Author: Jabejian Elizabeth

Los Angeles Daily News
April 23 2004

Paraders prepare to entertain city
By Alex Dobuzinskis
Staff Writer

BURBANK — Entertainment will be the theme at Saturday’s 23rd annual
Burbank on Parade, with comedian George Lopez as the grand marshal of
the event.

Lopez, a Burbank resident whose eponymous TV show airs Friday nights
on ABC, will ride in a convertible with his wife and two daughters.
An estimated 4,000 people are expected to participate in the 219
parade entries.

“Kids will love it, the older people will love it. There’s something
for everyone, and it’s a wonderful community spirit, small
town-oriented, fun-for-everyone kind of day,” said Joanne Miller,
vice president and chairman of Burbank on Parade.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. at Olive Avenue and Keystone Street,
with the theme “Let Us Entertain You.”

Activities, including the judging of parade entries and a talent
showcase, will be held until 4 p.m. at the parade’s ending point,
George Izay Park.

The Burbank Tournament of Roses Association will host one of the 20
floats in the parade. There will also be horses, antique autos,
clowns, marching bands, Irish dancers and more.

The parade will also have city officials in it, among them City
Councilman Jef Vander Borght, who said that he has been going to the
parade for years with his family.

“Where else can you get a front row seat without having to spend all
night waiting in the cold?” Vander Borght said.

In past years, up to 30,000 people have watched the parade, said
Miller, and more could come out this year because of the popularity
of Lopez.

The date for the parade caused some controversy this year because it
falls on April 24, the day Armenians commemorate the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 to 1923.

“We did not put it on that day purposefully. We did not do it
maliciously, and we did not do it to injure anyone,” Miller said.

The parade is always held on the last weekend of April, and when the
problem with the date was presented to Burbank on Parade, it was too
late to change the date, she said.

“We have committed to not have the parade on this date in the future,
and we will hold to that,” she said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, (818) 546-3304 [email protected]

Institute for War and Peace
Armenian Gays get Organised

A self-help group is a tentative step towards getting society to recognize
homosexuals.

By Zhanna Alexanian in Yerevan (CRS No. 228, 21-Apr-04)

Eight gay men and a transsexual met in a Yerevan café recently to discuss
plans to form what will be Armenia’s first gay and lesbian rights
organisation and start to lift the taboo on homosexuality in the country.

None of them were from the capital. Although invited, Yerevan homosexuals
declined to attend the first meeting. Those who did show up were from four
other Armenian cities: Gyumri, Idjevan, Goris, and Echmiadzin.

The gathering was prompted by an announcement posted on the website of the
Association of Gay and Lesbian Armenians of France, calling on the gay
community in the home country to get together and discuss how to best
protect their rights.

“We formed a group we called the Self-Help Group, Grigor Simonian, a
23-year-old gay man from Gyumri, told IWPR. “We must come out and openly
admit we’re gay. How can we complain, or assert our lifestyle, unless we
publicly admit we’re gay?”

But the majority of Armenian gays and lesbians think it is too early to
institutionalise themselves, as neither the wider community, nor they
themselves, are ready. They say the first goal is to foster awareness and
tolerance in society at large. “They must accept us for what we are,
acolytes of same-sex love,” said Grigor. “We must embrace our true
identities. It’s our life, and no one has the right to interfere.”

Armenian gays and lesbians find each other on the internet, but many are
then too afraid to meet in person. For many, furtive emails are their first
attempts to come out of the closet.

“I was brave enough to take charge of organisational matters,” Grigor said.
“I feel no need to hide the fact I’m gay, but no need to flaunt it either.”

Grigor said the main reason he initiated the self-help group was his
determination to overcome his own fear and shame. But even he has not told
his parents that he is homosexual. After graduating from the sociology
department at Yerevan State University, Grigor lives and works in Gyumri,
where he has been living in a rented apartment, separately from his parents,
for the last five years.

When his parents inquired about his frequent trips to Yerevan, Grigor did
tell them that he goes there to organise gay and lesbian gatherings. “They
think I’m doing this out of my excessive organisational zeal. I’m not going
to tell them more than that. They’d be very upset.” Gyumri is a city where
conservative traditions are very deeply rooted.

Grigor is pessimistic about the likelihood of Armenian society ever
accepting homosexuals. “As a nation, we have zero tolerance for men and
women who do not procreate. This cannot be changed, not even if all the
barriers – intellectual and other – are removed,” he said, wistfully.

But a self-help group may be just what Armenian gays and lesbians need at
the moment. The more people join, the more secure and accepted they will
feel. At the same time they are receiving information about sexual health
and HIV/AIDS.

Grigor is convinced a sense of togetherness will make gay and lesbian
Armenians feel much better. More and more people are attending the
gatherings. The third meeting drew some 50 participants, including 15
lesbians and transsexuals from Yerevan. The organisation has not been
formally founded, but the participants say that is the next step.

Gays and lesbians say they have always had a hard time in Armenia in the
face of deep-rooted prejudice and bias. “Although I have never experienced
violence, I often find threatening notes on my door when I come home.
Threats are a part of our daily lives,” said Grigor.

In August 2003 Armenia abolished an article in its penal code prescribing
severe punishment for male homosexuals. The infamous Article 116 recommended
five-year prison sentences for men found guilty of homosexuality.

Although the article had not been applied since 1998, seven men were sent to
prison under Article 116 in 1996, and four each in 1997 and 1998. In effect,
as long as homosexuality remained a criminal offence, a gay and lesbian
rights organisation was out of the question.

Armenian gays and lesbians say that the abolition of Article 116 has removed
a key justification for seeking asylum in foreign countries. But many still
complain of police brutality and complain they are not treated on an equal
footing with other citizens.

Aram, 19, an artist and teacher, said he had been humiliated and beaten up
frequently by his peers since they found out he was gay. “They go around in
groups, and it’s useless to talk to them,” Aram said. “When your paths
cross, it is almost impossible to avoid a conflict.”

Few gays ever report offences against them to the police, fearing their
families will be notified. The new self-help group hopes to offer advice and
protection for vulnerable people. At the moment their only feeble recourse
to justice is through international non-government organisations, NGOs.

Christine Mardirossian, human rights officer at the Yerevan office of the
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, told IWPR her office
has not received any complaints from individual gays or lesbians.

The Armenian Helsinki Group is probably the only local NGO that gays and
lesbians trust. They frequently involve the NGO and its head, Michael
Danielian, in their troubles.

“They call me when they get in trouble with the police. I go and bail them
out,” Danielian told IWPR. He cited about two dozen cases when the police,
knowing that someone is gay, have tried to extort money from him. Danielian
said gay people much prefer to pay rather than let the police inform their
families and employers they were gay, and bear the stigma.

Homosexuals face a tough time when they do military service, said Danielian.
“Once, a whole regiment went without food for several days, because they did
not want to sit at the same table with a homosexual,” said Danielian. The
taboo against homosexuality is so strong that if a conscript openly admits
he is homosexual, then his tableware is kept separately and gay soldiers are
not allowed to do any kitchen work, cook or handle food.

Another problem is that army doctors have been known to send conscripts to
mental institutions after “diagnosing” them with homosexuality, after which
they are exempted from military service.

“I believe homosexual men have the right to do their civic duty and serve in
the military,” Danielian said. “But fellow soldiers and officers must learn
to treat them with respect. They are regular citizens just like the rest of
us.”

Zhanna Alexanian is a reporter for the ArmeniaNow.com weekly Web bulletin

Le Monde, France
12 Avril 2004

Les Eglises dénoncent les restrictions de visas délivrés aux
chrétiens par Israël

Jérusalem de notre correspondante

Sans commune mesure avec la fréquentation observée avant le
déclenchement de l’Intifada, en septembre 2000, les fêtes de Pâques
auraient, cette année, rassemblé davantage de croyants que les trois
années précédentes à Jérusalem, selon la police israélienne.

Les commémorations qui ont marqué le week-end pascal, et notamment la
cérémonie du “feu sacré” célébrée par les Eglises grecque et
arménienne au Saint-Sépulcre, vendredi 9 avril, ont attiré des
milliers de personnes dans les rues de la Vieille Ville. Cette année,
la Pâque catholique et la Pâque orthodoxe étaient fêtées au même
moment.

Pourtant, si des Européens, des Asiatiques et des Africains ont fait
le déplacement, les Palestiniens, eux, n’ont pu accéder à Jérusalem
qu’en nombre très restreint. En dépit des “centaines” de permis
accordés par les autorités israéliennes aux chrétiens des territoires
occupés, nombre d’entre eux ont attendu jusqu’au dernier moment une
autorisation pour franchir les barrages. En vain. Le bouclage
particulièrement serré des territoires, décrété durant la fête juive
de Pessah, a rendu encore plus difficile qu’à l’ordinaire leur
déplacement. Mgr Michel Sabbah, patriarche latin de Jérusalem, l’a
regretté, estimant que “des milliers de personnes -de Cisjordanie et
de Gaza- seraient venues à Jérusalem si Israël leur avaient donné les
autorisations nécessaires”.

Ces restrictions de circulation s’ajoutent aux difficultés
récurrentes que rencontrent les responsables de l’Eglise catholique
œuvrant en Israël et en Cisjordanie pour obtenir visas et permis de
séjour. Selon l’un de ses représentants, 138 demandes de visas
effectuées par des religieux seraient en souffrance au ministère de
l’intérieur israélien, soit une hausse de 60 % par rapport à 2003.
“Ce problème met en cause la survie des Eglises, ici, et va provoquer
leur paralysie”, a pour sa part estimé Mgr Sabbah. “Beaucoup en
concluent qu’il y a un désir de limiter le nombre de chrétiens dans
le pays pour renforcer le caractère juif de l’Etat -d’Israël-“, a
ajouté un autre responsable de l’Eglise catholique.

CONTRÔLES TATILLONS

Ces allégations sont qualifiées de “non-sens” par les autorités
israéliennes, qui insistent sur le caractère “technique et
bureaucratique” des contretemps observés. Toutefois, des responsables
du ministère des affaires étrangères israélien ont reconnu, dans le
quotidien Maariv, que les retards dans la délivrance de visas étaient
devenus plus criants ces derniers temps et que des personnes
attendaient un permis “durant des mois, sans raison, alors qu’il ne
fait aucun doute qu’elles travaillent pour des Eglises”. “Cela
provoque une crise avec la communauté chrétienne à travers le monde
et des gens estiment que nous violons les conventions internationales
en ne respectant pas la liberté de culte”, ont-ils également admis.
Le représentant du Vatican en Israël a d’ailleurs adressé une lettre
au premier ministre israélien, ainsi qu’aux ministres de l’intérieur
et des affaires étrangères, pour leur faire part de son indignation
face aux humiliations subies par des religieux à travers le pays.

A plusieurs reprises, en effet, des religieux en attente du
renouvellement de leur visa ont subi des contrôles tatillons de la
part des services de sécurité israéliens. Dernièrement, dans un
centre commercial de Jérusalem, 23 sœurs, qui disposaient d’un
document du ministère de l’intérieur attestant leur demande de visa,
ont été alignées contre un mur par des membres de la police des
frontières et priées d’attendre des vérifications complémentaires. A
Tel-Aviv, un moine polonais franciscain n’a échappé à une reconduite
à la frontière qu’après l’intervention du ministère des affaires
étrangères.

Stéphanie Le Bars

SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR TERRORIST ACT IN ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT
COMMITTED SUICIDE

16.04.2004 17:55

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Vram Galstian, sentenced to life imprisonment for the
terrorist act in the Armenian parliament on October 27 committed suicide in
the Nubarashen prison at about 11.00 a.m. today. As reported in the press
office of the RA Ministry of Justice, V. Galstian hanged himself with a
sheet. The incident was brought to the notice of relatives of the deceased,
RA Office of Public Prosecutor as well as a number of advocacy and public
organizations engaged in issues of penitentiary service. Criminal case has
been initiated.

Rosbalt, 14/04/2004, 17:04
Erevan Angered, Clamps Down on Russian Media
EREVAN, April 14. Staff of Armenia’s embassy in Moscow bought up all copies
of today’s Independent Newspaper from kiosks near the embassy, Avetik
Ishkhanian, head of the Helsinki Committee, told Rosbalt. Ishkanian said the
aim was to keep out of circulation an article headlined ‘Kocharian Takes
Revenge on the Opposition in the Name of Moscow.’

Rights organizations earlier had complained that issues of Independent
Newspaper containing information about Armenia’s opposition leaders were not
being sold in Erevan. In addition, broadcasts of NTV to Armenia have been
cut off since April 5, the day of the first mass meetings of the opposition.

Rosbalt, 14/04/2004, 13:04
With Outcome of Armenia Crisis in Doubt, Russia Keeps Its Distance
MOSCOW, April 14. Russia is taking ‘a quite sober and carefully weighed
approach’ to the situation in Armenia, Prof. Andranik Migranian declared at
a press conference here Tuesday. Migranian is a member of the board of the
Union of Armenians of Russia.

‘There have been no official statements by Russian authorities. And one
would have to be very foolish to make any,’ the professor said. ‘For whoever
turns out to hold power after the current crisis, Russian-Armenian relations
are hardly likely to change.’

He also said ‘it would be incorrect to draw direct parallels between the
current political crisis in Armenia and the velvet revolution in Georgia at
the end of 2003.’ Migranian, a political scientist, pointed out some crucial
differences. ‘The Georgian leadership was less unified,’ he said. ‘So when
the army and police declared neutrality, it was obvious that Shevardnadze’s
time was up. On top of that, the Georgian opposition had an indisputably
charismatic leader who was known for his struggle against corruption-Mikhail
Saakashvili.’. On the other hand, Migranian said, the Armenian opposition
has a number of leaders and was unable to agree on a single candidate in the
last election for president, which ‘very much helped Robert Kocharian to
win.’

‘Finally,’ Migranian said, ‘there is no George Soros with his money, who
helped get rid of Shevardnadze, in Armenia. Nor is the US ambassador so
active in Armenia. It’s known, after all, that the architect of the Georgian
revolution was the American ambassador Richard Miles.’

Turkey not to open Armenian border without Azerbaijan’s consent – minister

ANS TV, Baku
10 Apr 04

[Presenter] [Visiting] Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay has said
that without Azerbaijan’s consent, Turkey will not open its borders
with Armenia.

[Atalay in Turkish] In relations with Armenia, Turkey never forgets
Azerbaijan’s interests. Our foreign minister proposed that meetings be
held between the Azerbaijani, Armenian foreign ministers and Turkey to
discuss these issues.

We will never discuss any issues with Armenia without Azerbaijan’s
involvement. Our government wants to build peaceful relations with all
our neighbours and to discuss the existing problems.

[An unspecified correspondent] Do you want to say that Turkey can take
a decision only after Azerbaijan gives consent.

[Atalay] Yes, Azerbaijan’s interests will be taken into account in
taking decisions.

As you know, esteemed President Ilham Aliyev is coming to Ankara on 13
April. These issues will be discussed there. I cannot add anything
else to that.

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

CROSSROADS E- NEWSLETTER: APRIL 8, 2004

THE GREAT WEEK CULMINATES WITH EASTER
We are now coming to the end of the Great Week and approaching Easter
(Zatig)-the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ-the grandest and oldest
feast in the Christian calendar. The Great Week not only commemorates the
death and resurrection of the Lord, but it renews the efficacy of the
redemptive work of Christ. The resurrection is the victory of Christ over
death, and the hope of life eternal.
Maundy Thursday: The word Maundy comes from the Latin, mandatum, meaning
mandate or command, signifying the command by Christ that His disciples
should love one another (John 13:34). One great feature of Maundy Thursday
is the washing of the feet in memory of the deed by Christ (John 13:1-11).
Tenebrae, which comes from the Latin meaning darkness, or the Armenian
Khavaroom is the vigil, which begins Thursday evening. It is the night of
Gethsemane, marking the prayers of Jesus, the kiss of Judas, the arrest of
Jesus, the trial, and the denial by Peter. Traditionally it is an all-night
vigil in the Church and one of the most moving and heartrending services of
the Church.
Great Friday, or Good Friday, commemorates the passion and crucifixion
of Christ. It is the most solemn and sacred day in the Christian year,
commemorating the death and burial of Jesus. Traditionally it is one of the
longest in terms of church services throughout the day. Here in the United
States we have lost that tradition and services are generally limited to
evening services marking the crucifixion and burial.
Holy Saturday in the Armenian tradition is called Jragalouytz. In the
evening passages from the Bible are read and the Holy Mass is performed.
Great Lent (Metz Pahk) comes to an end.
As in past years, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, will mark the holy
days with various parishes. Today he will be celebrating Washing of the Feet
and Maundy Thursday with the parish of St. Gregory the Illuminator of
Philadelphia. Good Friday he will officiate at Sts. Vartanantz Church in
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Holy Saturday he will be with the St. Sarkis parish
of Douglaston, New York, and Easter Sunday he will officiate at St.
Illuminators Cathedral in New York City.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATES IN
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Vazken Ghougassian, Executive Director of the Eastern Prelacy,
participated last week in the International Conference at the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The overall theme of the conference was
Where the Only-Begotten Descended: The Church of Armenia through the Ages.
Dr. Ghougassian presented a paper on the Diocese of New Julfa and its
Relationship with Etchmiadzin in the 17th and early 18th Centuries. The
proceedings, comprising 45 papers covering the entire history of the
Armenian Church, will be published in a volume dedicated to noted scholar
and Armenologist, Professor Robert Thomson on the occasion of his 70th
birthday. The International Conference, which brought together top scholars
in the field, was sponsored by Mike and Shirley Kojaian and the Alex and
Marie Manoogian Foundation.

ARMENIAN SISTERS ACADEMY WINS TOURNAMEN
The Armenian Sisters Academy, Radnor, Pennsylvania, was the winning team
of the Mid-Atlantic region Jeopardy Tournament that took place at Sts.
Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. The tournaments are sponsored by
the Armenian National Education Committee (ANEC), which is jointly sponsored
by the Eastern Prelacy and the Armenian Relief Society.
Participants formed teams from the Hamasdegh School, Washington, D.C.;
Nareg School, Ridgefield, New Jersey; Siamanto Academy, New York, New York;
Armenian Sisters Academy, Radnor, Pennsylvania; Holy Martyrs Day School,
Bayside, New York; and Holy Martyrs community, New York.
The next Armenian Jeopardy Tournaments will take place on Saturday, May
8 in Watertown, Massachusetts, for the New England area, and on Sunday, May
15 in Chicago, Illinois, for the Midwest area. The championship game is
scheduled for May 22 in Philadelphia.

PRELACY LADIES GUILD MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON
The annual Mothers Day luncheon and Fashion Show sponsored by the
Prelacy Ladies Guild will take place Monday, May 3, at The St. Regis, 2 East
55th Street, New York City. This year the PLG is celebrating its 30th
anniversary. Neiman Marcus of Paramus, New Jersey will present the Spring
2004 Collections. Reception starts at 11:30 a.m. with luncheon at 12:30 p.m.
Seating is limited so make your plans now to attend. For reservations
contact the Prelacy office, 212-689-7810.

CILICIAN CATHOLICATE PARTICIPATES IN
ECUMENICAL SEMINAR
Rev. Fr. Magar Ashkarian, the assistant to the Dean of the Cilician
Theological Seminary, participated in a seminar on the nature and the
purpose of the church in the Orthodox and Evangelical tradition. This
seminar is a follow-up of two earlier seminars, which brought together
Orthodox and Evangelicals in Bossey, Switzerland, to strengthen the World
Council of Churches initiatives to build meaningful relationships between
the two traditions.
The seminar included an enlarged number of participants and focused on
the nature and the mission of the church. The theme of the seminar was
treated in relation to the understanding of salvation and of the role and
place of the Bible in the two traditions. The participants sought ways of
reconciliation, better common understanding of one another and mutual
support that leads towards a common witness to the Gospel in response to the
challenges of modern times. The findings of the seminar will contribute
towards the 2005 Conference on the World Mission and Evangelism.

CHRISTOS HARYAV EE MERELOTZ
OHRTNYAL EH HAROUTIUNEN CHRISTOSI
CHRIST IS RISEN. BLESSED IS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

visit our website at

Azeri minister wants Council of Europe’s help in resolving Karabakh

Space TV, Baku
7 Apr 04

During his official visit to Baku today Council of Europe
Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer will mainly discuss the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict on Nagornyy Karabakh. Mr Schwimmer held
a meeting at the Foreign Ministry.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said Mr Schwimmer’s visit will give a new
impetus to relations between his country and the Council of
Europe. The minister told the guest about the situation with refugees
and displaced people who lost their homes as a result of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. He stressed the importance of the Council of
Europe’s and the world community’s assistance in resolving the
problem.

Tomorrow morning Mr Schwimmer will visit hostels in Baku where
refugees and displaced persons are living.

RUSSIA AND CIS HOLD AIR DEFENCE EXERCISES, NATO WATCHES FROM SIDELINES

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
7 Apr 04

Moscow Region (Russian Air Force central command post), 7 April: Air
force and air defence units of eight CIS states – Russia, Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine –
are taking part in a command and headquarters exercise of the
Commonweath’s joint air defence system.

Over 50 CIS air defence command posts are involved, reporters were
told today by Lt-Gen Aytech Bizhev, the (Russian) Air Force deputy
C-in-C with responsibility for the joint air defence system. Also
taking part are about 60 aircraft including Su-29, Mig-29 and Mig-31
fighters, Su-25 ground attack aircraft, Su-24 front-line bombers,
Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and also intelligence-gathering aircraft.

The Russian Air Force unit based in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, is taking part
in such exercises for the first time, Gen Bizhev said. An inflight
refuelling tanker took off from NATO’s base at Manas near Kant
today. “They’re carrying out reconnaissance of course. They know about
today’s exercises, which are being watched with great interest at all
military bases in adjacent countries,” Bizhev stressed.

Asked if NATO aircraft will be used as notional targets during today’s
manoeuvres, he said: “We track them by electronic means. If NATO
aircraft breach established flight rules, we shall take appropriate
action.”

Bizhev also said that “these exercises should not be seen as a
response to NATO’s deployment of warplanes in the Baltics. We plan
exercises like these ones every year and they are routine.”

(The point of the exercise was to rehearse the “repulse of sudden
airspace incursions and prevent hijacks”, a later ITAR-TASS report, at
1027 gmt, said. It added that Russian Air Force C-in-C Vladimir
Mikhaylov was in overall command.)