Author: Ekmekjian Janet

International Herald Tribune, France
Dec 29 2006

Russia agrees with Serbia’s arms sale to Armenia, Serb president says
The Associated PressPublished: December 29, 2006

BELGRADE, Serbia: Serbia has secured Russia’s consent to proceed with
a planned arms deal with Armenia, defusing earlier objections from
Moscow that caused upheaval at a Serbian weapons manufacturer, the
president said Friday.

President Boris Tadic said "the issue has been successfully resolved"
in his meeting with Russia’s ambassador to Belgrade, Aleksander
Alexeyev, who has given "a positive response" to Serbia’s appeal that
the Zastava arms company is allowed to sell guns and rifles worth
US$2.55 million (1.94 million) to Armenia.

Earlier this month Zastava criticised the Serbian government for
withholding permission for its previously arranged sale to Armenia,
allegedly because Russia – Serbia’s traditional ally – objected to
the Serbian supplier venturing into a market usually supplied by
Moscow.

Zastava, based in the industrial city of Kragujevac, 90 kilometers
(55 miles) southeast of Belgrade, is majority state-owned but its
management enjoys some autonomy in negotiating arms deals. Actual
exports, however, can be completed only with a government clearance.

Zastava’s unionized workforce of 2,600 has been on strike, demanding
financial compensation from the government because of the blocked
sale to Armenia. Defense officials have flatly rejected the demand.

The dispute deepened this week when 80 Zastava workers seized
control of Kragujevac city hall, saying they would keep up their
protest until the authorities either approve the export or cover any
loss caused by the ban.

There was no immediate comment to Tadic’s announcement from Zastava
managers or protesting workers.

The issue has become an embarrassment for Prime Minister Vojislav
Kostunica ahead of Jan. 21 parliamentary elections. Tadic is his
political rival, heading the opposition Democratic Party that
currently leads in opinion polls.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: ELECTIONS OF 2007 IN ARMENIA PROMISE NO RISKS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NATIVE ECONOMY

Yerevan, December 26. ArmInfo. Despite the parliamentary elections
scheduled for 2007, Armenia’s economy will experience no problems,
said Armenian President Robert Kocharyan at his meeting with over 60
leading native businessmen.

The presidential press-service reports Robert Kocharyan as stating
that the executive power will work in more coordinated way in order
that the pre-election sentiments have no impact on the economy. "You
can work calmly. I see no other risks for business and it would be
real supposing that the native economy will maintain the growth rates
of the last 6 years," the president said.

EARTHQUAKE ON ARMENIAN-IRANIAN BORDER

Yerevan, December 25. ArmInfo. Today, the Armenian National Service
of Seismic Protection told the ArmInfo news agency that a 5-point
earthquake was registered on the Armenian-Iranian border, 33 km
southwest of the city of Meghri, at 2:44 PM local time, Monday. There
is no information about destruction or victims.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTRY CONDEMNS RUSSIA’S SUPPLYING ARMENIA WITH ARMS

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 25 2006

Russia plans to supply the 102nd base and Armenian Air Defense Troops
with several anti-aircraft missiles S-300.

Russian Military Air Forces and Air Defense Troops second-in-command
will visit Armenia on February 17. The presentation of these complexes
will be held within this visit.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry condemns Russia’s supplying Armenia with
arms. The Ministry press service officer Ilgar Verdiyev told the APA
that Armenian armament leads to disbalance in the region.

"Azerbaijan and Armenia joined the European Firearms Convention. We
want the regional states to observe the terms of the contract,"
he said.

The 102nd base in Gyumru and Erebuni air-base is used by Russia at
the moment.

URL:

GRIGOR HAROUTIUNIAN: POWER NOT FORMED BY PEOPLE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, Armenia did not succeed
in the sphere of foreign policy: on the contrary, regress was
registered in the Nagorno Karabakh problem being the most important
for the country. Grigor Haroutiunian, RA NA Ardarutiun (Justice)
faction Secretary, PPA Board member, declared this on December 22
at the National Press Club. In his words, criminogenic situation
aggravated in the country in the passing year. "Only in autumn this
year the public witnessed murders of two community heads. If even
community heads are unprotected, we can say that the whole people is
unprotected," the opposition faction secretary said. In his words,
murders happen in all countries, but unlike other countries no
murder is disclosed in Armenia and impunity gives rise to new and
new crimes. G.Haroutiunian also emphasized that each crime even on
domestic ground is perceived by public as a political processs, which
proceeds from the situation formed in the country. In the words of
the Ardarutiun faction secretary, we could consider as achievements
of the passing year the Constitutional Court’s decisions connected
with formation of electoral commissions and violation of Norther
Avenue’s former residents’ rights, but they were never fulfilled. As
G.Haroutiunian affirmed, the people and the opposition forces should
consolidate for coming out of the formed situation. In his words,
first we should put an end to the tradition when the people cannot
exercise its constitutional right of forming the power. "As long as
the people does not form the power, this power cannot be responsible
before the people," he declared.

LAURA BRISTOW: FUTURE OF THE SOUTH CAUCASUS IMPORTANT FOR GREAT BRITAIN

ArmRadio.am
21.12.2006 16:13

British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Laura Bristow declared in an exclusive
interview with "Trend" agency that "the future of the South Caucasian
region is of great importance for Great Britain." "For us the further
stable, democratic and legal development of all three South Caucasian
states is important.

Without stability and peace in the region it would be very hard to
attain continuous economic development and utilization of potential
by these countries," the Ambassador said.

In response to the question whether Great Britain can activate the
efforts for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Bristow
responded, "First of all we should realize the price paid for this
conflict – the ruined lives, the damage taken by the society, the
lost opportunities." "I believe that negotiations are the only way
of conflict resolution, and Great Britain backs the involvement of
the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in the negotiation process,"
said the British diplomat.

MODERATOR AND GENERAL SECRETARY OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES VISIT ANTELIAS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 20 2006

ANTELIAS, DECEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Walter Altmann,
the newly elected Moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
and General Secretary Sam Kobia visited Aram I Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia on December 16. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the Information Services of the Antelias Catholicosate, the
guests expressed their warm gratitude to His Holiness for the 15
year service to the WCC as the Moderator. The other important goal
of the visit was to consult with His Holiness Patriarch on coming
programs, works and prospects of the WCC. After arriving at the
Antelias Catholicosate, the Moderator and the Secretary General had
a meeting with Aram I Catholicos at a separate Patriarchal Office. In
the evening, under the chairmanship of His Holiness, they met with the
special Committee of the Catholicosate on interchurch works. Stages
of development of the interchurch activity during the recent period,
especially at the regional and international levels, were discussed
during the meeting. The general picture of the Christian-Mohammedan
dialogue, the program process and prospects were presented to the WCC
high-ranking officials. WCC Moderator Altmann and General Secretary
Sam Kobia greeted the interchurch wide-spread activity done by the
Cacholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia by now and still being
continued, what has made a part of the mission of this Holy Cathedra
since the past decades. The guests touched upon the devoted service of
His Holiness Patriarch to the Council, entrusting to the responsible
posture of His Holiness in the issue of the interchurch movement and
the WCC, expressed a hope of coming cooperation.

"TRAVEL TO ARMENIA" FILM SHOWN IN VIENNA

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.12.2006 18:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Robert Gedikian’s "Travel to Armenia" film was shown
in Burg Kino in Vienna December 12. Armenian Ambassador to Austria
Ashot Hovakimian and French Ambassador to Austria Pierre Viaux were
present at the premiere. According to Amb.

Hovakimian, the film show is an excellent opportunity for Austrians
to learn about the Armenian Diaspora and become a participant of the
Year of Armenia in France, reports the RA MFA press office.

OSCE NOT TO RECOGNIZE CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN NKR

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 14 2006

YEREVAN, December 14. /ARKA/. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, stated that the OSCE
will not recognize the referendum on a draft constitution held in
Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday. "Such a referendum is counter-productive
to the ongoing conflict settlement process, which has recently shown
visible progress, as acknowledged by the parties," said Minister
De Gucht. Referring to a statement on Nagorno-Karabakh made at last
week’s 14th OSCE Ministerial Council in Brussels, he said: "We do not
welcome a move that could jeopardize progress made at this promising
juncture." He also referred to today’s statement by the Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, saying: "A reason not to recognize this
referendum is that no member of the international community recognizes
the so-called Nagorno-Karabach republic as an independent state."

According to preliminary results, a total of 77,279 people or 98.58%
of voters voted for the Constitution, 549 (0.7%) against.

Over 100 international observers from Russia, France, Italy, Great
Britain, Croatia, Serbia the USA, Transdniestria, Abkhazia and the
South Ossetia monitored the elections.

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:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE WCC "FAITH AND ORDER"
COMMISSION MEETING

The "Faith and Order" Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
organized a meeting under the general theme "The Church and its Mission" in
Cairo on December 6-8. Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham
Khatcherian, represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the meeting.

The meeting discussed issues related to the church and the concept of sin,
the limits of differentiation among churches, the concept of local churches
and the place of the church in the world and for the world.

The "Faith and Order" Commission of WCC works on preparing common ground
between churches, primarily by reviewing theological issues that contribute
to this unity. The Commission discusses various theological topics with its
member churches for this purpose.

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