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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES AP PHOTOGRAPHER HARRY KOUNDAKJIAN

Antelias, Lebanon – On the occasion of an exhibition organized in honor of
50 years of service of AP photographer Harry Koudakjian to the photographing
industry, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, congratulated the
artist, saying, “You are an artist par excellence. Through your shots you
have been able to catch the defining moments of people and discern beyond
mere facts and scenes the real message. You have perceived your job as
photographer as a vocation and fulfilled it with faith, commitment and
vision. You deserve the high appreciation and full support of all those who
have known you as a humble man and a dedicated artist”.

Harry’s professional career in photo journalism began in Beirut in 1952,
when he joined the French-language newspaper L’Orient and its Arabic sister
paper Al Jarida as the first photo-reporter in Lebanon. At the same time he
worked for other Beirut newspapers and magazines and freelanced for Life,
Paris Match, the Illustrated London News, and the London Daily Mail.

But photography for Harry really began when he was six-years old and took
apart a kodak bellows camera and never put it back together again has it,
waiting to be reassembled. When he was eight, his mother, an accomplished
photographer in her own right, gave him a Brownie camera.

In 1962 he began working for the Associated Press (AP) as a stringer, and
went on to establish the AP photo desk in Beirut. In 1969 he became the AP’s
Chief Middle East photographer responsible for all the Arab countries in the
Middle East, North and East Africa, Turkey, and Iran. Harry has had no end
of adventure with his camera(s), seeking the news makers as they happen, no
matter what the danger or conflict.

Having grown up in Aleppo, Syria, and Beirut, Lebanon, Harry speaks English,
French, Arabic, Turkish, and his first language, Armenian. Harry the
photographer has often stepped forward in crisis situations to offer his
skills as translator and interpreter.

Being Armenian and neutral in Middle East has served him well in his
profession. His repertoire of stories covers accounts of invitations from
royalty, run-ins with governments, and even the perils of simply using a
camera in the Middle East.

In 1979 Harry and his family were transferred by the AP to New York City
where today, as an American citizen, Harry is the AP’s International Photo
Editor.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission 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.

PRESS RELEASE
Shahumyan-Getashen Patriotic Benevelont Association
Address: Yerevan, Armenia, Koriun Street 19/a
Contact: Eduard Balayan
Tel: (374-1) 560154
E-mail: [email protected]
18 November, 2004

Shahumyan-Getashen refugees appeal to UN

Letters have been sent on behalf of the deported Armenians of the Shahumyan
and Getashen regions, immediately bordering Nagorno Karabakh, to the UN
Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan and President of the UN’s 59th General
Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping. The letters reaffirm the rights of those who were
forcibly removed from their homes in these and other regions and lost all
their possessions, to defend themselves in the appropriate international
organizations.

The Shahumyan-Getashen Benevolent Organization reserves for itself the right
to speak on behalf of the tens of thousands of Armenian refugees from
Azerbaijan, who are today deprived of the right to return to their homes and
to their property.

ARMENIANOW.COM
Administration Address: 26 Parpetsi St., No 9
Phone: +(374 1) 532422
Email: [email protected]
Internet:
Technical Assistance: (For technical assistance please contact to
Babken Juharyan)
Cell: +(374 9) 38-24-88
Email: [email protected]
ICQ#: 97152052

Headlines:

NEWS
Plenty to Talk About: Rhetoric continues to rise over appeal for General Assembly debate on Karabakh
The Margaryan Trial: Case of murdered Armenian officer to begin in Hungary
Guarding Against `Grip’: Armenia gets first vaccination for flu season
Football hopes: Armenia sweetens disappointing season
Calling Out Corruption: Youth union aims to reveal wrongdoing in education system

FEATURES
`Til Death Do Us Part’: Golden couple renew vows and recall 50 years together
NOT Outside Eye: An Armenian in America has a foot fight in returning to her heart
Seeing Green After 10 Years: UMCOR celebrates a decade in Armenia with a gift of trees
Outdated: Authorities use Socialist-era law to violate democratic rights

ARTS
Artistic Felons?: Armenian couple charged with crimes in Russia for exhibit on religion
Armenia Underfoot: New guidebook shows where to get high in Hyestan

For complete articles, please, see

NEWS
Plenty to Talk About: Rhetoric continues to rise over appeal for
General Assembly debate on Karabakh
By Aris Ghazinyan

The fact that the issue `On the situation on Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories’ was put on the agenda of the UN General Assembly session
still remains in the center of the attention of all structures
interested in the soonest settlement of the Karabakh problem. The
possible shift of the mediatory initiative from the sphere of the OSCE
Minsk Group to the plane of the UN, in official Yerevan’s opinion,
cannot promote a peaceful and just resolution of the conflict.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanian has stated that the
inclusion of the Baku-initiated `question about territories’ into the
discussions in the UN format got the approval of only those entities
of international law that are practically against peaceful means of
settling the dispute.

At the end of last week Moscow was drawn into the debate when, during
a meeting of the heads of foreign ministries of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization, Oskanian leveled scathing criticism at
some members for their support of Azerbaijan. Taking the Azeri
viewpoint on the matter `is not consistent with all the details of the
conflict in Nagorno Karabakh as well as other approaches of the OSCE
Minsk Group – a structure that has the most comprehensive information
about the settlement process at its disposal,’ the minister
said. Oskanian further said that the positions of some states –
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – were `unclear’.

***************************************************************************
The Margaryan Trial: Case of murdered Armenian officer to begin in Hungary
By Zhanna Alexanyan

Court hearings are expected to begin November 23 in Budapest in the
trial of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani Army officer charged in the
murder of Armenian Army officer Gurgen Margaryan February 19. The two
were in Hungary to attend a NATO-sponsored English training program.

Safarov attack Margaryan, 26, in his sleep. A second Armenian officer,
Hayk Mkuchyan escaped Safarov’s attack when alert by his Lithuanian
roommate.

Attorney Nazeli Vardanyan has been appointed by the Ministry of
Defense to represent Makuchyan and the family of Margaryan.

The trial will be conducted in Hungarian language, interpreted for the
Armenian and Russian sides. It was to have begun in June, however
Safarov filed an appeal to have the trial moved to Azerbaijan and to
have Safarov released from custody. The motions were denied.

It was only a week ago that Vardanyan learned that the trial was about
to begin. She says she has not had proper time to prepare, especially
as all documents are in Hungarian, and must be translated.

***************************************************************************
Guarding Against `Grip’: Armenia gets first vaccination for flu season
By Marianna Grigoryan

Garlic, vodka, raspberry and black currant tea…
Specialists say we should forget these Armenian methods and choose a
more civilized and trustful means of flu prevention.
This year, for the first time, flu vaccinations such as those offered
in many countries are being administered in Armenia. Medical groups
and organizations are sending out notices, letters and announcements,
encouraging the population to guard itself against `grip’.

***************************************************************************
Football hopes: Armenia sweetens disappointing season
By Suren Musayelyan

Armenia put a smile on their fans’ faces on Wednesday by ending a
series of four straight defeats and showing their best football of
this otherwise unremarkable 0-4-1 season.

Karen Dokhoyan’s second-half equalizer snatched a point from group
leaders Romania and raised hopes for a better continuation of his
team’s current qualifying campaign after the winter break.

Armenia coach Bernard Casoni did not hide his satisfaction with the
1-1 draw and the livelier football shown by his rejuvenated side.

***************************************************************************
Calling Out Corruption: Youth union aims to reveal wrongdoing in education system
By Gayane Lazarian

University student councils, political party youth unions,
organizations for young people and numerous Students attended a
roundtable discussion Tuesday (November 16) to discuss corruption in
Armenia’s field of higher education.

`Our goal is to make the causes of this vicious phenomenon known, to
call the public’s attention to this problem,’ said Karen Antashyan, a
member of the `Nikol Aghbalian’ student union of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the hosts of the discussion. `We think
that these joint discussions will result in a proper solution to the
problem. Students must overcome the fear inside them, and the managers
of higher schools eventually must realize that corruption phenomena
are displayed because of their inconsistency. Youth organizations and
mass media also have something to do here.’

Part of the meeting’s purpose was to publicize results of a survey
conducted by the union in which 1,100 students from 11 state-run
institutes of higher learning were polled on issues relating to
corruption and education.

FEATURES

***************************************************************************
`Til Death Do Us Part’: Golden couple renew vows and recall 50 years together
By Marianna Grigoryan

Her white wedding gown is greeted with kindness and smiles, and with
her white hair gathered up under her veil, the bride, 73-year-old
Margarit Dallakyan paves her way ahead.

Fifty years ago she was a bride for the first time. Last Saturday she
repeated the event. And, both times, Hovanes Chulyan was the lucky
groom. It was in fact the couples `golden’ anniversary, and to
celebrate they duplicated the day they were joined, November 6, 1954.

The `newly’ weds celebrated with music of the zurna and dohl, with
dancing and singing. The wedding party attended in cars decorated in
festive colors; quite a change from the `rainy, sober day’ Margo
recalls from 50 years ago.

`Then, I was taken away in a wagon,’ she recalls. `There was no
wedding gown, nor any proper conditions or gifts, but this latest one
was the most gorgeous.’

In 50 years, Margo and Hovanes have carved out a life, raised a family
and have become grandparents. But on their first wedding, they didn’t
even know each other. Hovanes had repatriated from Aleppo, and had
made up his mind to get married, and the best choice turned out to be
Margo from Ijevan.

***************************************************************************
NOT Outside Eye: An Armenian in America has a foot fight in returning
to her heart
By Julia Hakobyan

Visiting the United States was a great challenge for me, but leaving
it turned out to be even more so.

After a month-long fellowship at Duke University in North Carolina, it
was time to go home. I was ready. But only large doses of tolerance
can prepare a person for international travel these days.

If you still doubt whether the US government takes enough measures to
protect the airspace and airports from the terrorist acts I can assure
you it does. Like all travelers, I was treated like a terror suspect.

Dogs sniffed handbags, unattended luggage was confiscated, cameras saw
me, even though I didn’t see the cameras.

***************************************************************************
Seeing Green After 10 Years: UMCOR celebrates a decade in Armenia with
a gift of trees
ArmeniaNow news brief

Yerevan’s decreasing `green zone’ got a boost today (November 19) with
the completion of a project that planted 1,000 trees in Motherhood
Park of the Malatsia Sebastia Community.

The trees were a gift from the United Methodist Committee on Relief
(UMCOR) and a ceremonial planting was held to mark the 10th
anniversary of UMCOR’s activity in Armenia.

UMCOR, an agency of the United Methodist Church, has been around since
1940, when it was formed to help alleviate trauma among survivors of
World War II. It now has a presence in about 90 countries. Its
offices were set up in Armenia in 1994 where it initially provided
healthcare aid. Over the past decade it has evolved to address
developmental needs, including offering loans for farmers.

Friday’s tree planting was in cooperation with the Armenian Tree
Project, which has planted some 580,000 trees at sites from Goris to
Gyumri, in an effort to fight Armenia’s serious deforestation problem.

`UMCOR believes that improving the environment is something that will
have a lasting effect on the families that live in Armenia and we are
honored to support such an important initiative in commemoration of
our 10 years of service to Armenia,’ said Warren Harrity, head of
UMCOR’s Armenia Mission.

***************************************************************************
Outdated: Authorities use Socialist-era law to violate democratic rights
By Vahan Ishkhanyan

In the political calm of autumn that has replaced the contentious and violent outbreak of unrest last spring, a look back at how authorities reacted to oppositional party demonstrations shows a pattern of
oppression that lawyers and human rights specialists say must be abolished if Armenia is ever to become a legitimate independent republic.
Arrests, detainments, harassments carried out from April till June were a repeat of actions taken against citizens in 2003 when Armenia’s presidential elections turned into an international embarrassment for
the manner in which law enforcement and judicial bodies disregarded human rights, applied the law according to political expediency and disregarded the republic’s commitment to align itself with international
standards of civil behavior.
During the winter of 2003 and the spring of this year, more than 600 citizens were arrested and fined by courts for taking part in political rallies or for independently making public statements against ruling
parties. Most charges, an investigation of the cases has found, proved to be validated by application of a legal code adopted when Armenia was a Soviet Republic.
The infamous `Administrative Offense’ code was widely enforced to quell and discourage anti-government outcry. By it, a person can be jailed for 15 days, virtually without cause and according to the whim
of law enforcement.

ARTS
Artistic Felons?: Armenian couple charged with crimes in Russia for exhibit on religion

By Vahan Ishkhanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

If painters Narine Zolyan and Harutyun Zulumyan were in Moscow now,
the wife and husband would likely be sitting in a court dock as
defenders.

The artists are facing criminal charges for an exhibition they put on
last year in Russia.

The exhibition, entitled `Beware, Religion!’ featured the work of 40
painters from several countries, whose installations commented on
religion.

The show was supposed to run for 20 days at the Andrey Sakharov
Center, but on the third day, a mob of religious zealots attacked the
exhibition, spraying paint onto some of the pieces and spraying onto
the walls: `You are cursed! You hate orthodoxy!’ Police had to come to
the center to disburse the angry mob.

Among the works attacked was Zolyan’s video in which she constantly
writes in black over a saying of a Zen Buddhist monk’s words: `I am
the only one in the sky and under the sky who deserves honor.’ Then
she washes the words away and with the clean fabric forms
handrails. Over the remnants of Zolyan’s exhibit, vandals wrote
`sacrilege’. (Click here to see images
)

A court in Moscow acquitted the vandals of charges and then initiated
a case against organizers of the exhibition, charging them with
creating ethnic and religious discord.

A trial began on November with three of the organizers in court, while
Zolyan and Zulumyan are in Yerevan, hoping to avoid prosecution.

Armenia Underfoot: New guidebook shows where to get high in Hyestan

ArmeniaNow newsbrief

Visitors to Armenia now have a guide for discovering the republic from
the side of a mountain, up the face of a rock wall or from naturally
adorned paths in 26 locations that accommodate expert climbers or
those who simply want a pleasant hike.

`Adventure Armenia’ is a 116-page guide sized to fit in a backpack,
that offers meticulous research, trail maps, color photographs of each
destination, tips and safety precautions for discovering Armenia in a
way that is far from the cafe and museum scene.

Co-written by ecological preservation advocate Jeffrey Tufenkian (a
native of Oregon) and Carine Bachmann, who grew up in the shadow of
the Swiss Alps, the guide is the result of three years of hiking and
climbing by the authors.

At a reception Wednesday at Artbridge Cafe in Yerevan, Tufenkian said
one purpose of the book is to re-introduce Armenia as a premier hiking
and climbing destination, a distinction it held during Soviet times.

ABOUT US
ArmeniaNow.com is published by New Times Journalism Training Center, a Non-Governmental Organization in Yerevan, Armenia.
The weekly website exists as a newsroom laboratory in which journalists and editors in Armenia are taught the application of methodology and theory of Western journalism.
Our goal is to produce real change in the approach of local journalists by immersing them in long-term training that makes clear how Western-style reporting works and what benefits it can bring when applied
to subjects in Armenia.
ArmeniaNow hopes to influence the style of journalism practiced by other publications both directly through making our material available to them free of charge, and indirectly, by taking some of their
reporters and editors on short-term attachments.
The training center grew from research and experience that shows that media in Armenia lacks objectivity, as it is almost entirely financed by special interest sources – primarily, political factions.
Consequently, journalists bound to the very practical need of survival, are encouraged to produce reports that satisfy the agenda of party politics.
The result is an atmosphere of distrust by readers, perpetuated by journalists and editors who, having inherited a legacy of State propaganda or opposition fanaticism, have never had a chance to practice
another method.
And, while various agencies exist to teach theory, ArmeniaNow is the first publication in Armenia to offer hands-on application.
We offer a journalistic approach unique to its environment with the hope that as other institutions of the new republic emerge – business, education, law, etc. – journalism, led by the example of ArmeniaNow,
eventually will follow the trend toward a democracy-based society.
ArmeniaNow journalists receive a stipend for their training and production of stories. Funding is made possible by private donations. For more information write to [email protected].

ArmeniaNow.com

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
18 Nov 04

MOTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN DEPUTIES ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY
[November 18, 2004, 23:01:01]

As correspondent of AzerTAj informs, on November 17, the next sitting
of Political Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe has taken place in the residence of the Council of Europe in
Paris. Discussed was questions: “Carrying out of `a round table» in
connection with political conditions in the Chechen Republic’,
`Discussion of the report on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict’, ` Situation in Macedonia’ and others.

During discussion of the question concerning the report on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, the Russian deputy
Michael Margelov presiding at the sitting has brought to the
attention of members of Committee, that the report as a whole would
not be discussed, will be simply given answers to the questions
connected to the report and made amendments in separate items of the
draft resolution. Then, he gave floor to the reporter from group of
democrats David Atkinson.

The deputy from England has noted that in spite of the fact that the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict was repeatedly
discussed in many international organizations, but promotions in this
area is not achieved, he informed about the meetings carried out by
him with deputies of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the PACE, that has
familiarized with their offers, has emphasized importance of making
serious steps shortly in the peace settlement of the conflict. He has
noted, that the Acting Chairman of PACE Terry Davis before election
on this post has prepared the detailed report and that after
appointment of him as a reporter, he has made serious amendments to
the report.

Deputy of Milli Majlis Asim Mollazade, having reminded about
realization of ethnic cleaning by Armenia in Azerbaijan territories
occupied by it, that there did not remain any Azerbaijani, has
addressed David Atkinson with such question: `Why in the report has
found the reflection of idea on involvement to negotiations of the
Armenian community, the Azerbaijan community is not mentioned?’

The reporter has accepted the remark of the Azerbaijan deputy and
promised before January session, on which the report will be
discussed, bring in this question to the report.

Then, discussions around of amendments to separate positions of the
draft resolution have taken place.

The deputy from Armenia Tigran Torosyan has made protest against the
motion` The territory of Nagorny Karabakh is controlled by separatist
forces’, found reflection in the report, and has told, that it sounds
as insult in address of the Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh.

Asim Mollazade, sharply having objected against the remark of the
Armenian deputy, has told that, on the contrary, the motion sounds
softly, it would be more exact to use here expression “radical
separatists’, he has especially emphasized, that Azerbaijanis from
our occupied territories have been driven from the native lands of
their fathers and grandfathers by separatist forces.

The deputy from France Daniel Gule has noted, that more than one
million Azerbaijan refugees and IDPs violently ousted by the Armenian
armed forces, live in heavy conditions, that their rights were
violated and having specified that in the report the question
connected with the right of these people is not displayed, has
brought the motion to bring to the report in the question on
protection of their rights and return to the native lands.

Asim Mollazade has reminded that in due time the parliament of
Armenia has accepted the decision about annexation of Nagorny
Karabakh to this country, having noted, that this decision completely
contradicts norms of international law and that Armenia till today
does not recognize territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, that military
forces of the next state serve on our occupied territories.

The head of delegation of Milli Majlis in PACE Samad Seyidov has
recognized expedient to use in the report instead of expression
“occupied territories” ` occupied territories of Azerbaijan’.

All motions of the Azerbaijan deputies connected to amendments of 15
items of the draft resolution, it is possible to tell, have been
accepted unanimously.

Thus, the next sitting of Political Committee rounded its work. At
the sitting, there was head of permanent mission of Azerbaijan at
Council of Europe Agshin Mehdiyev.

Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian
18 Nov 04

Bulgarian embassy denies journalist of Armenian descent barred from
Azerbaijan

Baku, 18 November: The Bulgarian embassy in Azerbaijan has no
information about the incident involving Bulgarian citizen Eduard
Papazyan, a source at the Bulgarian embassy said while commenting on
a report by the Armenian news agency Arminfo about the deportation of
a Bulgarian journalist named Eduard Papazyan from Baku airport last
night.

Armenian sources insist that Papazyan was accredited among Bulgarian
journalists and arrived in Baku from Istanbul to cover a qualifier
[as published, actually a friendly] between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

The diplomatic mission is unaware of the incident and does not know
anyone by that name, the embassy source told Turan.

The press service of the Association of Football Federations of
Azerbaijan [AFFA] has also denied the Armenian report. The head of
the press service, Mazahir Suleymanzada, said that a total of eight
Bulgarian journalists were accredited to the match and there was
no-one named Papazyan among them.

According to the Arminfo report, the Bulgarian ambassador to
Azerbaijan, Ivan Palchev, allegedly took measures to ensure
Papazyan’s normal arrival in Baku.

Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian
17 Nov 04

Estonian leader backs democratic processes in Armenia

Yerevan, 17 November: “During my talks with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan, Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan and Prime Minister
Andranik Markaryan, among other issues we discussed the issue of
using Estonia’s experience of European integration,” Estonian
President Arnold Ruutel said in an interview with Armenian Public TV.

He said that Estonia actively supports Armenia in speeding up
democratic processes in the country. Undoubtedly, the democratic
processes will also speed up Armenia’s economic development, for
which there are all the necessary conditions.

Friendly relations between the Armenian and Estonian people would
also serve as a good basis for successful cooperation, the Estonian
president stressed.

Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian
17 Nov 04

Armenian Apostolic Church calls for review of law on religion

Yerevan, 17 November: The participants in a sitting of the supreme
spiritual council in the Holy See of Echmiadzin discussed the
activities of various sects in Armenia and the recent registration of
the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious sect in Armenia.

After acquainting itself with the results of research into the
problem and an active discussion, the supreme spiritual council
decided to issue a statement, the Holy See’s press service told
Arminfo news agency today. According to the statement, the supreme
spiritual council recognizes the right to freedom of conscience and
belief as one of the bases of Christian values. At the same time it
is unacceptable for religious organizations to be registered in
Armenia whose activity is aimed at “trapping people’s souls”, which
infringes freedom of conscience.

The Armenian Apostolic Church expresses concern that the republic’s
state bodies are registering these religious organizations without
sufficient study of their activity. The activity of totalitarian
religious organizations, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses,
contradicts the national values and aspirations of the Armenian
people and the essence of Christianity and seriously contravenes
international law, the Armenian Constitution and those principles of
the Armenian law on freedom of conscience and the activity of
religious organizations that are aimed at protecting national
security, public morality and citizens’ health, the document says.

The document also notes that the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect has been
registered as Christian, while it has absolutely no connection with
Christianity and is not recognized as a Christian denomination by the
traditional churches, the World Council of Churches, the European
Council of Churches, the International Bible Society or other
organizations.

It is remarkable that the Jehovah’s Witnesses, using the Christian
label, are active only in a Christian environment and in Christian
countries, but not Muslim ones.

The statement said that the religious situation in Armenia is getting
out of control also because organizations are being registered as
public organizations, but are carrying out religious activity. Such a
situation cannot promote the recovery of public consciousness, the
preservation of spiritual values in the country, all the more so when
the Motherland and the Armenian people are facing serious economic
problems and are in the process of reforms.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is consistent in fulfilling its
mission, acknowledges its duty towards its flock and is determined to
protect it from any encroachment. The supreme council expects the
appropriate state bodies to be as consistent in examining their
approaches to these issues and their resolution. It is also necessary
to review the law on freedom of conscience and the activity of
religious organizations so that it fully enables the regulation of
the activity of religious organizations in Armenia and serves to
protect the right to freedom of conscience in spite of anarchy and a
lack of control. For it is written “use not your freedom as a pretext
for evil” (the Gospel of Peter [as published, the quotation is from
Peter’s first epistle]).

The supreme council calls on the Armenian people to see the threats
to their everyday life and their right to freedom of conscience and
to be faithful to their historic legacy – the Holy Apostolic faith,
the supreme religious council’s statement says.

ArmInfo News, Yerevam, in Russian
Nov 18 2004

Armenian politician set to sue opposition MP for slander

Yerevan, 17 November: The first deputy chairman of Armenia’s
Progressive Party, Sarkis Arutyunyan, intends to bring a lawsuit at a
court of first instance. He is accusing opposition MP Arshak Sadoyan
of insults and slander, Arutyunyan said at a press conference in
Yerevan today.

During the 9 November protest outside the administrative building of
ArmenTel, Sadoyan called him “a minion” and “a concert-organizer”,
Arutyunyan said. “The former is an insult and the latter is slander.
Both cases constitute criminally punishable deeds and I intend to
apply to a court of first instance demanding public apologies,”
Arutyunyan said.

“I was personally invited to the demonstration outside ArmenTel by
the leadership of the Progressive Party. A young man whom I did not
personally know tried to obstruct my speech in every way. I had to
respond and tried to curb his zeal. I do not know Sarkis Arutyunyan
personally for it is difficult for me to recognize immediately the
leaders of the newly established small parties,” the head of the
National Democratic bloc and an MP from the opposition Justice bloc,
Sadoyan, said, commenting on Arutyunyan’s remarks at the request of
Arminfo news agency.

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

CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER – November 18, 2004

MID-ATLANTIC BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEMINAR
CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY IN PHILLY
The Mid-Atlantic Board of Trustees Seminar took place in Philadelphia
last Saturday, November 13.
Archbishop Oshagan and members of the Religious and Executive Councils
met in individual sessions with members of the Boards of Trustees from five
Mid-Atlantic parishes to reach out and discuss matters of importance to both
the parishes and the prelacy. Meetings such as these were also held in the
New England and Midwest regions to promote more frequent communications
among parishes in these regions.
During the mid-day general session all attendees participated in a Dale
Carnegie workshop about change and communication. The workshop explored
strengths, change, challenges and effects of the challenges related to
parish life. The group identified strengths that focused primarily on
Armenian value system, culture, work ethic and the caring, talent,
dedication and positive attitude of our parishioners. Some of the changes
included demographics, generational issues, language and educational level
of our young people. Challenges brought forth expanded upon these changes
and strengths were creativity required to attract and maintain membership
(especially young people), maintaining our language and culture, addressing
the broad geographic dispersion of our community and funds to accomplish our
goals. Some of the effects of the change and challenges could include using
a new approach to keeping our parishes strong and attracting young people or
frustration due to change. The final topic discussed in the groups dealt
with the “comfort zone” of individuals. Most of our strengths are within our
individual and collective comfort zone, however, the challenges reach
beyond. One attendee suggested using our strengths to reach beyond the
comfort zone and meet the challenges. In this way, the challenges too will
be blended into the range of comfort and more easily dealt with.
The Dale Carnegie program has been in existence since 1912 and is used
by organizations to train leaders and help organizations grow and prosper
through its people.
Reported by Karen Jehanian

ARKADY GHOUGASSIAN VISITS PRELACY OFFICE
Arkady Ghougassian, the President of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabagh,
visited the Prelacy office on Tuesday, November 16. The President was
accompanied by Armen Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the
United Nations, Vardan Barseghian, representative of Nagorno-Karabagh in
Washington, D.C., and Nayira Melkumyan, head of Armenia Fund International.
Joining the Prelate in welcoming the guests were about thirty Prelacy
friends and supporters from the New York metropolitan area.
President Ghougassian spoke about the current situation in Karabagh,
independence, and the urgent and immediate needs. A question and answer
period followed.

SOURP KHATCH CHURCH CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Parishioners of the Sourp Khatch Church in Bethesda, Maryland,
celebrated the 40th anniversary of their church last Sunday, November 14.
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan officiated at the Divine Liturgy and presided
over the anniversary banquet. The pastor of the church, Rev. Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian, was granted the right to wear the Pectoral Cross by His
Holiness Aram I.
Archbishop Oshagan spoke about the year of the Armenian family and
described the community as a family guided by Armenian principles. His
Eminence presented Certificates of Merit to Thelma Kostegian and Dn. George
Zabounian.

THANKSGIVING TELETHON WILL BENEFIT PROGRAMS
The Thanksgiving Day Telethon by the Armenia Fund, Inc., will be
broadcast on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
Pacific Standard Time.
As reported last week Prelacy parishes will have special plate
collections on November 21 and 28 for the reconstruction of towns and
villages in Karabagh, as part of a program announced by the Holy See of
Cilicia.

UNITED COMMITTEE FOR 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE
WILL MEET TONIGHT AT THE PRELACY
The United Committee for the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of
the Genocide next year will meet tonight at the Prelacy office in New York
City. Previous meetings have taken place at the offices of the Eastern
Diocese. The committee will issue a press release describing the preliminary
plans for the commemoration.

NOTED AUTHORS VISIT ST. STEPHENS SCHOOL;
WILL VISIT HOVNANIAN SCHOOL TOMORROW
St. Stephen Armenian Elementary School students spent an enjoyable
afternoon of exciting book reading with well-known husband and wife authors,
David Kherdian and Nonny Hogrogian.
David Kherdian, author of the Newberry Award winning book, The Road from
Home: The Story of An Armenian Girl, spent the afternoon with 4th and 5th
grade students. Nonny Hogrogian, a two-time Caldecott Medal winner, spent
the afternoon with 3rd grade students.
For our readers in the New York-New Jersey area, the authors will visit
the Hovnanian School tomorrow, Friday, November 19, where they will interact
with the students during the day. Tomorrow evening they will be featured in
an event open to the public at the Hovnanian School auditorium, 817 River
Road, New Milford, New Jersey. For information, 201-967-5940.

RICHARD AND TINA CAROLAN PUBLICATIONS FUND
MEETS TO ASSESS ENTRIES
The Richard and Tina Carolan Publications Fund, which is administered by
the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, recently met in Antelias,
Lebanon, to consider the submitted entries for possible publication.
The committee selected a work by Vartan Matiossian, a volume dedicated
to the history of the Armenian communities of South America, as worthy of
publication. The printing house of the Cilician See will publish it in the
near future.
The committee is under the presidency of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia. Members include Archbishop Varoujan
Hergelian, V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chifjian, Dr. Zaven Meserlian, Mr. Sarkis
Giragosian.

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
This Saturday the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of All Saints,
old and new, known and unknown. All Saints Day in the Western Church is
celebrated on November 1 (the day after Halloween). For the Armenian Church
the date is variable depending on the season of the Cross. It can be late
October or November. The commemoration is rooted in the belief that there
are many saints who are not known to us. Therefore, on this day, both known
and unknown saints are honored and remembered.

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE HOLY
MOTHER OF GOD
This Sunday, November 21, the Armenian Church celebrates the
Presentation of the Holy Mother of God to the Temple. According to custom,
Jewish parents presented their child at the age of three to the temple. Mary’s
Presentation to the Temple is observed in the Armenian Church on November
21.
Sunday is also the Barekendan of the Fast of Advent. Next Sunday, November
28 is the First Sunday of Advent.

THANKSGIVING DAY
Next Thursday, November 25, is Thanksgiving Day, a holiday celebrated in
gratitude to God for the autumn harvest. The Pilgrims set a day for
thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts, following their first harvest in
1621. Thereafter, Thanksgiving was observed sporadically on various dates in
different places. President Abraham Lincoln set the holiday as a regular
yearly event for the last Thursday of November in 1863. In 1941 Congress
changed the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November, which could be the
last or next to the last Thursday.
Thanksgiving, of course, has become the official start of the Christmas
season. The day after Thanksgiving-known as Black Friday, presumably
because that is when the stores go into black rather than red, financially
speaking-used to be the biggest shopping day. It is now the second biggest
day with the biggest shopping day honor now held by the Saturday before
Christmas.
The Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest travel day for all modes of
travel, since it is a family-oriented holiday celebrated by everyone
regardless of religious affiliation. People travel great distances to be
with family members.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.
Psalm 136

Visit our website at

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY LEADERS MEET WITH CALIFORNIA ACTIVISTS, SUPPORTERS
Outreach Part of Leadership Meeting Weekend

WASHINGTON, DC – In a push to expand the Armenian Assembly’s community
outreach efforts, Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Members of the Board of
Directors participated in a series of public forums and member events
during a recent weekend in California.

The events, organized in conjunction with the Assembly Board of
Directors meeting in San Francisco, kicked off with a panel discussion
organized by the San Francisco Bay Regional Committee and moderated by
Board Treasurer Berge Ayvazian. Panelists, including Adam Kablanian of
Virage Logic, Tony Moroyan of Viasphere International, Board Member Gail
O’Reilly of Made in Armenia Direct and Anahid Yeremian of CRD Support
Committee, discussed Armenia’s economic development and advances in
scientific research.

The Regional Council helped organize a second area event hosted by
Assembly Development Co-Chair and Fellow Trustee Suzanne Abnous and her
husband Razmik. More than 50 people, including California State Senator
Charles Poochigian (R-Fresno), Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar
and several Board of Directors Members, attended the dinner reception
which welcomed more than two dozen new members into the Assembly family.

“The event at the Abnous’ home was very much an extension of the
Assembly’s effort to share information with the community,” said
Barsamian. “Guests asked interesting and thoughtful questions about
Armenia’s current development and issues facing the Armenian-American
community at large. We thank Suzanne and Razmik for opening their home
and hosting an enjoyable evening.”

Following the San Francisco events, Barsamian, together with Board of
Directors Vice-Chair Annie Totah, Executive Director Ross Vartian and
senior staff traveled to Los Angeles to take part in a public briefing
and meetings with community leaders.

On November 7, the group participated in a luncheon with the leaders of
several community organizations including: the Armenian General
Benevolent Union, the Armenian Council of America, Armenia Fund Inc.,
the Armenian Bar Association, the Armenian Professional Society, the
Armenian Rights Council of America, the Armenian Chamber of Commerce,
Medical Outreach for Armenia, the Knights of Vartan, the Ramgavar Party
and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.

Later that day, more than 70 area supporters turned out for an
Assembly-led community briefing. Barsamian and Vartian provided an
overview of Assembly programs in Washington, Los Angeles and Yerevan.
They also discussed developments on the legislative front and encouraged
the audiences’ political activism.

“It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces in this crowd,
including current Assembly supporters and former summer interns,” said
Barsamian. “We hope the community gained as much from our discussions
as we did.”

The Assembly wrapped-up its two-day swing of Los Angeles with a dinner
with media professionals at the Shiraz Restaurant. That event included
Armen Babajanyan of Zhamanak, Harut Der-Tavitian of Nor Serout TV and
Massis Weekly, Vahan Jansezian of Nor Hayastan and Osheen Keshishian of
The Armenian Observer.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
NR#2004-099

Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following links:

-099-2.jpg

Caption: Armenian Assembly Board of Directors Member Lisa Kalustian,
right, with Debbie Poochigan during a reception hosted by Suzanne and
Razmik Abnous on November 6.

Caption: Clockwise from top: Executive Director Ross Vartian, Board of
Directors Members: Lisa Esayian, Edele Hovnanian, Lisa Kalustian, Bryan
Ardouny, Richard Mushegain, Annie Totah, Development Co-Chair and Fellow
Trustee Suzanne and Rasmik Abnous, Board of Directors Members: Ralph
Tufenkian, Peter Vosbikian, Berge Ayvazian, Gail O’Reilly, Van
Krikorian, Board of Trustees President Carolyn Mugar and Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian.

Caption: Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, left, and
Executive Director Ross Vartian, discuss Armenian-American issues with
community members in Los Angeles on November 7.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress