Author: Khoyetsian Rose

HOW MUSIC HELPED IRAQI TEENAGER ZUHAL SULTAN THROUGH WAR
Deborah Haynes in Baghdad

The Times
March 28, 2009

An Iraqi teenager who braved the violence of the war and insurgency
to keep on learning the piano is to give her first British recital
next week.

Zuhal Sultan, 17, was forced to teach herself between 2004 and
2007 as her country descended into chaos and her piano teacher quit
because of the dangers — musicians became one of the many targets of
the insurgents, with several killed or forced to flee. "Many music
teachers stopped showing up at school, most left the country," said
Zuhal, in perfect English.

A gifted child, she earned a place at the once prestigious Baghdad
Music and Ballet School, where she studied until the 2003 invasion. A
drop in violence in the past year means it is much safer to attend
school, but many teachers and pupils have yet to return.

Zuhal receives intermittent coaching via a webcam from Reiko Aizawa,
a renowned Japanese pianist who lives in the United States. Both have
a laptop near their pianos so that Zuhal can hear Ms Aizawa play and
then follow suit.

"I am super-excited and super-nervous," she said. She is also in
Britain to promote her latest project: the creation of a national
youth orchestra in Iraq.

"I have always want ed a youth orchestra in Iraq," she told The Times
in Baghdad before her departure. "Music will make young people listen
to each other and interact."

Zuhal started to play the piano aged 6, after her mother noticed
how she would try to mimic television theme tunes on a toy piano
at home. During the worst of the violence she tried to continue her
classes despite the risk of travelling to and from school.

"This situation went on for a long time so just to sit back and say
‘Oh I can’t go out, I can’t go to school’ is absolutely ridiculous,"
Zuhal said with determination. "We must go on and we must do whatever
it takes to help things get better."

Her favourite piano music includes Mozart’s piano concerto No 23, as
well as the Rachmaninov Preludes and Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto
in G major.

She was invited to join the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra as
an accompanist but now appears with them as a soloist. It was this
experience with the orchestra that triggered the desire to form a
youth version. "I felt like I was part of a big family and I really
wanted to make everyone have that feeling," she said.

Her idea was supported by the British Council in Baghdad and Musicians
for Harmony, a US-based organisation that promotes peace.

Zuhal was put in touch with a Channel 4 project called Battlefront,
which is following 20 teena gers over nine months as they campaign
for issues they care about.

If all goes well, Iraq’s first summer academy for young musicians
will take place in Sulaimaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, in August. About 50
youngsters aged 14 to 29 have applied to take part. Those selected
will play together for two weeks before going on tour to Armenia
and Georgia.

Zuhal hopes to become a professional pianist and Iraq’s first female
conductor. As if that was not enough, she also wants to be a lawyer.

BOOK PRESENTATION IN KHNKO APER CHILDREN LIBRARY

LRAGIR.AM
12:39:24 – 26/03/2009

On March, 27th at 3 pm there will be a presentation of the children
book "Following the Sun" " recently published by FPWC in partnership
with VivaCell MTS. The presentation will take place in Khnko Aper
Children Library.

During the event Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of OSCE in Yerevan
and the German Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin will speak on behalf of
OSCE’s and German Embassy’s contribution to the translation of the
book into Russian and German. Also FPWC Director Ruben Khachatryan and
VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian will come up with a speech.

The book "Following the Sun" is a collection of stories dedicated
to nature. The special feature of the publication is its children
for children approach. All tales and also the illustrations
are created by children. In the frame of the event there will be
additionally presented an audio book CD based on the book, and the
website. The latter is the first environmental
web portal established by FPWC for Armenian children and youths.

The book and the website are projects accomplished in the frame of
the "Save the Nature" campaign implemented by the Foundation for
the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets in the Republic of
Armenia and VivaCell-MTS.

In the frame of the event also the children theater group of Khnko
Aper library will perform a short dramatized version of three tales
from the book "Following the Sun". One of the special features of some
tales collected in the book is an open end. Young readers as well as
listeners of the audio book are invited to continue the stories and
send their ideas to the FPWC office.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 24, 2009
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REPS. PALLONE AND KIRK LEAD CALLS FOR STRENGTHENING RESTRICTIONS ON
U.S. AID TO AZERBAIJAN; INCREASED ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA AND NAGORNO
KARABAGH

— Legislators Call on Colleagues to Co-sign
letter to Key Foreign Aid Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, DC – With Congressional appropriators in the early
stages of crafting the Fiscal Year 2010 foreign aid bill,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and
Mark Kirk (R-IL) earlier today urged their House colleagues to join
with them in backing the inclusion of a series of provisions aimed
at strengthening U.S. ties to Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh, and
bolstering the prospects for regional peace, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA.)

"We commend the leadership of Representatives Pallone and Kirk in
ensuring that the foreign aid bill reflects America’s support for
Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and furthers our nation’s efforts to
ensure a fair and lasting peace in the Caucasus region," stated
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look forward to
working toward the adoption of the vital foreign aid priorities
outlined in the letter sent today by the Armenian Caucus Co-
Chairs."

In a March 24th "Dear Colleague" letter, Members of Congress were
encouraged to co-sign a letter to Foreign Operations Subcommittee
Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), a longstanding supporter of the U.S.-
Armenia relationship, and Ranking Republican Kay Granger (R-TX).
The letter cited six key foreign aid priorities, including:

— Enhancing restrictions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan, as
outlined in Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, by further
limiting Presidential authority to waive the provision in light of
continued Azerbaijani government incitement of a military solution
of Nagorno Karabagh conflict.

— Increasing economic assistance to Armenia from the FY2009 level
of $48 million to $70 million.

— Increasing military assistance to Armenia from FY2009 level of
$3.3 million to $5 million.

— Increasing the amount and scope of U.S. assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh from the FY2009 level of $8 million in humanitarian aid to
$10 million in both humanitarian and developmental assistance.

— Including language "urging Azerbaijan to support confidence-
building measures that facilitate interaction among the parties, in
order to address regional security, resource management,
infrastructure, development and people to people programs."

— Removing restrictions on travel, contacts, and the free exchange
of ideas between U.S. officials and the democratically elected
leaders of Nagorno Karabakh.

Members of Congress will have until March 31st to join with Reps.
Pallone and Kirk to support these U.S. foreign aid priorities as
the foreign aid panel begins drafting the FY2010 foreign aid bill.

The full text of the letter follows.

#####

April 3, 2009

The Honorable Nita Lowey
Chairwoman
Appropriations Subcommittee on
State-Foreign Operations
Room HB-26, The Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Kay Granger
Ranking Member
Appropriations Subcommittee on
State-Foreign Operations
1016 Longworth House Office
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairwoman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger:

As you prepare the Fiscal Year 2010 State-Foreign Operations and
Related Programs Appropriations bill, we write in strong support of
U.S. assistance to Armenia and other aid related provisions that
contribute to peace and stability in the Caucasus region. We
respectfully request that you consider the following requests
listed in priority order:

Enhancing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act

Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act continues to stand as a
powerful provision of U.S. law in principled opposition to
Azerbaijan’s blockades and other aggressive uses of force against
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

As recently as December 31, 2008, on state television, President
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan would "if need be" resort to use of
military force against Nagorno Karabakh, noting that, "the war has
not finished yet," and that the Azerbaijani military is always
ready "to liberate our native land by any means." These statements
disrupt the ongoing OSCE peace process and represent a threat to
regional stability, which remain particularly tenuous in the
aftermath of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

As you know, the Fiscal Year 2002 Foreign Operations Appropriations
Act created a broad waiver authority that opened the door to
military assistance for Azerbaijan. In light of Azerbaijan’s
behavior, and as a contribution to the cause of a lasting and
equitable negotiated peace, we urge you to narrow this presidential
waiver as follows:

The President may waive section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act if
he determines and certifies to the Committees on Appropriations
that to do so–

(A) the assistance is necessary to support United States efforts to
counter international terrorism, or to support the operational
readiness of United States Armed Forces or coalition partners to
counter international terrorism;

(B) the assistance will not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to
negotiate a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan or
be used for offensive purposes against Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh;
and

(C) in the last fiscal year, Azerbaijan has not taken hostile
action, either through military force or incitement, including but
not limited to threatening pronouncements by government officials,
toward Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh.

Assuming all conditions of this new waiver authority can be met,
and military assistance is provided to Azerbaijan, we urge you to
uphold the Committee’s long-standing tradition of maintaining
parity in funding between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Economic Assistance to Armenia

The people of Armenia continue to face the devastating impact of
Turkey and Azerbaijan’s dual blockades, illegal actions that,
according to World Bank estimates from several years ago, cost
Armenia roughly $720 million annually. Compounding the impact of
these blockades is the approximately $680 million loss to Armenia’s
economy, in the form of increased transportation costs, higher
prices, and lost investment, that resulted from the recent Russia-
Georgia conflict. During this conflict, Armenia provided
humanitarian, diplomatic and economic assistance to Georgia,
facilitated the sa! fe transit for U.S. and international
officials, and helped rebuild damaged Georgian infrastructure.

Until the recent world economic crisis, Armenia regularly
registered double-digit growth and was consistently cited as among
the most free economies in the region by the Wall Street Journal
and the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. Our
assistance programs have played a vital role in promoting this
progress, as well as in the development of Armenia’s democratic
institutions, an effort made all the more pressing in light of the
divisive aftermath of the Armenian Presidential election.

We respectfully request that you include language within the
Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia Account ensuring
that assistance increase from $48 million to $70 million for
Armenia in Fiscal Year 2010.

Military Assistance to Armenia

The U.S.-Armenia military relationship continues to expand in scope
and depth, building upon Armenia’s cooperation in anti-terrorism
efforts and its deployment of forces to both Iraq and Kosovo.
Armenia has entered into a NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan
(IPAP) and has worked closely with both NATO and the Defense
Department on a range of bilateral and multilateral agreements,
joint training programs, and military exercises. Additionally,
Armenia is now considering a military deployment to Afghanistan in
support of the International! Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
mission.

Past U.S. military aid has played a vital role in modernizing
Armenia’s armed forces, strengthening the principle of civilian
control, promoting increased NATO interoperability, and supporting
the growth of Armenia’s peacekeeping capabilities.

With these priorities in mind, we respectfully request that you
increase FMF funding for Armenia from $3 million to $4 million, and
increase IMET funding for Armenia to $1 million in Fiscal Year
2010.

Assistance to Nagorno Karabakh

The U.S. assistance program to Nagorno Karabakh, which has played a
critical role in meeting humanitarian needs among the population,
should, at this point, be officially redirected, by Congress and
the Administration, to include development priorities. We
respectfully request language directing USAID to increase
assistance from $8 million to $10 million in Fiscal Year 2010 for
humanitarian and development programs in Nagorno Karabakh.

Confidence Building Measures

As in years past, the Subcommittee has also provided funding for
confidence-building measures to help facilitate a peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In order to
facilitate peace, we recommend that these funds continue to be made
available for increased cooperation among Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Karabakh. In particular, we respectfully request language urging
Azerbaijan to support confidence-building measures that facilitate
interaction among the parties, in order to address regional
security, resource management, infrastructure, development and
people to people programs.

Removing restrictions on contacts and communication with Nagorno
Karabakh

The time has come for ending restrictions on travel, contacts, and
the free exchange of ideas between U.S. officials and the
democratically elected leaders of Nagorno Karabakh. These outdated
restrictions stand in the way of greater mutual understanding,
hinder direct oversight of U.S. assistance programs, block
cooperation on regional priorities, such as public health and anti-
narcotics efforts, undermine our effectiveness in promoting
democracy, and ultimately place artificial limits on our diplomatic
and civil society efforts to bring about a fair and durable peace.

We respectfully request that that the following report language be
included in the bill.

"In the interest of promoting mutual understanding, regional
cooperation, and a fair and lasting peace, the Committee directs
the Department of State, to remove any official or unofficial
restrictions on U.S.-Nagorno Karabakh travel, visitations,
discussions, meetings, contacts, consultations, exchange programs,
or other governmental or civil society communication, cooperation,
or interaction."

Thank you for your leadership on the Appropriations Subcommittee on
State-Foreign Operations and Related Programs. We are grateful for
your role in strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and
Armenia and on all the issues we have raised. We appreciate your
consideration of these requests.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

MARK STEVEN KIRK
Member of Congress

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

16 March, 2009

Hayastan All Armenian Fund continues construction of Stepanakert’s No. 11
School

The construction of a new campus for Stepanakert’s No. 11 School is
proceeding on schedule, announced the Hayastan All Armenian Fund. The
project, spearheaded by the Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region, is made
possible through a donation by Armenian-American benefactor Gerald
Turpanjian.

With the foundations of the classrooms building and events hall already
laid, currently crews are constructing the columns of the gymnasium and the
walls of the classrooms building. The project is slated to be completed by
August 2010.

When the school opens its doors in time the 2010-2011 academic year, it will
have an administrative building next to the main structure housing the
classrooms, which will accommodate 560 students. Both buildings will consist
of three stories. In addition to the gymnasium, the campus will feature a
library, a canteen, vocational-training classrooms, an open-air events area,
and a playground. The administrative building will include the principal’s
office, teachers’ room, a health clinic, computer labs, and a reception area
for parents. Heating for the school will be provided by a boiler room.

"After years of having to conduct classrooms in a kindergarten, we will at
last be provided with top-notch school facilities," said Aida Grigoryan, the
school’s principal.

Commenting on the Hayastan All Armenian Fund’s ongoing community-development
effort in Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia, Ara Vardanyan, the fund’s acting
executive director, said, "We have every reason to believe that the future
campus of the No. 11 School will become a veritable bastion of learning for
the new generation."

Stillwater NewsPress, Oklahoma
March 14 2009

Singers off to Armenia, Israel

Monique Headley

Under the moniker of The Singing Men of Oklahoma, the Singing
Churchmen of Oklahoma and The Oklahoma Baptist Symphony will travel to
Tel Aviv, Israel, and Yerevan, Armenia, April 16-30.

Dr. Bill Green will lead the group of almost about 270 spiritual
troubadours, instrumentalists and supporters on their performance and
ministry trip.

Area residents going on the trip include Jim Hoipkemier, Glenn Rowland
and Jeff Gammill of Stillwater, Ralph Hickman of Cushing and Chan Ray
of Pawnee.

`It’s always an event to go anywhere with the group and it’s always a
blessing to sing for Jesus. We are extremely honored for the
privilege,’ said Hoipkemier, minister of music at Shekinah Church. He
has sung with the group for more than 20 years.

Equally ecstatic are Armenian officials. Considered a cultural
exchange, Hoipkemier said, he was told by pastor Garik Khachatryan, of
the Armenian Evangelical Baptist Church Golgotha, that the group’s
trip will be the largest envoy of Americans ever to visit Armenia at
one time.

He added, `They were so excited when Dr. Green confirmed we were
coming, the mayor of the town we will be singing in actually knelt at
Bill’s feet.’

According to Hickman, associate pastor and minister of music at First
Baptist Church of Cushing, `We are Oklahoma Baptists trying to help
Armenia as well as minister to an enclave of about 500 Armenians
living inside the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem, Israel. Two percent of
Armenians are Muslim, 2 percent are Christian and 96 percent are God
fearing but do not know Jesus Christ.’

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma men’s ministry assistant
Barbara Billingsley said, `The people the group will be performing for
have access to orthodox Christianity ‘ what their leaders feel is
appropriate. It’s not closed to evangelicals but the people just
haven’t been bathed in it like others.’

Perhaps the biggest performance opportunity for the group will be on
April 24 for an estimated audience of 1 million people. That date is
what Armenians worldwide consider Genocide Memorial Day.

The date honors the hundreds of Armenian leaders massacred by Turkish
officials during World War I which, in turn, triggered the genocide of
an estimated 600,000 to 1.5 million Armenians, according to the
group’s brochure.

This isn’t the first trip the Singing Churchmen have taken

`I joined the group 10 years ago,’ Hickman said. `So far the Singing
Churchmen has traveled to Russia, Estonia, China, Spain, Romania,
Japan, and Australia. In Australia, we sang at the Sydney Opera
House. Oh, it was so exciting. In Armenia, we will be singing at
various churches, civic spaces and at the Genocide memorial.’

The group has also sung in several states across the country.

Hickman said it has taken almost two years to plan the trip. On
average, the group travels once every three to four years.

As ministry assistant, Billingsley is instrumental to overall
coordination and group affairs.

`It is a great joy to work with these men,’ she said. `I like their
spirit, attitude of cooperation and music. I’ve heard all types of
choirs and voices, the men are my favorite.’

The approximate costs for each participant is just under
$5,000. Several raised money with spaghetti dinners and CD sales. The
group also accepts donations.

Once in Israel, the group will also tour several religiously
significant areas including Gethsemane, Golgotha, Via Dolorosa, the
Sea of Galilee and Mount Zion.

It was in 1960 that the Church Music Department of BGCO started the
Singing Churchmen. Next year, the group will celebrate its 50th
anniversary.

It has several CDs available, including `Foundations: An Evening of
Praise,’ `Come To Jesus’ and `Live In Sydney.’

l/local_story_073003349.html

APA, Azerbaijan
March 12 2009

6 Armenians detained for violating line of contact and state border
were handed over

[ 12 Mar 2009 18:21 ]

Baku ` APA. 3 Azerbaijani citizens captured by Armenians in 2008 were
released, the body of the Azerbaijani soldier killed as a result of
the violation of ceasefire was taken from the opposite side and handed
over to his relatives, says Azerbaijani government’s report to the
parliament on the outcomes of 2008, APA reports.
It is noted that 6 Armenians detained for violating line of contact
and state border were handed over.
Materials about 295 Azerbaijani citizens not registered as missing
persons in the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and
Missing Persons were sent to the commission. The names of 162, who
turned out not to be missing, were removed from the list of missing
persons.
Questionnaires about 850 people were sent to various government
agencies and international organizations for specifying the reports of
the State Commission and searching the missing persons.

Iran to respond if US policy shift proves genuine
The Associated Press

Updated: 03/13/2009 04:22:33 AM PDT

YEREVAN, Armenia’Iran’s foreign minister says his country will respond
in kind if the United States makes genuine efforts to improve
relations.
Manouchehr Mottaki says if the administration of President Barack Obama
"puts words into actions" then Iran "will give an appropriate
response."

Mottaki spoke to reporters Friday during a visit to neighboring
Armenia, which has trade ties with Iran.

Obama has expressed a willingness to talk with Iran to end a standoff
over its nuclear program, which U.S. officials believe is aimed at
developing nuclear weapons.

Obama’s administration is conducting a broad review of U.S. policy that
may include the appointment of a special envoy and direct contacts with
Iranian officials.

Armenian premier: It is for the first time over several last years that
economy falling was registered in Armenia in January

2009-03-13 19:09:00

ArmInfo. It is for the first time over several last years that economy
falling was registered in Armenia in January, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sarkisyan told journalists.

He also added naturally economy falling reflected indices of the tax
revenues, which is connected with worsening of the export-import
indexes. Unfortunately, the predictions on quick overcoming of the
world financial crisis did not justify themselves. `Today we do not
have a strict position on the matter when to expect ending of the world
crisis’, – the premier said and added that on the basis of assessments
the restoration stage will begin at the end of 2009 and we have to wait
for stable development of economy in 2010. As for Armenia, Sarkisyan
mentioned the programmes which will be financed by international
financial institutions. First of all, he means financing of the real
sector of economy – road construction, agriculture investments,
crediting of small and medium-sized business. A part of the Russian
credit $500 mln will be directed to financing of programmes of small
and medium-sized business, which will also lead to activation of
economy. `We have to do everything possible to receive the funds as
soon as possible. This will make it possible to start fulfillment of
the programme as soon as possible’, – Sarkisyan said.

Regnum, Russia
March 12 2009

Armenian Foreign Minister: Baku conducts a policy of induction of a new war

Still have not closed the wounds of the war launched by Azerbaijan,
and Baku provokes a new war, said Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandyan on March, 11 in his speech at the French Diplomatic
Academy.

As REGNUM was informed at the press service of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry, Nalbandyan touched upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
and paid attention to the militaristic and non- constructive policy of
Azerbaijan. The Armenian FM said the Azerbaijani party has distributed
some documents in the UN which not only negatively affect the
negotiation process but also aim to justify possible use of force.

Nalbandyan also talked about normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations in his speech. According to him the solution process of the
problems between Armenia and Turkey couldn’t dispute the fact of
Armenian Genocide. `If Armenian and Turkish parts have a political
will and sincere intentions to normalize the relations, no factor
could prevent it’, said Nalbandyan. Armenian FM said the `crucial’
meeting of both Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul in Yerevan
gave a new impulse to the negotiations and is in the interests of the
two states and peoples. According to the minister, the negotiations
are aimed not only to normalize Armenian-Turkish relations, but also
assumed a serious contribution to assure regional security and
stability.

March 13, 2009
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT
HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

Sunday, March 15 is the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of
the Steward.
On this day, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
preside over Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino and deliver the
sermon.
In the afternoon, a Lenten lunch organized by the A.R.S. "Mayr"
Chapter of Hollywood will take place at "Karapetian" Hall of St. Garabed
Church. Pastor of St. Garabed Church Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian will
attend and convey the Prelate’s blessings.

PRELATE REPRESENTED AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY
OF THE KAHAM GAMES

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 15th, the closing ceremony of the
25th KAHAM games will take place at Glendale College.
The games are organized annually by the Homenetmen Regional
Executive.
Rev. Fr. Vazken Atmajian will attend and convey the Prelate’s
blessings.

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER SUNRISE SERVICE AND
MID-LENT LUNCH AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL

Wednesday, March 18th, is Mid-Lent or Michink.
To mark this occasion, each year the Ladies Auxiliaries of our
parishes and local A.R.S. chapters organize luncheons, which take place
following Sunrise Service.
On Wednesday, the Prelate will preside over Sunrise Service at Holy
Cross Cathedral in Montebello and will later preside over the luncheon at
"Bagramian" Hall.

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER OPENING OF THE
CASPS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Committee for Armenian Students in Public Schools (CASPS), which
serves under the auspices of the Prelacy, has organized a one-day leadership
conference in which close to 180 high school students will participate.
The second annual conference, with the theme "Connecting to your
Community", will feature two panels, during which renowned community leaders
will address the students. The conference will take place on Saturday,
March 14th, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Prelacy "Dikran and Zarouhie
Der Ghazarian" Hall.
The Prelate will preside over the opening of the conference and
convey his message to the students.

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER OPENING OF
GENOCIDE RECOGNITION SYMPOSIUM

The Armenian Genocide United Commemorative Committee has organized a
symposium on Armenian Genocide Recognition to take place on Saturday, March
14th, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at "Kouyoumjian" Hall of St. Gregory
Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale.
The Prelate will preside over the opening of the symposium.