Author: Kanayan Tamar

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website; _www.armenianchurch.ca_ ()
May 11, 2006
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Primate Pays Tribute to Senator Romeo Dallaire

Retired Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire, who gained an international
reputation for condemning the lack of global action in preventing the
Rwandan genocide, has been named to a new United Nations committee
charged with advising the world body on genocidal conflicts.

Dallaire, also a Senator in Canada, was one of eight people named to
the Genocide Prevention Advisory Committee this week. Dallaire
commanded the UN Forces in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. Archbishop
Desmond Tutu of South Africa is also serving on the committee, whose
mandate involves advising the UN on preventing genocide as well as
what action to take if a conflict erupts.

On Wednesday, May 10, 2006 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian sent
a letter of acknowledgement and appreciation to Senator
Dallaire. Following is the letter of Serpazan.

No 2006.115
May 10, 2006
Honourable Romeo Dallaire
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A4
Honourable Senator,

We are gratified to learn that you have been named to the Genocide
Prevention Advisory Committee of the United Nations, a consultative
committee to the world body on genocide conflicts. It is imperative
that the issue of genocide be recognized and prevented. Undeniably,
those efforts depend on individuals who possess high levels of moral
principles, dedication and conviction. Your devoted and conscious
service with the UN forces in Rwanda demonstrates a clear vision and
understanding of the definition of Genocide. This issue should draw
the attention and abhorrence of the world.

Regretfully, in 2006, the world is witnessing yet again, occurrences
of genocide. Although many individuals are working to raise awareness
and to promote some political action, not all acknowledge the depth of
the dilemma or are willing to take the necessary action. There can be
no confusion on the question; many hundreds of thousands have
perished, and millions have been displaced. It is our moral
responsibility to call attention to the anguish in Darfur. We,
Armenians have suffered the pain of the first genocide of the
twentieth century and are very apprehensive that the world is once
again hesitant to act.

As quoted from Baroness Caroline Cox, of the British House of Lords in
April 1999, “If nations are allowed to commit genocide with impunity,
to hide their guilt in a camouflage of lies and denials, there is a
real danger that other brutal regimes will be encouraged to attempt
genocides. Unless we speak today of the Armenian genocide and unless
the Government recognizes this historical fact, we shall leave this
century of unprecedented genocides with this blot on our consciences.”

Once again, we are called to act and act now. History will judge us
all, for our awareness and willingness to take a stand. With prayers,

Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate
Diocese of the Armenian Church in Canada

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
May 12, 2006 Friday

Georgia troops to secure safe withdrawal of Russia base

by Tengiz Pachkoria

The units of the Georgian Defence Ministry and local law enforcement
bodies are to ensure security of the withdrawal of the weapons and
hardware of the Russian military base in Akhalkalaki.

A representative of the Trans-Caucasus Group of Russian Troops
(TCGRT) told ITAR-TASS on Friday that the “Georgian side will secure
under existing accords the process of the withdrawal of the hardware
and weapons of the Russian base in Akhalkalaki, which will be
accomplished by rail (in Russia) and motor roads (in Armenia to the
Russian base Gyumri)”.

Georgian media said on Friday that the Defence Ministry’s special
units had been relocated to Dzhavakheta province, in which
Akhalkalaki and Tsalka are, for ensuring a safe withdrawal of Russian
weapons.

The TCGRT representative said that the first train with the military
equipment and weapons had been prepared for leaving the Akhalkalaki
base.

Last week, the Russian military equipped a field camp and temporary
parking in Tsalka, which is located 50 kilometres from Akhalkalaki,
for forming the first train on which arms from the Akhalkalaki base
will be loaded on Saturday and Sunday.

Three other trains will trip to Russia on May 23, 25 and 30.

The TCGRT representative also said that “part of the hardware and
weapons of the Akhalkalaki base will be moved by truck to the Russian
base in Gyumri”, Armenia.

The first auto convoy will head to Armenia on May 18.

Under Georgian-Russian agreements, the withdrawn of the Akhalkalaki
base is to be completed during 2007.

Most of its equipment and weapons will be withdrawal of the base from
Georgia is to be completed in the period from May 15 to August 15 of
this year.

OBJECTIONS ON FRENCH BILL RISE FROM EP
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels

Zaman, Turkey
May 11 2006

Reactions against the bill that would criminalize denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide have begun to emerge from the European
Parliament (EP) members, too.

EP members of different political groups speaking to Zaman criticized
the French motion.

Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats which is the EP’s
third largest political group, termed the draft as “a wrong decision
opposed to freedoms.”

Watson stressed that the proposal is both a wrong and
freedom-restricting step.

Freedom of thought and expression is the basic value of Europe,
Watson said. “These freedoms must not be restricted.”

The best way, according to the EP’s Liberal Group leader, to unveil
the realities regarding the Armenian genocide is to set up a commission
of Turkish and Armenian historians. Watson reminded this proposal was
brought to the agenda by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Another Liberal Democrat in the EP, Andrew Duff, said the draft is
not just “very ugly,” but it is also an attack against freedom of
expression. “Those supporting the motion have a clear target: To
damage Turkey.”

Co-Chairman of the European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission
Joost Lagendijk pointed out those responsible for the preparation
of the motion fail to appreciate the value of the free discussion
atmosphere that started in Turkey. “It is necessary to encourage
discussion,” Lagendijk said, “but if the bill becomes law, it will
definitely be misused by reform opponents in Turkey.”

European Parliamentary member for the Greens, Turkish-origin
Cem Ozdemir, finding the French attitude “no different from the
chauvinistic nationalists in Turkey,” said those who oppose Turkey’s
accession to the European Union are behind the motion. “If France wants
to heal the wounds of Armenians, let it support Turkey’s membership
to EU. If the bill passes, it will give an advantage to those who do
not want the Armenian problem solved.”

Turkish-born EP deputy Emine Bozkurt, who thinks the motion is
“a real hypocrisy” asked, “The EU is making efforts for freedom of
expression in Turkey on one hand, and France brings this motion to
the agenda on the other. How will this contradiction be explained to
the Turkish people?”

STORMY WEATHER HINDERS SEARCH IN BLACK SEA

AZG Armenian Daily
12/05/2006

The search for Armavia’s A320 jetliner airbus has stopped, as the
weather forecast promises a storm of 4 degrees in the Black Sea
basin. RIA news agency informed that the French specialists arrived
in Sochi.

Their equipment will help carry out search works in deeper layers
of the seabed. The new equipment will be installed on “Navigator”
ship that arrived from Novorossiysk.

Several items are revealed on the seabed, where the French specialists
managed to get signals from. It is supposed that the signals come
from the “black boxes” that are in the dept of 400-450 meters.

The specialists believe that a more powerful equipment than they have
at present is required for carrying out more effective search.

5RD SHIFT PLATOON OF ARMENIAN PEACE-KEEPERS LEAVES FOR KOSOVO

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 11 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 5th shift platoon
of Armenian peace-keepers left for Kosovo on peace-keeping mission
on May 11. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by Colonel seyran
Shahsuvarian, the Ra Defence Minister’s Press Secrtetary.

ARMENIAN CIVIL AVIATION REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMS THAT CRASHED PLANE DID NOT UNDERGO TECHNICAL EXAMINATION IN BRUSSELS

Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The A-320 plane that crashed near Sochi
on May 3 has not undergone technical examination by the Sabina Technics
company in Brussels this year. Serob Karapetian, Head of the Flight
Safety Inspection Unit of the Main Civil Aviation Department adjunct to
the Armenian government said this in an interview to Radio Liberty. He
said that the plane underwent techical servicing of Sabina Technics
in Yerevan in prescribed order. In his words, this year the plane
has not undergone a complete technical examination outside Armenia,
since there was no such necessity.

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

MAY 11, 2006

NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
WILL CONVENE IN NEW JERSEY NEXT WEEK
Plans are complete and the New Jersey community of Sts. Vartanantz
Church is prepared to welcome delegates and guests to the Eastern Prelacy’s
National Representative Assembly next week. Clergy conference begins on
Tuesday, May 16. The general assembly will begin Wednesday afternoon, May 17
and conclude on Friday, May 19.
The concluding reception and banquet will take place Friday evening, May
19, at the Fort Lee Hilton, Route 4 East, Fort Lee, New Jersey. During the
banquet program a number of individuals will be honored including “Persons
of the Year,” and “Youth Leadership” awards. “Certificates of Merit” will be
presented to deserving members of the local host community. To make
reservations for the banquet ($75. per person) contact any of the following:
Sts. Vartanantz Church, 201-943-2950; Bea Movsesian, 201-445-6867; Sonia
Setrakian, 201-313-7157; Lynn Mahlebjian, 201-440-3018.
The following four items all pertain to special events during the
Assembly.

CONFERENCE FOR YERETZGEENS
Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive Council are pleased
to announce that a conference for Yeretzgeens of the Eastern Prelacy will be
held in New Jersey on May 16-17, in conjunction with the National
Representative Assembly. All Yeretzgeens are invited to attend the
conference. Archbishop Oshagan will open the session with a prayer and
deliver the opening message. The remainder of the conference will feature
two sessions on various aspects of the life of a priest’s wife (family,
parish life, work) by Presvytera Athanasia Papademetriou of the Greek
Orthodox faith and one session titled, “Women of Noble Character,” by
Yeretzgeen Joanna Baghsarian.

VESPERS AND BOOK PRESENTATION
TUESDAY EVENING
Clergymen serving the Prelacy will begin their conference on Tuesday,
May 16, at 8 a.m. and continue through the day. The public is invited to
attend the Vespers service at 7:30 pm, and the book presentation that will
follow in the church’s large hall, 461 Bergen Blvd., Ridgefield, New Jersey.
The newly published Light from Light: An Introduction to the History and
Theology of the Armenian Church, by Professor Michael B. Papazian, will be
introduced with a wine and cheese reception at 8 pm, immediately following
Vespers. Archbishop Oshagan will present the book and the author, who will
be available to autograph copies of his book.

VISIT TO CATHEDRAL, PRELACY AND
ANOTHER BOOK PRESENTATION
On Wednesday evening, delegates and guests will cross the Hudson River
to visit St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, where Vespers
service will take place. Immediately afterward they will go northward to the
Prelacy office on 39th Street for a reception and introduction of another
newly published book, “The Historiography of Fifth Century Armenia,” by
Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian, of blessed memory. This work is the
doctoral dissertation of the late Archbishop, the first Prelate of the
Prelacy. It has never been published in book form. Archbishop Oshagan will
make the presentation in the presence of members of Archbishop Hrant’s
immediate family, including his brother, Antranig Khatchadourian, from
Providence, Rhode Island.

DELEGATES AND GUESTS WILL VISIT HOVNANIAN SCHOOL
On Thursday evening, May 18, delegates and guests will visit the
Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey. The Hovnanian School, which
started at Sts. Vartanantz Church, is celebrating its 30th anniversary and
was recently featured in The Record, one of New Jersey’s major newspapers.
The students will make a presentation including their acclaimed Dzalabadig,
a rendition of a moving story of school children in Aleppo after the
Genocide, reading and writing while sitting cross-legged (dzalabadig). Since
the students’ original presentation in 2004 it has been repeated several
times by popular demand.

PRELATE ATTENDS JOINT MEETING TODAY
Archbishop Oshagan attended the third meeting of “Christian, Arab and
Middle Eastern Churches Together” today, at the Eparchy of St. Maron in
Brooklyn, hosted by Archbishop Gregory Marsour.

VICAR IS ATTENDING POST-ASSEMBLY WCC EVENT
V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy
and Ecumenical Officer for the Eastern and Western Prelacies, is attending
the U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches Post Assembly Event in
San Jose, California, today and tomorrow, May 11 and 12. The Conference will
focus on a discussion of the 9th Assembly of the WCC which took place in
Brazil in February.
On Sunday, May 14, Father Anoushavan will officiate at the Divine
Liturgy and deliver the sermon at St. Gregory Armenian Church in San
Francisco, California.

PRELATE WILL PRESIDE AT ST. ILLUMINATOR CATHEDRAL
Archbishop Oshagan will preside over the Divine Liturgy this Sunday, May
14-Mothers’ Day-at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 East 27th Street, New
York City.

REGISTER NOW FOR DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM
Urge your teenagers to enroll in the St. Gregory of Datev Summer
Institute. The weeklong program will take place July 2 to 9 at the St. Mary
of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. This year the Institute is
marking its 20th anniversary and various commemorative events are being
planned. Watch the Prelacy’s web site for details.

EMMA GREGORYAN EXHIBIT OPENS TOMORROW
An exhibit of the works of noted artist, Emma Gregoryan, will open
tomorrow evening, Friday, May 12, at the Prelacy’s Vahakn and Hasmig
Hovnanian Hall, 138 E. 39th Street, New York City. The opening reception
will begin at 7 pm. The artist will be present to welcome guests.
Refreshments will be served.
Ms. Gregoryan’s works are currently being shown at the Susquehanna Art
Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as part of an exhibition of the Armenian
art collection of the late John Vartan.
Born in Gumri, Armenia, Emma Grigoryan graduated from the Fine Arts and
Theatrical Institute of Yerevan. Her paintings have been exhibited in
Yerevan, Paris, Beirut, New York, Washington and throughout Canada.

PLG MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON BIG HIT
The Prelacy Ladies Guild’s Mothers Day luncheon this past Monday was a
crowd pleaser on many different levels. The Roof Garden of The St. Regis was
the site of the annual luncheon, which attracted many attendees from near
and far.
Archbishop Oshagan presented the Mother of the Year award to Mrs. Araxie
Varjabedian in the presence of members of her family and friends. Mrs.
Varjabedian accepted the award with humility and thankfulness. At the
conclusion of the event a gift of $5,000 from Mrs. Varjabedian to the
Prelacy Ladies Guild was announced.
Entertainment this year included a wonderful musical interlude entitled
“Voices of Spring.” The program was put together specially for this event by
the vocalists, Ross Chitwood, Jeanette Vecchione, and Solange Merdinian,
with Vlad Iftinka on the piano.

CAMP HAIASTAN EXTENDS CAMPERSHIPS
TO EASTERN PRELACY PARISHES
Archbishop Oshagan and the Board of Directors of the AYF Camp Haiastan
of Franklin, Massachusetts, recently announced a joint program. Each parish
in the Eastern Prelacy is extended one two-week fully paid campership by
Camp Haiastan. Eastern Prelacy clergymen will select a boy or girl in their
Sunday School or church community who have never attended the camp. The
sessions being offered for the camperships are the Teen Session for 15 and
16 year olds, or Session 3 for 8 to 14 year olds.

TWO NEW VOLUMES IN KAREKIN I SERIES ARE PUBLISHED
Two new volumes in the “Karekin I Theological and Armenological Studies
Series,” were issued last week. Volume six of the series, “The Council of
Chalcedon and the Armenian Church,” is a new edition of the classic work
which was the late Catholicos’ thesis at Oxford University. Although
faithful to the original, this new edition includes translations of the many
long passages in Greek, Latin, French and German.
The seventh volume (in Armenian) is titled “Encyclicals and Messages,”
and includes the Catholicos’s major pontifical encyclicals and messages.
The series editors are Dr. Vazken Ghougassian and Iris Papazian. The
sponsor of the series is “The Haig and Elza Didizian Fund.”
The next volume (number eight in the series) is “Think and Enter,” a
translation of His Holiness’s early work in Armenian, Khorheh yev Medir.
Translated by Iris Papazian, this volume is expected to be issued later this
year.

FEAST OF THE APPARITION OF THE HOLY CROSS
This Sunday, May 14, is the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross
(Yerevman Khach), which is celebrated on the fifth Sunday of Easter in
remembrance of the sign of the cross that stretched in the sky over the city
of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to Golgotha in 351 A.D. This cross in
the sky remained for hours and was seen by the people in Jerusalem, many of
whom rushed to church to glorify God and give thanks.

SUNDAY IS MOTHERS’ DAY
This Sunday, May 14, is Mothers’ Day. Mothers’ Day was first celebrated
in 1907 when Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia persuaded her mother’s church in
West Virginia to celebrate Mothers’ Day on the second anniversary of her
mother’s death.
It was an idea that took on a life of its own. By 1911 Mothers’ Day was
being celebrated in nearly every state. Three years later, in 1914,
President Woodrow Wilson made it official, by proclamation, that Mothers’
Day would be a national holiday to be celebrated each year on the second
Sunday of May.
HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!

Calendar of Event

May 12-Exhibition of the works of artist Emma Gregoryan at the Prelacy, 138
E. 39th Street, New York City.

May 13-Dinner-Dance organized by the St. Sarkis Church Ping-Pong Club. For
details 718-224-2275.

May 17-19-National Representative Assembly (NRA), hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey. Concluding reception and banquet will take
place Friday, May 19, at the Fort Lee Hilton, Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Reception at 7 pm, followed by dinner. For information/reservations: Sts.
Vartanantz Church office, 201-943-2950.

May 16 and 17-Conference of Yeretzgeens in conjunction with the National
Representative Assembly, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New
Jersey.

May 20-Year-end Hantes for Sunday School and Saturday School, St. Sarkis
Church, Douglaston, New York. For information, 718-224-2275.

June 4-16th Anniversary Celebration of the new St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York. For information, 718-224-2275.

July 22-Ladies Guild of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
and Ani Chapter of Armenian Relief Society co-host gala dance at Greek
Orthodox Annunciation Church. For information, 401-286-8107.

September 28-4th Annual Golf Outing hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey. Bergen Hills Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey.
For reservations and/or information: 201-943-2950.

Visit our website at

PERSPECTIVES. ANKARA ACCENTUE LA PRESSION SUR LA FRANCE
Laure Marchand (a Istamboul)

La Croix
10 mai 2006

Les faits

Deux propositions de loi visant a penaliser la negation du genocide
armenien en France declenchent la colère de la Turquie. Ankara a
annonce lundi le rappel pour “consultations” de l’ambassadeur de
Turquie a Paris, Osman Koruturk, a cause “des informations infondees
sur un pretendu genocide armenien”, selon les termes du ministère des
affaires etrangères turc. Deposees, l’une par le groupe socialiste,
l’autre par le groupe UMP, deux propositions de loi qui devraient
etre examinees le 18 mai prevoient des peines allant jusqu’a cinq ans
d’emprisonnement et 45 000 Euro d’amende en cas de negation. Ce volet
repressif, inspire de la loi Gayssot sur la Shoah, vise a completer
la loi sur la reconnaissance du genocide armenien adoptee en France
en 2001.

L’analyse

L’initiative a declenche la colère de la Turquie, extremement
susceptible sur cette question et qui nie categoriquement l’existence
d’un genocide a l’epoque de l’Empire ottoman. Pour les medias et la
classe politique turcs, ces deux propositions de loi visent a recuperer
les voix de la communaute armenienne lors de l’election presidentielle
francaise de 2007. Du coup, le porte-parole du ministre des affaires
etrangères, Abdullah Gul, a evoque des “dommages irreparables” dans les
relations entre les deux pays si la loi passait. Le president de la
commission des affaires etrangères du Parlement a evoque un boycott
des importations francaises et la mise a l’ecart des entreprises
francaises lors d’appels d’offres. Areva, sur les rangs pour la
construction de la première centrale nucleaire turque, pourrait
etre parmi les premières cibles. Danone, Renault, Peugeot, L’Oreal,
Axa et d’autres sont deja vises: une liste de produits francais,
accompagnee de caricatures de Jacques Chirac, a fait son apparition
sur Internet et circule dans les ministères.

L’avenir

Ces mesures de retorsion viennent d’etre employees contre les Canadiens
en reponse aux declarations de leur premier ministre en faveur des
commemorations du genocide armenien. L’ambassadeur de Turquie au Canada
a ete rappele en meme temps que son homologue a Paris. La Turquie
est coutumière de ces repliques sur le terrain economique. En 2001,
lorsque la France avait vote la reconnaissance du genocide armenien,
des entreprises francaises avaient ete penalisees. Parallèlement, une
delegation de deputes turcs est arrivee hier a Paris pour convaincre
les parlementaires francais de faire marche arrière.

–Boundary_(ID_5SF0ZR3OXAe4w/xqjXrUAQ)–

ARMENIAN DM: NAGORNY KARABAKH WON IN WAR IMPOSED BY AZERBAIJAN

Stepanakert, May 10. ArmInfo. “I don’t agree with the view that
our victory in the war imposed by Azerbaijan was just half the
work. Victory is victory.

I think that Nagorny Karabakh was won,” Armenian Defence Minister
Serzh Sargsyan said during the May 9 celebrations in Stepanakert.

Sargsyan said that the Karabakh problem must be solved
through mutual concessions. “No peace is possible without
mutual concessions. Azerbaijan must recognize the right of the
Nagorno-Karabakh people to free life. They must understand that a
people has the right to live the way it wants,” Sargsyan said.

Ajax USA
May 9 2006

Knee surgery for Egdar Manucharyan

08 May: Edgar Manucharyan underwent knee surgery in Amsterdam on
Monday. The operation was necessary because there was a tear in his
right kneecap. The 19 year-old Armenian will need most of the summer
break for his recovery, but is expected to be fit for Ajax’s first
training of the new season on Tuesday 04 July.

Everyone at Ajax firmly believes in the talent of Edgar Manucharyan,
but the young Armenian has been very injury-prone in his first season
in the Dutch capital. Manucharyan, who can play as a ‘number 10’ but
also at every position in the forward line, joined Ajax on a try-out
in late 2004. His first appearance for Ajax-1 was in the 14 December
2004 friendly against FC Barcelona, but the unfortunate youngster
broke a metatarsal after precisely 13 minutes of action.

The club promised Manucharyan a second chance after his rehab. He got
it in April 2005, impressed the technical staff and penned a
three-year contract on 15 April 2005. In his first season as an
Ajacied Manucharyan had four official appearances in the Eredivisie
and one in the Champions League. He only had one full game: at Sparta
Rotterdam on 02 October 2005. He made an excellent impression as a
left winger, but his injuries turned out to be persistent. They
haunted him throughout the year.

July 2006 will hopefully mark the real start of Edgar Manucharyan’s
career at Ajax. (MP)

Source: Ajax.nl