Press Release
Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617
[email protected]
Contact: Roxanne Makasdjian (415) 264-4203
REP. PETE STARK COSPONSORS “OPEN RAILROADS ACT,” JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS
— Rep. Eshoo states opposition to the removal of US Amb. to Armenia John
Evans
— Part of string of Bay Area ANC meetings with district representatives
/2006/08182006.htm
Fremont, CA, Aug. 10 – Meeting with the Bay Area ANC and constituents,
Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA) agreed to join the growing list of cosponsors
of H.R. 3361, the South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005.
During the meeting at his district office, Rep. Stark also agreed to join
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. The meeting, attended by ANC
representative Armen Carapetian, and Stark constituents, Sergey Malyan and
David Ojakian, was one of several visits to Bay Area Congressional offices
initiated by the Armenian National Committee of America’s Western Region
office and coincided with the Congressional August Recess. The group also
thanked Rep. Stark for recently cosponsoring the latest House resolution
reaffirming the US record on the Armenian Genocide (H.Res. 316), and for
joining other representatives in calling on President Bush to properly
characterize the Armenian Genocide.
Carapetian briefed Stark on the South Caucasus Integration and Open
Railroads Act of 2005 (H.R. 3361), introduced by Armenian Issues Caucus
Co-chairman Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). The group explained that the bill
would prevent any US financing of the $1 billion railway connecting Turkey
and Azerbaijan, if the track deliberately bypassed Armenia. They said the
Baku-Tibilisi-Kars railway project is one of a series of moves in the region
serving to undermine Armenia’s development rather than building regional
peace through inclusion of Armenia. Congressman Stark, a senior member of
the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, agreed to cosponsor the bill.
ANC members and constituents Hasmig Samurkashian and Khatchig Tazian joined
Carapetian in a meeting with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in her Palo
Alto office on August 9th. The group updated Rep. Eshoo on the State
Department’s removal of US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, for his
forthright characterization of the Armenian Genocide.
“I’m very concerned about the removal of US Ambassador to Armenia [John]
Evans and the nomination for his replacement, Ambassador Richard Hoagland…I
will do everything I can to oppose this unwarranted change,” wrote
Congresswoman Eshoo in a letter following the meeting.
Rep. Eshoo, who is of Armenian and Assyrian descent, expressed her
appreciation for the ANCA’s continued advancement of issues of concern to
Armenian Americans as well as it’s early and continued support of her public
service. She cited the organization’s effort urging the Public Broadcasting
Service (PBS) to remove a program featuring a panel discussion on the
Armenian Genocide that framed the event as a debatable issue. Rep. Eshoo was
instrumental in the Bay Area effort that led to San Francisco PBS affiliate
KQED’s cancellation of the program.
Following the meeting with Rep. Stark, Carapetian visited the district
offices of Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Ellen Tauscher (D-CA). In meetings
with the district directors and staff of each office, Carapetian reviewed
the ANCA’s mission and goals and thanked the Representatives for their
steadfast support of efforts to end the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Collaborative initiatives aimed at raising each Representative’s involvement
in both legislative and community affairs were also discussed.
#####
Photo 1 caption: (From left to right) – Sergey Malyan, Armen Carapetian,
Rep. Pete Stark, and David Ojakian.
Photo 2 caption: (From left to right) – Hasmig Samurkashian, Rep. Anna
Eshoo, Khatchig Tazian, and Armen Carapetian.

August 18, 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:
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN-AMERICAN
COUNCIL ON AGING, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRELATE
On Thursday, August 17, the Armenian-American Council on Aging
celebrated its 25th anniversary with the first of two events it has
planned for this occasion.
The cultural program took place under the auspices of H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, at the Verdugo Hills
Country Club. Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Co-Director of the
Prelacy Christian Education Department, represented the Prelate and
conveyed his best wishes. He also presented the message and the
blessings of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of
Cilicia.
During the event, at which Mr. Hagop Ovayan was the keynote
speaker, certificates of appreciation were handed out. There were
also performances by the “Yeram” dance group, headed by Arpi Ovayan,
and a youth choir headed by Arig Kevorkian.
The Council’s second event is a dinner banquet to take
place on Sunday, August 27, at 5:00 p.m., also at Verdugo Hills
Country Club. There will be a candle-lighting ceremony and mortgage
burning.
PRESENTATION OF DR. ALFRED DANIELIAN’S
MEDICAL DICTIONARY, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRELATE
On Sunday, August 20, the Armenian Society of Los Angeles has
organized a presentation of the second volume of Dr. Alfred
Danielian’s English-Armenian medical dictionary. The event, held
under the auspices of the Prelate, will take place at the hall of the
Armenian Society of Los Angeles in Glendale.
BLESSING OF GRAPES AT THE CORONA PARISH
On Sunday, August 27, the Armenian Apostolic Church of Corona,
Riverside County, will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the
Holy Virgin with special ceremonies and the blessing of grapes.
Under the auspices of the Prelate, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Tashjian
will conduct the traditional ceremony of Antasdan, deliver the
sermon, and officiate at the blessing of the grapes.
Services will begin at 2:00 p.m. at St. Anthony and St.
Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church located at 2345 Fifth St. in Norco.

REPRESENTATIVES OF 23 COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SECOND ALL-ARMENIAN
EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. 150 representatives of educational
institutions from 23 countries, including Armenia and Artsakh,
will participate in the second All-Armenian educational conference
to be held in Tsakhkadzor on August 18-20. Problems of promotion,
preservation and development of national self-consciousness in the
Diaspora, the methodological basis of education, i ssues related to
preparation of teachers and Armenologists, etc. will be discussed at
the conference. Hrach Tadevosian, head of the Department for Links
with the Diaspora of the RA Ministry of Education and Science, noted at
the event’s opening ceremony in Yerevan on August 17 that All-Armenian
educational conferences aim to coordinate the potentail available in
the Armenia-Diaspora cooperation, identify priorities of developing
the sphere of education, jointly develop programs for solution of the
existing problem, and to provide practical assistance to the Diasporan
educational institutions. RA Minister of Education and Science Levon
Mkrtchian said that the conference participants will also address
the issue of opening the department of Western Armenians at Yerevan
State University, the idea of an on-line Armenian school, and language
policy-related issues. The RA President Robert Kocharian’s address
was read at the opening ceremony. The address in particular says: “The
educational and cultural links play an important role in development of
Armenia-Diaspora relations. The All-Armenian educational conference,
One Nation One Culture Festival, All-Armenian sport games are called
upon to secure a spiritial link of the Armenians spread all over
the world. I hope that some well-founded provisions will be proposed
thanks to a comprehensive discussion of the existing problems, and the
conference will give an impetus to the development of educational links
between Armenia and the Diaspora.” Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I and President of
the NKR Arkady Ghukasian also sent their addresses to the conference.

UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON AUGUST 20
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Antonio Guterres, the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees will arrive in Armenia on August 20 to pay
a two-day visit.
Gagik Yeganian, the Chief of the State Department for Migration and
Refugees of Armenia informed Radio Liberty about it. It is mentioned
that within the framework of the six-day regional visit started in
Baku on August 16, Guterres intends to meet with Azerbaijani, Georgian
and Armenian officials and displaced people and refugees. The UN
at present makes efforts to activize the role of the Refugee Agency
in the political negotiations proceeding on settlement of regional
conflicts. The peaceful settlement will allow refugees to return their
former settlements and to re-integrate. The UN, in its turn, will be
able to reduce one of expensive programs: the main worry of the UN
Refugee Agency in Europe is the South Caucasus, and the UN spends about
9.7 mln dollars annually to cover needs of refugees of the region.

BORDER VILLAGE OF VOSKEPAR HAS NO TELEPHONE CONNECTION FOR TWO WEEKS
IJEVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The border village of Voskepar of the
marz of Tavush has had no telephone connection for two weeks. According
to the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s information, builders constructing
the Voskepar-Baghanis roundabout road carelessly damaged the telephone
cable entering Voskepar.

46 MINES BLOW UP OF FIRE ON BORDER ZONE
IJEVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. 46 mines blew up on August 13 at the
border zone of the village of Voskevan, Tavush marz. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed at the Voskevan village head’s office,
inhabitants of the Ghushchi Ayrum village of the Ghazakh region of
Azerbaijan set fire to fields on that day, in the consequence of what
the fire spread and blew up mines placed in the neutral zone. There
are no injured people.

ORDER OF MOVING FROM MIDDLE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION TO
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ONE WORKED OUT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Education and
Science envisages to take a number of steps to increase the role of
middle professional educational institutions. As Samvel Pipoyan, the
Chief of the Middle Professional and Vocational Education Department
of the Ministry informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, an order of
moving is being worked out at present, according to which, a graduate
of a middle professional educational institution may continue education
from the 2nd year of a higher educational institution.
S.Pipoyan mentioned that this order will be presented to discussion
of the RA Government till December of the current year. S.Pipoyan
mentioned that the modular educational system is also envisaged to
introduce in the sphere of middle professional education. This system
will give students possibility to get practical skills started from
the first year. This model was experimentally put into practice this
year in the Ijevan State, Vanadzor State Technological, Yerevan State
Humanities-Technical and Yerevan State Agricultural institutions of
middle professional education. Besides, international organizations
as well implement in Armenia programs addressed to development of
that sphere.
S.Pipoyan stated that within the framework of the “Education Addressed
to Future of Armenia” program being implemented by the UN Development
Program, buildings of few middle professional educational institutions
will be restored, and some institutions will be provided with necessary
material-technical basis as well. According to S.Pipoyan, the total
cost of the program is 1 mln 157 thousand dollars about 50 thousand
of which will be given by the RA Government.
It was also mentioned that the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
program implements a re-training program for lecturers of middle
professional institutions.

SCOT IAN PORTERFIELD TO HEAD TEAM OF ARMENIA IN YEREVAN MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 2
ZENITSA, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The team of Armenia completed with
up to 21 year old football players yielded to hosts with the result
of 2:3 at the August 16 meeting in the city of Zenitsa, Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Alexander Petrosian and Gevorg Ghazarian were most
accurate in the team of Armenia. The team of Armenia will receive
on September 2 the team of Norway for the next meeting of the group
tournament of the 2007 youth football championship of Europe. And the
Norwegians will compete with the team of Bosnia on September 6. To
recap, Scot John (Ian) Porterfield, who, on August 16, signed a 1.5
year contract on heading all age teams of Armenia, will undertake
the role of the team coach during the Yerevan meeting.

ACCORDING TO “HURRIET”, TURKEY CONSIDERS ETHNIC MINORITIES AS ALIEN,
THEREFORE THEY APPLY TO MFA DEALING WITH FOREIGNERS’ ISSUES
ISTANBUL, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In the August 17
issue of the newspaper “Hurriet”, Mehmed Yelmaz, author of articles in
“Hurriet”, reminds about the report (published the day before) about
the regulations of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. According
to the report, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey expressed a wish
that the Patriarchate would be within the jurisdiction to the state
ministry accountable to the Inspection of Religions and not to the
ministry of foreign affairs. With this aim, the Patriarchate applied
to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request to intervene.
Mehmed Yelmaz notes that all Turkish citizens have the right to apply
to the appropriate body regarding their problems. In this respect
the Armenian Patriarchate should also be eligible to apply to the
appropriate body. It is quite logical that Turkey’s MFA should not
be on the list of bodies to consider such application, as it deals
with foreign countries and foreigners. After expressing this opinion,
M. Yelmaz ironically reminds that on various occasions the state has
considered ethnic minorities as alien. The last time, the minorities
were put on the list of foreigners owning estates in Turkey. The
author concludes: if the state considers our minorities as alien,
the latter naturally should apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MILLENIUM CHALLENGE-ARMENIA FUND OFFICE TO BE ESTABLISHED BY LATE SEPTEMBER
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Millennium Challenge-Armenia (MCA)
Fund Office will be established by late September. RA Deputy Minister
of Finance and Economy, head of the preparation team of the Millennium
Challenge Armenia Program (MCAP) Davit Avetisian stated this at the
August 17 sitting of the program’s beneficiaries. According to him,
in addition to funds envisaged by the MCAP, the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) allocated up to 500 thousand USD for the office’s
foundation, design and advice activities. The first tranche of this
sum will be transferred by October 1. D. Avetisian introduced Ara
Hovsepian (who won the competition with the participation of 48
candidates and, by the August 5 decision of the MCAP management
board, was appointed the executive director general of the MCA Fun)
to the board members. The deputy minister said that prior to his
appointment, Ara Hovsepain was the head of the Natural Resource
Management and Poverty Reduction Program being implemented in
Tavush and Gegharkunik marzes with the assistance of the British
government. D. Avetisian reminded that the Armenian government and the
MCC signed the major agreement of the MCAP. The government approved
the agreement on distribution of funds and the management agreement
between the sides. Among three other documents are the subagreements
on achievements, on fiscal agent and banking agent, which are almost
ready to be submitted to the US side. In his words, the selection
of the MCAP’s fiscal and banking agents is proceeding in accordance
with the schedule. The speaker noted that in October-December 2006,
design work of 2-2.5 mln USD will be done, based on which the MCA
Fund’s 2007 programs on constrcution and repair of infrastructures and
business assistance will be implemented. Part of the Bid on Writing
Off has already been developed. The 2007 activities will be financed
on the basis of this document.
To recap, the MCC will allocate 235.65 mln USD to Armenia in 5
years. It is envisaged that 75% of the country’s rural population
(about 750 thousand citizens) will be the MCAP’s beneficiaries. A
6% poverty reduction in rural areas is anticipated as a result
of the program’s implementation. Out of the program’s funds,
67.1 mln USD will be allocated for repairs of community roads,
145 mln 670 thousand USD – for development of irrigation systems,
the program’s management and control expenditures will amount to 17
mln 790 thousand USD, while monitoring and assessment expenditures –
to 5 mln 80 thousand USD. Out of funds to be used for the development
of irrigation systems, 32.42 mln USD will be allocated for provision
of credits to farmers, strengthening of water user companies, and
delivery of advisory services.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress