Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

President to Attend ICO Summit
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 24 2004
President Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to attend a summit of heads of
the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) member states in Doha,
Qatar on November 29-30.
In his speech, Aliyev will brief the event participants on the grave
consequences of the Upper Garabagh conflict.
He is also expected to touch upon issues related to fighting
international terrorism and problems faced by Muslim countries.

Titillating Turkey Trivia
Brox International Press – Features & Discoveries of the World
11-24-2004
The American turkey was accidentally named after the country. After
the Spanish first found the bird in America more than 400 years ago
and brought it back to Europe, the English mistakenly thought it was
an African bird they had named for the country it was shipped through;
Turkey. The name stuck even after they realized the birds weren’t
the same.
The highest point in Turkey is Mount Ararat which is 5,166 meters
tall. The remains of Noah’s Ark are thought to be buried on this
mountain.
Turkey produces 65% of the world’s hazelnuts.
The national drink of Turkey is called ‘çay’ and is a type of tea
drunk black without milk.
Popular sports in Turkey include oil wrestling and camel
wrestling. Camel wrestling consists of two camels pushing against
each other until one is knocked over or runs away. Weightlifting and
wrestling are the sports that Turkey usually wins at the Olympics.
Turkish Bath Houses have operated for hundreds of years. They are a
cross between swimming pools, health clubs and communal baths, and
often have very plain exteriors with beautiful, ornately designed
interiors.
Nearly 99% of people are Muslims, and any Turkish city skyline will
include the many brightly colored domes of many mosques, which can
have diameters up to 30 m.
Turkey still has many unresolved issue with neighboring Christian
Armenia, including well-documented massacres and deportations that
Armenians refer to as the First Genocide of the 20th century.
Ingenious population of Kurdish minority is not recognize by Turkey
as a distinct nation group, even though they comprise about 30 percent
of the south-eastern provincial population.
The ancient city of Troy was made famous in Homer’s The Odyssey
and The Iliad, written between 1500 and 1200 B.C. Though initially
believed to be mere legend, a German explorer discovered what some
think to be the ruins of Troy on the west coast of Turkey in 1871.
–Boundary_(ID_xx12IgLWey/t3/EWDoptfA)–

Soren Albert “Al” Toroian dies; well-known in public relations
By JOHN M. MCGUIRE
Of the Post-Dispatch
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Nov 24 2004
They called him “Soup” because he loved the steamy liquid, and in a
sense, he was a bowl full of interesting behaviors.
The son of Armenian immigrants who grew up in the city’s Baden
neighborhood, Soren Albert Toroian dropped out of Beaumont High
School in his freshman year. But within a decade, Al Toroian found
not only a pursuit, but a passion. He attended the University of
Missouri’s journalism school on the GI bill and emerged in just three
years with a bachelor’s degree that sent him into a career in public
relations. Over nearly a half-century he became one of St. Louis’
best-known and beloved PR practitioners.
Mr. Toroian fronted for many causes, but he was a character in his
own right – a man who not only loved soup, but also cheap cigars,
poker and gin rummy.
His friends and associates remembered him as a man who worked
tirelessly on behalf of his clients, but was never tiresome in the
way he went about it. “He was a straight shooter,” said Raymond A.
Deffry, of Clayton, a former newspaperman here and a longtime public
relations employee at the old McDonnell Douglas Corp.
“Al loved journalists,” said Patrick E. Gauen, an assistant metro
editor at the Post-Dispatch. He considered them friends, not just
targets for a pitch.
“He was as proud of his children as a father could be, and great
supporter of all young talent,” Gauen added, noting that his daughter
Diane Toroian Keaggy is a Post-Dispatch reporter.
Toroian Keaggy said that her father’s “proudest moment came when he
talked history for three hours with former President Harry S Truman
on a train from St. Louis to Sedalia.”
PR and schmoozing was Mr. Toroian’s life. He started with the National
Society of Public Accountants, and then went into his own PR business,
followed by working for railroads, such as the old Missouri Pacific
and Wabash.
In 1961, Mr. Toroian began 12 years as a vice president and account
executive for the old Winius-Brandon advertising and PR agency,
followed by a stint with the Missouri Botanical Garden.
“I’d known Al since he was working for the Wabash Railroad, and he was
an outstanding man who I think was a man of integrity, a man whose
word was his bond,” said George Killenberg, a former Globe-Democrat
managing editor.
Twenty years ago, Mr. Toroian hired Killenberg’s daughter, Susan
Killenberg McGinn, and she became a member of the Washington University
public affairs office, where Mr. Toroian spent his final 20 years in
public relations. He retired in June 1994.
“His contribution to the success of the university – both in St.
Louis and across the nation – was an important component in the
institution’s rise to greater recognition,” said M. Fredric Volkmann,
vice chancellor for public affairs.
Along with his daughter, Diane, among the survivors are another
daughter, Rosanne Toroian, of New York; a brother, Haig Toroian,
of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and his former wife, Delores Schnietz, who
married Mr. Toroian in 1967. They were divorced 29 years later but
remained devoted friends.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New US Ambassador Presents Credentials
Laksamana, Indonesia
Nov 25 2004
Laksamana.Net – America’s new ambassador to Indonesia, B. Lynn Pascoe,
presented his credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at
the presidential palace in Jakarta on Thursday (25/11/04), the US
Embassy said in a statement.
“Ambassador Pascoe is looking forward to working with the government
of Indonesia and its people to build upon, strengthen and expand the
good and important relations between the two countries. He is also
looking forward to meeting with the members of the media at an early
opportunity,” said the statement.
Pascoe is no stranger to Southeast Asia, having served as ambassador
to Malaysia from January 1999 to August 2001.
Following the Malaysian posting, he was deputy assistant secretary in
the State Department’s European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau. His areas
of responsibility included countries in the Eastern Mediterranean,
the Caucasus and Central Asia.
He earlier served as US co-chair of the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group that sought to resolve the
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
>>From 1993 to 1996, Pascoe was director of the American Institute
in Taiwan. He has also served as principal deputy assistant secretary
in the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau.
In over three decades of his diplomatic career, he has held positions
on the Soviet and China desks, and has been posted to Moscow, Hong
Kong and Bangkok, as well as to Beijing twice, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur.
Born in Missouri on July 7, 1943, Pascoe received his Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Kansas and his Master of Arts degree
from Columbia University. He has also attended the US National War
College. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and Russian. He and his wife have
two grown daughters.
The US Embassy in Jakarta was closed Thursday in observance of
Thanksgiving Day.

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Nov 24 2004
Telethon paves way for Armenia
Armenia Fund hopes to raise $10M with annual telethon, which will
include many Glendale faces.
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — When the Armenia Fund holds its 10th annual Thanksgiving
Day telethon on Thursday, it expects to have its most successful
fundraiser to date, with a goal of $10 million. But the one-day event
has really been four years in the making.
In 2000, Maria Mehranian, a La Cañada Flintridge resident, led a
delegation of state and local officials to Armenia. While there, she
met with the executive director of the Armenia Fund, an organization
that is trying to raise $25 million to complete a 105-mile highway in
Armenia.
Mehranian made an impression. Eight months ago, the Armenia Fund
asked Mehranian to head the organization’s Western United State
region.
Mehranian, who is a managing partner of Cordova Corp., implemented a
bold plan with the $10-million goal. She decided to use an intensive
outreach program to boost awareness of the Armenia Fund and raise
money before the actual Thanksgiving Day telethon.
“We have created a database of 90,000 people, and they have already
received three pieces of mail in the last 45 days,” Mehranian said.
“This year, the goal of the telethon is much bigger than we have ever
collected.”
Through the outreach effort, Mehranian said the Armenia Fund has
already come close to last year’s total of $6.5 million. The money
will be used to complete the remaining 56 miles of a 105-mile
north-south highway in Armenia. The highway links 150 towns and
villages and is expected to be vital to the country’s economic
development.
The telethon, which runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is broadcast from
Glendale, will be televised in 23 American cities, as well as Europe,
the Middle East, parts of South Africa and Armenia.
In Glendale, the telethon will be broadcast on KSCI Channel 18. It
will also be carried on the internet at .
As usual, the event will have a Glendale flair to it. Local
television host Larry Zarian, a former Glendale mayor, will serve as
the master of ceremonies, and a handful of community leaders are
expected to appear on the telethon between sets by prominent Armenian
entertainers, including Aram Asatryan, Shushan Petrosyan and comedian
Vahe Berberian.
City Councilman Rafi Manoukian taped a spot for the telethon.
“Most individuals of Armenian descent around the world would want to
make some kind of contribution,” Manoukian said. “Whether you’re
Irish or Italian or anything, we all have an emotional attachment to
those countries, and the same goes for Armenians.”
–Boundary_(ID_qSzx2l8rA3ZfndL3whBbkA)–

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
November 23, 2004
___________________
EASTERN DIOCESE’S MEMORIAL TO CATHOLICOS VASKEN I WILL FEATURE
DISTINGUISHED MAIN SPEAKER, U.S. AMB. HARRY GILMORE
Renowned Pianist Seta Karakashian Will Offer Musical Tribute to
Catholicos Vasken on Sun., Dec. 5
* * *
The memorial service and program honoring the blessed memory of His
Holiness Vasken I, the late Catholicos of All Armenians, has already
elicited an overwhelming response from the public. Certainly, the
esteem and love felt by Armenian Americans towards Catholicos Vasken I
has only magnified in the 10 years since his passing.
The special memorial event will take place on the afternoon of Sunday,
December 5, at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
in New York City. The Divine Liturgy and requiem service will begin at
10:30 a.m., in St. Vartan Cathedral, celebrated by His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate. During the service, an Encyclical
from the current Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II,
will be read to the congregation.
The religious service will be followed by a memorial luncheon and
program, at 1:00 p.m., in Haik and Alice Kavookjian Auditorium. The
program for the day will include remarks, musical performances, as well
as a video retrospective of Vasken I.
The Diocese is honored that the distinguished main speaker at the event
will be Ambassador Harry Gilmore, the first U.S. Ambassador to the
Republic of Armenia, who took on his duties shortly after Armenia gained
its independence. Amb. Gilmore’s tenure of service coincided with some
of the final years of Catholicos Vasken–years filled with momentous
events–and the ambassador counts himself as a great admirer of the
Catholicos he witnessed.
Leading the musical portion of the program will be the renowned pianist
Seta Karakashian, whose most recent recording has been very well
received. She will play Harutyunyan’s “Hovuh puchets lerneroum” (The
Wind Blew in the Mountains) and “Sasountsineri baruh” (The Dance of
Sassoon).
In addition, the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir, under the direction of
Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, will present Tchaikovsky’s “Kyrie Eleison”
and Mekanejian’s “Etchmiadzin Cantata.” Maestro Mekanejian–who was the
longtime conductor of the choir of Holy Etchmiadzin during the
pontificate of Catholicos Vasken–selected the Tchaikovsky piece because
it was greatly admired by Catholicos Vasken, who always requested to
hear this work in musical programs.
Vasken I is remembered as an exceptional, unique personality in the
modern history of the Armenian Church, who preserved and maintained the
prestige of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under difficult
circumstances. Through his pontifical journeys abroad, he established
an enduring bridge between the homeland and the diaspora.
This inspiring legacy will be remembered on Sunday, December 5, at the
Diocesan Center, 630 Second Avenue (corner of 34th Street), in New York
City. The Divine Liturgy begins at 10:30 a.m., and the memorial
luncheon at 1:00 p.m. For information, call (212) 686-0710, or log onto
the Eastern Diocese’s website:
–11/23/04
* * *
PHOTO CAPTION: Ambassador Harry Gilmore, the first U.S. ambassador to
the Republic of Armenia, will be the distinguished main speaker at a
memorial luncheon recalling the inspiring legacy of His Holiness Vasken
I, of blessed memory, the late Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. The event marking the 10th anniversary of the His Holiness’
passing will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at New York’s St.
Vartan Cathedral complex.
PHOTO CAPTION: Renowned pianist Seta Karakashian will perform during the
musical portion of the Eastern Diocese’s tribute to the memory of
Catholicos Vasken I, on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at New
York’s St. Vartan Cathedral complex.
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN CULTURE HOLIDAY COMPLETES IN TEHRAN
YEREVAN, November 17 (Noyan Tapan). The final arrangement dedicated
to the Armenian Culture Holiday was held at the “Hovhannes Tumanian”
hall of the Armenian “Chharmahal” Union of Tehran on November 11. The
festival was organized by the Cultural Committee revived by the
Education Council of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran.
The previous arrangements of the cultural festival were held on
October 22 and 29. Competitions on recital and dance were organized
on November 11, and competitions on songs and musical instruments
were held on November 12.
According to the “Alik” (“Wave”) daily newspaper of Tehran, about 250
students showed their abilities at the arrangements. The performance
of over 40-people choir of the “Mariamian” male school distinguished
itself among the performances.

TURKISH MINISTER SAYS PRIVATE AIRLINE ALLOWED TO FLY TO ARMENIA
Anadolu Agency
Nov 20 2004
ANKARA, 20.11.04. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said on
Thursday [18 November] that the Armenian Airlines had not made any
request about flights to Istanbul so far.
Replying to questions of journalists, Yildirim said, “if the Turkish
Airlines (THY) decide to start flights to Armenia, the Armenian
Airlines can start flights to Istanbul. Any land and air border
between Turkey and Armenia are not open. However, a private airlines
company has been allowed to fly to Armenia. In the course of time,
Armenia will see that reaching the world is possible only via Turkey.
Then problems will be resolved.”

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Nov 18 2004
Armenian Women’s Welfare serves luncheon/auction
The Armenian Women’s Welfare Association Inc. has announced that Gene
Lavanchy, Fox-25 morning news anchorman, will be guest auctioneer at
this year’s annual luncheon benefit. Janet Jeghelian, former WRKO
talk-show host, will be the mistress of ceremonies.

The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Marriott
Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton. A reception and silent
auction bidding will begin at 11 a.m. followed by luncheon, live
auction bidding, and the Super Raffle drawing. Super Raffle prizes
include: first prize, $2000; second prize, a diamond cross necklace;
third prize, TiVo and a six-month subscription; and many more prizes.

The annual luncheon/auction is a major source of fund-raising
that will further the AWWA’s mission and will also benefit the
Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain.

The luncheon/auction planning committee is chaired by Janice
Boornazian (Belmont) and Diane Dinell (Needham). Elaine Patapanian of
Belmont is also a member of the committee.

For more information, call Janice, 617-796-6134.

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines
Nov 15 2004
WORLD YOUTH CHESS
Camacho sparks strong RP finish
By Roy Luarca
Inquirer News Service
Editor’s Note: Published on page A27 of the Nov. 15, 2004 issue of
the Philippine Daily Inquirer
CRETE, Greece — Team Philippines, led by Chardine Cheradee Camacho,
came through with a strong finishing kick in the 2004 World Youth
Chess Championships Saturday at the Creta Maris hotel here.
Camacho humbled top seed Reddy Tejeswini of India to place fifth in
the girls’ under-10 class, while Wesley So and Prince Mark Aquino
also hurdled their Round 11 matches to land 13th in the boys’
under-12 and under-10, respectively.
The trio’s combined effort gave the Filipinos their worthiest showing
yet in the annual tournament which lured 1,028 players from 84
countries to this historic resort island.
Third victory in a row
The 10-year-old Camacho, pride of Caba town, La Union province,
secured her third straight win in 54 moves of an English opening and
wound up with 8.0 points, the same total posted by China’s Xu Huahua
and Moldova’s Diana Baciu. Xu took fourth when the tiebreak was
applied.
Woman Fide Master Mary Arabidze of Georgia set a record with a
perfect 11 points
Print this story
Send this story
Write the editor
View other stories
in the girls’ under-10, 2.5 clear of fellow Georgian Nino Anakidze
and Poland’s Alexandra Lach.
So dumped Turkey’s Ogulean Kanmazalo in 35 moves of a Sicilian to
notch 7.5 points and better his 19th place effort in last year’s
edition. That time So, who was supported by Tagaytay Mayor Abraham
Tolentino, copped 7.0 points.
While Camacho and So were expected to do good, Aquino was a
revelation.
Revelation for RP team
The 9-year-old Aquino, who learned to play the game only last year,
whipped Armenia’s Tigran Petrosian, namesake of the late world
champion from 1963-68, in 27 moves of a Sicilian-Dragon to finish
with 7.5 points.
Rosalinda Camacho happily informed husband Conrado of the fine effort
of her daughter Chardine, a sixth-grader at Aringay School of
Science, Arts, Technology and Trade, in this five-division
tournament.
Other Philippine results saw Kimberly Jane Cunanan (girls’ under-14),
Jayveelyn Fronda (girls’ under-18) and Jesus Alfonso Datu draw their
games.
Leo Daylo Jr. won in the boys’ under-14, while Christy Lamiel
Bernales (girls’ under-12), Geneline de Ramos (girls’ under-16) and
Joseph Julius de Ramos (boys’ under-18) dropped their final round
matches.
Bernales posted 5.0 points, Cunanan 4.5, Geneline de Ramos 4.0,
Fronda 4.0, Datu 4.5, Daylo 4.5 and Joseph Julius de Ramos 4.5.
Division winners
Other girls’ division winners were Poland’s Laudia Kulon in the
under-12 with 9.5 points, Indian WGM Dronavalli Harika (9.0) in the
under-14, Georgia’s Bela Khotenashvili (9.5) in the under-16 and
Polish WIM Johanta Zawadzka (8.0 points) in the under-18.
The boys’ champions were China’s Yu Yangyi with 9.0 points in the
under-10, China’s Zhao Nan in the under-12 (9.5 points), Russian IM
Ildar Khairullin (8.5) in the under-14, Israel’s Maxim Rodshtein
(8.5) in the under-16, and Polish IM Radoslav Wojtaszek (9.0) in the
under-18.
Elated by the youngsters’ performance, National Chess Federation of
the Philippines president Go Teng Kok said he would set a welcome
party and arrange a courtesy call with First Gentleman Jose Miguel
“Mike” Arroyo for Team Philippines.
Team Philippines will take a nine-hour ferry ride to Athens Saturday
night and leave the 2004 Olympic site by plane at 5:55 p.m. (11:55 in
Manila) en route to Frankfurt. They will arrive home on Monday
evening.