Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

RT

Capitol Hill: sex & drugs & Turkish `soap’

27 September, 2009, 01:38

Lesbian Congresswomen, gay Senators and other `sinners’ of the US
establishment fall victims of an espionage scandal. Former FBI
employee tells how Turkish intelligence gathers information on Capitol
Hill.

A 34-year-old, Turkish-born woman of Azerbaijani descent, Sibel
Edmonds, joined the FBI as a Turkish and Farsi translator a few days
after 9/11. Her duties included translation of recordings of
conversations between suspected members of Turkish intelligence and
their American contacts.

However, in April 2002 Edmonds was fired after she raised concerns
that one of the staff in her section was a member of a Turkish
organization that was under investigation for bribing senior US
government officials and members of Congress, drug trafficking,
illegal weapons sales, money laundering, and nuclear proliferation.

Despite the fact that no one has ever disproved any of her
revelations, no effort was made to address the corruption that she had
been monitoring. That is according to The American Conservative
magazine, which has had the opportunity to interview the former FBI
translator.

The cases disclosed by Sibel Edmonds may well be considered the most
incredible story of corruption and influence peddling in modern US
history.

`If this were written up as a novel, no one would believe it,’ The
American Conservative quoted the woman as saying.
Before and after 9/11

According to documents that Sibel Edmonds had access to, intelligence
agents repeatedly reported Al-Qaeda plans to arrange a series of
large-scale terrorist attacks on American soil. Despite that, their
chiefs dismissed the reports as dubious.

Moreover, John Ashcroft’s Justice Department twice invoked the State
Secrets Privilege on the files so Edmonds could not tell what she
knew, while the 9/11 Commission did not have a chance to see them
either.

Interestingly, between 1997 and 2001, not once did anybody use the
word `Al-Qaeda,’ the woman says. It was always always `bin Ladens’ `
plural.

`There were several bin Ladens who were going on private jets to
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. The Turkish ambassador in Azerbaijan worked
with them¦ People and weapons went one way, drugs came back,’
Edmonds continues.

`A lot of the drugs were going to Belgium on NATO planes. After that,
they went to the UK, and a lot came to the US via military planes to
distribution centers in Chicago and Patterson, New Jersey. Turkish
diplomats, who would never be searched, were coming with suitcases of
heroin,’ she explained.
Generous Turks, helpful congressmen

After having been sacked, Sibel Edmonds had revenge on her former
employer by telling journalists that entire groups of American
congressmen and diplomats were permanently `supported’ by Turkish
intelligence and lobbyists in Washington DC.

For instance, they allegedly recruited Marc Grossman for regular
payouts, who was a US Ambassador to Turkey between 1994 and 1997.

On top of that, Edmonds lists several high-profile officials among his
collaborators, including the 13th US Deputy Secretary of State,
Richard Armitage, senior Pentagon officials, Richard Perle and Douglas
Feith, and Air Force Major Douglas Dickerson.

Simultaneously, she says, Grossman arranged for several US congressmen
to lobby Ankara’s interests on Capitol Hill, while compensation
reached up to $400,000.

`The number-one Congressman involved with the Turkish community, both
in terms of providing information and doing favors, was [a former
Republican Representative from Louisiana] Bob Livingston,’ Edmonds
said in an interview.

Bob Livingston ` also the founder of the renowned lobbying group, The
Livingston Group `was allegedly paid a monthly compensation of
$105,000 by the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC. In total, the woman
says, his family received $13 million between 2000 and 2005.

`Number-two after him was [a member of the US House of Representatives]
Dan Burton, and then he became number-one in Congress until [Dennis]
Hastert bec l, Janet Reno, was briefed on the investigations, and
since they were Republicans, she authorized that they be continued,’
Sibel Edmonds has said.

Employing the basic instinct

Yet, what really surprises is the way the Turkish intelligence
allegedly approached Janice, or "Jan" Schakowsky ` a Democratic member
of the US House of Representatives.

They arranged for the bisexual woman and her spouse, Robert, to be
seduced by a pretty Turkish lesbian ` all it took to get everything
the Turkish agents needed.

Even these few examples of Edmond’s disclosures of US officials
provides a glimpse of the overall scale of corruption in US
governmental institutions, as well as of the activity of Turkish
intelligence there.

Quite interestingly, all the US MPs who have been listed by Sibel
Edmonds were the first to actively oppose the pro-Armenian resolutions
concerning America’s recognition of the Armenian genocide by the Turks
in 1915.

All in all, Turkish agents reportedly received numerous strategic
secrets about the American military and, even more importantly, a
number of compromising ties that certain politicians, diplomats and
military officials established with various international criminal
syndicates.

op_News/2009-09-27/capitol-sex-drugs-turkish.html

Amb. Evans Calls Protocols `Flawed Document’

vans-calls-protocols-%e2%80%98flawed-document%e2%8 0%99/
By Asbarez Staff on Sep 25th, 2009

WASHINGTON – Former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, during an
international webcast of an Armenian National Committee of America
town hall meeting Thursday, called the Armenia-Turkey protocols
`flawed.’

`This is a flawed document,’ said Evans.

`I think that the impulse to try to get diplomatic relations started
and to get the border opened was a good impulse. In the execution
there may have been, and there certainly were some shoddy work,’ added
Evans who prefaced his remarks by noting that he was speaking on his
own behalf and not as a representative of any government or
organization.

The 90-minute program, organized by the ANC of Greater Washington,
touched on many facets of the protocols on the establishment and
development of relations between Armenia and Turkey and featured Evans
as a speaker.

The retired diplomat, who was fired by the State Department for
speaking honestly and calling the events of 1915 Genocide, addressed a
broad range of legal and diplomatic concerns related to the
protocols. The full scope of his remarks, as well as the ANCA
presentation and question and answer session, are available on-line at
anca.org/townhall

Gunaysu: Neither Yes, Nor No
By Ayse Gunaysu – on September 24, 2009

naysu-neither-yes-nor-no/

really cannot remember how many times I wrote that Turkey is a country
full of paradoxes, where there is an unusually high number of
questions you can neither say yes, nor no to. Furthermore, it
generates paradoxes constantly.

For example, the government’s initiative to resolve the `Kurdish
issue,’ in its present form, is both acceptable and unacceptable. It
is right and acceptable in aiming at peace, but unacceptable in its
vagueness and the government’s contradictory practices.

The Ergenekon case, against the suspects charged of plotting against
the government, is both approvable and disapprovable; it is deserves
support for challenging the militaristic state tradition in Turkey,
but it’s objectionable because of its doubtful final objective and
lack of determination to really put an end to illegal formations
within the state apparatus.

I support Islamic intellectuals in their struggle for democracy and
their demand for true civilian rule, but I can’t possibly stand with
them side by side as long as they continue with their anti-Semitism,
using Israeli government policies and practices as a pretext.

I didn’t sign the famous `apology’ petition initiated by a group of
Turkish intellectuals, but would by no means campaign against the
petition, knowing that thousands of people signed it with total
sincerity in their protest against denialism and that the petition
would, despite its drawbacks and deficiencies, ultimately serve as a
step towards recognition of the genocide.

I can mention many more instances where one, in the very chaotic
environment of Turkey, can say both yes and no to an initiative, a
practice, or an undertaking of a political nature.

The detailed reasons for this inability to take an unconditional stand
in major questions, the sociological, economic, cultural, historical
factors playing part in this state of being always paradoxical, is a
subject to be studied by academics. But looking at the big picture, it
is easy to see that the change Turkey has been undergoing is
generating a potential to move the foundation stones of the already-
poorly built structure of the establishment, leading to shifts in
certain balances and turning the traditional positioning of political
wings upside down.

The signals of a normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia
is one of such questions that I feel myself saying neither no, nor
yes, to, or saying both yes and no at the same time.

The matter has many dimensions and many levels to discuss. It has many
facets, all of which bear different significance and meaning. It is
certainly not the same if you are an activist who has devoted his/her
life to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide; or if you are a
citizen of Armenia who desperately needs the border to be opened to
earn a living; or if you are an Armenian but a Turkish citizen who has
given all of his/her life to maintain and promote Armenian language,
culture and educational, social and religious institutions in Turkey,
a country where ethnic, religious, and cultural uniformity is
constantly upheld; and it is surely a different case if you are a
person in Turkey who sees his/her meaning of life in contributing – no
matter how tiny the contribution might be – to the democratization of
the country and to the defeat of a denialist culture.

On my part, I say yes to the normalization process because we in
Turkey, who refuse Turkish nationalism, are desperately in need of
anything that would weaken Turkey’s deeply rooted traditional way of
seeing Armenia as a hostile country. I say yes because we cannot lead
a decent life when our Armenian friends here are continuously harassed
by such nationalism. I say yes because Turkish nationalism sees the
protocols signed between the two countries as a threat to their
existence. I say yes because erasing the name of Armenia from the maps
at schools, including the Armenian schools, was among the first
practices of the military dictatorship of 1980. I say yes because
Delal Dink said if the border is opened, her father would rise from
the sidewalk where he has been lying since the moment he was shot
dead.

But at the same time, I say no to the protocols because the
organizations of the Armenian Diaspora, the children and grandchildren
of the genocide victims, were excluded from the process as a whole. In
this way, the protocols, regardless of whether or not it was done
intentionally, play in the hands of the Turkish public’s widespread
`good Armenian’ (Armenians of Turkey and to some extent Armenia) and
`bad Armenian’ (Armenians of the diaspora) pattern of thinking. I
can’t applaud the signing of the protocols as long as the textbooks
with which children in Turkey are raised contain expressions
instigating feelings of animosity and hatred towards Armenians. I
can’t possibly be happy with the so-called `normalization process ` as
long as the websites of not only government institutions, but also
semi-official and non-official organizations still embody a
historiography full of lies and anti-Armenian propaganda, and as long
as well-known academics, retired ambassadors, and popular opinion
makers audaciously express views dishonoring the memory of genocide
victims and damaging the dignity and honor of their grandchildren
living in Turkey and elsewhere. I can’t support the protocols because
it does not include a commitment on the part of Turkey to put an end
to all of these and other manifestations of denial, not only of the
genocide but also of the all-round suffering inflicted in this country
on Armenians in the past and at present as well.

But I can’t possibly – even if I wanted – campaign against the
protocols because I see this initiative as part of the process of
change presently underway in Turkey. The official ideology has been
for generations reinforcing the anti-Armenian feelings in Turkey. Even
the declaration of a will to establish friendly relations with Armenia
is in total contradiction with this ideology that has been
internalized by the Turkish public. So it feels good to see the
mainstream press publishing news items and articles in favor of the
normalization process. But it still hurts and infuriates to know that
the culture of denialism is as strong as ever.

Armenian Prime Minister: Closed border between neighboring countries
Armenia and Turkey is nonsense

2009-09-25 16:26:00

ArmInfo. The closed border between the neighboring countries Armenia
and Turkey in XXI century is nonsense. Restoration of the confidence
between Yerevan and Ankara is a difficult problem, Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan said in his interview with "Rossiyskaya
Gazeta" ("Russian Newspaper") when asked about possible normalization
of relations with Turkey and changes in the economic picture in the
South Caucasus, which may have a positive effect on the economic ties
with Russia as well.

Tigran Sargsyan stressed that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan took
the liberty of solving this problem. "The establishment of good
neighborly relations with Turkey will create a comfortable platform for
our strategic partners, for Russia, which has a big significance and
obvious positions in our region",- he said.

As regards Armenia’s ties with Russia, the prime minister said that
these ties are based on not only economy. "Certainly, the humanitarian
aspect of cooperation, like the military-strategic one, is very
important. Russia is our strategic partner we are cooperating with
deeply and efficiently, as well as within the CSTO. We always remember
that we have a common past with Russia. And it is for the nations of
our countries to decide what future to have. We think that future will
be bright",- T.Sargsyan stressed.

ZHARANGUTIUN SUGGESTS HOLDING TV AND RADIO DISPUTES ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH INITIATED PROTOCOLS

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. On September 24, Armen Martirosian,
the Board Chairman of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) party, and Styopa
Safarian, the Head of the parliamentary faction of the same name,
on behalf of the party and the faction sent official letters of
the same content to Alexan Haroutiunian, the Board Chairman of the
Public TV and Radio Company, Armen Arzumanian, the Executive Director
of Public Television, and Armen Amirian, the Executive Director of
Public Radio. They suggested at the hottest hours of H1 and Public
Radio organizing disputes on Armenian-Turkish initiated protocols
with participation of representatives of all parliamentary and
extraparliamentary forces.

NEW VILLAGE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 23 2009
Armenia

A foundation for new village in Nor Kilikia (New Kilikia) was laid
in Martakert region, Nagorno-Karabakh. Catholicosate of the Great
House of Cilicia is initiator and sponsor of the project.

The first suburb will be built on nine hectares. If weather remains
favourable, ten cottages will be constructed till end of the year
for families of Karabakh war victims.

THAILAND HM THE KING ISSUES ROYAL ADDRESS TO MARK INDEPENDENCE DAY OF ARMENIA

Thai Press Reports
September 22, 2009 Tuesday

Section: General News – As September 21 marks the celebration of
Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia, His Majesty the King
has issued a Royal Address to the nation’s president.

His Majesty gave the Armenian president good wishes and bid him good
health so that he could continue to bring progress and prosperity to
the people of Armenia.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" RESUMED

COURT HEARINGS ON THE CASE OF RADIO "HAY" VERSUS RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY
STARTED

AWARDS FOR JOURNALISTS ON THE INDEPENDENCE DAY

"HETQ" WEEKLY ISSUED

"PRESS CLUB" RESUMED

>From September 22 the "Press Club" program cycle was resumed on the air of
"Yerkir Media" TV company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club
project, supported by the Open Society Institute. On Tuesdays, at 21.15 the
"Press Club" participants – representatives of state structures, political
parties, NGOs and media – will be discussing the development of democratic
institutions in Armenia.

On September 22 the guests of the program host, YPC President Boris
Navasardian were Larisa Alaverdian, RA National Assembly deputy, Secretary
of "Heritage" parliamentary faction, and Stepan Grigorian, Head of
Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation. The program
participants focused on the issue of public debate culture, pluralism in the
Armenian media in the light of Armenian-Turkish relations coverage.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on September 29,
at 21.15.

COURT HEARINGS ON THE CASE OF RADIO "HAY" VERSUS RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY
STARTED

On September 24 the court of general jurisdiction of Avan and Nor Nork
communities of Yerevan started hearing the suit of Radio "HAY" founder,
"Radio ‘HAY’ " LLC, versus RA National Assembly deputy Styopa Safarian,
recently elected as Head of "Heritage" faction. The plaintiff demands to
oblige the defendant to publish a refutation and apologize for the
expression, discrediting the business reputation of Radio "HAY". The reason
for the suit became a phrase from a piece by Styopa Safarian, titled
"Voyage, Voyage to Madrid and Dagestan". The article was published in
"Hraparak" daily on August 20, 2009. In the piece Styopa Safarian argues, in
absentia, with one of the leaders of ruling Republican Party of Armenia. The
deputy recalls some quotations made by the RPA leader during one of the two
shows, "Armenian Feedback", aired on Radio "HAY" on July 30 and July 31,
2009. The author of the article describes these shows as "a two-series
concert ordered by the President’s administration".

At the session of September 24 the defendant made a petition to grant him
some additional time for preparing to the hearings. The petition was
secured. The next court session is appointed on October 7.

AWARDS FOR JOURNALISTS ON THE INDEPENDENCE DAY

On September 17 by the decree of RA President Serzh Sargsian the Chief
Editor of "Azg" daily Hagob Avedikian and Chief Editor of "Golos Armenii"
newspaper Flora Nakhshkarian honored the title of "Journalist Emeritus" –
for fruitful journalistic work of many years.

By another presidential decree Tsvetana Paskaleva, author and host of
"Light" program of "Ararat" TV channel, and Margarita Simonian, Chief Editor
of "Russia Today" TV company, were conferred with "Movses Khorenatsi" medal
– for the significant contribution in development of journalism and high
professionalism.

The awards were honored to the journalists to mark the 18th Anniversary of
the Independence of Armenia, celebrated on September 21.

"HETQ" WEEKLY ISSUED

"Hetq", current affairs weekly, was issued. The weekly founder is "Hetq"
LLC, whose shareholders are the "Investigative Journalists" NGO and a number
of journalists. The Chief Editor of "Hetq" is Edik Baghdasarian, Chairman of
"Investigative Journalists". The newspaper is issued on Thursdays on 8 pages
with a print run of 2,000 copies.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

September 24, 2009
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN AND ARMENIAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT TURKEY-ARMENIA PROTOCOLS

Yesterday, September 23, Archbishop Oshagan and other representatives
of the Armenian American leadership went to the Armenian Embassy in
Washington, DC, and met with Ambassador Tatoul Markarian to express
their concerns on the Turkey-Armenia protocols.

The delegation was comprised of representatives from the Eastern and
Western Prelacies of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; the
Eparchy of the United States and Canada of the Armenian Catholic
Church; the Armenian Missionary Association of America; the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation; the Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational
Association; the Armenian Relief Society; the Armenian Youth
Federation, and the Homenetmen.

The delegation gave Ambassador Markarian a letter highlighting the
fact that the protocols have created serious concern and frustration
among the Armenian community in the United States, as in all other
Diasporan communities. The letter rejected the idea of negotiating
over historical matters and stressed that the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is a precondition to any negotiation. It also noted
that recognizing borders and territorial integrity means renouncing
our struggle for justice.

ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL REOPENS WITH WEEKEND SERVICES

It was a glorious weekend for the New York-New Jersey community as
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral reopened with impressive services last
weekend. Founded in 1915, St. Illuminator’s is the first Armenian
Cathedral in the United States and has a rich history of service.

Saturday evening, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
reconsecrated the Cathedral’s altar, as well as two new icons. Clergy
attending and participating in the services included: His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy; Archpriest Fr. Mioushegh
Der Kalousdian, Pastor Emeritus of the Cathedral; retired Archpriest
Fr. Arshag Daghlian from North Andover, Massachusetts; Rev. Fr.
Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral; Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian,
pastor of St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York; and Rev. Fr. Hovnan
Bozoian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

The Cathedral has been undergoing extensive renovations for more than
one year. The sanctuary is completed except for some finishing
touches. Work on the renovated hall and offices is continuing and
eventually a completely redesigned front entrance will be added.

In his message on Saturday His Eminence praised the Cathedral’s
community for their dedication to this truly massive project. He
expressed thanks to the donors

who made the renovation possible and the members of the building
committee who facilitated and guided the renovation, encountering many
unexpected "surprises" along the way which added to the time and
expense of the renovation. He noted how it was the Cathedral that
helped the survivors after 1915 as they arrived year after year in a
new land with no possessions or resources except the will to start
over again. During the Second World War the Cathedral saw many of her
sons and daughters leave to fight foreign tyranny and when the war
ended once again the Cathedral opened her arms to welcome Armenian
refugees from communist countries who were saved by the American
National Committee for Homeless Armenians (ANCHA). The Cathedral
became the first place of welcome in the new world.

On Sunday, Archbishop Oshagan celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
delivered the sermon to an overflow crowd of parishioners and
friends. His Eminence spoke about the significance of the Mayr
Yegheghezi (Mother Church). The Cathedral, he said, has been a
faithful and doting mother to us. She has nurtured our wounds at the
time of distress and has shared our happiness in our moments of
joy. He recalled how the Mayr Yegheghetzi kept the Christian faith
vibrant in the lives of her children, and the national dream alive,
including the symbols of statehood like the tricolored flag. He
warmly welcomed the presence of His Excellency Garen Nazarian, the
newly appointed ambassador of Armenia to the United Nations, wishing
him success in his important post.

His Eminence read an encyclical from Catholicos Aram I granting
Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian the honor of wearing the Pectoral Cross
which the Prelate presented to him.

Immediately after the Liturgy, Requiem Services were held for His
Holiness Karekin I, on the tenth anniversary of his passing, and for
the past prelates and the priests who served the Cathedral.

Madagh was offered in the newly renovated hall in thanksgiving of this
joyous and momentous occasion. His Eminence presented the highest
Prelacy award, "The Eagle of the Prelacy," to Mr. Setrag Agonian,
chairman of the building committee, for his extraordinary service to
the Cathedral and community. Note: A detailed press release and
photographs, as well as video clips will be on the Prelacy’s web page
next week.

PRELATE WILL PRESIDE OVER 75TH ANNIVERSARY

Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Massachusetts this weekend where on
Saturday he will preside over the 75th anniversary celebration of
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Springfield/Indian Orchard. The
anniversary celebration will take place at the Country Club of
Wilbraham.

On Sunday His Eminence will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver
the sermon at St. Gregory Church.

LINKED IN THIS WEEKEND

The 2009 Prelacy LINKED IN weekend will begin this Friday, September
25, and continue Saturday and Sunday. More than forty young adults
will gather at the Holy Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton,
Massachusetts, as part of the ongoing Year of the Youth activities.

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.

CLERGY MEDITATIONAL RETREAT

For the second year the clergy of the Prelacy will join in a
Meditational Retreat starting Sunday evening, September 27 to
Wednesday, September 30. The retreat will follow the Linked In
weekend for young adults at the same location, Holy Virgin Mary
Spiritual Vineyard in Charlton, Massachusetts. Archbishop Oshagan
will preside over the gathering.

MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE THIS SATURDAY

The Midwest regional conferences for pastors, boards of trustees, and
NRA delegates will take place this Saturday, September 26. The
conference is being hosted by St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

The full day conference, under the presidency of His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan, will include presentations on the following: Board
of Trustees Guidelines by Stephen Hagopian; panel discussion on
spiritual awakening, led by V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian; panel
discussion on administrative questions, led by John Daghlian; panel
discussion on Armenian education, led by Dr. Mary M. Olson, and a
presentation about the role of the Prelacy by Raffi Ourlian.

Archbishop Oshagan will travel to Michigan on Friday at which time he
will meet with the board of trustees of the Dearborn parish of St.
Sarkis.

MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER

The Mid-Atlantic regional conference will be hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 10.

GUROIAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT ST. VLADIMIR’S SEMINARY OCTOBER 3

Vigen Guroian, professor of Religious Studies in Orthodox Christianity
at the University of Virginia is the keynote speaker at St. Vladimir’s
Seminary on Saturday, October 3. Dr. Guroian is participating in the
Seminary’s Orthodox Education Day 2009 which is devoted to "God’s
green earth: Ecology and Theology." Dr. Guroian will speak at 1 pm on
the topic "Ecological blessings from the Garden." He has written two
books on this subject, Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening
and The Fragrance of God, both of which are available at the Prelacy’s
bookstore.

St. Vladimir’s is located at 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, New York
10707-1659.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, September 24, are: Wisdom 10:9-12;
Malachi 2:5-7; 1 Peter 5:1-7; John 10:11-16.

Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as
well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the
elders among you to tend the flock of God that is in your charge,
exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God
would have you do it–not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it
over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. And when the
chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never
fades away. In the same way, you who are younger must accept the
authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with
humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the
proud, but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, so that he way exalt you in due
time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter
5:1-7)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here (
4882/goto: elacy/PDF/dbr2009-9.pdf
).

ST. GEORGE THE COMMANDER

This Saturday, September 26, the Armenian Church commemorates
St. George the Commander. Although we do not have much information
about him, St. George remains a popular hero among all Christians. He
is considered to be the patron saint of soldiers and boy scouts. As in
so many instances, the Armenians have given St. George an Armenian
national character. The name George (Kevork) became popular beginning
in the 5th century.

HOLY CROSS OF VARAK

This Sunday, September 27, we commemorate the Holy Cross of Varak, a
feast unique to the Armenian Church. The Hripsimiantz Virgins, after
coming to Armenia, lived near Mount Varak. Hripsime always carried a
small wooden cross believed to have been made from a piece of the true
cross. On day, in order to escape persecution, she sought refuge on
the mountain where she hid the cross among the rocks before fleeing to
Vagharshapat. According to tradition, in the year 653, a hermit named
Todik found Hripsime’s hidden cross. He followed a brilliant light
that illuminated the mountain and guided him inside the church to the
altar where he found the cross. The light shone for twelve days. In
memory of this event, Catholicos Nerses established the Feast of the
Cross of Varak. He also wrote the beautiful hymn, "By the Sign of Your
All Powerful Holy Cross," (Nshanav Amenahaght Khatchit).

GORKY RETROSPECTIVE AT PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will present a major traveling
retrospective celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Arshile
Gorky (1904-1948). The first comprehensive survey of the work of this
artist in nearly three decades, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective will
premier at the Museum on October 21 and continue there until January
10, 2010. The exhibition will then travel to the Tate Modern, London
(Spring 2010) and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (Summer
2010).

Photo: Agony, 1947, Oil on canvas, The Museum of Modern Art, New
York; A. Conger Goodyear Fund. Copyright 2009 Estate of Arshile Gorky / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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: ).
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 11–84th anniversary banquet of St. Stephen’s Church, New
Britain/Hartford, Connecticut at Indian Hill Country Club, 111 Golf Street, Newington, Connecticut, at 12:30 pm. For information contact the
church office at 860-229-8322.
October 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 16-17–Annual Fall Fair Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 8 pm.
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–"On the Road," by Levon Shant, presented The Theater Group
of Hamazkayin, New York, directed by Dr. Herand Markarian. Sponsored by the Armenian Relief Society Mayr Chapter, this performance is a benefit for
St. Illuminator’s Armenian Day School. Performance begins at 8:35 pm at the Armenian Center, 69-23 47th Ave., Woodside, New York. For tickets ($25)
contact Sonia at 718-961-9550 or Alice at 516-676-6167.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 6-7–St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 53rd
annual bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown. Delicious lamb, losh and chicken kebab, kheyma, kufta and yalanchi. Meals
served from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm. Armenian pastries, gourmet foods, arts & crafts, auction, raffles, and more.
November 7–Christmas Holiday Craft Fair, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 4 pm.
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–Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts,
Fall Fest 2009, Friday, November 20, 5 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, November 21, 10 am to 5 pm. Armenian delicacies and dinners. For information
508-852-2414.
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])

QUALITY CHANGE SINCE 2007

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16:32:52 – 22/09/2009

Interview By Siranuysh Papyan

Interview with the critic, curator, head of the National Association
of Art Critics (AIKA Armenia) Nazaret Karoyan

In your opinion what is government and what are the mechanisms of
its formation and its functions?

Government is power which regulates interpersonal and inter-group
social and political relations. This regards public government
too. Depending on the source of the power, during the history there
were formed different types of government: monarchy – from symbolic
government based on religion up to the current republican one based
on Constitution.

If the symbolic government is based on natural force, so the natural
force formed during the Enlightenment age is based on symbolic
force. Michel Foucault, who introduced the term "bio-government",
thinks it is based on the same perception the believers perceive
their pastor. Until it was spread on public political life, it was
used on its structure as a technology.

According to the Constitution, our public government had to be also
shared. There are legislative, executive and judicial systems. In
reality the government is centered in the hand of one person-the
president and the rest are false.

In other words, do we have a false government today?

Absolutely right. Though we adopted a second Constitution which made
the republic half-presidential for equality between the two sides of
the government, but in reality the government in centered only in
president’s hands. If it is not false how we can explain the fact
that there is such a majority in the National Assembly supporting
the president that the legislative body cannot oppose the executive.

In your opinion, how can the public reclaim its right to form
government?

I think problems with reforming the government will be difficult to
solve and I am not even sure that they are possible to be solved
on political plane. Changes that are more fundamental are needed
not in the political but in cultural and value’s fields. Without
such changes, I do not think we will be able to get rid of those
historical-political inertias which were formed in the past hundred
years. And this problem of changes is the public’s problem and it
has to find forces and ideas to promote them.

In other words, does the change of government not solve all the
problems? And what issues will the opposition solve if it takes
the power?

The problem is not the change of government and neither whether HAK
will come to power. The problem is the way the change of government
happens. The problems is that those who take the power, the Congress
or a person or anyone else how legitimate they will be. Max Weber
proposed three types of legitimacy: legitimacy formed through belief
towards tradition, second- substance where the legitimacy is based on
personal peculiarities, third- constitutional, where the governmental
force and rights are set by the Constitution. I think we need the
last two types of legitimacy to change the situation in our country.

Do you mean the Constitution was not followed in the last twenty years?

During the years of the movement of Karabakh, people were able to
conquer their right to vote through struggle. But, beginning from ’90
elections did not bring to change of government. The pre-electoral
and post-electoral processes of the opposition and the numerous
applications sent to the Constitutional Court affirmed self-reproducing
of the ruling political force, so how can we speak about following the
Constitution? How can we dwell on the governmental legitimacy when in
result of each election, the public being unsatisfied with the ruling
force never achieved change of government? This is a simple sign that
the Constitution does not work. I think even the political forces,
even the ruling ones comprehend this very well. And in my opinion
this comprehension made Levon Ter-Petrosyan resign in 1998.

Is the public aware of decision-making process? Does it participate
in it? And in case the society is isolated from these works, which
is the mechanism of its isolation?

The public participates in decision-making processes through
elections. How can it demand transparency from the government in
decision-making process if the elections are false? The mechanism
to isolate the public from the government is to break the mechanism
of election.

In your opinion, is the current Armenian government ready to resist
to the home and external challenges?

No. it is not able to resist even the challenges appearing inside
the country. The members of our government reiterate the need to
form an economy based on knowledge, but they are unable to form a
proper educational system. We see who monopolized different fields
of the economy: people who have nothing in common with knowledge. The
government is unable to resist these challenges let alone to understand
or to be ready to overcome them.

Do you believe in 2012 transparent election?

In order to have national participation once four years, the
public activation has to be present always. Public figures,
public organizations may unite the public with their projects and
proposals. Public activity means daily active work, imagination,
and non-indifference towards current problems.

I think change of quality happened in public’s life after 2007. We see
not only formation of public groups but also their activities. And
now at least formally the government when bringing up issues meets
also with NGO representatives.

Until ’96, Armenia was considered a democratic island in the region. Do
you agree we lost democracy then?

Yes, I think after the war, in 1994-96, our society was unable to
solve the problem of commanders who won the war. And they took in
their hands the organization of public life. ’96 is its expression.