GLENDALE – The Armenian Youth Federation-Western Region will be holding its annual protest demanding justice for the Armenian Genocide in front of the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24th .

The protest will include community activists and civic leaders across the state coming together to publicly condemn the Republic of Turkey for its continued perpetuation of a campaign resulting in the death of over 1.5 million Armenians. The participants will gather in front of the office of the Turkish Consul General at 6300 Wilshire Blvd. from 4 to 6 p.m. to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide and demand justice from the Republic of Turkey.

“Although April 24 is a sad day in history, it has a redeeming quality to it,” said Nina Amirian, one of the organizers of the event. “This day in History brings all Armenians together around the world to unite for this common cause.”

The Armenian Youth Federation calls on the community and all concerned citizens to join the protest on April 24. The organization is providing free buses which will depart Tuesday at 2 PM from various locations throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including the Pasadena Armenian Center, St. Mary’s Church in Glendale, Ferrahian Armenian School in Encino, and Pilibos Armenian School in Hollywood.

The protest is the culmination of a number of commemoration events organized by the AYF to mark the anniversary of the Genocide. A few such noteworthy events include a candlelight vigil at city hall hosted by the Burbank “Varak” Chapter, a Genocide Museum organized by the South Bay “Potorig” Chapter, and the “Cycle Against Denial” bike ride hosted by the Valley “Sardarabad” Chapter on April 14.

The protest is a symbolic focal point for the community and represents the AYF’s year-long struggle to gain proper recognition and restitution for the crime of genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government.

Founded in 1933, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) is the largest and most influential Armenian American youth organization. With chapters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the AYF actively strives to advance the social, political, educational and cultural awareness of all Armenian youth.

STEPANAKERT–The American University of Armenia (AUA) and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) have launched a collaborative initiative to help reignite the workforce in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

AGBU and AUA issued the announcement on Wednesday, April 3 during a ribbon cutting ceremony at Stepanakert School #3, attended by Karabakh Speaker of Parliament Ashot Ghoulian, Karabakh Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan and other government officials. Following the ceremony, AUA hosted two open house events at the school, introducing its graduate, undergraduate and extension programs to the local community.

While in Stepanakert, the AUA and AGBU delegation also visited with Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian, who is a strong proponent for developing Karabakh’s education system.

“We are fully aware of what the American University of Armenia brings to Karabakh and I can assure you that we will do everything to support you fully,” said President Sahakyan. “More importantly, we will express our thanks and appreciation through our advancement as a result of your work. I believe this will be the best measure of your success.”

To achieve this ambitious goal, AGBU has committed $575,000 over five-years to support a comprehensive Continuing Education Program (CEP) in Karabakh through AUA Extension. CEP will offer six levels of English language instruction and 4 certification tracks in Strategic Management, Executive Leadership, Public Policy Planning & Administration, and Tourism & Hospitality Management.

“Education is key to sparking economic growth and AUA is excited to be working with AGBU to deploy a curriculum that helps create educational opportunities that translate into university degrees or prosperous careers in Karabakh, Armenia or the world,” said AUA President Bruce Boghosian. “Through CEP, AUA Extension will provide quality, continuing education opportunities in Karabakh that enhance career paths, promote higher education, and contribute to sustainable economic development.”

AUA Extension will begin offering its CEP courses at Stepanakert School #3 while AGBU builds a new cultural, educational and artistic complex to house this and other programs.

President Sahakyan noted that AGBU is an organization that is an integral part of NKR, and it was foreseeable that AGBU would initiate such a program.

“An exciting new era begins today. The AGBU NKR Campus, when completed, will expand the horizons of the people of Artsakh, provide new opportunities and contribute to the sustainable, economic development of the country,” said AGBU Central Board Member Vasken Yacoubian. “The new campus is the natural continuation of AGBU’s unwavering support and commitment to the stability and prosperity of Karabakh since 1988.”

When construction is complete, the new AGBU NKR Campus will offer a wide range of programs for youth and adults, including training in the creative arts, media, and Internet technologies. These classes will be available to high school and college students, local businesses, entrepreneurs, and government officials.

Through the campus, CEP will offer university test preparatory courses, seminars in management, public speaking, and computer software, as well as workshops on career development, resume writing and interview skills.

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 400,000 Armenians around the world.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.

70% of Turkish school students believe Armenians, Greeks and Jews will be likely to harm Turkey if they got a chance, according to the poll held in the city of Adana.

The poll, conducted by Eğitim-Sen Union, covered 800 teachers and 1066 students.

Turkish schoolbooks and examination tests describe local Christians, especially Armenians, as traitors, Radikal said.

PanARMENIAN.Net – The chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Ken Hachikian has formally invited John Kerry, as Secretary of State, to attend the same Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide observance that he addressed during his tenure as a U.S. Senator.

As Hachikian noted in his letter of invitation, “senior Administration officials, frequently participated in Armenian Genocide Observances as recently as the late 1990s. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a sharp departure from this tradition, even as we have seen increased participation by Administration representatives in programs hosted by organizations that actively deny this atrocity against all humanity.”

“We turn to you to start your tenure as Secretary in the right direction on this score by personally participating, along with your Obama Administration colleagues, in the upcoming April 24 Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill.”

“We raise this issue with you in the spirit of the letter we sent you earlier this year noting how very pleased we were to see the Department of State being led by someone with your long and distinguished record of leadership on U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It was in the same context of shared values that we continue to offer you our help in facilitating a continued dialogue with our community, and we ask you to urge President Obama to honor his as yet unfulfilled pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide,” the letter said.

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Sunday April 21, 2013 6PM Organized BY ANCA-OC. On April 24 Armenian Genocide Commemoration are Held around the world.

Play By AGBU MDS ARTREACH PROJECT.

Location:

Gugasian Hall 5315 W. McFadden Ave. Santa Ana, CA.

Diyarbakir- Clashes between Islamic and the supporters of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) continued yesterday at Dicle University in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.

The clashes between students erupted during “our great prophet,” a conference held to commemorate the birthday of Islam’s holy prophet Muhammad.

Death to PKK, death to Marxism and Allah is Great (Allah-u-Akbar) was shouted by Islamist students and the pro- PKK student shouted anti- fascist mottos, crying “this is Kurdistan”.

Police was forces to use pepper and tear gases to dispurse the protesters.

Meanwhile, the co- chair of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Aysel Tugluk who was mediating in the clashes was injured by a bottle threw by police at the protesters.

Massoud Barzani and his relatives allegedly control a large number of commercial enterprises in Kurdistan-Iraq, with a gross value of several billion US dollars. The family is routinely accused of corruption and nepotism by Kurdish media as well as international observers.

 Ekurd.net April 11, 2013

SLÊMANÎ, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— Kurdish opposition parties rejected granting an extension or a third term to Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, calling to respect the law that limits the term in two periods.

In breaking news by the opposition sites, the three main Kurdish opposition forces (Change Movement-Gorran, Islamic Federation and the Islamic Group) decided today to respect the dating of the elections and conducting provincial elections which were not implemented for the last eight years.

The opposition called for the implementation of “political reforms and not neglecting parliamentary reform resolutions, which are “the basic demands of the Kurdish people in the region”.

The opposition parties met in Slêmanî (Sulaimaniyah) to reply for the call of the two main Kurdish parties for the extension or renewing the presidency term of Barzani.

Last month the presidency of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan announced that the President,www.ekurd.net Massoud Barzani did not ask to extend the mandate of his term.

Omêd Sabah, a spokesman for the Presidency of Kurdistan said in a statement “(NRT) independent Kurdish TV satellite channel broadcasted a news bulletins on Saturday evening 30/3/2013 stated that the President of Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani asked to extend his mandate”.

In a letter to Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Massoud Barzani has conveyed the Kurdistan Region Presidency’s decision that presidential and parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region must be held before September 8th, 2013. The Region’s last presidential and parliamentary elections were held in the July of 2009.

A joint meeting held on last Sunday, 7 April, between members of the political offices of Talabani’s Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK and Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP at the headquarters of the political bureau of the PUK in Sulaimaniyah. After the meeting, the two sides have visited the headquarters of main Kurdish opposition party the (change) movement to meet with Nawshirwan Mustafa, leader of the movement.

Gorran is the strongest opposition movement in Iraqi Kurdistan with 25 seats in the 111-member parliament.

Gorran enjoys wide support in Kurdistan region. Gorran emerged in regional elections in 2009 as a rival to the two main ruling Kurdish parties and won 25 seats in the parliament. Gorran is challenging Talabani’s PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), and the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party), of regional president Massoud Barzani and accuses the parties of corruption. It’s headed by the former senior PUK-leader Nawshirwan Mustafa, who was Talabani’s deputy until 2007.

Massoud Barzani and his relatives allegedly control a large number of commercial enterprises in Kurdistan-Iraq, with a gross value of several billion US dollars. The family is routinely accused of corruption and nepotism by Kurdish media as well as international observers.

Since February 2011, till middle April 2011, thousands of protesters gathered daily in Sulaimaniyah and other parts of Kurdistan against corruption and the lording over Kurdistan region by two main parties KDP and PUK. Kurdish protestors demand the ouster of the local Kurdistan government KRG, calling for improving services and living conditions and fighting corruption.

Most of the demonstrators opposed Massoud Barzani, and the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP. Ten people were killed and more than 700 others wounded and 220 more have been arrested in clashes between demonstrators and Kurdish security forces during a wave or protests that swept Sulaimaniyah. The Kurdish security forces (Asayish) arrested and tortured a lot of activists and journalists.

Sources: aswataliraq.info | krp.org | ninanews.com | Agencies

11:54, 11 April, 2013

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, ARMENPRESS. The Kingdom of Jordan recognized the election of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem on April 9. The “Armenpress” reporter in Jerusalem, member of St. James Convent Archimandrite Koryun Baghdasaryan stated this.

His Majesty King Abdullah the 2nd, King of Jordan, has signed a special ferman recognizing His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian as the 96th Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem.

His Grace departed for Amman to have a meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah the 2nd and personally receive the ferman. The Grand Sacristan Archbishop Sevan Gharibian and a number of Archimandrites of St. James Convent accompanied His Eminence Nourhan Manoogian. The Palestinian authorities also recognized the election of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem on February 28. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hosted the elected Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian and a number of priests accompanying him in his residence in Ramallah on the same day.

His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian has been elected the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem on January 24. The patriarchal throne remained vacant since the former Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Rev. Archbishop Torkom Manoukyan passed away after long illness at the age of 93.

Archbishop Nourhan Manougian (baptismal name Boghos) was born in Aleppo, Syria on 22 July 1948. He received his primary education in the Haigazian School of Aleppo.

In 1961 he entered the Theological Seminary of Antellias to start his theological education.  In 1966 he entered the Jarangavortz Theological Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. On 27 July 1968 he was ordained to the diaconate.

In 1971 he was ordained a celibate priest by then Patriarch of Jerusalem Yeghishй Derderian and was given the priestly name of Nourhan.  Following his ordination, he was appointed to serve as the Vice Dean of entered the Jarangavortz Theological Seminary from 1971 to 1972.  In 1975 he was named as the Dean of the Seminary.

In 1972 and 1973 Father Nourhan continued his pastoral mission and served as the spiritual pastor of the Armenian faithful in Geneva, Switzerland.   Father Nourhan received the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet) in 1973.

Following his service in Europe, Father Nourhan returned to the Middle East and from 1974 to 1980 served as the spiritual pastor of the Armenian community of Haifa, Israel.

In 1980 upon the invitation of then Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, he left for New York, New York and entered the General Theological Seminary, where he furthered his theological education.  He graduated in 1983.

Remaining in the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, in 1994, he served as the spiritual pastor of the St. Gevork Church in Houston, Texas.

In 1998 he returned to Jerusalem where he served as the Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

On 14 December 1999 he was consecrated as a Bishop by the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II.  He was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by the Pontifical Encyclical of His Holiness Karekin II in 2000.

In 2009, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, designated Archbishop Nourhan as Patriarchal Vicar. He currently serves at the Patriarchate supervising the activities of the Departments of the Patriarchate.