensemble, and others, performing the works of
composers after Khatchaturian. Tickets ($25 each) available through the
Prelacy are sold out, but you can contact the box office at 212-501-3330.
Datevik Hovanessian and her trio are taking part in the “2nd Annual Diet
Coke Women in Jazz Festival,” at Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Monday,
September 18, 7:30 pm, at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at the Time Warner Center
in New York, Broadway at 60th Street. For information and reservations go to
, or 212-258-9595.
On Monday, September 18, and Tuesday, September 19, the internationally
known and loved Charles Aznavour will perform at Radio City Music Hall, 8
pm, as part of his worldwide “Farewell Tour.” Aznavour’s shows are always
first-rate. If you have never seen him perform in person, do it now.
Tickets, 212-307-7171.
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Tomorrow, Friday, September 8, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast
of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to tradition, Joachim
and Anna were faithful and pious, waiting for the promised messiah. They
were elderly and childless. They prayed to God for a child and were blessed
with a child who would become the Mother of the Messiah.
THE COUNCIL OF NICAEA
On Saturday, September 9, the Armenian Church celebrates the First
Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in Asia Minor in the year 325 and the 318
Church Fathers who attended. The Council was called by Emperor Constantine.
The Armenian Church participated in this Council and contributed toward the
victory of Orthodoxy. The Council is mentioned in the historical writings of
Moses of Khoren and Agathangelos. In later centuries and in all their
doctrinal writings, the Fathers of the Armenian Church referred to the
Council of Nicaea with veneration and the Nicene Creed was incorporated into
the Armenian Liturgy.
FAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, September 10, begins the Fast (Barekentan) leading to the
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachveratz), which is a week
from Sunday, September 17. Because this is a Great or Tabernacle Feast, it
is preceded by a week (Monday to Friday) of fasting.
FIVE YEARS AGO.
Monday, September 11, is the fifth anniversary of the attacks in New
York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Five years later the memories are of
lives lost and lives changed. Also of lives spared.
No matter what, those of us who did not lose a loved one on that day can
never imagine the pain of those who did. We experienced a taste of that
impending terror of loss on that day. Our niece and a cousin worked at the
World Trade Center in New York and when we watched the towers come down we
feared the worst. The hours of uncertainty, with no means of communication,
heightened our fears, but indicative of human behavior, we hoped and prayed
for salvation. When we finally received word that both had exited Tower Two
moments before it collapsed and were safe, our happiness was muted by the
knowledge that thousands of people did not escape and died that day in a
death that can only be described as senseless and evil. Five years later the
same questions abound as we contemplate a world vastly different than before
9/11.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 10-Sts. Vartanantz Sunday School, Ridgefield, New Jersey, luncheon
and registration for the 2006-2007 school year.
September 10-Annual picnic of St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.
September 10-Annual picnic of St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack
Valley, at the American Legion grounds in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
September 10-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Sunday School classes resume.
September 15-2nd Annual Golf Outing of All Saints Church, at Hilldale Golf
Club, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. For reservations and/or information,
847-858-7685.
September 17-Sunday School registration and fellowship, Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, following the Divine
Liturgy.
September 17-First Annual Lobster Fest, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-482-9200.
September 17-Annual Picnic, St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, on the
church grounds, following church services and the blessing of Basil. For
information: 718-224-2275.
September 18-11th Annual ACEC/School golf outing at Stow Acres Country Club,
Stow, Massachusetts. For information, 781-326-5764.
September 22-Family Night at St. Gregory Armenian Church of Merrimack
Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, 6 pm at Jaffarian Hall.
September 22-23-Retreat, “Nurturing Faith,” for Sunday School teachers and
staff of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 25-Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts, 3rd Annual Golf Outing and Award Dinner at Raceway Golf
Course, Thompson, Connecticut. Registration 7:30 a.m. For information
508-872-9629 or church office 508-852-2414.
September 25-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Third Annual Golf Outing. For information, 215-482-9200.
September 28-4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.
October 1-Banquet honoring Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian on the occasion of
his recent elevation, at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York, 3
pm. Details will follow.
October 2-New eight-session Bible study on the “Letter to the Hebrews”
begins at the Prelacy, 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm, first and third Mondays of the
month, sponsored by AREC. Conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian. For information:
212-689-7810.
October 8-81st anniversary celebration of St. Stephen Church, New Britain,
Connecticut.
October 19-22-Annual bazaar, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland.
October 22-Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.
November 3-4- Ladies Guild Food Festival, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
November 3, 4, 5-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Annual
Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.
November 5-Annual bazaar, St. Stephen Church, New Britain, Connecticut.
November 5-36th Anniversary Luncheon and program, St. Gregory Armenian
Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts.
November 10-12-Mini Datev program for teens, ages 13 to 18. At Colombiere
Retreat Conference Center in Clarkston, Michigan.
November 11-42nd Anniversary of Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, in
the church hall.
November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian Fest” at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
November 17 & 18-Annual Bazaar, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church,
Worcester, Massachusetts.
November 18-Children’s Concert, GIVING THANKS, sponsored by the Eastern
Prelacy at Florence Gould Hall, Alliance Francaise, New York City, featuring
TALINE AND FRIENDS. Details will follow.
November 26-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
First Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Visit our website at

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2006
Azeri Ambassador to Russia made note to Russian Foreign Ministry
Source: Trend
Author: S.Agayeva
07.09.2006
Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu made a note to
the Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation, head of the information
and press department of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Tahir Tagizade
told Trend.
According to him, the note reflects concern and disagreement of
Azerbaijan side with the fact that on September 2, the 15th anniversary
of the independence of the unrecognized separatist regime in occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was broadcasted in “Vesti”
program of “Rossiya” TV channel.
It in stated in the note that its demonstration with the state
television is contrary to the signed bilateral agreements, doesn’t
correspond with the principles of neutrality of co-chairmanship of
Russia in OSCE Minsk Group and brings harms to the relations between
Azerbaijan and Russia. Taking into consideration the seriousness of
the problem, it was required to take relevant measures for preventing
such facts.

ARMENIAN PAPER CRITICAL OF RUSSIAN MP’S INITIATIVE ON CIS BREAKAWAY REGIONS
Armenian newspaper 168 Zham, Yerevan
7 Sep 06
Text of Armen Bagdasaryan’s report by Armenian newspaper 168 Zham
on 7 September headlined “‘Deputy commander for political affairs’
of the outpost”
Yesterday [6 September] the number of “great friends of the Armenian
nation” has increased. The deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma,
Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, said in Moscow that referendums should be
held in the post-Soviet unrecognized states: Dniester, South Ossetia,
Abkhazia and Karabakh and those states should become independent. But
do not think that Zhirinovskiy is a holy man as five minutes later
he said that it would be better if the unrecognized states join
Russia. Generally speaking, he thinks that all former Soviet republics
should also join Russia so that to live better.
They say in Russia: “What the authorities think, Zhirinovskiy
says.” What he said was really painful for us as it showed real
traditional politics of Russia towards Armenia.
Let us explain. Abkhazia is striving to become independent from Georgia
and there is impression that it would not be against unification
with Russia.
South Ossetia also wants to join Russia as it intends to unite with
Russia’s North Ossetia. The Dniester region is not an ethnic entity
as Russians and Ukrainians live there jointly, and they simply do not
want to remain within Moldova. It is no secret that in all these three
conflicts Russia has secretly supported the unrecognized republics.
The situation is absolutely different in case of Karabakh. Here there
is an independent state: the Republic of Armenia (which incidentally
does not border Russia). It is not clear why the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh
republic] should fight for the secession from a foreign state and
join another foreign state where more Armenians have been killed
over the recent several months than during the liberation of Shushi
[fighting over the Karabakh town of Shushi in 1992].
The most funny thing is that the Russian traditional political
establishment thinks that we are simply softies. The reality is that
Russia has interfered in Karabakh’s destiny three times (during the
rule of tsars, in Soviet times and nowadays), and all three times
the problem was settled in favour of Azerbaijan. Russia, in fact,
only verbally is our “strategic partner”, but in reality it treats
Armenia as a slave: it closes roads when it likes, takes what it
wants for debt and so on.
As for the unsettled conflicts, it is evident that here Russia plays a
serious role as well. The point is that a settlement of the post-Soviet
conflicts, including Karabakh, is not beneficial for Russia. If
the Karabakh conflict is settled, Armenia will get rid of Russia’s
influence and will stop being Russia’s outpost. For this reason it is
clear that Russia should do its best that the conflict is not settled.
But they in Russia already see that Armenians have already started
realizing this. They see that two simultaneous processes go on
in Armenia: anti-Russian mood is growing and processes around the
Karabakh settlement are becoming more active. How to stop that? This
is what Vladimir Volfovich [Zhirinovskiy] said in this regard: “What
compromise is all this about? Never. They are your historical lands
including [Azerbaijani exclave of] Naxcivan. Do not agree to anything,
we are with you.”
We have already seen several times what their “we are with
you” means. As a rule, not a single Armenian remains on these
territories. Instead, patriotic spirit grows certainly in accordance
with the slogan “forever with the Russian people”.

MEPS BACK ARMENIA GENOCIDE CLAUSE IN TURKEY REPORT
By Lucia Kubosova
EUobserver.com, Belgium
Sept 5 2006
EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG – Turkey should recognize the Armenian
genocide as a condition for its EU accession, MEPs argue in a highly
critical report adopted by a broad majority in Strasbourg on Monday
(4 September).
The parliamentarians in the foreign affairs committee strongly
criticised Turkey’s slow pace on reforms and urged clear progress in
solving the Cyprus issue.
They stressed that the next step in the country’s membership talks
“will have to depend” on its pre-accession talks committments
“including a comprehensive settlement of border disputes and a
comprehensive settlement regarding Cyprus.”
The report by Dutch centre-right MEP Camiel Eurlings sparked a huge
discussion in the prominent committee with over 300 amendments filed,
but deputies from the biggest groups reached a compromise with a
slightly less strict wording on several issues ahead of yesterday’s
vote.
The re-drafted document – to be voted on in plenary three weeks from
now – highlighted some positive aspects of Turkey’s performance en
route to the EU – such as opening the first chapter of EU legislation,
introducing new laws to fight corruption and broadcasting in Kurdish.
However, it insisted on “persistent shortcomings” in sensitive areas
such as freedom of expression, religious, minority and women’s rights
as well as civil-military relations.
“We could see a clear delay of reforms in Turkey which was reflected
in the report – I hope the Turkish authorities will now take our
message on board,” Mr Eurlings told EUobserver after the vote.
“We wouldn’t help the country by hiding the truth,” he added.
Some deputies expressed their concerns over the impact of the strong
language in the parliament’s annual evaluation – ahead of the European
Commission’s report on Ankara due on 24 October.
“Being a hero in Strasbourg is easy but will this report as it is
written actually help Turkey’s real reformers? No, it will make their
life and work harder,” argued German Green deputy Cem Ozdemir.
Armenia divisive Dutch Socialist member Jan Marinus Wiersma commented
that a compromise text backed by the committee “is more positive than
the original proposal, but I’m afraid that the call for recognition
of genocide of Armenians will attract the most attention in Turkey.”
“This issue has so far not been specified as one of the formal criteria
so to suggest that it is a ‘prerequisite’ for Turkey’s accession is
bound to spark controversy,” he added.
British liberal deputy Andrew Duff also criticised the suggestion –
filed by the Belgian socialist MEP Veronique de Keyser – as “very bad,
uniting the far right and far left forces in the parliament.”
He also pointed out that the parliament’s foreign affairs committee
should have expressed “greater appreciation of Turkey’s contribution
to the foreign policy and security initiatives that the EU is also
involved in.”
Turkey’s parliament is set to vote on Tuesday on the government’s
proposal to send troops to Lebanon as part of the UN peace-keeping
force, with prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging deputies to
join European countries in the mission.

S.SARGSYAN: PEACE SETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES NOT EXHAUSTED YET
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.09.2006 18:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the National Security Council
at the Armenian President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with
US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Spokesperson for the Armenian
MOD Head, Col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net.
During the meeting, thanking Ambassador Evans for his service,
Sargsyan noted that within the past two years Armenian-American
relations strengthened considerably.
He also expressed confidence that cooperation between Armenia and the
US will develop by the new leader of the US diplomatic mission. In his
turn J. Evans frankly thanked Armenian MOD Head and all the Ministry
personnel for productive defense cooperation.
Touching upon the Karabakh settlement, Serge Sargsyan appreciated the
role of the OSCE MG co-chairs and said he was sure opportunities for
peaceful settlement of the issue are not exhausted yet.