OBAMA SAID IN ANKARA HIS STANCE ON THE ARMENIAN ISSUE REMAINS UNCHANGED
ArmInfo
2009-04-06 16:50:00
ArmInfo. US President Barack Obama said in Ankara his stance on the
Armenian issue remains unchanged, Turkish mass media report.
To recall, during his pre-election campaign Barack Obama stated for
several times that in case he was elected US President, he would
recognize the Armenian Genocide 1915.
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I JOINS IN PRAYERS
IN THE SAINT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ALEPPO – SYRIA
IN RESPONSE TO INEXPLICABLE HAPPENINGS
Thousands of Armenians welcomed His Holiness Aram I on his unexpected visit
to the Saint Forty Martyrs Church in Aleppo on 2 April 2009.
According to eyewitnesses, both clergy and lay, the saints represented
through paintings in the church have been in motion. This new and strange
phenomenon has been drawing thousands of Armenians, as well as people from
other denominations and religions, to the church from all over Syria. They
are coming to the church to put their supplications before the saints.
The Prelate of Aleppo, Archbishop Shahan thanked His Holiness Aram I,
stating that his presence at this special moment will deepen the faith of
all the pilgrims.
In his message, Catholicos Aram I described the saints of the Church as
stars shining with the light they have received from Jesus — the Light of
the World. Resourced by the Bible, the saints have spread the light of Jesus
through their words, lives and God-pleasing deeds. Saints have always
protected the church and the faithful from evil. They are mediators; they
intercede with Jesus for the forgiveness of the sins of humanity, in the
same way that Jesus reconciled humanity with God. In the Armenian Church,
saints have accompanied the people in their history of martyrdom. Saints are
golden bridges taking humanity to God. Saints are not rituals, feasts and
historical memories only. They are integral to life in the church and are
interwoven with all aspects and manifestations of the church. Armenians name
their churches after their saints; they baptize their children by naming
them after their saints. They praise them through hymns and psalms and
intercede with them through holy pictures. Pictures of saints are visual
means of communicating with them. Armenians do not venerate pictures; they
pray with a deep understanding of the meaning and representation of the
person behind the picture.
After drawing a distinction between the image and its representation, His
Holiness Aram I referred to the relationship between faith and reason in the
church. Sometimes certain things happen in the church that cannot be
explained through reason alone. We can recognize these happenings, and enter
into communion with them only through faith. Christianity is the perfect
harmony between faith and reason".
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Watch the video summary here:
c/Videos/VTS_01_1.mp4
**
Photos here:
c/Photos/Photos368.htm
http://www.ArmenianOrthodox Church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos369.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE RA MINISTERS OF DEFENSE, ECONOMY, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THE HEAD OF THE STATE COMMITTEE ON IMMOVABLE PROPERTY CADASTRE BY THE GOVERNMENT
W ednesday, 1 April 2009
The head of National Assembly Standing Commission on Defense,
Security and Home Affairs, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan visited
the Geodesy and Mapping Center
Accompanied by the RA ministers of Defense, Economy, Emergency
Situations, the head of the State Committee on Immovable Property
Cadastre by the Government, the head of National Assembly Standing
Commission on Defense, Security and Home Affairs, RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan visited the Geodesy and Mapping Center by the State
Committee on Immovable Property Cadastre and took part in the cosmic
radio receiving station commissioning ceremony. The Prime Minister
walked round the cabinets and talked to the staff.
With the use of spatial technologies, the radio receiving center will
get accurate data on Armenia’s territory. The station allows access to
data from man-made satellites with less than 1000 km orbital distance
from the Earth. It will help find out the lie of the land with such
data having to be used in mapping and surveying activities, as well
as for national security and economic purposes.
AZERBAIJAN: US DIPLOMAT VISIT AIMS TO KICK START KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS
Eurasianet
April 3, 2009
A top US diplomat is in Azerbaijan to build fresh momentum for a
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.
In Baku, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza pressed Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev on April 3 to hold a meeting with Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan. Direct presidential talks are widely viewed as necessary
to kick-start the stalemated Karabakh peace process.
"I hope the next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents will
take place within the framework of ‘Eastern Partnership’ summit on
May 7-8," the APA news agency quoted Bryza as saying during a news
conference.
Bryza also conveyed of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s support for
the Minsk Group that spearheads Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution
efforts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
the Day.az news site reported. Bryza co-chairs the group along with
Bernard Fassier of France and Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia.
DEFENSE COUNCIL OF WESTERN ARMENIA HOLDS COMMEMORATIVE EVENT DEDICATED TO WOODROW WILSON
Noyan Tapan
Apr 2, 2009
GLENDALE, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Defense
Council of Western Armenia, the founders of which are the heirs of
deported Armenians from Van, Bitlis, Erzrum and Trabizond, will hold
a commemorative event celebrating the Pursuit of the Perpetual Peace
by Woodrow Wilson. A packed auditorium is expected at the Glendale
Central Library. Representatives of Armenian Churches will be in
attendance, as well as the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia,
Mr. Grigor Hovanissian.
Mr. Donald Wilson Bush, great great-grandson of the late president
Woodrow Wilson will provide keynote address. Mr. Bush will be joined
by Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum curator, Mr. Jarod
Kearney, who will discuss Wilson’s pursuit of perpetual peace.
President Wilson, the arbitrator of the Sevres Treaty of 1920, drew
the map for a new independent western Armenia with a territory of
40,000 square miles, including lands that until today have fallen
inside the borders of neighboring Turkey.
ACCORDING TO ARFD REPRESENTATIVE, AUTHORITIES ARE NOT CONCERNED WITH POSSIBILITY OF OPPOSITION CANDIDATE’S ELECTION ON YEREVAN MAYOR’S POST
Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2009
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. In Yerevan Council of Elders elections
Dashnaktsutiun rather attaches importance to the whole electoral roll
than the person heading the list. Artyusha Shahbazian, the Secretary
of the National Assembly ARFD faction, mentioned at the March 31
press conference that for the first time not only Yerevan Mayor,
but also Council of Elders being Yerevan’s representative body will
be elected. Representation of a great number of political forces in
the latter will lead to balancing of forces, will ensure efficient
work and possibility of general control.
Asked "will the party be able to receive more than 7% votes, if the
list is headed by Artsvik Minasian, whom society does not know well,"
A. Shahbazian said that in the past years from Dashnaktsutiun’s team
no one was so active as he. He affirmed that both the ARFD list and
candidate number one have a great potential.
A. Shahbazian considers improbable assistance to RPA candidate in
Yerevan Mayor’s elections. According to him, the coalition does
not oblige the parties making part of it to become each other’s
adjuncts. Coalition parties can run for the elections individually,
as for political forces having something to say it is an occasion of
manifesting themselves.
According to A. Shahbazian, there is a tendency of on the one hand,
very much politicizing the elections and on the other hand, presenting
them outside of the political sphere. Political parties’ participation,
exclusively proportional system, election programs already make Mayor’s
elections political. The future Yerevan Council of Elders cannot be
outside of political processes, and though not directly, nevertheless
in some way they will show their attitude on issues important for the
country. However, at the same time no political change is expected
in the country as a result of Mayor’s elections, as the elected body
will be subordinate to the Prime Minister and government.
According to the ARFD representative, all political forces taking
part in the elections to some extent will be represented in the
future Council of Elders’ staff. As to the Mayor, the authorities
are not concerned with the possibility of opposition representative’s
taking that post. Irrespective of the fact who will become Mayor the
body will cooperate will the executive power, as it is difficult to
imagine that Yerevan Mayor’s Office will carry out policy contradicting
President’s or government’s policy.
The ARFD faction Secretary called media for not considering this press
conference the start of party’s entering the election campaign. He said
that ARFD Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamian was appointed
head of party’s election headquarters, and the election program will
be publicized soon.
NEICHO VELICHKOV: INTERNET WILL BE ACCESSIBLE EVERYWHERE IN ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 14:59 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ArmenTel CJSC (Beeline trademark) Director General
Neicho Velichkov and Agricultural Association Chairman Hrachya
Berberyan signed memorandum of strategic cooperation, stipulating
collaboration in technological and social spheres.
Says ArmenTel CJSC Director general, "Our investments aim to create
jobs and promote economic development in the regions, the position
our company did and will hold for years to come."
"Village people are the spine of any society, and our company is
honored to establish collaboration with the farmers’ union. By the end
of summer not only internet access but mobile and fixed connections
will be available throughout Armenian villages," Neicho Velichkov
related.
"Offering internet access to villagers is a great step towards easing
their everyday lives and connecting them with the outer world,"
Hrachya Berberyan stated.
According to Hrachya Berberyan, many attempts were taken to provide
internet connection in villages during last 10 years. This is the
first effective attempt which will enable people from Shirak to Goris
to communicate together, as well as obtain international connection
at affordable prices.
Internet clubs will be opened in villages to tutor web-surfing to
local people.
DISTURBING, NEW REVELATIONS ON BORDER OPENING
By Ara Khachatourian
cle=40988_3/30/2009_1
Monday March 30, 2009
The verbal back-and-forth on an imminent agreement between Armenia and
Turkey continued Monday with the Turkish press reporting that Turkey
and Armenia had agreed on a roadmap to establish diplomatic ties and
open the border, with the sides reportedly contemplating the timing
of the announcement and some asserting that the announcement should
come next week before President Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey.
Some media reports also attributed an announcement about the border
opening after Obama’s visit to Armenia’s Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian. The Armenian Foreign Ministry only denied that Nalbandian
ever made such an announcement.
But what of the other revelations blanketing the Turkish press Monday?
"Turkey and Armenia are readying to sign a protocol that marks
commitment by both sides to establish diplomatic relations and set up
committees on issues ranging from border management, customs, history
and more. Having achieved a satisfying deal which includes setting up
a history committee to discuss 1915 events, on which Yerevan dragged
its feet for a long time, the remaining dilemma for Ankara is the
proper timing of the announcement," reported the Hurriyet Daily News.
"The draft protocol will set the framework for transition to full
diplomatic relations possibly starting with low-key representations
in Ankara and Yerevan or accreditation of ambassadors from other
neighboring capitals.
Simultaneously Turkey will come up with a road map for a solution
in Nagorno-Karabakh. The modalities of the new border regime will be
determined upon the work by the border committee while as part of a
show of good will immediate measures would be taken for a gradual
opening. Diplomatic recognition will be supported by social and
economic projects with coordination of the Turkish Armenian Business
Development Council, or TABDC," added Hurriyet.
Several key issues were "revealed" including the troubling assertion
that Armenia has agreed to the formation of a commission of historians
to address the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s alleged role in drafting
a "road map" to Karabakh peace.
While this could be yet another sensationalist attempt by Turkey to
create an illusion that all systems are go for Turkish-Armenian detente
on the eve of the Obama visit in an effort to derail the Genocide
recognition issue, but the question of the veracity of Turkish claims
that Armenia has agreed to the formation of the commission remains
un-refuted by the Nalbandian apparatus.
On several occasions, Nalbandian and President Serzh Sarkisian have
reiterated that Armenia was in favor of establishing diplomatic
ties and opening of borders without any preconditions. Last week,
Nalbandian said that the issue of the Armenian Genocide is not up for
discussion during the ongoing negotiations to normalize relations
between Armenia and Turkey, when asked by a reporter to clarify
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan’s announcement that the sides
were, in fact, discussing the Genocide issue.
"I don’t want to believe that the Turkish Foreign Minister can make
such a statement, because the Armenian Genocide issue has not been
discussed with the Turkish side," asserted Nalbandian.
We do not want to believe it either. Any agreement on establishment
of a commission to address the veracity of the Genocide or a leading
role for Turkey in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process
are unacceptable and will jeopardize Armenia’s national interests
and security.
Next week Obama will be in Istanbul to attend a United Nations Summit
on Civilizations. We learned Monday, through the Turkish press, that
Nalbandian will also attend that event, leading the Turkish press to
speculate that the setting would be ripe to announce the so-called
border agreement.
To end the confusion and to further articulate Armenia’s national
interests, Nalbandian should make clear and thorough announcements,
because one-off responses to reporters’ inquiries and one sentence
denials by a spokesperson on this crucial matter of pan-national
importance are not enough as we enter what appears to be an historic
time for our nation.
PACE POSITIVELY ASSESSES ARMENIA’S IMPLEMENTATION OF RES. 1643
armradio.am
31.03.2009 10:52
During yesterday’s sitting the Monitoring Committee of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) gave a positive
evaluation to the process of accomplishment of the requirements of PACE
Resolution 1643 by Armenia, but it will continue following the process.
Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE David Harutyunyan told
Regnum that the amendments to Articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal
Code of Armenia had been discussed. The conclusion of the Committee
was presented.
"The Committee welcomed the amendments, but now they expect more
practical steps for their application," David Harutyunyan said. The
Monitoring Committee will return to the results of their implementation
during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly from April 27 to 30.
David Harutyunyan informed that issues related to the elections to
the Yerevan City Council had been discussed. Accordingt to the Head of
the Armenian delegation, the Monitoring Committee positively assessed
the participation of the opposition and separate coalition candidates
in the elections.
ARONIAN TOPS AMBER, ANAND JOINT SECOND
Press Trust of India
March 27 2009
Nice (France), Mar 27 (PTI) World champion Viswanathan Anand missed
chances galore in the blindfold game against Chinese Wang Yue and
had to be content with an overall joint second finish in the Amber
blindfold and rapid chess tournament here.
Anand, however, maintained his supremacy in the rapid section as he
tied with Levon Aronian of Armenia and Gata Kamsky of United.
The Indian ace finished with an impressive 7 points out of a possible
11 in rapid section while in the blindfold he finished joint fourth
on 6.5 points.
Aronian drew both his games against former world champion Veslein
Topalov of Bulgaria in the final round and emerged as the clear winner
in the 18th edition of the prestigious event.
The Armenian finished with 14 points out of a possible 22 games and
remained a half point ahead of Anand and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia
who both shared the overall second spot.
Magnus Carlsen of Norway found his nemesis in the blindfold in Teimour
Radjabov of Azerbaijan and finished clear fourth after recovering to
win the rapid game. The Norwegian ended with a tally of 13 points
and was two points clear of next contender Alexander Morozevich
of Russia.PTI