Category: 2017

June 9, 2017
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: www.westernprelacy.org


PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ORANGE
COUNTY

- 40TH DAY REQUIEM PRAYERS FOR SARKIS YEGENIAN

        On Sunday, June 11, 2017, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, will preside over Divine Liturgy and deliver the sermon at Forty
Martyrs Church in Orange County. 
        During requiem service, prayers will be offered for Sarkis Yegenian
on the 40th day of his passing. Sarkis Yegenian was a founding member of
Forty Martyrs Church and Ari Guiragos Minassian, long-time Board of Trustees
Chairman, and Western Prelacy delegate.

***

CELEBRATION OF PENTECOST AT HOLY CROSS CATHEDRAL IN MONTEBELLO 

        On Sunday, June 4, 2017, on the feast of Pentecost, H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over Divine Liturgy and delivered
the sermon at Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello. Divine Liturgy was
celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian, who was assisted at the altar by
deacons, including Armenian Mesrobian School Principal David Ghoogasian.
        On this day, the annual Senior Baccalaureate Service was held, a
tradition begun over three decades ago honoring the graduating class of
Mesrobian School. The students were in attendance to receive Holy Communion
and the Prelate's blessings as they prepare to embark on the next phase of
their lives. The Mesrobian Middle and High School Performing Arts Choir,
third grade students, and Sunday School students attended and performed in
the service. Executive Council Secretary Mr. Antranik Kasbarian, former
principals and teachers, students' families, and members of the Holy Cross
and Mesrobian School family were among the faithful in attendance. 
        Prior to delivering the sermon, the Prelate joyfully greeted the
Holy Cross Cathedral family and especially the graduating class of Mesrobian
School, to whom he conveyed his congratulations and message. As they prepare
for the next phase of their lives, His Eminence reminded the students that
anything is possible when they place their trust in God and also believe in
themselves. Thus, he urged them to always pray, to be strong and courageous,
and not be discouraged, and also reminded them that our church and community
is always available to them as a support system, to provide a listening ear,
a helping hand, encouraging words, strength, and support. The Prelate
greeted also the members of Prelacy Bible Study Groups, whose dedication to
teaching the Word of God he commended.
        His Eminence next delivered his sermon on the feast of Pentecost and
its message of renewal, beginning by giving an overview of the episode which
occurred ten days after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ when one
hundred and twenty people had gathered to pray in the Upper Room in
Jerusalem when suddenly there came a powerful wind and a fire that separated
into individual tongues or flames and came to rest on each of their heads.
Those who were present received the source of were filled with God Himself,
they were transformed into new beings, reinforced in their faith, armed with
spiritual strengths and wisdom, emboldened and reinvigorated, and ready to
begin their commission of spreading the good news of salvation across
continents. It was the birth of the church.  
        The Prelate stressed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not only
for those gathered on that day of Pentecost, rather for all those who put
their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. "With the Holy Spirit
dwelling within us, we have the power to live in the way God has called us
to live, to serve Him in the way He has called us to serve, to overcome
obstacles and defeat sin, for nothing and no power can withstand the power
of God. All things are possible when we live in the presence and power of
the Holy Spirit," he stated. Thus, he called on all the faithful, as
individuals and as part of the collective, to beseech the descent of the
Holy Spirit in our hearts and souls so that we too may undergo renewal and
empowerment as did those gathered in the Upper Room.
        The graduates received Holy Communion and were gifted copies of His
Holiness Catholicos Aram I's "The Armenian Church." 
        Following the service, a luncheon in celebration of the feast of
Pentecost was held at Tumanjan Hall. The Prelate presided over the luncheon,
which was sponsored by Holy Cross Cathedral Dean, Pastor, and Board of
Trustees, and organized by the Prelacy Bible Study groups, head by Mr.
Krikor Misserlian. Executive Council member Antranik Kasbarian was among the
guests in attendance. Dr. Dikran Dikranian, a long-time altar server at Holy
Cross Cathedral, served as the MC. The program featured Bile readings and
spiritual songs. Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian sang the day's hymn. In his
message, the Prelate reiterated the importance of renewal and of unity which
is at the heart of Pentecost. The luncheon closed with "Cilicia." 

***

PRELATE ATTENDS ARARAT HOME LUNCHEON SPONSORED BY THE ARMENIAN RELIEF
SOCIETY

        On Tuesday, June 6, 2017, members and friends of Ararat Home and of
the Armenian Relief Society Western Region gathered at Deukmejian Grand
Ballroom for the monthly luncheon organized by the Ararat Home Ladies
Auxiliary. Traditionally, the June luncheon is sponsored by the ARS as well
by friends of Ararat Home in memory of their loved ones.
        H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, delivered the
invocation and conveyed his well wishes. He was accompanied by Archpriest
Fr. Razmig Khatchadourian. Board Chairman Michael Surmeian was in
attendance, alongside staff members. The Prelate beseeched the blessings of
the Lord upon the Board, administration, staff, and volunteers of Ararat
Home for the loving care they provide to our beloved elders, upon the
members of the ARS for their dedicated service to the welfare of our
brethren in Armenia, Artsakh, and throughout the Diaspora, and upon the
guests for their support to the worthwhile mission of Ararat Home and the
ARS. He wished continued successes to all and good health to the residents. 
        On behalf of the ARS Regional Executive, remarks were delivered by
Mrs. Nanik Kupelian. The Ararat Home Ladies Auxiliary surprised the Chairman
with a birthday cake and all conveyed their well wishes to Mr. Surmeian on
this occasion.

***

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
400 W Cummings Park, Suite 3900
Woburn, MA 01801 USA
Tel: (617) 926-TREE
Web: www.armeniatree.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2017

Remembering Bash Aparan, and Building a Green Sustainable Armenia

WOBURN, MA--Last month Armenian communities around the world commemorated
the 99th anniversary of the battle of Bash Aparan. On May 21, 1918, an
Ottoman Turkish division attacked Armenian forces at Bash Aparan, with the
intent of pushing towards Yerevan. After three days of fierce combat, the
Armenians, led by General Drastamat Kanayan, known as General Dro, began to
repel the Turkish regiments, and they retreated on May 29, 1918. The victory
at Bash Aparan, along with Armenian success at Saradarabad and Karakilisa,
was instrumental in leading to the formation of the First Republic of
Armenia.

As the 100th anniversary of the battle approaches, General Dro's family is
cooperating with Armenia Tree Project (ATP) to create a living memorial to
Dro and his victory at Bash Aparan. There is a park in the town of Aparan,
Armenia at the site of the battle where a visitor will find General Dro's
final resting place as well as a monument to the victorious battle of Bash
Aparan.

ATP has begun to beautify and improve the Aparan site, planting trees and
shrubs and developing walking paths. This project will culminate in May 2018
with a ceremonial tree planting at the park with Dro's family and friends.

General Dro's grandson Philip Kanayan states, "Any monument to our
grandfather should be a living memorial. General Dro was not a man who wore
medals. He lived a life of service to the Armenian nation, and in that vein
the Armenia Tree Project promotes those ideals of giving back to the
Armenian Nation."

General Dro's daughter Olga Proudian of Watertown, Massachusetts describes
her father not as a war hero, but a man who was always true to his ideas and
himself. "He was always positive about the future of Armenia," she said. "He
assumed we would have an independent Armenia, and he believed we should give
it priority. His mission was always an independent Armenia. He would not
allow the world to not have an Armenia."

In 2000, Olga and other family members accompanied Dro's remains to Armenia,
where they were re-interred near the Bash Aparan memorial. It was an
emotional experience for Olga. She felt a tug on her sleeve. An elderly man,
recognizing her as Dro's daughter, wanted to show her a small house nearby.
He explained that his father and Dro had fought the Turks together from that
house in 1918.

Tatul Sonentz-Papazian first met Dro in Cairo in the early 1950s, when both
men attended the ARF World Congress there. Tatul remembers Dro as a great
diplomat, strategist and tactician, but also much more: "Not only did
General Dro play a key role in formation of the First Republic, he
re-kindled the Hai Tahd fighting spirit. Thanks to his work in Armenia and
the Diaspora, the spirit of Hai Tahd lives on in youth around the world."

General Dro's grandson and namesake, Dro Kanayan of Massachusetts, says that
planting trees in his grandfather's honor is appropriate because he had a
strong connection to the land. He grew up on a farm in Igdir, and at times
fed his army from the harvest of his father's farm: "Dro understood the
importance of what the land can provide for the people. Armenia Tree Project
provides resources for our people to survive and prosper by living off the
land, which follows Dro's ideals to continue helping our nation."

Since 1994, ATP has used trees to help Armenians improve their standard of
living and help protect the global environment. ATP's work is guided by its
core principles: promoting self-sufficiency, aiding those with the fewest
resources and conserving the indigenous ecosystem. 

"ATP is proud to participate in this project. We're honored to help remember
the historic victory at Bash Aparan. Planting trees for the future is a
fitting tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of General Dro and his
troops," said ATP Executive Director Jeanmarie Papelian.

ATP and the Kanayan family will hold fundraising and promotional events on
the east and west coasts in the coming year. If you would like to support
this project, or participate in the May 2018 planting in Armenia, please
contact ATP at [email protected].

                                        Friday, June 9, 2017

Procurement Fraud `Minimized' By Government


 . Artak Hambardzumian


Armenia - Prime Minister Karen Karapetian chairs a cabinet meeting in
Yerevan, 25May2017.

The Armenian government has sharply cut corruption risks in the
administration of state procurements criticized by anti-graft
watchdogs, a senior Finance Ministry official claimed on Friday.

"We have enacted the kind of legislation that would preclude or at
least minimize such practices," said Sergey Shahnazarian, the head of
a ministry division overseeing procurements by various government
agencies.

"For that purpose a new system was designed and introduced," he told a
news conference. "In my view, it seriously complicates, if not
prevents, the manifestations mentioned by you."

Shahnazarian cited a government-drafted law that came in force in
April. It is meant to make the procurement process much more
transparent and prevent conflicts of interests among officials dealing
with such purchases. If those officials have relatives among private
supplies bidding for government contracts they must formally
acknowledge that fact.

"We now also publicize data on the real owners [of government
contractors,]" said Shahnazarian. "The information is public. You can
see who holds more than 10 percent stakes in which companies."

Prime Minister Karen Karapetian publicly questioned the integrity of
the process just days after taking office in September. He
specifically decried "primitive theft" of budgetary funds set aside
for government officials' travel expenses.

Varuzhan Hoktanian, the program director at the Anti-Corruption Center
(ACC), the Armenian affiliate of Transparency International,
acknowledged that the new law provides for greater transparency in
procurement administration. But he said that it alone will not solve
the problem.

"When there is no will to expedite clean processes, including in the
area of procurements, primitive theft will be placed by more
sophisticated theft," Hoktanian told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am).

The ACC has repeatedly charged in recent years that various government
agencies purchased many goods and services at disproportionately high
prices from a handful of companies usually owned by government-linked
individuals. According to it, the government awarded 70 percent of its
procurement contracts without any competitive tenders in 2015.



Dashnaktsutyun `Not Opposed' To Corruption Whistleblowing


 . Ruzanna Stepanian


Armenia - Armen Rustamian, a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, speaks at an election campaign rally in Yerevan,
30Mar2017.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) insisted on
Friday that a parliament deputy representing the pro-government party
was misunderstood by media when he objected to the introduction of a
legal framework for whistleblowing in Armenia.

The lawmaker, Andranik Karapetian, said Armenians must not be
encouraged to report corruption among their superiors or colleagues to
law-enforcement authorities during this week's parliament debates on
this and other anti-corruption bills drafted by the government.

"The institution of whistleblowers does not befit us, Armenians,"
Karapetian said. He said the practice would run counter to
"Armenianness" and spread mistrust between co-workers in the country.

The remarks prompted criticism and ridicule from Armenian media
outlets as well as social media users. Commentators also wondered
whether they reflect Dashnaktsutyun's position.

Armen Rustamian, Dashnaktsutyun's parliamentary leader, claimed that
Karapetian merely warned against reviving the Soviet-era practice of
false denunciations by citizens which was particularly widespread
during Josef Stalin's long rule. "There is such concern because
[whistleblowing] will be introduced for the first time," he said.

"It's just that [Karapetian] used vocabulary that has been the main
theme of the last two days," Rustamian told RFE/RL's Armenian service
(Azatutyun.am). He argued that Dashnaktsutyun's parliamentary faction
voted for this and other anti-corruption measures passed by the
National Assembly this week.

The new mechanism officially called a "system of whistleblowing" will
enable citizens to report corruption cases known to them. They will be
able to anonymously file such reports through a special website.

Dashnaktsutyun holds 7 seats in the 105-member parliament and is
represented in the government by three ministers.



More Armenian Companies To Be Privatized


 . Astghik Bedevian


Armenia - Staff at a post office in Yerevan.

Armenia's parliament allowed the government on Friday to privatize the
national postal service and dozens of other state-run enterprises,
hospitals and recreation facilities.

The National Assembly approved a list of 47 entities subject to
privatization over strong objections voiced by its opposition
minority. Prime Minister Karen Karapetian's cabinet says that they are
in need of serious capital investments which can only be raised from
private sources.

Previous Armenian governments had tried unsuccessfully to sell off
some of these entities. "We hope that we will finally find buyers for
them," Arman Sahakian, head of Armenia's Department of State Property
Management, told lawmakers.

Opposition deputies were particularly critical of the inclusion on the
list of about a dozen medical centers, including the country's main
oncology clinic and a children's hospital in Yerevan. They said
private ownership would only increase the cost of medical services
provided by them.

The children's hospital called the Arabkir Medical Center was for many
years managed by Ara Babloyan, a veteran pediatrician who was elected
parliament speaker last month. Its current director is his son.

Gevorg Gorgisian of the opposition Yelk alliance expressed concern
that Babloyan or his family could benefit from the hospital's
privatization. The speaker affiliated with the governing Republican
Party of Armenia ruled out any conflicts of interest.

The most important business enterprises on the privatization list are
the Haypost postal service and a jewelry factory based in
Yerevan.Haypost has been managed for the past decade by a company
controlled by Eduardo Eurnekian, an Argentinian billionaire of
Armenian descent who has extensive business interests in Armenia. With
some 900 offices across the country, it not only provides traditional
postal services but also collects utility payments and some taxes and
duties, handles wire transfers of cash and even distributes travel
insurance.

Most state-owned Armenian companies were privatized in the 1990s and
early 2000s. The private sector now accounts for more than 80 percent
of the country's Gross Domestic Product.



Press Review



"Haykakan Zhamanak" hits out at a parliament deputy from the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) who decried earlier this
week the introduction of a legal "system of corruption whistleblowing"
on the grounds that it contradicts Armenian traditions. "We are sure
that if this newly elected parliamentarian [Andranik Markarian] had
known how shocking his words will be to people he would have
immediately refrained from uttering them," writes the paper. It says
that the Dashnaktsutyun leadership must enlighten Karapetian on "what
it means to speak from the National Assembly rostrum, who listens to
such speeches and what consequences they may have."

"Aravot" says that Karapetian's remarks may be condemnable but they
reflect a widely held belief in Armenia. "Although in theory we,
critics, disagree with Andranik, in real life we usually do what the
deputy described," editorializes the paper.

"Zhoghovurd" reports that the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group will arrive in Yerevan on Saturday at the start
of a fresh tour of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. "The Karabakh
peace process has slowed down of late," writes the paper. "The last
major meeting took place in April in Moscow at the level of foreign
ministers. Although there was talk of a meeting of the [Armenian and
Azerbaijani] presidents there are still no agreements to that
effect. The reason for the slowdown is not only Azerbaijan's refusal
to fulfill [confidence-building] agreements reached in Vienna and
Saint Petersburg [last year.] There is also another, more important
reason." It notes that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the
other day that the parties continue to disagree on "small but very
important details" of a settlement favored by the mediators.

"One of the details applies to the [proposed] referendum on Karabakh's
status: its dates and the circle of eligible participants," continues
"Zhoghovurd." "Indeed, these are small but very important details."

"Hraparak" claims that Gevorg Kostanian, Armenia's former
prosecutor-general and current representative to the European Court of
Human Rights (ECHR), has warned against a lawsuit filed against an
Armenian civic activist by 30 school principals who were tricked into
admitting that they are campaigning for the ruling HHK in recent
parliamentary elections. The paper says Kostanian warned the
authorities that the ECHR could eventually rule against them if the
activist, Daniel Ioannisian, is fined by Armenian courts. "But the
supporters of organizing a judicial show prevailed and received the
supreme leadership's go-ahead," it says.

(Tigran Avetisian)

Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Website: www.agbu.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 9, 2017

AGBU EUROPE LAUNCHES APPEAL CALLING ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO PROVIDE AID TO THE 
PEOPLE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

On June 7, AGBU Europe launched an appeal calling on the European Union and 
European aid organizations to engage with the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.  

Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) is a landlocked mountainous territory in the South 
Caucasus, home to 150,000 people. It is one of the several unrecognized states 
that emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the Republic of 
Azerbaijan claims sovereignty over NKR. It is one of the most impoverished 
areas in the periphery.  

The inhabitants of this small unrecognized state have been under continuous 
threat of war and isolation for more than 20 years, which has caused 
considerable hardship. A blockade continues to impact the daily life of the 
people, who also suffer from the highest mine-related casualty rate in the 
world. 

The EU does not provide direct aid to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, in 
contrast to other territories under dispute, such as Northern Cyprus, Abkhazia 
or Transnistria, which have received substantial benefits from EU engagement 
and aid.

"We call on all those who believe in Europe to sign onto this appeal. We stand 
ready to work with European institutions as well as with international NGOs to 
find ways to respond to the needs of the civilian population in 
Nagorno-Karabakh," says Nadia Gortzounian, President of AGBU Europe. 

Despite the isolation and economic hardship, Nagorno-Karabakh focuses on the 
development of democracy. It is making considerable efforts to improve 
institutions and strengthen civil society.  

AGBU Europe has published a video and information package aimed at explaining 
the case for EU engagement in NKR. 

The appeal can be signed online at:
change.org/p/we-want-europe-in-nagorno-karabakh 

Watch the short video:
youtube.com/watch?v=P7KFWOuL6bc

For more information, please visit Campaign for European Union Aid in 
Nagorno-Karabakh:
agbueurope.org/campaign-for-eu-aid-to-karabakh

Find out what more you can do to support this campaign:
agbueurope.org/donate-agbu-europe-campaign-for-european-union-aid-to-nagorno-karabakh
 

AGBU Europe coordinates and develops the pan-European activities of the 
Armenian General Benevolent Union. AGBU Europe runs numerous programs in fields 
relating to academic research, the preservation and promotion of heritage, 
education and culture as well as awareness raising, advocacy and leadership 
training.

Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest non-profit 
Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU preserves and 
promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and 
humanitarian programs, annually touching the lives of some 500,000 Armenians 
around the world.
 
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit 
www.agbu.org.

*************************************************
PHOTO CAPTIONS:

EU-NKR.jpg: AGBU Europe launches a campaign calling on the European Union to 
provide aid to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.

EU-NKR.jpg

EUinNKR.docx
EUinNKR.docx

Tert, Armenia
June 8 2017


Aleppo now in relative peace, says local Armenian editor

17:10 • 08.06.17



After months and years of heavy bombings targeting civilians in
different districts,  Aleppo is now facing a relative peace, according
to Shahan Kandaharian, the editor of Aztag Daily (an Aleppo-based
Armenian publication).


“The tension still continues, but superpowers’ presence is
significant, specifically in Syria. Returning to our problems,
however, I should say that the situation is now relatively calm in
Aleppo as we observe [an increase in the number of people] returning
to the city. We see also many of our compatriots return from Lebanon,”
he said at a news conference in Yerevan,


Meantime, Kandaharian highlighted the continuing active efforts
towards rebuilding the city, noting that many residents can now use a
“long but safe road corridor” connecting Aleppo with other cities and
towns.


“We do not as yet see a massive influx of Armenians from Lebanon to
Syria, but certain families, and businessmen go and come from time to
time. Those who stay in Syria continue receiving assistance, both
educational and medical, etc,” he said, admitting at the same time
that an estimated 10,000 people have fled to Labanon since the
eruption of hostilities.


 

Tert, Armenia
June 8 2017




World Bank's Doing Business 2017 report highlights progress in Armenia

18:16 • 08.06.17


Armenia has improved its ranking on the World Bank's annual Doing
Business 2017 report, climbing from the 43rd position in 2016 to the
38th position this year.

A plan of actions proposing steps towards making the atmosphere more
business-friendly received the cabinet's approval on Thursday
afternoon.

The report evaluates the regulations directly impacting the business
environment through a comparative analysis in 11 major areas: starting
a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity,
registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors,
paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving
insolvency and labor market regulation.

Armenia's essential progress, observed over the past years (thanks to
different measures), has found its reflection in the evaluations by
the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, reports the
Ministry of Economic Development and Investments. The findings
highlight particularly progress in the procedures of “getting credits”
(7 points) and “getting electricity” (9 points).


The program has a comprehensive content and proposes reforms in all
the areas under evaluation. The Ministry expresses its commitment to
ensure ongoing processes by relying upon the international best
practice.



The full report can be accessed here:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.doingbusiness.org_-7E_media_wbg_doingbusiness_documents_profiles_country_arm.pdf&d=DwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=n3SsZeizl5ghFIKOzGtTQKB10zrvAMh88QbDLX3gtaM&s=vGSp87H5_RBoFSZneuw-ah-4T_RRtUQDAk3jIZVJ_Kw&e=