PRESS RELEASE
Hamazkaine Armenian Educational
& Cultural Society- ‘Sevan’ Chapter
682 Cabramatta Road Bonnyrigg,
NSW, AUSTRALIA 2177
Contact: Giragos Bakalian
Tel: 61 414 951 301
Fax: 61 2 9837 7379
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Australia to Send 42 Dancers to Armenia
Sydney, Australia – The Hamazkaine Armenian Sevan Dance Ensemble will
be sending 42 of its senior dancers from Australia on the 20th June
2006 in an unprecedented tri-nations tour to participate in the
official Armenian Cultural Festival performances in Armenia and
Artsakh between the 25th and 30th of June 2006 and on return will go
on to perform at dedicated concerts in Lebanon and Syria.
This is a momentous occasion for all Australian-Armenians primarily
because an Australian Armenian group has never before performed in
Armenia, Lebanon or Syria. Being the first Australian group to do so
will no doubt pave the way for more Australian-Armenian cultural
groups to follow suit – strengthening the growing bond between the
Armenian Diaspora and their Motherland. The 42 dancers eager and
enthused to perform in front of fellow compatriots in Armenia, Lebanon
and Syria will be accompanied by 7 officials, including organisers and
their dance instructor, and 24 supporters during their 3 week long
tour.
The Sevan Dance Ensemble, established in 2003 has come a long way in
the past three years, staging numerous performances including guest
appearances at several Australian cultural dance festivals, two
devoted annual concerts and performing at Ara Gevorgian’s – ‘Meg Azk,
Meg Joghovoort, Meg Hayrenik’ April 2006 concert organised by the
Hamazkaine ‘Sevan’ Chapter of Western Sydney- which happened to be the
largest Armenian concert ever held in the Asia Pacific.
The Australian-Armenian community is very proud of its youth, its
energetic organisations and the support of each and every Armenian in
Australia. The Hamazkaine Sevan Dance Ensemble’s tri-nations
performance tour is just proof of the promising future the blossoming
Armenian community in Australia.
Hamazkaine ‘Sevan’ Chapter
Sydney, Australia
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
08-06-2006
ARMENIA DIASPORA CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT
The third Armenia Diaspora conference will convene on September 18-20 in
Yerevan.
This year will also mark the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. In
that context, ArmeniaDiaspora III will examine, analyze, assess our past and
consider how history and current geo-political realities raise new issues
before our nation, and how the possibilities and prospects for resolving
them together.
The agenda of ArmeniaDiaspora III will consist of various strands.
On September 18, at the first plenary, we will explore the current condition
and future prospects for Armenia-Diaspora relations and cooperation – a
traditional concern which requires new approaches, taking into consideration
ever-changing geopolitical development. During this session, speakers will
include the leadership of the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, the
Catholicos of All Armenians, the Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, as
well as other spiritual leaders, and the heads of all Diaspora-wide
structures.
During the second half of the day and on the next day, we will focus on the
second agenda item – rural development in Armenia. To secure Armenia’s total
development, and from the perspective of certain strategic concerns, the
comprehensive development of Armenia’s rural communities must be assured.
Therefore, our objective is to rally the resources of the Armenian
government and Armenia’s business community, the Diaspora and international
organizations, to renovate rural infrastructure, facilitate economic
development and create the necessary contemporary conditions to live and
work in rural communities.
As a starting point, and for obvious strategic reasons, we have decided to
begin with Armenia’s border villages.
Participating in this agenda item will be the representatives of those
communities, organizations, groups as well as those individuals who have
already agreed to take part in this program. Of course, those conference
participants who are interested in this topic may also attend.
Beginning Tuesday and continuing through Wednesday, September 20, there will
be a forum entitled “New Answers to Old Questions for a New Nation-State in
the 21st Century.” Armenian identity in the context of globalization –
preservation, language, culture, education, dual citizenship, repatriation
as a phenomenon, the history of Armenian repatriation, its organization, new
repatriation possibilities, prospects, as well other issues will be on the
agenda.
Also on Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the Ministry of
Trade and Economic Development will be holding a forum on economic
developments and prospects.
On Thursday, September 21, independence day celebrations will take place
throughout the capital. All conference participants are invited.
On Friday, a major exhibition on Armenia’s economic activity, agricultural
development, prospects and partners will take place in the same venue as the
conference, at the Demirchian Sports Complex, and all conference
participants will be encouraged to attend.
Additional information about the agenda, registration forms, as well as
modalities of participation will be available over the next several weeks at
or at
The conference is open to all who wish to be present and take part in
Armenia’s future.

Divers Bulletin no. 20 (216) / June 5, 2006
News
ARMENIAN CHURCH ASKS FOR THE RETROCESSION OF A MUSEUM
BUCHAREST – The Archbishopric of the Armenian Church in Romania asks
Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs, or MCC, Adrian Iorgulescu, in an
open letter, for the retrocession of Ana Melik House, the current
headquarters of Theodor Pallady Museum in Bucharest.
The document says the state abusively confiscated Ana Melik House, located
on 22 Spatarul Street in Bucharest, back in 1967.
Virgil Nitulescu, secretary of state in MCC, claims the Romanian state
legally took possession of Ana Melik House three decades ago. The house is
the headquarters of Pallady Museum and has been subject to litigation at the
Bucharest Court of Appeals in Bucharest since 2000. The litigation was
between the Armenian Church and Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs.
The Parish of the Armenian Church claims ownership upon the dwelling that
has been asserted since 1924. By Royal Decree, the Armenian-Gregorian Church
in Bucharest was assigned the dwelling through Ana Meliks testament. The
church owned the dwelling until 1969, when it donated Melik House and the
field to the Executive Committee of the Peoples Council of Bucharest
Municipal.
Ana Melik House is registered on the List of Historic Monuments in Romania.
It is the eldest authentic building in Bucharest, preserved with its initial
design in 1760.
Author: DIVERS
DIVERS – News bulletin about ethnic minorities living in Romania is edited
every week by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, with the financial
support of King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium and Ethnocultural Diversity
Resource Center. Partial or full reproduction of the information contained
in DIVERS is allowed only if the source is mentioned. You can send messages
and suggestions regarding the content of DIVERS bulletin at Balkan
Investigative Reporting Network, at the e-mail address: [email protected]

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
June 07, 2006
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Tel. (613) 235-2622

World Premiere of “Aram’s Choice” in Ottawa
Ottawa – A novel about a group of young Armenian orphans, who were
rescued from the Armenian Genocide and brought to Canada in 1923 and
settled in Georgetown, Ont., was launched at the embassy of the Republic
of Armenia on June 7. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, the author of “Aram’s
Choice” attended the book’s premiere.
The main character of the novel is based on Kevork Kevorkian, one of the
original “Georgetown Boys”-a group of 50 orphans who were settled in a
southern Ontario farm in the early ’20s. The novel is richly illustrated
in colour by Muriel Wood.
Victoria Cop, master of ceremony and president of the Armenian Students
Association of Ottawa, introduced Armand Hagopian, the charge d’
affaires of the embassy. The Armenian diplomat said Skrypuch’s writings
are an important tool to educate school children-the future leaders of
Canada-about the Armenian Genocide.
Aris Babikian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC), introduce the author of “Aram’s Choice.” Babikian
recalled that he had first met Skrypuch 16 years ago, and had
collaborated with Marsha on many projects. He also acknowledged the
author’s assistance to Aram Ayvezian when the latter was writing his
memoirs as a survivor of the Armenian Genocide and his pioneering work
on Hai Tad.
Skrypuch talked about the circumstances which introduced her to the
Armenian Genocide and compelled her to write about the ethnic cleansing
of Armenians from Ottoman Turkey from 1915 to 1923. She recalled that
at the beginning the Georgetown Boys and other survivors had been
cautious about talking to her. But once she had gained their trust she
was welcomed and treated as one of the family. She also talked about her
arduous early efforts to gather data on the Georgetown Boys and the
Armenian Genocide and about the difficulties she faced in her efforts to
publish her book before the breakthrough in 1999 of “The Hunger”-her
first book on the Armenian Genocide. Since then she has published two
more books “Nobody’s Child” (2003), and “Aram’s Choice” (2006).
The author was overcome with emotion when she read short passages from
her three books. The passages encapsulated the suffering, the heroism
and survival instincts of her characters.
During Q & A, Skrypuch said she limited her research to the testimonies
of the survivors, missionaries, diplomats and other eye witnesses
accounts and reports. She also stressed that although her books are
fictions, they are based on real people and events.
At the end of reading, she presented Babikian a specially-printed poster
of “Aram’s Choice”s cover jacket as a token of appreciation for the
latter’s long-time support and friendship.
In appreciation of Skrypuch’s efforts, Armand Hagopian, charge d’
affaires of the embassy, presented the writer with a DVD of
Canadian-Armenian opera singer Isabel Bayrakdaryan’s “Long Journey Home”
and Dr. Garabed Khacherian survivor diary.
In addition to her published works, Skrypuch has two more books due for
publication in 2007. “Call me Aram” will be a sequel to “Aram’s Choice”
while “Daughter of War” a sequel to “Nobody’s Child.”
In sales, “Nobody’s Child” has been her most successful book. It was
nominated for the 2005 Red Maple Award, the 2005 Alberta Rocky Mountain
Book Award, the 2006 BC Stellar Award, and was listed by Resource Links
as one of the best books of 2004.
-30-
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
Regional Chapters
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

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 8, 2006
PHOTOGRAPHS OF CONSECRATION ON THE WEB
As we reported in a special edition of Crossroads earlier this week, the
V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Eastern Prelacy and
Ecumenical Officer for North America, received the Episcopal consecration
last Sunday, June 4, in the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator,
Antelias, Lebanon, by His Holiness Aram I. Two other clergymen were elevated
to the rank of Bishop: V. Rev. Fr. Neshan Topouzian, Prelate of the Diocese
of Tabriz, and V. Rev. Fr. Papken Charian, Prelate of the Diocese of
Isfahan.
To see photographs click
PRESEN TATIONS AT THE NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
The two major presentations during the National Representative Assembly
concerning parish development given by Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of
St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, and Stephen Hagopian, secretary of the
Prelacy Executive Council, are on the Prelacy web page. To view the NRA page
click
PLG MOTHERS’ DAY LUNCHEON
Photographs of the annual Mothers’ Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy
Ladies Guild are now on the Prelacy web page. To view the photos click
MILES TONE YEAR FOR DATEV INSTITUTE
This year the St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute is marking its 20th
anniversary. Special anniversary celebrations are being planned for the
weekend of July 8 and 9, which is also the culminating weekend of the
Institute’s one-week intensive study and recreational program.]
On Saturday, from 9 am to 12:30 pm, a seminar on “Youth, Faith and Life”
will convene at the St. Mary of Providence Conference Center in Elverson,
Pennsylvania. Leaders of the seminar are Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor
of St. Stephen Armenian Church in Watertown, Massachusetts and V. Rev. Fr.
Paul Nadim Tarazi, PhD, Professor of Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages
at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York.
Saturday evening a celebratory banquet will take place at the Holiday
Inn at Morgantown, Pennsylvania. The weekend will conclude on Sunday, June
9, with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by Archbishop Oshagan at St.
Gregory Church, Philadelphia. A farewell picnic will take place in the
afternoon on the church grounds.
For complete information click
HOL Y CROSS CHURCH TO PRESENT SPRING CONCERT
The Holy Cross Church, Troy, New York, will present a Spring Concert
this Sunday, June 11. The concert will take place in John Sarkis Hall
following the Divine Liturgy celebrated by the pastor, Rev. Fr. Bedros
Shetilian.
The concert, hosted by Alvard Besanian, will feature performances by:
Arpi Shetilian, violin; Yeretzgeen Marineh Shetilian, piano; Chakee
Kazandjian, vocalist; Valerie Altounian, clarinet; Liza Bardakjian, poetry
readings. For information: 518-274-1477.
COMMEMORATION OF PROPHET ELIJAH
This Sunday, June 11, the Armenian Church commemorates the Prophet
Elijah, one of the greatest and most remarkable prophets of the Old
Testament. His commemorative day is on a Sunday because he is considered to
be the greatest of the prophets who appeared at the Transfiguration as the
prophet of “life” and the new covenant, and he did not experience death but
was rather taken to heaven. He is remembered in the hymn Ee Verin during the
Requiem Service: “Receive us in Jerusalem above, in the dwellings of the
angels, in Eden paradise where Enoch and Elijah live worthily resplendent in
purity and in old age. O Merciful Lord, have mercy upon the souls of ours
who have fallen asleep.”
COMMEMORATION OF SAINTS HRIPSIME AND GAYANE
On Monday and Tuesday, June 12 and 13, the Armenian Church commemorates
the lives of Saints Hripsime and Gayane, respectively.
Thirty-three nuns, led by Gayane, fled to Armenia from the Roman Empire
to escape persecution. One of the nuns, Hripsime, was a great beauty and the
Armenian King Drtad wanted to marry her. When she refused to marry and
refused to renounce Christ, she and all of her companion nuns were tortured
and killed. Upon his release from his imprisonment in the pit, St. Gregory
had chapels built over the relics of the nuns. The chapels were rebuilt
during the pontificate of Catholicos Sahag Bartev (4th century). In the 7th
century Catholicos Gomidas had two beautiful cathedrals built-Cathedral of
St. Hripsime and the Cathedral of St. Gayane. Contemporary art historians
believe that the design of the Cathedral of St. Hripsime greatly influenced
the future direction of Armenian architecture. Catholicos Gomidas also wrote
a beautiful sharagan in their memory, Antsink Nviryalk.
WEDNESDAY IS FLAG DAY
Wednesday, June 14, is Flag Day, marking the 229th anniversary of the
official adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the national flag. The flag,
as we know it today, has a blue field of 50 white stars representing the 50
states, and thirteen red and white stripes representing the original
thirteen colonies. The last state to be admitted into the Union was Hawaii
on July 4, 1960.
Calendar of Events
June 11-Spring Concert presented by Holy Cross Church, 101 Spring Ave.,
Troy, NY, in John Sarkis Hall following church services. For information:
518-274-1477.
June 18-Fathers’ Day celebration at St. Illuminator Cathedral, 221 E. 27th
Street, New York City, following Divine Liturgy. Organized by the Cathedral’s
Ladies Guild. For information: 212-689-5880.
June 18-St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, Annual Father’
Day Picnic and Reunion, following church service. For information:
413-543-4763.
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.
June 24-Siamanto Academy graduation, Armenian Center, Woodside, NY.
July 2-9-St. Gregory of Datev Summer Institute. For details click
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 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.
Visit our website at

Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Contact: Maral Habeshian
ANCA-WR among Exclusive California Leadership Honoring Mexican
President
LOS ANGELES, California–The Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region (ANCA – WR) was among a select group of civic and
business leaders at a dinner hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa to honor Mexican President Vicente Fox.
ANCA – WR Chairman Steven Dadaian attended the May 26 event at the
Getty Center Museum, and had a chance to brief President Fox about
Armenian Genocide recognition efforts, and urge the President to
consider passing such legislation in Mexico.
President Fox, who was on a four-day trip through Utah, Washington and
California, repeatedly said that Mexico must regulate the migration of
its citizens to the U.S. and must bolster its economy so would-be
migrants no longer see leaving as an economic necessity.
In his remarks during the dinner, Mayor Villaraigosa lamented what he
called `so much heat and so little light illuminating the debate over
the relationship between our two countries.’ Addressing the economic
ties between the two countries, the mayor said, `Our economy is driven
by the labor of Mexican immigrants.’
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a
broad range of issues.

Gallery Z
Berge Ara Zobian, Director
259 Atwells Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401-454-8844
“Myths’
by Samuel Gareginyan
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 15, 5 – 9 p.m.
Show Dates: June 13 – July 8, 2006
Please join us at Gallery Z on Thursday, June 15, from 5 – 9 p.m. for
a solo exhibition of `Myths’ by Samuel Gareginyan. The show will be
displayed from June 13 through July 8, 2006. The artist will be
present at the opening reception.
Samuel Gareginyan an artist originally from Armenia, was born in
1961. He received a Master of Arts, from Yerevan Institute of Fine
Arts, Armenia in 1991.
He has exhibited widely in Armenia and the United States. Gareginyan
currently resides in Belmont, Massachusetts.
`White canvas is a veiled painting. I remove the veil, so you can
face the realm of ideas, where the reality is changing into the lyric
theatre, whereall objects and personages are involved in a silent
dialog of mythical existenceâ’ (Gareginyan)
******
Founded in January 2001, Gallery Z has hosted a number of exhibitions
of local, national and international artists. Gallery Z is located on
historic Federal Hill and is spearheading efforts to connect the
public and the growing arts community. Gallery Z is dedicated to
presenting meaningful artistic expression that engages a diverse
clientele.
Gallery Z is a member of Gallery Night Providence, and holds opening
receptions the third Thursday of the each month. The gallery can be
found on the World Wide Web at:
Gallery Hours:
Tues. & Wed 12-6pm
Thurs. – Sat 12-8pm
or by appointment
MEMBER -Gallery Night Providence
MEMBER-PWCVB, Providence Warwick Convention Visitors Bureau
MEMBER-Federal Hill Commerce Association
Directions to Gallery Z:
>From Points North:
Take 95 South Exit 21. Take a Right at the end of the exit onto Atwells
Avenue.
>From Points South:
Take 95 North to exit 21. At the second set of lights take a left onto
Atwells Avenue.
Gallery Z is located on your right at 259 Atwells Avenue.

MAJORITY OF WELSH MEMBERS OF UK PARLIAMENT RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN AND ASSYRIAN GENOCIDES
Assyria Times, CA
June 7 2006
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Following intensive lobbying from the above
organization, over half the eligible Welsh Representatives of the UK
Parliament have signed a motion recognizing the Armenian and Assyrian
Genocide of 1915.
“This is a historic day for Wales. “There can no longer be any doubt
that Wales has recognized the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides. We will
continue to expose this government denial of the genocide in order to
protect British investment in Turkey and to further Britain’s strategic
interests in the region. Our priority will be to put the issue of
restitution and reparations for the genocide on the political agenda.
The reunification of Armenia must no longer be a taboo subject during
Turkey’s accession talks. We in Wales can raise our voice to insist
that Turkey should yield back land to the Armenian nation if she is
to accede to the European Union,” said a spokesman for Wales-Armenia
Solidarity.

ARMENIAN WINEMAKERS TO ENTER RUSSIAN MARKET
The Messenger, Georgia
June 7 2006
Armenia’s state structures should immediately support the entry of
Armenian winemakers into the Russian market, Avag Arutunian, Chairman
of Armenian Winemakers’ Association told journalists on June 6.
“State officials should act quickly taking into account the potential
of Armenian winemakers and expected risks,” he noted.
Arutunian stressed that as long as Georgian and Moldavian wines
weren’t being exported to the Russian market, Armenia should make a
move to fill the gap within the next 2-3 months. “Otherwise, it’ll
be too late,” Arutunian believes.
He pointed out that for the last two months France, Italy and
Azerbaijan have all increased their wine exports to Russia and that
Portugal, Bulgaria, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were all planning to
do the same.
At the same time, he noted that Armenia produces high-quality wines.
He specified that it was not profitable for Armenia to occupy the
low-quality and cheap wines niche that was opened up after imports of
Moldavian wines costing between USD 1.5-1.7 per bottle were banned,
because that price is too low for most Armenian brands.
“Armenia will be content with selling wines at a cost of USD 2-2.5
or higher,” he noted.

PREFER YOUR FRUIT IN A BOTTLE? TRY POMEGRANATE WINE
By Peggy Grodinsky
Houston Chronicle, TX
June 7 2006
Wine lovers occasionally use the term “pomegranate” to describe the
flavor or color of red wines. Now there’s a wine that’s actually
made from the fruit. You can find a bottle for $9 at Central Market,
where a shelf label touts its antioxidant benefits. Add to that
the much ballyhooed claims that red wine is good for you (now being
re-examined), and you’ve got “double bang for your buck,” says the
store’s wine and beer manager, Martin Korson. The wine, from Armenia,
is sweet, fruity and pleasant, perfect for a novice drinker. “I like
this in a wine-cooler, back-in-high-school kind of way,” one taster
commented. Chronicle wine guru Mike Lonsford suggested pairing it
with smoked turkey and cranberry sauce — or using it in a wine
spritzer. “Well-chilled,” he added.