Category: News

HACHIKIAN TRAVELS TO SOUTHLAND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ANCA
LOS ANGELES, CA, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The Chairman of the Armenian
National Committee of America Ken Hachikian joined the San Fernando
Valley and Burbank ANC chapters for two separate, but equally
successful, fundraising events on July 12th and 13th, the Armenian
National Committee of America Western Region reports. The two local
ANC chapters, in cooperation of the ANCA-Western Region office,
sponsored the events to raise money to expand and enhance the ANCA’s
effort to advance Armenian issues in Congress, the White House, and
among think tanks in Washington, DC. Speaking to the attendees at each
event, Ken Hachikian highlighted the recent accomplishments of the
ANCA. Notably, he highlighted the passage of H.R. 193, which marks the
15th Anniversary of the U.S. adoption of the U.N. Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. Hachikian reminded the
audience that this pivotal first step towards the passing of a
resolution that will ultimately gain recognition of the Armenian
Genocide would not have been possible without the efforts of local ANC
chapters and the dedication of thousands of ANC activists. Stressing
the many challenges that lie ahead for Armenia and the Armenian
Diaspora, Hachikian called attention to the significance of grassroots
activism and urged supporters to continue their advocacy on behalf of
the Armenian Cause. The San Fernando Valley ANC’s event, which was
held in Encino, attracted over 60 ANCA supporters and raised over
$10,000. The Burbank ANC event raised in excess of $6,000 for the
ANCA.

HOMENETMEN CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
NORTHEAST GLENDALE, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). Homenetmen Glendale Ararat
Chapter held a 25th anniversary celebration 27 July at Glandale High
School. The event included live cultural music, dancing and sporting
events. It lasted from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and by midafternoon,
organizers said more than 1,000 people had walked through the
entrance.The event was for the community but it also was a chance to
bring past and current membership together to see how the organization
has grown. “We wanted to create an environment in which the membership
would see each other and create a momentum for the 25th anniversary
gala in October,” Glendale News Press LATimes.com quoted anniversary
celebration organizer Armen Abrahamian as saying. This year, the
anniversary has already included reunions of past members and
volunteers. The chapter, the largest of its kind in the Western United
States, is celebrating 25 years of providing a place for
Armenian-American boys and girls – many from south Glendale – to get
involved in scouting and athletic activities. Homenetmen, also known
as the Armenian General Athletic Union & Scouts, is a global
organization founded in 1918. The mission for the local chapter has
remained the same since it started 25 years ago, when it started out
of small homes and rented space in Glendale. “I think we’ve done a
good job with educating kids while being able to give them enough to
do to help them not get into trouble,” Abrahamian said. Many members
are now in their 50s, and mentoring a new generation at 3347 N. San
Fernando Road. “This place is a second home for us,” said Andre
Pashai, a longtime member who is now coaching the basketball team that
Homenetmen officials said will represent Glendale this year in the
Pan-Armenian Games in Armenia. “It is a great idea,” said Narek
Shahmoradian, 13, who plays tennis and basketball. “It will stop kids
from getting into spraying graffiti on walls and getting into gangs.
It makes the community better.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANIZATION OF IRAN SET TERRITORY OF CLOISTER OF
ST. THADDEUS AS HISTORICAL MONUMENT
TEHRAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The cultural heritage organization of
the Islamic Republic of Iran set the territory of the cloister of
St. Thaddeus as a historical monument, as well as set the order of
protection of the territory and architectural standards. The Public
Relations Department of the Embassy of Iran in Armenia reported,
quoting IRNA News Agency, The cloister of St. Thaddeus has unique
importance for the Armenian nation of the whole world, and every year
numerous Armenians and believers of other Christian confessions go on
a pilgrimage to the cloister and hold religious ceremonies these
days. According to the report of the Information Center of the
cultural heritage organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, “each
step, which will damage the appearance aand foundation of the church,
will destroy its general and natural image, as well as the building of
temporary and permanent construction, any interference into the
historiacal image of the church, including reconstruction, widening,
repairs and renewal is prohibited without the permission of the
cultural heritage organization.” The cloister of St. Thaddeus, which
is one of the most important and famous churches of Iran, is situated
in the north-east of the Chaldran Valley, and in terms of its
construction view is like the Mother See Cathedral of Echmiadzin. The
current building of the church consists of two parts: old and new. The
sector with black stones was constructed in 1329, and the new sector
was completely constructed of white stone due to Abbas Mirza King in
1820.

FUND FOR ARMENIAN RELIEF IMPLEMENTS “HUMANITARIAN AID TO NAGORNO
KARABAKH” PROGRAM AT EXPENSE OF $15 MLN ALLOCATED BY USAID
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
should implement the “Humanitarian Aid to Nagorno Karabakh” program of
large-scale construction and restoration at the expense of $15 mln
allocated by USAID starting in 2003 during five years. Levon
Lachikian, the Spokesman of FAR, told NT’s correspondent that FAR
offices have already been opened in Artsakh within the framework of
the program, and the entities, where construction work should be
carried out, are being selected and studied now. The program involves
water systems, the educational, health and other spheres.

HRANT SHAHINIAN’S MEMORIAL PLAQUE OPENED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The prominent Armenian athlete, many
times Olympic, world and European champion, skillful sport manager
Hrant Shahinian would have been 80 years old on July 30. Although he
died still seven years ago, he is remembered by many as a wonderful
man and specialist. The opening of the memorial plaque in the house of
Shahinian in Yerevan’s Charents street was intended to immortalize
that memory. The Chairman of the government-affiliated Sport
Committee, Armenian NOC President Ishkhan Zakarian, Sport Committee
Vice-Chairman Mikael Ispirian, Yerevan Vice-Mayor Grigor Mirzoyan,
well-known sportsman recognized as the best sportsman of Armenia in
the 20th century Albert Azarian made speeches at the event.
H. Shahinian’s widow made a speech of appreciation and gave her thanks
for the event. The author of the memorial plaque is architect Tigran
Barseghian, the sculptor is Gagik Stepanian.

“THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SHUSHI IS ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF THE ARTSAKH PROBLEM,” REPRESENTATIVES OF “SHUSHI” FUND
EMPHASIZE
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). “The Artsakh problem will remain
unsettled if Shushi isn’t reconstructed,” Sevak Artsruni, Executive
Director of the “Shushi” Fund, Chairman of the “Yerkir” (“Country”)
Union, said during the July 29 press conference. Bakur Karapetian,
Co-Chairman of the Fund, stressed that if 5-6,000 refugees from
Stepanakert and Baku lived in Shushi in 1994, the population of the
town makes only 3 thousand people now. Greguar Galust, other
Co-Chairman of the Fund, a representative of the Armenian Catholic
Community of Lebanon, noticed that there is colossal difference
between Stepanakert and Shushi now. Sevak Artsruni noticed that the
purpose of the Fund is to reconstruct the town, and a special program
is being elaborated for it. According to the Executive Director of the
Fund, during his meeting with NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian the
latter reported that 100 mln dollars are necessary for the
reconstruction of Shushi. The budgets of Armenia and Karabakh can’t
allow such a sum. That’s why the Fund hopes for the Diaspora’s
support. After preparing the program on Shushi reconstruction, the
Fund will submit it to the Diaspora for the receiving of financial
support. Bakur Karapetian reported that last year 324 monuments were
registered in the territory of the town by the Fund established in
2001. Archeologists discovered 200 graves of the Bronze and the Middle
Ages in the territory of Shushi Plateau. According to Bakur
Karapetian, the researches showed that the history of Shushi goes back
to the 8th century B.C. The Fund registered, photographed and noted in
the maps above 500 monuments. The next stage includes the evaluation
of the state of monuments after which zonation will be carried out for
their preservation.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT OF CATHOLICOSATE OF GREAT CILICIAN HOUSE ORGANIZES
LECTURE DEDICATED TO STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION
ANTELIAS, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The Youth Department of the
Catholicosate of the Great Cilician House started the initiative
dedicated to struggle against drug addiction. The first arrangement
entitled “To Know and Prevent Drug Addiction” was recently held at the
“Hakob Ter-Melkonian” hall of Burge Hamud, it was sponsored by Bishop
Gegham Khacherian, Head of the Armenian Diocese of Lebanon, and was
presided over by Minister of Youth Affairs and Physical Training of
Lebanon Sepuh Hovnanian. Father Geghard Kyusbeghian, executive of the
Youth Department of the Catholicosate of the Great Cilician House,
stressed the importance of the increase of the self-consciousness of
the people to drug addiction and similar social acts. A documentary on
damages caused by drug addiction was shown after the speech of the
father. This film provides information about different types of drugs
and damages caused by them to the people’s organizm and their mental
world. The section of lectures followed the show of the
film. According to the press divan of the Catholicosate of the Great
Cilician House, the Youth Department of the Catholicosate will come up
again with new initiatives within the framework of struggle against
drug addiction in the near future.

armenianow.com
July 30, 2004
River Beds: Avan Dzoraget puts guests in the center of nature
By John Hughes
ArmeniaNow reporter
Five months before the latest Tufenkian Heritage Hotel was ready to
receive guests, its Yerevan office was already getting requests for
lodging.
“By February, we were getting emails and phone calls already making
reservations,” says Tufenkian public relations spokeswoman Lilit Hakobyan.
In fact, the Avan Dzoraget is not expected to officially open until
mid-October. Still, it has been receiving guests since the first of July –
visitors who indulge the finishing touches of construction for a chance to
overnight in unique lodging.
A river runs through it
Tucked snuggly into the side of a mountain in the picturesque region of
Lori, Avan Dzoraget enjoys the reputation of its sister Heritage Hotel in
Tsapatagh, on Lake Sevan.
But except for their shared consistency of quality, the hotels could hardly
be compared.
“If we have the spectacular view in Lake Sevan, here, we are in the gorge
and it is completely different,” Hakobyan says.
And completely complementary to Dzoraget’s mountainous environment.
Carefully chosen to blend with nature, Avan Dzoraget’s large-stone gray
façade could camouflage into its companion hillside, except for the
trademark Tufenkian clay-colored tile roof alerting passersby on the main
road to Tbilisi.
The hotel has 34 rooms (the same number as Marag Tsapatagh) and hugs a bend
in the Debed River on what used to be a football field. It is also in front
of residences that house former workers of a nearby hydroelectric plant.
Hakobyan said Tufenkian staff was initially concerned about blocking
villagers’ river view by putting up the hotel. But, prior to starting
construction two years ago, owner James Tufenkian held meetings with
villagers, who consented to the location – especially since it brings 55
jobs, only two of which went to employees from Yerevan.
“The location of the hotel fits our overall concept of being in places that
were historical crossroads,” Hakobyan says.
Just about 30 kilometers from the Georgia border, the company hopes to
attract Tbilisi-Yerevan travelers (and is even considering expanding the
restaurant’s all-Armenian menu to include some Georgian dishes). The capital
cities connection (with constant meetings between internationals in Tbilisi
and Yerevan) might also have been behind the thinking of including an
80-person conference hall as part of Avan Dzoraget.
Dzoraget is the third (there’s also Avan Villa in Yerevan) of a five-hotel,
$11 million project Tufenkian () launched three years ago. A
fourth hotel is planned for Areni and a fifth, also in Tsapatagh.
The hotel’s market strategy is to offer luxury accommodations in an
unexpected location. And, even though new and old guest houses are scattered
throughout Lori, the latest addition is an anomaly.
Rough nature and classy comfort
“At first, locals didn’t understand our concept,” Hakobyan says. “They didn’
t understand why the hotels were located so far (about three hours in the
case of Dzoraget) from Yerevan.
“But eventually they started taking visiting Diaspora there and then started
visiting, themselves.”
The result for the hotel project has been a 60 percent occupancy in the
first year of business for the facility in Tsapatagh “even in the winter”,
Hakobyan says.
When it officially opens in October, Dzoraget is expected to include a
swimming pool, sauna, basketball, football, tennis and a bar located in an
old bomb shelter. Already, though, its 70-seat restaurant has been
functioning since June. Hakobyan says distant plans call for a 150-seat
restaurant that will be located in a building separate from the hotel.
Consistent with the two other hotels, Dzoraget rooms feature distinct
furnishings designed by the owner, using natural materials found in Armenia.
Included are hand-made bed linens, and carpets produced by the Tufenkian rug
factory, its first Armenian enterprise.
Room rates (including VAT and breakfast) are from $58.80 to $142.80.

Woman, 27, is latest victim of attacks on Russian journalists
The Independent – United Kingdom;
Jul 31, 2004
Andrew Osborn in Moscow

NATALIA ROMANOVA, a well-respected financial journalist at the weekly
Russian business magazine Company, had just walked into the stairwell
of her apartment inn Moscow with her day’s shopping when an attacker
struck.
The man waiting for her said nothing, stole nothing and betrayed no
emotion. Instead, he silently administered a savage beating to the
27-year-old reporter, repeatedly punching her in the face and head. He
left her body crumpled on the floor, her face a bloodied mess. She is
still in hospital today.
Police have opened a criminal investigation into Wednesday’s attack,
made public yesterday, but Ms Romanova’s colleagues think they know
why she was beaten so viciously. Her attack, they suspect, is the
latest in a long line of assaults, some of which end in death, on
Russia’s beleaguered journalistic community.
Earlier this month, Paul Klebnikov, the American-born editor of the
Russian edition of Forbes magazine, was murdered and the corpse of an
Armenian journalist, Paul Peloyan, was found dumped on Moscow’s outer
ring road.
Sixteen journalists have lost their lives in dubious circumstances in
Russia since 2000. Police in St Petersburg are currently searching for
Maxim Maximov, an investigative reporter who has been missing for over
a month.
Ms Romanova’s boss and chief editor, Andrei Grigoriev, believes she
was targeted because she wrote something that offended someone in
Russia’s powerful and often shadowy business world.
“In almost every issue, we carry something about business conflicts,
about the struggle for some kind of new market, about a clash of
interests,” he said yesterday. “I’m fairly certain the attack was
linked to her work. It could be simple hooliganism but it seems
unlikely.”
Ms Romanova was holding a purse, keys and an expensive mobile phone
when she was attacked, but nothing was taken.
Mr Grigoriev says it is difficult to say which article might have
triggered the attack but notes that the magazine has covered the
recent banking crisis in Russia a lot and that the sector is “under
real strain”.
“Sometimes you can write something that looks innocent but which has
serious and decisive implications for somebody else. You just never
know.”
Although Mr Grigoriev says Russia’s journalists are not panicking yet,
he says the situation is worrying. “Journalists have been beaten and
killed before, in the 1990s, but it appears to be starting again.”

armenianow.com
July 30, 2004
Vacation Armenian Style: Up on ” Miracle Mountain”
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter
“From the top of Azhdahak the world has a completely different picture. It’s
there where you feel the kind of wind which evokes unusual feelings in your
soul and prepares you to fly with it. You look at it and imagine how the
volcano erupted. Only from that height one can notice the flawless work of
nature.”
Fifty-five year old Gegham Harutyunyan of the village of Geghard is not a
poet, but speaks poetically about his mountain home.
Gegham lives in a village in the highlands,1,900 meters above sea level. But
he is used to even higher territories since he is the man everyone comes to
if they want to go up to the mountains.
For Armenian vacationers Gegham is a guide to that “flawless work of nature”
. He knows the territory by heart. He says he spent his life wearing out
those mountains.
Small lakes add to the mountain’s magic
The road to Azhdahak, the highest peak of Geghama mountain range, goes right
through the village where Gegham lives. Before going up the next day, the
famous village guide draws the approximate route on a paper. On a table he
lays out a physical map of Armenia and explains in details the disposition
of the ranges. Then he calls the principal of the village school Vigen
Taroyan since only his “Vilis” car can make that road.
In order to go up to the mountains one has to wake up early in the morning
when village roosters start crowing between night and dawn. Gegham’s wife
gives home made cheese and lavash to eat on the way. Gegham doesn’t forget
to take several bottles of Armenian beer. He says all of it tastes
differently in the mountains.
The road up Geghama is difficult. Vigen always warns to hold on and sit
firmly. Passing the rocky roads the “Vilis” drives higher with difficulty.
In some places some place one has to walk.
“Last time I escorted like this a group from Moscow to Azhdahak. There were
about 10 people. They were riding bicycles. They also had a small map. They
got to Azhdahak, saw the Vanki Lake and from there they passed through
mountains to Martuni, then they were to go up the Selim mountain pass and
down to Yeghegnadzor. They were circling around Armenia,” tells Gegham.
In the mountains there’s a whole parade of wildflowers. Different kinds of
flowers grow at the bottom, but the higher you go the more they gradually
disappear. The foot of every mountain is covered with only one special kind
of flower which you won’t come across on another height. From higher above
fields of flowers are like multicolored blankets dressing the foothills.
Vigen’s brother, Vahagn Taroyan, who is a historian, says, “The higher you
are, the colder the air is and they cannot sustain that climate. No flowers
ever grow on slopes of Azhdahak.”
In the mountains one can also come across yaylavors (Yezidis, who take
cattle to the mountains and live there during the summer). Gegham says
pastures here provide wonderful conditions for cattle. Shepards’ dogs with
shortened ears run towards the car and keep on barking.
“Their ears are long and when covered their hearing becomes worse. They cut
them so that the dogs can hear better. Some say it is so they can avoid
being bitten by wild animals. They control the cattle so that especially at
night wolves don’t get them,” says Vahagnn.
Several months during the year Yezidis’ tents break the mountains’ solitude.
They go up to the mountains with their families and for a while they live
isolated from the world, but merged with the nature.
History rocks
Towards the West next to Azhdahak is the Paytasar ( Horseshoe Mountain),
which gets its name by its shape.
“There are two Paytasars, a big one and a small one. Water always collects
on the small one, they are volcanic cones, meaning small lakes on mountain
peaks,” explains Gegham.
At the bottom of Paytasar there’s the tent of a Yezidi sheikh. Here, they
know well the guide of Geghard. One of the Yezidi women treats the hikers
with newly made lavash, and even the bread has a different taste in the
mountains. The air is so cold that a person must constantly move to stay
warm.
At the bottom of Paytasar is found a pile of black stones, petroglyphs (rock
carvings).
“We call those ‘chngli stones’. These stones are covered with black color,
traces of volcanic lava, so if you scratch the stone you can see the basalt
underneath,” says Gegham.
He thinks petroglyphs are similar to observatories on which ancient people
depicted whatever they saw in the sky, constellations of Libra, the Great
Bear. Gegham says he has brought many people to show them the petroglyphs.
Years ago a professor from Warsaw University came here and Gegham took her
near Naltapa, which is farther and there are bigger “chnglis” there. Last
year he brought members of the Archeology Institute here.
The petroglyphs include hunting scenes, deer and sheep.
“Now there aren’t so many different animals in this area. Supposedly, once,
in these very areas in warm and damp conditions of the land there were
forests, rich with various animals. Otherwise, people wouldn’t simply come
here to make petroglyphs,” says Vahagn.
He also tells how last summer they brought here a tourist from Egypt to the
mountain site.
“Her name was Hurik, she was Egyptian Armenian, an archeologist. I don’t
even know where she found out about those petroglyphs. She came, took
pictures in one day and then went back,” says Vahagn.
Ahead is Azhdahak, surrounded with many mountains. Their peaks are embracing
the grey and white clouds. In some places one can notice large layers of
snow that rebel against the warm summer weather.
The old name of Azhdahak is Gzldagh. It is the third highest peak in Armenia
after Aragats and Kapuit Jugh (in Zangezur). The mountain is cone shaped and
is 3,598 meters high. On the north side of the peak starts the Gavaraget
river. The ascent towards Azhdahak is rather hard. It stars raining.
“We look at the neighboring mountains bottom-up, but from the top of
Azhdahak we look at them top-down. From that height one can see the small
natural lakes on mountain peaks. It’s an indescribable view,” Gegham says.
The weather is getting worse. The ascending has to stop for a while. Gegham
describes the lake on the top of Azhdahak.
“The mountain is an extinguished volcano. And the lake atop it covers 2
hectares and is rather deep. The ice on the western side melts very late,
meaning there’s ice almost throughout the year. It melts late July or early
August.”
He says that on the left to Azhdahak on the top of one of the mountains
there’s another natural lake which is called Kani Gyol and which melts more.
During Soviet years there was also a weather station there.
At the bottom of Azhdahak there are 10 dragon-stones. Dragon-stones are
pagan stones which for ancient Armenians symbolized the God of Water in the
shape of a fish. Vahagn says dragon-stones are evidence that in this area
there were old settlements where dragon-stones were carved.
“When they came from the Archeology Institute in autumn, they never managed
to figure out more clearly what century it belongs to,” adds Gegham.
Shepherds make temporary homes
Many years ago Gegham went there with architect Sahinyan who did the
reconstruction of Garni temple. The architect tells him that dragon-stones
are even older than Urartu kingdom and have a history of 4-5,000 years.
During Soviet years Gegham took one of those dragon-stones to his office and
put it in a pool. However, someone betrayed him.
“Some police came and took me. It’s an old story. Now, that very
dragon-stone is in the pool next to Aragast cafe,” he says.
An artificial reservoir built during Urartu kingdom (which reached back to
at least 9 th century BC) is also situated at the bottom of Azhdahak. After
adopting Christianity Geghard Monestary took the lake under its control that
is why until today it is called the Vank Lake.
“The waters of Vank Lake irrigating Garni fields reach ‘Tokhmakh Gyol’ (a
territory in Yerevan) and from there to Dalma Gardens. The Lake is filled
with water of the melted snow in the mountains,” says Gegham.
Next, trekkers can see Spitakasar (White Mountain) which is completely from
obsidian. Vahagn says they also often call that stone”Satan’s Nail”. A
little bit aside there’s the Karmir Sar (Red Mountain) which is 3,000 meters
high. On the top of Karmir Sar there’s also a wonderful lake. Gegham says he
went up there with his wife. They call it Red since it consists of volcanic
slag. On the other side of the mountains is the Gegharkunik region.
Seven springs start from this area. The biggest of them is called Shah
Bulakh, which in Armenian means Spring of Shah.
A little bit above from the western shore of the Vank Lake there are the
tombs of Assyrian kings, which are scientifically proved. According to
Gegham, in 1980s employees of the National Academy of Sciences came and did
serious studies.
“These are round stones, a little high. It’s several of them, not one. They
said these are Assyrian, since before Assyrians have been reigning in
Armenia for centuries,” he explains.
The road back to the village is easier. The “Vilis” descends easier. Gegham
stops it somewhere in the mountains and shows a place like a cave and says
that it’s a natural refrigerator.
“There’s no water, once there used to be a spring here, which dried out. Now
there’s simply a draft, which makes the air even colder.”
He places the beer bottles right there and only thirty minutes later it’s
ready for drinking.
It’s a pity the weather wasn’t good enough. The whole of Armenia is seen
from that height, Lake Sevan on one hand, Ararat valley and Yeghegnadzor on
the other. In a word, on the top of Azhdahak you interact with the real
miracle of life,” says Gegham.