PRESS RELEASE
Mashdots College
411 E. Acacia Avenue
Glendale, CA 91205
Tel: (818) 548-9345
Fax: (818) 548-9342
E-mail: [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])

On Friday, November 17, at 7:30 P.M. Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan,
President of Mashdots College, will present a lecture titled,
“Embracing the Land of Our Ancestors: The Presence of the Past”.The
power-point presentation will cover the following historic Armenian
cities and villages in Cilicia, Cappadocia and Western Armenia: Adana,
Mersin, Darson, Aintab, Marash, Zeitoun, Evereg, Guessaria, Germir,
Talas, Tomarza, Urgup, Bogazlyan, Gurin, Malatia, Kharpert, Arapgir,
Agn, Gamakh, Erzinga, Shabin Karahisar, Tamzara, Ordou, Drabizon,
Hamshen, Rize, Hopa, Artvin, Ardahan, Kars, Ani, Igdir, Bayazid, Mt.
Ararat, Pegri, Van-Akhtamar, as well as Bolis.

Mashdots College organizes annual pilgrimages to historic Armenia. In
July, 2006, thirty-eight Armenians from California, Wisconsin, Lebanon
and Syria joined Dr. Der Yeghiayan by experiencing “stunning moments
with history”. The 18-day pilgrimage, from the Mediterranean Sea to
the Black Sea, offered the participants an unprecedented opportunity
to better understand and appreciate the centuries-old rich heritage of
the Armenian people, and to observe firsthand the unparalleled
accomplishments of our martyred ancestors.

The event is open to the public and will take place at the Armenian
Church of the Nazarene, 411 E. Acacia Avenue, Glendale,
California. For further information contact the College Office at
(818) 548-9345.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, November 9, 2006
AGBU Silicon Valley Launches Kids Club
In May 2006, AGBU Silicon Valley launched its new Kids Club as part of
the Chapter’s Centennial activities. The AGBU Kids Club is a dedicated
program for Armenian children aged 6-12 that focuses on connecting
Armenian youth to their heritage and culture through activities that
are both educational and enjoyable.
Kids Club activities consist of monthly gatherings, learning games,
field trips and pen pal communication with children of the same age in
Armenia. The organizing committee, appointed by the Executive Board of
the Silicon Valley Chapter, consists of parents of the Chapter’s
Students Committee. The Kids Club has already grown to include more
than 30 children.
For the kickoff event and first monthly gathering, a group of children
along with their parents and Club leaders visited Stanford University
in Palo Alto, California. Members of Stanford’s Armenian Students
Association (ASA) provided an interactive tour of the campus and spoke
to the children about college admission processes and campus life.
Another highlight of the Kids Club activities thus far was a trip to
St. Andrew Armenian Apostolic Church in Cupertino, California that
took place on September 16, 2006. During this event, AGBU youth
participated in interactive science experiments with Anahit Yeramian,
a leading scientist at Stanford.
Following the science experiments, high school student Aline Zorian
from the AGBU Students Committee gave a presentation about her summer
visit to the SOS Village in Kotayk, Armenia, where the idea to arrange
a Pen Pal exchange was born. The Kids Club members are now
establishing ties with Armenian children in the village through
letters.
Other Kids Club activities include a visit to the Exploratorium Museum
of Science and Art in San Francisco and a tour of the Stanford
Accelerator facility and museum.
For information on AGBU Silicon Valley and other AGBU worldwide
chapters, please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, November 9, 2006
AGBU Montreal Honors Former Chairman Viken Attarian
On September 17, 2006, AGBU Montreal honored former Chairman Viken
Attarian and his wife Datevik with a special dinner held at the local
AGBU Alex Manoogian Center. Nearly 300 AGBU members, friends and
distinguished guests attended the event to pay tribute to Mr. Attarian
and his accomplishments as Montreal’s 11th Chapter Chairman from 2004
to 2006 and Vice Chairman from 2000 to 2004. Long before holding
leadership positions for the Montreal Chapter, Mr. Attarian’s earliest
experiences with AGBU began in 1969 as a child in Lebanon. More than
three decades later, the former Chairman was praised during this
tributary dinner for his focus on preparing the Chapter’s youth for
future leadership.
Mr. Attarian received his elementary and secondary education through
AGBU schools in Beirut, where he also began his lifelong involvement
with AGBU’s Scouting Program. As Chairman, he was instrumental in
reviving the Montreal Chapter’s scouting movement, now one of the top
troops in all of Canada with over 180 members. Also during his tenure,
he cultivated a partnership with PBS resulting in the regular
broadcasting of Armenian programs, as well as brought the Chapter
online with a highly developed website ().
Among the many dignitaries present to congratulate Mr. Attarian were
local Mayors Vera Danyluk of Ville Mont Royal and Alan de Sousa of
Ville Saint Laurent, several members of the Quebec Parliament, and
AGBU Central Board Member Dr. Arshavir Gundjian. Mr. and Mrs. Attarian
were presented plaques with engraved Honorary Membership cards, along
with messages from AGBU President Berge Setrakian, Canadian Parliament
Member Stéphane Dion and Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Lise Thibault.
Dr. Rita Kuyumjian, AGBU Montreal’s recently elected Chairwoman,
concluded the evening with a special surprise as she presented the
biography of Mr. Attarian’s father, author Armen Tarian, and announced
the establishment of the Armen Tarian Literary Award. The dinner
reception raised nearly $11,000 (Canadian) for the Montreal Chapter’s
Paul & Sirvart Kichian Capital Renovation Fund which was established
in 2005 to cover the ongoing expenses of the Alex Manoogian Center.
The Montreal Chapter is committed to upholding the mission of AGBU to
preserve and promote the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. For more information
on AGBU Montreal, please call (514) 748-2428, email
[email protected] or visit For more
information on AGBU and its worldwide chapters, please visit

November 9, 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]
Website: <; DURING HOLY MASS ON THE NAME DAY OF HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH `LET US FOLLOW THE PATH OF OUR SAINTS AND MARTYRS AND LIVE ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENTS OF OUR LORD' DECLARED THE PRELATE On Sunday, November 5, 2006, the Holy Martyrs Church of Encino celebrated its name day and 43rd anniversary, with a special Holy Mass that was conducted by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate. Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian and Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian assisted at the altar. H.E. Archbishop Yeprem Tabakian also participated in the Mass, along with the parish deacons, choir, and Sunday School students. At the start of his sermon, the Prelate gave thanks to God for granting him the opportunity to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the church with the parish community. Being that Saturday, November 4, was All Saints Day according to our church calendar, and because our saints were also martyrs, the name day of Holy Martyrs Church was also celebrated on this day. He reminded the faithful that the saints were martyred for their faith, the blood they shed became a testament of their faith, and it was this unyielding faith that established our church. They remained resolute in their faith and never strayed from their righteous path and mission, and it is our duty to follow in their path and to live according to the principles set forth by our Lord. There are many difficulties and temptations in life; however, we must remain loyal to the faith and convictions bequeathed to us by our forefathers so that we may conquer evil. The Prelate then blessed the memories of all those who contributed to the founding of Holy Martyrs Church and all the past servants, then beseeched the Lord to guide the path of the current servants of the church. Following Holy Mass, the Prelate headed to Avedissian Hall in a procession, where he blessed the madagh that was prepared by the parish Ladies Auxiliary. The Prelate then commended the Ladies Auxiliary and Board of Trustees, after which the service came to a close with the Prelate's `Bahbanich' prayer and the collective singing of `Giligia' and `Mer Hayrenik'.

November 9, 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]
Website: <; PRELATE PRESENTS REV. BARKEV DARAKJIAN WITH A PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL On the morning of Wednesday, November 8, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed Rev. Barkev Darakjian, long time Pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church, to the temporary Prelacy offices, where he presented him with a Pontifical Encyclical by H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in honor of his 50 years of service. On October 21, the Armenian Evangelical Union honored Rev. Darakjian's 50 years of service with a special ceremony. Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian represented the Prelate at the event, where he read the text of the Encyclical and conveyed the Prelate's best wishes. At the meeting, Rev. Darakjian was accompanied by a delegation of clergy and representatives from the Armenian Evangelical Union, namely Rev. Joe Matossian, Rev. Ron Tomassian, Mr. Hagop Lousararian, Mr. Avedis Demirjian, and Mr. Zaven Khanjian. Also present were Prelacy Christian Education Department Directors Very Rev. Fathers Muron Aznikian and Barthev Gulumian. The Prelate once again congratulated Rev. Darakjian, wishing for God to grant him many more years of service. Rev. Darakijian then presented the Prelate with a letter of thanks. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss issues of concern to the Armenian people, and the efforts of both communities to alleviate these issues.

November 9, 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]
Website: <; Prelate Welcomes New Consul General Of Armenia Armen Liloyan On Thursday, November 9, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed the newly appointed Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Armen Liloyan to the temporary Prelacy offices in Encino. This was one of the first official visits of the Consul General, who was appointed in late October, to the Prelacy to meet with the Prelate and Executive Council representatives. Accompanying the Consul General was Consul Haroutioun Khojoyan. Also in attendance were Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian, Executive Council Chairman Dr. Garo Agopian and Treasurer Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, as well as Ferrahian High School principal Mr. John Kossakian. During the meeting, the Prelate briefed the Consul General on the history of our Prelacy, churches, and schools, the publications of the Prelacy (textbooks and religious publications), and the endeavors of the Christian Education Department. He also emphasized the collaboration that exists between the Prelacy and Armenian diplomats, both in Los Angeles and in Washington D.C., at the same time renewing his support to the Consulate and their endeavors. The Prelate then once again offered his best wishes to the Consul General on the 15th anniversary of the independence of Armenia, noting that he was fortunate to be in Armenia at the time to participate in the celebrations, and also in Washington D.C. at the celebration hosted by the Ambassador. The Consul General subsequently reported to the Prelate the current and future ventures of the Consulate. The meeting concluded with the Prelate presenting the Consul General with a memento, and wishing him success in his mission.

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
November 9, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ISSUES SUPPORTERS TO LEAD IN DEMOCRATIC SENATE
REID, DURBIN & BIDEN POISED FOR KEY POSITIONS
Washington, DC – One day after winning majority control in the House of
Representatives, Democrats took back the U.S. Senate, with Armenian
issues supporters Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Richard Durbin (D-IL)
positioned to serve as Majority Leader and Majority Whip respectively,
in the 110th Congress. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. (D-DE), also a staunch
supporter, is expected to chair the powerful Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, which oversees policy concerning Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh.
All three Senators have raised awareness of the Armenian Genocide as
cosponsors of S. Res. 320, a resolution reaffirming the U.S. record
which is currently pending before the Foreign Relations Committee.
Reid, Durbin and Biden also voted to maintain Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act in an historic Senate floor fight in 1999 of which, Senators
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) led the effort in
maintaining Section 907 at that time. Sarbanes announced his retirement
from the Senate earlier this year and did not seek re-election. The
Assembly awarded him for his longstanding support of Armenian issues
during the National Advocacy Conference and Banquet in March of this
year.
“The Assembly will continue its bipartisan approach in the Senate and
looks forward to working with our Senate friends, as well as reaching
out to the new class of incoming Senators,” said Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. “We have much at stake and will continue to promote an
aggressive agenda to ensure a strong, prosperous and democratic
Armenia.”
Ardouny also noted that Reid and Durbin, along with House Speaker-to-be
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who is running for Majority
Leader, have been consistent supporters of Armenian issues. Their
anticipated leadership positions in the next Congress will provide new
opportunities for advancing key issues.
Additionally, Senator John Ensign (R-NV), who introduced S. Res. 320
with Durbin last year, was re-elected for a second term. Supporters of
the resolution who also won re-election include Senators Maria Cantwell
(D-WA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Edward
Kennedy (D-MA), Herbert Kohl (D-WI), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Robert
Menendez (D-NJ), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Senate Democrats Russ Feingold (WI), John Kerry (MA), Barbara Boxer (CA)
and Christopher Dodd (CT), who also support S. Res. 320, are positioned
for Subcommittee Chairmanships on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is in line to chair the important State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, a position
currently held by Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. The Kentucky
lawmaker, who has been instrumental in securing humanitarian, technical
and economic development assistance for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, is
expected to serve as the Subcommittee’s Ranking Member in the next
Congress.
Several other Armenian issues supporters are slated to chair full
committees, including Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) – Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions; John Kerry (D-MA) – Small Business and
Entrepreneurship; Carl Levin (D-MI) – Armed Services; Tim Johnson (D-SD)
– Select Committee on Ethics; Herbert H. Kohl (D-WI) – Select Committee
on Aging; and Christopher Dodd (D-CT) – Banking, Housing and Urban
Affairs. Furthermore, Senators Charles Schumer (NY), Jack Reed (RI),
Dianne Feinstein (CA), Tom Harkin (IA), and Barbara Mikulski (MD) – are
all poised to chair various subcommittees.
Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), who has worked against the Armenian
community’s efforts to reaffirm the U.S. record on the Genocide, is in
line to chair the full Appropriations Committee.
Senator George Allen (R-VA), an ardent supporter of Armenian issues,
conceded his re-election bid today, while Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Members Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
both won seats in the Senate. Brown and Cardin both voted for Section
907 in the House floor fight in 1998 and support Armenia-specific
legislation in the current Congress.
As previously reported, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was re-elected
for a second term, while Republican Rick Santorum was defeated in
Pennsylvania’s Senate contest.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
####
NR#2006-098
Editor’s Note: Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the
following link:
/2006-098-1.jpg
Caption: Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Lisa Esayian.
098/2006-098-2.jpg
Caption: Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) with Board of Trustees
Executive Committee Member Annie Totah at the Assembly’s National
Advocacy Conference and banquet in March 2006.

MOVIE FEATURING SYSTEM OF A DOWN: DETAILS REVEALED
Ultimate-Guitar
Nov 8 2006
artist: system of a down date: 11/08/2006 category: general music news
System Of A Down have lent their voice, music, and support to a
ground-breaking new film called “Screamers”, which had its acclaimed
world debut on November 2, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA as part of the
prestigious AFI Film Festival.
Directed by the award-winning, humanitarian activist Carla Garapedian,
“Screamers” is an internationally produced documentary that covers the
history of modern-day genocide and genocide denial, beginning with
the Armenian Genocide in 1915, and how the world’s inaction lead to
other massacres.
System Of A Down have always worked to spread the message about
official Armenian genocide recognition within the U.S. and other
world powers that have yet to formally acknowledge that it took
place. The band felt compelled to work with this unique project
that hauntingly illustrates how the denial of those crimes lead to
more genocides of the 20th Century – from the Holocaust to Cambodia,
Bosnia, Rwanda…and all the way to present-day Darfur.
Using SOAD’s music as the backdrop to historical footage and current
accounts from genocide survivors, “Screamers” presents some of the
great questions of our time: Can we stop genocide? Do we really mean
“never again?” And how can we take action to prevent atrocities of
this magnitude from happening in the future?
Beginning Friday, January 12, 2006, “Screamers” will be hitting
theaters in markets such as: New York City, Detroit, Washington D.C.,
San Francisco, Fresno and Boston.
al_music_news/movie_featuring_system_of_a_down_det ails_revealed.html?200611081101

ALIYEV: INTEGRATION TO NATO ONE OF THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN POLICY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006
President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Belgium continues, APA reports
quoting to AzerTaj. The president met with NATO Secretary General
Yaap de Hoop Scheffer in North Atlantic headquarters.
The president said that Azerbaijan cooperates with NATO successfully
and Action Plan on Individual Cooperation is an example of it.
“One of the main directions of Azerbaijani policy is to integrate to
NATO, EU and other Atlantic bodies. Azerbaijani peacekeeping forces
actively participates peacemaking processes with NATO servicemen in
Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. My visit is of great importance for
expansion of Azerbaijan -NATO cooperation,” the president said.
NATO Secretary General highly estimated the cooperation with Azerbaijan
in the frame work of Action Plan on Individual Partnership. They also
talked about Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Giving
information about the talks within Prague process, Ilham Aliyev noted
that inviolability of conflict boarders can be solved on the principle
of territorial integrity. Azerbaijan -EU partnership, energy security,
regional problems and others were discussed at the meeting. After the
meeting Ilham Aliyev made speech in council of North Atlantic, later
he made discussions with ambassadors and standing representatives of
NATO member countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“CACOPHONY OF SIGNALS” SPELLS “NOT WELCOME” FOR TURKS
Spiegel Online, Germany
Nov 8 2006
The European Commission slapped Turkey on the wrist Wednesday for
not opening its ports to Cypriot ships. Turkey has about a month to
shape up, or else. The question is: Or else, what?
The same statement that makes beautiful music in Cyprus strikes a
dissonant and portentous chord in Turkey: “Failure to implement
its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the
negotiations.” Today, the European Commission released its progress
report on Turkey’s EU accession, telling the country it has until
mid-December to open its ports to Cypriot ships, lest it throw its
European dream into jeopardy.
This isn’t the first time Turkey has gotten a slap on the wrist, and
accession talks have always continued to slog forward. The question
now is whether this warning will have consequences — the answer will
come at the Dec. 14-15 EU Summit.
The report does not please Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, but it
also doesn’t surprise him. He dismisses the idea that EU talks could
collapse entirely: “A suspension, a breakdown of consultations,
the train halting at the station, these are not possible,” he told
reporters. Instead, there may just be “a slowdown” of the process.
That’s something the EU and Turkey can agree on. Olli Rehn, EU
Enlargement Commissioner, referred to the EU’s expansion as “a slow,
slow train coming and not precisely up around the bend.” German
newspapers have weighed in on what this means for Turkey’s future.
“The EU has maneuvered the negotiations with Turkey into a dead end,”
writes the Financial Times Deutschland. The business daily compares
the current state of negotiations to a “train crash.” In this head-on
collision, “the conflict surrounding the divided Mediterranean island
[Cyprus] is blocking negotiations” on Turkey’s side, while on the
European end “it is downright fashionable, so they say in Ankara,
to denounce Turkey’s inadequacies.” In France, the National Assembly
recently made it illegal to deny the “genocide” of Armenians under
Ottoman rule during World War I, and in Germany, the conservative
Bavarian leader Edmund Stoiber on Tuesday demanded a complete halt to
negotiations with Turkey. For Turkish observers and politicians alike,
this “cacophony of signals means but one thing: not welcome.”
The turning of the tide in Turkish public opinion of the EU is no
good, the paper writes, for those who “wish to build a Europe in
which Muslims have their place.”
With no small amount of cynicism, the Suddeutsche Zeitung writes
that Edmund Stoiber is highly suited to criticizing his Turkish
counterparts, since he resembles them so closely. The similarities
are in their politics: “whatever happens, don’t upset the voter
base; speak many great words, only to give up on them later; haggle,
dicker and gamble until the last second — but then turn around and
question your own agreements.” For the center-left daily, Stoiber is
“the Erdogan from Wolfratshausen.” But Stoiber is worse than Erdogan,
the paper concludes, because his motives are purely personal: “Stoiber
is concerned only with himself and the honorable end of his political
career.” Merkel, by contrast, is “considerably more reasonable” and
diplomatic than her Bavarian friend, even though both conservative
politicians share the same goal of preventing full membership for
Turkey in favor of a privileged partnership. Without this diplomatic
approach, the paper believes that “Turkey would be lost for any form
of partnership with the EU.”
NEWSLETTER Sign up for Spiegel Online’s daily newsletter and get the
best of Der Spiegel’s and Spiegel Online’s international coverage in
your In- Box everyday.
The Handelsblatt, meanwhile, traces much of the current “euro-political
wrangling” to the conflicts within German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
own coalition of Social Democrats (SPD) and conservatives. Europe
looks towards Berlin for leadership, the business daily writes,
“but in Berlin, the grand coalition is much too preoccupied with
itself.” In regard to Turkey, that means that while conservative
“Edmund Stoiber has once again called for an immediate end to EU
negotiations” with the would-be member state, his supposed social
democratic partner in government “Kurt Beck has demanded the opposite
with equal fervor.” These constant negative signals have become what
the paper calls a “self-fulfilling prophecy,” borrowing the English
term, that has turned Turkey away from Europe and more towards
Russia. The business paper sees this as a failure of the government
to follow the tradition that has allowed “Europe to become a success,
because governments disregarded the daily trends in strategic moments.”
— Alex Bakst and Joshua Gallu, 4 p.m. CET
,1518,44 7257,00.html