Category: News

MOSNEWS, Russia
July 26 2004
Moscow Evicts Armenian Refugees From Dorm – Paper
Created: 26.07.2004 13:37 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 13:37 MSK, 2 hours
15 minutes ago
MosNews
200 Armenian refugees living in a Moscow dormitory were told by city
authorities to leave in five days, Izvestia newspaper wrote Monday.
Moscow officials came to the dorm in the north of Moscow and ordered
the refugees to sign the papers on their eviction. Several
inhabitants agreed to sign them.
Three weeks before, police and emergency officials had evicted
Armenian inhabitants of one of the dormitory’s buildings, the paper
wrote. The eviction took place in the early morning. The law
enforcement officials threw bottles in the windows and broke the
doors. The belongings and furniture were thrown from the windows. The
building was immediately demolished. The evicted did not receive any
other place to live.
The refugees’ lawyer Igor Rakhmilov quoted by the paper called this
eviction illegal and said they had sent letters to the Moscow
prosecutor’s office, to the city administration and to the Russian
president Vladimir Putin.
In June 1990, then head of Moscow Council executive committee, now
Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov signed a decision on the temporary
accommodation of refugees. Armenians who had fled from Azerbaijan
were allowed to live with their families in Moscow dorms and register
there temporarily, the paper reminded. The 200 refugees living in the
dorm quoted by the paper say they were not registered.
The U.S. Congress had recently invited all Armenian refugees to the
United States for permanent residence. However, Moscow spokesmen of
the UN High Commissioner on human rights quoted by the paper said
that this program had been closed.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 26 2004
Armenian PM Visits Georgia

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan arrived in Georgia on
July 25 for an official two day visit.
He will discuss bilateral economic ties with his Georgian counterpart
Zurab Zhvania, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and other
officials.
A session of the bilateral governmental commission on economic issues
is also scheduled during the Prime Minister’s visit.
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili visited the Armenian
capital, Yerevan, last week.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
July 26 2004
Armenians weigh Kerry vow
Candidatesays he’ll recognize genocide
By Lisa Friedman
Staff Writer
WASHINGTON — Presidential candidate John Kerry has promised to
formally recognize the Armenian genocide if he is elected.
But presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush all
made similar vows as candidates — then once inside the White House
opposed resolutions acknowledging genocide.
Still, in interviews with Armenian-Americans across Southern
California and elsewhere this week, hopes for the Massachusetts
Democrat ran high.
“I think we might expect something different from candidate Kerry,”
said Peter Balakian, author of “The Burning Tigris: The Armenian
Genocide and America’s Response.”
“He spent his whole life immersed in the Armenian community,”
Balakian said, noting that Massachusetts is home to about 30,000
Armenian Americans. “This is a candidate with a great depth of
knowledge on this history.”
Armenians contend the Ottoman Empire began a centrally planned
slaughter in 1915 under cover of World War I in which about 1.5
million Armenians were killed. Turkey insists that number is
inflated, and that Armenians died along with thousands of Turks as
the result of crushing a mass uprising against the Ottoman Empire.
Reluctant to alienate Turkey, a valued U.S. ally, American presidents
have traditionally taken a middle road describing the casualties as
“massacres” but stopping short of using the term “genocide” and
opposing resolutions acknowledging a genocide.
The opposition cuts across party lines. Currently the Bush
administration and House Republican leaders are demanding an
amendment by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, recognizing the genocide,
be stripped from a foreign aid bill.
But in 2000 it was President Clinton who blocked a genocide
resolution by then-Rep. James Rogan, R-Glendale, from coming to the
House floor.
“It seems to be a nonpartisan issue. It’s more about the State
Department and the White House not having the courage to exercise its
moral leadership,” Balakian said.
Scholars and activists said they are pinning new hopes on Kerry
largely because he voted in favor of Sen. Bob Dole’s genocide
resolution in 1990 and currently is co-sponsoring a Senate version of
a resolution acknowledging the genocide.
“He has a long record of supporting issues of concern to the
Armenian-American community, and he comes from a state where
Armenian-Americans have been since the early 20th century, so there’s
some history there,” said Armen Carapetian, a spokesman for the
Armenian National Committee of America’s Western Region in Glendale.
Added Seto Boyadian, who heads the Armenian National Committee of
America’s San Gabriel chapter, “As long as he has been in public
life, he has always supported the genocide resolution. He’s
committed. He’s on the record.”
Others, of course, are skeptical that Kerry, whom critics have long
accused of flip-flopping on issues, will stand firm.
“The Democrats need the Armenian votes to regain their political
power. If elected, Kerry and his ilk will forget about the Armenians
and their genocide the next day,” Saakyan Gayane of Glendale wrote in
an e-mail.
Even those pinning their hopes on Kerry said they would not be
surprised if he changed his tune once elected.
“We know what pressures he will face on this issue. Those are real
pressures. The State Department won’t change its tune,” Carapetian
said.
Added Garbis Hindoyan, who heads the Armenian National Committee of
America’s East Valley chapter in Van Nuys, “We hope if he’s elected,
Kerry will keep his word.
“On the other hand,” he said, “we will not be shocked if he does what
Bill Clinton and George Bush did.”

Star of Mysore, India
July 26 2004
JUMBO YATRA TO MEET ARMENIAN LOVER
Mysore, July 26 (VG)- The staff at the Chamarajendra Zoological
Gardens are all agog with exictement as Komala, the eight-year-old
female elephant, is to go to Armenia.
According to Zoo Director Mr. Kumar Pushkar, Komala will be paired
with a nine-year-old Asian elephant at Armenia Zoo. The Armenian Zoo
had written to the President of India requesting for a female
elephant from one of the Zoos in India.
The Central Zoo Authority’s search for a healthy female elephant
ended in Mysore, Mr. Pushkar added.
“Central Zoo Authority’s Member-Secretary Dr. Rajesh Gopal and
Armenian Embassy’s Advisor Mr. Arman Kachatran selected Komala and
she would be air-lifted to Armenia within a month,” he informed.
Mr. Pushkar said Komala is a gift to the Armenian President from the
President of India. Giving away one elephant is not a loss as the
Mysore Zoo had successfully bred elephants in captivity. The Zoo will
be saving about Rs. 1.5 lakh spent on Komala’s maintenance.
The Central Government will bear the expenses of constructing an
enclosure required to airlift Komala to Armenia. Meanwhile, Komala is
being trained to remain in the enclosure for long hours as the
journey would take about 18 hours, Mr. Pushkar disclosed. The
pachyderm would be accompanied by a veterinarian and two keepers.
A doctor from Armenia and an elephant caretaker have arrived in the
Mysore Zoo to study the elephant’s behaviour and the ambience that
needs to be created at Armenia Zoo.

Drams for dollars
Yerkir/am
29 July 2004
The recent mysterious shakes of the Armenian drams and US dollars
exchange rates caused general concerns. Obviously, the whole thing
first of all impacts regular citizens.
However, in addition to commenting the fact, it is also important to
define the steps for solving the situation. Below are the comments on
this issue by economic advisor of Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s
(ARF) Bureau, doctor of economic sciences Ara Nranian.
Q: How do you estimate recent rise of the Armenian drams against US
dollars?
A: Obviously, this phenomenon leaves negative consequences on the
economy of our country. It also impacts many layers of the
society. Armenia’s exporters are also among the sufferers. Media has
much written about how local Armenians funded from abroad have
suffered from this shakes. Generally, most of the population, as well
as our economy experience losses, which we cannot afford.
Q: And what about the 500-600 million dollar transfers that our
citizens annually receive from abroad?
A: Note that such transfers have a long history and, in addition, our
economy has received other inputs like the one from the Lincy
foundation. At that time, the rate of dram was quite high. Also note
that our country’sforeign trade balance has a negative balance of
about half a billion dollars. Moreover, Armenia is a classic sample of
a country with a negative balance. These transfers are what
considerably relieves our social-economic tension.
Q: And how do you explain the recent shakes at the currency markets?
A: I would rather refrain from pointing out a specific reason. I
believe appropriate bodies should react to it. I mean react by
actions, but not just announcements. The present `indifference’
prompts low realization of certain officials of their duty in the life
of country’s economy.
Q: What about possible solutions?
A: I could discuss certain suggestions like increase of the quantity
of drams. However, the recent developments cause much more serious
issues. I am talking about the current policy of `hard dram credit.’
Therecent developments make ambiguous its applicability. And now the
state must have its final sayin this situation, moreover given the
fact that these developments do not match the governmental and central
bank document statements of 2004.

Armenia’s speaker, Thai parliamentarians discuss cooperation
Arminfo
26 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The speaker of the Armenian parliament, Artur Bagdasaryan, today
received a Thai parliamentary delegation, led by Senator Sanit
Kulcharoen.
Artur Bagdasaryan told the meeting that he hoped that the visit of the
Thai delegation would foster the development of interparliamentary
cooperation, the Armenian National Assembly press service told
Arminfo. In particular, the meeting concentrated on the need for the
two countries’ parliamentarians to cooperate in international
structures. The speaker also drew attention to the need to deepen
bilateral Armenian-Thai economic cooperation, in particular in high
technology, the diamond and jewellery industries. The need to step up
cooperation in tourism, culture, ecology and science was also
stressed.

President Kocharyan holidays in Armenia
Mediamax news agency
26 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan began his holiday today, which he
will spend in the republic.
The head of state will be on holiday for 10 days, the presidential
press service told Mediamax news agency.

KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT MEETS US NATIONAL INTERESTS, AMERICAN MEDIATOR
STATED
26.07.2004 14:07
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement by means of negotiations within the frames of the OSCE Minsk
Group (MG) conforms to the US national interests, MG US co-chair Steven Mann
told Regnum IA. In his words, US pursues a long-term policy in references to
this region. US has no interest in events that can threaten stability in the
region as it assists energy projects, one of them being Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline, which is important for the whole region, the diplomat said.
When replying to the question “whether the US will support Azerbaijan of the
latter decides to restore its territorial integrity”, Mr. Mann stated that
the US position remains unchangeable – the conflict should be resolved
peacefully. At that he called the parties “to sense and compromise”. “Only
by making concessions it is possible to find a solution admissible for the
conflicting parties. This is the opinion of the co-chairs. Only this way we
can achieve long-term peace in the region. The conflicting parties chose the
OSCE to resolve this problem and we are trying to settle the conflict
peacefully and will support the decisions taken by the parts”, the American
diplomat stated. As for the new proposes, they always exist, he said.
However everything depends on the attitude of the parties and readiness to
accept them, he noted adding that the co-chairs are to continue
consultations with the parties within next few weeks.

SKINHEADS, WHO KILLED AN ARMENIAN, STOOD TRIAL IN MOSCOW
26.07.2004 17:56
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Moscow Municipal Court sentenced 5 young men, who
brutally killed an Armenian in one of the local suburban trains, to 9-14
years of imprisonment. As reported by Moskovskiy Komsomolets Russian
newspaper, a band of young men aged 17-22 ranked themselves as members of
neo-Nazi organization of skinheads and had the aim “to clear” the local
electric trains of Caucasians. On December 12, 2003, on entering
Petushki-Mocsow suburban train, the murderers saw a man with “Caucasian
appearance” and knocking him off his feet trampled on him. The maimed man
died after suffering in the aid station for 2 hours. At those days a
35-year-old Azeri was killed in the same way.

California Courier Online, July 29, 2004
1 – Commentary
Speaker Hastert Misleads Twice,
Opposing Armenian Genocide Bills
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
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2 – Evereg-Fenesse Educational Society
Celebrates 125th Anniversary on Labor Day
3 – St. James Church Honors
Pastor For Elevation
4 – AYF Plans Annual
‘Little Armenia’
Clean-Up, Sept. 25
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1 – Commentary
Speaker Hastert Misleads Twice,
Opposing Armenian Genocide Bills
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Four years ago, when Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
(Republican-Illinois) needed the votes of Armenian-Americans in a tight
congressional race in Glendale, California, to secure the Republican
majority in the House of Representatives and his own position as Speaker,
he promised to bring the then pending Armenian Genocide Resolution – which
had been languishing in the House for two years – to a floor vote before
the November 2000 elections.
However, a couple of weeks before the elections and just minutes before the
resolution was scheduled for a vote by the full House, Speaker Hastert, at
the request of Pres. Clinton, reneged on his promise and pulled the
Resolution from the floor, blocking its assured passage.
Hastert then shamelessly made a second deceptive promise. “The U.S. House
of Representatives will undoubtedly return to consideration of this
important issue,” he said. In 2003, after the House Judiciary Committee
adopted a Resolution on the U.N. Genocide Convention that included a
passing reference to the Armenian Genocide, Hastert blocked its
consideration by the full House.
To make matters worse, two weeks ago when the House adopted an amendment
proposed by Cong. Adam Schiff (Democrat-Calif.) to the foreign aid bill,
prohibiting the Turkish government from using U.S. foreign assistance to
lobby Congress against legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
Hastert revealed his most antagonistic position yet on the congressional
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
In a joint statement with Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Republican-Texas) and
Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Republican-Missouri), Speaker Hastert attacked not
only the Schiff amendment, but also, even more surprisingly, the U.N.
Genocide Convention Resolution (H.Res. 193) that mentions the Armenian
Genocide. Here is the full text of the statement issued by the House
Republican leadership:
“We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision
in conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have
indicated their strong opposition to the amendment. We have also conveyed
our opposition to Chairman Kolbe and he has assured us that he will insist
on it being dropped in the conference committee.
“Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the
deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship
rests should not be disrupted by this amendment.
“On its face, the amendment is meaningless. Current U.S. law already
prohibits foreign governments from using American foreign aid to lobby. But
we understand the political motivation behind the amendment, and for that
reason, we will insist that it be dropped.
“Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in
any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment.
“Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H.Res. 193, as reported
out of the Judiciary Committee in April, during the remainder of this
Congress.”
In addition to the House Republican leadership, the Bush Administration
also opposed the Schiff amendment, even though Pres. Bush, as a candidate,
had promised to support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Richard
Boucher, the Spokesman for the State Dept., issued the following statement:
“The Administration strongly opposes this amendment which seeks to restrict
U.S. assistance to Turkey.
“It should not become law. The amendment is detrimental to the cause we all
seek: reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia in pursuit of regional
peace and economic cooperation. Turkey and Armenia have been pursuing these
goals through direct meetings.
“Turkey, our key NATO ally, and Armenia, our close friend, are partners in
the Global War on Terror and in advancing democracy, prosperity and
stability in the Caucasus. Our goal is to bolster cooperation between these
two countries rather than to separate them.
“We welcome the statement by House Speaker Hastert, Majority Leader DeLay
and Majority Whip Blunt citing their strong opposition to this amendment
and their commitment to insisting that the amendment be dropped in
conference. We welcome the Leadership’s recognition of the important
relationship with our reliable ally and friend Turkey and of the need for
continued close economic and security relations between our countries.”
In the next three months, as Armenian-Americans prepare to cast their votes
in the congressional and presidential elections, they should reward all
those who supported the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and punish
those who opposed it. This is not a partisan issue. The Schiff amendment
would have not passed without the support of many Democrats as well as
Republicans in the House.
In this particular episode, the good guys who backed this measure were:
* Cong. Adam Schiff (Dem.-CA) made extraordinary efforts to secure the
passage of his amendment that for the fourth time, and not the first (as
some members of the media have mistakenly reported), puts the U.S. House of
Representatives on record in recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The
other three times were in 1975, 1984, and 1996.
* Cong. Frank Pallone, Jr. (Dem.-N.J.) strongly supported Schiff’s efforts
with remarks on the House floor and subsequently sent a strongly worded
letter to Speaker Hastert blasting him for blocking both the Schiff
Amendment and the Genocide Resolution (twice).
* Cong. Joseph Crowley (Dem.-NY) delivered very strong remarks on the House
floor in support of the Schiff amendment.
* Cong. George Radanovich (Rep.-CA) joined Congressmen Schiff and Pallone
in co-signing a letter urging other House members to sign a “Dear
Colleague” letter to Speaker Hastert.
Here is the list of the bad guys who opposed the Schiff amendment:
* Speaker Hastert (Rep.-Ill.), a repeat offender.
* House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Rep.-Tex.).
* House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Rep.-Missouri).
* Cong. Jim Kolbe (Rep.-Arizona), the Chairman of Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee, issued a statement opposing the Schiff
amendment after its passage, when the Republican leadership put the heat on
him for not blocking it on the floor. He said: “As the chair of the pending
conference committee on the Foreign Operations bill, I will insist this
meaningless language be removed in conference.”
* The Bush Administration for opposing both the Schiff Amendment and the
Genocide Resolution.
I urge everyone to send a WebFax via to Speaker Hastert,
Majority Leader DeLay and Majority Whip Blunt expressing your
disappointment at their opposition to the Schiff amendment. I would also
urge all Armenian-American organizations to sign a joint letter being
currently circulated to Speaker Hastert asking him to reconsider his
opposition to the Schiff amendment and the Genocide Resolution.

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2 – Evereg-Fenesse Educational Society
Celebrates 125th Anniversary on Labor Day
By Mireille Kalfayan
PASADENA, Calif. – The Evereg-Fenesse Mesrobian-Roupinian Educational
Society is celebrating its 125th Anniversary, on September 3, 4, and 5,
2004 (Labor Day weekend), during its 17th Triennial International
Convention at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
One would wonder why young, modern, educated Diaspora-born Armenians would
dedicate themselves to propagate this “old country” organization, and
maintain its ancestral traditions with the same awe and affiliation as
their immigrant parents and grandparents?
Is it in respect or nostalgia of our childhood memories at hyrenagitz
(compatriotic) picnics and dances, or of our parents’ and grandparents’
dedication to safeguard old traditions and history, or simply fascination
of the mystery of its long abiding spirit in our veins?
For a daughter of Everegtsi mother and Fenessetsi father, asked to write
about the history and growth of this organization, unfolding the mystery
revealed a culture deep in tradition and its relentless urge for education.
Starting from its geography, its history and legends, to its inception in
the diaspora, Evereg-Fenesse presents the magical mystery of faith and
survival of all Armenians. Here is Our Story.
Geography & History
Evereg is located south of Ceasaria, separated by Erjias Lehr (Arkeos as
the Greeks called it), the highest mountain of the region, covered always
with snow. It is believed that Noah’s Ark had first hit this mountain and
the Nahabed having said, “Arachinnen eh ahs,” his words had been converted
into “Erjias.” Before the Turkish expansion, in the years around 1285,
Evereg had been inhabited by Greeks who had built towers on the mountain
and waterways down to the towns. It was conquered by Turkish generals Dev
Ali, Kheder Elias, and Sheikh Ali, and all its Greek inhabitants massacred.
Dev Ali’s followers settled on the mountain, taking over the towers and its
waters, calling the town Develi.
When war was over, skilled workers were needed for rebuilding. Armenians,
being known for their skills, came and settled there, but half an hour
south of Develi, in the valley where the Greeks had built a church and a
waterway running down to it from the mountain. The church had been
destroyed, but the water was available. The Turks settled on the south of
that waterway. The Armenians settled on the northside, expanding later
over its hills to the other side. Armenian immigrants coming from different
regions were identified by their names; for example, those from Persia were
called Barsamenk, from Tehran, Tarkhanenk, from Tomarza, Domartsook…. These
Armenians co-existed peacefully with the Turks, free to practice their
religion, and living on gardening and commerce.
Two hundred years later, Armenian immigrants from Konya came to settle
above the hills where the Turks’ homes ended, calling it Fenesse. So the
two towns of Evereg and Fenesse, although near each other (about a
10-minute walk) were separated by Turks. Both Evereg and Fenesse prided on
highly skilled craftsmen:
ironsmith, cobbler, carpenter, hairdresser, tailor, weaver, etc. Each had
its own “shooga” with many shops and stores. Each had its own church, both
named St. Toros, with their adjacent schools Evereg-Mesrobian School, and
Fenesse-Roupinian School.
Origins of the Organization
The Evereg Fenesse Farmers Union was first formed in 1861 in Istanbul to
help compatriots in their region. Founded and chaired by Garabed Panossian
and Kevork Kelejian (a “gesaratsi”), it gathered 300 members of cobblers,
painters, “chalmale, shalvarle,” poor people who had come to seek work in
Istanbul. The union
Rented two restaurants and opened one tobacco store, collecting donations –
“passing a hat at the restaurant.” Six months later, it had raised 28,000
ghroosh, for the villages of Evereg and Fenesse. This union dissolved
later.
During 1870’s, when a general movement among the Armenians in Istanbul
aimed at elevating the standards of education in Armenian schools
throughout Turkey, the Everegtsis and Fenessetsis separately raised funds
and sent qualified teachers to their homeland. Thus in 1878, were founded
the Evereg-Mesrobian and Fenesse-Roupinian Educational societies, named
after the schools in these two villages.
With many Everegtsis and Fenessetsis escaping the growing strife in Turkey
and moving to America, Evereg-Mesrobian was founded again in New York on
October 1, 1906, extending chapters later to other states. Many of those
chapters later dissolved except for Detroit which kept sending help to its
school in Turkey till 1914. The society then sent money to its chapter in
Beirut to distribute to needy emigrant families. It also provided tuition
support to elementary school students of Everegtsi or Fenessetsi descent
who attended the AGBU Armenian school in Detroit and to colleges in
Michigan. “When we came to America in 1928 with my husband, there were two
societies, Evereg and Fenesse, but we attended each other’s activities,”
explained 92-year-old Mrs. Nercessian, wife of Nercess Nercessian, a long
time secretary of the society.
When all Armenians from New York and Michigan went to California, they
started working together and suggested joining the societies. One reason,
Mrs. Nercessian explained, was that as most Everegtsi and Fenessetsi
families had intermarried, the funds received from each society by their
members were being duplicated. Considering this and the fact that these two
communities had lived side by side and shared the joys and sorrows of life
together as one community, the need of a merger was felt more and more
strongly. Therefore, on April 17, 1955, authorized representatives of the
Mesrobian and Roupinian Associations met
in New York and signed an Agreement of Unification, drawing a constitution
and by-laws, which was ratified at a joint convention held on September 1,
1956.
The joint Evereg-Fenesse Mesrobian-Roupinian Educational Society still
stands to this day in many chapters in Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, and
Beirut, continuing to raise funds and supporting Armenian education and the
traditions of the culture.
For Information about the Convention, call Margaret Mgrublian at (626)
798-4480, E-mail: [email protected], or Houry Kurkciyan at (818)
346-0893, E-mail: [email protected]
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3 – St. James Church Honors
Pastor For Elevation
LOS ANGELES – The St. James Armenian Church recently held a banquet
congratulating the Rev. Fr. Arshag Khatchadourian on his elevation to Arch
Priest. Over 300 hundred quests were in attendance. Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate, Armenian Church of North America, celebrated the Divine
Liturgy and honored Fr. Arshag with an encyclical issued by Catholicos
Karekin II.
On this occasion, Archbishop Derderian honored the members of the St. James
Parish Council, the Ladies Society, the Memorial Fund and the Chairmen of
all auxiliary bodies for their dedication to St. James.
Archbishop Derderian also presented Mary Najarian with an Encyclical
Blessing from Catholicos Karekin II for her medical and humanitarian
efforts both here and in Armenia.
In his congratulatory remarks, Archbishop Derderian stated that Fr. Arshag
is the embodiment of the Christian faith, love and hope; commending him for
his continued support and dedication to the church; and that the presence
of the faithful certainly testifies to the outpouring love of his people.
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4 – AYF Plans Annual
‘Little Armenia’
Clean-Up, Sept. 25
LOS ANGELES – The planning and organizing of the Second Annual Little
Armenia Clean Up has begun, the Armenian Youth Federation announced last
week. The Clean Up is scheduled for Sept. 25. The Clean Up is scheduled for
Sept. 25, starting at 8:30 a.m.
The clean up, cosponsored by Council Member Eric Garcetti’s Office, will
follow an opening ceremony, including remarks by Garcetti. Volunteers for
the clean up will work to remove litter and unwanted weeds from the streets
and sidewalks.
The clean up, a project of the AYF Little Armenia Beautification Program,
will include the renewal of the “Welcome to Little Armenia” banners placed
on various major intersections of Little Armenia.
“It is an honor to the Armenian American community to have an area of the
Los Angeles named after our homeland,” said Vicken Sosikian, Chairman of
the AYF Western Region. “Since October of 2000, we have enjoyed this honor,
and feel that we not only need to give back to Little Armenia and its
residents, but also to the city of Los Angeles.”
The AYF counts on the support of the Armenian community to make this
community outreach event a success. Those who are interested in
volunteering for the clean up or contributing to the effort in anyway
should email the AYF at [email protected].
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