Author: nina hovnanian

December 26, 2014
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:

PONTIFICAL ENCYCLICAL ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO
BE READ THIS SUNDAY

On Sunday, December 28, 2014, the Pontifical Encyclical of His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, on the occasion of
the Genocide Centennial will be read at the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Mother Cathedral in Antelias and throughout all Churches of Holy See
Prelacies worldwide.
We invite our faithful to attend Divine Liturgy at their local
Churches this Sunday and to hear our Pontiff’s message on this somber
occasion.

***

PRELATE TO CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGY
AT THE CRESCENTA VALLEY PARISH

– COMMEMORATION OF ST. STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR

On Thursday, December 25, 2014, the Armenian Apostolic Church
observed the Feast of St. Stephen the Proto-Martyr and first deacon, which
is also a celebration of deacons.
By the ordinance of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate,
on Sunday, December 28, Prelacy Churches will commemorate the legacy of St.
Stephen and commend the service of deacons.
The Prelate will celebrate Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at
the Crescenta Valley parish.
***

NEW YEAR’S DAY PRAYER SERVICE

On Thursday, January 1, 2015, morning prayer services will be held
in Prelacy Churches to offer our faithful the opportunity to begin the New
Year with prayer in God’s house. On this joyous occasion, we wish our
faithful a New Year filled with the blessings of health, happiness, and
peace.

***

ST. SARKIS CHURCH YOUTH GROUP MEMBERS SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER TO ARARAT HOME
RESIDENTS

In honor of the “Year of the Elder”, on Tuesday, December 23, 2014,
youth group members from St. Sarkis Church of Pasadena visited Ararat Home
in Eagle Rock to convey New Year well wishes and spread Christmas cheer to
the elderly residents. The members were accompanied by Parish Pastor Rev.
Fr. Boghos Baltayan, Executive Council member Mrs. Therese Kemanjian, Board
of Trustees member Mr. Hovig Ohanian, Ladies Guild Chair Mrs. Maro
Moujoukian and member Mrs. Taline Panossian.
Led by Fr. Boghos, members of the youth group first visited nursing
facility patients in their rooms where they had a friendly exchange with the
elders, prayed with them, and gave them prayer cards and pamphlets. The
visit continued at the hall, where the youth presented a wonderful Christmas
themed program which brought great joy to the residents. The program began
with prayer by Fr. Boghos, who also reflected on the Pontiff’s “Year of the
Elder” message and conveyed his wishes for health to the residents. The
youth presentations consisted of Christmas hymns, religious songs, psalms,
recitations, national songs, and musical performances on the violin and
piano. The youth concluded their program with a traditional Armenian group
dance. Three members of the group addressed the gathering, wishing a happy
New Year to the elders. The residents in turn wished the youth good health
and long life, and thanked the St. Sarkis Church family for their
thoughtfulness. The visit concluded with the benediction by Fr. Boghos.

***

HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL
CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY

On Sunday, December 21, 2014, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, presided over the annual New Year and Christmas program of Holy
Martyrs Church Sunday School, which was held at Avedissian” Hall following
Divine Liturgy. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
the Sunday School. Thus, on this occasion, Sunday School alumni from the
past decades were specially invited to be in attendance. Also in attendance
were Holy Martyrs Church Delegates, Board of Trustees and Ladies Guild
members, representatives of sister organizations, parents, and Sunday School
supporters and friends.
The program began with the Armenian and Sunday School anthems
presented by the students. The invocation was delivered by Parish Pastor
Rev. Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian. Master of Ceremonies Miss Zabel Karaghossian
welcomed the guests and invited the students, grade by grade, to present
their programs, which included Christmas hymns and recitations, a production
title “John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus”, and a presentation of the
life of Gomidas Vartabed. The student program concluded with two group
songs.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Greg Martayan congratulated and
thanked the Sunday School Director and teachers for their devoted service
especially within the last 18 years, and wished them success in their future
endeavors.
Sunday School Director Mrs. Seta Kejejian was then invited to
deliver her message. Mrs. Kejejian first expressed gratitude to the Prelate
for his presence and for his special care to Sunday Schools and thanked the
parents and guests for their moral and financial support. The director
reflected on the 50 year history of the Sunday School and greeted alumni who
had gathered for the occasion. Addressing the four new graduates, Mrs.
Kejejian wished that they remain faithful to the Sunday School oath
throughout their lives by serving our church and nation, and in conclusion
wished everyone a happy New Year and a Merry Christmas.
The presentation of diplomas followed, after which the Prelate
delivered his message. His Eminence commended the efforts of the program
organizers, the performances of the students, and the support of the parents
and guests. Highlighting the importance of Sunday Schools in imparting
valuable lessons to our youth from a young age, the Prelate congratulated
the 50th anniversary of Holy Martyrs Sunday School and wished them continued
successes for years to come. In conclusion, His Eminence wished all a happy
New Year and Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and harmony
The Parent Support Committee then presented a gift to the Director
in appreciation for her 18 years of service, and Christmas gifts to the
teachers. A luncheon hosted by the Board of Trustees followed.

TURKEY, ARMENIA SHOULD SHELVE GENOCIDE ROW: TURKISH OFFICIAL

The China Post
Dec 26 2014

By Stuart Williams, AFP
December 27, 2014, 12:02 am TWN

ISTANBUL, Turkey–Turkey and Armenia should not expect to resolve a
long-running dispute over the mass killing of Armenians in World War
I on the 100th anniversary of the tragedy in 2015, a top adviser to
the prime minister said.

Armenia and its diaspora want Turkey to recognize the mass killings
of Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 as
genocide, something Turkey has so far vehemently resisted.

Etyen Mahcupyan, who is himself a member of Turkey’s Armenian minority,
told AFP in an interview that 2015 would be a “tough year” because of
the anniversary and major breakthroughs would have to wait for later.

“I believe symbolic steps could be taken this year and a more emotional
relationship could be established,” said Mahcupyan, who is a senior
adviser to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

“But I believe more political or historical issues will be left to
the coming years and then it will be easier,” he added.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered an unprecedented
expression of condolence for the massacres in April when he was still
prime minister, describing the killings as “our shared pain.”

But this went nowhere near far enough for Armenians, who want the
deaths of an estimated 1.5 million people recognized as a campaign
of genocide ordered by the top security leadership of the Ottoman
Empire from 1915-1916.

Mahcupyan, one of very few Armenians to have held a government post,
said the priority for the future should be establishing relations
with Armenia as well as the millions-strong diaspora, many of whom
harbor a deep hatred of Turkey.

“I don’t think we need to hurry 100 years on. What happens later on
should proceed more healthily,” he said.

Armenia will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the massacres on
April 24, the date when in 1915 hundreds of Armenians were rounded
up and later massacred in Constantinople (now Istanbul) marking the
start of the killings.

Pointing to the striking “rapprochement” in relations between Russia
and Turkey over the last months, Mahcupyan said Moscow could play a
role “that facilitates this issue,” he said.

TURKEY STILL WANTS TO BE IN EUROPE’S ‘FIRST DIVISION,’ PM’S ADVISER SAYS

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Dec 26 2014

ISTANBUL – Agence France-Presse

Prime Minister Davutoðlu’s Chief Adviser Etyen Mahcupyan.

Turkey’s leaders are committed to EU membership and still aim to play
in the “first division” of Europe despite a bitter row over a crackdown
on the media, a top adviser to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoðlu has said.

Turkey’s aspirations to join the EU received a serious setback when
the latest police swoop on media linked to President Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan’s number-one foe, Fethullah Gulen, led to an angry episode
of mud-slinging between Ankara and Brussels.

Etyen Mahcupyan, a Turkish-Armenian journalist who was named chief
adviser to Davutoðlu in November, blamed the dispute on a lack of
understanding about Turkey in the West.

But he told AFP in an interview that despite the sometimes tough
rhetoric, Ankara had no intention of giving up on its decades-old
bid to join the 28-member bloc.

“The AKP [the ruling Justice and Development Party] absolutely,
100 percent, wants to join the EU and demonstrate its own power in
Europe,” he said. “An enthusiastic and self-confident Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan cannot dream of a Turkey which plays in the second division.

He wants to play in the first league, but as equal partners.”

Mahcupyan, however, criticized the West’s “negative” approach and what
he said was its failure to understand the government’s war against
the Gulen movement, which Erdogan has accused of orchestrating a plot
to bring him down when he was prime minister.

“The Western world is unaware of what’s going on in Turkey. They do
not understand and they are not very much willing to understand,”
said Mahcupyan.

Erdoðan has blamed the Gulen movement of concocting a corruption
scandal last year that rocked his government and has purged thousands
of his followers from the police and the judiciary.

A Turkish court has issued an arrest warrant for the U.S.-based Gulen,
but the EU was particularly concerned by raids earlier this month
that targeted pro-Gulen media.

“It is very clear that the Gulen community [cemaat] attempted to
topple the government and particularly to create a period without
Tayyip Erdoðan,” said Mahcupyan, adding that it was an “abortive”
initiative without military involvement.

Mahcupyan said the Gulenists established a “hierarchy” in key state
institutions in charge of policy-making and the “coup” was staged by
that “core group,” estimated to number between 5,000 and 10,000 out
of up to 3 million sympathizers.

“I cannot say all are involved,” he said, adding that most Gulenists
only heard about what happened from the media. “As far as I can see,
Tayyip Erdoðan and the AKP are trying to explain this as much as they
can and convince them to part ways with Cemaat of their free will,
so that the government can deal with the remaining core group.”

Mahcupyan likened the ruling AKP, co-founded by Erdoðan, to a “pendulum
swinging between authoritarianism and democracy” and said the party
showed a reflex for tougher measures whenever it saw a threat to its
survival. “I can say it is a party closer to democracy… It is a
very suspicious party which thinks the rug under its feet could be
pulled at any moment.”

Mahcupyan said Erdoðan and Davutoðlu had similar ideas and their
differences in style were complementary.

“Tayyip Erdoðan is the man who clears bushes in a wood with a sword in
his hand. He does not stop. If he stops, there’s a threat. He always
moves forward just in case,” he said.

“Davutoðlu is the man who will install tiles on the road. If Tayyip
Erdoðan does not open that path, Davutoðlu cannot furnish that path.

They complement each other,” he said.

Turkey, Armenia should leave genocide row ‘to coming years’

Regarding the Armenian issue, Mahcupyan said Armenia should not
expect to resolve a long-running dispute over the mass killing of
Armenians in World War I on the 100th anniversary of the tragedy in
2015, a top adviser to the prime minister said.

Armenia and its diaspora want Turkey to recognise the mass killings
of Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 as
genocide, something Turkey has so far vehemently resisted.

According to Mahcupyan, 2015 would be a “tough year” because of the
anniversary and major breakthroughs would have to wait for later.

“I believe symbolic steps could be taken this year and a more emotional
relationship could be established,” he said.

“But I believe more political or historical issues will be left to
the coming years and then it will be easier,” he added.

Erdoðan offered an unprecedented expression of condolence for the
massacres in April when he was still prime minister, describing the
killings as “our shared pain.”

But this went nowhere near far enough for Armenians, who want the
deaths of an estimated 1.5 million people recognised as a campaign
of genocide ordered by the top security leadership of the Ottoman
Empire from 1915-1916.

Mahcupyan, one of very few Armenians to have held a government post,
said the priority for the future should be establishing relations
with Armenia as well as the millions-strong diaspora, many of whom
harbour a deep hatred of Turkey.

“I don’t think we need to hurry 100 years on. What happens later on
should proceed more healthily,” he said.

Armenia will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the massacres
on April 24, the date when in 1915 hundreds of prominent Armenians
were rounded up and later massacred in Istanbul marking the start of
the killings.

Pointing to the striking “rapprochement” in relations between Russia
and Turkey over the last months, Mahcupyan said Moscow could play a
role “that facilitates this issue,” he said.

December/26/2014

KAZAKHSTAN RATIFIES TREATY ON ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION

AKIpress News Agency (Kyrgyzstan)
December 25, 2014 Thursday

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed the treaty on
Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union, the President’s
press service said.

The treaty is a basic document determining agreements between Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan on the terms of Armenia’s joining the Eurasian
Economic Union seeking to lay a legal basis for functioning of the
common Union.

The accord plans Armenia to become a full-fledged member of the
Eurasian Economic Union from the moment the treaty takes effect, so,
after all ratification procedures are complete in the union members,
but no earlier than on January 1, 2015. In particular, during the
transitional period Armenia as a member of the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) should revise its tariff liabilities under the WTO rules.

Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have signed a treaty founding the
Eurasian Economic Union in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on May 29,
2014 which will take effect on January 1, 2015.

On October 10, Armenia inked the deal and Kyrgyzstan plans to become
its next signatory nation.

Parliaments of Belarus and Kazakhstan should ratify the treaty on
Armenia’s entry in the Eurasian Economic Union by January 1, 2015.

News Agency Ð~PÐ~ZÐ~Xpress – 2001-2014

ABRAHAMYAN MEETS WITH TOYLIEV IN ARMENIA

CISTran Finance
Dec 26 2014

December 26, 2014 5:00 AM
By CISTran Finance Reports

In a intergovernmental commission between Armenia and Turkmenistan,
Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan on Tuesday welcomed Deputy
Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Sapardurdy Toyliev.

The two parties discussed the state of Turkmenistanian-Armenian
relations, and they expressed that increased economic cooperation
between the two nations would be feasible and of great benefit to
both parties.

The topic of increased cooperation between the two countries was a
top priority. According to the report from the Republic of Armenia,
they stated that the effects of increased collaboration could be seen
as early as next year.

Both Abrahamyan and Toyliev agreed that the potential for increased
turnovers in trade is palpable, but they urged that there would be a
need for increased cooperation economically and that joint business
forums would be crucial to growth.

Other items were discussed in the meeting between the two officials,
largely dealing in what possibilities exist within bilateral relations.

ARMENIA HAS OFFERED 60 INVESTMENT PROJECTS TO FOREIGN INVESTORS

December 26, 2014 16:19

Between the months of January and September 2014, foreign investors
have invested USD 1 billion 501.4 million in the real sector of
Armenia’s economy, of which USD 758.3 million have been direct
investments.

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS:This is what Armenia’s
Minister of Economy Karen Tchshmarityan said during a year-end press
conference. Tchshmarityan informed that the main inflow of investments
in the real sector of the country’s economy is from Russia, Cyprus,
Germany, Lebanon and the Netherlands. Talking about the investments
made this year, Tchshmarityan recalled that the Meridian jewelry,
ophthalmological and watch-making free economic zone has been created.

“There has already been nearly $14 million dollars in investments that
have helped create 120 new jobs. As a result of the exploitation of
the Free Economic Zone, we expect the engagement of 120 companies,
the creation of nearly 2,000 new jobs and annual exports worth USD
200-250 million,” the minister said.

GEORGIAN PM DECLARES SAAKASHVILI ENEMY OF THE COUNTRY AND NATION

December 26, 2014 16:24

During a December 26 year-end press conference, Prime Minister
of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili called former President of Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili the enemy of the Georgian nation who, according
to the Prime Minister, used to urge Georgian military servicemen to
stop serving in their country’s armed forces and leave for Ukraine.

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS:”Saakashvili is the enemy of
our country and nation…What the former Commander-in-Chief is doing
is an embarrassment and betrayal against our country and nation,”
Garibashvili emphasized.

KARABAKH PRESIDENT VISITED KASHEN MINING COMPLEX

December 26, 2014 13:45

On 26 December Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan visited
Martakert region and partook in a solemn ceremony of handing over keys
of a newly-constructed apartment building in the village of Vardadzor.

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 26, ARTSAKHPRESS:The Central Information
Department of the President of the NKR informed, that the President
also visited the Kashen mining complex of the “Base Metals” CJSC
located in Martakert region and got acquainted with the work
implemented there.

The Head of the State stressed the significance of the Kashen mining
complex deposit in developing the economy of Artsakh, pointing out
the necessity of improving the social and living conditions of the
employees parallel to the expansion of production capacity.

ECONOMY IN 2014: SLOWER GROWTH, CURRENCY MARKET UPHEAVALS, EURASIAN INTEGRATION

ECONOMY | 26.12.14 | 11:06

RELATED NEWS

Price Watch: Dram rebounds, inflation worries linger

Parliament majority approves 2015 state budge

Price Hike for Power: PSRC decision causes public discontent

In 2014, despite the change of the so-called ‘economic unit’ ministers
in the government, the economic state of the country did not change
much, while the end of the year was marked by a currency market turmoil
when the dram lost its grounds to major international currencies and
price hikes were observed in the country.

In October, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decreased Armenia’s
economic growth forecast from 4.3 to 2.6 because of the economic
challenges Armenia is facing.

In December, the dram began to quickly devaluate against the dollar,
and the greenback, for a moment, was king again at exchange offices.

Taking advantage of the dramatic currency exchange rate fluctuations
some Armenian retailers raised prices for basic foodstuffs and other
essentials that fueled concerns and even created some panic among
citizens.Within a week prices for some goods increased by up to 40
percent. They started to lower shortly as the dram rebounded but
still remained relatively high.

In early December the Armenian National Assembly voted 71 to 46,
without abstentions, to approve the 2015 state budget; all factions,
except the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, voted against the bill.

Remarkably, the budget is based on the assumption that the average
exchange rate of the dram in 2015 will be at the level of 413 drams
per U.S. dollar. By the end of the year, however, the dram already
traded at 440-460 per US$.

And despite numerous criticism and negative predictions of experts that
the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is not a profitable structure for
Armenia, in 2015 Armenia will already be a member of the trade bloc.

In 2014 Negotiations on Armenia’s joining the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) reached the final stage and the list of goods exempt
from duties was agreed upon, however the most conflicting point –
a possible customs check-point at the border between Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh still remains unclear to many.

The controversial compulsory element in the funded pension law was one
of the most controversial issues during the pension reform enforced
in 2014. Civil activists’ protests and a Constitutional Court ruling
partly sustaining the claims of several opposition parties that
the pension reform law is unconstitutional made Armenia’s recently
appointed Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan agree to a compromise option
for the reform to continue.

The PM’s compromised formula “compulsory but not forced” for the
reform, however, remained vague for many, though the wave of discontent
calmed down gradually as the norm became applicable only for public
sector workers.

Despite public protests against the rise in electricity tariffs the
Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) approved a 10-percent
raise from August 1.

Another protest by small and medium-sized entrepreneurs led to the
postponement of the application of some of the new provisions of a law
on sales tax. While under the provisions for small and medium-sized
enterprises sales taxes are reduced from 3.5 to 1 percent, most
businessmen did not want the current norm to change fearing increased
paper work and pressure from tax bodies.

Armenia has slipped by six points to 85th place among 144 countries
in the Global Competitiveness Report 2014, but moved four positions up
in the latest Doing Business index released by the World Bank. On the
list of 189 nations Armenia occupies 45th place as opposed to its 49th
“Ease of Doing Business” rank in the previous edition of the report.

The government of Armenia and the U.S. Company ContourGlobal signed
an agreement regarding the purchase of the Vorotan Hydro Cascade.

The long-awaited tablet of Armenian make became a reality in early
2014.

High-tech guru and author of a number of innovations in
microelectronics, Chief Development Officer of Sysco Systems, Inc.,
Mario Mazzola received the Armenian President’s 2014 Global IT
(GIT) Award.

All three mobile operators in Armenia launched the Mobile Number
Portability (MNP) service beginning on April 1.

AMD 2.5 BILLION WORTH DRUGS PURCHASED BY ARMENIA’S HEALTH MINISTRY IN 2014 AT GOVERNMENT ORDER

YEREVAN, December 25. /ARKA/. Armenia’s health ministry purchased
AMD 2.5 billion worth drugs in 2014 at the government order, Health
Minister Armen Muradyan said Thursday at a news conference.

“Health centers bough AMD 1 million worth drugs,” he said. “Purchase
and distribution priorities are decided by specialists.”

The list of the medicaments to be bought is based on their decision.”

In his words, the ministry is now purchasing 44 varieties of
medicaments, including diabetic and psychotropic drugs and some
medicaments provided to socially unprotected people through health
centers. –0—-