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CYPRUS PEACE PROSPECTS GET BOOST FROM UN's TOP MAN

Famagusta Gazette - Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou has made a positive assessment of Ban Ki-Moon’s visit, saying it has given a fresh impetus to talks aimed at a solution to the Cyprus problem. Stefanou described as "a positive element" the interest shown by the UN and the world body's chief himself towards a solution, adding that their involvement is not merely legitimate but sought after as well. Αsked if Ban Ki-Moon's position that "now is the time for a solution" constitutes pressure, Stefanos Stefanou said that the Secretary-General meant simply that the current conditions and confluences are right, and that these should be made use of. He stressed that the United Nations and the Secretary General do not act either as mediators or arbitrators. He said Ban's visit confirmed that the negotiations are Cypriot owned, adding that the pace and shape of future talks will be decided by the two leaders and none other. The Government Spokesman pointed out that reports and concerns about an interim agreement and an arbitration attempt by Ban Ki-Moon during the Secretary-General's visit were flatly and categorically belied.

HURRIYET SEES BREAK-THROUGH IN CYPRUS TALKS

Gibrahayer - Tuesday 2 February - Turkish mainland newspaper Hurriyet reports that the Greek Cypriot side have accepted a "package" prepared by Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots regarding settlers from Turkey that live in the occupied north, who will be granted right of visa-free entry, free travel, free settlement and right to obtain property. The paper says that Cyprus President Demetris Christofias was quoted as saying that the nod of Greece and the EU was needed for the package and that the acceptance of the Turkish package was "big progress" in the Cyprus talks. Hurriyet says that the Greek Cypriots accepted the package prepared by the Turkish side just before the contacts of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who arrived Sunday on Cyprus in a bid to re-energise slow-moving talks aimed at reunifying the divided island and finding a power-sharing formula. Ban's visit to Cyprus is seen as a personal effort in support of talks between Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat who have achieved significant progress in more than 60 meetings over the last 17 months of open-ended negotiations. Greek Cypriots rejected a U.N.-sponsored plan in 2004 by 76%, in a referendum, named after then-secretary-general Kofi Annan, to end the islands division. The most recent U.N.-led negotiations lasted three days and ended without progress on Jan. 13. Ban's 36-hour trip also aimed to dispel widespread public gloom on both sides of the divide that the two leaders can successfully end the long-standing dispute that impedes Turkey's bid to join the European Union and harms EU-NATO cooperation. Hurriyet concludes that wide differences remain between the sides on many issues including that of property.

CONTROVERSY OVER ARMENIAN PATRIARCH'S ELECTIONS IN TURKEY

Bolis (Hurriyet)–Upcoming elections to select a new Patriarch for Turkey’s Armenians have become increasingly enveloped in confusion, as two separate community applications to hold the polls were recently filed with the Istanbul Governor’s Office. While the Patriarchate’s clerical board intends to elect a ‘co-Patriarch,’ an ‘Entrepreneur Committee’ of community foundation directors is insisting on electing a completely new Patriarch. The Patriarchate’s clerical board recently decided to elect a co-Patriarch for the Armenian community due to the deteriorating heath condition of current Patriarch Mesrop II. The elected co-Patriarch would then become the Patriarch following Mesrop II’s death. At the same time, the Entrepreneur Committee, a body consisting of the directors of the community’s foundations, has initiated proceedings to elect a completely new Patriarch. This means that two separate applications to elect the community’s religious leader have now been filed with the Istanbul Governor. After learning of the committee’s application, the clerical board released a statement condemning the filing of election papers, as the double application has cast a shadow over the co-Patriarch elections tentatively scheduled to be held May 12. Mesrop II was elected in October 1998 as the 84th Patriarch of Turkey’s Armenians by the community of 50,000. Mesrop II fell ill following the Jan. 19, 2007, assassination of Hrant Dink; the Patriarchate has since declaring his illness to be dementia. His duties have been assumed by the clerical board under Archbishop Aram Atesyan. Intra-communal debate on the matter has led to calls for the election of a co-Patriarch. According to the canon law of the Armenian Apostolic Church, an elected Patriarch holds his title until death, meaning that it is impossible to elect a new Patriarch until the passing of the incumbent one. Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review about the situation, Arsen Asik, one of the former directors of the committee, said the community was going through a very sensitive time, adding that he approved of the committee’s actions. “Mesrop II is in a condition in which he cannot fulfil his duties. Let us assume that a co-Patriarch is elected and then a legal problem occurs. At that point, the co-Patriarch might say, ‘I do not have authority’ and isolate himself [from the situation],” Asik said. Sarkis Elbe, one of the current members of the foundation, also approved of the committee’s actions but expressed some wariness about the general situation. “Nobody knows what is going on behind closed doors,” he said, referring to the clerical board’s decision to elect a co-Patriarch. Sevan Ataoglu, a young member of the community, disagreed with Elbe and Asik, saying he is against the idea of electing a completely new Patriarch and added that the community wants to see Mesrop II as full Patriarch until his death. “I believe the government is interfering with the Entrepreneur Committee. That is why they are so determined,” Ataoglu said, claiming both the state and the committee had a secret candidate in mind for the position. “There may be government advice [but] not interference,” Elbe said in response to such claims. “Such rumours were seen during the previous elections too; they do not seem that believable.”

A KARABAKH WAR MAY HAVE GLOBAL IMPACT

Asbarez.com - An analyst for Strafor Global Intelligence has said that the continuing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can have global ramifications, regardless of the role the regional powers play in the conflict resolution process or in their positioning for regional dominance. “Things could get out of hand, not because Russia, Turkey or Iran want it to get out of hand, but because simply the internal dynamics of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan take over and we have situation like in 1914 when a local conflict in Bosnia created a global war,” said Strafor analyst Marko Papic in a video interview obtained from the organisation's Web site. Warning that Russia, Turkey and Iran could find themselves in a conflict that is out of their hands, Papic said that Nagorno-Karabakh is a very important topic right now because “the interplay of these major regional powers is going to depend on what happens in Armenia and Azerbaijan.” “Russian interests from start for this particular conflict have been to really involve Turkey in an intractable conflict that really cannot be solved. And this really wastes Turkey’s time and energy in a region where Russia feels very secure—it feels that it's not going to lose any leverage over either Armenia or Azerbaijan because of inroads Turkey may make. Furthermore, Azerbaijan seems to slowly be drifting toward Russia, as it feels spurned by Turkish negotiations with Armenia,” added Papic. Strafor Global Intelligence is an international think-tank specialising in reports and analysis of global issues and events.

CYPRUS EURO-PARLIAMENTARIAN IOANNIS CASSOULIDES INTERVENES FOR ARMENIA IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Brussels, 28 January 2010 -   The Armenian National Committee of Cyprus reports that DISY Euro-Parliamentarian Ioannis Cassoulides made an intervention about Armenia during the Foreign Affairs Committee meeting of the European Parliament in Brussels. During the discussion on the draft report of the Bulgarian Socialist Euro-Parliamentarian Mr. Kirilof, regarding the EU strategy for the Southern Caucasus, Mr. Cassoulides expressed his disagreement on the unfair criticism against Armenia, while he noted that specific references regarding Nagorno-Karabagh do not correspond to reality. There is also mention about “displaced persons” (that refer to Azeri citizens), while there is no corresponding reference to “refugees” (that refers to Armenian citizens of Azerbaijan, outside Nagorno Karabagh). Reference is also made to unfortunate violent incidents after the Presidential Elections, while steps to normalise the situation are missing. Also there is no mention about the Parliamentary Convention Report of the Council of Europe about the validity of the elections. Mr. Cassoulides announced that he will present relevant amendments to the draft report, which is expected to be discussed again and adopted by the relevant Foreign Affairs Committee at the end of March. (pictured above MP Ioannis Cassoulides with Vera Yakoubian, Ragip Zarakoglu and EAFJD Chair Hilda Choboian)

ISRAEL CAN NO LONGER IGNORE THE EXISTENCE OF THE FIRST HOLOCAUST

Saturday, 30 January 2010 - Robert Fisk - While Israelis commemorated the second Holocaust of the 20th century this week, I was in the Gulbenkian library in Jerusalem, holding the printed and handwritten records of the victims of the century's first Holocaust. It was a strange sensation. The Armenians were not participating in Israel's official ceremonies to remember the six million Jewish dead, murdered by the Germans between 1939 and 1945, perhaps because Israel officially refuses to acknowledge that Armenia's million and a half dead of 1915-1923 were victims of a Turkish Holocaust. Israeli-Turkish diplomatic and military relations are more important than genocide. Or were. George Hintlian, historian and prominent member of Jerusalem's 2,000-strong Armenian community in Jerusalem, pointed out the posters a few metres from the 1,500-year old Armenian monastery. They advertised Armenia's 24 April commemorations. All but one had been defaced, torn from the ancient walls or, in at least one case, spray-painted with graffiti in Hebrew. "Maybe they don't like it that there was another genocide," George told me. "These are things we can't explain." More than 70 members of George's family were murdered in the butchery and death marches of 1915 – when German officers witnessed the system of executions, rail-car deportations to cholera camps and asphyxiation by smoke in caves – the world's first "gas" chambers. One witness, the German vice-consul in Erzerum, Max von Scheubner-Richter, ended up as one of Hitler's closest friends and advisers. It's not as if there's no connection between the first and second Holocausts. But the times, they are changing. For ever since Turkey began shouting about Israel's slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza a year ago, prominent Israeli figures have suddenly rediscovered the Armenian Genocide. Who are the Turks to talk about mass murder? Has anyone forgotten 1915? For George and his compatriots – there are in all 10,000 Armenians in Israel and the occupied West Bank, 4,000 of them holding Israeli passports – they had indeed been forgotten until the Gaza war. "In 1982, the Armenians were left out of a Holocaust conference in Jerusalem," he said. "For three decades, no documentary on the Armenian Genocide could be shown on Israeli television because it would offend the Turks. Then suddenly last year, important Israelis demanded that a documentary be shown. Thirty Knesset members supported us. We always had Yossi Sarid of Peace Now but now we've got right-wing Israelis." Maariv and Yediot Ahronot began to mention the Armenian Genocide and George Hintlian turned up on Israeli television with Danny Ayalon – the Foreign Office Minister who humiliated the Turkish ambassador by forcing him to sit on a sofa below him – and Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin who said that Israel should commemorate the Armenian Genocide "every year". The Israeli press now calls the Armenian Genocide a "Shoah" – the same word all Israelis use for the Jewish Holocaust. As George put it with withering accuracy: "We have been upgraded!!!" This piece of brash hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed by Yossi Sarid who has described how, a few months after Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the Gaza war, "an important Israeli personality telephoned me and said the following: 'Now you have to hit back at the Turks, to denounce them for the crimes they committed against the Armenians You, Yossi, have the right to do so...'" Sarid was appalled. "I was filled with revulsion and my soul wanted to puke," he wrote in Haaretz. "The person who telephoned me was an example of the ugly Israeli who had disgracefully been at the forefront of those who denied the Armenian Holocaust." So now "new tunes" – Sarid's phrase – are being heard in Jerusalem: "The Turks are the last ones who have the right to teach us ethics." The bright side to this anguished debate is that one of Israel's top Holocaust experts bravely insisted – to the fury of then-Foreign Minister (now President) Shimon Peres – that the Armenian massacres were undoubtedly a genocide. Tens of thousands of Israelis have always believed the same; several hundred are expected to turn up at the Armenian commemoration on 24 April, and most Israelis refer to the Armenian Genocide as a "Shoah" rather than the tame "massacres" hitherto favoured by the political elite. Yet the most extraordinary irony of all occurred when the Armenian and Turkish governments last year agreed to reopen diplomatic relations and consign the Armenian Holocaust to a joint academic enquiry which would decide "if" there had been a genocide. As Israeli Professor Yair Oron of the Open University of Israel said, "I am afraid that countries will now hesitate to recognise the (Armenian) genocide. They will say: 'Why should we grant recognition if the Armenians yielded?' Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a paramount moral and educational act. We in Israel are obliged to recognise it." And American-Armenian UCLA Professor Richard Hovannisian asked: "Would the Jewish people be willing to forgo the memory of the Holocaust for the sake of good relations with Germany, if Germany were to make that demand?" George Hintlian described the Armenian-Turkish agreement – which in fact may not now be ratified by either side – as "like an earthquake".

We walked together in the cold afternoon through the darkened interior of the great Armenian monastery of Jerusalem with its icons and candles. George opened a cabinet to reveal a hidden staircase up which priests would creep for a secret week when invaders passed through Jerusalem. In this dank, pious place, Ronald Henry Amhurst Storrs, governor of British Mandate Jerusalem, would often sit to ponder what he called "the glory and the misery of a people". Miserable it has been for thousands of Armenians here. Up to 15,000 lived in Palestine until 1948, many of them survivors of the first Holocaust. But 10,000 of these Armenians shared the same fate as the Palestinian Arabs, fleeing or driven from their homes by the army of the new Israeli state. Most lost their businesses in Haifa and Jaffa, many of them seeking refuge – for the second time – in Jerusalem. A few set out for Cyprus where they were dispossessed for the third time by the 1974 Turkish invasion. As George put it bleakly, "Today, 6,000 Armenians are residents of Jerusalem and the West Bank. They cannot travel and they are counted as Armenian Palestinians. For Israeli bureaucracy, they are Palestinians."

George himself is the son of Garbis Hintlian who, as a 17-year-old, survived the death march from his home at Talas in Cappadocia. "We lost my uncle – my grandfather was axed to death in front of him." After the 1918 armistice, he worked for the British, carrying files of evidence to the initial (but quickly abandoned) Constantinople trials of Turkish war criminals. To no avail. And glory be, if the tables haven't changed again! Turkey and Israel have made up and become good friends again. Yossi Sarid anticipated this. "Let us assume that Turkey will renew its ties with Israel. Then what? What then? Will we also renew our contribution to the denial of the Armenian Holocaust?"

ARMENIA-DIASPORA UNITY MUST BE PRESERVED AT ALL COST

Harout Sassounian - In recent months, as heated debates raged on the Armenia-Turkey Protocols, Diaspora Armenians reacted with frustration and anger at the damage these agreements would have caused to Armenian national interests. While Armenia’s leaders have the right to take decisions on behalf of the country’s 3 million inhabitants, they also have an obligation to take into account the interests of all 10 million Armenians worldwide on pan-Armenian issues, such as the Genocide, the Artsakh (Karabagh) conflict, demands from Turkey. In negotiating the Armenia-Turkey Protocols, Armenian officials should have shown more sensitivity to critical national issues. By signing the contested agreements with Turkey, they alarmed and deeply hurt Armenians worldwide. Thousands of angry demonstrators reacted by hurling vitriolic epithets at Pres. Sargsyan, during his October tour of the Diaspora to promote the Protocols. Such confrontations, unprecedented during earlier presidential visits, reflected negatively on the authorities as well as the protesting public. A small land-locked state faced with blockade, war, economic hardships and enemies on both sides, can ill afford internal divisions and conflicts with its Diaspora. Such discord can only please Turkish leaders who have made no secret of their scheme to split Armenia from "the radical Diaspora," thus making it easier for them to extract concessions on Artsakh, Genocide recognition, and demands for restitution. What lessons Armenians must now draw from the disheartening experience of infighting over the Protocols? read the rest of the article here

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Letters to the Editor

Dear Simon, Last week in Gibrahayer Linda Aintablian submitted the information reported by APA (Azerbaijan Press Agency) regarding the issuance of a stamp by "the US Postal Service dedicated to Shusha...etc" is nothing but a gross misinformation posted by Caspianbusinessnews.com. Please note that this stamp is NOT issued by the US Postal Service and is NOT sold at US Post Offices. This stamp is a customised PC product privately designed and printed on a PC printer by some enterprising Azeri through ZAZZLE.COM which is a USPS approved licensed vendor. You can buy one sheet (20 stamps) of 44 cent Zazzle Custom Stamps for $17.95 (Small), $18.95 (medium) or $19.95 (large) and post your product for sale at a higher price in the Zazzle Market Place. Please visit ZAZZLE.COM for more information on many other customised products you can have. GARO KASSABIAN - CALIFORNIA - USA To be more effective in our quests of pan national interests, Diaspora Armenians should seek to be represented in The United Nation as a Nation in Exile, and achieve such an status first, to fulfil our final objectives by forming an Exiled Diaspora Government/Representation with the help of United Nations. This is Diaspora Armenian's human right, since the formation of Diaspora Armenians is a direct consequence of a Genocide already acknowledged by 22 countries and 44 US. states. Kindest regards, Karekin Diban Dear Melkoniantsi friends, Many Melkonian Alumni officially remembered "mer parerarner, Melkonian yeghpayrnerou Ore yev gadaretzin badshaj Hokehankisti araroghoutiunner yev entouneloutiunner ou haydnetzin irentz yerakhdakidagan ezkatzoumnere". We want to share our thoughts expressed during the reception with all Melkoniantsis by attaching a report in this regard for your information. Click here Best regards, Zohrab Shamassian - Melkonian Alumni Int'l press coordinator - 949 855 2015 - zohrabs@cox.net

7or.am -

News in Brief by Sevag Devletian

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2011 (FY11) budget, released earlier Monday, calls for $40 million in assistance to Armenia — $10 million more than his FY10 request, but still $1 million less than the total appropriated by Congress last year, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).The figure, while representing a substantial increase over the President’s last request, falls just short of the $41 million actually appropriated last year by Congress, and far short of the $70 million request that was made last year by the Armenian Caucus and broadly supported by Armenian American advocacy organisations. Efforts to reconcile Turkey and Armenia and open their common border could fail unless the process is carried out "properly," Turkey's foreign minister said last Friday. "If we are not convinced that the process is being carried out properly. There is no possibility to carry it forward," Ahmet Davutoglu told Turkish journalists in London. Over the following two-week period beginning on January 31, nearly 1,000 descendants and victims of the Armenian Genocide will receive compensation for life insurance claims filed before WWI from AXA insurance company. In 2007, AXA agreed to pay a lump sum of 17.5 million USD, 11 million of which were to be split among the descendants, 3 million to humanitarian organisations (the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Blue Cross and the French-Armenian Fund), while the rest went to the lawyers. Nagorno-Karabakh is represented as a part of Armenia on Austrian Defence and Sport Ministry official website map. This fact caused hysteria among Azerbaijanis. Russian Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. The conversation took place by the initiative of the Turkish side. The parties discussed Russian-Turkish cooperation in international affairs and current trends in trade-economic cooperation. They also exchanged views over the situation in Transcaucasia. Turkish President highly appreciated Russia's role in the international efforts toward resolving Karabakh conflict.

EVENT IN SUPPORT OF HOVIG THE BLUE BAR (Classic Hotel) SUNDAY February 7 at 8:30 pm

Make your contribution to: Marfin Popular Bank Public Company Ltd, Strovolos Industrial Area sub-Branch Stavrou Avenue 96-I, 2034 Nicosia - Cyprus, A/C Name: Aynedjian Simon, Account No: 101 1100 3421 Swift Code: LIKI CY 2N, IBAN: CY13 0030 0101 0000 0101 1100 3421

GIBRAHAYER CALENDAR

Friday, 5 February 2010 at 8:00 pm - in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia - the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus is organising a Concert of the “Aram Khatchatourian” String Quartet from Armenia. Featuring works from Komitas, Sayat Nova & Mirzoyan. Entrance 5 euros. Sunday, 7 February at 8:30 pm - EVENT IN SUPPORT OF HOVIG at The Blue Bar (Classic Hotel). View the selection of the song that will represent Cyprus in this year's Eurovision song contest with friends and fans of HOVIG, on a 50 inch screen at The Blue Bar (opposite the Fire Brigade - Paphos Gate) Entrance: 6 euros for teenagers under 14 and 10 euros for adults (includes entrance and first drink). Hovig will join his friends and fans at The Blue Bar right after the Eurovision selection and will sing, take photographs and sign autographs. Thursday, 11 February 2010 at 9:30am - in Sourp Stepanos church, Larnaca - Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast of Sourp Vartanank. Thursday, 11 February 2010 at 10:00 am - in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia - Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the feast of Sourp Vartanank. Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 4:00 pm - in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia - Vespers on the eve of the feast of “Diarnentarach” (Presentation of the Jesus Christ at the Temple); followed by the lighting of the Fire in the churchyard and the presentation of infants to the Altar. All young couples are encouraged to attend the traditional Fire ceremony, and all young parents are encouraged to present their infants at the Altar, both centuries’ old Armenian traditions. Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 4:00 pm - in Sourp Stepanos church, Larnaca - Vespers on the eve of the feast of “Diarnentarach” (Presentation of the Jesus Christ at the Temple); followed by the lighting of the Fire in the churchyard and the presentation of infants to the Altar. All young couples are encouraged to attend the traditional Fire ceremony, and all young parents are encouraged to present their infants at the Altar, both centuries’ old Armenian traditions. Wednesday, 17 February 2010, after the 6:00pm - Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture One of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “Women in the Bible”, by Elsie Utudjian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Friday February 19, 2010, New York - As previously mentioned, Tatiana Ferahian's artwork entitled the Time Capsule (which dealt with the Armenian Genocide) was showcased at the Freedom to Create Prize award ceremony in the V&A Museum in London last November. Since the issues addressed by the artworks touched many people, the exhibition will now get a second viewing in New York and will be hosted by the Ana Tzarev Gallery from 19 February. The exhibition is scheduled to run for six weeks. Friday, 19 February 2010, after the 6:00pm - Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Two of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “Women in the Armenian Church”, by Anahid Eskidjian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Wednesday, 24 February 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Three of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman as a Mother”, by Lena Poshoghlian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Friday, 26 February 2010, after the 6:00pm - Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Four of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman as a Teacher”, by Meghri Tatarian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Wednesday, 3 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Five of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “Women in Armenian History”, by Betty Zartarian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Friday, 5 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Six of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman as a Protector of the Homeland”, by Aghavni Sarian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Sunday, 7 March 2010 at 1:00 pm - at AYMA - HMEM, The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) "Sossee" Cyprus Chapter is organising a Mid-Lent “Michink” Lunch. Armenian traditional home made and delicious vegetarian dishes will be served. Entrance 10 euros per person. Wednesday, 10 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Seven of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman as an Intellectual”, by Yeran Kouyoumdjian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Friday, 12 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Eight of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman as a Social Worker”, by Lili Hovsepian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Wednesday, 17 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Nine of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman in Public Life”, by Sara Vorsganian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Friday, 19 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Ten of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman in Modern Times”, by Vart Karargulleian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Wednesday, 24 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Eleven of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Armenian Woman facing the Challenges of the 21st Century”, by Vera Tahmazian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Friday 26 March 2010 - after the 6:00pm Lenten Vespers (Hsgoum) in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia, the Christian Education Committee of the Armenian Prelature is organising lecture Twelve of a series on the role of the Armenian woman in our collective life: “The Elderly Armenian Woman Then and Now”, by Anahid Eskidjian, on the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Woman” as proclaimed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. Sunday 28 March 2010 at 4:00 pm - The Armenian Relief Society (HOM) "Sosse" Cyprus Chapter is organising its annual Easter Charity Tea and Bazaar. Details to follow. UPCOMING 1 - 28 March to 5 April 2010 - in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos - Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter services. Saturday 10 April at 8:00pm - The "Sipan" Dance Ensemble of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus "Oshagan" Chapter presents a performance of Armenian traditional dances at the Strovolos Municipal Hall in Nicosia. Director Janna Tahmizian. Sunday 2 May at 8:00pm - The "Timag" Theatre Company of Hamazkayin Cultural and Educational Association Cyprus "Oshagan" Chapter presents "Baghdasar Aghpar" at PASYDY Hall in Nicosia. Director Janna Tahmizian. UPCOMING 2 - Weekend of Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2010 - in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia - Traditional Feast Day of Sourp Magaravank, with Herisa Preparation and Blessing. Arevakal (Lenten Matins) commence in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral Nicosia, Sourp Stepanos church Larnaca, and Sourp Kevork church in Limassol on Wednesday 17th February and will be held every Wednesday and Friday at 7:40 am. Hsgoum (Lenten Vespers) commence in Sourp Asdvadzadzin cathedral, Nicosia on Wednesday 17th February and will be held every Wednesday and Friday at 6:00 pm. Hsgoum (Lenten Vespers) commence in Sourp Stepanos church, Larnaca and in Sourp Kevork church, Limassol on Wednesday 17th February and will be held every Wednesday at 4:00 pm.

Gibrahayer in Sports by Sevag Devletian

Agnessa Hovanisyan from Limassol won the Cyprus Shotokan Karate 2009 championship in both kata & kumite styles. Pictured with Petros Mavrovouniotis, President of the Cyprus Karate Federation Shotokan- 6 Dan USKO, 5 Dan JKA and with Agnessa's personal trainer Phivos Mavrovouniotis - 5 Dan JKA, 5 Dan WKF - who has been a European champion. AGBU Ararat FC did not have any matches this week due to the Cyprus Futsal National team friendly matches with England. 3 Ararat FC players are included in the national team: Iacovos Papadopoulos, Costas Poliviou and Vasos Kyprianou. In the meantime Ararat FC have announced the signing of goalkeeper Silvio Muller. AYMA/HMEM enjoyed a week off as their were no scheduled matches 2nd Division of the Cyprus Amateur Football League. Homenmen FC defeated Stavraetos 6-2 in the 3rd Division of the Cyprus Futsal League. Ararat FC U-17's battered AOE Dimos Lakatamia U-17 11-1 in the Cyprus U-17 Futsal Championship. The National Junior Tennis Championships kick off at the National Tennis Centre this weekend in Nicosia. 12-year olds Yanos Kouyoumdjian and Edmond Aynedjian will be contesting the under 14 and and 16 categories and teaming up together to contest the under 14 doubles category.

THE ARMENIAN BETTING COMMUNITY HAS GOT A NEW HOME

Arsinoe 27B (road continuing after Armenia street toward Nikis), Acropolis - tel: 22250639

Soccer, American Football, Tennis, Horse & Grey Hound, Casino, Poker, Texas Hold'Em, Les Pirates, Keno

Sports by Sevag Devletian

Ararat Tehran Basketball Club has been crowned champions of Iran for the second year running. The team won the Iranian Super League Champion's title after a 93:63 victory over Isfahan's Fulade Mobarakeh. After completing their training camp in Dzaghgatsor, FC Mika enjoyed two friendly matches in Antalya. In the first match Mika FC played with the Kazakh Ordabas and the second match with Uzbek Pakhtakor. Both matches ended in a goalless draw. During April 20-May 2, Baku will host the World Youth Boxing Championships, where the winners will qualify for participation for the 2010 Youth Olympics in Istanbul. According to Vice-President of Armenian Boxing Federation Derenik Gabrielyan, Armenian boxers will participate in World Championship in Baku. “We have very strong boxers, who’re currently competing for first places in international tournament in Donetsk,” he stressed. The Greco-Roman Wrestling World Cup will be held from February 11 to 14 at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan. 8 teams will participate in the draw: Armenia, Russia, Cuba, Georgia, Iran, Hungary, Turkey and Azerbaijan. If the national team of Azerbaijan will refuse form participation, it will be substituted by a national team of Denmark, Sweden or Uzbekistan. “King” Arthur Abraham will kick off Group Stage 2 of the Super Six World Boxing Classic when he faces Andre “The Matrix” Dirrell on Saturday, March 6, 2010, at the Agua Caliente Casino, Resort, Spa in Rancho Mirage, California. This will be Abraham´s second fight in the United States. He previously defeated Edison Miranda by fourth-round KO in June 2008.

BY CALLING 909-35037 YOU MAY ASSIST GIBRAHAYER EXPAND ITS ONLINE ACTIVITIES

You can download the calendar by visiting the website of Armenian-language monthly "Artsakank" and clicking it on the following link www.artsakank.com.cy/media/files/artsakank-calendar-2010.pdf

every week in our community

Every Friday 5.00 - 6.30 pm at The Utudjian Hall - Armenian Dance lessons for children 6-12. Every Friday and Saturday evening - Marie-Louise Kouyoumdjian sings at ENALLAX with the resident Band. Every Saturday at 10:00-11:30 am - at the Armenian Prelature in Nicosia - Giragnoria Varjaran (Sunday School) for 7-16 year olds. For more information contact Der Momig Habeshian on tel_99307966. Every Saturday at 5:00 pm - at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia - Giragamoudki Jamerkoutiun (Vespers). Every Saturday, from 7 pm to 8 pm at AYMA: Gibrosi Badanegan Mioutiun (ages 10-15 included) weekly meetings (games, educationals, songs, trips and lots of fun...). Every Saturday, from 8 pm to 9 pm at AYMA: Gibrosi Yeridasartagan Mioutiun (age 16 - 23) weekly meetings (lectures, discussions, parties and outings for all Gibrahay youth). Every Sunday at 8:45 am at Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia - Jamerkoutiun (Matins). Every Sunday at 9:30 am Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church in Nicosia - Sourp Badarak (Divine Liturgy).

If you are experiencing computer problems - DIAL 99437073. The PC Doctor is back !!!

Technical support, repairs & upgrades, hardware problems, software installations, windows related errors, virus and spyware removal, software installation & troubleshooting, wired and wireless networking, data recovery, formatting, for assistance for making your life in front of your computer more enjoyable. Our Computer Doctor speaks fluent Armenian and also makes house calls! Limited stock on computer hardware also available. PCs, laptops & gadgets.

Gibrahay calendar events