ARMENIA, IRAN TO BUILD HYDROPOWER PLANT ON BORDER RIVER OF ARAKS
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
December 5, 2006

The Armenian authorities have approved a draft inter-governmental
agreement with Iran on joint construction and use of the Megrinskaya
hydropower plant on the Araks River.

This yet-to-be plant will be Armenia’s most effective one, Armenian
Energy Minister Armen Movsesian said.

The capacity of the plant’s each unit on different banks of the Araks
River will reach 140 megawatt.

Movsesian pointed out that one of the project’s advantages is that
Araks is a full-flowing river and the hydropower plant’s capacity
will be equally distributed in different seasons.

The two parties have already completed a feasibility study and
conducted a geological survey, and the construction works will begin
in 2007.

Iran will extend a 150-million-dollar loan to Armenia that the latter
will pay off by energy supplies.

The two countries will also launch the construction of a third
high-voltage electric power transmission line that will link Armenian
and Iranian electric power systems. The countries have different
consumption regimes – Armenia’s energy demand increases in winter,
while Iran’s demand is on descent at that time.

The construction of a new electric power transmission line will
provide good opportunities for synchronizing energy systems of the
three neighbouring countries. Movsesian said it would be possible to
unify with Russia’s energy system via Georgia.

METALLURGICAL PRODUCTION GROWS 5.4% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-OCTOBER 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-October 2006,
metallurgical production made 92 bln 412.3 mln drams in Armenia,
exceeding by 5.4% the respective index of last year. According to the
RA National Statistical Service, metal ores of 90 bln 631.9 mln drams
were extracted in January-October of this year, or by 4.4% more than
the respective index of 2005, while the same indices with respect to
finished metal production made 7 bln 933.7 mln drams and 37.8%. In
January-October 2006, out of the main products of metallurgical
industry, production of molybdenum concentrate grew by 40.4%,
that of copper in copper concentrate – by 10%, while production
of ferromolybdenum and convertor copper declined by 12% and 8.6%
respectively on the same period of last year.

SHOEBOXES GIVE LASTING PLEASURE

Bath Chronicle, UK
December 5, 2006 Tuesday

More than 8,000 gift-filled shoe boxes are on their way to Eastern
Europe from Bath district which is a new record.

Once more, the generous people of Bath and the neighbouring towns
and villages in BA3, have donated a record number of gift-filled
shoe boxes for the Samaritan’s Purse project and Operation Christmas
Child. Some 5,700 boxes have been processed in Bath during the past
three weekends of November, packed into cartons and sent on their
way to needy children in Eastern Europe.

In addition, more than 2,300 shoe boxes have been taken directly to
the area warehouse in Melksham for processing and dispatch, making
an amazing total of more than 8,000.

The area shoe box appeal was launched in June at Bath Abbey by the
Mayor of Bath, Cllr Mrs Carol Paradise, and we are grateful for
her enthusiastic support which has been matched by so many people
throughout the city and beyond.

Most of our shoe boxes are already on their way in containers or
lorries to Armenia, Serbia and Ukraine, with the remainder expected
to go to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania very soon. Each of the boxes
will be hand-delivered to children in orphanages, hospitals or poor
communities, irrespective of faith or race.

Sincere thanks are due to everyone who filled a shoe box with such
care, or gave extra gifts, and to the many local knitters, who
throughout the year, have made hundreds of beautiful hats, mittens,
scarves and puppets to delight the children.

We have had great support from the staff of local shoe shops who have
saved shoe boxes for us and from the many churches and businesses
that have acted as drop-off points for the shoe boxes, around the
city and in Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Wellow.

In particular, we should like to thank Oldfield Park Methodist
Church, and St Luke’s Church in Bath, for providing the venues for
the processing weekends.

A team of 12 volunteer drivers have picked up shoe boxes throughout
our district and taken them to the processing centres, where over
the three weekends, nearly 100 volunteers have worked very hard,
but very happily, checking, taping and packing the 5,700 shoe boxes
– thank you all so much, it really has been a wonderful community
effort to show our love, care and concern for desperately poor,
sick, abandoned and lonely children far away, all of whom will soon
be thrilled to receive their presents. Many of the children will be
receiving presents for the very first time in their lives.

DAVID AND PAT DAWSON
Bath district coordinators
Operation Christmas Child
Bath

Armenia salutes Shahgeldyan again
Monday, 4 December 2006

FC MIKA striker Armen Shahgeldyan has been named as
Armenia’s Player of the Year for the second time
having first landed the award while at FC Ararat
Yerevan 13 years ago.

Second award
The experienced striker, who has scored eight times in
48 international appearances for Armenia, got 14 goals
in 26 domestic appearances this season. The
33-year-old, who was also Armenia’s Player of the Year
in 1993, received 191 points in the poll organised by
the Football Federation of Armenia in which coaches,
club presidents, referees and football writers all had
a vote. FC Pyunik defender Robert Arzumanyan came
second with 161 points while third-placed FC Banants
midfielder Samvel Melkonyan earned 101 points.

uefa.com 1998-2006.

COMMUNIQUE ON NEW SKYSCRAPER NEAR BUCHAREST CATHEDRAL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 2006 (VIS) – At midday today, the Holy See Press
Office released the following communique:

"Concerning the matter of the construction of a skyscraper near the
historic Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph in Bucharest, Romania,
the Holy See Press Office wishes to specify the following:

"At the end of April this year, the archdiocese of Bucharest informed
the Secretariat of State about the construction of a building – of
19 floors above ground level and four below – at a distance of less
than 10 meters from the northeast wall of the Cathedral of St. Joseph
which, as a consequence, risks being irreparably damaged. Concerns
are aggravated by the precedent of the Armenian church, which suffered
grave damage for similar reasons. On various occasions, the archbishop
and the auxiliary bishop of Bucharest have come to the Secretariat
of State to provide updated information concerning this case, with
which the apostolic nunciature to Romania is also concerning itself,
and about which the Holy See has received appeals from other parties.

"Following this, the Secretariat of State has not failed to take
the appropriate steps with the Romanian authorities, both directly
and through their embassy to the Holy See, to ask for the immediate
suspension of work and the withdrawal of the relative authorizations,
also in view of the provisions of the 1993 European Union Treaty
concerning Legal Conditions and Measures for Preserving Cultural
Heritage, to which Romania adhered, and the State Commission Report
for Monitoring Building.

"The Holy See is aware of the resolution with which the Romanian Senate
approved the report of the commission of inquiry, which requests the
immediate suspension of work. This should be followed by a decision
on the part of the appropriate authorities.

"The Secretariat of State continues to follow the situation closely,
in the hope that a speedy and satisfactory conclusion to this delicate
question may be found, in the above-mentioned terms, for the protection
of the cathedral of Bucharest, of the historical heritage it represents
and of the values of faith it embodies, not only for the Catholic
community but for all the Romanian people."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

5 December 2006

CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRIMATESHIP OF HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP
AGHAN BALIOZIAN

Sydney, Australia – It was almost twenty-five years to the day when
35 year old Father Aghan Baliozian was installed the new Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand in
an investiture ceremony.

To celebrate this milestone anniversary, a gala banquet was held
to honour the Primateship of Archbishop Baliozian on Saturday, 25
November, 2006 at Sheraton on the Park Hotel, Sydney.

It was a night of reflection and celebration to tribute not only the
head of the Armenian Church in the Asia-Pacific but the leader of
Armenian Communities in the region.

Present at the banquet were heads of churches in Australia including
His Eminence Cardinal George Pell (Catholic Archbishop of Sydney);
government officials; clergy; community members and representatives
of Armenian organisations; overseas visitors from India, Hong Kong and
China; Chairman of the Armenian Church Council of Victoria; family and
friends. The elegant evening was accompanied by cultural performances,
tributes and presentations.

What became a running theme throughout the evening and a realisation
for all was the great impact Archbishop Baliozian has made to the
development of the emerging Australian-Armenian community, the bridges
he has built between Armenians in Asia and his role as an envoy for
ecumenism. This was highlighted through a visual presentation of "His
Life Journey" which saw the passage of a young boy with the baptismal
name of Yeghia Baliozian whose only interest was to play football to
the leader who became the head of the Armenian Community of Australia.

Throughout the last 25 years under the guidance of Archbishop
Baliozian, community infrastructures in the parishes of Australia
have blossomed with the establishment of Armenian schools, cultural
centres, welfare programs and community services. Under his mentorship,
Australian-Armenians developed a distinct profile in broader society
which exemplifies a community devoted to contributing positively to
the mainstream yet valuing the opportunity of multiculturalism policy
to preserve a cultural identity.

Archbishop’s contribution also to the ecumenical movement and exposing
the Armenian Apostolic Church to sister churches within Australia and
worldwide was a focal point of tribute. Through his ecumenical work
he has participated in major international assemblies and conferences,
as well as contributed to local activities bringing forth the views of
the Armenian Apostolic Church in inter-church settings. His fervent
participation in ecumenism has been a catalyst for a secondary role
he now finds himself represented in interfaith dialogues on both
national and international platforms. Archbishop Baliozian was one
of a ten person delegation appointed by the Australian Government
to represent the nation at two Asia-Pacific Interfaith Dialogues
on cooperation and building on peace and harmony. He most recently
represented His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin at the Eighth
World Assembly of Religions for Peace in Kyoto, Japan.

As Primate and Pontifical Legate of India and the Far East he has
brought together pockets of Armenians particularly in South-East
Asia to rebuild an Armenian identity in this region. Through
his personal engagement and connections, Archbishop Baliozian has
increased communication and cooperation among these tiny communities,
bridged distances of isolation and filled cultural voids. He has led
groups of pilgrims from Australia to India and Singapore on various
occasions including the 150th and 170th anniversary celebrations of
St Gregory the Illuminator Church in Singapore, the first church to
be built in the country.

During the evening, many tributes were received congratulating the
Archbishop including letters of commendation from the Prime Minister of
Australia, the Premier of NSW, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem,
fellow Primates of Armenian Dioceses, government ministers and
diplomats from Armenia and the Diaspora as well as many a personal
tribute.

However, at the pinnacle of the evening was the reading of the
Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians which noted Archbishop’s fervent spirit to tirelessly
avail himself and his abilities to strengthen our Church and its
foundations and through God’s abundant blessings allow him to bring
fruitful service to the Diocese of Australia.

The evening came to a close but the celebrations continued into Sunday,
26 November when Archbishop Baliozian celebrated the Divine Liturgy
at the Church of Holy Resurrection in the morning. In his sermon,
the Archbishop reflected on the most powerful commandment of our
Lord Jesus Christ, "love" . love for our Heavenly Father and love for
each other. "Love is the essence of life" he said, "it is what makes
our lives whole, it is what makes us superior in the animal kingdom.
Love one another and live with love for one another. With love comes
commitment and with commitment, the spirit of sacrifice. "

Following holy mass, the Archbishop met with the parishioners in the
church hall to receive congratulations and a celebratory toast on
the milestone anniversary.

Thanks to the spirited effort of the Diocesan Council and organising
committee, a memorable weekend befitting the occasion was marked in
the pages of the Australian-Armenian Community.

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-10) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

STATEMENT BY
FOREIGN MINISTER VARTAN OSKANIAN
AT THE 14TH OSCE MINISTERIAL
December 4, Brussels

Mr. Chairman,

The agenda before this 14th Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the OSCE
has far-reaching implications. In some cases, it extends and deepens our
past commitments. In others, it expands the scope of our overall
pre-occupations with security, and its complex, multidimensional
components.

The decisions we are about to adopt on the exploitation of children, hate
crimes, human trafficking, trafficking in small arms and illegal weapons
are extensions of existing domains. The important decisions on organized
crime, transportation and energy security are clearly additional
directions, claiming distinct attention.

It has been an arduous process addressing the issues that the Ljubljana
Ministerial tasked us with. Regrettably, the search for a middle ground
has inevitably led to the weakening of some modest but substantive
proposals, inspired by the Eminent Persons~R approach. Mr. Chairman, the
Belgian Chairmanship under your guidance, succeeded to keep up the
momentum, look for solutions, cajole, pressure and produce this package of
decisions to enhance the effectiveness of our organization.

Allow me to point to what I wish were also included. I wish, for example,
that the role of host countries, their prerogatives and interests were
more fully reflected in the decision regarding the enhancement of the
effectiveness of the OSCE~Rs Secretariat, the institutions and the field
missions. After all, the ultimate benefit of the field office in Yerevan,
and elsewhere, is in their efforts to make themselves redundant.

Additionally, regarding the utility of ODIHR~Rs work. As effective as
ODIHR~Rs priorities and practices are, it would be misleading to conclude
that it can no longer adapt, be improved or become more responsive and
transparent. Its operational autonomy should not insulate it entirely from
the judgment and appreciation of participating states.

This ~Qreform~R process has been trying to find its way toward a
satisfactory conclusion for more than 5 years. Today, the participating
states face a crucial dilemma — terminate the process because it is
incomplete, or continue work on at least some elements, hoping the next
round will be more fruitful. Armenia is clearly inclined towards this
second choice. Otherwise, we will expose our inability to achieve
convergence about the means of getting our own house in order before we
keep expanding our agenda to cope with the world~Rs ills.

Mr. Chairman, in Armenia, we understand the importance of getting one~Rs
own house in order, in order to successfully navigate the myriad regional
and global challenges. Thus, we have focused on strengthening our economy
and consolidating our democratic reforms. We continue to register double
digit growth, we remain highest in the region on the UN~Rs Human
Development Index. To empower the residents of rural Armenia and enable
the sustainability and viability of Armenia~Rs villages, we have embarked,
together with the Diaspora and with public and private partners, on a
rural poverty eradication program, because this segment of our population
has benefited only modestly from Armenia~Rs overall economic growth.

In addition, we have taken on additional political reform commitments,
especially in the run-up to two important election years. I believe we
must also take special steps to engage our public in setting the agenda
for these elections, and through them for the next decade of stabilization
and prosperity. A public that believes in its role in the development of
our society will be a public that is ready to take ownership of the
election process and its outcomes. We will invite ODIHR to observe the
process and we hope to meet the standards and expectations of a watching
world.

Mr. Chairman,

We know that the world is watching our region for other reasons as well.
No one wants a lasting settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict more
than we do. The last meeting between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan gives us hope that agreement may yet be found even on those
principles around which we still don~Rt see eye to eye. We know that a
lasting solution will depend on the security and status of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh. That is how this conflict began ~V when their security
was violated, and their right to self-determination trampled over. The
principles under discussion seek to satisfy the right of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination while at the same time eliminating
the consequences of the conflict. We anticipate that indeed Azerbaijan
will find the will to acknowledge and respect the right of the people of
Nagorno Karabakh to determine its own future, its own status, its own
security arrangements.

In just a few days, Nagorno Karabakh will hold a referendum to
adopt a Constitution. During this decade and a half, they have built
political institutions, through elections they have selected their own
authorities and developed a legislative framework. They recognized the
need for a basic law, and recognized that a referendum is the only
acceptable way to collectively adopt that basic law. For the international
community to dismiss their democratic aspirations and blame them for
choosing to behave democratically is counterproductive. Azerbaijan claims
that exercising a vote is an obstruction to the peace process. It can~Rt be
further from the truth. What really obstructs the process is their
overreaction to Karabakh~Rs democratic activities, their refusal to engage
Nagorno Karabakh in peace talks, their repeated militaristic calls and
their persistent efforts to sidetrack the Minsk Group negotiations
process.

Finally Mr. Chairman, we wish the Spanish Chairmanship well.

Armenia Tree Project
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE (8733)
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Press Release
December 5, 2006

Armenia Tree Project Pledge Contributes to UNEP Billion Tree Campaign

YEREVAN, Armenia and WATERTOWN, Massachusetts–Armenia Tree Project (ATP)
has joined the worldwide tree planting campaign launched by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

As part of the ~SPlant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign~T
[], ATP pledged to plant at least 500,000
trees in 2007. This will be part of Armenia~Rs contribution to the UNEP goal
to plant at least one billion trees worldwide during 2007.

ATP was founded in 1994 in to further Armenia~Rs economic and social
development by assisting the Armenian people to use trees to improve their
environment and standard of living. Guided by the need to promote
self-sufficiency, aid those with the fewest resources, and conserve the
indigenous ecosystem, ATP mobilizes resources to fund reforestation and the
preservation of remaining ecosystems.

Through interrelated programs including urban and rural tree planting,
environmental education, and advocacy, ATP stands at the forefront of
addressing Armenia~Rs environmental challenges.

Over the past 12 years, ATP~Rs Community Tree Planting program has
facilitated the planting and restoration of more than 800,000 trees at over
600 sites in Armenia. Fifty thousand trees are grown each year to supply
this program at nurseries located in the refugee villages of Karin and
Khachpar.

At these two nurseries, ATP conducts research on tree propagation
techniques, produces 53 varieties of indigenous tree species, and provides
environmental education programs for students, professionals, and visitors.
In addition to improving the environmental landscape, the program creates
jobs and a living wage for hundreds of people in a country where half the
population lives below the poverty line.

Beginning in 2003, ATP began a micro-enterprise reforestation program in the
rural refugee village of Aygut. The Backyard Nursery Program was designed to
simultaneously regenerate the local forests and reduce poverty by providing
jobs. The program has expanded from a pilot program of 17 families to over
300 families, who produced nearly 300,000 trees this year. And, ATP
established the Mirak Family Reforestation Nursery in Margahovit village in
2005, which will have the capacity to produce over one million trees each
year.

~SArmenia Tree Project is honored to be a part of the UNEP Billion Tree
Campaign,~T stated Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. ~SAs we begin organizing
our 2007 programs, we are expecting to plant 60,000 fruit and decorative
trees from our Karin and Khachpar nurseries, 230,000 tree seedlings from our
backyard nursery program, and 210,000 pine and other reforestation seedlings
from our nursery in Margahovit.~T

~SWe were inspired by the UNEP Billion Tree Campaign announcement by Nobel
laureate Wangari Maathai at the UN meeting on climate change in Nairobi last
month, and we were the first organization to join the campaign with a pledge
from the Republic of Armenia,~T added Masarjian. ~SWe are proud to join this
international effort to plant trees to fight climate change, which is
worsened by rampant deforestation around the world.~T

About Armenia Tree Project

Armenia Tree Project (ATP), a grassroots-supported non-profit organization
based in Watertown and Yerevan, conducts vitally important environmental
projects in Armenia’s impoverished and deforested zones and seeks support in
advancing its reforestation mission.

Since 1994, ATP has made enormous strides in combating desertification in
the biologically diverse but threatened Caucasus region. Nearly 1.5 million
trees have been planted and restored, and hundreds of jobs have been created
for Armenians in seasonal tree-regeneration programs. For more information,
visit

Photo caption:

(Karapetyan Family.jpg) The Karapetyan Family with their thriving backyard
micro-enterprise nursery in the village of Aygut; this is one of the
hundreds of families that Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has employed in the
Getik River Valley through its Backyard Nursery Program

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian  Dramatic Arts Alliance
22  Concord  Lane   Cambridge  MA  02138 
O f f i c e   6 1 7  .   8 7 1  .  6 7 6 4     

Bianca Bagatourian
Dec 5, 2006

"ADAA/FOUNTAIN THEATRE PLAY READINGS A SMASH SUCCESS"

by Joan Agajanian Quinn

 

The inaugural Los Angeles play reading series sponsored by the
Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance (ADAA) and the Fountain Theatre was
held at the Fountain on November 13-15, 2006, to sold-out crowds,
Armenian and non-Armenian alike. 

Produced by Anahid Shahrik, the annual reading series is meant to
give voice to emerging Armenian playwrights, for plays about a
variety of themes.  FOX TV news correspondent Anita Vogel emceed the
opening night and appeared throughout the series to galvanize support
for ADAA.

Each play of the series received a standing ovation, which is
extremely rare for readings.

The series opened brilliantly on Monday, November 13 with The Scent
of Jasmine, by Boston-based playwright Bianca Bagatourian.  The play
is a Citizen-Kane type mystery about a young reporter intent upon
uncovering the truth about an Armenian immigrant who becomes one of
the richest men in America.  Directed by Michael Arabian, the play
had an all-star cast, including Fountain Theatre regular (and ADAA
Board Member) Karen Kondazian, Magda Harout, Buck Kartalian, Sona
Tatoyan, and longtime TV favorite of the 60’s/70’s, Armenian actor
David Hedison.  Also featured were Shant Bejanian, Karine Chakarian,
Maro Ajemian, Jack Kandel and Siona Yans.

On Tuesday, November 14 was The Blackstone Sessions, by San Diego
playwright/screenwriter Lisa Kirazian, directed by Ben Bradley.  The
play is about the unlikely friendship between a reclusive old African
American civil rights activist/poet and her young, uneducated Italian
American summer housekeeper – and the secrets they uncover about
each other.  The fantastic Iona Morris led the dynamic cast, along
with Tene Carter Miller, Danielle Holland, Jeris Poindexter, Anoush
NeVart, Bernard Addison, Ben Bradley, Bart Myer, Alex Kalognomos and
Sloane Robinson.

Push, by Los Angeles playwright Kristen Lazarian — a tense comedic
drama which has garnered awards nationwide — was the finale of the
series on Wednesday, November 15.   The play explores contemporary
relationships in Los Angeles, complete with love, deceit, fidelity
and manipulation – a "doozy of a date night for married couples"
(San Diego Arts Online.)  Push was directed by Martin Bedoian.  The
outstanding cast included Emmy winner Michael Goorjian, Anahid
Shahrik, Richard Horvitz, Salli Saffioti, Karen Kondazian and Andrea
Ajemian.

The timing for the readings could not have been more perfect: the
Fountain Theatre had just won the L.A. Ovation Award for best
production of the year on Monday night (for August Wilson’s Joe
Turner’s Come and Gone).  Director Ben Bradley also won an Ovation
for the same play.

Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts only a year and a half ago, ADAA
has already become one of the most exciting and productive Armenian
arts organizations in years.  By providing Armenian writers (or
writers about Armenian themes) opportunities for readings, production
or publication, ADAA makes the Armenian voice heard around the
world.  For more information, visit , email
[email protected] or call 617-871-6764.

–Boundary_(ID_5lCqWdnJ3+I1MmjGMlYx kg)–

Actor was driving in fatal crash

Inquiry begins into why a Beverly Hills High student,
who died, and 2 girls were in the SUV.

Los Angeles Times
December 5, 2006

By Erika Hayasaki, Richard Winton and Jessica Garrison
Times Staff Writers

Police and school officials Monday were investigating
why three teenagers were riding with a TV actor when
his Land Rover struck a tree Saturday, killing a
17-year-old Beverly Hills High School student and
critically injuring the two others.

Lane Garrison, 26, a co-star of the Fox television
drama "Prison Break," showed signs of "alcohol
intoxication" when he was questioned by police, said
Lt. Mitch McCann of the Beverly Hills Police
Department. Alcohol containers were found inside the
SUV, he said.

Garrison has not been arrested, and law enforcement
sources said detectives are awaiting the results of
the actor’s blood test.

His lawyer, Harland Braun, said the actor "doesn’t
remember anything about the accident~E. He thinks he
was driving but he can’t swear to it."

Police, however, put Garrison behind the wheel when he
lost control of his SUV and crashed into a tree in the
300 block of South Beverly Drive.

The crash killed 17-year-old Vahagn Setian. Two
15-year-old girls who also were in the vehicle were
taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. One has been
released from the hospital and the other is in serious
condition, officials said.

The girls do not attend Beverly Hills High, and
authorities did not release information about them.

According to Braun, Garrison met the teens, who were
fans, at a grocery store and accompanied them to a
party, where he had one drink. About an hour later,
the actor left the party to meet a female friend and
the teens asked if they could go with him, Braun said.
Garrison said yes.

The next thing Garrison recalled was waking up at
Century City Doctors Hospital ~W where he was treated
for minor injuries ~W with a taxicab voucher in his
lap, Braun said.

"There is always the possibility that someone put
something in the drink," Braun said, adding that the
blood test would show that.

"We’re still trying to figure out what happened," said
the lawyer, adding that Garrison was having trouble
with his vehicle’s brakes and the SUV pulled to the
right. He said police would examine the vehicle.

Garrison, who lives in Beverly Hills, was
"despondent" and "overwhelmed" by the incident, Braun
said.

Police said "the investigation into Mr. Garrison’s
impairment is ongoing."

"Mr. Garrison is not related to any one of the people
in the car," McCann said.

Beverly Hills police brought in crash-scene
investigators to try to reconstruct the accident.
McCann said in such cases it usually takes six to
eight weeks for some action on the incident.

On Monday, students arrived at Beverly Hills High
wearing green, Setian’s favorite color. The guitar
player and former drama student was known for sporting
a green Rastafarian-style beret.

With grief counselors on hand, school officials
dismissed students early for a memorial at the crash
site.

News about the crash spread quickly among students via
text messages, e-mail and cellphones. By 3 p.m.
Sunday, more than 100 students had locked hands around
a candlelight memorial in Roxbury Park near the
campus, where students placed flowers and cartons of
Dunhills, Setian’s favorite brand of cigarettes.

Juilan Wan, 16, said Setian was one of his best
friends. The two boys had breakfast together on the
day of the accident. Wan said that Setian knew he was
leaving for Japan at the end of the month and gave him
a rosary.

Wan recalled that Setian told him: "When we can’t be
together, this is how I want you to remember me."

"It felt like this was coming," Wan said. "Nothing was
left unsaid. He knew he was one of my best friends."

Friends nicknamed Setian "Va Häagen-Dazs," like the
ice cream. Wan said he did not know why Setian got
into the car with Garrison on Saturday, but his
half-Greek, half-Armenian friend always "lived for the
moment."

Beverly Hills High student Katie Havard, 16,
remembered when Setian had a crush on her a few years
ago, and used to carry her picture in his wallet.

"He was friends with every group at our school," she
said. "From the smart kids to the jocks to the stoners
~E this has really brought us together. There wasn’t a
student at our school who was more universally loved."

Havard’s mother, Melissa, said the tragedy reminds
students that "your life is not infallible." She said
she hopes this will lead to student discussions at
school about drinking and driving.

"People are human and they make mistakes, especially
teens," she said, adding that now is not the time to
wag a finger at them. "Right now it’s a time to give
them love."

Student body president Josh Tucker, 17, said the
campus was in shock and that teachers had a hard time
conducting classes.

Setian was "one of those kids that everybody knows in
the school," Tucker said. "Everyone has the same
story" on the impact he had on their lives.

The school was reeling from the accident, said Myra
Lurie, president of the Beverly Hills Unified School
District Board of Education.

"We’re all very sad," she said, adding that the
community was baffled as to what Setian was doing in
the SUV with the actor.

"Nobody knows. It’s just very odd," she said. "We have
no idea how it all transpired."

Garrison plays one of the escaped convicts on "Prison
Break." In an interview with People magazine in May,
Garrison said he once was a troubled teenager who
turned his life around.

At 15, after a botched attempt to steal a jug of wine
from a stranger’s garage, he ran home, where, he said,
"my mother just slapped the crap out of me. She drove
me to the police station. The cops handcuffed me and
put me in a cell to scare me."

Garrison was sentenced to community service and spent
a lot of time mowing lawns.

He told People that when he was 17, he moved in with
his family’s minister, Joe Simpson, the father of pop
singer and actress Jessica Simpson.

"I’m very grateful to him," he told the magazine,
adding, "Jessica and I grew up together."

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Times staff writer Jean Guccione contributed to this
report.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress