Author: Maghakian Mike

The Economist, UK
May 12 2005
Turkey and the European Union
Mountains still to climb
May 12th 2005 | ANKARA, DIYARBAKIR AND ISTANBUL
>From The Economist print edition
(Caricature)
There remain formidable obstacles to Turkish membership of the
European Union, not least in Turkey itself
THE Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is cross with
critics who attack his government for doing too little to prepare for
accession talks with the European Union, due to start on October 3rd.
These critics claim that, whereas big reforms were introduced in the
months leading up to December 17th, when Mr Erdogan secured the
precious October date at an EU summit, nothing has been done since.
Some even point to an upsurge in Turkish nationalism as a sign of a
backlash against the idea of joining the EU.
In a recent interview with The Economist, Mr Erdogan dismissed such
criticism as unfair. He talked darkly of a `campaign against us’. He
said his government would do `whatever is required of us, take
whatever steps are necessary’, insisting that `we are fully committed
to the EU process.’ He conceded that a big test would be implementing
the reforms, as this requires `a change of mentality’. As for
critics’ gripes that he has failed to appoint a top EU point man, he
claimed that there was no rush, as he himself would be in overall
charge of the negotiations.
So all is set fair for October 3rd? Not quite. Formally, Turkey must
fulfil two more conditions. The first is to bring into force its new
penal code, which should happen in June. The second is to sign the
protocol extending the EU-Turkey customs union to the ten new EU
members that joined last year – including Cyprus. This Turkey is now
ready to do, despite fretting that it may imply some recognition of
the Greek-Cypriot government.
Yet other problems are sure to appear. The December summit almost
foundered over the precise wording on Cyprus. Everybody is aware that
Croatia lost its promised date of March 17th for the start of
membership talks, because the EU decided it was not complying with
The Hague war-crimes tribunal. They also know that Cyprus will haunt
negotiations with Turkey far beyond October. As the Greek-Cypriot
president, Tassos Papadopoulos, gleefully noted in December, he will
have many opportunities to veto Turkish entry: the negotiations could
last for ten years or more.
Two more immediate problems are the French and Dutch votes on the EU
constitution in two weeks’ time. Mr Erdogan protests that Turkey
should not have been dragged into the debate on the constitution,
since the two issues are quite unconnected. But the fact is that, in
both countries, Turkey’s putative membership has been a significant
weapon for the no campaigns. The leaders of France and the
Netherlands favour opening talks with Turkey. But if either country
votes no, their governments will come under pressure at least to
postpone, and possibly to call off, the negotiations with Turkey.
The odds still favour the opening of talks, if only for fear of the
fallout from not opening them. No country that has begun negotiations
with the EU has not been offered membership. Yet the obstacles to
Turkey will remain huge even after talks begin – and they go well
beyond Cyprus.
Public opinion within the EU is mostly hostile, for a start. France’s
president, Jacques Chirac, has promised to consult French voters in a
referendum before admitting Turkey, and other countries may follow
suit. In Germany, the opposition Christian Democrats are against full
membership for Turkey, although they will not block talks once they
have begun. The new (German) pope is on record against Turkish
entry – though, as Mr Erdogan sardonically observes, the Vatican is not
an EU member. That his AK party is in the Christian Democrats’
umbrella group, the European People’s Party, seemingly counts for
little.
Yet, as one EU diplomat in Ankara says, the biggest obstacle to
Turkish membership is not the EU: it is Turkey. In part, this is a
question of understanding. The Turks see EU accession as a matter of
genuine negotiation: if they make concessions, they expect
concessions in return (eg, on northern Cyprus, see article). In
reality, the talks are just about assuming the obligations of the
EU’s acquis communautaire. These include not just boring
single-market measures but such broader concerns as human rights, the
treatment of minorities and religious and democratic freedoms.
Mr Erdogan insists that none of these is any longer a problem for
Turkey. His reforms over the past year included scrapping state
security courts, cementing civilian control of the army, allowing
Kurdish-language teaching and broadcasting, and shaking up the police
and judiciary. Yet negative incidents happen too often: Christian
churches are harassed, the Greek Orthodox seminary near Istanbul
remains closed, a new military crackdown has begun against Kurdish
PKK terrorists (and civilians) in the south-east. The prime minister
talks of `provocations’, a word he uses to describe a women’s protest
in early March that was broken up violently by police in front of the
television cameras.
As for rulings against Turkey by the European Court of Human Rights,
he says the government disputes most of them. This week the ECHR
ruled that the 1999 trial of the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, was
`unfair’. Mr Erdogan says that he cannot interfere in Turkey’s
independent courts. In response to broader concerns of human-rights
groups for Kurds, he wonders where they were when he was jailed in
1999 for reading an Islamist nationalist poem in public, before they
rushed to Diyarbakir to back local mayors.
Turkey has clearly improved in its observance of human rights and its
treatment of Kurds and other minorities, but it still has a lot more
to do to match European standards. This makes a recent speech by
General Hilmi Ozkok, the army’s chief of staff, interesting and, in
some respects, troubling. The general observed that Turkey had a
security interest in northern Cyprus, that allegations of genocide
against Armenians in 1915 had no basis and that the Americans were
not doing enough to stamp out PKK terrorists in northern Iraq. He
also stressed that secularism was the driving force of Turkey’s
democracy, and that the Turkish state must remain an indivisible
whole.
It might seem odd that a general should say any of these things
publicly now, but in Turkey the army still plays a key role in
upholding Ataturk’s secular legacy. In effect, the generals have
embraced the country’s EU aspirations, but only on the basis that EU
membership will support and not undermine that legacy. Yet a strand
of Turkish opinion clearly frets that support for religious and
minority freedoms may conflict with Ataturkism; and that acceptance
of more autonomy for Kurds may threaten Turkey’s territorial
integrity.
General Ozkok’s conclusion was that saying yes or no must be a right
not only for the EU, but also for Turkey. It would be an irony if,
after working so hard to overcome European hostility to their joining
the club, the Turks themselves came to decide that the rules were too
onerous – but it is not impossible to imagine.

A1plus
| 14:43:03 | 12-05-2005 | Official |
ROBERT KOCHARYAN RECEIVED LISE GRANDE
Today Robert Kocharyan received UNDP Resident Coordinator for Armenia Lise
Grande, who is completing her mission in the republic.
Robert Kocharyan noted that during the recent two years the UN-Armenia
cooperation has considerably activated under Ms. Grande’s direction.
In her turn Ms. Grande said that thanks to consistent work Armenia has
achieved better results than other states of the region and she will
continue to watch the developments in Armenia from afar.

Azerbaijan News Service
May 11 2005
EU REPRESENTATIVE HEIKE TALVITIYE VISITING BAKU
2005-05-11 09:57
European Union special representative on south Caucasus Heike
Talvitiye has arrived for official visit to Baku aiming to focus on
development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and EU and
discus ways to help the sides in settlement of Daqliq Qarabaq
conflict. In his interview with ANS Mr. Heike Talvitiye said
democratic parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on November will
affect developments in the region. `Holding discussions regarding
Daqliq Qarabaq conflict and ways of settlement is one of the goals of
my visit. I am going to discuss ways to further peace process as well
as se how to help co-chairs and Azerbaijani and Armenian sides’. As
to upcoming parliamentary elections Mr. Talvitiye pointed importance
of discussing the issue with EU officials which may affect Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict settlement. Holding elections is so important that
the process may affect solution process. But I hope that everything
will be al right. EU officials invite the conflicting sides to meet
in Prague and want to carry on the so-called Prague process. As to
the current state of settlement process Heike Talvitiye said
positions of the sies should be taken into account as an important
element. I have met different people. It is not so easy to achieve
solution. I think that settlement of the conflict is important either
for Azerbaijan or for Armenia. Solution is of great importance for
future of the sides. Within his visit to Baku Heike Talvitiye will
meet head of state, foreign minister, representatives of the parties
as well as non-governmental organizations.

ARMENIAN MOUNTAINEERS CLIMB ELBRUS TO MARK 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT
PATRIOTIC WAR VICTORY
YEREVAN, MAY 10. ARMINFO. Armenian mountaineers Hayk Tonoyan, Tigran
Nersisyants and Lev Sarkisov have taken part in the mass ascent of
Elbrus, the Caucasus, held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of
the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), reports INTERFAX.
Some 400 people from Russia, Belarus, France, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria
took part in the action but not all of them managed to climb the
Western and Eastern peaks of Elbrus (5,642 m and 5,621 m
respectively).

SWISS AMBASSADOR MARRIED TO A TURK
Turkish Press
May 5 2005
Press Scan
HURRIYET
HURRIYET- Swiss Ambassador in Ankara Walter Gyger, who is passing
through a difficult period as an investigation has been opened against
Prof. Yusuf Halacoglu, is married to a Turkish citizen.
As Walter Gyger speaks, he said, “alleged genocide” and insistent to
say that, “Halacoglu may go to Switzerland. There is not any arrest
warrant against him.”

Composer shows promise
by Edward Reichel Deseret Morning News
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)
May 3, 2005 Tuesday
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CONSORTIUM, First Unitarian Church, Sunday.
The Contemporary Music Consortium is, in part, a forum for local
composers. In addition to promoting new works, flutist and CMC
co-director Laurel Ann Maurer is receptive to presenting music by
young Utah composers.
At Sunday’s matinee concert — the last for the current season — CMC
spotlighted the pianistic and compositional talents of Karen Hakobyan.
The Armenian-born pianist and composer initially came to the United
States to participate in the Gina Bachauer Young Artists competition.
After being brought to the attention of composer Morris Rosenzweig
at the University of Utah, Hakobyan was offered a scholarship to
continue his studies at the U.
Three of Hakobyan’s most recent works were played during Sunday’s
concert; two were also world premieres.
Hakobyan shows a great deal of promise as a composer. The three
works are structurally sound and conceived on a large scale. What
they lack are depth and expressive definition. They function on a
superficial level and are emotionally uninvolved. Still, they are
solid student pieces with some good ideas, and Hakobyan is without
question a talented composer.
One of the pieces receiving its first performance Sunday was the
young Armenian’s Suite for Solo Violin in Five Movements. The work
is dedicated to the memory of Mikhail Boguslavsky, a former violist
with the Utah Symphony who passed away in March at the age of 79.
The suite is well-written, with its five movements interrelated to
each other by various thematic and harmonic means, giving the work
some well-defined cohesiveness. Jennifer Bogart gave a dynamic reading
that was articulate and forceful.
The other world premiere was Hakobyan’s Trio for flute, clarinet and
piano, played by Maurer and Utah Symphony clarinetist Lee Livengood,
with the composer at the piano. Hakobyan added a delightful coloristic
touch to the music when Maurer switched to an alto flute and Livengood
to a bass clarinet in the piece’s contrasting lyrical section. The
piano in this part added splashes of light to the dark-sounding
woodwinds.
The young composer’s final work on the program was his Piano
Variations. Once again, Hakobyan did double duty as composer and
pianist. The work is motoric, reminiscent of Prokofiev in its
relentless energy. Hakobyan gave a technically agile and driven
performance that captured the vigor and vitality of the piece.
The remainder of the concert consisted of Bohuslav Martinu’s
captivating “Madrigal Sonata” for flute, violin and piano; Leo Kraft’s
melodic Flute Variations, written for Maurer; and Henri Dutilleux’s
lyrical and sophisticated Sonatine for flute and piano. E-mail:
[email protected]

Putin’s World War II celebration clouded by feud on postwar history
Agence France Presse — English
May 8, 2005 Sunday 5:30 PM GMT
MOSCOW May 8 — President Vladimir Putin greeted fellow leaders
Sunday ahead of World War II anniversary ceremonies, seen by Russia
as a tribute to its unrivaled sacrifice in defeating Nazi Germany
but darkened by stormy debate over Moscow’s postwar behavior in Europe.
As Putin ended an informal meeting of most heads of ex-Soviet
republics, US President George W. Bush joined United Nations Secretary
General Kofi Annan and Chinese President Hu Jintao among a handful
of leaders who have arrived in Moscow to attend Monday’s ceremonial
events.
Bush and Putin were scheduled to have a private dinner Sunday at the
Russian leader’s official country residence and US officials said
last week that the US leader would raise questions about democratic
progress in Russia during the meeting.
A US official also told AFP that before the start of Monday’s events,
Bush planned to hold a meeting with around 18 “civil society leaders”
in Russia. The term generally refers to human rights activists and
high-profile political opponents of Putin.
With Moscow locked down under unprecedented security measures, the
dignitaries, ranging from Bush to communist-era Polish leader Wojciech
Jaruzelski, will stand in Red Square on Monday to observe a military
parade in an almost surreal celebration of Soviet wartime bravery.
But while the official program centers on commemorating the Allied
victory 60 years ago, it is the unscripted crescendo of recriminations,
between Russia and the many countries it dominated from the end of
the war until recently, that may determine how this week’s events
are remembered.
The angry diplomatic exchanges reached fever pitch as Bush visited
Latvia ahead of his trip to Russia, with leaders of the three
ex-Soviet Baltic republics demanding that Moscow apologize for the
postwar Soviet occupation of their countries and Putin saying Moscow
had done enough already.
On Sunday Poland’s President Aleksander Kwasniewski urged Russians
“not to fear the truth” of Stalin-era reprisals in Poland and elsewhere
and of the Soviet Union’s post-war rule over the Baltic states.
He had earlier called on Russia to recognize the massacre of thousands
of Polish soldiers during World War II in the Katyn forest in western
Russia as a crime against humanity.
A spat between Russia and Georgia as well as enmity between
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) republics Azerbaijan and
Armenia have also cast a cloud over Monday’s ceremonies on Red Square.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili — due to host US President
George W. Bush on Monday — refused to attend because of the continued
presence of two Russian military bases on his country’s soil.
In neighboring Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said he could not
sit at the same table with Armenian President Robert Kocharian on
the anniversary of an occupation of Azeri territory by Armenian forces.
However Putin attempted to downplay the signs of strains among the
CIS members, making a call Sunday for unity to his counterparts from
the ex-Soviet Union and vowing their historic bonds “can be neither
torn nor destroyed.”
“The peoples of the commonwealth countries are separated by state
borders, but our friendship and brotherly, truthfully blood ties are
without bounds,” he said in an address to war veterans and leaders.
Putin’s main message is the Red Army’s massive sacrifice during the
defeat of Nazi Germany in WWII which was reinforced with the release
of new official figures that show the Soviet Union lost 26.6 million
people in four years of savage fighting with Germany, far more than
all other Allied countries combined. And it is the Soviet Union,
many historians agree, that deserves the most credit for defeating
the Nazis.
This is the message that Putin aims to get across Monday and one which
he reiterated again on the eve of the commemorative ceremonies as he
dedicated a new war monument on Victory Square near central Moscow.
“Our people did not just defend their own homeland — they liberated
11 European states. On the field of battle from the Barents Sea to
the Caucasus the aggressor’s military machine was broken,” the Russian
president stated.
It is precisely this point — the notion that the Soviet Union in
fact “liberated” anyone at all after defeating the Nazis — that has
reignited latent passions in Europe, rekindled historical debate and
as a result, to an extent, subverted Russia’s V-Day celebration even
before it began.
In a letter to Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga prior to his
arrival in Riga, Bush expressed sympathy with the grievances of former
Soviet-bloc states in eastern Europe.
For them, he said, the end of World War II “marked the Soviet
occupation and annexation” of the Baltic states “and the imposition
of communism” in much of central and eastern Europe. The Latvian
leader said Bush’s very presence in Riga was an acknowledgment of the
“double meaning” of the war.
Speaking to German media last week, however, Putin seemed to strike a
more conciliatory note. The Soviet takeover of the Balts, he said, was
a “tragedy” for the Baltic peoples, but the former Soviet leadership
had already repudiated a 1939 secret deal with Nazi Germany that let
it happen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN THE BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA?
Pan Armenian News
06.05.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department
The technical-economic assessment of Kazvin-Resht-Astara railway
construction may produce such an impression on anyone.
The representatives of Iran, Russia and Azerbaijan transport
ministries signed a final agreement in Tehran on the construction
of Kazvin-Resht-Astara railway, which will ensure direct railway
communication between Moscow and Tehran via Baku. It is worth
mentioning that the implementation of the project with an estimated
cost of 600 million dollars may result in the isolation of Armenia
since it removes our country from the global transport network.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is quite obvious that the project has more
political than economic aims. As it is known, there already exists
a road that connects Iran to Russia. The road passes through
Julfa-Nakhichevan-Ararat section, which is currently closed. The
refusal of Azerbaijan to open the road is just a caprice since the
Karabakh conflict does not in any way hinder the railway communication,
because the railway passes neither through Azerbaijan nor through the
Armenian controlled security zones. It should be noted that the opening
of the non-functioning segment and the resumption of vertical transport
corridor does not contradict to the interests of Azerbaijan at all. In
any case the road remains an important link of the chain. Thus,
it is clear that official Baku artificially hinders the resumption
of existing communications for one single aim: to achieve Armenia’s
exclusion and isolation from the North-South transport axis.
The logic of official Baku is understandable. But very strange is the
behavior of Moscow who agrees to take part in the implementation of
the doubtful project, which is fraught with the isolation of Armenia
– the strategic partner of Russia. Instead, Moscow was supposed to
influence Azerbaijan and make them open the Julfa-Ararat railway.
Not long ago, the Prime Minister of Armenia shared his worry concerning
the issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The Russian
minister promised to make efforts for the protection of the interests
of Yerevan. But the approval of the agreement by the president of the
state “Russian railways” company Genady Fadeev confirms the fact that
Sergey Lavrov did not keep his word.
Thus, Russia neglected the interest of its ally and agreed to make huge
investments in the implementation of the project with a very doubtful
payback. Russian experts have assessed that Kazvin-Resht-Astara railway
can become profitable in five years only in case of transporting 20
tons of cargo each year. This could be achieved only if this was the
only railway connecting Russia and Iran. So, it turns out that the
initiators of the project are not interested in the functioning of
Kars-Gyumri railroad, which will be a harmful alternative to the new
road. Does it really mean that it will be more favorable for Moscow –
one of the initiators of the project, to keep the transport blockade
of Armenia?
The strange behavior of Moscow makes the words of President Vladimir
Putin completely senseless. He said that Armenia is one of the most
reliable partners of Russia. Partners are not treated with in such a
way. What if Yerevan treats Russia in the same way? After all this,
the leadership of Armenia has a full moral right to finally agree
to the construction of Iran – Ukraine gas pipeline, passing through
Armenia. Own interests are higher than those of partners. If it so,
there is no need for Armenia to worry about the several milliards of
dollars that “Gasprom” and the Russian government will lose.
Artyom Yerkanyan
06.05.2005, “PanARMENIAN Network” analytical department

NKR DM REFUTES AZERI MEDIA REPORT OF CEASE FIRE REGIME VIOLATION
YEREVAN, MAY 6. ARMINFO. NKR Defence Ministry has refuted TURAN’s
report of a firing during the last OSCE monitoring on Azeri-NKR
contact line. This is a blatant lie.
TURAN reports that 4 minutes after the monitoring had started (11
AM) the Armenian side opened fire at the Azeri positions only 1 km
far from the monitored area. TURAN alleges that the OSCE experts
registered the instance of firing.

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
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – May 05, 2005
TODAY IS ASCENSION DAY
As we reported last week, today May 5 is the Feast of the Ascension of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It commemorates the day Jesus ascended to His heavenly
home on the right hand of the Father, bringing a close to His earthly
ministry. This event is described in the New Testament in Mark 16:19; Luke
24:50-51; and Acts 1:9-11. It took place on the Mount of Olives, forty days
after His Resurrection, and was the last of His post-resurrection
appearances.
“Today the first and only Son of the Father rises to heaven in the form of
man. Melodic eulogies sound today from the multitude of heavenly souls.”
(from the Breviary of the Armenian Church).
PHOTOS OF APRIL 24TH COMMEMORATION ON WEB
Coverage of the April 24th commemorations in New York City undertaken by the
Joint Commemorative Committee for the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide can be seen on the committee’s web site,
ORDINATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan officiated at the ordination of two Stolebearers
and fourteen acolytes at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia
last Sunday, May 1. His Eminence also blessed the veils of the choir
members.
The newly ordained stolebearers are: Garabed Sarkessian and Razmig Yeremian.
The acolytes are: Vahe Levon Stepanian, Aram Raffi Frounjian, Bagrat
Boursalian, Viken Kawedjian, Mark Karagelian, Peter James Tashjian, Tavit
Frounjian, Richard Avedis Keshgegian, Raffi Jafari, Stephen Selverian, Niki
Arakelian, Serop Buldukian, Mark John Santerian, Jr., Aram Panosian.
Following the Divine Liturgy a luncheon, hosted by the families of the newly
ordained altar servers, took place in the church hall. Congratulations to
the new altar servers and their families. To see photographs of this joyous
event go to:
“Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, and where I am, there will my
servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” (John 12:26).
PARTSRAPERT GOSPEL IS PLACED IN
GENOCIDE MUSEUM IN DEIR ZOR
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, placed a
facsimile copy of the famous “Partsrapet” Gospel in the Genocide Museum in
Deir Zor, during his pilgrimage to the site on the occasion of the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The Catholicos described this work as one of the masterpieces of Cilician
miniature art and said, “This Gospel is a silent witness which has escaped
the Turkish sword and passed through the Deir Zor desert. Those who saved
this Gospel from destruction before they saved their lives, no longer exist
today. But the remains of thousands of our victims, whom the Gospel
accompanied through this desert, rest here.
The facsimile limited edition of the Partsrapet Gospel was published by the
Cilician Catholicate several years ago and has become a coveted possession
for collectors and the faithful. For information about the Partsrapet Gospel
call the Prelacy Bookstore at (212) 689-7810.
ARCHBISHOP ZAREH AZNAVORIAN REMEMBERED
Last Saturday, April 30, was the first anniversary of the death of His
Eminence Archbishop Zareh Aznavorian. The Armenian Church lost one of its
most capable servants in the prime of his life, at age 57.
Last Friday, April 29, he was remembered in Cyprus with the presentation of
a newly published volume of his sermons, “Light and Communion.” The
presentation of the book was made by the former Prelate of Cyprus, V. Rev.
Fr. Yeghishe Manjigian.
On Sunday, May 1, V. Rev. Fr. Manjigian officiated over the Divine Liturgy
and delivered the Sermon at the St. Azdvadzadzine Church in Cyprus.
Immediately after the services, a bust of the late Archbishop was unveiled
by the sponsors, Mr. and Mrs. Aleko and Ani Bezikian. To view photographs of
these events go to:
NEW INSCRIPTION ON THE GENOCIDE MONUMENT IN BIKFAYA
As part of the commemorations of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, the Catholicate of Cilicia installed new inscriptions on the
Armenian Genocide monument located on the grounds of the St. Asdvadzadzine
Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Originally constructed in 1969, the monument
initially had inscriptions in two languages, Armenian and Arabic. The
inscriptions lacked the words “genocide” and “Turk,” because the Lebanese
government at the time prevented their usage, giving way to pressure by
Turkey.
Upon the initiative of His Holiness Aram I, a new plaque with inscriptions
in Armenian, Arabic and English was installed utilizing the words “genocide”
and “Turk.”
The monument was constructed by Lebanese-Armenian artist, Zaven Khedeshian.
It was bombed in 1978 during the Lebanese Civil War. It was completely
reconstructed in 1996.
ARCHBISHOP SEBOUH SARKISIAN IN U.S.
Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian, Prelate of Tehran, is the guest of the Eastern
Prelacy this week in New York City.
Archbishop Sebouh was invited to participate in a conference, “Islam and
Political Order,” organized by American Catholic University (Washington, DC)
and the Cultural and Islamic Affairs Center of Iran. The conference took
place in Washington on April 25 and 26. Archbishop Sebouh participated in
the conference on behalf of the Catholicate of Cilicia.
GENOCIDE SCHOLARS CALL ON TURKEY TO END DENIALS
The leaders of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)
have sent a response to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s effort to initiate
a “debate” on the Armenian Genocide. The scholars said, in part:
We represent the major body of scholars who study genocide in North America
and Europe. We are concerned that in calling for an impartial study of the
Armenian Genocide, you may not be fully aware of the extent of the scholarly
and intellectual record on the Armenian Genocide and how this event conforms
to the definition of the United Nations Genocide Convention. We want to
underscore that it is not just Armenians who are affirming the Armenian
Genocide but it is hundreds of independent scholars, who have no
affiliations with governments, and whose work spans many countries and
nationalities and the course of decades.
REGISTER NOW FOR DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
Recognized as “the best Armenian youth program for junior and senior high
school students,” the St. Gregory of Datev Summer Program is accepting
registrations for this summer’s session. The week-long program, which is
intense both in religious education and recreational activities, will take
place July 3-10, at the St. Mary of Providence Center, Elverson,
Pennsylvania.
For information and/or to register go to:
PRELATE IS IN MIDWEST TODAY; WILL ATTEND
ST. ILLUMINATOR’S DAY SCHOOL CELEBRATION IN NY TOMORROW
Archbishop Oshagan is in the Midwest today and tomorrow visiting the St.
Sarkis parish in Dearborn, Michigan. His Eminence will return to New York
tomorrow evening to attend the 28th annual Gala Dinner-Dance of New York’s
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School, which will take place at the Terrace
on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. For information: 718-478-4073.
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
INFORMATION IS ON THE PRELACY WEB PAGE
The Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly (NRA) will take place
in Granite City, Illinois, May 18-20, hosted by the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church, Granite City. The site will be updated regularly with
current information pertinent to the Assembly. For information about the NRA
go to:
SUNDAY IS MOTHERS DAY
Does anyone need a reminder that Sunday is Mothers Day? Probably not!
The earliest Mothers Day celebrations have been traced back to the spring
celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.
In more recent times, in the 1600s, England celebrated a day called
“Mothering Sunday,” on the 4th Sunday of Lent, honoring the mothers of
England. During this time many of England’s poor worked as servants for
wealthy families and in most cases the servants lived at the homes of their
employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would be given a day off to
spend with their mothers.
In the United States Mothers Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward
Howe (the writer of the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic) as a day
dedicated to peace. In 1907 Ana Jarvis from Philadelphia began a campaign to
establish a national Mothers Day. By 1911 nearly every state celebrated
Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson
made it official by proclaiming Mothers Day as a national holiday on the
second Sunday of May.
PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON HONORS
GENOCIDE SURVIVOR, RAHAN KACHIAN, MOTHER OF THE YEAR
Last Monday, the Prelacy Ladies Guild’s annual Mothers Day luncheon took
place at the St. Regis in New York City. Mrs. Rahan Kachian, a survivor of
the Armenian Genocide, was honored by Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, who
described her as a “great treasure.” She was presented with a plaque with
the following inscription: Presented to Rahan Kachian, a survivor of the
Armenian Genocide who created a new life in the United States and with the
highest attributes of Armenian Motherhood taught her family to love and
respect the Armenian Church and Nation. In this year of the 90th anniversary
of the Genocide we proudly honor you with our love, gratitude and
appreciation.”
SUNDAY IS SECOND PALM SUNDAY
This Sunday, May 8, is also Second Palm Sunday (Yerkrord Tzaghkazard).
The seventh Sunday of Easter is called Second Palm Sunday and on this
occasion all the readings and hymns of Palm Sunday are repeated. The feast
of the Second Palm Sunday was designated by Nerses Shnorhali’s brother, His
Holiness Catholicos Krikor Vkayaser, and according to tradition is based on
an event which took place while St. Gregory the Illuminator was in the deep
pit (khor virab).
Through your life of dedication and the highest degree of sacrifice, you are
the greatest teachers of the children of the Armenian nation. Your text is
your love, your pen is your smile. I wish and pray that that smile dawns
always in the eyes of the Armenian children when their eyes are opened to
the light of this world. Allow us to kiss your hands today and say to you,
“Oh Mother, sweet and priceless.”
>>From a Mothers’ Day message by Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian, May 1976.
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