Author: Torosian Aram

RA PRESIDENT VISITS REPAIRED AND RECONSTRUCTED “NAIRI” MEDICAL CENTER

YEREVAN, December 21 (Noyan Tapan). On December 20, RA President
Robert Kocharian visited the repaired and reconstructed “Nairi” Medical
Center. Head physician Haroutiun Kushkian and American-Armenian Aramais
Paronian privatized the medical establishment founded in the 60s of
last century, which is well-known as “lechkomissia”, on the basis
of the investment program on privatization provided by them. During
his conversation with journalists the President considered the
privatization on the basis of the program as right. According to Robert
Kocharian, he was positively impressed by the medical establishment. He
mentioned that striving to become the regional medical center Armenia
may reach it due to such establishments. H. Kushkian said that about
3 mln dollars have been invested as of today, and such a sum will be
invested during the upcoming two years. The majority of investments
was made by owners, as well as at the expense of credits mainly
provided by the Armeconombank. The hospital will have 80-100 beds and
will be able to annually serve 3-5,000 people. According to the head
physician, tariffs for services will be the same as in other hospitals,
only prices for some services will be a bit higher. H. Kushkian
also said that the hospital has a new device for the research by
the method of nuclear magnetic resonance. The medical center will
start receiving patients after January 15. Haroutiun Kushkian assured
that the hospital will also have beds for the state order and added:
“The Center is established for our town.”

ARMENIAN CHESS TEAM DEFEATED BY CHINESE TEAM

ArmenPress
Dec 20 2004

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian chess team was defeated
today by the Chinese chess team with 0.5:3.5 points in the third
round of Internet Chess Tournament where Armenian, Chinese, Russian
and French teams are participating.

Gabriel Sargsian played draw with Chjan Chun, Levon Aronian was
defeated by Bu Sian Jui, Smbat Lputian was defeated by Ni Huai and
Artashes Minasian was defeated by Van Ho.

In this round the Russian team won the French team with 3:1 points
and gained 7 points taking the second place.

China has taken the lead with 7,5 points and the Armenian team is
coming last gaining 3,5 points.

ArmenPress
Dec 15 2004

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN OFFICIALS DISCUSS BILATERAL TIES

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: The chairman of Russian State
Duma (parliament) Boris Gryzlov, who arrived in Yerevan Tuesday
evening, was received today by parliament chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian to discuss ways for boosting ties between the two
nations’ parliaments.
They also spoke about economic issues. Parliament press office
quoted Baghdasarian as saying that Armenians are waiting for Russia
to resume the operation of five enterprise which were handed to it by
Armenia to settle its outstanding debt. Under the deal known as
Assets for Debt the Russian side pledged to resume their operations
as soon as possible, to invest in them and create new jobs.
Later in the day Gryzlov was received by president Kocharian and
discussed with him, according to the presidential press service, the
pace of development of Russian-Armenian political and economic issues
“in the context of harmonization of their legislations and
interaction in international organizations.”
Kocharian and Gryzlov also spoke about a meeting of bilateral
commission for economic cooperation later this month in Moscow which
is expected also to focus on resumption of the five enterprises.
Gryzlov said the Russian side is considering the question of
placing orders for Mars plant, specialized in electronic equipment
production.

Deutsche Welle, Germany
Dec 14 2004

Turkey Has a “Duty to Remember”

In the latest twist to the debate surrounding Turkey’s eventual
membership of the EU, France has demanded that Ankara recognize the
mass killing of Armenians during World War I. Speaking after a
meeting in Brussels on Monday, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier
said, “France will pose this question. I think Turkey as a large
country has a duty to remember.” Barnier made it clear that France’s
demand is not a condition for opening membership negotiations with
Turkey but said it would be raised once talks are opened. This is a
highly contentious issue for Turkey, which has refused to recognize
the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. Ankara
insists that between 250,000 and 500,000 Armenians as well as
thousands of Turks were killed when they clashed during World War I.
Armenians say that their people died or were deported under Turkish
Ottoman rule. France officially recognized the Armenian genocide in
2001 and is now coming under pressure from Armenians living in France
to raise the issue with Turkey. Barnier’s words come just three days
ahead of a crucial summit of EU leaders — where Ankara is expected
to be given the go ahead to open negotiations. It is emphasized that
negotiations are open, but do not guarantee EU membership at the end.

USC ARMENIAN INSTITUTE CAMPAIGN GAINS MOMENTUM. INAUGURAL BANQUET
PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY 13TH

LOS ANGELES, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). Since its launching in
September, the campaign to fund USC’s Institute of Armenian Studies
has registered notable successes in drawing support from a wide range
of key individuals from all segments of the Armenian community. At a
dinner meeting at the Bistro Gardens on November 11, the Institute’s
Steering and Banquet Committees took note of their achievements to
date, and discussed the next steps to be taken to attract new
contributors, leading to the Inaugural Banquet of February 13, 2005.
The attendees were particularly enthused hearing the announcement by
Steering Committee Chairman Charles Ghailian that total pledges to
support the Institute had passed the 0,000 mark. An endowment of
several million dollars is needed as the proceeds could only be used
for the operations of the Institute.

Banquet Committee co-chairs, Savey Tufenkian and Elizabeth Agbabian
reported on their plans to mobilize the community to make the February
13 Inaugural Banquet a resounding success.

Prospective donors are urged to make known their specific
contributions at an early date for inclusion in the Institute’s Honor
Roll and program listings. The special guest of the evening was
Professor Peter Balakian, author of the bestseller “The Burning
Tigris”, who underlined the crucial role that the Institute of
Armenian Studies would play in view of its multidisciplinary range of
scholarly and community activities.

Others in attendance were Ralph Tufenkian, Hermine Janoyan, Harut
Sassounian, Dr. John & Mary Kassabian, Dr. Mihran Agbabian, Alex
Baroian, Shant Minas, Silva Bezdikian, Mark Chenian, Edward Zohrabian,
Armen Janian, Peter Mehrabian, Serina Keshishian, Michael Mahdesian,
Sinan Sinanian, Judge Dickran Tevrizian, Varant Melkonian, Gerald
Papazian and John Berberian.

Associated Press
Dec 8 2004

Brief news stories from Las Vegas:

Death Penalty Case

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Jurors began the death penalty phase Wednesday in
the trial of a 46-year-old part-time jewelry repairman found guilty
of bludgeoning and robbing his two employers in September 2003.

The same jury spent less than an hour deliberating Tuesday before
convicting Avetis Archanian of first-degree murder and robbery in the
slayings of 86-year-old Juana Quiroga and her 68-year-old daughter,
Elisa Del Prado.

Archanian’s trial, which lasted less than a week, included
surveillance video appearing to show him in the World
Merchants-Importers store in downtown Las Vegas store the morning of
the slayings.

Clark County District Attorney David Roger said Archanian used a
hammer and ring sizer to bludgeon Juana Quiroga, who died at the
scene. Del Prado died from her injuries in March.

Defense lawyer Mace Yampolsky asked the jury to spare Archanian’s
life. He said Archanian, an Armenian who moved to the United States
from the former Soviet Union in 1977, had no prior criminal record.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – December 9, 2004

CATHOLICOS ARAM ISSUES STATEMENT ABOUT
BOMBING OF CHRISTIAN SITES IN IRAQ
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, issued a
statement about the bombings in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul that took
place on Tuesday, December 7. The attacks were against an Armenian Catholic
church and the residence of the Chaldean Bishop.
His Holiness said that it is impossible to understand fully and
accurately the history of the Middle East, with its upheavals and challenges
and achievements, without the Christian-Moslem coexistence which remains a
vital dimension of the history of the region.. For centuries Christians and
Moslems have talked to each other and have lived together, worked together,
dreamed and struggled together and have sustained their life by common moral
and ethical values.
Referring to the latest bombings, His Holiness said: I cannot understand
nor accept these bombings of churches in Iraq, [and] how such a thing
happens between followers of two religions who have lived together for
centuries as one community and as good neighbors. I cannot understand such
an attitude towards Christians who have been an inseparable part of the
Middle Eastern society and have played a major role in all aspects of
society life.
The Catholicos appealed to the leaders of the Christian and Moslem
communities in Iraq to come together and to reaffirm the Christian-Moslem
coexistence.

PRELACY 2005 POCKET DIARY CELEBRATES SEMINARY ANNIVERSARY
The 2005 pocket diary is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the
Zarehian Seminary of the Cilician See located in Bikfaya, Lebanon. Next year
all of the dioceses within the jurisdiction of the Cilician See will mark
this anniversary with gala celebrations.
The Prelacy diary has been published every year since 1974. Watch the
mail for your copy, and use it throughout the year as a reminder of Armenian
holidays and the Seminary which during the past 75 years has produced an
impressive number of clergymen, choir directors, educators, and leaders.

PHILLY CHURCH HAS TRAINING SESSION FOR ALTAR SERVERS
St. Gregory Church in Philadelphia conducted a training session for all
altar servers last Saturday, December 5. Twenty candle bearers and seven fan
bearers attended the two hour hands-on training.
Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, the pastor, welcomed the students and thanked
them for their desire to serve God and the Church on the altar. He reminded
them that God rejoices in all of our service and that the effort of everyone
is equally important in God’s eyes.
The servers not only learned what to do, but why they do it. Questions
were asked and answered. Deacon Vartan pointed out that what is done on the
altar is always to honor and please God, and is done with joy and in a
spirit of teamwork.
Reported by Garabed Sarkessian

WCC COMMISSION ON COMMUNICATIONS MEETS IN ANTELIAS
The World Council of Churches Commission on Communications met on
December 5, at the headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia in
Antelias, Lebanon. The Commission includes experts in the area of
communication and information, who come from different parts of the world.
The Commission is chaired by Ms Manoushag Boyajian, Dean of the Yeghishe
Manougian College and Chairperson of the Ecumenical Committee of the
Catholicosate. Also attending were the director and the staff of the WCC
Communications department.

UNITED BIBLE SOCIETY AND CATHOLICOS MEET IN ANTELIAS
Rev. Dr. Miller Milloy, Director and General Secretary of the United
Bible Societies (UBS) met with His Holiness Aram I on Sunday, December 5, in
Antelias, Lebanon. Discussed were items pertaining to the new projects,
collaborations with the Orthodox churches, and the translation of the Bible
into modern Armenian undertaken by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and
the UBS.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT BRINGS JOY TO CHILDREN
With a capacity audience of children and parents, the Christmas Family
Concert brought wide smiles to the faces of children and adults alike, as
Nvair and Taline presented a wonderful array of songs and dances. The stage
was bedecked with a beautiful Christmas tree and huge red poinsettia plants.
Favors, made in Armenia, were presented to the children.
Yes, Gaghant Baba was there, and guess what? He speaks Armenian! Great
fun.

CROSSROADS AND SPAM
A cautionary word to our readers: It has come to our attention that
occasionally Crossroads does not reach the electronic mailboxes of some of
our devoted readers. Please note that Crossroads is transmitted every week
on Thursday afternoon to our entire email list. After investigation we have
found that occasionally (usually AOL accounts) Crossroads may find its way
into your spam folder. (We at Crossroads were mortified to learn of this
abomination). Should this travesty occur to you please come to our rescue
and identify us as not spam. We also remind you that Crossroads is on the
Prelacy web page,

THIS SUNDAY IS THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT;
AND FIRST ANNIVERSARY SERVICES FOR ARCHBISHOP ASHJIAN
This Sunday, December 12, is the third Sunday of Advent. Advent is a
good time to be extra kind to people. There are many people who dread the
holiday season because of personal losses, or because of some other tragedy
that has touched them. Seek them and make their lives a bit brighter.
We remind you that this Sunday, Requiem Services for the late, beloved
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian will take place in all Prelacy churches. Contact
your area parish for details. On this occasion, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
will be at St. Illuminator Cathedral in New York City where the former
Prelate of Aleppo, Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, will officiate, deliver the
sermon, and preside over the Requiem Service. Madagh will be offered
following the Service.

TOMORROW IS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Fifty-six years ago on December 10, 1948, the United Nations General
Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Eleanor
Roosevelt, the wife of the 32nd President, helped draft the document and was
a passionate advocate of its adoption. Following its adoption, the General
Assembly called upon all member countries to publicize the text and to cause
it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools
and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the
political status of countries or territories.
While the struggle for human rights has greatly benefited from the
Declaration, for many people around the world the doctrine of the
Declaration has yet to take on real meaning and purpose in all areas of
human rights, i.e., civil, political, social, and economic.

Now, Therefore, the General Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of
Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all
nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society,
keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and
education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by
progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal
and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member
states themselves and among the peoples of territories under their
jurisdiction.
>From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Visit our website at

Pope concern for Iraqi Christians after two terror attacks

Catholic News, Australia
Dec 9 2004

Pope John Paul II has expressed his concern for Christians in Iraq
after terrorists made fresh attacks on two Christian sites in the
northern city of Mosul.

Catholic News Service reports that after praying the Angelus with the
faithful gathered in St Peter´s Square yesterday, the Holy Father
conveyed his “spiritual closeness to the faithful, shaken by the
attack.”

An Armenian Catholic church and the Chaldean Catholic bishop´s
residence were destroyed on Tuesday in two separate bomb attacks in
Mosul.

The Pope prayed for the intercession of the Virgin Mary to help “the
beloved Iraqi people” experience “a time of reconciliation and
peace.”

In Mosul, an armed group of commandos stormed the Armenian Catholic
church at 2:30 p.m. Witnesses said the attackers ushered everyone out
of the church, then detonated two bombs, leaving the church in ruins.

About two hours later, another group of armed men attacked the
Chaldean bishop´s residence in another part of the city. The men
ordered people in the building out before setting off explosives,
which engulfed the residence in flames.

No one was killed or injured in the two attacks, according to news
reports.

Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel-Karim Delly of Baghdad lamented the fresh
violence and warned that local Christians were becoming “increasingly
worried that they will be targets of such acts of violence.”

“Christians are worried about this kind of violence happening over
and over again,” he said in a Dec. 7 interview with Asianews, an
Italian-based missionary news agency.

He said the “Iraqi government is impotent to prevent such acts.”

–Boundary_(ID_Buohn6hloZ2EMv1eXBdwew)–

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer

Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

THE GENERAL SECRETARY
OF UNITED BIBLE SOCIETIES IN ANTELIAS

ANTELIAS, LEBANON – Rev Dr. Miller Milloy, Director and General
Secretary of the United Bible Societies met His Holiness Aram I on
Sunday 5 December 2004, in his residence at the Cathoilicosate in
Antelias. Items pertaining to the new projects and activities of
the UBS, their collaborations with the Orthodox Churches, and the
translation of the Holy Bible to modern Armenian undertaken jointly
by the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia and the UBS, were on the
agenda of this meeting. His Holiness also shared with his guest a
number of ecumenical concerns, and particularly the emerging process
of reconfiguration in the life of the ecumenical movement.

On the same day Rev. Paren and Rev. Mashdotz as representatives of
His Holiness attended the public lecture given by Dr. Milloy.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about
the jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate,
the administrative center of the church is located in Antelias,
Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian

LECTURE ON HISTORIC MAPS OF ARMENIA

AT NAASR CENTER AND PROVIDENCE, RI

London-based author and map collector Rouben Galichian presented an
illustrated lecture highlighting the creation and contents of his
recently published book Historic Maps of Armenia: The Cartographic
Heritage on December 2, 2004, to a large and enthusiastic audience
at the Headquarters of the National Association for Armenian Studies
and Research (NAASR) in Belmont, MA.

The lecture was the North American launch of the book and the first
of two New England lectures by Galichian. The second, under the
joint sponsorship of NAASR and the Armenian Historical Association
of Rhode Island, will take place on Thursday, December 9, at 7:30
p.m. at the Armenian Euphrates Evangelical Church, 13 Franklin Street,
Providence, RI.

Inspired by Beauty of Maps

Galichian discussed his early interest in maps and mapmaking which
eventually led to the creation of a substantial map collection
of his own and to the book Historic Maps of Armenia. He spoke of
his awe viewing rare maps in the British Library, which houses an
enormous collection, and of his appreciation for the aesthetics of the
maps themselves, many of which he regards as works of art. Indeed,
as Galichian presented slides of more than one hundred of the maps
that appear in his book, some of which represent geography in a way
scarcely if at all recognizable, it was easy to see how one could
view them as artistic creations first and foremost.

He explained that in addition to being motivated by a desire to share
the beauty of maps he wanted to impart to young people some of his own
enthusiasm for the field of cartography and to enkindle an interest
in them.

Maps As Political Tools

Another major motivation, Galichian explained, was political. Maps have
a political and historical importance as they reflect power relations
among nations and convey an image of the world that reflects the view
of those who produce them. Hence, some Turkish and Azeri mapmakers
exclude Armenia from their maps altogether or else minimize it. Many
of the maps Galichian showed, made by Europeans, Turks, Persians,
and others through the centuries, demonstrate the existence of Armenia
as a geographic entity for at least 2,600 years.

Historic Maps of Armenia: The Cartographic Heritage is for sale in
the NAASR bookstore and will be available for signing by the author
at the Providence lecture on December 9.

Special Saturday Holiday Open House

The NAASR Headquarters, including the Armenian Book Clearing House,
will be open on Saturday, December 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for
a special Holiday Open House. These will be the only weekend hours
for the bookstore during the holiday season.

The NAASR Center and Headquarters is located opposite the First
Armenian Church and next to the U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is
available around the building and in adjacent areas.

More information about the lecture in Providence, Historic Maps
of Armenia, or NAASR’s Holiday Open House, is available by calling
617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing
to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.