ANTELIAS: Reps from World Vision visit His Holiness Aram I

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
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Antelias-Lebanon

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REPRESENTATIVES FROM WORLD VISION VISIT HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

On Monday April 20 2010, His Holiness Aram I received representatives from
the US branch of World Vision led by John Bushbull and Terry Mansfield.
They were accompanied by the director and representatives of World Vision in
Lebanon.

The discussions involved projects currently implemented in partnership, as
well as writing textbooks on religion and relevant humanitarian activities.

His Holiness expressed his views concerning the progress of the activities
and stressed to target the community, mainly its youth and guide them to the
mission of the church.

##
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.

http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org/
http://www.youtube.com/user/HolySeeOfCilicia
http://www.ArmenianOrthodoxChurch.org

Washington Unbiased In Karabakh Conflict Settlement: US State Dept

WASHINGTON UNBIASED IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT: US STATE DEPT

news.am
April 21 2010
Armenia

U.S. is unbiased and there is no cold in the relations with Azerbaijan,
U.S. State Department Spokesman Mark Toner told Voice of America,
commenting on Azerbaijani officials’ accusations to U.S. of
"pro-Armenian position" on Karabakh conflict settlement.

"As for OSCE Minsk Group, I should emphasize that U.S. as a co-chair
country of the group to find a solution to the problem, works both
with Armenia and Azerbaijan," Toner stated. "U.S. overtly does not
recognize Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. However, we do not take sides
and seek to find a peaceful solution to the conflict," he stressed.

Referring to U.S.-Turkey relations, Toner said Turkey is a powerful
ally in the region and U.S. believes the country may play a
constructive role.

"Our goal is the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey,
and Armenia and Azerbaijan," Toner noted.

Le Rapport Du Departement d’Etat Des USA Sur Les Droits De l’Homme E

LE RAPPORT DU DEPARTEMENT D’ETAT DES USA SUR LES DROITS DE L’HOMME EN GEORGIE EST ERRONE CONCERNANT LES ARMENIENS DE LA REGIONDU DJAVAKHK
Stephane

armenews
21 avril 2010
GEORGIE

(Lettre ouverte du "Conseil de Coordination de Defense des Droits
des Armeniens du Djavakhk" a l’ambassadeur americain en Armenie,
Marie L. Yovanovitch)

Madame l’Ambassadeur,

Le 11 Mars 2010, le Departement d’Etat americain (Ministère des
Affaires Etrangères des USA) a publie son rapport annuel sur les
pratiques des droits de l’homme dans le monde. Le rapport sur la
Georgie ( 032.htm)
contient, entre autres, des donnees sur les problèmes des Armeniens
du Djavakhk.

Considerant que l’attention du gouvernement americain aux problèmes de
la minorite armenienne en Georgie peut etre consideree comme positif,
il est important de noter qu’un certain nombre de problèmes auxquels
sont confrontes les Armeniens du Djavakhk ont ete complètement omis,
et quelques exemples de violation des droits de l’homme sont presentes
dans ce rapport de manières inexactes.

Ainsi le rapport met l’accent sur la demande des Armeniens du Djavakhk
d’accorder a la langue armenienne un statut de langue regionale mais
il passe sous silence differents points, ci-joint, de la politique
discriminatoire des autorites georgiennes contre les armeniens du
Djavakhk :

~U la legislation georgienne interdit la creation d’organisations
ou de partis politiques sur une base regionale. Pour cette raison,
les autorites georgiennes refusent d’enregistrer le parti "Virk"
representant les interets de la population armenienne d’Akhalkalak,
les privant ainsi de participer aux elections locales :

~U La population armenienne est sous-representee dans les collectivites
locales, departementales et regionales ainsi que dans les services
de l’administration public des regions ou ils sont majoritaires
(Region de Samtskhe-Djavakhetie et district de Tsalka dans la region
de Kvemo-Kartli) ;

~U Les autorites georgiennes, par le biais de mesures legislatives et
administratives, imposent aux minorites qui ne pratiquent pas cette
langue (dans les regions ou ils sont majoritaires), l’utilisation
exclusive de la langue georgienne. Cette politique discriminatoire
base sur la langue est en contradiction flagrante avec les engagements
internationaux pris par la Georgie, y compris les obligations decoulant
de la Convention-cadre pour la protection des minorites nationales.

~U Les gardes-frontières georgiens interdisent l’entree de livres et
de la presse armenienne sur le territoire georgien.

Le rapport presente les details de l’arrestation et de l’affaire du
leader politique du Djavakhk, Vahagn Chakhalyan mais garde sous silence
les persecutions systematiques contre d’autres militants politiques
ou associatifs du Djavakhk entre 2007 et 2009. Durant cette periode,
les autorites georgiennes ont mis la pression par voies policières,
judiciaires et administratives contres des dizaines de militants ce
qui a contraint certains d’entre eux a quitter le pays et/ou cesser
leurs activites politiques ou associatives (Arthur Boghosyan, Gourgen
Shirinian, Aram Batoyan, Krikor Minasyan, Sergey Hakobjanyan…).

Le rapport contient des inexactitudes concernant l’affaire Chakhalyan.

Le père et le frère (mineur a l’epoque des faits) de Vahagn Chakhalyan
etant presentes comme des membres de "l’Alliance Democratique Djavakhk
Uni" alors qu’ils n’avaient aucun rapport direct avec les activites
politiques de Vahagn Chakhalyan.

Le rapport indique qu’en octobre 2006 des hommes (Vahagn Chakhalyan,
son père Rupen et son frère Armen) auraient tente de penetrer dans
l’hôtel de ville d’Akhalkalak en blessant des policiers. Ce rapport
ne mentionne pas que ces incidents ont eu lieu quatre jours après les
elections locales du 5 octobre 2006, et que des manifestations ont eu
lieu pour protester contre les fraudes massives durant ces elections.

Lors de l’une de ces manifestations, le fils du chef de la police
(elu sur la liste du parti du president Saakatchvili) a tire en l’air
avec une arme de poing pour disperser la foule venue protester devant
l’hôtel de ville contre le trucage des elections. Le chef de la police,
Samvel Petrosyan, a ensuite donne l’ordre a la police d’attaquer les
manifestants provoquant ainsi des heurts.

Curieusement une instruction a ete ouverte seulement en decembre 2008
(2 ans après les faits) permettant ainsi d’accumulees ces charges
durant le procès contre Vahagn Chakhalyan. Vahagn Chakhalyan ayant
ete arrete pour detention d’armes le 21 juillet 2008, sa peine ne
pouvait exceder un an de prison. Les autorites georgiennes ont donc
rajoute des accusations durant le procès sur des manifestations s’etant
deroulees de 2005 a 2006, ce qui a conduit a une condamnation de 10
ans de prison ferme (Altercation avec la police le 12 avril 2005 :
2 ans de prison ; Manifestation du 11 mars 2006 : 1 an de prison ;
Manifestation des 13 et 14 juin 2006 : 2 ans de prison pour chaque
journee, soit 4 ans : Manifestation contre les fraudes aux elections
locales du 9 octobre 2006 : 2 ans de prison ; Detention illegale
d’armes le 21 juillet 2008 : 1 an de prison).

En outre le rapport affirme que le procès de Vahagn Chakhlayan s’est
deroule au tribunal d’Akhalkalak, ce qui ne correspond pas a la
realite. En verite, le procès de Vahagn Chakhalyan et les membres de
sa famille a eu lieu au tribunal d’Akhalskhe en violation flagrante
des principes de juridiction. Le tribunal d’Akhalskhe a d’ailleurs
rejete toutes les requetes de la defense pour que le procès se
deroule a Akhalkalak en conformite avec le principe de juridiction
competente puisque Vahagn Chakhalyan a ete arrete dans la maison
familiale a Akhalkalak.

Le rapport ne contient aucune reference aux nombreuses violations
qui ont accompagne les procedures d’arrestations, de perquisitions,
d’instructions, des procès de 1ère et 2ème instance, violations
qui ont ete enregistrees par plusieurs ONG de defense des droits de
l’homme dont la FIDH (Federation internationale des droits de l’homme).

Prenant en consideration les faits mentionnes ci-dessus, le "Conseil
de Coordination de Defense des Droits des Armeniens du Djavakhk",
craignant que ces informations erronees soient ensuite utilisees
dans d’autres documents, demande au departement d’Etat americain de
reconsiderer les parties du rapport relatif aux questions du Djavakhk
et l’affaire Chakhalyan.

Le Conseil de Coordination de defense des droits des armeniens du
Djavakhk.

Pour l’Organisation Patriotique Djavakhk, Shirag Torosyan.

Pour le Centre d’analyse Mitq, Edouard Abrahamyan.

Pour l’organisation politique du Djavakhk Virk, David Rstakyan.

Pour Le mouvement Democratique Djavakhk, Norik Karapetyan.

Pour l’Union Yerkir pour le rapatriement et la reinsertion, Sevak
Arzrouni.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/eur/136

Cafesjian Center For The Arts To Host "Silent Victims. Arshile Gorky

CAFESJIAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS TO HOST "SILENT VICTIMS. ARSHILE GORKY" EVENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 21, 2010 – 12:28 AMT 07:28 GMT

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts joins millions of Armenians around
the world in commemorating the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Special event featuring the American-Armenian artist and a
Genocide survivor Arshile Gorky will be organized on April 21 and 22
to pay tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians annihilated by the Young
Turk Government of the Ottoman Empire.

The event titled "Silent Victims. Arshile Gorky" will commence with a
lecture by Shahen Khachatryan, the Director of Arshile Gorky Museum
in Holy See Etchmiadzin, exploring Gorky’s work in the context of
the Genocide and its profound impact on the life and art of the artist.

Extracts from Gorky’s letters will be recited. The presentation of
the book "Color of the Pain" by Shahen Khachatryan describing the
consequences of the Genocide on Armenian fine arts will take place
after the lecture. A documentary by Karen Adamyan will be presented
to the public, introducing Arshile Gorky’s world to the viewers.

Armenian President Present At The Opening Of The Yerevan Thermo Powe

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PRESENT AT THE OPENING OF THE YEREVAN THERMO POWER PLANT

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 21, 2010
YEREVAN

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was present today at the opening
of the Yerevan Thermo Power Plant.

Presidential Press office told Armenpress that the president toured in
the territory of the plant, got acquainted with the technical phases
of the operation of the unit.

The construction of the power plant launched in July 2008. It was
constructed with the 247 million USD credit provided by the Japanese
Bank of International Cooperation. The construction of the power
unit was has been implemented by the Japanese and Korean specialized
companies.

The operation of the unit will give an opportunity to increase the
power and reliability of the Armenian energy system, to decrease the
electricity losses in the networks.

Turkey, Azerbaijan Continue With Armenian Cultural Heritage Genocide

TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN CONTINUE WITH ARMENIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 20, 2010 – 14:15 AMT 09:15 GMT

Cultural Genocide international conference was organized in Yerevan
in commemoration of Armenian Genocide 95th anniversary.

The event was sponsored by Armenian Diaspora Ministry, National
Academy of Sciences and Armenian Genocide Museum.

"For 95 years, Armenian nation has been struggling for the recognition
of Genocide. Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire was followed by a
cultural one – extermination of Armenian cultural heritage in Julfa.

We condemn the atrocities and urge for the punishment of perpetrators,"
Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan emphasized, opening
the conference.

She called on Armenia and Diaspora forces to unite in developing a
program aimed at restoration of Armenian nation’s rights.

YSU rector Aram Simonyan, in turn, stated that architectural monuments
genocide continues to this day. "Today, cultural genocide can also
be perceived in Turkey and Azerbaijan’s appropriation of Armenian
culture. We must create a unified package of programs to struggle
against this occurrence," he stressed, expressing readiness on behalf
of the university to help state structures undertake measures in
this direction.

International Expert: State Of Voghjaberd Waste Burial Ground Disast

INTERNATIONAL EXPERT: STATE OF VOGHJABERD WASTE BURIAL GROUND DISASTROUS AND NEEDS URGENT MEASURES

ArmInfo
2010-04-20 16:01:00

ArmInfo. Urgent measures should be taken in regard to Voghjaberd waste
burial ground. "Everybody who yesterday (15 April) attended Voghjaberd
waste burial ground, could get convinced it is a real disaster,"
said John Vijgen, Director of International HCH & Pesticides
Association invited by the OSCE Office in Yerevan as an expert,
EcoLur NGO reported. On 16 April the OSCE Office in Yerevan held a
discussion of this issue with the participation of stakeholders such
the Ministry of Emergency States, Nature Protection and Agriculture
Ministries. The Ministry of Health didn’t send its representative. The
representatives of the US Embassy in Armenia, USAID and NGOs also took
part in this discussion. Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan
Carel Hofstra presided over this meeting.

It should be mentioned that the waste burial ground is a deep pit
with no inner protective layer where more than 500 tons of expired
pesticides and weed and pest-killer chemicals have been buried. All
this is covered by two- meter layer of soil, which is now disturbed by
heavy equipment. Not only the pesticides have appeared on the surface,
but also their decay products and those of other chemical reactions
that resemble chokedamps by their composition used during World War I.

The drainage system is blocked with soil and doesn’t fulfill its main
functions, i.e. water disposal from the waste burial ground. Now
this water washes the surface of the waste burial ground with all
its content and flows down to summer cottages and "Erebouni" Preserve.

"Still in 2003 Brussels recognized this issue needs increased
attention. And now this already poses a colossal threat to at least
3 thousand people that are exposed to miasmas from the waste burial
ground," said Yelena Manvelyan, the Chairman of "Women for Health and
Healthy Environment" NGO. Under her, the investigation conducted by the
organization in 2007 showed that the weed and pest-killer chemicals
have already penetrated into the soil. "There is danger that they
may penetrate farther even to the water arteries of the country – the
Hrazdan and Araks Rivers," she said and added the public is expecting
the government to take active measures; particularly it concerns the
Ministries of Health and Nature Protection who bear responsibility
for the safety of environment and health.

EcoLur told ArmInfo John Vijgen proposed a plan of the following
urgent measures: permanent securing no access possible, provisionary
catchment of rainwater and deviation around burial, temporary covering
of open waste areas plus parallel collection waste, transport and
temporary storage, secure any worsening of situation, then get back
to normal scenario. The expert thinks that only after this plan of
urgent measures one may return to the normal plan scheduled for 3-5
years, and eventually, lays down the elimination of the waste burial
ground content.

The whole problem is that the state bodies give no official respond
in the form of decisions, decrees and instructions and the ministries
can take real actions in accordance with them. Only the Minister of
Emergency States Armen Yeritsyan examined the situation on the spot
nd applied to the Prime Minister. At present everything depends on
the factual steps taken by the government.

Turkey’s Afraid Of Its Own Historians: Etyen Mahcupyan

TURKEY’S AFRAID OF ITS OWN HISTORIANS: ETYEN MAHCUPYAN

Tert.am
19.04.10

All the parliaments across the world would have far long ago
recognized the Armenian Genocide, should Turkey have been of
less international significance, writes the Chief Editor of the
Istanbul-based Armenian-Turkish language weekly Agos, Etyen Mahcupyan.

"No single resolution would have been brought to the parliament of any
country, had the international community not considered Turkey guilty.

On the other hand, all the parliaments across the world would have
far long ago recognized the Armenian Genocide, should Turkey be of
less international significance," writes Mahcupyan.

"The Turkish proposal of creating a joint commission of historians is
not convincing, while the viewpoint of leaving the issue to historians
is senseless as it has been left to them already for 90 years …

Turkey’s aim is not leaving the issue to historians but rather to those
historians that are acceptable for Turkey," writes the author, adding
that Ankara wants to create a commission of uncoordinated historians
who will not be able to reach an agreement on any issue which, in turn,
will enable Ankara to say that the historical issue is "obscure."

According to Mahcupyan Turkey’s denialist policy is day by day
strengthening the conviction with the international community that
the Armenian Genocide is a fact.

"If Turkey’s aim is really leaving the history to historians and
agree with the results of the study the commission will conduct, let
it involve Turkish historians who share different views over the issue.

But can a call of creating a commission of historians by a country be
treated seriously if that country is afraid of its own historians,"
writes Mahcupyan, adding that such a policy will not contribute to
the democratic development of Turkey.

BAKU: US embassy responds to criticism by Azeri authorities

Turan, Azerbaijan
April 15 2010

US embassy responds to criticism by Azeri authorities

Baku, 15 April: Turan news agency has asked the US embassy in Baku to
comment on criticism against the USA voiced today by Ali Hasanov of
the Presidential Administration.

Terry Davidson, head of the public relations department [of the US
embassy] said: "The USA has long been supporting all efforts of
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. As one of the co-chair
countries of the [OSCE] Minsk Group the USA understands that both
Azerbaijan and Armenia must accept the principle of settlement through
negotiations. From this point of view the USA can balance efforts".

It should be noted that Ali Hasanov accused the USA of pro-Armenian
bias and said that instead of putting pressure on Yerevan the USA
takes measures to take Armenia out of a difficult situation.

U.S. Makes Balanced Efforts In Karabakh Conflict Settlement

U.S. MAKES BALANCED EFFORTS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

news.am
April 15 2010
Armenia

U.S. backs efforts directed to the achievement of lasting, peaceful and
fair settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, U.S. Embassy spokesman
Terry Davidson told 1news.az, commenting on the critical statement
by Azerbaijani administration official about discontent of Baku with
OSCE MG activities.

According to him, U.S. is one of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing states
that makes balanced efforts, realizing that Azerbaijan and Armenia
should accept principles of peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Earlier, Chief of Socio-Political Department of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov criticized U.S.’s stance on
Karabakh peace process.