Author: Jagharian Tania

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
September 13, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]

ARMENIAN CAUCUS LARGEST EVER AT 163 MEMBERS
Representative DeLauro Joins

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly today welcomed the news that the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues now boasts 163 Members with the
addition of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), making it the largest
Caucus to date in the 109th Congress.

"The Caucus plays an important role in helping to strengthen the
U.S.-Armenia relationship and we will continue our efforts to expand the
Caucus even further," said Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "We look
forward to working with Representative DeLauro and her staff on issues
facing Armenia and Armenian-Americans."

DeLauro, who is currently serving her eighth term in office, has
co-sponsored legislation affirming the Armenian Genocide (H. Res. 316)
and has repeatedly signed congressional letters to the President urging
him to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24th
statement. Additionally, DeLauro signed a congressional letter in 2004,
urging the President to publicly condemn the ongoing Azerbaijani war
rhetoric against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. DeLauro also supported
the amendment that retained Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act which
imposes restrictions on assistance to Azerbaijan until its government
ceases all blockades against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenian Caucus was formed in 1995 to provide a bipartisan forum for
legislators to discuss how the United States can better assist the
peoples of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. As a member of this
all-important body, DeLauro joins Connecticut Representatives Nancy L.
Johnson (R-CT), John B. Larson (D-CT), Robert R. Simmons (R-CT) and
Christopher Shays (R-CT) in supporting Armenian-American interests.

The Congresswoman serves on the House Appropriations Committee and the
House Budget Committee.

The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issue. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

###

NR#2006-080

E.P.’S DECISIONS ARE NOT BINDING, ERDOGAN

Turkish Press, MI
Sept 11 2006

ANKARA – "The resolutions adopted by the European Parliament (EP)
are not binding. We have not accepted anything about the so-called
Armenian genocide. Our stance on that issue is obvious," said Turkish
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan held a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart
Sali Berisha after their bilateral meeting in Turkish capital of
Ankara.

Referring to the report on Turkey’s progress towards accession adopted
by the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs last night, Erdogan said,
"asking us to change our stance is nothing but a dream."

-TURKEY DOES NOT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH CITIZENS OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN-

Emphasizing that Turkey does not have any problem with its citizens of
Armenian origin, Erdogan said, "we told them ‘to open their archives’
since we are opening ours. We also suggested that art historians,
lawyers, political scientists and archeologists should deal with this
matter. Our Foreign Ministry is handling necessary initiatives."

-MEETING WITH BERISHA-

Noting that they discussed with Albanian PM Sali Berisha recent
developments in the Balkans, Erdogan said, "stability and prosperity
are enforced in the region where clashes and wars were common in
the past. Albania’s policy is a positive one as far as our region
is concerned. As two important regional countries we have agreed to
exert efforts to build confidence in the Balkans."

"Today important developments are being observed in Kosovo. Not only
Albania but also Turkey has close historical, cultural and humanitarian
ties with Kosovo. During our meeting, we underlined importance of a
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo, which is committed
to European and universal values. We also think that in Kosovo,
the rights of the minority should be taken under guarantee," he stated.

-MILITARY RELATIONS-

Stressing that Turkey supports Albania’s adherence to NATO, Erdogan
said, "we think that this will contribute to lasting peace and
stability in the Balkans. We are lobbying for this membership, as we
have done so far."

-ALBANIAN PM CALLS ON TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO INVEST IN HIS COUNTRY-

On the other hand, PM Berisha called on Turkish businessmen to invest
in his country.

On Cyprus, Berisha noted, "referendum was a chance, but it was missed"
and expressed belief that PM Erdogan and his government will contribute
to a new process (in the island).

ALREADY IN 2008, 70% OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES WILL CONSIST OF CONTRACT SERVICEMEN
Nikolai Sviridov

Source: Voenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer, No. 34, September 06-12, 2006, p. 7
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 11, 2006 Monday

To Raise Competitiveness Of The Military Profession

Senior Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Belousov Speaks On
Rearming The Russian Army And Transition To Contract Basis; In June,
Voenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer (see issue No. 22) published an interview
with Senior Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Belousov.

In June, Voenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer (see issue No. 22) published
an interview with Senior Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General
Alexander Belousov. The interview was dedicated to combat training
and building the Armed Forces, as well as strengthening the training
material and technical basis and creation of an inter-branch system
of training the Armed Forces. The interview caused big interest.

Readers ask with which means of armed struggle will our soldiers
and officers be supplied by that time, how will the institution of
contractors and legislative base develop? The Senior Deputy Defense
Minister agreed to continue the started conversation.

Question: We have talked to you mostly about results of combat
training, its support with the necessary means and re-equipment of
the training material and technical base. Which armament and combat
hardware are already being supplied or will be supplied in the near
future to the Armed Forces?

Belousov: By the end of the current year the Ground Forces will
receive approximately 30 new T-90 tanks. This is almost an entire tank
battalion. The troops will also receive more than 180 modernized T-80
and T-72 tanks. I emphasize that with good modernization they will
serve for a long time and will comply with the highest requirements.

More than 40 BMP-3 were ordered for 2006. The troops will also receive
350 modernized BMP-2 and BMP-3 vehicles. The troops will also receive
more than 100 new armored personnel carriers BTR-90 and BTR-80 and
approximately 170 modernized armored personnel carriers.

The Armed Forces started receiving the missile system Iskander to
replace Tochka-U. Almost in 20 years Tochka-U exhausted its service
life. The Airborne Forces will receive approximately 90 modernized
BMD-2 and BMD-3 vehicles.

Modernization costs the state much less than manufacture of new
vehicles, although the modernization is very serious. For example,
it is possible to say that armored personnel carriers have only bodies
left. New powerful diesel engines and other equipment are mounted on
them. In principle, such armored personnel carrier does not differ
from BTR-80 or BTR-90.

Much more new automobiles will be purchased and received. These are
4,500 automobiles on standardized bases of Ural and KamAZ and 500
modernized Ural and KamAZ automobiles.

This year, in the Air Force it is planned to modernize about 50
frontline airplanes Su-24, Su-25, Su-27 and MiG-29 and 20 air defense
systems. Approximately 100 missiles are ordered for them. It is also
planned to buy ten new helicopters Mi-28N and Ka-50.

As you already know, five regiments have been already been rearmed
with the new mobile missile system Topol-M in the Strategic Missile
Forces. One more regiment of the ground-based Topol-M systems will
be put on combat duty by the end of 2006. Incidentally, this system
is made in Russia entirely.

Question: In 2008, conscripts will serve in the Armed Forces for one
year. Will approaches for organization of combat training change
because of this? First of all, I mean contract servicemen because
the main burden will be laid on them.

Belousov: For which standards are we striving? By 2008, our army should
become professional by two-thirds. This means that professionals will
consist 70% and conscripts will consist of 30% of its strength. This
process will go on further. Hence, we tested a special program for
training contract servicemen. For a year we tested it in the 42nd
division but finally had to give it up. Why?

Due to some peculiarities it should be of one-year cycle. This
means that training period should amount to one year and should
not be less (now it amounts to half a year). The period starts from
single training and ends with training of a battalion. However, this
circumstance implies the relevant manning with personnel and its 100%
participation in the training process. It is impossible to achieve
this everywhere yet.

In a few years when the professional army is settled down it will be
possible to transit to a one-year training cycle. Now, I think, it is
too early to do this because so far there is a very big percentage of
resigning contract servicemen. This system will start working fully
only when contract servicemen start serving for two or three terms.

This is the optimal scenario. Now not all servicemen serve until the
end of even the first contract and resign. Why? Some servicemen choose
military service not as vocation but as a possibility of temporary
additional earning. This motive forms psychology of temporary laborers.

Thus, in my opinion the contract system as such has not started working
in full force yet. As long as it does not start working we cannot
expect high results. In any case, I understand that this is directly
connected with attractiveness and prestige of military service and
competitiveness of the military profession on the labor market. This
is a long process. For contract servicemen it is necessary to create
the necessary conditions not only for service but also for life. One
of the basic ones is granting housing, not a separate apartment but
at least a family hostel. Then men having families will come to the
army and this will serve as a powerful stabilizing factor.

Question: A painful issue is training junior commanders. It seems
that sergeants are trained in the troops normally but the problem
remains. What is the matter?

Belousov: All sergeants will be only contract servicemen.

The Ground Forces alone will need 45,000 sergeants. That is why
implementation of this program will take many years. At any rate,
it is necessary to move on this path. With this proposal the Defense
Minister addressed the President. Other proposals were also worked out
for settlement of the problems of strengthening military discipline,
law and order in the Armed Forces. As we know, the President has
agreed with him. Now everything is at the stage of consideration.

Question: Many exercises were already held this year including
the international ones. In which international exercises will our
servicemen participate by the end of the year?

Belousov: There are very many of them and there is no need to
mention them all. Moreover so that the term of their organization
may be corrected. Among them is Russian-American exercise from
Olrgau series. It will be held in the Moscow Military District on
the territory of the Gorokhovets training range. We will evidently
take part in the exercise in the Baltic Sea named Baltops, which will
be dedicated to interaction of ships of multinational forces. Joint
exercise with units and formations of the Russian Armed Forces will be
held in Armenia. The Northern Fleet will interact with the US Navy in
the Barents Sea. There will be a joint antiterrorist exercise of the
armies of Russia and Uzbekistan. There will also be Russian-French
staff command exercise at the brigade level and exercise of special
units of Russian Airborne Forces and American commandos.

DASHNAKTSUTYUN WILL HAVE ITS CANDIDATE FOR THE RA PRESIDENT

A1+
[06:33 pm] 12 September, 2006

The Party Dashnaktsutyun (Armenian Revolutionary Ferderation) will
actively participate in the parliamentary elections.

They are going "to cooperate with other political powers but without
any alliances or blocs." The question of the RA president’s candidate
will be decided in the next Supreme Assembly after considering the
results of parliamentary elections.

Armen Rustamyan, newly appointed member of the Party’s Supreme Body,
claims that they will observe whether parliamentary elections are
vulnerable or not and then view whether their voice might be decisive
for the country’s future.

At present, Dashnaktsutyun intends to participate in the presidential
elections with its own candidate. "We see certain problems and only our
candidate can guarantee their solution." This is why Hrant Margaryan,
member of the party, announced that their party will not support
Serge Sargsyan.

Armen Rustamyan attaches great importance to the exclusion of
non-political powers in political life and advises all political
powers to realize their threat.

Mr. Rustamyan maintains the integration of their party into Coalition
was justified but he complains of lingering progress connected with
corruption combat and poverty recovery. Dashnaktsutyun emphasises
just and fair elections and condemns violence (mainly intimidation
of journalists) in all its forms.

Dashnaktsutyun hasn’t got any news on Shahen Hovasapyan’s murder,
who was a member of their party and high-rank tax official. Armen
Rustamyan doesn’t exclude that they may demand the resignation of
the chief of police, if the hearings of the case are postponed.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

08-09-2006

Renate Stille, Newly-Appointed Ambassador of the
Federative Republic of Brazil, Presents Copies of Credentials

On September 8, Minister Oskanian received Renate Stille, Ambassador of the
Federative Republic of Brazil to the Republic of Armenia, who presented her
copies of credentials to the Minister.

Minister Oskanian congratulated Ms. Stille on her appointment, and wished
her good luck in the high mission.

During the meeting, the Minister spoke of the high level of Armenia – Brazil
relations, while underscoring that Brazil was one of the first to recognize
Armenia’s Independence.

He welcomed the opening of a Brazilian Embassy in Armenia – the first in the
region – and expressed confidence that it will contribute greatly to the
development of Armenia – Brazil relations.

Minister Oskanian also informed the Ambassador that Armenia intends to open
an Embassy in the Brazilian capital.

Ambassador Stille expressed satisfaction with the current level of
cooperation between the two countries.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of strengthening and extending
legal interaction, efficient cooperation in international organizations, and
activating trade and economic links between Armenia and Brazil.

CHURCH SERVICE TO OPEN INDEPENDENCE CEREMONIES

Armenpress
Sept 11 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: A special church service dedicated
to the feast of Holy Cross in Etchmiadzin scheduled for September 17
will start a long array of ceremonies and events designed to mark the
15-th anniversary of Armenia’s independence from the former Soviet
Union that will be marked on September 21.

On September 17 also a photo exhibition called 15 Years of Independence
will open at Yerevan Moskva cinema house. The cinema house will also
hold a retrospective screening of several films dedicated to Armenian
independence.

On September 18 the third Armenia-Diaspora conference will open at
Karen Demirchian complex. The complex will host on September 19 a forum
called New Answers to Old Questions and an exhibition of post stamps.

On September 20 the Demirchian complex will host the official closure
of Armenia-Diaspora conference and a presentation of a silver medal
dedicated to the Independence anniversary.

On September 21 Republic Square will hold a military parade and a
service then will be held in Yerevan Saint Gregory Cathedral. On
September 22 the Demirchian complex will host an economic exhibition.

TURKISH NOVELIST FACES TRIAL OVER CHARACTERS’ WORDS
By Suzan Fraser

Washington Post
Associated Press
Sept 10 2006

ISTANBUL, Sept. 9 — Elif Shafak, one of Turkey’s leading authors,
is about to have a baby — and go on trial.

The reason for this conjunction of joy and foreboding is her new novel,
which has exposed her to a charge of "insulting Turkishness" because
it touches on one of the most disputed episodes of her country’s
history — the massacres of Armenians during the final years of the
Ottoman Empire.

A professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Arizona,
Shafak, 35, divides her time between Tucson and Istanbul. She sought
a postponement of her trial, set for Sept. 21, until after her first
child is born, but she was refused.

She could receive three years in prison, though similar trials of
other Turkish writers have often folded on technicalities.

"I think my case is very bizarre because for the first time they are
trying fictional characters," Shafak said, referring to the words
she gave to an Armenian voice in the novel.

The case has broad ramifications, highlighting a rising wave of
Turkish nationalism and the question of whether Turkey, a Western
ally and NATO member, should be admitted to the European Union —
a move the Bush administration supports.

Turks who long for E.U. membership worry that trials of writers are
setting back their cause. But nationalists such as Kemal Kerincsiz,
one of the lawyers suing Shafak, say Turkey should not have to forsake
bedrock convictions — for instance, that there was never any Armenian
genocide — just to please Europe.

"The Easterner has to insult himself and degrade his own culture
to ingratiate himself with the West," Kerincsiz said in a recent
interview. "Our place is in Eastern culture."

The novel in question, "The Bastard of Istanbul," deals with taboos —
domestic violence and incestuous rape — that are rarely discussed
in this conservative, predominantly Muslim country. But it is what
Shafak’s Armenian American characters say that has landed her in court.

For instance, this from a man worried about his niece being brought
up by a Turkish stepfather:

"What will that innocent lamb tell her friends when she grows
up? . . . [That] I am the grandchild of genocide survivors who lost
all their relatives to the hands of Turkish butchers in 1915, but
I myself have been brainwashed to deny the genocide because I was
raised by some Turk named Mustapha!"

Turkey insists the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians during forced
evacuations in World War I was not a planned genocide but the result
of the bloody breakup of the Ottoman Empire.

Shafak said she does not take sides on the genocide debate but accuses
Turkey of having "collective amnesia."

"Turks and Armenians are not speaking the same language," she said.

"For the Turks, all the past is gone, erased from our memories.

That’s the way we Westernized: by being future-oriented. . . . The
grandchildren of the 1915 survivors tend to be very, very
past-oriented."

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2006

PRELACY SPONSORS 20TH ANNUAL
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM

NEW YORK, NY-"I have attended Datev for the past four summers and I must
confess that it was probably the highlight of each of those summers," said
Garineh Panosian, a 2006 graduate of the Datev Institute. That is just one
of many observations and personal testimonials that have come forth from
students who have attended the Datev Institute during the past 20 years.

This summer, seventy-one students (between ages 13 to 18) from thirteen
parishes, and ten clergymen, gathered at the St. Mary of Providence Center
in Elverson, Pennsylvania, July 2 to 9, for the 20th annual St. Gregory of
Datev Institute Armenian Christian Studies Program, under the directorship
of His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.

In appreciation of the twenty years of Datev a celebration took place on
Saturday evening July 8, at the Holiday Inn, not far from the St. Mary of
Providence Center where the Datev Institute’s summer program takes place
each year. Attending were current and former Datevatzis. (See details of
this event in separate accompanying story.)
Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the
Prelacy, the Datev Institute offers an opportunity for the youth to enrich
their Armenian Christian faith in a wholesome and nurturing environment.

Worship, Christian education and fellowship are the three main components of
the weeklong program, with daily Arevakal (Sunrise) and Husgoom
(Rest/Compline hour) services, six hours of interactive classes, panel
discussions and Bible studies, as well as recreational and communal
activities. In addition, this year a special workshop was conducted for
altar servers.

The Institute is a four-year program (one week each summer) for youth.

Those who complete the four-year program may return for postgraduate
classes. All five levels of study take place concurrently. The overall
curriculum exposes the participants to Armenian Christian essentials, from
Bible and creeds, sacraments and sacred chants, feasts and saints, communal
worship and personal prayer, and ways to live today in faithful obedience to
the mandate of the Gospel of Christ.

The program began on Sunday evening, July 2, with a prayer by His Grace
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, followed by orientation led by Deacon Shant
Kazanjian, director of AREC. After presenting the preliminaries, Dn. Shant
stressed that "Datev is not just another youth program; to be sure, it is a
youth program, but with gospel in it. The Gospel of Christ is the essential
ingredient that makes Datev what it is. This gospel, as proclaimed and
celebrated by the Armenian Apostolic Church throughout the centuries, has
shaped and formed our distinctive Armenian Christian character."

The Faculty
The roster of instructors this year included Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
V. Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Khoren
Habeshian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr.

Sarkis Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Arsen
Mekaelian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.

Guest lecturer, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical
Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological
Seminary, taught the upper level students a 4-hour mini course on the Letter
of James. Fr. Tarazi also held a three-hour session on the same letter with
the clergy-instructors of the Institute.

20th Anniversary
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Datev Institute, a seminar
entitled, "Youth, Faith and Life" took place on Saturday, July 8, which
attracted over 25 Datevatzis. The seminar was led by Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen Armenian Church, Watertown, Massachusetts,
and V. Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi.

Hagop Kouyoumdjian served as the honorary chairman of the 20th
anniversary and chairman of the fund raising committee. Mr. Kouyoumdjian and
his wife, Ica, have been supporters of the Prelacy and especially Christian
education for more than two decades. His eagerness to help celebrate twenty
years of Datev provided the inspiration for others to follow and support the
future growth of this program for the youth.

The weeklong program came to a close on Sunday, July 9, with the
celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
Philadelphia, officiated by the Prelate, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, followed by a farewell picnic, graciously provided by Mrs. Asdghig
Kazanjian, the owner of Armenian Delight in Broomall, Pennsylvania. In his
homily, which focused on prayer, His Eminence said, "Praying together is our
Christian obligation and goal. This for us is not negotiable, because it is
the teaching of the Scriptures. When we pray together, we gather in one
place as one body. That coming together in the name of Christ strengthens
our faith and builds us up as a community of faith. As a Datevatzi you have
learned these things, and it is your Armenian Christian duty to go back to
your parish and take an active role in the communal worship there in order
that you may continue to grow in your faith and contribute to the building
up of your parish community."

Ari Nalbandian, a 2006 graduate offered this inspiring personal
observation of Datev: "I have been attending the Datev Institute since my
first year in 2003, but it was not until my fourth year that I truly began
to understand its purpose. I now realize that it is more than just a "bible
camp" or a religious retreat. The one lecture that truly spoke to me was Der
Antranig’s July 4th lecture about freedom. He explained the concepts of
servitude and freedom in a way that was revolutionary to me, and probably
all the datevatzis in that room. Servitude and obedience to God is true
freedom, the freedom from sin, which I am now trying to apply to my daily
life. Thank you Datev and Der Antranig for giving me a new Christian outlook
on my life."

And second year student, Arpi Shetilian, had this to say: "I love Datev
more than I could ever imagine. It’s the greatest place to meet the best
people and to make great lifelong friends. Just in these past two years that
I attended Datev, it gave me a whole new perspective about God and
religion."

Words of Appreciation
A program of this scope is possible only through the collaborative
efforts of AREC and parishes, parents, volunteer workers, and a number of
organizations and individuals. The Institute thanks the instructors for
their labor of love and the parents for entrusting their children to the
Institute for a week of spiritual formation. The Institute would also like
to express its gratitude to the following for their invaluable services as
supervisors and counselors: Dn. Bedros Kalajian, Dn. Dr. Arsen Mekaelian,
Mrs. Lena Aslanian, Ms. Barbara Baljian, Ms. Mary Gulmezian, Mr. James
Haddad, Mr. Arek Hamalian, Ms. Taleen Kupelian, Mr. Nazareth Markarian, Mrs.

Martha Mekaelian, Ms. Martha Mekaelian, Jr., Mr. Mikhail Mekaelian, and Ms.

Jeanette Nazarian. Many thanks to those parishes that subsidized a portion
of the expenses by providing scholarships.

The Institute extends its appreciation to the Pashalian Family Education
Fund for the donation of $2,000. The Institute also thanks the Prelacy
Ladies Guild (PLG) and the National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG) for
their generous support.

Gregor Gregorian, a 2006 Datev graduate, categorized his experience with
these words, "Datev was an amazing experience for me. It helped me to
understand more about the Armenian Church and learn more about the services
and worships such as the Badarak. Another great aspect about Datev is that
it is strict about its educational program.. I have also learned how to
speak more Armenian which is good because I would eventually like to speak
and understand the language fluently. Overall, Datev is a great experience
for anyone who wants to learn more about the Armenian Church, history,
language, and make new or see old friends."

For more information about the Datev Institute, visit the Prelacy website
at

# # #

Lincoln Journal, MA
Sept 7 2006

Preserving his story
By Cheryl Lecesse/ Staff Writer
Thursday, September 7, 2006 – Updated: 07:59 AM EST

For Henry Haroian, writing his memoirs was an emotional roller coaster.

"I would sit at the computer and stare at a blank screen," he said, as
anger, sadness and happiness would pass as he tried to get his memories
on paper. "There was this urge within me to get the story out."

The story Haroian refers to is not his own, however – it’s that of
his parents, Arakel and Dalitah, survivors of the Armenian Genocide
of 1915-1923.

"It’s been called a forgotten genocide," he said, recalling that some
members of his writing class had never heard of it.

After two and a half years, Haroian, 85, has published "Remembrances,"
a book that tells the story of his parents’ struggles to survive in the
Middle East and in Europe, their eventual move to the United States
for a better live, his upbringing in Watertown – where he changed
his name from Hampartzoom to Henry as an elementary school student
because it was too difficult to write – a foray in World War II,
and life in Lincoln.

Today, Haroian and his wife of 60 years Jessica live in the same
house on Lincoln Road that he worked hard to build 50 years ago.

Residents can hear about Haroian’s experience Thursday, Sept. 21,
when he gives a talk and signs copies of his book at the Council on
Aging in Bemis Hall.

Haroian will donate all proceeds from his book’s sales to the Friends
of the Council on Aging and the Friends of the Lincoln Library. A
similar talk and book signing is planned at the library this fall.

It was a memoir-writing workshop at the Council on Aging that first
got Haroian writing about his family’s experiences.

"I wanted to write my memoirs and I didn’t know quite how to do
it," he said, crediting Kathleen Lundgren, who ran the workshop,
for helping him work through it.

Haroian said the writing process was similar to his work on his
dissertation in graduate school: difficult to start and difficult
to finish.

"I finally had to listen to my editor [Jack MacLean] who said,
‘You have enough here,’" he said.

Pointing to a photograph in his book of his mother’s family, Haroian
began to tell his family’s story. His mother’s side, coming from
Erzerum, Turkey, would sustain many losses while on what became
a death march to a refugee camp in Mosul; five of the family’s 13
members would survive.

"My mother was a young girl when the gendarmes knocked on the door
and said, ‘You have 10 days to vacate,’" Haroian said.

His father had a harrowing escape after his family was wiped out in
Tadem, the village where he was born. When he was either 12 or 13
years old, Arakel was forced to march through the der zor, or fiery
deserts, by the Turkish gendarmes.

In a book titled, "Our Village, Tadem," written in Armenian in 1958
by a group of genocide survivors, Haroian’s father writes, "More than
forty years have passed, yet nightmares and flashbacks of horrific
scenes of murders continue to haunt my sleep…we were whipped by
Turkish gendarmes and driven like animals – half naked, in bare feet –
falling, rising, stumbling and yet moving again through an endless,
hot and trackless desert – weary, starving men, women and children,
half crazed from thirst, falling down, some for the last time, dying
where they fell."

But Arakel was saved; during the march, a band of nomadic Kurds on
horseback charged through the killing field, and one reached down
and grabbed Arakel by the collar.

"For two and a half to three years he was with the Kurds taking care
of horses, gathering firewood, and doing whatever chores needed to
be done," Haroian said. "One day he escaped and found his way to
a mission."

The mission, in Mosul, is where Haroian’s parents met. Because he
could speak Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish, he would help translate for
newcomers. The mission was trying to help reunite families; once Arakel
was called in to translate, and was reintroduced to his first cousin.

Haroian’s mother Dalitah, a 15-year-old teen, stumbled to the mission
with her shellshocked mother, who willed herself to survive to protect
her daughter. It was Arakel’s cousin who proposed the marriage,
and Dalitah’s mother agreed.

Although the first part of his book is not his own memories, Haroian
said his parents’ story was an important one to preserve not only for
his own family but for others to know the truth about what happened
in Mesopotamia during World War I.

Haroian said his father and mother were not generally open to him
about what they experienced; much of what he knows he gathered by
listening to his parents and their friends talk around their round
dining room table in Watertown as a young boy.

"I can still smell the coffee and the cigarette smoke swirling around
the light fixture," he said.

And once his parents went to work, he would sit on the front porch
of his paternal grandmother and hear more.

"She would tell me endless stories about what happened," he said.

Education was the constant talk at the house, Haroian said, remembering
how he learned to read and write Armenian from the wives of editors
of two Armenian newspapers in town in a rented storefront in Watertown.

And although at the time Haroian would rather have been somewhere else,
he never forgot what he learned – or where he came from.

"Remembrances" is available for purchase at the Council on Aging.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH CULTURAL FIGURES IN CONNECTION WITH FORTHCOMING ARMENIA-DIASPORA FORUM

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In connection
with the Armenia-Diaspora forum to be held on September 18-20, RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will meet with representatives of
Armenian creative unions and cultural figures on September 5. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department.