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| 16:44:12 | 20-09-2005 | Politics |

HAYRIKYAN REJECTED INVITATION

During today’s press conference leader of the National Self-Determination
Union Paruyr Hayrikyan said he has rejected Robert Kocharian’s invitation
for the participation in the events dedicated to the Independence Day.

He wants the President to realize that tomorrow is not the Independence Day
but the Day of Self-Determination of Armenia. «The coming generations should
know about it», he noted. Paruyr Hayrikyan also touched upon the
constitutional amendments informing that the finite position of the Union
can be known tomorrow from the NSDU office. To note, P. Hayrikyan has made
several proposals on the constitutional reform and in his words, they were
adopted.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
September 21, 2005

Armenian Independence Day celebrated in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

On September 21, Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia, His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, led the
members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and the faithful in
commemorating the festive day with a service of thanksgiving in the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The procession of bishops, priests and deacons led His Holiness as they
entered into the Mother Cathedral of all Armenians under the singing of
hymns and stood before the Main Altar where they offered their prayers for
the safety and security of Armenia.

Following readings from the New Testament letters and the Gospel, His
Holiness offered a prayer to heaven on bended knees, stating in part, “O
Lord, we offer praise and thanks to You, that you visited the Armenian
nation, showing us Your great mercy, and established the Armenian Republic
on this land. We bow down before You, O Lord our God, and ask from your
most generous and beneficent love, that You keep and protect the Republic of
Armenia in peace – prosperous and unshaken. Bless O Lord, all faithful and
loyal officials of Armenia. Bless all those who live under the authorities
of this Republic: clergy and laymen, young and old, men and women, and all
of your faithful flock, keeping them under the safety of Your Holy Right
Hand.”

The service ended with the Pontiff of All Armenians blessing the gathered
faithful and wishing all Armenians a happy Independence Day.

AZG Armenian Daily #169, 21/09/2005

Culture

‘HAYFEST’ INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL IN YEREVAN

“Hayfest” international theatre festival that launched 3 years ago was
widely addressed by the world’s leading theatrical organizations as the main
theatre festival in the South Caucasus. The third “Hayfest” initiated by
Armenian Actors’ Union, ALFAEL producer center and Caucasian Cultural Bureau
will be held from September 28 to October 6. This year’s festival will host
famous theatre organizers Edward Boyakov (General Director of Golden Mask
Russian National Theatre Festival of Russia), Bernard d’Arcier (d’Avignon
international festival, France), Kostandi Kiriak (Sibiu intl. fest.,
Romania), Yova Cirilova (BITEF intl. fest., Serbia and Montenegro) and
others.

The main purpose of “Hayfest” is to represent the world culture in Armenia
and to contribute to development of Armenian theatrical art. The festival
pulled in 250 participants from 28 countries including 40 troupes from
England, Wales, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Mexico, Italy, Holland,
Spain, Israel, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Czech Republic, Singapore
and other places. Within the frameworks of the festival there will be round
tables and discussions on cultural policy in Armenia and development of arts
management.

By Marietta Makarian

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I STARTS HIS PONTIFICAL VISITS
TO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

His Holiness Aram I starts his pontifical visits to Canada and the United
States on September 22.

His Holiness will first visit Montreal and then Ottawa, Toronto, St.
Catharines and other places.

His Holiness will cross to Los Angeles, USA from Canada. He will visit
various places in Los Angeles, in addition to Fresno and San Francisco.

This third main part of the Pontiff’s visit will encompass states in the
east coast, including New York, Washington, New Jersey, Boston, Detroit and
Chicago.

The main aim of His Holiness’ visits to Canada and the United States is to
chair ceremonies dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Seminary and the 10th anniversary of his
enthronement, as well as commemorations of the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide and the 1600th anniversary of the discovery of the
Armenian Alphabet.

His Holiness will also attend many other events, anoint churches and meet
with government and ecumenical officials.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

AZG Armenian Daily #169, 21/09/2005

Press release

SEVEN NEW PRIESTS ORDAINED IN HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

On Saturday, September 10, the evening prior to the Feast of the Holy Cross,
seven young deacons, all graduates of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of
Holy Etchmiadzin, were called to serve the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church as
married clergymen. Their sponsoring priest was Rev. Fr. Mushegh Babayan, a
member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin.

The following morning, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, His
Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Krikorian, Pontifical Legate to Central Europe,
celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin.
During the liturgy, he ordained the seven deacons to the rank of priesthood.

As he anointed the forehead, right and left hand of each young man, Abp.
Mesrob called them by their new priestly names: Deacon Vazgen Kesablian was
renamed Father Khatchatur; Deacon Manuk Ghalachian became Father Sebeos;
Deacon Davit Mikaelian was renamed Father Derenik; Deacon Gor Grigorian
became Father Grigor; Deacon Andranik Hakobian was renamed Father Mashtots;
Deacon Armen Mkrtchian became Father Mesrop; and Deacon Vardan Avetisian was
renamed Father Stepanos.

Following the ordinations, Abp. Mesrob addressed his sermon to the newly
ordained, “The priesthood, dear ones, is not simply offering the services of
our Church. Worship is very important, the Holy Sacraments are very
important, but these are not the only responsibilities of the clergyman. The
words of the Gospel are equally as holy and as vital. We are the servants of
the Gospel, and therefore we transmit the holy words of the Gospel to the
people. We must bring it to them in the orthodox way, explaining it to them
and sealing these words on the hearts of our people.”

The same day in Yerevan, at the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Mother
Cathedral, Bishop Arakel Karamian, Primate of the Diocese of Kotayk,
ordained ten graduates of the Accelerated Course for Priesthood to the rank
of deacon.

AZG Armenian Daily #169, 21/09/2005

Turkey

ERDOGAN EXPRESSES REGRET

Bush Administration Doesn’t Agree with the Bill Recognizing Armenian
Genocide

The Associated Press informed that Turkish PM expressed regret concerning
the two resolutions on Armenian Genocide passed by the House of
Representatives at the U.S. Congress. Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope
that the resolutions will not be discussed at the regular sitting of the
House of Representatives.

The Bush administration doesn’t agree with the adopted two bills on the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Adam Areli, an official of the U.S.
State Department, stated that the position of the Bush administration
concerning the events of 1915 remains unchanged. “This issue shouldn’t be
politicized. It should be discussed seriously and sincerely,” he said. “The
administration didn’t support the adoption of the resolutions at the
international relations committee of the House of Representatives. That
position passed to the congressmen that do not doubt about the position of
the U.S. State Department and the American Government,” Areli said.

Last Friday, the Committee for International Relations at the House of
Representatives adopted resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
though the State Department sent a message to the congressmen saying that
“the resolutions will hinder the Turkish-American relations and create
obstacles between Ankara and Yerevan that have already began to discuss the
issue.” Commenting on the adoption of the resolutions, the official
representative of the State Department cited an extract from the April 24
speech of president Bush. “We remember the exile of 1,5 million of Armenians
during the last years of the Ottoman Empire. Many Armenians call that
horrible event the Armenian Genocide,” Bush said. “We are looking forward to
the freedom, peace and prosperity of Armenia and Turkey, hoping that PM
Erdogan’s suggestion to create a joint Turkish Armenian committee will
contribute to the solution of the issue,” the U.S. President said.

By Tatoul

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #169, 21/09/2005

Visit

SEN. JACK SCOTT ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

19 September, US senator Jack Scott arrived in Yerevan accompanied by
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party members and chairs of the party’s western
regional administration. Sen. Jack Scott represents the regions of Pasadena,
Glendale and Burbank with the densest Armenian population of 150.000.

During his 5-day visit the senator will hold a number of official meetings
with high-ranking Armenian officials, will visit the office of “Hayastan”
All-Armenian Fund, the Monument of Genocide Victims, the office of
California-Armenia trade union, Holy See of Etchmiadzin as well as other
cultural sites.

The accompanying ADL delegation is headed by Ara Aharonian.

AZG Armenian Daily #169, 21/09/2005

Cinema

ROBERT GEDIKIAN FINISHES ITS PROJECT IN ARMENIA

Acclaimed French-Armenian filmmaker Robert Gedikian finished shooting of his
film “Towards Armenia” two days ago. The film director together with actors
Arian Askarid and Gerard Meylan spoke to a press conference at “Moscow”
cinema before leaving. The title of the film, Gedikian thinks, is symbolic
as Armenia opens a unique world before every Diaspora Armenian visiting
Armenia first time, a world which educates and enriches every soul.

Gedikian raises issues that are common to all mankind: search for roots,
love, family, parallels from past and present…

Arian Askarid, his wife, is also the author of the script. She says that she
aimed at revealing the Armenian woman, at going into the essence of the
issues that she is concerned with, trying to comprehend them.

Gerard Meylan was surprised by daily hardships of common Armenians and their
kindness and love for art. “By coming to Armenia I became Armenian indeed.
Now I am more Armenian than French”, he said.

The shootings will continue in Marseilles and as soon as it is completed
will be shown to Parisians in spring. The film will arrive in Armenia
apparently for the Golden Apricot-3 next year.

By Ruzan Poghosian

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 21 2005
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
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US Congress committee passes `Armenian genocide’ bills

Baku, September 20, AssA-Irada
The committee on international relations of the US House of
Representatives has passed two draft laws on the recognition of the
false `genocide of Armenians’.
A representative of the US administration said at the opening of the
Committee meeting that he is opposed to the bills.
A high-ranking US official, in his letter to the Committee, wrote
that adoption of the bills contradicts the United States’ interests.
Congressman Tom Lantos of California, who earlier supported Turkey on
the so-called `genocide’ issue, has changed his position. Turkey’s
refusal to allow US troops to enter Iraq through its territories
resulted in the killings of American soldiers, he said. `Turkey
attached no importance to US interests. I therefore supported both
bills,’ Lantos said.
Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana regarded raising the `genocide’
issue in US Congress every year as `meaningless’.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 21 2005

OSCE monitoring interrupted after Armenians’ shooting

Baku, September 20, AssA-Irada

The OSCE monitoring of the Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline in
Garakhanbayli village of Fuzuli District was interrupted after
Armenian military units, from their positions in Azerbaijan’s
occupied lands, exposed the monitored territory to shooting at about
noon on Tuesday.
Miroslav Vimetal, field assistant of the OSCE chairman’s special
envoy, immediately informed special envoy Andzhei Kasprshik of the
incident.*