Saturday, July 31, 2010

Analysis: Bryza as Ambassador to Azerbaijan bodes ill for NKR self-determination

http://armenianow.com/commentary

Turkey sued in California over Armenian genocide

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE66T5LH20100730

My Comment: It is not true that "The U.S. government has never formally called the events a genocide..", however, as the U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and U.S. House of Representatives twice (in 1975 and 1984) recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Russia supplies arms to Azerbaijan

http://news.am/eng/news/26328.html

Howard Berman: Turks, once they come to terms with their past, will discover that they have relieved themselves

PanARMENIAN.Net

House Panel Shines Spotlight on Turkey

http://asbarez.com

مقاضاة تركيا في كاليفورنيا بشأن ابادة الارمن

http://www.masrawy.com

Armenians sued Turkey

http://news.am/eng/news/26484.html

حقيقــــة واقـــع الاقليــات العراقيــة

http://www.sotaliraq.com/articlesiraq.php?id=69854

هجرة مسيحيي نينوى تتصاعد جراء البطالة والخوف والحصار

http://www.newsabah.com

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Bryza Wrongly Tells Senators: Armenian Patriarch is Dead

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Barack Obama ran for the Presidency on a platform of "change" and promised to bring a fresh approach to domestic and foreign policy issues. After the election, however, he disappointed his supporters by continuing many of his predecessor’s policies.
One example of Pres. Obama's failure to break with the past is his nomination of Matt Bryza as the next Ambassador to Azerbaijan. Bryza is a relic from the Bush Administration with a checkered and controversial past. He is a liability rather than an asset to the Obama administration and the United States.
For several months, Bryza had been going around Washington, dropping not so subtle hints that he will become the next Ambassador to Azerbaijan. The fact that it took almost a year before he was actually nominated to that post, indicates that there were serious complications, including concerns by Russia about Bryza’s role in the Georgian-Russian war, Azerbaijan’s objection to his backing of Armenia-Turkey protocols,conflict of interest allegations about his wife’s work, and questions about his wedding expenses.
Given all of these controversies, Bryza would have never been nominated as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, were it not for some powerful friends at high places. According to press reports, Dan Fried, former Assistant Secretary of State, had personally recommended Bryza to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the post of ambassador.
Bryza’s marriage to Zeyno Baran, a native of Turkey, generated the most controversy. The issue was not her ethnic origin, but what she did for a living, as Director of the Center for Eurasian Policy at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think thank that reportedly receives funding from ExxonMobile and other energy companies. According to Washington Times, "Turkish and Azerbaijani business interests funded a major conference at the Hudson Institute, which was organized in part by Mrs. Bryza." The newspaper quoted ANCA as stating that "the policy positions that Mrs. Bryza has advocated have often been aligned with … the interests pursued by the Azerbaijanigovernment and energy corporations with interests in the Caspian [Sea] region," and that "Mr. Bryza might be in violation of federal ethics rules because of his wife’s connections to Turkish and Azerbaijani business interests."
Bryza was extensively questioned about his possible conflicts of interest during theSenate Foreign Relations Committee’s July 22 hearing on his nomination as Ambassador to Azerbaijan. In response, Bryza told the Senators that the U.S. government had thoroughly checked his family’s finances and "uncovered no conflicts of interest." He further told the Senators that his wife "Zeyno has undertaken a pledge to refrain from bringing any issue related to the Hudson Institute before…the State Department or before the U.S. Embassy in Baku." Needless to say, his wife’s reported "pledge" is not a legally binding commitment.
Another controversial issue addressed by Bryza at the hearing was the serious allegation that Heydar Babayev, former Azeri Minister of Economic Development, helped pay for the Bryzas’ lavish 2007 wedding in Istanbul. Infuriated by the accusation, Babayev sued the Azeri newspaper that had published the story. The journalist who had written the report was arrested and beaten, before fleeing the country. He has since filed a lawsuit against Azerbaijan in the European Court of Human Rights.
Bryza assured the Senators that it is "absolutely untrue" that Minister Babayev had financed his wedding. Nevertheless, should the European Court find that Minister Babayev had in fact helped pay for the wedding, Bryza could face several serious charges, including violation of U.S. government’s gift acceptance and disclosure policy, non-reporting of such contribution to IRS as income, and perjuring himself during Senate testimony.
Bryza proudly announced to the Senators that he and his wife had invited to their wedding people they had known during the course of their work over the last decade -- including government officials, diplomats, opposition leaders, NGO’s, and religious leaders in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cyprus and Greece. Bryza stated that among the invitees to the wedding was "the Armenian Patriarch Mesrob, now deceased!"
As is widely known, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey is very much alive, even though he suffers from dementia. It is simply astounding that Bryza does not know that Patriarch Mesrob is still alive -- someone he felt close enough to invite to his wedding! One hopes that this error is not indicative of how misinformed Bryza is about key people and events in that critical part of the world, where he seeks to represent the United States.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

نواب في برلمان ناغورني كاراباغ يشيدون بالتجربة الكوسوفية

http://www.azg.am/AR/2010072401

NKR NA: ICJ confirmed that people’s right to self-determination does not violate international law

PanARMENIAN.Net

Artur Tovmasyan: time is opportune for Armenia to recognize NKR independence

PanARMENIAN.Net

FAAE: Hague Court ruling was a serious blow to Ilham Aliyev

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2010/07/24/ashot-grigoryan/

NKR considers Hague court ruling on Kosovo independence important

PanARMENIAN.Net

NKR has no intention to appeal to International Court of Justice

http://news.am/eng/news/25877.html

Kosovo’s recognition step toward recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh

http://news.am/eng/news/25880.html

Friday, July 23, 2010

RA Defense Ministry advises press service of Azerbaijani Defense Ministry not to present desirable for reality

PanARMENIAN.Net

ICJ verdict on Kosovo must be precedent for NKR’s international recognition

http://news.am/eng/news/25826.html

Hague International Court lends hand to Nagorno-Karabakh

http://news.am/eng/news/25801.html

ANCA Chairman addresses letter to US Senate

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/07/23/eremenihaber/

"Holocaust" Not Limited To Jews

http://www.timesunion.com

مع تعليق -صربيا ترفض قرار محكمة العدل بشأن استقلال كوسوفو

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arabic

تعليق: على أذربيجان، التي تتمسك بمبدأ وحدة وسلامة الأراضي من دون احترام مبدأ تقرير المصير الذي لا يخالف القانون الدولي، أن تستخلص العبر من قرار المحكمة الدولية هذا، في ما يتعلق بحق تقرير المصير لشعب جمهورية ارتساخ-ناغورني كاراباخ الذي أعلن استقلاله عام 1991، على وفق الدستور السوفييتي النافذ آنذاك. وقد صد الأرمن في الإقليم هجوم الجيش الأذربيجاني لمواصلة سياسة الإبادة المنتهجة ضدهم، لا سيما في العام 1988. لقد كان الإقليم جزأ لا يتجزأ من أرمينيا خلال التاريخ، كما أن جمهورية أذربيجان الحالية تعلن أنها تكمل جمهورية أذربيجان التي أعلنت في العام 1918 والتي كانت لا تضم الإقليم الأرمني. وقد منح الإقليم إلى أذربيجان، بقرار غير شرعي، في العام 1923. وتحتل أذربيجان أراضي جمهورية ارتساخ-ناغورني كاراباخ في منطقتي مارتاكيرت وشاهوميان، إلى جانب إقليم تاخيتشيفان الأرمني الذي منحته السلطات السوفييتية إلى أذربيجان إرضاء لتركيا الكمالية.


An Article in the Azeri Media and My Comments

http://www.today.az/news/politics/71118.html

My Comments:
  1. The Azerbaijan's Embassy in Syria sent the request of "clarification" to the Iraqi Embassy in Syria. However, the Azeri media put the name of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Damascus in the title and the name of Syrian representation of the EU Commission for Refugees in the news story to impress the reader falsely!
  2. It is strange that Azerbaijan only now remembers the Iraqi Armenian refugees while they might settle in Artsakh-NK Republic's liberated lands during the increase of their immigration to Syria in the last seven years (after the US-UK occupation of Iraq in 2003),
  3. It is fact that 800-1000 Iraqi Armenians had settled in Armenia in the last seven years,
  4. Iraqi citizens are free to choose the places of their settlement. It is not the duty of the Iraqi Embassies to follow and tell the embassies of other countries about those places, especially in countries, like Armenia, where there are no Iraqi Embassies,
  5. It is Azerbaijan that launched the war against Artsakh-NK Republic to continue the genocidal policy it started against the Armenians especially in 1988. Armenians of Artsakh declared their independence according to the constitution of the former Soviet Union in 1991 and defended their land against the Azerbaijan's aggression. Historically, Artsakh was an inseparable part of Armenia, and the current Azerbaijan Republic declares it continues the first Republic in 1918 which did not include Artsakh. Artsakh was illegally given to Azerbaijan in 1923. It is Azerbaijan that occupies lands from Artsakh-NK Republic in Martakert and Shahumian regions, beside the Nakhichevan Armenian region, which was also given to Azerbaijan by the Soviet regime to satisfy Turkey.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry criticizes St. Petersburg proposals on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

http://www.today.az/news/politics/71279.html

My Comment: After denying the existence of such proposals, Azerbaijani FM confessed that proposals were made in St. Petersburg claiming that "in St. Petersburg the sides were presented with usual working proposals that are made often". However, it criticized it by saying "these working proposals were prepared by one party only without following the Minsk Group format". At the same time, Azerbaijani FM tries to show it is committed to the documents submitted by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, which it often criticizes as "pro-Armenian"!
It is obvious to all, which party in the conflict tries to hinder the peaceful settlement of the Conflict, also by repeating statements that it would resort to force to resolve it.

الأحزاب والطوائف الأرمنية تهاجم تركيا

حذرت الأحزاب الأرمنية الثلاثة ورؤساء الطوائف الأرمنية، في بيان مشترك، من «محاولة تركيا خطف المبادرة من يد الدول العربية

U.S. legislators applauded screening of “Aghet: A Genocide” documentary

http://news.am/eng/news/25715.html

Armenia says waiting for Baku’s response to St. Petersburg proposals on Karabakh

http://armenianow.com

مأثرة الأيزديين مع المسيحيين

http://www.middle-east-online.com/?id=95251

Ecclesiastical ceremony in Surb Khach Armenian church is another show of Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net

ارمينيا ترفض وساطة تركيا في تسوية نزاع قره باغ

http://www.khabararmani.com/files/0000160.htm

Turkey has no Right to Interfere In Armenian Patriarch’s Election

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

Although the Treaty of Lausanne is supposed to protect the rights of non-Muslim minorities in Turkey – Armenians, Greeks, and Jews – these rights are routinely violated by the Turkish government.
Armenians in Turkey, fearing the government’s wrath, rarely dare to object to the repeated violations of their civil rights. Worse still, Istanbul Armenians sometimes invite Turkish officials to intervene in their community’s affairs in order to settle their internal and personal disputes.
The latest example of such blatant interference was the selection of Archbishop AramAteshyan, as Deputy Patriarch, after doctors had diagnosed the current Patriarch of Turkey, Mesrob Mutafian, as suffering from incurable dementia.
Six months ago, after a two-year delay during which the Patriarchal seat was practically vacant due to Patriarch Mesrob’s incapacity, the Patriarchate’s Religious Council wrote to the Turkish government seeking permission to elect a coadjutor (co-Patriarch). The Council then set up an Election Committee in order to organize such an election once Ankara gave its permission.
To complicate matters, the Election Committee, exceeding its authority, sent its own letter to Turkish officials, asking for permission to elect a new Patriarch rather than a co-Patriarch.
Both initiatives made the serious error of inviting the interference of the Turkish government into the Armenian community’s internal religious affairs. Furthermore, both requests contradicted the Patriarchate’s almost 600-year tradition and practice of not having a co-Patriarch, unlike the Holy See of Etchmiadzin, the Catholicosate of Cilicia, and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The request to elect a new Patriarch was also improper, since a new Patriarch can not be elected, while the existing Patriarch is still alive, as Patriarchs are elected for life.
Taking advantage of the dissension within the Armenian community, the Turkish government finally responded on June 29, allowing the election of a Deputy Patriarch, but not a co-Patriarch or a new Patriarch. By so doing, Turkish officials violated the Armenian community’s religious rights, ironically, at the community’s own request!
In authorizing a Deputy Patriarch to represent the Patriarchate, the Turkish government has in effect weakened the status of that historic institution. Since Patriarch Mesrob is mentally but not physically incapacitated, he may live for many years, while the Patriarchate is led by a mere Deputy Patriarch. Such an eventuality would serve Turkey’s interests which has always sought to assimilate the Armenians by bureaucratic obstructions, and depriving it of a freely elected and capable religious leader.
Within 48 hours of the government’s edict, Archbishop Ateshyan, who de facto ran the Patriarchate as Chairman of the 26-member Religious Council, convened a meeting which unanimously elected him Deputy Patriarch. No other clergymen were given a chance to submit their candidacies for that post.
While Armenians worldwide remained silent, with the exception of Primate of Germany, Archbishop Karekin Bekciyan, a few courageous Armenians in Istanbul dared to raise their voices in protest. The Election Committee, which the Turkish government disbanded, filed a lawsuit against Ankara’s decision, demanding the election of a new Patriarch, not just a Deputy.
Where do we go from here? Armenian religious and lay leaders outside Turkey should protest the undue interference of the Turkish authorities in the internal affairs of the Armenian Church in violation of the Lausanne Treaty.
More importantly, Armenians in Turkey should come together and declare that the office of the Deputy Patriarch is a temporary arrangement, not a long-term solution. Without asking for Ankara’s permission, the Armenian community should organize a new election to elect a co-Patriarch, who would then become Patriarch after the demise of the presently incapacitated Patriarch Mutafian.
Whether the Armenian community decides to elect a new Patriarch or a co-Patriarch is its own business, and not that of Turkish officials. It is important that the Istanbul Armenian community coalesces around a common position and avoids further dissension. If the local Armenian community becomes united and enjoys the backing of Armenians and others around the world, the Turkish government, which prides itself as a secular and democratic regime, would be more reluctant to politically interfere in the Armenian minority’s religious affairs.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Armenia Rejects Report Turkey May Open Border For NATO Exercise

http://www.rferl.org

My Comment: Obviously, Turkey tries to mislead the International Community that it is opening the "borders" with Armenia. Keeping the "borders" with Armenia closed since 1993, when Armenians of Artsakh-NK Republic defended themselves against the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, Turkey breaches basic principles in relations between states and the EU principles, which it tries to join. Turkey even breached the signed protocols with Armenia to establish diplomatic relations and open the borders when it connected carrying out the Protocols to Artsakh conflict. Turkey thinks wrongly that it is doing a "favor" while opening the "borders" with Armenia. However, Armenia survived and made huge economic progress during the blockade, which is illegal under the International Law. It is Turkey that needs Armenia more than Armenia needs Turkey. (http://asbarez.com/77615/why-turkey-needs-armenia-more-than-armenia-needs-turkey/).

Friday, July 16, 2010

Turkish church defaced with Islamist graffiti

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Azerbaijan seeks to exclude Karabakh nation’s self determination from Madrid principles, expert says

http://news.am/eng/news/25001.html

Armenian father of Iranian computer science dies

http://news.am/eng/news/24623.html

Armenians have refugees as well, Lennmarker said

http://news.am/eng/news/24961.html

Armenian Foreign Office advises Azeri FM to reread Shavarsh Kocharyan’s statement

http://news.am/eng/news/25052.html

Armenian Americans Rally for Decisive U.S. Action on Darfur

http://www.armenianweekly.com

Ismail Besikçi Is Being Tried Once More

http://www.armenianweekly.com

G. Manoyan: Turks do not see the crimes they have committed

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2010/07/14/kiro-manoyan/

Akcam: What Davutoglu Fails to Understand

http://www.armenianweekly.com

AAA expects new U.S. Ambassador in Ankara to press Turkey on Genocide recognition

http://news.am/eng/news/25045.html

Israeli Parliament May Consider Armenian Genocide Recognition

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/61527

Sunday, July 11, 2010

أشود مناتسكانيان: منذ 1952 والتواجد الأرميني بمصر في تراجع واضح

http://www.copts-united.com/article.php?I=499&A=20059

Aliyev impudent hypocrite, Armenian MP says

http://news.am/eng/news/24611.html

OSCE PA President refutes Azeri misinformation

http://news.am/eng/news/24624.html

بيان مشترك للمجلس الهيليني الاسترالي، اللجنة القومية الأرمنية الاسترالية والاتحاد الآشوري العالمي- فرع استراليا حول الابادة الجماعية

http://www.ishtartv.com/viewarticle,30091.html

GENOCIDE MEMORIAL MONUMENT

http://www.ankawa.com/english/?p=3828#more-3828

العنف يدفع مسيحيي العراق إلى هجرة لا سابق لها-(النهار)

http://www.shebacss.com/ar/media-center-27754.html

Bill on Armenian Genocide brought to French Senate agenda

http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/07/09/genocide/

مشروع قانون متعلق بالمجزرة الأرمنية في مجلس الشيوخ الفرنسي

http://www.azg.am/AR/2010071005

بيان صحفي من الرابطة الآشورية في أرمينيا حول النصب التذكاري للإبادة الجماعية

http://www.zahrira.net/?p=7361

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Clinton’s Visit to Genocide Monument Necessary but not Sufficient

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

During her visit to Armenia on July 5, U.S. Secretary State Hillary Clinton placed a wreath at the Armenian GenocideMonument at Tsitsernakaberd in Yerevan. Regrettably, however, the U.S. Embassy in Armenia issued a press release describing the visit as "private." By using such a characterization, U.S. officials were trying to preempt any backlash from the Turkish government.
In my opinion, the State Department mishandled Secretary Clinton’s visit to the Armenian Genocide Monument. Here are the reasons why:
  • There was no need to downplay the visit by characterizing it as "private," since such visits are standard procedure for foreign dignitaries visiting Armenia.
  • Paying a visit to the Genocide Monument does not necessarily imply recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as all previous and current U.S. Ambassadors have visited this site every April 24.
  • Secretary Clinton’s visit to the Genocide Monument could not have been described as "private," since it was a part of her "official" visit to Armenia.
  • The characterization of the visit as "private" was contradicted by the fact that the ribbons on the wreath she laid at the Genocide Monument carried the inscription: "From Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton."
  • Clinton’s visit the day before to the "Alley of the Martyrs" in Baku was not described as "private," creating the disturbing impression that U.S. interests in Azerbaijan’s oil weigh heavier than its humanitarian concerns for victims of genocide.
  • Another double standard was Clinton not allowing any Armenian government officials to accompany her to the Genocide Monument in Yerevan, while she was accompanied to the "Alley of Martyrs" in Baku by a Deputy Minister of Azerbaijan!
  • Clinton permitted neither the international press traveling with her nor the local Armenian media, except Armenian Public TV, to report on her visit to the Genocide Monument. Her action undermines her advocacy for media freedom.
  • There was no reason for Secretary Clinton to be coy about Genocide recognition, since Pres. Reagan had acknowledged it in 1981, and the U.S. House of Representatives had recognized it in 1975 and 1984.
Even though the State Department downgraded Secretary Clinton’s visit to the Monument, Armenian officials did their best to publicize it as much as possible! This time they acted more decisively than last May, when Mevlut Cavusoglu -- Turkish President of Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly -- refused to visit the Genocide Monument. They insisted that the Secretary add to her itinerary a stop at the Genocide Monument. They then arranged for Armenian Public TV and other TV stations to repeatedly air the video of Clinton’s July 5 visit to the Monument.
In addition, the website of the State-owned Armenian Genocide Museum prominently featured Clinton’s visit by displaying photos of her wreath with ribbons that carried a visible inscription of her name and title, and an authentic medal issued by the American Near East Relief Committee that Museum Director Hayk Demoyan presented her. Pointing across the Turkish border, Demoyan told Secretary Clinton that Mount Ararat is "a symbol of Armenia." In addition to explaining the basic facts of the Armenian Genocide, Demoyan told her that the graves of heroes fallen in Artsakh (Karabagh) were located near the Monument, since Armenians consider that war to be a continuation of the Armenian Genocide. The Secretary was also given a historical photo in which Armenian children in the American orphanage of Alexandropol (Gumri) were standing in formation that spelled out the words: "AMERICA, WE THANK YOU."
Clinton’s visit was both praised and criticized by Armenian-American organizations. The Armenian National Committee of America took Clinton to task for her "secret" visit to the Genocide Monument, while the Armenian Assembly of Americacommended her for the visit. Former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, told The California Courier that "Clinton’s visit was a small, but positive step forward." The last Secretary of State to have visited Armenia was James Baker in 1992, who did not, however, make a stop at the Genocide Monument.
In my view, Secretary Clinton should be commended for making such a positive gesture, but also blamed for going to such lengths to downplay her visit to the Genocide Monument. Why was she so concerned about offending Turks who have brazenly undermined every major U.S. foreign policy initiative in recent months?
Unfortunately, Secretary Clinton, Vice President Biden and Pres. Obama have drifted far away from their campaign promises to recognize the Armenian Genocide! Clinton’s brief stop at the Genocide Monument on July 5 is a welcome first step that fell short of her solemn commitment to support recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Clinton’s visit to reset America’s failing policies toward Armenia: ANCA

http://news.am/eng/news/23957.html

Sharmazanov: Erdogan’s latest statement on Karabakh is an evidence of Turks' stubbornness

PanARMENIAN.Net

TV debate programme suspended because of references to Armenian genocide

http://en.rsf.org

The Ordinary Genocide: Sumgait, February 1988’: English-version documentary on Sumgait pogroms shown in Yerevan

http://armenianow.com

Armenian General: Minorities Won't Fight For Azerbaijan

http://www.huliq.com

Baku, Ankara try to destroy Armenia, says Commandos

http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2010/07/01/baku-komandos/

New photos of Armenian Genocide victims revealed

PanARMENIAN.Net

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Առաջնորդ Սրբազան Հօր Այցը Իրաքի Հիւսիսային Շրջանի Հայ Համայնքներուն












Առաջնորդ Սրբազան Հօր`
Գերշ. Տ. Աւագ Արքեպս. Ասատուրեանի Այցը
Իրաքի Հիւսիսային Շրջանի Քիւրտական Ինքնավար Մարզի
Հայ Համայնքներուն
Յունիս 22-29, 2010 Թ.
Ամէն տարուայ ամառնային եղանակին Թեմիս Առաջնորդը Գերշ. Տ. Աւագ Արքեպս. Ասատուրեանը, հովուական ասան ձեռին, ճամբայ կ°ելլէ այցելելու մեր Տիրոջ բանաւոր հօտը` Իրաքի հայաշատ շրջաններուն մէջ բնակող հայութեան եւ եկեղեցիներուն: Սոյն հովուական այցելութեան Առաջնորդ Սրբազան Հօր ընկերացաւ շքախումբ մը, որուն կ°անդամկցէր Պրն. Պարոյր Յակոբեան, Ազգային Կեդրոնական Նորընտիր Վարչութեան ատենապետը, Պաղտատի Հոգեւոր հովիւներէն Տ. Նարեկ ա. քհնյ. Իշխանեան եւ Ս. Սեղանի քանի մը սպասաւորներ: Հիւսիսային շրջանի մէջ շքախումբին միացան Մուսուլի հոգեւոր հովիւը Տ. Առաքել քհնյ. Գասպարեան, Քէրքուկի Հոգեւոր Հովիւը Տ. Աւետիք քհնյ. Մարտիրոսեան, ինչպէս նաեւ Էրպիլի նշանակեալ յանձնախումբի ատենապետը Պրն. Ռազմիկ Մուրատեան եւ Մուսուլի Թաղականութեան ատենապետը Պրն. Շանթ Մուրատեան:
Նորին Սրբազանութեան գլխաւորութեամբ շքախումբը այցելեց Էրպիլ, Տըհօք, Զախօ քաղաքները եւ Հաւրէզք ու Աւզրուկ զուտ հայկական գիւղերը: Առանցքային տեղ գրաւեց Հաւրէզք գիւղի այցը զի այստեղ տեղի ունեցաւ նոր կառուցուելիք եկեղեցւոյ մը հիմնարկէքը: Շինարարական աշխատանքներուն նիւթապէս կօժանդակէ Գերմանիոյ եկեղեցիներու համախմբումը:
Յունիսի 25-ին, Ուրբաթ առաւօտուն կատարուեցաւ նոր եկեղեցւոյ հիմնարկէքի արարողութիւնը ըստ մաշտոցի: Նախօրօք ընտրուած 16 կնքահայրեր վէմ քարերը իրենց ափերուն վրայ ներկայացան Սրբազան Հօր, որն օծեց այդ քարերը Սրբալոյս Միւռոնով յանուն մեր Տիրոջ 12 Առաքեալներու, 4 Աւետարանիչներու, Ս. Պօղոս Առաքեալի եւ Ս. Գրիգոր Լուսաւորչի: Յետ աւանդական արարողութեան քարերը փաթթուած սպիտակ կտաւներու մէջ զետեղուեցան 16 փոսերու մէջ, որոնց վրայ ի մօտոյ պիտի բարձրանան նոր կառուցուելիք եկեղեցւոյ սիւները: Իր քարոզին մէջ Սրբազան Հայրը յիշեցուց հոծ բազմութեան որ "...եկեղեցի մը շէնք ըլլալէ աւելի Յիսուսի անունով հաւաքուած հաւատացելոց համախմբում մըն է: Հաւատացելները իրենք է որ ոգի կուտան կառուցուելիք շէնքին որպէսզի չմնայ չոր ու ցամաք պատեր այլ վերածուի այն սրբազան վայրին ուր հայ հաւատացեալը պիտի հանդիպի մեր Տիրոջ, գործէ որպէս Քրիստոնէական հաւատք բաշխող հոգեւոր հաստատութիւն, ինչպէս նաեւ ըլլայ տուն ազգի, ուր հայ մշակոյթը միշտ պիտի արձագանգէ մեր ժողովուրդի հոգիին խորունկը: Այսպէս գործած են հայոց եկեղեցիները ամենուր 1700 տարիներ շարունակաբար: Ուստի մենք ալ պէտք է հետեւինք մեր նախնիներու թողած հոգեկերտ ժառանգութեան որպէսզի ազգն հայոց ըլլայ բարգաւաճ ու տոկուն:" Յետ սոյն հոգեպարար արարողութեան Հաւրէզք գիւղի ժողովուրդը կէսօրուայ ճաշով հիւրասիրեց բոլոր ներկաները:
Ուրբաթ Երեկոյեան ժամը 6:00-ին Աւագ Սրբազան Ս. Պատարագ մատուցեց Տըհօքի Ս. Ներսէս Շնորհալի Եկեղեցւոյ մէջ: Նորին Սրբազնութեան առընթերակայ եղան Զախոյի եւ Քէրքուկի հոգեւոր հովիւները` Արժ. Տ. Արթուն քհնյ. Խալաթեանը եւ Արժ. Տ. Աւետիք քհնյ. Մարտիրոսեանը: Պատարագի աւարտին շքախումբը հիւրասիրուեցաւ ազգայիններու կողմէ:
Շաբաթ առաւօտուն Յունիսի 26-ին Սրբազան Հայրը եւ շքախումբը այցելեցին Աւզրուկ հայկական գիւղը, ուր սուրբ եւ անմահ պատարագ մատուցեց Արժ. Տ. Նարեկ ա. քհնյ. Իշխանեան` Ս. Վարդան Եկեղեցւոյ մէջ: Յաւուր պատշաճի քարոզեց Առաջնորդ Սրբազան Հայրը անդրադառնալով օրուայ տօնին ի մասին սրբոց Տրդատ Թագաւորի, Աշխէն Թագուհիի եւ Խոսրովադուխտի, "որոնք մեծ ներդրում ունեցան Հայաստանի մէջ Քրիստոնէական կրօնի տարածման զի անոնց կեանքերը առնջուած էին Ս. Գրիգոր Լուսաւորչի լուսազարդեալ կեանքին հետ":ՙ Ըստ սովորութեան Աւզրուկի հայութիւնը չափազանց հետաքրքրական եւ իւրայատուկ կերպով դիմաւորեց իր Առաջնորդը դհոլ-զուռնայով եւ գեղջկական պարերով: Ամբողջ գիւղը միասնաբար սիրոյ սեղանի բարիքները ճաշակեց:
Կիրակի առաւօտուն Յունիսի 27-ին Զախոյի Ս. Աստուածածին Եկեղեցւոյ մէջ պատարագեց Տ. Նարեկ ա. քհնյ.ն: Հայր մեր-էն առաջ կատարուեցաւ եկեղեցւոյ նոր աւազանի օծումը ձեռամբ Սրբազան Հօր: Արարողութեան աւարտին Առաջնորդ Հայրը իր քարոզին մէջ յիշեցուց հաւատացեալ ժողովուրդին թէ "...Մկրտութեամբ եւ կնունքով հայ փոքրիկներ կը քրիստոնէանան ու առաւել եւս կը հայանան իրենց ճակտին կրելով Ս. Էջմիածնի մէջ օրհնուած հայկական զմրուխտեայ Միւռոնը: Սակայն Միւռոնի զանազան շնորհները, որը բոլորիս կը տրուի ի վերուստ, մեզի կը մնայ զանոնք պահել հաւատով, բարիքներով լեցուն մեր շինարար գործունէութեամբ եւ ազնիւ կեցուածքներով:" Յետ պատարագի կազմակերպուեցաւ ճաշկերոյթ:
Առաջնորդ Սրբազան Հայրը եւ Թեմիս Կեդրոնական վարչութեան Ատենապետը ամէնուր իրենց այցելած վայրերու մէջ ժողովներ գումարեցին մեր Թեմի ծուխերու հովիւներուն եւ թաղականութեանց հետ անդրադառնալով Իրաքի մէջ եօթը տարիներէ ի վեր շարունակուող անապահով կացութեան, որուն առ ի հետեւանք մեր ժողովուրդը կապրի տեղաշարժ փոխադրուելով համայնքէ համայնք: Եղան կարծիքներու փոխանակում, ծաւալելիք գործունէութեանց կազմակերպում եւ վարչական կարգադրութիւններ:
Իր հերթին Նորին Սրբազնութիւնը հանդիպումներ ունեցաւ մեր ժողովուրդի զաւակներուն հետ եւ իր ելոյթներուն մէջ ան խօսեցաւ այն մասին, որ ամէն հայ անհատ կոչուած է խիզախելու իր անձէն անդին ցուցաբերելով եկեղեցանուէր զոհաբերութիւն եւ ծաւալելով ազգօգուտ ծառայութիւն: “Ազգի, Հայրենիքի եւ մեր Մայրենի Եկեղեցւոյ նկատմամբ անտարբեր ըլլալ ազգավնաս յանցագործութիւն է”- ըսաւ Սրբազանը:
Վերադարձի ճամբուն Յունիսի 28-ին Էրպիլի մէջ Սրբազան Հայրը եւ Պրն. Պ. Յակոբեան տեսնուեցան Քէրքուկի հոգեւոր հովիւի եւ թաղականութեան անդամներու հետ շօշափելով կարգ մը ազգային ու վարչական հարցեր:
Ահա այսպէս մեր Թեմի պատասխանատուները կը դիմագրուեն տարաբնոյթ դժուարութիւններ մղելով Իրաքի հայ հանրութեան հրաշք գործելու տեսլականին:

Ազգային Առաջնորդարանի
Տեղեկատուական Բաժին




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