برلماني مسيحي: سنشترك في حكومة إقليم كردستان دون شروط مسبقة

http://ar.aswataliraq.info/?p=164812

العراق يطالب السلطات السويدية بوقف الترحيل القسري لمواطنيه الذين طلبوا اللجوء في السويد

http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php/topic,337535.0.html

Amid violence, Iraqi archbishop ‘more pessimistic than ever’ about Christians’ future

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16963

مطران الكلدان في كركوك متشائم بشأن مستقبل المسيحية في العراق

http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php/topic,337931.0.html

مشاركة غاراباغ في عملية مباحثات التسوية ضرورية

http://int.armradio.am/arab/index.php?part=1&id=31724

لجنة القضية الأرمنية في الولايات المتحدة تدعو إلى تقديم المعلومات عن اللاجئين الأرمن من أذربيجان

http://int.armradio.am/arab/index.php?part=1&id=31723

فوج سياحي اوربي لزيارة الاماكن الدينية في اقليم كردستان

http://www.iraqhurr.org/content/article/1809897.html

Ադապտացվում են իրաքահայերը

http://www.aysor.am/am/news/2009/08/28/iraq/

سيادة المطران افاك اسادوريان يقيم قداسا في كنيسة مريم العذراء في دهوك

http://www.ishtartv.com/news,8725.html

سيادة المطران افاك اسادوريان يزور ابناء الرعية في دهوك

http://www.ishtartv.com/news,8718.html

مطران أرمن العراق يشيد بحالة التعايش الديتي والأخوي في أقليم كوردستان

http://www.sotaliraq.com/iraqnews.php?id=46418

Karabakh Says Azeris Playing ‘Islamic Factor’

http://www.asbarez.com/2009/08/27/karabakh-says-azeris-playing-%e2%80%98islamic-factor%e2%80%99/

Haigazian University to hold Armenian genocide talk

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=105751

مؤتمر في "هايكازيان" في 3 و4 المقبل عن "الإبادة الأرمنية والقانون الدولي"

http://www.almustaqbal.com/stories.aspx?storyid=364632

Քերքուկի Հայ Գաղթօճախը

http://www.asbarez.com/arm/2009/08/17/64530

الممثلة التركية البارزة بيلين باتو تعلن أن أحداث عام 1915 ليست سوى المجزرة ضد الأرمن

http://int.armradio.am/arab/index.php?part=1&id=31481

اللاجئون العراقيون في تركيا

http://www.iraqcp.org/tarikalshab/75/3/index4.htm
http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php/topic,250802.0.html
http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php?topic=252984.0
http://www.ensan.net/news/122/ARTICLE/2599/2008-03-20.html
http://www.kerkuk.net/haberler/haber.aspx?dil=2049&metin=200801093

اللاجئون العراقيون في سوريا: نتسول من المنظمات وحكومتنا منشغلة عن أوضاعنا

http://www.azzaman.com/index.asp?fname=2009\08\08-24\992.htm&storytitle=

مجلة فرنسية: تغيير أسماء 12211 قرية في تركيا

http://www.aknews.com/ar/aknews/7/62993/

رئيس لجنة القضية الأرمنية يبعث برسالة إحتجاج الى وزيرة الخارجية الأميركية

http://int.armradio.am/arab/index.php?part=1&id=31174

قرار المحكمة الأميركية بمنع الأرمن من رفع دعاوى على شركات التأمين

http://int.armradio.am/arab/index.php?part=1&id=31175

وزيرة المهجر تستقبل نائب رئيس لجنة الألعاب الأرمنية العالمية

http://int.armradio.am/arab/index.php?part=1&id=31172

سيادة المطران آفاك اسادوريان يواصل زياراته التفقدية لابناء الرعية في محافظة دهوك

http://www.ishtartv.com/news,8675.html

After six years of U.S. occupation, infrastructure not improved in Iraq

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_5026.shtml

Mass Wedding in Karabakh Results in Baby Boom

http://www.asbarez.com/2009/08/20/mass-wedding-in-karabakh-results-in-baby-boom/

بيان هام صادر عن الممثلية العليا للسكان الأصليين والأقليات العراقية بشأن تصاعد عمليات الإبادة في العراق

http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=97ae94552b961fbcad6a70c015945f76&topic=332194.0

New settlement for Iraqi Armenians in Darbnik village

http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=621azgl41

الدنمارك تجلو طالبي لجوء عراقيين من كنيسة تمهيداً لترحيلهم

http://www.azzaman.com/index.asp?fname=2009\08\08-14\997.htm&storytitle=

Azeri community leader in UAE talks about the Armenians

http://www.azad-hye.net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=140azgd54

Azeri community leader in UAE misrepresents facts related to the Armenians:
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2009/08/19/uae/

Rant Iraqi Christians in Danger of Extinction

http://www.rantrave.com/Rant/Iraqi-Christians-in-Danger-of-Extinction.aspx

From the Armenian Church of Iraq- A visit to the Armenian Community of Kirkuk

In times of needs and difficulties, it is the duty of concerned shepherds to visit their flock. It is with this understanding that Archbishop Avak Asadourian, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq, together with Mr. Baruir Hagopian, Chairman of the Diocesan Council, visited the Armenian Community of Kirkuk on 6 & 7 August, 2009. They were accompanyed by Deacon Sevan Palanjian, a theology student of our Diocese.
At the entrance of the city of Kirkuk they were met by Parish Council members who welcomed their guests in a befitting manner. Then His Eminence proceeded to the the Chaldean Diocese where he was hosted by His Grace Louis Sako, the Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk. Here they were met by Rev. Fr. Avedik Mardirosian, Parish Priest of the Armenian Community of Kirkuk. This arrangement was necessary for reasons of security.
In the afternoon, Avak Serpazan and Mr. Baruir Hagopian visited the parish house where they met with the priest and then with the parish council members. They discussed the many difficulties that are specific to the politics regarding the claim of the many groups concerning Kirkuk. Afterwads, His Eminence met with the Armenian Community at the Community Center where a special program was presented by the Sunday School Children and the Choir of St. Asdvadzadzin Church which included songs and poems.
After this presentation His Eminence addressed the community by exhorting them on the virtues of belonging ( badganeliutyoon) to the Armenian Race. Serpazan Hayr reminded his flock that as Armenians they have deep roots in the soil of history. He advised them to come together as often as they could in order to feel the presence of each other. Then Serpazan Hayr destowed gifts on all those who participated in the program. New graduates from different school levels were also recognized. The Armenian Community of Kirkuk is comprised of 90 families, some 350 faithful.
On Friday morning, August 7 His Eminence confirmed the rank of Tbir on 8 young men during the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr. Avedik. During this time 2 young men received the order of sub-deacon as well.
On this occasion Serpazan Hayr delivered the sermon and called upon the people to keep their church alive, radiant and flourishing by actively participating in her life. He congratulated the people for encouraging their children to take part in community and Church affairs. Serpazan recognized the efforts of Fr. Avedik in the above accomplishments.
Taking leave of the Armenian Community and their host, the Primate and the accompanying delegation returned to Baghdad in the afternoon.

PS/ Some photos by Vahe Avedisian are attached

Divan of the Diocese

Read also (in Armenian):

http://www.asbarez.com/arm/2009/08/17/64534

Ask Representative Pallone

Mr. Pallone championed funding for Iraqi-Armenian refugees' resettlement in Armenia

http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2009-08-10-ask-representative-pallone

Newsletter 2

http://www.scribd.com/doc/18325077/Newsletter-2

هجوم جديد ضد المسيحيين ومقتل 34 بتفجير حسينية في الموصل

http://www.azzaman.com/index.asp?fname=2009\08\08-07\999.htm&storytitle=

مرور عام على رحيل بياتريس أوهانسيان

http://www.alsabaah.com/paper.php?source=akbar&mlf=interpage&sid=87255

إبراهيم اليوسف : آرام ديكران ..أحد أعظم عمالقة الغناء الكردي الأصيل وداعاً

http://rudem.elaphblog.com/posts.aspx?U=349&A=23673

آرام ديكران فنَّانُ الرّوحِ والجَمالِ

http://www.welateme.org/cand/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2514

Armenian Musician Aram Tigran to Be Buried in Diyarbakır

http://www.bianet.org

محافظ البصرة: الطائفة المسيحية والطوائف الأخرى مكونات أساسية في المحافظة وحمايتها واجبة

http://www.sotaliraq.com/iraqnews.php?id=46070

مسيحيو الموصل يستغربون تصريحات النجيفي ويؤكدون بقاء الوضع على ما هو عليه

http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php/topic,327498.0.html

وكان محافظ نينوى قد قال انه لايوجد هناك اي هجمات استهدفت المسيحيين في مدينة الموصل وان العملية الاخيرة التي استهدفت الحسينة والكنيسة في منطقة الفيصلية هي عملية بسيطة جدا

http://www.ankawa.com/forum/index.php/topic,327281.0.html

Church Bombings Could Bring to the End of Christianity in Iraq

On July 11 and 12, 2009, six churches were targeted in Baghdad, another church was bombed in the northern city of Mosul on July 13, leaving five dead and more than 32 injured. Iraqi Christians began fleeing the country once more.

The “orchestrated” campaign “is aimed at terrorizing vulnerable groups and preventing the peaceful coexistence of different religious groups in what is one of the world’s cradles of religious and ethnic diversity,” said Ad Melkert, the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq. Iraq’s small Christian community has been vulnerable to violence in Iraq because it does not have militia or tribal structures to protect itself and does not receive enough official protection.

Since the US-UK invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, Iraqi Christians have come under attack. Church leaders estimate that 250,000 of Iraq's 800,000 Christians have fled Iraq for safer surroundings. Armenians were among those who left Iraq to Syria, Jordan, Armenia, European Countries and the United States.

It is noteworthy that in January 2008, six churches in Mosul and Baghdad were bombed in coordinated attacks on Epiphany and Orthodox Christmas Eve. Christian leaders, including the Archbishop of Mosul, have also been targeted by kidnappings and killings. Christian leaders have warned the result of this flight may be the end of Christianity in Iraq.

On the end of the month at least 29 people died in Baghdad Shiite Mosque bombing. Such attacks aim at driving the country to internal fighting and chaos after the withdrawal of the US troops from Iraqi cities and the increasing tension between the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region and the central government in Baghdad over Kirkuk and other issues.

Ara S. Ashjian

Yerevan, Armenia