Author: Tamamian Anna

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: ONLY STABLE STATE CAN ENSURE ISSUE OF NATION’S INDENTITY

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 19 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. New theoretical
approaches on preservation of nations’ identity and their application
for peoples having a diaspora, in particular, for Armenia, were raised
at the forum on the subject "Nation, State and Identity in the 21st
Century" held on the second working day of Armenia-Diaspora third
conference, on September 19.

RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian greeting the conference
guests said that it is the third time issues of vital importance
relating to Armenia and Diaspora are discussed. In the words of the
NA Speaker, the difficulties existing at the initial meetings have
been already mitigated.

In his words, the subject of identity is pivotal in Armenia-Diaspora
relations not from the viewpoint "who we are, where we come from
and where we go," but in the aspect that it has not been completely
clarified yet "in what place we are today, as only in this circumstance
we can clarify, what is our place in the world and in the region,
what are our arguments in politics and in other spheres."

The NA Speaker is also convinced that only a stable state is able
to solve the issue of ensuring the nation’s identity, at that, in
practice this is impossible without modernization, as for a long time
our stereotypes often impeded and failed preservation of our identity.

"If the state is the guarantor of identity preconditions, in our
case, when the state of Armenia is at the stage of transformation or
establishment, the issue becomes more complicated. On the one hand,
the state is obliged to make its geopolitical choice and, on the
other hand, to confront the internal dangers, to support Diaspora,"
Tigran Torosian emphasized.

In his words, after the collapse of the Soviet system Diaspora
supported the homeland with its knowledge and experience. "Diaspora’s
experience and knowledge support the country’s establishment more
than the financial means," T.Torosian is convinced.

By the way, Tigran Torosian considered as a serious omission the fact
that representatives of Artsakh were not involved in the discussion.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
15 Sep 06

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT COALITION OFFICIAL PRIORITIZES COUNTRY’S KEY
TASKS

Yerevan, 15 September: The deepening of democracy, fair solution of
the Karabakh conflict and neutralization of external threats are main
tasks Armenia is facing now, Armen Rustamyan, member of the board of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun Party, said in
Yerevan today.

Commenting on intensification of Azerbaijan’s efforts to have the
Karabakh problem discussed at the UN, Rustamyan said that the UN did
not plan to be involved in the settlement of the conflict because it
voluntarily handed the relevant authority over to the OSCE 12 years
ago, Mediamax reports.

Rustamyan also said that Azerbaijan’s position is mainly caused by
the fact that none of the three proposals made by the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs over the last seven to eight years did not satisfy
official Baku.

Panorama.am

13:58 16/09/06

HERO SAVING 20 LIVES TO VISIT ARMENIA TOMORROW

Thirty years ago on the same day, September 16, one of
the most tragic car accidents took place in Yerevan –
a trolleybus, full of passengers, lost control and
went into Yerevan Lake. At that moment, Shavarsh
Karapetyan, multiple champion of Europe in underwater
swimming, and his brother, Kamo Karapetyan, master of
international rank, were training near the lake.
Shavarsh Karapetyan managed to save the lives of 20
passengers diving into the water without diving
clothes. Of coarse, he could not save everyone. About
seven dozens people were killed in the accident.

The fatal accident was kept secret under the Soviet
regime and people learned about it only years ago. The
heroic deed of Shavarsh Karapetyan cost him a lot –
Karapetyan had to quit the great sport. However,
Shavarsh Karapetyan became known to people as a real
hero. Neither the Soviet Union, nor Independent
Armenia gave credits to the deed of the sportsman and
did not award him the title of hero. Moreover, in mid
1990s Shavarsh Karapetyan had to leave Yerevan and
reside in Moscow where he currently lives and has a
small shoes repair service. Tomorrow, it is expected
that Shavarsh Karapetyan will again visit his
Motherland. /Panorama.am/

PanARMENIAN.Net

In Astana Garegin II Calls to Recognize Armenian Genocide
15.09.2006 14:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II took part in
the 2nd World and Religious Leaders conference in the Kazakh capital
of Astana. The Catholicos made a report titled the Importance of
Faith, in which he stated that Armenians "will to protect their
beliefs despite what they experienced in the 1915 Genocide, and
despite their trials and slander aimed at them."

In the declaration, a promise was made by religious leaders to "fight
against pre-judgement and ignorance" across the world.

`Garegin II used his last chance to speak to the some 150 journalists
in attendance at the conference,’ writes the Hurriyet Turkish
newspaper.

The newspaper reminds that Garegin II, who is often considered the
voice of the Armenian Diaspora, speaks often on the Armenian genocide.

A RALLY OPPOSITE THE PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE

A1+
[04:37 pm] 14 September, 2006

Today over 20 citizens, who in their own words, were illegally
displaced from their houses and members of families who suffered
losses because of commercial agents gathered opposite the president’s
residence.

There were many people from Abovyan, Echmiadzin, Gyumri and Martuni
among the strikers. They all had the same claim – to meet the judges,
lawyers and Compulsory Service representatives and to discuss the
matters concerning the strikers tete-a-tete.

Today we face the same scenario; our complaints are presented to the
President’s Office, then they are sent to the General Prosecutors
Office, then to the Police station and so on.

We are tired of long drawn-out proceedings. Corruption has already
penetrated into the homes of the poor, and no one is capable of
eradicating this phenomenon. We shan’t go unless we get a definite
answer to our matter," claims Flora Shakhgulyan, one of the strikers.

ASHGABAT HOLDS FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIZED PUBLISHING EXHIBITION

TURKMENISTAN.RU
12.09.06 15:00

As the Ashgabat correspondent of Turkmenistan.ru reports, nearly 30
publishing houses and printing centers, biggest printing houses and
polygraphic companies, newspaper and magazine editorials from 16
countries of the Eurasian continent are participating in it.

The publications of various types and new books published by the
leading printing houses of Central Asia, Great Britain, Armenia,
Belarus, Germany, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, China and other countries
are exhibited in the Exhibition Palace of Ashgabat. The technological
stands, at which polygraphs may carry out post printing processing
of production demonstrating all subtleties of their work, attracted
special interest of visitors.

During the exhibition, presentations of the printing products of
different publishing houses and book shops are being held. Writers,
poets, historians, literary critics and journalists from European and
Asian countries invited to the Turkmen capital will talk about the
most common trends of development of the modern printing industry at
their meetings.

Turkmenistan’s printing production is widely displayed too. Most of
the production is published on paper turned out by Yashlyk Pulp and
Paper Complex. The country’s central Publishing center and regional
printing centers represent the publishing service of the state. There
is also big diversity of production represented by private publishers.

A special exposition displayed on the occasion of the fifth anniversary
of releasing Rukhnama book by President Saparmurat Niyazov tells about
the traditions of the ancient Turkmen people, cultural and spiritual
revival of the nation after the country gained independence.

As the State News Service (TDH) reports, the head of Turkmenistan
congratulated the organizers, participants and guests of the
international exhibition of polygraphic production on convening
the event. In his address the President stressed that the radical
transformation has taken place in the publishing system of the country
in the years of independence reaching high levels in the short time.

According to the Turkmen leader, from the first days of independence
the decision to comprehensively develop publishing service and set up
national paper production industry was taken. The production of the
operating Pulp and Paper Production Complex boasts high quality and
meets the world standards. It is able to satisfy demands of consumers
of not only Turkmenistan and the whole region.

"The technological peculiarity of this complex is that paper is
produced from local raw materials – cotton lint mixed with wheat straw,
the President said. As far as quality is concerned, paper produced
in our complex can compete at any international contest".

In previous years the reconstruction and modernization of the country’s
Publishing Center, Ashgabat and provincial printing houses were
carried out. They were equipped with the state-of-the-art printing
equipment and modern technology.

Saparmurat Niyazov expressed confidence in the exhibition’s success
set to promote further development of the publishing industry in
the country.

VICE-SPEAKER: BAKU TO INSIST ON COMING OF EXPERT GROUP TO INVETIGATE FIRES
Author: A. Mammadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 11 2006

During the autumn`s session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the
official Baku will insist on coming of an expert group to investigate
fires on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia to the
region, Bahar Muradova, Vice Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan`s
Parliament), Head of the Azerbaijani delegation to OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly told journalists, Trend reports referring to TV Channel
Leader.

According to Mrs. Muradova, OSCE Acting Chairman`s Special Envoy to
the Region Andjey Kaspshik failed to give an appropriate estimation
to the fires, as he is not an expert. "Until real experts give their
estimation to the fires, the international community will not believe
that these fires were set out by Armenians", she added.

UK’S MOST ‘ENGLISH’ TOWN NAMED IN IMMIGRATION STUDY BACK TO COMMUNITIES

24dash.com, UK
Sept 10 2006

Ripley in Derbyshire – named most ‘English’ town The most "English"
town in the UK has been named in a study of the spread of immigration.

Ripley in Derbyshire has the highest proportion of people of English
origin, based on an analysis of first names and surnames.

The findings showed Heanor in Derbyshire was in second place, followed
by Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, Boston in Lincolnshire,
Leek in Staffordshire, Leiston in Suffolk, March in Cambridgeshire,
Wisbech in Cambs and Beccles and Halesworth in Suffolk.

Southall, west London, had the lowest proportion of people with
English names, and South Tottenham in north London emerged as the
most diverse area of London.

The findings were revealed in a report for OriginsInfo, an organisation
providing analysis of the origins of names.

The research placed the 42.2 million adults registered to vote in
mainland Britain into 200 ethnic groups on the basis of a person’s
surname and first name.

The study into the most "English" towns excluded Scottish, Welsh and
Irish names as well as other "foreign names" – but Huguenot surnames
and Norman names counted as English.

The report also found that Armenian immigrants and their descendants
were the most successful ethnic group in the country.

They were followed by the Japanese, Dutch and Greek Cypriots among
the groups who are economically and socially most successful.

Bangladeshi Muslims and migrants from Sierra Leone and Syria have
fared worst.

WEIGHT-LIFTERS OF ARMENIA AWARDED SILVER AND BRONZE MEDALS IN EUROPE
CHAMPIONSHIP, AS A RESULT OF COMPETITORS’ DISQUALIFICATIONS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Genady Oleshchuk (Belarus), the
champion of the Europe Championship of weight-lifting held in May in
Poland, was disqualified for using doping drugs, owing to what Armen
Ghazarian (69 kg, Spitak), who had got the 4th place, rose higher,
on the 3rd horizontal line.

According to the Noyan Tapan correspondent’s information, the blood
analysis result of Valentina Popova (Russia) of 75 kg weight category
was not clean, either.

Intead of her, already former bronze medal winner Hripsime Khurshudian
(Kasakh) will get the silver medal of the Europe Championship.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

September 7, 2006
___________________

DIOCESE LOSES LEADER WITH DEATH OF HAIG DADOURIAN

It is with sorrow that the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) announces the passing of Haig Dadourian, a long-time leader and
life-long friend of the Armenian community.

Dadourian, 69, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 5, 2006, in his
home after a two-year battle with brain cancer. His wife Astrid was by his
side.

"I have lost a personal friend and the Armenian community has lost a great
leader," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese.
"He exemplifies a passion for the church, a special passion which began
generations ago, a passion passed to him by his father, the late Dadour
Dadourian. He loved the Armenian Church with his entire soul and worked
diligently to strengthen and further its mission into this new century."

"We will all miss his steady leadership, his invigorating ideas, and his
personal warmth," the Primate continued. "And I will miss his friendship
dearly."

Dadourian, director of the Dadourian Export Corporation, served as a member
of the Diocesan Council since 1993. He served first as treasurer and since
1997 has been its chairman.

"Haig Dadourian gave of his life for the good of the Armenian Church and its
people," wrote His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, in a letter of condolence to the Eastern Diocese highlighting
Dadourian’s work renovating churches, rebuilding national institutions, and
helping educate young Armenians. "With his death we have lost a very good
friend of the Armenian Church."

On the Diocesan Council he served as a public face of the Diocese, meeting
with parishioners and clergy to outline plans and create new programs. He
also attended countless meetings, events, and services as a representative
of the Eastern Diocese.

During the Diocesan Assembly in 2000, he was one of the first to offer his
personal support to the development of a Diocesan camp and retreat center,
which resulted in the purchase of the Ararat Center in Greenville, NY.

In November 2000, he was one of a handful of Armenian Church leaders to
participate in a service with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican during which
the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator were transferred to Holy
Etchmiadzin.

"We feel very strongly about the Armenian Church," Dadourian said during the
2001 launch of the Diocese’s Spiritual Leadership Fund. "It’s probably the
most important institution for the Armenian community — throughout the
world and right here in America."

SERVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY

Along with his position on the Diocesan Council, Dadourian served on the
Diocesan Board of Trustees; the Board of Directors of the Armenian Church
Endowment Fund (ACEF), which oversees the investment of a $75 million
portfolio of invested endowments; a member of the Board of Directors for the
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the Diocesan-affiliated international aid
organization; and as member of the Board of Directors for the St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary of New Rochelle, NY.

He was also a devoted parishioner, serving as a Diocesan Delegate and parish
council member of the St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ, as well as the
assistant choir director of the parish.

In 1998, Dadourian was presented with the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal,
the highest award bestowed by the church on the laity, by His Holiness
Karekin I, of blessed memory, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, during celebrations of the Diocese’s centennial.

In 2004, he was presented with the Ellis Island Medal, which recognizes the
contribution of immigrants and their descendents to the success of American
society.

For all of his efforts to strengthen the Armenian Church and bring life to
the Armenian community, the Eastern Diocese presented him with the "Armenian
of the Year" award during the Diocesan Assembly in 2005. It was an award he
shared with his brother, Alex, who remains an active leader in the
community.

"Let me take a moment to tell you something about my brother," Alex said
during the banquet honoring him and his brother. "He epitomizes love for
the church. Those that don’t know him do not realize that he really loves
what he does for the church."

Haig Dadourian is survived by his wife, Astrid, and three daughters Dr. and
Mrs. Joseph and Leslie Barmakian, Mr. and Mrs. Manoug and Jeanine Hovsepian,
and Mr. and Mrs. Yervant and Melanie Gulian. He is also survived by his two
brothers, Alex and Peter.

FUNERAL SERVICES

A wake service for Haig Dadourian will be held at New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral visiting hours from 5 to 8 p.m. with the wake service at 7 p.m. on
Sunday, September 10, 2006. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian will officiate
during funeral services at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 11, 2006.

— 9/7/06

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Haig Dadourian, chairman of the Diocesan Council, passed
away Tuesday, September 5, 2006.

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