Author: Virabian Jhanna

August 27, 2009

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY MOURNS
PASSING OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY

We pause to remember Senator Edward Kennedy who died in the early morning hours of August 26th at his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, after
a year-long battle with brain cancer.

Personal politics aside, Senator Kennedy was a staunch supporter of Armenian causes during his nearly 50 years of service in the U.S. Senate. He
was a fierce fighter for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, a defender of the newly independent Armenia and for the right of
self-determination for Nagorno-Karbagh. He attended and delivered messages at commemorations of
the
Armenian Genocide, and was one of the first

to come to the defense of Ambassador John Evans after he was fired by the State Department for his
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Ten years ago Senator Kennedy rose on the Senate floor to eulogize
and pay tribute to His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, saying: "I was proud to call His Holiness my friend. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. He was loved and respected by the
Armenian people the world over, and his courage, intelligence, wisdom, and compassion were renowned in international religious circles. His
Holiness
dedicated his life to the Armenian people. He worked skillfully for Armenia’s freedom, and had the noble distinction of being the first
Catholicos
of the Armenian people elected in the newly independent Republic of Armenia. In this era, he has worked tirelessly and effectively for the
spiritual revival of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenia. He was also a warm and humble man, gifted with wit and humor, who related easily
with
people from all backgrounds and from all walks of life–his remarkable legacy will endure for generations to come."

Senator Kennedy will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday.

Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan conveyed a message of condolence to the Kennedy family on behalf of the
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America.

10th ANNIVERSARY OF PASSING OF KAREKIN I WILL BE MARKED IN ARMENIA

Today, August 27th, would have been the 77th birthday of His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians from 1995 to
1999.

The tenth anniversary of his passing is going to be marked in Armenia on the weekend of September 19 and 20 with special memorial events.
Presiding over the events will be His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians.

On Saturday afternoon, September 19, a groundbreaking
ceremony will take place for the construction of
"His Holiness Karekin I Religious Missionary Educational Center," at Etchmiadzin. When completed the Center will provide advanced training for
the
clergy and will also be open to teachers of Christian education for seminars and workshops on theological, spiritual, pastoral and
church-related
matters.

The Center is being built through the sponsorship of Haig and Elza Didizian, lifelong friends of His Holiness. The Didizians have devoted their
efforts for the past ten years in perpetuating Karekin I’s rich intellectual and spiritual legacy, with the publication of His Holiness’s written
works through the "Karekin I Theological and Armenological Studies Series." Nine volumes have been printed thus far with several more to
be
published during the next few years.

Saturday evening, September 19, Catholicos Karekin II will preside over a concert of remembrance at Yerevan’s Aram Khachaturian Hall. On Sunday,
Catholicos Karekin II will preside over a special Divine Liturgy and Requiem Service at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, followed by a memorial
luncheon.

NOW IS THE TIME TO FINALIZE YOUR PLANS
FOR 2009 PRELACY LINKED IN WEEKEND

In his sermon delivered during the Feast of the Assumption, His Holiness Aram I said this about our youth: "On this day of the Feast of the
Assumption of the Theotokos, I pray to her to intercede with her Son on behalf of our youth. We declared 2009 as the Year of the Youth to remind
ourselves that youth are both our present and future, and therefore, we should listen and respond to

them. Today our youth are facing many problems. We should enable them to
discover the spiritual foundations of our church, the ethical values arising from the teaching of our church, and the cultural traditions shaped
by
our Armenian roots."

With the words of His Holiness in mind, the 2009 Prelacy LINKED IN weekend for young adults will
take place September 25-27, at the Holy Virgin
Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts, as part of the ongoing Year of the Youth activities. Here in the northeast it seems that
summer
just started this week, when we finally experienced real summer weather. But, truth be told, Labor Day is looming ahead, so make your plans now
for
this inspiring LINKED IN weekend of September 25-27.

Under the general theme of "Know Your Church," presentations will be made by Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian,
Professor Michael Papazian, and Yeretzgin Margaret Stepanian. The weekend gathering will also feature prayer services, meditations, bible
studies,
and panel discussions.

For more information and registration form click here ( 82/goto: htm ).

WCC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING

His Grace Bishop Nareg Alemezian and Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian are in Geneva attending the World Council of Churches’ Central Committee
meeting which began yesterday and will continue until September 2 at the Ecumenical Center. In addition to reviewing and supervising the
activities and finances of the Council, the Central Committee will elect a new General Secretary to replace Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, and decide on
the
venue for the next Assembly.
NORTH ANDOVER PARISH AND CATHOLIC CHURCH JOIN IN PICNIC

The St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley in North Andover, Massachusetts, is joining its neighbor, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, to co-sponsor a
picnic on Sunday, September 13, from 1 to 5 pm. The two churches have been neighbors for nearly four decades and during this time they have
remained
close and supportive of each other, but this is the first joint event. Main Street in front of both parishes will be closed to traffic.

Besides Christian fellowship and togetherness, the joint picnic will provide for a more diverse menu. St. Gregory’s will feature its traditional
Armenian cuisine with shish, losh, and chicken kebob dinners, with rice pilaf, salad and Armenian pastries, while St. Michael’s will offer the
American summer favorites of hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, and American pastries.

St. Gregory Church, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, is currently undergoing a $1 million renovation. The parish lost its
popular pastor earlier this year when Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian died unexpectedly. The parish is being served by the retired outreach priest, Rev.
Fr. Vazken Bekiarian, until a new pastor is assigned. It is a testament to Der Vartan’s influence and leadership that the parish has rallied
together
at this time of great sorrow with great strength and collective dedication.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, August 27, are: Jeremiah 1:1-10; 38:1-13; 2 Peter 2:9-22; Matthew 2:16-18.

…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of
judgment–especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust; and who despise authority.

Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring
against them a slanderous judgment from the Lord. These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught
and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed, they also will be destroyed, suffering the penalty
for
doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation while they feast with
you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! They
have left the straight road and have gone astray. Following the road of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of doing wrong, but was rebuked
for
his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the deepest darkness has been reserved. For they speak bombastic
nonsense, and with licentious desires of the flesh they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error. They promise them
freedom,
but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them. For if, after
they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and
overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of
righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them. It has happened to them according to the
true proverb, "The dog turns back to its own vomit," and "The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud." (2 Peter
2:9-22)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here ().

FAITHFUL PARISHIONER CONTINUES HER SERVICE

This lovely photograph of 102-year-old Digin Elmas Boghosian was sent to us and we are happy to share it with our readers. Digin Elmas, a
faithful parishioner of St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, makes the pilaf for the church’s annual picnic. This photo was
taken
during the parish’s picnic this summer with Digin Elmas continuing her traditional
role.

We are told that she makes delicious pilaf. We send her our love and best
wishes and look forward to another photo next year!

FROM THE BOOKSTORE THIS WEEK…

THE PEOPLES OF ARARAT
by Armen Asher and Teryl Minasian Asher
322 pages, softcover, $15.50 plus shipping and handling
The Peoples of Ararat relates the story of three powerful peoples of the ancient Near East–the Hurrians, the Hittites, and the
Urartians. Together, they played a significant role in shaping the political and cultural fabric of the region over the course of more than one
thousand years. While they all eventually succumbed politically and seemingly disappeared from the pages of history, in fact their cultures and
traditions were preserved in the kingdom of Armenia. Indeed, the authors say, the Armenians are the biological and cultural successors to the
peoples of Ararat.

TO ORDER THIS BOOK OR FOR INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER BOOKS VISIT THE PRELACY’S WEB SITE ( ( 82/goto: )) or contact the Bookstore by email ([email protected] (mailto:[email protected])) or by telephone (212-689-7810).
AND SPEAKING OF BOOKS…

Noted mystery writer P. D. James has been wondering for a long time if anyone has ever found a comfortable way to read in bed. Acknowledging that
bedtime is the best (maybe only) time most people have to read, she however expresses some doubts about reading in bed. In Time to Be
in Earnest: A Fragment of Autobiography, she writes, "Reading is so important, so necessary to the nourishment of mind and spirit that I feel
that it should be as seriously ceremonial as a church service. Ideally we need a comfortable chair with back and arm support and good,
well-directed
light, a rest for the book if it is too heavy to hold comfortably, a small table with our favorite drink to hand, silence and solitude." She
concludes: "It is an ideal that few of us are able to obtain."
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 12–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Haigazian
Armenian School.
September 13–St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts, annual picnic on newly renovated church grounds, 158 Main St., North Andover. Enjoy food, music. Fellowship. For details go to
church’s web site ( ( 82/goto: )) or call 978-685-5038.
September 13–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Sunday
School.
September 13–Annual picnic of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of New
Britain and Hartford at the Quartette Club, 225 Wooster Street, New Britain, Connecticut, beginning at noon, rain or shine. Live music. Armenian
food. Free admission.
September 19-20–Re-consecration of the altar and the newly renovated
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday. Episcopal Divine Liturgy and Madagh on Sunday.
September 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Lobster Fest. For
information: 215-482-9200.
September 20–St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York), annual picnic on
the church grounds, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, beginning at 1 pm immediately following church services and the blessing of the basil.
Delicious
Armenian kebabs, sweets, etc., along with games, music, dancing, tavloo, basketball, volleyball, vendors and returning by popular
demand–"Kid-Z-One," with a host of activities for children. For information 718-224-2275.
September 21–St. Stephen’s (Watertown, MA) Armenian School/ACEC 14th
annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf, lunch, dinner, and contests. For information contact Astor at
781-326-5764.
September 26–Mid-West Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.
September 25-26-27–Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the youth. For
details click here ( 82/goto: htm ).
September 27–75th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Country Club of Wilbraham, 859 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Special
performances by Dottie Bengoian and the St. Gregory Sunday School children. For information: 413-596-9242.
September 28–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Golf Outing at Talamore
Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania. For information: 215-482-9200.
September 28–Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, Massachusetts), 6th
annual Golf Outing, Sterling National Country Club, Sterling, MA. Golf, breakfast, dinner, and prizes, $130 per person. For information send
email
to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or telephone 508-872-9629.
October 1–Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th annual
Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175 includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great day and
support the church. For information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.
October 10–Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
October 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 17–National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will follow.
October 18–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 7 & 8–Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
largest Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday from 12 noon to 10 pm. Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtucket, 60 Rhodes Place (off
Broad
Street), Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and kufta dinners, pastry, raffles and more. Performance by the Armenian school dance group. Live Armenian
music * dancing. For information, 401-831-6399.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
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] (mailto:[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] (mailto:[email protected])

YEREVAN DRAGGING OUT KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS – AZERBAIJANI OFFICIAL

Interfax
Aug 25 2009
Russia

It is necessary to stop dragging out the Karabakh settlement process
and to ensure regional peace, head of the Azerbaijani presidential
administration’s external relations department Novruz Mamedov told
the Azerbaijani channel ANS.

"The constant dragging out of the Karabakh settlement by Yerevan’s
unconstructive position must end," he said.

Although the Madrid principles of the Karabakh settlement have not
been fully coordinated, the negotiations seek the quickest solution,
he said.

The international peacekeeping force, which may be deployed in the
conflict zone once the political settlement is complete, should not
be made up of servicemen from neighbor countries, Mamedov said.

He said that such peacekeeping missions were the area of the UN and
other organizations.

Canberra Times (Australia)
August 19, 2009 Wednesday
Final Edition

Ailazan Armenian vegetable casserole

Ailazan means different kinds, suggesting that any type of vegetable
can be used.

1 aubergine (eggplant), cut crossways into 1.2cm slices 1 green
pepper, seeded, cut into 8 pieces 2 carrots, peeled, cut into 0.6cm
rounds 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 zucchini, cut into 1.2cm rounds 100g
French beans, trimmed and halved 100g shelled or frozen peas 3
tomatoes, blanched, peeled and coarsely chopped 2 tbsp finely chopped
parsley 2 tbsp finely chopped mint 1 clove garlic, crushed 3 tsp
ground sumak 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 70ml olive oil if eaten
cold, or 50g butter if eaten hot 150ml water Place all the vegetables
in an ovenproof casserole, tomatoes on top. Sprinkle parsley, mint,
garlic, sumac, salt and pepper over the top. Dot with the butter or
pour on the oil. Add water, bring to the boil, cover and place in an
oven preheated to 180C.

(Alternatively, ailazan can be simmered on the stove top.) Cook for an
hour or until the vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Taste
and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Tzavarov (burghul) pilav 250g coarse burghul 1 small onion, finely
chopped 2 tbsp butter, ghee (or olive oil) 500ml water or stock 1 tsp
salt and 12 tsp black pepper Wash burghul several times until water
runs clear. Drain. Melt butter or ghee in a saucepan, add onion and
fry gently until soft and golden. Add burghul and fry for two to three
minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water, salt and pepper and
stir well. Boil vigorously for five minutes. Lower heat and simmer for
eight to 10 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Turn off the heat,
cover pan with a clean tea towel and replace the lid. Leave to rest
for 10-15 minutes.

Genetic Engineering News (press release) (press release)

Aug 20 2009, 5:20 PM EST

Missouri Botanical Garden hosts historic meeting to discuss endangered
plants in the Caucasus region

EUREKALERT

Contact: Julie Bierach

[email protected]
314-577-5141
Miss ouri Botanical Garden

Years of political unrest in the Caucasus limited coordinated
conservation efforts
(ST. LOUIS): For the first time, American scientists and researchers
from the former Soviet Union will gather in the United States to
discuss a mutual concern: how to protect Caucasian plant life. Oct. 2
through 8, botanists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and
Turkey will meet at the International Caucasian Symposium at the
Missouri Botanical Garden to discuss the creation of a Caucasian Plant
Red List, a list of the most endangered plants in the Caucasus
Mountains. The Symposium will eventually result in The Plant Red Book,
the first publication by the six countries covering the Caucasus.
The Caucasus Mountains are situated between the Black Sea (Europe) and
the Caspian Sea (Asia), and span six countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Iran, Russia and Turkey. The vegetation in the Caucasus is
remarkably diverse, ranging from alpine meadows and montane conifer
forest to arid shrublands and semi-deserts. Of the 6,300 species of
vascular plants, about 2,500 are endemic to the region.
Despite the botanical richness of the region, political unrest has
prevented botanists and conservationists outside the former Soviet
Union from working with the region’s rare and endangered plants. Most
information on the flora has been published only in Russian, of little
help to scientists in countries outside the former Soviet
Union. Further, with political tensions high, no country in the region
was able to initiate a collaborative work covering the complete flora
of the region. Without a list of endangered plant species, there is no
scientific basis for conservation.
"This Symposium is significant because it will give American
specialists an opportunity to sit down, face-to-face, with Caucasian
specialists and learn about the unique flora and vegetation of the
region," said Dr. Tatyana Shulkina, Missouri Botanical Garden
associate curator, former Soviet Union (the Caucasus) projects and a
native of Russia. "This will hopefully lead to the establishment of
personal relationships and collaboration on future works of this
biodiversity hot spot."
Since 2003, the Missouri Botanical Garden has played a role in
bringing scientists from the region together to discuss Caucasian
plant life. With financial support diminishing, the Garden held a
botanical conference in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. It was the
first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that
botanists from Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia gathered to
discuss ways to protect Caucasian plant life. Scientists have met
twice since then.
During the meeting, a committee was formed to complete a Caucasian
Plant Red List a list of the most endangered plants with the Garden’s
Curator of the Herbarium, Dr. James Solomon as the editor. The
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) funded the project.
One of the additional goals of this International Caucasian Symposium
is to provide Caucasian plant specialists with the opportunity to
learn about herbarium collection management and the many ways that
collection data may be shared. The Missouri Botanical Garden’s
herbarium, which contains more than six million specimens, is widely
considered one of the best in the world. The techniques and procedures
used at the Garden will be used as a model of how to utilize modern
technology in the herbaria of their home country.
The International Caucasian Symposium will be open to the public on
Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Monsanto Center at the Missouri
Botanical Garden, located at 4500 Shaw Blvd at the intersection of
Shaw and Vandeventer. Botanical specialists from Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Russia and Turkey will give an overview of the Caucasian
flora and vegetation.

###
The Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest continually operating
botanical garden in the nation, celebrating its 150th anniversary in
2009. Missouri Botanical Garden: Green for 150 Years.
NOTE: Digital color images available by request. Download media
materials at
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is "to discover and share
knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and
enrich life." Today, 150 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical
Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science,
conservation, education and horticultural display. Missouri Botanical
Garden: Green for 150 Years.

To ensure 5-10% growth till the end of the current year in the sphere
of tourism

2009-08-21 20:34:00

ArmInfo. We are going to ensure 5-10% growth till the end of the
current year in the sphere of tourism, Deputy Economy Minister Ara
Petrosyan told journalists today and expressed hope that
if maximal growth is ensured in the sphere of tourism, Armenia will
manage to overcome the level of 600 thsd tourists per year.

Petrosyan recalled that 207.7 thsd tourists visited Armenia in the
first half of the current year which is by 0,12% more than at the same
period of 2008. He added that even in the conditions of the world
financial crisis, the number of tourists which are visiting Armenia,
did not reduce, but grew a little. He said that there is also a
tendency of extension of the geography of the tourists which visit
Armenia but are not representatives of the Armenian Diaspora.

To note, the share of diaspora in the structure of internal tourism of
Armenia is 60% out of the total number of tourists which visit our
country.

GEORGIAN MFA: GEORGIA OFFICIALLY WITHDRAW FROM CIS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.08.2009 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia distributed
information in connection with completion of all legal procedures
related to leaving CIS by the country.

"In August 2008, CIS member – Russia, has carried out military
aggression against the second member country – Georgia, occupied
its territories. Georgia has decided to withdraw from the CIS,"
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia says.

On August 14, 2008 the Georgian parliament adopted a resolution,
under which the agreements "On establishment of the Commonwealth
of Independent States", completed December 8, 1991, "Charter of the
Commonwealth of Independent States" approved January 22, 1993 by the
heads of CIS and the agreement "On the creation of Economic Union"
of September 24 1993 ceased operation.

August 18, 2008 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia notified
the CIS executive committee note of this ordinance of Parliament in
connection with Georgia’s withdrawal from the CIS.

"In accordance with Vienna Convention of 1969, those multilateral
agreements remain in force for Georgia, participation in which is not
limited to CIS membership (75 agreements), including an agreement for
visa-free communication between citizens of CIS countries, an agreement
establishing a free trade zone, a convention on civil legal aid, family
and criminal law, the legal relations and so on, " the document states.

The document also stressed that Georgia reaffirms its readiness to
develop bilateral cooperation with countries involved, on the basis of
friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation, universally recognized
principles and norms of international law, including respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity, not-interfering in internal
affairs, Georgia Online reports.

HOLY CROSS CHURCH AS ALTERNATIVE TO OPEN TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER

News.am
19:56 / 08/17/2009

Silence is still reigning in Armenian-Turkish relations. The cause of
this silence was a joint statement made by the Armenian and Turkish
Foreign Ministers and adoption of a road map on the night of April
22. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu breaks this silence
now and again by saying the same words: Turkey wants to improve
its relations with Armenia, and peace must be established in the
region. Time shows they are mere words, and Turkey does not take any
practical steps. Moreover, Mr. Davutoglu is obviously hinting that
the establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations is conditional on the
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which, however, is not
stipulated by the agreement on the improvement of Armenian-Turkish
relations.

October is drawing near. That month, in Bursa, Turkey, the
Armenian national football team is to play a return match with the
Turkish team as part of the qualifying round of the world football
championship. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who visited Yerevan at
the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to watch a
match between the two teams, invited the Armenian leader to Turkey
to watch the return match. However, Ankara, feeling Serzh Sargsyan
may not visit Turkey as a result of a frozen process of establishing
bilateral relations, has started drawing everybody’s attention to
this fact. The matter particularly concerns the Holy Cross Church on
Akhtamar Island, Lake Van. The church has no cross on and works as a
museum. The Turkish authorities seem to have "stored" this alternative
to make use of it as a playing card.

Everybody was surprised at a statement made by Turkish State Minister
Egemen Baðýþ, who visited the Holy Cross Church. He proposed erecting
a cross on the church and resuming religious services there before the
football match and the Armenian President’s visit to Turkey. After
returning from Akhtamar Island, Minister Baðýþ stated. "In Athens
I saw a mosque that was closed. I was upset very much, and I feel
upset now that I have seen the Akhtamar church in this state. What
a pity! What situation is it? To close an Armenian temple, ban
the Kurdish language – the Greeks are bad as well. We have lived
in a horror film for years. Communism is coming – close the border
with the Soviets. Fundamentalism is coming – close the border with
Iran. Terrorism – lay mines on the Syrian border. Armenians’ demands
– close the border with Armenia. Well, where are we going? This is a
way of isolating a nation from the entire world. In the very center
of Lake Van I saw how the nation is savagely!

destroying its history and heritage. I think I saw a Loch Van monster,
which has been searched for many years. Yes, we are this imaginary
monster as we have for many years been destroying our freedom, faith,
wealth, history – savagely destroying."

The purpose of that speech is clear: distracting the international
community’s attention from the frozen process of Armenian-Turkish
rapprochement. However, the situation was properly assessed in Armenia,
and an adequate response was given. At a press conference held jointly
with the Serbian President, who was on an official visit to Armenia,
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated he would visit Turkey provided
that the Armenian-Turkish border was unblocked or relevant measures
were under way.

Soon after that, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, who was
touring through the country’s central regions, made a statement on
the valuable historical monuments in Turkey. He addressed the issue
of preserving the cultural heritage left by different civilizations
in the country. He stated: "There is no Muslim, Armenian, Greek
culture. They are all the wealth of Anatolia and our values. We must
take care of them, preserve them and show them to tourists. What was
left by the Seljuks, Ottomans and other civilizations that inhabited
this area belongs to us," the Minister said.

In mid August, Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yýlmaz visited the Holy
Cross Church. He pointed out that the church is of high importance
for Armenians and, after being renovated, it has become even more
beautiful and convenient for tourists’ visits. Responding to a question
concerning the possibility of religious services in the church,
Minister Yilmaz said that the problem has not been examined. He pointed
out the necessity for considering the conditions available and the
legal status. "Turkey is a secular state, and all the religions are
equally distant from the State. So we respect all the religions. In
this context, we have no problem," Yilmaz said.

As can be seen, Turkey is deliberately stirring up the interest in
Akhtamar Island and in the Holy Church Cross. Thus, the Turkish side
is trying to push the execution of its commitments assumed on April
22 to the background. It is great that the Turkish authorities have
admitted the fact that the Holy Cross Church must be crowned with a
cross and function as a church, but not a museum. But this all must not
be a subject of bargain and offered to Armenia as an alternative. By
doing so Turkey is shirking its commitments.

RUSSIAN COMEDY, CAUCASIAN NATIONALITY, ARMENIAN NOSE
HAIK ARAMYAN

ments&pid=14945
12:37:24 – 18/08/2009

The Caucasus, both the North and the South, has always been the bugbear
of the Russian state. Through as long as 300 years of dominance Russia
has been unable to take it under total control. There was everything,
displacement of peoples, redrawing of borders due to ethnic conflicts,
intervention. The freedom loving peoples of the Caucasus have always
had a special attitude towards the Russian state. Presently these
feelings have become more acute: insurgencies and terrorism would
not cease.

Besides force, Russia has also tried spiritual and cultural
expansion. The most significant is the "nationality Caucasian"
operation. It originated when Russia was just settling down in the
Caucasus. The purpose was to "alloy" one nation from the crater of
peoples of the Caucasus, which would have the same traditions and
culture. The best writers of the Caucasian peoples were employed
for the job in Tbilisi to write works with similar plots and themes,
and different names of people and places. The art of minstrels was
established. Recently music with Russian lyrics and Turkish-Caucasian
rhythm has been promoted which one of our artists defined as the music
of "Krasnodar weddings". And all this has been "edited and rinsed"
by central propaganda.

Generally, the hero of the "Caucasian art", the person with Caucasian
nationality, is mostly savage, rough, dull, a pilferer, has other
negative traits.

In the new times, the target of this strategy is comedy. It features
in the Russian humor. All this is presented in spoken Russian with a
foolish accent, as if the language of savages. In addition, not only
Caucasian but also Central Asian. All this would not be complete
without the right choice of the person who presents this. Only
a person of the Caucasian nationality should mock at the savage
man. And who are the mockers? You are right, the Armenians. The
Russian TV channels are full of these persons who entertain people:
Armenian brandy and nose, Georgian wine, Central Asian apricot,
Azerbaijani oil, Ossetian alcohol, etc. It is not quite safe to mock
at the people who live beyond the Caucasian mountains, meanwhile
they decided that they can mock at the Armenians, Turks, Georgians,
Uzbeks and Tajiks. Why the Armenians, the readers may ask? Some may
suggest that we are talented. But maybe the reason is other, namely
none of the other Caucasians would agree to perform that role. Perhaps
dignity would prevent them.

P.S. They say the Armenians are already so many in this sphere that
they are now racing with one another, and the Russian press discusses
who is better and who is the best. Meanwhile, the Armenians are used
to monopoly, they are not used to competition.

THE BLUE MOMENT: MILES DAVIS’S KIND OF BLUE AND THE REMAKING OF …
Review by Mike Hobart

Financial Times
August 17 2009 07:02

The Blue Moment: Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue and the Remaking of
Modern Music
By Richard Williams

Faber 14.99, 309 pages

FT Bookshop price 11.99

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue,
the biggest-selling jazz album ever. It was both a jazz-fan favourite
and the one jazz album that even those who claim not to like jazz
often own.

But, as Richard Williams’ erudite book The Blue Moment shows, Kind
of Blue is much more than a great jazz record. Perfectly capturing
the moment of its creation, the recording by the American trumpeter
influenced the innovators of radical rock, minimalist composition
and urban funk and, through them, most of today’s contemporary music.

Williams, The Guardian’s chief sports writer, worked at UK music
magazine Melody Maker in its late-1960s heyday. His approach balances
technical explanation, historical detail and critical assessment
– the chapters on jazz lineage could stand alone as an incisive,
concise history of modern jazz leading up to the Davis recording.

The blue-themed book – each of the 16 chapters has the word blue in
the title – opens with an elegantly tailored description of the music:
"It is the most singular of sounds, yet among the most ubiquitous. It
is the sound of isolation that has sold itself to millions."

For Williams the recording encapsulated key aesthetic themes of
the 1950s. He traces Kind of Blue’s influence on late 20th century
music and establishes layers of connections: in a matter of pages he
covers global counterculture through a visit to a radical bookshop
in Birmingham, technological changes and the shifting relationship
between jazz soloists and their rhythm section.

And that’s even before he places Davis’s conceptual clarity and
explorations of time on a continuum running from 17-syllable haiku
poetry through the ragas of Indian classical music to the Bauhaus
movement’s "simplification of outline and surface concealing a complex
response to the modern world". The latter exactly describes the
economy of line of Davis’s playing. It reflects, too, a connection to
the Paris intellectual elite through his affair with singer Juliette
Greco, who he met in Paris in 1949.

Williams connects these seemingly disparate phenomena with purpose,
finesse and journalistic flair. Western art, jazz included, was turning
to non-European forms for inspiration, investigating non-linear
concepts of time and delving ever deeper into the subjective. A
fascinating mid-book interlude on the colour blue reinforces the
importance of historical context.

The album was recorded in two regular sessions in a former Armenian
church in Manhattan. Davis sketched his ideas to the other musicians
at each session; five tunes were recorded and there was one alternate
take. Nobody set out to make an iconic statement. The first album
sleeve bore incorrect track-listings; side one of the recording was
issued at the wrong speed and at the wrong pitch – a quarter-tone sharp
(corrected for a 1993 re-release).

As Williams notes, both Ashley Kahn and Eric Nisenson have exhaustively
covered the origins of Kind of Blue. Williams adds a broad cultural
sweep, but it is his final chapters that are really new. These trace
networks of connections and experience that link Kind of Blue to
musical innovation far beyond the jazz orbit.

Minimalist composers La Monte Young and Terry Riley, funk innovator
James Brown and his saxophonist sideman PeeWee Ellis, Soft Machine’s
Robert Wyatt and the Nordic jazz associated with ECM were directly
influenced. With Velvet Underground, Mike Oldfield and Brian Eno
the influence was more oblique but, as Williams argues, just as
discernible.

Kind of Blue is one of the foundation stones of late 20th-century
culture. Though clearly a fan, Williams does not exaggerate when
he describes Kind of Blue as "a rare example of human perfection
… speaking more clearly as the years go by".

Mike Hobart is the FT’s jazz critic
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

PUPILS PASS MEDICAL CONTROL TO PREVENT A/H1N1 VIRUS GROWING

Panorama.am
17:45 11/08/2009

Before the start of school year all the pupils will pass medical
control for prevention of A/H1N1 virus, Russian Genady Onishenko
ordered, Russian media reports.

It is said that the medical control is to be held in the frames of
anti-virus activities which is aimed to prevent spreading of the
virus in the country.

Armenian doctors say it is useless to organize such a medical control
in Armenia. "There are no cases recorded in Armenia, and we don’t
have even recorded local incidents. Hence there is no need to make
the children pass any medical control," Lianna Torosyan of the Health
Ministry told Panorama.am.