Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

ACUS A LECTURE SERIES FOCUSES ON THE FOUR HIERARCHICAL SEES OF THE ARMENIAN
CHURCH

The Armenian Church University Students’ Association’s lecture series
continued this Saturday with a special focus on the Four Hierarchical Sees
of the Armenian Church.

On Saturday 2 December 2006, lecturer V. Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Manjikian
presented a brief history of the four Holy Sees, focusing on their
establishment and mission. He spoke in detail about the two Armenian
Catholicosates, their history and brotherly relations over the centuries. He
also talked about the past and present role of the Patriarchal Holy Sees of
Constantinople and Jerusalem.

The lecturer also touched on temporary sees such as that of the
Catholicosate of Aghtamar and the relocation of the Holy See.

The question and answer period that followed, centered on the Catholicosate
of Cilicia’s mission and service.
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View the photos here:

*****

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the youth
activities 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.

NKR SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH TALKS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Dec 5 2006

December 4 the NKR Security Council sitting was held in Stepanakert.

The sitting was presided over by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
President Arkady Ghoukassian.

According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR President’s
Administration, in the course of the sitting Arkady Ghoukassian
granted a hearing to the situation along the NKR and Azeri Armed
Forces’ contact line. Then the state’s head acquainted those present
with the outcomes of the meetings held during his visit to the U. S.
Arkady Ghoukassian highly estimated the Diaspora’s participation in the
TV marathon targeted at fund raising for the implementation of Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund’s program on the restoration and development of the
NKR Hadrut region. The Nagorno-Karabakh President noted, in part,
that the TV marathon’s results again testified to the Armenians’
belief in the future of Artsakh and its people.

Then the sitting’s participants discussed the issues included in the
agenda. In part, they considered the Karabakh talks and the preparatory
works on the referendum on the NKR Draft Constitution.

The interlocutors exchanged opinions on the NKR Draft State Budget
for 2007 elaborated by the government.

Familiarizing himself with the current issues and the work carried
out by the government, the NKR President gave corresponding orders.

AZERBAIJAN NOT TO BE REPRESENTED IN EUROVISION-2007

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2006

Azerbaijan will not be represented in Eurovision-2007, because
Azerbaijan Tele-radio Programs Closed Joint-Stock Company is not a full
member of European Broadcasting Union so far, APA’s bureau reports.

Georgia, Montenegro and Czechia will join the competition. 43 countries
appealed to participate in the competition. 29 countries will compete
in semi-final on May 10. 10 of them will pass to the final. According
to the results of Eurovision-2006, 14 countries, as well as Russia
and Armenia have already passed to the final on May 12.

Azerbaijan will join the competition in 2008, as AzTV will be a full
member of European Broadcasting Union, AzTV Music Office told APA.

Finland was the champion of Eurovision-2006.

TURKEY CONDEMNS ARGENTINIAN RESOLUTION ON "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Dec 1 2006

Ankara, 1 December: Turkey has condemned approval of a resolution
on so-called Armenian genocide [passed] by Argentinian House of
Representatives, noting that this initiative did not comply with
historical facts and the international law.

Releasing a statement, Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled
that Buenos Aires House of Representatives adopted a resolution making
2 April "the day of tolerance and respect among peoples in the memory
of Armenian genocide".

The statement noted, "Turkey offered that 1915 incidents should be
examined by Turkish and Armenian historians but this proposal was not
backed. We condemn the approval of resolutions (by various parliaments
on the so-called Armenian genocide)."

The statement also stressed that Argentina’s initiative did not comply
with spirit of bilateral relations between Turkey and Argentina.

AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR GIVES INTERVIEW TO KUWAIT’S "AL-WATAN" NEWSPAPER

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2006

Kuwait’s Al-Watan newspaper has published an interview with
Azerbaijan’s ambassador in this country Shahin Abdullayev, Foreign
Ministry said.

The interview dealt with political, economic, cultural life of
Azerbaijan and its history.

Ambassador, S. Abdullayev touched on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh and consequences of the policy of ethnic purge
and aggression pursued by Armenia.

According to him, President Ilham Aliyev pays attention to not only
to oil and gas industry but also non-energy sector, in particular,
agriculture and overall development of regions. The diplomat answered
the questions regarding large-scale economic, infrastructure projects
in the region.

On the Azerbaijan-Kuwait relationship, S. Abdullayev said
both countries have deep-rooted bilateral relations, and highly
appraised Kuwait’s supporting Azerbaijan in the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He highlighted the importance of developing
economic, political, cultural and tourism ties.

TARIFFS FOR SERVICES GROW BY 0.6% IN NOVEMBER IN RA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The tariffs for services rendered to
population increased by 0.6% in 2006 November as compared with October
in Armenia, which is mainly conditioned by a 2.2% growth of tariffs
for medical services. According to the data of RA National Statistical
Service, growth of tariffs in cultural sphere, consumer services in
the above mentioned period made 0.2% and 0.5%, respectively. Tariffs
for transport services decreased by 0.9% (in connection with a 3.2%
decrease in air transport services), tariffs for public catering
services decreased by 0.1% and tariffs for housing, communal, co
mmunication, education sphere, rest organization, legal and banking
services have remained unchanged.

ABC News International
abcnews.go.com
Dec. 1, 2006

OPINION By MARK GERAGOS

After an initial foray into interfaith relations by inciting almost 2
billion Muslims with ill-advised references to the legacy of their prophet
Mohammed, Pope Benedict XVI leaves Turkey with the press hailing the visit a
success.

Much like the war in Iraq, however, defining the simple concept of "success"
has become increasingly like declaring "mission accomplished." Case in
point, the pope’s recent visit to Turkey.

Following the pontiff’s gaffe heard ’round the Muslim world, the fact that
larger protests and riots didn’t accompany his visit to Turkey must have
certainly elicited a collective sigh of relief from the Vatican and tempted
many prognosticators to proclaim the trip a success.

Perhaps prompted by a sense of relief and joy at not being embarrassed by a
rancorous reception upon his arrival to Turkey, the pontiff even took time
to don his political advisor cap and stump for Turkey’s admission into the
European Union.

Fortunately, the more discerning European nations see that issue in a
slightly different light and are waiting for Turkey to adopt something other
than medieval standards of justice before setting out the welcome mat.

Still, as the leading spiritual figure for Christians around the world, much
more is expected and required of the pope.

After all was said and done, and as the cameras rolled and the press
jockeyed to capture and transmit images of the pope being led on a tour of
Istanbul’s Blue Mosque by local Islamic and Christian leaders, the press
failed to capture the big, fat, noisy elephant parked squarely amidst this
assemblage – Turkey’s ongoing legacy of intolerance and oppression.

For too long, the various Christian and other minorities of Turkey have
silently suffered the suppression of their rights and the deliberate erosion
of their collective memories through the state sponsored destruction of
ancient churches and other historical monuments dating back almost two
millennia.

Mark Geragos is a lawyer who has represented former Rep. Gary Condit, former
first brother Roger Clinton, Academy award-winning actress Winona Ryder, pop
star Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson.

ry?id=2694983&page=1

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

PRESS RELEASE
FIDH
Karine Appy, Attachée de presse/Press Officer
+33 1 43 55 14 12
+33 1 43 55 25 18
+33 6 68 42 93 47

TURKEY

A HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN PRISON

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AT RISK

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World
Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) express their deep concern regarding
the condemnation of Mr. Selahattin Demirtas, a lawyer and the Chairman
of the Diyarbakir Branch of the Human Rights Association (HRA).

According to the information received, on November 14, 2006, Mr.
Selahattin Demirtas was sentenced to 15 months in prison by the 4th
Heavy Penal Court and a suspended sentence of 15 more months by the 5th
Heavy Penal Court for propaganda for an illegal organisation, on the
basis of an official complaint filed by the Diyarbakir Security
Directorate. This complaint followed two public statements made by Mr.
Demirtas in June and July 2005, during which he took position in favour
of a peaceful and negotiated solution to the Kurdish issue through
discussions with Abdullah Ocalan, who, he stated, should be considered
as indispensable as he is regarded as a leader by the Kurds.

The Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecution Office decided to file two
separate claims against Mr. Demirtas at the 4th and 5th Heavy Penal
Courts (previously known as State Security Courts), for violation of
Article 220/8 of the Turkish Penal Code which provides that `those who
do propaganda for an illegal organisation or for its aims in published
writings or through media channels are sentenced to 18 months to 4.5
years imprisonment with hard labour’.

Mr. Demirtas appealed against both sentences, and the Supreme Court
should make a decision within six months.

Our organisations recall that Mr. Demirtas has been subjected to
numerous legal proceedings due to his statements or activities in favour
of human rights, peace and democracy. Indeed, more than 80
investigations were launched against him, and among them, 14 cases were
brought to court in the last few years1.

Our organisations express their deepest concern about this sentence
which illustrates ongoing repression of freedom of expression in Turkey,
in particular when it comes to statements regarding a peaceful solution
to the Kurdish issue. This decision blatantly violates Turkey’s
commitments regarding freedom of expression, in particular the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 19.1 and
19.2), as well article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and
article 9.1 of the Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference
of the Human Dimension of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (CSCE), which all provide the right for everyone to `freedom of
expression’ including the freedom to receive and impart information
and
ideas, without interference by public authority and regardless of
frontiers.

FIDH and OMCT remind the Turkish authorities that they have to conform
with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted
by the UN General Assembly on December 9, 1998, in particular article
6c), which provides that everyone has the right `to study, discuss,
form
and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all
human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other
appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters’.

Our organisations urge the Turkish authorities to ensure Mr. Demirtas a
fair and impartial trial in appeal and to guarantee freedom of
expression in any circumstances, in accordance with the above-mentioned
regional and international human rights instruments.

For more information, please contact
FIDH: Karine Appy + 33 1 43 55 14 12 / + 33 1 43 55 25 18 –
[email protected]
OMCT: + 00 41 22 809 49 39

Today, Azerbiajan
Dec 1 2006

Vahit Erdem: "Special attention will be paid to Georgia and
Azerbaijan at NATO summits"

01 December 2006 [14:21] – Today.Az

"Decisions were taken in NATO Prague and Istanbul summits to
strengthen the struggle against new dangers.

"Riga summit decided to continue this policy persistently," Vahit
Erdem, Member of Turkish Grand National Assembly and Vice President
of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, AKP parliamentarian told the APA
Turkish bureau.

He said that the decision was taken to make NATO’s quick reaction
alert forces effective in early 2007. "The army consisting of land,
air and sea forces will reach the region and will be able to fight
for 30 days without any help. Turkey took the commitment to sent 2000
soldiers to this army. Besides, Turkey supported NATO’s strengthening
in Afghanistan. While adding the paragraph concerning the territorial
integrity of Georgia to the final declaration, Turkish delegation
insisted in adding Azerbaijan to the document. Treatment of the
territorial integrity of all South Caucasian countries – Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia with respect was reflected in the document," he
said.

Vahit Erdem explained the decision on the continuation of NATO’s open
door policy. "Preparations of Ukraine and Georgia for the
organization membership and membership of Albania, Macedonia and
Croatia in 2008 were considered expedient within this framework.
Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina will participate in NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program. Of course, with acceleration of
Georgia’s membership to NATO, it is necessary for Azerbaijan to join
this process. The important problem is Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
the problem with Armenia," Vahit Erdem said.
Vahit Erdem said the U.S. Great Middle East project was approved in
Riga summit.

"This project is closely connected with South Caucasus and Central
Asia. I think special attention will be paid to Georgia and
Azerbaijan in the next NATO summits. Armenia has special relations
with Russia; Russia has military bases in this country. Azerbaijan
has very good relations with the US and Azerbaijan’s being an
important country in energy questions will influence the change of
NATO’s attitude to your country. If Armenia solves the problem with
Azerbaijan and goes closer to the West, then the new approach to
NATO’s relations with Central Asia will be on the agenda. If Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is settled, the relations of South Caucasus with
the EU will be improved, so, Azerbaijan’s way to Europe will be open.
All this needs time," Vahit Erdem said.

URL:

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

PARLIAMENT OF ARGENTINA ADOPTS DRAFT ON PROCLAIMING APRIL 24 DAY OF
TOLERANCE AND RESPECT AMONG PEOPLES

BUENOS AIRES, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
Parliament of Argentina adopted a draft by which April 24 is
proclaimed as day of tolerance and respect among peoples, in memory
of the Armenian Genocide. 175 deputies voted for the draft, 2 ones
were abstaining, Radio Liberty states.

The draft allows statesmen of Armenian origin to be absent from work
on April 24 to take part in events dedicated to memory of the
Genocide victims. Students of Armenian origin are also allowed to be
absent from lessons on that day.

Author of the draft, Rafael Bielsa, the former Foreign Minister of
Argentina, who once visited Armenia, facted that the Armenian
Genocide "is a crime against mankind."

The draft, the vote of which was delayed for a long time owing to
efforts of Turkish lobby, must still be affirmed at the Senate. The
commentators did not exclude that the Senate will discuss this issue
on the coming days.