Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY
Mira Yardemian, Public Relations Director
Rue Mexique – Kantari
P.O. Box 11-1748
Riad El-Solh 1107 2090
Beirut – Lebanon
Beirut, 28/08/2006
Haigazian University grieves the passing of its beloved longtime professor:
In memoriam of Dr. Ingrid Semaan
Dr. Ingrid Semaan, beloved teacher, scholar and researcher passed away from
complications due to illness, in the evening of August 27, 2006, at 10:10
pm local time in Hungary, at the age of 67.
Dr. Semaan received her B.A. from the University of Dubuque in Modern
Languages in 1960. In 1970 she graduated with a Masters degree in American
Literature from the American University in Beirut, and later on with a
Doctorate in English Literature from the University of Iowa.
During her longtime career, she served as an English instructor in the
American University of Beirut from the year 1969 till 1971, and as a
research assistant in the University of Iowa from the years 1974 till 1975.
She had served on the faculty of Haigazian University from 1975-1999 and
was the head of its English Department.
Dr. Semaan, a teacher of prodigious intellect, wit and humor, contributed
greatly to the academic life of the university, including research and
valuable contributions to the Haigazian Armenological Review.
Her most recent contribution to our community was the donation of a large
collection of her books to the Barsoumian Library.
Interested mostly in drama, music and handcraft, her students still recall
her joyful character, dedication and professionalism.
Dr. Semaan is survived by her husband, Dr. Wanis Semaan.
Haigazian University mourns her passing, yet thanks God that Dr. Semaan’s
gifts were shared with the community so richly.

August 25, 2006
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:
PRELATE MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
GREEK-ARMENIANS OF LOS ANGELES
On Thursday, August 24, H. E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, welcomed representatives of the Association of Greek-Armenians
of Los Angeles to the temporary Prelacy offices in Encino.
The representatives, Chairperson Mrs. Marie Birebirian, Treasurer
Deacon Nigoghos Mazmanian, and Co-Treasurer Mrs. Rose Altounian,
informed the Prelate of their general activities and upcoming
projects. The Association, established in 1991, will celebrate its
15th anniversary this year. Throughout the years, it has undertaken
various benevolent works including providing aid to Armenia, Armenian
organizations, and educational institutions via its fundraising events.
The representatives also conveyed to the Prelate that they have asked
to hold requiem services for departed members of the Association on
Sunday, September 24th, at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood. A banquet
to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the organization will be held
on October 21st.
The Prelate highly commended the dedicated services of the Association
and wished them success in their endeavors.

SADOYAN ASPIRES FOR US ASSISTANCE IN ELECTION CONTROL
Panorama.am
14:49 23/08/06
Arshak Sadoyan, leader of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), thinks
that the authorities are going to fake the parliamentary elections
once again. Sadoyan is very concerned since he believes that in case
Armenia does not take the path of democracy, world powers will oust
the country from the important processes, which has been already done
on the regional level. “Recent announcements have made it clear that
there will be no forgiveness this time,” Sadoyan said.
Connecting hopes with $6.5 mln grant promised by the Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice, Sadoyan has developed a complex program to
control elections. He even says that his plans may be implemented
on $2.5 mln only. The rough budget of the project runs as follows:
electronic control equipment – $ 200,000 -250,000, training of
personnel (20,000-25,000 trainees) – $500,000-600,000, free radio and
TV air and an independent newspaper – $ 700,000, advocacy -$700,000.
Sadoyan says several donors have approved the program, among them
U.S. Ambassador John Evans, OSCE, U.N., USAID. Sadoyan says they are
going to complain to the international community and leading media
outlets if the program is turned down.
Sadoyan already claims that the opposition representatives are not
included in the election committees whereas community heads take
schools and kindergarten principles to trainings on their personal
cars resulting in 100% pro-authority committees.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT SAYS CITIZENS STILL HAVE VAGUE IDEA OF GROUNDS FOR APPEAL
By Karine Kalantarian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug. 21, 2006
A senior staffer at the Constitutional Court handling citizen appeals
says citizens in Armenia still have no clear idea on what matters
they can apply to the country’s highest judicial body.
Robert Chobanian told RFE/RL on Monday that only 109 out of 288 appeals
filed since early last month have been registered and accepted by the
Court. The appeals of most visitors turned away did not correspond
to the requirements of the constitution.
Armenia’s Constitutional Court began accepting appeals from ordinary
citizens for the first time in early July following the entry into
force of one of the recently enacted amendments to the Armenian
constitution.
Until recently, only the president of the republic, at least one
third of the members of parliament as well as election candidates had
the legal right to ask Armenia’s highest judicial body to overturn
policies or actions which they believe are unconstitutional. The
constitutional reform extended this prerogative to all citizens and
permanent residents of the country and now the Constitutional Court
also considers the constitutionality of legal provisions applied
against individuals.
According to Chobanian, 13 of the accepted 109 appeals have been
forwarded for further consideration. Two staffs of the court have been
set up to study applications for a month and then appoint specific
dates for review by the Constitutional Court. Twelve of the 13 appeals
were lodged by ordinary citizens. And only one appeal was submitted
by a private company.
Constitutional Court chief of staff Arushan Hakobian announced the
dates for the consideration of six appeals – from September 12 to
November 14.
According to Hakobian, during its September 12 session the Court will,
for example, consider an appeal from a citizen, Manushak Kocharian,
who disputes the constitutionality of the provision of the law that
stipulates that citizens must have social cards to be paid social
pensions.
According to him, a number of appeals concern corresponding articles
of Armenia’s Civil Code, mainly regarding the property right, and
some concern Article 4 of the Constitution dealing with human dignity.
The first appeal submitted to the Constitutional Court was from Artak
Zeynalian, a senior member of the opposition Hanrapetutyun party who
is challenging the legality of a decree signed by President Robert
Kocharian in January. Kocharian set up a caretaker body that briefly
managed the Office of Armenia’s Ombudsman following the resignation
of the first ombudsman Larisa Alaverdian. Alaverdian and Armenian
opposition leaders described the decree as unconstitutional.
Zeynalian’s appeals against it were thrown out by lower courts.
“My appeal was not accepted unanimously. Therefore it was discussed at
a meeting of the whole staff of the Constitutional Court,” Zeynalian
told RFE/RL.
The Constitutional Court will gather to hear Zeynalian’s appeal on
November 14.

LEVON ARONYAN ACHIEVES “CHESS 960” CHAMPION’S TITLE
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 12:17
Grand Master of Armenia, 2005 World Cup holder, 2006 World Olympic
Champion Levon Aronyan scored 5:3 in the game with Russian Grand
Master Pyotor Svedler, thus achieving the “Chess 960” Champion’s
title. The tournament was held in Mainz, Germany in the framework of
the chess festival.
Levon Aronyan won Pyotor Svedler in the last 7th and 8th games,
preceding which the score was equal.
Levon Aronyan competed also with chess players of Mainz.

Azerbaijan hands over three captives to Armenia through Red Cross
Arminfo
17 Aug 06
Yerevan, 17 August: Today three Armenians (all civilians), who were
in captivity in Azerbaijan, were returned to Armenia through the
mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The handover took place between the Armenian town of Idzhevan and
Azerbaijani town of Qazax, the press service of the ICRC told Arminfo.
The ICRC, which implemented its neural mediation mission at the request
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities, assisted in repatriation
of prisoners only after delegates of the ICRC visited them and found
out that the prisoners were returning to their homes voluntarily.
To recap, there is no information who are they and how they were
taken hostage.
The ICRC has mediated in the return of 659 people since the beginning
of its mission in the zone of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict in
1992. The organization is ready to further help with similar mission
in future too.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
Watch the recorded video here:
Thousan ds of faithful attended the blessing
of grapes by His Holiness Aram I
“FAITH, UNITY, AND COMPASSION SHOULD BECOME THE
DRIVING FORCE OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE”
Said His Holiness ARAM I
In his pontifical message on the occasion of the feast of Assumption, His
Holiness Aram I emphasized the vital importance of faith, unity, and
compassion. Thousands of people took part in this traditional ceremony which
is also the pilgrimage day of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia’s
Bikfaya Monastery. The celebration of the Eucharist, held on Saturday
evening by bishop Dirair Panossian, was preceded by special worships and
Bible studies in the Chapel of the monastery throughout the week. Youth and
women from different parts of Beirut attended church services and the Bible
Studies which were conducted by Vartabeds and deacons of the Seminary.
In his message His Holiness Aram I reminded the people, that faith should
become the basis of the life of any person who claims to be Christian. He
said: “Faith is at the heart of the Gospel. Being Christian means living a
faith-driven life. Being Christian means translating faith into a quality of
life marked by love, compassion, engagement and service. Faith also implies
faithfulness to all values and principles that constitute the essence and
the purpose of Christianity”.
His Holiness strongly stressed the imperative of unity which “is not a
conceptual notion, but a firm commitment to a way of life based on common
values”. Referring to the current situation in Lebanon, Aram I reminded that
“unity is the source of strength. It calls for participation and commitment.
It must be articulated concretely in all areas of our community life”. His
Holiness identified three areas of unity: the inner unity of the Lebanese
Armenian community, the unity of Lebanese people in which the Armenian
community must play an important role, and pan-Armenian unity.
Speaking about the importance of compassion, His Holiness considered it an
essential Christian virtue: “As Christians each of us must become a ‘Good
Samaritan’ helping the poor families, the needy students, the refugees, the
homeless, marginalized and oppressed. For me, the Pontiff said, the real
Christian is the one who articulates his or her Christianness by identifying
himself or herself with the suffering people. The church must become a
church for the poor and the oppressed. The church should go beyond its
institutional boundaries to serve the people”.
His Holiness appealed to the Armenian Community in Lebanon to help those
refugees who have been forced to leave their homes and villages in South
Lebanon. “We must not forget, that the Lebanese people, Christians and
Moslems, accepted us in this country after the Armenian Genocide, and they
shared their bread with us. This is the time that we reciprocate by tangibly
expressing the same compassion towards our Lebanese sisters and brothers”.
At the end of the ceremony according to the tradition of the Armenian Church
His Holiness blessed grapes and ‘Madagh’.
##
View the photos here: tm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

LES ARMENIENS DU LIBAN CONTRE UNE PARTICIPATION TURQUE A LA FINUL
Agence France Presse
16 août 2006 mercredi 5:42 PM GMT
Le parti Tachnak, le plus populaire parmi la communaute armenienne
du Liban, a annonce mercredi son “refus” d’une participation turque
a la force de l’Onu renforcee qui doit se deployer au Liban sud.
“La communaute armenienne du Liban s’oppose et refuse la presence
de l’armee turque au Liban et exprime l’espoir que l’Etat libanais
refuse egalement”, ecrit le Tachnak dans un communique.
Le texte enumère les “jalons noirs” de l’histoire turque, rappelle “le
joug de l’empire ottoman subi par les Libanais de toutes confessions”,
son “occupation d’une partie” de l’île de Chypre et “le genocide
armenien que l’Etat turc continue de refuser d’admettre avoir commis”.
Le parti Tachnak juge que “l’accord de defense commun signe entre
Ankara et Israël represente une menace pour le processus de paix”
au Proche-Orient et invite la Turquie a “reviser ses calculs avant
de considerer la participation a une force internationale de maintien
de la paix”.
“Nous considerons qu’un accord du Conseil de securite de l’Onu a une
participation de forces turques a la force internationale au Liban
sud blesse la memoire collective du peuple armenien”, conclut le texte.
La Turquie est un contributeur potentiel de la Finul renforcee et
son ministre des Affaires etrangères Abdullah Gul etait mercredi a
Beyrouth pour discuter de la participation d’Ankara.
Les Armeniens qui ont trouve refuge au Liban il y a 90 ans sont bien
integres dans le pays et leur communaute, qui a droit a six sièges
au Parlement libanais (sur 128 membres), ne compte plus que quelque
120.000 personnes, selon ses responsables politiques et religieux.
–Boundary_(ID_VppSDWUjtJqmL+N92z1YBA) —

3 RADAR TRACKING STATIONS IN AZERBAIJAN
AZG Armenian Daily
16/08/2006
This the way that genuine Oriental diplomacy can be.
Azerbaijan runs 3 radar tracking stations – one Russian and two
American. One is there to track the moves of the USA and NATO the other
two to track missile launch from the Russian and Iranian side. This
fact is not something new. The Russian station of Gabala dates back
to soviet times and used to be the largest in the region; the American
ones were set in 2002 in Astara, nearby Iranian border, and in Khizi,
at the Russian border. But neither the US nor the Azerbaijani official
sources spoke of the stations till September 2005 when US Ambassador
to Azerbaijan, Reno Harnish, suddenly announced about them. The issue
of the stations’ existence was touched upon in the US press lately
making the Azeri side edgy.

RA GOVERNMENT ASSIGNS AMD 2.2 BLN FOR DOMICILE FOR VICTIMS OF 1988 EARTHQUAKE
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 15, 2006
YEREVAN, August 15. /ARKA/. In 2006, Armenian government assigned
AMD 2 billion 225 million (about $5,5 mln) for implementation of
programs on providing families of Armenian and Azerbaijani refuges
and families living in Lori and Shirak regions of the republic,
which had lost their homes after the 1988 earthquake, with domicile.
Such statement was made during a session of the Committee in charge for
providing this category of people with domicile under the chairmanship
of the RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan,
the press and public relations department of the RA government reports.
The money is spent on accomplishment of 101 unfinished houses in Lori
region and 34 unfinished houses in Shirak region, as reported during
the session.
It was also reported that AMD 775 million from AMD 875 million assigned
for implementation of the program on issuance of certificates to
refugee families for purchase of domicile, was assigned to Kotayk
region, and AMD 100 million – to, 20 families, living in one of the
hostels of Yerevan. AMD 875 million was assigned for the program on
issuance of certificates for purchase of domicile to families from
Gyumri city, which had lost their shelters after the 1988 earthquake.
The Committee discussed progress of work on implementation of priority
programs on providing 20 refugee families living in one of Yerevan
hostels, with domicile, as well as families of Armenian refugees,
who had escaped from Azerbaijan in 1988-1992.
According to the report, the Committee estimated satisfactory the
process of the work.