Steinmeier Says Berlin Wants Solution To Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

STEINMEIER SAYS BERLIN WANTS SOLUTION TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Oct 24 2014

24 October 2014 – 10:59am

Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was a key subject of
today’s visit by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
to Azerbaijan, the German minister declared after a meeting with
President Ilham Aliyev.

“We wish to find a stable solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we want the European Union, along with the
Minsk OSCE group, to actively participate in this question. We also
want a role for ourselves in the solution of the conflict. I want to
note that the new special representative of the European Union for
the South Caucasus, Gerber Salber, is a skilled German diplomat,”
he reported.

The German foreign minister also noted that in the country’s foreign
policy Azerbaijan holds an extremely important place today, thanks
to existing and realized projects on ensuring the energy security
of Europe.

http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/61358.html

ACYOA Juniors Gather for Sports Weekend

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

October 24, 2014
_________________

ACYOA Juniors Gather for Sports Weekend

Over Columbus Day weekend, some 265 young people from 18 parishes around the
Diocese gathered for the ACYOA Fall Juniors Sports Weekend, hosted by St.
Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ.

Lorie Odabashian, the Diocese’s coordinator of Youth and Young Adult
Ministries, and members of the St. Leon parish welcomed participants on
Friday, October 10, and directed them to their respective host families.

Saturday began with morning service, followed by an “Insights” program led
by sub-deacon Saro Kalayjian. Sports competitions followed at the parish’s
Grace and Charles Pinajian Youth Center. Team sports included co-ed
volleyball and boys’ and girls’ basketball. Individual competitions included
chess, tavloo, Connect Four, and ping pong. On Saturday evening,
participants enjoyed a dance in Abajian Hall.

On Sunday, the group took part in the Divine Liturgy. The Rev. Fr. Diran
Bohajian, parish pastor, celebrated the Divine Liturgy and gave a sermon on
the Holy Translators. The afternoon continued with sports finals, followed
by an awards banquet and dance in Abajian Hall.

The weekend came to a close on Monday with a farewell breakfast, where the
participants and parishioners alike remarked on the spirit of Christian
fellowship present throughout the weekend. The young people also expressed
their gratitude to Fr. Bohajian, St. Leon Church youth adviser Susan
Chamesian, and to the entire parish for hosting them and organizing the
various events.

For information on the ACYOA Juniors, contact Jennifer Morris, director of
the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, at (248) 648-0702, or
via e-mail at
[email protected].

2014 Award Winners in Team Sports

Volleyball
First Place: Holy Translators Church, Framingham, MA
Second Place: St. James Church, Watertown, MA

Girls Basketball
First Place: St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, Wynnewood, PA
Second Place: St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Boys Basketball
First Place: “Hye Five” combined New England regional team
Second Place: St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Overall Weekend Champions
St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Outstanding Sportsmanship Awards
Neil Ferraro, Holy Translators Church, Framingham, MA
Nairi Ostayan, St. James Church, Watertown, MA

Individual Competition Winners

Beginner Chess
First Place: Armen Dervishian, St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, Wynnewood,
PA
Second Place: Armen Kassabian, Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY

Advanced Chess
First Place: Armen Arsenian, Holy Martyrs Church, Bayside, NY
Second Place: Christian Khachian, St. Gregory the Enlightener Church, White
Plains, NY

Beginner Tavloo
First Place: Dylan Madden, St. James Church, Watertown, MA
Second Place: Armand Zeibari, St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, Wynnewood, PA

Advanced Tavloo
First Place: Alek Kevorkian, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ
Second Place: Andrew Reppucci, St. James Church, Watertown, MA

Connect Four
First Place: Nick Tokmanian, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ
Second Place: Greg Keshishian, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Boys’ Ping Pong
First Place: Levon Najarian, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ
Second Place: Greg Keshishian, St. Leon Church, Fair Lawn, NJ

Girls’ Ping Pong
First Place: Ana DerSimonian, St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church, Wynnewood, PA
Second Place: Ani Maroyan, Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, MA

###

Photos attached.
Photo 1: Sports Weekend participants take a group photo.
Photo 2: A game of tavloo.
Photo 3: A girls’ basketball game underway during Sports Weekend.

www.armenianchurch-ed.net

There Are No Mediators To Artsakh

THERE ARE NO MEDIATORS TO ARTSAKH

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 24 October 2014, 00:14

The German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has announced in
Baku that Germany is looking forward to the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting
in Paris which is initiated by the French president Francois Hollande.

Is Germany looking forward to the failure or success of the meeting in
France? In addition, it should be clarified what is failure and what
is success. Perhaps, it is not realistic. However, in the conflict
over Artsakh success is not a breakthrough but maintenance of the
regional status quo.

At least, it will be success for those who are interested in
stability in the Caucasus because with review of the status quo the
new stage of instability will start in the Caucasus. If status quo in
Artsakh changes, it will mark a new stage of regional instability. In
addition, there is a worse scenario – the change may be instigated
through instability.

Consequently, “futility” may be a successful outcome of the meeting
in Paris. If Germany is interested in regional stability, it should
be looking forward to maintenance of the status quo through Hollande’s
initiative.

Germany’s interest is interesting because Berlin does not seem to
be an active participant of the conflict over Artsakh or other key
processes in the region. In fact, these processes have been tightly
blocked by the OSCE Minsk Group which, dealing de jure with the issue
of Artsakh, was de facto a closed club of the Caucasus.

A few months ago France questioned the members of this club. The
French ambassador to Armenia Henri Renault announced that supply of
arms to the conflict sides does not match France’s principles and
visions of a conflict mediator. The ambassador’s addressee was Russia,
and France was actually questioning Russia’s role of mediator.

Can France come up with an initiative to change the composition of the
mediators trying to promote the idea of participation of Germany? And
will Germany look forward to seeing what the presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan will say to this idea?

However, the issue seems to be broader. The question is that the
mediation mission is no longer actual in the process of settlement
of the Karabakh conflict. In fact, no such mission exists. What is
to be mediated if it is clear that the conflict over Artsakh as such
does not exist, it was resolved by the Armenian victory in the first
war in Artsakh. Now the regional and geopolitical situation is in
line with the interests of some great powers and is not in line with
the interests of the other great powers. In other words, the battle,
the adversity, the competition has gone far beyond a certain object
and fits the logic of geopolitical competition.

On the other hand, it has always been the case simply in the period
of collapse of the USSR, with an unviable and disorganized USSR,
then Russia, the West, namely the North-Atlantic community resolved
the problem of Artsakh or rather did not hinder achievement of
such a solution that was in line with the security interests and
strategic prospects of the North-Atlantic community. In other words,
as the USSR, then Russia were dissolving and weakening, the issue was
getting closer to its solution, and notably the Armenian victory was
getting closer as the Soviet-Russian pole was weakening and deepening.

Afterwards, that pole started pulling itself together and making
geopolitical claims, which caused an escalation of the issue of
Artsakh and defrost of issue of revision of the status quo because
obviously it does not stem from Russia’s interests. Currently this
issue is almost vital for Russia, and review of the status quo is the
only guarantee of keeping the current geopolitical front for Moscow.

This is the issue, and in reality there is no mediation process. There
is a geopolitical process, and Germany is trying to get involved.

Sooner or later Berlin will have such ambitions, considering the
growing political role of this country in Europe through economic
resources.

The problem, however, is considering the special relationship between
Berlin and Moscow, the score of the geopolitical game of the Caucasus
which 2:1 for the North-Atlantic community, i.e. the outcome of the
first war in Artsakh which can become a draw, which will certainly
favor the approach of review of the status quo.

Consequently, one should hope that the meeting in Paris will not meet
up to Germany’s expectations because Germany can have a constructive
role for the stability in the Caucasus. There is no need to get
closer. It is already crowded there, and there will be a jam.

http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/33133#sthash.FNtFIt14.dpuf

Kobane, Transit Station Of The Armenian Genocide (In German)

KOBANE, TRANSIT STATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE (IN GERMAN)

Der Standard, Osterreich (Austria)
23 april 2014

Kobane, Durchgangsstation des Armenier-Genozids

Blog | Markus Bernath
23. Oktober 2014, 12:36

Geschichtsbucher auf: Wo Kurden und Islamisten heute in Kobane
kämpfen, trieben die Jungturken 1915/16 tausende Armenier durch

Während die Kurden der syrischen PYD und die Sunni-Islamisten der IS
in Kobane ihre epische Schlacht fuhren, passieren seltsame Dinge in
Suruc, dem Städtchen und dem gleichnamigen Distrikt auf der turkischen
Seite der Grenze: Ein ehemaliger Burgermeister und wichtiger kurdischer
Stammesfuhrer wird zusammen mit seinem Sohn im Auto erschossen; eine
Korrespondentin des iranischen Senders Press TV, die vom turkischen
Geheimdienst beschuldigt wurde, eine Spionin zu sein, stirbt bei einem
mysteriösen Verkehrsunfall; ein Fuhrer einer syrischen Rebellengruppe,
die ebenfalls derzeit in Kobane gegen die IS kämpfen soll, wird auf
turkischem Boden in der nicht weit von Suruc entfernten Stadt Urfa von
mutmaÃ~_lichen IS-Mitgliedern angeschossen und zeitweise entfuhrt –
es gilt als Indiz dafur, dass sich die Islamisten der Terrormiliz
frei in turkischen Städten bewegen können.

Die Vorfälle der vergangenen Tage sind nicht ganz klar und Gegenstand
von allerhand Spekulationen, aber sie mögen Vorboten des anrollenden
Krieges sein, in den die Turkei nun weiter hineingerät. Doch
Suruc, Kobane und die umliegenden Regionen sehen keineswegs zum
ersten Mal Krieg und Gewalt. 1915, vor bald hundert Jahren, sind
hier die Armenier des Osmanischen Reichs durchgetrieben worden auf
dem Weg in den Tod nach Deir ez-Zor in der syrischen Wuste. Suruc
war von dem Regime der Jungturken in Istanbul als eines von funf
Internierungsgebieten festgelegt worden (neben Aleppo, Katma, Muslimiye
und Ras al-Ayn/Serekane, einer anderen, heute turkisch-syrischen
Grenzstadt, in der Kurden und IS derzeit kämpfen).

Leichen vor der Stadt

Einige tausend armenische Familien, die den monatelangen Transport
und FuÃ~_marsch aus Sivas und Erzerum in Ostanatolien uberlebt
hatten – heute 600 bis 800 StraÃ~_enkilometer, je nach Route -,
kamen im Sommer und Herbst 1915 in Suruc an. Leichen sollen vor der
Stadt gelegen sein, die Schwerkranken sperrten die Behörden zum
Sterben weg, die Uberlebenden kamen in Zelte am Stadtrand von Suruc
– am selben Ort wie heute, wo viele der kurdischen Fluchtlinge aus
Kobane und den umliegenden Dörfern in Zeltlagern der turkischen
Katastrophenschutzbehörde Afad untergebracht sind und nach den
Standards des UNHCR.

Der Vertriebenenkonvoi aus Erzerum vor 99 Jahren soll in erheblich
besserer Verfassung in der Kleinstadt vor der syrischen Wuste
eingetroffen sein als jener von Sivas, schreibt der französische
Historiker Raymond Kevorkian (“The Armenian Genocide. A Complete
History”, I. B. Tauris 2011): Diese armenischen Familien hatten
noch Fuhrkarren und einiges Hab und Gut; manche konnten mit
Wechselschreiben, die sie noch bei sich hatten, Bargeld erhalten,
die Beamten in Suruc bestechen und sich den Umständen entsprechend
erträglich einrichten. Ende 1915 war gleichwohl Schluss. Das
Innenministerium in Istanbul drängte auf die Fortsetzung der
Deportation. Am 1. Jänner 1916 wurde der Befehl zum Weitermarsch
der Armenier in die Provinz Rakka gegeben – heute die Hochburg der IS.

1.851 Frauen, Männer, Kinder mussten am 9. Jänner, von den
osmanischen Gendarmen bewacht, aus Suruc in die Wuste losziehen,
berichtet Kevorkian.

Die Sammellager in Suruc und anderen Städten an der heutigen
turkisch-syrischen Grenze waren eigentlich im Rahmen einer begrenzten
Neuansiedlungspolitik fur einen Teil der Armenier geplant, die das der
Regime der Jungturken aus anderen Teilen Anatoliens vertreiben lieÃ~_.

Auch diese Ansiedlungspolitik in Wustengebieten, argumentiert der in
den USA lehrende turkische Historiker Taner Akcam (“The Young Turks’
Crime against Humanity. The Armenian Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing
in the Ottoman Empire”, Princeton 2012), ist Teil des Völkermords
an den Armeniern gewesen. Der Regierung des Komitees fur Einheit
und Fortschritt – sie wurde nach Kriegsende 1918 gesturzt – ging
es zeitweise um eine “Zerstreuung” der uberlebenden Armenier unter
der muslimischen Bevölkerung im weit entfernten Syrien; funf bis
maximal zehn Prozent sollten die Armenier in den Dörfern und
neuen Ansiedlungen ausmachen. “Ein solches Ergebnis konnte nur
durch Auslöschung (von Menschenleben, Anm.) erreicht werden”,
schreibt Akcam.

Armenierlager in Kobane

Wenige Kilometer entfernt von Suruc oder Serudj, wie es auf Karten
der französischen Mandatsverwaltung (1920-1946) genannt wird,
entstand 1915 auch ein anderes Internierungslager: Arab Punar oder
Arabounar, wie die Armenier es nannten – das heutige Kobane fur die
Kurden und Ayn al-Arab, wie es von den syrischen Behörden im Zuge
einer Arabisierungspolitik später benannt wurde. 15.000 Deportierte,
meist aus Sivas, trafen hier im September 1915 ein. Die meisten waren
krank und entkräftet. 150 bis 170 Menschen starben jeden Tag, so
zitiert Kevorkian einen Augenzeugen; an die 4.000 Tote sind es nach
einigen Wochen. Einem Teil gelingt es, sich vorubergehend in Suruc
zu verbergen.

Die Konya-Bagdad-Bahn fuhrt hier entlang, 1903 noch im Osmanischen
Reich begonnen und bis 1940 fertiggestellt; sie ist bis heute von
KarkamiÃ…~_/Garablus (unter Kontrolle der IS) bis Nusaybin/Qamishli
(unter der Kontrolle der Kurden der PYD) auf turkischer Seite die
Grenzlinie zu Syrien. Kobane war zunächst nur eine Bahnstation, heute
ist es MurÃ…~_itpinar, der Grenzubergang nach Kobane, 18 Stationen
nach Gaziantep. Arab Punar/Kobane wird 1920 noch eine Rolle spielen,
als sich die turkischen Truppen in Urfa gegen die französische
Mandatsmacht erheben. Die Franzosen gaben nach zwei Monaten Belagerung
ihre Garnison auf, die Turken sicherten ihnen freies Geleit zu bis
Arab Punar. Gegluckt ist das nicht: Der französische Trupp geriet
auf dem Weg in einen Hinterhalt angeblich der Kurden, die meisten der
noch 300 Soldaten starben. (Markus Bernath, derStandard,at, 23.10.2014)

http://derstandard.at/2000007205103/Kobane-Durchgangsstation-des-Armenier-Genozids

Hollande To Host Talks On Karabakh Crisis

HOLLANDE TO HOST TALKS ON KARABAKH CRISIS

The Peninsula, Qatar
Oct 23 2014

October 23, 2014 – 12:47:51 am

PARIS: French President Francois Hollande will mediate talks between
the leaders of arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan in a bid to revive
talks on a separatist conflict that has dragged on for over two
decades.

At the heart of the dispute is the fate of Nagorny Karabakh, a region
mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians that broke away from Azerbaijan
with the help of Armenia in a war that claimed some 30,000 lives
between 1991 and 1994.

The conflict has festered ever since, with occasional skirmishes on
the front, and international mediators have been unable to find a
political solution.

In August, more than 20 troops died on the two sides in the deadliest
clashes since the 1994 ceasefire.

The Paris meeting, confirmed by Hollande’s entourage, will include
representatives of the Minsk group of mediators appointed by the OSCE
in 1992, which France co-chairs with Russia and the United States.

Hollande will hold separate meetings with Azerbaijan President Ilham
Aliyev and Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan, who could then meet face-to-face
if they wish.

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/international/305005/hollande-to-host-talks-on-karabakh-crisis

Germany Calls For End To Azerbaijan-Armenia Bloodshed

GERMANY CALLS FOR END TO AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA BLOODSHED

Agence France Presse
October 23, 2014 Thursday 4:46 PM GMT

BAKU, Oct 23 2014

Germany’s foreign minister Thursday urged an end to the festering
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia amid a fresh international
drive for peace.

On a two-day trip to the neighbouring arch-enemies, Frank-Walter
Steinmeier told reporters in Baku that Europe was throwing new energy
into resolving the ongoing bloodshed in the Nagorny Karabakh region
that has dragged on for more than two decades.

“We in Europe have watched with some concern that there have been
more and more incidents of late,” he said at a press conference with
his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, after talks earlier
with President Ilham Aliyev.

Nagorny Karabakh, which is mostly inhabited by ethnic Armenians,
broke away from Azerbaijan with the help of Armenia in a war that
claimed some 30,000 lives between 1991 and 1994.

In August, more than 20 troops died on the two sides in the deadliest
clashes since the 1994 ceasefire.

French President Francois Hollande is to host talks in Paris next
week with representatives of the Minsk group of mediators in the
conflict appointed by the OSCE in 1992, which France co-chairs with
Russia and the United States.

Hollande will hold separate meetings Monday with Aliyev and Armenian
President Serzh Sarkisian, who could then meet face-to-face.

Steinmeier said Germany hoped the Paris meeting would be used “to
soften some of the positions that have hardened in the past”.

The tensions between energy-rich Azerbaijan and Moscow-allied Armenia
have flared as ex-Soviet republics nervously watch the Kremlin’s
confrontation with the West over Ukraine, where government forces
are battling Russian-backed separatists.

Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the disputed region by force
if negotiations do not yield results, although Armenia, says it could
crush any offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin brought the leaders of the two
countries together for talks in August, amid the new spike in clashes,
after a failed attempt by Hollande earlier this year.

Steinmeier said later in Yerevan after talks with Armenian Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian that he hoped that at the Paris talks
“an opening can be created to bring a bit more calm to the region”.

However Nalbandian struck a pessimistic note.

“Armenia is ready to continue talks and achieve the resolution of the
Karabakh issue, based on the proposals made by co-chairs of the Minsk
Group,” he said. “But Azerbaijan is not taking constructive steps.”

– Rights record in focus –

Steinmeier jetted to the region straight after talks in Berlin with US
Secretary John Kerry Wednesday that focused in large part on Ukraine.

Azerbaijan, sitting on highly lucrative gas supplies from the Caspian
Sea, has a rapidly growing energy-based economy that is fuelling more
swagger in international politics.

The visit also comes as a new meeting to resolve the bitter gas price
dispute between Russia and Ukraine was set for next week amid fears
Moscow could halt crucial energy supplies to Europe this winter.

Steinmeier said that while Europe wanted to expand its energy ties with
Azerbaijan, it would not look the other way on its human rights record.

Rights groups say the government has been clamping down on opponents
since Aliyev’s election for a third term last year.

Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan was often attacked by “sponsored parties”
who used “double standards” to “insult” his country.

BAKU: Armenia To Initiate Flights To Crimea

ARMENIA TO INITIATE FLIGHTS TO CRIMEA

Trend, Azerbaijan
Oct 23 2014

Trend:

“Grozny Avia” airline plans to initiate Simferopol-Yerevan flights
from Nov. 16, Transport Minister of the unrecognized republic of
Crimea Anatoly Tsurkin told Interfax agency Oct. 23.

“This will be the second international air route from the Simferopol
airport opened after the Crimea joined Russia,” he said. “As opposed
to the charter flights from Simferopol to Istanbul, initiated in July,
Simferopol-Yerevan tickets can be bought in any booking service.

The sale of tickets begins today, Oct.23.

Ukrainian airlines stopped flying to the Crimea after it joined Russia
in March 2014.

ANKARA: Senior Officials May Face Trial Over Hrant Dink Murder

SENIOR OFFICIALS MAY FACE TRIAL OVER HRANT DINK MURDER

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Oct 23 2014

The Justice Ministry ordered prosecutors to include Istanbul’s
former police chief and deputy governor in an investigation into the
controversial murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink

Daily Sabah Updated : 23.10.2014 09

ISTANBUL — The Justice Ministry has annulled the verdict of nonsuit
for nine officials, paving the way for their trial for failing to
prevent the 2007 murder of Hrant Dink.

The Bakırköy Heavy Criminal Court of Istanbul had earlier ruled for a
trial of the officials, while the Chief Prosecutor’s Office objected,
citing “lack of grounds for legal action.” The ministry rejected the
prosecutor’s office plea.

Among those who face trial are former Deputy Governor Ergun Gungör,
Turkish National Police’s Istanbul directorate head Celalettin Cerrah,
former Istanbul police intelligence unit head Ahmet İlhan Guler and
six senior police officers.

The family of Hrant Dink had filed a lawsuit against the nine officials
in 2011 but heeding the advice of an Interior Ministry inspector,
the Istanbul Governorate that oversees the judicial affairs of the
police, did not authorize the investigation. After this development,
the prosecutor’s office told the court that there were no legal grounds
for the investigation. However, the Dink family appealed to the court
again for the investigation of officials.

Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of the Turkish daily Agos, was known
for his staunch stance on the thorny issue of the 1915 incidents that
Armenia terms as the “genocide of Armenians in Turkey.” Dink had called
for a public debate over the issue and called for reconciliation
between Turks and Armenians on the issue. But his definition of
the deaths during a mass exodus as “genocide” angered nationalists,
leading to Dink receiving death threats.

He was murdered outside his office by 17-year-old Ogun Samast on
Jan.19, 2007. Treatment of the suspect by police sparked controversy
after photos of police officers posing with Samast after the murder
against the backdrop of a Turkish flag surfaced. A number of other
suspects, who were accused of masterminding the murder, were arrested
and sentenced to various prison terms.

Further investigation showed prosecutors who worked on the case ignored
serious allegations into the involvement of top police officers in the
murder. Those prosecutors are accused of having ties with the Gulen
Movement, a group whose widespread infiltration of the judiciary and
police enabled them to influence cases or fabricate them for their own
interests. Prosecutors allegedly dismissed allegations about Ramazan
Akyurek and Ali Fuat Yılmazer, two senior police officers linked to
the Gulen Movement. Akyurek and Yılmazer are accused of helping the
murder suspects.

Sabri Uzun, who was head of the National Police Intelligence
Department, had claimed his subordinates hid tip-offs warning
against the murder of Dink. Questioned about the murder, Uzun has
said Yılmazer hid from him an intelligence report regarding a plot
to kill Dink.

Yılmazer was arrested in September for a separate case involving
illegal wiretapping. Inspectors from the Prime Ministry Inspection
Board, which carried out a separate investigation on the murder on
the instruction of the Prime Ministry, told police that Yılmazer
and Akyurek had threatened them and demanded inspectors to dismiss
the case.

http://www.dailysabah.com/investigations/2014/10/23/senior-officials-may-face-trial-over-hrant-dink-murder

Crossroads E-Newsletter – October 23, 2014

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

October 23, 2014

PRELATE OF ALEPPO MEETING WITH CHURCH COMMUNITIES

This week Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Aleppo, is visiting
communities within the Eastern Prelacy conducting public briefings on
the continuing crisis facing the Armenian community in Syria. Funds
raised at all of the events will help to keep the Armenian schools in
Syria open and functioning. Archbishop Shahan met with major
communities in Canada and California during the past two weeks.

Archbishop Oshagan is accompanying Archbishop Shahan at the meetings
taking place on the East Coast.

Yesterday evening a public gathering took place at St. Stephen’s
Church in Watertown, Massachusetts. Earlier in the day the Prelates
met with
members and the Central and Regional Executive of the Armenian Relief
Society.

Archbishop Oshagan and Archbishop Shahe with members of the Armenian
Relief Society yesterday in Watertown, Massachusetts.

This morning the Prelates met with some key leaders and benefactors at
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. This evening a
public briefing will take place at St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.

Tomorrow evening, October 24, at 7 pm, a public briefing will take
place at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.

Saturday evening, October 25, a public briefing on the continuing
crisis will take place at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey, at 8 pm. Reservations needed for this event. Call the church
office at 201-943-2950.
On Sunday, October 26, Archbishop Shahan will celebrate the Divine
Liturgy
and deliver the Sermon at Sts. Vartanantz Church in New
Jersey. Archbishop
Oshagan will preside. Following the Liturgy a presentation and
fellowship reception will take place in the church’s middle hall.

On Monday evening, October 27, at 7:30 pm a public briefing will take
place at the Armenian Center in Woodside, New York, hosted by
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and the New York Armen Garo Gomideh of the
ARF.

Please support these public briefings with your attendance and
donation. If you are unable to attend and wish to donate you may do so
with the link below or by mailing your check to the Armenian Prelacy,
138 E. 39th Street, New York, NY 10016.

To listen to an interview with Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian click
below for Podcast #8 by Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian.

()

SYRIAN ARMENIAN COMMUNITY NEEDS OUR HELP MORE THAN EVER

The crisis in Syria requires our financial assistance.

Please keep this community in your prayers, your hearts, and your
pocketbooks.

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET OUR ONGOING RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
IN SYRIA WHERE CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT.

THE NEED IS REAL.

THE NEED IS GREAT.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND FOR SYRIAN ARMENIAN RELIEF CAN BE MADE ON
LINE. TO DONATE NOW CLICK HERE
() AND SELECT SYRIAN
ARMENIAN RELIEF IN THE MENU. OR IF YOU PREFER YOU MAY MAIL YOUR
DONATION TO:

Armenian Prelacy

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VICAR WILL VISIT RACINE AND WAUKEGAN

Bishop Anoushavan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver the
Sermon
at St. Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin, on Sunday, October 26. During
the Liturgy the Vicar will grant the right to wear stoles to altar
servers, Vahan Mahdasian and Arakel Khaligian. Following the services
the parish will celebrate its 76th anniversary.

On Saturday, Bishop Anoushavan, will meet with the leadership and
parishioners of St. Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois. The evening will
begin with Vespers at 7 pm, followed by a meeting with the Vicar.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ORDAINS DEACON

Last Sunday, October 19, Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine
Liturgy and delivered the Sermon at St. Stephen’s Church, serving
Hartford and New Britain, Connecticut. During the Liturgy, the Prelate
ordained Ara Stepanian, son of Archpriest Fr. Aram and Yn. Margaret
Stepanian, to the order of the diaconate. In his message, His Eminence
congratulated the St. Stephen community, which is one of the oldest of
the Prelacy parishes, and told the faithful that they are `the
church,’ and they must take every effort to keep their church healthy
to serve the people and bring
to them the message of our Lord.

Following the Liturgy His Eminence presided over the banquet and
celebration of the parish’s 89th anniversary that took place at the
Marriott
Hotel in Hartford, with Archdeacon Ed Varjabedian serving at the
Master of
Ceremonies. Inspiring messages were delivered by Archbishop Oshagan
and Der Aram, who has been instrumental in providing guidance and
support during the parish’s recent period of transition.

Certificates of Merit were presented to Anita Arakelian, treasurer of
the Board of Trustees, and to Richard Arzoomanian, a former board
member who currently serves on the parish’s Investment Committee.

Ara Stepanian was ordained a deacon of the Armenian Church.

A scene from the anniversary banquet.

Certificates of Merit were presented to Richard Arzoomanian and Anita
Arakelian.

Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian, who was ordained in October 2013, will
serve St. Gregory Church in Granite City, Illinois.

To read a story in the New Britain Herald click here
().

REV. FR. TORKOM CHORBAJIAN

BEGINS SERVICE

Bishop Anoushavan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and delivered the
sermon at St. Gregory Church in Granite City, Illinois, last Sunday,
and introduced
the parish’s new pastor, Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian and Yeretzgin
Shogher.

Rev. Fr. Torkom was born in Aleppo, Syria, on September 12, 1990. Der
Hayr
was ordained to the order of the married clergy at the Cathedral of
St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, by Archbishop Nareg
Alemezian on October 20, 2013. He graduated from the Theological
Seminary of the Holy See of Cilicia after completing a seven-year
course of study. He also completed graduate courses in Biblical and
Pastoral Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut. Der
Torkom arrived in the United States in March
2014 and began a period of apprenticeship at St. Stephen Church in
Watertown, Massachusetts, under the auspices of Archpriest
Fr. Antranig Baljian.

Last Sunday Bishop Anoushavan introduced Der Torkom and Yeretzgin
Shogher to the Granite City community that welcomed them warmly.

BLESSING OF HOLY MURON NEXT YEAR

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of
Cilicia announced that the blessing of the Holy Muron (Oil) will take
place next year on Saturday, July 18, 2015, at the Catholicosate in
Antelias, Lebanon.

The Armenian Church has special reverence for the Holy Muron,
especially because of its continuity beginning with the Holy Anointing
Oil of Exodus 30. The blessed oil is used during Baptism, Ordination
of priests, Consecration of catholicoi and bishops, and Extreme
Unction. Church buildings, religious painting, and sacred objects are
also anointed with the Holy Muron.

The Holy Muron is made of olive oil and forty-eight aromas and
flowers. The remaining portion of the previous blessed oil is poured
into the newly prepared oil during the blessing, thus ensuring
continuity from generation to
generation.

MUSICAL ARMENIA APPLICATIONS

The Musical Armenia committee is accepting applications from young
Armenian musicians who would like to be featured in a concert at
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City. Those interested
in applying should visit the Prelacy’s web site
() or click here
().

The Prelacy inaugurated the Musical Armenia series in 1982 in order to
promote the careers of talented young Armenian musicians from all over
the world. Since then, the annual concerts have remained faithful to
the objectives of the series. The 2015 concert will take place on
Friday, March 20. Applications should be sent no later than October
30, 2014.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian conveyed greetings on behalf of Archbishop
Oshagan to Mr. Zaven Khanjian, the newly appointed Executive Director
of the AMAA.

DER MESROB REPRESENTS PRELATE AT AMAA

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and a
member of the Prelacy’s Religious Council, represented Archbishop
Oshagan at the 95th annual banquet and concert of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America (AMAA) that took place in Fort Lee,
New Jersey, on October 18. The theme of the event was `Keep Telling
the Story.’

ARS MAYR CHAPTER CONTINUES RELIEF EFFORTS

Due to the ongoing war in Syria, the Armenian Relief Society (Eastern
USA)
has been concentrating on assisting the Armenian communities in Syria,
especially in Aleppo where the situation is very dire. Continuing
their efforts in this respect, the New York Mayr Chapter of the ARS
organized a fundraising luncheon at St. Illuminator Cathedral’s
Pashalian Hall last Sunday.

The event featured talented musicians David Antabian (piano) and
Lusine Musaelian (vocalist). Armenian dance music was provided by DJ
Khajag.

Mrs. Anais Tcholakian, chairwoman of the Mayr chapter welcomed the
guests and Mrs. Rachel Nadjarian served as the master of
ceremonies. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral,
encouraged everyone to pray for the Armenian community in Syria and to
make generous donations. Mrs. Sonia Bezdikiian thanked everyone for
their support. Der Mesrob was granted honorary ARS membership in
appreciation of his extraordinary support and dedication to the ARS.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob with members of the New York Mayr Chapter of the
Armenian Relief Society.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, October 26, Seventh Sunday of the
Exaltation of
the Holy Cross, Discovery of the Holy Cross, are: Wisdom 14:1-8;
Isaiah 33:22-34; 1 Corinthians 1:18-24; Matthew 24:27-36.

For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the
west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is,
there the vultures will gather.

`Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be
darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall
from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.

`Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all
the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see `the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. And he
will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will
gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the
other.

`From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes
tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So
also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the
very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until
all these things
have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away. But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the
angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’

For a listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
().

TWELVE HOLY TEACHERS OF THE CHURCH

On Saturday, October 25, the Armenian Church remembers the Twelve Holy
Teachers (Doctors) of the Church, namely: Hierotheus of Athens,
Dionysius the Areopagite, Sylvester of Rome, Athanasius of Alexandria,
Cyril of Jerusalem, Ephrem the Syrian, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of
Nyssa, Gregory the Theologian, Epiphanius of Cyprus, John Chrysostom,
and Cyril of Alexandria.

The Khodageradz Soorp Nshan reliquary which encases a piece of the
Holy Cross in its center.

FEAST OF THE DISCOVERY OF

THE HOLY CROSS

This Sunday, October 26, the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of
the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Giut Khatchi). Empress Helena, mother
of Constantine and a devout Christian, wanted to visit the Holy Land
and explore the
sites Christ had walked centuries ago. She went to Golgotha (Calvary),
which had become an obscure and neglected place. According to some
chronicles,
it was an informed Jew named Juda who pointed out the location. At her
instruction, workers excavated the site and three wooden crosses were
found. Which one was the True Cross? The three crosses were
successively placed on the body of a youth who had just died. When one
of the crosses was placed on him, the young man came back to
life. This was determined to be the True Cross. The commemoration of
this event takes place on the Sunday closest to
October 26, and can vary from October 23 to 29.

The cross is a great source of pride for Armenians and they have
created beautiful works of art using the cross. What once was a means
of death became a symbol of salvation and victory.

NEWS FROM THE CATHOLICOSATE

CATHOLICOS JOURNEYS TO NEW JULFA

His Holiness Aram I traveled to New Julfa, Isfahan, in Iran, last
week. Throughout 2014 the New Julfa community has been celebrating the
350th anniversary of the construction of the Cathedral at All-Savior
Monastery that has
remained in continuous service and is endowed with many historic works
of art and artifacts.

Upon his arrival at the Monastery, His Holiness was welcomed by the
community and was escorted in procession by the prelates, the clergy,
and representatives of church and community organizations to the
St. Joseph of Arimathea Church for Hrashapar services. The procession
then went to the Armenian Genocide Martyrs monument to lay
wreaths. Bishop Papken Charian, Prelate of
New Julfa/Isfahan, welcomed the Catholicos and thanked him for his
initiatives regarding the situation in the Middle East and for the
centennial commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Last Sunday, after the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness received the
Governor of Isfahan, his deputies, the head of religious affairs and
the chief of internal security at the Holy Savior Monastery. The
Governor thanked the Catholicos for his visit to Iran, his leadership
and the significant contribution of the Armenian community to the
city. Present at the meeting were Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian,
Prelate of Tehran; Bishop Papken Charian, Prelate of Isfahan; Bishop
Krikor Chiftjian, Prelate of Aderbadagan, and Bishop Magar Ashkarian,
and representatives of the diocesan council.

Catholicos Aram blesses bread and salt upon his arrival.

Clergy and parishioners filled the courtyard of the All-Savior
Monastery to welcome His Holiness.

`RELIGIOUS LEADERS BEAR RESPONSIBILITY…’

Bishop Shahe Panossian, Prelate of Lebanon, represented His Holiness
Catholicos Aram at a conference organized by Adyan, the Lebanese
foundation for Interreligious Studies and Spiritual Solidarity, at
Notre Dame Du Puits-Bqennaya. After thanking the organizers for this
timely initiative, Bishop Shahe read a message from the Catholicos.

His Holiness said that `Middle East religious leaders bear the
historical responsibility to promote a culture of living together.’ He
also stated that the religions of the Middle East find themselves at a
critical junction and have the ability at this moment to either enrich
or destroy communities. `Religious leaders,’ he said, `must take their
God-given responsibility and use their influence in their respective
communities to face the present grave situation directly by acting
together to promote a culture of living together.’

THIS WEEK IN ARMENIAN HISTORY

Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)

Birth of Anna Ter Avetikian (October 23, 1908)

This name is probably unfamiliar to the English reader. Anna Ter
Avetikian
was the first female architect of Armenia and the designer of some
recognizable buildings in Yerevan.

She belonged to a family well-known to older inhabitants of the
capital of
Armenia. The Ter Avetikians had been instrumental in the construction
of many historic buildings, such as the small hall of the Philarmonia
of Yerevan, the old building of Yerevan State University, and the
first hospital of the city, located on Abovian Street. Their efforts
had succeeded in the creation of the first drinking water network of
Yerevan.

In 1924 Anna Ter Avetikian entered the department of Architecture of
the Technical School of Yerevan State University, which became the
grounds for the Yerevan Polytechnic Institute in 1933 (now the State
Engineering University of Armenia). She graduated in 1930. In 1926,
while still a student, she
started working in the studios of two renowned architects, Nikoghayos
Buniatian and Alexander Tamanian (the author of the master plan of
Yerevan and of many of its most characteristic buildings). Later she
went to work in design organizations.

The designs of Ter-Avetikian were used for the construction of about
forty
buildings in Yerevan (schools, residential buildings, and
administrative buildings). These included the building of film makers
at the corner of Mashtots Avenue and Koriun, where the legendary
coffee shop `Ponchikanots’ (the ponchik is a kind of donut) and the
Mayakovsky School are located.

An inscription on a building designed by Anna Ter-Avetikian where
Armenian
filmakers lived during the Soviet period in central Yerevan.

She married architect Konstantin Hovhannisian (1911-1984), who also
worked
in the studios of Buniatian and Tamanian in the 1930s, and together
they designed the buildings of the Yerevan Police, the Yerevan Fire
Station (on Sakharov Square), and the `Sasuntsi Davit’ cinema
(demolished in the 1980s). Her husband was the head of the excavations
of Arin-Berd (1950-1972) and dug out the remnants of the citadel of
Erebuni.

Anna Ter Avetikian was a laureate of the Soviet overviews of female
architects in 1938 and 1956, and received a diploma from the
international exhibition of Paris, `Women in Art and Popular Creation’
in 1938.
Her design of the building of film makers earned her the first prize
in the all-Soviet competition of female architects of 1948. In 1967
she received
a congratulatory note from the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian Republic
and
in 1968 she became an emeritus architect of Armenia.

She also won recognition and honors from the independent Republic of
Armenia: the golden medal `Alexander Tamanian’ (2002) and the golden
medal `Yerevan’ of the Yerevan City Hall. In 2012, at the age of 104,
she gave an interview to the news agency Mediamax, in which
she said:

`I can’t single out any one of the buildings. Is it possible to say
which one of your children is your dearest?

`All my buildings are built with national style. That was not only
conditioned by traditions, but by seismic and weather conditions, as
well as the characteristics of national psychology.

`All cities change, and that’s natural. There are periods of
flourishing and decline. However, people build the city and its
environment is created thanks to them. The old city has to be
maintained; keeping the link of time educates people and ties them to
their history and roots.’

Anna Ter Avetikian passed away at the age of 105. Her passing was
announced on January 16, 2013, by the news agency A1+.

Previous entries in `This Week in Armenian History’ can be
read on the Prelacy’s web site ().

FROM THE BOOKSTORE

The Prelacy Bookstore has an extensive collection of books (in
Armenian and English) about the Genocide including histories,
historical novels, memoirs, eye witness testimonies, essays, and
poetry. From now through next April we will feature one or two books
each week from the Bookstore’s collection.

Der Zor: On the Trail of the Armenian Genocide of 1915

Bardig Kouyoumdjian and Christine Simeone

Translated by Michele McKay Aynesworth

Bardig Kouyoumdjian, a photographer and grandchild of a survivor of
the Armenian Genocide, went to the Syrian desert where hundreds of
thousands of Armenians found their final destiny. He made an
incomparable journey to these forgotten places, the centers of
deportation in Aleppo, Meskene, Rakka, and Deir Zor. He also managed
to find the main sites of the massacres at Shaddade, Markade,
Ras-ul-Ain. The moving photography is enriched by his account, written
down by Christine Simeone.

$50.00 (softcover) plus shipping & handling

Õ=86Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¯Õ¶Õ¥Ö=80 `Õ©Ö=80Ö=84Õ¸Ö=82Õ°Õ«Õ«Õ¶’ Õ¥Ö=82 Õ°Õ¡Õµ
Õ£Ö=80Õ¸Õ²Õ«Õ¶ Õ´Õ«Õ»Õ¥Ö=82

Ô±Ö=80Õ´Õ§Õ¶ Õ=8FÖ=85Õ¶Õ¸ÕµÕ¥Õ¡Õ¶

ÔµÖ=80Õ¥Ö=82Õ¡Õ¶, `Õ=84Õ¸Ö=82Õ²Õ¶Õ«’
Õ°Ö=80Õ¡Õ¿Õ¡Ö=80Õ¡Õ¯Õ¹Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶, 2003

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To order these books or for information contact the Armenian Prelacy
Bookstore by email ([email protected]) or by phone
(212-689-7810).

THE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE CORNER

Prepared by the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC)

Two Ways to Say `And’

Unlike English, and many other languages, Armenian has two words to
say =80=9Cand.’ But, as with many synonyms, people tend to use one
particular word and put aside all others. It is a matter of style. If
you
care about your speech, you will want to speak accurately. Otherwise
. . .
you may see the results every day.

The two conjunctions in question are yev (Õ¥Ö=82) and oo (Õ¸Ö=82). Do
they have any difference in meaning? No.

If you want to say `I will first go to eat and then go home,’ you can
either say

Õ=86Õ¡Õ- ÕºÕ«Õ¿Õ« Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ´
Õ¥Ö=82 ÕµÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸Õµ ÕºÕ«Õ¿Õ« Ö=84Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ´ (Nakh bidi oodem yev hedo
bidi knanam) or

Õ=86Õ¡Õ- ÕºÕ«Õ¿Õ« Õ¸Ö=82Õ¿Õ¥Õ´
Õ¸Ö=82 ÕµÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸Õµ ÕºÕ«Õ¿Õ«
Ö=84Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ¡Õ´ (Nakh bidi oodem oo hedo bidi knanam).

However, you can take advantage of the existence of both words to
improve your quality of speech. Thus,

1) You should not use yev or oo alone several times in the same
sentence, as in:

ÔµÕ½ Õ¥Ö=82 Õ¤Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶ ÕºÕ¡Õ²ÕºÕ¡Õ²Õ¡Õ¯ Õ¯Õ¥Ö=80Õ¡Õ¶Ö=84 Õ¥Ö=82
ÕµÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸Õµ Õ¿Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶ Õ£Õ¡Ö=81Õ«Õ¶Ö=84

(Yes yev toon baghbaghag gerank yev hedo doon katsink, `You and I ate
ice cream and then went home’).

It is better to use oo between yes and toon (`You and I’):yes oo toon.

2) In general, when a word ends in a consonant and the next starts
with a consonant, it is advisable to use oo (Õ·Õ¸Ö=82Õ¶ Õ¸Ö=82
Õ¯Õ¡Õ¿Õ¸Ö=82/ shoon oo gadoo `dog and cat’), and when a word ends in a
vowel and the next starts with a vowel, yev is the word of choice
(Ö=84Õ¸Ö=82 Õ¥Ö=82 Õ«Õ´/koo yev im `your and my’).

3) If the surrounding words are filled with oo¬, it is better not to
use the conjunction oo. For instance, instead of
Õ¸Ö=82Ö=80Õ¡Õ-Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶ Õ¸Ö=82 Õ¥Ö=80Õ»Õ¡Õ¶Õ¯Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶
(oorakhootioon oo yerchangootioon `joy and happiness’), it is better
to say Õ¸Ö=82Ö=80Õ¡Õ-Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶ Õ¥Ö=82
Õ¥Ö=80Õ»Õ¡Õ¶Õ¯Õ¸Ö=82Õ©Õ«Ö=82Õ¶ (oorakhootioon yev yerchangootioon).

Previous entries in `The Armenian Language Corner’ can be read on the
Prelacy’s web site ().

TOMORROW IS UNITED NATIONS DAY

Since 1948, October 24 has been celebrated as United Nations Day,
marking the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations.

`The United Nations is needed more than ever at this time of multiple
crises […] At this critical moment, let us reaffirm our commitment
to empowering the marginalized and vulnerable. On United Nations Day,
I
call on Governments and individuals to work in common cause for the
common
good.’

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT IN NYT

A four-page advertising supplement under the banner headline
`Armenia. An ancient nation; a modern republic,’ is part of today’s
issue of the New York Times.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

October 25-St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, Annual Fall Fair,
10 am to 7 pm, at Jaffarian Hall, 158 Main Street, North Andover,
Massachusetts. Shish, losh, and chicken kebab dinners, lentil and
kheyma, vegetarian dinners, pastries, gifts, raffles. For information:
978-685-5038.

October 26-Celebration of 80th anniversary of Armenian Weekly and
115th anniversary of Hairenik, at home of Carmen and Avo Barmakian, 58
Matthew Lane, Waltham, Massachusetts. Keynote speaker, Professor
Richard G. Hovannisian, professor of Armenian and Near Eastern History
at UCLA. Reservations by October 18, Heather Krafian, 617-932-1965.

October 27-Public briefing: The Syrian Armenian Crisis, hosted by
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral and New York Armen Garo Gomideh. Come and
meet H.E. Archbishop Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Aleppo. Please
support this public event with your attendance and donation.

November 2-All Saints Church, Glenview, Illinois, 71st Anniversary
under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, following the Divine
Liturgy, at Shahnasarian Hall, 1701 N. Greenwood, Glenview, Illinois.

November 6-Avak Luncheon, sponsored by St. Gregory Church, 158 Main
Street, North Andover, Massachusetts, at noon. Speaker: Sonya
Vartabedian, `Diary of a Community Editor,’ reflections from Sunday
School student here to award-winning journalist and editor of The
Andover Townsman and Andover Magazine.

November 7-8-9-Rouben Mamoulian Film Festival, 7 pm, at the Museum
of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York. Sponsored by the
Anthropology Museum of the People of New York, the Armenian Cultural
Educational Resource Center Gallery at Queens College, and The Museum
of the Moving Image. Opening night and reception will feature Love Me
Tonight, the 1932 musical comedy film produced and directed by
Mamoulian, with music by Rodgers and Hart, starring Jeanette MacDonald
and Maurice Chevalier. For tickets and information:
[email protected] or 718-428-5650.

November 7 & 8-St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 58th
Armenian Bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at Armenian Cultural & Educational
Center, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts. Meals served from
11:30 am to 8:30 pm (take out is available). Enjoy delicious meals,
Armenian pastries, gourmet items, arts and crafts, books, raffles,
attic treasures. For information: 617-924-7562.

November 14-15-Holy Trinity Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, Annual
Fall Fest. Friday, 4 to 8 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Shish, chicken,
losh kebab and kheyma dinners. Home made pastries and special
desserts. For information: 508-852-2414.

November 15 &16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
Armenian Fest 2014 at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Broad Street, Cranston,
Rhode
Island. Largest indoor festival in Rhode Island. Delicious shish and
losh kebob, chicken and kufta dinners and Armenian pastry available
all day. Live dance music. The Mourad Armenian School and Providence
Hamazkayin dance groups will perform on Saturday and Sunday at 5
pm. Hourly raffles, silent auction, country store, gift baskets,
flea-market, arts and crafts. Main raffle prizes worth total $2,700.
Fun for all ages. Free admission, parking and valet. For information:
401-831-6399 or

November 21, 22, 23-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey,
Annual Bazaar, Food Festival, and Hantes. Mezze and Kebab dinners
(chicken, shish, luleh); dessert table and trays of home-made
delicacies; Boutique
Booths; Chinese Auction; Supervised Game Room for children;
Pre-packaged Monte, Sou Buereg, Kufteh, and Lehmejun; Take-out
available; Live Music for dancing and listening. Traditional Kavourma
dinner on Sunday served immediately after church service. For
information: 201-943-2950.

December 6-Armenian Winter Dessert Festival, Soorp Khatch Church,
Bethesda, Maryland.

December 6-Lowell Gomideh anniversary celebration, 6 pm, at
St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North Andover,
Massachusetts. Dinner, entertainment, program, speaker: David
Boyajian, `The Survival of Armenia: Dangers and
Opportunities. Admission: $20 adults; $10 students. For information:
[email protected] or 978-373-1654.

December 6-St. Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts,
Annual Bazaar at Christian Reform Church, Whitinsville, 10 am to 5 pm.

December 7-Ladies Guild of St. Stephen’s Church of New Britain and
Hartford, Connecticut, will host a Wine Tasting Party at noon in the
church hall, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain. A wine talk and tasting
will be provided by Taylor Brooke Winery, Woodstock, Connecticut,
owned by Linda Varjabedian Auger.

December 7-8th Annual ANC Eastern Region Banquet, Ritz-Carlton Battery
Park, NY. Freedom Award Honoree: former Manhattan District Attorney
Robert Morgenthau and the Morgenthau family; Vahan Cardashian Award
Honoree: ANCA activist Alice Movsesian. Tickets are $250. For
reservations and information, please visit or
917.428.1918.

December 12-Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) 11th Annual Holiday Gala,
Cipriani 42nd Street, New York City. Cocktails and Silent Auction, 7
pm; Dinner & Program, 8 pm; Dancing & After Party, 10 pm. For tickets
and information or 212-994-8234.

December 13-St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, =80=9CA
2014 Christmas Celebration’ at 7pm in the Sanctuary. Usher in
the Christmas season with family and friends. Featuring master
organist, Ara Eloian, group caroling in Armenian and
English. Reception following in Terhanian Hall. Admission is
Free. RSVP to church office 215-482-9200.

February 9-11, 2015-Ghevontiantz gathering of clergy serving the
Eastern Prelacy.

March 13-15, 2015-`Responsibility 2015,’ International conference for
Armenian Genocide’s centennial at Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York,
featuring prominent historians, policymakers, authors, and
artists. Organized by the ARF Eastern US Centennial Committee, under
the auspices of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of America,
Eastern Region. for information.

March 20, 2015-Musical Armenia, presented by Eastern Prelacy and
Prelacy Ladies Guild, Weill Recital Hall, 8 pm, Carnegie Hall, New
York City.

October 5-9, 2015-Clergy gathering of Eastern, Western, and Canadian
Prelacies.

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

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Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
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www.responsibility2015.com

ANKARA: Caricature Of Justice And The EU

CARICATURE OF JUSTICE AND THE EU

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 23 2014

ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ
October 23, 2014, Thursday

I have just read that the EU Commission said they had taken note of
the closing of the corruption case in Turkey. I am sure that they took
note of more than just this outrageous legal scandal of covering up
corruption and graft, but they cannot say more.

I am sure they are aware of the fact that Turkey is slipping into an
authoritarian regime at full speed, but the Commission is handling
Turkey as if it were still a candidate country for the European Union.

Their pretense is good for both the EU and Turkey.

As such, being franker may lead to cutting relations, and might be a
gift for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who would feel that he had
got rid of yet another obstacle to his absolute rule.

Having started with the closure of the corruption case, which is of
course a legal “miracle” on its own, despite the existence of very
powerful evidence, documents and so on in the files, so many other
things are happening in Turkey right now showing just how the justice
system has turned into a caricature.

Look, we still have Sevan NiÃ…~_anyan, a Turkish-Armenian writer,
serving his prison time as the only person in Turkey who was given a
prison sentence for building something against town planning codes. Our
very president is now preparing to sit in an illegal place — called
the AK Saray (White Palace) to associate it with the Justice and
Development Party (AK Party). When I say “illegal” I am not referring
to the president’s so-called “impartial” position and his breaching
of it by acting as the spokesperson of the AK Party, as he did in
calling the palace AK Saray. This AK Saray was built in spite of at
least three different court orders saying that construction should be
stopped immediately. Erdogan openly challenged them by saying that
“if you have power, come and demolish it.” In this Turkey, poor
NiÃ…~_anyan is serving and will be serving an indeterminate term in
prison for allegedly illegal construction in Å~^irince, KuÅ~_adası,
İzmir province.

Everyone says that NiÃ…~_anyan turned Ã…~^irince into a paradise with
all the things he erected there, and he is now being called to pay
the price.

Well, not only the NiÃ…~_anyan case shows us the caricature-like
state of the justice system in Turkey. On exactly the same day as an
İstanbul prosecutor closed down the graft probe by saying that he did
not find evidence or the file strong enough to pursue, a family was
giving an account before a criminal court in İstanbul. They are the
Sarısuluk family, the mother and brothers of Ethem Sarısuluk, who was
killed during the Gezi protests by a police officer who fired his gun
and shot Ethem in the head. This police officer brought a complaint
against the family, saying that they were insulting him during the
trial, and the prosecutor launched a case against the family. The
photo in which the whole family was sitting in the dock in court was
a tragicomic picture of the justice system in Turkey. Our extremely
talented prosecutors who somehow managed to close the corruption file
could not find anything in favor of the family and sent them all to
court to be tried.

Exactly when the prosecutors were closing down the corruption file,
police officers, some of whom were on the investigation team into
the corruption scandal, were being transferred to a maximum-security
prison in Silivri. You know they are being tried now as suspects in a
coup attempt against the government, because prosecutors interpreted
the corruption file as a coup attempt against the government.

Well, I am not waiting for the EU Commission to draw a caricature of
our justice system in such a detailed manner, for the sake of holding
Turkey within the grip of the European system, but I am sure they
are aware all of this.

http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/orhan-kemal-cengiz/caricature-of-justice-and-the-eu_362450.html