ISESCO BLAMES ARMENIA`S AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS TOWARD AZERBAIJANI CULTURAL HERITAGE
Author: S. Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
ISESCO condemns aggressive actions taken by Armenia toward Azerbaijani
cultural heritage, Abdulaziz Eltvaidjiri, Director of Islamic Science,
Education, and Culture Organization (ISESCO) told journalists today,
Trend reports.
According to him, the organization resolutely blames the Armenian
aggression against Azerbaijan that contradicts all international norms
and regulations. “There were facts on violating international law on
the territory of Azerbaijan”, he told. “Armenia`s aggressive actions
against Azerbaijani historic and cultural heritage left on the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan contradict international law”, he added.
ISESCO Director pointed out that the organization is about to bring
all these facts to the notice of the international community and
authoritative and powerful international organizations.

OPPOSITIONIST IMPLICATES SARKISIAN IN EDITOR’S BEATING
By Hovannes Shoghikian and Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 11 2006
The leader of an opposition party that controls a leading Armenian
newspaper said at the weekend that he suspects Defense Minister
Serzh Sarkisian of being behind last week’s reported beating of its
editor-in-chief.
Hovannes Galajian of the “Iravunk” bi-weekly and his staff believe the
incident was the result of their hard-hitting coverage of Armenia’s
leaders and their loyalists. They have implicitly described Sarkisian
as one of its possible organizers, pointing to a recent “Iravunk”
article that attacked and derided the powerful minister.
Sarkisian dismissed such suggestions on Thursday, saying that Galajian
is too insignificant a person to incur his ire. “I don’t fight against
or punish wretched people. I just ignore them,” he said.
According to Hrant Khachatrian of the Union for Constitutional
Rights (SIM) party, which founded “Iravunk” more than 15 years ago,
the remarks only reinforced his suspicion that Sarkisian may have
ordered the violence. “We had a number of equally valid theories
relating to Hovannes Galajian’s discourse against both economic and
political criminal elements,” Khachatrian told journalists. “But
after Serzh Sarkisian’s reaction I began to have more suspicions
[about his involvement.]”
Galajian claims to have been beaten up by two unknown men outside
his Yerevan home on Wednesday. He says the attackers resembled the
notoriously violent bodyguards of wealthy businessmen close to the
government. They are usually beefy and have very short haircuts.
The reported attack, which is being investigated by the police, has
been widely condemned by Armenian human rights groups, journalist
associations and opposition parties. The country’s human rights
ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian, has also joined in the chorus of
condemnations, saying that the law-enforcement authorities are not
doing enough to prevent periodical violence against local journalists.
Sarkisian’s contemptuous description of the “Iravunk” editor prompted
on Saturday a scathing commentary by “Haykakan Zhamanak,” another
paper highly critical of the government. In a front-page editorial, the
popular daily said Armenia’s second most powerful man should look for
“wretched people” in his entourage, rather than the media. “As for us
[journalists,] the only argument in support of our wretchedness is
that we tolerate [Sarkisian] and the likes of him at the helm of our
state,” it snapped.

OPPOSITION PARTIES MULL ‘ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT’
By Karine Kalantarian and Hovannes Shoghikian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 11 2006
Leaders of a dozen opposition parties gathered in Yerevan on Monday to
discuss ways of countering what they called a growing role of “criminal
elements” in Armenia’s government and political life in general.
Some of them called for a broad-based “anti-criminal movement”
that would try to bring those elements into line and strive for the
freedom and fairness of next year’s parliamentary elections. However,
no agreements on its creation were announced after the one-hour
discussion, with participants saying only that they will hold more
such meetings in the coming weeks.
“We are witnessing a growing role of criminal elements in the country’s
political life,” Aram Karapetian, the leader of the radical Nor
Zhamanakner (New Times) party and one of the meeting’s initiators,
told RFE/RL. “They carry out murders and other actions that can not
leave us indifferent.”
By “criminal elements” the oppositionists as well as some political
commentators and journalists often mean wealthy and influential
individuals with questionable reputations and close government
connections. A number of such individuals have joined recently the
governing Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) along with Defense Minister
Serzh Sarkisian, raising fears that the HHK is intent on winning the
2007 elections at any cost.
Sarkisian angrily dismissed such concerns late last month, insisting
that those of his loyalists who are not well-educated, can only
speak the slangy language and have notorious nicknames are not crime
figures. “The criminal elements are those who spread such slander,”
he said.
However, the oppositionists who attended the discussion think
otherwise. One of them, Garnik Markarian, said his small opposition
party called Fatherland and Honor will initiate a meeting of prominent
Armenian intellectuals soon to publicly name “criminal elements”
holding senior positions in government. “We will put compelling
evidence on the table,” he said.
In a bid to substantiate its allegations, the opposition also points
to recent months’ upsurge in high-profile murders committed in
Armenia. Their latest victim, senior tax collection official Shahen
Hovasapian, was killed in a car bombing in broad daylight last week.
Aram Sargsian, a senior member of the opposition Artarutyun (Justice)
alliance, demanded on Monday that the Armenian parliament hold an
emergency debate on the law-enforcement authorities’ failure so
far to solve most of those murders. “The executive branch is simply
not performing its duties,” he charged at the start of the National
Assembly’s autumn session.
The demand was rejected by the deputy chief of the Armenian police,
General Ararat Mahtesian, who insisted that the law-enforcers are
doing their best to solve those crimes and that the overall crime
rate in Armenia remains low. “The police are also worried and are
taking serious measures to solve these crimes,” Mahtesian said.
“I don’t think that the situation with crime in Armenia is serious
now,” he added. “I believe that on the contrary the situation is
under control. Serious crimes have always been committed here and
they must be solved.”

AZERBAIJAN`S FOREIGN OFFICE SEES NO OBSTACLES FOR COOPERATION IN ISSUE ON FIRES PREVENTING ON OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES
Author: A. Ismayilova
Trend
11.09.2006
Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry sees no obstacles in cooperation
in the issues on preventing of fires on the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan, Tair Taghizadeh, Chief of the Press and Information
Department of the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry told journalists today,
Trend reports.
Answering journalists` questions whether the destiny of the last UN
resolution concerning the situation on the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan will be those like four previous ones, Mr. Taghizadeh
said that the non-execution of documents adopted by UN and the
lack of mechanisms for it are problems not only UN, but also other
international organizations. That is why, Azerbaijan is a supporter
of UN reforming..
He pointed out that the mission`s dispatch to the region will be
the first step in the large-scale ecological operation. In its turn,
Azerbaijan will take all necessary measures for it. The first meeting
of the interdepartmental working group was held last week end.
Touching upon the information about China`s weapons of mass destruction
selling to Armenia, Mr. Taghizadeh told that Azerbaijan`s Foreign
Office gave commissions to their amabassadors in Beijing and Moscow
to investigate these issues. Only after that, the official Baku will
express its position.
Commenting recent frequent visits of Azerbaijanis to Armenia,
Mr. Taghizadeh told that after the completion of package solution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue by stages, such visits could be even
fruitful.
However, the efficiency of these visits at the existing stage is doubt.

IRANIAN SPEAKER TO VISIT ARMENIA AND KYRGYZIA
Author: Y. Ibrahimzadeh
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006
The delegation of Iran`s Parliament headed by Iranian Speaker Golam
Khaddad Adel has left for Armenia and Kyrgyzia on a four-day visit,
Trend reports.
The main aim of the visit is development of inter-Parliamentary
relations between Iran and the two above-mentioned countries, Trend
Special Correspondent to Teheran reports.
The Iranian Speaker is expected to hold meetings with his counterparts,
the Presidents, and the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Kyrgyzia, as
well as to deliver a speech to MPs of these countries during the visit.
Two Iranian MPs of Armenian origin – Robert Biglerian and George
Vartan will accompany Mr. Golam Khaddad Adel in his visit.

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
September 12, 2006
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES KNOLLENBERG IN CALIFORNIA
Beverly Hills, CA – The Armenian Assembly’s Western Region Office held a
dinner in honor of Representative Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), Co-Chair of
the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, in Glendale, California on
August 29.
Nearly 30 Assembly supporters and local community leaders, including
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian former Primate of the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church, Very Rev. Father Dajad Yardemian representing
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian of the Western Diocese and Harutyun Kojoyan,
Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, attended the event at
the Glendale Hilton Hotel.
Board of Trustees Member and Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain,
who hosted the dinner with his wife Lauren, thanked Knollenberg for his
unwavering support of Armenia and Armenian-American issues during his
14-year tenure in the House of Representatives.
“Tonight I am pleased to welcome Congressman Knollenberg and his wife
Sandie to this gathering of representatives of the Armenian Assembly
community in Los Angeles,” said Mushegain.
Knollenberg, in his remarks, commended the Armenian Assembly and its
leadership for its work to strengthen the U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Karabakh
relationships. He said he was pleased to report that Washington’s
support for Armenia continues to gain strength and pointed to the recent
signing of a five-year $235 million compact between Armenia and the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as a positive sign.
However, Knollenberg added that Armenia must continue on the path of
reform, stressing the importance of good governance, economic
development and sound social policy as a requisite for continued MCC
funding. The government grant program, which operates independently of
USAID, focuses on long-term growth and reassesses a country every year
with the expectation of improved performance.
As Subcommittee Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Knollenberg
has consistently worked to ensure robust U.S. economic assistance to
Armenia and humanitarian aid to Karabakh. He told event participants
that despite Armenia’s MCC grant, foreign operations funding continues
to be necessary to Armenia’s development and that he will work to
maintain assistance levels in Congress.
Knollenberg also provided an update on the South Caucasus Integration
and Open Railroads Act – a bill he introduced in the House of
Representatives last year along with fellow Armenian Caucus Co-Chair
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Caucus Member George Radanovich (R-CA).
Knollenberg said the bill, which would prohibit U.S. assistance for the
promotion or development of a railroad that would connect Turkey,
Georgia and Azerbaijan while bypassing Armenia, currently has 96
supporters. He expressed optimism that the bill would pass the House
and urged activists to increase their advocacy on the Senate side.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-076
Photographs available on the Assembly Web site at the following links:
76/2006-076-1.jpg
Caption: Board of Trustees Member and Western Office Chairman Richard
Mushegain presented Congressman Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI) with a book
about Armenia.
076/2006-076-2.JPG
Caption: L to R: Congressman Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI) with Fellow
Trustees Nora Hampar, Savey Tufenkian and Flora Dunaians and Life
Trustee Grace Kay.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 12, 2006
__________________
IN MEMORIAM: HAIG ROY DADOURIAN
The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America was deeply saddened by
the passing of Haig R. Dadourian on September 5, 2006. Among his many
distinguished services to the Armenian Church, Mr. Dadourian served for the
past nine years as chairman of the Diocesan Council, the highest
deliberative body of the Diocese.
What follows is the text of the eulogy delivered by Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, the Diocesan Primate, during the funeral service at St. Vartan
Armenian Cathedral, in New York City, on Monday, September 11, 2006.
* * *
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his works by his good
life, in the humility of wisdom.. For where jealousy and selfish ambition
exist, there will be disorder and every evil work. But the wisdom from
above is first pure, then peaceable. It is gentle, and open to reason; full
of mercy and good fruits; without uncertainty or insincerity. The harvest
of righteousness is sown in peace, by those who make peace. (James 3:13,
16-18)
These words written by the Apostle James, the Brother of our Lord Jesus
Christ, have deep meaning for us today. We have gathered to pay our final
respects to an admired leader of our church; a dear friend; a beloved
brother; an irreplaceable husband, father and grandfather. And we are
keenly aware that when any man passes from this earth, his worldly
achievements–even when these are rare and impressive–seem of secondary
importance, and we are left with the question: What does this soul leave
behind?
For a man like Haig Dadourian, the answer is not hard to see. He was a man
of wisdom. A man of unselfish devotion. Above all, a man of peace. These
are the things we will remember when we think of him. These are the things
that inspired love in the hearts of his family–that made him a worthy
example to his fellow men. They are qualities of the human heart, soul, and
mind that God calls us to emulate.
Haig Dadourian was a true Christian throughout his life: a man who took
seriously the human obligation to walk humbly in the path of God. His days
on this good earth were spent helping others, dreaming of what could be, and
focusing his talents on realizing those dreams. In doing so, he became one
of the few individuals whose actions reach out beyond their immediate
circle, to affect the greater community, and lay a foundation for its
future.
Haig’s generation was perhaps the first that could truly be termed,
“Armenian-Americans.” These were the people who, like Haig, were born and
bred in this great country; who felt fully native to its culture; who shared
America’s great ambitions, and felt duty-bound to serve it honorably. This
was the generation that built on the foundations laid by their immigrant
parents; whose members went to the best schools, became substantial figures
in the society at large, and brought a sense of grand aspiration to
everything they did. And the Armenian community reaped the benefit of these
movers and shakers.
As I said, Haig Dadourian was a member of this generation–and indeed, he
was, in the deepest sense, its most exemplary member, who reflected its
finest virtues, and realized its best possibilities. But he and his
brothers were also deeply influenced by the generation of their parents,
especially the figure of their father, Dadour Dadourian. Dadour was truly a
larger-than-life figure. His force of personality, his strength of
conviction, his ambitious vision for our church and community–these left an
indelible mark on everyone who met him. He left a profound legacy, and it
is not too much to say that our church would be very different today were it
not for this extraordinary man.
I should immediately add that the father’s most important legacy was that he
instilled his passion for the Armenian Church in his sons: most notably in
Haig and his elder brother, Alex. They would go on to become genuine
leaders of our church–not only for their home parishes in Bayside, New
York, and Livingston, New Jersey, but for the Armenian Church of America as
a whole.
Haig himself received a distinguished education, and as a businessman he was
second to none, heading with his brother the family business, and running
the family foundation. But from an early age–and especially in these later
years–it was the church that captured Haig’s imagination, and became the
focus of his creative efforts. As a young man he relished singing in the
church choir, and thereafter he kept the Armenian Divine Liturgy very close
to his heart. At the St. Mary parish in Livingston, he led the parish
council and served as a Diocesan delegate. He was also a teacher–and not
only of the younger generation, but a teacher to his peers as well.
In the last twenty years, Haig became more and more involved with the
leadership of the Diocese as a whole, becoming elected to the Diocesan
Council and serving for the past nine years as its chairman. As a leader at
this highest level, Haig was always eager to explore new ideas; he was
welcoming and even encouraging of different perspectives. He was also
resolute when it came time to make a decision. In his generosity, Haig was
willing to dispense advice, expertise, his valuable time–as well as the
financial resources of a great family–whenever called upon. As a personal
beneficiary of Haig’s counsel throughout my term as Primate, I am profoundly
grateful to have enjoyed the guidance, and shared the friendship, of such a
thoughtful, warm-hearted man.
Everyone who knew Haig could see that he was a leader of imagination and
vision. But I hope that people will always remember him as a man of
profound faith. That faith was the foundation of everything he accomplished
in life. I was impressed, over the many years of our friendship, that Haig
would always acknowledge the presence of God in his life–and in the world.
He felt strongly that the eyes of God were on each of us–that we were not
anonymous, aimless creatures, but rather the children of a Heavenly Father:
obligated to Him, and given an individual purpose to fulfill in this world.
To his credit, Haig never felt that this God-given purpose was a burden;
quite the opposite, he seemed to feel liberated and empowered by it, to give
of himself, to give to others, and to aspire to the higher things of life.
Hand-in-hand with his devotion to God was the pride Haig took in his
Armenian heritage. It gave him strength to realize what it meant to be a
son of the Armenian people: to have one’s roots in a distant and sometimes
troubled past; yet to be committed to a future of great light and hope and
optimism. As with other important parts of Haig’s life, his heritage was
something he wanted to share with others: with the community of fellow
Armenian-Americans; with his friends and colleagues in American society; and
first and foremost, with his own children.
As you would expect, his family-life was precious to Haig, and seeing the
love he felt for them, and the love he received in return, was beautiful to
behold. He married Astrid in 1958, and nearly 50 years later, they still
seem such a wonderful couple, so perfectly matched in their minds, hearts,
and souls. Together they raised three beautiful daughters–Leslie, Jeanine,
and Melanie–each with her own shining virtues; each of whom has upheld the
family legacy with honor, and love.
Haig also felt a powerful bond to his brothers. I was most familiar with
the relationship between Haig and his elder brother Alex, and I can say–as
a brother myself–that a rare and noble connection existed between them. It
is a fact of human existence that often, within a family, siblings can feel
a kind of rivalry between them. But not so, with the Dadourian brothers. I
have never seen even a hint of jealousy or competition between them. To the
contrary, Alex and Haig were always supportive and encouraging of each
other; deeply proud of each other’s accomplishments; eager to praise the
excellence of the other. Their relationship perfectly embodied the words of
Scripture (Ps 133): “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell
in unity!. For there the Lord has commanded His blessing: Life for
evermore.”
Of course, love may be immortal; but life–on this earth–comes to its
natural end. And so it was for Haig. These last two years, and especially
these final weeks, were difficult ones–more for Haig’s family, perhaps,
than for himself. It was my privilege to spend time with that family
throughout this period, and especially during these last weeks. What I
observed in the Dadourian family was courage, grace, love, and above all,
faith in the greater designs of God. And I think that all the family would
agree that the one who set the tone for this attitude was Haig himself. He
was not the kind of man to retreat into despair–even in these most trying
circumstances–and he fought, with grace and dignity, to the end. I was
with him ten days before he died, when it had become clear that these would
be his final days. Yet even then, Haig’s thoughts were only for others: for
family and loved ones, and for the church, which he regretted he would no
longer be able to serve.
Certainly, it is true that we will never again feel the presence of Haig’s
personality, enjoy his gentle smile or hear his warm laughter. The Armenian
Church has lost a beloved and irreplaceable son. And yet it is also true
that Haig’s service to our Lord has not ended. Because the example he held
up for others to see cannot end. I am taken by the fact that today’s
date–September 11th–has acquired a distinct and ominous meaning for our
generation. Five years ago today, this city witnessed an evil of enormous
proportions, performed by men whose only motivation was to hate and destroy.
It makes our gathering today all the more significant, I feel. For Haig
Dadourian was a man whose very life exemplified another way: a different
vision for mankind–a “wisdom from above.” The fact that there are men like
Haig Dadourian among us redeems the tragedies and iniquities of the world,
and gives us a reason to defend life and its blessings against the darkness.
In the words of St. James: “The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace,
by those who make peace.”
To Haig’s dear wife, Astrid; to his children Leslie, Jeanine, Melanie and
their families; to his grandchildren Aram, Steven, Matthew, and Nina; to his
brothers and family members; to his friends, colleagues and all his loved
ones, I extend my deepest prayers of sympathy and hope. May God be with you
all; and may our Almighty Creator keep Haig Dadourian in His holy presence,
until we are all re-united in God’s eternal kingdom. Amen.
–9/12/06

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
UPDATE – ARMENIA
12 September 2006
Opposition editor sentenced to four years in prison on dubious charge
SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York
**Updates IFEX alert of 7 July 2006**
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 11 September 2006 CPJ press release:
Armenian opposition editor sentenced to four years in prison
New York, September 11, 2006 – A district court judge in Armenia’s
capital, Yerevan, sentenced Arman Babadzhanian, editor of the
opposition newspaper Zhamanak Yerevan, to four years in prison on
Friday for dodging military service in 2002 by presenting false
documents to avoid the obligatory two-year draft, according to local
press reports.
Local press freedom defenders said the sentence was unusually harsh
for the alleged violation, which typically draws sentences of one to
three years. Babadzhanian’s defense will appeal the sentence, the
Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said.
The 30-year-old editor was arrested on June 26, after being summoned
for questioning by the prosecutor general’s office in Yerevan,
supposedly as a witness in a criminal case. Babadzhanian has been
imprisoned since because authorities denied his release on bail
despite protests by his defense lawyer and numerous press freedom
organizations. ( See related CPJ alert from July 7:
ly06na.html )
Babadzhanian pleaded guilty to draft evasion but said that the case
against him was designed to silence “an independent and incorruptible
media outlet,” RFE/RL reported. While admitting to the charge, he said
that authorities had repeatedly rejected medical documents attesting
to health problems that could have exempted him from the draft.
Days prior to Babadzhanian’s arrest, Zhamanak Yerevan published an
article questioning the independence of the prosecutor general’s
office, said Seda Muradian of the London-based Institute for War and
Peace Reporting (IWPR), which has followed the case
closely. Authorities did not explain why they waited to charge
Babadzhanian on a violation that dated to 2002.
“Given the history of politicized prosecution of journalists in
Armenia, we are skeptical about the appropriateness of this sentence,”
CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said.
Armenia’s opposition and independent media have been under pressure in
recent years. The independent television station A1+ has been refused
a broadcast license 11 times since it was taken off the air in
2002. In April 2005, legislation restricting press coverage of
terrorism was adopted. Physical assaults against journalists also
continue, and CPJ research shows that officials do little to apprehend
and prosecute the perpetrators.
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that
works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information on
Armenia, visit
For further information, contact Nina Ognianova (x106) or Tara
Ornstein (x 101) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A.,
tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected],
[email protected] , [email protected], Internet:
The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of
CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit CPJ.
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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 12, 2006
___________________
PRIMATE INVITES YOUNG PRIEST FROM ARMENIA TO DIOCESE
By Jake Goshert
On Sunday, September 10, 2006, Fr. Khatchadour Kesablyan will celebrate the
one-year anniversary of his priestly ordination by celebrating the badarak
at his new home, the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA.
Born and raised in Armenia, Fr. Kesablyan was invited to join the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians. He and his wife, Anna, and their 9-month-old
daughter, Maria, arrived in Cambridge on August 6 for a one-year posting as
a pastoral intern.
“I am pleased Fr. Khatchadour accepted my invitation to join us here in the
United States,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “He is a faithful young man,
anxious to share his energy and passion for Christ with our parishioners. I
know he will be warmly welcomed by all the Armenians in his new home.”
YOUNG FAITH
Fr. Kesablyan was born in the city of Etchmiadzin in Armenia in 1976. With
several priests in his extended family, he saw the power of faith close-up
from an early age.
“I was raised in a family full of faith,” he said. “The idea of God was
always in my heart because I saw it in the eyes of my family as they came
and went to church. I also had many relatives who were priests, and they
noticed in my faith and desire to serve God and his people.”
With the encouragement of his family, at the age of 15 he enrolled in the
Kevorkian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
Following his graduation in 1998, he taught history and the New Testament at
the seminary for a year. Fr. Kesablyan then spent two years as a chaplain
in the Armenian army.
>From 2002 to 2005, he was the executive secretary of the Department of
Intern-church Relations for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
He was ordained into the priesthood on September 11, 2005, and served in the
Diocese of Siunik in southern Armenia.
“What I am called to do is to serve not only God, but his people in whatever
way I can,” Fr. Kesablyan said about his ministry.
NEW HOME
While in Cambridge, Fr. Kesablyan is adjusting to life in America and taking
English lessons. He is also actively serving the parish alongside its
pastor, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian. He will be working with Sunday and Armenian
School students, aiding youth programs, visiting shut-ins and nursing homes,
and serving in other pastoral ways. His wife is singing in the choir and
will be joining Fr. Kesablyan in working with the junior choir.
“The community loves this man and his family,” Fr. Kouzouian said. “They
see how warm and welcoming he is. Overall, we’re very excited to have him
with us.”
Fr. Kesablyan said he is pleased by his welcome, and that he is enjoying
learning about life in an Armenian parish in America. He is energized to
see the effort being made in America to retain the Armenian nature of the
church.
“I am positively impressed with the Armenian community here in the United
States, so many thousands of miles away from our homeland, yet they retain
their faith and ties to national traditions — the Armenian spirit, our
culture and language, and of course our fundamental traditions,” he said.
“To keep these things here in America is a very difficult task, but the
Armenians are doing it.”
“I would like to express my gratitude and respect to His Holiness Catholicos
Karekin II and Archbishop Barsamian, who have offered their blessing to this
new phase in my ministry and life,” Fr. Kesablyan said. “Also, I want to
thank the pastor of Holy Trinity, the parish council, and the community here
for their warm welcome and hospitality.”
ASSISTING THE TRANSITION
Fr. Kesablyan is the first young priest to come to the United States at the
invitation of the Eastern Diocese as part of a new effort to provide
Armenian-born clergy with the understanding and knowledge to effectively
serve parishes in America.
Under the internship program, clergy coming from the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin will spend at least one year serving under an experienced pastor
in the Eastern Diocese. The interning priest will meet with his mentor
pastor on a weekly basis and be evaluated every two months by both the
mentor and the Primate. The purpose of the evaluations is to give proper
help and additional guidance to the interning priest.
Along with his mentor-priest, the interning clergy will meet with various
other leaders of the Diocese to discuss the responsibilities of priests in
America. They will meet with Fr. Daniel Findikyan and Dr. Roberta Irvine
from St. Nersess Seminary to study educational and homiletic issues. They
will meet with Fr. Karekin Kasparian and Fr. Untzag Nalbandian to discuss
their psychological readiness. Fr. Simeon Odabashian will instruct the
clergy on Diocesan and parish organization and functionality. Fr. Vasken
Kouzouian will work with the interning clergy to improve their English and
knowledge of American customs. Yn. Arpi Kouzouian will meet with the
yeretzgins from Armenia to summarize expected duties.
“This is part of an effort to make new clergy from Armenia comfortable and
capable of serving in parishes throughout the Eastern Diocese,” Archbishop
Barsamian said. “While the word of God remains the same worldwide, our
expectations and the demands we put on priests here in America are quite
different than those faced by clergy in Armenia. And we want to diminish
any barriers — cultural, linguistic, psychological — that would keep a
devoted young Armenian clergyman from serving the flock here in America.”
— 9/12/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): At the invitation of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Eastern Diocese, and with the blessing of His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Fr.
Khatchadour Kesablyan, a priest from Armenia, has begun serving a one-year
pastoral internship at the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, under the
parish’s priest, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
September 12, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA WELCOMES MENENDEZ
“HOLD” ON HOAGLAND NOMINATION
“I believe that the United States, Armenia, and
all who are committed to human rights should
support an Ambassador to Armenia who recognizes
the genocide that took place there more than 90
years ago.” — Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
today welcomed the “hold” placed by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
on the confirmation of Richard E. Hoagland as the next U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia based on his opposition to the Bush
Administration’s refusal to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
“We join with Armenians from New Jersey and throughout the United
States in thanking Senator Menendez for his principled stand in
blocking the Hoagland nomination,” said Ken Hachikian, Chairman of
the ANCA. “The Senator’s hold represents a victory for our
nation’s standing on human rights and genocide-prevention.”
In blocking the Hoagland nomination, Sen. Menendez stressed that,
“as a leader and defender of democracy, it is our nation’s
responsibility to speak out against injustice and support equality
and human rights. But if the Bush Administration continues to
refuse to acknowledge the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, then
there is certainly cause for great alarm, which is why I am placing
a hold on this nominee.” He added that, “I will continue to work
with my colleagues in the United States Senate to make strides
toward ensuring that all people, regardless of race, religion, or
ethnicity, receive protection from policies of discrimination and
hate that lead to genocide.”
On September 7th, after more than forty minutes of intense debate,
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Ambassador-
Designate Hoagland’s nomination. Following the vote, the ANCA
announced that it would continue to urge Senators to place a hold
on the Hoagland nomination.
On two previous occasions, June 28th and August 1st, the panel
delayed its consideration of the nomination due to bipartisan
concerns over a series of controversies. Among these points of
contention were the nominee’s written responses to Senator Boxer’s
inquiry, in which he questioned the genocidal intent of the Ottoman
Turkish government. Also of concern to members of the panel was
the State Department’s firing of the current U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia, John Marshal Evans. His early recall from Yerevan is
widely seen as retribution for his public statements, in February
of 2005, calling for an end to “word games” by the U.S. government
in avoiding the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Despite dozens of Congressional inquiries, the Administration has
yet to explain its reasons for firing Amb. Evans or to reveal the
communications it received from the Turkish government on this
matter.
To date, more than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
including Senators George Allen (R-VA), Joseph Biden (D-DE),
Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman,
Christopher Dodd, Russell Feingold (D-WI), John Kerry and Paul
Sarbanes, have contacted Secretary Rice or questioned Ambassador-
designate Hoagland directly regarding his nomination or the firing
of Ambassador Evans. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-
RI), and most recently Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with over sixty
Members of the U.S. House have also expressed serious concerns to
the State Department on this matter.
In a September 1st letter, the ANCA urged Members of the Committee
to block the Hoagland nomination until:
1) Ambassador-designate Hoagland provides a responsible and
unambiguous public statement affirming that he does not question
the clear genocidal intent of the Ottoman Turkish government
against its Armenian population.
2) The State Department provides a full, honest, and public
explanation regarding the reasons for the controversial firing of
the current Ambassador, John Marshall Evans.
3) The Administration explains any and all communications,
directly or indirectly, between the U.S. government and the Turkish
government concerning Ambassador Evans.
Since February of this year, the ANCA has led nationwide efforts to
demand answers concerning the recall of Ambassador Evans and,
later, to educate Senators about the adverse impact of sending an
envoy to Armenia that has called into question the genocidal
character of Ottoman Turkey’s systematic destruction of its
Armenian population.
For an overview of the firing of Ambassador Evans and the Hoagland
controversy, visit:
p
The full text of Senator Menendez’s remarks are provided below:
#####
Text of Senator Menendez’s remarks, September 12, 2006
It is well known that more than 90 years ago, the Ottoman Empire
brutally tortured and killed 1.5 million Armenians. Between 1915
and1923, innocent men, women, and children were murdered or forced
to flee their country and live in exile. Though the horrors
suffered by the Armenian people have haunted them for the past
century, many — including our very own President — have refused
to label the atrocities for what they are: genocide.
In my view, all Americans must recognize that the atrocities
committed from 1915 to 1923 constitute genocide. We do not use
that word lightly. But the word itself makes a powerful statement
about the horrors suffered by the Armenian people. As Samantha
Power, the leading expert on Genocide said in a letter to the
editor of the New York Times, “The extermination of Armenians is
recognized as genocide by the consensus of scholars of genocide and
Holocaust worldwide. The failure to acknowledge this trivializes a
human rights crime of enormous magnitude.”
Recent developments have caused many to wonder about the
administration’s actions regarding the Armenian genocide. Over the
past few months, there has been great controversy surrounding the
departure of John M. Evans, the Ambassador to Armenia. Ambassador
Evans, a highly respected diplomat with a record of service, is
leaving his three year assignment one year early. Under normal
circumstances, this would not be cause for great alarm. However,
we know that the Ambassador’s departure comes after he went against
the Bush Administration’s stance and acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide. The fact that he is being replaced after vocalizing that
“the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth
century,” is cause for great concern among all who advocate for
human rights.
The Senate is planning to vote on the nomination of the next U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, Richard E. Hoagland. Unlike his
predecessor, Mr. Hoagland has declined to acknowledge the mass
killings of the Armenians as genocide, and has said that if
confirmed, he would work to represent the President’s policy. I
have great concerns that Mr. Hoagland’s confirmation would be a
step backward. Considering Mr. Hoagland’s refusal to acknowledge
the Armenian Genocide as anything more than horrifying events, I do
not feel that his nomination is in the best interest of Armenia and
her Diaspora.
I simply cannot support the confirmation of a new Ambassador to the
Republic of Armenia until all of questions over Ambassador Evans’
replacement have been answered. I believe that the United States,
Armenia, and all who are committed to human rights should support
an Ambassador to Armenia who recognizes the genocide that took
place there more than 90 years ago.