Author: Nahapetian Lilit

Armenian Defence Minister Points to Importance of Armenian-American
Relations

YEREVAN, May 30. /ARKA/. Armenian Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan says
Armenian-American relations are highly important especially in the
sphere of economy, democracy development and regional stability.

The Defence Minister said this at a meeting with American Jewish
Committee Ambassador Peter Rosenblatt, Director of Strategic Studies
Barry Jacobs and Executive Director of Armenian-American Public
Committee Ross Vardanyan and Director of the `Hope for Armenia’ fund
Madlen Minasyan.

Rosenblatt, representing American Jewish Committee, said it is one of
the key organizations of Jewish community and they have been intently
watching the South Caucasus developments since the 90s of last century.
He said he last visited Armenia in 1999.

Rosenblatt also said that the American Jewish Committee is highly
interested Armenia-related issues because of the close ties they have
with Armenian community in the United States.

The sides discussed the reforms in Armenian Armed Forces, issues of
maintaining the reconciliation regime, Armenian-Israeli relations, and
regional security stressing that all the future actions for the
Karabakh settlement must seek only a peaceful solution. -0–

WITHOUT GROUNDS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 30, 2008
Armenia

The Administrative Court has found the claim of the former four
employees of the Foreign Ministry ungrounded. The former diplomats had
filed a claim for the annulment of ex-Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan’s decision dated February 25; they also claimed reinstatement
in their posts and the payment of damage for the forcible time-out.
They will most probably appeal against the decision to RA Appellate
Court.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Shahan Kandakharyan: Turkish factor gaining weight in Lebanon
31.05.2008 13:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With election Michel Suleiman new President of
Lebanon, the Armenian community got added evidence that political
consent should be the basis for further development of the country,
editor-in-chief of Azdak Beirut-based newspaper Shahan Kandakharyan
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

-Undertaking a deal of responsibility in the agreement achieved in
Katar, the operating Armenian parties have concluded that joint
efforts are needed to overcome the crisis and ensure security of the
community,- he said. -The new electoral legislation provides all
communities with ample opportunity to send their representatives to
the parliament.-

At the same time, Mr Kandakharyan remarked that the Turkish factor is
gaining weight in Lebanon. -It’s obvious not only in Lebanon but in
the entire region. Two years ago Turkey deployed peacekeepers in
southern Lebanon. The visits of Turkish politicians and diplomats have
become more frequent. Lebanese historians are invited to Ankara to
study Turkish archives while Turkish scholars give lectures at
Lebanese universities. At the inauguration of Lebanon’s new President,
Turkey was represented by Foreign Minister and Prime Minister. This
activity is not accidental. Furthermore, Turkey has become a mediator
between Syria and Israel,- he said

Japan Provides $370mln Worth Financial Assistance to Armenia over Last
10 Years

YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. Japan provided a total of $370mln financial
assistance to Armenia over the last ten years, Ambassador of Japan to
Armenia Yasuo Saito said.

After gaining independence Armenia encountered serious difficulties,
yet it makes great efforts to develop its economy and build up its
democracy and is worthy of respect, the Ambassador told a press
conference in Yerevan.

Saito stressed that the country focuses on development of energy field
and for this purpose over $300mln has been allocated to Armenia. Of it,
$250mln was the loan of the Japanese JBIC Japanese bank for
construction of a modern heat and gas energy unit of combined cycle at
Yerevan Heat Station and $52mln for improving the distributor network,
the Ambassador said.

Japan provides assistance to Armenia for development of
infrastructures, social sector, poverty reduction, personnel training,
as well as to ensure freedom of speech and democracy and development of
education.

270 Armenian specialists have been trained in Japan under technical
assistance program, the Ambassador said.-0-

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 27 2008

Negotiations Considering Gradual Withdrawal of Armenia’s Troops from
Occupied Territory, considers Former Russian Mediator
27.05.08 17:09

Former Russian mediator Vladmir Kazimirov stated today in Yerevan that
the negotiations on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict are considering possible
stage-by-stage withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territory.

According to Mediamax, while speaking today at a press conference in
Yerevan, the retired Russian diplomat said that there had been no real
progress in the negotiations since striking armistice in 1994.

According to Kazimirov, the top-priority task for today is not to
determine the Nagorno-Karabakh status or to return the occupied
territory, but first to conclude a firm armistice at the troops
contact line. He stressed that the key to settlement of the conflict
is to prevent restoration of military operations.

Kazimirov said that referendum or plebiscite to define the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh must not be delayed to 10-15 years. `I think 5 years
are enough,’ he said.

Published Monday, May 19, 2008 9:36 PM PDT
Burbank Leader
Man stabbed to death in Del Taco lot
Police say dispute over a woman led to a Glendale man being slain near
Burbank border.
By Jason Wells

NORTHWEST GLENDALE – Two men, who were arrested on suspicion of murder in the
Saturday stabbing death of a 30-year-old Glendale man, are scheduled to be
arraigned today, authorities said.

Avetis Barnasyan, 24, is accused of stabbing Hayk Torosyan in the upper body
during a fight in the Del Taco parking lot at 2101 W. Glenoaks Blvd. at
about 2:15 a.m. Saturday before fleeing the scene, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom
Lorenz said.

Police found Torosyan, who had tried to drive away after the attack, bleeding
in his car from an unknown number of stab wounds about a block away from the
fast-food restaurant, Lorenz said. Torosyan was taken to Los Angeles
County-USC Medical Center, where doctors later pronounced him dead.

An autopsy to determine the number of wounds and exact cause of death was
scheduled to be completed today, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los
Angeles County coroner’s office.

Torosyan and Barnasyan, also a Glendale resident, were in a feud over a
woman that `they both mutually knew,’ Lorenz said.

The fight started when Torosyan – who arrived with his friend, 40-year-old
North Hollywood resident Brian Herbert – confronted Barnasyan in the parking
lot over the woman, Lorenz said. Sometime during the scuffle, Barnasyan
retrieved a knife and stabbed Torosyan, he added.

Barnasyan fled the scene but returned to cooperate with authorities, Lorenz
said. Herbert, who had stayed at the scene of the attack, was also arrested
on suspicion of murder since he had arrived to `engage in a fight or some type
of confrontation … and as a result, committed a criminal act and then
someone died,’ Lorenz added.

It was business as usual Monday at the Del Taco. While the restaurant has a
24-hour drive-through, workers at the restaurant said they were not on shift
Saturday morning and hadn’t heard about the stabbing.

Barnasyan and Herbert are in police custody and are expected to be arraigned
today after detectives present their murder case to the Los Angeles County
district attorney’s office.

The incident occurred on the Burbank border – the restaurant is inside
Burbank’s jurisdiction, the parking lot in Glendale’s. It is Glendale’s second
homicide of the year.

In the first, the district attorney’s office in March filed murdercharges
against 27-year-old Eagle Rock resident Ana Regina Lim for the death of her
20-month-old baby.

Mikea had been in a coma since March 5, when she was taken to Glendale
Memorial Hospital from her grandparents’ home – where she and Lim were
staying – with severe head injuries, police said.

Lim was arrested and then released on $100,000 bail for child-endangerment
charges, but was arrested a day later on suspicion of murder after Mikea was
transferred to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and declared brain-dead.
She was later taken off life support and died.

A shooting death in January at Forest Lawn cemetery occurred in Los Angeles’
jurisdiction along the Glendale border.

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PanARMENIAN.Net

Does Georgia equally belong to all its citizens
regardless the nationality?

The Armenians from Georgia, who during centuries have
had their irreplaceable asset in the culture and
industry of the country, have done nothing to protect
own rights.
22.05.2008 GMT+04:00

After the declaration of independence of Georgia and a
short period of time when the head of the country was
the first President of Georgia Zviada Gamsakhurdia,
who in his term was the founder of the slogan "Georgia
– for Georgians", Tbilisi could not work out a clear
and a sequential strategy of the national policy. What
is at the moment being done by the administration of
Michael Sahakashvili is more like a game played with
the Armenian community, which will end after the
election.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is no secret that the Armenians
of Georgia always vote for the regime, regardless who
is being elected. Moreover, the Armenians, who are in
the Parliament, become the most fervent guides of the
politics of Michael Sahakashvili, and maybe, this is
exactly why the Deputy Van Baiburt is appointed the
advisor of the President, which, however, does not
have any positive effect on the condition of the
Armenians in Georgia, who more and more often come
across the Georgian unveiled chauvinism. This is
particularly reflected in the sphere of education,
where the teachers of the
Armenian schools, who do not speak Georgian, have no
right to work in high schools. The truth is though,
that in Javakh this law is not executed yet, but it is
only a matter of time. One more very serious problem
for Javakh is the return of Meskhet Turks. It should
be mentioned that the Georgian people call the
Meskhets Georgian, having adopted Islam.

"The return of the Meskhet Turks is fraught with
negative outcomes, first of all for those from
Tbilisi. I am sure now and I was sure 10 years ago
that the demand of the European Council about the
return of the Meskhs to Georgia will not bring to any
good. But unfortunately they will put pressure on us
in this matter," thinks the Georgian political
scientist Georgie Govsadze. The people of Javakh have
been preparing for the possible return of the Meskhs
for many years. According to the representative of the
Armenian community of Akhaltskha Lyudvig Petrosyan,
clashes were inevitable. However, the Georgian
authorities do not give permission yet for settling
the Meskhs in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and
Kvemo-Kartli which are populated by the Armenian.
Kvemo-Kartli, by the way, is mostly populated by the
Azeri people, who are also against the return of the
Meskhs.

Meanwhile, on the opinion of Hrant Margaryan the
Armenian nation must use all the chances for the
recognition of the autonomy of Javakh in the
international level. "We support the fight of the
Armenian people in Javakh for the autonomy. The
response for our benevolence in this issue is the
silence of Tbilisi and the international community.
This is why it is the right time to start the fight
for self-determination with a new force," emphasized
Margaryan. This is not the first time we hear such
announcements, but they always remain purely
declarative. The silence of Georgia and Armenia in
this issue is understandable: Tbilisi thinks that it
will one day have the second Karabakh, Armenia does
not want to lose the only outlet to the world, which
passes through Georgia. Maybe this is how the
viewpoint of the Armenian authorities and the Church
regarding the appropriation of the Armenian churches
by the Georgian Orthodox Church may be explained. The
Armenian community in Georgia and in particular the
public organizations of Javakh blame Armenia for the
infringement of the rights of the Armenians in
Georgia. Maybe there is some truth in what they say.
However, there is such a notion as non-interference in
the home affairs of another country. This is the very
case. In this kind of situations both parties are to
blame. The Armenians from Georgia, who during
centuries have had their irreplaceable asset in the
culture and industry of the country, have done nothing
to protect own rights

We should have fought for "Norashen" and Khodjivank,
when the Georgian historian Bondo Arveladze started
publishing his books which stated that "not the
Georgians have appropriated the Armenian churches but
vise versa", or when the books of the history of
Georgia speak about the Armenians as if they would
speak of their worst enemy.

Coming back to the situation in Javakh, it should be
mentioned, that the Armenians of the region believe
that the Georgian authorities have secret schemes of
"rarefaction" of the Armenian region by the help of
assimilation or putting pressure on the Armenians.
However, President Saakashvili during his visit to
Javakh says that Georgia equally belongs to all its
citizens regardless the nationality.
«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department

The Armenian Church eNewsletter

May 22, 2008

Diocese of the
Armenian Church
of America (Eastern)
630 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10016

Contact Us <mailto:[email protected]>

Diocesan News

ACYOA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SPORTS WEEKEND TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MAY
22 – 26

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), will preside over the 2008 ACYOA General Assembly,
which will be held in Washington, D.C., May 22-23. Members of the Diocesan
Council will also attend the Assembly.

Sports Weekend activities will follow the Assembly. More than 350
participants registered for the events, which include an array of athletic
competitions, workshops and a social and cultural program. For a complete
schedule, please visit
< asportsweekend2008.com/> , and check
<http://www.armenianchur ch.net/> next week for news and photos from the
weekend.

_____________________________

4 DAYS 4 LIFE PROGRAM BEGINS NEXT WEEK

>From Monday, May 26 to Friday, May 30, College Ministry will inaugurate a
dynamic program entitled "4 Days 4 Life." As a way for college students to
extend the ACYOA Sports Weekend experience, the program combines Armenian
fellowship with the opportunity to give back to the larger community. Each
day will consist of serving meals at a homeless shelter, social excursions
in the greater Washington, D.C. area, fellowship with parishioners at St.
Mary’s Armenian Church, spiritual reflections and more. To sign up, contact
College Ministry Facilitator Julie Hoplamazian at [email protected]
or 212-686-0710, x165. Click here
< ifeFlyer.pdf> for more
information.

_____________________________

ACYOA JUNIORS HYE M’RTSOOM KICKS OFF FRIDAY

This weekend the ACYOA of St. James Church in Watertown, Mass. will host the
annual Hye M’rtsoom for ACYOA Juniors. The event will draw young people,
ages 13-18, from around the Diocese for a weekend of fun and fellowship.
Participants will arrive Friday night and head "home" with their host
families for a good night’s rest. Saturday morning will begin with a matins
service led by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, followed by an
Insights program led by Diocesan Youth Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Morris.

Friendly competition in basketball and volleyball will begin on Saturday and
conclude on Sunday with the championship games. Dances will take place on
Saturday and Sunday evening. The holiday weekend will conclude Monday
morning with a farewell breakfast before the participants head back to their
home parishes. For more information about upcoming events for ACYOA Juniors,
please contact Jennifer Morris at <mailto:[email protected]>
jenni [email protected].

St. James ACYOA Juniors receiving an award at Hye M’rtsoom in 2005.

_____________________________

FAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETS TO DISCUSS PROGRAMS

The Fund for Armenian Relief’s Board of Directors discussed and approved the
organization’s strategic development vision for 2008-2015 at a meeting on
May 16. Founded in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has implemented more
than 220 relief, development, social, educational and cultural projects,
valued at more than $265 million.

FAR periodically revises its mission to meet the evolving needs of the
people of Armenia and Karabakh. This latest update of the organization’s
strategy is tailored to improve and strengthen FAR to effectively address
new challenges that the Armenian nation is facing today. The Board approved
the ambitious and yet realistic program to multiply FAR’s resources and
engage new partners in Armenia’s civil society, the private sector and
international NGOs. The goal is to develop innovative projects that will
support countrywide changes to offer better living conditions, provide hope
to the most vulnerable segments of the population and empower young
Armenians with the tools, resources and guidance to shape a bright future.

In the next decade, FAR will also concentrate its resources on developing
specific projects that will nurture powerful connections and mutual
appreciation between Armenia and the Diaspora. "The Board has expressed its
strong commitment to programs in Armenia and Karabakh," said Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) and FAR Board president. "By partnering with FAR family members
globally, we will be ready to continue supporting our brothers and sisters
in building a democratic and prosperous Armenia."

FAR Board of Directors members discuss the organization’s strategic
development vision at a meeting last Friday.

_____________________________

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY HELD AT ST. NERSESS Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and
president of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary’s Board of Directors, presided
over the Divine Liturgy and the commencement program at St. Nersess Seminary
on Saturday, May 17.

Commencement participants included Megan Jendian, who recently joined the
Diocesan Department of Youth and Education, Rev. Fr. Mesrop Hovsepyan, who
serves the St. James parish in Richmond, Va., and Harry Tchetchenian.

Dr. Abraham Terian, professor of Armenian Patristics and academic dean at
St. Nersess Seminary, addresses participants at the seminary’s commencement
program.
_____________________________

CHURCH AND HOME MATERIALS AVAILABLE ONLINE

A wealth of new Church and Home materials are now available on our Web site,
<; . Click on the
"Church and Home" button on the homepage and you will be directed to a
listing of a variety of online tutorials and programs designed to offer
"Back to the Basics" educational tools that can be used from the comfort of
your home. Learn about Armenian Church feasts, the calendar, modern and
classical Armenian and much more!

_____________________________

ART EXHIBITION AT ST. VARTAN ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) presents Art @ the
Cathedral: Giving Form to Faith, an exhibition of work by major 20th and
21st century Armenian-American artists. The exhibition opens on June 19,
2008 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New
York, N.Y. A concert featuring renowned Armenian-American artists Lucine
Amara, soprano; Sahan Arzruni, piano; and Ani Aznavoorian, cello; will begin
in the sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.

The exhibition is organized in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the
consecration of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. It will highlight the
collection of the Cathedral and include works by established and emerging
artists. The exhibition will remain on view until June 24, 2008. Hours are
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 20-23, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24. The
exhibition is free and open to the public. Tickets for the opening night
concert are $20 for adults and $15 for students. To purchase tickets, call
the Diocese at 212-293-1270. Click here
< > for more information.

Construction of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in the 1960s. The Cathedral
was consecrated in April 1968.

_____________________________

SUMMER EVENTS ON THE CATHEDRAL PLAZA FOR VYPs (ST. VARTAN YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS)

This summer, St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will again give young
professionals in the greater New York area an opportunity to come together
on the Cathedral’s Grand Plaza. The monthly cultural and social programs
will commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Cathedral and will feature
local Armenian artists and musicians, a grand tour of the Cathedral complex
and opportunities to connect with other Armenians in a unique space. Mark
your calendars now for the following events:

Thursday, June 19 – Art @ the Cathedral: Giving Form to Faith. Art
exhibition at 5:30 p.m. and opening night concert at 7:30 p.m. (art
exhibition free of charge; concert $20)

Thursday, July 17, 6-8 p.m. – YY Sisters vocal trio and SonaArt with wine
and cheese reception

Thursday, August 14, 6-8 p.m. – Grand Tour of St. Vartan Cathedral with wine
and cheese reception

Thursday, September 18, 6-8 p.m. (tentative date) – Fall Kick-Off
Coffeehouse featuring the photography and music of Haik Kocharian

For more information, contact Rachel Goshgarian at 212.686.0710, x126 or
[email protected]; or Julie Hoplamazian at 212.686.0710 x165 or
[email protected].

__________________ ___________

SHUSHI ARMENIAN DANCE ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM AT DIOCESAN CENTER ON MAY 30

The Shushi Armenian Dance Ensemble of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral will
celebrate its 15th anniversary at the Diocesan Center on Friday, May 30.
This much-anticipated event, featuring music, dance, dinner and a
performance by the Shushi dancers, will mark the Ensemble’s success since
its inception and honor the steadfast dedication of the group’s artistic
director and choreographer, Seta Paskalian-Kantardjian. Funds raised at the
event will help Shushi travel to Armenia in July, where dancers will have
the tremendous opportunity to perform at the Opera House. For more
information, please visit <;

_____________________________

PARISH NEWS

Livingston, N.J. – St. Mary Armenian Church

Upcoming Events

St. Mary Church will hold a Golf and Tennis Outing at the Rock Spring Club
in West Orange, N.J. on June 2. Click here
< gt; for more information. The
church’s Food and Music Festival, featuring live Armenian dance music, is
scheduled for June 7 and 8. Visit
<http://www.myarmenian church.org/> to learn more.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE MOTHER CATHEDRAL OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

The Eastern Diocese will make a pilgrimage to the Mother Cathedral of Holy
Etchmiadzin this fall to participate in the blessing of the Holy Muron
(Oil). The two-week pilgrimage begins in late September and concludes in
early October. The blessing of the Holy Muron will take place on Sunday,
Sept. 28. For more information, click here
< df> or contact Arto Vorperian at
the Diocesan Center at 212-686-0710, x213 or e-mail [email protected]. To view
a video about the Holy Muron, click
< n.wmv> here.

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
blesses the Holy Muron (Oil) with the relic of St. Gregory the Enlightener
in 2001. This special ceremony occurs once every seven years.

_______________________________

Prayer for the Week

It seems like you’re not with me, Lord. My soul is full of trouble. Like I’m
in the darkest pit, overwhelmed in the waves of a rocky sea. Living with
indescribable loss. Even my best friend has turned away and I feel repulsive
to everyone, attacked by all. Darkness seems to be my closest friend. Give
me a sign of your goodness, for I know, Lord, that you can help and comfort
me.
More prayers
< .asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5246&
HS=1 > <;

Scripture for the Week

Prv 9:1-6

Zec 3:7-4:9

Heb 9:1-10

Jn 10:22-30

Saints & Feasts

5/24: St. Gregory the Enlightener (Deliverance from the pit)

5/25: Feast of the Catholic Church of Holy Etchmiadzin

May God bless and keep you and your family.

TURKEY OFFERS DIASPORA $20 MLN TO OPEN UP ARMENIAN ARCHIVES IN US

Hurriyet
May 20 2008
Turkey

Turkey offered to give $20 million aid to the classification and
opening of the Armenian archives in the U.S. city of Boston, which
he said, included "very important" documents regarding the incidents
of 1915, a high level Turkish official told Hurriyet daily. Head of
Turkey’s state-funded Turkish Historical Society (TTK) Yusuf Halacoglu
said the Armenians do not want to have the archives opened because
such efforts will start a real debate over the genocide claims. Nabi
Sensoy, the Turkish Ambassador in Washington D.C., also reiterated
Turkey’s willigness to open its archives. (UPDATED)

Halacoglu said that the Armenian archives in Boston included very
important documents regarding both the 500,000 Armenians who currently
live in Turkey, and the 1915 incidents.

"The (Armenians) had said ‘We don’t have money to categorize the
archives, and therefore we cannot open them’. I frankly told them
‘We can give you the money needed and open the archives’. But they
did not respond to my offer," Hurriyet was quoted Haracoglu as saying
on Tuesday.

Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million
of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915. The
Armenian diaspora has lately increased its organized activities
throughout the world for the acknowledgment of their unfounded
allegations in regard to the incidents of 1915 as "genocide" by
national and local parliaments.

Turkey rejects the claims, saying that 300,000 Armenians along with
at least as many Turks died in civil strife that emerged when the
Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia. Ankara’s
attempts to resolve the issue has not so far get a concrete response
from Yerevan.

Halacoglu said he also presented his proposal to two Armenian
historians, Ara Sarfian and Hilmar Kaiser, adding he heard no word
back, and noted that the opening of the archives in Boston would launch
a real debate on the issue. "This would directly open a debate over
the genocide claims. Armenians are aware of this and therefore they
are doing their best not to sit at the table," he added.

Turkey is of the view that parliaments and other political institutions
are not the appropriate forums to debate and pass judgment on
disputed periods of history. Past events and controversial periods
of history should be left to historians for their dispassionate study
and evaluation.

In 2005, Turkey officially proposed the establishment of a joint
commission comprised of historians and other experts from both sides
to study the events of 1915, utilizing not only Turkish and Armenian
archives, but also those of relevant third-party countries and to share
their findings with the public. Armenia has not responded positively
to this initiative, as yet.

AVOID ANIMOSITY

Sensoy called on Armenians not to raise children with animosity, in
his speech at a meeting hosted by the Potomac Institute for Policy
Studies on "the Future of Turkey-U.S. Strategic Partnership", the
Anatolian Agency reported on Tuesday.

"We should not raise our children with animosity. I grew up together
with many Turkish citizens of Armenian descent. It was one of
our Armenian neighbors who cried and mourned most when I lost my
father. Enmity does not lead us anywhere," he said.

Sensoy reminded that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had
called on Armenians to form a joint committee of historians to unveil
the truth.

"Turkey opened its archives. Armenians should do the same. We expect
politicians in the United States and in other countries to let
historians deal with past events," Sensoy said.

Sensoy denied accusations that Turkey imposed an economic embargo
on Armenia, saying Turkey was the fifth biggest economic partner
of Armenia and number of weekly flights between Turkey and Armenia
reached four.

Sensoy also said the draft resolution submitted to the U.S. Congress
on the incidents of 1915 brought Turkey-U.S. relations to ‘brink of a
disaster’. "We are pleased with leaving those days behind as a result
of resolute attitude of the U.S. administration and congressmen,"
he added.

A report on an Armenian bill regarding the incidents of 1915 was
adopted last year by the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
U.S. House of Representatives.

SAINT HRIPSIME DAY

Panorama.am
18:26 19/05/2008

Today Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the day of Saint Hripsime
virgins. According to the official web site of the Armenian Apostolic
Church the day of saint virgins is celebrated after a week of
Whitsuntide on Monday and Thursday.

In these days in the churches in particular in St Hripsime holy mass
is celebrated. According to the source virgins’ death has had an
important meaning in Armenian history. After their death St Grigor
Lusavorish has been set free after 13 years of arrestment.