Author: Nalchajian Markos

NY Hyortik AYF Chapter
69-23 47th Ave.
Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 651-1530
[email protected]
October 8, 2008
For Immediate Release

Hyortik Chapter Leads Greater New York Community in Marking AYF 75th
Anniversary

NEW YORK – On October 5 the New York Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Hyortik
chapter led the Greater New York Armenian community in commemorating the
AYF’s 75th anniversary. The event gathered members from local organizations
such as Hamazkayin, Homenetmen, Armenian Relief Society chapters, and
representatives from the Republic of Armenia’s Mission to the United
Nations. Also present were St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church pastor Rev.
Fr. Nareg Terterian, St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral pastor
Rev. Fr. Mesob Lakissian, Bishop Anoushavan Tanelian from the Armenian
Prelacy. The capacity crowd joined the AYF at the Armenian Center in
Woodside, N.Y., to recall the historical significance of the organization’s
founding and to honor its continued strength today.

After the singing of Mer Hairenik chapter executive member Sossi Essajanian
welcomed clergy and guests. "Returning to our roots and for 75 years
thereafter we continue to show that from the AYF’s tree blooms youth that
stand guard for Armenia’s rights today, tomorrow and always," she said.
Following this introduction Hyortik executive member Razmig Haroun addressed
the audience on behalf of the chapter. In his remarks he talked about
continuing the ideals and vision of AYF founder General Karekin Nejdeh. He
said that what was given to the youth after 75 years today’s members will
take as a foundation for the next 75 years.

Turing to the AYF’s work today Haroun talked about Armenia. He said, "Today
Armenia is facing many changes, in particular in relations with its
neighbors. Just as always the Armenian Youth Federation made its voice heard
during [Turkish President Abdullah] Gul’s [recent] visit [to Armenia] not
with hatred but proving that there are people who defend Armenia’s rights
and reiterate that friendship requires mutual respect otherwise it is a
mockery." Haroun concluded by stating again the thread of continuity – the
ideals – celebrated this evening: that the AYF is always read to serve the
Armenian nation. Here he recalled Nejdeh’s words about the timeless nature
of ideas: "It is only the idea that does not have a death, neither a casket
nor a grave."

Next the St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School students took the stage to
recite Baruyr Sevag’s "Mer Oukhduh," followed by a singing of "Artyok Ovker
en." Hyortik member Nanor Harutunian then gave a historical and educational
presentation about the AYF, in particular its work in the Greater New York
area. Presented in both Armenian and English Harutunian explained the
reasons for the founding, the aim of the first convention, and some programs
as they were carried out by the Hyortik chapter. She continued to discuss
the acquisition of AYF Camp Haiastan in 1940, emergence of political
activity in the 1960s, the establishment of the National Junior Seminar in
1971, and the Tri-Regional seminar in the 1980s. The historical portion also
highlighted the "Tebi Yerkir" outreach program established in the 1990s that
featured a summer internship program in Armenia. She then turned to the AYF
and in particular the Hyortiks today, talking about the over 1000 members
fleshing out the strong ranks of the organization regionally today. Her
presentation covered the Olympics in recent years, the organization’s
ungeragan spirit, its focus on an educational foundation, efforts on the
political front, and work with the AYF junior organization.

Harutunian concluded that the AYF stands as the leading Armenian-American
youth organization. She said that with its various programs and emphasis on
leadership and nationalistic spirit the AYF continues to serve as a
gathering place for the youth wherever they live. Her presentation was also
accompanied by a slide show of more than 70 images ranging from the founding
AYF convention, to pictures of an AYF baseball team, to the building of Camp
Haiastan and camping trips in the 1970s. Later slides depicted the Hyortiks
as they remembered slain journalist Hrant Dink, celebrated the Artaskh
Liberation Struggle, and celebrated anniversaries of the Khanasor Expedition
and the Lisbon 5 event.

Following these comments a short documentary was presented by Hyortik member
Justin Kaladjian. The film featured interviews with members from different
generations who passed through the ranks of the AYF Hyortik chapter.
Interviewees talked about the AYF’s activities when they were members, how
they served the local community, and their constant focus on keeping the
Armenian spirit alive in the youth while standing guard for the Armenian
Cause. All generations also emphasized the fraternal spirit that is the
bedrock of the organization.

The stage was then given to the Hyortik juniors to contribute their
reflections on AYF’s 75 years. Junior chapter president Mesak Sarkissian
spoke briefly about the role of the AYF in the Armenian community at large
stating that the New York junior chapter is active and vibrant. "Inspired by
our past and motivated by the needs of our people, we are always ready and
willing to work in furtherance of the Armenian cause. We realize that we are
the future of the Armenian community and we are ready and willing to do our
part. Through our dedication and enthusiasm we are united in our commitment
for a free, independent and united Armenia."

The ARF Armen Garo Gomideh also offered a few words of reflection presented
by unger Hrant Markarian. In his comments Markarian talked about the youth
and the future, first reflecting on the importance of the organization’s
foundation. He said, "For 75 years you dedicated your lives and today that
organization lives and breathes in all of us." He also spoke about the
vision of AYF founder Karekin Nejdeh; he said, "[He] was not just a person
but an idea," and with this thought asked today’s youth to continue building
on his vision.

Finally Bishop Anoushavan Tanelian spoke about the continued spirit of the
youth. He said, "Today is a day of celebration. When we leave this center we
will all feel a bit younger." Tanelian also spoke about the establishment of
the organization 75 years ago by Nejdeh and reflected on the impact of his
vision for the youth and the Armenian nation. "The youth are the backbone of
the community," he said and then turned his comments to the new cohort of
youth and stated that "What the past generations have not seen you will make
a reality."

After these concluding remarks the event ended with the singing of Harach
Nahadag after which current and former AYF members were invited on stage to
cut a cake brought in honor of the anniversary. Over 60 people filled the
stage for a "chapter" picture after which attendees mingled and enjoyed
refreshments to a background of Armenian patriotic music.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

(Photo credit on all photos: Tina Tcholakian)

Haroun: Hyortik executive member Razmig Haroun addressed the audience on
behalf of the Hyortik chapter

Students 2: St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School recited Baruyr Sevag’s
"Mer Oukhduh," and sang "Artyok Ovker en."

Cake1: current and former AYF members were invited on stage to cut a cake
brought in honor of the anniversary.

Group: Over 60 people filled the stage for a "chapter" picture

S. SARGSYAN: "PUBLIC NORM TO HONOR TEACHERS"

Panorama.am
17:28 06/10/2008

President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated all the teachers in this
Day of Pedagogues. "I cordially congratulate you with this Day of
Pedagogues. For centuries Armenian teachers grew up young generations
leaving as a heritage not only knowledge but also love towards
motherland and education. Current fact and the oldest customs of our
school system made honoring teachers a public norm.

Today you educate the young generation of Armenia, a generation which
should be the conqueror of our young democracy and achievements, as
well as should carry national and global values. Those values should
be transferred by teachers in schools.

Once again I congratulate you and wish health, optimism and all the
best," says the official message of the President.

TBILISI-YEREVAN VIDEOCONFERENCE TO BE HELD

ArmInfo
2008-10-06 11:44:00

ArmInfo-BLACK SEA PRESS. Tbilisi-Yerevan video-bridge will be held
today in Tbilisi International Center. The video-bridge has been
organized upon the results of the visit of Armenia’s President Serzh
Sargsyan to Georgia.

The Georgians party at the videoconference will be represented by
adviser of the Georgian president Van Bayburt, a political expert
Soso Tsiskarishvili and an economic expert Niko Orvelashvili. Armenia
will be represented by Director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander
Iskandaryan and candidate of philosophical sciences Alexander Markarov.

Tulsa World, OK

Language no longer a barrier for ‘La Boheme’ tenor

SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World

Yeghishe Manucharyan (right) performs during rehearsal of Tulsa
Opera’s production of "La Boheme." -Photo

By JAMES D. WATTS JR. World Scene Writer
10/5/2008
Last Modified: 10/5/2008 3:51 AM

It took tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan a few years to learn what he was
supposed to do when he appeared in his first American production of
"La Boheme."

The Armenian-born singer, who is singing as Rodolfo in Tulsa Opera’s
production of Puccini’s beloved opera, came to the U.S. in 1999 to
study at Boston University.

"Of course, at that time, my English was zero ‘ less than zero," he
said, smiling. "The director would try to explain to me what he wanted
me to do, but all I could understand was when he wanted me to walk to
the left or the right, because he would point.

"I knew he wanted me to copy the actions of the tenor in the show’s
second cast, but for me it was impossible because I couldn’t
understand," Manucharyan said. "I knew the role, so I did what I knew
to do for the role. And it worked, although it was very different from
what the director wanted."

Several years later, Manucharyan was preparing for a role with New
York City Opera, and the same director from that Boston University
production was there.

"So I finally got to ask him, ‘What did you really want me to do back
in 1999?’ " he said, laughing.

Manucharyan’s English has greatly improved, and his career in opera
has flourished as well. He has sung leading roles for the Opera
Orchestra of New York, Toledo Opera, Minnesota Opera and San Diego
Opera.

He’s also joined the ranks of the Metropolitan Opera, serving as a
cover singer in a November production of Gluck’s "Iphigenie en
Tauride."

"That first day was incredible," he said. "You walk through the halls
and see all these famous people. And having (Placido) Domingo in the
cast was so great. Being able to watch him, to see all the little
details he brings to a performance, it made you realize why he is the
master."

Manucharyan is like a great many people when he calls "La Boheme" his
favorite opera. Puccini’s tale of young artists in Paris, their
struggles to survive the poverty in which they live and the emotional
turmoil of love, has been one of the most beloved works of lyric
theater since it was first performed in 1896.

"But it is rough for the tenor," he said. "You’re on stage for most of
the four acts, and the role sits very high in the voice."

Manucharyan always expected to have a career in music.

"I have sung all my life, but it was mostly Armenian folk or pop
music," he said. "I enjoyed it, but I thought if I was going to be a
serious musician, I would need to learn an instrument. So I began to
study French horn."

Manucharyan did well enough with this often intractable instrument to
earn principal positions with orchestras in his native country. Then,
one day his singing was overheard by some opera singers.

"And they began asking me, why wasn’t I singing opera?" he said. "So I
decided to enter this contest, where I would have to sing one opera
aria and some Armenian songs."

Manucharyan won the contest, "and so I became an opera singer," he
said.

"Armenia is a small country, and so when I performed there, I would
look down in the pit and see everyone I had been playing with, as a
member of the orchestra.

"I miss playing the French horn, because it is a beautiful
instrument," he said. "But what you have to do to play it isn’t good
for singing."

`LA BOHEME’ BY TULSA OPERA

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 12

Where: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

Tickets: $20-$95, available by calling 596-7111, or online at
tulsaworld.com/mytix

ARMENIA BEING TEMPTED INTO NABUCCO IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE FLEXIBLE POSITION ON KARABAKH?

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.10.2008 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Economics may hold the key to breaking the stalemate
in the Nagorno Karabakh peace process. Turkish and Azerbaijani
officials reportedly are seriously mulling the possibility of Armenian
participation in the long-planned Nabucco pipeline project as part
of a comprehensive Karabakh peace pact, EurasiaNet reports.

Turkey is leading efforts to energize the Karabakh peace
process. Turkish, Armenian and Azerbaijani officials met in New
York on September 26 to discuss the Karabakh issue and other security
matters. That meeting kindled hopes that a settlement could be achieved
by the end of 2008.

Although details of the recent discussions have been scarce, some
experts believe that the three sides have probed a possible bargain
under which Armenia would become part of the Nabucco pipeline plans,
in return for a greater degree of flexibility concerning Yerevan’s
position on Karabakh.

Yerevan’s willingness to modify its long-standing demand for Karabakh
independence would appear to be the key as to whether this latest
push for Karabakh peace can be successful. Azerbaijani officials seem
willing to work with Armenia on the Nabucco project, if Yerevan shows
sufficient flexibility on Karabakh. "Of course, Azerbaijan has set
political conditionality related to the Karabakh conflict on this
[Nabucco] issue," Elhan Shahinoglu, the director of the Baku-based
Atlas center for political research, said.

Turkish analyst Sinan Ogan, the chair of the Ankara-based TURKSAM
think tank, said that the topic of Armenia’s participation in the
Nabucco project came up during US Vice President Dick Cheney’s recent,
controversial visit to Baku. "There are serious plans to involve
Armenia in this project. Turkey and Azerbaijan were against this
idea at first, but now Armenia’s participation seems realistic,"
Ogan said in comments broadcast September 19 on Voice of America radio.

Initial indicators are that the three sides did not make significant
headway on the Karabakh issue during the September 26 meeting in
New York. On September 28, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan flatly
admitted that ‘there are no concrete results yet," according to a
report distributed by the RIA-Novosti news agency.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul also revealed that there has not yet
been any movement on the matter of Turkey ending its economic embargo
against Armenia. The AzerTaj news agency reported Gul as telling a
Turkish diaspora group on September 28 that "no talks over the border
[re-]opening with Armenia are possible before Armenia’s liberation
of Azerbaijani occupied territories."

While the notion of linking a potential Armenian role in Nabucco to the
Karabakh peace process has not been raised publicly, Gul came close
to making a public admission on September 10 during a diplomatic
trip to Baku. "No doubt that the fast liberation of the occupied
[Azerbaijani] territories would be an important step and it would
encourage very efficient economic cooperation in the region. Pipelines
and transport communications would cover the entire Caucasus region,"
Gul said in Baku.

Shahinoglu, the Baku political analyst, believes the peace process
is now at a delicate stage. Any potential breakthrough will likely
require the United States and Russia – two of the three co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group – to set aside their present differences and
engage in diplomatic cooperation, Shahinoglu suggested.

"Obviously, there is a completely new dynamic surrounding the evolution
of talks on the Karabakh conflict, creating unique opportunities for a
breakthrough," Shahinoglu said. "However, this dynamic could [possibly]
result in resumption of the war, if the great powers – first and
foremost Russia and United States – continue to differ fundamentally
on their approach to the future of South Caucasus region."

Shahinoglu added that the Kremlin was not especially interested in
seeing the Turkish initiative concerning Karabakh succeed. He reasoned
that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and the settlement
of the Karabakh question, as well as Yerevan’s potential involvement
in Nabucco, would all do considerable harm to Russia’s geopolitical
interests in the Caucasus.

"ARMENIAN DATACOM COMPANY" OFFERING FREE OF CHARGE FIBER-OPTIC CONNECTION TO ADC’S BROADBAND INTERNET

ARKA
Oct 2, 2008

YEREVAN, October 2. /ARKA/. "Armenian Datacom Company" CJSC (ADC)
announced "Autumn Surprise" project and is offering free of charge
fiber-optic connection to ADC’s Broadband Internet Services from
October 3 to October 15.

The offer is valid for companies that will sign a contract with ADC
within the given time period.

"Armenian Datacom Company" CJSC (ADC) is an Armenian-Norwegian joint
venture formed in April 2006.

The company created a 21st century ultramodern fiber-optic network
spanning all around Yerevan covering both central areas and the
suburbs. ADC network offers advanced corporate network solutions and
high-speed fiber-optic broadband Internet services.

1259 PEOPLE WILL RETURN HOME

Panorama.am
16:26 01/10/2008

Gagik Eganyan, the head of migration department of the Ministry of
Urban Development presented to the journalists the project confirmed
by the Government to guarantee the return of the people from boarder
line territories to their home places.

Note that those are people who had to leave their houses in the
aftermath of natural disasters, etc. The current programme covers
only those who left their homes in the result of Azeri bombing in
1992-1994. After the armistice has been signed in 1994, many of them
returned to their home land, but still thousands did not.

According to Mr. Eganyan the problems of current people have not
been studied yet. "We wanted to know where they are living, in what
conditions, and do they want to return to their home land," he said.

According to the studies 26 thousands 44 people left the country and
find place to live abroad in those years, 21 thousands 270 people
stayed in Armenia. But still 461 of them left abroad, after 9692
returned to Armenia and 113 of them are dead. Currently 5784 people are
registered and only 1259 of them expressed their wish to return home.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN’S HERITAGE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
30 Sep 2008
Armenia

There is an opinion that if we want to settle the internal political
situation we must firstly get rid of Robert Kocharyan’s heritage. What
is your opinion about it? In response to this question given by one
of the journalists Robert Kocharyan said: "It is impossible to get
rid of my heritage, because firstly it is the accomplished Republic of
Armenia, the better Yerevan, the restored Gyumri, the Northern Avenue,
this Saralanj highway, where we are standing at the moment. How can
we get rid of all this I don’t understand? If some people do want,
they can try. But they must firstly destroy all this."

OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS: THE GREATEST CRIME OF THE WAR: THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DURING WORLD WAR I

Tampabay.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
FL

Events

Today-Oct. 19, Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S,
St. Petersburg. Text-and-image panels portray the mass murder of the
Armenian people in Anatolia (1915-1916).(727) 820-0100 or toll-free
1-800-960-7448. flholocaustmuseum.org.

TURKISH AIRSPACE COMPLETELY OPEN FOR ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2008 18:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will henceforth be offered the same rules
as the other countries crossing the Turkish airspace.

Turkey has completely opened its airspace for Armenia, which lost
air communication routes after the Georgian-Russian conflict.

All limitations for Armenian aircraft have been lifted, Azeri Trend
news agency reports with reference to CNN Turk.