Author: Karapetian Hovik

BANK VTB, BANK VTB (ARMENIA), ELECTRIC NETWORKS OF ARMENIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON LONG-TERM COOPERATION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2007

YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Bank VTB OJSC, Bank VTB (Armenia) CJSC and
Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC signed an agreement on long-term
cooperation in financing the projects of Electric Networks of Armenia
CJSC. The aim of the agreement is to develop competitive investment
and banking business.

The President of Bank VTB OJSC Andrey Kostin pointed out that
the cooperation is to be developed in the following directions:
financing of the investments of Electric Networks in the territory of
Armenia under the investment program approved by the Public Services
Regulating Commission of Armenia (5-8 years, with $70mln total volume
of financing), financing the circulating capital of Electric Networks
for a year period, as well as joint development and discussion of the
programs on providing complete improved package of banking services
to Electric Networks and its counteragents.

Under the agreement, Bank VTB OJSC will render methodological
assistance to Bank VTB (Armenia) CJSC. The banks will jointly develop
a mechanism for financing of the above projects of Electric Networks.

Bank VTB (Armenia) CJSC (Armsberbank before) was founded in 1923. Up to
1993 it was a member of the State Sberbank of USSR, and then it became
a specialized Sberbank of Armenia. In 2001, the bank was privatized as
Armsberbank through direct purchase by ARCH Limited (Bagamian Islands)
and MIKA Armenia Trading. In April 2004 the Russian Vneshtorgbank
purchased 70% of the shares of Armsberbank.

According to the official balance sheet data, as of March 31 2007
the total capital of Bank VTB (Armenia) made AMD9.5bln, total assets
AMD43.6bln, balance sheet profit AMD 1.6bln and the profit by the
end of 1st quarter 2007 made AMD160.2mln. By today the bank had
94 branches.

INTER RAO EES Russian company holds 100% of the shares of Electric
Networks of Armenia. The main activity of Electric Networks is
regulated distribution and sales of electricity. The company serves
approximately 913,000 consumers.

‘FORGING A NEW PERCEPTION OF ART AND ITS FUNCTION’ – JACK PERSEKIAN
By Kaelen Wilson-Goldie

Daily Star – Lebanon,
June 14 2007

Prolific curator of Sharjah Biennial argues for a more complex
engagement with state-funded event

INTERVIEW INSIDE ART

BEIRUT: The following interview is the second in a series for which
The Daily Star will periodically seek out and sit down with various
established cultural figures who work behind the scenes, provide a
vital link between artists and audiences and who are more often that
not the unsung heroes of their fields.

Jack Persekian is one of the hardest working curators in the Arab
world. Of Armenian descent, his family roots reach through generations
in East Jerusalem, where he was born and raised and where he is still,
to a certain extent, based. After studying in the United States and
a stint as an accountant, Persekian opened the Anadiel Gallery in
1992. In the wake of the Madrid conference, which suggested the
possibility of lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,
Persekian organized several exhibitions for artists working on either
side of one of the world’s most violent and protracted conflicts. Those
shows were "a conscious effort to find the means and ways to know ‘the
other’ and mitigate the effect of years of occupation and aggression,"
Persekian explains. The Anadiel Gallery also showed new works by such
internationally known artists as Jean-Marc Bustamante, Mona Hatoum,
Beat Streuli and Emily Jacir.

But when the peace process fell apart and the optimism of the early
1990s came to a quick and bitter end, the contemporary art scene in
East Jerusalem suffered along with everyone and everything else in
the region. Anadiel ceased to exist as a viable commercial entity.

Persekian turned his attention to the nonprofit sector and with
six others he set up the Al-Mamal Foundation for Contemporary Art
in 1998. Al-Mamal uses the old Anadiel space to host exhibitions,
film screenings, educational initiatives and workshops.

Persekian is also involved in a long-term project called CAMP
(for Contemporary Art Museum Palestine) that is building a permanent
collection of artworks for an as-yet unrealized institution. In theory,
CAMP will take up rotating residence in various museums throughout
the world until such a time when a permanent space for the museum
(presumably in some semblance of a permanent Palestinian state)
can be established.

But considering how confined and restricted his work in East Jerusalem
remains, Persekian is arguably better known for the exhibitions he
curates elsewhere, such as the "DisORIENTation" show at Berlin’s
House of World Cultures in 2003, and "Belonging," which fleshed out
the seventh edition of the Sharjah Biennial in 2005.

Over the past decade, international biennials have cropped up
everywhere. Critics as well as art-world insiders are beginning to
predict their imminent demise. With the global proliferation of more
lucrative art fairs, the biennial model is growing old and becoming
redundant.

To some, the Sharjah Biennial is a joke, the ultimate example of an
exhibition as public relations strategy, of artworks as the gloss on a
crass brand identity campaign. To others, it is an offense to artistic
freedom, and the contradictions inherent in presenting contemporary
art in an autocratic country are simply too much to bear. (The fact
that the biennial is wholly funded by the state elicits reactions
from would-be participants that range from queasy to furious.) But
to others still, the Sharjah Biennial is no longer a biennial at all
but rather a much-needed think tank and laboratory where critical
art practices can be tested out and explored.

At the end of Sharjah 7, Persekian made the unusual decision to
sign on as artistic director for Sharjah 8, which tackled the theme
"Still Life: Art, Ecology and the Politics of Change." Most likely, he
will stick around for Sharjah 9 as well. In the following interview,
conducted by email between numerous cities, Persekian discusses the
lessons he has learned and his plans for the future.

Q: Between the seventh and eighth editions of the Sharjah Biennial,
how have things changed?

A: The most important thing that changed was the time available to
prepare for the show. This allowed me to have an overall view of
the project – the exhibition, performances, production, symposium,
film program, publications, workshops – and to see all the elements
come together to serve the biennial’s goals. This also allowed
for a considerable increase in the number of commissioned works,
and special attention to artists from the Arab world. Compared to
the seventh edition, I had more time to fulfill several objectives,
such as going out of the two main exhibition venues to engage with
the city and reach out to the public.

Q:What lessons did you learn from Sharjah 7 that you were able to
apply to Sharjah 8?

A: I learned to network and collaborate with more institutions locally
and internationally. This has given the biennial a much larger base
and a wider scope. This has also enabled us to test our approach
to the theme not only within the boundaries of the art world but
with educational, cultural and governmental institutions as well as
the private sector. The biennial has been able to implicate several
entities in Sharjah … thus gradually digging its roots in society
and taking its place as a driving force for creativity, challenge
and education.

Q: How involved were you this time around and in what capacity?

A: I was partly involved in the selection and commissioning of artists,
especially artists from the Arab world. For the installation of works,
I was part of the team with three curators and an architect. Yet as
artistic director, I was always trying to make sure that there was
flow in the layout of the exhibition, and that works were visible
without infringing on others. I won’t deny that I interfered whenever
I saw a lack of representation in the selection of artists from a
certain region, particularly regions close to us, and I also won’t
deny that I interfered whenever I realized that there was too much
of the same approach in the artists’ proposals. I was looking for
varied perspectives on the theme. I was not trying to make a point
with the exhibition; I was interested in how all the different points
made up the bigger picture. Some interesting threads kind of weaved
certain patterns of thought and approach, bringing to the biennial
a colorful cohesion.

Q: How did you manage to pull off so many public projects this time,
when there were none last time?

A: It’s the time element that worked for me and for the biennial. I had
more time to engage the artists. Giving them the opportunity to visit
Sharjah and the site … facilitated a discussion and the articulation
and development of new ideas and propositions that materialized in
new commissions for the biennial. And if I’m around for the ninth
edition I will try to involve the artists over a longer period of
time with more resources dedicated to the production, less to the
number of commissions.

Q: Was there censorship? What areas or issues remain sensitive
or taboo?

A: Nudity has always been an issue, even though I could see some
artists pushing the limits. This is my second time around for the
biennial and I have never seen any official come around interfering
with what we present. But when the director, Hoor al-Qasimi, and I see
that there is something that might infringe on local sensitivities,
we have a discussion with the artist and leave it up to him or her
to decide how to deal with it.

Q: After working on two biennials in Sharjah, what role do you think
the event plays in the region?

A: The biennial is definitely forging a new perception of art and
its function, revisiting the artist’s place in society from being
relegated to the margins, the frill and the decorative to being
engaged with pressing issues and concerns and taking the position of
the intellectual, the critic and the avant-garde.

Q: In terms of the infrastructure for contemporary art in the Middle
East, what is still missing? People often say there are not enough
curators and not enough critics in the region. Do you agree? Has the
biennial been able to address any of these gaps, even if that falls
beyond the work of the biennial?

A: The problem, from my point of view, is that there aren’t sufficient
opportunities and resources in the Arab world for the production,
presentation and dissemination of art. Art in the Middle East is not
yet economically viable; hence at the current level of activity it
is not possible financially to sustain "enough curators" and "enough
critics." The infrastructure for art is being built gradually, and
there are more specialized people and supporting institutions than
there were 15 years ago when I started working in this field. The
biennial is one of these institutions doing just that.

Q: Will you be involved in Sharjah 9? What else are you working on now?

A: Most probably I will be involved. As for the other projects,
I’m working on "The Jerusalem Show" with Al-Mamal, an annual
exhibition that situates itself in the Old City of Jerusalem, and
two exhibitions in Sharjah, a group show for the participants in
the artist-in-residence program and the retrospective for Andreas
Gursky that is traveling to Sharjah from Munich. I am preparing two
exhibitions for 2008, one at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels
and the other a touring show in Spain.

MOURNFUL DATE
Alexander Azarian

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 13 2007

It has been fifteen years since an ancient Armenian region – Shahumian
– has been occupied.

Shahumian region – Nagorno-Karabagh’s integral part – was artificially
seized in 1923. Let’s again recall: in the course of a plenum of the
Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist
Party it was decided to include Nagorno-Karabagh in the territory
of Azerbaijan. It referred to the whole Nagorno-Karabagh, not only
to the five regions making Nagorno-Karabagh Autonomous Region, but
at the least fourteen more regions, including Shahumian. However, in
1923 Azerbaijani SSR limited the territory of the Nagorno-Karabagh’s
Armenian autonomy, hypocritically calling them "inhabited by
Armenians". For all this the regions inhabited solely by Armenian were
separated from the autonomy: Shahumian, Khanlar, Dashkesan (Karkhat),
Shamkhor, etc.

All these regions were put to pressure by the Azerbaijani leadership.

Their goal was to destroy Armenian villages or evict their population.

There is no necessity to write much about Azerbaijan’s political
urban development, which may serve as visual aids of misanthropy.

Shahumian region, situated next to Martakert and Khanlar regions,
had no automobile road connecting it with these regions.

Since the beginning of the Karabagh movement Azerbaijan blockaded
all the Armenian regions of Nagorno-Karabagh. Estranged from the
Armenian autonomy and Armenia, the Armenian regions fell, unable
to withstand the onslaught of the enemy’s superior forces. However,
Shahumian opposed.

The inhabitants of the Shahumian region unanimously decided to
require the reunification of Artsakh’s separated parts. September 2,
1991 Shahumian region became the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic’s integral
part by the will of its population and the decision of the deputies
of all levels, according to international law and the laws of USSR.

Infuriated with the failures of the plans of Armenians’ deportation,
Azerbaijan sent 23d division of the USSR aerial-landing troops against
the Shahumian region. The Soviet army dislodged the region’s defenders
from three villages and returned to Kirovabad, while the detachments
of pillagers from Azerbaijan People’s Front began playing the master
in the captured Armenian villages. However, the region’s defenders
organized lightning attack, making the enemy leave the battlefield.

However, Azerbaijan again turned to the 23d division and its mercenary
commander, colonel Budejkin. This time tens units of tanks and fighting
aviation was used against the region’s defenders, armed with machine
carbines. It became impossible to oppose, and the Armenian detachment
were drawing off, sheltering the population’s retirement.

Shahumian region fell. However, the spirit of a Shahumian man, who
has lived and created under the canopy of sublime Mrav for ages,
has not been broken. The enemy should know: we’ll be back. Wait a
little, Motherland!

CONGRESSMAN JOSEPH PITTS SUPPORTS RESOLUTION 106 ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 12 2007

LANCASTER, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Congressman
Joseph Pitts declared about supporting Resolution 106 on the Armenian
Genocide.

Thus, 8 Congressmen out of 19 from Pennsylvania signed under the bill.

The Resolution that has 199 supporters now was submitted to the
U.S. House of Representatives for consideration on January 30, 2007
by the Republican Adam Schiff, George Radanovich and the Co-chairmen
of the Congress Committee on the Armenian Issues Frank Pallone and
Joe Nollenberg.

Ara Chalian, leader of Armenian National Committee in Pennsylvania,
expressed his gratitude to Congressman Pitts for supporting the
Resolution and his hope that his step will encourage his partners in
Washington both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate so
as they ratify this bill of great significance. "It is very important
that our government recognizes, condemns and prevents the Genocide,
thus proving that we are sorry for the committed crime and appreciate
the values of life and human rights," declared A. Chalian.

About 700 people took part in the weekly rally of the three opposition
parties

ArmInfo
2007-06-08 21:34:00

A regular weekly rally of the bloc Impeachment and Republic and New
Times parties is taking place in the centre of Yerevan.

ArmInfo correspondent supposes that about 700 people are taking part in
the rally.

The leader of the Impeachment bloc, editor-in-chief of Haykakan
Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashinyan called today’s rally despite the number
of its participants a regular small victory on the way of the big one.

Opposition bloc Impeachment abandoned further participation in the
Constitutional Court hearings

ArmInfo
2007-06-08 09:09:00

Opposition bloc Impeachment abandoned further participation in the
Constitutional Court hearings. To
recall, hearings on the lawsuit of the New Times party, Republic,
Orinats Yerkir and Impeachment bloc, that demand recognizing the
results of the parliamentary election invalid, continue in the CC.

As the leader of the Impeachment bloc, editor-in-chief of Haykakan
Zhamank daily Nikol Pashinyan told ArmInfo correspondent they adopted a
decision to stop taking part in the hearings since today the CC
declined the regular motions of the Impeachment bloc.

OPINION OF MR. GHUKASYAN AND MR. OSKANYAN WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

Lragir.am
08-06-2007 12:13:49

"We had very open, honest and constructive discussions, talked about
expressions of optimism or pessimism," stated the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs, more exactly Matthew Bryza who hosted the news conference
after the meeting with the leadership of Armenia on June 7, because
the news conference was held at the U.S. Embassy to Armenia. When
I talk about optimism it reflects my personality, he said. "I don’t
mean by any means that we anticipate some huge breakthrough in Saint
Petersburg on Saturday." Bryza says his optimism is based on the
continuous meetings with the presidents and the foreign ministers
all through the year.

Bryza said the differences are narrowing between the sides but the
differences are still there. Therefore, the co-chairs are visiting in
the region to prepare the meeting of the ministers in Saint Petersburg
on June 9.

In Baku and in Yerevan we discussed points which the co-chairs think
the presidents need to focus on, and if they agree, the mediators
think, it will allow going on, Merzlyakov said. How many, when, we
cannot say because it is beyond us to evaluate. However, there is
possibility for progress, there is possibility for agreement on the
basic principles, Yuri Merzlyakov says, and Bryza nods approvingly.

The French co-chair Bernard Fassier reminds the recent statement of the
foreign ministers of G8 on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He
says the foreign ministers of G8 not only appreciated the work of the
OSCE Minsk Group but also described the proposals of the mediators
as sufficient to reach agreement on the basic principles. Fassier
says if the G8 agree that the proposals are satisfactory to reach for
agreement, it should be taken into consideration and they should work
towards it.

The second observation on what the co-chairs mean by a breakthrough:
the presidents of the two countries must be so confident of each
other and the balanced proposal on resolution as to feel confident
to propose to the foreign ministers together with experts to launch
drafting of the peace agreement, Bernard Fassier said.

In answer to the question what the co-chairs think that for Armenia
and Karabakh the status is primary Matthew Bryza said it is not a
surprise because the problem is the status in fact. Every side has its
primary issues, Matthew Bryza says. He says he is not surprised when
Arkady Ghukasyan and Vardan Oskanyan say the status is the primary
issue because it is the underlying problem. And in this process they
took into consideration that for these gentlemen and their publics
the status and security are primary, Bryza says.

ANCA WELCOME CHILEAN SENATE’S RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
URL:
Dat e: 08.06.2007 14:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
welcomed the Chilean Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and urging its government to support
a key 1985 United Nations Subcommission report properly describing
this crime against humanity as a clear instance of genocide.

"We join with Armenians in Chile, throughout South America, and around
the world in welcoming Chilean Senate’s recognition of the Armenian
Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

"The Chilean government’s principled stand further isolates Turkey and
shines the spotlight of international public opinion on the remaining
countries – the United States sadly among them – that insist upon
remaining complicit in Ankara’s shameful campaign of genocide denial,"
he said.

June 5 the Chilean government unanimously made a decision to condemn
the Armenian Genocide. The document reads, in part, "April 24, 1915
the Turkish government arrested and killed the leaders of the Armenian
people in Constantinople and thus initiated the policy of extermination
of the Armenian nation. In 1915-1923 some 1.5 million of Armenians,
who lived on their lands during centuries, were slaughtered. This
extermination is named the first "ethnic cleansing" of the 20th
century." ! Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited without
reference to Â"PanARMENIAN.NetÂ".

–Bounda ry_(ID_n8mH94Octy6vJW7uh+BYdA)–

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

June 5, 2007
___________________

ACYOA CELEBRATES GROWTH

This past year was a good one for the Armenian Church Youth Organization of
America (ACYOA), organization leaders said during the group’s General
Assembly, held Thursday to Friday, May 24 to 25, 2007, in Troy, Michigan.

In remarks to the 84 delegates gathered for the business sessions, ACYOA
leaders highlighted the addition of six new chapters, bringing the total
number of chapters to 19. They also remarked on the record number of young
people who have participated in ACYOA events in 2006, including a record
number of 75 who attended the ACYOA National Young Adult Leadership
Conference.

Many of those new chapters were making their first appearance at the ACYOA
General Assembly.

"It was great to see the new chapters take part in this year’s General
Assembly," said Central Council member Stan Sheridan of the St. Mesrob
Church of Racine, Wisconsin. "The ACYOA is growing and it was apparent when
I saw these new chapters come to life. All the young adults who
participated showed great leadership qualities and feel confident that the
ACYOA is moving in a positive direction."

But while more people are getting involved in the ACYOA, delegates heard
from speakers who stressed the need to get back to the basics in promoting
an understanding of Christian teachings. ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy
Basmajian spoke of the importance in increasing the attendance of young
Armenians at badarak.

"All young adult faithful need to be nourished by a few basic things:
participation in a loving and affirming faith community where they find
meaning and can respond to a call to serve; significant relationships in
which they are mentored and also mentor others; and finally the Church’s
unique and life-affirming sense of joy, recreation and celebration," she
told delegates. "In such ways, young adults not only discover who they are
as members of a particular Church family – the Armenian Church – but also
grow closer to the source of life itself, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

RETURN TO BASICS

In his remarks to the delegates, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Eastern Diocese, also spoke about the importance to return to the basics of
our Christian faith.

"For too many, the Church is seen as an institution, a social or even
cultural club – not the Body of Christ. This is at the heart of the
confusion about the Church and its role. Our members see the Armenian
Church as a cultural experience influenced by religion, rather than a
miraculous religious belief colored by our culture," the Primate said. "We
need to return to the basics and help build our families upon the most solid
foundation we could have – Jesus Christ."

The Primate’s remarks were followed by a discussion session in which youth
and clergy were divided into small groups led by various ACYOA Central
Council members. Their task was to share their feelings regarding what it
takes to create an Armenian Christian home in today’s society.

NEW CENTRAL COUNCIL

During the Assembly, delegates elected new members to the ACYOA Central
Council. On Saturday, May 26, 2007, those new members met to elect officers
for the next year. The new Central Council is Chair Johnny Elchemmas, Vice
Chair Ani Tovar, Secretary Sarine Zenian, Treasurer Alex Derderian,
Programming Coordinator Talin Hitik, Chapter Relations Coordinator Stan
Sheridan, and Public Relations Coordinator Danielle DerAsadourian.

"Following up such a strong year in the ACYOA, I am proud to be leading the
youth," Elchemmas said. "There was such a strong presence, not only at
General Assembly and Sports Weekend, but also at the badarak. The whole
church was full and most of the people were ACYOA members. When I turned
and saw the youth behind me in church, I was impressed and it proved to me
what an honor it is to be a member of the Armenian Church."

OTHER TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

During the Assembly, delegates also heard from a number of other interesting
individuals.

Fr. Khoren Kirakosyan, one of the guest clergy from Armenia touring the
Diocese, addressed the Assembly. He equated youth with vision and said that
a Church without youth is a Church without vision

Iveta Kosyan, a young artist from Armenia, shared experiences of her
ministry through art back in Armenia. She also spoke during an Insights
program on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Weekend, in which she showed a
DVD on "Witnessing Faith through Art in Armenia." More than 40 young people
attended that hour-long program.

Delegates also heard from Nancy Malkasian Banks, city clerk for the city of
Southfield, Michigan, and an ACYOA alumnus. She recalled her own
involvement in the ACYOA as a Central Council member, and told delegates
that the Assembly experience is first-hand leadership training. "Look around
at the people gathered in this room, because the relationships you form
while working with each other will last a lifetime," she told delegates.

Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, director of youth and vocations for St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary, joined by Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of the seminary,
spoke on the need for young people, especially men, to come forward and
serve the Church in ordained ministry.

Also speaking was Julie Hoplamazian, college ministry facilitator for the
Diocese. She spoke about her work with Armenian college students throughout
the Diocese and presented some interesting statistics on college students
and religion.

Jennifer Morris, coordinator of youth outreach for the Diocese, spoke about
the two Diocesan camps, St. Vartan and Hye Camp, calling for young people to
serve as counselors and instructors.

SPECIAL AWARDS, GUESTS

Every year at the Assembly, the Primate hosts a luncheon for the delegates
during which the ACYOA presents a number of awards to individuals and
chapters.

Recent St. Nersess Seminary graduate, and a former Central Council Chair,
Maria Derderian of the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church of Wynnewood,
Pennsylvania, received the Sam Nersessian Award, which is given to
individuals who display the Christian values of love, patience, humility,
and understanding.

Arda Paylan chair of the ACYOA Chapter at the St. James Church of Evanston,
Illinois, was presented with the Gregory Arpajian Award for her leadership
and service to the Armenian Church and community.

The "Chapter A" Award went to the ACYOA Chapter at the St. Mesrob Church of
Racine, Wisconsin. The award is presented each year to the best all-around
chapter.

The Fr. Haroutiun Dagley Award, given to a layperson who has exhibited
continued devotion to the youth of the Armenian Church, was presented to
Rosanne Manoogian-Attar of the St. John Church of Southfield, Michigan.

The Fr. Haigazoun Melkonian Award is presented each year to a clergyman in
recognition of his leadership, service, and dedicated efforts on behalf of
the youth. This year’s recipient was Fr. Karekin Kasparian, pastor of the
St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, New York.

The delegates were especially honored during the luncheon with the presence
of Mrs. Helen Mardigian. Along with her husband, the late Edward Mardigian,
she has been the major benefactor of the ACYOA, contributing more than
$200,000 to an Armenian Church Endowment Fund (ACEF) endowment fund
benefiting ACYOA.

When she was introduced by the Primate, she received a standing ovation
lasting several minutes. The Primate commended her and her late husband for
their commitment and devotion to youth and educational programs at the
Diocese.

"She understands the importance of our youth," the Primate said. "Both she
and her husband dedicated themselves years ago to making the youth a
priority. It is because of the family’s continued generosity that we have
seen the ACYOA grow in recent years. It is truly an exciting time for our
Church because we see our future is energized by the work of the ACYOA."

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

The delegates at the Assembly also conducted several business meetings.
During those sessions, they approved three notable proposals. One
authorized the ACYOA to conduct an essay contest this fall focused on the
theme: "Why I Belong to the Armenian Church."

In an effort to strengthen the historic Armenian community in the Holy Land,
delegates approved a proposal to donate $1,000 annual to the Patriarchate of
Jerusalem.

Delegates also authorized the Central Council to establish a committee to
review and make recommendations on changes to the ACYOA by-laws.

"There was a great presence of individuals from throughout the Diocese at
this year’s Assembly," said Danielle DerAsadrouain of the St. James Church
of Evanston, Illinois, who was elected to the Central Council during the
Assembly. "Their willingness to speak and share ideas really demonstrates
the number of youth who care about the ACYOA and our Church."

ASSEMBLY OFFICERS, PARTICIPATING CLERGY

Harry Kezelian from the host parish of the St. John Church of Southfield,
Michigan, was elected chair of the Assembly. Arpi Paylan, of the St. James
Church of Evanston, Illinois, was elected Assembly secretary.

Clergy attending the Assembly included Fr. Arakel Aljalian, Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Fr. Aren Jebejian,
Fr. Nersess Jebejian, Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Fr. Garabed Kochakian, Fr.
Haigazoun Najarian, Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, Dn. Vahe Hovsepian, Dn. Artak
Khachikyan, and Dn. Levon Kirakosyan. Also present, as guests of the
Eastern Diocese, were two clergymen from Etchmiadzin: Fr. Khoren Kirakosyan
and Fr. Adam Margaryan.

6/5/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Diocesan Vicar Fr. Haigazoun Najarian with the new ACYOA
Central Council.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Participants in the ACYOA General Assembly take part in
one of the workshops that took place form Thursday to Friday, May 24 to 25,
2007, in Troy, Michigan.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Harry Kezelian, from the host parish of the St. John
Church of Southfield, Michigan, serves as chair of the ACYOA General
Assembly.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): The Primate and members of the ACYOA Central Council
present Arda Paylan, chair of the ACYOA Chapter of the St. James Church of
Evanston, Illinois, with the Gregory Arpajian Award.

PHOTO CAPTION (5): The Primate and members of the ACYOA Central Council
present the "Chapter A" award to the ACYOA Chapter at the St. Mesrob Church
of Racine, Wisconsin.

PHOTO CAPTION (6): Iveta Kosyan, an artist from Armenia, shares her history
of using art in ministry during the Insights program, which was part of the
ACYOA Sports Weekend.

PHOTO CAPTION (7): Nancy Malkasian Banks, city clerk of the city of
Southfield, Michigan, and a former ACYOA member, speaks about the life-long
importance of ACYOA to the delegates at the ACYOA General Assembly, which
was hosted by the St. John Church of Southfield, Michigan, from May 24 to
25, 2007.

THE ADDRESSEE HASN’T GOT THE LETTER

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[05:43 pm] 04 June, 2007

"Flea market" employees gathered opposite the government building
June 4 to get an answer to their letter. They urge RA high-level
officials not to deprive them of daily bread.

To remind, on May 29 over 200 merchants were exiled from the flea
market adjacent to "Republic" sports field. A bulldozer leveled their
goods to the ground.

They were ordered to vacate the area as quickly as possible.

The Letter Department hasn’t delivered the letter to the Municipality
yet, Khachatur Sukiasyan, the head of the RoA Regional Administration
Department, said during the meeting with the strikers.

To the question whether the government will provide merchants with
temporary shelters before the matter finds a final solution, Khachatur
Sukiasyan answered, "Everything will be settled in due time. They
must be armed with patience."