Author: Kamalian Hagop

3 Glendale gang members nabbed in nationwide sweep
By Josh Kleinbaum, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Aug 2 2005

Federal officials announced Monday that three Glendale gang members
— two from Armenia and one from Mexico — were among 26 Southern
Californians arrested as part of a two-week nationwide immigration
enforcement operation targeting violent street gangs.

The men were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement personnel as part of Operation Community Shield, an
ongoing anti-gang initiative in which 582 people have been arrested
nationwide between July 16 and Thursday, federal officials said.

Officials would not release the names of the suspects because they
were arrested on suspicion of administrative immigration violations.

Two of the local men are members of Armenian Power, and the third is
a member of the Westside Locos — both violent street gangs in Los
Angeles County, officials said.

“ICE brings to gang investigation the unique ability to enforce
immigration laws and use that against some of these gang members
committing crimes in our communities,” said Steve Lovett, ICE’s
assistant special agent in charge. “These are either convicted felons,
they’ve entered without inspection or overstayed their visas.”

One of the Armenian men is 27 and has been living in the United
States since 1989. He has prior convictions for robbery and drug
possession. He was ordered deported in March 2000 but was released
under an order of supervision.

The second man arrested is 24 and has been in the United States since
1980. He has prior convictions for drug possession and spousal battery,
officials said.

Both are expected to be deported to Armenia, Lovett said.

The third Glendale resident, a 20-year-old member of the Westside Locos
with prior convictions for vandalism, vehicle theft and manufacturing a
dangerous weapon, is expected to be deported to Mexico, officials said.

“We’re trying to bolster the integrity of immigration laws, and a
good place to start is with gang members out there running roughshod
on communities, terrorizing people, filling the streets with crime,”
Lovett said.

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

July 29, 2005

PRELACY SPONSORS 19TH ANNUAL
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM

NEW YORK, NY – “I think Datev is a great program, and I am definitely
coming back next year,” was one impression from a second year student
who attended the 19th annual week-long St. Gregory of Datev Institute
Armenian Christian Studies Program, sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council of the Eastern Prelacy. Many similar positive
impressions were heard during the educational and fun-filled week that
spiritually rejuvenates all who attend and reunites old friends in a
healthy, safe, Armenian Christian environment. Most participants who
attend for the first time return the following years to complete the
full four-year program and many come back as post-graduate students.
This year, the Institute had 75 students (ages 13 and over), from
14 parishes, and seven clergymen under the directorship of Very
Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, the Vicar General, who gathered at
the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the
“Datev Program,” as popularly known, July 3-10, 2005.

The program began on Sunday, July 3, in the evening with prayer by
Hayr Anoushavan, after which Deacon Shant Kazanjian, the director of
AREC, began the orientation. To set the tone for the week, Dn. Shant
stressed the three key objectives of the program, namely, learning,
prayer, and fellowship. Then, students from each of the following
parishes were introduced: St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral, New
York City, 6 students; St. Gregory Armenian Church, Philadelphia,
PA – 13 students; Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Providence,
RI – 12 students; St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, NY –
10 students; Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Ridgefield, NJ – 10
students; St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, North Andover, MA –
7 students; St. Paul Armenian Church, Waukegan, IL – 5 students; St.
Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church, Toronto, Canada – 2 students; Sourp
Hagop Armenian Church, Montreal, Canada – 2 students; Holy Trinity
Armenian Church, Worcester, MA – 3 students; St. Stephen’s Armenian
Church, Watertown, MA – 2 students; Sourp Khatch Armenian Church,
Washington, DC – 1 student; Holy Cross Armenian Church, Union City,
NJ – 1 student; St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Pasadena,
CA – 1 student. There were 23 first-year students, 16 second-year
students, 10 third-year, and three fourth-year students (graduating
class), as well as 23 postgraduates. Each student received a folder
which included their schedule for the week, educational resources,
and guidelines to facilitate their stay at the Center.

Students attended classes Monday through Friday from 8:30am to
12:20pm. In all, there were 100 distinct 50-minute sessions for five
levels of study, which covered a variety of topics such as Bible
Study, Prayer and Life, Interpretation of Badarak, Youth and Values,
Interpretation of the Bible, The Sacraments, Armenian Language and
Culture, and other historical, religious and cultural classes.

During their free time, the students enjoyed sports activities
including swimming, soccer and volleyball. And on Friday evening the
highly anticipated talent show was held under the directorship of
Ms. Jeanette Nazarian, where “datevazies” showcased their many and
varied talents in and through Armenian song, dance, music, poetry
and acting.

THE EDUCATORS The Instructors of the Institute this year were Very
Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Very Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, Very
Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses
Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Arsen
Mekaelian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.

A prominent biblical scholar, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of
Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox
Theological Seminary (NY) was a guest instructor who taught a 4-hour
mini-course to the college-age students on St. Paul’s first letter
to the Thessalonians and held a special two-hour session with the
clergy. The students were very impressed with the presentations. This
is what James Haddad, a postgraduate student, said about Fr. Tarazi,
“. his lecture was very intense and the two-hour period flew by.” The
lectures were informative and enlightening, and provided a fresh
viewpoint from which to see the Apostle’s Letter. In addition, there
were four guest lecturers: Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, Rev. Fr. Nareg
Terterian, Dn. Carlo Bayrakdarian, M.D., and Mr. Haroutune Misserlian.

On Monday July 4, Datev held its annual Independence Day picnic,
catered by Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian, owner of “Armenian Delight.”
The datevatzies were graced by the presence of His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, the Prelate, who joined them in the fellowship.

The seven-day program came to a close on Sunday, July 10, with a
celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Soorp Badarak) at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Church in Philadelphia on Sunday, followed by
a luncheon, graciously provided and served by the Artemis Chapter of
the Armenian Relief Society.

THANK YOU A program of this scope was only made possible through the
collaboration of AREC, the parishes, parents, volunteers and many
organizations. They all deserve acknowledgement and thanks for their
efforts and time and support. The Institute would like to express its
deepest gratitude to the instructors for their labor of love, to the
parents for entrusting their children to the Institute for a week
of spiritual formation. The following Datev participants provided
invaluable services as supervisors and counselors: Dn. Dr. Arsen
Mekaelian, Mr. James Haddad, Mr. Arek Hamalian, Mr. Vicken Rachdouni,
Mrs. Siroon Kojakian, Ms. Taleen Kupelian, Mrs. Martha Mekaelian,
Ms. Martha Mekaelian Jr., Mr. Mikhail Mekaelian, and Jeannette
Nazarian. Thanks is due to those Datevatzies from the NY-NJ area who
volunteered many hours at the AREC office weeks prior the program
– Lousine Galoyan, Mary Gulmezian, James Haddad, Taleen Kupelian,
Mardo Piranian, and Mgo Pirnanian. Many thanks to those parishes that
subsidized a portion of the expense by providing scholarships.

The Institute extends its appreciation to the Pashalian Family
Education Fund for the donation of $2,000. The Institute thanks
the following generous supporters: The Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG),
the Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society, Mrs. Asdghig
Kazanjian, Mr. and Mrs. Noubar Megerian and Dr. and Mrs. Vahan
Kouyoumdjian. Thanks also to the following donors: Mr. and Mrs. Gary
Garabedian, Mr. and Mrs. George Semerdjian, Mr. and Mrs. Garbis
Garboushian, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jehanian, Mr. and Mrs. Zaven Oranjian.

Anticipation is already growing for next year’s 20th anniversary
celebration of the Datev Institute (July 2-9, 2006), for which plans
are under way.

###

ArmenPress
July 28 2005

GEORGIAN OPPOSITION LEADER CLAIMS GRENADE INCIDENT WAS PLOTTED BY
GEORGIAN SPECIAL SERVICES

TBILISI, JULY 28, ARMENPRESS: The leader of a Georgian opposition
Labor party accused today the country’s special services of plotting
and orchestrating a hand grenade incident involving an ethnic
Armenian citizen of Georgia who was arrested as a suspect who had
tossed a hand grenade at US president George Bush when he was
addressing a huge crowd in Tbilisi last May 10.
The party leader, Shota Natelaishvili, said he arrived at this
conclusion after a thorough analysis of information from a set of
reliable sources. Natelaishvili claimed the incident was plotted to
save the shattering image of president Mikhail Saakashvili and the
authoritarian regime he has established. “Saakashvili’s goal was to
have his name mentioned as frequently as possible next to US
president’s name who is fighting for democracy across the globe,” he
said. Natelaishvili also claimed that the suspect, Vladimir
Harutunian, was a long-time agent of Georgian special services.

Azeri opposition head back from Turkey after talks with “high-level” officials

Yeni Musavat, Baku
26 Jul 05

Excerpt from report by Tuncay in the Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Musavat on 26 July headlined “Isa Qambar returned to his home country”

Musavat Party Chairman Isa Qambar, who arrived in Turkey yesterday
morning [25 July], held several meetings there on that day.

We have learnt that the Musavat chairman held high-level meetings not
with officials from Turkey, but from other states. They had important
discussions about the November parliamentary poll in Azerbaijan and
the country’s future.

The Musavat Party has not officially disclosed details of Isa bay’s
[form of address] visit to Turkey and of his meetings there.

Isa Qambar returned to Azerbaijan this morning after his meetings in
Turkey.

[Passage omitted: details of the visit to be covered in forthcoming
issues]

Opposition vs. opposition

Yerkir
July 22, 2005

During each year, political forces announce there would be a hot
political spring or summer. Usually, after such announcements, the
authorities become concerned over the opposition’s intention to carry
out a regime change.

This summer, however, the authorities can breathe easily, since the
political developments indicated the fight today is not between the
authorities and the opposition but among the opposition parties.

Mutual criticism inside the Ardarutiun (Justice) alliance over the
constitutional amendments indicates that political views and
approaches in this multi-party alliance are getting increasingly
diverse. Months ago, the opposition members were united when stating
that the constitutional amendments could be the basis for a regime
change.

But now there is no united view inside the alliance whether its
parties should vote for or against the amendments. Each of the two
major parties that comprise the alliance — Armenian People’s Party
(APP) and the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) — claim the alliance was
solely formed based on their parties so only they can decide where the
alliance should go.

On July 19, the Hanrapetutiun Political Council released a statement
saying the party would vote “no” to the proposed constitutional
amendments. The statement claimed that the amendments are going to
fail and hence “the authorities are trying to engage the opposition in
the process to avoid a failure and create an illusion of cooperation.”

In contrast, Shavarsh Kocharian, who represents the National
Democratic Party in the Ardarutiun, and who has studied the draft
amendments more closely — something that cannot be said for the
Harapetutiun representatives — believes that if the opposition fails
to show its constructive approach now, the authorities would depict
the opposition as gray mass before the international community. There
is a great opportunity for Armenia to step out of this crisis,
Shavarsh Kocharian said during a recent interview.

However, it is quite obvious that concession is not an option for the
Hanrapetutiun. Gegham Harutiunian, one of the Hanrapetutiun leaders,
noted recently that his party would break away from certain opposition
leaders if the latter “try to depict the present authorities as
reformers.”

ArmenPress
July 25 2005

AKHURIAN WATER RESERVOIR POLLUTION RAISES CONCERNS

GYUMRI, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS: Findings of an extensive study of
Armenia’s biggest Akhurian water-reservoir in the north-eastern
province of Shirak close to Turkish-Armenian border indicate that
though the water from the reservoir is still fit for irrigation, the
level of its pollution (the water contains a number of heavy metals)
makes consumption of its water hazardous.
These findings were compiled in a book that was presented in
Gyumri. It was published with the assistance of the World Council of
Churches, Swiss EFO and other organizations. The three-year study was
conducted by Armenian GeoFon organization. The reservoir’s capacity
is 525 million cubic meters of water. It irrigates around 104,000
hectares of agricultural lands.
According to Levon Martirosian, who coordinated the studies, the
reservoir water is likely to be polluted by a Turkish leather factory
across the border that pours out its waste waters into Akhurian River
that feeds the reservoir. He says to prevent further pollution
extensive studies should be conducted also in the Turkish section, as
the reservoir is used equally by Armenia and Turkey. Martirosian said
their effort to get a permission of the Turkish authorities t conduct
such studies was rejected.

Book brings ‘Dr. Death’ back into spotlight

The Daily Oakland Press (Oakland County, Michigan)
Sunday, July 24, 2005

By JACK LESSENBERRY, Special to The Oakland Press

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN – Jack Kevorkian was once a regular feature
on the nightly news, a figure of ferocious controversy and a
pop-culture icon at the same time. That was back in the 1990s, when
every American knew his name and virtually nobody had heard of Osama
bin Laden.

Today, Dr. Death sits in a jail cell in Lapeer, 77 years old, out of
touch with the media and nearly forgotten. But if Ruth Holmes has her
way, that may be about to change. Holmes, a handwriting analyst and
document examiner, regards the man who made assisted suicide famous as
a martyr, a hero and a genius.

And the Bloomfield Hills woman wants the world to know he has a new
cause, a new passion and a new book: “Amendment IX: Our Cornucopia of
Rights”, which she and her daughter Sarah helped him put together and
publish.

Simply put, it is about one of the least-known amendments in the Bill
of Rights. The Ninth Amendment says: “The enumeration in the
Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or
disparage others retained by the people.” For the former pathologist,
that says it all.

“Every human being is born with the lifelong, powerful, unalterable,
essentially instinctual will or drive to absolute personal freedom,”
Kevorkian declares at the beginning of his short (65 pages) paperback
book, which is really more like an extended pamphlet.

“The full power of natural rights is latent in Amendment IX of the
Bill of Rights,” he argues over and over again. According to his
theory, the Ninth Amendment “renders all the bill’s other amendments
superfluous.”

He said he believes the Ninth Amendment guarantees the right of
assisted suicide, or, as he would put it, “the right to seek a
competent medical professional’s assistance in ending unendurable
suffering.”

He also thinks it guarantees the right to marry anyone of any sex,
ride a motorcycle without a helmet, carry concealed weapons or fly the
flag. In short, Kevorkian, who usually voted Libertarian when he voted
at all, is now more concerned with personal freedom than with assisted
suicide.

“This shows that he is interested in moving the philosophical
discussion beyond the (assisted suicide) issue,” said Holmes, who
talks to Kevorkian nearly every day.

Writing even a short book wasn’t easy for the elderly inmate, who is
only allowed to write in longhand and has very limited access to
reference materials. Some of it he mailed out in the form of letters.

Some he dictated over the phone to Sarah Holmes, at considerable
financial cost to her family. Prisoners have to reverse the charges on
any call they make, and a heavy surcharge is added. “We don’t even
talk about the phone bill,” Ruth Holmes said.

The well-written, thought-provoking book only occasionally lapses into
a rant. Whether his arguments are likely to sway the legal community
is doubtful.

Robert Sedler, a professor of constitutional law at Wayne State
University and a supporter of Kevorkian, once noted that “the Ninth
Amendment is a little like Hamburger Helper. It needs to be used in
connection with something else, another legal argument.”

There has never been – as Kevorkian himself said – a U.S. Supreme
Court decision based on the Ninth Amendment. He thinks it is about
time, and unless we start giving it the primacy it deserves, a fascist
America is inevitable, he says.

“(The Ninth Amendment’s) seismic power will help us restore our
struggling Republic’s tarnished glory,” Kevorkian concludes in his
book.

Whether Kevorkian himself will ever be restored to prominence seems
doubtful. After presiding over, he says, more than 130 assisted
suicides, he was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 for
performing euthanasia on Thomas Youk of Waterford Township, who had
Lou Gehrig’s disease and wanted to die.

Ever since, he has been serving a 10- to 25-year
sentence. Technically, he won’t be eligible for parole until May 2007,
but his lawyer, Mayer Morgenroth, plans to file a motion this November
asking the governor to commute his sentence or move up the date when
he is eligible for parole.

That seems unlikely. Though Jack Kevorkian vows he will give up
helping people die, Gov. Jennifer Granholm is highly risk-averse, and
is said to be adamantly opposed to everything Kevorkian has done.

Last winter, CBS’s Mike Wallace called her to ask her to consider
clemency in the case. Wallace, whose report of his euthanasia on “60
Minutes” helped lead to Kevorkian’s conviction, feels that he has been
punished more than enough. But the governor refused to speak to him.

“We won’t give up,” said Holmes, who said that a Hollywood producer is
planning a major movie on Kevorkian, though details are hazy. For now,
she hopes his new book will make a difference.

Jack Lessenberry has covered Dr. Kevorkian and the assisted suicide
issue for The New York Times and many other publications. He opines
weekly for the Detroit Metro Times, and is a Lecturer of Reporting and
Feature Writing at Wayne State University in Detroit.

Getting the book

Jack Kevorkian’s book, “Amendment IX: Our Cornucopia of Rights”, is
available at Ariana Gallery (119 S. Main St., Royal Oak, Michigan
48067 — Day Time Phone: 248-546-8810), or from Penumbra
Inc. (P.O. Box 231, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48303).

ARMAN MELIKIAN: THE SIDES’ POSITIONS ARE TOO FAR FROM EACH OTHER

Azg/arm
22 July 05

Independence of Nagorno Karabakh is No Subject of Bargain

The process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation is marking advance
in the recent months but there are no serious changes, NKR foreign
minister told a press conference yesterday. “The sides’ positions
[in the talks] are too far from each other. There are no concrete
results”, minister Arman Melikian said.

Azerbaijani deputy foreign ministerm, Araz Azimov, announce several
days ago that the sides are close to the peace as never. The foreign
minister Elmar Mammediarov said on his part that the “talks carry on
in the context of Azerbaijan’s territorial wholeness and constitution”.

NKR foreign minister does not exclude that official Baku’s mass media
targets another audience. “The independence of Nagorno Karabakh is no
subject of bargain. They know it in Baku and Yerevan and the co-chairs
are well aware of that”, Melikian said.

During a regional visit of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairmen on
July 10-16, American co-chair Steven Mann said that “there is a
good possibility for a serious progress” but “the possibility does
not guarantee that it will happen. The positions of the sides are
incomparably closer today than last summer or winter”. Russian
co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated that the mediators are working on
“formulations”.

Arman Melikian pointed out yesterday that it’s meaningless and
untimely to speak of visible progress and that today we can speak
only of specifying principles of the regulation. “The principles are
not formed so far”, he said.

Minister Melikian emphasized that Stepanakert “is moderately informed
about the negotiations” but “the talks today are carrying on between
Armenia and Azerbaijan and I would be mistaken to say that we take
part in the talks”. Melikian thinks that Karabakh has to join the
talks process.

The Karabakh side is visibly dissatisfied with the negotiation format
and the way Yerevan, Baku and the co-chairmen conduct. Official Baku
is ready to negotiate with Nagorno Karabakh but not as a side in the
conflict but as the Armenian community of Azerbaijan.

The stance of officials in Yerevan over this issue is controversial.
Foreign minister Vartan Oskanian threatens Azerbaijan to come out of
the negotiation process leaving Baku face to face with Stepanakert.
But Armenian President Robert Kocharian thinks that Karabakh takes
part in the negotiations. “Nagorno Karabakh is an active participant
of the talks… I present the interests of Artsakh at our meetings
with the Azeri President. We will certainly strive for including NKR
in that format. I think we will succeed”, President Kocharian told
Golos Armenii on February 26.

Speaking of placing a peacekeeping contingent in the conflict zone,
Melikian said, “We prefer not to see foreign forces [in the region].
We simply don’t need them today”. Concerning the threats of the
Cypriot government to Azerbaijan to organize flights from Nicosia to
Stepanakert in case Baku sends its panes to the Turkish sector of the
island, Melikian said that “neither Greek no Cypriot authorities have
turned to them with this issue but if they do they will be satisfied”.

NKR foreign minister labeled unserious the statement by Azeri
authorities to realize an investment of millions of dollars once
Karabakh conflict is settled. Arman Melikian reminded late 80s
when Moscow was allocating money for socio-economic development of
Karabakh but Azerbaijan was spending it on the needs of Azeri villages,
particularly Khojalu.

By Tatoul Hakobian

Lraper Church Bulletin 19/07/2005

Contact: Deacon Vagharshag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970, 517-0971
F: +90 (212) 516-4833, 458-1365
[email protected]

THE PATRIARCH PRESIDES OVER THE SPIRITUAL COUNCIL

;NewsCode=N000000719&Lang=ENG

On Wednesday morning, 13 July 2005, His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, presided over a meeting of the
Spiritual Council of the Armenian Patriarchate. His Grace Bishop Aram
Atesyan chaired the meeting.

The Fathers of the Holy Council examined a letter written on 23 June
2005 and received from the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences
of the Republic of Armenia, asking that “all assistance be given”
to Dr. Ara Sargsyan, “for the purpose of the completion of his
scholarly work.” The Fathers determined that Dr. Ara Sargsyan had
already come to Istanbul twice, and that it had already been decided
that his studies had no connection with the 1600th anniversary of
the discovery of the Armenian Alphabet and the translation of the
Holy Scriptures into Armenian. They decided to decline the request
of the Academy, stating that bilateral economic relations between
Turkey and Armenia were not the obligation of religious institutions,
and that in regard to this and similar matters, contacts should be
opened with civil organizations that deal with commerce and politics.

The Spiritual Council once again took up the matter of Father Varujan
Derderyan, former pastor of Saint John the Baptist Armenian Church
on the Island of Crete, Greece, who was freed of his duties at the
meeting on 24 June. Since Father Varujan was a citizen of the Republic
of Armenia and ordained by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, it
was understood that the final decision regarding his status should
be made by His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians. The
Catholicos has thus been informed. In a letter dated 12 July 2005,
Catholicos Karekin requested Father Varujan Derderyan to return
to Holy Etchmiadzin. The Spiritual Council decided to write Father
Varujan a second letter, instructing him to return to Holy Etchmiadzin
without delay.

His Beatitude the Patriarch informed the Fathers of the Holy Council
that the Very Revd. Fr. Sahag Masalyan, the pastor of the Armenian
Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Gedikpasa, had requested
permission to go to Holy Etchmiadzin in order to complete his thesis
for the degree of Vartabed (Magisterium Divinitas). This request
had been granted by the Patriarch. Father Sahag will leave for Holy
Etchmiadzin this week and use the facilities of the libraries in
Armenia to complete his work.

His Beatitude the Patriarch, reporting to the Spiritual Council on the
results from the 13 July 2005 final examinations given to candidates
for the holy order of priesthood, Sahag Bicakciyan, Sevan Civanyan,
Harutyun Babikyan, and Hayk Koparyan, noted that the results are very
good. The Fathers of the Holy Council approved the ordination of the
four candidates as priests and expressed how pleased they were with
the addition of four new priests to the Armenian community, which is
suffering from a shortage of clergymen. His Beatitude the Patriarch
will decide on the date and place of the ordination.

His Beatitude mentioned with pleasure the continuing restoration work
on the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar. He said that architect Zakarya
Mildanoglu goes twice per week to Van to make architectural checks
on the restoration work.

His Beatitude said that it has come to the attention of the Chancellery
that some Armenian community foundations and associations in recent
times have stepped outside of their responsibilities. The fact is
that the Armenian community elects administrators of foundations to
administer churches, schools, and other institutions and to be in
contact with the relevant government offices to follow up issues
regarding these institutions. These institutions are entrusted to
the elected officers for four years. The ecumenical, interfaith,
intercultural and international relations between these community
units and other Armenian, Turkish and foreign religious or secular
institutions in Turkey or abroad, must pass through the channels of
the Patriarchal See which coordinates these relations. The Fathers of
the Holy Council decided to remind the church and community foundations
once more of this requirement.

MARGINAL LEADER REMERGES

ArmenPress
July 18 2005

YEREVAN, JULY 18, ARMENPRESS: The leader of a minor ultra-nationalist
marginal party, called Armenian Aryan Union, spoke out against attempts
to carry out ‘a color revolution’ in Armenia patterned from change of
power in some other former Soviet republics, saying they are plotted
and pushed for by Western powers which want their dominance in the
Caucasus.

Armen Avetisian, the leader of the party, who was handed down
a three-year suspended sentence on 18 March for “inciting racial
hatred,” said last Saturday the recently established Coordinating
Alliance for Protection of National Interests, will be fighting to
drive out from Armenia’s political landscape “all external impact.”

Avetisian then lashed out at some opposition leaders, who “are
enthusiastically reiterating statements by some foreign leaders and
defend other nations’ interests.” Avetisian said the new alliance
will be acting as “a chain between those representatives of the
authorities and the opposition who are concerned with the future of
the nation,’ saying also the alliance is seeking closer cooperation
with Hanrapetutyun (Republic) and Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party.

The alliance is planning to hold its first conference on August 15,
when it will announce the names of political forces, which have agreed
to cooperate with it. Avetisian had been arrested in 2005, January for
a range of interviews in which he accused the tiny Jewish community
of Armenia of all hardships Armenians have been facing and calling
their expulsion from Armenia. Avetisian also threatened to unveil a
list of top government and parliament officials, who he claimed had
a non-traditional sexual orientation.