Author: Chavushian

Pan Armenian News

AZERI SOLDIER ESCAPED TO ARMENIA

13.05.2005 05:55

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 5 Jafarov Orhan Isa serving his service for fixed
period in one of the Nakhichevan military units deserted to Armenia and
asked for shelter, Armenian Defense Ministry’s Press Secretary, Colonel
Seyran Shahsuvarian said in a conversation with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his
words, today at 1.00 local time the soldier was conveyed to the Azeri party.
To remind, earlier the Azeri media spread information that Jafarov Orhan Isa
was captured by Armenians.

CD Reviews: System of a Down…

The Scotsman – United Kingdom
May 13, 2005

Fiona Shepherd

SYSTEM OF A DOWN: MEZMERIZE *** COLUMBIA, GBP 12.99 US-ARMENIAN jazz
metal crew System of a Down may not exactly be a household name but,
in heavy rock circles, they are superstars to the tune of 5 million
sales of their last album Toxicity . And the quirky quartet are not
short on ideas. Single B.Y. O. B. (short for Bring Your Own Bombs)
crams brutal metal riffs, Russian folk vocals, punky thrash, anti-war
lyrics (“dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine”) and a
Parliament/Funkadelic influence into four heady minutes, which is
impressive, but also ridiculous.

For such a revered band, they can be hard to take seriously. Violent
Pornography probably has a valid point to make about broadcasting
boundaries but it just jabbers, while the catchy Radio/Video, with its
folk interlude, is practically a novelty tune. But there is something
likeably absurd about their schizophrenic style. In six months, they
plan to hit us with companion album Hypnotize. Take a deep breath.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

May 12, 2005

EASTERN PRELACY FORMS COMMITTEE
TO CELEBRATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEMINARY
The first meeting of the Steering Committee which will plan the visit of
His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy in the fall on the occasion of
the 75th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Cilician See’s
Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, took place last week, Tuesday,
May 3, in New York City.
The Catholicos’s visit to the Eastern Prelacy will begin on October 19
and continue through to November 1. During this time he will attend various
events in the New York metropolitan area, as well as in Washington, DC,
Boston, and Chicago.
The main focus of the trip is the 75th anniversary of the Seminary. His
Holiness will also participate in two symposiums. One in New York
co-sponsored by the Prelacy and the World Council of Churches, under the
general theme of “Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement in the 21st
Century”; and one in Cambridge, Massachusetts, co-sponsored by the Prelacy
and Harvard University, dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the creation
of the Armenian alphabet.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I ISSUES ENCYCLICAL ON THE OCCASION
OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEMINARY
An Encyclical dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of
the Seminary of the Catholicate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, was read in
the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in Antelias, last Sunday, May
1. Fr. Bartev Gulumian, the Dean of the Seminary, read the encyclical during
the Divine Liturgy.
The encyclical focuses on the history of the Seminary’s re-establishment
following the Genocide and the important role it has played in the education
of a new generation of leaders.

ST. GREGORY CHURCH OF GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS WILL HOST
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY NEXT WEEK
The National Representative Assembly (NRA) will convene next week in
Granite City, Illinois, hosted by the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.
The clergy will begin their meetings on Tuesday, May 17. The next day the
full Assembly of religious and lay delegates will convene. The NRA is the
highest authority of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Eastern
United States, and is charged with the task of supervising the
ecclesiastical and administrative bodies of the Eastern Prelacy.
Thursday afternoon, May 19, delegates and visitors will participate in a
special session dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the
Armenian alphabet. Under the title of Celebrating our Heritage, the keynote
address will be delivered by Dr. Hratch Zadoian, of Queens College. This
will be followed with presentations on: Armenian Epigraphic Heritage, by Dr.
Vazken Ghougassian, Executive Director of the Prelacy; Themes in Armenian
Christian Literature, by Dr. Michael Papazian, chair of the Religion and
Philosophy Department, Berry College, Georgia; Understanding the Divine
Liturgy, by Ms. Nayiri Baljian, and Closing Remarks by V. Rev. Fr. Shahe
Panossian, pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ.

CATHOLICOS CALLS ON GERMAN CHURCHES TO SUPPORT
RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
His Holiness Aram I sent a letter to the spiritual head of the German
Protestant Churches, His Grace Bishop Wolfgang Huber, expressing his desire
that the German churches support the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
His Holiness praised the efforts of the German Parliament in adopting a
resolution concerning the Armenian Genocide. His Holiness also praised
German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, for bringing up the issue during his
latest visit to Turkey.

BEAST ON THE MOON IS CONTINUING
ITS OFF-BROADWAY PRESENTATION
Beast on the Moon, the play about two Armenian genocide survivors, has
been playing to full audiences and its presentation has been extended for at
least another five weeks. If you have not seen it, we recommend you purchase
tickets immediately. Some of us here at Crossroads have seen it twice and
hope to see it again before it concludes its off-Broadway run.
Here are just a few comments the play has elicited:
“An extraordinary play. A first class performance, finely directed, with
heart stopping performances. Simply magnificent!” (Backstage)
“The play is compassionate and humane. The luminous Lena Georgas is a
delight to watch!” (The New Yorker)
“There’s a reason the play has been such an international success: its
themes strike a nerve. Metwally and Georgas find touching human dimensions
within the emotional cartwheels required of them. They have the guilty
electricity of survivors: stubborn sparks of life in the shadow of
atrocity.” (TimeOut, New York)
Visit or contact telecharge at 212-947-8844.
There is a special five-week offer for tickets (code No. BMNWS25) at $35
(regularly $65).

“TO YOUR HEALTH!” AT ST. SARKIS THIS SUNDAY
Well-known health professionals will speak this Sunday, May 15,
beginning at 1:30 pm at St. Sarkis Church, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston,
NY. For information contact Dr. Arthur Kubikian, 718-786-3842 or the church
office, 718-224-2275.

ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL CONTINUES 20TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS WITH GALA CONCERT
St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, Watertown, MA, is continuing
its 20th anniversary celebrations with a gala concert to take place at the
Longy School of Music on Friday, June 3, at 7:30 pm. The artists who will be
performing are: mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan; tenor Yeghishe
Manucharyan; pianist Noune Karapetyan; violinist Sarkis Karapetyan; and
pianist Vardan Ovsepian. For information: Araz at 617-852-8189 or Arev at
617-980-1906.

RECENTLY PUBLISHED TRANSLATION IS FETED
Commentary on Genesis by Eghishe, based on the scholarly work of Levon
Khachikyan, was recently published in a bilingual (Classical
Armenian-English) edition by the Matenadaran (Mashtots Institute of Ancient
Manuscripts) in Armenia.
The translator, Professor Michael Papazian, was honored last night on
the occasion of its publication by his colleagues and friends at Berry
College, in Georgia, where he is chair of the Religion and Philosophy
Department.
The book is available at the Prelacy Bookstore.

FIFTH VOLUME IN KAREKIN I SERIES IS PUBLISHED
The fifth volume, entitled Theology, in the Karekin I Theological and
Armenological Studies Series was recently published. The ongoing series is a
long-range project of publishing the major works of His Holiness Karekin I,
Catholicos and Supreme Patriarch, who died in 1999.
The works published to date are: Karekin I: In His Own Words; The
Theology of the Armenian Church According to her Hymns; Armenian Church and
Culture: Images and Themes; Building Bridges: The Ecumenical Journey of
Karekin I; and Theology.
At least two more volumes will be published this year, including his
well known and respected, Council of Chalcedon and the Armenian Church, and
Think and Enter, an English translation of Khoreh yev Medir which the late
Catholicos wrote decades ago and which has never been translated into
English.
The Karekin I Series was established by Haig and Elza Didizian of
London, in memory of His Holiness Karekin I. All of the books published in
the series are distributed to libraries, theological seminaries and
religious centers. The series editors are Dr. Vazken Ghougassian and Iris
Papazian.
For information about the series contact the Prelacy Bookstore,
212-689-7810.

THIS SUNDAY IS PENTECOST
This Sunday, May 15, fifty days after Easter, is Pentecost
(Hogegaloust). The religious observance of Pentecost has roots in the Old
Testament. The New Testament clearly shows that Pentecost was celebrated in
the first century and took on a special Christian significance. The apostles
were ordinary men and Jesus knew that they needed to be endowed with special
talents in order to spread the word in different parts of the world.
Accordingly, Jesus advised His disciples not to begin teaching immediately
but rather to wait for the “Descent of the Holy Spirit.” In the Acts of the
Apostles, we read that on the day of Pentecost, the eleven apostles, as well
as others, had gathered in the Upper Room and suddenly a sound came from
heaven like the rush of a mighty wind. The disciples were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages. Many of the people in
Jerusalem on that day were from foreign lands. The apostles were able to
communicate with these people in their own native language, thus being able
to fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go therefore to all nations and make them my
disciples.” (Matthew 28:19).
As a result of the events on Pentecost the early disciples became
anointed, inspired, effective, and prophetic witnesses.

SPRINGTIME IN NEW YORK CITY
For those who are not intimately familiar with Manhattan, the name
conjures up images of tall buildings of concrete and steel. In truth the
seasons are quite visible and beautiful. Right now spring flowers of tulips
and daffodils are everywhere along the streets in super-large containers.
Rows and rows of beauty! A very walkable city at anytime of the year, it is
particularly pleasant now to walk the streets and enjoy the multi-colored
flowers, bringing to mind the words of poet William Wordsworth: And then my
heart with pleasure fills / And dances with the daffodils.

Visit our website at

Armenian Youth Federation of Australia
PO Box 238, Willoughby NSW 2068
[email protected]
02 9975 4487

PRESS RELEASE

12th May 05

450 walk for Armenian Genocide Recognition

SYDNEY – The Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF) led the
Armenian community of Sydney in a ’90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide Candlelight Recognition Walk’ through the City’s central
business district on Thursday April 28 2005.

450 friends of the Armenian community of Australia accepted the
invitation to walk through the City, candles in hand to commemorate
the tragic and unrecognised Genocide of the Armenian people at the
hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

The members of the AYF and the Homenetmen Antranig Scouts, along with
the students of Hamazkaine Arshak and Sophie Galstaun School led the
general public, which included many descendants of the 1.5 million
civilians slaughtered by the Turkish government.

“This should serve as a message for the Turkish government of today,”
said the chairperson of the AYF Mr Kevork Tufenkjian.

“90 years on, in faraway Australia, 450 members of the same Armenian
community that the Turks tried to wipe out have again joined hands in
recognition, commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.”

“We challenge the Turkish government of today to face up to their
predecessors’ misdemeanours and admit what history books prove beyond
doubt * that they attempted the systematic elimination of an entire
people by leading them on a death march and taking nine-tenths of
their land.”

“We are here in a cry for justice,” he added beside a giant poster
announcing ‘Armenian Genocide * 90 years of Turkish Denial’.

“We, the youth, will not rest until justice is served and our
forefathers’ spirits can rest in peace.”

The ’90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Candlelight Recognition
Walk’ was part of a series of commemoration ceremonies conducted by
the Armenian community in Sydney.

The walk, which began at Hyde Park and went through Elizabeth Street,
Martin Place and Macquarie Street, culminated in a wreath laying
ceremony at the Armenian Genocide memorial monument at the NSW State
Parliament House.

*END*
Contact: AYF Public Affairs Committee * 0409 572 958

Haig Kayserian
[email protected]
0403-317-903
SBS Sportswriter

NKR PRESIDENTS CONGRATULATES HIS PEOPLE ON 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT
PATRIOTIC WAR VICTORY AND 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION OF SHUSHI

STEPANAKERT, MAY 10. ARMINFO. President of Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Arkady Ghoukassyan has congratulated his people on the 60th
anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and
the 13th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi and the formation of
the NKR Defence Army.

Each second Karabakh resident was killed in the Great Patriotic War
showing wonders of heroism and defending not only the Soviet Union but
his own home and family. Karabakh is proud of its heros: Marshal
Bagramyan, Admiral Isakov, Marshal of Aviation Khamferyants.

It is symbolical that May 9 is also the anniversary of the liberation
of Shushi and the formation of the NKR Army. This means continuity of
glorious traditions and resolution of the Karabakh people to defend
its homeland and liberty. Today it is clear that were it not for the
Shushi operation the Karabakh Armenians would have faced the destiny
of the Armenians massacred in Ottoman Turkey in early XX.

Today the NKR Defence Army is the most reliable guarantor of the
security of the Karabakh people and independence of Karabakh. It is
being continuously reinforced to be able to rebuff aggression at any
moment. But the Karabakh army is an army of freedom and peace and will
never pose threat to the security of its neighbors.

Addressing veterans Ghoukassyans thanks them for what they did for the
peace of their nation in the past and promised to help them in their
everyday life at present. “I wish you health for many years ahead and
peace and prosperity to your homes and families,” says Ghoukassyan in
conclusion.

Yerkir/arm
May 06, 2005

May of our victories

May is unique in the history of the Armenian nation. The historic
victories we have won happened in May: Avarair, Sardarapat and
Bash-Aparan, the victory in the WWII, and the liberation of Shushi¦ In
all these battles, the Armenians won thanks to their determination,
powerful will and forceful army.

Today, our struggle has moved from the battlefield to the fields of
diplomacy, economic development, and creation of statehood with a
strong army. In these fields, our success relies on elimination of the
obstacles that hinder the normal development of the state, political
and public structures of Armenia as well as the efficiency, the unity
of the nation and the establishment of fairness in the country.

MG co-chairs bracing up for presidents’ meeting

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 5 2005

Baku, May 4, AssA-Irada — The OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs
are preparing for the Warsaw meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents, the Russian co-chair of the MG Yuri Merzlyakov has said.

Merzlyakov told local TV channels that after the presidents’ meeting
the parties will start coordinating six ‘elements’ on the Upper
Garabagh conflict resolution that have already been determined. These
elements may lay groundwork for an agreement to be reached in the
future, he said.

“We will tackle coordination of these issues after this meeting.”
Merzlyakov noted that there may be additions to these ‘elements’ and
the co-chairs have forwarded relevant proposals to the conflicting
sides.

Touching upon frequent ceasefire breaches on frontline and the three
Azerbaijani soldiers kept from the Armenian captivity, Merzlyakov
said the MG co-chairs have issued a joint statement on the matter.

“We have called on the parties to honor their obligations to maintain
ceasefire. As for the release of the soldiers, the issue concerns
not only their return but also exchange of captives in general. The
problem persists for this very reason.”

The Russian co-chair added that ceasefire violations will be in focus
at the Warsaw meeting.*

SABER RATTLING GROWS LOUDER AROUND ABKHAZIA
–Zaal Anjaparidze

Eurasia Daily Monitor
Monday, May 2, 2005 — Volume 2, Issue 85

The leadership of Georgia’s separatist region Abkhazia is beefing up
its military potential, while the Georgian armed forces are continuing
their military exercise. Televised reports about the Georgian exercises
began with title cards reading “Sukhumi” (capital of Abkhazia) and
“Tskhinvali” (capital of breakaway South Ossetia). Images of military
demonstrations were accompanied by interviews with Georgia’s hawkish
defense minister, Irakli Okruashvili, who told the Week’s Palette
(April 25-May 1) that his main goal is the restoration of Georgian
territorial integrity “as soon as possible.”

Sukhumi responded by announcing its readiness to conduct additional
military exercises that would be “unprecedented in Abkhazian
history.” Anatoly Zaitsev, a retired Russian general recruited
as deputy defense minister of Abkhazia, said that the upcoming
military exercise would be far larger-scale than those held April
18-21. However, he did not specify the reasons for or the dates of
the next maneuvers (Caucasus Press, Inter-Press, April 28).

The move from peaceful discussions to saber rattling is undermining
the fragile progress reportedly achieved at the Georgian-Abkhaz
talks in Geneva on April 7-8 under the auspices of the UN
Secretary-General’s Group of Friends of Georgia (Russia, United
States, France, Great Britain, and Germany). The final document
produced at those talks again emphasized the need to avoid military
force, activate confidence-building measures, and work toward refugee
return and economic cooperation between Tbilisi and Sukhumi. Sergei
Shamba, Abkhaz minister of foreign affairs and head of the Abkhaz
delegation in Geneva, even traveled to Italy’s autonomous South
Tyrol region together with the Georgians to consider using that
region as a possible model for future Georgian-Abkhaz relations. “The
opportunity to start a serious dialogue has appeared. We have not had
a better chance to come to an agreement since the war,” said Irakli
Alasania, head of the Tbilisi-based Abkhaz government in-exile and
a participant in the talks. According to him, Georgia has already
prepared a package of proposals for developing trans-border economic
cooperation with Abkhazia, including micro-credit projects allowing
joint Georgian-Abkhaz ventures as a first step for building trust
(Nezavisimaya gazeta, April 11).

Prior to the Geneva talks, Sergei Bagapsh, president of Abkhazia, had
expressed his readiness to meet Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili,
but he later changed his mind and said such a meeting would only be
possible outside of Georgia. Saakashvili, in turn, stated that he would
meet Bagapsh only in Tbilisi (Imedi TV, April 14; gazeta.ru March 30;
Nezavisimaya gazeta, April 11).

Following sharp criticism by Abkhaz Security Council secretary
Stanislav Lakoba, Shamba was forced to explain his participation
in the trip to South Tyrol. Lakoba argued that South Tyrol couldn’t
be an example for Sukhumi, because Abkhazia is an independent state
(Regnum.ru, April 18; Resonance, April 19).

Meanwhile, the United States has turned its attention toward Abkhazia,
as U.S. President George W. Bush plans to visit Georgia on May 10. On
April 11, a U.S. delegation that included the State Department’s Senior
Advisor for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy, Ambassador Steven Mann,
and U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles visited Sukhumi. Yet
after talks with the U.S. delegation, Bagapsh continued to insist
that Abkhazia would not give up its independence. Bagapsh denied
that the U.S. diplomats had invited him to Tbilisi to hold talks with
Saakashvili during Bush’s visit (Regnum, Rosbalt, April 11-12). He
also stressed that Russia remains a major mediator in the conflict.

After the talks Bagapsh promptly visited Moscow April 12-13, and on
April 18-21 the Abkhaz army, likely at Moscow’s suggestion, conducted
large-scale military exercises as if responding to the visit by the
U.S. diplomats. The military exercise aimed at repelling an imaginary
invasion by Georgian troops. The exercise deployed Abkhaz troops
backed by modern jetfighters, with Russian personnel training the
Abkhaz pilots.

Simultaneously Abkhaz separatists are actively courting Russian and
Turkish investment in hopes of improving the economic situation in
the region. More than 50 Russian construction companies participated
in an April 10-11 exhibition in Sukhumi, and 13 more Turkish firms
have joined Abkhazia’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce. However,
heavy crime hinders the inflow of investments. On April 26, Bagapsh
expressed concern about the dire criminal situation in Abkhazia
and took direct control over the investigation into an assault on
a busload of Russian tourists on April 23 (Caucasus Press, April
28; Rosbalt, April 11; Interfax, April 26). On May 28, the foreign
ministers of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Karabakh, and Transnistria
gathered in Sukhumi to prepare for a “presidential summit” in May.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Kodori Valley, a Georgia-controlled
section of Abkhaz territory, is becoming tenser. The Georgian defense
ministry has announced plans to disarm the 400-man local paramilitary
detachment “Monadire” (Hunter). While the ministry considers the unit
to be “ineffective,” it has successfully defended the Valley from
multiple Abkhaz attacks since 1994. The detachment refuses to disarm
(Resonance, April 27).

The latest round of Georgian policy swings towards Abkhazia suggest
that while Tbilisi is seeking to regain Abkhazia by political means,
the government has not completely ruled out a military solution.

Zaman, Turkey
May 1 2005

Signal for Face-to Face Meeting
By Erdal Sen
Published: Sunday 01, 2005
zaman.com

The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who took the first
step about the genocide claims by writing a letter to Kocharyan is
getting ready for his second initiative. Diplomatic sources expect a
face-to-face meeting in up coming international meetings, in which
the two leaders will participate in May.

Drawing the attention of the international community with his
proposal to handle the historical claims in a joint commission,
Erdogan is expected to make his second initiative by meeting with
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. Both Erdogan and Kocharyan will
participate in the ceremonies in Moscow to be held on May 9 and also
in the Summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw on May 15-16. It is
reported that the two leaders might meet in either of these two
activities.

According to reports from the prime ministry, it is planned that
Erdogan and Kocharyan will meet in Warsaw, the capital of Poland,
where the Summit of the Council of Europe will be held. It is
indicated that no time and place were set for the meeting, instead an
opportunity will be created for the meeting during the summit;
however, if no opportunity is found, the possibility of not having a
meeting is not ignored. If a meeting takes place between Erdogan and
Kocharyan, the high-ranking officials of the two countries will for
the first time discuss the genocide claims face to face. The
diplomatic initiative that Turkey recently began on the issue, began
with the exchange of letters between the two leaders.

Armenpress

ARMENIANS BOXERS RESERVE TWO BRONZE MEDALS

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Hovhannes Danielian (48 kg) from Yerevan
and Myasnik Malkhasian (85 kg) from Etchmiadzin have managed to slip into
semi-finals of an international boxing tournament in Ukraine’s Donetsk that
has brought some 100 athletes from around 15 countries.
Whatever the outcome, Armenian athletes have already reserved two bronze
medals. Four other Armenian boxers failed to fight for medals.