Author: Khoyetsian Rose

LRAPER Church Bulletin
Contact: Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
[email protected]
THE PATRIARCH MEETS WITH HIS ADVISORS
On Wednesday evening, 22 June 2005, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, met with the members of the
Patriarchal Advisory Council. The meeting was chaired by one of the members
of the Council, Erol Seheryildizi.
During the meeting, there was discussion concerning the draft of the new law
on Foundations. The members of the Council also deliberated on the state of
the Gumusyan Foundation, and the foundations belonging to the Parish
Councils of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Kuzguncuk-Istanbul, of
Saint Giragos Church of Diyarbakir, of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of
Kayseri, and of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Kirikhan. Also
discussed were the activities of the Uskudar Semerciyan-Nersesyan Schools
Alumni Association, invitations to the Patriarch from Bulgaria and Iran, the
financial situation of the Patriarchate, and the restoration of the Aghtamar
Church on Lake Van.
In attendance at the meeting were Prof. Dr. Avedis Hacinliyan, Asst. Prof.
Dr. Arusyak Yumul, Dr. Sosi Antikaciyan, Murat Bebiroglu, Murat Bilir,
Krikor Dosemeciyan, Hrant Kalatas, Murat Ozkan, Yervant Ozuzun, and Aret
Vartanyan.

Spiegel Online, Germany
June 23 2005
Why Turkey’s EU Bid Could Hinge on Britain
By Jürgen Gottschlich in Istanbul
The collapse of the European constitution has lent greater weight to
the powerful opponents of Turkey’s eventual membership in the
European Union. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is frustrated by
France and Germany, and increasingly Ankara believes that Tony Blair
is their last hope for joining the club.
When Tony Blair spoke before the European Parliament in Strasbourg on
Thursday morning, he could count on the fact that there would be no
shortage of viewers tuning in from Turkey to listen to each of his
carefully crafted words. After all, Britain’s prime minister has been
one of the most vocal proponents of future European Union membership
for Turkey. He continued with his supportive stance on Thursday, as
he laid out Britain’s goals for the EU presidency, a position it
assumes for six months starting July 1. Near the top of the list of
Blair’s agenda, he said, is to “carry out the Union’s obligations to
those like Turkey and Croatia that wait in hope of a future as part
of Europe.”
The preliminary collapse of the EU constitution, has suddenly
catapulted the British prime minister into the roll of Europe’s
most-powerful man. But for the Turkish government, he is far more.
Even if nobody is admitting it publicly, Blair is essentially
Ankara’s last hope — Obi-Wan Kenobi to Turkey’s pleading Princess
Lea. Even before the constitution disaster, Blair was one of the few
leaders in Europe whom Turks could count on. Now, he appears to be
the last chance the Turks have in a Europe divided by duelling
visions and internecine rivalries.

Earlier this year, eurocrats in Brussels openly worried that Turkey
had begun dragging its feet on reforms after Ankara had been given a
date at the December 2004 EU summit for accession talks to begin. At
that point, it was the British who stepped in to help its friend.
Behind the scenes, London helped the Turkish government search for a
solution to the Cyprus issue that would be acceptable to all. As a
way of saying thanks for the gesture, Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gül announced that Turkey would wait to amend a 1996 customs
agreement with the EU to expand it to the 10 new EU member states
after Britain took the helm of the EU presidency.
Does Turkey have a future in the EU?
Now, suddenly, the question being asked in Brussels isn’t whether or
not the Turks sign a document that would give de facto recognition of
the Greek-Cypriot government on an island which has been divided
since the Turks invaded the northern third in 1974. Instead, it rests
on whether any kind of EU expansion will ever even come to fruition.
At major Turkish newspapers, commentators quickly figured out that
some European leaders are reinterpreting the failure of the
constitution as a vote against expansion. Columnist Mehmet Ali Birand
poignantly wrote: “If you take a closer look at this argument, then
you have to assume that the decision has already been made for
Bulgaria and Romania. Croatia is a relatively small country that is
ill-equipped to take the blame, and for that reason everything will
now be blamed on Turkey.”
Last week, Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, passed a resolution
criticizing Turkey for not acknowledging its role in the “Armenian
massacre” a century ago. Parliament stopped short of calling it
“genocide,” but the response from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
demonstrated the great disappointment of the Turks in the
German-French EU axis. In Beirut, an irate Erdogan called the
decision “ugly” and “wrong.” And right after returning to Ankara, he
struck again, attacking his buddy, German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder, head on. “I admire politicians with backbones,” he said.
“When Mr. Schroeder was in Turkey a few weeks ago, he was still
supporting our position.” Not exactly the way you talk about a
politician whose support you may need in the future.
Privileged partner or full-fledged member?
Then again, Schroeder may no longer matter to Erdogan. With the
conservative Angela Merkel expected to succeed Schroeder as
chancellor after snap autumn elections and Nikolas Sarkozy likely in
line to become the next French president, Tony Blair is the last
remaining hope Turkey has for membership. Both Merkel and Sarkozy are
staunch opponents of giving Turkey a place at the table in Brussels.
So far, the official tenor in Turkey has been to remain distant from
the looming fight over the future of Europe. “Turkey has done its
homework on the road to the EU,” Foreign Minister Gül recently
reiterated. “We are continuing with our reforms.” He pointed out that
Turkey’s new criminal law went into effect on June 1, as promised,
adding that the Cyprus Protocol was ready and that it could be signed
as early as July. If the Oct. 3 date for starting accession talks
falls through, he said, it won’t be through any fault of Ankara.
But what kind of accession are the Europeans supposed to negotiate in
October? A growing number of supporters of a more deeply integrated
Europe — from the head of the Social Democratic faction in the
European Parliament, Martin Schulz, to European Commissioner for
Industry Guenther Verheugen to Angela Merkel — are calling for a
“privileged partnership” for Turkey rather than full EU membership.
So far, at least, Blair has not made any similar comments. Instead,
the British have always implied that they’ve been pushing for EU
expansion in order to torpedo the vision of many on the continent for
a United States of Europe.
But for now, at least, the Brits appear to have the next move. And
they are likely to find broad support in Turkey. Mehmet Ali Birand,
an untiring EU propagandist in the Turkish media, recently told his
readers that Blair is on the right track. “The agricultural subsidies
upon which the EU spends 40 percent of its budget, are an
anachronism,” he wrote. Besides, “Old Europe,” with its vision of
transferring ever more sovereignty to Brussels would have kept
raising the bar for membership, making it more and more difficult for
Turkey to join the EU. “Blair,” Birand wrote, “is flexible in that
sense. The conditions Turkey must fulfil will be less difficult.”
Next week, when Britain takes the helm of the EU for six months,
Birand’s thesis will be put to the test.

THREE LARGE HYDRO POWER PLANTS ARE TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA TILL 2025,
AREG GALSTIAN INFORMS
YEREVAN, JUNE 23. ARMINFO. In accordance with the strategy of energy
development approved by Armenian Government, three large hydro power
plants are to be built in the republic till 2025, Deputy Energy
Minister of Armenia Areg Galstian informed during the briefing,
Thursday.
According to him, the largest HPP of Meghri with the capacity of 140
MW and productivity of 850 mln kW/h, as well as the Lori-Berd HPP with
the capacity of 60-75 MW and productivity of 214 mln kW/h of
electricity are to be built in the period from 2011 to 2016. And
construction of Shnokh HPP is to be built from 2017 to 2025. For
attraction of investments to the construction of the Shnokh HPP the
Armenian Government has appealed to Norway for assistance. The
increase of the hydropotential of the republic is connected with the
necessity of increase of the energy security and independence of
Armenia, Sargsian said.

7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
June 24 2005
Me and my job
Written by 7DAYS | Friday, 24 June 2005

Annie Thomassian
Annie Thomassian is French Armenian and opened the Nailstation, a
nail bar, waxing and tanning salon at Jumierah’s Town Centre mall two
years ago. `I’ve been in Dubai four years now, but I know the place
really well as my father had a business here when I was younger and I
would spend my summers in the UAE.
It was hard opening up the business as I sorted out all the paperwork
and visas myself, but in a way, being a woman made it easier because
government offices don’t allow women to wait in queues.’ Initially,
says Annie, her working hours were very long, but now she has more
balance to her life.
`In the first year we opened, I worked a seven day week from 9am
until midnight. It was really tough. But now the business is a little
more independent, I spend more time working from home,’ she explains.
`I’ll usually get to the salon at around 11am. Then I go home at
lunchtime and cook for my husband and two of my daughters. My third
daughter is studying in Paris. Our time together in the middle of the
day is very important because in the evenings, I’m away at the salon
again.’
But, she says, this comfortable routine will not continue for too
much longer as she has also opened up another branch of Nailstation
in Paris. `In some ways it’s very good because it means I get to
travel to Paris quite often and so spend time with my oldest
daughter, but life is more hectic with two businesses to run. The
Nailstation products that we use in the salons are also our own brand
so this line of the business also keeps me busy.’
The best thing about running her own business, says Annie, is the
satisfaction of a good day’s work. `I had my children very young, so
now it’s nice that I’m able to have my career and enjoy it. The
feeling you get from a profitable day that has run smoothly is really
satisfying.’
But, she says, businesses take a lot of work and things don’t always
run to plan. `I have to make sure I’m on top of things because if a
customer has a problem, it’s always my responsibility at the end of
the day. Hygiene is a huge issue for me because our reputation has
been built on our immaculate cleanliness.
`When you have staff who don’t carry out their duties properly, that
is the worst issue and is always difficult to deal with. Luckily,
things have progressed quite smoothly for me so far.’

A1plus
| 15:36:50 | 23-06-2005 | Politics | PACE SUMMER SESSION |
TODAY – DECISIVE FOR ARMENIA
Today the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will make
decisions on a number of issues vital for Armenia. The draft resolution on
constitutional reform in Armenia, adopted by the PACE Monitoring Committee
will be discussed.
Today at 4 p.m. the Venice Commission’s working group on constitutional
reform in Armenia will meet with the Armenian delegation, which also
includes Justice Minister David Harutyunyan and RA President’s
representative Armen Harutyunyan.
This evening the sitting of the PACE Committee on Karabakh will be held. To
remind, representatives of the Armenian and Azeri opposition Shavarshh
Kocharyan and Asim Molazade also serve on the committee.

Pan Armenian News
CSTO FM COUNCIL SITTING STARTED IN MOSCOW
22.06.2005 04:05
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The sitting of Foreign Ministers of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) started in Moscow today. FMs of Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are taking part in
it. According to special representative or the RF MFA Alexander Yakovenko,
the participants will focus on further strengthening of allied relations of
the Organization member states, promotion of military integration and that
in other fields. The detailed analysis of the military and political
situation in the CSTO responsibility zone and adjacent regions will be
carried out. `Foreground will be given to the recent developments in
Afghanistan as well as to further cooperation on struggle against new
challenges and threats, specifically terrorist and extremist organizations
jeopardizing security of the CSTO member-states’, the diplomat noted adding
that issues of interaction with the UN, OSCE, NATO and some other
international organizations will be also considered.

INEFFICIENT FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING WILL WORSEN US-ARMENIA RELATIONS
Pan Armenian News
18.06.2005 02:54
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US State Department 5th Annual Report on fighting
trafficking included Armenia in the second group of states in a special
list of control of struggle against trafficking, as the country did
not manage to provide enough proof of efficiency of fight against human
trafficking. It was stated by Ambassador John Miller, the Director of
the US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in
Persons in the course of an interactive press conference organized at
the US Embassy in Yerevan. In his words, Armenia adopted a national
program of actions for fighting trafficking, however there is no
sufficient proof that the program is being implemented. Specifically,
there is no evidence that the law on trafficking was applied to those
guilty. Moreover, all sanctions were either conditional or much
milder than those provided for the crime. As noted by the report,
only 1 out of the 16 accused was sentenced in compliance with the
article 132 (anti-trafficking), the remaining 15 were indicted for
pimping, which provides for milder punishment. Mr. Miller said there
are reports that representatives of the Office of Public Prosecutor
of Armenia and frontier guards are involved in human trafficking. “We
hope the Government of Armenia will make every effort to prove the
contrary,” he said. As noted by Jennifer Strong Tamli, the person
responsible for the report on Armenia, there is no concrete evidence
that representatives of law-enforcement bodies are also involved. In
his turn J. Miller said, “I would be surprised if any of the persons
present here had not known about it.” In his words, another report (a
current one) will be published in 2006. However, he hoped that when
the final report is ready next June Armenia will move from the special
control list to the second group that includes countries with progress
in combating human trafficking. “Otherwise, the consequences will tell
on the US-Armenia relations,” Miller said. “The US is ready to work
with Armenia, where a serious problem of trafficking is available,
as it is a source country,” he said. In Miller’s words, the UAE and
Turkey are the basic destination countries of Armenian women and
children. “The phenomenon is present in any country irrespective
of the degree of development, however the US pays much attention
to trafficking, as slavery has left its trace in the US history,”
Miller emphasized.

S. SARGSYAN LEAVING FOR MOSCOW
Pan Armenian News
17.06.2005 04:15
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-Chairs of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental
Economic Commission, Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan and
Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin will meet in Moscow,
reported Armenian MOD Press Secretary colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan. In
the course of the meeting June 21 the parties will discuss matters of
securing the operation of Armenian enterprises, conveyed to Russia,
as well as other questions of bilateral interest. June 22 the Armenian
delegation will participate in the meeting of CSTO Defense Ministers
and the Committee of Security Council Secretaries. June 23 the Armenian
delegation headed by President Robert Kocharian is scheduled to take
part in the session of the Collective Security Council, after which
Serge Sargsyan will take part in the session of the CIS Council of
Defense Ministers in Dushanbe.

ARMENIAN PM MET WITH MOSCOW VICE-MAYOR
Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 08:53
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met
with Moscow Vice-Mayor Vladimir Resin, reported the Press Service of
the Armenian Government. In the course of the meeting A. Margaryan
congratulated Mr. Resin on becoming Yerevan Honorary Citizen and
thanked for the active participation in development of mutually
favorable cooperation between Yerevan and Moscow. A. Margaryan
underscored that the efficient interaction of the Russian and
Armenian Governments, as well as Moscow and Yerevan Administrations
has a positive impact on the Armenian-Russian relations. As noted
by V. Resin, visiting Armenia 17 years after the great disastrous
earthquake in 1988 he is impressed with the changes in the country,
specifically in the disaster zone. As a professional constructor he
appreciated the might and the quality of construction works launched
in Armenia. He noted the importance of the project of building of the
House of Moscow in Yerevan and House of Yerevan in Moscow. The parties
said they were satisfied with mutual visits of senior delegations of
Moscow and Yerevan. The agreement on cooperation of the executive
of both capitals in 2005-2007 signed resulting from these meeting
will allow enhancing the Moscow-Yerevan cooperation. As noted by the
interlocutors, the holding of the Year of Russia in Armenia and the
Year of Armenia scheduled in Russia in 2006 promote Armenian-Russian
relations. The parties mentioned using the potential of the Armenian
community of Russia for further strengthening the Russian-Armenian
relations. The interlocutors discussed matters of attraction of
investments of Moscow business circles to the Armenian economy and
other questions.

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
June 16, 2005
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN HEADS FOR LEBANON
Archbishop Oshagan is en route to Lebanon where he will meet with His
Holiness Aram I at the Catholicate in Antelias. One of the topics of
discussion will be the upcoming visit of the Catholicos to the Eastern
Prelacy in October. His Holiness has already visited several dioceses within
the Cilician See and is planning to visit all of the dioceses before the end
of the year in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary in
Antelias. This year is also the tenth anniversary of the election and
consecration of Aram I.
The Prelate will return to New York next week.
ORDINATIONS IN ANTELIAS
Twenty seminary students were ordained as clerics and deacons at St.
Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, Lebanon. Rev. Fr. Tatoul
Anoushian, a member of the brotherhood of the Constantinople Patriarchate
conducted the holy mass. The sermon was delivered by Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, who spoke about the traits
of people who dedicate themselves to serve the church. “Every one of you was
granted the right of service to the church on a certain level. Each right
assumes an obligation. That obligation being your dedicated service to the
holy church of God. Today you climb the first stairs of this service, so you
can reach higher levels in the future,” he said.
Following the liturgy, the newly ordained servants of the church
proceeded to the Veharan (Catholicosal residence and administration center),
where they received the blessings of His Holiness Aram I. The Catholicos
advised them to prepare themselves for higher service. “Your study years at
the seminary open up our church’s and nation’s treasury. You will have to
gain so much from these years, so you can enrich our people in the near
future on both ecclesiastical and national levels through the riches you
acquired,” he said.
SIAMANTO ACADEMY STUDENTS PERFORM
Following five weeks of rehearsals, Siamanto Academy students
participated in the annual concert presented by the New York Hamazkayin
Chorus dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The
concert took place at the Flushing Town Hall in New York under the
directorship of Vagharshak Ohanian, with David Allahverdian on the piano,
and Isabella Alexandrovski on the kanon. Also featured on the program were
recitations by Lucine Djirdjirian and Dr. Herand Markarian. The Siamanto
students sang songs dedicated to Yerevan including, Karoun Yerevan,
Yerevanian Kisherner, Im Yerevan, Jan Yerevan, Yerevan-Erebouni, and
Hayasdan.
The Siamanto Academy is sponsored by the Armenian National Education
Committee.
ARMENIAN CHURCH REMEMBERS KING TIRIDAT, QUEEN ASHKHEN
AND KHOSROVITOUKHT
This Saturday, June 18, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives of
three saints important to the establishment of Christianity in Armenia, King
Tiridate, Queen Ashkhen, and Khosrovitoukht.
King Tiridate was a persecutor of early Christians, having imprisoned
Gregory the Illuminator in a deep pit, and ordering the murder of the nuns
Hripsime and Gayane and their companions. He became a convert when afflicted
with mysterious ailments and demons, he was cured by St. Gregory following
the king’s sister, Khosrovitoukht’s, vision that only Gregory could save her
brother.
Queen Ashkhen, wife of Tiridate, helped the king’s sister in Gregory’s
release. After the Christian conversion of the king, she and the king were
baptized in the Euphrates river by Gregory. She subsequently helped Gregory
establish church communities.
BEAST ON THE MOON EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 5
It’s official. The Beast on the Moon, the popular Off-Broadway play
about two genocide survivors, has been extended to September 5th, according
to David Grillo, the producer of the show.
The nationally syndicated columnist, Liz Smith, has described Beast as
“the hit new Off-Broadway play,” and has told her many readers, “Don’t miss
it!”
For information go to:
LADIES GUILD OF STS. VARTANANTZ WILL CELEBRATE
50TH ANNIVERSARY ON JULY 23
The Ladies’Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
will celebrate the Guild’s 50th anniversary on Saturday, July 23, at the
Pawtucket Country Club in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, with a gala dinner dance.
For information contact the church office, 401-831-6399.
JEWISH REPORT ON GENOCIDE
The May-June issue of “Special Interest Report” published by The
American Council for Judaism, has an article entitled, “American Jewish
Groups’ Role in Downplaying Turkey’s Mass Murder of Armenians is
Highlighted.” The article describes the Armenian genocide and the campaign
for international recognition and how Turkey has enlisted the aid of Jewish
groups to “prevent Congress from adopting the term ‘genocide’ regarding the
slaughter of Armenians.” The article rightly points out that, “the implicit
support of U.S. Jewish organizations and the tacit support of Israel give
moral cover to any American administration that stops legislation
recognizing the Armenian genocide.”
Yair Auron, a professor at Israel’s Open University and author of The
Banality of Denial: Israel and the Armenian Genocide, is quoted: “To my
sorrow, Israel has become Turkey’s principal partner in helping it deny the
Armenian claims.” Auron says that Israel should have explained to Turkey
from the start that “the Armenian genocide could not be negotiated as part
of their relations.” As custodian of the memory and lessons of the
Holocaust, Israel is obliged to change course on the issue, Auron says. “You
have to take a position; and the historic moral position is one that accepts
the genocide.”
SUNDAY IS FATHERS DAY
This Sunday, June 19, is Fathers Day. The United States is one of the
few countries in the world that has an official “fathers day.” Although
there are different stories of who and where the first fathers’ day was
celebrated, there is agreement that the most ardent promoter of the holiday
was Mrs. Bruce John Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who wanted to honor her
father who raised six children after the untimely death of his wife. It is
believed that the first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in
Spokane. States began lobbying Congress to declare an annual Father’s Day.
President Woodrow Wilson approved the idea in 1916 as did President Calvin
Coolidge who in 1924 suggested that it be a national event to “establish
more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress
upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.” The celebration of
Father’s Day grew in popularity; however, it was not until 1966 that
President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation officially declaring the
third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
This Tuesday, June 21, is the summer solstice, the longest day of the
year, and the first day of summer (at least here in the northern
hemisphere).
OUR GARDEN NOW AND THEN
We first mentioned our garden last year as a whim, never contemplating
that our garden would take on a life and personality of its own with our
readers. We had no intention of making it a regular commentary, but you-dear
readers-keep asking about the status of our garden when several weeks go by
without a report. Your reaction was totally unanticipated, but most welcome!
When last we spoke of our garden we lamented the cold weather. What
followed could very well be classified in the category of “be careful what
you ask for.” A few days later the east coast was gripped in an
unprecedented June heat wave with temperatures well into the 90s that
continued for almost ten days. Our poor seedling plants, that in May
withstood two nights of frost and survived, were now limp under the hot sun.
Thankfully we only lost a few cucumber plants, but everything else seems to
have survived.
Being a gardener provides one with great respect for nature and
admiration for farmers whose fate depends so heavily on the elements. We
feel closer to God in our garden than anywhere. How can you not believe in
the higher power of God when a small seed breaks the mighty ground, sprouts
and in 60 to 70 days begins to produce vine-ripened, pesticide free,
delicious fruit!
Everything we know about gardening we learned from our father, Krikor,
and our mother-in-law, Hripsime. Both were consummate gardeners, who could
grow anything in defiance of rules and regulations. Being survivors of the
Genocide and of the Great Depression of the 1930s, both of them had little
use for flowers (not edible!).
We are nowhere near their category as gardeners, and never will be. But
our garden is a reminder of them, their lives and the legacy they left us.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from
the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17
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