Author: Karagyozian Lena

Lowell Sun, MA
April 24 2004

Armenians to observe Martyr’s Day

LOWELL Armenians across the Merrimack Valley will gather tomorrow
outside Lowell City Hall to commemorate the 89th anniversary of
Armenian Martyrs’ Day.

A procession through downtown Lowell will precede the 10 a.m.
observance, led by an honor guard from the Armenian-American
Veterans.

The event, which features a speech from Rev. Vartan Kassabian and a
proclamation from Mayor Armand P. Mercier, honors the memory of 1.5
million Armenians who were victimized by the Ottoman Turks from
1915-1923.

State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and a representative from Rep. Marty
Meehan’s office will also be on hand.

Local youth will conduct a flag-raising ceremony and a buffet
reception will follow inside City Hall.

12,000 TONS OF ORE MONTHLY EXTRACTED FROM DRMBON COPPER-GOLD MINE IN KARABAKH

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 21. ARMINFO. 12,000 tons of ore are extracted each
month from the copper-gold mine in the village of Drmbon, Martakert
district, Nagorno Karabakh Republic, says executive director of Base
Metals Ltd Artur Mkrtumyan.

Monthly concentrate output is 1,200 tons. The concentrate is sent to
Armenia. They process it into gold containing copper and export it to
Europe. Almost $7 mln has already been invested in the mine
development – mostly in the construction of facilities and purchase of
equipment. The company employs 750 people paying them 110,000-120,000
AMD a month. Karabakh’s tax sphere is very favourable, there is no
red-tape at all. Base Metals timely fulfills all of its tax
liabilities, pays social fees and the rent. It gives several mln AMD
to the state budget each year this substantially contributing to the
general economic development of NKR.

The company’s technologies are ecologically safe and economical. The
greater part of the staff are local specialists, trained at Artsakh
State University.

The mine resources will suffice for 20 years of active operation.
Simultaneously, the company is prospecting areas with potential
precious metal resources. In future Drmbon will be made an industrial
resort with a recreation zone on the banks of Sarsang, hotels, taverns
and an artificial lake.

Base Metals was set up in Aug 2002 for prospecting and developing the
Drmbon mine. The ore mining and processing group was built in Sept
2003. The first ore was extracted in Apr 2003, the first concentrate
in Oct of the same year.

IPR Strategic Business Information Database
April 21, 2004

UPPER KARABAKH ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE ARMENIAN BORDER CAN BE
OPENED

According to Turkiye, commenting on recent rumors that the border
between Turkey and Armenia would be opened, Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul said that Ankara first wanted Azerbaijan and Armenia to reach a
settlement on the upper Karabakh issue and was making efforts towards
this end. Urging all observers to take lessons from a possible Cyprus
settlement, Gul stated that Turkey didn’dt want the upper Karabakh
issue to remain unresolved, explaining. The foreign minister also
added that during Istanbul’ds NATO summit this June, a tripartite
meeting could be held to discuss the issue.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/19/2004
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1) New York Times Revises Policy on Armenian Genocide
2) New US Karabagh Envoy Visits Armenia
3) Turkey to Keep Border with Armenia Closed
4) Aram I Stresses Need to Condemn Genocide Perpetrators
5) Antelias Conference on Genocide, Impunity, and Justice

1) New York Times Revises Policy on Armenian Genocide

ANCA WELCOMES HISTORIC MOVE BY NEWSPAPER TO PROPERLY CHARACTERIZE ARMENIAN
GENOCIDE

WOODSIDE, NY–The New York Times has lifted its long-standing policy against
the use of the term “Armenian Genocide,” reported the Armenian National
Committee (ANC) of New York.
According to a news release by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars, The New York Times revised guideline for journalists states that
“after careful study of scholarly definitions of ‘genocide,’ we have
decided to
accept the term in references to the Turks’ mass destruction of Armenians in
and around 1915.” The policy goes on to note that “the expression ‘Armenian
genocide’ may be used freely and should not be qualified with phrasing like
‘what Armenians call,’ etc.”
The New York Times guidelines continue, noting that, “by most historical
accounts, the Ottoman Empire killed more than one million Armenians in a
campaign of death and mass deportation aimed at eliminating the Armenian
population throughout what is now Turkey.” Finally, it advises journalists
that
“while we may of course report Turkish denials on those occasions when they
are
relevant, we should not couple them with the historians’ findings, as if they
had equal weight.”
“We welcome this decision taken by the New York Times as a meaningful step
toward ending official US complicity in the Turkish government’s campaign to
deny the Armenian Genocide,” said ANC of New York Chairperson Tony Vartanian.
“We appreciate the tremendous contribution of all organizations, historians
and
activists who, over the years, worked to provide the necessary information to
the New York Times so that they can make this informed, but long overdue
decision. Armenian Americans feel a tremendous sense of pride that the
Times–the paper of record–no longer actively participates in the denial of
this great crime against humanity.”
The New York Times’ recently released guidelines returns the newspaper to its
policy of accurate reporting established during the years of the Armenian
Genocide. Nearly 200 articles on the genocide were published by The New York
Times between 1914 and 1922, all of which were compiled in a book by Richard
Kloian titled “The Armenian Genocide-News Accounts from the American Press:
1915-1922.”
For more than two decades, the ANC, working with its network of grassroots
activists around the country, initiated several nationwide campaigns to press
The New York Times to end its practice of dismissing the Armenian Genocide as
simply an Armenian historical claim. Armenian Weekly editor Jason Sohigian has
written extensively to the New York Times, working to provide timely
information and input to the editorial staff.
Last year, the ANC of Eastern Massachusetts spearheaded the successful effort
to urge the Boston Globe to suspend its policy against the use of the term
“genocide” when referring to the Armenian Genocide. The decision was made in
July 2003, setting a precedent for its parent company–The New York Times–to
reexamine its policy.

2) New US Karabagh Envoy Visits Armenia

YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)–Ambassador Steven Mann, the newly appointed chief
US negotiator on Mountainous Karabagh did not reveal details of his talks with
President Robert Kocharian and other senior officials in Yerevan on Monday.
Mann, who is on his first visit to the region in his current capacity as US
co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Minsk Group, said he had a “very useful and warm meeting” with Kocharian but
refused to disclose details. “I want to preserve the confidentiality of our
diplomatic dialogue,” he told reporters.
He was scheduled to meet with Ashot Ghulian, the foreign minister of the
Mountainous Karabagh Republic, later in the day.
The US envoy arrived in the Armenian capital three days after a meeting in
Prague between Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and his new Azeri counterpart
Elmar Mammadyarov. The talks were mediated by the US, Russian, and French
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan, Oskanian said he and Mammadyarov
spent most of their time in Prague familiarizing with one another and did not
discuss any peace proposals in detail. He added that they reached a tentative
agreement to meet again next month.
Oskanian and Mann also met in Yerevan on Monday to discuss approaches to
conflict resolution, and explore means to strengthening the peace talks.
Deputy
foreign minister of Armenia Tatul Margarian and US ambassador to Armenia John
Ordway participated in the discussions.
Mann also met with Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian who was quoted as saying
that Armenia promotes a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and stressed the
Minsk Group’s essential role in the process of regulating the conflict.
Before assuming his current position, Mann for years served as a special US
representative to the Caspian Sea region, focusing on the development of its
oil and natural reserves by Western multinational companies. He admitted that
that his “familiarity with the region” played a major role in his
appointment.
“It has been 25 years that in one way or another I have been working
professionally with the Caucasus region and the former Soviet Union,” he
said.
In January 1992, Mann opened the US Embassy in Yerevan and served as the US
charge d’affaires to Armenia. He served as US ambassador to Turkmenistan from
1998-2001. A career diplomat, Mann has also held posts in Moscow, Jamaica, Sri
Lanka, and Mongolia.
Mann said that he will head to Tbilisi on Tuesday “for consultations with the
Georgian government” before proceeding to Baku later this week. He did not
specify the subject of those consultations.

3) Turkey to Keep Border with Armenia Closed

(AFP)–Turkey reinforced its ties with neighboring Azerbaijan on Monday when
the Turkish foreign minister said his country would not re-open its border
with
Armenia.
“For now, it is out of the question to re-open the Turkish-Armenian border,”
Abdullah Gul said, days after visiting Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 to support Baku in its war
against Yerevan over the Mountainous Karabagh enclave. Azerbaijan had feared
that Turkey would re-open its border with Armenia in a bid to please the
European Union, which it is hoping to join. Aliyev said in a recent interview
that relations with Ankara would suffer if Turkey again opened the border.
While Turkey’s foreign minister renewed his support for Azerbaijan on Monday,
he also urged the two countries to find a solution over Karabagh. “We cannot
let this question go into hibernation,” he said. He said Ankara wants to
organize a meeting “in the next few months” between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and
Armenia to help find a settlement over the region.
A Turkish diplomat told AFP that the meeting, the third of its kind in recent
years, could take place on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Istanbul on
June
29.
Improvement of ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia carry significance for
Turkey. Such a prospect can pave the way for a corresponding thaw in relations
between Ankara and Yerevan.

4) Aram I Stresses Need to Condemn Genocide Perpetrators

ANTELIAS–In his speech “Genocides in The 20th Century and Lessons to
Humanity,” delivered to the international conference “Lasting Peace in
Africa,”
His Holiness Aram I, emphasized that taking a punitive approach is crucial in
preventing genocides. Referring to the Armenian Genocide as “still awaiting
justice,” his statement stressed that neither negation nor denial would
promote
dialogue, or serve to restore justice, build peace, or achieve
reconciliation.”

Teny Simonian, who accompanied the General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches Dr. Sam Kobia, delivered the address on behalf of Aram I, who was
unable to travel to Kigali, Rwanda for the conference.
In another address to a public gathering at the Kigali stadium, His Holiness
Aram I expressed extended support to the people of Rwanda in their process of
renaissance and reconciliation. “The truth must be told and accepted; memory
must be respected.” That text was delivered by Very Rev. Krikor Chiftjian, the
Communication Officer of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.
Kobia and Simonian, on behalf of His Holiness Aram I, met with the President
of Kenya and the Prime Minister, and referred to the Armenian Genocide in
their
official meetings and at public gatherings.

5) Antelias Conference on Genocide, Impunity, and Justice

In commemorating the Armenian Genocide this year, the Armenian
Catholicosate of
Cilicia will hold an international conference, “Genocide, Impunity and
Justice,” in addition to religious and political functions marking April 24.
The conference will take place April 22-23 in Antelias, Lebanon, under the
auspices of His Excellency General Emile Lahoud, the President of the Republic
of Lebanon.
Composed of three panels, the conference will address Impunity: a Juridical
Perspective: Impunity: a Religious Perspective; Overcoming Denial and
Impunity.

Several university professors, lawyers, and special guests will participate
part in the conference, including French Court of Cassation Magistrate and
Rapporteur of UN sub-Commission on Human Rights Louis Joinet, who will present
a lecture on the United Nations and the struggle against impunity; Haigazian
University President Dr. Paul Haidostian, who will present a Christian
perspective on impunity; Professor of Sociology and Social Anthropology Dr.
Abdallah El-Sayed, who will present a Muslim perspective on impunity; and
Lebanese University professor Dr. Meguerditch Meguerditchian, who will present
the Armenian experience on overcoming denial and impunity.
The Rwandan president’s representative will address the conference and
participate, along with a high-ranking delegation form Rwanda.

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Details of European title races (Albania-Belarus)

Reuters
Friday April 16, 2004 1:51 AM

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) – Following are details of the current
situations in the domestic league and cup competitions of European
countries (Albania-Belarus):

ALBANIA

League: Seven rounds left to play. Reigning champions SK Tirana look
likely to retain the title.

They play second placed Dinamo Tirana at home on May 15, but unless
they suffer a spectacular collapse they should have won their 21st
championship long before then.

Final round of matches: May 22

Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. SK Tirana 29 21 5 3 75 24 68 2. Dinamo
Tirana 29 18 5 6 53 32 59 3. Partizani Tirana 29 16 5 8 51 28 53

Cup: At semi-final stage. Dinamo Tirana lead SK Tirana 3-1 and
Partizani Tirana lead Vllaznia 2-0 after the first leg matches. Second
leg matches to be played on April 21.

SK Tirana could still win their third double, having previously
acheived the feat in 1996 and 1999.

European places (3): Champions qualify for first qualifying round of
Champions League. League runners-up and Albanian Cup winners qualify
for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.

ANDORRA

League: Season ended on April 4. Santa Coloma retained the Andorran
championship. The victory, Coloma’s third, equals Principat’s three
championships won between 1997 and 1999.

Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. Santa Coloma 20 14 3 3 44 21 45
2. Sant Julia 20 13 4 3 57 18 43 3. Ranger’s 20 10 4 6 34 17 34

Cup: At second elimination round, matches to be played on April
18. Four match winners joined by Santa Coloma, Sant Julia, Ranger’s
and Encamp in quarter-finals.

European places (1): Champions Santa Coloma qualify for first
qualifying round of UEFA Cup. Andorran Cup winners do not receive a
European place.

ARMENIA

League: Season only one round old. Pyunik Yerevan are looking to win
their fourth consecutive championship.

Final round of matches: November 7

Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. Pyunik Yerevan 1 1 0 0 4 1 3 2. MIKA
Ashtarak 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 3. Banants 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Cup: At semi-final stage. Pyunik Yerevan drew 0-0 with MIKA Ashtarak
and Shirak Giumri beat Banants 2-0 in the first leg matches. Second
leg matches to be played on April 21. Final to be played on May 9.

European places (3): 2003 Champions Pyunik Yerevan qualify for first
qualifying round of Champions League. League runners-up Banants and
Armenian Cup winners qualify for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.

AUSTRIA

League: Seven rounds left to play. Reigning champions, and leaders,
Austria Vienna play host to second placed Graz AK on April 25in what
is shaping up to be the title decider.

Austria Vienna are chasing their 23rdampionship, Graz AK their first.

Final round of matches: May 20

Top of table P W D L F A Pts 1. Austria Vienna 29 17 7 5 49 21 58
2. Graz AK 29 17 7 5 51 28 58 3. SV Pasching 29 13 9 7 46 36 48

Cup: At quarter-final stage. Sturm Graz and holders Austria Vienna
have reached the semi-finals and will face each other. SV Ried and
Kaernten meet on April 20 and Rapid Vienna play Graz AK on April 21
for the remaining places. Semi-finals to be played on May 4.

Austria Vienna could record their tenth double.

European places (4): Champions qualify for second qualifying round of
Champions League. League runners-up, third placed team and Austrian
Cup winners qualify for second qualifying round of UEFA Cup.

AZERBAIJAN

League: Two rounds left to play. Shamkir and Neftchi are level at the
top as they battle it out to become the first champions since 2000-01,
although Neftchi have a game in hand.

Shamkir won the last two championships before the league was abandoned
and a third would equal the three won by Neftchi since the
championship began in 1992.

Third placed Karabach are also still in contention.

Final round of matches: May 5

P W D L F A Pts 1. Shamkir 25 20 3 2 67 11 63 2. Neftchi 24 20 3 1 58
15 63 3. Karabakh 24 18 3 3 60 16 57

Cup: At semi-final stage. Neftchi play Bakili and Shamkir play
Karabakh. Neftchi could record their second double, having previously
acheived the feat in 1996. Shamkir could win their first double.

European places (3): Champions qualify for first qualifying round of
Champions League. League runners-up and Azerbaijan Cup winners qualify
for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.

BELARUS

League: Season not yet started. Season begins on April 15. Reigning
champions Gomel begin their defence away to Zvezda Minsk.

Cup: At semi-final stage. BATE Borisov play Gomel and Shakhtsyor
Salihorsk play Naftan Nacapolatsk.

European places (3): 2003 champions Gomel qualify for first qualifying
round of Champions League. League runners-up BATE Borisov and Belarus
Cup winners qualify for first qualifying round of UEFA Cup.

TALISH REVIVING

Azat Artsakh–Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
14-04-2004

On April 14, 1994 our azatamartiks managed to liberate the village
from the Azerbaijani aggressors. And although no traces of life had
remained of the former Talish, the morale of the people of Talish was
not broken. They found power inside themselves to return to their
home, rebuild it, and as they themselves say, “our home must stand
more firmly on our land”. “When we returned, we found the village
burnt, ruined and plundered. The Turks had not left behind anything of
use, either plundered or destroyed. As there are Azerbaijani villages
in the adjacent area of the village, it was easier for the aggressors
to plunder the village; they burnt what remainedâ=80¦,” say the people
whofirst stepped in Talish after the liberation. The first inhabitants
returned on June 3 ofthe same year (in the villages situated between
Martakert and Talish there was no peaceful population). They were 12,
including the mayor of the village Vilen Petrossian. According to him,
the first returnees were followed by another 13 people. “We formed a
building brigade of 25 people, with the help of lieutenant-general
Manvel Grigorian brought necessary building materials from the Turkish
villages and started the reconstruction works,” says the mayor of
Talish. One of the first steps of the few inhabitants was the common
canteen as allthe returnees as one family lived in one building as
long as the reconstruction of the ruined villages was finished. The
first 4 houses were built by the end of 1994. The priority after the
liberation was the resettlement of the village, which continues to
remain an urgent problem. Presently 150 families live in the village,
all in all 536 inhabitants, of which half are pensioners, 72
schoolchildren, 64 are children under school age. The mayor mentions
with pity that although at the beginning there was an inflow of
returnees, in the course of years it decreased and even there is
emigration caused by unemployment. In the village mainly the teachers
are provided with jobs but many of them do not have a corresponding
training. This, however, does not hinder these people who have
experienced so many hardships to instill patriotism, kindness in their
pupils, to make them ideologically healthy people. A greater part of
the population is occupied in farming. According to the mayor,
although today there is no collective farming system and each is the
owner of their land, there are common problems in the case of solution
of which only each will be able to develop their own business, be it
production of agricultural products or other. Of these problems is
water supply. Now, according to the mayor, work is done in their
direction and the problem of water will be solved within the coming
three years. According to the inhabitants of the village, there is an
inflow of the youth to the village when there are construction
works. Construction works were stopped in 2000, this year they were
resumed. 50 million drams were provided from the state budget for
building. 12 houses will be built, whereas 49 families need
homes. This year the Armenian Relief Society will build a nursery
school in the village. Talish is reviving step by step. And the
revival of each settlement is the revival of Artsakh.

CHRISTINE MNACAKANIAN.
14-04-2004

Armenians march against president
By Chloe Arnold

BBC News
Tuesday, 13 April, 2004, 02:16 GMT 03:16 UK

Opposition supporters in Armenia have stepped up their demands for
President Robert Kocharyan to resign. Thousands of people staged a
march on the presidential administration in the capital, Yerevan.

Police used razor wire and road blocks to halt the protesters a few
hundred metres from the building.

The demonstration marked the start of a second week of protests by
opponents who blame Mr Kocharyan for poverty and unemployment in the
ex-Soviet republic.

Several thousand demonstrators marched along Bagramyan Avenue, one of
Yerevan’s main thoroughfares, determined to reach the presidential
administration and the residence of the Armenian leader.

They were stopped by police who used barbed-wire cordons to hold them
back.

Revolution hopes

The crisis in Armenia was sparked by last year’s presidential election
which opposition groups claim was rigged in Mr Kocharyan’s favour.

Western observers said the vote had fallen well short of international
standards.

Armenia’s opposition is hoping for an uprising similar to the
so-called Rose Revolution in neighbouring Georgia.

Last November thousands of Georgians marched on the home of their
President Eduard Shevardnadze, forcing him to resign in the wake of a
disputed parliamentary election.

Armenia’s opposition has vowed to continue their protests until Mr
Kocharyan steps down.

COALITION’S TIME TO EXPIRE MIDDAY, APRIL 12

YEREVAN
April 9. 2004
Noyan Tapan

The representatives of the opposition, MPs Viktor Dallakian and Alexan
Karapetian, were negotiating with the representatives of the coalition
at about 4:00 p.m. Viktor Dallakian said during the rally on Freedom
square at 5:45 p.m that they suggested that the coalition should
include the issue of amendments to the law “On Referendum” in
accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court in the agenda
of the next three-day sitting of the National Assmebly starting from
April 12. Dallakian said that they gave the colition time for the
discussion of this issue till midday, April 12. He stressed that it
isn’t an ultimatum to the coalition, but just the proposal of the
opposition. Viktor Dallakian called on the participants of the rally
(their number had not decreased by then) to stay through, until the
resignation of the president. Then he turned to the law-enforcement
bodies with an appeal not to interfere and not to make provocations
against the people. Aram Sargsian, member of the political board of
Republic Party, also made a speech, he gave assurances that victory
isn’t so far. He reported that he is going to stay at Freedom Suare
overnight. Sargsian said that at the moment the mediators were
negotiating with the presidential residence for the president to
resign as soon as possible. Ruben Tovmasian, First Secretary of the
Communist Party of Armenia, also spoke at the rally. He said that the
Communist Party is joining the actions of the opposition towards power
shift.

CIS security chief arrives in Armenia

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
8 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The secretary-general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), Maj-Gen Nikolay Bordyuzha, arrived in Yerevan on Thursday [8
April] for talks with Armenian leaders on the situation in the region,
key security problems and prospects for the creation of a collective
security system.

“This is a planned trip to prepare a June session of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization, including sessions of the councils of
foreign ministers, defence ministers and the committee of secretaries
of the security councils,” Bordyuzha told ITAR-TASS upon arrival in
Yerevan.

[Passage omitted: on Bordyuzha’s previous visits]

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Communications Officer
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
April 8, 2004
___________________

Week of April 2 to April 8, 2004
* * *

EASTER IS SUNDAY

Krisdos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee!
Christ is Risen from the Dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!

Sunday (4/11) is Easter, the holiest day of the Christian calendar, when we
gather to rejoice in the resurrection of the Lord, which brought to mankind
the promise of everlasting life. Learn more about Easter, find resources to
help teach your children about the day’s importance, and listen to Armenian
Easter hymns by clicking to the Eastern Diocese’s website:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/6/04)
* * *

PRIMATE’S MESSAGE LOOKS AT GIFT OF EASTER

“The story does not end with His sacrificial death, but with His resurrected
life. Unknown to His followers on the first Good Friday, unguessed even by
the prophet Isaiah, our Lord had something more to offer those He loved.
Death on the cross was only the vehicle to give us something greater: the
promise of life with Him, for eternity, in God’s Kingdom.”

To read the full Easter message from Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), click to our
website:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/6/04)
* * *

SEND AN EASTER CARD

This spring, Sunday and Armenian Schools throughout the Diocese created
Easter postcard designs. Now you can send the best of those designs to your
loved ones via e-mail. The electronic-postcards are available for free from
the Eastern Diocese’s website:

Six cards are available. They represent the best designs from artists in
three age groups.

The first place designs came from: Rina Manucharova, 16, of the mission
parish in Charlotte, NC; Aleksander Manucharov, 12, from Charlotte, NC; and
Ani Hollisian, 8, from the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA.

Also featured on the website are three second-place e-card designs by:
Elizabeth Demaria, 15, from the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY;
William (BJ) Kress, 10, from the St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, NJ; and
Michael Manucharov, 8, from the mission parish in Charlotte, NC.

Send your free e-card today, click to:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/6/04)
* * *

CELEBRATE EASTER AT THE CATHEDRAL

Armenians in the New York City area are invited to attend one of the many
special Holy Week and Easter services at St. Vartan Cathedral.

Today (4/8) — GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY — will feature two services. The
Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. And in the evening, the
“Washing of the Feet” ceremony will start at 7 p.m., with the Vigil Service
following at 8:30 p.m.

Friday (4/9) — GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY — will also have two services. The
Order of the Crucifixion of Christ will begin at noon. At 7:30 p.m., the
Order of the Entombment of the Lord will take place.

On Saturday (4/10) — GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY– the Divine Liturgy will be
preceded by a scripture-reading ceremony at 6 p.m. Easter Eve Liturgy will
begin at 7 p.m.

On Sunday (4/11) — EASTER SUNDAY — Matins will begin at 9:30 a.m. The
Divine Liturgy will begin at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following the service,
the traditional Antasdan ceremony, or “Blessing of the Fields,” will be
conducted on the cathedral plaza. (An Easter luncheon and program will
follow — adults $25; children twelve and under, $15.)

For more information on these services, click to our website:
;selmonth=4&selyear=
2004

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/5/03)
* * *

SUPREME SPIRITUAL COUNCIL ISSUES COMMUNIQUE

The Supreme Spiritual Council — a gathering of Armenian Church bishops from
throughout the world — issued a communiqui this week. An excerpt reads:

“With deep concern, the Supreme Spiritual Council received the news from the
Diocesan Council of the Canadian Diocese of the Armenian Church, that the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia has brought to its painful
conclusion, the process of the establishment of a parallel administrative
structure within the region of the Canadian Armenian Diocese, canonically
comprised as part of the Pontificate of All Armenians, in spite of the
fraternal exhortations made by the Catholicos of All Armenians and the
Supreme Spiritual Council.”

Read the whole communique on the Eastern Diocese’s website:
;selmonth=4&selyear=
2004

(Source: Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 4/2/04)
* * *

TURKISH AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT ST. VARTAN CATHEDRAL

The Diocese’s Zohrab Information Center and the Tekeyan Cultural Association
will host Turkish author Kemal Yalcin next Thursday (4/15). The Turkish
author’s new book, “You Rejoice My Heart,” is based on interviews with
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. A free reception will follow the
discussion of his courageous book, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the
Diocesan Center, 630 Second Ave. at 34th St. in New York City.

During the evening, Mr. Yalcin will sign copies of his new book. Also, a
limited supply is available from the St. Vartan Bookstore and can be shipped
to you signed. To buy your copy today and learn more about his book, click
to:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/5/04)
* * *

COLLEGE MINISTRY PROGRAM HEADS TO TUFTS

The Diocese’s college ministry program will be in the Boston area next week.
Jason Demerjian, facilitator of the college ministry program, and Fr. Vasken
Kouzouian, pastor of the Holy Trinity Church of Cambridge, MA, will meet
with students at Tufts University next Wednesday (4/14) at 7:30 p.m. in the
Baronian Fieldhouse. The informal gatherings will give students a chance to
ask questions and meet other students.

E-mail Jason Demerjian at [email protected] if you want more
information, or if you know a student who would like to be included in our
outreach efforts.

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/6/04)
* * *

APPLY TO SUMMER CAMP TODAY

Spaces are going fast at the Diocese’s St. Vartan and Hye Camps. To save
your child’s space today, click here:

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/5/04)
* * *

WHO IS JESUS?

This weekend the Fox News cable television channel will be broadcasting a
special called “Who is Jesus.” The show will air on Friday (4/9) at 10 p.m.
and 3 a.m. ET and again on Sunday (4/11) at 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET. This
one-hour documentary — which includes walking tours of locations such as
Bethlehem, Galilee, the Jordan River, and Jerusalem — traces the life of
Jesus, from His humble beginnings to His crucifixion. Church-member Melanie
Dadourian, was part of the Fox News production team for the documentary.

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/6/04)
* * *

SEMINARY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BREAK GROUND

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, NY, announced this week that
it will break ground on a major expansion at 1 p.m. on June 12, 2004. The
seminary is building an 11,000 square-foot complex that will become home to
the Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan Library, and include a lecture hall, seminar
rooms, and offices. Construction will also begin on an Armenian-style
chapel, with seating for 75. The Primates of the three North American
dioceses are expected to preside over the ceremony, which is free and open
to the public, and will be followed by a reception. For more information,
click to the St. Nersess website, when you can find listed here:

(Source: St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, 4/5/04)
* * *

FIND SOMETHING TO DO THIS WEEK

Each week, new events are added to the Diocesan website’s calendar of
events. Click to it today to learn about the upcoming Armenian film
festival in New York City, a rummage sale in New Jersey, Armenian music
concerts in Minnesota and Chicago, and Genocide commemoration events
throughout the Diocese. Click here for more:

If your parish wants to list an activity on the website, just e-mail
[email protected].

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 4/5/04)
* * *

TRAVEL TO ARMENIA THIS YEAR

Traveling to Armenia strengthens your faith and dedication. If you haven’t
gone yet, there are five opportunities this year.

In June:

* Young Professionals Trip — June 12 to 26 / $2,250. Specifically designed
for travelers between the ages of 23 and 40, this trip offers a chance to
see the sights of Armenia and build life-long friendships with other
Armenian American professionals. Call the Fund for Armenian Relief (212)
889-5150.

* Diocesan Pilgrimage to Historic Armenia and the Republic of Armenia —
June 17 to July 7 / $3,450. Travel to Istanbul, historic Armenian locations
in modern day Turkey such as Musa Dagh, Cappadocia, Mt. Ararat, and Ani.
Continue to Armenia to tour important historical and cultural sites. For
more information call Armen Aroyan (626) 359-9510.

* Armenia Service Program (ASP) — June 22 to July 15 / $1,980. A unique
opportunity for Armenians between the ages of 18 and 28, to help run a
summer camp in the village of Yeghegnadzor before touring throughout
Armenia. Call Nancy Basmajian (212) 686-0710.

In September:

* Women’s Guild Pilgrimage to Armenia — September 16 to 27 / $2,400. Tour
Etchmiadzin, Yerevan, ancient holy sites, and current cultural activities.
For more information call Ann Devejian (203) 838-5758.

* Pilgrimage to Armenia — September 18 to October 3 / $2,350. A
Diocesan-sponsored trip to all the highlights of Armenia. For more
information call Sidon Travel at (818) 553-0777.

To get more information on any of these travel opportunities, e-mail
[email protected].

And don’t forget — you can also help fund the trip of a young person in
your parish, who will return more eager to be involved in parish life.

(Source: Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 3/15/04)

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