Author: Khondkarian Raffi

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

December 7, 2009

___________________________________________

ST. LEON PARISH OF FAIR LAWN, NJ, CELEBRATES PASTOR’S MILESTONES

Thanksgiving weekend was especially festive this year at St. Leon Armenian
Church in Fair Lawn, N.J., where hundreds of parishioners gathered to
celebrate their pastor’s 50th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his
service to the parish on Sunday, November 29.

The day’s honoree, the Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), delivered the homily.

Archbishop Barsamian spoke about the "deep roots of giving thanks to God in
the Armenian Christian heritage." From the hymns of daily services to the
prayers offered before and after meals, to the Divine Liturgy itself,
Armenian faithful are always reminded of Christ’s sacrifice for mankind,
which is "our greatest reason for thanksgiving," the Primate said.

"As a nation, we are grateful to God for that gift of salvation, which was
brought to us by the two Apostles of Christ, and we are grateful that we are
able to continue our spiritual traditions from one generation to another,
especially through the leadership of Armenian clergy," Archbishop Barsamian
said.

"Here in our Diocese we have dedicated clergy," the Primate said, "and today
we are gathered to celebrate one such servant of God: Fr. Diran Bohajian."

‘Testimony of love’

Following services, a luncheon was held to recognize Fr. Bohajian for his
contributions to the parish. Some 500 people gathered for the event, which
was so popular it spurred a waiting list and organizers said they had to
relocate the program from the church hall to the parish’s new gymnasium.

Greeting guests in the lobby of the Education and Recreation Center was a
slide show of photographs highlighting milestones in Fr. Bohajian’s life.
The presentation was compiled by his daughter, Anastasia.

Inside the gymnasium, event co-chairs Diane Dadekian and Margaret Ajamian
set up food stations offering international fare, including parish-made
Armenian delicacies, as well as Italian and Asian courses. With no assigned
seating, guests were encouraged to move from table to table, meet new
people, and share conversation.

Throughout the afternoon, representatives of various parish organizations –
ranging from the Women’s Guild and the Men’s Fellowship to the ACYOA and the
choir – spoke about Fr. Bohajian’s work at St. Leon Church and presented him
with affectionate gifts, including basketball jerseys, and a chain with the
Armenian letter "Dyoon" for "Der Hayr" and the number "50" marking Fr.
Bohajian’s milestone birthday.

"Those speakers were so endearing, and said such wonderful things about Der
Hayr," Margaret Ajamian said. "Everybody loves him. He’s such a great leader
– very strong-willed but diplomatic."

On behalf of the parish, Fr. Bohajian also received a pectoral cross, which
was engraved for the occasion. The church’s senior deacon, Charles Pinajian,
gave remarks, as did parish council chair Glenn Ajamian, and others from the
community. A number of letters also were read from those who could not
attend the event.

"I was very surprised by the turnout," Fr. Bohajian said. "To me it’s a
testimony of the love they have for the church."

Archbishop Barsamian – who ordained Richard Bohajian to the priesthood in
1993, and gave him the priestly name Diran – offered blessings and good
wishes to Fr. Bohajian and Yn. Kismet, and to their three children:
Anastasia, Richard, and Aram.

"I’m very thankful and very appreciative that Srpazan was able to come," Fr.
Bohajian said. "He’s my spiritual father.and for him to be able to take the
time out to worship with us, to offer a homily, and then to spend time with
us was special."

‘A family-oriented parish’

A native of New Jersey, Fr. Bohajian grew up in Fort Lee and attended Holy
Cross Armenian Church of Union City with his family, where he served on the
altar, played on the church basketball team, and was active in the local
ACYOA.

He studied history and philosophy at New Jersey City University, and went on
to earn a Master of Divinity Degree from St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
Following his graduation from St. Nersess in 1991, Fr. Bohajian completed
coursework at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and later assumed the
position of deacon-in-charge at St. Stepanos Armenian Church of Elberon,
N.J.

In 1993, Fr. Bohajian was ordained to the priesthood at St. Stepanos Church.
He continued serving the parish until the fall of 1999, when he became
pastor of St. Leon Church. Parishioners from the St. Stepanos Church, many
of whom keep in touch with Fr. Bohajian, attended last month’s celebration.

Fr. Bohajian "heard God’s call and responded to that call," the Primate
said. "He is dedicated, humble, committed, and loved by everyone in the
parish because he loves his flock."

At St. Leon Church, a growing parish in a burgeoning New Jersey suburb, Fr.
Bohajian has helped strengthen programs for families, building on existing
organizations and introducing new initiatives, such as the Lenten Lecture
Series and an ACYOA Seniors chapter.

He says the most important aspect of his ministry is "bringing people back
to Christ" by helping them "become engaged in the life of the church." That
means spending time praying with families, attending wedding receptions and
memorial meals, and calling to ask about a soccer game or a graduation
ceremony.

"We’re all priests, but we’re not all pastors," he said. "I try to make it
personal, and I try to reach out to people and make them feel as welcomed as
possible."

With more Armenian families moving into the area, the parish continues to
expand. Last year, the community gathered to dedicate its new, two-story
Education and Recreation Center, which is comprised of the Charles and Grace
Pinajian Youth Center, George and Shakae Shahinian Gymnasium, and the Sarkis
and Siran Gabrellian Educational Building.

"Our parish has really grown since he’s been the pastor," Diane Dadekian
said. "It’s a family-oriented parish. We’re very active."

The community is also involved on a Diocesan level, with a number of its
members taking part on various Diocesan committees. Just a little over a
week before the November 29 celebration, Diane and Stephen Dadekian hosted
at their home a gathering for the 2009 Annual Appeal.

"I believe the parish will remain strong because we have a strong foundation
with our youth," Fr. Bohajian said. "The future is promising."

###

Photos attached (please credit Linda Harutunian).

Photo 1: Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, pastor of St. Leon Armenian Church, where
he has been serving for 10 years, turned 50 last month.

Photo 2: Rev. Fr. Diran and Yn. Kismet Bohajian at the celebratory luncheon
held in Fr. Bohajian’s honor in late November.

Schools, kindergartens and universities may close in Armenia for a week
05.12.2009 16:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We should follow recommendations of WHO and
immediately close institutions, including pre-schools to stop the
spread of influenza," said the chief infectiologist of Armenia Ara
Asoyan to a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

He submitted the proposal to the Minister of Health of Armenia, the
latter passed the proposal to the RA Government. According to the
chief infectiologist, educational institutions may be closed for a
week, time of flu incubation period. Then winter holidays start and
the situation with influenza would be less dangerous.

To date, the number of A/H1N1 (swine flu) cases confirmed in Armenia
hits 32, two people died as a result of complications of normal
seasonal influenza.

Remind that the swine flu main symptoms are: high temperature,
headache, muscle pain, cough, sore throat; vomitting and diarrhea are
also possible.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
Dec 5 2009

Turkey, the Mideast’s only real country

By Rami G. Khouri
Daily Star staff
Saturday, December 05, 2009

Every time I visit Turkey I ask myself what it is that makes me marvel
at the many political and economic developments that make the country
stand out as the most impressive in the greater Middle East. Watching
Turkey’s significant foreign policy initiatives these days to cement
good relations with its neighbors, I think I understand why: This is
the only country in the Middle East region that acts like a normal,
mature country.

Turkey’s mix of lively domestic politics, a dynamic social and
cultural life, and a strong and internationally expanding eco – nomy all
come together through the agency of a government that actually leads
by taking initiatives, but is also held accountable to the citizens
through regular polls. Turkey is the only country in the Mideast with
both a democratic domestic system and an activist foreign policy. It
is refreshing to witness this phenomenon in contrast with the largely
passive and often dysfunctional countries across the region.

The critical elements in Turkey’s success that others might learn from
strike me as three in particular: freedom of speech and association
that allow domestic politics to proceed in the direction defined by a
majority of the citizenry; civilian authority over the armed forces
and security agencies; and, pragmatic, humble realism in coming to
terms with the realities of a pluralistic society where minorities
demand rights that the majority should acknowledge.

Take some of this month’s leading stories, for example. An ongoing
investigation is looking into accusations that a group of armed
services senior officers plotted to overthrow the ruling government by
creating chaos in civil society. The media is covering daily the
questioning of the former officers.

Domestically, the political scene and its links to ethnic pluralism
remain vibrant, making Turkey one of the rare places in the region
where it is not possible to predict the outcome of the next polls.
Unlike the recent past when only the secular, nationalist Turkish
identity was allowed to manifest itself, today the country more
honestly addresses the reality of and the demand for equal rights and
opportunities by Turkish Kurds, Alawis and others.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has made significant overtures to the large Kurdish
minority. Whether or not this approach works will be determined
ultimately by the citizens, who sent a message in the local elections
earlier this year that they were not fully satisfied. There was a
decline in votes for the AKP and the number of municipalities it won,
reminding us that in a truly democratic system the party in power must
constantly respond to citizens’ needs and expectations ` or lose
power.

Turkey no longer attempts the childish sloganeering that Arab ruling
elites often use to try and depict all their citizens with a single
phrase that is more about forced compliance with regime dictates than
it is about responding to citizen rights. The healthy slippage the AKP
experienced in the polls confirms that Turkey is ruled by popular
will, rather than autocratic orders from a small band of rulers at the
top. Erdogan and the AKP will now have to reconsider their
unsuccessful strategy of appealing to nationalists, Kurds and the mild
Islamists who comprise the AKP’s base.

How refreshing to see a ruling party in a large Middle Eastern country
having to adjust its policies and rhetoric in response to citizen
votes!

Regionally, Turkey is also showing everyone else in the region how to
do foreign policy in a sensible way, by acknowledging realities (for
example, Kurdish autonomy in northern Iraq) and promoting stable
political relations on the back of growing economic ties.

As Soli Ozel, a professor of international relations at Istanbul Bilgi
University and a columnist for the daily Haberturk, explained to me,
Turkey in the past decade has taken advantage of developments
initiated by others (the war in Iraq, Arab-Israeli stalemates) to
reposition itself throughout the region, while it simultaneously kept
exploring stronger links with Europe. Once strained relations with
Syria, Iraq, Greece, Armenia, Iran and others slowly improved, often
hastened by mutual interests in the spheres of trade, water, energy
and security. This was a policy `based on the principle of zero
problems with the neighbors, designed to create zones of stability
around the country, avoid confrontation and prepare the conditions for
economic expansion,’ Ozel noted.

This required comprehensive peace in the region, which Turkey has
sought to advance by mediating and engaging where it could. Meanwhile,
Israel `appeared incapable of changing its ways and seriously trying
for a peaceful resolution of its conflict with the Palestinians,’ Ozel
added. The current cool relations between Turkey and Israel will
return to normal soon, but in a context in which Turkey has strong,
constructive ties with all other players in the region ` a sound
strategy that no other major power seems to have attempted.

p?edition_id=1&categ_id=5&article_id=10942 7

APA, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2009

Now Armenians claim for Azerbaijani-populated territories in Georgia

[ 05 Dec 2009 14:12 ]

Tbilisi. Nizami Mammadzadeh ` APA. 14 public organizations of Armenia
appealed to President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, demanded
to get back northern Lori province from Georgia and stop demarcation
between the northern and southern Lori.

APA’s Georgia bureau reports that Georgian media writes about it.
According to the appeal, Armenia-Georgia border passing through the
territory of Lori was determined by the USSR without taking into
consideration Armenia’s interests.
`The real border passes through the Khram river and this is based on
the legal decision of the Paris conference, 1920.’

Armenian organizations demand official Yerevan to pay attention to the
protection of the rights of Armenian population of the northern Lori,
restore historical, legal justice and start methodical work in this
field. The appeal says that for centuries Lori had been one of the
main centers of Armenian culture and national identity, had been
inseparable till the political and demographic changes of the 20th
century.

It should be mentioned that Azerbaijanis had lived in the territories
lying to the Khram river for centuries. The historical castles,
cultural monuments in the villages prove that it has always been the
native land of the Azerbaijanis. Armenians has only 3-4 villages,
while Azerbaijanis 29 villages near the bank of the Khram river.
Gushchu, Gasimli, Sadakhli, Gachagan, Ashagi and Yuhari Saral villages
are among them.

SAMVEL KHACHATRYAN: OUR WEIGHTLIFTERS HAD EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.12.2009 16:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President of Armenian Weightlifting Federation
Samvel Khachatryan Friday summed up the results of Goyang World
Championship. Armenian sportsmen have returned from competitions with
12 gold medals.

Out of the 135 medals won this year, 69 belong to Armenian
weightlifters, he said.

The World Champion will get prize in the amount of AMD 5 million,
and the female team coach and winner’s personal coach will get AMD
2.5 million presidential prize. "But that is not yet all. There will
also be awards from the President of National Olympic Committee. Other
prize winners will also get awards," Samvel Khachatryan said.

On November 27, 2008, Europe 2009 solver prize winner Nazik Avdalyan
(w.c. 69 kg.) won a gold medal in Goyang International Championship.

All in all, Armenian female weightlifter brought 3 gold medals
to Armenia.

As a result of clean and jerk exercise, Nazik Avdalyan lifted 266 kg.

weigh (119 kg. in jerk exercise and 147 kg. -in push exercise).

ILIA II PROMISES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH STATUS IN GEORGIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.12.2009 19:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II
has received Armenian Ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanyan and
AAC Georgian Eparchy Primate, bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan. During
the meeting, parties dwelled on AAC status in Georgia, ownership
over Armenian churches and monuments, as well as preservation and
maintenance of Armenian historical-cultural heritage.

Georgian religious leader promised to provide adequate solution to the
problems above, stressing the role of century-old Armenian-Georgian
relations. He also expressed willingness to visit Armenia in the
near future and meet with Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness
Karekin II.

ANTI-XENOPHOBIA PROJECT IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2009 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A project involving creation of documentaries
on genocide, mass violence, pogroms and banishment, Armenians were
subjected in Azerbaijan and Karabakh during 1988-1992, is implemented
in Armenia.

As PanARMENIAN.Net reporter was informed at presidential center for
information and public relations, the project aims to promote the
struggle against xenophobia.

The films will draw on documents, archive and video materials,
eye-witness accounts and press publications. Documentaries, portraying
Sumgait, Kirovabad, Baku pogroms, Operation Ring, Khojalu events
and the fate of war prisoners and hostages in Karabakh war, will be
translated into English and Russian, screened on TV, distributed via
internet and CDs.

The premier is scheduled for the next year, on 20th anniversary of
Azerbaijan Armenian’s tragedy.

ARMENIAN AND BELARUSIAN FMS DISCUSSED BILATERAL RELATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2009 18:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During his visit to Athens, Armenian FM Edward
Nalbandyanmet with his Belarusian counterpart Sergey Martynov. Parties
discussed the agreement between Armenian and Belarusian Presidents,
as well as several regional and international issues.

Armenian top diplomat also had meeting with ARFD Committee Leaders
of Greece. Karabakh settlement process and Armenian-Turkish dialogue
were in the focus of discussions, RA MFA press service reports.

VISIT OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER HOVIK ABRAHAMIAN TO REPUBLIC OF KOREA BEGINS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 2, 2009

SEOUL, DECEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The official visit of the delegation
headed by Speaker of the RA National Assembly Hovik Abrahamian to the
Republic of Korea began on December 2. The delegation is composed
of Head of the National Assembly Staff Gegham Gharibjanian, NA
deputies Hovhannes Margarian (Orinats Yerkir party), Armen Abrahamian
(Prosperous Armenia party), and Ara Nranian (ARF).

At the meeting with Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Chung
Un-chan, H. Abrahamian stated that Armenia attaches great importance
to the development of bilateral relations with leading countries in
the Asian region, in this context considering it necessary to expand
cooperation with the Republic of Korea. He underlined the importance
of more active contacts between the parliaments of the two countries
in terms of further deepening and expansion of bilateral interstate
cooperation, expressing confidence that there is much potential
for promotion of relations between Armenia and Korea. H. Abrahamian
stressed the necessity of collaboration in trade, economy, science,
education, culture, agriculture and other sectors. He stated with
satisfaction that some progress has been observed in bilateral trade
and economic links in recent years, but most of the commodity turnover
between Armenia and South Korea is still done through third countries.

In this connection the significant role of direct contacts was
pointed out.

H. Abrahamian said Armenia is interested in developing its IT industry,
and given Korea’s achievements in this sector, he proposed establishing
cooperation in this direction as well. The cooperation with GT Group,
one of the biggest private companies in South Korea, was mentioned
as an example of successful partnership.

Chung Un-chan in his turn said that since 1992 when diplomatic
relations were established between the Republic of Armenia and the
Republic of Korea, the speaker of the RA National Assembly is the
first high-ranking Armenian official to pay an official visit to
Korea. The Korean prime minister gave priority to the development of
cooperation in such fields as education, culture and science.

The sides also discussed the ways of overcoming the global crisis, the
implementation of joint projects, and other issues of mutual interest.

According to the RA National Assembly Public Relations Department,
on the same day the delegation headed by Hovik Abrahamian went to
Samsung Electronics whose director general informed the members of
Armenia’s parliamentary delegation about the latest achievements of
their company.

ARMENIA TO RECEIVE 19 MILLION EUR TO FIGHT AIDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.12.2009 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS, has secured 19 million EUR for Armenia over the course of
six years for its fight against the virus, said UNAIDS South Caucasus
Representative Manoela Grozdanova told a press conference on the World
AIDS Day. Starting from 2010 Armenia will receive funds allocated by
the Global Fund to fight HIV and AIDS.

According to Manoela Grozdanova, the funds will support work state
agencies have committed to carry out. UN Member States, including
Armenia, adopted the 2001 UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS,
which became the first global program on activities related to HIV
response.

Armenian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan in
his speech noted the huge damage HIV virus causes and the importance
of measures to combat it.

The conference was attended by representatives of organizations
concerned with protecting the rights of people living with HIV.

"On the Day to fight AIDS let’s protect rights of people living
with HIV and those who are at risk of disease, as well as children
living in families with HIV. And most importantly, let’s act now,"
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed in his message.