Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

TROOPS TRADE GUNFIRE WITH ARMENIAN FORCES
>From Times Wire Reports

Los Angeles Times
March 8 2006

Azerbaijani and Armenian forces exchanged heavy gunfire and mortar
shells at several points along their border in the most serious
fighting in months.

Azerbaijan said one of its soldiers was killed and one seriously
wounded. Armenian forces said several of their troops were wounded.

The two countries remain at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic
Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. A cease-fire agreement was reached
in 1994 after six years of fighting, and the enclave is now under
the control of ethnic Armenians.

US official hails Armenia’s “important” steps towards NATO

Mediamax news agency
7 Mar 06

Yerevan, 7 March: “The pace of development of US-Armenian
military-political relations depends on Yerevan – our doors are widely
open,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza told a press conference in Yerevan
today.

“Whatever pace Armenia chooses, it won’t be too fast for us, the
Americans,” Bryza jokingly said.

Bryza pointed out that last year Armenia has taken a lot of important
steps towards the establishment of closer cooperation with the
Euro-Atlantic community. In connection with this, he especially noted
the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) between Armenia and
NATO.

Asked about Russia’s relations with regional countries, Bryza said
this was a matter for decision by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. He
added that “Russia will continue to remain the major trading partner
of all regional countries”.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 12 2006

Lord Russell-Johnston to give a talk on Nagorno Karabakh conflict in
PACE Political Committee tomorrow

[ 12 Mar. 2006 14:35 ]

A regular meeting of the Political Committee of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will be held tomorrow.
Information of the lord Russell-Johnston on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict was also included in the agenda of the PACE Political
Committee.

As APA was told by the press-service of Milli Majlis, the chair of
the standing committee for international and interparliamentary
affairs of Milli Majlis, head of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE
Samad Seidov will also attend the meeting of the Political Committee.
In parallel with the information of lord Russell-Johnston, members of
the PACE Political Committee will also discuss situation in Middle
East, Kazakhstan and Belarus, issues on European Muslim communities’
facing cases of extremism, and hold an exchange of views on future
activity of the Committee. /APA/

ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
13 Mar 06

Istanbul, 13 March: Istanbul University Rector Prof Mesut Parlak
held an informative meeting about the symposium on “New Approaches
to Turkish-Armenian Relations” which will be held at the university
on 15-17 March.

Stating that this symposium would be the most comprehensive one with
70 participants from Turkey and some other countries, Parlak underlined
that it would reveal the truths regarding Turkish-Armenian relations.

Parlak said that 1915 incidents [during which the Ottomans allegedly
engaged in genocide against Armenians] had several dimensions –
military, social and psychological – stating that the matter would
be discussed from a scientific point of view.

“I believe that the symposium will help a new period be started in
Turkish-Armenian relations,” he underlined.

Parlak noted that the university invited Armenian historians to the
symposium, but they said that they would not attend.

SUSPECTED MERCENARY ACCUSES KENYAN POLICE OF HARASSMENT, CALLS PRESS CONFERENCE

KTN TV, Nairobi
14 Mar 06

[Presenter] A planned police raid on the Runda residence of one of
the Armenian nationals alleged to be mercenaries was called off early
today under unexplained circumstances.

An advance team of police officers from the Runda police post
was recalled from the posh house without explanation. An Armenian
national who is holed up at the house has accused the police of
harrassment. Arturo Margaryan has announced that he will call a press
conference later this afternoon. [Passage omitted]

ARMENIAN FM TO MEET WITH NATO SEC. GEN. AND EU TOP OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS

Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 19:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 19 Armenian President Robert Kocharian will
leave for Belgium on a working visit. There he will have meetings with
representatives of European structures, reported the Press Service
of the Armenian leader. The delegation will include Parliament
Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian,
Minister of Trade and Economic Development Karen Chshmarityan, the
Armenian Ambassador to Belgium and other officials. R. Kocharian will
meet with Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt, Senate head Anne-Marie
Lizin and Parliament President German de Croo.

Besides, the President is scheduled to meet with European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, EU High Representative
for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, European
Parliament President Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU Energy Commissioner
Andris Piebalgs, as well as NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop
Scheffer. Robert Kocharian and Belgian Senate head Anne-Marie
Lizin will lay a wreath to the memorial of victims of the Armenian
Genocide. The Armenian President will take part in the opening ceremony
of the Armenian Embassy in Belgium will meet with representatives
of the local Armenian community. He will also visit Made in Belgium
exhibition. The Armenian delegation headed by the President will
return to Yerevan October 22.

Glendale News Times
Published October 14, 2005
Man accused of murdering his mother
Police plan to file charges against man who called 911 after alleging he
stabbed his mother to death.
By Tania Chatila, News-Press and Leader
NORTHWEST GLENDALE — Police plan to file charges today against a
25-year-old Misak Saakian who called 911 Wednesday saying he had just
stabbed his mother, police said.
Saakian, of Glendale, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder after
police received a call from him claiming he had stabbed his 53-year-old
mother, Gohar Saakian, in their kitchen.
advertisement
“The son did call 911 and said that he did kill his mother, and at this time
we do not have a motive as to the reason why,” Glendale Police spokeswoman
Sherri Servillo said.
Police received the call at about 5:30 p.m. and found Misak Saakian in front
of the family’s home, in the 500 block of West Dryden Street, where his
father also lives.
“He was very upset,” Sgt. Ian Grimes said of the unidentified father. “Put
yourself in his shoes.”
Misak and Gohar Saakian were the only two people in the house at the time of
the stabbing, Servillo said.
Gohar Saakian died at the scene of multiple stab wounds to her entire body,
Servillo said, adding that the murder weapon, a knife, was found at the
home.
“Probably, I was the last person to see or talk to her,” said next door
neighbor Herosik Ahmadabadi.
Ahmadabadi, who lived next door for about four years, saw the woman just two
hours before the stabbing.
“I was coming by bus, you know, the stop by Pacific Avenue, and I see her,”
she said. “We came home together — we walked together.”
Ahmadabadi copied the front page of Thursday’s newspaper, and kept it on her
coffee table — a constant reminder of her lost friend.
“I was so shocked,” she said. “I was so upset. I couldn’t believe it. She
was so sweet. We would always talk, like when she would water her lawn, I
would too. Always she told me ‘I’m going to take [Misak Saakian] to church
and I’m going to pray for him. I’m going to pray for him.'”
Ahmadabadi, and her husband, Cass Khodaverdin, said they noticed problems
within the family in the past, but never imagined anything like this would
happen.
“Last night was the worst,” Khodaverdin said. “The mother, father, they were
nice people, but you know, they were unusually quiet. We never heard them
play music. They were never laughing, just always quiet. Not even in at
Thanksgiving or Christmas. And the son, he never had friends over.”
Misak Saakian is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles on
$1-million bond, pending an arraignment at Pasadena Superior Court

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| 16:09:57 | 14-10-2005 | Economy |

CUSTOM’S OFFICE AVOIDING SCANDAL

Today advocate of the «Royal-Armenia» LTD Gevorg Minasyan rendered a press
conference about the October 11 arrest of the Company head Gagik Hakobyan
and deputy head Aram Ghazaryan `for the violations of customs rules’.

According to the advocate, the evidence of the ex-supplier of the company
American `Federal Investment Group’ about the forgery of invoice served as
ground for the arrest. Gevorg Minasyan considers the evidence false as
according to him the ex-supplier is simply angry for losing his market where
he could sell a thousand tons of coffee.

`We did we have to forge it if anyway we were to pay the tax according to
previously fixed prices?’, Gevorg Minasyan wonders.

But the true reason for the arrest, according to the advocate, is the court
session fixed for October 17. The Economic Court was to continue to hear the
case of `Royal Armenia’. Let us remind you that the company demanded `to
announce the tax the Customs Office fixed for the 14 types of goods imported
invalid and to return the sum of about 1 billion 500 million AMD’.

If the court upheld the claim, according to the advocate, the Custom’s
Office would be disgraced. And the arrest, according to Mr. Minasyan, is a
good reason to offer to join the two cases `thus saving the Office of
disgrace’.

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

October 14, 2005

CATHOLICOS ARAM I IN CALIFORNIA;
WILL ARRIVE ON EAST COAST NEXT WEEK
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, is
continuing his tour of California where large and enthusiastic crowds are
greeting him. Yesterday evening he was welcomed by the congregation of
Forty Martyrs Armenian Church in Santa Ana.
Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate, joined the entourage in Canada and went on
to California with the Catholicos. On Monday and Tuesday, October 10 and 11,
Archbishop Oshagan was in Chicago where he represented the Catholicosate of
Cilicia at the World Council of Churches (WCC) annual meeting.
Amidst the various welcoming events and 75th anniversary celebrations of
the Seminary, His Holiness will participate in a number of other important
events. Today, Friday, October 14, he will lecture at the World Affairs
Council in Los Angeles, under the general topic of “Christianity in the
Context of the Present Day Middle East.” On Saturday, October 15, he will
participate in a symposium organized by the Western Prelacy, USC Institute
of Armenian Studies and USC Center for Religious and Civic Culture. The
theme of the symposium is “Christian Response to Violence.”
On Sunday, October 16, the Catholicos will officiate at the consecration
of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Pasadena.
Wednesday evening, October 19, His Holiness will arrive in New York to
begin his visit to the Eastern Prelacy.

HRASHAPAR SERVICE AT ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL
Next Thursday evening, October 20, His Holiness will be officially
welcomed at a Hrashapar Service followed by Achahampouyr and reception, at
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City, at 7:30 pm.
For details of His Holiness’ visit to the Eastern Prelacy click here,

PRELATE AND VICAR WILL BE IN MICHIGAN THIS WEEKEND
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate, and V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar, will be in Dearborn, Michigan this weekend.
The Prelate will officiate at the Divine Liturgy at St. Sarkis Church,
Dearborn, and attend the anniversary celebration that follows.
The Vicar will lecture on Armenian culture on the occasion of the 1600th
anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, Saturday evening, in
the church hall. For information contact the church, 313-336-6200.

CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES
IN SYNOD OF BISHOPS IN THE VATICAN
The eleventh Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church convened October 2
and will continue to October 23. Participating in the Synod are 250 Catholic
Bishops and 12 representatives from the Oriental Orthodox, Orthodox,
Anglican and Evangelical Churches. Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical
Officer of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, is participating on behalf of the
Catholicosate.

DATEV YOUTH PROGRAM IN MIDWEST
The acclaimed St. Gregory of Datev Summer Religious Institute is
reaching out and for the first time has organized a “Mini Datev” program,
which will take place at the Techny Towers Conference Center in Techny,
Illinois, November 11 to 13.
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the
program for youth ages 13 to 18 will be conducted by V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar General, and Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of AREC.
For more information and registration contact the AREC office at
212-689-7810 or by email at [email protected], or contact Dr. Arsen
Mekaelian at 847-309-0408.

SUNDAY SCHOOL IN MICHIGAN RAISES
$1,155 FOR HURRICANE RELIEF
The St. Sarkis Sunday School (Dearborn, Michigan) has raised $1,155 for
hurricane relief for the American Red Cross. The students had a Red Cross
donation basket during registration and raised $340. Later they held a
spaghetti dinner after church on October 2 and were able to realize $815.
The donated money was sent to the American Red Cross. Congratulations to the
Sunday school students and their teachers.

A PHILADELPHIA STORY
We have this story from Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory
Church in Philadelphia.
Der Hayr received an e-mail from an eight-year-old (who wishes to remain
anonymous) asking if he could collect money for Hurricane Katrina’s victims.
With Der Nerses positive answer, the child went on to collect $217 in a
short period of time for hurricane relief.
Congratulations to this altruistic youngster.

ST. SARKIS LECTURE ON SUNDAY
A reminder that this Sunday, October 16, Dr. Dennis Papazian will
lecture at St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York). Dr. Papazian’s topic is
“Yeghishe and the Real Story Behind the Vartanantz War.” The lecture is
scheduled for 1:30 pm, following Divine Liturgy. St. Sarkis Church is
located at 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, NY.
For information contact Dr. Arthur H. Kubikian, 718-786-3842.

BIBLE STUDY AT THE PRELACY
The Infancy Narratives of Jesus-a five-session course on the birth
stories of Jesus as presented in the Gospels according to Matthew (1-2) and
Luke (1-2) will take place at the Prelacy on the first and third Mondays of
the month starting November 7, from 7:15 to 8:45 pm. The sessions will be
conducted by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC). For further information contact the AREC office at
212-689-7810 or [email protected].

HOLY EVANGELISTS: MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN
This Saturday, October 15, the Armenian Church commemorates the Holy
Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the authors of the four gospels.
Matthew is considered to be the patron of the mission of the Church. The
Gospel attributed to him closes with this command by Jesus to his disciples
and followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, and the
eternal words, And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world.”
Mark is considered to have had significant influence on the advancement
of Christianity. Although the Gospel according to Mark is a narrative of the
life of Jesus, theologians consider it to be a virtual handbook of
discipleship. The dominant message is that being a Christian is not only
believing in Jesus Christ. More importantly, it is living according to the
example set by Jesus.
Luke is the author of the third gospel and the book of Acts. He is
considered to be the patron of physicians and artists. The Gospel according
to Luke is greatly concerned with Jesus as “the healer of a broken world.”
Luke is also noted for his concern for the poor, the marginalized, women,
and social outcasts. His Gospel does not end with the Resurrection, but
rather continues with Pentecost and the eternal presence of Christ in the
world.
John, often called the “Beloved Disciple,” is the author of the fourth
gospel and the book of Revelation. Jesus entrusted his mother to John’s care
on the day of the Crucifixion. Perhaps the most famous verse in his gospel
is, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

ST. JOSEPH REMEMBERED ON OCTOBER 17
On Monday, October 17, the Armenian Church commemorates the life of St.
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He was a carpenter by profession, and a
descendant of King David. The last reference to him in the Bible is Luke
2:48-51.

BOOKS BY CATHOLICOS ARAM I
As we prepare to welcome His Holiness Aram I next week to the Eastern
Prelacy, we remind our readers that the Prelacy Bookstore has copies of many
of the books written by His Holiness, such as: The Challenge to be a Church
in a Changing World; In Search of Ecumenical Vision; Conciliar Fellowship: A
Common Goal; The Armenian Church Beyond the 1700th Anniversary; The
Christian Witness at the Crossroads in the Middle East; Orthodox
Perspectives on Mission; With the People (Armenian); Nation, Church and
Fatherland (Armenian); Journey to Restoration (Armenian).
Contact the Prelacy Bookstore, 212-689-7810 or
[email protected], for details.

IN CONCLUSION. . .
CROSSROADS is one day late this week, being sent out on Friday rather
than the customary Thursday. During the next two weeks, during the time of
His Holiness’s visit to the Eastern Prelacy, we will transmit additional
issues of Crossroads as needed to provide up-to-date information.

Calendar of Events

October 19-November 1-Visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, to the Eastern Prelacy, commemorating the 75th anniversary
of the establishment of the Cilician Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon. For
further information click here,

October 21-St. Stephen’s Elementary Day School PTO (Watertown), “Food & Wine
Festival,” 7 p.m. at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown,
Massachusetts.

October 28-29-Mashtots Conference celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the
founding of the Armenian alphabet, at Harvard University. Jointly sponsored
by the Eastern Prelacy and Harvard University Mashtots Chair, Department of
Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.

November 4, 5, 6-Annual Bazaar and Food Festival, Sts. Vartanantz Church,
461 Bergen Blvd., Ridgefield, NJ. For information, 201-943-2950.

November 4 & 5-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, annual bazaar
at the Armenian Cultural & Educational Center.

November 6-St. Stephen Armenian Apostolic Church of Hartford-New Britain,
Connecticut, will celebrate its 80th anniversary. Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan will be the keynote speaker. The program will include a slide show
presentation two non-Armenian Peace Corps volunteers who recently returned
from serving in Armenia.

November 11-13-Mini-Datev program for the Midwest parishes, Techny Towers
Conference Center, Techny, Illinois, for junior and senior high school
students. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). For
information and registration contact AREC, 138 E. 39th Street, New York, NY
10016, 212-689-7810.

December 4-St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church of Granite
City, Illinois, will celebrate its 51st anniversary, with the presence of H.
E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan.

December 31-New Years Eve dinner-dance, Sts. Vartanantz (NJ) and ARF Dro
Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton. Information: 201-943-2950 or 201-945-0011.

February 26-Musical Armenia 2006 concert, 2 p.m., at Carnegie Hall’s Weil
Recital Hall, New York City. Featuring Duo Maesteso (California) and Zulal
(New York). Watch for details.

March 5-Sts. Vartanantz (NJ) 2006 membership meeting.

March 17-19, 2006-Sunday School Teachers’ Conference at the Wonderland
Conference and Retreat Center in Sharon, MA.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

Visit our website at

ROBERT KOCHARIAN DISCUSSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

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| 22:14:20 | 13-10-2005 | Official |

Today Robert Kocharian held a working meeting with members of the
council of political coalition to discuss matters referring to
constitutional amendments.

As result it was decided to from a council for coordination the
preparatory works on the constitutional referendum. The council
will consist of representatives of political coalition and political
forces speaking out for the amendments. The work of the council will
be coordinated by chairman of the NA commission on defense, national
security and home affairs Mher Shahgeldyan.

The first sitting of the coordinating council will be held on October
18 at 5 p.m.