Author: Dabaghian Diana

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AZERIS DEMAND TO CHANGE THE ACTING CO-CHAIRS
[06:40 pm] 23 November, 2006

The Azeri community of the NKR is displeased with the
Minks group work. `We call on you to organize a
meeting with the Co-Chairs each time they arrive in
the region. Since the formation of the OSCE Minsk
group, the group has exerted pressure on us in order
to give the occupied Azeri lands to Armenians.

All the Co-Chairs are partial. We demand their
change’, announced Deputy Elmar Mammadyarov, member of
the Azeri community of the NKR according to the APA
agency.

By the way, Mammadyarov is especially discontent with
Minsk group U.S. Co-Chair Mettew Bryza. `The USA deems
itself as a symbol of democracy, peace and justice and
recognizes the regional wholeness. In this respect,
why should they render financial assistance to the
separators of the NKR?’

The heads of the country conducting a separating
policy are also criminals. They regularly visit the
USA to meet with the administration of the country.

The position of the American Co-Chair goes in line
with that of Arkadi Ghyukasyan and Robert Kocharyan.
Bryza meets with the representatives of criminal and
separatism world and supports their activity instead
of meeting with us.’

Independent Online, South Africa
Nov 23 2006

No warm welcome for Pope in Turkey

November 23 2006 at 02:15PM

Ankara – When Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the Turkish capital Ankara
on November 28 the usual thronging crowds that accompany most papal
visits abroad will not be present, the Prime Minister will be in
another country and the President will not be waiting to meet him as
the pope steps down from his aircraft.

The papal visit has been surrounded by controversy since it was first
mooted when Pope John Paul II was still head of the Catholic Church.

The original invitation was issued by Greek Orthodox Patriach
Bartholomew I, whose seat is in Istanbul, an invitation that the
Turkish state said the patriarch had no right to send.

It may seem like a triviality, but Turkish officals took exception to
the invitation on the grounds that since the pope is the head of the
Vatican State, then the invitation must be issued by the head of the
Turkish state, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

After a seemingly long wait, Sezer finally did issue an invitation
which the then pope accepted.

The controversy seemed over until German-born Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger was elected pope in April, 2005.

Turkish newspapers immediately recalled that when he was a cardinal,
Ratzinger had said that Turkey should not become a member of the
European Union.

Then came the pope’s September 2006 speech in which he quoted a 14th
century Byzantine emperor who had said that Islam was a religion
spread by the sword. Muslims in Turkey and many other countries
immediately protested.

While the pope expressed regret for the upset his comments had caused
he did not give an unequivocal apology.

The president of the state-controlled Religious Affairs Directorate,
Ali Bardakoglu, has said that while the visit may help to improve
relations between the Catholic and Muslim worlds, the pope should
offer a complete apology for his remarks.

"The trip won’t resolve all of the problems but it will be a good
step in the direction of dialogue," Bardakoglu told Italian newspaper
La Stampa.

In his capacity as head of state, the pope will meet the Turkish
president and Bardakoglu and will later travel to Ephesus, the site
where Mary, mother of Jesus is thought to have spent her final days.

He will then move on to Istanbul where he will meet Greek Orthodox
Patriarch Bartholomew I.

While Vatican officials have said this will be the highlight of the
pope’s trip, a chance to further relations and heal old wounds
between the the Catholic and Orthodox church, it is being looked at
with suspicion by Turkish officials.

The status of the patriarch is a particular thorny diplomatic issue
in Turkey. Turkey does not recognise Bartholomew’s title of His All
Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, instead referring to him as the
spiritual leader of the Greek minority in Turkey, a minority whose
numbers are perhaps just 5000.

The Catholic Church, however, does recognise Bartholomew’s title and
each time the word "ecumenical" is used a diplomatic furore erupts in
Turkey.

Celebrations in Ankara for the 2003 Silver Jubilee celebrations of
Pope John Paul II’s pontificate, where Bartholomew paid tribute to
the pope’s role in spreading peace, were boycotted by government and
opposition politicians as well as state officials due to the
invitation issued by the apostolic nuncio, the Vatican’s ambassador,
which stated that the "ecumenical patriarch" would be present.

There were even calls for the apostolic nuncio to be expelled from
the country.

Yet another possible diplomatic controversy could occur when the pope
visits Armenian Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan.

The Turkish state completely denies all claims that the massacres of
Christian Armenians during the First World War constituted a genocide
and observers will be watching Benedict closely for any comments he
makes on the controversial issue.

The Turkish government has stressed that it believes the pope’s trip
to Turkey will help Catholic-Muslim dialogue.

But in general it has reacted coolly to the visit.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan won’t even be meeting Benedict,
instead flying to Latvia to attend a Nato Summit.

Both Turkish and Vatican officials have denied that this is a snub.

Papal visits abroad are normally associated with large crowds of the
faithful turning out to greet the leader of their church and local
politicians trying to grab some of the limelight.

Benedict’s trip to Turkey could hardly be more opposite. – Sapa-dpa

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP REPORTS ON ARMENIAN, AZERI MINORITIES

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Nov 23 2006

Despite some steps undertaken by the Georgian government to improve the
lives of minorities, it has made little progress towards integrating
the Armenians and Azeris who constitute over 12% of the population,
the Belgium-based International Crisis Group said in a report on the
situation of the two minorities in Georgia.

The report says that while there is no risk of the situations becoming
threats to the state’s territorial integrity, like S.Ossetia or
Abkhazia, tensions are evident in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and
Kvemo Kartli, where the Armenian and Azeri minorities, respectively,
predominantly live.

"Tbilisi needs to pay more attention to minority rights, including
use of second languages, if it is to avoid further conflict," the
report says.

International Crisis Group outlined the inability to speak the state
language as "the minorities’ biggest problem."

The report notes that with donor support, Georgia has invested in
road and infrastructure rehabilitation in minority regions; created
a ministry for civic integration; established a public administration
institute to train minorities; and ratified the Framework Convention
for the Protection of National Minorities.

"But overall the priority has been to assert national unity over
minority protection."

TURKEY BREAKS OFF MILITARY CONTACTS WITH FRANCE

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
November 16, 2006 Thursday 8:54 AM EST

Turkey on Thursday broke off military contacts with fellow NATO member
France in protest against a proposed French law criminalizing denying
that Turkey committed genocide during the First World War.

According to Turkish media sources quoting military chief Ilker Basbug
in Ankara, high-ranking visits will no longer take place between the
two countries.

Last month, deputies in the lower house of the French parliament,
the National Assembly, voted by a large majority in favour of a bill
that would make it a crime to deny that Turkey committed genocide
against the Armenian people more than 90 years ago.

The Turkish parliament condemned the move as a blow to freedom of
speech and warned it would hurt French-Turkish bilateral relations.

While Turkey admits that massacres took place, it vehemently denies
that the deaths of Armenians during the war were part of a planned
genocide.

BILL ON GENOCIDE TO BE INTRODUCED INTO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TILL APRIL 24, 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.11.2006 16:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ One of the Armenian community’s prior candidates to
the U.S. Senate was Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), ARF Bureau’s Hay
Dat and Political Office Director Kiro Manoian told a news conference
in Yerevan today. In his words, Armenians are grateful to Senator
Menendez for making the Senate freeze the process of Hoagland’s
nomination for Ambassador to Armenia. "The Armenian community had
agitators in all constituencies and called to vote for the candidate.

We also hope that after the replacement of the House Speaker the
issue will be included in the agenda and another nomination will be
announced," he remarked adding that an Ambassador denying the Armenian
Genocide cannot represent U.S. interests in Armenia properly.

According to Manoian, newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
have already stated that the bill on the Armenian Genocide will be
submitted to consideration of the House. "In this view the victory
of Democrats can be rated as an advance, because the Republicans
headed by ex-speaker Dennis Hastert always blocked the adoption of
the resolution," he stressed.

New Jersey is mostly inhabited by natives of Near East, Iran and
South-East Asia, specifically China and Thailand.

AZERBAIJAN, GERMANY DEVELOP ALL-ROUND RELATIONS

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006

On November 15, Chairman of Milli Majlis Ogtay Asadov has met with
the visiting state secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife
Management and Safety of Nuclear Reactors of Germany, the deputy of
parliament Mrs. Astrid Kluge and the delegation.

Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament has told about history of friendly
ties between Azerbaijan and Germany, noting that today the bilateral
relations have entered a new stage of development. Chairman of Milli
Majlis has told: "For 10 months of current year, the trade turnover
between two countries has made 288 million dollars, that for 40
percent is more in comparison with the similar period of the last year.

Financial, bank and other economic structures of Germany actively
work in Azerbaijan, and they have enclosed significant investments in
economy, social and humanitarian spheres of our country. Cooperation
of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Azerbaijan
Republic with corresponding structures of Germany closely cooperate.

Chairman of Milli Majlis also has emphasized development of
inter-parliamentary links. He noted that at discussion of many
questions on the international actions, the deputies support position
of each other.

In detail informing visitors about the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ogtay Asadov has expressed to the German
party gratitude for protection of fair position of Azerbaijan,
support of territorial integrity of Azerbaijani state.

Having thanked for warm reception and the detailed information, Mrs.
Astrid Kluge has noted close cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology
and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan. She has told that the purpose of
present visit consists in carrying out of consultations about expansion
of interaction in the field of ecology and wildlife management.

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN MEETS WITH AMERICAN ARMENIAN BENEFACTORS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006

LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian met with the representatives
of the Armenian community of U.S. West Coast in Los Angeles. Consul
General of Armenia to Los Angeles, Armen Liloyan took part in the
reception organized for the NKR President. Those present expressed
readiness to do everything possible to assist successful holding of
the telethon to be held on November 23 in U.S. for the purpose of
fund-raising for Artsakh improvement and development.

As NT was informed from the Press Service under NKR President,
A.Ghoukassian also had individual meetings with well-known benefactor
Albert Boyajian, active participant of telethons organized in U.S.

Arkady Avanesian, Chairman of Americans to Artsakh organization Zaven
Khanjian, Chairman of U.S. West Coast Armenian Jewellers Association
Levon Shant Haytayan. Prospects of implementation of different projects
in Artsakh in spheres of economy, education and culture were discussed
during the talks. The necessity to attract additional investments to
Artsakh was especially stressed.

NKR President’s meetings in Los Angeles continue.

ATTORNEY GENERAL AND PRESIDENT CHALLENGED
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 14 2006

The government in Armenia are characterized by an unprecedented
cruelty towards their fellows in 2006. It is difficult, for instance,
to remember a case when the meeting of the College of the Procuracy
criticized the call-up organized by the ministry of defense declaring
it corrupt. However, the course of events allows suggesting that the
procuracy has lost the sense of reality or carried out a "non-sober
analysis of the conscription". The minister of defense stated
several days later that if there are irregularities, the guilty
should be punished, and he would join in with pleasure. This is not
but a challenge to Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan. If there are
officials in charge of the draft who break the law, Aghvan Hovsepyan
must find them and punish them, at least take them to the bench.

Perhaps, the Attorney General had thought that the minister of defense
would try to avoid, give excuses or call him and offer a deal on
something, including presidency in 2008. However, Aghvan Hovsepyan
forgot for a moment that Serge Sargsyan is ready to make arrangements
on presidency in 2008 only with those who are not citizens of Armenia
and cannot be his opponents, namely the officials of the Kremlin and
the White House. Although, unfortunately for Serge Sargsyan, these
efforts fail. And perhaps this encouraged Aghvan Hovsepyan to get
down to work expecting the minister of defense to give in and meet
him halfway.

Instead the minister of defense went to Yerevan State University, where
he advised the Attorney General to support his words with actions,
if he can, of course. Then he went to the Republic Recruiting Center
to give his support to the officials in charge of conscription not to
make a fuss and start thinking that the minister is not a minister
any more, and he will never be president. And now the question is
put definitely – will the Attorney General be Attorney General? If
Aghvan Hovsepyan fails to find evidence to the evaluations made at
the meeting of the college, the evaluations will turn into political
allegations meant to strike the minister of defense. In this case,
it will turn out that nobody is trying to "drag the Attorney General
into politics" but the Attorney General avoids confessing that he is
in politics. In order to prevent this impression, Aghvan Hovsepyan
should once do a more serious thing than Hakob Hakobyan’s "pilfery".

Meanwhile, the conscription is a serious thing, especially when the
defense minister calls the Attorney General for seriousness, actually
questioning his consistency or courage to reveal illegality. On the
other hand, Serge Sargsyan has every reason to doubt this because he
knows better how the procuracy artfully immured the applications on
privatization, the elections in 2003 and the irregularities in 2005.

Certainly, Aghvan Hovsepyan can dispel these doubts but the problem
is that this also requires courage, consistency and independence.

Maybe everything starts with independence. But in this case it appears
that the minister of defense does not doubt the Attorney General but
the person who appointed him, the president of the Republic.

Consequently, Aghvan Hovsepyan allows for doubting if Robert Kocharyan
is consistent if he announces about corruption in conscription but
makes no efforts for prosecution. On the other hand, even without
Hovsepyan, Robert Kocharyan’s consistency has been doubted for a
long time now because he, for instance, could have dismissed Aghvan
Hovsepyan long ago, at least for ignoring the same cases of electoral
fraud and privatization, let alone that the Attorney General is not
supposed to go in for choreography and botany. If Robert Kocharyan
failed to dismiss him, it means he is accountable for everything,
and if he fails to place the Attorney General within the circle of
the functions of the attorney general, it means he forced him into
politics. Consequently, the defense minister’s hint that if there
are guilty, it is necessary to prosecute them after announcing about
them challenges not only Aghvan Hovsepyan but first of all Robert
Kocharyan. Thereby, the minister of defense hints that the president
does not have the courage to contend with him and, therefore, he uses
the procuracy. To show that he is brave, the minister of defense flew
to Iraq, whereas Robert Kocharyan only went to Germany.

Oxfam Novib PEN Award for Armenian journalist

ANP (Dutch News Agency)
13 November 2006

The Hague (ANP) – The Armenian journalist Hrant Dink won the Oxfam
Novib PEN Award, Oxfam Novib announced on Monday. The journalist will
be granted the award this Saturday by Mayer of The Hague Wim Deetman
at the occasion of the Crossing Border Festival in The Hague. The
Award includes an amount of money of 2500 euro.

The Awards have the intention of encouraging writers who are being
persecuted. Dink recently was given a suspended prison sentence
in Turkey of half a year, because of writing about the Armenian
Genocide. He also has to face the judge on a critical article he
wrote about a prior lawsuit he was in.

According to Oxfam Novib Dink ows the award particularly to the
exceptional efforts he makes for freedom of the press, freedom of
speech and the Armenian question.

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:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
LAUNCHES THE MIDDLE EAST-ASIA DIALOGUE

ORGANIZED BY THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

His Holiness Aram I today inaugurated a unique Middle East-Asia Dialogue
around the theme, "A Recommitment to Spirituality for Mutual Understanding
and Peace." This dialogue, which brings together around 50 participants from
different religions and communities from both regions, will stress the
essential role played by all religions in the search for justice and peace
in the world today.

In his opening remarks, His Holiness highlighted his main reasons for
organizing the conference:

"The current world is a world of dialogue. The conflicts humanity faces
force nations, religions and cultures to look for solutions through dialogue
and to guide mankind towards justice and peace. Religion should play a
dominant role in today’s societies. Unhappily, religion is sometimes used
for political purposes and violence is sometimes committed in the name of
religion. But in its essence and mission, religion is a source of love,
harmony, justice and peace. Therefore, religions should validate their
calling through dialogue and cooperation."

Stressing the importance of the conference, the Catholicos said: "the Middle
East and Asia have been a cradle of religions. However, circumstances have
been such that these religions have remained far from, and have sometimes
even been opposed to, one another. The current initiative is unique, because
for the first time the representatives of these continents have come
together. This event presents an opportunity for mutual recognition and
understanding through an honest and constructive dialogue. The conference is
the start of a process, the purpose of which will be the development of
close cooperation between religions in the region."

The Pontiff then spoke about the uniqueness of religions based in Asia and
the Middle East.

Following His Holiness’ opening remarks, Lebanon’s Minister of Culture, Dr.
Tarek Mitri, welcomed the conference and its participants and conveyed the
greetings of Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.

After the official remarks Ms Dena Merriam and Teny Simonian introduced the
purpose of the meeting. The first session began with messages and speeches
on the general topic of "Compassion and Tolerance," followed by a discussion
period. The participants in the first session included Father Boulos Wahbe
(Greek Orthodox), the Honorable Master Sheng Yen (Buddhist), His Holiness
Amritanandanayi Devi (Hindu), His Holiness Bour Kri (Buddhist), Judge Abbas
Halabi (Druze), Hares Shahab (Maronite).

The second session, entitled "Prayer: The Heart of Spirituality," was held
in the afternoon. The presentation was followed by discussions with
participants Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian (Armenian Primate of Tehran), Dr.
Hamid Ahmad El-Rifai (Muslim Sunni), Sister Morin (Hindu), and Metropolitan
George Saliba (Syrian Orthodox).

Ecumenical relations in the international arena has been a key issue on the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s busy and wide-ranging agenda, particularly during
the last decade. His Holiness Aram I’s position as Moderator of the World
Council of Churches during the last 16 years and his 30-year contribution to
this movement opened the gates of the international community to this Holy
See.

The main incentive behind the current inter-faith dialogue was the desire of
various circles to learn from the experience of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
and particularly its Head.

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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 history and
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.