Author: Karabekian Emil

PRESS RELEASE

Fund for Armenian Relief’s Fellows Alumni Association
9-38 Tumanyan Street,
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Gevorg Yaghjyan
Local seminar coordinator
Tel: (3741) 53-58-68
Fax: (3742) 53-48-79
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

SATELLITE SYMPOSIUM

“Bone and Joint / Trauma Surgery”

Yerevan, August 27-29, 2004

FARFAA – Salzburg Medical Seminars Program together with AAF (American
Austrian Foundation) and the National Institute of Trauma organized a
Satellite Symposium on “Bone and Joint/Trauma Surgery”. The symposium
was organized with the general sponsorship of FAR (Fund for Armenian
Relief). It took place on August 27-29, in Yerevan. About 50 bone
and joint/trauma specialists from different hospitals of Armenia
participated in the symposium.

The co-chairmen of the symposium were Professor Vachagan Ayvazyan,
the head of the Union of Traumatologists and Orthopaedic Surgeons
of Armenia, Director of TOBRC, head of the Bone and Joint / Trauma
Surgery Chair at NIH, and Dr. Bostrom, a prominent professor at the
Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, USA. The symposium was
also attended by Dr. Konstantinos N.Malizos, Professor of Orthopaedic
Surgery at the University Hospital of Thessalia in Larissa, Greece.

Some of the lectures during the symposium were “Reconstruction of
Long Bone Defects with Vascularized Fibular Grafts”, “A Comprehensive
Approach to the Osteonecrosis of the Skeleton” (by Dr. K. Malizos),
” Total Knee Replacement Exposures: Technical Pearls & Pitfalls”,
“Management of Complications in Total Hip Arthroplasy”,
“Osteoarthritis: Treatment Alternatives”, “Orthobiologics and
Growth Factors in Bone Healing” (by Dr. Bostrom). Several case
presentations were demonstrated on “Total Hip Replacement”, “Legs
Fracture” (by TOBRC), “Elbow Joint Repalcement” (by OSC), “Hip
Repacement”, “Electrotrauma Management” (by EMC), “Island Flaps in
Limb Reconstrsuction” (by PRSMSC) and “Foot Reconstruction” (by SNMC).

The goal of the symposium was to present the latest information on the
experience and the knowledge of the international faculty members to
doctors of Armenia. All the participants had the opportunity to fill
in a questionnaire expressing their approach about the organization
of the symposium.

The symposium was positively evaluated by participants and organizing
committee due to the high level of presentations, interesting
discussions and established connections.

On August 27, the guest lecturers paid visits to Yerevan’s hospitals.

The organizers are especially grateful to the FAR for technical
(laptop, projector) and financial assistance and AAF for cooperation.

The organizers would like to thank academician Vilen Hakobyan, the
rector of the Yerevan State Medical University, who provided the YSMU
Conference Hall for the Satellite Symposium.

We hope that this program will find continuation in the future and
will help to enhance the practice of local specialists due to gained
theoretical knowledge and discussions.

FARFAA is a non-for-profit non-governmental organization of medical
professionals, aimed at improving the health care system and advancing
the medical sciences in Armenia.

Armenian military police chief arrested over “abuse of power”

Aravot web site, Yerevan
28 Aug 04

Criminal proceedings have been launched against the chief of the
military police of Echmiadzin, Romik Mkrtumyan, for an abuse of power.

While on holiday, Mkrtumyan used a military vehicle for trips to
pastures owned by him and Gen Aykaz Bagmanyan. During one such trip,
the vehicle overturned and fell into a gorge. A soldier was killed in
an attempt to extract the vehicle and another one was seriously
injured.

Mkrtumyan has been arrested.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 208
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-500-1918
Fax: 818-246-7353
Email: [email protected]

Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Contact: Armen Carapetian
(818) 500-1918

ANCA-WR HONORS 2004 LEO SARKISSIAN AND WESTRN REGION SUMMER INTERNS

Glendale, CA – The Armenian National Committee of America -Western
Region (ANCA-WR) hosted a reception honoring this summer’s ANCA Leo
Sarkissian and ANCA-WR interns from the Western United States at its
offices on August 24, 2004.

The reception provided the outgoing interns an opportunity to reunite
with their friends, share their experiences with their family, and be
recognizedfor their admirable accomplishments by the community. The
event also allowed attending newcomers to learn about the ANCA-WR’s
mission, programs,and achievements. Finally, the occasion gave
representatives of the ANCA-WR a chance to formally thank the interns
for their commitment and proactive involvement in the
Armenian-American community.

`We are a rich organization,’ said Raffi Hamparian, Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the ANCA-WR. `Our wealth is derived from the
highlycapable and active Armenian-American community that has
successfully continued to pass the baton of responsibility from one
generation to the next. Through these internship programs, we pass the
baton to the next generation,’ concluded Hamparian.

Last week marked the end of both the ANCA Leo Sarkissian Internship
Program in Washington, DC and the ANCA-WR’s inaugural summer
internship program for 2004. For over two decades, Armenian-American
youth interested in public policy have participated in the Leo
Sarkissian Internship Program at the ANCA headquarters in Washington,
DC where they not only learn about the American political system but
also receive hands-on experience in advancing issues of concern to
Armenian-Americans within the democratic process. After deliberate
consideration of each applicant’s credentials, this year’s ANCA-WR
internship selection committee accepted Ani Garibyan, Garen
Kirakosian, Seepan Parseghian, and Shant Taslakian to participate in
the two-month internship program in Washington, DC.

Due to the large pool of exceptionally qualified applicants to this
yearâ=80=99s program, the ANCA-WR launched its own summer internship
program modeled after the Leo Sarkissian program at its offices for
the first time. With the dedicated coordination efforts of ANC
activist Argam DerHartunian, ANCA-WRstaff set forth a project-based
internship program and selected five young Armenian-American activists
– Nare Avagyan, Nairi Chopurian, Gennadi Gevorgyan, Elina
Mnatsakanyan, and Lara Talverdian – through a formal application
process with whom they worked side-by-side for a period of six weeks.

`Having been former interns in DC, both Argam and Armen knew how
tocreate the special atmosphere that the ANCA office provides for
interns,’ explained Ardashes Kassakhian, Executive Director of the
ANCA-WR. `It comes from giving each intern real responsibilities and
making sure that their input is recognized. People want their work to
be meaningful and for it to count. Wedo that here regardless of
whether you are a volunteer, intern or paid staff. We just don’t have
any resources to waste,’ stated Kassakhian.

Both in Washington, DC and in Glendale, the interns were each assigned
projects reflecting the current work of each of the offices. In
Washington,DC, interns worked on questionnaires used to gauge
candidates seeking elected office this fall regarding their stance on
issues such as the Armenian Genocide, aid to Armenia, and the status
of Nagorno-Karabagh. In the Western Region offices, Nairi Chopurian
formulated a volunteer team of activists to begin registering
Armenian-American voters in the Los Angeles area while Elina
Mnatsakanyan developed a database of potential grant sources for
special projects. Both Leo Sarkissian and ANCA-WR interns devised
tools and strategies that each office could use to improve
communication with local chapters. On the media outreach end, a number
of significant improvements were made to the ANCA-WR’s media tools,
and the organization witnessed the publication of Seepan Parseghian’ s
letter to the editor of `The Hill,’ one of the most prestigious
journals covering politics in the country.

Parseghian’s letter was in reference to mistakes and omissions he
found in an article regarding the Schiff Amendment in which he wrote
`As a presidential candidate, Bush made a bold promise to accept the
atrocities committed against the Armenians as genocide. However, as
president, Bush had many chances to act upon his promise, yet failed
to do so, breaking his public promise on this human rights issue.’

The Schiff Amendment is a measure restricting Turkey from using US aid
to lobby against recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The amendment
passed the House of Representatives during the internship programs,
which gave the interns a sense of real accomplishment in applying
their learned techniques in communicating with Congressional staff,
community members and the media.

With the conclusion of this year’s internship programs, the graduating
class of interns began preparing to return to their universities with
a renewed sense of purpose. `I loved how this internship gave me the
opportunity to see the inner workings of an organization that has done
and continues doing so much for the Armenian-American community,’
stated Narine Avagyan. â=80=9CI look forward to doing my part in
helping the ANCA advocate for Armenians everywhere.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughoutthe United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

Photo Attached: From left to right – Garen Kirakosian, Ani Garibyan,
Seepan Parseghian, Elina Mnatsakanyan, ANCA-WR Executive Director
Ardashes Kassakhian, ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian, SHant
Taslakian, Nare Avagyan, Lara Talverdian, ANCA-WR Government Relations
Director Armen Carapetian, and Nairi Chopurian at the ANCA-WR
reception honoring participants in this year’s ANCA Internship
programs.

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;
August 27, 2004

* * *

BISHOP BAGRAT GALSTANIAN ATTENDED A RECEPTION IN HONOR OF STEPHANOS II
GHATTAS PATRIARCH OF COPTIC CATHOLIC CHURCH

On Sunday, August 22, 2004 the Primate and the pastors of the Armenian Church
of Canada attended a reception at the Coptic Catholic community center in
Chomedey, Laval, in honor of the Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt
Cardinal Stephanos Ghattas II.

Accompanying the Primate was Mr. Viken Darakjian. On this occasion, His
Eminence Bishop Galstanian discussed the bilateral relations between the two
churches at a national level. He then highlighted the importance of ecumenical
relations. A well-organized Coptic Catholic Church exists in Laval. The pastor is
Archpriest Emile Bakhouam, who has known Serpazan from his inception as Primate
of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.

During the reception Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas presented the order of
Saint Gregory the Great to Mr. Mamdouh Stephanos, member of Notre Dame D’Egypt
community in Canada. Attending the reception were also Senators, Members of
Parliament, Members of National Assembly as well as spiritual representatives.

* * *

THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN OTTAWA

On Sunday, August 22, 2004 the Saint Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church of
Ottawa celebrated the Feast of Assumption of Saint Mary Holy Mother of God.

Very Rev. Fr. Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar General of Canada, celebrated the
Divine Liturgy. The feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God (Verapokhoumn
Sourp Asdvadzadzni) is one of the five major holidays (Daghavar) of the
Armenian Apostolic Church.

In his sermon Fr. Kaltakjian highlighted the sanctity of motherhood as
exemplified by St. Mary, and talked about the Armenian tradition of blessing of
grapes at this time, symbolizing fruition of God-given blessings.

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy (Badarak) the “Blessing of the
Grapes” ceremony was performed. Afterwards, a reception was held in the church
hall.

* * *

AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENING TO HONOUR THE 2004 ARMENIAN GRADUATES FROM HIGH
SCHOOLS

It is with deep spiritual joy that we announce to the faithful of the
Armenian Church Canadian Diocese that the Armenian College Ministry Department in
conjunction with a group of young Armenians called “Armenians for Higher
Education” have been working hard over the summer, planning an unprecedented event for
all High School graduates in the greater Montreal area to publicly show how
proud the Armenian community is of the accomplishments of the Class of 2004.

The event will take place on Sunday, September 19th at 6:00 pm in the
Bolsahay Cultural Center. There will be a separate cocktail for the graduates and
another one for the accompanying family members. Each graduate will receive a
certificate of merit from the Primate, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.

For more information please visit the website at or contact
the Diocesan office at 514-276-9479.

* * *

THE PRIMATE TO PRESIDE OVER IMPORTANT MEETINGS IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO

This Friday, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will preside over the
Central Council meeting of the Diocesan Sunday School in Hamilton, Ontario.
Regarding the opening of the Sunday school the executive body will examine this
year’s spiritual, educational and cultural program of Diocesan Sunday schools in
all parishes.

On Saturday, the Ladies Guild Central Council as well as representatives of
local committees will be meeting with His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian for
consecutive consultations, in an attempt to revitalize the Women’s Guild
activities in the mission of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.

Saturday afternoon the Primate will be presiding over the Children’s Fund for
Armenia’s joint committees annual meeting in Kingston. During the meetings
discussion will focus on the growth of CFFA projects, it’s administrative
development as well as finding means for increased financial support to this
humanitarian project.

* * *

NEW APPOINTMENT IN THE MOTHER SEE

By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Vardapet Jamkotchian, a
member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, has been assigned as parish priest
of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan.

Father Anushavan, having recently completed his education in the Rheinische
Friedrich-Wilhelms University (Bonn, Germany), has returned to the Mother See
to continue his service to the Armenian Church. Father Anushavan is a doctoral
candidate in the field of religious rights.

* * *

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II CONSECRATED A NEW CHURCH IN UKRAINE

On the afternoon of August 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for Kharkov, Ukraine, for a Pontifical
Visit to the Armenian Diocese of Ukraine.

During the trip, His Holiness consecrated the newly built Church of the Holy
Resurrection in Kharkov, on Tuesday, August 24. The foundations of the church
had been blessed in July 2000. The consecration date coincides with the 350th
anniversary of the founding of the city of Kharkov. The Church of the Holy
Resurrection will be the first Armenian Church in all of eastern Ukraine.

Accompanying His Holiness during the visit were His Eminence Archbishop
Nerses Bozabalian from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Rev. Fr. Tiran
Petrosian as Staff-bearer to His Holiness.

* * *

WORKING SESSION IN THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

On July 21-23 a working session on the theme “Green Theology” was held at the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This year’s session was organized by the
World Council of Churches’ Inter-church Round-Table Foundation of Armenia. The
concept of these sessions was initiated by Bishop Bagrat Galstanian when he was
Dean of the Vazgenian Theological Seminary in Sevan, Armenia.

The participants to this conference, the students of Etchmiadzin’s Kevorkian
Seminary, Sevan’s Vazkenian Seminary and of Yerevan State University’s School
of Theology, listened to a series of lectures by Oxford University professor,
Dr. Dimitry Orgonomou on the Orthodox theology regarding environmental and
ecological issues. The subjects covered included “Creation in the Old Testament”,
“Creation in the New Testament”, “Orthodoxy and ecology, rites and imagery”,
and “Theology and ecology, Patrology”. The working session of July 23 was
participated by representatives of Armenian and international organizations
dedicated to environmental preservation. Addresses were also delivered by the
Secretary General of Armenia’s Bible Society Mr. Hratch Sarkissian, Prof. Garine
Tanielian and Prof. Orgonomou.

Secretariat of the Diocese

VARTAN OSKANIAN: “THERE IS NO GROUND FOR SUBSTANTIAL DISCUSSIONS OF
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT YET”

YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). During the meetings of former
President of Azerbaijan Heidar Aliev with RA President Robert
Kocharian the heads of the two countries were very close to the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the same can’t be considered
during the meetings with his son, incumbent President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliev. RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian said about
it during the August 27 press conference. According to him, the
purpose of his meeting with the Azeri Foreign Minister to be held in
Prague on August 30 is to establish the ground on which the most
substantial discussions should be constructed in the future. According
to Vartan Oskanian, this ground hasn’t been established yet.

ARMENIAN WRITERS OF CONSTANTINOPLE CAN PRESERVE NATIONAL THINKING

YEREVAN, August 25 (Noyan Tapan). “Rober Hattechian’s literary
heritage had greatly influence not only on the Diaspora, but on the
modern prose of Armenia.” Levon Ananian, Chairman of the Armenian
Writer’s Union, characteried Rober Hattechian’s activities in this way
during his meeting with the Armenian writer of Constantinople held at
the Armenian Writer’s Union on August 25. He gave assurance that Rober
Hattechian’s great literary-publicistic heritage will be studied both
by literary critics and press theoreticians in the future, and the
future historian will really evaluate his public-national
activities. There was an opinion that the Armenian writers living in
Constantinople can’t preserve and protect their national thinking. But
according to Levon Ananian, the literature of the Armenians of
Constantinople has started reviving due to a group of writers Zahrat,
Zareh Khrakhuni, Igna Saraslan, Vard Shikaher and Rober Hattechian
since the 50s of last century. “Really it is quite difficult, but
these writers fulfilled the problem put before them with honor,”
mentioned Levon Ananian. Rober Hattechian started appearing in the
literary scene since the 40s of last century. The prosaist is the
editor of the “Marmara” daily newspaper from 1967 to present. He has
published about 50 books. Since 1981 his memoirs have been published
in “Marmara”. Later they are periodically released with separate books
entitled “Hushatetr” (“Scrap-Book”).

BENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE ACTION TO BE CARRIED OUT IN SEPTEMBER IN TAVUSH

IJEVAN, August 24 (Noyan Tapan). On September 6-28, the “Armenian
Ocular Project” benevolent fund will organize medical examination of
population in Tavush. Karine Dovlatbekian, the Head of the Health
Department of the Tavush regional administration, informed Noyan Tapan
that groups of oculists will carry out free of charge examination of
eyesight of all patients. Patients from vulnerable families will be
free of charge operated on in a movable clinic. Those having diabetes
will be also examined and will get the corresponding treatment within
the framework of the arrangement.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base francais
20 août 2004

Visite de parlementaires suisses en Turquie Les questions arménienne
et kurde seront abordées fin août

sn uc

Berne (ats) La Commission de politique extérieure (CPE) du Conseil
des Etats se rendra le 30 août pour une visite de 4 jours en Turquie.
Outre le soin des relations parlementaires bilatérales, une rencontre
est prévue avec le ministre des affaires étrangères Abdullah Gül.

Les relations bilatérales et économiques entre la Suisse et la
Turquie figureront au centre des discussions, a indiqué vendredi à
l’ats le secrétaire de la Commission Paolo Janke.

La candidature turque à l’Union européenne (UE), les questions
arménienne et kurde, les droits de l’homme et la sécurité doivent
également être abordées. Les entretiens porteront aussi sur la
situation au Proche-Orient et en Irak.

Outre les rencontres politiques à Ankara, le programme prévoit
également des visites auprès de personnalités politiques locales,
d’ONG ainsi que de représentants de l’UE à Erzurum et Istanbul.

Pas de calendrier pour Calmy-Rey

La délégation des six membres du Conseil des Etats, la première à se
rendre en Turquie, sera conduite par le président de la CPE Peter
Briner (PRD/SH), a déclaré M. Janke. Elle a répondu à une invitation
des parlementaires turcs.

Ce voyage de la CPE avait été auparavant repoussé pour des raisons
politiques, suite à l’annulation de la visite de la conseillère
fédérale Micheline Calmy-Rey en septembre 2003 par Ankara.

Cet incident avait été provoqué par la décision du Grand conseil
vaudois de reconnaître le massacre en 1915 des arméniens par l’empire
ottoman comme génocide, avaient expliqué à l’époque les cercles
diplomatiques à Ankara.

Une majorité du Conseil national avait transmis par ailleurs en
décembre dernier un postulat au Conseil fédéral, dans lequel elle
reconnaissait le génocide arménien. Aucun nouveau calendrier n’a
encore été arrêté pour une visite de Mme Calmy-Rey à Ankara, a
indiqué vendredi le Département fédéral des affaires étrangères
(DFAE).

SOME YEREVAN RESIDENTS CONTINUE PROTEST

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. The Yerevan residents moved out of their
houses have held a picket in front of the presidential residence,
protesting the Government’s decision reducing compensations for their
pulled down flats.

Three representatives of the protestants, who demanded a meeting with
the President, were invited to the reception office. They were advised
to state their demands to the President in a written form and promised
that the demands will be conveyed to the President. However, the
action participants did not believe the promises. From the
presidential residence they made for the Government, the Yerevan
Municipality and then to the office in charge of the program “North
Avenue and Cascade”, etc.. One of the action participants said that
the residents are still forced to sign contracts for purchase and sale
of lands. Government officials have violated some points of the
contract and even admit their errors. But, instead of practical
measures, they apologize to the residents and show the door to them.

Tehran Times
Aug 15 2004

Iran’s Akhoundzadeh Finishes Fifth At Olympic Judo Meet

Tehran Times Sports Desk

TEHRAN (MNA) – Iran’s under-60kg judoka, Massoud Haji Akhoundzadeh,
who had a good start conceded two losses in his last fights, standing
fifth in 2004 Olympic Games in the Greek capital, Athens, Saturday.

He lost to his Georgian opponent in the quarterfinal and was stunned
by a South Korean player, who won by technical fall and ippon in just
one minute.

The Iranian won his opening fight against Jean Claude from Cameroon.

Akhoundzadeh, who rested in the first round won 3-1, sending the
Cameroonian packing.

He snatched his second victory by victimizing Armenian player Armen
Nazarian in the third round later on the day.

Akhoundzadeh disposed of his Greek opponent, booking a berth in the
quarterfinals. MIR-ESMAEILI FAREWELL

World judo champion Arash Mir-Esmaeili pulled out of 2004 Olympic
Games in the Greek capital as he was drawn with an Israeli player,
Ehud Vaks, Thursday.

Iran’s under-66 kg judoka was scheduled to meet a representative from
Israel in the opening round on August 15.

The unlucky Mir-Esmaeili said, “Although I have trained for months
and now enjoy an in-form build, I refused to face my Israeli rival in
sympathy with the oppressed Palestinian people. “I am not upset for
the decision I have made.”

Vice-president of the Iranian Judo Federation Seyed Abdoljalil Razavi
who expressed his deep regret over Mir-Esmaeili’s elimination said
the draw was for the Games is done by computer and nobody can
manipulate it.