Author: nina hovnanian

ARCHBISHOP BARKEV MARTIROSYAN WILL BE BESTOWED THE KHRIMIAN HAYRIG AWARD AT ANCA- WR BANQUET

20:18, 1 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian National Committee of
America-WR has announced that it will bestow the “Khrimian Hayrig”
Award to Archbishop Barkev Martirosyan, Primate of the Diocese of
Artsakh, at the 2013 ANCA-WR Annual Banquet, Armenpress reports.

A modern day warrior of peace and fatherly shepherd, Archbishop
Martirosyan has been an inspirational figure in Artsakh, most
well known for providing religious guidance and moral support to
Armenian soldiers and their families during and after the Artsakh
Liberation War. In the darkest days in Artsakh’s recent history,
Archbishop Martirosyan encouraged his people to defend themselves
against the unjust acts of invading Azerbaijani forces, and often
blessed Armenian soldiers before the start of operations, such as
the historic liberation of Shushi.

The Diocese of Artsakh is one of the largest dioceses of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, covering the independent Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh, and has under its supervision more than 30
churches and monasteries, including many masterpieces of Armenian
architecture. The diocese was established in 1989, at a time when
Armenian national identity was on the rise in the former Soviet
Union. Since its creation, His Eminence Martirosyan has served as the
primate of the diocese. Following the Artsakh Liberation Movement
and in the years after the dissolution of the USSR, the Diocese of
Artsakh had as one of its primary goals the practice of religious
freedom, revival of Christian life, and re-consecration of ancient
Armenian churches throughout Artsakh. Following decades of religious
suppression, Archbishop Martirosyan was instrumental in reviving
Christian faith in our historic homeland.

Since 1997, the Diocese of Artsakh has supervised the teaching of
Christianity and religion courses in secondary schools throughout
the Republic. In the late 1990’s, Archbishop Martirosyan actively
called upon Armenians to unite and finance the building of the vital
NorthSouth highway connecting Armenia to Karabakh. He has served as
a beacon of faith and hope to a people who after living under Soviet
rule for nearly 70 years, endured violent attacks on their persons
and homeland by invading forces and yet, victoriously survived to
see their independent Republic prosper. His Eminence has selflessly
undertaken the responsibility to provide a myriad of services that come
with serving as the religious leader of a post-war community, whether
it be religious, spiritual, psychological, humanitarian, or otherwise.

In the diaspora, Archbishop Martirosyan is most notable for taking
his plight for the continued independence and advancement of Artsakh
to the airways, by encouraging Armenians around the world to raise
funds for the redevelopment of the war-torn areas in Artsakh. Year
after year, he travels to California to take part in the annual
Armenia Fund Telethon to cast international attention on the fact
that the people who fought so heroically to liberate the homeland,
lack access to life’s most basic necessities, such as infrastructure,
water, and sanitation. Accordingly, he has been instrumental in
supporting the redevelopment of the Republic of Armenia in general,
and Artsakh, specifically.

Archbishop Martirosyan was born in the city of Sumgait, Soviet
Azerbaijan in 1954 into a family with roots in Northern Artsakh’s
town of Chardakhly. His family moved to Yerevan in 1966. After
graduating from Yerevan Institute of Foreign Languages, he was
admitted to the Echmiadzin Seminary in 1980, and was ordained a
Deacon in 1983. After graduating from the Gevorkian Theological
Seminary in 1984, he assumed a post at the Holy See’s Treasury. In
1985, he began his studies at the Leningrad Theological Academy in
Russia. Upon returning to Armenia in 1986, and after his consecration
as Vartabed in 1987, he was a chief tutor at the Seminary. In 1987,
he earned his doctorate degree in theology and in the same year,
was appointed as Prior of the St. Echmiadzin’s historic Temple of
St. Hripsimeh. In 1988, Father Barkev was elevated to the rank of
Bishop by Catholicos Vazgen I. In 1989, he was appointed the Primate
of the newly recreated Diocese of Artsakh. In 1999, he was promoted
to the rank of Archbishop. His patriotism and guiding faith is evident
in the three books and numerous articles he has authored.

“As a human rights activist, a champion for humanitarian causes, a man
of deep faith, and for his decades-long devotion to the resilient
people of Artsakh, it is most fitting that we award Archbishop
Barkev Martirosyan, a modern-day Khrimian Hayrig for our Nation,
with this esteemed award,” said ANCA-WR Co-Chair Nora Hovsepian. The
2013 ANCA-WR Annual Banquet is the premier gathering for Armenian
American political leaders and activists. The banquet will take place
on Saturday, November 30 at The Ray Dolby Ballroom located at the
Loews Hollywood Hotel. Individuals who are interested in attending
the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet and Grassroots Conference are encouraged
to contact the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500-1918.

The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS MP DEMANDS EXPLANATION FOR $700M EUROBOND SALE

21:37 01.10.13

Hrant Bagratyan, an Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary
group member, made a statement on the sale of $700m Eurobonds by
Armenia’s government.

“However you explain the situation, you cannot borrow 700 million
dollars without discussing the issue in Parliament. I think it is
a serious harm to our statehood,” Bagratyan stated in Parliament
on Tuesday.

According to him, the actual interest rate is 9% rather than the
claimed 6.5%. “It is unacceptable. I am accusing the whole cabinet led
by President Serzh Sargsyan, as well as most of the MPs. How can the
national debt increase by $700 million? Armenia’s total national debt
has reached $8.5 billion – 90% of GDP. And this allegedly happened
without the Parliament’s consent? Where are we?”

Armenian News – Tert.am

AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITION STANDS FOR ABANDONING POLICY OF ARMENOPHOBIA – POLITICAL ANALYST

October 01, 2013 | 15:56

YEREVAN. – During the presidential campaign Azerbaijani opposition
stands for the peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani
political analyst Arif Yunusov said.

He noted that pro-government candidates are trying to demonstrate a
different position as compared with that of a president.

“If the president repeats his old thesis that the Azerbaijani side is
for talks, but their patience is running out, the other candidates
speak a little differently, arguing that the return Karabakh is
impossible,” Yunusov said.

Referring to the position of opposition, he stressed that, according
to the opposition, the problem must be solved by peaceful means,
it is necessary to establish contacts with the Karabakh Armenians at
different levels and to abandon old policy of Armenophobia.

“They claim that before speaking about the Karabakh issue, it is
necessary to talk about changing the Azerbaijani society and making
the country attractive for return of Azerbaijanis who have left for
Russia and other countries,” he said.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

TRIBUTE VIDEO HONORS THE LIFE THE LATE MAGAZINE PUBLISHER JOHN KRIKORIAN

The first 90 seconds of the video, briefly shows fresh video of
Kharpert, (shot in June 2013), where John Krikorian’s parents,
Hovnatan & Elizabeth were orphaned during the Armenian Genocide.

Krikorian was born in Connecticut in 1932 and died in Glendale
California April 6, 2013. The early part of the video also recounts
how John and Elsie [Manoogian] met at an AYF dance in Atlantic City
and married in 1956.

The video was shown to more than 400 attendees of the 24th Annual
Woman Achievers Conference, held at the Glendale Hilton on September
30, 2013. Business Life Magazine, the publication founded by John
Krikorian in 1990, has organized the event for a quarter of a century.

The video was produced pro bono by Globalist Films.

To find the video on YouTube, simply google, “John Krikorian Tribute.”

Peter Musurlian [email protected] (818) 500-1234

OKSEN MIRZOYAN WANTS HIS SON TO BECOME OLYMPIC CHAMPION

11:31, 1 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS. Olympic champion (1988), Champion
of the world (1983), Champion of Europe weightlifter Oksen Mirzoyan
continues his active life in sports, heads the Yerevan school of
weightlifting, and was elected the Deputy Chairman of the National
Olympic Committee of the Republic of Armenia for the third time.

“Armenpress” introduces interview with the prominent athlete.

– Mr. Mirzoyan, You became Olympic champion in Seoul 25 years ago,
thus occupying Your place among the “immortals” of the world sports.

– September 19 of 1988 is one of the most remarkable days of my life
and sport activity in general. On one hand one may be surprised that 25
years have passed since that day, and on another hand there is no way
to avoid that fact. I clearly remember that victorious moment in Seoul,
when I became Olympic champion in 56 kg weight category. I can say that
the top results of the leading modern weightlifters of my category
are 20 kg behind the results I have shown in the Olympics. I am very
worried about this; we make efforts to improve the results of our
athletes. I won the Olympic gold and I know what it means. I want the
Armenian weightlifters to continue the tradition of Olympic triumphs.

– If I asked You on what particular issue would You like to stop,
which topic would You chose?

– I don’t want to be misunderstood, Armenia had only 13 Olympic
Champions and only 6 of them are currently living in Armenia. In my
opinion the Olympic champions are a huge capital for each country
and they must be used more actively. The Olympic champions must
always remain in the centre of the country’s attention. I find the
sport figures deserve it, particularly when the matter is about the
Olympic champions.

– What do You desire most of all?

– I am dreaming of the day, when the Armenian weightlifters will again
win the Olympic gold. And I am confident that this will happen one
day. It’s an other question when it will happen. My nephew Arayik
Mirzoyan decided to quit training, notwithstanding my son Arakel
Mirzoyan is getting ready for the Olympic Games, which are scheduled
to be held in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (THE FULL VERSION OF
THE INTERVIEW IS AVAILABLE IN ARMENIAN)

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

LEVON HABESHIAN FOUNDATION ASSISTS PILIBOS STUDENTS ON THEIR ARMENIA TRIP

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

11th grade Pilibos students at the Sardarabad memorial in Armenia

LOS ANGELES-Every academic year, the 11th grade students of Rose
and Alex Pilibos Armenian School are fortunate enough to be part
of a two week educational field trip to their homeland, Armenia,
during the month of May. This trip to Armenia has become a long
standing tradition that is a culmination of the years of Armenian
education, edification of Hye Tahd issues, and the immersion into
Armenian culture and traditions that are embodied in their educational
life at Pilibos. As students embark on this trip, they are not just
visiting their homeland, they are bringing together their identity
as an Armenian student, individual, and true representative of an
Armenian in the diaspora.

While this experience is an amazing opportunity and a fundamental part
of their Armenian education, the cost associated with this trip makes
it difficult for some families to participate. For some students,
it is with the assistance of individuals and organizations that
they are able to make this lifelong dream and once in a life time
opportunity a reality. The Levon Habeshian Foundation is one such
gracious organization that was ready to offer assistance in order to
make this important journey a reality for several Armenian students.

Adam Guemidjian writes of his experience, “The Levon Habeshian
Foundation was a blessing that came into my life, allowing me and
several other classmates to visit our homeland. The scholarship program
allowed us to take major steps forward in securing the necessary
funds needed in order for us to participate in this incredible trip. I
will never forget the moment when my classmates were busy examining a
landmark, and I felt the need to separate myself from them. I began to
stare at Mount Ararat and continually asked myself why our majestic
mountain was not where it truly belonged. This moment will forever
be engrained in my memory. This educational trip is what allowed my
classmates and me to view life from a different perspective, from
the eyes of an Armenian living in Armenia, facing these kinds of
questions on a daily basis. I believe every Armenian living in the
diaspora needs to visit Armenia in search of making a difference in
the world. It was a humbling experience, to say the least. I gained
numerous life lessons and experiences that I could not have received
in any other situation. An opportunity to visit your homeland with
all your friends and teachers could not have been passed up; however,
if it was not for LHF, I could not have ever had this experience. I
would like to thank everyone, who has put the time and effort into
creating The Levon Habeshian Foundation Scholarship to help students
like me complete their lifelong dream to visit their homeland.”

A message from the Levon Habeshian Foundation Levon Habeshian viewed
life with a Red, Blue, Orange lens. From his youth in Los Angeles
to his final years in Armenia, he was first an Armenian, and then
everything else. We established his foundation to continue his strong
desire to assist the youth of Armenia and its rebirth.

Rose & Alex Pilibos is the school Levon attended through middle school,
and where he returned to teach as a young adult. The Levon Habeshian
Foundation is very pleased to have assisted 2013 Pilibos students in
their class trip to Armenia, and will continue to support organizations
and activities that promote Armenia and its youth.

WEIGHTLIFTING VETERAN AWARDED WITH GOLDEN MEDAL

17:03, 1 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia Yuri Vardanyan awarded with golden medal the
Honored Coach of the Republic of Armenia and the USSR Arsen Galoyan
for the great contribution in the sports. As reported by Armenpress,
the Minister warmly congratulated Arsen Galoyan on the occasion of
his 86th birth anniversary and wished the prominent athlete and coach
success in the further activities.

Only in weightlifting Armenia has three Olympic champions – Yuri
Vardanyan, Oksen Mirzoyan and Israel Militosyan. They all were brought
up by Arsen Galoyan.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am

DECES DE L’ACTEUR SOS SARKISSIAN

ARMENIE

Le prominent acteur armenien Sos Sarkissian est decede jeudi après
une longue maladie a l’âge de 84 ans.

Sarkissian, qui est ne a Stepanavan (region Lori) en 1929 et a debute
comme acteur au Theâtre des Jeunes a Erevan en 1948.

Après avoir ete diplôme de l’Institut d’Etat de Theâtre d’Erevan
en 1954, Sos Sarkissian pendant de longues annees, a travaille a
l’academie nationale de theâtre Gabriel Sundukyan.

En Octobre 1991, un mois après l’independance de l’Armenie de
l’Union sovietique, Sos Sarkissian a participe a la première election
presidentielle en Armenie independante. La meme annee, il a etabli le
Theâtre Hamazgayin, qu’il a dirige jusqu’a sa mort. De 1997 a 2006,
il etait le recteur de l’Institut du Cinema et du theâtre d’Erevan.

Le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a envoye ses condoleances a
l’occasion de la mort de Sos Sarkissian.

mardi 1er octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

L’INTERPRETE DE LA FAMILLE ASSAD AFFIRME QUE LA GUERRE N’EST PAS UNE FABRICATION SYRIENNE

ARMENIE

Un homme anciennement employe par la famille presidentielle syrienne
a dit que les pilonnages intenses l’ont force a fuir le pays pour
sa securite.

Mihran Bertizlian a travaille comme interprète turc de l’epouse du
president Bachar al-Assad, Asma , avant de se refugier en Armenie il
y a cinq mois.

Mihran Bertizlian a decrit des scènes de violence et de destruction
dans sa ville natale d’Alep , où les maisons, les mosquees et les
marches ont ete devastees par les combats qui ont oppose les forces
d’Assad contre les rebelles depuis plus de deux ans.

S’adressant a RFE / RL a Erevan , Mihran Bertizlian a dit qu’il a
quitte la Syrie par crainte pour sa famille. ” Je suis reste jusqu’a
ce que les choses ont empire “, dit-il. ” Il ya eu beaucoup de bombes
qui sont tombe près de chez moi, il n’y avait ni eau ni electricite.

J’ai donc quitte ma maison, ma patrie, et la ville que j’aime “.

Mihran Bertizlian, qui suit les evenements en Syrie a la television,
dit qu’il sait que beaucoup de personnes sont mortes en raison de
la violence. Mais il ne tient pas Assad responsable du carnage, et
decrit le president syrien et son epouse comme ” des gens gentils ”
profondement commis au bien-etre de leur pays.

Il ne croit pas non plus qu’Assad est derrière l’attaque chimique a
Damas qui est maintenant a l’origine des menaces americaines d’une
action militaire. L’administration du president americain Barack
Obama estime que l’attaque du 21 Août a tue plus de 1400 personnes,
dont un tiers d’enfants. Selon lui, la racine du conflit syrien
ne reside pas dans les politiques d’Assad, mais plutôt dans ce
qu’il considère comme les efforts occidentaux pour encourager les
soulèvements anti-gouvernementaux a travers le monde arabe.

Malgre sa loyaute envers Assad, cependant, Mihran Bertizlian admet
que la Syrie a besoin de ” plus de democratie ” et dit qu’il soutient
une revolution democratique dans son pays, a condition qu’elle soit
menee par les Syriens.

Il dit que l’armee rebelle qui combat actuellement les forces
d’Assad est fortement infiltre par des rebelles etrangers dont la
preoccupation principale n’est pas la Syrie, mais l’islam. ” Je veux
voir une revolution par les Syriens. Cette revolution a commence en
partie par des Syriens, mais ce n’est plus une revolution syrienne ”
dit-il. ” Dans une revolution syrienne, les chretiens, les Kurdes,
les differents groupes ethniques en Syrie se joindraient. Je crois
que cette revolution n’est pas une fabrication syrienne “.

Mihran Bertizlian, chretien d’origine armenienne, a declare qu’il
parlait regulièrement avec les rebelles islamistes etrangers en Syrie.

Il dit que leur objectif declare est de renverser Assad, qu’ils
considèrent comme pro-israelien, dans le cadre de leur grande
croisade pour reconquerir Jerusalem. Dans le meme temps, Mihran
Bertizlian sent qu’Obama et d’autres dirigeants occidentaux ont peu
de comprehension des realites ethniques, politiques et religieuses
complexes de la region.

” Le peuple syrien peut s’entraider. S’il le veut, il peut
remplacer Bachar ou le laisser en place ” dit-il. ” Merci M.Obama
mais laissez-nous decider ce que nous allons faire, vous ne pouvez
pas nous aider. Le Moyen-Orient est un endroit très different, avec
de nombreuses cultures, religions et langues. Obama ne peut pas nous
comprendre. Il veut nous aider mais nous n’avons pas besoin de son aide
“.

Mihran Bertizlian ne pense pas que l’Occident va aller de l’avant
mais il croit que la vie d’Assad n’en est pas moins en danger tant
qu’il continue a s’accrocher au pouvoir.

” Si j’etais a sa place, je quitterais le pays et ne reviendrait jamais
” a-t-il dit.

mardi 1er octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LE SYNODE DES EVEQUES A ETCHMIADZINE : QUESTIONS IMPORTANTES POUR L’EGLISE ARMENIENNE A L’ORDRE DU JOUR

ARMENIE

Le premier Synode des eveques de l’Eglise armenienne, qui a debute
au Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzine après un intervalle de six siècles,
a deux principaux sujets a son agenda – la canonisation des victimes
du genocide armenien et le rite de la ceremonie du bapteme.

Le Synode reunit 62 archeveques et eveques des diocèses en Armenie
et dans le monde entier et est presidee par Sa Saintete Karekine II,
Patriarche supreme et Catholicos de tous les Armeniens et Sa Saintete
Aram I, Catholicos de la Grande Maison de Cilicie. C’est la première
fois que le synode se deroule avec la participation d’ecclesiastiques
de haut rang a la fois du Saint Siège d’Etchmiadzine et de la Grande
Maison de Cilicie.

S’exprimant sur un certain nombre de questions theologiques et
ecclesiastiques, Aram 1er ai dit que si l’Eglise n’est pas renovee elle
va se transformer en un musee, et que la restauration de l’Eglise doit
commencer par le rite, parce que les rites ont un rôle cle dans tous
les domaines, les sphères et les expressions de l’Eglise, y compris
la pensee et la doctrine theologique.

” Construire une eglise est important, devenir une eglise est
beaucoup plus important. Nous devons preserver les traditions, mais
pas idolâtrer les traditions. Nous devons reparer nos traditions et
les former de telle manière qu’ils se marient harmonieusement avec la
realite de l’heure actuelle “, a declare le Catholicos de la Grande
Maison de Cilicie.

Sa Saintete Karekine II dans son allocution d’ouverture, a souligne que
les fortes circonstances politiques ont cree des difficultes pour le
peuple armenien, ainsi que les catastrophes naturelles, les massacres,
les pogroms et le genocide, les annees sovietiques d’atheisme n’ont
pas permis de faire les efforts necessaires visant a l’amelioration
de l’eglise.

” Les relations tendues formes entre le Catholicos de Tous les
Armeniens et celui la Grande Maison de Cilicie dans les annees du
pouvoir sovietique, a conduit a diviser et la division administrative
est devenue un autre obstacle au processus de reforme. Aujourd’hui,
notre patrie est independante, l’Eglise est libre de fonctionner et
a de larges possibilites pour mener a bien les reformes ” a-t-il dit.

Revenant a 2001, lorsque le monde chretien armenien a celebre le
1700e anniversaire de l’adoption de christianisme comme religion
d’Etat, le discours de Karekine II a de nouveau ete axees sur la
reduction de la tension entre les Catholicos de tous les Armeniens
et la Grande Maison de Cilicie. Sa Saintete a ensuite insiste sur la
necessite de corriger les distorsions historiques et les compulsions
respectives. Il a appele a se lancer dans la restauration et la reforme
de l’Eglise armenienne afin de resoudre tous les desaccords passes
et actuels entre les deux entitees. La meme annee, le 22 Septembre,
lors de la ceremonie du Saint chreme quand celui de la Grande Maison
de Cilicie et melanges avec celui du Saint Siège Aram I, a son tour,
avait declare que, par le Saint chreme (qui est fait par une ceremonie
speciale au Saint Siège puis distribue a tous les diocèses de l’Eglise
apostolique armenienne), sa mission, son service et son peuple il
n’y a qu’une seule et unique Eglise armenienne.

Les relations s’etaient aggravees dans la seconde moitie de 2003,
lorsque Karekine II a critique la Maison de Cilicie pour sa decision
d’ouvrir un diocèse au Canada, la qualifiant d’anti-canonique.

Certains evolutions positives ont eu lieu les 4et 5 mars 2005, lors
de l’assemblee consultative des delegations du Saint Siège et de la
Grande Maison de Cilicie a Etchmiadzine. En Septembre 2006, Aram I
lors de sa visite en Armenie pour participer a la deuxième conference
Armenie-Diaspora, a egalement visite Etchmiadzine.

Dans son discours d’ouverture, Aram 1er a dit que la route vers le
succès commence a partir de l’autocritique.

” Nous devons posseder le courage de voir nos blessures et notre
souffrance, les sentir sous leur vrai jour. Cependant, chers Pères de
l’Eglise, avec elles, nous devons respecter la realite. L’elimination
des lacunes profondes dans la vie ceremonielle de l’Eglise armenienne,
ainsi que la renovation prend un temps long, dur et persistant ”
a-t-il dit.

Par Gayane Lazarian

ArmeniaNow

mardi 1er octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com