Author: Nargizian David

INTERVIEW: UNISTREAM SAYS CRISIS HASN’T IMPACTED MONEY TRANSFER BUSINESS

Business New Europe
Sept 18 2009

Unistream, the biggest player on the money transfer market in the
former Soviet Union, insists the crisis hasn’t impacted on its
operations to any great degree and it still plans to expand its
network into Germany.

One year ago, as the financial crisis struck, the media was full of
stories about how the Central Asian countries would face a crisis as
the remittances from Russia they depend upon dried up. With remittances
from Russia accounting for 20-45% of GDP for the countries of the
Caucasus and Central Asia, the severity of the crisis descending on
Russia at the end of 2008 seemed to bode ill for Eurasia. Alarmist
scenarios predicted even state collapse in Tajikistan as workers
returned home empty handed.

However, Suren Ayriyan, president of Unistream, the eastern Western
Union that had a 27% share of the money transfer market for the
Commonwealth of Independent States at the end of 2008, tells bne
that none of these doom-laden scenarios panned out and the volume
of money transfers has remained largely stable on the year. "After
a short blip, transfer volumes are back to their level of one year
ago," says Ayriyan. "Money transfers did fall at the start of 2008,
but recovered by the spring. People simply did not return home even
if they lost their jobs, they stayed in the country and found other
work, even if only in the informal economy. No one went anywhere."

Another factor supporting money transfer volumes during the crisis
was that with fuel prices staying high, the cost of transport home
became unaffordable for many migrant workers. "That’s why, although
the average amount of a single transfer has fallen, the number of
transfers has risen," explains Ayriyan.

This means that despite the 30% dip in the market in the first quarter,
money was quickly flowing again as things stabilised. With Russian
companies looking to cut costs, cheap immigrant workers out-compete
Russians on the labour market. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
are among the few CIS countries to have experienced growth this year,
not least due to the stable level of remittances facilitated by
Unistream. The International Monetary Fund forecast in its Regional
Economic Outlook released in May that growth in Central Asia would
drop to around 1% this year.

Unistream’s total volume of transfers in 2008 was $4bn (at current
dollar rates), and in 2009 it’s looking to reach $4.5bn in spite of
the crisis. This is remarkable growth; turnover has grown from $760m
in 2005 to $1.85bn volume in 2006 and $3.7bn in 2007, with the number
of customers soaring from 870,000 in 2005 to 3.7m in 2007. In 2008,
the company held 57% of the market in Armenia, 45% in Kyrgyzstan, 41%
in Moldavia, 25% in Tajikistan and 22% in Uzbekistan. The particularly
strong showing in Armenia is not coincidental: both Ayriyan and
co-owner of the bank Gagik Zakarian are of Armenian origin, one of the
historic diaspora nations. There’s a "$4bn flow to Armenia from Russia
annually," Zakarian tells bne, "and about another $500m from the US."

Going German

The awareness of the West as a source of remittances is now prompting
Unistream to roll out its system into the EU countries, including the
UK and Greece, but first and foremost Germany. "Today, more than 3m
of the country’s residents are economic migrants from the CIS, which,
given the decidedly high standard of living in Germany, is inevitably
a dynamic growth driver for the money transfer market," says Ayriyan.

Analysts at Unistream estimate that Germany’s money transfer market
in all directions will be worth more than $12bn annually even in the
immediate post-crisis period, which is absolutely colossal, bearing
in mind that the Russia-CIS corridor was worth a total of $15bn in
2008, with the Germany-CIS corridor’s value at around $4bn. Unistream
is looking to take 10% of this corridor’s volume in the mid-term,
according to Ayriyan.

A particular challenge to setting up in Germany has been the
toughness of the money laundering laws and general supervisory
requirements of the financial sector, which makes obtaining a license
a time-consuming and exhausting process. Despite the strictness of
personal identification rules for money wires, the extent of internet
coverage here means Unistream is developing an online service. "At the
same time, taking into account that many migrants in Germany from the
CIS are of the older generation, it is important to have a physical
presence, including Russian speaking staff," says Ayriyan.

Unistream is owned by its founders Georgii Piskov and Zakarian, with
a 26% stake spun off to Aurora private equity group in 2006. Piskov
and Zakarian were the founders and owners of Russia’s Uniastrum Bank,
until selling 80% of the bank to Bank of Cyprus in 2008 for â~B¬447m,
months before the financial crash. This means the Unistream owners
have deep pockets with which to finance the further expansion of the
system, which was not included in the deal. "Unistream is a highly
solvent, highly liquid system," Piskov tells bne, "which does not
need any extra financial support presently. However, any funds it
requires for business purposes will be forthcoming."

Piskov makes no bones of his ambitions in the money transfer
business. "We want to go global, and expand beyond the CIS
corridor. When you have created such a system, it’s simply logical
to roll it out in country after country," he says.

"JUDO DIPLOMACY" EASES KARABAKH TENSIONS
Gegham Vardanian

Institute for War and Peace Reporting IWPR
Sept 18 2009
UK

Bid to improve Turkish-Armenian ties started with a football match,
so could Judo tournament do same for Armenia and Azerbaijan?

The Azerbaijan flag has been flown in Armenia for the first time since
the Karabakh war, at a martial arts tournament tentatively welcomed
by analysts as a start for "judo diplomacy".

The welcome for the Azerbaijan team at the European Under 20
Championship, September 11-13, was warm, and police took careful steps
to prevent any demonstration against the athletes, who represented
a country with which Armenia has not signed a peace deal.

"We are on guard to prevent a flag being brought into the building
which could be burnt," said one policeman when asked why he was so
carefully checking this correspondent’s bag.

It was the first trip to Armenia for Azeri sportsmen since the Karabakh
conflict, in which Nagorny Karabakh declared independence from Baku,
and Armenian forces seized control of much of what is internationally
considered western Azerbaijan.

The Armenian government pledged to ensure the security of the
Azerbaijan delegation’s 15 members – five sportsmen, three trainers,
two doctors, two journalists, one referee and two organisers.

"This is sport, and every country is free to take part in sporting
events. We received Azerbaijan’s application to take part in the
championship with pleasure and created all the necessary conditions
for them to take part and then return to their homes," Armen Grigorian,
minster for sports and youth affairs, told IWPR.

The visit attracted broad interest in Armenia, where observers
wondered if it could mark the start of a thaw in relations between
Baku and Yerevan. A bid to normalise relations between Turkey and
Armenia started with a football match between the national sides last
year so could, observers wondered, the judo tournament prove to be
a similar turning point.

"It’s well-known that the process of regulating Armenian-Turkish
relations is called ‘football diplomacy’. If you take a parallel
with the participation of the Azerbaijan sportsman in the European
Championship in Yerevan, then you can call this ‘judo diplomacy’,"
Stepan Grigorian, a political analyst, said.

"Sport and culture are the best ways of creating dialogue between
warring sides, and the European youth judo championship, held in
Yerevan, is the best confirmation of this."

The Armenian government was taking no chances with the safety of
the Azerbaijan athletes, and special guards tailed them wherever they
went. A man in a black suit stood near each member of the team whenever
they were in the Yerevan stadium where the championship took place.

Gyunduz Abasszade, a journalist from Azerbaijan’s ANS television,
said he had experienced a warm welcome.

"We feel free and secure. Of course, there are some limitations from
our ‘protectors’, but this is natural. We are after all in an enemy
country. But in general, everything is good and calm," he said.

All five Azeri sportsmen won medals at the games, with one gold,
one silver, and three bronze, meaning the Azerbaijan flag was raised
five times.

When Elmar Gasimov won his gold medal in the 100 kilogramme category,
the Azerbaijan national anthem boomed out over the hall, which
held about 1,000 spectators and participants. Hrachuhi Barseghian,
a spokesman for the championship organisers, said at least 70 per cent
of those present stood for the anthem – an important mark of respect.

In response, when Armenian athlete Artyom Baghdasarian won a medal,
the Azeri visitors also stood for the anthem.

"Judo is an ambassador for peace. We are the first Azerbaijan sportsmen
to come to Yerevan. This is sport, and it should not be mixed up with
politics," said Aghayar Akhund-Zada, a trainer from the Azerbaijan
team who took part in contests in Armenia in Soviet years and said
he never considered missing out on the tournament.

"We have sportsmen who are appearing for the youth team for the last
time. If they did not come to Yerevan to take part in the championship,
it could well impact on their future careers."

Sergey Soloveychik, the president of the European Judo Union, said
judo was a sport distinguished by respect between opponents, who
always bow to each other before and after each bout.

"I am proud that our sport is becoming a diplomatic bridge, linking
different peoples. I hope that in future, politicians can follow our
example and show greater respect for each other," he said.

"We are not calling it judo diplomacy, but we are trying to work in
that direction. Not long ago the European Championship was held in
Georgia. As is well known, there are tense political relations between
Georgia and Russia. However, despite this, the Russian delegation
accepted their invitation, and the Georgians, for their part, did
everything they could so the Russians felt at home."

Gegham Vardanian is a correspondent from Internews, and a member of
IWPR’s Cross Caucasus Journalism Network.

PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PROSPERING IN AUTUMN

Information-Analytic Agency NEWS.am
Sept 18 2009
Armenia

The Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) is strong and united as never
before," the PAP member Naira Zohrabyan stated at a press briefing in
the RA National Assembly, commenting on the rumors about "brain drain"
from the party.

"I understand that some individuals have no peace because of the high
ratings of the party and its leader Gagik Tsarukyan, but I would like
to calm all our ‘well-wishers’ down: far from experiencing a brain
drain, the party recently admitted 300 young and highly promising
members to its ranks," Zohrabyan said.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Lily Galili

Ha’aretz
Sept 17 2009
Israel

In the course of our meeting, Yitzhak Levanon gets a phone call from
a producer at the Palestinian news agency Maan, inviting him for an
interview. When he gets off the phone, Levanon, the Foreign Ministry’s
Arab media spokesman, says with a thoughtful, slightly bemused look:
"I really don’t know what to do now. I read in an interview that
my foreign minister wants to remove the Palestinian issue from the
Foreign Ministry’s purview. So, should I do the interview or not?"

This is Levanon’s new job, after five years as Israel’s ambassador
to the United Nations in Geneva, and after 38 years of service in the
ministry. His life story is no less interesting than his professional
career, though he chooses to summarize it all too briefly: He was born
64 years ago in Lebanon, and immigrated to Israel after the Six-Day
War, as part of a prisoner exchange deal. Those are all the details
he is willing to provide.

Levanon recently returned here from his post as UN ambassador, one of
a large group of envoys who completed their service this summer. Most
are still "in rehab" – unpacking their baggage. From conversations
with three of them, it sounded like they not only served in different
countries, but were also representing different countries. Be that
as it may, these conversations lead to a single sobering conclusion:
The whole world is not against us.

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There is no lack of difficulties in foreign relations and hasbara,
a term for Israeli public diplomacy that entails official efforts
to promote the country and explain its policies. Just last week, the
Swedish foreign minister canceled a scheduled visit here, academics
around the world continued to call for boycotts against Israel, and
important artists backed out of the Toronto Film Festival, merely
because films being screened there depict Tel Aviv as a normal place.

"Things have been worse and there is work to be done," Levanon
says. "The UN is a pile of anti-Israel resolutions and they give
you three minutes for a response …. But just like you hold on to a
military position at any price, you must fight to explain Israel’s
cause. In Geneva I knew every morning that I was going off to work
against a hostile bloc of 57 Arab and Muslim countries, and yet
something could be done."

Levanon describes the amount of freedom he has to maneuver as an
ambassador, during the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead
as well, as being equivalent to the range between an ambassador’s
inability to criticize his government’s policy and where he personally
draws the line. "Contrary to what it seems, that leaves us extensive
freedom to maneuver," he adds. "You can talk for hours within that
range."

Regarding the challenges the country’s policies pose, Levanon uses the
extreme caution and tortuous wording that come with experience. How
do you contend, for example, with Israel’s use of cluster bombs and
white phosphorus shells? He says he had no trouble explaining it to
NATO countries and the United States, which has used similar weapons,
but did have a hard time dealing with the lag-time caused by Israel’s
initial denial and a subsequent admission of their use.

The envoy’s polished way of putting it: "The Israel Defense Forces is
cautious, after all, and has to check things out to tell the truth,
and that effort takes time, because of which we wind up losing
momentum. In my experience, I have learned that it is easier and
more effective to tackle a tough problem from a clear position of
persuasion, rather than to deal with vague positions."

Does that apply to a matter like the cluster bombs?

Levanon: "It applies to everything."

He is not the sort to lash out or take things to extremes. He does
not see every anti-Israeli statement as anti-Semitic, although
that description does apply to various comments coming from the
Arab-Muslim bloc. Despite this, Levanon says that all of the Arab
and Muslim ambassadors to Geneva are personal friends of his, with
the exception of the Syrian and Iranian envoys.

Only one UN body manages to anger him: the Human Rights Council. He
believes that body’s warped bias is built into its regulations,
which includes one clause ensuring an annual discussion of human
rights violations around the world, and a special, separate clause
devoted to discussing the situation in Israel.

In general, the world is growing more sensitive to human rights
violations as the nature of war changes, but it is hypersensitive
when it comes to Israel: Who wants to mess with China or investigate
human rights problems in Darfur, he asks wryly.

To my suggestion that a policy change may be more effective in this
case than better hasbara, Levanon replies: "In many cases we gave
the army and political officials a picture of the situation in this
arena [that we had assembled], and now it is certainly being taken
into account."

But what happens when many people believe the foreign minister himself
is associated with human rights violations in his own country?

"In the globalized world, relations between countries are not based
on one person. Arab media outlets see Minister Avigdor Lieberman as
a riddle to crack."

Levanon is not always forthcoming with his views: When invited to
comment on the recommendation of the police to indict his minister,
he declines. "That is not related to the Foreign Ministry," he states
emphatically.

Ideal nation

Compared with the complexity of diplomatic dealings at UN institutions,
being ambassador to Azerbaijan sounds like a walk in the park. If
it is possible to generalize from the experience of our most recent
envoy there, the ideal country for Israel, in terms of relations,
is a moderate Muslim dictatorship with absolutely no interest in
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an insensitivity to human rights,
and an intimidating proximity to Iran that helps forge a natural
affiliation with Israel.

Arthur Lenk has now returned from that perfect country, after spending
four happy years as Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan.

"[Yasser] Arafat did us a wonderful service. On one of his visits to
Armenia, which Azeris hate, he declared that his name should really be
‘Arafatian’ because he was Armenian, too." That statement erased any
remnants of Azeri sympathy for the Palestinians.

"The Azeris say that we, like them, have crazy neighbors," Lenk
explains, "but with powerful neighbors like Iran and Russia, and an
enemy like Armenia, I’d rather have our neighbors."

The wars in Gaza and Lebanon interested the Azeris primarily from
the Iranian angle. In fact, during Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli
and Iranian ambassadors were invited to an important interview program.

"I did not alter [the Azeris’] voting patterns, which are always in
keeping with the rest of the Muslim countries, and I did not make
them take a stand against Iran," Lenk says, summing up his service
in a country that he learned to love. "You can always sense the
Iranian presence in the background there. But the fact that Azerbaijan
hosted President Shimon Peres shortly after the war in Gaza, when a
right-wing government is in power and Lieberman is foreign minister –
that is definitely a foreign policy success."

Great expectations

You might think the life of a diplomatic envoy to Berlin is easy as
well. Super easy. Israel tends to expect almost unqualified support
from Germany, and it seems as if criticism of the occupation or
violence does not really sound credible in German.

The question of how much more mileage Israel can get out of the
Germans’ sense of guilt does not surprise Ilan Mor, who has just
returned after five years as deputy chief of mission in Berlin.

"’Mileage’ is a cynical expression, but I too ask myself how much
longer the Holocaust will continue to play a role in diplomacy, and
whether the time perhaps has come to seek another basis for these
relations," he says.

"The Holocaust is a unique pillar in the unique relations between
Israel and Germany, but not the be-all and end-all. Germany is expected
to veto any anti-Israeli resolution in the UN General Assembly and
block any negative Arab activity. In practice, there is a gap between
this expectation and Germany’s ambition to safeguard its standing in
the European Union by maintaining a broad consensus."

Based on his experience, which was mostly positive but sometimes
complicated, Mor says Israel needs to prepare for a generational
changeover in Germany. There are already some circles that are bothered
by these special relations, he notes, and since the mid-1990s,
there have been attempts to insinuate that what Israel is doing in
the territories today is no different than what the Nazis did.

"We are still talking about a minority, and an article like the one
in Sweden [accusing IDF soldiers of harvesting the organs of dead
Palestinians] would not be published in Germany," Mor emphasizes. "But
just as we have expectations of them, they have expectations of
us. They succeeded in emerging from their horror through dialogue and
negotiation, so they have trouble understanding why we have not. With
the Berlin Wall gone, they have a hard time grasping the importance
we place in the separation fence, and in every discourse with the
German public, the issue of the settlements comes up."

In view of this complexity, Mor attaches particular importance
to diplomacy directed at the person on the street: There is no
substitute for lectures in schools, or meetings with the public,
including young politicians from the new left who were indoctrinated
in East Germany. The latter are now undergoing changes that include
developing what Mor calls unreserved acceptance of the very existence
of the State of Israel.

Nevertheless, several German newspapers lost their restraint when
Lieberman was appointed foreign minister, and they compared him to
the late leader of the Austrian far right, Joerg Haider.

"I told the newspaper editors that they were engaging in character
assassination," Mor says. "During [Lieberman’s] two visits to Germany,
it turned out that he by no means constitutes a burden when it comes
to foreign policy. On the contrary, the fact that he does not have a
hidden agenda or employ doublespeak is certainly a type of advantage."

And after all that explaining, the diplomat – who until recently was
surrounded by bodyguards and rode in an official car – rushes off to
catch a crowded Israeli bus, comparing his life today to the moment
in the Cinderella story when the carriage turns back into a pumpkin.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT AWARDS TITLES OF HONOR TO REPORTERS

Aysor
Sept 18 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on awarding Hakob
Avetikyan, Azg’s chief editor, and Flora Nashkhkaryan, Voice of
Armenia’s chief editor, tittles of "Armenia’s Honored Journalist".

The awarding was timed to the 18th anniversary of Armenia’s
Independence.

By another decree Mr. Sargsyan awarded Medal of Movses Khorenatsi to
Tsvetana Paskalyeva, a broadcast-journalist, and Margarita Simonyan,
chief editor "Russia Today" broadcast.

AZERBAIJAN TREATS COMMUNICATION WITH ARMENIANS AS TREACHERY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.09.2009 22:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Military court in Azerbaijan finished hearings
on cases of Azerbaijani army soldiers Elchin Mamedov, Orhan
Ismaylov. Shamo Dashdamirov and Murshud Bagirov.

By court decision, Murshud Bagirov will serve 14 years in prison;
Shamo Dadashov, Elchin Mamedov and Orhan Ismaylov will serve 10,
12 and 13 years respectively.

"Soldiers in Defense Ministry’s N military unit based in Fizuli
region, Elchin Mamedov, Orhan Ismaylov, Shamo Dadashov and Murshud
Bagirov voluntarily deserted their posts several times to meet with
enemy servicemen and disclose military secrets to them," Trend News
agency reports.

Azerbaijani army soldiers are accused of crimes prescribed by Articles
274 (state betray) and 338.1 (infringement of rules on implementing
fighting watch [fighting service] on duly detection and reflection of
sudden attack on Azerbaijan Republic or maintenance of its safety if
this act could harm interests or safety of the state) of Azerbaijan’s
Criminal Code.

IF PROTOCOLS NOT BE CHANGED, ARF TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PREVENT THEM FROM RATIFICATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.09.2009 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "During the "government hour " in the RA National
Assembly, RA foreign minister Edward Nalbandian answering my question
about possible changes in the Armenian-Turkish protocols, hinted
that it was not a matter of discussing the Protocols, but rather of
informing the Armenian public," Vahan Hovhannisyan, head of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction, told today’s briefing in the
Armenian parliament.

According to Vahan Hovhannisyan, in accordance with the RA law on
international treaties negotiation phase lasts until the document
is signed. "This means that negotiations with the Turkish side has
already allegedly finished, do not correspond to reality. There are
many examples when the parties having previously signed the protocol
or treaty, then made changes and again discussed these documents,
" Mr. Hovannisyan said.

The head of the ARF parliamentary faction stressed that according to
the law it is possible to modify the Protocols and the President of
Armenia at yesterday’s conference did not rule this possibility. "We
will continue our struggle in that direction," Mr. Hovannisyan said.

Asked about whether the Faction participate in parliamentary
discussions of protocols, and what will the faction’s position
if portocols are ratified, he said that their party will active
participate in the parliamentary debate. "With regard to ratification,
I should note that if the documents are not amended, then we will
certainly vote against them and will do everything to ensure these
protocols not to be ratified," Mr. Vahan Hovhannisyan assured.

September 17, 2009

ST. ILLUMINATOR’S CATHEDRAL TO REOPEN THIS WEEKEND

St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street,
New York City, will reopen this weekend after undergoing major
renovations for more than one year.

On Saturday, September 19, at 7 pm, the Prelate, His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, will lead a special service
re-consecrating the Cathedral’s altar. The next day, Sunday, September
20, Archbishop Oshagan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and deliver
the sermon inaugurating a new era in the Cathedral’s rich
history. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, the pastor of the Cathedral, and
Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Der Kaloustian, Pastor Emeritus, will assist
at the altar. Madagh will be offered following the services.

Parking arrangements have been made with the parking garage at 240
E. 27th Street (diagonally opposite the Cathedral) for a special rate
of $7 for four hours on Sunday.

O Lord, our God, who has established the earth together with its
firmament and has wrought therein many works of power, You, O Lord of
all the earth, who has given strength to this Your church and has
commanded that a holy altar be erected within it and the reasonable,
bloodless sacrifice be offered on it in Your most holy name for the
quickening of Your faithful, we beseech You, O beneficent Lord, send
Your Holy Spirit and sanctify this altar that it may be unto hope and
life for us all who stand before Your great glory, unto the renewal of
our souls and unto the good pleasure of Your blessed will. For You
alone are God, compassionate, long-suffering and merciful, and
glorified is the most Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. (From the
Armenian Church’s Order of Consecration)

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR CATHOLICOS KAREKIN I IN ARMENIA AND IN ALL
PARISHES WITHIN CILICIAN SEE THIS SUNDAY

The tenth anniversary of the passing of His Holiness Karekin I,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, will be
commemorated in Armenia this weekend, September 19 and 20, with
special memorial events. Presiding over the memorial events in Armenia
will be His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
instructed all dioceses within the Cilician See to offer a solemn
requiem service on this occasion. Accordingly, the 10th anniversary of
the passing of the beloved Catholicos will be observed in all Eastern
Prelacy churches this Sunday.

In Armenia, on Saturday afternoon, September 19, a groundbreaking
ceremony will take place for the construction of the "His Holiness
Karekin I Religious Missionary Educational Center," at
Etchmiadzin. When completed the center will provide advanced training
for the clergy and will be open to teachers of Christian education for
seminars and workshops on theological, spiritual, pastoral and
church-related matters. The center is being built through the
sponsorship of Haig and Elza Didizian, lifelong friends of His
Holiness. The Didizians have devoted their efforts for the past ten
years in perpetuating Catholicos Karekin’s rich intellectual and
spiritual legacy, with the publication of His Holiness’s written works
through the "Karekin I Theological and Armenological Studies Series."
Nine volumes have been produced thus far with several more to be
published during the next few years. The most recent in the series is
a 320-page memorial book entitled "The Gift of Faith," published on
the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Pontiff’s passing.

On Saturday evening, Catholicos Karekin II will preside over a concert
of remembrance at Yerevan’s Aram Khachaturian Hall. On Sunday,
Catholicos Karekin II will preside over a special Divine Liturgy and
Requiem Service at the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, followed by a
memorial luncheon.

PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS THIS SATURDAY AT ARMENIA’S MISSION TO U.N.

The Armenian National Committee of New York is calling for a peaceful
demonstration this Saturday, noon to 3 pm, in front of the Permanent
Mission of the Republic of Armenia, 119 East 36th Street, New York
City, over concerns about the protocols that are scheduled to be
signed between Armenia and Turkey.

The ANC has stated its support for relationship between Turkey and
Armenia, however feels that the proposed protocols are "one-sided and
when adopted will compromise the truth of the Armenian Genocide,
undermine the right of the Armenian nation to a just resolution of
this crime, and threaten the very security and future viability of
Armenia."

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is making transportation
arrangements from various points along the eastern United
States. Contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) for information.

VICAR ATTENDS NEAR EAST FOUNDATION EVENT

The Vicar, Bishop Anoushavan, attended a reception and special exhibit
of the historical archives of the Near East Foundation last Saturday
at the Rockefeller Archive Center in Sleepy Hollow, New York. The
keynote speaker was John Marshall Evans, former United States
Ambassador to Armenia.

The Vicar with Ambassador and Mrs. John Evans. The Vicar with James
Allen Smith, Vice President of the Rockefeller Archive Center.

REGIONAL CONFERENCES SCHEDULED IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER

Two regional conferences for pastors, boards of trustees, and NRA
delegates have been scheduled this fall by the Prelate and the
Executive Council.

The Mid-West regional conference will be hosted by St. Sarkis Church,
Dearborn, Michigan, on Saturday, September 26.

The Mid-Atlantic regional conference will be hosted by Sts. Vartanantz
Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 10. The
conferences that took place last year proved to be helpful and the
Executive Council is looking forward to building on the work
accomplished last year with the participation of all of the parishes.

LINKED IN WEEKEND

The 2009 Prelacy LINKED IN weekend is rapidly approaching. Young
adults will be gathering next weekend, September 25-27, at the Holy
Virgin Mary Spiritual Vineyard, Charlton, Massachusetts, as part of
the ongoing Year of the Youth activities.

Under the general theme of "Know Your Church," presentations will be
made by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Archpriest Rev. Fr. Antranig
Baljian, Professor Michael Papazian, and Yeretzgin Margaret
Stepanian. The weekend gathering will also feature prayer services,
meditations, bible studies, and panel discussions.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I INAUGURATES NEWLY RENOVATED SANATORIUM

His Holiness Aram I inaugurated the newly renovated section in the
main building of the Azounieh Sanatorium-Hospital, on September
11. The renovated section, comprising the community room and the
library, was dedicated to the late Zohrab Torikian, who was the
chairman of the board until his death and an ardent supporter of the
renovation project.

Azounieh Sanatorium, located in the mountainous region of Chouf, was
created when tuberculosis was taking many lives. Currently the
sanatorium also serves as a hospital and home for the aged. The
representative of the Minister of Health, who was among the many
guests, congratulated the church and its faithful donors for
responding to a real need in Lebanon. "You should be proud of your
work," he said. "You built Azounieh when the need was great and there
were not many sanatoriums. Now, you have renovated it to meet the
needs of the people today."

His Holiness thanked the donors and the staff for their devotion. He
noted that the Armenian Church expresses the greatest Christian
command of love through its deeds.

CATHOLICOS ARAM RECEIVES U.S. AMBASSADOR

Michele Sison, the Ambassador of the United States to Lebanon, visited
His Holiness Aram I on September 11 in Antelias. After an overview of
the situation in the region and in Lebanon, His Holiness emphasized
the importance of strengthening national unity at this critical moment
in the life of the country.

The ambassador and His Holiness discussed the positive contributions
of Armenians to American society. They also discussed the spiritual
and educational activities of the Eastern and Western Prelacies and
their contribution to democratic ideals.

PRELACY WEB PAGE REDESIGNED

The Prelacy’s web page has a total new look. Take a look and let us
know what you think. During the coming months all of the text will be
revised, enhanced and expanded.

Our address is

VIGEN GUROIAN KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT ST. VLADIMIR’S SEMINARY

Vigen Guroian, professor of Religious Studies in Orthodox Christianity
at the University of Virginia is the keynote speaker at St. Vladimir’s
Seminary on Saturday, October 3. Dr. Guroian is participating in the
Seminary’s Orthodox Education Day 2009 which is devoted to "God’s
green earth: Ecology and Theology." Dr. Guroian will speak at 1 pm on
the topic "Ecological blessings from the Garden." He has written two
books on this subject, Inheriting Paradise: Meditations on Gardening
and The Fragrance of God, both of which are available at the Prelacy’s
bookstore.

St. Vladimir’s is located at 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, New York
10707-1659.

DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for today, Thursday, September 17, are: Isaiah 2:1-16;
Hebrews 12:18-27; Matthew 21:12-17.

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and
buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money
changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, "It
is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are
making it a den of robbers."

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured
them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing
things that he did, and heard the children cry out in the temple,
"Hosanna to the Son of David," they became angry and said to him, "Do
you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you
never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have
prepared praise for yourself?"

He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night
there. (Matthew 21:12-17)

For listing of the coming week’s Bible readings click here
( ).

GORKY RETROSPECTIVE AT PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will present a major traveling
retrospective celebrating the extraordinary life and work of Arshile
Gorky (1904-1948). The first comprehensive survey of the work of this
artist in nearly three decades, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective will
premier at the Museum on October 21 and continue there until January
10, 2010. The exhibition will then travel to the Tate Modern, London
(Spring 2010) and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (Summer
2010). Photo: The Artist and His Mother, c. 1926-36, oil on canvas,
60 x 50 inches, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Gift of
Julien Levy for Maro and Natasha Gorky in memory of their father.
Copyright 2009 Estate of Arshile Gorky / Artists Rights Society (ARS),
New York.

ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

Monday, September 21, is the 18th anniversary of the independent
Republic of Armenia. Less than three years after the massive public
demonstrations in Yerevan calling for the return of Nagorno-Karabakh
and the devastating earthquake that shook Armenia (and in many ways
the Soviet Union), Armenia declared itself a free and independent
republic. It was a remarkable event for those of us who grew up
dreaming of a free and independent Armenia, and were never permitted
by our parents to doubt that it could and would happen one day.

On a personal level, for me the full impact registered six months
later when on March 2, 1992, I watched the red, blue and orange
tricolor flag raised at the United Nations.

O Lord, hearken the voice of the supplication of Your servants and
keep unshaken the Armenian Republic which was restored by Your
mercy. Increase the wisdom of all those ministers who are appointed
for the leadership of the Republic in order that they m ay lead Your
people with equity to justice. Those who respect wisdom will rule
forever. Grant abundantly the spirit of courageousness to our
generals and armies in order that their arrows straightly aim at their
targets. Plant in all of us the love of holiness, wisdom and good
sense, to know the wisdom and instruction and bring our part to the
observance of all laws that are useful for our nation. Pour into our
hearts the mercy of Your benevolence, in order that we may manifest
through good works our love towards our homeland. For if the words are
not accompanied with good works of virtue, according to the Proverbs,
the hearts of such people are like ashes, their hope aimless, and
their lives worse than clay. (From "Prayer of Thanksgiving for the
Republic of Armenia," written by Archbishop Torkom Koushagian, in
Cairo, Egypt in 1920).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 19-20–Re-consecration of the altar and the newly renovated
St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday. Episcopal
Divine Liturgy and Madagh on Sunday.
September 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Lobster Fest. For
information: 215-482-9200.
September 20–Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, Sunday
school opening and registration. The Sunday school will host a
fellowship for the entire parish following the Holy Badarak.
September 20–St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York), annual picnic
on
the church grounds, 38-65 234th Street, Douglaston, beginning at 1 pm
immediately following church services and the blessing of the basil.
Delicious
Armenian kebabs, sweets, etc., along with games, music, dancing,
tavloo, basketball, volleyball, vendors and returning by popular
demand–"Kid-Z-One," with a host of activities for children. For
information 718-224-2275.
September 21–St. Stephen’s (Watertown, MA) Armenian School/ACEC 14th
annual Golf Outing at Framingham Country Club. $170 includes golf,
lunch, dinner, and contests. For information contact Astor at
781-326-5764.
September 26–Mid-West Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.
September 25-26-27–Prelacy Linked In, gathering of the youth. For
details click here.

September 27–75th anniversary of St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts, under auspices of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan. Country
Club of Wilbraham, 859 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham,
Massachusetts. Special
performances by Dottie Bengoian and the St. Gregory Sunday School
children. For information: 413-596-9242.
September 28–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Golf Outing at
Talamore
Country Club, Ambler, Pennsylvania. For information: 215-482-9200.
September 28–Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, Massachusetts), 6th
annual Golf Outing, Sterling National Country Club, Sterling,
MA. Golf, breakfast, dinner, and prizes, $130 per person. For
information send email
to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), or telephone
508-872-9629.
October 1–Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey), presents 7th annual
Golf Outing at River Vale Country Club, River Vale, New Jersey. $175
includes lunch, dinner, golf and contests. Come out and enjoy a great
day and
support the church. For information contact Mark, 201-483-3200.
October 10–Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Pastors, Boards of
Trustees, and NRA delegates at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
New Jersey.
October 15-18–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, Food Festival
and Bazaar.
October 16-17–Annual Fall Fair Bazaar, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 8 pm.
October 17–National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG) annual
conference at the Prelacy offices in New York City. Details will
follow.
October 18–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Intercommunal Cultural
Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Cheltenham, PA.
November 1–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Sunday School Halloween
Party.
November 6-7–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Food
Festival.
November 6-7–St. Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts, 53rd
annual bazaar, 10 am to 9:30 pm at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Avenue,
Watertown. Delicious lamb, losh and chicken kebab, kheyma, kufta and
yalanchi. Meals
served from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm. Armenian pastries, gourmet foods,
arts & crafts, auction, raffles, and more.
November 7–Christmas Holiday Craft Fair, St. Gregory Church, North
Andover, Massachusetts, Jaffarian Hall, 10 am to 4 pm.
November 7 & 8–Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island,
largest Armenian Fest in New England. Saturday from 12 noon to 10
pm. Sunday 12 noon to 8 pm. Rhodes-on-the-Pawtucket, 60 Rhodes Place
(off Broad
Street), Cranston, Rhode Island. Kebobs and kufta dinners, pastry,
raffles and more. Performance by the Armenian school dance group. Live
Armenian
music * dancing. For information, 401-831-6399.
November 14–Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland, 45th anniversary
celebration.
November 20-21–Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts,
Fall Fest 2009, Friday, November 20, 5 pm to 8 pm; Saturday, November
21, 10 am to 5 pm. Armenian delicacies and dinners. For information
508-852-2414.
November 20, 21, 22–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Annual Bazaar and Food Festival. Saturday night dancing with "Onnik
Dinkjian"; Sunday traditional kavourma dinner.
December 20–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia. Sunday School
Christmas
Pageant.
December 31–St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia, Seroonian Community
Center New Year’s Eve celebration.
December 31–Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), New
Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. Details to follow.
Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacy’s web
site.
To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.
Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the
source.
Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major
events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

ARMENIAN STUDENT MOVE

Sept 16 2009
Turkey

A hundred Armenian students will have education at Turkish
universities for six months. Another step will be taken to normalize
Turkish-Armenian relations. A hundred Armenian students will get
education in Turkey within the scope of a project supported by the
Turkish American Coalition. The students will learn more about Turkish
culture under the project. Also, a bridge of peace will be established
between Turkish and Armenian students.

DENIZ BAYKAL: "PROTOCOLS INITIATED WITH ARMENIA DO NOT RECOGNIZE TURKEY’S GUARANTEE RIGHT OVER NAKHCHIVAN"

APA
Sept 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. After having a meeting with leader of Felicity Party
Numan Kurtulmus, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with
CHP leader Deniz Baykal within the framework of the six-week internal
political discussions on the protocols initialed with Armenia.

APA reports quoting "Hurriyet" newspaper that Deniz Baykal noted
that they had conducted discussions on situation in the Caucasus,
energy issues and Cyprus problem.

Baykal stated that there were 4 fundamental problems in the
Caucasus. To him, 1st – the problem is a legal uncertainty that is
to say the legal framework of relations between the countries is not
clear: "Main legal document concretizing Turkey-Armenia relations is a
Kars contract. This contract determines borders and guarantees Turkey’s
sovereignty and confirms Turkey’s guarantee right over Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. However, Armenia rejects and does
not recognize all above mentioned".

Baykal says the 2nd problem is the occupation in the Caucasus:
Armenia has occupied one-fifth of Azerbaijan’s territories. This is
the fundamental reason of instability in the Caucasus. This problem
must find its solution to achieve a peace in the Caucasus.

The CHP leader says that the 3rd problem is Armenia’s hostile policy
against Turkey with genocide claims.

Baykal says the 4th problem is the opening of borders. According
to him there is concreteness in the protocols regarding the opening
of borders. But we cannot talk about the same concreteness in other
3 problems.