Author: Navasardian Karapet

GEORGIA USES OLYMPIC GAMES AS COVER TO ATTACK SOUTH OSSETIA
By Appo Jabarian

USA ARMENIAN LIFE
19.08.2008

During numerous previous decades, at a time when Olympic Games were
in progress, many warring nations voluntarily abstained from any
military activity. No country staged a military aggression against
another country.

Recently the former Soviet Republic of Georgia broke that
tradition. Using the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a distracting cover,
Georgia initiated a military aggression against the tiny breakaway
state of South Ossetia.

Apparently Georgia’s President Mikheil Saakashvili hoped that the
international community would be preoccupied by the Olympics, and
his troops would stage a Nazi-style blitzkrieg attack against the
Ossetians.

But the Saakashvili plan backfired. Russia rushed to the rescue of the
Ossetians. Russia, determined not to squander away any opportunity
to punish Georgia for its NATO ambitions, counter-attacked with its
military might and literally subjected Saakashvili’s country to a
5-day military siege.

On Tuesday August 12, just before USA Armenian Life Magazine went to
press, the world media reported that Georgia unconditionally pulled its
occupation armies out of South Ossetia’s regional capital Tskhinvali
and signed a peace accord negotiated by President Nicholas Sarkozy
of France.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia have run their own affairs without
international recognition since fighting to split from Georgia in
the early 1990s. Both separatist provinces are backed by Russia.

On August 12, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly
Churkin told CNN that "We do not want to believe that the United States
has given a green light to this adventurous act, But our American
colleagues are telling us that they’re investigating now what may
have happened in the channels of communication for Mr. Saakashvili
to have behaved in such a reckless manner."

Harut Sassounian, the Publisher of The California Courier, wrote in
his column: "In my judgment, Pres. Saakashvili, expecting political,
if not military, support from the West, miscalculated badly Russia’s
devastating reaction when he initiated last week’s surprise attack
on South Ossetia.

This breakaway region not only borders Russia, but its inhabitants
are citizens of Russia, giving the Kremlin ample reason to intervene
and carry out Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s declared intent
‘to punish’ Georgia’s President."

One hopes that Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s and
Nagorno Karabagh Republic/Artsakh’s neighbor to the East learns from
his Georgian colleague Saakashvili’s dire experience of political and
military miscalculations. Back in March, Azerbaijan had organized a
military incursion against Armenia and paid dearly for its testing
of the Armenians’ determination to fight back.

As for the Armenians of Javakhk, the Armenian region in Georgia,
Saakashvili’s oppressive regime has been systematically impoverishing
them so that either they leave or assimilate. Below is an urgent
appeal for help released on July 24 by Javakhk Armenians:

"JAVAKHK NEEDS HELP OF THE WHOLE WORLD. Dear compatriots, the
democratic alliance ‘United Javakhk,’ a grassroots NGO, striving
to defend the human rights of Javakhk’s Armenians, was attacked and
crushed without any solid legal ground by Georgian Special Operations
Unit in the city of Akhalkalak."

The appeal continued: "At the current moment: 1) Over 500 Georgian
special police officers are stationed in Javakhk region of Georgia
(this is in addition to the regular police force); 2) Over 20 members
of ‘United Javakhk’ were thrown in jail without due course/legal
procedures; 3) The Georgian operatives too control over local
internet provider and independent radio station. A number of other
local media outlets are shut down, which effectively limits freedom
of the media and access of the general public to information for
the local population; 4) The office of "United Javakhk" had been
illegally searched and weapons were ‘found’ (allegedly all planted
by the Georgian police units); 5) The population of Akhalkalak and
the entire region is under the constant threat of illegal arrests,
beatings and other mass violations of human rights; and 6) Armenian and
Georgian media and state authorities do not comment on the situation."

Not long ago, Kosovo, another breakaway region-turned an
internationally recognized sovereign state, gained its independence
from the Republic of Serbia. Rightfully, the international community
rushed to recognize its independence.

But the international community’s duty should not have stopped there.

Setting the double standard aside, the world community should have
recognized South Ossetia’s and Abkhazia’s independence from Georgia,
and that of Nagorno Karabagh/Artsakh from Azerbaijan.

Having failed to complete its obligations, the international community
now shoulders the responsibility of the loss of thousands of innocent
lives in the Russia-Georgia-Ossetia war.

Future deadly aggression by the oppressive regimes of Azerbaijan and
Georgia will further saddle the community with more responsibility
for further human losses.

CRIMINAL CASE OF MUSHEGH SAGHATELIAN SENT TO COURT

Noyan Tapan

Au g 14, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The investigation into the case of
Mushegh Saghatelian – within the framework of the criminal case on the
March 1-2 events under investigation of the RA Special Investigation
Service – has been completed. The criminal case of M. Saghatelian
was sent to court.

Based on the eveidence obtained by investigators, M. Saghatelian
was charged under Article 316 parts 1 and 2 of the RA Criminal Code
for committing violence (dangerous to life and health) agaisnst the
commander of the 2nd platoon of the 8th company of the State Defence
Service police regiment A. Arshakian and committing violence (not
dangerous to life and health) against policeman of the same regiment’s
3rd company A. Arushanian when the above mentioned policemen were
performing their official duties. He was also charged under Article
235 part 4 for illegal keeping of cold steel weapons.

The case was sent to the Yerevan Criminal Court.

According to the press service of the RA Prosecutor General’s
Office, as of August 14, 12 accused persons are under preliminary
arrest. Precautionary measures other than arrest were chosen with
respect to another 9 accused persons.

84 criminal cases on 97 persons were sent to court: the examination of
67 cases on 77 persons was completed. The examination of the remaining
cases is underway.

Out of the indicated 77 persons, 5 were aquitted, the case on one
person was quashed – due to reconciliation with the accused person by
the order envisaged by Article 183 of the RA Criminal Procedure Code,
fines were imposed on 5 persons, 33 were sentenced to imprisonment,
another 33 persons received suspended sentences and were put on
probation.

FOREIGNERS FLEE GEORGIA AFTER ATTACK ON OSSETIA
By Kirill Besonov

Moscow News
15/08/2008
Russia

Thousands of foreign citizens left Georgia after the attack on
South Ossetia and the subsequent involvement of Russian troops who
moved in to secure peace in the region. With air traffic crippled as
Georgia announced it was in a state of war, many people had to move
to neighboring Armenia by buses and car convoys to get to safety.

The United States was the first to start the evacuation. On Sunday
and Monday, about 170 U.S. citizens left the Georgian capital of
Tbilisi and were delivered across the border with Armenia by car
convoys. The evacuees included businessmen and tourists and also
families and dependants of U.S. diplomats stationed in Georgia. The
entire staff of the U.S. Peace Corps in Georgia also left the country
before Thursday. The U.S. embassy in Tbilisi, however, remained open
and provided consultations. On Wednesday the U.S. State Department
issued a notice in which it advised all Americans to leave Georgia
despite the Russian order to end military action.

Seeing the great increase in people willing to leave Georgia, Armenian
authorities introduced a simplified scheme of border crossing, allowing
about 2,000 foreign citizens to enter the country, from where they
could head home. According to the Arme­nian Foreign Ministry report,
about 2,000 foreigners entered Armenia from Georgia between Sunday
and Wednesday. This figure included many diplomats and their family
members. In addition, about 7,500 Armenian citizens chose to return
to their country.

The route through Armenia beca­me the most popular way for so many
people because Georgia stop­ped air traffic with Russia and many
other countries, including Germany and Ukraine. Some destinations,
such as Latvia and Israel were still accessible, but given the number
of potential passengers, there were not enough places for everyone.

Several Russian citizens reported that Georgian authorities barred
them from leaving the country. They said their papers were checked
and they were ordered to return to their places of residence. The
Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it received about 12 phone
calls with such complaints. The Georgian side said the move was caused
by security fears, but Russian diplomats still considered issuing a
protest against the infringement of the Russian citizens’ rights.

There were no reports of casualties among foreigners in the latest
Georgian-Ossetian conflict, but according to the International News
Safety Institute, four journalists were reported dead as of Thursday
morning. The killed were Alexander Klimchuk, the Russian owner of
Georgia’s independent photo agency Caucasus Press Images; Grigol
Chikhladze from Newsweek Russia; and Dutch cameraman Stans Storimans,
39, of the news station RTL. A so-far unidentified Georgian journalist
and his driver were also reported dead, the INSI report read. At
least 10 journalists were reported wounded.

–Boundary_(ID_XAzGRIkcNjqQu5T+CKxPhw)–

THE 29TH OLYMPIC GAMES KICK OFF

ARMENPRESS
Aug 8, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS; The 29th Summer Olympic Games kicked
off today in the capital of China Beijing with the participation of
athletes from more than 200 countries. The author of the opening
performance, which took place in the National Stadium of Beijing,
is the well-known Korean film director Chzhan Imou. The Chinese have
prepared a rich program of the opening of the games during which old
and new culture of China was presented. The motto of the Beijing
Olympics is – "One World One Dream." Chinese president Hu Jintao
and President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge
opened the Olympic Games.

Armenia this time was not among the first rows of marchers as it
always was but was the 74th among 205 countries according to the
Chinese alphabet. The bearer of the Armenian flag was distinguished
Armenian athlete Albert Azarian. Armenia will be represented by 25
athletes in seven sports types – free and Greek-Rome style wrestling,
weightlifting, boxing, judo, light athletics etc. A number of Armenians
are included in the teams of different countries of the world.

The biggest delegation in the games has China which is represented
in the games by 639 athletes, it is followed by USA – 596, then comes
Russia 467, Germany 439, Australia 433, Japan 351.

The games will kick off tomorrow, August 9.

WEAVER’S REMARKS SLAMMED
By Jeremy Oberstein

Glendale News Press
August 7, 2008 12:07 AM PDT

GLENDALE — A small but irate contingent of Glendale residents
admonished Councilman Dave Weaver during Tuesday night’s City Council
meeting for comments he made to a local publication last week that
seemed directed against the city’s sizable Armenian population.

In the June 26 edition of the Pasadena Weekly, Weaver was asked about
a possible ban on smoking in Glendale, to which he said: "I don’t care
if it’s popular. It’s the right thing to do. But there will be a lot
of opposition from one segment of the population that loves to smoke,"
a veiled reference to many of the city’s Armenians.

Due to an editing error, the quote was attributed to Mayor John
Drayman, and the article was eventually amended to reflect Weaver’s
sentiment.

The Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee immediately
seized on Weaver’s comments, issuing an alert to its more than 7,000
members to contact Drayman and the four other councilmen to "condemn
Councilmember Weaver’s continuous unethical behavior on the dias
[sic] and to request a public apology from the councilmember."

On Tuesday, residents called for Weaver’s censure, his resignation
and expressed outrage that an elected official was behind comments
perceived to be directed against Glendale’s largest minority.

"I am dismayed in the year 2008, anyone would stereotype a segment
of an entire community on any single issue," Glendale ANC chairman
Artin Manoukian said. "It is even more shocking when the person
doing that is an elected official. When someone is elected to office,
it is their responsibility to demand equality and justice."

Missing from Tuesday night’s meeting was Councilman Bob Yousefian
and Weaver, who said a family matter precluded his attendance at
the meeting.

Weaver declined to comment about Tuesday night’s reaction, saying:
"I’ll be there next week."

Not all of the meeting’s attendees berated Weaver for his comments.

Glendale resident Evelyn Hanson sought to cool the heels of outraged
reaction by recognizing what she felt unified those in the chamber
instead of what divided the group.

"People just need to let go of the anger," Hanson said.

"Sometimes people say things they wouldn’t have said otherwise,
but we need to let go of the anger and forget the prejudice and
forget perpetuating prejudice. They really need to let go of the
divisiveness."

But others in the chamber, including Councilman Ara Najarian,
said Weaver’s comments represented a chance for the city to combat
prejudice and that peo ple should be encouraged to stand up for what
they believe to be a racial slight.

"I think it is an important thing to stand up [against] racial
prejudice wherever it’s seen, especially someone on the council,"
Najarian said. "Should we tell Rosa Parks to chill out, that the back
of the bus wasn’t so bad? No. We’ve got to bring this up. We’ve got
to confront it with the hope that we improve the situation and people
realize they can’t make stereotypical comments and racial comments."

That sentiment was shared by the ANC, which has seen a sharp increase
in membership since Weaver’s comments were first circulated.

Officials with the group have recorded 127 new contacts and said they
have received about 760 letters and more than 60 calls a day since
the article was published.

ANC leaders were quick to say Wednesday that though they had benefited
in the form of increased membership from Weaver’s comments, the focus
should remain on the issue at hand.

"I don’t want any one to turn this into an Armenian, non-Armenian
issue," Glendale ANC Executive Director Elen Asatryan said. "It really
is not about the smoking issue or the Armenian-American community.

It’s deeper than that. I was happy to get phone calls from
non-Armenians who said Councilman Weaver has always taken an extreme
stance on things and his reaction20to any minority is open and
ugly. It’s one thing to hear it from Armenians, it’s another thing
to hear it from non-Armenians."

The ANC also took umbrage at the portrayal of Armenian smoking habits
in the Pasadena Weekly article in which reporter Carl Kozlowski wrote
that Weaver was referring to "the city’s substantial and politically
influential Armenian community, where smoking tobacco — both in
cigarette form and from hookahs — is a widely enjoyed after-dinner
cultural tradition."

Asatryan strongly dismissed that contention and said support and
opposition for the proposed ban against smoking is divided among many
of Glendale’s Armenians.

"[Smoking] is not an after-dinner tradition, I promise you," Asatryan
said. "Something like this should have never been published."

A survey that the ANC recently conducted showed that 45% of the 740
people asked supported the proposed ban while 61% of survey takers
claimed to be nonsmokers.

Kozlowski and editor Kevin Uhrich appeared at the meeting and expressed
regret for the misattribution — which they corrected after the error
was found — and met with ANC leaders July 31 to sooth relations.

To assuage their concerns, officials with the Pasadena Weekly agreed
to let Asatryan write a guest column in a future issue breaking down
the tenets of the survey and listing some of the ANC’s=2 0primary
grievances.

"We try really hard, but we make mistakes — we’re human," Uhrich
said. "This is just one of those unfortunate occurrences where we’ve
taken, I think, appropriate action to correct."

ARMENIA: PUSH FOR KOCHARIAN TRIAL — A PUSH FOR PR?
Marianna Grigoryan

EurasiaNet
Aug 6 2008
NY

In a move that could very well hamper rather than promote political
reconciliation in Armenia, the country’s leading opposition politician,
Levon Ter-Petrosian, is mounting a campaign to have former president
Robert Kocharian tried for "heavy crimes" against the Armenian people.

The allegation is connected with the March 1 events in Yerevan,
when at least 10 fatalities resulted from a clash between security
forces and opposition protesters. [For background see the Armenia:
Election 2008 special feature]. Since then, the political healing
process has made scant progress. President Serzh Sargsyan, who was
declared the winner of the controversial presidential election in
February, has made reform promises, but his administration has been
slow to implement reconciliation measures. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive]. Ter-Petrosian loyalists have likewise no
let go of hard feelings.

Ter-Petrosian’s new campaign re-airs longstanding opposition grievances
against Kocharian, accusing the former president of an "autocratic"
and "despotic" rule that led to "bloodshed" — allegedly, in 1999,
when gunmen killed eight senior officials in parliament, and, again,
on March 1. [For background, see the Eurasia Insight archive.] The
petition demands "an independent, international inquiry" into
the events of March 1 and that Kocharian be turned "over to the
international court in The Hague."

Neither of the two international courts based in The Hague — the
International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court —
appears to have jurisdiction over any potential case against Kocharian,
however. The International Court of Justice only hears cases brought
against states. While the International Criminal Court can try
individuals for broad-based crimes such as genocide, war crimes or
systematic political persecution (committed after 2002), it cannot
try individuals who are citizens of non-signatory states. Armenia
has not yet signed the 1998 Rome Statute establishing the court.

But while the legal intent may be fuzzy, opposition leaders nonetheless
maintain that that the campaign can possibly trigger enough attention
to secure a hearing. Opposition activists, however, refrain from
providing details.

Ter-Petrosian spokesperson Arman Musinian claims that the campaign has
so far collected more than 100,000 signatures from Yerevan and various
provinces for Kocharian to stand trial. "The signature collection is
continuing. The process is ongoing," Musinian said.

That fact alone is what worries one politician. Azerbaijan, claims
Shavarsh Kocharian, leader of the National Democratic Party, could
use Ter-Petrosian’s drive to bolster its own claims that Armenian
officials were guilty of ethnic cleansing, genocide and war crimes
against Azerbaijanis in the ongoing dispute over the breakaway
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. "This step … is simply a treachery
and a trump card in the hands of Azerbaijan," Kocharian, no relation
to the former Armenian president, told EurasiaNet.

Meanwhile, Kocharian supporters have reacted scornfully to the
campaign. "Legally, the initiative is crass ignorance. Politically,
it is an absurdity," said parliamentarian Armen Ashotian, a senior
member of the governing Republican Party of Armenia.

One political analyst believes the campaign is intended mainly for
domestic PR purposes. "This is to put pressure on authorities,"
noted independent political analyst Yervand Bozoyan. "There is an
opinion that some power still remains in Robert Kocharian’s hands,
and that the collection of signatures is a sort of event for domestic
consumption. … I don’t think [it] will acquire any serious scale."

Pro-government analyst Eduard Mamikonian agrees. "[W]ith methods like
these, an attempt is made to restore 1988 when, with his influence,
Levon Ter-Petrosian managed to unite the people," Mamikonian said
in reference to the Soviet-era campaign for an independent Armenia,
a drive led by Ter-Petrosian among others. "This time, the opposition
simply tries to keep the ‘tension’ alive. It is a game. The carnival
goes on."

Ter-Petrosian has far from faded from public view since the March 1
events. Opposition rallies and so-called "political walks" continue
in Yerevan; the latest rally, on August 1, drew a crowd in the
thousands. Ter-Petrosian has announced the creation of an Armenian
National Congress, made up of 16 political parties, and continues to
call for Sargsyan’s resignation and fresh elections. The next rally
is scheduled for September 5. While attendance appears to be holding
steady, no noticeable increase in numbers has occurred.

Kocharian, meanwhile, has kept a discreet profile. His activities since
leaving office earlier this year remain unknown, although speculation
runs rife. The recent appearance of an unauthorized, limited-edition
hagiographic survey of Kocharian’s presidency indicates that, for all
appearances, Armenia’s establishment will preserve the ex-president’s
official image as the leader who brought stability after the economic
and political upheavals of Ter-Petrosian’s 1991-1998 term.

AZERI LEADER DISMISSES TALK OF REFERENDUM IN BREAKAWAY KARABAKH

AzTV Baku
August 5 2008
Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani president has dismissed as "speculation" any
suggestions that his government has agreed to hold a referendum in
Nagornyy Karabakh to determine the rebel region’s future status.

At a cabinet meeting on 5 August, broadcast by state television,
Ilham Aliyev said there was no document on the negotiating table on
holding a referendum in Nagornyy Karabakh.

"These are speculations… by some international sides," Aliyev said in
a clear reference to Matthew Bryza, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group, which has been tasked with mediating a peaceful resolution of
the conflict.

The Russian news agency Interfax on 1 August had quoted Bryza as saying
that the people of Nagornyy Karabakh would decide themselves whether
the region should remain part of Azerbaijan or become independent.

Aliyev said that he would never agree to Nagornyy Karabakh’s separation
from Azerbaijan.

"This conflict must be resolved on the basis of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. No option is being discussed beyond that,"
he was shown telling the meeting. "Azerbaijan will not back down from
its principled position even one iota."

Aliyev warned that such speculation might aggravate the situation in
the region.

Nagornyy Karabakh broke from central government control following
a separatist war in the early 1990s. The region, along with seven
adjacent districts of Azerbaijan, has been controlled by Armenian
forces since a cease-fire was reached in 1994.

ARA PAPYAN: PRESENT-DAY GEORGIA HAS NO RIGHT TO JAVAKHK

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2008 16:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Present-day Georgia has no right to Javakhk, for
no agreement on state border was signed between Armenia and Georgia
after the war in 1918, said Ara Papyan, head of Modus Vivendi center,
historian and former Armenian Ambassador to Canada.

"The issue of borders in the South Caucasus should be resolved on
the basis of the international law, through implementation of Woodrow
Wilson’s arbitral award and the principles proposed by the League of
Nations on February 24, 1920," he said.

"Decisions of the Communist Party’s Central Committee on Karabakh
and Javakhk should not determine Armenia’s borders with Georgia and
Azerbaijan. Leaders of modern Georgia eye the soviet era as period
of foreign occupation."

If someone questions the Paris conference’s decision on Armenia, this
person questions the entire legal and political system of Europe and
Middle East, according to him.

"A special commission dealing with the problem of Armenian borders
said in its report that all territorial disputes should be considered
by the League of Nations. Javakhk’s annexation to Georgia was a result
of occupation regime," Papyan said.

The Armenian-Georgian war for Javakhk started on December 5, 1918 and
was stopped after British interference on December 31. An agreement
signed in Tiflis in January 1919 stated that the northern part of
Borchalinsky district passed on to Georgia, the southern part passed
on to Armenia while the middle (Lori and Zangezur) was announced a
"neutral zone" and was under control of British governor-general.

After establishment of the soviet rule, Javakhk issue was raised
again. Overwhelming majority of the province stood for joining
Armenia. A final decision was taken at the plenary session of the
Caucasus Bureau and was forwarded to consideration of the Georgian
Communist Party’s Central Committee, which decreed that "taking into
account Akhalkalaki’s political and economic ties with Tiflis, the
proposals of our Armenian comrades is unacceptable."

After the end of WWI, Armenia and Turkey signed the Treaty of Sevres
which envisaged Armenia’s commitment to Woodrow Wilson’s arbitral award
determined borders with Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. According
to the award, Armenia was supposed to get Armenian-inhabited
Transcaucasian regions, thus bringing its territory to 110 thousand
km2.

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE SAYS NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS MUST BASE ON BASIC PRINCIPLES

Trend News Agency
July 31 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 31 July /Trend News corr. R.Novruzov/ EU Special
Representative say it would be expedient to continue the negotiations
on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of basic principles. EU
Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby discussed in
Baku on 31 July with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
the ways to settle Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We discussed the upcoming meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers to take place in Moscow on 1 August and agreed
that the negotiations must base on basic principles," Semneby said
to journalists after the meeting.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

The work over settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, suggested
by both countries’ presidents in St. Petersburg in June, will be
the basis for negotiations between Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers in Moscow at the beginning of August.

Negotiations on peace settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will
be based on Madrid proposals, French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
Bernard Fassier said to Trend News previously.

In November, 2007, OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs presented in Madrid
the basic principles of peace settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
to Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. Co-chairs believe the Madrid
proposals are just and balanced.

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
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – July 31, 2008

PRELATE WILL TRAVEL TO CAMP HAIASTAN
This Sunday, August 3, Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Camp Haiastan
in Franklin, Massachusetts where he will preside over the annual picnic
organized by St. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island.
Besides the hundreds of young campers that flock to Camp Haiastan each
summer, it is a popular gathering place for adults on the weekends, as
nearly every Sunday during the summer one of the New England churches or
other organizations sponsor a good old-fashioned Armenian picnic.

LINKED IN: A WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS
Are you looking for a way to connect with friends and with your church?
Would you like to learn more about your Armenian spiritual heritage?
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, a workshop for students and professionals (ages 18
to 35) will take place September 26 to 28, at St. Mary Coptic Orthodox
Retreat Center in Charlton, Massachusetts.
For more details click here.
Direct your questions via email to [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: The registration form is now on the web page. Don’t delay. Send
in your form right away as space is limited. Click here.

QUEEN RECEIVES LAMBETH PARTICIPANTS
The participants in the meeting of the Bishops of the Anglican Church
were welcomed on July 24 by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain to
Buckingham Palace in London. Some 1,500 participants and guests participated
in the march organized by the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Their main aim was to bring
attention to poverty reduction.
Later the participants visited Lambeth Palace, the headquarters of the
Anglican Archbishop, where they met with the Prime Minister of England,
Gordon Brown. The meetings of the Lambeth Conference took place from July 21
to 26. Bishop Nareg Alemezian attended as the representative of the Armenian
Church of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

PASSING OF VERY REV. FR. OSHAGAN MINASSIAN
Archbishop Oshagan expressed his deep sympathy to Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), on the
passing of V. Rev. Fr. Oshagan Minassian, who passed away last Saturday,
July 26. His funeral and final anointing took place today, at Holy Trinity
Church in Cambridge with Archbishop Barsamian presiding.
Born in Aleppo, Syria in 1930, Fr. Minassian entered the Armenian
Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon when he was 14 years old and later
continued his studies at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. He served
as pastor of Holy Cross Church in Lawrence, Massachusetts, as well as St.
Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, from
1958 to 1960.
Fr. Minassian suffered a spinal cord injury following an automobile
accident in 1955, which eventually prevented him from continuing his serve
as a parish priest. He turned his efforts to teaching and liturgical music.
He earned a master’s in religious education in 1962, a doctorate in theology
in 1974 and a master’s degree in sacred music in 1982. He also studied
conducting and completed the requirements for a doctorate in musicology at
the University of Massachusetts. For the past 42 years, Fr. Minassian served
as choirmaster at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He founded the Erevan Choral Society and published a number of works related
to Armenian liturgical music.
May Almighty God grant eternal rest, peace and light to his soul and
grant comfort to his family.

PASSING OF JOHN OULIGIAN
John Ouligian of Fairfield, Connecticut, died at home last Sunday, July
27. John was an active member of the Armenian community and served as
chairman of the Prelacy’s Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC) for
several years, as well as serving as a member of the committee for many more
years.
Funeral services took place yesterday at the Armenian Church of the Holy
Ascension, in Trumbull, Connecticut, with Rev. Fr. Untzag Nalbandian
officiating. In lieu of flowers donations are being accepted for: Armenian
Church of the Holy Ascension, Trumbull, Connecticut; St. Illuminator’s
Armenian Cathedral, New York City; and Camp Haiastan, Franklin,
Massachusetts.
He is survived by his wife, Dottie Bengoian Ouligian, who lovingly cared
for him, as well as a son, Charles Ouligian and family; a sister Susan
Kelerchian, nieces and nephews, and many friends who remember his sweet
nature and smiling face.
May Almighty God illuminate his soul.

DATEV INSTITUTE PHOTOS ON WEB
Many photos from the 2008 St. Gregory of Datev Institute of Armenian
Christian Studies, are now on the Prelacy’s web page. Click here and take a
look.

MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Major renovation of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City has
begun. Until the renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy will be offered
every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Street,
Woodside, New York.

YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated the year 2008 as the "Year of Christian Education."
To read His Holiness’ message in Armenian click here.
To read His Holiness’ message in English click here.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, July 31 are: Proverbs 1:20-25;
Isaiah 55:10-13; Romans 15:30-33; Luke 12:32-40.
You grew weary from your many wanderings, but you did not say, "It is
useless," You found your desire rekindled, and so you did not weaken. Whom
did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me
a thought? Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes. And so you do not fear
me? I will concede your righteousness and your works, but they will not help
you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind
will carry them off, a breath will take away. But whoever takes refuge in me
shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain. (Isaiah 55:10-13)
For listing of the week’s Bible readings click here.

ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN
This Saturday, August 2, the Armenian Church remembers St. Gregory the
Theologian, also known as Gregory of Nazianzus, considered to be one of the
four great doctors of the Church during the 4th century, along with Basil
the Great, John Chrysostom and Athanasius the Great. He is noted for being
an accomplished and eloquent speaker. He is also known as one of the
Cappadocian Fathers, along with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Some
of his sermons and poetry have survived.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August 3-Holy Cross Armenian Church, 50th Anniversary Blessing of the Grapes
picnic, noon to 4 pm, on the church grounds, 101 Spring Ave., Troy, NY.
Blessing of the grapes at 3 pm officiated by Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian. Eat
in or takeout; raffle. For information 518-274-1477.

August 5-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 9th annual
golf outing at Blackstone National Golf Club, Summon, Massachusetts.
Information: 508-234-3261.

August 17-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, picnic and
blessing of the grapes, officiated by Archbishop Oshagan and New England
area clergy. On church grounds, beginning at 12 noon. For information:
508-234-3677 or

August 17-St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, Feast of the Assumption of the Holy
Mother of God and Blessing of the Grapes, and picnic, at the Armenian
Center, Woodside, NY. For information 212-689-5880.

September 7-Annual picnic Festival of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, at American Legion Grounds, Haverhill, Massachusetts,
beginning at 12 noon.

August 3-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Blessing of the
Grapes picnic. Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, noon to 6 pm, rain or
shine.

August 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. Annual
picnic on church grounds. Free admission; free parking.

August 17-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, annual church
picnic and blessing of the grapes at Dunkerhook Park, Pavilion D, Paramus,
NJ. For information 201-943-2950.

September 7-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, Connecticut,
annual picnic, 1 pm to dusk at Quartette Club Grounds, 225 Wooster Street,
New Britain. Rain or shine. Free admission.

September 14-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Celebration of
the Holy Cross and Madagh. For information 201-943-2950.

September 19-Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild, Providence, Rhode Island,
present "Remembering the Good Old Days. 8 pm, Aramian Auditorium. For
tickets and information 401-434-4467.

September 21-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, annual
church banquet. Details to follow.

September 22-13th annual St. Stephen’s School/ACEC Golf Tournament,
Framingham Country Club, Framingham, MA. For information, Astor Guzelian,
781-326-5764.

September 25-Sixth annual golf outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For information contact Richard Krikorian 201-784-2236 or church office
201-943-2950.

September 26-28-National Youth Conference at Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

September 29-30-Clergy conference at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

October 17-18-Annual Fall Fair of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall.

October 19-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, first Connecticut
performance of "Hello Ellis Island," at Silas Deane Middle School, 551 Silas
Deane Highway, Wethersfield, Connecticut. Program starts at 3 pm; reception
follows. Advance reservation desired. Adults $25; Students $10; Children
under 12 $5. Tickets at door $30. For information: 860-229-8322.

October 31, November 1 and 2-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. For information 201-943-2950.

November 2-St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain-Hartford, Connecticut, 83rd
anniversary banquet at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf Street, Newington,
Connecticut. Reception 1 pm, dinner at 2 pm. For information: 860-229-8322.

November 9-38th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, North Andover,
Massachusetts, and 50th anniversary of the Prelacy under the Holy See of
Cilicia, presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan at Jaffarian Hall
following Divine Liturgy.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.

November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival.

November 28-William Saroyan Centennial Celebration, co-sponsored by the
Anthropology/Armenian Museum at Queens College and the AGBU, 3 pm at Lefrak
Concert Hall, Queens College, Flushing, New York. Archbishop Oshagan will
participate. The program includes readings and a play by Saroyan. Also
special performance by the Aaron Copeland School of Music students of the
music of composer Arno Babadjanian. For information: 718-428-5650.

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.

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