Author: Vasilian Manouk

BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR VISITS THE MOTHER SEE

armradio.am
17.04.2008 16:23

On April 17 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin His Holiness Gargein
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, received the
Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Armenia Thodor Staykov.

Greeting the Ambassador’s visit to the Mother See, His Holiness
offered his best wishes to the newly appointed Ambassador. His Holiness
expressed appreciation for the deepening of relations between Armenia
and Bulgaria and the reinforcement of friendship between the two
peoples.

He expressed his approval of the Bulgarian authorities for the warm
and careful attitude towards the Bulgarian Armenian community.

During the meeting reference was made to relations between the Armenian
Apostolic and the Bulgarian Orthodox Churches

MEET WILLIAM SAROYAN IN HIS OWN WORDS
By Eric Vollmer

Palisadian-Post
http://www.palisadespost. com/content/index.cfm?Story_ID=3831
April 16 2008
CA

Voice In The Well Productions will present a Read All About It Literary
Cabaret Tribute to celebrate the memory of writer William Saroyan on
Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.

This is a sneak preview of the show, which will also be presented on
Wednesday, April 23 at 8 p.m. at the Pacific Resident Theatre (701
Venice Blvd.) as part of a festival to accompany the production of
Saroyan’s Pulitzer prize-winning play, ‘The Time Of Your Life.’

Born in Fresno of Armenian parents in 1908, Saroyan found his lasting
theme in the immigrant’s heartfelt quest to fulfill the American
Dream. Though his childhood was overshadowed by his father’s death
and the five years he spent in an orphanage, Saroyan grew up to be
a larger-than-life figure who combined the high-spirited verbal
flamboyance of Walt Whitman with the bohemian vigor of a Zorba
the Greek.

Through song and story, Voice In The Well performers will recall
inspired feats from his lively imagination.

Hank Saroyan, the Emmy award-winning producer and director, will be
on hand to offer fond family reminiscences about his own fabled uncle.

Largely self-taught, Saroyan started his writing career with a
marathon undertaking in San Francisco, where he declared that he
would conceive and write an original story a day for thirty straight
days. The result, ‘The Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze,’
and that story collection–combined with his sheer bravado–made him
world-famous in 1935.

Actor Lee Boek will present an adaptation of Saroyan’s tall tale about
‘Ramon Internationale,’ a Filipino wrestler who brought the City of
San Francisco to its knees. John Frank and Dalia Vosylius will offer
a concert reading of his moving one-act play, ‘Hello, Out There.’

William H. Bassett, who played Saroyan’s ‘Kit Carson’ in his college
days, will provide the audience with a glimpse of that hifalutin’
character.

Jacqueline Mahoney will sing ‘Come On-A My House,’ a quirky and lively
pop song that Saroyan co-wrote with his cousin. It was made famous
by George Clooney’s aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, in the Big Band Era.

Jeffrey Van Der Byl will close the show with a valentine of a story
that Saroyan wrote in honor his grandmother, Lucy Garoghlanian.

MICHAEL HARUTYUNYAN APPOINED CHIEF MILITARY INSPECTOR AND ADVISER TO RA PRESIDENT

armadio.am
16.04.2008 16:35

President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing Colonel-General
Michael Harutyunyan as Chief Military Inspector of the President
of the Republic of Armenia, concluding an agreement for the term of
three years.

According to another presidential decree, Michael Harutyunyan was
appointed Adviser to RA President.

ARMEN AVETISIAN RELIEVED OF POST OF CHAIRMAN OF RA CUSTOMS STATE COMMITTEE

Noyan Tapan
April 16, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, NOYAN TAPAN. By the April 15 decree of Serge
Sargsian, the President of the Republic of Armenia, Armen Avetisian
has been relieved of the post of the Chairman of the Customs State
Committee under the RA Government. According to the information
provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office, Gagik
Khachatrian, the Deputy Chairman of the Customs State Committee under
the RA Government, has been appointed acting Chairman of the Committee.

IRRIGATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BEING ELABORATED IN KARABAKH

DeFacto Agency
April 16 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 16.04.08. DE FACTO. In the course of a meeting devoted to
the issues referring to irrigation system development held at the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic government, the PM Ara Harutyunian stated
the decisions and documents adopted past years had not been realized
in view of their non-realistic nature.

According to the NKR government’s press office, Ara Harutyunian
informed that the irrigation system development program was currently
being elaborated. Reminding that the system’s development was directly
connected with ensuring of the Republic’s food security, the head
of the government commissioned to complete researches and present
proposals for the program’s final elaboration within a month.

The program is panned to be middle-term and short-term. In line with
the program it is charted to convert over 3, 000 hectares of arable
lands into those being irrigated.

MAMMADYAROV WILLING TO MEET NALBANDIAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.04.2008 14:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani Foreign Minister is willing to meet
with newly appointed Foreign Minister of Armenia.

Elmar Mammadyarov said he doesn’t think appointment of new Foreign
Minister of Armenia can bring talks to nought.

"We discussed and coordinated many issues in the framework of the
Prague process and should continue talks. However, I emphasize
that Nagorno Karabakh’s status can be determined within Azerbaijan
only. If they want self-determination, they can study the international
practice," the Azeri FM said.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs will hold a working meeting with the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office on Wednesday.

"Official Baku will express opinion after the details of the meeting
are announced. The Co-chairs are expected to report to the OSCE leaders
and assess the situation in Armenia," Mammadyarov said, Day.az reports.

Yesterday Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on
appointment Edward Nalbandian Foreign Minister of the Republic
of Armenia.

NEW GOVERNMENT COMPOSITION TO BE KNOWN APRIL 15

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2008 16:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Composition of the new Armenian government will
apparently be known on April 15.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter came to know from a source in the RA
government, new chiefs of the National Security Service and Police
will be appointed.

"The Police will be elevated to ministry rank. Mikael Harutyunyan
will retain the post of Defense Minister.

Minister of Culture and Education Levon Lazarian and Minister of
Agriculture David Lokyan representing ARF Dashnaktsutyun will also
keep the portfolios.

Ministries of Diaspora Affairs and of Science will be formed," the
source said.

On April 10, Central Bank President Tigran Sargsyan was appointed Prime
Minister of Armenia. According to the RA Constitution, the new Prime
Minister submits the composition of the Cabinet to the parliament’s
consideration within 20 days after his appointment.

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WD Newsletter

Western Diocese of the Armenian Church

Passing of Prime-Godfather of Mother Cathedral Levon
Paronyan
Mr. Levon Paronyan, the Prime-Godfather of the Mother
Cathedral, passed away on April 6, 2008 .

By Divan of the Diocese
Published: Apr 14 2008

It is with sincere regret that we report the passing of Mr.
Levon Paronyan, the Prime-Godfather of the Mother Cathedral,
on April 6, 2008. The ‘funeral home-service’ was
held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Pasadena. His
Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, accompanied
by clergy from the Western Diocese, participated in the
service.

Very Rev. Fr. Baret Dz. V. Yeretsian, Pastor of St. Gregory
the Illuminator Church, read a biographical piece about the
late Prime-Godfather of the Mother Cathedral. The Primate in
his remarks recalled the radiating faith of the late Levon
Paronyan and his unconditional love for Jesus Christ our
Lord which was truly manifested through his devotion towards
his family, the Church and Armenia. The Primate made the
important announcement regarding the designation of Mother
Cathedral to be named after St. Ghevond (Levon) in honor of
the great and beloved Prime-Godfather of the Mother
Cathedral, Levon Paronyan.

His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, sent
a letter of condolence to the family of the deceased wherein
the Pontiff consoled and comforted the members of Paronyan
family, enumerating the great virtues of Levon Paronyan as
an exemplary son of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.

*Church Service and Funeral*

Before noon, on April 10, 2008, the faithful gathered at
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church –Pasadena, to pay
tribute to the memory of the Prime-Godfather of the Mother
Cathedral. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate, accompanied by His Grace Bishop Sion Adamyan,
Primate of Armavir, and several clergy from the Western
Diocese, presided over the church service. His Eminence in
his remarks spoke fondly of Levon Paronyan; emphasizing that
his faith truly bore the fruits of generosity and
selflessness towards the Church.

Very Rev. Fr. Baret Dz. V. Yeretsian, Pastor of the St.
Gregory the Illuminator Church – Pasadena, assisted by
several other clergy, presided over the funeral service.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian presided over the
Memorial Luncheon of Levon Paronyan held at the Nazareth and
Sima Kalaydjian Hall located at the Arshag and Eleanor
Dickranian Complex of the Western Diocese.

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.

Turkey seeks to block Knesset debate on Armenian Genocide

37.html
12-04-2008 11:53:44 – KarabakhOpen

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the
Turkish parliament, Hasan Murat Mercan, has asked the Prime Minister’s
Bureau to cancel a scheduled discussion in the Knesset on the Armenian
genocide. Mercan was in Israel this week at the head of a Turkish
parliamentary delegation for talks with their Israeli counterparts.
Talks included discussions on Iran, the Palestinians and Syria, but the
main issue the Turkish delegation raised was an upcoming Knesset debate
on the Armenian genocide.

"The Armenian issue is very sensitive for Turkey," the visitors told
Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman, two of Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert’s most senior aides, adding that, "We would prefer if this
discussion would not take place at this time in the Israeli parliament
because it may harm the relations between the two countries."

Turbowicz offered Israel’s official response, that the issue needed to
be resolved between Turkey and Armenia in a professional manner,
through the involvement of historians. "Israel certainly recognizes
the strategic importance of its relations with Turkey, but there are
subjects and parliamentary initiatives that are not related to the
government," Turbowicz said. "As a government, we have no interest in
undermining our ties with Turkey." "I am convinced that Israel
recognizes the negative implications this may have on ties between the
two countries," Mercan said.

ANKARA OPPOSES DISCUSSING OF SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN ISRAELI PARLIAMENT: HIGH RANK TURKISH MP

Trend News Agency
April 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Israel, Jerusalem, 9 April / corr. TrendNews R. Abdullayev/ The
official Ankara oppose discussions of the so-called Armenian genocide
in Israeli parliament, as it can harm the strategic Turkey-Israel
relations.

"The so-called Armenian genocide is very delicate issue for Turkish.

We do not want this issue to be discussed in Israeli parliament,"
Murat Marjan, the chairman of international relations committee of
Turkish parliament said to TrendNews on 9 April.

The Israeli Knesset (parliament) decided on 26 March to bring into
the discussion of one of parliament committees the so-called Armenian
genocide. Knesset had rejected the similar initiative in May 2007.

The position of Israeli political Establishment satisfies Ankara
to a sufficient degree, said Marjan. "We met with Israeli President,
speaker of Knesset, Premier and foreign minister. In all these meetings
our delegation showed understanding toward the position of Israeli
government on this issue. We thank Israeli government for their clear
and reasonable approach to this problem," said Turkish MP.

According to Marjanov, the Turkish premier Rajab Tayyib Ardogan has
already proposed Armenian government to set up international committee
of researchers in connection with the ‘genocide’ claims of Armenians,
however there is no official response yet.

"We simply explained some Israeli politicians that there is no need
to write a history based on political bias which can harm strategic
partnership between Israel and Turkey," said Marjan.

Armenia accuses Ankara of committing genocide against a million and
half Armenians, and its lobby makes every effort so that parliaments of
various countries discuss this issue. Ankara rejects these accusations
stating that it is a matter of history and the events took place not
in modern Turkey.

There are no diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey and the
border between the two countries has been closed since 1993. Ankara
calls on Armenia to give up the policy of international recognition
of so-called Armenian genocide and to leave the occupied territory
of Azerbaijan.