CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 30 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Kenneth Wollack, the Chairman of
the National Democratic Institute visited Armenia on November 29. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the U.S. Embassy to Armenia, K.Wollack
had meetings in Yerevan with high-ranking officials to discuss and
to present the NDI actions and impartial programs of the institute
to strengthen democracy in Armenia. K.Wollack emphasized that the
NDI cooperates with a number of political parties and civil groups of
Armenia to assist the U.S. government’s strategic program of electoral
assistance which is placed in the ";
site of the U.S. Embassy to Armenia.

The goal of this strategic program worked out jointly with the RA
Government is to assist development of institutes in Armenia on the
threshold of the parliamentary and president’s elections.

The NDI headed by Madeleine Albright, the former U.S. Secretary
of State is a non-profit public organization which has a goal
to strengthen and spread democracy all over the world. To assist
development of democracy in Armenia, the NDI got grant financing
from the U.S. Government. The Institute also cooperates with other
governments and intergovernmental groups, like the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) and the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

MARK ZORYAN: ARE THEY SACRIFICING JAVAKH FOR THE GREAT GOAL?

Regnum, Russia
Nov 30 2006

The struggle for the international recognition of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 is actually an expression of national idea for the
Armenian people. This idea is not subject to rational analysis, and,
even though the Armenians say that they seek just moral compensation,
they will certainly not forget their lost Homeland – Western Armenia
– and firmly believe that they can restore Armenian statehood over
4/5 of their historical territory. Even strong as it is, the idea
of Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenians call it Artsakh) has failed to push
back the problem of the Armenian Genocide and its international
recognition. The Armenians just sneer at the hopes of some politicians
that they may give up this political struggle.

Even though many states have recognized the Armenian Genocide and the
number of such states is growing every year, the major obstacle to
the final goal is the US, whose officials are constantly maneuvering
in the matter. In fact, the US is the only state who has worked out a
program of the Armenian Genocide recognition, but it would be native
to think that a state like the US will solve this problem by just
one presidential signature (that would be a banal and useless action).

The US administration is acting consistently: they are waiting
until the Armenian Genocide is acknowledged by the American society,
by civil, religious and ethnic organizations, by all 50 states with
their legislative bodies and governors and, finally, by both houses
of the Congress. This will make the President’s signature a kind of
forced action: after all, the President can’t disregard the opinion
of the whole American society, can he? By the way, the Armenian NGOs
are beginning to play just a consultative role in the growing campaign
for the Genocide recognition. In some states the Armenian lobby acted
just formally but still the states recognized the Genocide. That is,
things have got underway and the key tasks are fulfilled. Democrat
Nancy Pelosy has been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives
and she says that the Armenian Genocide may be recognized as early
as Apr 24 2007.

Irrespective of the wish of the influential political circles of the
US, the process of the Armenian Genocide international recognition
has become an element of the US’ foreign policy, and even the most
radical opponents have already begun thinking how to use this tendency
in their own interests. At the same time, this reality concerns not
only the US’ policy on Turkey but also on Armenia.

This situation is quite convenient for building relations with
Armenia. In the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the Americans see
absolutely no sense or profit in offering something in exchange for
the recognition of the Genocide. But there is also the problem of
Samtskhe-Javakheti, a Georgian province with over 50% Armenian majority
(the region Armenians call Javakh). In that province, despite all their
democratic commitments, the Georgian authorities have not yet solved
even elementary cultural-educational and linguistic-educational
problems. The prospects of the local self-government are also
unclear. Having allocated over $104mln for road recovery, the US has
seen that the Georgian authorities are not going to restore the 25
km road connecting the Javakh administrative centers with Armenia.

The US has seen the gist of Georgia’s policy in its ethnic regions
but prefers not to make a row about it so as not to give trumps to
Russia. The European community is acting in almost the same way.

Still, both the Americans and the Europeans have seen the risks of
Georgia’s uncontrolled policy in 2006 and have decided not to risk
any further and have put a strong veto on that country’s foreign and
domestic policies.

In their efforts to curb the social-political movement in Javakh, the
Americans are actively cooperating with the local Armenian political
forces and NGOs and the authorities of Armenia. The Americans perfectly
understand that the key developments in Javakh have nothing to do with
the stories they push forward, i.e. to the Russian special services
or certain ambitions of the Armenian nationalist organizations,
even though some of them, particularly, the ARF Dashnaktsutiun,
have a strong ramified network in the province – a force that can
solve many problems both in cooperation with the Georgian political
parties and authorities and quite independently.

Presently, Dashnaktsutiun is the best organized party in the territory
of Georgia, much better organized than any Georgian party.

Their goal is to pave the way for partnership with the Georgian
political leadership; the only question is what kind of leadership
it will be. Considering the fact that the ARFD is a ruling party in
Armenia, the Americans prefer to work with the Dashnak organizations in
the US (simply they are closer). That’s why the Dashnak organization
in Javakh preferred to keep silence in the conflict situation over
the last local elections in the province.

Even more, they almost supported the "Georgian party," that is, it was
a professionally coordinated political operation that has made Javakh
a part of the big politics and a political resource for a number of
projects. What we are witnessing is a very sophisticated game and
it seems that somebody is eager to turn this backwater district into
the crossroads of various interests. What consequences will this game
have for this ethnic region?

Mark Zoryan – expert of the Caucasus analytical center

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NIZAMI BAHMANOV: "IF AZERI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS MEET IT MEANS IMPROVEMENTS IN TALKS"

Newsday, NY
Nov 30 2006

"If Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents meet, there are improvements
in the talks," said Nizami Bahmanov, the head of the Azerbaijani
community in Nagorno Karabakh.

He told the APA that to hold talks within Prague process is a positive
tendency. Nizami Bahmanov also took a stance on the visit of the head
of Nagorno Karabakh separatists Arkadi Gukasyan to the US.

"Only Armenians can greet Gukasyan warmly in the US. The US officials
do not recognize Gukasyan and his separatist regime. His meeting with
the US co-chair Matthew Bryza has not been confirmed. But Matthew
Bryza can meet with Gukasyan as the head of Armenian community. The
co-chair meets with me, too. There is nothing unusual in this. It
is absurd that Matthew Bryza did not visit the region because of his
meeting with Gukasyan," he said.

Nizami Bahmanov said that he will visit foreign countries as the head
of Azerbaijani community of Nagorno Karabakh.

URL:

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE 5TH EXHIBITION OF CHRISTIAN
MEDIA

The International Catholic Media Union and the Middle East Council of
Churches (MECC) organized the presentation of a book entitled "Christianity:
A history in the Middle East" in the "Mar Elias" church on November 25. The
event was organized on the occasion of the fifth exhibition of Christian
Media.

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Primate of the Diocese of Tehran), who is one
of the editors of the new book, attended the event on behalf of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.

The event’s purpose was to present the content of the book to the public and
inform people about the four families of Christianity, the religion’s
origins, history and culture in the Middle East.

Archbishop Sarkissian spoke about the contribution of His Holiness Aram I to
the book with an excellent article of scientific depth.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

ACUS A LECTURE SERIES TACKLES THE APPROACH OF THE CHURCH TO CONTEMPORARY
MORAL ISSUES

The lecture series on the Armenian Church organized by the Armenian Church
University Students’ Association (ACUSA) and the Christian Education
Department of the Catholicosate of Cilicia continues in Antelias. V. Rev.
Fr. Krikor Chiftjian delivered the fourth lecture on "the Armenian Church
and moral issues" in the ACUSA center on November 25.

Fr. Chiftjian spoke about the various moral issues prevalent in current
societies and the conflicts they have caused in these societies. He
explained the approaches of the church and its rules regarding these issues.
He touched on a number of issues, including rituals and morality, mutual
relations within a family, individual moral problems and moral conflicts in
today’s world in general.

The lecturer concluded by highlighting the role of the church in the society
with respect to moral issues, stressing that moral laws can’t be separated
from the church. He added that one of the missions of the church is to
spread moral values and principles in the life of the people.

##
View photos here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

November 30, 2006

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

THE PRELATE RECEIVES THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ARF CENTRAL COMMITTEE

On Tuesday, November 28, a delegation representing the ARF Central
Committee visited the offices of the Western Prelacy and was welcomed by His
Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate. The delegation consisted
of Mr. Avedik Izmirlian, Mr. John Kossakian, Mr. Arto Keoleyan and Mr.
Krikor Achekian.
The discussion covered matters and concerns of mutual interest
to the Armenian community. The guest delegation briefed the Prelate about
the endeavors and plans of the Central Committee that require the
cooperation of the Prelacy and members of the Armenian community in the
Western United States. On his part the Prelate related to the guests that
the renovation of the Prelacy New Building is almost complete and the
relocation is planned for the next few weeks.
Later on, members of the Prelacy Executive Council joined the
meeting and the discussions continued in an amicable atmosphere. The need to
enhance and expand cooperation was stressed upon. At the conclusion of the
meeting, the Prelate wished success to the newly elected Central Committee
and presented the guests with mementos.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Tel.: 617-489-1610
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact: Marc A. Mamigonian

LECTURE AT NAASR ON NEW ARCHIVAL EVIDENCE ON GENOCIDE OF ARMENIANS AND
ASSYRIANS

Dr. David Gaunt, Professor of History at Södertörn University
College, Stockholm, Sweden, will give a lecture entitled "Massacres and
Resistance: The Genocide of the Armenians and Assyrians Based on New
Evidence from the Archives" on Thursday, December 7, at 8:00 p.m., at
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
Center , 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. This lecture, Gaunt’s first in
the Boston area, will be co-sponsored by NAASR and the United Assyrian
Association of New England.

The lecture will be based on findings from Dr. Gaunt’s
recently-published book Massacres, Resistance, Protectors:
Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I
(Gorgias Press, 2006), which will be on sale and available for signing
by the author.

NAASR Holiday Open House Before and After Lecture

Preceding and following Gaunt’s lecture, NAASR will hold its annual
holiday open house, featuring a special sale in NAASR’s bookstore,
refreshments, music, gift-wrapping, and slide presentation of highlights
from NAASR’s recent 50th Anniversary Celebration. The bookstore will
open at 6:00 p.m. and remain open until 11:00 p.m.

Dr. Gaunt will detail how the persecution of Armenian and Assyrian
Christian minorities was organized on the national and local levels in
places where Armenian and Assyrian populations overlap. Case studies
involve the Turkish occupation of Urmia and its surrounding villages,
the Assyrian tribes in Hakkari, the massacres of Armenians in Diyarbekir
and Mardin, the massacres of Syriacs in the hundreds of villages in Tur
Abdin, the successful armed resistance mounted by the villagers of Azakh
and Ayn Wardo, and the victory of Antranik’s Armenian and Assyrian
volunteers at the battle of Dilman.

Groundbreaking Archival Research

Gaunt’s work is based on unique access to hundreds of documents in the
archives of Istanbul and Ankara, as well as documents of Iranian,
Russian, Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, French, and German origin. Most of
these documents have never been published before. In addition, nearly
forty persons were interviewed about their experiences of the war
period. The Turkish documents confirm events and decisions of what was
believed to have happened, but for which evidence has been lacking. In
some ways the new documents fill in the blank spaces in the history of
genocide.

David Gaunt was born in London, grew up in New Jersey, and
moved to Sweden in 1968. He received a Ph.D. from Uppsala University.
He is currently Professor of History at Södertörn University College
in Stockholm, which is situated in one of Europe’s largest
concentrations of the Assyrian diaspora. He has previously taught at the
universities of Uppsala and Umeå. He has published ten books and over
one hundred articles, mostly on Swedish social history. In the field of
genocide research he has edited Collaboration and Resistance during the
Holocaust: Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (2004) and authored "At
Death’s End: the Genocide in Diyarbekir Province" in Armenian
Tigranakert/Diarbekir and Edessa/Urfa (Richard G. Hovannisian, ed.), as
well as articles in the journals The Assyrian Star and Hujådå.

The NAASR Center and Headquarters is located opposite the First Armenian
Church and next to the U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available
around the building and in adjacent areas. The lecture will begin
promptly at 8:00 p.m.

More information about the lecture is available by calling 617-489-1610,
faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.

Catholic World News
CWNews.com
Nov. 30, 2006

Pope recalls Armenian genocide

Istanbul -Pope Benedict XVI (bio – news) brought up the sensitive topic of
the Armenian genocide– although he did not mention it explicitly– during a
November 30 meeting with the Armenian Apostolic Patriarch of Istanbul,
Mesrob II.

In his greeting to the patriarch, the Holy Father praised the Armenian
people for their faithful witness to the Gospel, even under "truly tragic
conditions, like those experienced in the past century." He was clearly
alluding to the slaughter of Armenians under the Ottoman empire.

To this day the Turkish government refuses to acknowledge the genocidal
campaign of 1915- 1917, in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were
killed during massacres and forced marches, as the government of the "Young
Turks" forced the relocation of an entire people. The Armenian Apostolic
Church remains the largest Christian community in Turkey, but today numbers
only about 50,000 faithful; in the late 19th century the number was several
million. There are about 2 million members of the Church living in the
country now known as Armenia.

In his remarks to Patriarch Mesrob, the Pope expressed regret over the
divisions among the Christian faithful, repeating what he had said to the
Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew: that these divisions are "a scandal to the
world" and a handicap to effective evangelization.

The Armenian Apostolic Church dates back to the year 506, when the Christian
leaders of the region broke away from the Catholic Church over disagreements
with the doctrines put forth by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Those
theological disputes have been resolved, and in 1996 Pope John Paul II (bio
– news) and the former head of the Armenian Church, Karekin I, jointly
signed a document affirming that the two churches have reached accord on the
Christological issues that originally caused their separation.

Pope Benedict joined with the Armenian patriarch in a prayer service at the
Armenian cathedral in Istanbul. Later he would meet with the city’s grand
rabbi, then end the day at a dinner with the Catholic bishops of Turkey.

recnum=47938

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

November 30, 2006

YOUTH GATHERING WITH CATHOLICOS THIS WEEKEND
This weekend, December 2 and 3, is the youth gathering with His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in Dearborn, Michigan. His
Holiness is on a short visit to the United States where he has been invited
to deliver the keynote address at a conference on "Faith and Healing" at
Notre Dame University on Tuesday, December 5. On Wednesday, December 6, the
Catholicos will be awarded the 2006 Pax Christi Award by St. John’s Abbey
and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. In a press release issued by the
University, the Catholicos was praised for "his leadership in opening the
manuscript collection of the Catholicosate to the Hill Museum and Manuscript
Library," and "his leadership in ecumenism." To read the press release
issued by the University click
tm.
Archbishop Oshagan left New York this morning and will greet the
Catholicos who is scheduled to arrive in Michigan tomorrow. The Prelacy’s
vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, will travel to Michigan tomorrow to participate in
the various events, and Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC) will travel to Michigan on Saturday.

PRELATE AND VICAR EXTEND CONDOLENCES
IN ASSASSINATION OF PIERRE GEMAYEL
Tuesday morning, November 28, Archbishop Oshagan and Bishop Anoushavan
visited the offices of the Consul General of Lebanon in New York City, where
they expressed their condolences following the assassination of Pierre
Gemayel. The 34-year-old Gemayel served in the Lebanese Parliament and was
Minister of Industy, and a member of one of Lebanon’s most prominent
Christian political dynasties. The Prelate and Vicar met with the Consul
General, Mohamed El-Harake, and expressed sympathy on behalf of the Eastern
Prelacy.

REQUIEM SERVICE THIS SUNDAY FOR
ARCHBISHOP MESROB ASHJIAN
The third anniversary of the passing of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, who
served as Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1978 to 1998, will be
commemorated with a solemn requiem service, immediately following the Divine
Liturgy, at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City,
this Sunday, December 3. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral,
will officiate. The faithful are invited to attend the service in
remembrance of the late Archbishop and his extraordinary service to the
Armenian Church in the Diaspora and Armenia.
Copies of Living Faith: The Life and Service of Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian, a beautiful tribute to Archbishop Mesrob, published by the Prelacy,
are available. For information contact [email protected] or
212-689-7810.

SPIRITUAL HEADS OF MIDDLE EAST ORIENTAL ORTHODOX
CHURCHES MEET IN EGYPT
Two of the three leaders of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle
East met at the Coptic Patriarchate in Cairo, Egypt, on November 22-24. The
summit brought together Patriarchs Shnouda III, head of the Syrian Orthodox
Church, and Zakka I, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Catholicos Aram I,
head of the Cilician See of the Armenian Church, cancelled his scheduled
trip to Egypt because of the assassination of Pierre Gemayel, Industry
Minister of Lebanon. However, the Coptic and Syrian Patriarchs remained in
constant contact with Catholicos Aram throughout the meeting, consulting him
on various issues related to the agenda.

BIBLE STUDY AT PRELACY CONTINUES
The eight-session course on the Letter to the Hebrews continues this
Monday, December 4, at the Prelacy from 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm. The group meets
on the first and third Mondays of the month. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s
Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the course is led by Deacon
Shant Kazanjian.

50th ANNIVERSARY OF REV. FR. MOUSHEGH DER KALOUSTIAN
WILL BE CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 17
On Sunday, December 17, the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev.
Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian will be commemorated at the Terrace on the Park
in Flushing Meadows, New York. Prior to the luncheon commemoration, Der
Moushegh will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in
New York City, where he served for many years. For reservations and/or
information about this event contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
As we reported in the last issue of Crossroads, Archbishop Oshagan
attended the 50th anniversary of the ordination of Rev. Fr. Gorun Shrikian
in Dearborn, Michigan, on November 19, and Rev. Fr. Torkom Hagopian’s golden
anniversary was celebrated at St. Stephen Church in Watertown,
Massachusetts, in June. The next issue of Outreach (January/February) will
highlight these events honoring the three clergymen who this year marked
their 50 years of service to the Armenian Church.

PROGRAMS OF INTEREST ON TELEVISION
Two interesting television programs you may want to watch this month.
One, which we told you about several weeks ago, is "The Spear of Christ," a
one-hour documentary on the History Channel’s "Decoding the Past" series
scheduled for Thursday, December 21, at 9 pm (check your local listings).
Armenia is one of the places visited for this documentary.
"Picturing Mary," is a production of New York’s PBS station, Channel 13
and will be distributed this month nationwide to public television stations.
Check your local listings. "Picturing Mary" is a one-hour program that takes
viewers on an artistic journey through history from the earliest times to
the present day, offering viewers a visually stunning array of art from
twelve locations in eight different countries, representing various faiths
and traditions of how the image of the Blessed Mother has provided a global
mother-figure.

SAINTS THADDEUS AND BARTHOLOMEW
This Saturday, December 2, the Armenian Church remembers Saints Thaddeus
and Bartholomew, two of the twelve apostles who were the first evangelizers
of Armenia, and were martyred there, giving the Armenian Church its
apostolic identity and earning them the title, "First Enlighteners of
Armenia." Thaddeus came to Armenia about 43 AD to preach Christianity. He
was martyred in southeastern Armenia. His tomb lies in the Armenian
monastery of St. Thaddeus (now Iran) where a chapel was built in the third
century. Bartholomew is believed to have arrived in Armenia about 66 AD. He
was martyred in Hadamakert, southeast of Lake Van.

REMEMBERING KING APKAR
On Tuesday, December 5, the Armenian Church remembers King Apkar, who
according to tradition was afflicted with a skin ailment. The King wrote a
letter to Christ asking for His assistance. Christ replied by sending a
cloth with His image and the promise to send one of His apostles. St.
Thaddeus was sent and subsequently the King had a miraculous recovery. King
Apkar and his family accepted Christianity and the King wrote to other
leaders (including his cousin King Sanadrook of Armenia) to accept
Christianity.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This Sunday, December 3, is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a
season of waiting for the coming of Christ, which gives us reason to live in
hope regardless of the many challenges and vicissitudes facing us on many
fronts. John the Baptist is the great Advent figure (read Matthew, Chapter
3; and Luke, Chapter 3).
And remember that this time of the year can be lonely and sad for many
people. Reach out with a visit, a note, or a telephone call to an elderly
person who lives alone, or someone who is ill, or someone who recently lost
a loved one.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 2-3-Gathering of the Youth with Catholicos Aram I, Hyatt Regency,
Dearborn, Michigan. For details click

December 3-Requiem service in memory of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian on the third anniversary of his passing, St. Illuminator’s
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian will
preside.

December 9-Men’s Club Steak Dinner, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 10-52nd anniversary of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church,
Granite City, Illinois.

December 10-General Membership meeting and elections of auditing and
nominating committees, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.

December 10-Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church, Troy, New York, Archbishop
Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy.

December 13-Thanksgiving Luncheon with the local NYPD and Fire Fighters, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York.

December 16-"A Celebration of Service" in honor of past chairmen and board
of trustees members. Under auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, St.
Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York, 8 pm. For information and
reservations 718-224-2275.

December 16-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Men’s Club and
Ladies’ Guild Christmas Party and Dinner Dance, 7 pm, $40 per person.
Reservations a must. For information: 201-943-4056 (Kiledjian); 201-461-4283
(Mirakian).

December 17-50th anniversary celebration of the ordination of Archpriest Fr.
Moushegh Der Kaloustian, sponsored by the Prelacy Religious Council, at
Terrace on the Park, Flushing Meadows, New York. Der Moushegh will celebrate
the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (221 E. 27th Street, New
York City) on Sunday morning.

December 24-Sunday School Christmas Pageant, St. Gregory the Illuminator
Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance, Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey and ARF Dro Gomideh, Parsippany Hilton, New Jersey. Featuring
Arthur Apkarian and Armenia Band. For full information contact the church
office 201-943-2950.

December 31-New Year’s Eve Party, St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston,
New York.

January 6-St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
first Episcopal Badarak in Philadelphia by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian.

January 6-St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Christmas party and
special program for Saturday and Sunday school students.

January 28-Annual Membership Meeting, Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda,
Maryland, at 1 pm.

February 4-St. Sarkis name day, celebrating the patron saint of the church
and requiem service for Archpriest Rev. Fr. Asoghik Kelejian, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York.

February 11-General Membership meeting and elections, St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York.

February 17-St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts, Annual
Membership Meeting.

February 18-Poon Paregentan, Eve of Great Lent, International Cuisine Night,
St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.

Visit our website at

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 24-30, 2006

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ABDULLAH GUL’S INITIATIVE AND UNOFFICIAL PROMOTION

JUBILEE OF ARMENIAN TV AND RADIO

GERMAN AVAGIAN’S PHOTOGRAPH WON WHO COMPETITION

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: ABDULLAH GUL’S INITIATIVE AND UNOFFICIAL PROMOTION

On November 28 the eleventh talk show of "Press Club" cycle went on the
evening air of "Yerkir-Media" TV company.

The representatives of media and journalistic associations discussed the
initiative of the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul to
address international arbitrage for a legal assessment of events of 1915 and
Armenian-Turkish relations in general, as well as the unofficial promotion
for parliamentary election that started in Armenia earlier than ever.

It is expected that at 21.00, December 5 (next Tuesday) "Yerkir-Media" will
air another "Press Club+" show.

JUBILEE OF ARMENIAN TV AND RADIO

November 29 marked 50 years since the start of Armenian TV broadcasting.
Previously Armenian radio celebrated its 80th anniversary, having first gone
on air on November 7, 1926.

Yerevan Press Club congratulates the staff of the Public TV and Radio
Company of Armenia (the successor of the first radio and TV company) and all
representatives of broadcast media on the jubilee.

On this remarkable occasion on November 27 the RA President Robert Kocharian
conferred honorable titles and granted medals to a number of employees of
the Public TV and Radio Company.

The title of Journalist Emeritus of Armenia was conferred on Arthur
Bakhtamian, the leader of the creative group of "Fifth Wheel" program cycle,
Tatevik Baghdasarian, observer of "Haylur" news service (Public Television
of Armenia); Sargis Najarian, the author of the "Night Channel" program,
Karen Vardanian, head of "Stereo Studio" program; Varuzhan Olkinian, host of
"Radiolur" newscast (Public Radio of Armenia).

The title of Culture Worker Emeritus was conferred on Mark Petrosian, the
author of the TV program cycle "Classical Channel", and Suren Rshtuni, chief
director of PTA; the soloist of Pop Orchestra of Radio and Television Raisa
Mkrtchian received the title of People’s Artist.

Movses Khorenatsi Medal was granted to Armen Amirian, executive director of
PRA, Spiridon Hambardzumian, the coordinator of "Haylur" news service, and
Marat Ordian, the deputy director of PTA.

GERMAN AVAGIAN’S PHOTOGRAPH WON WHO COMPETITION

The work of Armenian photojournalist German Avagian "In Class" got a
mentioning prize in the photo competition of the World Health Organization
"Images of Health and Disability 2005/2006". The photograph by German
Avagian depicts a student of State Engineering University of Armenia, who
lost legs and one arm during the Armenian-Azerbaijani military clash. This
and other winning photos are placed on the web-site of International
Classification of Functioning (ICF):
nners/

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

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