Author: Harutyunian Christine

ASSE EXCHANGE PROGRAM SEEKS HOST FAMILIESCAPITAL CITY WEEKLY

Capital City Weekly
Wednesday, July 01, 2009

ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is participating
in the State Department sponsored Future Leaders Exchange Program
(FLEX) which brings high school students from the former Soviet Union
to the United States. This global initiative, which began in 1993, was
originally conceived out of former Senator Bill Bradley’s conviction
that true democracy in the former Soviet Union could be realized only
through targeting the young people in those countries.

Through this historic program, students are provided scholarships
to spend an academic year in the U.S. while living with American
host families and further seeks to foster democracy-building and
increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and FLEX students’
home countries. "When it comes to increasing understanding between
people from different cultures and countries, nothing is as powerful as
sharing your daily life with someone from another part of the world,"
says Alina Romanowski, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs. "We are encouraging American
families and schools to open their doors to these extraordinary young
people from other countries. "When a high school exchange student is
welcomed into a family and a community, the student gets a view of
America that will make a profound difference in who they are and how
they relate to and view Americans forever after. At the same time,
people in the community have an opportunity to benefit in ways that
will also change the way they look at the world." The FLEX Program is
seen as vital to expanding communication between people of the United
States and the partner countries in the interest of promoting mutual
understanding and respect. ASSE is currently seeking qualified host
families to welcome these special scholarship students coming from
Armenia, Azerbaijan, The Republic of Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. FLEX
scholarship students will acquire an understanding of American values,
build on leadership skills, and learn about the important elements of
American civil society. Upon returning home, FLEX scholarship students
will work together to share what they have learned while in America
and make a difference in their home countries. To learn more about
the FLEX Program, call 1-800-733-2773 or visit

ARMENIAN KHACHKAR PLACED NEAR ENTRANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING OF PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE D’AZUR IN FRANCE

Noyan Tapan
July 1, 2009

MARSEILLE, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An Unveiling
ceremony of an Armenian khachkar (commemorative cross-stone) took
place in the city of Marseille, France, on June 18. His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians presented it to the Governor
of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur of France a year ago, as a token
of friendship between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the
mentioned province.

Hrach Aslanian, the head of the European Armenian Communities’
Department of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, who took part in the
ceremony of unveiling the khachkar, informed Hayern Aysor it took them
a year to choose a place for the khachkar. It was at last decided to
place it near the entrance of the building of the Governor’s Office
which is in the center of Marseille.

Governor Michel Vauzelle, Province Council members and French
parliamentarians, heads of local self-government structures, heads
of all the Armenian organizations acting in the province, Archbishop
Norvan Zakarian, the primate of the French diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, clergymen of the Armenian Catholic, Evangelic
Churches were present at the ceremony of unveiling the khachkar.

The head of the European Armenian Communities’ Department of the
RA Ministry of Diaspora read Minister Hranush Hakobian’s address to
the Governor of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur and to the local Armenian
community at the ceremony of unveiling the khachkar.

H. Aslanian said that the largest Armenian community of France is in
that province: about 100 thousand Armenians live only in Marseille.

The ceremony of opening the street after Hrant Dink was held
in Marseille on June 12. His widow, Rakel Dink was present at
the ceremony. In H. Aslanian’s words, that street in the 12th
Armenian-populated district of the city was named after the martyred
chief editor of the Agos newspaper by the decision of the Marseille
Mayor’s Office.

Marseille Mayor and French Senate Deputy Jean-Claude Gaudin, Agos
reporter Aris Nalci, First Deputy Mayor of Marseille, Deputy of the
National Assembly Roland Blum, Deputy of the National Assembly Valerie
Boyer, Deputy Mayor, Marseille-Armenia organization head Didier
Parakian, district head of the 11th, 12th districts of Marseille
Robert Assante, district head of the 13th, 14th districts Garo
Hovsepian were present at the ceremony of opening the street.

In H. Aslanian’s words, Jean-Claude Gaudin presented at the ceremony of
opening the street after H. Dink the way of Agos former editor-in-chief
struggle for human rights and freedom in Turkey, he also expressed
assistance of the Marseille Mayor’s Office to the Armenian community,
as well as to R. Dink who continues her husband’s activity. The
Mayor mentioned with pride that one of Marseille streets will have
H. Dink’s name.

R. Dink in her speech expressed gratitude for the support of Marseille
and whole France.

After the ceremony of opening the street after H. Dink,
Marseille-Armenia organized a reception in Dink’s honour at the
Marseille Mayor’s Office.

Heads of all Armenian organizations participated in the reception.

In H. Aslanian’s words, a banquet dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of the Espoir pour l’Armenie (Hope for Armenia) organization took
place in Marseille, on June 19. Senior pastor of the Union of
Evangelical Churches in Armenia Rene Leonian, representatives of
the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur Governor, Marseille District Head and
Mayor, heads of all big local Armenian organizations were present at
the banquet.

The way passed by the organization, charitable programs implemented
in Armenia which related particularly to repair of children’s homes,
cultural centers, financing of nursing homes in Spitak, Vanadzor,
etc. were presented at the banquet.

The event was held under famous duduk-player Levon Minasian’s
performances.

The representative of the RA Ministry of Diaspora had a meeting with
the Marseille Armenian Hamaskaine (National) School’s administration
and directorate. The head of the European Armenian Communities’
Department of the RA Ministry of Diaspora stated that an arrangement
was reached during the meeting that the school will become a "sister
school" with Yeghegnadzor School N2 with a French bias.

Besides, according to the arrangement, 45-50 pupils from three
final classes of the Hamaskaine School will visit Armenia within the
framework of the Come Home program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora
in the second half of October, 2009 and will live in families of the
Yeghegnadzor "sister" school pupils.

Then Yeghegnadzor pupils will visit Marseille and live in French
Armenian families.

Meetings were also organized with representatives of the French
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Jeunesse Armenienne de France
(Armenian Youth Union of France). The latter’s 50-person dance group
will arrive in Armenia on July 12.

H. Aslanian also added that opening of the Armenian alphabet’s
wall-paintings was held at L’ecole des Soeurs Armeniennes Notre Dame du
Sacre-Coeur (Armenian Catholic Sisters’ School of Marseille) on June 4.

NEW STAMP "EUROPE 2009: ASTRONOMY" ISSUED IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 19:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A new stamp "Europe 2009: Astronomy" will be put into
circulation in Armenia, press office of HayPost reports. The official
ceremony will be held on July 1, at 28 Nalbandyan in the office N
10 of Haypost. The ceremony will be attended by the RA minister of
transport and communications Gurgen Sargsyan and the Head of European
Commission delegation to Armenia Raul de Lutsenberger.

YOVANOVICH DEFENDING OBAMA BECAUSE OF HIS APRIL 24 STATEMENT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.07.2009 01:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. ambassador to Armenia learned that President
Obama’s words do have consequences, as she was peppered with criticism
from Armenian-Americans upset that Mr. Obama is backing off a campaign
pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide, The Washington Times
reports. On a cross-country tour of Armenian-American communities,
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch has had to defend Mr. Obama while trying
to calm her listeners who are suspicious of a political double-cross.

"I know there is disappointment and even anger at President Obama’s
April 24 statement," she said at a meeting in Arlington, Mass.,
referring to Mr. Obama’s decision to avoid using the word, "genocide,"
in his address on the annual Armenian Remembrance Day.

"But President Obama went further in his statement than any previous
American president. While we must never forget the past, we also
must work together for a better future." In his April 24 address,
Obama refrained from using the term Genocide and referred to 1915
atrocities as "Mets Yeghern". During his pre-election campaign Obama
had many times promised to recognize Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Empire in case of being elected as US President.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Taleen Babayan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

June 30, 2009

_______________________________

PRIMATE RE-CONSECRATES DOORS OF ST. GREGORY ARMENIAN CHURCH OF CHICAGO,
HONORS LONG-TIME PARISHIONER

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian
Church of Chicago, Ill., this month to preside over the re-opening of the
church’s renovated cultural hall and other facilities.

On Saturday, June 20, the Primate re-consecrated the church’s bronze door.
The ceremony was followed by a fundraising banquet in celebration of the
re-opening of the church’s cultural hall. Renovations were launched at the
Chicago church last year, to repair damage caused by a June 2008 fire.

The following day, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
Following services, a Father’s Day luncheon was held to honor the Primate as
the parish’s spiritual father.

During the luncheon, parishioner Violet Koresian was honored with the St.
Vartan Award. Her service to the parish started when she was a member of the
ACYOA, then continued in her involvement with the church choir, parish
council, and women’s guild.

"My legs were wobbling, I was just speechless," said Koresian. "I was very
honored that the Diocese gave me this award, and that Srpazan presented me
with the ‘St. Vartan Award’ and plaque."

The Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian referred to Koresian as a "dedicated and
selfless servant of God" who inspires him with her "love and dedication."

"Violet Koresian is a true steward of the Armenian Church," said parish
council chair Michelle Babikian. "She is a caring, hard-working and generous
individual, and she is an example of someone with devotion and strong faith
to us all."

The Archbishop’s visit rejuvenated the parish after the frightening and
damaging fire that took place last year.

"The reconstruction is a sense of relief and accomplishment following the
fire," said Fr. Jebejian. "We made the House of God whole again. Our goal
was to make a welcoming atmosphere which creates opportunities for
fellowship in our church."

"We journeyed through the difficult days with the love, support, and
dedication of our parish and rebuilt and renewed our church," said Babikian.
"This weekend was a great celebration for the community. Top of Form

Bottom of Form

###

Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian re-consecrates the doors of St. Gregory
the Illuminator Armenian Church of Chicago, with the Very Rev. Fr. Aren
Jebejian assisting.

Photo 2: The Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, and
Diocesan Council Chair Oscar Tatosian present Violet Koresian with the St.
Vartan Award.

USAID ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH SERVICE & PHARMACY EXPO 2009

US State News
June 23, 2009 Tuesday 5:55 PM EST

YEREVAN, Armenia, April 9 — The U.S. Embassy issued the following
press release:

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) together with
five implementing partners will participate in the 8th international
"Health Service and Pharmacy EXPO 2009", which will take place in
Yerevan on April 10-13, 2009. The event, organized by Logos EXPO
Center with the support of RA Ministry of Health, will bring together
representatives of international organizations, local and foreign
healthcare companies, medical centers, research workers, entrepreneurs
and specialists working in medical products and services market. The
exhibition will provide the participants with an opportunity to present
their products, services and achievements in the health sector, as well
as to foster collaboration and find new partners in the market. Areas
covered by the EXPO include preventive medicine, clinical medicine,
stomatology, pharmacy, diagnostics, mother and child health, medical
equipment, hygiene and medicinal mineral waters.

As well, master classes, video presentations, roundtables and
seminars will be conducted within the framework of the four-day
event. USAID’s long-standing programmatic priority in Armenia’s
healthcare reform is to improve the quality, availability and use
of medical services to help create better and healthier future for
Armenian families. USAID/Armenia’s programs in the health sector
focus on primary health care (PHC), maternal and child health,
reproductive health, sexually transmitted infection control and
disease prevention activities. USAID also works with Armenia’s
pharmaceutical cluster to promote its growth and competitiveness
nationally and internationally, strengthen its business capacity
and workforce development. USAID/Armenia healthcare activities will
be presented at the EXPO through the Mission’s Primary Healthcare
Reform Project, Project NOVA (Innovations in Reproductive Health),
Competitive Armenian Private Sector Project, Human and Institutional
Capacity Building Project, Mobile Outreach Teams joint activity with
World Vision, and "Primary and Ophthalmologic Healthcare Alliance"
joint activity with the Diaspora-based Armenian EyeCare Project. The
official opening ceremony of the event will take place on April 10,
12:00pm, at the "Moscow House" Cultural-Business Center (7 Argishti
Street). The EXPO will run through April 13, 11:00-18:00.

PROTEST ACTION HELD IN YEREVAN IN CONNECTION WITH MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI’S VISIT

APA
June 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Yerevan – APA. Armenian Mitk (Idea) analytical centre planned to
conduct a protest action in connection with Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili’s visit to Yerevan, APA reports quoting Panarmenian. Police
intervened in protesters’ attempts to place placards near presidential
residence, reasoning that they had to clean the area. "We want to ask
President Saakashvli about the anti-Armenian policy against Armenians
of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Georgian authorities are currently conducting
aggressive policy in relation to Armenians. Recently, they denied MP
Shirak Torosyan’s entry to Javahkk and threatened Armenian teachers,"
Mitk centre expert Vahe Sargsyan said.

Although protesters did not manage to carry out their plans, they
declared of their intention to organize protests in other parts
of Yerevan.

ARMENIAN JEWELLER MINAS AGGAYA FROM ISTANBUL KILLED CRUELLY

Noyan Tapan
June 23, 2009

ISTANBUL, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Minas Aggaya,
a jeweller from Istanbul, was killed in his workshop on June 20,
Marmara daily reported, citing the Turkish media.

The 44-year-old Minas Aggaya did not go to his summer house on Big
Island after finishing his work on Saturday. Alarmed that her husband
did not answer her phone calls, Minas’ wife Keti Aggaya called the
police. On the evening of the same day policemen went to the jeweller’s
workshop in the Cagaloglu district. When trying to open the door,
they noticed that the alarm system had been turned off and they opened
the door with the help of a specialist. The policemen found the bloody
body of the Armenian jeweller at the entrance. An examination revealed
that there was a short fight between Minas Aggaya and the criminal,
and the jeweller was cruelly killed by being stabbed with a dagger
12 times. It is supposed that the criminal knew Aggaya.

A criminal case was opened in connection with the murder, investigation
is underway. Law enforcers are also examining the videotape recording
of the building’s security camera.

MEETING AGAINST SAAKASHVILI’S VISIT TO YEREVAN DISPERSED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.06.2009 12:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On June 24, 11 a.m., Armenian Mitk (Idea) analytical
centre planned to conduct a protest action in connection with Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili’s visit to Yerevan. Police intervened in
protesters’ attempts to place placards near presidential residence,
reasoning that they had to clean the area. "We want to ask President
Saakashvli about the anti-Armenian policy against Armenians of
Samtskhe-Javakheti. Georgian authorities are currently conducting
aggressive policy in relation to Armenians. Recently, they denied MP
Shirak Torosyan’s entry to Javahkk and threatened Armenian teachers,"
Mitk centre expert Vahe Sargsyan said.

According to him, Georgian frontier guards recently prohibited
transportation of Armenian books to Georgian territory. "It turns
out we are not entitled to send books to our compatriots. Georgian
authorities commit cultural genocide against Armenians of Javakheti,"
Sargsyan stressed. Although protesters did not manage to carry out
their plans, they declared of their intention to organize protests
in other parts of Yerevan.

"ARMAVIA" LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ROME

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
24.06.2009 11:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s national air carrier, Armavia Air Company
creates new opportunities for its passengers. Starting from 15 July,
2009, it launches direct flights to Rome – one of the world’s ancient
cities.

>From now on, passengers have an exclusive opportunity to visit the
cultural center of Europe taking a direct flight with Armavia each
Wednesday, the company’s press service reports. Flights from Yerevan to
Rome and v.v. will be operating according to the following schedule:
– Departure from Yerevan: 08:50 (local time) – Arrival in Rome: 10:00
(local time); departure from Rome: 11:20 (local time), Arrival in
Yerevan: 18:10 (local time).

Armavia Air Company is a member of International Air Transport
Association. Every month, it carries out over 30 flights to
different CIS and Near East countries. In 2008, the company had
647000 passengers.

Its air park consist of A-319 (3), A-320 (2), Il-86, Tu-134 air
planes. Armavia will be the first company to acquire Sukhoi Superjet
S-100 airplane by the end of 2009.