Author: nina hovnanian

LDS CHURCH CREATES FIRST STAKE IN ARMENIA

KSL.com, Utah
July 3 2013

By Lindsay Maxfield

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created the first
stake in the Republic of Armenia, according to Mormon Newsroom. It’s
the latest stop on the long road to official recognition and acceptance
of the church in that country.

On June 16, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the church’s Quorum of the
Twelve was joined by Elder Per G. Malm and Elder Araik Minasyan of
the Seventy to form the stake.

“We have good [Church] leadership here, strong people in the gospel,”
Elder Nelson said at the meeting, according to Mormon Newsroom.

It’s been a hard-fought battle to establish the church in Armenia,
a battle that officially began in the mid-1980s when the country
was part of the Soviet Union. The first efforts, however, began 100
years before. According to statistics provided by Mormon Newsroom,
“The gospel has been preached among Armenians living outside of their
homeland since the 1880s,” but continued violence and persecution
over the years drove early church members to flee their homes.

It was a natural disaster that finally paved the way for the LDS
Church’s acceptance in Armenia. On Dec. 7, 1988, the country was
devastated by an earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people and
made half a million people homeless. It was Elder Nelson who visited
the Armenian ambassador on behalf of the church and presented a check
for humanitarian aid.

But the church’s efforts didn’t stop there. “Utah industrialist and
Church leader Jon M. Huntsman, working with American philanthropist
Armand Hammer, established a concrete plant in Yerevan in late 1991,”
according to Mormon Newsroom. “It produced reinforced concrete plank
used to build homes and apartment buildings. The plant was staffed
with Latter-day Saint humanitarian service couples who had expertise
in seismic engineering and plant operations.” Other humanitarian
efforts included managing shipments of food and supplies.

Meanwhile, in 1990, the Republic of Armenia declared independence
from the Soviet Union, perhaps the final barrier keeping the LDS
Church from the people. In 1992, Mikhail Oskar Belousaov and Nara
Sarkissian became the first people to be baptized in Armenia.

Since then, the church has continued to grow in the region. “This is
a Christian nation,” Elder Nelson told Mormon Newsroom. “The spirit
of Christianity has been in Armenia a long time. Our relationship
with the government is outstanding.”

In 2003 there were 1,537 members in Armenia. Today, there are more
than 3,000 members of the church, as well as 11 congregations and
three family history centers. This newly-formed stake brings the
church-wide total to 3,025.

AZERBAIJAN MAY ALSO FACE “TURKISH SUMMER”, RUBEN SAFRASTYAN THINKS

Mediamax, Armenia
July 3 2013

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Director of International Secretariat of ARF
Bureau Kiro Manoyan said that the social uprising around Gezi garden
in Istanbul may turn into the “start of downfall” of Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Kiro Manoyan said this today speaking at open social discussion on
“Turkish Summer and Its Outcomes in the Region”, held in the Caucasus
Institute, Mediamax reports.

“”Turkish Summer” differs from “Arab Spring”. There isn’t the big wave
of social rebel as in the Arab countries. But what started in Istanbul
showed the discontent over Erdogan’s actions. If Erdogan goes on this
way, it may become the start of his downfall”, noted Kiro Manoyan.

According to Manoyan, the Turkish PM managed to prevent the Kurdish
circles from the wave of the uprising and a reconciliation process
with them is underway. However, according to Kiro Manoyan, Turkish
influence in Syrian issue reduced.

“The developments also unveiled that Turkey is a authoritarian state.

It’s a good reason for the countries which are against Turkey’s
joining the EU. Now those countries can state that Turkey should pay
more attention to respecting fundamental human rights and freedoms”,
noted Kiro Manoyan.

In his turn, Director of Institute of Oriental Studies of National
Academy of Sciences Ruben Safrastyan noted that “the Turkish Summer”
revealed the discords in ideas of the current authorities and younger
generation concerning formation of “New Turkey”.

According to the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies,
Erdogan’s government learnt a lesson seeing that there is a group in
the Turkish society which isn’t afraid to rebel against the power.

According to Ruben Safrastyan, the Turkish developments may have an
impact on Azerbaijan as well where presidential elections are going
to be held this October.

“I don’t rule out that there may be mass disorders in Azerbaijan in
this period”, noted Ruben Safrastyan.

Changing Society, Unchanging Politics

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Karin Karakasli
Writer and journalist

All the words fail in explaining the intolerableness of passing from
writing with Hrant Dink to writing for the memorial of Hrant Dink.
There is nothing change in my feeling within six years passed from his
murder. On the other hand, while life is flowing, to continue his
fight for peace is on my shoulders now as the biggest heritage. This
article, like most of others, is the expression of that
responsibility.

The name of Hrant Dink, reverberated in Turkey and in the entire
world, as an Armenian journalist who was murdered in front of the
building of Agos newspaper in 19th January, 2007. In order to explain
the impact of that breaking point requires looking at the ten years
period passed from the establishment of this newspaper on his own and
what is happening after 2007.

Agos, which is the first weekly newspaper of Turkey published in both
Turkish-Armenians, was established in April 1996 under the chief
editorship of Hrant Dink.

That period, to share the ravage, especially the problem of minority
foundations in possession of properties and the word of Armenian
becoming a swear; which is created by provocative publishing in order
to establish a mutual relation between Turkish Armenian Patriarchate
and PKK, with the public opinion from the first person, became the
main principle of the newspaper. The need to embrace Armenians who
could not learn their mother-tongue and who have to immigrate to
Istanbul or abroad since there is no Armenian living in Anatolia and
no schools to go after 1915, is another purpose in order to establish
social solidarity of Turkey’s Armenian Society which have to conduct
their own schools, Churches and associations economically without
taking any financial aid from the government. To share the knowledge
and experience of Armenians in these lands in several fields from art
to handicrafts was another goal.

Like every new institution, first years of establishment of Agos had
been passed with seeking and generating an identity. In time, a wide
range of agenda items such as; contribution to Turkey-Armenia
dialogue, making Armenian Question effable and talkable with a new
style which pays regard to the honour, mutual information transfer,
freedom of thought and expression and democratization of Turkey
within the scope of EU process were included in the goals of the
beginning. Such that, in some days, a headline which Hrant Dink stated
becomes not only notifying something exists but also determining the
agenda of the country.

`Being an Armenian in Turkey became visible and apparent firstly with him’

Times when the political challenge was the most tiring and
back-breaking, were times when the Governmental actions or discourses
of the ultranationalist and chauvinist segment of the community that
make Armenians living in Turkey feel alienated reached peak. Armenian
proposals in the agendas of the World parliaments and discussions
about possessions of Minority Foundations brought the implication of
regarding minorities as foreigners with them and the challenge of
Hrant Dink was getting hotter. At this point his existence and
attitude declared a new Armenian identity.

When looking from the perspective of Turkey, the attitude towards
Armenian was limited with certain frames. For some people, Armenian is
a human type of whom absence is remembered with shortsighted
nostalgias like “They cook so nice dolma and topik. They were
handicraftsmen” but the reason of their absence has not been examined.
For some other segments of society, they were “potential traitors and
internal focal points”. Hrant Dink, firstly, presented the Armenian
concept as an undeniable truth with his own body and voice. Turkey
Armenians /Being an Armenian in Turkey became visible and apparent
firstly with him.

Hrant Dink made an equivalent effort to being a citizen in Turkey as
the same effort made to being an Armenian. He never gave up from
generating ideas and making a great effort to the future of the
country in where he was born as a citizen of The Republic of Turkey.
For him, democracy was something to be created by making great effort.
He contributed to countless problems and questions such as Kurdish
question, head-scarf / turban problem, Turkey-EU relations by starting
from his experiences because he deemed this contribution as the
requirement of his democracy ethic.

Business and Life Ethics of Hrant Dink sided with talking everything
in its own environment. Therefore, he never takes problems of Turkey
Armenians to Europe as a complain factor although he did not have so
many other opportunities. At that point, the words always belonged to
his identity of being a citizen of Turkish Republic. Therewithal, in
the idea struggle he made with Diaspora, he invited Armenians abroad
to a honest face-off by saying that `Do you side with the recognition
of the genocide or the democratization of Turkey?”

According to him, Armenian Question could only be duly discussed in a
society in which the information could be freely distributed and which
could be actually democratized in real terms. Therefore, with those
draft processes patronizing from outside based on history, it was
impossible to have any result other than triggering ultranationalist
cheuvanist segments. Fort he very reason, Hrant Dink passionately
expressed that all European Countries have to inlude Turkey to the EU
process. He was always a follower of demands that increase from the
bottom to the top and concern internal dynamics and he had no concern
other than democratization of his country.

Talking over not only deaths but also the surviving.

Hrant Dink wrote the news containing the assertions about the fact
that the goddaughter of Atatürk Sabiha Gökçen could be Armenian
origin, as an opportunity to discuss the Armenian taboo over deaths
but the surviving. This publication was an occasion for him to make
the fact, which there are also Armenians who could survive by changing
religion, being adopted or married besides those who were died in that
sorrowful period, talkable. But he was announced and declared as a
`Turkophobe’ with a sentence which was picked from the article of
General Staff suggesting Diaspora Armenians to give up anti-Turkish
attitude and its harsh reprobation letter that was published just
after the news hit the headlines of newspaper called Hürriyet; and an
anti-campaign which started in company with the important columnists
of radical right-winger press and national newspapers put his name to
a course which was a real suppression for himself.

Hrant Dink, who devoted his life to overcome this prejudice, to break
the walls of virulence and for Turkish and Armenian societies
understood and know each other, was not actually murdered in 19th
January, 2007. He was murdered when he was threatened by members of
National Intelligence Service in the Governorship of Istanbul just
after the letter of General Staff. He was murdered when he wasted his
breathe in every text, every conversation and felt himself obliged to
explain himself again and again. He was murdered when Grey Wolves were
shouting `Hrant Dink is the target of all our anger and hatred then’
in front of the building of Agos and when courts condemned him despite
of the experts’ report and when the Supreme Court of Appeal did not
consider harmful to approve this sentence.

Two days after the murder, Istanbul Security Director suddenly
explained that the murder did not tie in with any organization and did
not have any political dimension. There were some video images in
which the murder suspect stroke a pose with gendarmeries and polices
in front of a poster with a Turkish flag after he was caught in
Samsun, revealed. It was understood that, Erhan Tuncel, who is known
as one of the planners of Hrant Dink assassination, report the murder
to the police in February 2006 that Hrant Dink would be murdered by
Yasin Hayal and Trabzon Security Directorate reported this situation
to General Directorate of Security Affairs in Ankara. The governor of
that period was elected as a Parliamentarian from the ruling party,
then promoted as the Minister of Internal Affairs, The Security
Director of Istanbul was promoted as the Governor and Mehmet Nihat
Ã-meroÄ?lu, one of the 18 Supreme Court Judges who have his signature
under the penalty fined from the Article 301 of Turkish Criminal Law
that regulated the penalty of `insult to Turkishness’ of Dink , was
promoted as Ombudsman in General Assembly of TGNA.

The scale of this organization, is the scope of the country from now on.

Deleted telephone conversations, spoiled evidences, hidden documents
and destructed reports alternated each other. Currently no
investigation conducted on the whole officers to whom the State
Supervisory Council recommended to be investigated from the police to
gendarmerie, from the security intelligence to judgment and politics.
Hence, the case was tried to be closed by condemning those two victims
in 17th January, 2012 without finding out the real and actual
perpetrators, actors of the murder whoever responsible.

Against this legal scandal and the sorrow of the loss, the only hope
is the fact that hundred of thousands people bid farewell to Hrant
Dink by yelling as “All of us are Armenians” in the funeral after 4
days from the murder, in 23rd of January. In the intervening years,
the indignation against what experienced on behalf of his name and
personality, increased incrementally. Now the public conscious is
following the objection made to the court decision as “there is an
organization” made by Supreme Court of Appeals Prosecutor’s Office.
Now, public stares at the Supreme Court of Appeal as what shall be
arrested in the name of `organization’. The scale of this organization
is the scope of this country from now on. Our living space is also in
size of this scale.

In passing 6 years, Turkey community perceived the `message’ regarding
the 1915 taboo that is intended to be given in the personality of
Hrant Dink and stroke an attitude at the point of breaking that taboo
and building the peace. My conscience does not agree, I scruple about
the fact that a group consists of faculty members and journalists deny
and deaf to `the Disaster to which Ottoman Armenians were exposed in
1915′. The petition campaign, which was started in 14th December 2008
with the words of `I deny this injustice and personally, I share all
feelings and sorrows of my Armenian brothers and sisters and apologize
from them on my on behalf”, created tremendous expression with the
list of 30.837 people. If words of Prime Minister Recep Tayip ErdoÄ?an
about the campaign `Probably they carried out such a genocide, so they
apologize. Republic of Turkey has not such a problem’ is remembered,
it shall be better understood how behind the state politics are from
the community.

April 24 Commemoration of the Genocide events which were started to
happen in Turkey in recent is another expression of that broken
paradigm. Ones who looked at black-and-white photos, understood that
220 Armenian intelligent were taken to their last journeys, to their
deaths towards AyaÅ? and Çankırı, just before a huge Anatolian
community were relegated to their paths of death with their children,
women and elders; in order to prevent them from sharing what all
those lived. Commemorations overflowed to squares.

While 2015 is coming; facing with Armenian genocide imposes itself as
the concept which must be the actual base of the Kurdish Question.
Those protocols which were signed in 2009 and estimated that the
Turkey-Armenia border to be opened and the diplomatic relations to be
started, are still on the shelf! Both today and yesterday are locked.
Whereas, the community is ready to pass over that threshold. Because
the peace and the welfare of the society are linked to this dearie,
only hope of peace.

There is no other option than holding on that hope. The heritage of
Hrant Dink insists hope and challenge to us at most.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710
Fax: (212) 779-3558
Web:
Email: [email protected]

** TOP STORY July 3, 2013
————————————————————
Transfiguration
“Christ Enthroned”-a detail from the mosaic at the Hagia Sophia in
Istanbul.

** Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ
————————————————————
On Sunday, July 7, the Armenian Church will observe one of its five
major feasts: the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

The observance recalls Christ’s ascent up Mount Tabor, accompanied by
his disciples John, James, and Peter. At the mountain’s summit, to the
disciple’s frightened amazement, Christ was transfigured in a blinding
white light; the Old Testament figures Moses and Elijah emerged from
the mists of time to confer with the Lord; and the voice of God boomed
from out of the heavens to affirm Jesus as his Son.

Jesus was characteristically reticent about the episode: he urged the
disciples not to speak of it. But the gospels recorded it for
posterity, and his church-including local Armenian parishes across the
Diocese=80’celebrates it every year.

To learn more about this feast day, download the Diocese’s latest
Transfiguration iBook
()
. It is packed with interactive features, including video, music,
photo galleries, and more. A version of the book is now available for
non-iPad users; click on the following links to view it in your
browser
()
or to download a PDF
()
.

Fourth of July

** Happy Independence Day
————————————————————

On behalf of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and the entire Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, we wish all of our readers
a happy Independence Day.

For well over a century now, Armenians have been blessed to merge our
way of life with the bounty and liberty of this great nation of
America. On these shores our people found a refuge from persecution,
but also a land that would sustain and strengthen us as we sought to
honor our heritage, and worship our Lord.

This Independence Day, we renew our prayers, asking God to bless this
land and her people, so that she may continue to be the great beacon
of hope to our world, and a nurturing friend to our young homeland.

** Scripture of the Week
————————————————————

Wis 7:25-8:4
Zec 14:16-21
1 Jn 1:1-7
Mt 16:13-17:13

** Prayer of the Week
————————————————————

My soul is always in your hands and I place my hope in your Holy
Cross, O Heavenly King. May the multitude of your saints intercede on
my behalf. You who are patient with everyone, do not neglect me who
trusts in you, but keep me in peace with your precious and Holy
Cross. Amen.

** Upcoming Saints & Feasts
————————————————————

7 July: Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

8 July: Remembrance of the dead

11 July: St. Isaiah the Prophet

** CHURCH NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
————————————————————
Armenian Past of Taksim Square
A funeral procession to the Pangalti Armenian Cemetery, 1913.

** The Armenian Past of Taksim Square
————————————————————

Istanbul’s Taksim Square-the site of recent protests by Turkish
activists-was once home to an Armenian cemetery. The Pangalti Armenian
Cemetery was established in the 16th century, and remained in
existence until the 1930s, when it was razed to build a complex of
hotels and a broadcasting center. Its gravestones were repurposed as
stairs and fountains.

In a recent blog post, the New Yorker explored the Armenian history of
this Istanbul landmark. Click here
()
to read the article.

** DIOCESAN NEWS
————————————————————
St. James Church, Evanston, IL

** Altar Servers to be Ordained in Evanston
————————————————————

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, will visit St. James
Church of Evanston, IL, this weekend where he will celebrate the
Divine Liturgy and ordain altar servers.

On Saturday, July 6, the Primate will ordain Jesse Arlen, Antranik
Balian, Haig Hagopian, Malkoon Malkoonian, Vartkes Minatiskan, and
Andrew Rejebian to the rank of acolyte. A reception will follow.

On Sunday, July 7, the Feast of the Transfiguration, Archbishop
Barsamian will celebrate the Divine Liturgy, with the Rev. Fr. Hovhan
Khoja-Eynatyan, parish pastor, assisting. Aras Korogluyan and Arie
Zakarian will be ordained to the diaconate. A luncheon will follow in
the church hall.

Click here
()
to visit the parish website.

Ararat Center Pool Blessing
Archbishop Barsamian and Diocesan clergy blessed and dedicated the
Ararat Center pool last weekend.

** Pool Blessing at the Ararat Center
————————————————————

On Saturday, June 29, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate,
and the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar, visited
St. Vartan Camp in upstate New York, as staff were preparing for the
opening of the 2013 camp season.

During the visit, Archbishop Barsamian, Fr. Odabashian and other
Diocesan clergy blessed and dedicated the Ararat Center’s pool, which
is being renovated thanks to the generosity of Edward and Janet
Mardigian of St. John Church of Southfield, MI. Members of the Ararat
Center Board of Directors were also present for the ceremony. Later
that day, the Primate addressed camp counselors and CITs, thanking
them for their dedication and wishing them a productive summer.

Session `A’ of St. Vartan Camp opened on Sunday, June 30. Click here
()
to read the camp blog for daily updates on camp activities.

ACYOA Central Council Meets at the Ararat Center
ACYOA Central Council members with Fr. Sabounjian.

** ACYOA Central Council Visits St. Vartan Camp
————————————————————

The 2013-14 ACYOA Central Council held its first meeting last weekend,
at the Ararat Center in Greenville, NY. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Diocesan Primate, presided.

Central Council members developed a strategic plan for the coming
year, discussed this summer’s Armenia Service Program, reviewed the
recent General Assembly and Sports Weekend, and brainstormed new
programming ideas. The Central Council also discussed updates from the
2014 and 2015 General Assembly and Sports Weekend committees.

Also attending the meeting were the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian,
Diocesan Vicar; Diocesan Council members Rev. Fr. Krikor Sabounjian
and Tom Ashbahian; and Diocesan Youth Outreach coordinator Jennifer
Morris.

The Central Council gave a presentation to St. Vartan Camp counselors
and CITs about the ACYOA and its programs. Several members of the
council served on the altar during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday.

“The Ararat Center during the beginning of the camp season was a great
setting for the first 2013-2014 Central Council meeting,’ said ACYOA
Central Council chair Jonathan Pelaez. `It was revitalizing to see
some of the young people get excited about ACYOA programs they can get
involved in.’

Click here
()
to view photos.

Deacons Training
Deacons Training participants with clergy at St. Vartan Cathedral.

** Deacons Training Concludes at St. Nersess
————————————————————

Participants in the Deacons Training program held recently at
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary visited New York’s St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral on Sunday, June 30. The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, the
longtime director of the program, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Diocesan Primate, presided.

The young people assisted on the altar and sang in the choir. Also
present were the Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian, Deacons Training program
instructor, and the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan
Vicar. Archbishop Barsamian spoke to the participants about the
importance of their service to the Armenian Church, and encouraged
them to continue strengthening their liturgical knowledge. A luncheon
followed services. Click here
()
to view photos.

More than 20 young people took part in the Deacons Training program
from June 24 to July 2. The seminary is now preparing to host the High
School `A’ Conference, from July 5 to 13.

Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian
Fr. Karadjian has been assigned as the new pastor of the St. Stepanos
Church.

** New Pastor in Elberon
————————————————————

The Eastern Diocese is pleased to announce that the Rev. Fr. Daniel
Karadjian has been assigned as the new pastor of the St. Stepanos
Church of Elberon, NJ. The assignment went into effect on July 1.

In his directive announcing the appointment, Diocesan Primate
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian conveyed good wishes to Fr. Karadjian and
his family, and also to all the parishioners of the St. Stepanos
Church.

May our Lord guide his people as they embark upon this new chapter in
parish life.

FAR
Dr. Areg Mickaelian introduces students to the field of astrophysics.

** High Schoolers in Armenia Learn About the Universe
————————————————————

For the last few years, astrophysicist Dr. Areg Mickaelian and his
colleagues from the well-known Byurakan Observatory in Armenia have
been conducting a series of lectures on astrophysics at high schools
across Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. The program was developed and
sponsored by Dr. Yervant Terzian, the founder of the Armenian National
Science and Education Fund (ANSEF).

An ANSEF grantee himself, Dr. Mickaelian developed his wish to educate
young people into a simple but insightful course on astrophysics for
high school students. The lecture series is a unique opportunity for
the young generation to learn about astrophysics and to consider
pursuing a field that has attracted many Armenian scientists,
including the renowned late Victor Hambardzumyan. Click here
()
to read more about Dr. Mickaelian’s lectures.

ANSEF was founded by the Fund for Armenian Relief in partnership with
leading Armenian-American intellectuals. The dynamic initiative
provides grants to Armenia’s top researchers in the physical and
natural sciences, engineering, and the humanities. Research proposals
are evaluated through a peer review process, calling on experts in a
given field to review submissions and to select the most promising
projects.

** PARISH NEWS
————————————————————
Vacation Bible School at Holy Martyrs Church
A child colors a Bible scene at the Church of the Holy Martyrs.

** Bible School for Kids in Bayside
————————————————————

After a five-year hiatus, Vacation Bible School returned to the Church
of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY, from June 24 through 28, for a
highly successful week of Bible study, arts and crafts, Armenian
language instruction, and music and gym activities.

Volunteer teachers, under the leadership of the program director
Shoushan Saraydarian, worked with the Rev. Fr. Abraham Malkhasyan,
parish pastor, to organize and run the sessions. More than 40
children, ages 3 to 12, took part in last month’s activities.

Click here
()
to view photos.

Grigor Saribekyan
Fr. Souin blesses Grigor Saribekyan.

** Parishioner Honored in Providence
————————————————————

On Sunday, June 30, parishioners of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of
Providence, RI, honored choir member Grigor Saribekyan.

The Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, parish pastor, presented him with a choir
gown designed especially for the occasion by church secretary Fran
Armstrong. In the presence of his family and the entire parish,
Fr. Souin blessed Grigor, and thanked him for his dedicated service to
the church.

Sunday School

** Students Graduate from Parish Schools
————————————————————

Sunday and Armenian schools across the Eastern Diocese are holding
graduation exercises for students who are completing their course of
study this year. The Sunday Schools of St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn,
NJ, and Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, are among the
latest to share news of their year-end programs.

On May 12, nine students graduated from the St. Leon Sunday
School. Each student spoke about an important figure from the Old
Testament. Teacher Tom Ashbahian congratulated the young
people. Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, parish pastor, presented the diplomas
to the graduates. Many of the students will continue serving the
parish next year as assistants in the Sunday School.

At Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church, the Sunday School graduation ceremony
was held on June 2. Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy,
the Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, parish pastor, distributed diplomas to the
graduates in the church sanctuary.

Click here
()
to view photos from all recent parish graduations.

** YOUTH NEWS
————————————————————
ASP
>From left: Deanna Cachoian-Schanz, Fr. Malkhasyan, and ACYOA
executive secretary Nancy Basmajian discussed the ASP trip at the
Diocesan Center in June.

** ASP Participants Arrive in Yerevan
————————————————————

Earlier this week, a small group of young adults from parishes across
the Eastern Diocese arrived in Yerevan as part of this year’s ACYOA
Armenia Service Program. The trip is being led by the Rev. Fr. Abraham
Malkhasyan, pastor of the Church of the Holy Martyrs of Bayside,
NY. Deanna Cachoian-Schanz is assisting Fr. Malkhasyan.

In addition to experiencing Armenia’s historic, spiritual, and
cultural sites, the young people will volunteer at projects run by the
Fund for Armenian Relief, including its Children’s Center in Yerevan
and its Octet Music School and Gyumri Soup Kitchen in Gyumri. They
will also volunteer with the Fuller Center for Housing.

HAYRIKYAN PREDICTS WAR

17:46 04.07.2013

Alisa Gevorgyan
“Radiolur”

“Ukraine, Russia and Israel have armed Azerbaijan to such an extent
that the temptation to resume war is too great,” leader of the National
Self-Determination Union Paruyr Hayrikyan told reporters today. He
considers that resumption of war is a matter of months, and this,
he says, is a result of cruel mistakes of the Armenian diplomacy.

According to Hayrikyan, from the first days of independence in
early 1990s Armenia had to declare to the world that Armenia had
internationally recognized territories, which it lost as a result of
Bolshevik occupation.

“80% of the territories are under Turkish and Azerbaijani control
with the support of Bolshevik Russia,” he said.

However, Armenia never claimed about its internationally recognized
borders. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan was busy creating its image of a victim
and the majority of the countries of the world conceive Azerbaijan
as an unjustly aggrieved party.

“Azerbaijan has prepared the world to the perspective of “restoring
justice” with force, and is now waiting for a proper occasion,”
Hayrikyan said.

SYUNIK SHOOT-OUT CASE: ATTORNEY CLAIMS EVIDENCE BEING SLANTED

SOCIETY | 03.07.13 | 16:06

Photolure

Hayk Alumyan By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN ArmeniaNow reporter

The investigative service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia has
postponed the discussion of the motion to recognize Colonel Artak
Budaghyan as an aggrieved party in the controversial shoot-out case
next to the former Syunik governor’s mansion. Defense attorney Hayk
Alumyan has filed a complaint in this concern to the Prosecutor
General.

The attorney claims that the investigator’s decision has no clarity
on why the proofs are not sufficient to recognize Budaghyan, who
suffered a gunshot wound, as a victim in this case. He claims that
an attempt is being made to present the Budaghyans and the detainees
as equally guilty.

On June 2 , in front of then Syunik governor Suren Khachatryan’s
private mansion there was shooting leading to the death of Karabakh
military unit commander Avo Budaghyan, former candidate for Goris
mayoral post; two others were wounded and were hospitalized, among
them Artak Budaghyan (Avo’s brother) and the governor’s bodyguard
Nikolay Abrahamyan. The governor’s son Tigran Khachatryan was taken
into custody as a suspect along with another bodyguard Zarvand
Nikoghosyan, who are now at Nubarashen penitentiary.

Charges of “deliberate murder”, “deliberate heavy damage to health” and
“illegal possession of arms and armament” have been brought against
them. Khachatryan temporarily put down his liabilities of a governor
until the end of the preliminary investigation.

Military Prosecutor of Armenia Gevorg Kostanyan does not rule out
any development, including bringing Artak Budaghyan as a defendant
in this case.

“This is a disgrace: the person clearly has to be seen as the
aggrieved party, but with some justifications they first delay doing
it, then start misleading people into thinking “you know what? He
might actually turn out to be guilty,” Alumyan told RFE/RL.

Another influence on the public opinion might be the edited video
recording posted and circulated immediately after the incident –
one of the surveillance cameras installed at the governor’s house
recorded what happened that day.

The attorney’s main concern is that gradually a mass opinion is formed
that both parties were equally at fault.

“Even the scarce material provided to me shows that right from the
beginning everything possible has been done to aid the other party.

They are trying to create an impression among society in order to
later, I suppose, not shock people by such outcomes when the other
party either fully or partially is relieved of any responsibility,
or receives a very mild punishment,” says Alumyan.

Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates Ruben Sahakyan, who is the
former Syunik governor’s family attorney, told Aravot daily, that the
preliminary investigation is in process, and Hayk Alumyan is not as
well informed about the case details as he is.

“I do not see why Alumyan has arrived at such conclusions, so
far there are no grounds for those, and I believe the preliminary
investigation body has done the right thing. The Prosecutor General
says there was assault and exchange of gunfire and he is not someone
to make unsubstantiated statements without having sufficient facts
to back it with,” said Sahakyan. “My assumptions are based on the
information I gained from the case material provided to me and the
video footage I have at my disposal… mine is the full version of
the one spinning on the internet.”

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN ISSUES ADDRESS TO PARTICIPANTS OF YEREVAN-HOSTED PAN-EUROPEAN CONFERENCE

15:05 03.07.2013
Council of Europe, Serzh Sargsyan

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan issued an addressed to the
participants of the Pan-European Conference on the European Standards
of Rule of Law and the Scope of Discretion of Authorities in the Member
States of the Council of Europe held in Yerevan. The message reads:

Distinguished Chairman of the European Court of Human Rights,
Distinguished Chairman of the Venice Commission of the Council of
Europe, Dear Participants of the Conference, Dear Guests, Ladies
and Gentlemen,

We have initiated this conference in the framework of Armenia’s
presidency at the Council of Europe, particularly recognizing the
importance of the problems which these days will become the topic of
interested discussions by all participants of the Conference.

It is a great honor and responsibility for our country and authorities
to assume presidency of the Council of Europe. We will strive to fill
these six months with the initiatives which will give a new impetus
to the further development and strengthening of the European system
of values, infallible adherence to the principle of rule of law.

It was the inevitable logic of democratic developments that securing
rule of law in the European legal system should become a keystone
value. Article 3 of the Statute of the European Council signed on
May 5, 1949 in London stipulates explicitly that every member of the
Council of Europe must accept the principle of supremacy of law. This
approach had also given a new quality to the future progression of
international relations, placing in the foundation of these relations
a clear-cut guideline according to which a human being, his dignity,
basic rights and freedoms are supreme values. State, in its turn,
is constrained by the individuals’ and citizens’ basic rights and
freedoms which have become acting laws. These are provisions which are
secured in the Constitution of our country as the constitutional base;
they define the conduct of the individuals and state authorities in
building legal state and civil society.

I am confident that in all democratic countries, on the constitutional
level the principle of rule of law is secured in some way. However,
the main task is to bring it to life, to make limitation of power
through the law a rule of life.

Particularly in case of the newly democratic states, it requires
a coordinated and persistent work. It requires the existence of an
independent judicial system and execution of impartial justice.

In this area, our country has entered a new stage of reforms and has
been implementing persistently programs which have great prospects
for future. In the center of all these programs is the individual,
guarantee of his rights and freedoms, creation in the country of the
atmosphere where tolerance, pluralism, non-discrimination, and mutual
trust are paramount.

I am also confident that this exceptional Conference, dedicated to
the European standards of rule of law and the scope of discretion of
authorities will make a lasting contribution to mastering challenges
existing in our country and other CoE member states, for a more
efficient guarantee and protection of human rights.

I once again salute the participants of the Conference and wish
productive and efficient work.

KARABAKH PRESIDENT HANDS DIPLOMAS TO ARTSAKH STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

July 03, 2013 | 13:21

STEPANAKERT. – Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), or Artsakh, President
Bako Sahakyan on Wednesday handed diplomas to a group of Artsakh
State University students that have graduated with distinction.

In his remarks, Sahakyan noted that the ceremony of handing diplomas
to such graduates at the President’s Residence has become a good
tradition, Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR
President informs.

He stressed that the state seeks a developed education system that
meets modern standards, and this is among the key tasks of NKR.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic National Assembly Speaker Ashot Ghulyan,
PM Ara Harutyunyan, and several other officials likewise attended
the event.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ARMENIAN, LEBANESE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE TO INK COOPERATION DEAL

July 3, 2013 – 14:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A delegation of Lebanese businessmen will arrive in
Armenia Saturday, July 6 on the occasion of a direct Beirut-Yerevan
flight launch.

On the same day, the head of the Armenian chamber of commerce and
industry Martin Sargsyan and the President of the Lebanese Federation
of the Chambers of Commerce & Industry Mohammad Choucair will sign
a cooperation agreement.

The chair of Middle East Airlines (MEA) company Mohamad A. El-Hout,
Lebanese Minister of Industry Vrej Sabounjian, the vice-governor of
the Central Bank of Lebanon Haroutioun Samuelian, ambassadors and
high-ranking officials will take the same flight to Yerevan.

ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH ROBUST YET NOT DIVERSIFIED – IMF

July 02, 2013 | 21:54

Armenia’s economic growth is robust, although not diversified,
according to the sixth and final country review under EFF/ECF credit
program by the IMF Executive Board, Armenian News-NEWS.am reports.

Generally, economic policies of Armenia have delivered on the
objectives of the Fund’s program.

The completion of the review allows the authorities to draw an
additional SDR 55 million (about $84 million), bringing the whole
disbursements to the planned SDR 266.8 million ($407.2 million),
approved in June 2010.

In line with the adopted policies, Armenia reached 4.7% growth in
2011, 7.2% in 2012, and stays strong in 2013. Inflation has remained
below the Central Bank’s 4 percent target. Fiscal deficit has been
reduced over the past three years, which has included substantial
tax revenue increases.

The Central Bank of Armenia has permitted greater flexibility of the
national currency, Armenian dram, over the past year, rebuilt reserves
following sizeable intervention in May-June 2012, and strengthened the
monetary framework and operations. The CBA has also moved decisively
to implement Financial Sector Assessment Program and IMF technical
assistance recommendations. Banking sector indicators remain sound.

At the same time, significant challenges and vulnerabilities remain.

Robust growth has resumed, but has reflected in part rapid growth of
credit and consumption, favorable weather, and high metals prices.

More progress is needed to continue the external adjustment, reduce
poverty, and enhance the business climate. Implementation of the
authorities’ stated policy plans should help, the IMF experts stated.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am