July 20, 2006
Press contact
Stefanie Koperniak
617/300-5317
[email protected]

Images of the Armenian Spirit Explores the Rich Cultural History of the
Armenian People
Thursday, August 24 at 8:30pm on WGBH 2
Also airs on Sunday, August 27 at 5:30pm on WGBH 2
New England Native Barbara Ghazarian Visits WGBH to Present This Program

Images of the Armenian Spirit celebrates more than 3,000 years of the
art, culture and survival of the Armenian people. The compelling
one-hour documentary was written, directed, and produced by Muffie
Dunn and Emmy Award-winning producer Andrew Goldberg, both of Two Cats
Productions.
Author and speaker Barbara Ghazarian visits the WGBH studio to present
this program, airing on Thursday, August 24 at 8:30pm on WGBH
2. Ghazarian is author of the book Descendants of Noah: Christian
Stories from the Armenian Heart . Her cookbook, Simply Armenian:
Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy, won Honorable Mention in the
Writer’s Digest 12th International Self-Published Book Awards. Today,
she splits her time between Monterey, Californi a, and Newport, Rhode
Island, and is working on a novel also inspired by her ancestry.
Images of the Armenian Spirit transports the viewer to today’s
Republic of Armenia and, through this journey, explores the spirit of
what it means to be Armenian. This is the third PBS special on Armenia
produced by Two Cats Productions and, as in The Armenian Americans and
The Armenians: A Story of Survival, it continues the celeb ration of
this culture’s spirit as well as its legacy of inspiration,
achievement and perseverance.
`The rich visuals we were able to achieve in Images of the Armenian
Spirit highlight the epic accomplishments in Armenian history,
architecture and religion and detail the devastation of the Genocide
of 1915,’ said Goldberg. `As a Christian country wedged between the
Middle East, Russia, and Turkey, Armenia’s story has tremendous
significance in understanding today’s current events.’
The film begins with an overview of Armenian lore, which traces
Armenia’s origin to Mt. Ararat’the heart of Armenia’s spiritual
soul’and to Noah’s Ark. It is punctuated with stories of heroism, such
as the legend of Haig and Pel’Armenia’s David and Goliath; and
enlightened leadership, including that of the great King Dikran, who
successfully protected Armenia from her violent neighbors’the Romans
and Persians. As the first nation to adopt Christianity, Armenia set
herself on a course that significantly differentiated and at times
alienated her from neighbors.
An Armenian Diaspora began in the 11th century and continued through
the 20th. The Armenians who remained in their traditional lands, ruled
by the crumbling Ottoman Empire, suffered a major massacre in the late
1800s. Then, during the first World War came the 1915 Genocide’with
1.5 million Armenians, along with their thriving communities,
annihilated.
Included in this documentary are rarely seen photographs of the
rescue, by the French, of the Armenian residents of Musa Dagh during
the 1915 Genocide, as well as footage shot undercover in Eastern
Turkey showing the devastated areas that were once historic Armenia.
Still, Armenia was not destroyed. And, as the film shows, throughout
the city of Yerevan, and surrounding countryside, are reminders of
Armenia’s ancient heritage and natural beauty: monasteries, churches,
memorials, forests, lakes and mountains’all of which resonate with the
Armenian spirit. This spirit extends beyond Armenia’s borders into the
Diaspora communities, such as Iran, Jerusalem and G eorgia, to name a
few.
Images of the Armenian Spirit, presented with video, film, still
photos, music, and narration is ultimately a celebration of the human
spirit and a people that refused to surrender to history.
About WGBH
WGBH informs, inspires, and entertains millions of people throughout
New England. Boston’s last remaining independent TV station, WGBH is
the leading producer of PBS prime-time programs and online content, a
major producer for public radio, and a pioneer in educational
multimedia and services that make media accessible for people with
disabilities. For more information, visit
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PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]
9 August 2006
NOURISHMENT FOR THE THIRSTING SPIRIT
Sydney, Australia – Many of us fortunate to live in well-established
Armenian communities of the Diaspora often take for granted the sustenance
accorded our Armenian spirit by partaking in Holy Mass on a Sunday at the
Armenian Church or attending our children’s end of year Armenian School
concert.
But for small parish communities like the Armenian Community of Adelaide
which numbers around 30, it is an opportunity to ‘be’ and ‘feel’ Armenian
again when a special guest arrives bringing with him the manifestation of
the Armenian faith.
On Saturday, 5 August, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand made his way
to the capital city of South Australia for his annual pastoral weekend with
the Armenian Community of Adelaide. The Archbishop was met at the airport
by Mr Alec Balayance who is President of the Armenian Cultural Association
of South Australia and plays a pivotal role convening the Armenians of
Adelaide.
On Saturday evening, community members eagerly gathered in a suburban
community hall to be in the company of the Archbishop and enjoy the warm
hospitality that is created when compatriots come together to form their own
little hamlet. During discussions, Archbishop Baliozian shared his vast
knowledge of the Armenian language as well as giving direction on the
upcoming Australian census. Accurate numbers of Armenians have been near
impossible to identify in Australia from past census data by way of the
questions posed, particularly since ‘place of birth’ is a non-indicator of
Armenian ethnicity. However, the 2006 census will identify Armenians as a
minority ethnic group through the question of ancestry and faith if answered
correctly.
On Sunday morning community members and friends congregated in the Chapel of
the Christian Brothers College to partake in the Divine Liturgy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church offered by the Archbishop. The sermon of the day
focussed on living faith and the Armenian spirit, providing spiritual
comfort and nourishment to the Armenian congregation who have special
yearning to partake in the Holy Mass of their mother language. Following
the church service, Archbishop performed a baptism.
The same evening, a dinner was hosted at the residence of Garnik and
Vartouhi Kalamkarian when community members had their final opportunity to
enjoy the Archbishop’s company and discuss the possibility of conducting
their own worship services in the absence of a clergyman. Archbishop
Baliozian explained how in the 1940’s, the first Armenians in Sydney would
regularly congregate in a church to sing hymns and enjoy fellowship, an
example that could be theirs to follow. There was also much enthusiasm for
the Archbishop to make two pastoral visits to Adelaide each year which he
said he will endeavour to include in his annual schedule.
The Primate returned to his residence in Sydney on Monday, 7 August. He
will next visit the parish of Melbourne this weekend for the Feast of the
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God where he will conduct the Episcopal
Mass at St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.
For information on Armenians in Adelaide, contact can be made with Mr Alec
Balayance at [email protected]

Azerbaijan: Armenian Monuments:
Debate in the House of Lords: Question on destructions in Nakhichevan
11.20 am
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether they will make representations to the Government of Azerbaijan
about the reported destruction of ancient Armenian monuments of cultural
importance by Azeri troops in Nakhichevan.
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, Her Majesty’s Government are aware
of and concerned by Armenian reports of the destruction and desecration of
certain monuments and artefacts in Azerbaijan. We are also aware of and
concerned by reports of the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural artefacts in
territories under Armenian control.
We deplore such actions, no matter where or by whom they are committed.
But the primary concern at this stage should be not the apportionment of
blame but effective action to ensure the preservation of cultural and
historical monuments on both sides of the current dispute. We consider this
an issue for UNESCO to resolve and we are supporting its efforts to find a
solution. We look to the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, with the
active engagement of UNESCO, to comply with their international commitments
with regard to the safeguarding of cultural heritage.
Baroness Cox: My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply. I assure her
that, if there were comparable evidence of widespread systematic destruction
of Azeri cultural heritage by Armenians, I should be the first to join her
in condemning that, but, to my knowledge, there is no such evidence. Is the
noble Baroness aware that I was in Nakhichevan when Azerbaijan was using
tanks to shell Armenian villages, forcing Armenians to flee their homeland
and their precious cultural
20 July 2006 : Column 1406
heritage of thousands of ancient, exquisite stone crosses and dozens of
churches, which have now been destroyed? Will the Government urge Azerbaijan
to allow uninhibited access by international organisations to assess the
extent of that destruction?
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, first, I pay tribute to the noble
Baroness’s long-standing close interest in Armenia. We would urge both the
Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities to co-operate with UNESCO and the
Council of Europe in their investigations into allegations of destruction of
cultural sites in Nakhichevan and/or Nagorno-Karabakh. That includes
allowing uninhibited access to missions from those organisations.
Lord Archer of Sandwell: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the
destruction of the monuments is not merely a heartless act of spite against
the Armenian community but that it diminishes the world’s cultural heritage
and is the legitimate concern of the international community? Do the
Government support the call by the Council of Europe to permit a delegation
of scientists, working with the International Councilon Monuments and Sites,
to visit the area and report on its findings?
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, I entirely agree that it is not
merely an act of spite-it is much more important-and that it is an issue for
international organisations, which is precisely why we support the actions
of UNESCO. The Government support the call by the Council of Europe.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, has there been any response from the Government of
Azerbaijan to the proposal by the European Parliament of 16 February
concerning the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian
cultural heritage in Nakhichevan? What is the Government’s view of the
proposals, which are being discussed in the European neighbourhood policy
context, that the European Commission and Council should facilitate the
return of the people who were ethnically cleansed from the area of
Nakhichevan from 1991 onwards and that they should incorporate in the action
plan a clause protecting the few remaining sites from destruction?
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, I am aware of the resolution of the
European Parliament of 16 February. We actively support the growing
relationship that Azerbaijan has with the European Union through the
European neighbourhood policy. The EU and Azerbaijan are currently
negotiating the content of an action plan. Whether or not the clause to
which the noble Lord referred is being actively discussed, I do not know,
but I shall certainly find out. I undertake to inform the noble Lord.
Baroness Knight of Collingtree: My Lords, the Minister said that the
Government support the actions of UNESCO. What are the actions of UNESCO?
20 July 2006 : Column 1407
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, UNESCO is working with both sides
to try to ensure that damage is not inflicted on this wonderful cultural
heritage. UNESCO is trying to ensure that a mission goes into Azerbaijan to
discuss these things. It is working at an international level, trying to
bring people together and trying to stop the destruction of the monuments.
Lord Clarke of Hampstead: My Lords, my noble friend has obviously given
some comfort to the House by saying that the Government are aware of what
has been happening with regard to the destruction of these very valuable and
unique pieces of art. Whether talks take place with UNESCO or anyone else,
will my noble friend find out what has happened to the thousands of stone
crosses that are missing or have been destroyed since the takeover of that
area? Will she please go further and ask the Government of Azerbaijan to
allow Armenians to return to Nakhichevan to rebuild their cultural monuments
and restore their cultural heritage?
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, I shall certainly make the point to
the appropriate people and try to find out what has happened to the
thousands of stone crosses mentioned by my noble friend. Cultural heritage
is being destroyed in both Azerbaijan and Armenia. We call on both those
countries to take appropriate action and stop inflicting damage on these
things. We call on both sides to act.
Lord Howell of Guildford: My Lords, there seems little doubt that Azeri
troops have inflicted deliberate-and apparently officially
sanctioned-cultural damage on these grave sites, concreting them over and
deliberately setting out to destroy them. Not only is that bad in every
cultural sense, but it obviously does not help to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
Might we not go a little further than looking to the Azeris to halt their
actions or hoping that UNESCO will do something? Could we not use very much
stronger words to the Azeri Government and say that this is not helping the
peace we all want to see in that part of the word and that it is putting an
ugly stain on the reputation of Azerbaijan?
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, I entirely agree that this is not
helping in either Azerbaijan or Armenia. The noble Lord is absolutely right
to say that this has a direct impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. It is
important that discussions are taking place to try to resolve that conflict.
We are working to do so with people like the Minsk group. In doing that, we
must take account of the damage inflicted on the cultural sites, because it
is part of a much wider problem.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester: My Lords, may I ask my noble friend about the
state of the memorial in Baku to the British and Commonwealth soldiers of
Dunster Force, who died towards the end of the First World War while
attempting to cut off the supply of oil to the central powers? Is she aware
that the memorial was due to be opening by His Royal Highness the Duke of
Kent in September 2003, but
20 July 2006 : Column 1408
the ceremony was abandoned at the last moment and the site is now terribly
neglected and vandalised? I declare an interest as chairman of the All-Party
Group on War Graves and Battlefield Heritage.
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: My Lords, I am aware of the site and that His
Royal Highness was invited to open it but was unable to do so because it was
vandalised. We have been assured by the Azerbaijanis that they will give it
the protection it deserves, and we are not aware of any further damage since
2003.

ST.JOHN’S UNIVERSITY BESTOWS HIGHEST HONOR TO CATHOLICOS ARAM I
ANTELIAS, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia Aram I was bestowed with the highest honor of
St. John’s University (Minnesota, USA). NT was informed from Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia that in a letter addressed to His Holiness
Aram I, the president of St.
Johns University informed that the university has decided to bestow
the 2006 Pax Christi Award to His Holiness. In the same letter,
the president Dr.
Dietrich Reinhart, speaking about the life and ministry of Catholicos
Aram I stated: ” Through your prolific writings, public lectures and
interventions, and your leadership in the World Council of Churches,
you have played a significant role in promoting common values,
mutual understanding, and peaceful co-existence among people of faith
throughout the world.” The Pax Christi Award is the highest honor
bestowed by St. John’s University. The conferral ceremony will take
place on 6th December, 2006, at a special event honoring His Holiness
at St. John’s University.

VAHAN HOVHANNESIAN DOESN’T EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF
ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH DOUBLE CITIZENSHIP TO VOTE
AZG Armenian Daily #147, 05/08/2006
Home
In the course of today’s meeting with the Armenia youth from Diaspora,
Vahan Hovhannesian, Vice Speaker of RA National Assembly, touched upon
the issues of tax paying order of the people with double citizenship,
the issue of the order of their serving in the army, and the issue of
the right to vote and be elected. Hovhannesian stated that according
to some approaches, the people with double citizenship may run for
the elections for the local administration bodies, if the have the
minimal term for living in Armenia.
“If the term surpasses the minimum period, they may run for the
parliamentary elections,” he said. He added that the draft law on
double citizenship will be discussed at the parliament in autumn. He
said it will be adopted before the parliament of the third convocation
is dissolved.
By Marietta Makarian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DEPUTY PROSECUTOR GENERAL: WE IMMEDIATELY
RESPOND TO VIOLATIONS OF PRIVATIZATION LAWS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Based on a report submitted by the
National Assembly Control Chamber, the RA Prosecutor General’s
Office registered a number of mistakes made by the government
during the implementation of the 2001-2003 program on state property
privatization. However, as the Deputy Prosecutor General of the RA
Gevorg Danielian stated at the August 4 press conference, there are
no sufficient grounds for opening criminal cases on the basis of the
facts the report contains. He said that the NA Control Chamber’s report
on implementation of the 2001-2003 privatization program was sent on
May 16 of this year by the NA Speaker to the RA Prosecutor General’s
Office. According to G. Danielian, after studying this report, the
Prosecutor General’s Office found some inaccuracies in the information
of the Control Chamber. In his words, the NA lawyers “sometimes
present exaggerated figures, but as a result of working with experts
of the prosecutor’s office, they often change their opinion.” Asked
if he sees any intent in the activity of the NA Control Chamber,
G. Danielian replied: “Even if there is a political implication,
it has no bearing to us.” According to him, the prosecutor’s office
is interested only in the legal aspect of the matter. “In general,
we immediately respond to violations of the laws on privatization,”
he assured.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STUDENTS’ PROGRAMMING SUMMER SCHOOL TO BE ORGANIZED IN TSAGHKADZOR ON AUGUST
6-12 WITH PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF
ARMENIA AND GEORGIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State
University (RAU) and the Enterprise Incubator Foundation organize on August 6-12
the Students’ Programming Summer School with participation of leading students’
programming teams of institutions of higher education of Armenia and Georgia.
The opening of the program will take place on August 6 in the “Adigaz”
resting house of Tsaghkadzor. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RAU, the main
goal of the school is to prepare the Olympic teams of institutions of higher
education of Armenia for the International Programming Olympiad. Competitions,
experimental olympiads, courses will be held in the school, Sergey Kuznetsov,
Doctor of physics-mathematics sciences, Professor invited from the Moscow
State University will read lectures. The summer school will allow students’
teams of Armenian institutions of higher education to do together group works, to
widen relations and establish new acquaintances as well as to have exchange
of experience.

ORANGE FRONT WINS IN “DAYS OF BAZE IN ARTSAKH” FESTIVAL
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The orange front won in the “Days of
Baze in Artsakh” All-Armenian Youth Festival held from July 26 to
August 1. As Armen Alexanian, the Deputy Director of the festival
mentioned at the August 4 summing up press-conference, the main
achievement of the festival was its being organized out of borders
of Armenia, in Artsakh. 9 detachments participated in the festival
organized by the All-Armenian Youth Fund: 2 Armenian detachments, 5
ones from Artsakh, 1 from Javakhk and 1 from Diaspora, formed of the
winners of the song, dance, recitation, painting, fashion, intellectual
and sporting inter-front competitions during the 2002-2006 “Baze”
all-Armenian gatherings. The detachments were divided into 3 fronts
symbolizing the tricolour flag: red, blue and orange. Gagik Sargsian,
the sporting head of the festival mentioned that sporting (football,
volleyball, tennis, chess), cultural (song, dance, fashion, sculpture)
and intellectual (“Brain Test,” “What, Where, When) competitions were
held. The young people had meetings with the NKR National Assembly
Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers of Education, Culture and
Sports, Defence and Foreign Affairs, visited Gandzasar and Shoushi.
A.Alexanian and G.Sargsian mentioned that the goal of the festival
is to inspire the youth with military-patriotic soul and stregthen
it. They also mentioned that one of peculiarities of the festival is
also the event’s not being made political.

HOVHANNES HAROUTIUNIAN SENTENCED FOR CASE OF TIGRAN NAGHDALIAN’S MURDER SET
FREE AHEAD OF TIME
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. By the July 12 decision of the Court of
First Instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan,
Hovhannes Haroutiunian with “Aper” nickname sentenced for the case
of murder of Tigran Naghdalian, the Council Chairman of the Public
Television and Radio of Armenia was conditionally set free ahead
of time. Radio Liberty informs about it. To recap, T.Naghdalian’s
murder took place on December 28, 2002. By the November 18, 2003
verdict of the same court, H.Haroutiunian was sentenced to 7 years of
imprisonment. Accourting to materials of the hearing, he was a tiing
ring on the case of T.Naghdalian’s murder between the client and
executers. (NT. – According to the materials of the criminal case,
the client of the murder was Armen Sargsian, the younger brother of
RA Prime Ministers Vazgen and Aram Sargsians, who was sentenced to 15
years of imrisonment). Anahit Voskanian, the head of the Information
Service of the Ministry of Justice informed Radio Liberty that
H.Haroutiunian addressed in May, 2006 to the corresponding department
of the RA President’s staff with a request of amnesty, and by the
President’s June 27 decree, he was gifted amnesty, reducing not taken
part of the measure of panishment by a year and a half.

VARTAN OSKANIAN RECEIVES DIASPORAN ARMENIAN TEACHERS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of
Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian had a meeting on August 4 with the
delegation of Diasporan Armenian teachers who undergo retraining in
Armenia. As it was mentioned in the information submitted to Noyan
Tapan by the Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
on behalf of the delegation, Suren Danielian, the Director of the
“Spyurk” (Diaspora) educational-scientific center addressed their work
of gratitude to Minister Oskanian. V.Oskanian, in his turn, welcame
the teachers on the occasion of their visit to Armenia and of the
effective implementation of the program, emphasizing the importance
of the education sphere in the sense of keeping the Armenian identity
abroad, of improvement of the state, society in Armenia. The Minister
presented in details the main programs of the “Armenia-Diaspora”
conference to take place in the current year and primary tasks
connected with the rural regions. He also touched upon the regional
political problems, pointing out the outcome of the NKR problem,
issues connected with opening of the Turkish border and the military
actions in Near East. The Foreign Minister responded the delegation’s
questions during the meeting. Reference: “Diasporan Armenian Teachers’
Training in Armenia” state program has functioned since 2000. It is
the practical implementation of one of issues attached importance to
by the “Armenia-Diaspora” first conference.
The program has been sponsored by His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians already for two years. 67 teachers from 12 countries
participate in the mentioned courses. Lessons are held in the building
of the Gevorgian Academy of Etchmiadzin. Famous specialists both from
Armenia and Diaspora are invited to deliver lectures.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress