Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933
Press Release
For Immediate Release ~ August 15, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933
[email protected]
Illinois State Senator Meets with Chicago AYF Member, Discusses
Genocide
Education Resolution
HIGHWOOD, Ill. – Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Chicago chapter
member Karine Birazian recently met with Illinois State Senator Susan
Garrett to thank her for cosponsoring HB0312, a resolution recently
signed by Governor Blagojevich that will incorporate teaching of the
Armenian genocide in the Illinois curriculum.
The meeting with Garrett focused on current issues regarding the law
and efforts to raise genocide awareness within the Illinois school
system. During the meeting, Birazian also discussed other issues
concerning the Armenian community and ways to strengthen ties with
the state senate.
“Overall, I felt that this meeting was a great opportunity to get to
know Senator Garrett. The meeting was very positive and has opened
the doors to a great relationship between that state senator and the
Armenian community. We are honored and proud that Senator Garrett
understands the importance of our cause and is aware of our issues,”
said Birazian.
Senator Garrett, who has been a state senator since 2003, serves
on a variety of committees including the education committee. “As
a member of the Education Committee in the State Senate, I am very
committed to ensuring that our local schools provide the facts of how
the unthinkable atrocities, as a result of genocide, have devastated
civilizations throughout the world,” said Garrett.

Water supply declining fast: Iranian official
IranMania News, Iran
Aug 16 2005
LONDON, August 16 (IranMania) – A senior water industry official said
that Iran?s population will reach 100 mln in the next two decades,
when the country will face serious shortage of fresh water, according
to Iran Daily.
Speaking at the ceremony to inaugurate Nahrain Tabas Dam, Reza
Ardakanian, deputy energy minister for water affairs, said the
country?s entire exploitable water resources is estimated at 130
billion cubic meters.
?If consumption grows at the current rate, Iran will need 140 bln cubic
meters a year to supply fresh water to its 100-million population in
the next 20 years,? he said, adding that the country would need an
effective water management system to tackle the huge rise in demand.
Ardakanian said the economic value of water is increasing day by day,
adding that the agro sector development also depends much on water
resources.
?If water is offered free of charge, plans to optimize water
consumption will get nowhere,? he said, stressing, however, that the
government will have to continue to allocate huge subsidies for agro
water due to the farmers inability to pay.
The government has tried in recent year to construct more dams,
bring surface and border waters under control and discourage overuse
of water in urban areas. However water consumption is still too high
in the semi-arid Iran.
Iran is currently cooperating with neighboring countries, namely
Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia in the water sector.
In the past 26 years, Iran has invested 250 trillion rials in the
water industry. Some 52 dams have been constructed nationwide during
the tenure of former president Mohammad Khatami who took office in
May 1997.
Iranian engineers constructed 80 percent of the Friendship Dam on
a river shared with Turkmenistan and are ready to implement water
projects in Afghanistan, with which Iran shares the key Hirmand River.

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:
August 16, 2005
___________________
LONGTIME EDUCATOR TAKES REIGNS OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
By Jake Goshert
Growing up in an Armenian household in Lebanon, Gilda
Buchakjian-Kupelian knew her ayp, pen, kim before nursery school.
Today in America, with third- and fourth-generation Armenian Americans,
she sees an uphill battle passing along the Armenian language to the
next generation.
But it’s a battle that must — and can — be won.
“Although it’s hard to get people interested in learning Armenian,
because our language isn’t being used every day, we need to be reminded
that we are Armenians, Armenia is our country, and our official
language is Armenian,” said Buchakjian-Kupelian, who started as the
new Armenian Studies coordinator at the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern) on August 8. “Our faith and language and culture
have been transported to us through many hardships. Our forefathers
came to this country, and with every church they built a school,
so our language and culture would continue.”
Buchakjian-Kupelian majored in English and political science at
Lebanon’s Haigazian University, also earning a certification in
teaching, before coming to the United States. In America she started
volunteering as an Armenian language educator before spending 10
years overseeing the Armenian language program at the Eastern Prelacy.
She received her master’s degree in education administration.
“Teaching is one of my passions,” said Buchakjian-Kupelian, who proudly
adds that her three daughters are fluent Armenian speakers. “I believe
in the mission. It is important to transmit our language to the next
generation so we anchor them to our culture and heritage. When they’re
anchored to their culture, children grow up better citizens of the
world, because they have values and traditions instilled into them.”
In her new position, Buchakjian-Kupelian will oversee areas such as
curriculum development, teacher training, and student enrollment of
local parish Armenian schools; adult programs and special Armenian
heritage educational efforts; and the Armenian education content of
the Diocesan website,
While the Diocese has a strong program in place, Buchakjian-Kupelian
looks forward to expanding on that success through technology, extra
teacher training, and the creation of materials that speak to today’s
young students. “With effort on our part and support from the community
we can increase interest in Armenian Studies,” she said.
Buchakjian-Kupelian takes over the program guided for more than 30
years by Sylva der Stepanian.
“While no one can replace someone uniquely qualified and dedicated
as Sylva, it’s encouraging to see both she and Gilda share a love of
the Armenian language and faith,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Eastern Diocese. “Gilda is not only a gifted educator,
but also a proud Armenian. I look forward to working with her to
further enhance our rich Armenian Studies program.”
SIGN UP FOR ARMENIAN LESSONS TODAY
Many local parishes throughout the Eastern Diocese will be starting
the school year for their Armenian language programs for young people
and adults next month. Check with your local parish to see if they
have a program. If your parish does not have a language education
program, please contact Buchakjian-Kupelian for information on
establishing a school in your area. She can be reached via e-mail at
[email protected] or via phone at (212) 686-0710 ext. 48.
— 8/16/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in
the News and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian brings more than 10
years in Armenian language education and a life-time of passion for
the Armenian culture to her role as coordinator of Armenian studies
for the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
# # #

Armenians from Armenia and Karabakh receive awards in Hollywood contest
16.08.2005 13:58
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Performers representing the Republic of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh Republic and currently residing in other countries
won medals in the 9th World Contest of Performing Arts wrapped up in
Hollywood, California.
As reported by Armenpress, violinist Ani Upujian and pianist Gayane
Melikian, who represented Armenia, won 3 and 4 medals respectively.
American Armenian and Canadian Armenian performers, in turn, won
awards for Karabakh.
World acclaimed tenor Vahan Mirakian, currently residing in Austria,
was a member of the jury.

Saakashvili resolute to improve living conditions in Javakhk
16.08.2005 17:28
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Speaking to Armenian reporters in Batumi,
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he works harder for
procuring food for the Georgian army from Javakhk than many locals,
Armenpress reported.
He added that beginning August 10, several procurement offices operate
in Javakhk, noting also that Georgian servicemen receive more food
on daily basis than the 3,000 soldiers of the Russian military based
stationed in Akhalkalak.
The Georgian president reiterated that the reason he has decided
to buy food for the 15,000 Georgian military personnel in Javakhk
is based on the harsh climatic conditions and dreadful roads of the
region that make it one of the poorest in Georgia.
“If the conditions in the region are not boosted artificially, it may
find itself in a very complicated state,” Saakashvili indicated. He
also said a $20 mil. project to fix the region’s roads will be
implemented starting this year.

Turkish Scholar Freed After Two-Month Arrest In Armenia
By Emil Danielyan and Ruzanna Khachatrian
RFE/RL – YEREVAN, 08/16/2005: Yektan Turkyilmaz, a Turkish scholar
who was arrested in Armenia two months ago, walked free from a court
in Yerevan on Tuesday after being given a two-year suspended prison
sentence for attempting to illegally take old Armenian books out of
the country.
The court in the city’s Malatia-Sebastia district convicted Turkyilmaz
of two counts of smuggling but chose not to imprison him at the
last-minute request of state prosecutors that cited his partial
acknowledgement of his guilt and cooperation with investigators. The
doctoral student of the U.S. Duke University will have to stay in
Armenia until the verdict’s formal entry into force on August 31. He
will then be free to leave the country and visit it again.
“I’m now free, right?” an incredulous Turkyilmaz asked journalists
that surrounded him immediately after the announcement of the ruling.
“I am happy to be free,” he said after hearing a positive answer. “I
now want to concentrate on my doctoral dissertation. I was, I am and
I will remain a friend of the Armenians.”
The presiding judge, Karen Farkhoyan, also upheld the confiscation of
88 secondhand Armenian books which Turkyilmaz bought in Yerevan and
wanted to take with him to Istanbul. All of those books were published
more than 50 years ago, with four of them dating back to the 17th and
18th centuries. Under an Armenian law that took effect last January,
they can not be taken abroad without a written permission of the
Ministry of Culture.
Turkyilmaz had no such permission when customs and security officers
at Yerevan’s Zvartnots airport found and confiscated those books on
June 17. Both during his arrest and throughout his short trial he
insisted that he was unaware of the requirement. Nonetheless, he was
charged under an article of Armenia’s Criminal Code that envisages
between four and eight years’ imprisonment for the contraband of
“cultural-historical values,” narcotics and weapons.
“I believe that the accusations leveled against the defendant are
absolutely substantiated,” the trial prosecutor, Koryun Piloyan,
said in his concluding remarks.
Piloyan dismissed the defendant’s arguments that the books, most
of them relating to the activities of Armenian nationalist parties
in the Ottoman Empire, were needed for his doctoral studies at the
prestigious U.S. university. “I don’t want to discuss his doctoral
dissertation or events that took place in Anatolia from 1908-38,”
he said. “We are investigating a criminal case regarding smuggling.”
The prosecutor then cited “mitigating circumstances” such as
the defendant’s young age and his “at least partly truthful court
testimony” to invoke another clause in the Criminal Code that envisages
largely symbolic prison sentences.
“I regret what happened and accept that as a result of my inconsistency
and indifference, I did not know legal requirements existing in the
Republic of Armenia and failed to obtain permission for the books
in a manner defined by the law,” Turkyilmaz send in his final court
speech which he delivered in Armenian.
“As I said earlier, I never sought to violate the laws of the Republic
of Armenia or to cause any damage to the Republic of Armenia and the
Armenian people,” he added. “I therefore ask the court to be forgiving
to myself and apply the softest possible punishment.”
Turkyilmaz’s release was welcomed by Orin Starn, a representative
of Duke University who attended the trial. “Duke University is very
pleased that Yektan has been given his freedom,” Starn told RFE/RL.
“The books that Yektan collected were a reflection of his interest
in Armenia. I know that Yektan will do wonderful work that will help
us to understand the history of this region and the facts of the
Armenian genocide.”
The Duke University president as well as over 200 U.S., Turkish
and Armenian scholars have sent open letters to President Robert
Kocharian calling for the release of their colleague. They said the
punishment initially sought by Armenian prosecutors is too strict and
unjustified. It is not clear if their protests have played a role
in the prosecutors’ eventual decision not to seek the imprisonment
of the Turkish citizen of Kurdish origin. Officials in Kocharian’s
press service could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Individuals accused of smuggling have rarely ended up in prison in
Armenia. This fact raised questions about reasons for the severity of
the charges brought against Turkyilmaz. The latter’s interrogations by
officials from the National Security Service (NSS), which conducted
the pre-trial investigation into the case, reportedly focused on his
academic work and political beliefs.
The electronic copies of his research material collected at Armenia’s
National Archive were also confiscated and closely examined by NSS
investigators. The Malatia-Sebastia court ordered them to return the
CDs to the scholar.
Turkyilmaz, who has repeatedly visited Armenia since 2003, became last
May the first Turkish national who asked for and was granted access
to the Armenian state archives. He said on Tuesday that despite his
two-month ordeal he wants to conduct more research at the archives
and may again visit them as early as this week.
“I have not yet finished my work there and am glad that I will stay
in Yerevan for 15 more days,” Turkyilmaz told reporters. “I love
this city.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ecumenical Delegation to Visit Armenia to Bond East-West Church Relations
Christian Today, UK
Aug 16 2005
A five-member ecumenical delegation is set to visit Armenia from Aug.
24 to Sep. 1, 2005. The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada,
Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, will take part in this visit.
Posted: Tuesday, August 16 , 2005, 12:27 (UK)
The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Andrew
Hutchison, will take part in this visit which has been organised by
the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church.
(anglican.ca) A five-member ecumenical delegation is set to visit
Armenia from Aug.
24 to Sep. 1, 2005. The Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada,
Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, will take part in this visit which has
been organised by the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Orthodox Church. This comes in response to an invitation by His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
to visit the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
It will be recorded as the first ever visit to Armenia by a delegation
from Canada. The delegation, Led by the Primate of the Canadian Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
will discuss the role and mission of Christian churches in the future
and cooperation between the churches in the East and West.
Other members of the delegation are include Archbishop Sotirios,
Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Canada, Archbishop
Brendan O’Brien, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic
Bishops and Professor Richard Schneider, President of the Canadian
Council of Churches.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is located near Yerevan, the
capital city of the Republic of Armenia. The Mother see is the
pre-eminent centre of authority in the worldwide Armenian Apostolic
Orthodox Church.
The Armenian Orthodox Church is a member of the Orthodox family of
churches which includes Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian, Eritrean
and the (Indian) Malankara. The Anglicans and the Oriental family
are currently in the midst of theological dialogue, which follows
an agreed statement on Christology in November 2002 reached by the
Anglican-Oriental Orthodox International Commission.
Recommendations of the Lambeth Conferences of 1988 and 1998 stemmed
formal dialogue between the Anglicans and the Eastern Orthodox
churches. Talks were also sparked by the decisions of the Oriental
Orthodox Churches that the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue be upgraded
from a forum, in 1985 to 1993, to a commission.
Relationships between the Anglican Church of Canada and the Canadian
Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church goes back 125 years, when the
Anglicans offered the liturgical space and hospitality in Anglican
churches to the Armenians during the absence of Armenian sanctuaries.
The relationship between the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Canadian
Anglicans has been strengthened to become recognised more through
the Scholarship of St. Basil the Great, which is administered by
the Anglican Foundation. The scholarship was established by retired
bishop of Diocese of Ontario, Bishop Henry Gordon Hill, with means to
facilitate exchange between members of the Anglican Church of Canada
and members of the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Assyrian Church
of the East.

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran
Aug 16 2005
Five-partite meeting on Iran’s gas export to Europe to be held
Tehran, Aug 16, IRNA
Iran-Gas Export-Europe
Deputy Oil Minister for International Affairs Seyed Mohammad-Hadi
Nejad-Hosseinian here Tuesday hoped that the five-partite meeting of
Iran, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Russia on export of gas from Iran
to Europe via Ukraine will be held by September.
He told IRNA that Russia’s approval of the project will expedite
the process.
Stressing that the Europeans are in dire need of Iran’s gas, he added
that guarantee for future supply of energy is of great importance to
Europe and that they are both interested in and need to import gas
from Iran.
“Given that China, India and Pakistan are among Iran’s gas clients
and keen to bolster relations with the country, if other consumers of
gas do not proceed in time they may face a shortage of gas available
for export.
“Turkey is currently the only importer of gas from Iran and transfer
of gas to Europe via this country is one of the options on the agenda.
“Turkey’s recent reaction to the issue and its intention to purchase
gas from Iran and sell it to Europe directly, is not acceptable to
Iran, since another option would be to transfer it via Ukraine,”
he added.
Nejad-Hosseinian noted that Turkey cannot insist on following such
a procedure in order to become a member of European Union, since it
is not supported by EU.
Concerning export of gas from Iran to Europe via Ukraine it should
be said that a cooperation agreement has recently been inked to the
effect between the two states, but that the volume of the gas to be
transferred via this route has not been distinguished yet.
Ukraine has proposed two pipeline routes to Iran for transfer of gas:
one is Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia-Ukraine-Europe and the other is
Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Ukraine-Europe.
The expenses of each of the two suggested routes have been assessed
by Ukrainian sources at 10 billion dollars.

‘Buying Used Book in Armenia is So Dangerous’
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Aug 16 2005
YEREVAN – Turkyilmaz, a doctoral candidate, was arrested June 17 as
he tried to leave the country with two suitcases of used books. He
has been held in a former KGB maximum-security prison in the Armenian
capital, Yerevan, and faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.
The trial started Tuesday and is expected to last up to a month.
Turkish Armenia experts claim that the reason is not buying used
books but beeing Turkish.
Turkyilmaz’s research into how Turks, Armenians and Kurds interacted
for centuries in the Anatolia melting pot touched on the sensitive
issue of the mass killings of Armenians in the waning days of the
Ottoman Empire.
In nearly two weeks of interrogation, the academic said through
friends, he was never questioned about his books but instead about
his research and a compact disc of archival information that was to
be the basis for his writing. The disc has been confiscated.
“This should not be a political issue; this should be for the
historians to look into and decide,” said an official at the Turkish
Foreign Ministry who spoke on condition of anonymity. “From what we
had heard, this young scholar seemed to support the Armenian side of
the so-called genocide debate. It is such a strange turn of events,
to arrest him.”
For the last two years, Turkyilmaz has conducted research in Turkish
and Armenian libraries and the Turkish national archives. This year,
he was the first Turkish citizen allowed access to the Armenian
national archives, according to an Armenian government press release.
A bibliophile, Turkyilmaz scoured bookstores and open-air markets for
old books. Supporters say no one told him he needed special permission
to take the books from Armenia.
Several American and Armenian scholars have said that they also were
unaware of the restriction. Although the law has been used in stopping
the export of cultural goods such as religious icons and carpets,
it is thought to be the first time it has been applied to books.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from Ankara-based ISRO says “to make any historical
research in any Armenian libraries is impossible”. “All Turkish
archives and libraries have been open to all researchers including
the Armenians. However no one will go to Armenia after this case. All
Turkish historians know that if they go to yerevan to make historical
research they may be capturde and put in prison. Buying used books
should not be a reason to be put in prison. and we know that the reason
is not used books, but biases Armenian Government cannot changed till
now” added Dr. Gulcan.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, a staunch advocate for Armenian issues,
weighed in with a letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian. 200
Turkish, Kurdish and Turkey Armenians also sent a letter to yerevan
and urged to release the Turkish scientist.
“Your detention of Yektan for seven weeks on any grounds would draw
attention to failings in Armenia’s democratic evolution,” Dole wrote.
“To detain him on grounds as dubious as these calls into question
Armenia’s commitment to democracy.”
Armenia and Armenian-Americans have been lobbying governments
worldwide to label the 1915 deaths genocide. The Turkish Government
however insists the deaths were the results of a civil insurrection
and war curcumstances that also claimed the lives of innocent Turks.
According to the Turkish historians more than 520,000 Turkish villagers
were masscred by the Armenian armed groups during the riot.
Compiled by Jany Dawid, JTW

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:
August 16, 2005
___________________
PRIMATE VISITS WITH YOUNG CAMPERS
In the summer, many kids go to camp for arts and crafts, fun and games,
and lessons and learning.
So do archbishops.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), has been busy this summer traveling to
Armenian summer camps in upstate New York, in Illinois, and at the St.
Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.
The Primate has also visited all three filled-to-capacity sessions of
the Diocese’s St. Vartan Camp. Held at the Diocese’s Ararat Center, ,
in Greenville, NY, the Armenian Christian camp this year expanded to
three sessions, each with almost 100 campers.
Along with celebrating the Divine Liturgy, he has joined in meals and
fun and games with the campers, who come from communities across the
Diocese.
On August 4, the Primate headed to Illinois, to spend a couple days at
the Diocese’s Midwest Hye Camp. Its unique setup brings whole
communities together, as parents and parishioners turn out to volunteer
for the one-week program.
“It’s always wonderful to see so many young Armenians celebrating their
faith and heritage,” the Primate said. “And it’s important to show our
young people that being an Armenian is a positive thing. Our summer
camps are obviously a good way to accomplish that, and encourage a
feeling of pride.”
Numerous clergy and community leaders have also attended sessions at
both St. Vartan and Hye Camp. The expanded St. Vartan Camp had 230
campers, while Hye Camp hosted 135 campers.
“At each camp we did a discussion with campers about the Diocesan ‘Year
of the Youth’ and carrying the flame. The kids really were excited to
be at a camp that was an Armenian Christian camp,” said Jennifer Morris,
the Diocese’s coordinator of youth outreach who spent time at each camp.
“Through our camps we hope to strengthen their faith in our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, and help them understand the history of our
people.”
On July 30 and 31, 2005, the Primate traveled to the town of Andes, in
upstate New York to visit with the campers at Camp Nubar, sponsored by
the Armenian General Benevolent Union. The Primate arrived on Saturday
afternoon in time to celebrate “Christmas in July” with the campers,
before celebrating the Divine Liturgy on Sunday.
Along with his stops at summer camps, the Primate has also made several
visits to the St. Nersess Seminary Summer Sessions. The seminary has
been bustling with activities as it hosts young people — from junior
high school students to college graduates — for intense and exciting
programs that bring them closer to their Armenian heritage and Christian
faith.
One special feature this summer at the seminary was a deacon’s training
program, that gave young altar servers a hands-on study of the role of
deacons in the Armenian Church.
“All these young people are extremely committed to serving their
communities and their church. By attending these summer sessions at St.
Nersess, they are taking advantage of one of the most spiritually
enriching activities we offer,” the Primate said. “They are taking the
first steps to becoming future leaders of our churches and communities.
I encourage every parish to invest in the next generation of leaders by
sending their young people to the seminary’s summer sessions and our
summer camps.”
— 8/16/05
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, celebrates the
badarak with campers at the Diocese’s St. Vartan Camp program.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Campers at the Diocese’s Midwest Hye Camp visit with
the Primate during his stop at the camp in Illinois.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian delivers communion during his
stop at the AGBU Camp Nubar.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): The Primate takes time to visit with participants in
one of the summer sessions at the St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle,
NY.
# # #