By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Up to 10,000 protesters held a public rally on September 27 in Glendale against the Armenian government’s plans to sign and ratify two Protocols negotiated with Turkey which include several highly controversial issues.
The angry demonstrators expressed their rejection of Pres. Serzh Sargsyan’s conciliatory policies with Armenia’s archenemy -- Turkey. They objected to the Armenian government’s concessions to Ankara, particularly its agreement to set up an inter-governmental sub-commission to examine “the historical records” -- a Turkish ploy to undermine the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the international community. The protesters also objected to Armenia’s acceptance of Turkey’s present borders, which would preclude future territorial claims by Armenians.
The rally was jointly organized by the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Democratic League, and United Young Armenians. Representatives of the sponsoring organizations delivered fiery speeches against the Protocols. I was keynote speaker at the rally. My remarks were delivered in Armenian. Below are excerpts in English:
“Today is a very sad day for me, as well as for all Armenians worldwide. While Armenia was suffering under the Soviet yoke for 70 years, Armenians worldwide were dreaming of the day when their homeland would be independent, and they would be masters of their own fate. It never occurred to us that when that blessed day would finally arrive and the homeland would be free, we would be compelled to challenge the authorities of independent Armenia.
“Regrettably, out of concern for Armenia’s cherished national interests, we are obliged to gather here to express our indignation and protest against these Protocols. Today, Armenians from all walks of life have come together, regardless of their political and religious affiliations, immigrants and natives alike, to say a loud NO in unison!
“NO, primarily to Turkey, the successor state to the genocidal Ottoman Empire! NO, to the dictatorial regime in Azerbaijan! NO, to territorial concessions on Artsakh! NO, to Russia! NO, to France! NO, to the United States! In particular, NO to the sub-commission on history that would question the facts of the Armenian Genocide! NO, to the Treaty of Kars! And a categorical NO, to the Armenian government’s inept diplomatic initiative on the Protocols!
“We are also gathered here to say YES to all those who defend the Armenian national interest! YES, to all those who pursue the recognition of the Armenian Genocide! YES, to all those who demand compensation from Turkey for damages emanating from the Genocide! YES, to all those who reclaim our historical lands! Finally, YES, to all those who support the independence of the Republic of Artsakh!”
I concluded my remarks by citing the ten major objections I had written about in my last week’s column regarding the Armenia-Turkey Protocols. I expressed "the fervent hope that Armenia’s leaders would have the courage and wisdom to change their minds and not sign and ratify these Protocols. Should they proceed to conclude these infamous agreements, however, I fully expect the next President and National Assembly of Armenia to promptly abrogate them and dump them into the dustbin of history."
In view of the outpouring of vehement opposition to the Protocols during the Glendale rally, it is reasonable to expect that a much larger protest would take place in front of the President’s hotel, during his Los Angeles visit on October 4.
To avoid a deeper split between the Government of Armenia and Armenians worldwide who outnumber those in the homeland, one would hope that Armenian officials would find a gracious way out of this terrible predicament, in order to bring to an end the discord within the global Armenian family. Armenians need to muster all their resources to jointly counter a resurgent Turkey and a menacing Azerbaijan.
A modest suggestion to Armenia’s leaders, assuming that they are prepared to listen, would be to take a deep breath before making a final determination on the fate of the Protocols. They should be in no rush to sign and ratify them, since the Protocols contain no deadlines. A way out would be to renegotiate and amend these flawed documents.
Otherwise, future generations would not forgive Armenia’s leaders for the lasting damage they would bring to the national interests of Armenia and the Armenian Cause.
The blog contains articles and thoughts in English, Armenian and Arabic about Armenian issues, Artsakh-Karabakh issue, Armenian Genocide as well as the life of Armenians and Christians in Iraq and the Middle East.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
10 Major Concerns Regarding Armenia-Turkey Protocols
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
In earlier columns, I had described the major negative aspects of the already initialed Armenia-Turkey Protocols made public on August 31. The concerns I had expressed dealt with two unacceptable preconditions -- recognizing the territorial integrity of Turkey and establishing a joint committee of experts to study historical archives, a not so-veiled reference to re-examining the Armenian Genocide.
Below is a more comprehensive evaluation, providing 10 reasons why the Armenian government should not have initialed, and should not sign and ratify these Protocols:
1) Armenia’s leaders made the misjudgment of trying to resolve a large number of emotionally-charged Armenian-Turkish issues all at once, through a single agreement. Decades of antagonism cannot be dealt with in such haste. Armenian officials should have proceeded cautiously and gradually, starting with the simple step of establishing diplomatic relations, followed by the opening of the border. More complicated issues should have been left for a later date.
2) Since the declared purpose of these negotiations is the opening of the border with Armenia -- which Turkey shut down 16 years ago -- there was no reason to conduct such protracted and complex negotiations, and draft an elaborate document that included many unrelated and unacceptable conditions. It may have been wiser to draft a one-sentence agreement that would have simply stated: “Armenia and Turkey agree to establish diplomatic relations and declare their mutual border open on January 1, 2010.” In fact, such a one-line agreement was adopted by the United States and Turkey in 1927, when establishing diplomatic relations.
3) Armenia did not have to make any concessions in order to entice Turkey to open its border. Since Turkey has been desperately trying to join the European Union for several decades, it has no choice but to open its border with Armenia. The EU requires that all member states have open borders with neighboring countries.
4) By rushing to shut down the border in 1993, Turkey deprived itself of an important leverage over Armenia. Should Turkey reopen the border, it would once again repossess that leverage, holding the threat of closing the border as a Damoclean Sword over Armenia’s head. This threat becomes particularly potent, once Armenia’s population is increasingly dependent on imported, cheap Turkish foodstuffs and goods. Should Turkey decide to close the border in the future under some pretext, Armenia’s leaders would not be able to reverse the damage done to the nation’s interests, even if they abrogated the Protocols!
5) Prime Minister Erdogan said once again last week that Turkey would not open its border with Armenia, unless the Karabagh (Artsakh) conflict is resolved. Armenia’s leaders should announce that they will not sign these Protocols, since Turkish officials have made it crystal clear that they have no intention of keeping their side of the bargain.
6) Retired Turkish Ambassador Yalim Eralp made an important disclosure during a recent interview. He stated that the Turkish Parliament, while ratifying the Protocols, could declare them to be valid only after the resolution of the Karabagh conflict. Should the Turks advance such a condition, the Armenian Parliament could retaliate by requiring that the Protocols go into effect only after Turkey acknowledges the Armenian Genocide and Azerbaijan recognizes the Republic of Artsakh!
7) The Protocols do not include any requirement that they be signed and ratified by a particular date. The oft-mentioned October 12 or 13 signature dates are not mentioned in the text of the Protocols. The Armenian government should not rush to sign and ratify these Protocols. Armenia’s leaders may yet be saved from damaging their country’s interests by Turkey’s reluctance to ratify the Protocols. Turkey may blink first!
8) Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian admitted last week that there is no legal requirement to submit these Protocols to Parliament for ratification. However, such ratification would unnecessarily compound the damage done to Armenia’s national interests.
9) The Armenian government made no attempt during the lengthy negotiations with Turkey to consult with Diaspora Armenians, despite the fact that the Protocols addressed vital pan-Armenian issues. Months ago, when organizations and individuals expressed serious concerns regarding the preliminary text of the Protocols, they were simply ignored by the Armenian authorities. Attempts to hold discussions at the eleventh hour are futile, since the Armenian Foreign Minister has declared that the Protocols cannot be amended.
10) When the Armenian President met with leaders of more than 50 political parties in Yerevan last week, the five-hour-long “consultations” were held behind closed doors. Regrettably, only the President’s remarks were publicized. One would hope that when Pres. Sargsyan goes on his planned trip in early October to Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, and Beirut, his discussions with Diaspora leaders would be more open and transparent, and preferably televised.
The one unintended outcome of this heated controversy is the coming together of diverse Armenian organizations to take a common stand against these Protocols. It is everyone’s earnest hope that the intense intra-Armenian discord would not last long and Armenia’s leaders would find the courage and wisdom to stand down from their decision to sign and ratify these Protocols detrimental to the Armenian Cause.
Publisher, The California Courier
In earlier columns, I had described the major negative aspects of the already initialed Armenia-Turkey Protocols made public on August 31. The concerns I had expressed dealt with two unacceptable preconditions -- recognizing the territorial integrity of Turkey and establishing a joint committee of experts to study historical archives, a not so-veiled reference to re-examining the Armenian Genocide.
Below is a more comprehensive evaluation, providing 10 reasons why the Armenian government should not have initialed, and should not sign and ratify these Protocols:
1) Armenia’s leaders made the misjudgment of trying to resolve a large number of emotionally-charged Armenian-Turkish issues all at once, through a single agreement. Decades of antagonism cannot be dealt with in such haste. Armenian officials should have proceeded cautiously and gradually, starting with the simple step of establishing diplomatic relations, followed by the opening of the border. More complicated issues should have been left for a later date.
2) Since the declared purpose of these negotiations is the opening of the border with Armenia -- which Turkey shut down 16 years ago -- there was no reason to conduct such protracted and complex negotiations, and draft an elaborate document that included many unrelated and unacceptable conditions. It may have been wiser to draft a one-sentence agreement that would have simply stated: “Armenia and Turkey agree to establish diplomatic relations and declare their mutual border open on January 1, 2010.” In fact, such a one-line agreement was adopted by the United States and Turkey in 1927, when establishing diplomatic relations.
3) Armenia did not have to make any concessions in order to entice Turkey to open its border. Since Turkey has been desperately trying to join the European Union for several decades, it has no choice but to open its border with Armenia. The EU requires that all member states have open borders with neighboring countries.
4) By rushing to shut down the border in 1993, Turkey deprived itself of an important leverage over Armenia. Should Turkey reopen the border, it would once again repossess that leverage, holding the threat of closing the border as a Damoclean Sword over Armenia’s head. This threat becomes particularly potent, once Armenia’s population is increasingly dependent on imported, cheap Turkish foodstuffs and goods. Should Turkey decide to close the border in the future under some pretext, Armenia’s leaders would not be able to reverse the damage done to the nation’s interests, even if they abrogated the Protocols!
5) Prime Minister Erdogan said once again last week that Turkey would not open its border with Armenia, unless the Karabagh (Artsakh) conflict is resolved. Armenia’s leaders should announce that they will not sign these Protocols, since Turkish officials have made it crystal clear that they have no intention of keeping their side of the bargain.
6) Retired Turkish Ambassador Yalim Eralp made an important disclosure during a recent interview. He stated that the Turkish Parliament, while ratifying the Protocols, could declare them to be valid only after the resolution of the Karabagh conflict. Should the Turks advance such a condition, the Armenian Parliament could retaliate by requiring that the Protocols go into effect only after Turkey acknowledges the Armenian Genocide and Azerbaijan recognizes the Republic of Artsakh!
7) The Protocols do not include any requirement that they be signed and ratified by a particular date. The oft-mentioned October 12 or 13 signature dates are not mentioned in the text of the Protocols. The Armenian government should not rush to sign and ratify these Protocols. Armenia’s leaders may yet be saved from damaging their country’s interests by Turkey’s reluctance to ratify the Protocols. Turkey may blink first!
8) Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian admitted last week that there is no legal requirement to submit these Protocols to Parliament for ratification. However, such ratification would unnecessarily compound the damage done to Armenia’s national interests.
9) The Armenian government made no attempt during the lengthy negotiations with Turkey to consult with Diaspora Armenians, despite the fact that the Protocols addressed vital pan-Armenian issues. Months ago, when organizations and individuals expressed serious concerns regarding the preliminary text of the Protocols, they were simply ignored by the Armenian authorities. Attempts to hold discussions at the eleventh hour are futile, since the Armenian Foreign Minister has declared that the Protocols cannot be amended.
10) When the Armenian President met with leaders of more than 50 political parties in Yerevan last week, the five-hour-long “consultations” were held behind closed doors. Regrettably, only the President’s remarks were publicized. One would hope that when Pres. Sargsyan goes on his planned trip in early October to Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Moscow, and Beirut, his discussions with Diaspora leaders would be more open and transparent, and preferably televised.
The one unintended outcome of this heated controversy is the coming together of diverse Armenian organizations to take a common stand against these Protocols. It is everyone’s earnest hope that the intense intra-Armenian discord would not last long and Armenia’s leaders would find the courage and wisdom to stand down from their decision to sign and ratify these Protocols detrimental to the Armenian Cause.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Armenian Official Web Sites Subjected to Hacker Attacks
During the past two months, several Armenian web sites were targets of hacker attacks. Official sites were hacked including the government’s web site.
While trying to open some of them, users met messages by “Iraqi hackers” –such was the nickname of the trespassers who left their contacts and a warning. But
In particular, the experts noted that after breaking a certain site, hackers usually followed two scenarios. First, they posted disinformation on the broken web site, the latter mostly were news sites or sites of state government bodies. The second scenario met by Armenian society was the changed content of web site when hackers posted written information or Ramil Safarov’s picture, the Azerbaijani army officer who ax-murdered an Armenian colleague during a 2004 NATO training course in Hungary.
Information security experts said these attacks were aimed at testing vulnerable spots in the Armenian virtual network. The attacks were also aimed at trying to divert attention from the problems of Azerbaijani society, including of the armed forces.
The measures taken by the Armenian government against these attacks were not enough. For instant, a state-run Internet task force was created in April 2009 to watch Internet security, but government information technology consultant Garegin Chukaszian said the team can only "patch up" problems. After the new attacks a group of experts set up to protect Armenian web sites from the cracks of Azerbaijani hackers. 75 specialists and journalists expressed willingness to be involved in the group.
Obviously, Internet security is an important element of the country’s national security and
Ara S. Ashjian
Yerevan,
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Friday, September 04, 2009
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
From Armenian Diocese of Iraq- Communique No.3
For the past 30 years as Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq, Archbishop Avak Asadourian constantly visited the Armenian communities throughout Iraq. And during the past 30 years Iraqis have witnessed three wars and a 13 year old embargo which took their toll on the citizenry including the Armenian components of Iraq. It is for this specific reason that His Eminence saw it his duty to constantly visit his flock especially during times of upheaval and difficulties.
This time Avak Serpazan paid a pastoral visitation to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq accompanied by Mr. Baruir Hagopian, chairman of the Diocesan Council. From 18-27 August, 2009 Serpazan Hayr and the accompanying delegation visited the Armenian communities of Erbil, Duhok, Avzroog, Havresk, Zakho and then back to Erbil.
On Tuesday afternoon 18th August in the city of Ankawa, Province of Erbil, His Eminence and Mr. Hagopian had a meeting with Fr. Arakel Kasparian, parish priest of the Holy Echmiadzin Armenian Church of Mosul and two parish council members. Because of the dangerous situation in Mosul city, half of the Armenians of that city relocated their residence to the cities of Erbil, Duhok, Zakho and the-totally-Armenian village of Havresk. At this time there are 91 families in Mosul totaling 252 Armenian individuals. Then the parish priest and the parish council members of Kirkuk paid a courtesy visit to His Eminence.
Next day 19th August Serpazan Hayr and the delegation traveled to Duhok city accompanied by Mr. Razmik Muradian, the chairman of the newly established Armenian community of Erbil. Mr. Muradian is the general manager of Ishtar TV who volunteered his time to be with the delegation coming from Baghdad for the entire time it was moving around in the north of Iraq.
The St. Nersess Shnorhali Church of Duhok city was consecrated almost a year ago. On Wednesday afternoon, August 19th His Eminence was welcomed by Fr. Masis Shahinian, parish priest of the Armenian community of Duhok city together with parish council members. After welcoming ceremonies His Eminence and Mr. Hagopian held extensive meetings with Fr. Masis and parish council members regarding the issues facing the newly established Armenian parish of Duhok . There are 49 families totaling 226 Armenians in Duhok city, some of them coming from Mosul and Baghdad.
On Thursday Morning August 20th, His Eminence and Mr. Hagopian together with the other members of the delegation, paid an official visit to Mr. Gorgis Burwari, the lieutenant-governor of Duhok Province. Serpazan Hayr presented the needs of the Armenians of Duhok to the city officials with the understanding that these needs will be attended to soon.
On Friday morning, August 21st, the Primate celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Nersess Shnorhali Armenian Church in Duhok. After services a luncheon was hosted in honor of Avak Serpazan and the delegation. In the afternoon Serpazan Hayr visited a number of Armenian families.
On Saturday Morning August 22nd, the delegation traveled to the totally-Armenian-village of Avzroog. At the entrance of the village Serpazan Hayr was met by Fr. Apel Aprahamian, Fr. Artoon Khalatian, parish council members together with a big number of villagers. Serpazan Hayr celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Vartan Church of Avzroog village. His Eminence's sermon was translated to Kurdish by Fr. Apel as most of the Armenian villagers speak only Kurdish. In his sermon Serpazan emphasized that "becoming and remaining good Christians is an everyday decision that will help us to stay Armenians throughout our lives true to our Christian faith, Mother Church and national heritage of our forefathers". After the Liturgy a lunch was hosted in honor of Serpazan Hayr and Mr. Hagopian with the partaking of the entire village. In the parish hall a program was presented by the Sunday School youngsters that included Armenian songs and poems. There are 70 families in Avzroog totaling 560 faithful souls.
In the afternoon of the same day, Serpazan Hayr and the delegation visited the newly constructed village of Havresk. They were met at the entrance of the hall named after Levon Pasha Shaghoyan, who was a general from Van and had fought against the Ottoman Empire and then led many Vanetsee people to this region in the late twenties of the 20th century. After a meeting with the appointed committee members of the village a special program was presented by the youth of this village which included national songs. Here Serpazan spoke about "the necessity of maintaining our language and Christian faith which will sustain our Armenian soul to stay healthy and able to face the difficulties of everyday life which has become plentiful since the war of 2003."
The village of Havresk was reestablished in 2005 through a very generous donation by Mr. Sarkis Aghajan, at that time the minister of finance of the Kurdistan autonomous region of Iraq, who built 115 homes for former people of Havresk to relocate from Baghdad due to the lack of security in the capital of Iraq. At this time there are 115 homes adding up to 575 individuals. The Diocese is approaching some humanitarian institutions with a request of building a church and a school in Havresk.
On Sunday Morning August 23rd, Serpazan Hayr and the delegation visited the city of Zakho which has had an Armenian population since the early 30's of the last century. At the entrance of St. Asdvadzadzin Church Serpazan was met by the parish priest Fr. Artoon Khalatian, parish council members and many Armenian faithful. During Badarak His Eminence was assisted by Fr. Apel Aprahamian who translated Serpazan's sermon into Kurdish. After Liturgy a special meeting took place with the parish priest and the parish council members followed by a luncheon which was hosted by the Armenian population of Zakho. There are some 234 Armenian families here, totaling more than 1170 faithful.
On Monday morning, August 24th, Serpazan Hayr, Mr. Hagopian and the delegation returned to Erbil. On the way His Eminence visited Aghajanian village, which is home to 24 Armenian families who had fled the city of Mosul due to the dangerous situation in this city. There are 146 Armenian faithful living here. Scattered around this area live about 32 other Armenian families with 156 individuals in the Christian cities of Qaraqosh, Bartalla and Karemles.
Monday afternoon, the blessing of grapes ceremony was conducted in the Armenian center of Ankawa city adjacent to Erbil. After the ceremony His Eminence delivered an exhortation for more than half an hour touching on numerous subjects which are of interest to the newly established community in Erbil. The number of Armenians in this capital city of Kurdistan Region is comprised of 95 families totaling 483 faithful. There are plans to build a new church with a parish house hopefully in the next year.
During the eight days of his visitation and in his capacity as General Secretary of the Council of the Christian Church Leaders in Baghdad Archbishop Avak Asadourian met with the primates of sister churches discussing with them the important issue of establishing the Council of the Christian Church Leaders of Iraq.
It must be mentioned with gratitude that Mr. Sarkis Aghajan, previously the finance minister of the Kurdistan autonomous region in Iraq, has extended a generous helping hand to the Christian population in Iraq building for them churches, community halls, villages with living quarters. For this Christian act of generosity many patriarchs bestowed upon him medals of honor as did His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians.
As for the Armenians of Iraq His Excellency Mr. Sarkis Aghajan helped us by donating an apartment compound for the needy Armenian families in Baghdad, a new church and parish house in Duhok city, apartment complex in Zakho, two community halls one in Avzroog and another in Havresk. Also, 20 residential units were built near Karemles which Avak Serpazan named "Aghajanian village" in honor of Mr. Aghajan.
And although the donations have been generous, it must be emphasized and not forgotten that the needs, wants and requirements are much greater across all of Iraq due to the severe circumstances that all Iraqis underwent for the past six and a half years and continue to do so.
His Eminence and the delegation returned to Baghdad on Wednesday August 26th, 2009.
May Almighty God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Amen.
Divan of the Diocese
August 30, 2009, Baghdad
PS/ Some photos by Deacon Sevan Palanjian and Vahe Avedisian are attached.
Also see:This time Avak Serpazan paid a pastoral visitation to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq accompanied by Mr. Baruir Hagopian, chairman of the Diocesan Council. From 18-27 August, 2009 Serpazan Hayr and the accompanying delegation visited the Armenian communities of Erbil, Duhok, Avzroog, Havresk, Zakho and then back to Erbil.
On Tuesday afternoon 18th August in the city of Ankawa, Province of Erbil, His Eminence and Mr. Hagopian had a meeting with Fr. Arakel Kasparian, parish priest of the Holy Echmiadzin Armenian Church of Mosul and two parish council members. Because of the dangerous situation in Mosul city, half of the Armenians of that city relocated their residence to the cities of Erbil, Duhok, Zakho and the-totally-Armenian village of Havresk. At this time there are 91 families in Mosul totaling 252 Armenian individuals. Then the parish priest and the parish council members of Kirkuk paid a courtesy visit to His Eminence.
Next day 19th August Serpazan Hayr and the delegation traveled to Duhok city accompanied by Mr. Razmik Muradian, the chairman of the newly established Armenian community of Erbil. Mr. Muradian is the general manager of Ishtar TV who volunteered his time to be with the delegation coming from Baghdad for the entire time it was moving around in the north of Iraq.
The St. Nersess Shnorhali Church of Duhok city was consecrated almost a year ago. On Wednesday afternoon, August 19th His Eminence was welcomed by Fr. Masis Shahinian, parish priest of the Armenian community of Duhok city together with parish council members. After welcoming ceremonies His Eminence and Mr. Hagopian held extensive meetings with Fr. Masis and parish council members regarding the issues facing the newly established Armenian parish of Duhok . There are 49 families totaling 226 Armenians in Duhok city, some of them coming from Mosul and Baghdad.
On Thursday Morning August 20th, His Eminence and Mr. Hagopian together with the other members of the delegation, paid an official visit to Mr. Gorgis Burwari, the lieutenant-governor of Duhok Province. Serpazan Hayr presented the needs of the Armenians of Duhok to the city officials with the understanding that these needs will be attended to soon.
On Friday morning, August 21st, the Primate celebrated Divine Liturgy and delivered the sermon at St. Nersess Shnorhali Armenian Church in Duhok. After services a luncheon was hosted in honor of Avak Serpazan and the delegation. In the afternoon Serpazan Hayr visited a number of Armenian families.
On Saturday Morning August 22nd, the delegation traveled to the totally-Armenian-village of Avzroog. At the entrance of the village Serpazan Hayr was met by Fr. Apel Aprahamian, Fr. Artoon Khalatian, parish council members together with a big number of villagers. Serpazan Hayr celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Vartan Church of Avzroog village. His Eminence's sermon was translated to Kurdish by Fr. Apel as most of the Armenian villagers speak only Kurdish. In his sermon Serpazan emphasized that "becoming and remaining good Christians is an everyday decision that will help us to stay Armenians throughout our lives true to our Christian faith, Mother Church and national heritage of our forefathers". After the Liturgy a lunch was hosted in honor of Serpazan Hayr and Mr. Hagopian with the partaking of the entire village. In the parish hall a program was presented by the Sunday School youngsters that included Armenian songs and poems. There are 70 families in Avzroog totaling 560 faithful souls.
In the afternoon of the same day, Serpazan Hayr and the delegation visited the newly constructed village of Havresk. They were met at the entrance of the hall named after Levon Pasha Shaghoyan, who was a general from Van and had fought against the Ottoman Empire and then led many Vanetsee people to this region in the late twenties of the 20th century. After a meeting with the appointed committee members of the village a special program was presented by the youth of this village which included national songs. Here Serpazan spoke about "the necessity of maintaining our language and Christian faith which will sustain our Armenian soul to stay healthy and able to face the difficulties of everyday life which has become plentiful since the war of 2003."
The village of Havresk was reestablished in 2005 through a very generous donation by Mr. Sarkis Aghajan, at that time the minister of finance of the Kurdistan autonomous region of Iraq, who built 115 homes for former people of Havresk to relocate from Baghdad due to the lack of security in the capital of Iraq. At this time there are 115 homes adding up to 575 individuals. The Diocese is approaching some humanitarian institutions with a request of building a church and a school in Havresk.
On Sunday Morning August 23rd, Serpazan Hayr and the delegation visited the city of Zakho which has had an Armenian population since the early 30's of the last century. At the entrance of St. Asdvadzadzin Church Serpazan was met by the parish priest Fr. Artoon Khalatian, parish council members and many Armenian faithful. During Badarak His Eminence was assisted by Fr. Apel Aprahamian who translated Serpazan's sermon into Kurdish. After Liturgy a special meeting took place with the parish priest and the parish council members followed by a luncheon which was hosted by the Armenian population of Zakho. There are some 234 Armenian families here, totaling more than 1170 faithful.
On Monday morning, August 24th, Serpazan Hayr, Mr. Hagopian and the delegation returned to Erbil. On the way His Eminence visited Aghajanian village, which is home to 24 Armenian families who had fled the city of Mosul due to the dangerous situation in this city. There are 146 Armenian faithful living here. Scattered around this area live about 32 other Armenian families with 156 individuals in the Christian cities of Qaraqosh, Bartalla and Karemles.
Monday afternoon, the blessing of grapes ceremony was conducted in the Armenian center of Ankawa city adjacent to Erbil. After the ceremony His Eminence delivered an exhortation for more than half an hour touching on numerous subjects which are of interest to the newly established community in Erbil. The number of Armenians in this capital city of Kurdistan Region is comprised of 95 families totaling 483 faithful. There are plans to build a new church with a parish house hopefully in the next year.
During the eight days of his visitation and in his capacity as General Secretary of the Council of the Christian Church Leaders in Baghdad Archbishop Avak Asadourian met with the primates of sister churches discussing with them the important issue of establishing the Council of the Christian Church Leaders of Iraq.
It must be mentioned with gratitude that Mr. Sarkis Aghajan, previously the finance minister of the Kurdistan autonomous region in Iraq, has extended a generous helping hand to the Christian population in Iraq building for them churches, community halls, villages with living quarters. For this Christian act of generosity many patriarchs bestowed upon him medals of honor as did His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians.
As for the Armenians of Iraq His Excellency Mr. Sarkis Aghajan helped us by donating an apartment compound for the needy Armenian families in Baghdad, a new church and parish house in Duhok city, apartment complex in Zakho, two community halls one in Avzroog and another in Havresk. Also, 20 residential units were built near Karemles which Avak Serpazan named "Aghajanian village" in honor of Mr. Aghajan.
And although the donations have been generous, it must be emphasized and not forgotten that the needs, wants and requirements are much greater across all of Iraq due to the severe circumstances that all Iraqis underwent for the past six and a half years and continue to do so.
His Eminence and the delegation returned to Baghdad on Wednesday August 26th, 2009.
May Almighty God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Amen.
Divan of the Diocese
August 30, 2009, Baghdad
PS/ Some photos by Deacon Sevan Palanjian and Vahe Avedisian are attached.
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