Author: Nadirian Emma

ACCOUNT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WINS BOOK AWARD

Jerusalem Post
May 7 2007

An account of the Armenian genocide written by a visiting professor
at the University of Minnesota won a Minnesota Book Award this weekend.

Taner Akcam was honored for writing "A Shameful Act: The Armenian
Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility."

Judges called it a "pioneering work" and "scrupulous account of Turkish
responsibility for the killing of close to 1 million Armenians" and
praised Akcam and his publisher, Metropolitan Books, for "challenging
the country’s 90-plus-year denial of intentional genocide."

Akcam left Turkey in the 1970s after being prosecuted, jailed,
threatened, vilified and harassed.

Fars News Agency, Iran
May 6 2007

Armenians Adore Iran

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Armenia’s ambassador to Tehran said that
Iran’s popularity has been on the increase among his fellow citizens
due to Islamic Republic’s policy and specially after a ceremony held
by Iran in the city of Isfahan to honor the memory of Armenian
martyrs.

Speaking during a meeting with Isfahan’s mayor, the envoy pointed to
the two countries’ positive relations, and praised the Iranian people
and government’s support for Armenians and settlement of Armenian
families in the city of Isfahan.

He further said that mutual ties between Isfahan and Yerevan as
sister cities would result in all-out and sustainable development of
both cities, and reminded that the positive ties between the two
nations in the past centuries have caused proximity of the two
countries’ cultures and arts.

"Existence of monuments with Islamic and Iranian architecture in
Armenia substantiates the same fact," Nazarian continued.

He further proposed arrangement of Armenia’s cultural week in
Isfahan, and pointed out that his country’s art, painting, music and
handicrafts have always received a wide welcome among Iranians,
saying that arrangement of cultural weeks by the two countries would
serve as a significant step in the expansion of cultural ties between
the two nations.

The ambassador also appreciated Isfahan’s municipality for rendering
support and paying attention to the Armenian population residing in
the city, and said, "Holding of the ceremony to commemorate Armenian
martyrs in the city of Isfahan has received a wide coverage in the
Armenian press and among people, and the very same supports and
relations have increased Iran’s popularity among Armenian nation."

For his part, Isfahan’s mayor viewed the two countries’ relations as
positive and constructive, and said that the inauguration ceremony
for the start of operation of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline which was
attended by the two countries’ presidents illustrated the depth of
the two countries’ relations.

He expressed the hope that the two countries’ ties would expand to
such other areas as education, trade and tourism.

Seyed Morteza Sagha’eyan further described age-old settlement of
Armenians in Isfahan as an indication of the affinity of the city’s
Muslim population for the followers of other religions, and said that
Isfahan’s municipality has repaired and reconstructed one of the
well-known districts in the city, where Muslims and Armenians conduct
a peaceful life alongside each other, to preserve the area as a
precious gem displaying coexistence among divine religions.

He also reminded that Isfahan was selected as the cultural capital
city of the world of Islam in 2006, and said, "In addition to its
cultural and historical potentials, Isfahan is an influential and
active city in grounds of education, commerce and industry, and thus,
we are prepared to exchange information and experiences with sister
cities, particularly with Yerevan.

The mayor further stressed the need for the enhancement of relations
between Isfahan and Yerevan, and underlined that all city officials
insist on the implementation of the contents of Isfahan-Yerevan
sister city contract and utilization of all other potentials in order
to enhance ties between the two cities, saying that the move would
yield benefits to both sides.

RAPID CHESS MATCH KRAMNIK VS ARONIAN BEGINS TODAY

ChessBase, Germany
May 4 2007

04.05.2007 – After beating Peter Leko in Hungary Vladimir Kramnik
is taking on the world number five player Levon Aronian in his home
country of Armenia. A six-game rapid chess match will be played in
the Yerevan Opera House, from May 4th to 6th, 2007. Games start at
15:00h and 16:45 CEST. We bring you full information and a pre-match
interview with Lev Aronian.

The Aronian-Kramnik Rapid Chess Match takes place in Yerevan, Armenia,
from May 4th to 6th, 2007. I goes over six games, played at the rate
of 25 min for the entire game with a increment of 10 seconds per
move. The match will be played over three days, in the Yerevan Opera
House, with the games beginning at 18:00 hrs and 19:45 hrs local time
(GMT + 4). That is 15:00h CEST, 14:00h London and 09:00 a.m. New York
for the first game; 16:45h, 15:45h and 10:45 a.m. for the second. Click
on the Yerevan times above to get your own local time.

Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was born on June 25, 1975. He is currently
the World Champion, rated 2772 (third in the world). By any measure he
has already achieved legendary status: for over a decade and a half he
has been at the top of the ratings list, and in 2000 he wrested the
World Championship crown from Garry Kasparov, who had carried it for
fifteen years. In 2004 he defended it against Peter Leko and in 2006
won the Unification World Championship against Veselin Topalov. He
is an excellent rapid chess player, having recently won the Amber
Blindfold and Rapid tournament and an eight-game rapid chess match
against Peter Leko in Miskolc, Hungary.

Kramnik is renowned as an extremely solid player who loses rarely,
even when not at his best. A testament to his unyielding performance
is his streak in 1999 and 2000 where he played 86 games at classical
controls without a single defeat.

Levon Aronian of Armenia was born on October 6, 1982 and was a two
time World Junior Champion (under-12 in 1994 and under-20 in 2002).

He currently is ranked fifth in the world with a rating of 2759. The
latest in the long line of Armenian chess stars, the 24 year old
Levon Aronian has recently catapulted himself into very top circle
of the chess elite with victories in the Category 20 Morelia/Linares
Super-GM 2006 tournament. Aronian also lead his Armenian compatriots
to a deserved gold medal at the Turin Chess Olympiad in 2006.

Aronian’s playing style is difficult to characterize and easy to
misunderstand. His games are unconventional and exciting, while his
attitude is engaging and uncompromising. In his non-professional life
he maintains a light, positive attitude under all circumstances.

Pre-match Interview with Levon Aronian Conducted by Aram Hajian Aram
Hajian: Hi Levon – nice to talk to you again and welcome back to
Yerevan. Tomorrow you square off against the World Champion Vladimir
Kramnik in a 6 game rapid chess match. How would you assess him as
a player?

Levon Aronian: Well, it is well known that Kramnik rarely loses, a
solid positional player in the classic sense. In fact, I have to say
that I like to play in a similar style – I like his games. Of course,
he has had his ups and downs, but when he is at his best you could
say that he is almost unbeatable.

I am sure you were following the Leko-Kramnik match [won by Kramnik
4.5-3.5]. What were your impressions of the games?

Actually, I didn’t have time to follow the games as I was at a
training camp here in Armenia. I did have a chance to briefly
look at the games after the fact, but can’t give you a really
deep assessment. Nevertheless, it seems that his victory was fairly
convincing, an opinion shared by several of my colleagues who followed
the games more carefully.

Much has been discussed about your meteoric rise to the very top of
chess over the past two years. If there was a single factor that you
would attribute to this rise, what would it be?

LA: [some hesitation] Pure luck. [Laughter]

Well, OK, I guess everyone is entitled to his opinion. Levon, you
mentioned that you were at a training session recently. Who do you
work with?

It has become customary for me to study chess with friends. And once
again, in the resort town of Jermuk, I was with several of my "usual
suspects," GMs Gabriel Sargissian, Arman Pashikian, and Ara Minasian.

Regarding this session, I am quite satisfied from the time spent with
them and think that it was a successful effort. I’d like to underscore
that I enjoy training with my friends.

Armenians have cemented their reputation as a strong chess-playing
nation. Is there a so-called "Armenian style" of chess? If so, how
would you describe it?

Generally, you could say that Armenians have had a lack in opening
preparation, leading to positions out of the opening where they
haven’t enjoyed much of an opening advantage. Maybe the Informants
[compendiums of opening theory and analysis] didn’t reach far-away
Armenia because of the unreliable postal service [smiling]. Seriously
though, one could characterize Armenians by their fighting spirit,
often playing long games, striving for victory to the very end. But
it’s possible that I am not so typical in this regard. My recent
experience playing in many high level tournaments has compelled me
to improve my opening preparedness.

Levon, you are well known as a strong player in all kinds of formats.

What do you have to say about the 25 minute game time control?

I like playing chess. It doesn’t matter if it is 5 minute blitz, 25
minute rapid, or a two hours per side classical match. Quite simply,
I enjoy playing chess.

Any closing thoughts?

Just a warm greeting to all my friends and fans!

OK. Thanks Levon and best of luck in the upcoming match.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
May 3, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REP. PALLONE SLAMS U.N. FOR CAPITULATION
TO TURKISH PRESSURE ON GENOCIDE EXHIBIT

"I don’t think that the U.N. response to genocides
should be denigrated to a level acceptable to the
Turkish Government." — Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)

WASHINGTON, DC – In a powerful speech on the House floor,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
castigated the United Nations for first postponing and then
rewording a Rwandan genocide exhibit in response to protests from
the Turkish Government about its inclusion of a display citing the
Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of
America (ANCA).

"We thank Congressman Pallone for speaking to his Congressional
colleagues – and the American public – about Turkey’s pressure on
the United Nations to water down the reference to the Armenian
Genocide in the recently opened Rwanda Genocide exhibit," said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We value Frank Pallone’s
leadership and share his principled view that the international
community’s efforts to prevent and punish genocide should be not
reduced to the level acceptable to a Turkish government that is
actively pursuing a campaign of genocide denial – both here in the
United States and around the world."

The controversy arose three weeks ago when the United Nations first
postponed the opening of an exhibit on the Rwandan Genocide,
organized by the Aegis Trust, which made reference to the Armenian
Genocide. Over the past several weeks, as the result of intense
pressure from the Turkish government, the United Nations reworded
the exhibit prior to its opening this week. The postponement was
covered widely in the U.S. press, including articles by the New
York Times and Associated Press. A New York Times editorial
regarding the issue stated, "It’s odd that Turkey’s leaders have
not figured out by now that every time they try to censor
discussion of the Armenian genocide, they only bring wider
attention to the subject and link today’s democratic Turkey with
the now distant crime. As for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his
inexperienced new leadership team, they have once again shown how
much they have to learn if they are to honorably and effectively
serve the United Nations, which is supposed to be the embodiment of
international law and a leading voice against genocide." The ANCA,
Genocide Intervention Network, and Armenian Assembly called on the
U.N. to reject Turkey’s objections to the exhibit.

Rep. Pallone, clearly incensed by the U.N. decision to reword the
exhibit prior to its opening, remarked:

"How, exactly, are you educating the public about genocide when you
refuse to call the first genocide of the 20th century by its name?
The word ‘genocide’ was actually created as a way to describe the
barbaric crimes inflicted against the Armenians between 1915 and
1923, but now the word cannot be used in an exhibit at the U.N.
This is utterly ridiculous. . . Would you ever have an exhibit on
Christianity without mentioning the birth of Christ?"

Congressman Pallone’s complete House floor statement is provided
below.

#####

Statement by Rep. Frank Pallone
Regarding U.N. Exhibit on the Rwanda Genocide
May 2, 2007

Mr. Speaker, yesterday what was supposed to be an important U.N.
exhibit educating the world about the Rwandan genocide was turned
into a farce thanks to the actions of the Turkish Government. Three
weeks ago, when the Rwanda genocide exhibit was originally set to
open, the Turkish Government did what the Turkish Government often
does, denied historical facts and objected to the exhibit because
it objected to Armenian genocide as an example of genocide.

It was bad enough that this important U.N. exhibit documenting the
Rwanda genocide was delayed by 3 weeks because Turkey continued to
deny the past, but I was appalled when the exhibit was opened
yesterday at the U.N. with one major revision.

Gone was the citing of the systematic killing of 1.5 millions
Armenians as genocide. Instead it was referred to as a mass killing
in order to appease the Turkish Government. No serious historical
dispute exists about the Armenian genocide. Sadly, an intensive and
well-financed effort by the Turkish Government has succeeded in
preventing the United States, and now the U.N., from any formal
recognition of the Armenian genocide.

This is the warped Turkish version of history, and it’s simply not
acceptable. The Turkish objection to this exhibit is the latest
example of their genocide denial. It’s absolutely ludicrous that an
exhibit dedicated to the education and prevention of genocide would
include Armenia as an example, use the definition of the term
"genocide," but not use the word "genocide" to describe the events.

How, exactly, are you educating the public about genocide when you
refuse to call the first genocide of the 20th century by its name?
The word "genocide" was actually created as a way to describe the
barbaric crimes inflicted against the Armenians between 1915 and
1923, but now the word cannot be used in an exhibit at the U.N.
This is utterly ridiculous.

Would you ever have an exhibit on Christianity without mentioning
the birth of Christ? The same type of absurdity has been used by
President Bush during his annual statement commemorating the
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Year after year the Bush
administration continues to play word games by not calling evil by
its proper name.

If I could just end by saying, I don’t think that the U.N. response
to genocides should be denigrated to a level acceptable to the
Turkish Government. It’s about time that the Bush administration
started dictating a policy for Americans, not for a foreign
government like Turkey. This lack of honesty is simply not
acceptable.

Turkey should be condemned for its policy of denying the Armenian
genocide. As a global community we must collectively stand for
historical truth and properly recognize the worst humanitarian
crimes we have seen.

EXHIBIT ON RWANDAN GENOCIDE OPENED

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2007 13:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After a 3-week delay the exhibit on Rwandan genocide
opened in the UN. The delay was caused by Turkey, which insisted on
changes to be made in the exposition dedicated to the killings of
Armenians during World War I. Originally, the Armenian Genocide sector
was represented the following way: "After the World War I, during which
1.5 million Armenians were killed, Polish human rights activist Rafael
Lemkin called on the League of Nations to acknowledge the barbarian
crimes as international," a representative of Aegis Trust said.

The new text reads, "In 1944 human rights activist Rafael Lemkin
called on the League of Nations to recognize mass killing against
people by nationality as international crime. He mentioned of the
mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I
and other mass killings in history. He was not heard."

Armen Martirosyan, RA Ambassador to the UN, said that Armenia is not
absolutely content with such trade-off wording but it’s better than
constant delays of the exhibit.

Turkish diplomats did not attend the exhibit, Gazeta.ru reports.

During the opening ceremony UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said ‘the
exhibition is dedicated to the genocide in Rwanda and doesn’t aim at
making historical conclusions on other topics. The UN doesn’t adhere
to any stance on the events that took place before World War II.’

MANUK GASPARYAN TO CHALLENGE ELECTION RESULTS

A1+
[04:22 pm] 30 April, 2007

"In case the upcoming elections are fabricated, I shall stay outdoors
from May 13 unless falsifiers are revealed and banished from Armenia,"
Manuk Gasparyan, the leader of the Democratic Way Party, said during
today’s press conference at the Friday Club.

The Democratic Way Party has visited 117 dwelling places since the
official onset of the pre-election campaign. The party members find
the election campaign good and civilized, with the exception of
certain places; Mkhchyan, Zovuni, Shahumyan and Gyumri.

For instance, the village head of Zovuni didn’t inform the residents
about DWP’s arrival though he had promised to arrange the meeting.

Manuk Gasparyan spoke about Russia’s anti-Armenian stance and the
Armenian Embassy’s indifference towards the recent murders.

Manuk Gasparyan was one of the first to react to the revelation of
the wiretapped talk of Arthur Baghdasaryan with the Charge D’affaires
of the U.K.

"In this pre-election fuss they make efforts to make Arthur
Baghdasaryan give up likelihood to run in the presidential election. I
think it is a shame that Arthur Baghdasaryan and others rely on
the outside long before the election and electoral fraud," Manuk
Gasparyan says.

Arshak Sadoyan, who runs for parliament on the ticket of the Democratic
Way Party, says the incident was exaggerated, and even contains some
elements of advertisement.

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

April 26, 2007

40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDINATION OF
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN
The 40th anniversary of the ordination of our Prelate, Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, will take place in three different regions as follows:
On Saturday, May 5, the first of the three celebrations will take place
at The Marriott in Providence, Rhode Island, with the participation of all
of the parishes in New England, Connecticut, and Troy, New York.
On Saturday, May 12, the second celebration will take place at the The
Marriott at Glenpointe, in Teaneck, New Jersey, with the participation of
all of the parishes in the Mid Atlantic, which includes New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.
The final celebration will take place during the National Representative
Assembly (NRA) which is being hosted by St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn,
Michigan. This will take place on Friday, May 18, at Double Tree Hotel in
Dearborn, with the participation of the parishes in the Mid-West, as well as
the NRA delegates and guests.

ECUMENICAL RECEPTION AT PRELACY NEXT FRIDAY
IN HONOR OF ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the ordination of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, an Ecumenical Reception will take place in the Vahakn
and Hasmig Hovnanian Hall at the Prelacy headquarters in New York next
Friday afternoon, May 4. Ecumenical leaders and friends will come to
congratulate His Eminence on the occasion of his milestone anniversary.

APRIL 24 COMMEMORATIONS
The Prelate and the Vicar General participated in a number of April 24th
events this past weekend.
On Friday, Bishop Anoushavan, attended the commemoration at City Hall in
New York, where he delivered the invocation.
On Sunday, April 22, Archbishop Oshagan delivered the invocation at the
gathering at Times Square organized by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan.
On Tuesday, April 24, Archbishop Oshagan, attended the genocide
commemoration on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the
bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues. His Eminence delivered
the invocation. Shown in the accompanying photograph, left to right, are
Garo Armenian, Vahan Hovanessian, Viken Hovsepian, and Dr. Dertad
Manguikian.

PRELATE AND VICAR WILL ATTEND MEETING
Next Thursday, May 3, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan will
attend a regularly scheduled meeting of the "Christian and Arab Middle
Eastern Churches Together," in Brooklyn. Archbishop Oshagan is the chairman
of this organization formed two years ago.

COMMON DECLARATION ISSUED BY POPE SHENOUDA III,
PATRIARCH ZAKKA I, AND CATHOLICOS ARAM I
The heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, who have headquarters in
the Middle East, held their 10th annual meeting on April 19 to 21, at St.
Ephrem Syrian Orthodox Monastery in Damascus, Syria. This fellowship of
three Oriental Orthodox Churches was founded in 1996, through the initiative
of His Holiness Aram I.
The leaders of these three churches are: His Holiness Pope Shenouda II
of the Coptic Church, His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I of the Syrian Church,
and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, of the Armenian Church (Holy See of
Cilicia).
At the conclusion of the meeting, a common declaration was issued. The
next meeting is scheduled to take place May 8 to 10, 2008, hosted by the
Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRELATE WILL ATTEND DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. SARKIS
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis
Church in Douglaston, New York, this Sunday, April 29.

VICAR WILL ATTEND DIVINE LITURGY IN WORCESTER
Bishop Anoushavan will visit the St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Worcester,
Massachusetts, this Sunday, April 29. Accompanying him will be the chairman
of the Executive Council, Jack Mardoian, Esq.

RELIGIOUS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS TO MEET
The Religious and Executive Councils of the Eastern Prelacy will convene
Friday and Saturday at the Prelacy headquarters in New York City.

2007 DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
The 21st annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Christian summer studies
program will take place July 1 to 8 in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

2007 NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY IN DEARBORN
The 2007 National Representative Assembly (NRA) will be hosted by St.
Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON MAY 7
The popular Mothers Day luncheon presented by the Prelacy Ladies Guild
will take place on Monday, May 7, at the St. Regis in New York City.
This year’s Mother of the Year is Mrs. Lalig Bayrakdarian, mother of six
children, including the famed Metropolitan Opera star, Isabel Bayrakdarian.
A special presentation of "Musical Sounds of Armenia" will be provided
by a quartet made up of graduates and current students of Juilliard and solo
dance presentation accompanied by kanon and piano.

IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated 2007 as the Year of the Armenian Language. In celebration of this
year-long tribute, each week we will offer an interesting tidbit about the
Armenian language.
Armenian can be subdivided in two major dialectal blocks and those
blocks into individual dialects, though many of the Western Armenian
dialects have died due to the effects of the Armenian Genocide. In addition,
neither dialect is completely homogeneous: any dialect can be subdivided
into several subdialects. While Western and Eastern Armenian are often
described as different dialects of the same language, some subdialects are
nor readily mutually intelligible. It is true, however, that a fluent
speaker of two greatly varying subdialects who are exposed to the other
dialect over even a short period of time will be able to understand the
other with relative ease.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, April 26, are: Luke 8:1-21; Acts 11:1-26; 1
Peter 3:10-22; John 4:24-42; Matthew 9:35-10:15; Mark 4:1-9.
Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered
around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole
crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in
parables, and in his teaching he said to them: "Listen! A sower went out to
sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate
it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and
it spring up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose,
it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell
among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and
increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold." And he said,
"Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" Mark 4:1-9.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: RED SUNDAY
This Sunday, April 29, is the fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Red
Sunday (Karmir Kiraki). The name Red Sunday does not have an ecclesiastical
origin, but rather similar to last week’s Green Sunday, it is a celebration
of nature, especially the rebirth of the land in spring when red flowers
grow in the fields. The Gospel reading for this Sunday (John 5:19-30)
emphasizes the life-giving word of Jesus. The forty days after Easter
commemorate Christ’s various appearances prior to His ascension.
Green Sunday and Red Sunday are appropriate days for us to concentrate
on our relationship with nature and our stewardship of this good earth given
to us by our Lord.

CELEBRATING SHAKESPEARE..
The exact date of birth of William Shakespeare is unknown. However,
there is documentation that he was baptized on April 26, 1564. Shakespeare
is the most translated and most quoted author. Many of his phrases have
passed into everyday usage in English.

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Shakespeare in Macbeth

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 5-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in the
New England area will take place in Providence, Rhode Island.

May 6-30th anniversary of St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School, Terrace on
the Park, Corona, New York, at 5 pm.

May 7-Prelacy Ladies Guild Mothers’ Day Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., St. Regis
Hotel, Two East 55th Street (at Fifth Avenue), New York City. Special
entertainment, "Musical Sounds of Armenia."

May 12-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in Mid
Atlantic area will take place at the Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New
Jersey.

May 12-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, 50th anniversary concert
featuring Onnik Dinkjian and John Berberian.

May 12-Armenian Dance party, St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts.

May 18-40th anniversary of ordination of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan in
Midwest will take place at the National Representative Assembly.

May 20-"Hello Ellis Island" and Reception, St. Stephen’s Church Hall,
Watertown, Massachusetts. $20 per person. Information, 617-924-7562.

July 1-8-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, 21st annual summer Christian
studies program for junior and senior high school students, at St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

July 21-Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Providence, Rhode Island, and
ARS Ani Chapter present "A Hye Summer Night 2." For information
401-286-8107.

August 7-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual golf
tournament at Blackstone Country Club.

August 19-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church picnic.

September 27-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 5th Annual Golf
Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. Registration
begins at 11 a.m. and tee time at 1 p.m. For information, 201-943-2950.

September 29-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 50th
anniversary banquet at Pleasant Valley.

December 1-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, annual
church bazaar.

December 9-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 50th anniversary
celebration. For information, (617) 924-7562.

Visit our website at

SWEDISH OMX GROUP TO PURCHASE ARMENIAN STOCK EXCHANGE AND THE CENTRAL DEPOSITARY

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
April 27 2007

Yerevan, April 27 /Mediamax/. The Swedish OMX Group will purchase
the Armenian Stock Exchange and the Central Depositary.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the Armenian Central
Bank, the corresponding memorandum was signed today by the Armenian
government, the Central Bank of Armenia and the OMX Company. The deal
will be ratified after signing the corresponding agreement.

The decision of OMX on the participation in the development of the
Armenian capital market was welcomed today by the Armenian Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisian, who promised on behalf of the government
the support of the country in reaching the set goals.

Chairman of the Armenian Central Bank Tigran Sarkisian informed that
the cooperation with OMX has been already in process for a year. "The
participation of the given company in the Armenian market of capital
will assist in reaching our long-term goals", Tigran Sarkisian noted.

The General Executive Director of OMX Magnus Bocker, in his turn,
stated that the acquisition of the Armenian Stock Exchange and the
Central Depositary will increase the efficiency of their work and
will help to use the experience, achieved in Armenia, for entering
other new markets of capital.

The Swedish OMX Group was established in 2003. OMX is the operator of
Nordic Exchange, which controls about 80% of the securities market
of Scandinavia and Baltic states. The gain for 2006 made $516,7mln,
the net profits – $121mln, the capitalization – $2,5bln.

The company provides technical support to 60 exchanges in 50 countries
of the world.

SOLEMN OPENING OF COMBINED ENDEAVOUR – 2007 EXERCISES TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The solemn opening ceremony of
Combined Endeavour – 2007 exercises took place on April 27 at Marshal
A. Khamperiants Aviation Institute. The goal of the exercises held
within the framework of Partnership for Peace program is to test,
to indentify and to motivate by documents cooperation of united
multi-national strategic and tractical communication systems.

In the words of RA Defence Minister Mikayel Haroutiunian, holding of
such exercises is the evidence of high level of cooperation between
Armenian Defence Ministry and U.S. European Command. A number of
exercises have been held in Armenia since 2000 within the framework of
Partnership for Peace NATO program by U.S. European Command. There is
an agreement about holding new combined exercises in 2008 in Armenia.

The Minister said that the Combined Endeavour exercises held for
aready 15 years in the German city of Baumholder are held in another
country for the first time. Armenia has been taking part in these
exercises for five years and Armenian signallers have always been
highly estimated and praised. This year over 130 representatives
from Croatia, France, Russia, Georgia, U.S. and Armenia take part in
the exercises. The participants from Ukraine have not arrived due to
country’s domestic problems.

Charge d’Affaires of U.S. Anthony Godfrey said that the Partnership
for Peace program was created by NATO in 1994 for cooperating with
the countries, which enter into the stage of democracy. Starting
that period hundreds of exercises have been held in Armenia,
which contributed to establishment of close relations among their
participant-countries. Taking into consideration the success of
Partnership for Peace program, the U.S. government decided to sponsor
holding of a number of exercises every year within the framework of
the program, one of which is the Combined Endeavour. The goal of the
exercises is to make more efficient the possibility of communication
among armed forces of participant-countries.

OSCE MISSION REVEALS NO CEASE-FIRE VIOLATION

ArmRadio.am
27.04.2007 16:55

In compliance with an earlier agreement with NKR authorities, the
OSCE Mission today carried out monitoring of the contact line of the
Armed Forces of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan in the north of Talish
settlement in Martakert region.

Armenpress was told from the NKR MFA that the from the positions
of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted by the OSCE
Office coordinator Imre Palatinus (Hungary), Field Assistants of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Gunter Folk (Germany) and Miroslav Vimetal
(Czech Republic). From the Azerbaijani side the monitoring group was
headed by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

The monitoring was held in compliance with the preset schedule, no
violation of the cease-fire regime was registered. From the Karabakhi
side, the monitoring group was accompanied by representatives of the
NKR Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.