Category: 2018

AGBU PRESS OFFICE: Retreat Launches Inspiring Conversation on Armenian Spirituality

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

RETREAT LAUNCHES INSPIRING CONVERSATION ON ARMENIAN SPIRITUALITY

AGBU WELCOMES NEW INITIATIVE INSPIRED BY THE AGBU FOCUS CONFERENCE 2017

Over 30 young professionals from across the United States gathered in New York 
from February 3 to 4 for a thought-provoking retreat on the Armenian faith and 
spirituality.  The topic, along with issues related to human rights and women’s 
empowerment, was raised by participants of the inaugural AGBU FOCUS conference 
last summer as an area of interest. 

“One of the takeaways from this past summer’s international conference was that 
we could leverage the AGBU network to continue thought-provoking conversations. 
This urban retreat aimed to create a safe environment for young professionals 
to learn more about Armenian spirituality through our history, culture music 
and traditions and facilitate our generation's spiritual journey.” said 
mezzo-soprano Solange Merdinian who convened the retreat together with Michelle 
Nahabedian and journalist Lara Setrakian.
 
The retreat explored the Armenian faith from various perspectives, ranging from 
monastic educational traditions and heritage to personal journeys and Christian 
meditation. Moderated by Setrakian, the retreat featured Father Daniel 
Findikyan, director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Center; Eric Vozzy, a deacon 
at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral; Dr. Roberta Ervine, professor of Armenian 
Studies at St. Nerses Armenian Seminary, and Father Mersrop Parsamyan, the 
director of ministries at the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of 
America. 

Father Findikyan identified one of the challenges for the continuation of 
Armenian religious education in the diaspora, exploring the decline of Armenian 
monasteries in the Ottoman Empire and how it affected the modern-day Armenian 
theological instruction.  “The Armenian monasteries were the theological 
engines of the Armenian church. They were the intellectual engines of the 
Armenian people,” said Findikyan stressing that monasteries provided a network 
of religious scholars who kept a dialogue with the communities and maintained 
the continuity of traditions. Intrigued by Findikyan’s speech, attendees posed 
important questions on youth involvement, church modernization and creationism. 
  

The retreat also served as an open forum for personal sharing and created an 
opportunity for attendees to explore otherwise new topics. Dr. Roberta Ervine 
notably spoke about six noble women from the historical Armenian Kingdom of 
Syunik who channeled their faith into action and supported the construction of 
several monasteries, some of which became jewels of Armenian architecture. 
Participants were treated to a short meditation session with Fr. Parsamyan, who 
presented the basic techniques of Christian meditation and offered his insight 
on the topic. 

“The forum provided participants an opportunity to share their spiritual 
journeys and make suggestions on ways of bringing the Armenian church closer to 
youth,” said Merdinian. “It is the beginning of continued opportunities for 
such discussion and contemplation.”

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:

NY-Retreat01.jpg: Over 30 young professionals from across the United States 
gathered in New York from February 3 to 4 for a thought-provoking retreat on 
the Armenian faith and spirituality.  

NY-Retreat02.jpg: Dr. Roberta Ervine, professor of Armenian Studies at St. 
Nerses Armenian Seminary, speaks about six noble women who fostered church 
architecture.



NY-Retreat01.jpg


NY-Retreat02.jpg
NY-Retreat02.jpg


Retreat Launches Inspiring Conversation on Armenian Spirituality.doc
Retreat Launches Inspiring Conversation on Armenian Spirituality.doc

Sports: Armenian judokas are getting ready for Grand Slam and European Judo Open

Emma Jilavian
MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 6 2017
Armenian judokas are getting ready for Grand Slam and European Judo Open

Head coach of the team Armen Nazaryan has told Mediamax Sport that the judokas will compete in several tournaments after the camp.

“Ferdinand Karapetyan will perform in Paris Grand Slam on February 10-11 and then travel to Hamburg for an international training camp. Arsen Ghazaryan and two other judokas will compete in the European Judo Open Men. We have yet to confirm who will travel with Ghazaryan,” said the coach.

Karapetyan, Ghazaryan and three other athletes will also perform in the Düsseldorf Grand Slam on February 17-18. Afterwards, the team will return to Armenia and continue preparing for other tournaments and the European Championships.

Sports: Coca-Cola to display FIFA World Cup™ Trophy in Armenia on Feb 7

Diana Dabaghian
PanArmenian, Armenia
Feb 6 2018
February 6, 2018 – 14:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On February 7, a football atmosphere will be inevitable in Yerevan when the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy arrives in Armenia.

FIFA has been organizing the international tour of the world’s most famous cup with its long-term partner – The Coca-Cola Company – every four years since 2006. This year the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy will visit more than 50 states, including Armenia and 23 more countries it has never visited before.

The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola will launch in Yerevan with a press conference, giving the participants an exclusive opportunity to see the famous cup and learn more about the tour from the organizers of the event.

The press conference will be followed by a public exposition of the Trophy. Coca-Cola and FIFA are inviting all the football fans to take part in this historic event and see the original gold Trophy of the FIFA World Cup. The exposition will be held on February 7 at 16:00 – 17:00 at the Freedom Square and is open to public.

Only the winners of the most coveted football prize and heads of state have the right to touch the Trophy.

At a closed event organized in the framework of the tour in Yerevan, the Armenian President will accept the Trophy from the hands of 1998 FIFA World Cup™ champion, retired French squad footballer Christian Karembeu.

Football fans can follow the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour in Yerevan on the Public TV Company of Armenia. Photos of the Trophy’s journey in Armenia can be found on Coca-Cola Happiness Factory Facebook page.

The 4th FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off in September 2017 in Russia. By May, the Trophy will have traveled 126 000 km, visiting a total of 91 cities.

Sports: Show the result you’ve never shown before – Skiing Federation Boss tells Armenian athletes for South Korea Olympics

Andranik Taslakhchian 
ArmenPress News Agency , Armenia
February 5, 2018 Monday


Show the result you've never shown before – Skiing Federation Boss
tells Armenian athletes for South Korea Olympics



YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Skiing
Federation of Armenia Gagik Sargsyan has talked to ARMENPRESS about
the chances and expectations from Armenia’s three skiers who will
comete at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Armenia will be represented at the skiing events by Katya Galstyan,
Ashot Karapetyan and Michael Michaelyan.

“She is very diligent, all three are diligent but Katya stands out”,
Sargsyan said about Katya, mentioning that she is a very smart
athlete, has high performance and does everything with calculations.

“You had to see his excitement when it was decided that he will take
part in the Olympics”, Sargsyan said, commenting on Ashot Karapetyan.
“He is also very diligent, devoted”.

“I would point out Michael a bit. If we were to look at his results,
it is obvious that he is a bit more mature with his career”, Sargsyan
said, mentioning that they’ve nicknames Michael Michaelyan the Kinder
Surprise – because with his results he will become a discovery.

“My expectation is that all three have their best results of their
careers in the Olympics. Meaning to show the result which they’ve
never shown before”, the federation boss said, wishing success and
achievements to the Armenian athletes.

Varvara Hayrapetyan

Sports: Armenian football official to meet with goalkeeper David Yurchenko

John Hovhannisian
Public Radio of Armenia
Feb 6 2018
15:31, 06 Feb 2018

Vice-President of the Armenian Football Federation Ashot Manukyan will meet with FC Tosno (Russia) goalkeeper David Yurchenko.

The possibility of Yurchenko’s playing for the Armenian national team will be on the agenda of the meeting to be held in Turkey on February 15.

The issue has been raised several times in the past, but the parties have failed to reach agreement.

Sports: Young Armenian wrestlers snatch 7 medals at int’l tournament

Karlen Baghdasarian
Pan Armenian, Armenia
Feb 6 2018
February 6, 2018 – 17:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Young Armenian freestyle wrestlers have won four gold, two silver and a bronze medals at an international tournament in Moldova.

In particular, Razmik Papikyan (57kg weight class), Vazgen Tevanyan (61kg), Arman Andreasyan (70kg) and Davit Gevorgyan (74 pg) claimed the champion’s title in their respective categories.

Gegham Galstyan (65kg) and Hovhannes Maghakyan (125kg), meanwhile, snatched a silver medal each, while Arman Avagyan (79kg) won bronze.

156 young wrestlers from Armenia, Ukraine, Germany, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Macedonia and Romania participated in the tournament.

Letters to Editors – 02/6/2018

Kevo Kalantarian 
Dear Armenian News readers,

    We bring to your attention the following letters we've received.
    No statements made in these letters are to be construed as
    recommended by Armenian News's Administation or by USC. Nor does Armenian News's
    Administation or USC endorse the contents, opinions or information
    presented in these letters.

***************************************************************************
    From: Luder Tavit Sahagian <[email protected]>
    Subject: WSJ: Robert Morgenthau on the Armenian Genocide
    Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2018 21:45:39 -0500


    Robert Morgenthau on the Armenian Genocide
    I agree with Robert M. Morgenthau's assessment on the need to
    recognize this dark chapter in our world's history.
    The eternal flame at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan, 
Armenia.
    The eternal flame at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex in Yerevan,
    Armenia. Photo: Getty Images

    Feb. 4, 2018 12:12 p.m. ET

    As a grandson of survivors of the Armenian genocide, I agree with
    Robert M. Morgenthau's assessment on the need to recognize this dark
    chapter in our world's history ("Will Trump Tell the Truth About the
    Armenian Genocide?," op-ed, Jan. 26). And while his argument that
    President Trump has a unique opportunity to undo what his predecessors
    failed to do, Armenian-Americans are not holding their breaths. Every
    election brings new campaign promises from candidates looking for
    money and votes while promising to recognize the Armenian genocide,
    but who then succumb to Turkish pressure. What politicians fail to
    understand is that this is a human-rights, not a political,
    issue. Political expediency should play no role in this
    debate. Mr. Morgenthau's grandfather understood that better than
    anyone.

    If President Trump wants to be on the right side of history, he'd be
    wise to follow in another New Yorker's footsteps.

    Stephan Pechdimaldji

    San Ramon, Calif.


    The Armenian genocide was both real and ghastly. That said, no living
    Turk participated. Do we predicate our relations with Spain on a mea
    culpa from its current government regarding atrocities in South
    America, with China regarding the Great Leap Forward, or with Russia
    about the Ukrainian Holodomor?


    James Rumbaugh
    Chicago


    
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.wsj.com_articles_robert-2Dmorgenthau-2Don-2Dthe-2Darmenian-2Dgenocide-2D1517764363&d=DwIB-g&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=naEuy1zUxXu9fnwSlR8ifAy_WcGLmPn7rQW_twyqmhY&s=CZdXohAgVATMbauT4R2YRlklq7iFX_h64VAMgk9qlzM&e=


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ARF Calls for Faster Poverty Reduction In Armenia

John Hovhannisian
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The ARF Bureau and Supreme Council of Armenia met in Yerevan on February 1

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), President Serzh Sarkisian’s junior coalition partner, has said that it remains dissatisfied with the socioeconomic situation in Armenia despite “unprecedented” GDP growth achieved last year.

The pan-Armenian party’s worldwide Bureau and decision-making body in Armenia reviewed the government’s economic and other policies at a special joint meeting held in Yerevan late last week. A Dashnaktsutyun statement released over the weekend said they praised the government for expediting the country’s transition to the parliamentary system, pursuing a “complementary” foreign policy, embarking on defense reforms and speeding up economic growth in 2017.

But it also said: “Public distrust in the reforms has not yet been overcome and the pace of the country’s development does not satisfy us.” The government, it said, should, among other things, do more to reduce poverty, spur job creation, and “ease income polarization,” take tougher anti-trust measures, and “revise” its social programs.

“The number one problem … is that we did not have inclusive growth, which is different from [normal] economic growth” Suren Parsyan, a representative of Dashnaktsutyun’s economic research office, said on Monday. He argued that poverty in Armenia did not decline noticeably in 2017 despite a nearly 7 percent growth rate reported by the authorities.

“The government must not confine itself to just simplifying and improving tax and customs administration,” Parsyan told reporters. “It needs to implement concrete policies so that new economic entities emerge in some sectors.”

The Dashnaktsutyun representative specifically made a case for liberalizing the Armenian fuel market that has long been effectively monopolized by a handful of fuel-importing companies owned by government-linked individuals.

Parsyan made clear at the same time that his party believes Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan’s cabinet is on the right track.

Dashnaktsutyun, which is particularly influential in the worldwide Armenian Diaspora, is represented in the government by three ministers in line with a power-sharing agreement reached with Sarkisian two years ago. It won 7 seats in the country’s 105-member parliament elected in April 2017.

Kurdish community of Armenia holds protest in front of UN Office in Yerevan (video)

Jirair Kafian
  • 19:06 | February 2,2018 | Social
  • Հայ
  • Рус

 

Today, on February 2, the Kurdish community of Armenia held a protest in front of the UN Office in Yerevan. The aim of the demonstration was to raise awareness about Turkey’s crimes in Afrin.

They demanded the UN and the superpowers not to keep silent under the “Terrorist Erdogan” shouting.

Knyaz Hasanov, the Kurdish community representative, stated that the Turkish Armed Forces bombed the Afrïn city and the peaceful population of the surrounding villages with banned weapons.

“The attack is carried out with the consent of the Russian side, with the NATO Armed Forces and the UN silence that contributes to the destruction of the local civilian population,” he said.

Their complaint was heard by Ino Penny-Larry, the Security Officer of the UN Office in Armenia.

The demonstrators handed him a letter requesting that the UN mission in Armenia and the international community be more focused on the situation.

http://en.a1plus.am/1269617.html

How President Trump is gaining leverage on Putin (as his critics smirk)- American Thinker

Emil Lazarian
| 13:55 | February 5 2018
Category
World

Americanthinker.com: Criticism and mockery accompanied publication of the US Department of the Treasury’s long-awaited report on the Russian authorities and President Putin’s closest associates (the “oligarchs list”). But a close analysis of the context and form of the report indicates that President Trump may once again gain leverage as his clueless critics smirk at his presumed incompetence.

The open part of the report, submitted by Treasury 11 minutes before the statutory expiry date, contains the names of 210 individuals, including high-ranking officials from Russia’s Presidential Administration, government members, and representatives of large businesses with a fortune of more than $1 billion.

Publication of the report was mandated by the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, passed by Congress in July 2017. The bill resembles a politico-strategic document in the form of a law, the purpose of which is to force President Trump to remain within the agenda of the political establishment and not to let him pursue any political rapprochement with Russia.

The document provoked many negative reactions among prominent members of Congress, academic experts and media. The list was criticized for being devised in an amateurish and primitive way. The list’s authors included some people that advocated normalization of relations with the United States, in particular, and the West in general, as well as some businesspeople that are not related to the closest circle of Putin and are not part of the Russian corruption hierarchy pyramid. At the same time, the creators of the report were accused of missing some odious representatives of the ruling regime that caused severe damage to the United States and its allies by their actions, who deserve to be at the top of that list.

The authors of the report were also reproached for lack of professionalism and absence of specific goals. There was widespread joking that Trump’s had provided Congress with some names from the Kremlin phone book and Forbes Magazine’s Russian edition. The Atlantic Council, a think-tank, charged that the Department of the Treasury had changed the document at the last minute, so that Congress received an entirely different list from what was prepared originally by the White House experts.

In Russia, the reaction was completely mixed. The ruling political elite perceived the publication of the “oligarchs list” with sarcasm, mocking the administration of the US President for the simplicity of the document. Nevertheless, I am deeply convinced that this reaction was in fact aimed at an internal audience, especially the ruling elite. The goal was to show that this list does not pose any threats to the Russian authorities and Putin personally. Meanwhile, the Russian President’s Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, accused the US of interfering in the presidential elections in the Russian Federation.

In fact, this document comprises the entire political and economic elite of Russia. The architects of the whole process have sent an alarm to warn them about potential forthcoming disaster – sanctions – but gave the enough time to avoid restrictions on the part of the United States. These billionaires now face a choice in what to do to protect themselves and their wealth.

Most of these entrepreneurs hold dual or even triple citizenship. Considering the fact that the legal system of Russia does not guarantee the right to private property and anyone can lose his or her property at the will of one person, it is logical to assume that much of their accumulated wealth already has been exported from Russia to other countries or offshore zones. According to various sources, over the past 22 years, the outflow of capital from Russia has amounted to about $700 billion.

It should also be noted that most of these businesspeople are not tax residents of the Russian Federation, since they do not reside on its territory for more than six months during a year. While living abroad, especially in the USA and EU, many have managed to establish strong business relations with large Western companies, take part in large-scale investment projects, purchase expensive real estate and personal property, and open and maintain accounts in Western banks, as well as get long-term loans at low interest.

But having been included in what is seen as a blacklist of the US Treasury, they face a dilemma: remaining loyal to the Russian ruling regime and risking losing major parts of their wealth from forthcoming sanctions, or trying to shield themselves and their capital through American lobbying organizations, leaving Russia, and taking away as much as possible of their remaining wealth there.

From a business standpoint, the first option is less attractive, as the potential for the security and growth of their wealth in Russia is limited, owing to the existing tough economic and political circumstances, while the possible loss from US sanctions could be considerable. Consequently, it is likely that the majority of them will prefer to keep their fortunes, business ties and contacts overseas, leaving Russia.

It is also important to note that many of these people originally acquired most of their wealth in conjunction with the state, having by various means appropriated its financial flows or natural resources. This means that they obtained crucial information about the peculiarities of the corruption pyramid and the schemes used in Russia. This kind of knowledge is of enormous value to the United States.

Given all the above-mentioned context, it is possible to say with near certainty that America’s lobbying organizations will be put to work in the upcoming months by Russian oligarchs, and new folders with compromising materials that are extremely dangerous for Putin’s administration will appear at the disposal of the US federal investigative bodies.

Artur Ghazinya PhD, is Head of the Center for European Studies.

Read more here.