August 25, 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 TO PRESIDE OVER SERVICES AT
ST. GARABED CHURCH
On Sunday, August 27, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
will preside over Holy Mass at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood,
and deliver his sermon.
We would also like to announce that H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy, and H.E. Archbishop Suren Kataroyan,
former Prelate of the Diocese of Aleppo, are briefly visiting our
Prelacy. Upon the invitation of the Prelate, Archbishop Choloyan will
preside over Mass at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and deliver his
sermon, while Archbishop Kataroyan will preside over services and
deliver his sermon at St. Mary’s Church in Glendale.
PRELATE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEET WITH PARISH PASTORS AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
The Prelate and the Executive Council continue their meetings with
the Pastors and Board of Trustees of our parishes.
On Tuesday, August 15, the Prelate and Executive Council
members met with the Pastor and Board of Trustees of Holy Martyrs
Church in Encino, and on Tuesday, August 22nd with the Pastor and
Board of Trustees of St. Garabed Church in Hollywood.
HOLY MASS AND OFFERING OF BLESSINGS IN FRESNO
COMMEMORATING THE 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF
THE HEROIC BATTLE OF MOUSA DAGH
On Sunday, September 3rd, the Mousa Dagh Compatriotic Union will
commemorate the 91st anniversary of the heroic battle of Mousa Dagh
in Fresno with Holy Mass, offering of the blessings (madaghorhnek),
and festivities.
The Prelate delegated Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian to
conduct Holy Mass, deliver his sermon, and preside over the blessing
of madagh.
PRELACY ESTABLISHES ECUMENICAL ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
On the evening of Thursday, August 24, under the auspices of the
Prelate, the Prelacy Ecumenical Activities Committee convened its
first meeting. In attendance were Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Ms.
Vanna Kitsinian, Ms. Palig Babian, Mr. Raffi Kurkjian, Mr. Shahe
Keshishian, and Mr. Ara Der Haroutounian.
The Prelate commenced the meeting, detailing the mission
and responsibilities of the committee and stating that the committee
will function as a part of the Ecumenical activities of the Holy See
of Cilicia. The committee elected Vanna Kitsinian as Chairperson,
after which it decided that each member should contact local
non-Armenian sister churches, inquire about similar committees they
might have, and establish ties that will be conducive to future
collaboration.
PRELATE EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES
TO THE FAMILY OF KEVORK KANDAHARIAN
On Thursday, August 17, the Armenian community mourned the loss of
long-time educator Kevork Kandaharian, which occurred in Beirut,
Lebanon. On behalf of the Prelacy Religious and Executive Councils,
the Prelate expressed his condolences to the family.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SECOND ECONOMIC FORUM ARMENIA-DIASPORA TO HAVE UP TO 1,000 PARTICIPANTS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The second economic forum
Armenia-Diaspora to be held on September 20 will have up to
1,000 participants, while the similar event in 2003 had about 800
participants. RA Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development
Tigran Davtian told NT correspondent about it. He attributed the
growth in the number of participants to the improvement of Armenia’s
economic indices and the increased investment attractiveness of
the country. According to him, the ratio of Armenian and Diasporan
businessmen, who have submitted applications for participation in
the forum, is equal. Businessmen of not Armenian origin are also
expected to attend the forum, especially its IT section. Besides,
it is envisaged that representatives of a number of international
economic organizations, including organizations not operating in
Armenia, will take part in the event.
T. Davtian said that round tables on problems of cooperation in such
spheres as high and information technologies, science and innovation,
industry, small and medium business, tourism, construction and real
estate will be held between the forum’s opening and closing plenary
sittings. “This year’s forum will aim to expand cooperation, especially
in the high-tech secto,” he underlined.
It was noted that the exhibition “Armenia’s Economy over 15 Years of
Independence” will take place on September 22-25 within the framework
of the forum.
In T. Davtian’s words, it will be “an unprecedented one by its scale”.

OLEXANDR BOZHKO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The level of relations between
Ukraine and Armenia is quite high. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia
Olexandr Bozhko stated this in an interview with NT correspondent. He
said that at the present time, the legal and contractual basis of
the bilateral relations includes 65 documents, the major of which
is the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and
Armenia signed on May 14, 1996. According to him, over the past
decade, the presidents of the two countries have met more than ten
times. Besides, recently consultations on a permanent basis resumed
between the foreign ministries of Ukraine and Armenia.
As for economic cooperation, today Ukraine is the second largest
trade partner of Armenia among CIS countries and the fifth one –
among all the countries in the world. In 2005, the bilateral trade
turnover grew by 40% and exceeded 110 mln USD, while in the first
half of this year it grew by one third.
Armenia imports equipment (for example, Bogdan buses), metals,
foodstuffs, etc. from Ukraine.
The ambassador pointed out the importance of the Ilyichevsk –
Poti-Batumi ferry link for Armenia’s economy. In this connection
O. Bozhko mentioned the estimation of Armenian businessmen, according
to which this ferry link operated by Ukrferry company is in essence
a “life road” for Armenia, as the main flows of Armenian goods pass
through it to Ukraine and on to Europe, and in the opposite direction.
At the same time, Olexandr Bozhko noted that the potential for the
bilateral trade and economic cooperation has not been exhausted. He
expects that in the visible future, the sides will start implementing
joint programs and projects in such spheres as energy, transport,
agricultural and industrial complex, and others. In the ambassador’s
opinion, there are great opportunities for increasing mutual
investments. “We just start developing this direction,” he said. As
an example, the ambassador mentioned the acquisition of 35% of
Arminvestbank’s shares by Ukrprombank in April 2006.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY RECEIVES NO INFORMATION ABOUT OPENING OF
VERIN LARS BORDER PASS BY RUSSIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Foreign Ministry has
not received any information from the appropriate bodies of the
Russian Federation about the opening of the Verin Lars (Upper Lars)
border pass. NT was informed about it from the acting spokesman for
the RA MFA Vladimir Karapetian.
To recap, according to the August 24 issue of the daily “Azg”, Russia
intends to open the Verin Lars border pass for 10 days. The same source
reported that Georgian mass media explained this intention of Russia
by “the circumstance of providing the Armenians who are on the on the
border with the opportunity to reach Armenia through Georgia”. At
the same time, it was noted that as the Georgian newspaper “Akhali
Taoba” put it, “the Russian side’s decision to open the border pass
for Armenians was taken as an offence by the Georgian authorities
that refused to open the border pass from their side.”
To recap, Russia closed the Verin Lars border pass during the first
ten days of July, explaining this step by the necessity to carry out
repairs. NT was informed on July 10 from the press service of the
RA Ministry of Transport and Communication that the border pass will
open no sooner than in a month.

RA NA AND UNDP TO COOPERATE ON ALL ISSUES CONCERNING LEGISLATION
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues of creating cooperation
mechanisms and increase of effeciency were discussed at the August 24
meeting of RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian and Consuelo
Vidal, the UN Resident Coordinator, the UNDP Resident Representative to
Armenia. An agreement was reached to organize soon a joint discussion
with international organizations engaged in assisting working out
of drafts, to coordinate and check the necessity and reasonings of
working out drafts, to decide ways of assistance.
According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
NA Public Relations Department, possibilities of making, with
the UN assistance, analyses of the acting legislation to find out
contradictions of different laws and agreements were also discussed. An
agreement was also reached on holding discussions in the direction
of improving work of the NA web site.

EXHIBITION OF IRANIAN CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTION TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON NOVEMBER 3-11
YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. A specialized exhibition of Iranian
construction production will be held at the Sport and Culture Center
after Karen Demirchian in Yerevan on November 3-11. According to the
newspaper “Alik” (Tehran), Director of the Iran-Armenia Chamber of
Commerce Levon Aharonian stated this during a press conference in
Tehran on August 23.
In his words, it is expected that at least 60 Iranian companies
producing building material, electric devices, furniture, etc, will
participate in the exhibition.
L. Aharonian said that information about large industrial centers
of Iran will also be presented at the exhibition. According to
him, Iran is Armenia’s fifth largest trade partner: trade turnover
between Iran and Armenia reached 200 mln USD a year, 160 mln USD of
which is exports from Iran into Armenia and 40 mln USD is imports
from Armenia. L. Aharonian expressed a hope that organizing such an
exhibition will allow the Armenian consumer to get to know Iranian
products, thanks to which exports from Iran into Armenia currently
making 17% will soon reach 30%.

GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Georgian
Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli on August 24 arrived in Javakhk with
a short working visit.
According to the A-Info news agency, while in Ninotsminda and
Akhalkalak, the Georgian prime minister familiarized himself with the
construction work being done there with state budget resources. He
visited the youth sport centers of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda currently
under construction, as well as school No. 2 (where the instruction
is in Russian) of Akhalkalak.
Z. Noghaideli became acquainted with the process of constructing
Aspindza-Akhalkalak Road and expressed a hope that this work will be
completed by October.
During the prime minister’s visit, deputy of the Georgian parliament
Hamlet Movsisian proposed providing assistance to Javakhk’s farmers
who suffered from this year’s drought. In his words, Z. Noghaideli
promised to be useful not only in this issue but also to assist the
most vulnerable families and the disabled with fuel this winter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TEACHERS OF ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE UNDERGO TRAINING IN
JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. About 200
Armenian language and literature teachers of Javakhk are undergoing
training in Akhalkalak under OSCE sponsorship.
According to A-Info, the training cources are run by 22 teachers
from Javakhk who have undergone respective training in Kobuleti this
summer. The program head Leva Gnberidze said that the teachers –
participants of the training cources were divided into 7 groups in
Akhalkalak, into 4 in Ninotsminda, and 3 groups in Akhaltskha.

WILL THE PROBLEM OF SECURITY OF SEAGULLS BE SETTLED?
Lragir.am
25 Aug 06
Several days ago the Haykakan Zhamanak published information that
a Diasporan businessman met with President Robert Kocharyan and
showed him the record of his talk with a minister while the latter
was demanding bribe from this businessman.
The Lragir.am found out that the sphere of mining was concerned, and
the minister who demanded a bribe is the minister of environmental
protection Vardan Ayvazyan.
Our information is confirmed by the rumors that Robert Kocharyan
is likely to dismiss Vardan Ayvazyan. The president’s intention is
probably determined by the record the businessman had handed to him. At
least, the Procuracy is increasingly attentive to the activities of
the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The Procuracy had demanded
explanation from the ministry on a number of questions.

CHIRAC CHANGED THE PROGRAM
Lragir.am
25 Aug 06
We have learned that the French president Jacques Chirac, who is
likely to visit Armenia in mid-September, made a suprising and in
some sense also sensational decision connected with the protocol of
the visit. The French president is said to have cancelled his visit
to the National Assembly of Armenia. The decision is serious not only
because it was made by the French president but also because Chirac is
going to change the protocol of Armenia. It means there is an important
reason. By the way, this is going to be the first case when a president
does not visit the National Assembly during their visit to Armenia.