Author: Jilavian Emma

Majesco Entertainment Announces ‘Alvin and The Chipmunks: The
Squeakquel’ Video Game for Wii(TM) and Nintendo DS(TM)

In Association With The Highly-Anticipated Theatrical Release From
Twentieth Century Fox, The World’s Smallest And Most Mischievous
Musical Trio Comes To Console And Handheld This Holiday Season

Press Release

Source: Majesco Entertainment Company

PRNewswire-FirstCall
Monday, August 3, 2009

EDISON, N.J., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Majesco Entertainment
Company (Nasdaq: COOL – News), an innovative provider of video games
for the mass market, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising
(Fox Licensing) and Bagdasarian Productions, today announced Alvin and
The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel for Wii and Nintendo DS. Featuring
everyone’s favorite musical group — Alvin and The Chipmunks and their
girl group rivals The Chipettes making their video game debut — this
rhythm action game challenges players’ timing and musical skills as
they perform in a variety of concert locations. Developed by
ImaginEngine, Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel launches this
December in advance of Twentieth Century Fox’s theatrical release of
the same name that opens on Christmas Day.

"The first Alvin and The Chipmunks film was a box office hit that
earned more than $360 million worldwide," said Jesse Sutton, Chief
Executive Officer, Majesco. "As a family movie event, the holiday
sequel is positioned for similar success and we are excited to offer
those fans the ability to interact with The Chipmunks and The
Chipettes in a whole new way."

"For all those people who loved Alvin, Simon and Theodore in the first
film, there’s even more to love now with the introduction of The
Chipettes," said Gary Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President of New Media
Licensing for Fox Licensing. "Majesco has done a great job translating
the characters and music into a fun game that the whole family can
enjoy together."

"Janice and I wanted to make sure the game captured The Chipmunk and
Chipette personality and we recorded nearly 500 di
ialog for the game," said Ross Bagdasarian, CEO of Bagdasarian
Productions.

In Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, players can play as Alvin
and The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, Theodore) or The Chipettes (Brittany,
Jeanette, Eleanor). Musical sparks ignite as they jet around the
world, rock the house in 25 concert locations on Wii and 11 in the
Nintendo DS version, and perform together in the ultimate concert
finale. Featuring songs from the Grammy and American Music
Award-winning Alvin and The Chipmunks library, the game lets players
use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk or Nintendo DS stylus to keep the
rhythm in the main game and in three mini-games. Players will gain
thousands of fans by keeping the band on tempo through songs that grow
more challenging and complex.

Offering hours of replayability and family fun, Alvin and The
Chipmunks: The Squeakquel provides gamers the freedom to redo their
performance in any of the venues with the associated music tracks that
feature The Chipmunks, The Chipettes, or a duet with both
bands.. After beating the game in Normal Mode or breaking six
attendance records, Expert Mode will be unlocked offering an even
higher level of difficulty. In addition, Jukebox Mode lets players
enjoy their favorite unlocked songs while watching music videos, and
Multiplayer Party Mode lets them play with up to two friends on Wii or
up to three friends on Nintendo DS.

After finishing as one of the most successful family films of 2007 and
scooping up the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice® Award-Winner for "Favorite
Movie" — Alvin and The Chipmunks is officially back at the top of the
charts. The extended Alvin and The Chipmunks merchandising program is
bolstered by the extraordinary success of the DVD release that sold
over 2.6 million units in its first 24 hours of availability and the
original motion picture soundtrack Alvin and The Chipmunks (Razor &
Tie/FOX Music), which has spent 55 weeks on the Billboard Top 200
album chart peaking at #5. The soundtrack has been certified platinum
and recently won
bum — Soundtrack category. Alvin and The Chipmunks released a follow
up album, UNDENIABLE, in November 2008.

The 2007 theatrical release of Alvin and The Chipmunks raked in more
than $360 million in worldwide box office receipts, earning $45
million in its opening weekend alone. The DVD garnered huge success
with over 12 million units sold to date to become the #1 selling
family DVD of the year. Its success followed a legacy of hits for the
brand including 6 Grammy® Awards, 18 Grammy® Nominations, 14 Gold and
Platinum albums and 5 Emmy® Nominations. The brand currently boasts
95% awareness with moms with kids 2-11, 94% awareness with men 18-49
and 96% awareness with women 18-49.

All licensing agreements and future product introductions are made
possible through collaboration between Fox L&M and Ross Bagdasarian,
Jr. — son of the Alvin and The Chipmunks creator — and his wife and
partner, Janice Karman, who are the creative team behind The Chipmunks
as well as the voices for The Chipmunks and Chipettes the past 30
years and again for this game.

Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is expected to release this
December on Wii and Nintendo DS. For additional information about
Majesco’s exciting line of products, please visit:

About Majesco Entertainment Company

Majesco Entertainment Company is a provider of video games for the
mass market. Building on more than 20 years of operating history, the
company is focused on developing and publishing a wide range of casual
and family oriented video games on leading console and portable
systems. Product highlights include Cooking Mama(TM) and Cake Mania®2
for Nintendo DS(TM), and Cooking Mama World Kitchen and Jillian
Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 for Wii(TM). The company’s shares are
traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: COOL. Majesco is
headquartered in Edison, NJ and has an international office in
Bristol, UK. More information about Majesco can be found online at
@Majesco is on twitter
jesco.

About Bagdasarian Productions

A leading producer of high quality, family-oriented programming,
Bagdasarian Productions, helmed by Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman,
is best known for its ownership of Alvin and The Chipmunks, The
Chipettes, and other related characters. Originally created in 1958,
The Chipmunks are now among the very few characters with a
multi-generational, international following.

About Twentieth Century FOX Licensing & Merchandising

A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century FOX Licensing and
Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of
Twentieth Century FOX Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and FOX
Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. The division is
aligned with Twentieth Century FOX Television, one of the top
suppliers of primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast
networks.

About ImaginEngine

ImaginEngine is a leading brand in the development of quality
children’s titles and value software. The studio is known for its
award-winning, commercially successful CD-ROMs, online, and casual
games. ImaginEngine specializes in creating entertaining tools and
experiences for kids and adults to enjoy and use to express themselves
in software and the online world. The studio has shipped over 155
titles across major learning platforms. ImaginEngine is a Foundation 9
Entertainment studio, and is located in Framingham, MA. For more
information please visit:

Safe Harbor

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These
forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future
period(s) or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may,"
"will," "intend," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" or
"continue" or the negatives thereof or other comparable terminology. T
esults could differ materially from those anticipated in such
forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. These factors
include but are not limited to, the demand for our products; our
ability to complete and release our products in a timely fashion;
competitive factors in the businesses in which we compete; continued
consumer acceptance of our products and the gaming platforms on
which our products operate; fulfillment of orders preliminarily made
by customers; adverse changes in the securities markets and the
availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity. The
Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation,
to release publicly the results of any revisions that may be made to
any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of
anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of
such statements.

o-Entertainment-prnews-4196382093.html?x=0&.v= 1

UZBEKISTAN AGAINST NEW RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN KYRGYZSTAN

RIA Novosti
Aug 3, 2009

TASHKENT, August 3 (RIA Novosti) – Uzbekistan is against the
deployment of a new Russian military base in southern Kyrgyzstan,
the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The ministry said that "implementation of such projects" could
"reinforce militarization processes" as well as "seriously destabilize
the situation in the vast region."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Kyrgyz counterpart Kurmanbek
Bakiyev signed on Saturday a memorandum on Russia’s military presence
in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan already hosts a Russian airbase in Kant and four other
Russian military facilities. The airbase in Kant, some 20 kilometers
(12 miles) outside the capital, Bishkek, was opened in 2003.

Some 250 Russian officers and 150 enlisted personnel from Russia’s
5th Air Army are deployed at the base, as well as Su-25 Frogfoot
strike aircraft and Mi-8 transport helicopters.

In line with the memorandum, the republic will also host an additional
Russian military contingent up to battalion size and a training center
for both countries’ service personnel.

Russia earlier offered to deploy a battalion-sized unit as part of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) rapid reaction
force in Kyrgyzstan’s southern Batken region.

The post-Soviet CSTO security bloc comprises Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES EFFORTS TO PROVIDE VILLAGE SCHOOLS OF REPUBLIC WITH CADRES

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Departm
July 30, 2009

At the NKR Government Session

Today, a regular session of the NKR Government chaired by the Prime
Minister Ara Haroutyunyan has taken place. The Executive has adopted
a decree on granting one time monetary allowance equal to 30 thousand
drams, to benefit receiving children of soldiers perished during
military operations while defending the NKR, as well as those deceased
during the fulfillment of service obligations, in view of September 1,
the Knowledge Day,. Payments will be conducted through "Artsakhpost"
every year beginning from August 1. In 2006, thousands of children took
an advantage of a programme made a reality, this year the assistance
will be granted to more than 630 children. The Prime Minister assigned
a task to accomplish postal money orders not later than August 15.

The Government has affirmed the list of specialties for reception in
the magistracy of Stepanakert branch of the State Agrarian University
of Armenia in 2009, quotes of places for paid and free of charge
education. In accord with the decree 9 places for free of charge
education and 5 places for paid ones are proposed in following
specialties: "Agronomy", "Veterinary Science", "Wine-Making and
Technology of Pastry-Making", as well as "Management and Economy of
Agrarian Production".

With the aim to provide schools of the republican settlements with
needed specialists a new Government decree defining the order of
directing a teacher to work in another area and giving an incentive
was affirmed.

According to this decree, at the expense of budget means they will be
paid off additional payment equal to the 50 percent of the salary and
about 20000 drams monthly financial assistance as lodging rent. The
Minister of Education informed that about 65 percent of education
hearths in distant settlements of the Republic are mainly in need of
foreign language teachers.

According to A.Haroutyuntyan’s words, the Government has to create
convinienceies for them.

By Government decree the order of deciding the state of a driver’s
soberness, and recording the results in journal was affirmed. With
the aim of toughening the invalids’ driving obligations for those
hand driving cars additions in corresponding Government decree were
introduced. An addition was made in the nominal list of Investigating
Division of the State Tax Service adjunct to the NKR Government.

By one another decree adopted by the Executive the order of organizing
of the bus terminal activity was affirmed. According to it the
demands towards equipping the station, ticket calculation activities,
maintenance personnel’s duties, as well as demands to passengers’
behavior, their registration and delivery were defined.

The Government introduced a change on decreasing the price of wood
at 50 percent in the NKR forestry fund. The head of the Government
charged with a task to strengthen the control in order timber won’t
be sold as a wood.

Today, in the number of government adopted decrees changes on land
categories of some areas being the state property were made.

THE HALKI SEMINARY AND THE PATRIARCHATE’S EXISTENTIAL CRISIS
By Allen Yekikan

Asbarez
/the-halki-seminary-and-the-patriarchates-existent ial-crisis/
July 30, 2009

AFP reported on Thursday that the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul,
Bartholomew I, was hopeful Turkey would re-open a historic seminary
it shut down nearly four decades ago. The Halki Orthodox Theological
Seminary, located on the island of Halki off the coast of Istanbul,
was the key Patriarchical institution for educating the Greek Orthodox
Community and training its future clergy for more than a century
before it was closed down by the Turkish government in 1971.

The Patriarch was responding to signals last week by Turkey’s Culture
Minister that Ankara is planning to re-open the Greek seminary,
considered vital to the survival of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
in Istanbul.

The Turkish Government forcibly closed down the Seminary under a law
bringing Turkish universities under the state’s control. Another law,
however, made it illegal for anyone to enter the Orthodox priesthood
unless they have graduated from Halki.

Since the closure of the Halki Seminary, the Patriarchate has faced
insurmountable barriers in staffing the Ecumenical Patriarchate
to carry out the Church’s many administrative and spiritual
responsibilities. The only option left for the Patriarchate has been to
bring clergymen and individuals from abroad to work at the ecumenical
patriarchate, often illegally, since the Turkish government does not
give them work permits.

Furthermore, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has no property rights in
Turkey and is taxed beyond excess. Under Turkish law, the General
Directorate of Welfare Foundations has the power to unilaterally
confiscate minority properties.

Along with the Halki Seminary, the Turkish Government has confiscated
(usually secretly) 75 % of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s properties,
including homes, apartment buildings, schools, land, churches,
monasteries, and even cemeteries.

On March 20, 2006 the government erased the name of the Patriarchate
from the ownership deed of the Orphanage of Buyukada, replacing it
with the name of a minority foundation it had seized in 1997. This
move resulted in the effective confiscation of the orphanage.

The Turkish government proceeded with the confiscation despite an
appeal to the European Court of Human Rights by the Patriarchate in
2005. The Orphanage, which is the largest wooden building in Europe,
had been a Patriarchal institution, celebrating 550 years of continuous
service under the care and guidance of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
preserving the Orthodox Faith, Hellenic Ideals and Greek Education.

In the eyes of the Turkish government, the Ecumenical Patriarchate
does not exist as a legal entity, and as a result, has virtually
no rights. Although it was established in 451 AD, Turkish
authorities refuse to recognize the Patriarchate as "Ecumenical"
or International. Turkish law has relegated this 2,000 year-old
church, which serves as the focal point of Orthodox Christendom,
to a Turkish institution.

As a result, the Turkish government also controls the process by
which the Ecumenical Patriarch is selected.

Through illegal decrees, the government has imposed heavy restrictions
on the election of the Ecumenical Patriarchs, requiring the Patriarch
and the Hierarchs that elect him to be Turkish citizens. The very
existence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been put in jeopardy as
a consequence of these decrees.

Turkish law requires that even priests must be Turkish citizens. This
excludes eligible clergy from around the world from attending to
Turkey’s Greek community, which now numbers less than 3,000-most of
which are elderly and not eligible candidates.

There are currently roughly 200 Greek Orthodox Clergymen who live
in Turkey and are Turkish citizens. Without the Halki Seminary, the
Ecumenical Patriarchate has been forced to send its future clerics
outside the country for training. Unfortunately, most do not return
home. These restrictions severely limit not only who can become a
priest, but also who can become the Ecumenical Patriarch.

These policies are wearing away at the Christian presence in Turkey
and threaten to eventually wipe out the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
which stands as a 2,000 year-old spiritual beacon for more than
300,000 million orthodox Christians around the world.

Since 1923, successive Turkish Governments have subjected the
Ecumenical Patriarchate to a protracted and systemic campaign of
institutional and cultural repression, squeezing the country’s Greek
minority and its religious institutions to the point of complete
exhaustion and despair.

Despite direct stipulations in the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne that
Turkey must legally recognize and protect its religious minorities,
Christian communities in Turkey currently face unfair official
restrictions regarding the ownership and operation of churches and
seminaries. The Turkish Government interferes in the selection of
their religious leaders. Christian education has all but vanished,
while freedom of expression and association, although provided for
on paper, tend to get people killed.

This political climate of religious repression has, for decades,
encouraged extremists to attack the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul
defacing its walls and desecrating its cemeteries.

In 1955, riots broke out in Istanbul and quickly turned into pogroms
against Greeks as 73 Orthodox churches and 23 schools were vandalized,
burned, or destroyed; 1,004 houses of Orthodox citizens were looted;
and 4,348 stores, 110 hotels, 27 pharmacies, and 21 factories were
destroyed. The Greek Orthodox population in 1955 was 100,000. In 1998,
a Greek Orthodox official was murdered at his church, Saint Therapon,
in Istanbul. The church was then robbed and set on fire.

Growing focus on Turkey in recent years and the country’s bid to
join the European Union, has raised awareness and concern about the
fate of the Patriarchate among governments, organizations and people
around the world.

The European Union has long asked Turkey to re-open the seminary in
order to prove its commitment to human rights as it strives to become
a member of the bloc.

The Turkish Government, keen to boost its European credentials as
it seeks EU membership, says it may finally take steps to prevent
the destruction of one of the world’s oldest Christian churches and
its Congregation.

The bitter reality is that the very existence of the Patriarchate has
been threatened by the very government that is now vaguely promising
to save it.

Turkish authorities have been issued such promises for decades.

TURKEY HAS TO CHOSE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.07.2009 15:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is interested in RA-Turkish rapprochement
and opening of borders between the countries, no longer wishing to
remain a closed country, Ivan Safranchuk , representative of Moscow
State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Chief Editor of
Great Game periodical told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

According to him, Turkey is faced with a choice. "Recently Turkey
emerged as one of the important players in the region, with
USA and EU’s attention focused on itself. Besides, the state is
planning o establish business relations with Middle East," Russian
expert noted. "Ankara is playing at a political game without making
geopolitical or economical choice in favor of a certain country. Turkey
wants to have it all without giving anything in return."

"Opening of borders is not an issue to be resolved right now. Still,
it might happen. Everything is possible," the Russian expert said,
emphasizing that factors created by other players, specifically
Azerbaijan, are playing a significant role in RA-Turkish rapprochement
issue.

RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated at a joint news conference with
Serbian President Boris Tadic, he’ll visit Turkey to attend return
football match between RA and Turkey’s teams only upon opening of
Armenian-Turkish border or on the eve of Turkey’s lifting Armenian
blockade.

Return match between Turkish And Armenian football team within World
Cup 2010 qualifying games framework will take place on October 14 at
Ataturk stadium in Bursa.

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN KEMALISTS AND ISLAMISTS IN TURKEY MAY COLLAPSE THE STATE
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.07.2009 GMT+04:00

The hearing on Ergenekon, to which the government of Recep Tayyip
Erdogan attempts to pin the army, may develop into a process in which
there’ll be no winners.

Any idea of a united nation state, even if it is based on European
values, sooner or later results in disintegration and crash. Ideology
can serve as faith and truth only until a specific time, after
which it changes into a dogma, which prevents the development of the
country. Moreover, it is utterly unimportant what way the development
takes – whether it advances or returns to "primeval state". Roughly
this is the case with present-day Turkey, which after 75 years of
Kemalism is gradually returning to Islam.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It should be noted that this Islam, however, has
nothing in common with the radical Shias, but, who can be sure that
this very fact won’t make it more dangerous. The slow, but accurate
settlement of Europe with the Turks indicates that sooner or later the
Christian world will have to admit the fact that not Turkey became
part of Europe, but quite the contrary. Let us add to this also the
demographic factor, and everything will fall into place. However, the
situation is not so terrible after all: the internal political events
of the past two years indicate that the struggle between Kemalists
and Islamists has not yet ended, and no one can predict the exact
conclusion of it. The trial on Ergenekon, to which the government
of Recep Tayyip Erdogan attempts to pin the army, may develop into a
process in which there’ll be no winners. On the one hand, the ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) strives into Europe, on the other
hand, it is eager to secure itsel!

f with the absolute support of the 70-million population for final
regulation of the Kurdish question like the Armenian one, about which
we have been repeatedly writing. But, the country cannot do without
the army, and it means Erdogan will not be able to finally dismiss
the Joint Staff, i.e. to change the constitution. It is even possible
that he’ll suffer the same fate as Menderes did; servicemen in Turkey
do not like jokes…

Against this background the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations seems difficult or even unattainable a concern, in spite of
the statements of ministers and experts, to say nothing of NGOs and
media outlets. The Armenian question once was the indirect reason
for the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, but history has a habit
of repeating itself and not always in the form of farce. Ankara
perfectly understands that after the Armenian issue she will have
to solve the Cyprus and Kurdish questions as well, to say nothing
of fulfillment of obligations before Europe in some part of reforms,
which simply do not reach eastern provinces because of needlessness of
the afore-mentioned. But these issues seemed to be little, and Turkey,
on Azerbaijan’s advice, decided to undertake also the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict, which in a wider sense is in no way necessary
to her. The slogan "one nation, two states" proved to be a time bomb,
placed by Heydar Aliyev for the sole purpose !

of ensuring his son at least one ally in the region. But even this
may work against Baku. Real diplomacy has very little in common with
the factual statements of foreign ministers of any of the countries
in the region. Especially because the pressure of EU and the USA
on Turkey for opening the border with Armenia has recently been
increased both by the European Union and the USA. Russia thus far
remains neutral, but if the closed boundary begins to interfere with
the imperial ambitions of Moscow, it may behave like the USA and
Europe. Azerbaijan will instantly turn her back on Ankara and will
be carrying out Gazprom’s immediate orders. Paraphrasing the popular
saying, we can say: "What is good for Gazprom is good for Russia".

As far as the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations is concerned,
advancement can be outlined in this issue judging by the publications
in the Turkish media outlets. According to Egemen Bagis, Minister of
State of Turkey and Chief negotiator on the integration of Turkey
into the EU, the reconstruction of the Armenian Church on Akhtamar
Island will be accomplished before Serzh Sargsyan’s arrival in
Turkey and a cross will be inaugurated on the church. "Why not? In
fact Islam respects all religions. If Europe does not put any bans
on opening mosques, why should we do so? Besides, this church will
attract pilgrim Armenians here, what will help to develop tourism in
this region. Closed borders are the vestige of communism and we must
struggle them. It was Stalin who loved keeping boundaries under lock
and key; why should we follow him? We say Greeks are bad, Kurds are
bad too. How long will we be at loggerheads? We should put an end to
animosity." Bagis declared. Whether t!

his statement will be put into effect is difficult to say. The fact
is that very little time is left until October 14 and if the border
is not opened, the President of Armenia simply will not attend the
return football match between the Armenian and Turkish national
football teams. "I will attend the return match only in case the
Armenian-Turkish border is opened or the sides are on the threshold
of unblocking Armenia," declared President Sargsyan in Yerevan,
during a joint press conference with his Serbian counterpart Boris
Tadic. "There is little time left till the match. We expect Turkey
to take constructive steps towards normalization of relations,"
stated Sargsyan.

In his turn, director of the RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies,
Professor Ruben Safrastyan considers that Turkey’s decision to
inaugurate a cross on Surb Khach (St. Cross) Armenian Church on
Akhtamar Island doesn’t imply any change of Ankara’s position. "The
church will be reconstructed but inauguration of a cross on it sounds
unrealistic. It may arouse Muslims’ displeasure. Intolerance towards
other religious is growing in Turkey. This country’s religious policy
is still anti-Christian," notes Safrastyan.

At the same time, Professor at Istanbul University Bilgi Turgut Tuncel
noted that Turkey and Armenia are engaged in a belated process of
mutual acquaintance and communication. "To reach accomplishment,
both sides have to pay great attention to the sensitivities of the
other side. One of the psychological barriers for Armenians is the
feeling of being ignored and disregarded by the Turks or the Turkish
State. Turks and the Turkish State must realize this situation and
take the necessary measures to show that Armenians are not ignored
by them," Tuncel noted. In his view, it must be recognized that
Armenians lived and still live in Anatolia. The hostile and insulting
rhetoric prevalent in school textbooks and popular media must be
stopped, and the Armenian cultural heritage in Anatolia should be
respected. "Accordingly, recognition of the Armenian remnants in
Anatolia as Armenian vestiges and renovating them as cultural heritage
of Anatolia is of major importance. In this way, !

Turkey not only can show Armenians that she respects the Armenian
nation, but will also provide the younger Turkish generation with a
truthful historical consciousness," he said.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212)-686-0710
Fax: (212)-689-1934
<;

July 28, 2009
_______________________________

ARCHBISHOP BARSAMIAN ORDAINS 27 PRIESTS IN ARMENIA

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), ordained 27 deacons into the holy priesthood on
Sunday, July 19, at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan.

Archbishop Barsamian performed the ordination at the invitation of His
Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
who presided over the Divine Liturgy on that day.

A total of 18 deacons were ordained as married priests, and nine deacons
were ordained as celibate priests in what was the largest ordination in the
recent history of the Armenian Church. The day also marked the Feast of
Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

More than 1,500 people attended the inspiring service, including Mr. Tigran
Sargsyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, government officials,
and other dignitaries.

Garbed in blue deacons’ vestments, the candidates approached the altar as a
group, on their knees. With the deacons kneeling with hands raised parallel
to their heads, Archbishop Barsamian asked the congregation if they deemed
the candidates worthy to serve as priests of the Armenian Church.

This ritual – one of the most memorable parts of an ordination service –
invites the participation of the faithful. Many left their pews to get a
closer look at the special ceremony, lifting up small children and reaching
over the crowd to snap the occasional photograph.

Archbishop Barsamian next placed his hands on each deacon’s head –
performing the "laying on of hands" which binds all priests of the Armenian
Church into the "apostolic succession" that links priests through the
generations back to the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who brought
Christianity to Armenia in the first century.

Archbishop Barsamian then removed the deacons’ stoles and placed these
around their necks, symbolically bestowing on them the responsibilities of
the priesthood. As the deacons stepped forward one by one, Archbishop
Barsamian consecrated their foreheads and their right and left hands with
Holy Chrism (Muron). In the course of this consecration, each deacon was
assigned a new priestly name.

"We believe that you who are the loyal and faithful servants of God are
ready to dedicate yourselves to the Armenian people, to the Armenian Church,
to our homeland, and to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin," Archbishop
Barsamian said during his sermon.

The new priests are ready to carry out Christ’s mission, Archbishop
Barsamian said, reminding them of Christ’s commission to the Apostles: "Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to
the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

"The role of the Armenian priest is very important," Archbishop Barsamian
added. "With his words, with his preaching, with his ministry, the priest
shares Christ’s message – the message of peace, the message of love, the
message of friendship."

Archbishop Barsamian also congratulated His Holiness Karekin II and
expressed his wish for the continuing renewal and prosperity of the Armenian
Church.

"It is moving for both the clergy and the laity to witness 27 deacons
committing themselves to the service of God," Archbishop Barsamian said. "We
are grateful to God, and we pray that He may grant these new priests the
blessings of the Holy Spirit, and guide and inspire them in their ministry."

The newly ordained priests gave their first blessings to the faithful at the
St. Gregory Cathedral. Following the service, they lined up at the foot of
the altar, greeting friends and family and again offering their blessings.
His Holiness and the members of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin
congratulated the new priests, kissing their foreheads and hands.

The day’s Divine Liturgy and ordination service were broadcast live on
Armenian Public Television (Channel 1), with assistance from Holy
Etchmiadzin and the Shoghakat TV Company.

In the evening, Archbishop Barsamian granted the nine celibate priests the
veghar – the monastic cowl, or hood – during a service at the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin. Upon taking the oath of celibacy and signing the oath of
fidelity, the nine priests became members of the Brotherhood of Holy
Etchmiadzin.

Following the traditional 40-day seclusion period of fasting, mediation, and
prayer, the new priests will be appointed to serve in different dioceses of
the Armenian Church or at various departments of the Holy See.

The following deacons were ordained as priests by Archbishop Barsamian:
Deacon Khoren Manukian, renamed Father Movses; Deacon Sargis Ayvazian,
renamed Father Sargis; Deacon Sahak Sahakian, renamed Father Davit; Deacon
Noy Nazarian, renamed Father Shahe; Deacon Hakob Gevorkian, renamed Father
Andranik; Deacon Vahagn Ignatevosian, renamed Father Stepanos; Deacon Arsen
Haroutiunian, renamed Father Nerses; Deacon Hrachya Sagakian, renamed Father
Galoust; Deacon Artak Stepanian, renamed Father Babken; Deacon Roustam
Petrosian, renamed Father Haroutiun; Deacon Arthur Mkhitarian, renamed
Father Tigran; Deacon Sargis Kesablian, renamed Father Hovhannes; Deacon
Eduard Sahakian, renamed Father Hayk; Deacon Khachatur Gyozalian, renamed
Father Vart; Deacon Smbat Vardazarian, renamed Father Arakel; Deacon Mikayel
Barseghian, renamed Father Tadeos; Deacon Avetik Hovhannisian, renamed
Father Nikoghos; Deacon Ashot Mirzoyan, renamed Father Gevork; Deacon Armen
Khachatrian, renamed Father Yeghia; Deacon Edgar Hovhannisian, renamed
Father Levon; Deacon Hayk Mkrtchian, renamed Father Vatche; Deacon Hovhannes
Aznavourian, renamed Father Sedrak; Deacon Tatoul Hambardzumian, renamed
Father Karekin; Deacon Norayr Sahakian, renamed Father Hakob; Deacon Norayr
Gharibian, renamed Father Sahak; Deacon Armen Hmayakian, renamed Father
Nshan; Deacon Narek Vardanian, renamed Father Poghos.

###

CAPTIONS:

Photo1: More than 1,500 people attended the Ordination Service on Sunday,
July 19 at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Yerevan.

Photo2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian anoints the forehead of one of the
candidates with the Holy Muron.

Photo3: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian with the newly ordained priests pose for
a group photo.

Photo4: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian addresses the newly ordained priests.

AZERBAIJAN BLACKLISTING FOREIGNERS WHO VISIT KARABAKH

Asbarez
Jul 28th, 2009

BAKU (Eurasianet)-In a move to keep foreign nationals out of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Azerbaijani government is compiling
lists of foreigners who have visited the country and foreign
organizations that work with Karabakh’s government, the Bakililar
news service reported on July 28.

Listed individuals who choose to travel to Karabakh can forget about
visiting Azerbaijan, even if they hold diplomatic status, the Kavkazsky
Uzel news service reported, citing Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

Foreign nationals who have a Karabakh visa stamped in their passports
will not be allowed into Azerbaijan, the country’s Foreign Ministry
warned.

Bakililar news noted that several Russian pop stars who have held
concerts in Karabakh will never be able to perform in Azerbaijan.

ARMENIAN ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTRY DENIES NEWS ON POSSIBLE SUPPLY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY FROM IRAN TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
July 27, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has not received any official
proposal from Iran on supply of nuclear energy, an official from
the Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Ministry told Armenpress,
referring to the report of the "Iran-Times" newspaper which citing an
Iranian official stated that Iran has expressed readiness to supply
nuclear energy to Armenia.

SERBIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVING IN ARMENIA TOMORROW

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.07.2009 13:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serbian President Boris Tadic is arriving in Armenia
Tuesday on invitation of Armenian leader Serzh Sargsyan.

Presidential meeting behind closed doors will be followed by
expanded talks. Mr. Tadic is also expected to meet with RA Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II. The Serbian President will lay a wreath to the Armenian
Genocide memorial and attend Matenadaran, the Institute of
Ancient Manuscripts. Mr. Tadic will leave Armenia on July 29