PanARMENIAN.Net
Lukashenko congratulated Kocharian in Independence Day
21.09.2007 13:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
congratulated Armenian President Robert Kocharian on the national
holiday, the Independence Day.
Mr Lukashenko marked the dynamic development of the
Belarusian-Armenian relations and expressed assurance that mutually
beneficial cooperation between the two states will expand, reported
the Belarusian leader’s press office.
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
BAKO SAHAKIAN AND HARUT SASSOUNIAN DISCUSSED PERSPECTIVES OF
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED ARMENIAN FUND’S PROGRAMS IN ARTSAKH
2007-09-20 15:05:00
September 19 Nagorno-Karabagh Republic President Bako
Sahakian, who had arrived in RA on a working visit,
met with Harut Sassounian, the President of United
Armenian Fund and Vice President of the Lincy
Foundation.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the
Central Department of Information under NKR President,
in the course of the meeting the interlocutors had
dwelled on the issues referring to social and economic
situation in Karabagh, considered deepening and
widening Artsakh-Spyurk ties and discussed the
perspectives of implementation of various programs by
United Armenian Fund.
The same day NKR President addressed a message to
United Armenian Fund, which runs, in part, `’United
Armenian Fund is an important link strengthening
Artsakh-Armenia-Spyurk triple union. The Fund
efficiently participates in the implementation of
vitally important programs in Armenia and Artsakh,
which is a tangible impetus for the development of
economy and improvement of social situation. Your
patriotic activity is worthy of highest appreciation”.
CYPRUS SHOULD NOT BE USED AS EXCUSE TO SLOW DOWN TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP, GUL SAYS
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.09.2007 17:39 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s president Abdullah Gul called on European
nations Wednesday not to use the dispute over Cyprus as an excuse to
slow down Turkey’s European Union membership.
Abdullah Gul was speaking in the parliament of the self-declared
Turkish Cypriot state during his first visit outside Turkey since his
election to presidency last month. Turkish presidents traditionally
make their first trip abroad to the Mediterranean island’s north.
"It is not right to link the Cyprus problem with Turkey’s EU
membership. This is a wrong assessment," Gul said. "The Cyprus issue
should not be used to slow down or prevent Turkey’s EU membership
process."
Turkey began membership negotiations in October 2005.
But progress came to a virtual standstill late last year when EU
leaders decided to partially suspend negotiations to protest Ankara’s
refusal to open its ports to trade with Cyprus – an EU member.
Turkish officials have reiterated they will not implement a 2005
agreement to open Turkish ports and airports to Cyprus until the EU
lives up to its commitment to lift the trade embargo on the Turkish
Cypriot community. Gul called for the international embargo against
northern Cyprus to be lifted. "The international community should
understand that the discrimination and restrictions imposed on Turkish
Cypriot people must now end," he said, The Associated Press reports
Turkey does not recognize the government of Cyprus, which has led to a
standoff between Brussels and Ankara over the membership bid. Cyprus
has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south – represented by the
internationally recognized government – and a Turkish Cypriot north
since 1974, when Turkey invaded after a failed Athens-backed coup by
supporters of union with Greece.
In 2004, Greek Cypriot voters overwhelmingly rejected a UN
reunification plan that the Turkish Cypriots accepted in a separate
referendum. The United Nations has repeatedly pressed the two sides
to reopen negotiations.
WE DO NOT NEED A REAL MAN, DO WE?
A1+
[04:04 pm] 18 September, 2007
"The presence of individuals like Zhirayr Sefilyan and Vardan
Malkhasyan is a necessity in the society", says the representative of
the "Heritage" party Anahit Bakhshyan. Those holding the same view
gathered in front of the building of Appeal Court and demanded fair
trial. The hearing on Zhirayr Safilyan’s, Vardan Malkhasyan’s and
Vahan Aronyan’s cases was going on at the Appeal Court today.
The participants of the protest action anticipated that the heroes
of Karabakh war would be released today.
Tigran Khzmalyan, a film director considers that if individuals like
Zhirayr Sefilyan are imprisoned than something is wrong in this
country. Anahit Bakhshinyan added: "They should be released. They
are needed in the society. They should prove how a real Armenian man
should be. By arresting them and keeping them isolated illegally,
our authorities say that they do not need this types of men, that
they should be kept imprisoned".
The demonstrators offered the court to fulfill their demand. Then
they went to the court hall to participate in the court hearing.
RA DEFENSE MINISTER, AMBASSADOR OF GREECE DISCUSSED ARMENIAN-GREEK MILITARY RELATIONS
armradio.am
18.09.2007 14:38
September 18 RA Defense Minister Michael Harutyunyan received the
Ambassador Extrordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Armenia,
Mrs. Panayota Mavromikhali.
Turning to the rapidly developing Armenian-Greek military cooperation,
the Defense Minister highly appreciated the Ambassador’s contribution,
wishing success in her future activity.
For her part, the Ambassador thanked Mr. Harutyunyan for the kind
words, saying she is leaving Armenia with great impressions.
Speaking about the Armenian peacekeepers carrying out mission within
the Greek division, the Minister presented the future plans in
the sphere.
The parties discussed a number of issues related to the reforms
underway in the armed forces.
ANAND DRAWS, BUT STAYS IN JOINT LEAD IN WORLD CHESS
indiainteracts.com
Published on September 18, 2007 by IANS
India
World No.1 Viswanathan Anand of India allowed a great winning
opportunity to slip by and had to be content with a draw against
Russian Alexander Morozevich in the fourth round of the World Chess
Championships here Monday. Anand, who drew the game in 57 moves,
stays in joint lead with Russian Vladimir Kramnik, both having 2.5
points from four games.
Four players, including Russia’s Morozevich and Alexander Grischuk,
Boris Gelfand of Israel, and Lev Aronian of Armenia have two points
each. Peter Leko of Hungary and Peter Svidler of Russia have 1.5
points each.
For the third day in a row, Anand, an NIIT brand ambassador, was in
a featured game – this one against Morozevich, considered to be one
of the most original, top class players.
Morozevich had just recovered from the second round loss to Kramnik
and outplayed Svidler in third.
The Anand-Morozevich game went into the fashionable Meran variation
of the Slav defence. The duo played at a blitz-like speed along
well-known lines.
Once again from here, Anand, showing great preparations, came up with
a completely different new plan.
After a strong opening, Anand playing black had a variety of options
in the middle game and consolidate some advantage. White was forced
to win an exchange but a black pawn got to d3 and was supported by
a powerful pair of bishops.
As the players began to play faster, Anand had a decisive advantage
but the question was whether he really needed to go for the knight
sacrifice earlier.
Yet, at this stage after 40 moves, Anand’s win looked almost sure.
Anand, keen to finish the game fast, seemed to be going
strong. Morozevich’s king was in a delicate situation and though the
material was equal, it was hard to find adequate moves.
Anand must have been disappointed as he had advantage throughout
the game till he missed a chance towards the end in a completely
winning position.
Morozevich was stubbornly finding defensive resources and was rewarded
for his effort by achieving to draw in this seemingly hopeless game.
Grischuk held Kramnik to a draw in 60 moves from a Catalan. Grischuk
fought well and held out for a good draw.
Aronian handed Leko a solid defeat in 45 moves from English Symmetrical
start, and Svidler and Gelfand were engaged in a short 24-move draw
from Petroff.
Results of Round 4: Kramnik draw with Grischuk; Aronian beat Leko;
Morozevich drew with Anand; Svidler drew with Gelfand
Pairings for Round 5: Anand v Svidler; Gelfand v Aronian; Grischuk
v Morozevich; Leko v Kramnik
Standings after Round 4: 1. Anand and Kramnik 2.5 points; 3. Grischuk,
Gelfand, Morozevich and Aronian 2.0; 7. Svidler and Leko 1.5
ANALYSIS: ARMENIA’S QUEST FOR POWER
World News Editor
Earthtimes.org
Posted : Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:44:54 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 Of the three post-Soviet Caucasian republics,
Armenia in many ways remains the most isolated.
Unlike rising petro-states Azerbaijan and Georgia, which earn
millions of dollars annually from transit fees for the Baku-Supsa
and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipelines, Armenia has, since even before
the Soviet collapse, struggled to meet its power needs. It relies
on its aging Metsamor nuclear power station for nearly 40 percent of
its energy generation.
Metsamor, which began operations in 1976, contains two VVER-400 V230
376 megawatt nuclear reactors generating about 2 million kilowatt
hours of energy annually.
Many environmentalists regard it as an accident waiting to happen. The
Armenian government closed Metsamor’s Unit 1 in February 1989 and
Unit 2 the next month following a massive December 1988 earthquake.
Armenia’s isolation intensified in the aftermath of its armed conflict
with neighboring Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. During
the clash, which erupted in February 1988 and lasted until May
1994, Azerbaijan blockaded roads, rail lines and energy supplies,
leading to severe energy shortages in Armenia. In 1991 pressure to
restart Metsamor increased after a vital natural gas pipeline from
Turkmenistan was blocked by a Turkish and Azeri fuel embargo. By
the winter of 1994-95, residents of Yerevan often had only an hour
or two of electricity daily, which the restart of Metsamor’s Unit 2
increased to 10-12 hours per day.
Economic compulsions forced Armenia to restart Unit 2 in October
1995. Five months before the restart, a team of experts from the
International Atomic Energy Agency visited Metsamor to assess the
seismic characteristics of the plant and site. It cautiously concluded
that the plant’s seismic protection measures were satisfactory. Both
the United States and the European Union strongly opposed reopening
the facility, saying Metsamor’s Soviet-designed reactor was unsafe
and have since given tens of millions of dollars in aid to upgrade
Metsamor’s safety systems while pressuring the Armenian government
to close the facility as soon as possible.
Armenia’s energy shortages and deepening ties with Iran, along with its
professed interest in nuclear power, has won it Washington’s attention.
Armenia is not alone in its renewed attention to nuclear power; by
2020 Russia plans to build 26 new nuclear power plants, increasing
its share of nuclear power generation in the federation’s total energy
production from its current level of 15 percent to 30 percent.
Armenia has adroitly exploited U.S. and European concerns about
Metsamor to entice the EU into assisting the country to develop
alternative power sources. The European Commission’s Technical Aid to
the Commonwealth of Independent States’ "Substitution of nuclear power
through the development of hydropower capacity" project is designed
to increase Armenia’s hydropower capacities with the eventual goal
of shuttering the Metsamor plant by upgrading Armenia’s hydropower
capacity by approximately 70 megawatts, beginning with the Tatev Hydro
Power Plant, the major station of a group of hydroelectric facilities
that collectively provided 15 percent of Armenia’s electricity in 2004.
"Vorotan plays an important part in regulating the purity and
reliability of our energy system’s performance," Armenian Deputy
Energy Minister Areg Galstyan said of the project. "We therefore
focused our collaboration activities with the EU in this area."
The TACIS project also completed feasibility studies for the
construction of seven small and medium-sized hydropower plants with
a total capacity of 80 megawatts.
Armenia’s energy policies represent a rare conjunction of EU,
U.S. and Russian interests. Since 2003 Metsamor has been operated
by the Russian company Inter RAO UES under a five-year agreement to
help pay off Armenia’s debts. Keeping all its options open, Armenia
is also considering construction of a new nuclear facility on the
Metsamor site at a cost of about $2 billion.
Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan told Parliament, "The
project’s feasibility study is being carried out by Armenia, Russia,
the U.S. and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The old NPP
is to be rebuilt within 4½ years," adding that Metsamor must be
operational until alternative power sources are found.
Throughout the Soviet Union, Armenians were legendary for their
business acumen. By adroitly playing upon EU environmental concerns,
Russian eagerness for business contracts and American desires to thwart
Iranian energy exports, Armenia may pull off its biggest coup yet,
having foreign investors pay for diversifying its energy assets.
–Boundary_(ID_/8OA71napZUA57DxuEbIyQ)–
EASTERN EXCELLENCE
By Matt Brown
St.Petersburg Times.ru, Russia
Friday, September 14, 2007
ARTS + FEATURES
Vostochny Ugolok // 52 Gorokhovaya Ulitsa. Tel: 713 5747 // Open 24
hours. // Menu is Russian and English // Dinner for two 1,296 rubles
($50)
For a small country with a troubled past and a relatively arid climate,
Azerbaijan, like its Caucasus neighbors Georgia and Armenia, has a
culinary tradition overflowing with intricate and belly-filling taste
combinations derived from a number of influences.
This tradition is honored at Vostochny Ugolok, a restaurant in a
prominent location where Gorokhovaya Ulitsa crosses the Fontanka river,
offering a hearty range of Azeri dishes.
Since Azeri cuisine is partly a cross-pollination of Turkish, Georgian,
Iranian, Russian and even "Soviet" methods and ingredients, the menu
at Vostochny Ugolok is at once familiar and exotic. It is divided
into sections featuring such specialties as kubak (pastry turnovers),
dolma (stuffed leaves), pilaf (flavored rice), shashlyk (kebabs),
and khatchapuri (cheese bread) with an imaginatively prepared range
of traditional soups, salads and garnishes. And as befits its roots
on the Caspian Sea, Vostochny Ugolok’s menu features an unusually
large range of fish dishes that would suit vegetarians who otherwise
might be put off by the tendency of Caucasian cooking to use parts
of sheep – offal, testicles – that European cuisines tend to eschew.
Among the Russian dishes is ukha po-tsarsky (180 rubles, $7), a watery
fish soup prepared "Tsar syle" that comes in a pot with a lid that
when lifted lets free a cloud of aromatic steam. At Vostochny Ugolok,
this standard dish is pepped up with southern spices bathing chunks
of white fish. Another traditional Slavic obsession – mushrooms – is
given a dose of southern sunshine with Vostochny Ugolok’s mushroom
salad (120 rubles, $4.70). Jam packed with marinated forest fungi,
the salad has a tangy dressing that gets the juices flowing for bigger
dishes at the center of the meal. One of the more Caucasian starters
is a rulet baklazhan s orekhovoye nachinkoi (roulade of eggplant
with nuts) for 160 rubles ($6.30). This familiar dish of chilled
eggplant rolls stuffed with a paste of mashed eggplant flesh and
crushed walnuts was accompanied by a satisfying dollop of mayonnaise
with chili in it for an extra kick.
Between starters and main courses there’s a chance to try one of the
glories of Vostochny Ugolok’s kitchen: its fresh and airy khatchapuri
or hot bread stuffed with cheese (150 rubles, $5.90). Sometimes
described by dullards as a pizza without the topping, this irresistible
classic of Georgian cuisine can be heavy, soggy or stale, dripping
with grease and difficult to digest – but not at Vostochny Ugolok
where they are so proud of their khatchapuri they serve it on a cake
stand and slice it lovingly with a sense of ritual.
The service was exemplary with professional waiters and waitresses
gliding smoothly about attentively but unobtrusively, without a
shred of attitude. Details such as complementary bowls of dewy grapes
and boiled sweets make for the welcoming atmosphere of a family-run
enterprise and Vostochny Ugolok is a large and busy restaurant much
in demand – prices are low and quality is high – so it is advisable to
book or be prepared to wait to be seated. A recently added year-round
pavement terrace indicates that the "little eastern corner" (that’s
what "vostochny ugolok" means) has grown in popularity since it opened
a couple of years ago. Full of oriental knick-knacks like carpets,
coffee pots and wooden ornaments, Vostochny Ugolok’s interior offers
interest without overwhelming the center of the dining experience:
the food.
A lamb chop served with boiled potatoes (320 rubles, $12.50), was
tender and moist, but a chicken shashlyk (170 rubles, $6.60) was a
bit of a puzzle. Prepared in an explosive garlic and spice marinade
and char-grilled to perfection, it was a shame that inferior cuts of
chicken were used but the dish was saved by a garnish of cauliflower
florets sensationally deep-fried in batter (60 rubles, $2.35).
With Vostochny Ugolok’s extensive choice of superlatively prepared
dishes, few will leave this corner of St. Petersburg disappointed.
WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP FEATURE FIRST ROUND DRAWS
People’s Daily Online
Source: Xinhua
September 14, 2007
China
The world’s eight best chess players all tied on Thursday their first
round games in the World Chess Championship Mexico 2007 in less than
30 moves each.
World champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia tied his first game against
countryman Peter Svidler in 23 moves; Alexander Morozevich of Russia
drew Armenian Levon Aronian in 25 moves.
The highest-rated player Anand Vishwanathan of India tied Israeli
Boris Gelfand in 22 moves, while Alexander Grishuk of Russia shared the
point with Hungarian Peter Leko 28 moves, the longest first-round game.
The Kramnik-Svidler game was a queen’s-gambit opening,
Morozevich-Aronian was an Indo-Benoni variation, Anand-Gelfand was
a Petrov defense opening, and Grischuk-Leko was a Ruy Lopez opening.
The second-round games will be played Friday at 14:00 local
hours featuring Svidler-Leko, Gelfand-Grischuk, Aronian-Anand and
Kramnik-Morozevich. The player who wins gets one point, the loser
gets zero and each player gets half a point if they draw.
The championship was opened at a centric hotel in Mexico City’s
Historic Center with the closing ceremony slated for September 30.
The championship offers a total prize money of one million 300 thousand
U.S. dollars, 300,000 dollars for the champion and a minimum of 60,000
dollars for last placer.
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WESTERN DIOCESE E-NEWSLETTER
===========================
Bible Readings
—————–
Is 49.13-23
6#Is 49.13-23Gal 6.14-18
6#Gal 6.14-18Jn 3.13-21
6#Jn 3.13-21
Diocesan News
—————–
CONSUL GENERAL OF ARMENIA IN BRAZIL, THE HON. VALERY MUGRDOUMIAN,
VISITS THE WESTERN DIOCESE
The Consul General of Armenia in Brazil, the Honorable Valery
Mugrdoumian, who also served in Los Angeles as the Consul General,
visited the Western Diocese on September 5, 2007 and met with His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.
( ry.php?id=587)
BENEFACTOR NAZAR NAZARIAN VISITS WESTERN DIOCESE
On Thursday, September 6, 2007, one of the benefactors of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin and an active member of the AGBU, Mr. Nazar
Nazarian, visited the Western Diocese and had a warm discussion with
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.
( ry.php?id=588)
PRIMATE MEETS WITH THE LADIES SOCIETY OF THE THREE PARISHES OF THE CATHEDRAL
On the evening of Thursday, September 6, 2007, at the Western Diocese
Headquarters, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, met
with the Ladies Society of the three Parishes of the Cathedral
(Burbank, Sun Valley-North Hollywood and Toluca Lake).
( .php?id=589)
HONORABLE ARMEN LILOYAN, CONSUL GENERAL OF ARMENIA VISITS WESTERN DIOCESE
We are happy to inform the Armenian faithful that the Consul General
of the Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles, the Honorable Armen
Liloyan, is always in close relationship with the Western Diocese and
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate.
( ry.php?id=590)
TESTIMONIAL BANQUET HONORING GEORGE KEVORK MANDOSSIAN
Under the auspices of the Primate of the Western Diocese, on the
evening of September 9, 2007, a Testimonial Banquet was held honoring
George Kevork Mandossian on the occasion of his Fifty Years of
community service.
( ry.php?id=591)
PRELIMINARY PLANS HERALDING THE CELEBRATION OF THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY
On Sunday evening September 9, 2007, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, attended a special gathering at the residence of
Mr. and Mrs. Ara and Julia Agishian to set forth the preliminary plans
for the celebration of the 35th Anniversary celebration of the
Armenian Assembly in Los Angeles on November 2-4, 2007.
( php?id=592)
CAMP COMMITTEE MEETING
We are pleased to inform you that this year, as in years past, the
Summer Camp completed its plans with great success.
( ry.php?id=593)
CYMA 2007 REUNION HELD
On Saturday, September 8, 2007, the Christian Youth Mission to Armenia
(CYMA) held a reunion in Carlsbad, California.
( story.php?id=594)
THE OPENING OF THE DOORS AND CONSECRATION OF ST. GREGORY ARMENIAN
CHURCH IN PASADENA
It is with immense spiritual joy we inform the faithful of our Western
Diocese that by the will of God on September 8, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.,
with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, presiding over
the service, and with the participation of the Diocesan Clergy, the
Deacons, and St. Gregory Armenian Church Choir under the Direction of
Very Rev.. Fr. Baret Yaretsian, the "Opening of the Doors"
church service was performed.
( tory.php?id=595)
LEGAL REMEDIES IN CLAIMING RESTITUTION FOR GENOCIDE LOSSES
September 8, 2007 could be a turning point in the pursuit of the
Armenian Cause. On that date, University of Southern California's
Institute of Armenian Studies organized an unprecedented symposium on
"International Law and the Armenian Genocide: Recognition,
Responsibility and Restitution."
(http://www.armenianchurchw d.com/news/story.php?id=596)
Upcoming Events
—————–
9/15: Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the Western Diocese
( detail.php?id=62)
9/16: Verelk, A Cultural Eveing at the Alex Theater
( detail.php?id=63)
11/11: Armenian American Veterans to be honored on November 11
( l.php?id=64)
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The Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, providing
spiritual guidance and leadership to the Armenian Apostolic community,
is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization comprised of 47
churches in 16 western states. It was established in 1898 as the
Diocese of the Armenian Church encompassing the entire United States
and Canada. In 1927 the Western Diocese was formed to exclusivly serve
the western United States.
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank, CA 91504
Tel: (818) 558-7474 Fax: (818) 558-6333
E-mail: [email protected]
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