Author: Chatinian Lara

August 20, 2009

NORTH AMERICAN PRELATES MEET IN MONTREAL

The three North American Prelates, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
(Eastern U.S.); Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian (Western U.S.); and
Archbishop Khajag Hagopian (Canada), have been meeting in Montreal
yesterday and today to discuss general issues that are of concern to
the three prelacies, including religious, administrative, economic,
and organizational issues, as well as preparing reports on issues that
will be presented in November during a meeting of the three North
American prelacies with the Central Religious and Lay Councils in
Antelias, Lebanon. Photo: Archbishops Oshagan, Khajag, and Moushegh
during their meeting yesterday.

BISHOPS IN MONTREAL
As noted above, the three North American Prelates are in
Montreal. Coincidentally four other bishops were in Montreal creating
this great photo opportunity. Photo left to right: Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
Archbishop Souren Kataroyan, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, and Bishop Papken Tcharian.

BIBLE TRANSLATION CONTINUES

While in Montreal the Bible translation team (Archbishop Oshagan,
Archbishop Khajag, and Bishop Anoushavan) continued its Bible
translation project.
SEMINAR CONCLUDES IN BIKFAYA

The third ecumenical formation seminar successfully concluded last
week at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Monastery in Bikfaya, Lebanon. The program
included presentations, plenary discussions, and round tables on the
Armenian Church, its history, liturgy, feasts and rituals, as well as
inter-church and inter-religious relations. Participants reflected on
the overall theme of the seminar, "Who is my friend?" during daily
morning Bible studies.

Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Director of the Office of Ecumenical
Relations, and Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian, the Moderator of the
committee, invited the participants to assess their experiences. After
expressing their thanks for this opportunity to learn about the church
and ecumenism, they asked the committee to organize such events more
often to deepen their understanding of the church and its traditions,
the ecumenical movement, and the nature of inter-religious dialogue in
general and Christian-Muslim dialogue in particular. They requested
that thematic seminars be organized on a rotating basis in the
dioceses in different regions. They also suggested that the committee
strengthen the work on a diocesan level.

In his concluding remarks, His Holiness Aram I expressed his
appreciation of the contribution of the participants, and he said that
living in a diaspora situation, the Armenian Church is in touch with
different religions and cultures. These interactions must be taken
seriously by our church in its ecumenical and inter-religious
engagement. His Holiness reaffirmed the ecumenical commitment of the
Armenian Church and reminded the participants that relations,
collaboration and reflection constitute the interrelated dimensions of
ecumenical vision and action.
NOW IS THE TIME TO FINALIZE YOUR PLANS FOR 2009 PRELACY LINKED IN WEEKEND

In his sermon delivered during the Feast of the Assumption, His
Holiness Aram I said this about our youth: "On this day of the Feast
of the Assumption of the Theotokos, I pray to her to intercede with
her Son on behalf of our youth. We declared 2009 as the Year of the
Youth to remind ourselves that youth are both our present and future,
and therefore, we should listen and respond to them. Today, our youth
are facing many problems. We should enable them to discover the
spiritual foundations of our church, the ethical values arising from
the teaching of our church, and the cultural traditions shaped by our
Armenian roots."

With the words of His Holiness in mind, the 2009 Prelacy LINKED IN
weekend for young adults will take place September 25-27, at the Holy
Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts, as part of
the ongoing Year of the Youth activities. Here in the northeast it
seems that summer just started this week, when we finally experienced
real summer weather. But, truth be told, Labor Day is looming ahead,
so make your plans now for this inspiring LINKED IN weekend of
September 25-27..

Under the general theme of "Know Your Church," presentations will be
made by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, Professor Michael Papazian, and Yeretzgin Margaret
Stepanian. The weekend gathering will also feature prayer services,
meditations, bible studies, and panel discussion.

For more information and registration form click here
( 82/goto: htm ).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN ARMENIA

The Prelacy’s Executive Director, Dr. Vazken Ghougassian, will be in
Armenia next week where he will confer with the staff of the Prelacy
office, The St. Nerses the Great Charitable Organization. The Prelacy
continues its various programs in Armenia, including the highly
successful orphan sponsorship program, aid to orphanages, and aid to
families. Visits to oversee the work of the Yerevan office are made
during the year by the Executive Director and by the Prelate,
Archbishop Oshagan.

While in Armenia, Dr. Ghougassian will attend the conference for the
heads of Armenian libraries and library collections which will take
place next week. The conference will convene under the auspices of His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and is being
coordinated by the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). The Prelacy’s
Hovsep and Suzanne Hagopian Library, on the third floor of the Prelacy
office building in Manhattan, contains a rich collection of more than
13,000 volumes.

MORE IMPRESSIONS FOR DATEV

We have received two more impressions written by 2009 Datev attendees,
which we are pleased to share with you:

I have been involved with Datev, even longer than I have been involved
with Sunday school and church choir. As a Post Graduate Student, the
classes are more advanced than the first four levels. The classes were
illuminating and gave us an opportunity to think more about the Bible,
church history, and the church fathers. For one week all the
Datevatsis are united into a family that prays, eats, worships, and
learns together. That’s why anticipation builds every year when Datev
comes around, we all can’t wait to be together and see each other.
Ani Yaghmourian (Post Graduate)

In the beginning, I was a little nervous about going to Datev. I
thought I wasn’t going to know anyone, but when I got there it felt
like I knew everyone for a long time. I also met new friends from
different states. I had a good time. It felt like God was
everywhere. Whoever is there feels like they’re in the presence of
God. I learned a lot about Armenian language, religion, culture,
hymns, and the Bible. When I came back, my father asked me, "Did you
like it?" I answered, "Yes, but now I have to wait 51 weeks."
Unfortunately it is only one week.
Celina Bozoian (1st year student)

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, August 20, are: Proverbs
11:30-12:4; Zechariah 2:10-13; 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1; Luke 1:39-56.

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple
of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among
them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore
come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and
touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your
father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the
fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
( ).

BLESSING OF THE GRAPES IN OUR PARISHES

Last Sunday was the Feast of the Assumption and the Blessing of the
Grapes. Many of our parishes perform the Blessing of Grapes ceremony
outside in the open air. Here are two more photographs.

Photo: Bishop Anoushavan, Archbishop Oshagan, and Rev. Fr. Bedros
Shetilian last Sunday during the Blessing of the Grapes ceremony at
Holy Cross Armenian Church, Troy, New York.

Photo: Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian and deacons during the Blessing of
Grapes of Sts. Vartanantz, Providence, Rhode Island, at the parish’s
picnic which took place at Camp Haiastan, Franklin, Massachusetts.

CATHEDRAL PASTOR AND PARISHIONERS HELP KEEP THE TRADITION FOR
RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK HOME FOR AGED

Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in
New York, and 27 of his parishioners visited the Armenian Home for the
Aged in Flushing, New York, on August 19.

Rev. Fr. Mesrob performed the Blessing of Grapes ceremony for the
residents and then blessed each one individually while distributing
the blessed grapes. Der Hayr presented the Home with a $500 donation
from the Cathedral, and the parishioners matched the amount.

Der Mesrob is a familiar face at the Armenian Home; he goes every
Wednesday and worships and visits with the residents.

Photo: Der Mesrob blesses the grapes at the Home for Aged in Flushing,
New York.

Photo: Cathedral Parishioners liven up the day for the residents.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 12–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Haigazian
Armenian School.
September 13–St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover,
Massachusetts, annual picnic on newly renovated church grounds, 158
Main St., North Andover. Enjoy food, music. Fellowship. For details
go to
church’s web site ( (
4882/goto:
)) or call 978-685-5038.
September 13–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; opening of Sunday
School.
September 13–Annual picnic of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church of New
Britain and Hartford at the Quartette Club, 225 Wooster Street, New
Britain, Connecticut, beginning at noon, rain or shine. Live
music. Armenian
food. Free admission.
September 19-20–Re-consecration of the altar and the newly renovated
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday. Episcopal
Divine Liturgy and Madagh on Sunday.
September 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Lobster Fest. For
information: 215-482-9200.
September 20–St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York), annual picnic
on
the church grounds, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, beginning at 1 pm
immediately following church services and the blessing of the basil.
Delicious
Armenian kebabs, sweets, etc., along with games, music, dancing,
tavloo, basketball, volleyball, vendors and returning by popular
demand–"Kid-Z-One," with a host of activities for children. For
information 718-224-2275.
September 21–St. Stephen’s (Watertown, MA) Armenian School/ACEC 14th
annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf,
lunch, dinner, and contests. For information contact Astor at
781-326-5764.
September 25-26-27–Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the youth. For
details click here (
4882/goto: 9.htm
).
September 27–75th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Country
Club of Wilbraham, 859 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham,
Massachusetts. Special
performances by Dottie Bengoian and the St. Gregory Sunday School
children. For information: 413-596-9242.
September 28–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Golf Outing at
Talamore
Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania. For information: 215-482-9200.
September 28–Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, Massachusetts), 6th
annual Golf Outing, Sterling National Country Club, Sterling,
MA. Golf, breakfast, dinner, and prizes, $130 per person. For
information send email
to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or telephone
508-872-9629.
October 1–Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th annual
Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175
includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great
day and
support the church. For information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.
October 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 17–National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will
follow.
October 18–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the
source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be
included in the calendar. Send to: [email protected]
(mailto:info@armenianprel acy.org)

TEAMS OF TEHRAN AND SOCHI – WINNERS OF THE FIFTH PAN-ARMENIAN GAMES

PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.08.2009 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Fifth Pan-Armenian Games , held from 9 to 16 August,
2009 in football and basketball, finished in Armenia.

The team of Tehran won the title of winner in the football tournament,
winning Yerevan team with a minimum score 1:0. Beirut Armenians became
bronze prize winners, who defeated the team from Buenos Aires.

The Sochi Armenians won in the basketball tournament for men, who
defeated their compatriots from Los Angeles with the score 72:68.

In the fight for the 3 rd place the Tehran team easily defeated
Yerevan. The match ended with the score 69:67.

‘EMPEROR’ RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
By Grant Gordon

Glendale News Press
/16/sports/gnp-spfight081709.txt
Sunday, August 16, 2009

Roman Mitichyan, left, after defeating Mike Dolce, right, Saturdy at
Called to Arms’ CalledOut MMA event.

Mixed martial arts: Glendale fighters Roman Mitichyan, Ando Dermenjyan
both earn victories.

Published: Last Updated Sunday, August 16, 2009 7:26 PM PDT ONTARIO
– Behind a steady stream of leg kicks, coming close to the only
near-finish of the bout and executing his game plan with patience
and diligence, Glendale mixed martial arts fighter Roman Mitichyan
got his career back on the winning track.

"The Emperor" secured a unanimous decision win against Mike Dolce in
a three-round welterweight fight at Saturday night’s CalledOut MMA
event in Ontario’s Citizens Business Bank Arena.

"I was just planning my game to be smart," said Mitichyan, who improved
his MMA record to 10-3. "Trying to be a smart fighter."

In addition, featherweight Ando Dermenjyan, who trains at Glendale’s
Main Event Gym, turned in his most impressive fight yet, steamrolling
past Dustin Rhodes and looking every bit the part of a maturing
all-around fighter in securing a technical knockout 1 minute 35
seconds into Round 2.

"I’m just really happy with the way things turned out," said
Dermenjyan, who improved to 3-0 and looked the most comfortable and
content at keeping the fight standing as he ever has thus far in his
burgeoning career. "The sport’s growing and you have to grow with it."

The 25-year-old Dermenjyan, who also trains at SK Golden Boys in Van
Nuys and Team Hayastan in North Hollywood, showcased superior grappling
and striking and finished the fight with a ground-and-pound barrage.

For the 30-year-old Mitichyan, who also trains at Main Event and
Hayastan, along with the Glendale Fighting Club, his victory against
Dolce broke a two-fight losing streak and was his first win since
Dec. of 2007. He tallied the decision win with two scores of 30-27
and a 29-28 outcome on a third card. The News-Press scored it 30-27.

Coming off an upset knockout loss to Jason Meaders in January in
which Mitichyan, a high-level judo and Sambo player, was drawn into a
stand-up slugfest, the Jewel City grappler joked after the fight that,
had he been unable to pick up the win, he might have disappeared into
the mountains and never come back. Thus he showed his resolve, besting
Dolce (4-8) in what became a chess match of sorts and refusing to
engage the striker in a toe-to-toe brawl despite a moment in the
second round when Dolce landed nicely, appearing to fire up the
hot-blooded Mitichyan.

"It’s [my] Armenian blood, you get all pumped up," he said. "I said,
‘Roman, cool off, you gotta get the win.’" And he did.

The first round saw a lot of circling, with both fighters tossing out
jabs and looping hooks. Mitichyan swung hard with a right that led
the combatants into a clinch, but Dolce quickly shoved his opponent
off and just missed Mitichyan’s chin with a strong right. But as
the round progressed, Mitichyan unveiled his most valuable weapon,
as he began to work a right leg kick to the inside of the lead right
leg of Dolce, a southpaw.

"I punished that leg," Mitichyan said.

Mitichyan went for two takedowns in the opening round with the
aforementioned clinch and then a single-leg attempt later in the
round that saw him succeed in grounding Dolce. Mitichyan landed some
solid elbows from top position, but Dolce defended well for the most
part before Mitichyan dropped down for a kneebar. Dolce worked his
way free of the submission attempt and got back to his feet, but
Mitichyan clearly sealed the round.

"He’s a strong guy," Mitichyan said. "[The kneebar just] didn’t
happen."

The second and third rounds played out with sporadic exchanges but
rarely any solid punches landing. Both rounds also saw the crowd boo
the fight on occasion.

It was clear that Mitichyan’s game plan was to go for a takedown,
weary of Dolce’s one-punch power. But Dolce, who never attempted a
takedown and was content to stand and strike, appeared content only
to counter-strike and was, surprisingly, never really the aggressor.

"I did feel that," said Mitichyan when asked if he was a bit surprised
that Dolce was not more aggressive in initiating a slugfest before
adding that he suspected Dolce’s corner warned the fighter not to
get over anxious and leave himself open for a takedown.

Thus, Mitichyan’s myriad leg kicks and him being the more aggressive
fighter carried him in the second round. He opened the third with a
hard leg kick that staggered Dolce, who then came forward smiling as
if he’d been playing possum.

"Being a fighter, you know when you connect and you hurt someone,"
Mitichyan said. "I hurt him."

Earlier on the 11-fight, five-hour card, Dermenjyan won his first
fight by TKO, having submitted his first two opponents.

In the opening round, both fighters threw punches in a feeling-out
phase, but Dermenjyan was clearly more relaxed on his feet than in
either of his previous two fights.

"[I’ve been] working my butt off [on my standup]," Dermenjyan said. "I
did feel comfortable."

Rhodes (3-3) eventually locked up Dermenjyan twice in the round,
but was unable to do any more than push him against the cage. In the
second clinch, Rhodes said he was hit low by a Dermenjyan knee. The
referee did not stop the fight, but Rhodes persisted in pleading for
the infraction, eventually leading to a temporary stoppage with 1:21
left in the round.

When the fighting commenced, Dermenjyan landed a solid 1-2
combo. Rhodes went for a high kick, but Dermenjyan used it as an
opportunity to get back control standing.

"I thought he was more of a grappler," Dermenjyan said. "It was kind
of surprising to me that he wanted to stand up."

Eventually, Dermenjyan got Rhodes down to all fours and established
back control there. With Dermenjyan riding his opponent on the ground,
he eventually worked in some punches to the head and knees to the side,
easily winning the round, 10-9, on the News-Press scorecard.

Dermenjyan opened the second round with a stiff left jab to Rhodes’
face. Rhodes clinched again, but Dermenjyan took him down and landed
in Rhodes’ guard.

Dermenjyan would eventually allow his opponent to his feet before
securing a front-face lock, positioning Rhodes to absorb an onslaught
of knees to the head. Rhodes dropped to the ground with Dermenjyan
moving swiftly to his back.

Dermenjyan worked in his hooks and proceeded to rain down rights and
lefts until the referee halted the bout with 1:35 left in the round.

"Coming into this fight, I didn’t really have a gameplan. I was
just gonna see what came my way," Dermenjyan said. "I’m very happy,
of course there’s a lot to improve. One step at a time."

In other notable fights, Gabe Ruediger (15-5), who, along with
Mitichyan and Dolce, is a former "The Ultimate Fighter" cast member,
defeated Wander Braga (10-1) via guillotine choke in the second
round. Thomas "Wildman" Denny (27-18) also won with a second-round
guillotine, stopping Joe Cronin (13-11) in the night’s main event.

In what became a theme throughout the CalledOut card, victorious
fighters would "call out" future opponents or vice versa.

Glendale’s Karen Darabedyan, who was victorious in the promotion’s
first card earlier this year, was in the cage to challenge Ruediger for
Caladium’s Nov. 14 event. Much of the conversation could not be heard
in the ring and when the in-ring interviewer asked Ruediger to recap,
the fighter, who had earlier flipped off Braga’s corner in postfight
celebration before apologizing, said he accepted the challenge. When
he was asked who challenged him, he replied by saying Darebedyan’s
first name, then stuttering through his last name as if he could not
pronounce it before adding, "What’s his name, I don’t know his name."

Denny was far more respectful after his win in suggesting Mitichyan
and him clash on a future card, but specified he’d like Mitichyan,
a 170-pounder, to fight at 160 or 165.

The Nov. 14 card is also slated to see Glendale’s Sako Chivitchyan and
Sevak Magakian. Magakian fought on CalledOut’s first card on May 16,
submitting Harold Lucambio with a kneebar. The effort was awarded
submission of the night and Magakian was presented with a watch on
Saturday in the middle of the cage.

WIMM-BILL-DANN TO CONTINUE SHARE BUYBACK

Drinks Business Review
11-August-2009

Intends to purchase up to 3% more shares

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A Wimm-Bill-Dann board member stated that the company will continue
its share buyback programme by purchasing up to 3% of its shares,
if the market price favours, reported Reuters.

Wimm-Bill-Dann board member Maria Kagan said that the firm does not
have any borrowing plans.

She further added that Wimm-Bill-Dann is planning to launch a dairy
plant in Georgia to cater to consumers in Georgia, Armenia and other
parts of the Caucasus region.

Wimm-Bill-Dann is into dairy products and children’s food in Russia
and also operates in the market for non-alcoholic drinks in Russia
and the CIS. Its brands include: Domik v Derevne (Little House in the
Village), Chudo (Wonder), Vesely Molochnik (Happy Milkman), Imunele
and Lamber. It has more than 35 production facilities in Russia,
Ukraine and Central Asia.

GEOPROMINING BACK IN OPERATION; 900 WORKERS EMPLOYED

2009/08/10 | 14:50

M arzes Economy

GeoProMining’s press office states that on June 30 Agarak
Copper-Molybdenum Combine resumed operation. Presently the Combine
employs 900 employees. The company is now paying employee wages on
a regular monthly basis.

Presently, an anti-crisis program is underway which aims at reduction
of prime cost and increase of competitive capacity of production. The
program suggests a systematized approach, including capital investments
with the goal to modernize production and raise qualification of
employees, as well as make changes in organizational structure.

It is important to mention that in relation to economic crisis,
operation of the Combine was temporarily stopped. From the moment
of its stoppage, in February of 2009, 500 employees continued
repair-reconstruction activities, being paid their full wages, 400
people were forced to take paid leave, receiving two thirds of the
amount of their wages.

GeoProMining Group is specialized in mining and ore-dressing of
complex ore (copper, molybdenum, antimon) and precious metals (gold,
silver). GeoProMining Group has a diversified production structure and
markets. The mines and processing plants of the company are located
in Armenia, Georgia and Russia.

ugust-10-2009-special-report.html

Sunday, August 9, 2009
August 10, 2009 — SPECIAL REPORT.
"The Congresswoman and the Turkish Lobby sexual blackmail ring" – Wayne Madsen

The following is an updated special report by Wayne Madsen, published
here with his permission, on the deposition given by Sibel Edmonds in
Washington D.C. yesterday (August 8, 2009). His original story follows
this update.

[WMR is publishing its 10 August issue a day earlier because of the
breaking nature over the weekend of the story involving the American
Turkish Council blackmail of Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a member of the
House Select Committee on Intelligence].

WMR previously reported that Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a
close ally of President Barack Obama and his chief of staff, former
Representative Rahm Emanuel, who, like Schakowsky, represented a
Chicago district, was sexually blackmailed by a lesbian prostitute who
worked for the American Turkish Council (ATC).

The ATC and its affiliated Turkish government lobbying organizations
were cited by former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds in her deposition in
an Ohio Election Commission complaint filed by Representative Jean
Schmidt (R-OH) against her 2008 opponent, David Krikorian, over
statements by Krikorian that Schmidt received financial support from
the Turkish lobby in the United States. Edmonds was subpoenaed for a
deposition in the case in support of Krikorian’s allegations that the
Turkish Lobby has wielded tremendous influence over U.S. policymakers
like Schmidt in Congress. After raising objections to Edmonds’s
testimony, pursuant to a state secret gag order imposed by
then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, neither the Justice Department
nor the FBI moved to block Edmonds’s statements at her deposition on
August 8 in Washington, DC.

WMR has received additional confirmation from a high-level
Congressional source that Schakowsky regularly engaged in a lesbian
sexual tryst at a Washington DC townhouse with a female employee of
the ATC. WMR previously reported that law enforcement sources told us
that the tryst location was bugged by a Turkish surveillance team that
recorded the encounters. The recordings were later used to blackmail
Schakowsky into backing away from supporting Armenian genocide
resolution initiatives in the House. The surveillance operation was so
complex, a second surveillance team monitored the primary team to
ensure the bugging devices were properly installed before what the FBI
called the "hooking process" commenced.

WMR has obtained from a law enforcement source the first name of the
ATC employee but we are withholding it from release to protect the
privacy of someone who may have been forced into the prostitution
situation by Turkish intelligence officers.

WMR has been informed that another Democratic member of the House was
contacted in 2006 by a controversial web journalist who ostensibly
represents the "progressive" community and who is a competitor of
WMR. The journalist inquired as to whether the member had heard
anything about Schakowsky having a lesbian affair with a possible
foreign intelligence operative. The member replied no but would ask
Schakowsky in private about it during their next meeting. The member
met with Schakowsky in the Chicago Democrat’s House office and stated:
"Jan, you know sometimes that in our position we are often put into
the position of doing things that we normally would not do."

Upon hearing that, Schakowsky appeared to understand what was being
intimated and she threw her head back and became very
upset. Schakowsky then replied that she did not care about the
situation because she was "getting in good with the leadership." At
the time, Dennis Hastert, who was also alleged to have received bribes
from the Turkish Lobby, was Speaker of the House.

The latest information received by WMR appears to indicate that
Hastert was well aware of the sexual blackmail by Turkish intelligence
agents being used against Schakowsky and that he approved of it.

The House member who was contacted by the journalist later told the
journalist that Schakowsky had been contacted and that "she seemed to
understand the issue and was quite upset about it," adding she "tried
to get in with the leadership." The journalist, who is supportive of
Israeli policies, never revealed Schakowsky’s name but appeared to be
involved in a fishing expedition to see what other members of the
House knew about Schakowsky’s situation at the time.

The member was appalled at Schakowsky’s explanation because the member
considered her to be a "soul mate" on issues ranging from opposition
to the Iraq war — Schakowsky had opposed the Iraq War Resolution —
to private military contractors and U.S. Israeli policy. Schakowsky
was a founding member of the Out-of-Iraq Caucus.

The member stated that after the encounter over the "lesbian" issue,
Schakowsky
"went quiet" on all her signature issues, including her vocal
opposition to the role of private military contractors, adding that
she became very hawkish in support of Israel.

The member felt that Schakowsky was "set up" by the Turkish Lobby,
working in concert with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
(AIPAC), to "control her." The member also said that Schakowsky
noticeably "backed off" many issues, including the role of private
military companies.

In January 2007, after the Democrats captured the House, Speaker Nancy
Pelosi appointed Schakowsky to be a member of the House Select
Committee on Intelligence. Currently, Schakowsky is chair of the House
Select Committee on Intelligence’s Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations — which puts her in a conflict-of-interest in
investigating Turkish and related Israeli intelligence penetration of
the FBI and State Department, as stated under oath by Edmonds, and the
paying of bribes by Turkish government interests to current and former
members of Congress.

WMR has also learned from congressional sources that Illinois Governor
Rod Blagojevich was aware of Schakowsky’s "problems" and that he
resisted pressure from Obama and Emanuel to appoint Schakowsky to
Obama’s vacant Senate seat. When Blagojevich signaled he was going to
appoint someone other than Schakowsky to the seat, the joint Israeli
and Turkish lobbies, in addition to Emanuel, arranged for
U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald to receive a
green light to arrest Blagojevich even before any federal corruption
indictments were handed down by a grand jury. Blagojevich was later
impeached by the Illinois House and removed from office by the state
senate. An indictment on multiple counts was later handed down by a
federal grand jury.

WMR has previously reported that Fitzgerald dragged his feet on the
investigation of the leak by the Bush White House of the covert
identities of CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson and her Brewster
Jennings & Associates cover firm. Fitzgerald, WMR is told, was trying
to limit damaging exposure to the nuclear smuggling operation that
involved the Turkish and Israeli Lobbies and Turkish MIT and Israeli
Mossad intelligence operations. Mrs. Wilson and her team were
apparently narrowing in on the Turks and Israelis in nuclear smuggling
around the world. The key U.S. government players in outing Brewster
Jennings were named by Edmonds in her deposition.

August 10, 2009 — SPECIAL REPORT. The Congresswoman and the Turkish
Lobby sexual blackmail ring – Wayne Madsen Report (9 August 2009)

0090809

Original Story Published on WMR on 08/09/09:

August 8-9, 2009 — BREAKING NEWS. SPECIAL REPORT. Turkish government
blackmailed sitting member of House of Representatives

Ohio Election Commission officials and lawyers representing Ohio
Democratic House of Representatives candidate David Krikorian and
incumbent Ohio Republican Representative Jean Schmidt heard testimony
Saturday morning and afternoon from former FBI Turkish and Farsi
translator Sibel Edmonds in a case brought against Krikorian by
incumbent Republican Representative Jean Schmidt. Schmidt alleges in
her complaint to the commission that Krikorian made "false statements"
in his 2008 independent race against Schmidt. The commission
subpoenaed Edmonds in the case, Schmidt v. Krikorian and the
deposition was held at the offices of the National Whistleblowers
Legal Defense and Education Fund in Georgetown, Washington, DC.

According to sources attending the deposition, Edmonds testified that
while she was working as a translator for the FBI she was aware of
bribes being made by the Turkish government to elected and former
members of Congress, as well as senior officials of the executive
branch, including the Department of State.

The Eric Holder Justice Department attempted to block Edmonds’s
testimony and said it considered the subpoenaed testimony by the Ohio
Election Commission to be void since it was conducted in the District
of Columbia and not Ohio. However, no Justice Department or FBI
representatives attended the deposition by Edmonds as had been
previously expected. Edmonds has been blocked from revealing the
nature of the Turkish espionage and bribery ring by a State Secret gag
order that was imposed by Attorney General John Ashcroft. There is
uncertainty as to whether the Holder Justice Department will block
release of Edmonds’s testimony transcript and video.

After Edmonds was fired from her FBI job after she complained to her
superiors about Turkish intelligence infiltration of the translation
branch of the bureau, she was exonerated in a report by the FBI’s
Inspector General. Her allegations were also supported by senior
members of the U.S. Senate.

Edmonds’s testimony under oath revealed that the American Turkish
Council (ATC), which has been cited by a number of informed observers
as a sister organization of the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC), paid bribes to a number of members of the House of
Representatives in return for opposing the Armenian genocide
resolution as well as providing other legislative assistance to
Turkish special interests. Other Turkish organization in the United
States named in the bribery scandal is the Assembly of Turkish
American Assoiactions (ATAA).

WMR has learned that attorneys for Schmidt objected to most of
Edmonds’s statements.

Named as recipients of Turkish government bribes are, in addition to
Schmidt, former House Speakers Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Dick Gephardt
(D-MO), and brief House Speaker Robert Livingston (R-LA), as well as
Representative Dan Burton (R-IN) and former Representative Stephen
Solarz (D-NY). Also named are Brent Scowcroft, former National
Security Adviser under George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford and former
George W. Bush State Department Political Undersecretary Marc
Grossman.

Edmonds’s testimony also dealt with the involvement of the Rand
Corporation with the Turkish espionage and bribery operations in the
United States. Edmonds’s testimony also dealt with Turkish and Israeli
joint operations to engage in smuggling nuclear technology from the
United States. In particular, the Turkish espionage and
influence-peddling ring was heavily involved in the Bush White House
"outing" the covert identities of CIA counterproliferation officer
Valerie Plame Wilson and her Brewster Jennings & Associates
non-official CIA cover firm. WMR has learned from another informed
source that the nuclear smuggling operations also involved Israel PhD
students at American universities and research firms.

The Turkish operations also involved the U.S. corporate media, which
was pressured by the Turkish organizations not to cover the Armenian
genocide issue.

Krikorian, in a statement during a break in the deposition, said that
based on what he heard, such criminality "should not be tolerated in
the land of the free and home of the brave," adding that what he heard
constitutes "high crimes against the U.S. government."

Perhaps the most explosive part of the deposition involved the Turkish
government being engaged in a sexual blackmail operation against a
sitting member of the House of Representative. In what the FBI termed
a "hooking process," an ATC female operative enticed a female member
of the House into a lesbian sexual encounter at a Washington, DC
townhouse. A Turkish intelligence surveillance team had placed
surveillance bugs throughout the townhouse, including the bedroom and
captured the lesbian tryst on tape, according to Edmonds’s
testimony. To ensure the surveillance team successfully completed its
technical surveillance operation, another Turkish operational team was
present outside the townhouse to make sure the surveillance team
carried out its task.

After the surveillance recordings were made known to the House member,
she changed her support for the Armenian genocide resolution and
announced her opposition to it.

The identity of the House member in question was not revealed during
the deposition by Edmonds. However, WMR has learned from another
informed source that it is Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a
strong supporter of AIPAC and Israel and a close political ally of
President Obama and his chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

The first sexual encounter between Schakowsky and the Turkish lesbian
prostitute reportedly occurred at a vulnerable time for Schakowsky,
just after her mother’s death. The first sexual encounter was followed
by numerous others, according to U.S. law enforcement sources.

To her credit, Schakowsky has been a vocal opponent of private
military contractors and the lack of government oversight of their
activities, especially in Latin American and Iraq.

Informed Ohio political sources report that Schmidt’s complaint
against Krikorian has resulted in unforeseen "blow-back" with the
Edmonds testimony and that Schmidt is under significant pressure to
drop her complaint against Krikorian lest more damaging information is
revealed about members of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Schakowsky is a Chief Democratic Deputy Whip in the House and a member
of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is
married with grown children and was mentioned as a possible
replacement to fill Obama’s Illinois Senate seat. She has also been
mentioned as a possible Senate candidate in 2010 to replace tainted
Senator Roland Burris.

The revelations about Schakowsky will not come as good news to
Democrats in Illinois, already buffeted by scandals involving indicted
and impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich and ethics issues involving
Burris, Obama’s replacement in the Senate. However, the Turkish
bribery scandal is bipartisan with Hastert also implicated in bribe
taking.
August 8-9, 2009 — BREAKING NEWS. SPECIAL REPORT. Turkish government
blackmailed sitting member of House of Representatives – Wayne Madsen
Report (9 August 2009)

0090808_1

Posted by Bailey Wu Xiang

COURT WILL CURE OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Interview by ARMAN GALOYAN

16:29:06 – 07/08/2009
LRAGIR.AM

Last week, the Court of Appeal did not change the charges of the
political prisoners of the `case of seven’. What is your assessment as
a lawyer?

-The case of seven maybe considered the typical example of how one may
destroy justice and judicial system. Without any ground, they tried to
accuse the defendants of the case of seven of organizing mass
disorders. Then they saw that their intentions were not to come true,
they separated the cases again without any ground. Afterwards, the
regime had to declare an amnesty, which in my opinion was not a legal
step but a political one. Now I think that it is very important to
appeal these cases to the Human Rights European Court. At least they
may give legal answers to all the facts and the judicial system will
be able to be cured on the ground of those legal facts. On the other
hand, I do not know how long it will take to restore the damages
caused to the judicial system. The political prisoners have adopted
very right stances to pass through state courts in order to have the
right to appeal the verdicts to the Human Rights European Court to
restore the justice.

-As a lawyer, how would you comment on the amnesty if not all the
political prisoners were set free in its result?

-The amnesty, as I have already said, was not a legal step but a
political one. And proceeding from political reasons under the
repression of the PACE, the regime made that step. They may have
formed a logic document, but they did not even do it. Though the
government states that the PACE is not political bureau, nevertheless,
they consider it such one. The government did not release those
political prisoners with whom it had personal problems.

-You stated that the government was repressed by the PACE and declared
an amnesty, but the opposition affirms that the government released
the political prisoners under the repression of the people.

-I completely agree with this opinion. If there were no struggle
against intolerance and injustice inside the country, the PACE would
not have any ground to adopt such resolutions. The PACE is not a
political bureau in reality and it makes decisions in accordance with
the situation. So the regime was repressed from both of the sides.

-The amnesty did not apply to all the political prisoners, but it will
apply to those police officials, who used Cheryomukha gas gun, which
killed at least 3 people on March 1.

-The amnesty applied not only to the police officials, who used the
gas gun, but also to those people, who made breaches and electoral
frauds on the day of the Yerevan Mayoral election. They revealed the
essence of the amnesty they declared.

-You stated that on the basis of the legal assessment of the European
court, the Armenian judicial system may be cured. The European Court
seems to have made decisions in connection with the persecutions after
the 2003 presidential election, but the judicial system does not seem
to have recovered.

-The judicial system did not recover, but the regime had to renounce
from one of its levers. During 2003-04, administrative detention was
used as a measure of repression on the opposition. But they were
forced to give up this practice. However, I think that by the time the
European Court makes decisions in connection with the case of seven,
this regime will have already stopped existing.

RoA Prime Minister Meets Hntchak Party Secretary
2009/08/08 | 14:11

politics

Yesterday, RoA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan met with Sedrak Ajemyan,
Secretary of the Central Board of the Social-Democrat Hntchak
Party. The two discussed Armenian economic matters and how the
diaspora could play a more active role in developing the business
sector in Armenia.

Also on the table were issues including international recognition of
the Genocide and a just resolution of the Artsakh conflict.

news.am, Armenia
Aug 7 2009

Rogelio Pfirteri to arrive in Armenia

19:01 / 08/07/2009Samvel Lazarian, the RA Permanent Representative at
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) met with
Director-General Rogelio Pfirter.

The officials discussed Rogelio Pfirter’s forthcoming visit to Armenia
and OPCW activity-related issues.

Pfirter stated he appreciates Armenia’s contribution to OPCW’s
efficient activities. The OPCW is interested in further cooperation
with Armenia in achieving its goals, the OPCW Director-General said.

PRESS RELEASE
The Paros Foundation
918 Parker Street, A14
Berkeley, CA 94710
Contact: Peter Abajian
Tel: 310-400-9061
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

MUSEUM GIFT SHOP OPENS IN VANADZOR

Proceeds to benefit Vanadzor Museum and local artists

Vanadzor, Armenia – On Friday, July 3, the Vanadzor Museum of Fine Arts
() hosted the opening of their new Museum Gift Shop.
The Gift Shop was dedicated in the memory of Angela and Karekin
Barsoumian (Allepo – Los Angeles) by their families and friends, who
travelled to attend the ceremony from the United States and Lebanon.

`My mother and father had a strong passion for Armenian arts and would
be very proud to know that thanks to the support of their family and
friends, we were able to create a venue for Artists in the Lori Region
to sell their art work and support their families. I am so pleased
that the proceeds from this store will solely benefit the Museum and
the artists.’ Said Houry Barsoumian Abajian.

Following the short opening ceremony, students from Music School #3 in
Vanadzor performed a short concert at the Museum featuring students
playing traditional instruments and dancing.

`Today’s opening is of great benefit to the Lori Region, Vanadzor and
our Museum,’ said Papag Aloyan, Director of the Vanadzor Museum of
Fine Arts. `Both tourists and our local visitors now have the
opportunity to purchase local arts and crafts. We are very grateful
to the Paros Foundation and to the family and friends of Angela and
Karekin Barsoumian who made this all possible.’

The Paros Foundation () coordinated the
project with the Museum and the family to facilitate and oversee the
construction and opening of the Gift Shop. The Gift Shop will serve
many purposes including supporting the local economy by promoting
tourism in the Lori Region, providing local artisans and artists an
additional venue to promote sales of their artwork and crafts, and
supporting the Museum itself.

`I would like to thank the Mayor’s office, the Museum and its staff
and the family and friends of Angela and Karekin Barsoumian for
supporting this project.’ Said, Peter Abajian, Executive Director of
the Paros Foundation. `The addition of the Museum Gift Shop here at
the Vanadzor Museum is another step towards our overall goal of
attracting visitors to Vanadzor and the Lori Region. I am very
pleased that we successfully implemented a project such as this and I
am hopeful other families will see the value and benefit of such an
effort and consider The Paros Foundation as the conduit to implement
their own project in Hayastan.’

The Paros Foundation () is a Berkeley-based
private 501(c)3 foundation. The Paros Foundation has identified and
works with six organizations in Armenia involving the arts, children
and people with disabilities, which serve as leaders within their
respective fields. Foundation support comes in the form of
organizational funds, quality office space and operational mentoring.
The goal of the Foundation is to invest in these organizations to help
them attract other partners and sponsors for their important and
innovative work. The Foundation provides families and individuals
with a cost-effective and easy way of implementing their own small
projects in Armenia via the Foundation and its presence in Armenia.