Level of Armenian-Russian presidents’ meeting assessed – Armenian paper
Aravot, Yerevan
19 May 04
Text of a Naira Mamikonyan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot
headlined “Two sides of the visit” on 19 May
The visit of the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to Moscow had
two sides to it. One is, how did Russian officials including Russian
President Vladimir Putin receive him? The next are the arrangements
made on certain issues during the discussions in the course of the
visit. By the way, according to our sources, both may be compared
with each other because of their low level.
Reception of [Robert] Kocharyan went around all the accepted
protocol norms. Last week quoting the Rosiyskaya Gazeta newspaper,
Armenian press stressed that Kocharyan was received in Moscow not as
a president of the strategic partner country. In particular, Shant
TV [an Armenian private TV channel] showed how Robert Kocharyan was
received in the Novo-Ogarevo private house of the Russian president.
The fact is that Kocharyan had to wait for the Russian president for
several minutes at the entrance, during which TV operators of Russian
television asked him to stay out of the way and not to become an
obstacle to filming Putin. Then according to our source, when Putin
was noticed at the door, one of the body guards of the latter gave a
hint to Kocharyan, a hand up, saying not to come up to Putin. “Even
the meetings at the president’s house have their “protocol”. As for
the fact that Putin was late, any break of protocol may be explained,
but one thing is evident, if there is a “protocol” part, it should be
kept, another option is evidence of an attitude towards the president
of a country,” our source said.
Traditional briefing of the two countries presidents with journalists
is one of the indicators of the level of a reception, which was not
observed either.
The leader of the parliamentary group Republican Party of Armenia
Galust Saakyan comments on this. According to him, “there is political
speculation about this”. Asked about if it is normal that our president
had to wait for Russian president’s reception for several minutes,
Galust Saakyan replied: “These are just stories.”
As for other details of the meeting, it is only known that as a
result of the meeting the Armenian party agreed to give 45 per cent
more shares of Hayrusgazard [Armrosgazprom] to Russian Gazprom. Some
people assess it as compensation for signing a contract on Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline construction. As Nezavisimaya Gazeta says, “Moscow was
also against” this programme. “Construction of the gas pipeline, via
which Iranian gas will enter Armenia, and further via Georgian Poti
and Ukranian Ilichevsk to Europe, means that Russia loses a monopoly
over gas export to the European market.”
In Armenia, representative of the Armat [root] centre Ara Saakyan
comments on the above mentioned deal: “Today’s authorities imagine
the Armenian-Russian relations with the level of giving something
to Russia. The Armenian authorities give as much they suppose to
gain. But here the mistake is that superpowers always think about
getting much and giving less, and such small countries as Armenia
are finally satisfied with giving much and getting less.”
According to Saakyan, “Robert Kocharyan is making the foreign policy of
Armenia serve the settlement of domestic problems, for the preservation
of his power.” In this context, one may understand why Kocharyan
resigned himself to a shameful reception as well as to giving one more
establishment to Russia. Meanwhile Saakyan denied the existence of
such a bargain. “There is not such a problem and Kocharyan’s visit
to Moscow was not connected with it. There is no sale of shares,
moreover it has nothing in common with domestic political problems.”

Azerbaijan should counter strong Armenian lobby in US – Azeri paper
Ekho, Baku
19 May 04
Text of N. Aliyev and R. Orucov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on
19 May headlined “Armenian lobby calls on US Congress to cut military
aid to Azerbaijan
US Armenians have been startled by Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev’s statement made in Naxcivan that the Azerbaijani army is
ready to restore its territorial integrity at any time.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and “key
representatives of the Armenian lobby in the United States capable
of influencing the US policy” have issued a special statement in
connection with the threat “of resumption of aggression against
Nagornyy Karabakh”.
To all appearances, the Armenian lobby in the USA is launching a
new campaign of pressure on the American administration. The ANCA
wants Washington to toughen its position towards Baku. With the
forthcoming elections, the timing of the campaign seems to be perfect,
and considering the proportion of the Armenian population in the USA
it will be difficult to ignore its voice. It is already clear that
the Armenians are going to vote for democratic candidate John Kerry,
who in fact has already promised a lot to the Armenians.
“Unfortunately, it appears that previous signals from the US
administration concerning an increase in the volume of military
assistance to Azerbaijan cheered up the Azerbaijani president so much
that he has precipitously renewed threats against Nagornyy Karabakh,”
the executive director of the ANCA, Aram Khamparyan, has said.
The head of the ANCA appealed to the US Congress expressing the hope
that US congressmen would give the right assessment to the threat
posed by further US military assistance to Azerbaijan. Khamparyan
called on the US Congress to respect the agreement on “parity” (equal
military assistance to Azerbaijan and Armenia), which was reached by
the White House and the Congress in 2001 and served American interests
for several years”.
It is curious what the suspension of all US military assistance to
Azerbaijan could lead to. According to independent military expert
Lt-Col Uzeyir Cafarov, the US military assistance to Azerbaijan
“certainly plays a role in the way certain activities are conducted
in the Azerbaijani armed forces. However, it would be wrong to say
that this assistance is invaluable for our army, because our state
budget allocates sufficient funds to maintain the combat-readiness
of the army.
According to Cafarov, the disruption of the “parity”, as the ANCA
describes the situation, has to do with the fact that Azerbaijan,
unlike Armenia, was and still is actively involved in the international
anti-terror coalition together with the Americans.
“It is not surprising at all in this context that US ambassador
to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish stated recently that his country’s
administration would appreciate the expansion of the Azerbaijani
peacekeeping contingent in Iraq,” Cafarov added.
The military expert believes that the president’s statement was
quite justifiable.
“Our position is quite fair. We think that the negotiations cannot
last forever. They either have to bring about a tangible result or
Azerbaijan has got to reserve the right to liberate its lands by
force,” he said.
According to Cafarov, in this situation diplomats both in and outside
Azerbaijan have to step up their work.
“They have to try to elaborate such statements by the head of state
and other officials. It has to be stressed that Azerbaijan has both
moral and legal right to solve the problem by force.”
The head of the Euro-Atlantic Centre, MP Asim Mollazada, says it is
worth recalling that the previous head of the ANCA, Murad Topolyan,
was arrested and convicted by a California court for maintaining
contact and selling arms to different Arab terrorist groups.
“This situation seems paradoxical. On the one hand, the statement has
been made by a notorious organization and, on the other, it has been
made in support of Armenia, a country of the South Caucasus pursuing
a policy which totally contradicts US national interests. Armenia is
the main military and political partner of Iran and Russia, while
Azerbaijan and Georgia are both parts of the US-led anti-terror
coalition,” he said.
According to Mollazada, not only the US administration but also
a number of influential US officials are starting to have second
thoughts about the role of Armenia.
At the same time, Mollazada acknowledges that the Azeri or Turkish
lobby is not as active in the USA. He thinks it could play an important
role in advocating Azerbaijan’s interests at the political level. “Here
the balance of forces is not in our favour,” he said.
As for countering the efforts of the US Armenians, Mollazada believes
that it is necessary “to start active work not just by launching
short-term campaigns but by organizing serious work informing US
legislators of the real situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The
US-based Azerbaijani diplomats and ordinary Azerbaijanis can provide
information about this to local newspapers and write letters about
how the policy of our country meets national security interests of
the United States”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader rules out concessions over Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
19 May 04
[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to
Belgium is continuing. Aliyev will meet NATO Secretary-General Jaap
de Hoop Scheffer today. ANS’s special correspondent, Qanira Pasayeva,
is joining Xabarci [news programme] now. Good afternoon, Qanira. We
can hear you.
[Correspondent, on the phone] President Ilham Aliyev had a working
breakfast organized by the European Politics Centre. His speech,
questions and answers were focused on the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem. Aliyev said that the Armenian armed forces on the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan were a source of instability
in the region and that the territories were being used for illegal
activities. For this reason, the Armenian armed forces should withdraw,
and Azerbaijan will not give up this principled position. Asked
about possible compromises, the president said that no compromises
would be made. Because the current situation in the conflict and
international legal norms urge the liberation of [Azerbaijan’s]
occupied areas. According to the president, today we talk about
integration into the European Union. But one European country, which is
a Council of Europe member, is keeping under occupation the territory
of another European country.
The president also touched on regional cooperation. He said that the
main reason for Armenia being on the sidelines of regional projects
was that it was keeping Azerbaijani territories under occupation. The
president also responded to questions about the 15-16 October events
[post-election riots in Baku in 2003] and freedom of the press. The
president said there was no press censorship and the press did not
have any serious problems.
We call on the opposition to hold discussions at the negotiating table,
not in the streets, the president said. He added that he had offered
them dialogue a few times. However, his offer has received no response.
The president then met Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. In
an exclusive interview with ANS after the meeting, Yanukovych said
they had discussed some issues of reviving economic ties between
Ukraine and Azerbaijan and that they had no problems in the political
sphere. Moreover, the sides touched on the issues to be discussed
during Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Ukraine in early June. Asked
if they had discussed the Odessa-Brody oil project, Yanukovych said
that he would express his official stance before Ilham Aliyev’s visit
in June. [Sentence indistinct] That’s it, Leyla.
[Presenter] Thank you, Qanira.

Turkish, Armenian Speakers discuss mutual expectations
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
19 May 04
Strasbourg, 19 May: Turkish Grand National Assembly parliament Speaker
Bulent Arinc met Armenia’s parliament Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan for
bilateral talks during the Council of Europe parliament Speaker’s
conference.
During the meeting, which lasted around 45 minutes, Armenia’s
parliament Speaker reportedly raised the issue once more of Yerevan’s
wish to establish diplomatic relations with Ankara.
According to information gathered by the AA [Anatolia] correspondent
from diplomatic sources Arinc voiced what expectations Turkey had of
Armenia before diplomatic relations could be formed.
Voicing the ill will felt at the genocide claims and the land claims
in the Armenian Constitution, Arinc recalled that not just Ankara
but international institutions starting with the UN were expecting
positive steps to be made in connection with the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem. Arinc gave the message that should Turkey’s sensitivities
be taken into account and Armenia took positive steps to settle the
Karabakh problem then Ankara would meet them with pleasure and would
give Yerevan the necessary response.
Recalling that Turkey was the first country to recognize Armenia
and also the first country to extend aid to the people of Armenia,
Arinc said that in response to any positive steps Yerevan might take,
Ankara would give the request for opening diplomatic relations the
consideration it deserved.
Arinc is also going to meet with Turkish judges working at the European
Court of Human Rights today as part of his itinerary in Strasbourg.
The conference of Council of Europe member countries parliament
speakers lasted two days, and ended this morning with a session called:
“Cooperation for More Democracy: National Parliaments and European
Assemblies”.
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc will return to Turkey tomorrow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lawyer accuses Hungarian TV of biased coverage of Azeri officer’s case
ANS TV, Baku
19 May 04
[Presenter] Lawyer Adil Ismayilov, who visited Budapest between 3-17
May, today informed journalists of the investigation into the case
of Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, who is charged with killing
Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan [both were attending NATO courses
in Budapest].
[Correspondent, over video of news conference] Adil Ismayilov met Ramil
thrice during his visit to Budapest. The lawyer said that each meeting
had lasted for about an hour. He said that the Azerbaijani officer was
feeling better and had no complaints about the conditions in which
he was being held. However, Adil Ismayilov found some faults in the
course of the investigation. He said that Ramil had been questioned
in Russian twice. But our compatriot does not speak good Russian. For
this reason, he had to ask for an interpreter. The Hungarian side
promised to resolve the issue soon. In addition, Ismayilov said the
investigation was being delayed and only 10 people had been questioned
as witnesses and three forensic examinations had been carried out.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
It turned out during the news conference that Ismayilov had not been
allowed to closely familiarize himself with the case. The lawyer
also noted that Hungarian TV channels concentrated largely on the
incident and their positions were fairly biased. The TV channels
distort investigation materials, which no-one actually knows about,
Adil Ismayilov said.
The investigation is to end in the near future. The [Hungarian]
prosecutor’s office will examine the case after this. Ismayilov thinks
that the trial will open no sooner than in September. The hearings
will be open to the public.
Rasad Mammadov, Sadiq Mammadov, ANS.

Azeri leader, Turkish foreign minister discuss Karabakh, Cyprus
ANS Radio, Baku
19 May 04
[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit
to Belgium continues. President Aliyev will meet today NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. At the end of the second day
of his visit to Brussels, President Aliyev met the Turkish deputy
prime minister and foreign minister, Abdullah Gul. ANS’s special
correspondent, Qanira Pasayeva, has a report on this.
[Correspondent, on the phone] Abdullah Gul advanced a proposal over
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem. That was about the trilateral meeting
of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Turkish foreign ministers. Asked if
such a meeting was expected within the framework of NATO’s Istanbul
summit in late June, Gul did not rule out this. Armenia also positively
reacted to the issue.
As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, Gul expressed his
satisfaction with the fact that Azerbaijan had supported Turkey in
the Cyprus affair within the framework of the Islamic Conference
Organization in Jidda [as heard]. Some displeasure was observed,
which mainly stemmed from the Turkish media reports on the absence of
the Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation in [the Council of Europe]
debates over Cyprus in Strasbourg. However, Gul said that such events
might not affect the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a working breakfast organized
by the European Politics Centre [EPC]. Officials from the EPC also
attended the breakfast party.
[Passage omitted: details of president’s working schedule]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader says Karabakh problem threat to major economic projects
Trend news agency
19 May 04
Baku, 19 May, Trend correspondent E. Huseynov: Armenia’s position
regarding the occupation of the Nagornyy Karabakh region of Azerbaijan
and seven districts around it is nothing other than support for
aggressive separatism, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told a
press conference at Brussels’ Conrad Hotel on 19 May.
The persistence of the situation, when 20 per cent of Azerbaijani
territories are under occupation, is seriously threatening the whole
of the region, Aliyev said. He regretted that the peace talks within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group had yielded no results and
hoped that a just settlement would be found which would be based on
international legal norms and would ensure Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. The president urged the international community to boost
their effort to find a peaceful settlement to the problem.
Aliyev highlighted that a big question mark was hanging over
all major economic projects in the South Caucasus, including the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline, until stability was ensured. He positively evaluated
the European Union’s fresh initiative New Neighbourhood Policy and
noted that the programme was opening new cooperation opportunities.
Speaking about freedom of the media in Azerbaijan, the president
said that there was no censorship and no problem in this sphere in
the country.
[Passage omitted: Aliyev’s next meeting]

Gazprom Ready to Run Chechen Business
By Valeria Korchagina, Staff Writer
The Moscow Times
Wednesday, May 19, 2004. Page 5.
As the federal government seeks quick solutions to revive the Chechen
economy, Gazprom has said it is prepared to join the relief effort
by adding Chechengazprom to its vast holding.
The move appears to be aimed at stopping gas theft from local networks,
as well as protecting the gas monopoly’s shipments to Georgia, Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Gazprom says 1 billion cubic meters of gas per year
are siphoned off in Chechnya.
“This business would not bring us any revenues, but we would sharply
cut losses,” Gazprom’s deputy board chairman Alexander Ryazanov said
following a lightning visit to Grozny by top government officials
on Saturday.
Chechengazprom, which operates about 100 kilometers of main pipelines
in partnership with the Chechen administration, is currently under
full control of the Industry and Energy Ministry.
Ryazanov said that Gazprom might buy the enterprise or simply take
over a long-term management contract.
“We think it is time to take [Chechengazprom] back into the
unified system. [Chechen authorities] have no funds to manage these
pipelines,” Ryazanov was quoted by Interfax as saying. He said the
government also wants to lower the gas price for Chechen households
to 320 rubles ($11) per 1,000 cubic meters, compared to the 610 rubles
charged in the same pricing zone.
“Nobody pays for gas there, so the government is asking to lower the
price,” he said.
Ryazanov said that Chechnya owes Gazprom 5.5 billion rubles ($190
million) for gas consumed in recent years. The fate of this debt
is unclear.
Ryazanov suggested that it could either be restructured or paid for
by raising prices in other regions.

10 most famous Russians in the USA
Pravda Ru
US scholars, reporters and professors composed long list of Russians
popular in the USA.
The criteria for naming famous Russians were as follows:
1) Authority in professional sphere, such as science, art, literature
and so on
2) Popularity among Americans. Sportsmen, people of show business,
preachers fit this category.
3) Authority in politics (political scientists, lobbyists).
4) Authority in economics (businessmen and managers).
The top ten Russains are:
1. Mikhail Baryshnikov – ballet dancer, producer, actor.
2. Anna Kurnikova – tennis player and model.
3. Dmitry Sims – President of Nixon Research Center.
4. Leon Aron – Director of Russian Research of Institute of American
Entrepreneurship
5. Nikolai Zlobin – Director of Russian and Asian programs of the
Center of Defense Information.
6. Elena Bonner – human rights activist, the widow of Academician
Andrei Sakharov.
7. Yury Temirkhanov – conductor of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
8. Semen Kukes – businessman, Head of YUKOS company.
9. Ariel Koen – Research Director of Nasledie (Heritage) Foundation.
10. Eduafrd Lozansky – publisher and lobbyist, President of American
University in Moscow, founder of Russian Annual Economic Forum.
Then the list follows with physics Alexei Abrikosov and Roald Sgdeev,
historian Sergei Khrushchev, hockey player Pavel Bure, sculptor Ernst
Neizvestny and Sergei Brin who developed Google search system.
All these people came to the USA from Russia, Russian is their native
language.
The citizens of the former USSR contribute to the US culture, science,
education, politics, technology and sports. Russian Americans Joseph
Brodsky and Alexei Abrikosov became Nobel laureates.
Yul Brinner is one of the best Hollywood actors.
Remarkably, Russians did not achieve much in the sphere of business and
economics. Previous generations of Russians in the USA were better in
business. Emigrant Vladimir Zvorykin invented first TV set in 1933.
He founded first TV station with another Russian David Sarnov,
President of Radio Corporation of America, later the plants of the
corporation started producing TV sets. Another Russian emigrant, Igor
Sikorsky, constructed first helicopter in the USA in 1939. Sikorsky
Aviation Corporation is still among the global leaders in constructing
helicopters, the US President uses Sikorsky’s helicopter.
Russians failed to create united community in the USA and elect their
politicians, as Armenians, Jews and Ukrainians did.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected] Website;
Honoring the Babayan Foundation and the Pillars of the Diocese
On Saturday, May 15, 2004 upon the invitation of His Eminence Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian a reception was held to honor the Babayan Foundation as well as the
Pillars of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese.
Over two hundred and fifty guests and benefactors, representatives of
Montreal, Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa and Edmonton Armenian communities were gathered on
this occasion. At Dikran Karibian Hall of the Diocesan headquarters, Bishop
Galstanian together with the President of Babayan Foundation’s Board of
Trustees Mr. Haig Selian made the official opening of two plaques where the names of
the benefactors of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese were
carved. Attending the ceremony was the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in
Ottawa His Excellency Ara Papian. His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian
greeted the faithful and thanked them for their assistance and support to the
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church through the Diocese of Canada.
In the evening, an official banquet was organized at Marie Manoogian Hall of
St Gregory Armenian Cathedral. Mr. Meguerdich Kanondjian, Chairman of the
Parish Council of St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral was the MC. A
brief cultural program, the newly established website (presented by Mrs. Shoghik
Shabazian) of the Diocese and the current financial status (Diocesan Council
Chairman, Jack Stepanian) of the Diocese were presented by audiovisual means.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia Mr. Ara Papian congratulated the
Primate the Diocesan Council the babayna Foundation and the Pillars of the
Diocese on this occasion and wished the Diocese successful implementation of its
projects for the years to come. Mr. Haig Selian, President of the Board of
Trustees of Babayan Foundation thanked Bishop Galstanian for the initiative and
reaffirmed the Babayan Foundation’s commitment to support the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada.
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, expressed his joy and once again,
extended his gratitude and thanks to all benefactors and sponsors, who have
supported the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada and many of its missions and
projects both in Canada and in Motherland, Armenia since the establishment of
the Diocese in 1984. In his address, Serpazan stressed the significance and
the importance of the role of the Armenian Church in the Diaspora in general,
and in Canada particularly. He said, “Today, as we confront the many challenges
and difficulties of the ‘modern world’ we, more than ever, need to stand
together to preserve and educate a new, dynamic generation thus establishing a well
founded Canadian Armenian community”.
On this occasion, donations were made by the faithful to express once again
their staunch support and unreserved backing to the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Canada.
60TH Anniversary Celebration of the Canadian Council of Churches
On May 13, 2004 the 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Canadian Council of
Churches was held at the York Minster Park, Baptist Church of Toronto.
Attending the ceremony were representatives of Christian churches in the
Province of Ontario, high ranking clergies and faithful. His Eminence Bishop
Bagrat Galstanian, Rev Archpriest Fr Zareh Zargarian, Deacon Vrej Berberian, the
choir of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church as well as a group of Armenian
faithful were present. Prior to the religious ceremony a reception was held, during
which Church Leaders and Ecumenical guests had the opportunity for discussion.
The event was presided by the Secretary General of the Canadian Council of
Churches Reverend Dr. Karen Hamilton. During her speech, Rev. Dr. Hamilton
highly acknowledged the work of the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Toronto
His Eminence Terrence Finley and invited him to deliver his message to the
faithful. After His Eminence’s speech, the choir of the Holy Trinity Armenian
Church of Toronto performed Armenian Liturgical songs, Sharagans conducted by
Maestro Hagop Dugmedjian.
Family Support Services Of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church
Family Support Services consists of a team of 13 members and came into being
in January of 2004 as the newest organization under the umbrella of Holy
Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Scarborough, Ontario.
To provide quality assistance, programs and advocacy for persons and families
through referrals and collaboration with Community Services. To promote
communication and understanding towards positive emotional, social and spiritual
growth.
Our programs and services will include the following:
” Social/Life Skills Assistance
” Crisis Intervention
” Vocation/Employment Services
” Educational Workshops
” Family and Youth Support
” Research
” Parent Education and Workshops
” Volunteer Program
” Information and Advisory Services
” Assessment and Follow-Up
” Newsletter
Since the onset of our program and over the past few months we have been
involved in or sponsored the following events:
February 6, 2004 – Family Support Services (FSS) held its first lecture as
part of the Health and Wellness series. The topic of choice was Crisis
Intervention through the Scarborough Mobile Crisis Unit. The welcomed guest speaker was
Krystal Arndt, a mental health therapist with the Mobile Crisis Unit. Ms
Arndt successfully outlined the functions and goals of the Scarborough Crisis
Unit. The audience was educated on defining crisis situations and made aware of
the services available to them.
**********
February 7, 2004 – The Volunteer Program of Family Support Services along
with ACYOC took part in packing boxes of food for the needy at the North York
Food Harvest. The event was attended by our youth who received recognition and
credit for the volunteer time.
**********
March 27, 2004 – Tree of Remembrance fundraiser launched with the setting up
of our tree in the foyer of the church.
March 28 – April 24, 2004 – Tree of Remembrance fund raiser for FSS. Faithful
parishioner’s who wished to make a donation to FSS in memory of a loved one
purchased a white dove upon which a scroll was placed in its beak with the name
of the person to be remembered on it. These doves were then placed on a tree
in the foyer of our church and will be gifted back to the donor’s in the days
to come. The 178 memorial names were recited aloud during the Badarak
requiem service. We thank everyone for their support.
**********
April 24, 2004 – The Youth Volunteer Program of the Family Support Services,
participated in the “Clean-Up and Rehabilitation Day” organized by the
Centennial College Environmental Student Society and the City of Toronto.
April 25, 2004 – A Grand Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting for the newly
formed Family Support Services of Holy Trinity Armenian Church was held on
Sunday, April 25, 2004, following Badarak in the mezzanine level above the Maral
Ishkanian Hall.
During Badarak, the members of the Family Support Services Team received the
blessing of His Grace Bishop Bagrat Galsdanyan, Primate of the Canadian
Diocese, His Eminence, Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian, Primate of Artsakh and Rev.
Arch Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church with wishes
for success in all undertakings. We also had the attendance of Jim Karygiannis,
MP of Scarborough-Agincourt, who has been a strong fighter in Parliament for
Armenian rights and Genocide.
**********
May 2, 2004 – The second in a series of Health and Wellness Lectures
sponsored by the Family Support Services was held featuring guest speaker Rev. Dr.
Paul Scuse, a marriage and family therapist. He addressed issues of family and
marriage and the importance of Christian values in tying individual and family
members together.
**********
Armenians belonging to a large community, we can all benefit from Family
Support Services, if not for ourselves, then to be equipped with knowledge that
may help others now or in the future. Most of us are unaware of the great
resources available in our own communities and the Family Support Services (FSS)
hopes to provide a link between Armenian community members and these community
agencies. You can reach the Family Support Services of Holy Trinity Armenian
Church at (416) 431-5549 and leaving a voice message or by email at
[email protected].