Author: Nahapetian Samvel

CANADIAN-ARMENIAN COMMUNITY TO PROTEST AGAINST TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 11:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Canadian-Armenian communities of Montreal and
Toronto will hold three protest rallies this Friday, Saturday and
Sunday to express their frustration and opposition to the signing of
"so-called" protocols that will guide the establishment and development
of relations between Turkey and Armenia, which was jointly announced
on August 31 2009 by the foreign ministers of Armenia, Turkey and
Switzerland.

The public protest in Montreal will take place on Friday October
9, 2009 at 9 PM in front of the Armenian Genocide monument in
Montreal (in the park on the corner of Avenue Henri-Bourassa and
L’Acadie). In Toronto, the Armenian community will first organize
a youth protest rally on Saturday October 10 2009 at 2 PM at Nathan
Phillips Square-Winston Churchill Statue/Speakers Corner. There will
also be a public gathering on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 2 PM at
the Armenian Youth Centre of Toronto (50 Hallcrown Place, Victoria
Park Ave. and Highway Heroes). Armenians in Canada and around the
world believe in reconciliation but they are opposing the protocols
because they encourage the denialist ambitions of Turkey and abuse
the vulnerability of the Armenian Government vis-a-vis its economic,
social and geopolitical problems.

These protocols are especially adverse to the Armenian Nation’s
inalienable rights and interests. Turkey wants to hinder the
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, by creating
historical sub-commissions to examine the events of 1915. Numerous
countries and organizations including the Canadian Parliament in
April 2004 and the Canadian Government in 2006, the International
Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) in June 1997, June 2006 and
October 2006, have recognized the Armenian Genocide.

The International Centre of Transitional Justice (ICTJ) that studied
the Armenian case requested by a similar historical sub-commission,
Turkish-Armenian Reconciliatio (TARC), has already concluded that
the events of 1915 constituted a Genocide.

Armenians also oppose other parts of the protocols which force
Armenia to accept the current borders of Turkey, thus validating the
dispossession of Western Armenia and waiving the right of the Armenian
Nation to negotiate fully over Armenian Genocide reparations. They
are also concerned that the protocols, which call for respecting and
ensuring respect for the principles of non intervention in internal
affairs of other states, territorial integrity and inviolability of
frontiers, but do not mention the equally recognised international
principle of self-determination, will jeopardize the self-determination
of the people of Nagorno-Karabagh and negotiations for a peaceful
settlement of that conflict.

The upcoming rallies in Montreal and Toronto are among a number of
public protests being held in Canada, across the world, as well as in
Armenia. Armenians around the world have organized protests against
the new wave of Turkish denialism. In Canada hundreds of Armenian Youth
gathered on Friday October 2 nd 2009 at the Armenian Community Centre
in Toronto and protested against these unfair protocols. Petitions
are being signed, and calls to redress the situation are also being
communicated to the President of Armenia, during the consultations
held this past week in cities across the world where large Armenian
communities reside.

CLOSED BORDERS NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE INNER COMPETITIVENESS
Nvard Davtyan

"Radiolur"
07.10.2009 18:50

The 30th sitting of the CIS Interstate Council on Anti-monopoly
Policy kicked off in Armenia today. The sitting features heads of
anti-monopoly bodies from about 14 countries. The participants discuss
most urgent issues that arise in the field of anti-monopoly policy
or defense of competitiveness.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan noted that although problems of
competitiveness differ in different countries, the exchange of
experience will be useful in helping to avoid repeating each other’s
mistakes.

"Market economy envisages equal conditions of competition. Any
deviation in this field creates problems," the Prime Minister said.

According to Tigran Sargsyan, the main problem in Armenia is the high
level of shadow economy, and not only the anti-monopoly organizations,
but also the government have something to do here. We have problems in
the field of tax administration. Closed roads also negatively impact
the internal competition. Problems become more tangible under the
conditions of the crisis. "However, the crisis provides an opportunity
to implement ambitions reforms, as well.

EX-OFFICIAL CONCERNED OVER ACTUAL MILITARY BUDGET CUT
Sargis Harutyunyan

le/1845045.html
06.10.2009

A former deputy defense minister expects the planned actual curtailment
of military spending envisaged by Armenia’s 2010 state budget to have
a negative effect on the country’s defense capability.

His concerns, however, are not shared by the Defense Ministry’s
chief financier, who says that the 30 percent reduction in spending
estimated in U.S. dollars reflects the corresponding depreciation of
the national currency that has taken place on the foreign exchange
market since the approval of the current year’s budget in late 2008.

The actual reduction, meanwhile, follows the general pattern of the
government’s request for the 2010 budgetary expenditures that it
plans to slash by nine percent citing the ongoing economic recession
and the resulting serious shortfall in tax revenues.

In an interview with RFE/RL on Tuesday, Vahan Shirkhanian, who served
as Armenia’s deputy prime minister and deputy defense minister in the
late 1990s, said this development is certain to have an impact on the
overall fighting capacity of the Armenian army which he described as
a complex and dynamic structure that has enjoyed a sufficient level
of funding in recent years.

"The [military] budget would grow by $100-120 million every year and
that could not but have its [positive] effect in the matter of ensuring
[the country’s] military security," he said. "But today we witness a
sharp increase of Azerbaijan’s military budget and it is reflected not
only in the increase in funding, but also in its purchasing modern
high-precision weapons… I consider it unacceptable that Armenia
cut its military spending."

Speaking to RFE/RL on the phone, the Defense Ministry chief financier
Colonel Vagharshak Avetisian said that the Ministry had submitted
a request for about 130 billion drams in next year’s budget, which
is nearly the same amount as the 2008 request for the current
year. However, he explained, considering the devaluation of the
national currency by nearly 30 percent, it turns out that the defense
budget in 2010 will be nearly 30 percent less.

At the end of 2008, when this year’s military budget was approved,
it was equivalent to $426 million. At the current dollar-dram exchange
rate, the same amount in drams will be equivalent to $335 million.

But according to Avetisian, in any case the depreciation of the
national currency will not affect the Defense Ministry expenditure
in the main directions.

"Even if some changes are made in terms of reduction, then our main
spending spheres and directions will never be affected by that. And,
naturally, if there is a need for reduction, we can make cuts in
capital construction, while the other expenditure items will not be
affected," said Avetisian.

Avetisian also downplayed the impact of the exchange rate on military
purchases abroad that are transacted in hard currency.

"Our surveys show that the current level of prices [for weaponry]
abroad is lower than it was during the past years," he said.

Avetisian also brushed aside the argument made by the former defense
ministry official that certain budget reductions might cause some
discontent mainly among senior command staff who will have to complete
harder tasks with less funding.

"We have made a budget request based on this year’s volumes. No changes
will be made in any spending direction. Moreover, there will be some
increase in money allowances," said Avetisian. "I can say that our
armed forces will be provided with everything that is necessary to
achieve our objectives at a given period of time."

ARMENIANS OF GREECE OPPOSE SIGNING OF THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2009 19:40 GMT+04:00

ARF Dashnaktsutyun Central Committee of Greece held a political
meeting in Athens on October 5. During the meeting representatives
of the Armenian community of Greece have expressed their protests
in connection with the protocols on normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations. Ara Mankoyan introduced anti-Armenian provisions of the
Protocols and urged not to sign the Protocols.

"Protocols must not contain items suggesting that the Armenian side
abandon territorial claims. These protocols should not turn the
fact of the Armenian Genocide into subject of discussion and should
not be connected with the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, "
Ara Mankoyan said. He stressed that the Protocols contain all above
mentioned preconditions. According to him, establishment of good
neighborly relations between Armenia and Turkey is unrealistic in
the given circumstances.

"Why has the Armenian leadership had such a position in respect to
Turkey, especially given that Turkish officials do not speak of even
minimal guarantees of peaceful coexistence? Turkey in a hurry to sign
the Protocol in order to show the world that it is a country seeking
to establish good relations with neighboring countries, and thus
to overcome the resistance of the countries opposing its membership
in the EU, " Ara Mankoyan said. After the meeting, members started
collecting signatures against the adoption of the Armenian-Turkish
Protocols, Azad Or Athens newspaper reports.

ARMENIAN AND AMERICAN PRESIDENTS HAVE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

ArmInfo
2009-10-06 09:46:00

ArmInfo. Armenian and American presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Barack
Obama have had a telephone conversation at the initiative of US
president during S. Sargsyan’s stay in Los Angeles. To recall, the
Armenian president visited the City of Angels within the frames of
the pan-Armenian tour.

As the presidential press service reports, B. Obama expressed
assistance to S. Sargsyan in his efforts aimed at normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations. US president confirmed his country’s
official stance once again, that is, the process of normalization of
the Armenian-Turkish relations should run without any preconditions
and should not be linked with the Karabakh conflict settlement.

President Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to US president for
assistance in the Armenian-Turkish process, and shared his impressions
from the pan-Armenian tour. The S. Sargsyan emphasized that the
Armenians’ concern regarding the Armenian-Turkish process is natural
in view of the fact that the Armenian people suffered Genocide by the
Ottoman Empire, which president Obama has multiply mentioned about
in his speeches.

President Sargsyan also thanked B. Obama for the great mediatory
work by the USA within the frames of OSCE Minsk Group and emphasized
Armenia’s readiness to move forward to achieve peaceful settlement
of the problem, the cornerstone of which should become free will
expression of the NKR people, that forms the basis of OSCE MG Madrid
Principles.

V. HOVNANYAN: WE DON’T HAVE TERRITORIAL CLAIMS, BUT DIASPORA HAS

Aysor.am
Monday, October 05

"We don’t have territorial claims, but another Armenia – that
is, Diaspora, has them and this country cannot speak instead
of another. Diaspora is beyond Armenia and has experienced these
troubles," said at today’s press-conference Hovnanyan International’s
president Vahagn Hovnanyan.

Diaspora has normally responded to initialed protocols, he says,
as everyone can’t support those documents. "It’s freedom of choice."

Asked whether Armenian-Turkish relations and border opening hinder
Genocide recognition, Mr. Hovnanyan said definitely no and that
Armenians can free apply to the court.

"Initialed protocols cannot hinder process of Genocide
recognition. It’s an experienced event, and one or two persons are
unable to prevent. Only spending prevents. All the facts we have got."

PRESIDENT’S ALL-ARMENIAN TOUR – QUITE SUCCESSFUL

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2009 16:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I positively estimate RA President’s tour to
Diaspora communities," RPA Vice Chair Razmik Zorabyan told a news
conference in Yerevan.

Speaker found Diaspora’s concerns natural, and stressed President’s
efforts towards dissipating them. Armenian media, according to
him, always exaggerate Diaspora’s reaction to the current stage of
Armenian-Turkish process.

"President’s meeting in Paris was quite a success. There really was
a protest action there, and I find it quite natural. However, it’s
very impolite to offend President," Mr. Zorabyan said.

Hellenic News of America

22 New Memberships

Maria Karagianis, Anatolia Director of US Operations, with Paulette Poulos.

The National Membership Committee, under the Chairmanship of Thomas
L. Demakes, succeeded in recruiting 22 new memberships toward the 2009
goal of 50. There are now 825 members with 397 fulfilled members and
86 Leadership 100 Partners.

Prospect lists sent to members of the Board of Trustees and Membership
Chairmen in their respective Metropolises developed by Project Fish
Finder, an innovative marketing plan devised by Mike Henry, a member
of the Board of Trustees, and personal peer to peer contacts, resulted
in the majority of new members.

Events in Boston in September and plans for future events in Chicago
and Cleveland have already identified likely prospects that promise to
reach, if not exceed the goal.

In addition, the Leadership 100 Office has dramatically reduced the
Inactive Members list and is now focusing on maintaining accurate
updated listings of contributing members.

Chairman Stephen G. Yeonas has continued to make membership
recruitment the highest priority of his tenure with a new campaign
challenge to all members: Giving 5 Minutes a Day Leads a New Member
Our Way.’

Among the new members is Anatolia College, the K-12 American private
school and four- year Liberal Arts college in Thessaloniki, Greece,
which was founded by New England educators and missionaries in early
19th century Anatolia (modern day Turkey) and had educated Greek and
Armenian Christians in the Ottoman Empire for nearly 100 years before
moving to Greece in 1924. The College was recruited by National
membership Chairman, Thomas L. Demakes of the Metropolis of Boston.

The other new memberships (in most cases couples count as one
membership) and their Metropolises are:

Archdiocesan District of New York: Katrina P. Allwin- recruited by
Maria Allwin; Alexander Amanatides- recruited by Michael N. Bapis;
Stavros Aktipis ` recruited by James Pantelidis and Peter J. Pappas;
and Markos L. Drakotas ` recrui kis ` recruited by Michael N. Bapis,
Markos Marinakis and George Soterakis; John Neamonitis ` recruited by
George Soterakis; Michael and Robin Psaros ` recruited by Fr. Elias
Villis and Paulette Poulos; John Tsunis ` recruited by James
Pantelidis; and Dr. Dialecti Voudouris ` recruited by Dr. George
Carayannopoulos.

Metropolis of Boston: Christina Sakellaris and Peter Sakellaris `
recruited by Stephen G. Yeonas and Cathy Sakellaris.

Metropolis of Atlanta: Nicholas and Tina Trataros ` recruited by John
Kusturiss; and Alexandra Huttinger ` recruited by Dina Oldknow.

Metropolis of San Francisco: Chris and Jennifer Caras, Jr. ` recruited
by Chris W. Caras.

Metropolis of New Jersey: John and Maria Daskalakis, Jr., John Alex
Daskalakis III and Cina Daskalakis` recruited by John Daskalakis and
Louis Nicozisis; James M. and Nora C. Orphanides ` recruited by
Fr. Alexander Karloutsos and John Catsimatidis; Thrasyvoulas Maroulis
and Maria Stefanis ` recruited by Dr. George Stefanis; and an
anonymous new member recruited by Paulette Poulos.

State credit to be extended to ArmRosgasprom

YEREVAN, October 3. /ARKA/. Armenian cabinet ministers decided on
Thursday to lend $40 million to ArmRosgasprom CJSC from the budget in
the fourth quarter of this year.

The credit will be extended for six months at 11% interest.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said the company was successfully
implementing its investment program, and this credit will speed up that
process.

ArmRosgasprom has already invested $541 million for implementing its
projects.

`This is a bailout decision, and the credit is given for a short term
and are secured by reliable levers’, the premier said.

ArmRosgasprom’s investment program for 2009 and 2010 costs AMD 61.615
billion, of which 27.129 billion will be invested in 2009.

The aim of this investment program is to ensure non-stop, reliable and
safe gas supply.

ArmRosgasprom CJSC enjoys the sole right for importing and distributing
Russia gas in Armenia.

Russia conveys its gas to Armenia through Georgia.

The company was established in 1997.

Russian Gasprom holds 80% of the company’s shares, and the remaining
20% belong to Armenian government. ($1 = AMD 384.07). M.V.-0–

October 2, 2009

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

VERY REV. FR. VAGHINAG MELOIAN APPOINTED PASTOR OF
ST. GREGORY CHURCH IN SAN FRANCISCO

On behalf of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, and the
Religious and Executive Councils of the Western Prelacy, we hereby announce
that Very Rev. Fr. Vaghinag Meloian has been appointed pastor of St. Gregory
Church in San Francisco.
Fr. Vaghinag has been serving at St. Gregory Church for the past few
months alongside Rev. Fr. Avedis Torossian, who served as pastor for the
past seven years.
We wish Fr. Vaghinag success in his new position.

PRELATE TO CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGY
AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH ON
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY TRANSLATORS

Saturday, October 10th, 2009, is the Feast of the Holy Translators.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Forty Martyrs Church in
Orange County.
In observance of the Feast of the Holy Translators as well as
Armenian Cultural Month, the Pastor and Board of Trustees of Forty Martyrs
Church and the administration and parent-teacher committee of A.G. Minassian
School have organized a celebration to take place on that day.
Following Divine Liturgy, the Prelate will preside over the opening
of the annual book fair to take place at "Ghazarian" Hall.
On Friday, October 9th, the Prelate will preside over eve of the
Feast services at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino, and will deliver his
message on this occasion. The service begins at 7:00 p.m.

PRELATE CELEBRATES DIVINE LITURGY IN LAS VEGAS ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF
THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PARISH

On the weekend of September 25th, 2009, the third anniversary of the
re-establishment of the Las Vegas Parish was ceremoniously observed with a
banquet and Divine Liturgy celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate.
On Sunday, September 27th, the Prelate arrived at the church where
he has greeted by scouts from the Homenetmen "Artsakh" Chapter.
Accompanying the Prelate and assisting at the altar were Very Rev. Fr.
Barthev Gulumian and Deacon Zohrab Yaralian. Among those in attendance were
Executive Council members Mr. Vahe Hovaguimian and Mr. Vahrij Pilavjian.
Prior to his sermon the Prelate congratulated the parish community
on their anniversary, and commended all those who diligently serve for the
growth of the parish.
In his sermon on the Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak, the Prelate
first gave a brief historical background of the origin of the Feast then
reflected on the implications of the Feast in our lives today. The service
concluded with the singing of the Cilician anthem and a group photo.
The annual banquet was held on the evening of Saturday, September
26th, organized by the Parish Council and the Ladies Auxiliary.
During the banquet, long-time community activist Mr. Hriyr Dadaian
was honored for his service. On this occasion, the Prelate presented Mr.
Dadaian with a letter of blessing and commendation. In addition to the
Prelate’s letter of blessing and commendation, Mr. Dadaian had received
commendations from state and local officials for his contributions to the
Las Vegas community. In conclusion the Prelate once again congratulated the
parish community, expressing hope that they the dream to have their own
church will be realized in the near future.
Please visit the news section of our website for the full press
release and photos.

WESTERN PRELACY TO HOST MEETING OF THE
COUNCIL OF ORIENTAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS

The next meeting of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops is
scheduled to take place on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009, at Holy Martyrs
Church in Encino.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Mor
Clemis Eugene Kaplan, and H.G. Bishop Serapion will participate in the
meeting along with clergy from each church.

ARMENIA FUND TELETHON LOGO UNVEILING
AND ANNUAL BANQUET

On the evening of Saturday, October 8th, 2009, the unveiling of the
Armenia Fund Telethon logo and annual banquet will take place at the
residence of Armenia Fund Chair Mr. and Mrs. Ara Aghishian, with guest of
honor Baroness Caroline Cox.
Rev. Fr. Ardak Demirjian will attend on and convey the Prelate’s
blessings.

ARMENIAN BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY
WALK OF LIFE

On Saturday, October 3rd, 2009, the 4th annual Armenian Bone Marrow
Donor Registry Walk of Life will take place at Verdugo Park in Glendale.
Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian will attend and convey the Prelate’s
blessings.

STAFF OF PRELACY CHURCHES VISIT THE PRELACY

On Thursday, October 1st, 2009, staff of Prelacy Churches visited
the Prelacy where they were welcomed by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate.
Upon their arrival, staff members were given a tour of the Prelacy
and became acquainted with the headquarters, with one another, and with the
Prelacy staff.
They then had a meeting with the Prelate which was followed by a
brief service in the Chapel, after which they were hosted to lunch by the
Prelate.