Author: Vasilian Manouk

FOREIGN MINISTRY OF AZERBAIJAN VS. FOREIGN MINISTRY OF ARMENIA

Today.Az
s/45032.html
May 16 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az has asked famous Azerbaijani political reviewer, residing in
Hungary, Vugar Seidov, to comment on the recent exchange of statements
between deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov and new
Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan regarding principles
of the resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

* * * * *

It is difficult to add something to all said by deputy foreign minister
of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov. Azerbaijan’s position on the main principles
of the resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has been stated
clearly and the hasty reaction of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan, which appeared in press immediately after the first speech
of Araz Azimov in Day.Az has been sent down to the court.

Nevertheless, I would like to evolve the position, voiced by the
Azerbaijani side. First of all, the Armenian diplomacy is always
referring to some "document", currently being on the negotiation
table. Frankly speaking, this phrase has bored to death. Though the
matter is not this-we will try to bear it, anyway. The important is
another matter. No one, except for Armenians, has ever referred to the
so-called "document, which is on the negotiation table". What is this
document and does it really exist? A document usually implies a legal
agreement, signed by parties. No one has agreed on or signed anything
so far. There are only proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs,
presented to the parties and currently being negotiated.

Perhaps, Armenian diplomats, constantly referring to the "document,
which is on the negotiation table", should gradually explain, what
they imply by the mythical source.

Second, in his debut speech on his new post, Edward Nalbandyan,
reacting on Araz Azimov’s statement, said that the key issue of talks
on the peaceful resolution of the conflict is a status of Nagorno
Karabakh. We do not need the prompts of the Armenian Minister, as we
are well aware of it. The status of Nagorno Karabakh has been the
key issue since the first day of the conflict and remains it until
its resolution.

Edward Nalbandyan also added that plebiscite, which will be used
for definition of the future status of the region "will enable the
population of Nagorno Karabakh to express its will about the future
status of the republic freely". Well, the Minister has gone too far,
when he used the word "republic", while there has been nothing new
about the rest part. And the main thing is that his words do not
contradict to the principles of the conflict resolution, voiced by
Araz Azimov. Do you want the self-determination of the population? Here
it is. Do you want a plebiscite? Please, hold it.

However, the Armenian Minister did not specify, whom he implies saying
"the population of Nagorno Karabakh" and which format of the plebiscite
he means.

If Yerevan considers that the population of Nagorno Karabakh are
those who have been residing in the region since ethnic cleansing,
we will disappoint them. Though Armenians intend to consider the
forced driving of Azerbaijanis out to be an accomplished fact,
the population of the region still consists of two communities,
a greater part of which (Azerbaijani community) has been driven out.

And this is a position of not only Azerbaijan but also the world
society. If Yerevan thinks differently and considers the driving
of Azerbaijani community out to be an irreversible process, let it
call at least a single state, an international organization or at
least a bit influential politician in the world, who would say that
demographic situation in Nagorno Karabakh should not be restored on the
moment when the conflict started in February of 1988 and the return
of internally displaced persons and their offsprings to their native
lands is ruled out. Anyway, as Araz Azimov said, the former Foreign
Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan had admitted inevitability of
the return of Azerbaijanis to Nagorno Karabakh.

Moreover, I would like to ask Mr. Nalbandyan what implies the
"document, which is on the negotiation table", regarding this issue.

The self-determination and participation of only one community
in the plebiscite is impossible as Nagorno Karabakh consists
of two communities. Azerbaijanis from Shusha, Khojaly and other
numerous villages of Nagorno Karabakh are also the residents of
the region, whose opinion is not less important than the opinion of
Armenians. Therefore, the final self-determination of the population
of Nagorno Karabakh requires equal participation of all residents
of the oblast, including those, who are far from their houses,
that is Azerbaijanis. Without their participation the legitimacy
of self-determination will not differ from legitimacy of ethnic
cleansing, which occurred there, and the outcomes will not be
recognized by anyone.

The participation of the Azerbaijani community in the definition of
the future status of their native oblast leads us to the problem
of creating conditions for their inevitable return. Naturally,
in conditions of continuing occupation of the Azerbaijani lands
by the Armenian armed forces, including Nagorno Karabakh, the
return of Azerbaijanis is impossible not only politically but also
technically. Return of the internally displaced persons to their
houses and psychologically complicated process of rehabilitation and
reintegration is only possible if equal security is ensured for all
civilians, both Armenians and returning Azerbaijanis.

Thus, the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the seven
surrounding regions and demilitarization of Nagorno Karabakh is a main
condition for return of internally displaced persons to their houses,
restoration of ruined infrastructure, communications, mine clearing,
establishment of trustful relations between the two communities and
future of their joint participation in the definition of the status
of the region. The free expression of the will of Nagorno Karabakh
population, regarding its future status, will only be possible in
this format. The plebiscite with participation of only one community
or under the continuing occupation of the said area and seven other
regions of Azerbaijan by its country, will not differ from the fancy
ball with "the referendum" of the early 1990s, which was not recognized
by anyone.

There is a stereotype among the Armenian population regarding the
liberation of the occupied lands that after Armenian armed forces
are withdrawn from the seven regions around Nagorno Karabakh Armenia
will lose the military and strategic advantage, ensuring favorable
defense capacities, which will be used by Azerbaijan in surrounding
its Nagorno Karabakh province and extending the front line to many
kilometers and following the withdrawal of the Armenian side from
Nagorno Karabakh Azerbaijani troops would enter these regions and
pose a threat for the Armenian community.

Well, first of all by entering the 21st century, Armenia should
gradually stop to use the concepts of gained territories and forced
change of borders. The times of Peter the Great have passed and
international law and UN charter are operating in the world. It is
time to wake up and get used to new realities. Besides, it is senseless
for Azerbaijan to settle the problem peacefully, planning the renewal
of war in its mind. Azerbaijan does not hold peaceful negotiations
today to start war upon their completion again. Azerbaijan is able to
liberate its lands by forced way without any peaceful negotiations. But
the essence of the peaceful process is the preference, given to the
resolution of interstate conflicts on the very basis of international
law. Therefore, Yerevan will anyway have to withdraw its occupational
forces from seven regions of Azerbaijan both in case of the peaceful
talks and in case of retreat under attack of the Azerbaijani army.

Second, Yerevan’s concerns regarding security of the Armenian
community of Nagorno Karabakh following withdrawal of Armenian armed
forces are also groundless. Azerbaijan has no need or even intention
to deploy its troops in the region immediately. Baku is interested
in the demilitarization of the region and restoration of trust
between the two communities-citizens of Azerbaijan, who are equal
in rights. Moreover, the public order in the region can be restored
by the mixed police forces, composed of the residents of the oblast,
as it is not the army which ensures order in Baku, Yerevan and other
cities of the two countries.

Therefore, Yerevan should consider withdrawal of its armed forces
from seven regions of Azerbaijan as an inevitable substance. As
for its concerns regarding the security of the Armenian community
of Nagorno Karabakh following the withdrawal of Armenian troops,
it is time for Yerevan to recover from this paranoia, otherwise,
the case will not end in a plebiscite, spoken of by Nalbandyan.

We do hope that speaking about the future status of Nagorno Karabakh
the officials of the foreign ministries of Armenia and Azerbaijan
imply the same under the term of Nagorno Karabakh. Both the Armenian
press and the announcements of Armenian officials often mention
the altered contours of this oblast, differing from the previous
borders of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Republic. First,
they have spoken about some "Shaomyan region of Nagorno Karabakh"
(of course, "occupied" by Azerbaijan), then included some "Getashen
subregion". They have recently spoken of the Lachin and Kelbajar
regions of Azerbaijan as about the integral parts of Nagorno Karabakh
and even made up Armenian names for these settlements.

In this connection, it should be noted that former Shaomyan (rural)
region of Azerbaijan has never been a part of the Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Republic and the debates on ancient history, in which
Armenians try to draw Azerbaijanis, are not included into the peaceful
talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. Chaykend has never
been a part of Nagorno Karabakh, like there has never been such an
administrative unit as "subregion". The said invention, like inclusion
of Lachin and Kelbajar into Nagorno Karabakh, belong to Armenian press,
but in the process of peaceful negotiations Azerbaijani and Armenian
diplomacies should understand clearly that the term "Nagorno Karabakh"
implies an area of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Republic
of the Azerbaijan SSR. If Nalbandyan’s structure really intends to
build a constructive dialogue with its Azerbaijani counterparts,
we want to hope that there will not be any unexpected surprise from
the side of Yerevan in this issue.

Finally, I would like to say something about the issue of plebiscite as
a mechanism of joint definition of the future status of demilitarized,
mine-cleared and restored Nagorno Karabakh by two reconciled
communities of this region within Azerbaijan. It is difficult to add
anything else to all Araz Azimov has said. Following the completion
of the peaceful resolution and the final stage of this process
(definition of the status of Nagorno Karabakh), Baku will fully back
the self-determination of the oblast on the basis of the Final Helsinki
Act of 1975, envisioning the territorial integrity of countries,
inviolability of borders, as well as equality and right of peoples
to define their fate independently. The latter, however, does not
imply the right for the unauthorized separation and, on the contrary,
encourages internal self-determination and democratic self-government
of the national minorities (Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh).

This is the position of the Azerbaijani side and if Armenian diplomatic
still refer to some document, which is on the negotiation table and
which is based on the principle of the self-determination by way of
plebiscite, the official position of Baku, voiced by deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov by no way contradicts to the principle, but,
on the contrary, comply with it and fully bases on the norms of
international law.

We hope that Armenian side will stop manipulating different
sociological terms for attainment, substantiation and legal fixing
of territorial integrity in the style of the times of the first
world war and instead will finally join the civilian processes of
the 21st century for the regional stability, cooperation, progressive
development and integration. The intention to implement their fix idea
of expansion of lands at the cost of neighbors instead of doing so will
lead Armenian people to nowhere. Prosperity is only possible in case
Armenians get rid of the complex of a pinched, humiliated, suffering
people and territorial inefficiency, which pursues them from their
childhood. Armenia should realize that happiness does not require a
large territory, even so more, occupied from a neighbor. Both small
Luxembourg and Monaco are able to live happily. Existence of good
neighbors around a small state is more important that expansion of
territory and having enemies along 80% of its state border.

Only friendly relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran and Georgia may
guarantee security and prosperity of the Armenian state. No Treaty of
Collective Security will take their place and guarantee safety. Not
a single state in the world will be able to cause damage or pose a
threat of Armenia, if the latter maintains good relations with its
four neighbors, while being in the state of frozen war with one of
the neighbors and having hidden territorial claims to two others and
having good relations only with south neighbor, which has doubtful
reputation in the world, it will not be possible to ensure prosperity
of its people. At the same time, it will not be possible to improve
relations with neighbors without rejecting plans to expand territories
at their expense.

Therefore, the new leadership of Armenia will have to choose between
the priorities if far North does not deprive it from the right of
independent choice. However, it is up to Armenians to decide.

ACTION OF PROTEST AGAINST TEGHUT MINE OPERATION HELD NEAR RA GOVERNMENT BUILDING (COMPLETED VERSION)

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. A group of members of the Group of Teghut
Protection organization, on May 15, organized an action near the RA
government building, complaining against the operation of Teghut mine.

Citizens carrying placards reading "Stop Robbing Our Country!,"
"Teghut, a Crime Towards the Generations," "Teghut, the Biggest
Tailing of the World," including RA National Assembly deputy Zaruhi
Postanjian, demaded stopping mine’s operation. The deputy said that
the government has always signed agreements without public control,
but in this case it will not be permitted to implement the program
of Teghut mine operation.

The action participants conveyed their demand to the RA Prime Minister
in a written form, that is, to stop the work already started in the
mine territory and to reconsider the government decisions on the
operation of the mine.

According to the statement spread by the Group of Teghut Protection,
it is envisaged that the actions will be held in front of the
RA government building every Thursday, until the government gives
solution to the above mentioned problems.

IS MR. FEIN TALKING ABOUT GREECE?
Aris Anganos

Global Politician
e-turkey
May 15 2008
NY

The 3/24/08 article by Mr. Bruce Fein entitled "Greek Human Rights
Violations against its Turkish Minority in Western Thrace" demonstrates
a striking lack of knowledge of the situation on the ground in Greece,
particularly over the last 15 years.

Mr. Fein lists himself as a "Resident Scholar" at the Turkish
Coalition of America. Unfortunately, he does not seem to have done
much scholarly research on the subject because his article contains
several inaccuracies and distortions.

What is worse, the reference at the end of the article to the Islamic
world can be construed as an attempt to place the minorities’ issue in
the context of a "battle of civilizations." This is not only wrong and
obsolete in terms of a modern vision of a multicultural and tolerant
world, but also raises questions as to the real motives of the writer.

>From a Greek perspective, the aim is to smoothly integrate the members
of her Muslim minority – not only persons of Turkish origin – in the
political, social, educational, and economic life of the country
where they live, namely Greece, while preserving their religious,
linguistic, and cultural identity. The aim is definitely not to
isolate them in ghettos on the basis of their religious belief!

Regarding the "facts" that the author invokes, let me address them
one by one:

1. The term "Muslim minority" stems from the Lausanne Treaty of
1923 and the Agreement on the Exchange of Populations of 1923: not
all Muslims of Thrace are of Turkish origin, as the minority also
comprises Pomaks and Roma.

The Treaty of Lausanne has been governing the status of the Muslim
minority in Thrace since 1923. This has regrettably not been the case
in Turkey as far as her minorities are concerned, including the Greek
one. Successive Turkish governments have harassed Greek, Armenian,
and other minorities to the point of extinction. The once 100,000
strong thriving Greek minority of Istanbul was practically wiped
out in the September 1955 pogrom and its aftermath. The cultural and
physical abuse of the Armenians is well known and that of the Kurds
has recently come to the world’s attention. All these violations and
numerous others have been committed by a close ally of the U.S. and
a country aspiring to become a member of the European Union.

2. The reference to "salaries" allegedly paid only to Greek Christian
families with three children or more is not factually correct. The
special allowance is granted to all families of Greek citizens with
three or more children, regardless of religion or origin.

3. Mr. Fein refers to people who left the country permanently and lost
their citizenship. The applicable Article 19 of the Nationality Code,
which provided that any Greek citizen who left the country with no
intention of returning lost his or her citizenship, was repealed in
1988. Nowadays, there are less than 30 stateless people residing
in Thrace. These people have been granted Special Identity Cards
in accordance with the UN Convention of stateless persons and are
currently in the process of acquiring Greek citizenship.

4. The Muftis (religious practitioners) as in other countries
(Turkey included) are appointed on the basis of a procedure in
which prominent personalities, theology professors, and members of
the minority, are consulted. In addition to their religious duties
they also perform certain administrative and judicial functions in
the areas of family and inheritance law. The minority’s religious
rights are fully respected and can be exercised with no impediment:
apart from the 3 mufti offices, there are 300 mosques and 370 imams in
Thrace. Furthermore, in accordance with a newly adopted law, another
240 imams are in the process of being appointed to the Mufti offices.

This policy contrasts with the severe restrictions on the Orthodox
Patriarchate in Istanbul, which has been the seat of the Greek Orthodox
religion for centuries. The Patriarchate’s Theological School of
Halki has been closed and is prohibited from operating. Many of
the properties of the Patriarchate have been confiscated without
compensation.

5. Mr. Fein claims that the requirement that a political party must
receive 3 percent of the vote in the previous election to be included
in Parliament is discriminatory. This requirement applies to all
political parties. Similar percentages exist in other countries. As a
matter of fact, the required percentage in Turkey is 10 percent. It is
worth mentioning that the Muslim minority is usually represented in the
Greek parliament. Currently, there are two Muslim members of Parliament
while there are about 290 Muslims in prefectural and town councils.

6. As for education, education for the members of the minority is
provided in 215 primary and 4 secondary minority schools as well as 2
Koranic schools which operate in Thrace, employing around 400 Muslim
teachers. Courses are taught equally in Greek and Turkish. Turkish
language courses have been introduced, on a pilot basis, in some
public high schools, to serve the needs of the members of the minority.

To illustrate the alleged "plight" of the Muslim minority in Thrace,
Greece has not only implemented the Treaty of Lausanne obligations,
but has taken affirmative measures for the minority’s benefit in the
field of education. A quota for the admission of Muslim students
to Universities and Higher Technical Schools has been established
recently. By 2007, 469 students had benefited from it. Greece has
also introduced recently a similar quota for members of the Muslim
minority to take part in the examinations for the appointment and
employment in the public sector.

The affirmative measures were expanded to the financial situation
of the Muslim Foundations in Thrace: legislation has been enacted
to exempt them from submitting Tax Declarations on income and land
property up to January 1, 2007. Consequently, their accumulated
registered debts, fines, and existing mortgages by that date were
forgiven. The new law on the Muslim minority charitable foundations,
adopted by the Greek Parliament in February 2008, has improved the
legal framework governing their operation and provides inter alia,
for the election of their Governing Councils.

Reading about the "plundering" of the property of the foundations that
Mr. Fein mentions, I cannot help thinking of the situation prevailing
in the case of the Greek minority in Turkey, which is supposed to be
governed by the very same Treaty of Lausanne: 24 Foundations have been
seized, a significant number of properties has been confiscated under
various pretexts and in many cases sold to third persons. Mr. Fein
might be interested in examining the practices of the Turkish General
Directorate of Foundations.

Recalling the Treaty of Lausanne and the Helsinki Final Act principles
that the author evokes, one must ask whatever has become of the rights
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate based in Istanbul? The harassment
of the Patriarchate, the confiscation of its properties and the
requirement that the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch be a Turkish
citizen are literally choking the ancient seat of the Greek Orthodox
Church. The parallel prohibition of the functioning of the Orthodox
Theological School of Halki thus assures the ultimate demise of the
Church in Turkey.

Whatever has become for the rights of minority education for the Greeks
in Turkey? Whatever has become of the minority education on the Greek
islands of Imvros and Tenedos which were ceded to Turkey in the Treaty
of Lausanne because they are at the mouth of the Dardanelles? Or the
self administration granted to these two islands by the Treaty of
Lausanne? The list of violations of that Treaty by Turkey is very long.

It would be worthwhile having a closer look at these issues and
pointing to the real injustices and not brining in notions of
"battles." These notions can only exacerbate issues and create
resentment which, I believe, serves neither the interests of Greece
nor those of Turkey. Surely, the creation of conflict along religious
lines between two major allies is something we would certainly not
like to see in the U.S.

Is Mr. Fein nostalgic for mentalities dating back to the dark days
of the collapsing Ottoman Empire? Or?

RA AUTHORITIES WILL ACCOMPLISH PACE REQUIREMENTS

armradio.am
15.05.2008 17:13

President of the United Labor Party Gurgen Arsenyan is assured that
the Armenian authorities will certainly accomplish the requirements of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) resolution
adopted on April 17. Gurgen Arsenyan told a press conference today
that he is confident of it, since he is well familiar with the way
of action of RA authorities.

Besides, according to him, Armenia cannot avoid the commitments it
assumed when joining the Council of Europe.

Turning to the demand of the opposition to hold extraordinary
parliamentary elections, the leader of the United Labor Party declared
that any extraordinary election is unacceptable to them. "Even taking
into consideration that in case of early parliamentary elections we
shall have an opportunity to run for Parliament, we do not welcome
any extraordinary process," Gurgen Arsenyan stated. He noted that not
getting enough votes in the latest parliamentary elections, the United
Labor Party accepted the defeat in accordance with democratic rules.

Gurgen Arsenyan reminded that in the parliamentary elections the
United Labor Party "expressed support" for incumbent President Serzh
Sargsyan’s pre-election platform. He stressed that they made a choice
between platforms, not persons.

Untitled DocumentPress 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
Email: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

MAY 15, 2008

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY CONCLUDES
The Eastern Prelacy’s National Representative Assembly (NRA) convened
last week at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown,
Massachusetts. The clergy conference began on Wednesday, May 7, and the full
Assembly started their proceedings on Thursday, May 8 and continued to
Saturday, May 10.
Concurrent with the NRA, the National Association of Ladies Guilds
(NALG) met and celebrated that organization’s 25th anniversary. A successful
conference of Yeretzgeens-the second such conference-was also a part of the
four-day gathering
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan presented the keynote address on Thursday.
The Prelate’s address focused primarily on the history of the Armenian
Church, with special references to the 110th anniversary of the
establishment of the Prelacy in America and the 50th anniversary of the
Prelacy under the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
Speaking about the early immigrants to America, His Eminence said:
"We must go back to those days, to experience the sorrowful existence
of our brothers and sister. They lived a life of an exile, in a foreign
country, with a foreign language and habits.. The workplace or the streets
were not genuine to their soul.. They waited anxiously for news from the
Yergir.. Their only support was their community life; their only comfort
would come on Sunday when they prayed in church..
The Prelate told the delegates, "A great responsibility and duty has
been put on our shoulders, not only to bring to fruition our every day work,
but especially our future plans. We must examine the past and present and
then plan for the future.. All of us, fortified with our faith, church,
history and existence must devote ourselves totally to the preservation of
our spiritual and intellectual values, to the strength of the Armenian
family toward the holy Armenian and Christian family education. Girded by
our imperishable cultural treasures and undefeated armor of our faith, let
us dedicate ourselves to our homeland and our church, to our culture and
sacred traditions, so that we can build a brighter future, and stand as a
barrier against time and all kinds of negative and destructive powers, so
that by standing firm and showing spiritual bravery, we secure victories."
To read the Prelate’s entire message in Armenian click here.
To read the Prelate’s entire message in English click here.
We are currently putting detailed information about the National
Representative Assembly on the Prelacy’s web site ().
Please check the site for further information about the various panels,
meetings, photographs, etc.

PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON HONORS
MRS. MARY MARDOIAN AND MRS. HASMIG HOVNANIAN
The Prelacy Ladies Guild’s (PLG) Mothers Day Luncheon was a resounding
success. The event took place Monday, May 5, at The St. Regis, in New York
City. Archbishop Oshagan honored Mrs. Mary Mardoian as the 2008 Mother of
the Year, and presented the Prelacy’s Queen Zabel award to Mrs. Hasmig
Hovnanian, the "founding mother" of the PLG.
Photos: Mrs. Mardoian honored as Mother of the Year. Mrs. Hasmig Hovnanian
receives Queen Zabel award.

BISHOP ANOUSHAVAN’S BOOK PRESENTED BY PROFESSOR PETER COWE
Archbishop Oshagan hosted a book presentation and celebration of the
recently published book, "Archbishop Nerses Lambronaci: Commentary on the
Wisdom of Solomon," by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, on Friday, May 2, at St.
Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York. Dr. Hratch Zadoian was the evening’s
MC and Professor Peter Cowe, from UCLA, spoke about the newly published
book, which is based on Anoushavan Srpazan’s doctoral dissertation. Bishop
Anoushavan received his PhD from Columbia University in 2003 after
successfully defending his doctoral dissertation and was awarded the degree
with distinction at the unanimous recommendation of the examining committee.
The book is available at the Prelacy Bookstore. See below for details.

PRELATE ATTENDS DINNER RECEPTION FOR SAMANTHA POWER
Archbishop Oshagan attended a dinner-reception for the author and
scholar on foreign policy, Samantha Power, which took place Tuesday, May 13,
at the United Nations. The event, sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation was
hosted by Vartan Gregorian, in honor of Dr. Power’s latest book, Chasing the
Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World, a biography
of the United Nations’ negotiator who was tragically killed while in Iraq.
Power’s earlier book, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide,
won the Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction in 2003. The first few
chapters of that book deals with the Armenian genocide, the efforts by Henry
Morgenthau to persuade the American government to take steps to stop the
genocide, and then relates the story of Raphael Lemkin who waged a
courageous battle to make genocide (a word Lemkin coined) an international
concern. She then describes the genocides that followed the Armenian
genocide.

PRELATE AND VICAR ATTEND LUNCHEON AND LITURGY IN HONOR OF PATRIARCH OF THE
MARONITE CHURCH
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan are attending a Divine Liturgy
and reception today in honor of Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Patriarch
of Antioch and the Whole Levant. The luncheon reception was hosted by the
Consul General of Lebanon in New York; the service will take place tonight
in the Maronite Church located in Brooklyn. The Maronite Church, which has a
large presence in Lebanon, is an Eastern Catholic Church in communion with
the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.

ARCHBISHOP MOUSHEGH MARDIROSSIAN ELECTED
TO FOURTH TERM IN WESTERN PRELACY
Last week the Western Prelacy also convened their National
Representative Assembly at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian was re-elected for a fourth term as Prelate of the
Western Prelacy. We offer our words of congratulations to Moushegh Srpazan
and the faithful of the Western Prelacy.

PRELATE AND VICAR AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH THIS SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan will preside over the Divine
Liturgy this Sunday at St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York. V.
Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, who serves the Western Prelacy, will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon.

PHOTOS OF VICAR IN ARMENIA
Last month, as we reported, Bishop Anoushavan went to Armenia where he
participated in the Committee for Canonizing the Armenian Saints, as a
representative of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The meetings took place in
Holy Etchmiadzin. Here are some photographs including a visit to the
genocide memorial.

MAJOR RENOVATION UNDERWAY AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Major renovation of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City has
begun. Until the renovation is completed the Divine Liturgy will be offered
every Sunday at 10:40 a.m. at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Street,
Woodside, New York.

YEAR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
designated the year 2008 as the "Year of Christian Education."
To read His Holiness’ message in
Armenian click here.
To read His Holiness’ message in
English click here.

2008 DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
"There’s still room at the inn," says Dn. Shant Kazanjian, director of
the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), about the 22nd annual St.
Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, for youth ages 13-18. So, if you
have not yet registered for this popular program, do it right now. Sponsored
by AREC, the program will take place at St. Mary of Providence Center in
Elverson, Pennsylvania, June 29 to July 6, 2008. By popular demand, this
year the Institute will extend the Summer Program by a weekend retreat
(optional) June 27-29. For details click here.

BLESSING OF MURON
The Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia announced that His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I will consecrate the Holy Muron (Holy Oil) on June 7, 2008.
The Holy Muron, symbol of the grace of the Holy Spirit, is traditionally
blessed every seven years. Only the Catholicos can consecrate the oil which
is then distributed to the various dioceses for distribution to the
parishes. The oil consists of 48 different herbs, flowers, and oils which
are combined in a special vessel and mixed with some of the old Muron, thus
creating an unbroken chain with the past. The preparation of the Holy Muron
is a long process and each stage is accompanied with special prayers. Prior
to its blessing, the Muron remains for forty days on the altar of the
Cathedral. The Muron Blessing is expected to attract a large number of
pilgrims from various parts of the world.
During this same period the World General Assembly of the Catholicosate
of the Great House of Cilicia will convene in Antelias beginning on June 3
through to June 5.
The Prelacy is organizing a pilgrimage to Antelias for the Muron
blessing. For details click here.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING
An international gathering of youth is being organized by the Holy See
of Cilicia. His Holiness Aram I is inviting the youth, 18 years and older,
to attend this gathering from August 13 to 20, 2008, coinciding with the
annual pilgrimage during the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of
God.
Plans are underway for the Catholicosate, the Prelacy, and our Parishes
to facilitate the travel of the young adults to the gathering by assisting
with a portion of the travel expenses. For information contact your local
parish.

PROPHET ELIJAH
This Sunday, May 18, the Armenian Church commemorates Elijah-the prophet
of the Old Testament who is recorded in I and II Kings. Elijah was one of
the greatest prophets of the Old Testament and is therefore commemorated on
a Sunday. He appeared at the Transfiguration as the prophet of life and the
new covenant. Perhaps most important is that Elijah did not experience
death, but was taken to heaven, like the Holy Mother of God. He is mentioned
in the Armenian hymn, Ee Verhin.

SAINTS HRIPSIMEH AND COMPANIONS
SAINTS GAYANEH AND COMPANIONS
This Monday and Tuesday, May 19 and 20, the Armenian Church commemorates
the virgin saints Hripsimeh and Gayaneh and their companions. Thirty-three
nuns, led by Gayaneh, left Rome and sought refuge in Armenia hoping to
escape the Roman Emperor who desired one of the nuns, beautiful Hripsimeh.
In Armenia, King Tiridat was equally captivated by Hripsimeh’s beauty, and
sought to wed her. She refused. Enraged, the king had Hripsimeh (and the
others) tortured to death.
St. Gregory had chapels built over the relics of the nuns, and later
Catholicos Sahag Barthev rebuilt the chapels. During the 7th century
Catholicos Gomidas had two beautiful cathedrals built. The Cathedral of St.
Hripsimeh is considered to by a masterpiece of architecture. Catholicos
Gomidas also wrote a sharagan (hymn) in the memory-the famous "Antsink
Nviryalk."

DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Bible readings for today, Thursday, May 15, are: Romans 2:12-24; Matthew
8:28-34.
All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the
law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it
is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the
doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess
the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having
the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is
written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness,
and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day
when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the
secret thoughts of all. But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law
and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is
best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are
a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of
the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of
knowledge and truth, you, then, that teach others, will you not teach
yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You that forbid
adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as
it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of
you." Romans 2:12-24
For listing of the week’s Bible readings click here.

>From THE BOOKSTORE THIS WEEK..

ARCHBISHOP NERSES LAMBRONACI’S COMMENTARY ON THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON:
INTRODUCTION, TRANSLATION AND DIPLOMATIC EDITION OF THE ARMENIAN TEXT
By Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian
This book-mentioned earlier in this issue of Crossroads-grew from Bishop
Anoushavan’s doctoral dissertation. Besides being an excellent source of
knowledge about Lambronaci’s commentary on the Wisdom of Solomon, this book
provides valuable insight about the saint’s life and that period of time in
Cilician Armenia. 633 pages, hardbound, $50.00, plus shipping and handling.

THE COMPLETE ARMENIAN COOKBOOK by Alize Bezjian
The sub-title of this book is very appropriately, "Including favorite
international recipes," because this oversize hardcover beautifully
photographed cookbook includes not only Armenian recipes, but recipes of
French, Japanese, Chinese and Indian origin. It’s a great resource. 280
pages, $35.00, plus shipping and handling.

For shipping and handling charges contact the Prelacy bookstore
212-689-7810.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER ITEMS AT THE BOOKSTORE VISIT THE
PRELACY’S WEB SITE () OR CONTACT THE BOOKSTORE BY
EMAIL ([email protected]) OR BY TELEPHONE (212-689-7810).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 3-5-World General Assembly of the Catholicosate of the Great House of
Cilicia will convene in Antelias, Lebanon.

June 7-Blessing of Holy Muron in Antelias, Lebanon. Click here for details.

June 24-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, 5th annual Golf Outing,
Juniper Hill Golf Course, Northboro, Massachusetts. For information
508-852-2414.

June 27 to July 6-St. Gregory of Datev Institute, Summer Christian Studies
Program for youth ages 13-18 at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council. For
more information click here.

July 19-"A Hye Summer Night 3," dance hosted by Ladies’ Guild of Sts.
Vartanantz Church and ARS Ani Chapter, Providence, Rhode Island. For details
401-434-4467.

August 3-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Blessing of the
Grapes picnic. Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts, noon to 6 pm, rain or
shine.

August 10-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts. Annual
picnic on church grounds. Free admission; free parking.

August 15-17-International Gathering of Youth and Pilgrimage to Der Zor,
organized by the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Details will follow.

September 21-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, annual
church banquet. Details to follow.

September 25-Sixth annual golf outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey, at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For information contact Richard Krikorian 201-784-2236 or church office
201-943-2950.

September 26-28-National Youth Conference at Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

September 29-30-Clergy conference at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual
Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts.

October 25-Gala celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America under the jurisdiction of the Great
House of Cilicia and the 110th anniversary of the establishment of the
Armenian Church of America. Marriott at Glenpointe, Teaneck, New Jersey.
Details to follow.

November 21 and 22-Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Food Festival.

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

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox, add
[email protected] to your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please credit
Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about their
major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected]

COOPERATIVE LONGBOW/LANCER EXERCISE PLANNING CONFERENCE KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.05.2008 12:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Cooperative Longbow/Lancer NATO exercise planning
conference kicked off in Yerevan on May 14, with opening remarks
by deputy chief of the RA armed forces general staff, major general
Arshaluys Paytyan and chief of staff of the NATO Heidelberg united
forces, brigadier general Claudio Vercelotti.

The conference brought together 110 servicemen of 30 nationalities. 37
of them represent the Alliance’s command and 63 represent 21 countries
willing to join the exercise.

The conference will focus on the exercise planning, coordination of
legal issues and the schedule of events.

350 officers, master sergeants and sergeants will participate in
Cooperative Lancer 2008. 800 servicemen will be engaged in Cooperative
Longbow 2008.

The exercise will be conducted in three stages, during which joint
activities of the peacekeeping forces will be perfected.

VICTORY BELONGS TO ALL
Editorial

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 09, 2008
Armenia

And it is impossible to divide it

The day of victory and the anniversary of the liberation of Shoushi is
the cherished day of our calendar when we perceive ourselves as an
entire unity` as triumphed people, a dignified nation and state that
has earned the right to voice its opinion on the global level.

Of course, all kinds of disputes and struggles around political
beliefs, economic interests and other permanent and temporary values
are possible inside such unity, but when the conversation goes around
the May victories uniting us and the common responsibility deriving
thereof, there automatically arises the following question: what do we
have to divide in this particular sphere?

The liberation of Shoushi ` an inseparable part of our generation’s
biography, is the `common capital’ which cannot be divided into parts,
no matter how much we may try. Neither is it possible to insist that it
belongs to the former or present-day authorities, this or that
political force and even some exclusive individual who is the author of
the most heroic feat.

The logic `whether the victory belongs to me or to you’ transfers the
continuing internal political disputes to an extremely dangerous plane.
If the victory of Shoushi can be viewed by such logic too, what’s the
idea of a motherland, common memory and everything else that is
impossible to divide?

To view our common victory through the prism of an internal political
struggle is a harmful bacillus that has already produced its impact on
some participants of the Karabakh War and the heroic battle of Shoushi;
it has even influenced some ordinary citizens.

Discords are always possible while `measuring’ each person’s investment
in the common victory following each war and the political processes
resulting thereof, but as regards the defeat, it always remains in the
status of an orphan. And only after the change of a whole generation
does there arrive the moment of making an accurate and impartial
assessment on the people’s common victory. We are sure that the same
will happen while assessing the Karabakh War in future.

So is there any need to beat to the punch today, on the regular
anniversary of the liberation of Shoushi, and view the history of the
unfinished foreign policy confrontation through the prism of the
`black-and-white’ logic?

If lose the `last stronghold’ of our unity towards the external
challenges, we may also be deprived of the outcomes of the common
victory. Thereafter, we will certainly try to attribute the
responsibility of the common defeat to one another – a situation that
has happened many times in the course of our history.

Smart and far-sighted peoples never try to divide the victories they
gained in the past; they think about new ones. While the short-sighted
peoples, on the contrary, hold such long disputes over the
participation of this or that individual in the process of achieving
the victories that the enemy perceives the moment of launching an
attack and seizing back the victory. Today, the temporary splitting in
the Armenian society has made our enemy happy, but it is not yet sure
whether the Armenians will become united again should Karabakh or
Shoushi become an issue of discussion.

On May 2, Ter-Petrosyan made the following statement, `In case there is
a military threat, I myself will call on the people and the activists
of the pan-national movement to temporarily cease the struggle and
settle down to the protection of their motherland.’ But if the
protection of his motherland is really his cherished desire, what gives
him the right to approve the unrestrained propaganda which now tends to
divide the outcomes of the victory gained at the cost of the lives of
thousands of martyrs.

All that is gained through bloodsheds is a sacred value, and a sacred
value is never divided into parts; it should be worshiped devotedly,
without any bias. Our common victory – the liberation of Shoushi and
the entire territory of Karabakh, is the value which has only one
owner, and that owner is the Armenian nation. All the rest ` from
soldier to general, have been and continue to remain the descendents of
the Armenian people, regardless the form and the extent of their
investment. Otherwise, the people will cease their existence as whole
unity resisting the external challenges, and the state will turn into a
tool for satisfying some temporary ambitions existing inside it.

Realizing that the united responsibility is the last and the most
powerful stronghold for the existence of the Armenian people, today, on
May 9, we congratulate all the participants of the unprecedented heroic
battle of Karabakh, regardless their political affiliation and views.

VARDAN GREGORIAN TO RECEIVE AWARD OF COUNCIL FOR ADVANCEMENT AND
SUPPORT OF EDUCATION

WASHINGTON, MAY 8, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has named this
year’s recipients of its prestigious Distinguished Service Awards. Dr.
Vartan Gregorian, President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York,
was named one of the five recipients, who will be honored during a July
14 luncheon in New York City. Gregorian is the recipient of the James
L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education.

PanARMENIAN.Net

World Armenian Congress to adopt resolution on Karabakh
07.05.2008 19:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On occasion of the 20th anniversary
of the Karabakh movement, the World Armenian Congress
intends to organize meetings and events in the
Armenian communities in 30-40 countries.

`The purpose of the action is to create a common
Armenian position on the Karabakh issue, what will
become a basis for lobbying Armenian interests
throughout the globe,’ said Aram Sargsyan, the deputy
chairman of WAC and chairman of Democratic Party of
Armenia

`There is a dire necessity to resist Azeri propaganda
by adopting a joint doctrine on the Karabakh issue. We
should be more resolute,’ he said, Novosti Armenia
reports.

SENATOR OBAMA PLEDGES CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PRESS TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
30.04.2008 10:53

Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged
to continue his efforts to press Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide, in a strongly worded statement submitted to the Congressional
Record marking the 93rd Anniversary of this crime against humanity,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The statement by the Senator, who has been endorsed in the Democratic
primaries by the ANCA, was one of 30 remarks by Senators and
Representatives including those by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE),
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and DCCC Chairman Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) offered remarks at the
April 23rd Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill.

"It is imperative that we recognize the horrific acts carried out
against the Armenian people as genocide and I will continue to stand
with the Armenian American community in calling for the Government
of Turkey to acknowledge it as such. The occurrence of the Armenian
genocide is a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming
collection of historical evidence, Senator Obama said.

"I was deeply disturbed 2 years ago when the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
was fired after he used the term "genocide" to describe the mass
slaughter of Armenians. I called for Secretary Rice to closely examine
what I believe is an untenable position taken by the U.S. Government.

I will continue to push for the acknowledgement of the Armenian
genocide, and I offer the Armenian people my condolences," Obama
concluded.

"Armenian Americans value Senator Obama’s consistent and principled
leadership in pressuring Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide
and to end its shameful campaign to deny this crime against humanity,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "He remains clearly the
best positioned to bring about real change, real action, and real
hope for an end to the cycle of genocide."