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:
October 13, 2004
___________________
PARISH LEADERS LISTEN, TALK ABOUT NEED FOR STEWARDSHIP
By Jake Goshert
This fall, as part of its “Year of Stewardship”, the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) has been holding regional
one-day conferences where parish leaders can discuss aspects of the
term “stewardship.”
The two sessions held so far — September 25, 2004, hosted by the St.
Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY, and October 2 at
the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI — were resounding
successes for the 100 or so leaders who attended.
There will be a regional meeting on October 16 at the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Church in Chicago, IL. Sessions at the St. Mary Church
of Washington, D.C., and in Florida will be scheduled later this year.
“The regional meeting was very beneficial. It provided each of the
parishes an opportunity to exchange ideas on stewardship campaigns
and to learn what approaches are being used and which of those has
been successful,” said Jeri Humphries, parish council chair of the
St. Mark Church of Springfield, MA. “The major challenge seems to be to
re-educate our parishioners on the principle of ‘stewardship,’ to help
them understand the difference between stewardship and membership.”
“We should emphasize that stewardship needs to encompass all three
components — time and talent and treasure — and the major emphasis
need not be on treasure initially,” Humphries added. “Once you engage
parishioners in giving their time and talent, there will be a greater
connection with the church that will, in the end, lead to parishioners
giving their treasure to support and perpetuate their church.”
Invited to the sessions are parish council chairs, Diocesan delegates,
and clergy. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, attends every session, as do Diocesan Council members and
Diocesan staff.
“We want to encourage our local leaders to speak of stewardship
as any and all substantive support of our church. It is not just
writing a check; stewardship is creating a sense of community among
the parishioners,” the Primate said. “We also want to show how the
Diocese can help parishes, and how the parishes can help each other
in building stewardship plans.”
The meeting agenda includes discussions on the history of stewardship
in the Bible and in the Armenian Church tradition; on building a
parish stewardship program that encourages giving of time and talent
as well as financial support; and on ideas for creating a year-round
effort at building support for the church.
“The concept of stewardship is very good. It’s very important.
It sends a message we’re concerned about your church, both in the
present and the future,” said Fr. Diran Bohajian of the St. Leon
Church of Fair Lawn, NJ. “To me, stewardship says we’re actively
working to strengthen the church spiritually, not just financially.
And we’re welcoming people’s donations of all kinds. Some give time,
others have skills or money. When you put them together, that is what
makes our Christian community come alive.”
Participants in each session crafted “action plans” detailing ways
parishes could help themselves, ways parishes can help each other,
and support needed from the Diocese. Follow-up steps will be collected
from all the sessions to create a plan of action for building stronger
local communities of faith.
The day-long sessions also include a discussion of proposed Diocesan
by-law changes and an open forum for local leaders to discuss any
issue with the Primate and Diocesan Council members.
— 10/13/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in
the News and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants at the regional stewardship workshop
on September 25, 2004, at the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of
White Plains, NY, talk about “stewardship.”
PHOTO CAPTION (2): This fall’s regional stewardship workshops, such
as this one on October 2, 2004, at the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church
of Providence, RI, feature discussions on stewardship, proposed
Diocesan by-laws changes, and an open forum with the Primate and
Diocesan Council members.
# # #

Upcoming Conference on “The Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the
European Union” in Luxembourg
Clark University
Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Contact: Professor Simon Payaslian, Kaloosdian/Mugar Chair, Department
of History
Phone: (508) 793-7254
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
The Leir Center of the Luxembourg-Clark University Program will
host a conference on “The Economy of the Republic of Armenia and the
European Union.” The conference will be held between October 14-16,
2004 in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.
The conference is organized by Professor Simon Payaslian, Robert Aram
and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair in Armenian
Genocide Studies and Modern Armenian History at Clark University,
Worcester, MA.
Participants Include:
— Dr. Armenak Darbinyan, Director of Economic Research Institute,
Ministry of Finance and Economy, Yerevan, Armenia;
— Ms. Narreh Ghazarian, Clark University student;
— Dr. Claire Mouradian, Director of Research, Centre National
de la Recherche Scientifique, and Centre d’études du monde russe,
soviétique et post-soviétique, EHESS (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en
Sciences Sociales), Paris, France;
— Dr. Yuri Suvaryan, Head of Management Department, Yerevan State
Institute of Economy, Yerevan, Armenia;
— Dr. Styopa Safaryan, Senior Analyst, Legal and Political Affairs,
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS),
Yerevan, Armenia.

UNICEF: Amid Eastern Europe’s economic recovery, children fall behind
The Star Online
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
MOSCOW: Although the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe and
Central Asia are seeing substantial economic improvement, millions of
their children still languish in poverty and the problem is worsening
in some countries, UNICEF said in a report released Wednesday.
Child populations are rising most quickly in the region’s most
impoverished countries, said the report by the United Nations
Children’s Fund. In addition, public health expenditures in some of
the countries have declined at a rate sharper than their economies
are rising, the report shows.
“Economic growth alone does not benefit children,” UNICEF executive
director Carol Bellamy said at a news conference launching the report.
The report notes that full assessment of the child poverty conditions
in 27 countries _ the former Soviet republics and once-communist
countries of Europe _ is difficult because of a dearth of recent data
and widely varying local standards of what constitutes poverty.
For example, the report said, comparatively prosperous Latvia sets
the poverty line at 51 percent of per-capita GDP while Georgia, where
per-capita GDP is only 25 percent of Latvia’s, sets the poverty line
at 63 percent.
In nine countries for which recent data were available, 14 million
of 44 million children were living in poverty, the report said. The
countries cited were Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Belarus,
Albania, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan.
Azerbaijan was among the countries where annual per-capita spending on
public health declined in recent years, the report said: just US$32
(26) in 2001, less than was spent in 1998, even though national
income rose about 10 percent annually in the period. In Tajikistan,
the poorest of the former Soviet republics, the report said health
expenditures stayed flat at about US$12 (10) despite 7 percent
economic growth.
The report also expressed concern about population growth in the
countries of formerly Soviet Central Asia. It noted that in 1990,
11 percent of the survey region’s impoverished children lived
in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and that in 1992 those
countries plus comparatively small Moldova accounted for 17 percent
of the region’s poor children. – AP

‘Case against Turkey’s Paris consulate should be dropped’
Turkish Daily News
13 October 2004
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News – A French prosecutor asked a Paris
court this week to drop a case against Turkish Consulate General
diplomats filed by an Armenian lobbying group that had campaigned
for recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide, arguing that the
court did not have jurisdiction over the matter.
The group, known as the Campaign for the Recognition of the Armenian
Genocide of France, appealed to the court in July, claiming that
the denial of the so-called genocide allegations on the consulate’s
Web site was propaganda material that targetted the French public,
the Anatolia news agency reported. The group then attempted to have
the Turkish diplomats charged and the Internet site closed down.
The prosecutor, however, argued that the court should dismiss
the case since Turkish diplomats at the consulate had diplomatic
immunity. Defense lawyers for the consulate presented a similar
defense before the court at the first hearing on Monday. The trial
was postponed to mid-November.
The defense lawyers said recognition of the so-called genocide became
law in France after being approved by the French Parliament; however,
the law did not impose limitations on Turkey vis-a-vis broadcasting
its views on its own Web site.
The defense also argued the case as a matter concerning freedom of
expression and thought and said there was no legal reason to prevent
discussions of the so-called genocide.
France recognized the so-called Armenian genocide two years ago when
President Jacques Chriac approved a parliamentary resolution. Turkey
protested the move, and military projects undertaken by France were
suspended.
Relations between Turkey and France have improved considerably since
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Paris
earlier this week. Erdogan is expected to meet with Chrirac and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder later this month for the signing of an
agreement to purchase aircraft from German-French joint venture Airbus,
expected to add momentum to the betterment of Turkish-French relations.

San Francisco Chronicle
KEVORKIAN, Sarah
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
KEVORKIAN, Sarah – February 19, 1922 – October 10, 2004 Sarah Kevorkian
entered peacefully into rest on October 10, 2004, in Walnut Creek,
CA, after a long illness. She was 82 years old. Born on February
19, 1922, in Chicago, IL, to Sarah and Baghdasar Kevorkian, she
attended Gregory Elementary and John Marshall High School. In 1944,
she moved with her family to Oakland, CA, where she lived for more
than 40 years. During that time, she worked at the Alameda County
Courthouse. In 1989, she moved to Rossmoor where she enjoyed many more
happy years. “Auntie Sarah” was charismatic, fun-loving, and adored by
her family – especially her many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed an
active life including the arts, travel, dancing, cooking, gardening,
and her church and Bible study. There was no physical difficulty that
kept her from enjoying life to its fullest, and in her later years she
participated in many social activities at Rossmoor. She was preceded
in death by her beloved sisters, Alice K. Malin and Rose Agajan. She
is survived by her devoted brother, Harry, and sister-in-law, Betty
Kevorkian, and their children and families: Christopher, Nancy, Kate
and Cal Kevorkian; Matthew, Susan, Ryan, Madeline and Kyle Kevorkian;
Kevin, Susie, Connor, Tess and Annie Kevorkian; and niece, Elizabeth
Kevorkian. She is also survived by her loving niece, Carol Rustigian
and husband, George, and their children and families: Beth (Rustigian),
Jim, Melanie and Michael Broussalian; Caroline (Rustigian) and Marc
Bruderer; and Paul Rustigian. She will be remembered for her vibrant
spirit by her niece, Sue Malin, and her devoted nephew, Scott Malin,
and his wife, Pam, and their children Robbie, Andrea and Jared. A
Visitation will be held Thursday, October 14, 2004, from 5 to 7 p.m. at
Oakmont Mortuary, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette. Friends and
family are invited to a Funeral Service on Friday, October 15, 2004,
at 11 a.m. at St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church, 650 Spruce St,
Oakland. A Graveside Ceremony at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette
will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to
St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church, 650 Spruce St, Oakland, CA 94610;
Nor Cal Armenian Home and Social Service, 1818 Gilbreth Rd, Suite 132,
Burlingame, CA 94010; or Hospice and Palliative Care of Contra Costa,
2051 Harrison St, Concord, CA 94520. Please include the name of the
deceased in your correspondence. Oakmont Mortuary (925) 935-3311.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Ottobre 11, 2004
FRANCIA: AMBASCIATORE TURCO, ‘DIVERSO SE FOSSIMO CRISTIANI’ ;
GIUSTA LA VIGILANZA DURANTE NEGOZIATI, MA NO AI PREGIUDIZI
PARIGI
(ANSA) – PARIGI, 11 OTT – Il vero motivo delle reticenze nei confronti
della candidatura turca all’Unione Europea, “soprattutto in Francia,
e’ la religione. Se la Turchia fosse cristiana – afferma il suo
ambasciatore in Francia, Uluc Ozulker – non ci sarebbe nessun
problema”.
Eppure, garantisce il diplomatico, “noi condividiamo gli stessi valori
democratici dei 25. Le nostre relazioni con l’Europa risalgono al 1959,
e facciamo gia’ parte dell’unione doganale”.
Anche perche, aggiunge, “la Turchia e’ uno stato laico”, dove “le
riforme d’Ataturk non sono altro che le repliche adattate dei principi
della Rivoluzione francese e del secolo dei Lumi”.
Turchi delusi quindi dalla diffidenza di molti francesi, anche se,
sostiene Ozulker, “il dibattito francocentrico ha la meglio in tutti
i campi. In questo contesto, non e’ piu’ la Turchia in discussione. I
francesi parlano della loro identita'”.
Giusta secondo lui la vigilanza evocata dalla Commissione durante
i negoziati – “questa procedura e’ prevista dal trattato di Nizza
per tutti i paesi candidati” -, ma “detto cio’, non devono esserci
dei pregiudizi”.
Per quanto riguarda il genocidio armeno, l’ambasciatore ricorda
che “non e’ stabilito. Certo, ci sono state atrocita’. Ma, per
riconoscere un genocidio, bisogna avere delle prove. Ora, non ce
ne sono”. Tuttavia, “spetta a storici internazionali e imparziali
di riunirsi e decidere. Noi accetteremo il risultato dei loro
lavori”. (ANSA).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STUDENT BOARD IS AGAINST THE DECISION OF AUTHORITIES
A1 Plus | 15:04:16 | 13-10-2004 | Social |
“We express our anxiety for the statement made by various instances
of Armenia saying Armenia is going to send a group of 50 members
to Iraq”. Members of about 30 social organizations and the student
boards of Institutes of Higher Education oppose the intention of
Armenian Authorities.
It is noteworthy that exactly Coalition leadership, in which ARF
members are enrolled, has made the decision on sending a military
group to Iraq whereas “Nikol Aghbalyan” student board of ARF is the
organizer of the youth’ protest action over the same problem.
Alarm of the young people is that because of spreading the information
about the initiative of the Armenian Authorities on some Arabian TV
Companies the relations between Iraqi population and the Armenian
commune of 20.000 exacerbate. “Iraqi population treats the step
as a betrayal by Armenians, irrespective of the fact that doctors
and sappers will represent the 50-men group”, Ishkhan Saghatelyan,
Chairman of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” student board is sure.
“Nikol Aghbalyan” student board of ARF intends to formulate its
disagreement statement in a letter and address it to the same Armenian
Authorities.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 13, 2004
New Dean of Vaskenian Seminary Appointed by His Holiness Karekin II
By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, a member
of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, has been appointed Dean of
the Vaskenian Theological Seminary of Lake Sevan as of October 1, 2004.
Father Mkrtich recently returned to the Mother See following the
completion of his higher education in the United Kingdom. He graduated
from Cardiff University with a Masters Degree in Theology.
* * *
Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian
(baptismal name – Hayk)
Born in Vagharshapat, Armenia in 1975, he received his primary and
secondary education at Khatchatur Abovian School, graduating in 1992.
>>From 1993 to 1998, he studied in the Vaskenian Theological Seminary
of Lake Sevan, and continued his education from 1998 to 1999 in the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.
He was ordained a deacon in 1999 by His Eminence Archbishop Voskan
Kalpakian.
In 2000, Deacon Hayk defended his graduation thesis entitled “The
Theology of ‘Khosrov Antsevatsi’s Commentary on the Divine Liturgy'”.
In 2001, he was ordained a celibate priest by His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians, and given the new name Mkrtich.
>>From 2001 to 2003, he studied in the United Kingdom, first at
the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, England, then at the
University of Leeds. In 2003, he received his Bachelors Degree from
Leeds University.
>>From 2003 to 2004, Father Mkrtich was enrolled in Cardiff University
in Wales. In July 2004, he received his Masters Degree in Theology
from Cardiff University.
##

NKR PM VISIT TO USA
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
13 Oct 04
October 8 was the first day of the visit of the NKR prime minister
Anoushavan Danielian to the USA. The chief aim of the visit is to
assist to the preparation works of the pan-Armenian telethon of the
foundation “Hayastan” to be held in the USA in November. On the first
day of the visit the prime minister took part in the reception at the
residence of Jack and Sue Tukoyan, Fresno, with the participation of
the representatives of Armenian organizations, businessmen of Fresno.
Congressman George Radanovic elected from Fresno greeted the prime
minister of NKR. During the radio interview Anoushavan Danielian spoke
about the aim of his visit and the economic and social situation in
Nagorni Karabakh. In the morning of the next day Anoushavan Danielian
visited the Armenian cemetery of Fresno and laid flowers to the
graves of the world-famous Armenian writer William Saroyan and other
prominent Armenians. Then the delegation, among them the permanent
representative of NKR in the USA Vardan Barseghian, the chairman of
the board of trustees of the Los Angeles branch of the foundation
“Hayastan” Maria Mehranian, visited a number of companies founded and
run by local Armenians: “OK Produce”, “National Raisin Company”, “MVP”,
“Hy Cuisine” and others. The directors of the companies acquainted
the official guest with the technologies of preservation, processing
and distribution of agricultural products. Prime Minister Anoushavan
Danielian mentioned about the necessity of developing this sphere in
NK, and appealed to the Armenian farmers of Fresno to assist to the
development of NKR agriculture through investments and exchange of
experience. On the same day in the evening the prime minister arrived
at San Francisco and at the Armenian church Saint Hovhannes he met
with the representatives of the local Armenian community. In his
address Anoushavan Danielian thanked the Armenian population of the
city of San Francisco for their contribution to the programs of the
foundation “Armenia”, emphasizing the strategic and economic role of
the highway “North – South”. Speaking about the economic development
rates in Artsakh, A. Danielian mentioned that the investments made
in the recent years total 50 million US dollars. According to him,
favourable conditions have been provided in NKR for doing mutually
profitable business. Anoushavan Danielian answered questions referring
the military threats of Azerbaijan, the program of resettlement,
mine clearance works and development of communications. The visit of
the NKR prime minister to the USA continues.
AA.
13-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST CONCERT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
13 Oct 04
The first concert of the newly created state chamber orchestra of
Artsakh can be considered the event of the month. The art director and
conductor of the orchestra Gevorg Muradian dedicated the first concert
of the orchestra to the sponsors of the orchestra, the Armenian General
Benevolent Union. The concert took place on October 8, at the big hall
of the Palace of Culture and Youth. At the concert were present the
NKR top officials and the delegation of the AGBU which had arrived in
Artsakh headed by the representative of the organization in Armenia
Ashot Ghazarian. The house was full as the inhabitants of Stepanakert
could not miss such a significant and impressive event.
SUSANNA BALAYAN.
13-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress