Armenian Catholicos Karekin Investigated
By Cihan News Agency
Published: Thursday, June 29, 2006
zaman.com

;alt=&trh 060629&hn=34365
An investigation has been launched by the Istanbul Chief Public
Prosecution Office into the world leader of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, Catholicos Karekin II, following claims that he ‘denigrated
Turkishness’ in remarks made during his recent visit to Istanbul. A
complaint was lodged at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office
by both Recep Akkus and the strongly-nationalist Turkish Lawyers
Union. The Istanbul Prosecution Office has opened an investigation
into the matter. Catholicos Karekin-II stated last Sunday evening at
a press conference at the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate in the Kumkapi
quarter in Istanbul that Turkey must recognize the Armenian claims of
genocide during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. In his remarks
Sunday, the Armenian Catholicos expressed his wishes for more progress
in Turkish-Armenian relations. Remarking that the issue of genocide
had been debated by researchers for 90 years, Karekin-II said: “For
our people it is not a subject for research. It is an event that took
place and it must be recognized.” He said that the genocide issue was
one of the problems that had to be solved for the normalization of
relations between the two countries. Armenian Catholicos Karekin
arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday of last week as the guest of Turkey’s
Armenian Patriarchate Mesrob II and the Fener Greek Orthodox
Partriarchate Bartholomeos. He has since left Turkey for Armenia. The
fate of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during WWI and after is
still a sensitive issue in Turkey. Armenians claim that 1.5 million
Armenians living under the Ottoman Empire were killed as part of an
intentional and systematic genocide campaign during World War I.
Turkey denies the allegations that 200,000 Armenians died during
forced migrations due to cold weather and bad transportation
conditions. For further information please visit

Dark Secrets of Armenian Brothers Begin to Emerge
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
June 29, 2006
Posted to the web June 28, 2006
By Biketi Kikechi
Nairobi
Details of the dark secrets of the Armenian brothers – which the
Government kept from Kenyans – started to emerge as the Kiruki
Commission began its sittings in Nairobi.
It emerged that since March 18, the Government knew that the Artur
brothers could be international crooks on the run with forged Armenian
passports. Even more shocking, the police knew that the man presenting
himself as Artur Margaryan could be a dangerous criminal using a
passport reportedly stolen in Armenia, making his real identity a mystery.
These damning revelations are in a report relayed to Nairobi by
Interpol. However, Kenyan police failed to act on the March 18 alert.
The details came out on Wednesday when Immigration minister Gideon
Konchella took to the stand at the Commission of Inquiry appointed by
President Kibaki to investigate the activities of Margaryan and Artur
Sargasyan.
They point to the fact that the Government knew all along that the
Armenians were questionable characters, even as its own officials put
out statements variously defending the duo as investors, consultants and
law-abiding citizens. The Government, heavily criticised for bungling
the affair, instantly found itself on the receiving end only moments
after the proceedings started.
International criminals
Konchella, who has displayed remarkable inconsistency every time he has
spoken on the Armenian saga, slipped deeper into the vortex of
contradiction when he admitted the duo were criminals.
“All I can say is that these were dubious international criminals,” he
told the inquiry sitting at the Kenyatta International Conference
Centre, Nairobi. The minister said Kenyan passports recovered from the
Arturs’ house in Runda were stolen from the Immigration offices at Nyayo
House.
Assisting Counsel Dorcas Oduor gave Konchellah evidence to show that the
Kenya Revenue Authority also allocated them Personal Identification
Numbers for civil servants.
Interpol wrote another letter to their Kenyan counterparts dated April
3, which read in part: “Please be informed that we have all the grounds
to think that the person who presented himself as Margaryan Artur in
your country is, in fact, another person who uses the passport of Artur
Margaryan which got lost in 2002”.
The Kenyan passports were registered in the names of Sargasyan Arman
number A1031195 and Sargasyan Arturk A 1031196, with both Armenians
describing themselves as Kenyans.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Konchella admitted that the two brothers
were deported to Dubai instead of their country of origin.
Contents from the Interpol letters showed that the Armenian authorities
were particularly keen to know whether any criminal proceedings had been
preferred against the brothers. At one point, Interpol expressed
surprise that no action had been taken against the duo.
Interpol report
The letter from Interpol Yerevan read in part: “It is therefore
surprising that no action was taken against the alleged crook since
March when Kenyan police were furnished with photographs of the real
Artur Margaryan”.
Former Police Commissioner Shedrach Kiruki chairs the three-man
commission. The other members are Bishop Horace Etemesi and lawyer Ahmed
Hassan Issak.
Taking Konchella through the evidence-in-chief, Oduor sought to know the
requirements for entry and exit in Kenya, visa application, passports,
work permits, citizenship and deportation. Konchella said he first
learned about the Armenian saga on March 14, while working in western Kenya.
“The journalists asked me who they were and my response was that they
could have been Czechs or from some eastern European country but I
clarified five days later when my officers told me they were actually
Armenians,” said Konchella.
He said that according to records at the Immigration Department, the two
were consultants in marketing, business development and finance.
Konchella was given the Interpol report, which contained details that
the real Artur Margaryan was born on January 15, 1973, in Yerevan city,
Armenia. He is holder of Armenian passport number 0631173 issued on
October 11, 2002, given to him after he lost his first passport number
0322223 issued in Sokhi City, Russian Federation.
Deportation order
Interpol said Artur had never been to Africa or Kenya and was at the
time, March 18, living in Armenia.
Armenian police said Artur Sargasyan also lived in Yerevan before
relocating to the United Arab Emirates with his family.
They had no relationship with the Armenian prime minister, a claim made
by their alleged namesake in Kenya. They provided Kenyan police with
pictures of the real Margaryan and Sargasyan for comparison with the
persons who were introducing themselves by those names.
“Inform us whether a criminal case is instituted against the persons in
subject, the accusations and details of the case,” demanded the Interpol
office in Armenia.
They expressed concern because the mass media in their country was
already in possession of stories about the alleged mercenaries from
their country. Konchella said Immigration officers issued passports and
other documents like work permits.
He said he did not know much about the Armenians until he signed their
deportation order on June 9, 2006.
“I dealt with their case again on June 9, 2006, when the Principal
Immigration Officer called to tell me that the Commissioner of Police
had demanded the deportation of four people.
Konchella said he complied and signed the order on the same day because
the law allows him to deport anyone considered undesirable.
Oduor then demanded to know why his deportation order said they were
Armenians yet they were deported to Dubai.
Excerpts of the proceedings:
Oduor: Look at your order, it says they were Armenians and yet they were
deported to Dubai, do you see that?
Konchella: I authorised that according to Section 8 (1) F and I also
later learned from the Principal Immigration Officer that they had
requested to be deported to Dubai.
Oduor: Did you confirm that they came from Dubai?
Konchella: Yes, we learned from reliable information that they actually
lived there.
Oduor: What about Alexander Pack and Dimitri Tasch?
Konchella: Alexander was to be deported to Russia while Dimitri was to
be deported to Moldovia.
Oduor: Our information is that they were also deported to Dubai, is that
right?
Konchella: I was told that they all requested to be transferred to Dubai.
Oduor: Is it also true that Margaryan left on a different passport and
not the one he used when coming to the country?
Kiruki: Can the minister answer that?
Oduor: I just want him to tell the commission if he was aware but if
not, he is free to say so.
Kiruki: The minister may not know that.
Oduor: Yes, that is true, but I just want to hear if he knew.
Konchella: Yes, I’m aware that one had a passport and the other didn’t have.
Oduor: What about their Tanzanian bodyguards?
Konchella: I heard they were taken to the border and handed over to
Tanzanian police.
Oduor: Did you sign their deportation order?
Konchella: I did not sign and they were not deported. They were just
escorted to the border by police and sent away.
Oduor: What about the two Kenyan passports recovered from their house in
Runda?
Konchella: Yes, I heard that the passports were recovered from their
house in Runda.
Oduor: Look at the first passport, the names are Arman Sargasyan number
A1031195, did you see it?
Konchella: No, this is the first time I’m seeing that but they are
genuine Kenyans passports. I did not sign them. These were forged documents.
Oduor: Let us look at the second passport and the name there is Arturk
Sargasyan number A1031196 and again he describes himself as a Kenyan and
his place of birth as Russia.
Konchella: They are genuine Kenyan passports, but what I can say is that
three passports got lost from the Immigration Department. We reported
the matter to all border points, and circulated information to our
foreign missions and other agencies on May 2. One of those passports is
still missing.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian General Benevolent Union Inc.
Dr. Rita Kuyumjian
Chairperson
805, Manoogian street
Ville St-Laurent, QC H4N 1Z5
Tel: 514-748-2428
Fax: 514-748-6307
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Montreal, June 29, 2006 – The AGBU Montreal Scouting movement held a very
successful summer camp at Camp Tamaracouta in the Laurentian region of
Quebec. Over one hundred twenty members of the movement including very
young beavers, cubs, scouts and a group of dedicated leaders and volunteers
camped at the historical campsite. The program ended with a successful
campfire in front of hundreds of parents and an appreciating audience.
The campfire was attended by several of AGBU Montreal executive board
members, including the newly elected chairperson, Dr. Rita Kuyumjian. In
her address to the present, Dr. Kuyumjian highlighted the importance of the
scouting movement within the AGBU and expressed the hope that, following the
example of our president Mr. Berge Setrakian, future presidents of the AGBU
would come from our scouting ranks as well.
As a yearly tradition, a group of dedicated senior volunteers designed and
built a large flagpole structure using only rope and wooden logs. This
year’s structure was by far the most complicated and the largest ever. It
weighed over a ton and its highest flagpole was made of a single 40-foot
high tree trunk, breaking most of the tree line of the campsite. The
structure was in the form of a large sail boat with the flag post as its
main mast.
“I am very proud of our team of builders”, said Viken L. Attarian, the
designer of the structure, “What is even more noteworthy was that the whole
thing was completed in one day. In fact, most of the rope weavings were
completed by young scouts including some of our cubs. Their mastery of
scouting techniques is amazing, proving once more why our group is tops in
Quebec and one of the best in Canada.”
The staff at Camp Tamaracouta was so impressed by the size and elegance of
the structure that they expressed the hope that it would be left there
permanently. “I am proud to say that our team has decided to donate this
structure to this historical campsite,” said Aline Egoyan-Pederian,
chairperson of the AGBU Montreal Scouts’ Council. “This camp has an
important historical significance for the world scouting movement and it
contains the memories of generations of AGBU scouts in Montreal. This is a
very fitting gesture on our part.”
Since its opening in 1912, Tamaracouta Scout Resereve (TSR) is the oldest
continuously running scout camp in the world and is second only to the
oldest in the world after the original Brownsea camp run by the founder of
scouting Sir Robert Baden Powell in 1907. Baden Powell’s original footprints
are immortalized in a bronze monument at the entrance of TSR. Information
about Camp Tamaracouta can be found at
For further information, please contact the AGBU at 514-748-2428 at
[email protected]; for photos, visit our website at
.

June 28, 2006

PRESS RELEASE
Glendale Ghapan Sister City Association
CONTACT: Ani Asatryan
(818) 618-1299
[email protected]
or
aniasatryan@a ol.com

GLENDALE RECEIVES MAYOR FROM GHAPAN SISTER CITY
Armen Karapetyan to Visit City Sites Including New Police Building
GLENDALE – Mayor Armen Karapetyan from Ghapan, Armenia arrived in
Glendale on Tuesday for his 15-day reciprocal visit to the sister city
for a cultural exchange of ideas and to familiarize himself with the
city’s infrastructure.
Karapetyan is touring the city under the auspices of the Glendale
Ghapan Sister City Association (GGSCA) formed in 2002 after a
resolution passed in City Council officially named Ghapan Glendale’s
sister city.
“We are very enthusiastic about the Mayor’s visit. It was a privilege
to visit Ghapan in 2003 and we are eager to show him our city,” said
Artin Manoukian, President of GGSCA.
Karapetyan’s itinerary includes several stops to various city
departments which started with a tour of City Hall and the Police
Department Wednesday followed by tours of the power plant, Central
Library, Parks and Recreations, Public Works, and Fire Station 21 on
Thursday and Friday.
“We are thrilled to see the fruits of our labor and the mission of the
GGSCA – to foster goodwill and to help cultivate economic cooperation
and cultural exchanges between the two cities – come alive today with
the visiting mayor of Ghapan,” said Pierre Chraghchian, Armenian
National Committee of Glendale member whose organization was
instrumental in establishing formal ties between the two cities.
While noting that Ghapan had made positive strides since the collapse
of the Soviet Union, Mayor Karapetyan intimated there is much to be
gained from his visit to Glendale. “I’d like to familiarize myself
with how this well oiled machine – the City of Glendale–is managed,”
said Mayor Karapetyan. “I would like to compare Glendale’s
infrastructure to that of Ghapan’s and hopefully implement change that
would enhance the services of our city,” continued the visiting mayor.
Kareptyan is accompanied by council advisor Avedik Hampartsumyan and
hopes to visit and personally thank several businesses that sponsored
the GGSCA projects throughout the years.
Karapetyan will also be present at the City Council meeting on July 5
for a special presentation to the city for its Centennial Anniversary.
“It is rewarding to have both cities grasp an understanding of the
other with this visit,” said Manoukian. “This can only lead to
stronger ties, better cooperation, and bigger projects between the two
cities in the future.”
The GGSCA has sponsored several gift drives and delivered thousands in
hospital supplies to the city already. It is currently working on a
hospital revitalization project as well as preschool sponsorship
projects.
####
GGSCA is a non-profit organization that aims to foster goodwill and
understanding through cultural, educational, economic cooperation
between the people of Glendale and Ghapan. The GGSCA was established
through the joint effort of the Armenian National Committee of
Glendale, the City of Glendale, and the City of Ghapan, to help
cultivate economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two
cities. Glendale City Council passed a resolution recognizing Ghapan
as a Sister City in December of 2002. GGSCA has identified three areas
of focus in Ghapan: schools, healthcare and community
infrastructure. For more information or to contribute to GGSCA, please
contact (818) 828-8882 or email at [email protected]

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, June 29, 2006
LADIES AUXILIARY COMMITTEE OF ATHENS HOSTS MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION
On May 22, 2006, the Ladies Auxiliary Committee of the AGBU Athens
Chapter hosted an exciting comeback event, their first in nearly two
years, with a Mother’s Day celebration. The program attracted more
than 160 attendees and was held in the AGBU Artaki Kalpakian School’s
Hrant & Louisa Fenerjian Hall.
The festive occasion began with a welcome speech by the Chairman of
the Auxiliary Committee, Evi Tomboulian. Mrs. Tomboulian then
introduced the keynote speaker, Ani Demirjian, who described the
important role Armenian mothers play in keeping the Armenian language,
spirit and culture alive.
Reviving one of the Committee’s longstanding traditions, the title of
Honorary Mother of the Year for 2006 was awarded to Julia
Jelalian. Mrs. Jelalian was recognized for her steadfast support of
the Committee, her dedication to the Armenian culture and heritage,
and her role as an exemplary Armenian mother.
The Mother’s Day celebration came to a fitting end with a commitment
from the Ladies Auxiliary Committee to increase their activities with
a focus on cultural and social events.
The Mother’s Day celebration came to a fitting end with a commitment
from the Ladies Auxiliary Committee to increase their activities with
a focus on cultural and social events. Established in 1911, AGBU
Athens is committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian heritage
and culture through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs. For more information, please email, [email protected].
For more information on AGBU and its youth programs, please visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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:
June 29, 2006
___________________
SPREADING THE GOSPEL TO OUR YOUNG FAITHFUL
On June 21, 2006, Angela Costello, director of animation and creative
services for the Virginia-based Christian Broadcast Network (CBN), visited
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
She met with Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian education, to
discuss the recent gift by CBN of 800 Christian children’s videos to the
Diocese. The two also spoke about ways to coordinate and cooperate on
upcoming projects to spread Christ’s teachings to young children.
“We’re looking for new and innovative ways to reach children with the
Gospel,” Costello said, noting that CBN is looking to create programming for
iPods and cell phones. “Not just to present the Gospel, but we want to do
it in a creative and imaginative way. We want children to be entertained as
they begin to understand the real mission and purpose of these programs:
That Jesus loves them.”
The CBN videos were distributed to the Eastern Diocese and other Armenian
Church organizations throughout North America. They are cartoons depicting
Bible stories along with other films exploring Christian themes such as
courage and love.
Antreassian said the videos would be used by the Diocese in its Sunday
School programs. Mission parishes will also be sent some of the videos for
use in their educational efforts.
“These are wonderful ways to bring the Bible to life for today’s children,
who grew up on television and the Internet,” Antreassian said. “We’re
grateful to have a partner such as CBN to help us with our Christian
education mission.”
Part of the discussion at the Diocesan Center in New York City revolved
around ways CBN and the Armenian Church could work together.
“My big goal is to create effective partnerships,” Costello said.
“Scripture reminds us that every child should hear the Gospel message. And
partnerships are necessary to accomplish that goal.”
She said organizations like the Diocese have a connection to people and CBN
can provide resources that otherwise wouldn’t be available.
“Partnerships help us all reach people we might not otherwise reach,”
Costello said. “We’re glad to be able to provide you with resources you can
use to help people learn about the gospel.”
The partnership can grow in the future, including things such as the Diocese
undertaking an effort to translate CBN videos into Armenian, or new CBN
videos on the specific stories of Armenian Christianity, such as how Armenia
became the first Christian nation.
“We look forward to working with CBN and joining our skills, resources, and
passions to spread a love and appreciation of our Lord,” Antreassian said.
— 6/29/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian education for
the Eastern Diocese, (left) meets with Angela Costello, director of
animation and creative services for the Christian Broadcast Network (CBN),
at the Diocesan Center in New York City on June 21, 2006.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
JUNE 29, 2006
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE BEGINS SUNDAY
Seventy students (ages 13 to 18) from thirteen parishes, and ten
clergymen, will gather at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania, this Sunday, July 2, for the 20th annual weeklong St. Gregory
of Datev Institute Armenian Christian Studies Program, under the
directorship of His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the
Prelacy.
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the
Prelacy, the Institute offers a unique opportunity for the youth to enrich
their Armenian Christian faith in a wholesome and nurturing environment.
Each day the program begins with Morning Service at 7:15 a.m., followed by
four classes until 12:30 pm. After lunch the students participate in various
recreational activities. In the evening there is a general lecture from 7:30
to 8:20, followed by three concurrent Bible studies from 8:30 to 9:30 for
different age groups. The day comes to a close with the Compline Service
(Husgoom) from 9:45 to 10:30 pm.
Instructors this year are: His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, V.
Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Khoren
Habeshian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr.
Sarkis Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Arsen
Mekaelian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, a prominent biblical scholar from St. Vladimir’s
Orthodox Theological Seminary (NY) will teach four classes to the upper
level students, and he will conduct a three-hour session with the clergy.
20th ANNIVERSARY OF DATEV TO BE MARKED NEXT WEEK
In conjunction with the weeklong Datev Institute program, this year the
20th anniversary of the Institute will be marked with special events.
On Saturday, July 8, a special seminar led by Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi and
Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian will take place at the St. Mary of Providence
Center where the Datev Institute takes place. That evening a 20th
anniversary celebratory banquet will take place at the nearby Holiday Inn
(Morgantown, Pennsylvania) for Institute participants, alumni, and friends.
On Sunday, July 9, the 2006 Datev Institute will conclude with Divine
Liturgy celebrated at St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, followed by a
farewell picnic on the church grounds.
For more information on Datev click
PRELATE IN WASHINGTON, DC YESTERDAY
Archbishop Oshagan attended a reception yesterday at the U.S. Capitol
building in Washington DC, in honor of His Excellency Ashot Ghulian, Speaker
of the Nagorno Karabagh National Assembly, and His Excellency Georgi
Petrosian, Nagorno Karabagh Foreign Minister.
The reception was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, the
Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian National Committee of America,
and the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the U.S., in cooperation
with the co-chairs of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Representatives
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
VICAR WILL ATTEND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General, will represent Archbishop
Oshagan and the Prelacy at the 160th anniversary celebration of the Armenian
Evangelical Movement on Saturday evening, May 1, in New Jersey.
CILICIAN SEMINARY CONCLUDES ACADEMIC YEAR
The Theological Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia concluded its
76th academic year with commencement ceremonies on June 23 in Bikfaya,
Lebanon.
Addressing the graduates, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great
House of Cilicia, said: “A person is a value in as much as he serves the
collective values of the church and nation. It is with this spirit and
commitment that we formed you under this roof to send you off to our people.
Whether you serve as spiritual or as secular servants, you will live the
Bible and bring it to life in the lives of the faithful. Go and take with
you what you received in the Seminary and use it in your service to our
people.”
It was recently announced that V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian (currently
pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ) has been invited by His
Holiness to assume the leadership of the Seminary beginning with the
2006-2007 academic year.
DISCOVERY OF RELICS OF ST. GREGORY
This Saturday, July 1, the Armenian Church commemorates one of three
feast days dedicated to St. Gregory the Illuminator: The Discovery of His
Remains. The other two commemorative days are Entrance into the Pit and
Deliverance from the Pit.
St. Gregory is the greatest figure of the Armenian Church. The Christian
Dictionary published by Thomas Nelson publishers describes Gregory the
Illuminator as “Apostle of Armenia,” and says: “A Parthian of royal descent,
he converted King Tiridates of Armenia to the Christian faith and thus
established the first national Christian church. He was consecrated
catholicos, and the episcopate remained in his family for a few generations.
His son Aristakes attended the Council of Nicaea. His biography was written
by Agathangelos, the first Armenian historian.”
FEAST OF STS. SAHAG AND MESROB
Next Thursday, July 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the lives of the
Holy Translators, St. Sahag Bartev and St. Mesrob Mashtots. The feast of the
Holy Translators is one of the most beloved feast days for the Armenian
faithful. It is celebrated two times during the liturgical year: on the
Thursday following the fourth Sunday after Pentecost (can occur in June or
July), and on the second Saturday of October.
Catholicos Sahag Bartev was the son of St. Nerses the Great. He received
his primary and higher education in Caesarea and Byzantium. He was a very
learned and literary person who guided Armenia’s Golden Age following the
invention of the Armenian alphabet. He was a mentor and supporter of St.
Mesrob in his quest for an alphabet.
St. Mesrob was born in the province of Daron. He learned Greek and
Persian at an early age, and came to realize the vital need of an alphabet
for the Armenian language. According to tradition, while meditating in a
cave near the village of Palu, he had a vision where “the hand of God wrote
the alphabet in letters of fire.”
The first words to be translated into Armenian were from the Book of
Proverbs: “That you may know wisdom and instruction, and understand words of
insight.” (Proverbs 1:2).
REMEMBERING CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I
Today, June 29, is the 7th anniversary of the death of His Holiness
Karekin I, Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians from 1995 to
1999; Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia from 1977 to 1995, and
Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy from 1973 to 1977.
To date seven volumes of his works have been printed in the Karekin I
Series, undertaken by “The Karekin I Theological and Armenological Studies
Series,” under the sponsorship of “The Haig and Elza Didizian Fund.” The
8th volume will be published this fall, with others to follow, until all of
his major works (Armenian and English, published and unpublished) are
printed. The editors of the series are Vazken Ghougassian and Iris Papazian,
both of whom worked closely with the late Catholicos during his years of
extraordinary service to church and nation.
THE FOURTH OF JULY
On Tuesday, July 4, we commemorate the 230th anniversary of the adoption
of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Thirty-three year old Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the
Declaration as a member of a committee that included John Adams and Benjamin
Franklin. Some changes were made in the draft, but it remains primarily the
work of Jefferson that was adopted on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. It was
the most daring document ever produced at a time when it was unheard of a
fledgling, divided country made up of thirteen separate colonies having the
boldness to produce a damning document against the most powerful country of
the time demanding “certain unalienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
The Fourth of July, as the holiday is popularly called, quickly became a
time for joyous and boisterous celebration, including ringing of bells,
firecrackers, concerts and merriment. John Adams, the second president of
the U.S. would be pleased. He had written that the day should “be celebrated
by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be
celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells,
bonfires, and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other..”
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM TURNS 50
Today is the 50th anniversary of the Federal Interstate Highway System
Act, which was signed on June 29, 1956. It was the beginning of the vast
Interstate highways from coast to coast, which when completed prompted the
late broadcaster and traveler Charles Kuralt to quip: “We can now go coast
to coast without seeing anything.”
OUR BARREN GARDEN. . .
We end this week with a statement about our vegetable garden, because so
many of you have inquired about its status and the lack of a report thus
far.
We are sorry to report that for the first time in many decades our large
vegetable garden is barren and will remain dormant this year. As many of you
have followed from last season, last summer’s crop was decimated by a family
of very hungry groundhogs. The crops were gone, one by one overnight.
Decisions had to be made for this year. The answer-offered by many of
you-was to put up a fence around the garden. One person, perhaps recognizing
the futility of it all, simply advised, “Move!” V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian
consoled us with this: “Just consider that you are feeding some of God’s
creatures.” (We are still contemplating that statement!)
Moving, at this time at least, was not an option. A fence was a
possibility until we were advised that to keep groundhogs out a fence must
start at least four feet below ground. Then suddenly the weather became
unusually and prematurely hot, then very cold, and then came the
never-ending rain. It was too late to do anything. So, we are giving the
land a rest this year-which is a good thing, we are told. But we confess
that we sorely miss the morning outings in our garden, weeding and
cultivating, cajoling and harvesting in the silence and coolness and
freshness of early morning.
Perhaps, next year. We shall see.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 2-9-St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute. For details click here
July 22-Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
and Ani Chapter of Armenian Relief Society co-host gala dance at Greek
Orthodox Annunciation Church. For information, 401-286-8107.
August 8-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Annual Golf Tournament, 11:30 am registration. Blackstone
Valley Country Club, Sutton, MA. For details contact David, 508-234-3261.
August 13-Annual picnic, Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York.
August 13-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual picnic at Camp
Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.
August 20-Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church of Whitinsville,
Massachusetts, Annual Church Picnic, 12 noon on the church grounds. For
details: 508-234-3677.
September 28-4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.
October 22-Holy Cross Church, Troy, NY, anniversary celebration.
November 11-12-Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, annual “Armenian Fest” at
Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, Cranston, Rhode Island.
Visit our website at

PRESS RELEASE
Tufenkian Foundation, Inc.
20 Capitol Drive, Moonachie, NJ 07074
Contact: Antranig Kasbarian
Tel: 201- 221 -1055
Fax: 201 -221-1070
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
TUFENKIAN FOUNDATION UNVEILS NEW HEALTH CLINIC IN KARABAGH’S LACHIN DISTRICT
Opening ceremonies held before an enthusiastic public
ISHKHANADZOR, NKR-Friday, June 9 was a day of celebration for the
people of southern Kashatagh (Lachin), as the Tufenkian Foundation
held ceremonies marking the official opening of a new health clinic
here. The clinic will serve several thousand Armenians living in a
remote cluster of villages resettled during the 1990s, following the
Karabagh war, and marks the Foundation’s latest effort to foster
social security and economic development in this vital-yet-vulnerable
strategic area.
The June 9 ceremonies drew the attendance of nearly 100 local
inhabitants, who often traveled on foot from neighboring villages,
along with NKR officials including Minister of Health Zoya Lazaryan
and Kashatagh District Administration Head Hamlet Khachatryan. The
officials were greeted by children of the Ishkhanadzor village bearing
traditional offerings of bread and salt. During the ensuing program,
Tufenkian Foundation Director Antranig Kasbarian began by recounting
the clinic’s overall importance to the region.
“All of you know the difficult conditions we encounter here in
southern Kashatagh,” Kasbarian noted. “Our hope is that this clinic,
in some small way, will raise public health standards in this
district, while helping to bring it out of its isolation and toward
further integration with the rest of Karabagh. Above and beyond its
medical functions, this clinic should serve to instill hope that there
is a future for us on these lands; that Armenians will not merely
survive, but will grow and prosper here.”
Kasbarian then invited Minister Lazaryan to offer remarks on the
occasion. She emphasized the important role of the Armenian diaspora
in Armenia’s rehabilitation, and urged all to respond by making full
use of the facility. She was followed by Dr. Artsakh Buniatian,
Director of the Kashatagh Regional Hospital, who described the
clinic’s primary care functions in greater detail. He noted that
during the initial phase, the clinic will be staffed by one half-time
doctor position, two fulltime nurses, one fulltime midwife, and one
fulltime guard positions, with the intent to expand into other
functions during the coming years. Concluding remarks came from Hamlet
Khachatryan, who praised the cooperative spirit of all those who
brought the project to fruition.
The program was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which all
were invited to tour the facility and partake in a luncheon
celebration.
The Tufenkian Foundation gratefully acknowledges the help it received
from various partners in furnishing and equipping the facility. Special
mention goes to the Armenian American Health Professionals of Greater
Washington, “Friends of Armenia” of Montebello, CA, and Mrs. Martha
Mekaelian, who secured the participation of the Connecticut-based
relief organization, AmeriCares. All items were shipped to Armenia
through the kind assistance of the United Armenian Fund (UAF).
The Tufenkian Foundation was established in 1999 by New York-based
entrepreneur James Tufenkian. The Foundation currently pursues a wide
array of humanitarian projects in Armenia and in Karabagh, and also
sponsors the “Armenian Forests” NGO. To learn more about the
Foundation’s efforts, please see the Foundation’s website now under
construction at or contact Antranig
Kasbarian at (201) 221-1055, ext.327 or at
[email protected].

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x109
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, June 29, 2006
NEW ARRIVAL AGBU YP DETROIT BECOMING A MOTOWN FAVORITE
Joining the growing network of AGBU Young Professionals (YP) Groups
around the world, a new YP Group was introduced to the greater
Detroit, Michigan community the evening of May 18, 2006. With more
than 40 Armenian professionals present, YP Detroit’s kick-off social
at the trendy Ferndale restaurant, Via Nove, attracted many new faces
and generated fresh enthusiasm for its future work.
While guests mixed and mingled during the buffet, YP Detroit
Chairwoman Merrily Borman and Committee Member Chris Korkoian
explained the group’s mission to provide a welcoming environment for
all local Armenian young professionals to engage in educational,
cultural, humanitarian and social activities.
Mr. Korkoian then recognized special guest Kim Yacoubian, YP Liaison
from AGBU Central Office in New York. Ms. Yacoubian spoke briefly
about AGBU, the Young Professionals movement, as well as upcoming AGBU
events for Armenian youth including the World Games & YP Conference
() in Beirut, Lebanon this July and the General
Assembly Centennial Celebration () in Paris,
France this December.
Throughout the evening, attendees made new contacts, shared thoughts
and ideas about their professional experiences and discussed future
plans for YP Detroit. As the evening came to a close, surveys were
collected and door prizes were awarded to thank those that
attended. Setting a solid foundation for the organization, YP Detroit
looks forward to establishing a strong presence within its local
Armenian community, as well as AGBU’s global network.
AGBU YP Detroit is committed to preserving and promoting the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs. To volunteer for YP Detroit or join their mailing list,
please email [email protected].

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/29/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Senators Press Nominee for Explanation of US Genocide Policy 2) Oskanian Comments on Minsk Group Peace Proposal 3) EU 'May Halt Turkey Entry Bid' 4) 31st Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Festival Begins 1) Senators Press Nominee for Explanation of US Genocide Policy WASHINGTONSenate Foreign Relations Committee members George Allen (R-Va.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) bombarded U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Designate Richard Hoagland with questions about official U.S. complicity in Turkey's campaign of Genocide denial, questioning him, during his confirmation hearing Wednesday, regarding his ability to effectively represent the United States in Armenia without properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America. In the days leading up to today's hearing, the Committee's Ranking Democrat, Joseph Biden (D-Del.), in a strongly worded letter, demanded that the Secretary of State answers questions concerning the recall of the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, before he could support the confirmation of his replacement. At the hearing, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.), joined with Senators Coleman and Allen in sharply criticizing the Administration's refusal to speak truthfully on the Armenian Genocide. Senator Boxer, who was unable to attend the hearing, submitted written questions to Amb. Hoagland. The hearing was marked by repeated calls upon Amb. Hoagland to clarify the State Department's policy on the Armenian Genocide. If approved, he will replace the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, whoamid great controversyhas been recalled over his truthful description of the Armenian Genocide in February of 2005. "We appreciate the leadership of Senators Allen, Coleman and Sarbanes in pressing hard for a detailed explanation of the U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide - and commend Senator Biden for his principled demand that the Senate receive clear answers on this issue from the State Department before moving ahead with the nomination of a new envoy to Yerevan," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We were deeply disappointed that, in response to these legitimate inquiries, Ambassador-designate Hoagland - apparently at the direction of his superiors in the State Department - limited his responses to a series of unresponsive evasions and euphemisms intended to obscure - not explain - the U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide." "We have said from the startand believe even more firmly todaythat the U.S. Senate cannot, in good conscience, approve the nomination of a new ambassador to Armenia until the circumstances of the current envoy's controversial firing - including a thorough description of the U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocideare fully, officially and openly explained to Congress and the American people," said Hachikian. 2) Oskanian Comments on Minsk Group Peace Proposal YEREVAN (Armenpress)In an interview with Armenpress Wednesday, Armenia's foreign minister Vartan Oskanian point-by-point discussed an announcement issued by the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process. In a joint statement that was circulated by the U.S. embassy in Yerevan on Wednesday, the Minsk Group's American, French and Russian co-chairs said their confidential peace plan envisions a self-determination referendum to be held in Karabakh after the liberation of Armenian-occupied territories in Azerbaijan, reported RFE/RL Wednesday. The statement was presented to the OSCE's decision-making Permanent Council in Vienna last Thursday and was not made public until being posted on the U.S. embassy website almost a week later. Washington's new top Karabakh negotiator, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, revealed details of the proposed peace plan to RFE/RL shortly after the Permanent Council meeting. "These principles include the phased redeployment of Armenian troops from Azeri territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts [separating Karabakh from Armenia proper]," said the co-chairs. "Demilitarization of those territories would follow. A referendum or population vote would be agreed, at an unspecified future date, to determine the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh." "An international peacekeeping force would be deployed," added the statement. "A joint commission would be agreed to implement the agreement. International financial assistance would be made available for demining, reconstruction, resettlement of internally displaced persons in the formerly occupied territories and the war-affected regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. The sides would renounce the use or threat of use of force, and international and bilateral security guarantees and assurances would be put in place." The mediators said the sides to the conflict would also have to work out practical modalities of the Karabakh referendum. "Suitable preconditions for such a vote would have to be achieved so that the vote would take place in a non-coercive environment in which well-informed citizens have had ample opportunity to consider their positions after a vigorous debate in the public arena." Below are excerpts from the interview: Armenpress: The co-chairs in their statement say that "our approach has been a modified one: we have not tried to solve all aspects of the conflict in one phase. Instead our principles seek to achieve a major degree of progress but defer some very difficult issues to the future and envision further negotiations." What does this mean? Vartan Oskanian: The actual negotiating document on the principles that is on the table today is all-encompassing. It covers all the principles affecting the resolution of the conflict. It includes the core issue of status of Nagorno Karabakh, territories, refugees, security issues, peacekeeping and every other conceivable issue that is necessary in order to arrive at a lasting resolution of the conflict. Only after full agreement on all these basic principles would the parties, as the actual negotiating text says, "in cooperation with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group to begin work on the elaboration of an agreement on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict." In other words, the agreement on principles will be comprehensive. The final agreement may envision implementation over time. Armenpress: In their report, the co-chairs say "the principles include the phased redeployment of Armenian troops from Azerbaijani territories around Nagorno Karabakh, with special modalities for Kelbajar and Lachin districts." What are these special modalities? V.O.: This formulation is indeed very broad, and for a reason. This issue has two layers. One is the issue of Lachin, where the actual negotiating text on principles provides clear language stating that there will be "a corridor linking Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia." For Armenia, it's very clear that this corridor must have the same status as Nagorno Karabakh. The second layer is the issue of Kelbajar. For Armenia, this also is clear: based on security concerns, Kelbajar can be returned only after the referendum is conducted and the final status of Karabakh is determined. Azerbaijan's position is different on Kelbajar. That's the disagreement that the co-chairs are addressing in their statement. The co-chairs' language in the actual negotiating text, with regard to this issue, is generally in line with our approach. Armenpress: The co-chairs say that there will be a referendum "to determine the final legal status of Nagorno Karabakh," but they don't say who will vote. V.O.: The actual negotiating text on principles clearly specifies that "the final legal status will be determined through a referendum by the population of Nagorno Karabakh." Armenpress: The co-chairs also say "certain interim arrangements for Nagorno Karabakh would allow for interaction with providers of international assistance." What does this mean? V.O.: This is only one element of a much more detailed section in the actual negotiating text which addresses interim status for Nagorno Karabakh. We think the co-chairs have emphasized international engagement, because that's a major problem for the people of Nagorno Karabakh. Their current, unrecognized, de-facto status, has not allowed them to benefit from the generosity of international organizations. In the actual negotiating text, the provisions address such rights as control over their political and economic viability and security, upholding their personal privileges and freedoms, the right to democratically elect officials to govern Nagorno Karabakh, the authority to effectively legislate and administer the internal affairs of Nagorno Karabakh. Armenpress: What is Armenia's overall assessment of the content of the document as it stands today? V.O.: This not a perfect document. For anyone. However, there are enough solid and balanced provisions, with the right trade-offs on the main issues status, territories and security that we are prepared to continue to negotiate on the basis of these principles. In today's context, Azerbaijan's rhetoric about autonomy and desperate calls for militarization surprise us. We have at hand a real opportunity to resolve all issues, including the much-maligned issue of refugees. But Azerbaijan must revert to real situations and real opportunities, rather than illusory maximalist hopes. Today, we hope that Azerbaijan will realize that we have a chance to resolve the conflict and achieve a lasting peace. 3) EU 'May Halt Turkey Entry Bid' HELSINKI(Reuters)The European Union said on Thursday that Turkey's membership negotiations could be halted unless it moves on Cyprus and makes progress on reforms, but the EU hopes to avoid a crisis later this year. Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn was quoted by the Finnish news agency STT as saying, in response to a question, that the EU could suspend talks completely. "There is that possibility. I hope that we don't have to resort to that, but we have no reason not to use it if there are grounds for that," Rehn said. Finland, which takes over the 25-nation bloc's rotating presidency from July 1, also said that refusal to fulfill an obligation to open Turkish ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus could jeopardize the talks. "This is not a threat. I just want to note the fact that it will cause a serious issue ... in the negotiations and may even endanger the continuation of the negotiations," Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja told a news conference in Brussels. EU ambassadors decided for the first time on Wednesday to move forward faster in accession talks with Croatia than with Turkey because of Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus. "I am a realist and that is why I have tried to warn about a possible collision in negotiations, unless Turkey holds to its commitments on Cyprus and speeds up its reforms," Rehn was quoted as saying. The Turkish lira weakened briefly on the news, traders said, but the reaction was limited. Turkey, which invaded northern Cyprus in 1974 in response to a short-lived coup engineered by Greece's then ruling military junta, does not recognize the Greek Cypriot Nicosia government. The EU says Ankara must open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic under an agreement signed last year extending its customs union to 10 new EU member states, including Cyprus. In a statement last year, the EU said failure to comply with the customs protocol would affect the "relevant chapters" of the talks, which are split into 35 policy areas known as chapters. But statements by some EU officials have raised the stakes by suggesting the entire accession process may be frozen. Rehn's office said the Commissioner had not intended to break new ground and had added: "It is always better to look for solutions which keep negotiations ongoing and which make the candidate country fulfil the conditions of the negotiations." Tuomioja also said Finland would work hard to find ways to prevent a "dramatic situation" later this year when an EU summit will consider a review by the executive European Commission of Turkey's compliance. The EU agreed on Wednesday to open detailed talks with both Turkey and Croatia on competition policy but only with Zagreb on customs, since the Commission has not finished screening the compatibility of Turkish legislation with EU law due to Cyprus. It was the first time the EU had made Turkey wait in the talks because of its stance over Cyprus, reaffirmed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan last week. Erdogan says Turkey will only open its ports if the EU makes good on a pledge to ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots by allowing direct trade with northern Cyprus. Brussels rejects any such linkage. 4) 31st Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Festival Begins The Navasartian final games and closing festival will begin on Friday, June 30th, with a torch lighting ceremony at Birmingham High School (17000 Haynes, Van Nuys) at 7:30 p.m. Festivities will continue through the weekend, with the closing ceremonies on Tuesday, July 4th at 4:30 p.m. with Homenetmen Chapters Parade. The evening will continue in picnic area with fireworks, live music, dance, games and food. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.