Author: Ekmekjian Janet

YEREVAN’S STANCE FORCES BAKU TO CHANGE KARABAKH POLICY – ALIYEV

Interfax
March 27 2006

Armenia’s position on the Nagorno- Karabakh settlement is forcing
Azerbaijan to alter its settlement policy, Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev said.

“Armenia disrupted the February meetings in France, showing a lack
of constructivism. Their desire to drag out the negotiating process
is obvious. However, the peace process’ potential has not yet been
completely exhausted,” he said.

“We continue to adhere to the peace process, but are ready for any
outcome,” Aliyev said.

MAJOR EVENTS OF YEAR OF ARMENIA IN FRANCE TO BE HELD STARTING SEPTEMBER 2006

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The major events of Year of Armenia
in France will be held in the period of September 2006 – September
2007. Mushegh Sargsian, Deputy Director of Export and Enterprise
Development of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA), told it to
NT correspondent. According to him, the program of these events,
particularly exhibitions and business forums, will be developed until
mid 2006. In his opinion, the holding of the economic sphere-related
events should promote exports of not only Armenian foodstuffs but
also handicrafts, carpets and works of art to France. The deputy
director said that the potential for development of trade and economic
relations between Armenia and France, which is based in particular on
the friendly political relations between the two countries and the
existence of a large and prosperous Armenian community in France,
has not been used fully. M. Sargsian expressed an opinion that
accumulation of an experience of exporting the Armenian production
to the French market with its high requirements regarding quality
and other characteristics of goods is important for Armenia, since a
commodity that has entered the French market can meet any standards,
including European ones.

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TOP STORIES
03/27/2006
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1) Schwarzenegger Urged to Help Bring Genocide Legislation to Vote
2) Turkish Lobbyist Attacks Armenian Americans
3) Kocharian-Aliyev Meeting Could Be Held in May
4) Thousands Protest against Turkey~Rs Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul

1) Schwarzenegger Urged to Help Bring Genocide Legislation to Vote

(LOS ANGELES)–The Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of California,
consisting of various Armenian organizations, sent a letter Friday to
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requesting that he push the US House
and Senate leadership to vote on the pending Armenian Genocide Resolutions.
The letter praised Schwarzenegger’s demonstrated commitment to the Armenian
community and support of Genocide recognition. Schwarzenegger’s list of
accomplishments includes designating April 24 as a day of remembrance for the
Armenian genocide and calling on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide.
“We ask you to openly call upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives
Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to schedule votes on the
Armenian genocide legislation currently before their chambers of Congress,”
reads the letter.
The full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

We are writing, as the collective leadership of the Armenian American
community of California, to respectfully request that you urge the leadership
of U.S. House and Senate to bring legislation reaffirming the Armenian
Genocide
to a vote in their respective chambers.
Last year, the 700,000 Armenian Americans living in the State of California
were heartened by your Executive Proclamation designating April 24 as a day of
remembrance for the Armenian Genocide. We also deeply appreciate your
signature
on SB 424, the “Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide” bill introduced
by Sen. Charles Poochigian. Along with all people of good conscience, we
recall
with great pride your remarks on April 21, 2005 noting that you are “proud to
represent the people of the State of California in recognizing the historical
persecution of the Armenian people and join with them in urging Turkey to
acknowledge the fact of the Armenian Genocide.”
Your principled stand holds great meaning for our community. Furthermore, we
are inspired by your refusal to bow to pressure from the Turkish government
that wants you compromise your commitment to proper U.S. commemoration and
Turkish acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. In taking this firm moral
stand, you are helping to break the cycle of genocide, a horrific century-long
history of mass slaughter and denial that has, all too often, been fueled by
the silence and inaction of the international community.
In this noble spirit – and in the great tradition of California Governors who
have served as national leaders in the cause of Armenian Genocide
recognition –
we ask you to openly call upon the Speaker of the House of Representatives
Dennis Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to schedule votes on the
Armenian Genocide legislation currently before their chambers of Congress.
We look forward to working with you hand in hand on this issue of shared
concern. Please accept our appreciation for your friendship and support for
our community.

Respectfully,

Western Diocese of the Armenian Church North America, Western Prelacy of the
Armenian of Apostolic Church, St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church, Armenian
Evangelical Union of North America, ARF “Dashnagtsutyun” of Western USA,
Armenian Democratic Liberal Organization, SD Hunchakian of Western USA,
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Society of Los Angeles, Armenian
Youth Association of California

2) Turkish Lobbyist Attacks Armenian Americans

WASHINGTON, DC–Turkey~Rs top Washington, DC lobbyist, former Louisiana
Congressman Bob Livingston, in perhaps his most strident attack to date, has
accused Armenian Americans of seeking to impose a ~Styranny of the minority~T by
urging Congress to adopt human rights legislation concerning the Armenian
genocide, according to documents obtained this week by the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
~SIt~Rs truly the height of hypocrisy for a paid foreign agent for Turkey–a
government that violates the rights of its citizens on a wholesale basis–to
try to diminish the role that American citizens play in the formulation of our
nation~Rs foreign policy,~T said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. ~SBut,
apparently, in the ~QAlice in Wonderland~R world of Bob Livingston, other
nations
dictate US policy, genocides remain unpunished, and foreign lobbyists get to
silence American voters. He would do well to spend more time encouraging his
Turkish clients to learn about democracy, and less time seeking to abridge the
democratic rights of Americans here at home.~T
In letters sent to Congressional offices last September, prior to the House
International Relations Committee~Rs consideration of Armenian genocide
legislation, Livingston escalated his rhetoric to unprecedented levels,
arguing, in his capacity as a paid agent of a foreign government, that he
believed the measure ~Scater[s] to a small minority of citizens promoting the
narrow goals of the minority at the expense of America~Rs broader interest.~T
He
went on, in an example of overstatement rare even by Washington, DC standards,
to contend that Armenian genocide legislation ~Sis the truest expression of the
tyranny of the minority.~T The panel rejected Livingston~Rs attack, voting
40 to
7 to approve the legislation.
In July of last year, CongressWatch, a division of Public Citizen, released a
49-page report highlighting ethical concerns about the Livingston Group~Rs
lobbying efforts for the Turkish Government.
The report details the efforts by Livingston, to secure a ~S$1 billion
supplemental appropriation for Turkey… despite that country~Rs refusal to
allow US troops to use its soil as a staging area for the Iraq invasion. He
also helped kill an amendment that would have formally recognized the Armenian
genocide that occurred between 1915 and 1923.~T The Livingston Group has
received over $10 million in payments from Turkey. To read this entire report,
visit:

3 ) Kocharian-Aliyev Meeting Could Be Held in May

BAKU (Armenpress)–Novruz Mamedov, Head of the Azeri Presidential
Administration’s International Relations Department, said that the next
meeting
of the Armenian and Azeri presidents may take place in May of 2006.
Mamedov said that unlike the presidents~R previous meeting in Rambouillet, the
forthcoming meeting of the presidents could take place within the framework of
an international event, reported Azerbaijan~Rs ANS TV channel.

4) Thousands Protest against Turkey~Rs Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul

BEVERLY HILLS–The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) led a demonstration of over
4,000 Armenian Americans Friday outside the Beverly Hills Hotel during a
speech
given by Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, a key figure in the Turkish
state~Rs campaign to deny the Armenian genocide.
The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR), the
AYF-Western Region, both dioceses of the Armenian church, all Armenian
political parties, Armenian schools, high school and college Armenian Student
Associations, the Hellenic association, and various other organizations
participated in Friday~Rs protest.
The crowd of protesters marched peacefully and chanted in front of the
Beverly
Hills Hotel, where the Defense Minister spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Los
Angeles World Affairs Council about ~SThe Evolving Security Environment and
Turkey~Rs Strategic Role in Eurasia.~T Among the thousands of participants in
the
protest were Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-27) and Burbank Board of Education
President Paul Krekorian.
Before inviting Congressman Sherman to speak, ANCA-WR Board of Directors
member Raffi Hamparian spoke of the US State Department~Rs failure to live
up to
American values. ~SAt the same time that the US government is condemning
Belarus
for suppressing freedom of expression, the US State Department is preparing to
fire our Ambassador to Armenia for simply telling the truth about the Armenian
genocide,~T said Hamparian.
~SIt is not only those with Armenian heritage who demand that the truth be
recognized. Friends of Turkey should demonstrate that Turkey accept the
Armenian genocide,~T said Congressman Sherman in his remarks to the crowd.
~SWhere will Turkey be among the family of nations if it does not recognize the
truth? I will work in Congress every day until the historical truth of the
Armenian genocide is recognized,~T he concluded.
Congressman Sherman also commented on Turkey~Rs failure to provide access
to US
military bases in Turkey and necessary passage over its land and air space
during the invasion of Iraq three years ago. ~SThe casualties stemming from
today~Rs conflict in Iraq are, to some extent, a direct result of Turkey~Rs
refusal to allow the US-led coalition to open a northern front,~T said
Congressman Sherman.
In his remarks at the luncheon, the Defense Minister addressed the issue of
Turkey~Rs actions during the run-up to the Iraq War. He directly contradicted
the position of his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld,
who has repeatedly said on national television that Turkey~Rs refusal to allow
US-led coalition forces to open a northern front has significantly contributed
to the strength of the Iraqi insurgency. ~STurkey has supported the US led war
on Iraq from the beginning,~T said the Defense Minister.
He added that ~STurkey promotes good neighborly relations.~T This assertion
also
stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the Turkish government, which, on
one hand, blockades and seeks to isolate Armenia, and on the other, denies the
Armenian genocide and continues to harvest the economic, demographic, and
geopolitical fruits of the genocidal crime it committed against the Armenian
nation nine decades ago.
~SDefense Minister Gonul~Rs remarks are consistent with his government~Rs
campaign to portray a rosy image of itself–despite the facts on the ground.
Increasingly, however, the American public is seeing through these transparent
efforts, and looking instead to Turkey~Rs actual conduct–such as its blockade
of Armenia, abysmal human rights record, attempts to revise history, and, more
broadly, its increasingly antagonistic relationship with the United States,~T
said Hamparian after listening to the Defense Minister~Rs speech.
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul~Rs visit to Southern California, home to the
largest Armenian population in the US, came exactly one month prior to the
91st
anniversary of the Armenian genocide on April 24th. California, which is
one of
38 states to have recognized the Armenian genocide, last year adopted
legislation permanently designating the week of April 24 as California~Rs week
of remembrance of the Armenian genocide. The effort to enact legislation on
the
Armenian genocide was led by state legislators such as Senators Chuck
Poochigian (R-Fresno) and Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco), and signed into law
by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. California has also adopted an education
curriculum that includes teaching of the history of the Armenian genocide, and
the Los Angeles Unified School District is among many public school systems in
the state that continue to train its teachers on implementing a curriculum
that
teaches about this crime against humanity.
The Defense Minister~Rs visit also came at an especially sensitive time in
US-Turkey relations. In recent weeks, ~SValley of the Wolves,~T the most
expensive film ever made in Turkey, prompted the US military to issue warnings
to our troops stationed in Turkey due to the film~Rs severely anti-American and
anti-Semitic nature. The film continues to remain a box office hit in theatres
across Turkey and has been publicly praised by many Turkish leaders, including
Prime Minster Erdogan. The popularity of ~SValley of the Wolves~T is not the
only
recent demonstration of anti-Semitic and anti-American sentiment in Turkey.
Last year, Adolf Hilter~Rs ~SMein Kampf~T was a best-seller in the country.
The Defense Minister~Rs speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants coming
from
protesters demonstrating along Sunset Boulevard. Armenian Americans attending
the luncheon, including Glendale Unified School District Board Member Greg
Krikorian, called on the Defense Minister to acknowledge Turkey~Rs past.
However, Defense Minister Gonul said that ~Sthese are Armenian claims, and
there is nothing to acknowledge.~T AYF Chairman Tro Tchekidjian stated at the
conclusion of the protest that ~SWe will never forget what happened in 1915,
and
we will persist in calling for recognition of the Armenian genocide until
Turkey comes to terms with its past.~T

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the
United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

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ARMENIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY TB FIGURES UP

Azg, Yerevan
25 Mar 06

Excerpt from report by Gohar Gevorkyan in Armenian newspaper Azg on 25
March headlined “Despite efforts, the TB situation remains worrying”.

The TB situation in the world remains worrying.

[Passage omitted: 9m new TB cases registered in the world].

Yesterday, on the occasion of world day for fighting tuberculosis,
leaders and representatives of the anti-TB national centre said that
the disease has increased noticeably over the past decade.

The head of the centre, Vaan Pogosyan, said that in 2005 there were
6,455 people with TB in Armenia, 2,006 of which were new cases. He
said that 167 patients died of TB.

He said that the early detection and proper treatment are the main
tasks for the state. By all means this does not mean that nothing is
being done by way of treatment. Several hospitals and clinics were
refurbished within the framework of the programme. Laboratory and
other equipment were bought, the centre was set up, and polyclinics
were tasked with treating the disease.

By the way, the diagnosis and treatment of TB is free of charge in
Armenia. Specialists believe that with early diagnosis and the right
treatment the disease can be treated.

Pogosyan said that the programme will continue till 2011 and that the
government is going to endorse a new strategy and allocate more than
1bn drams for this. Over the next five years the Global foundation
will allocate 7m dollars to support the programme.

The head of the World Health Organization office in Yerevan, Elizabeth
Hoff, talked about the work that has been done so far and said that
more needs to be done to prevent the disease from spreading and to
treat it.

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 25 2006

EU Will Take Part In Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Resolution

Tbilisi, March 25 (Prime-News) – The European Union (EU) will take a
direct part in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Trend news agency informs that Peter Semnebi, the EU special
representative in the South Caucasus, stated about that.

`Resolution of the conflicts in the South Caucasus is one of the EU’s
priorities.

It signals to more active attraction of the organization to the
resolution of the problem situation,’ Semnebi stated.

EU’s mandate in the issue was expanded and it includes resolution of
conflict situations.

`Unless the conflict is solved, Armenia might turn out in isolation,’
Swiss diplomat stressed.

Moreover, Semnebi did not conceal his concerns in connection with the
calls to the armed resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

`Attempts for the armed resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
might lead to serious results. It might sharp drop in inflow of
investments in the country,’ he underlined.

Student Operated Press, FL
March 24 2006

Republic of Armenia to Sign $235 Million Millennium Challenge Compact
by Judyth Piazza CEO (Editor)

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Chair of the Board of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), will make remarks at the
signing of the Millennium Challenge Compact between the United States
and the Republic of Armenia, on Monday, March 27, 2006 at 4:00 p.m.,
in the Benjamin Franklin Room, at the Department of State.

MCC Chief Executive Officer Ambassador John Danilovich and Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will also make remarks. The $235.65
million Compact will be signed by Ambassador Danilovich and Armenia’s
Minister of Finance and Economy, Vardan Khachatryan.

Armenia’s Millennium Challenge Compact aims to reduce rural poverty
through a sustainable increase in the economic performance of the
agricultural sector. The Compact consists of two investments: a Rural
Road Rehabilitation Project and an Irrigated Agriculture Project. The
program will directly impact 75 percent of the rural population and
is expected to significantly increase the annual incomes of the rural
poor.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. government corporation
designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world, is
based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces
good governance, economic freedom, and investments in people that
promote economic growth and elimination of extreme poverty.

This event will be open to the press.

Pre-set time for cameras: 3:15 p.m. from the 23rd Street entrance.

Final access time for all press: 3:30 p.m. from the 23rd Street
entrance.

Media representatives may attend this briefing upon presentation of
one of the following: (1) a U.S. Government-issued identification
card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of
Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo
identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on
letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by
an official photo identification (driver’s license or passport).

Source: US State Dept.

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 24 2006

CIS and Baltic press on Russia

ARMENIA

The media see U.S. policies in the South Caucasus as a drive to
squeeze out Russia but warn this could backfire on Washington.

“The United States hopes to remove Moscow from the South Caucasus as
it prepares for a military standoff with Iran… [However,] the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not just a conflict inside the Caucasus:
its scope is well beyond the region because it maintains a balance of
forces inside the Turkey – Russia – Iran triangle. If Washington
tries to topple this balance through its demands to withdraw the
Russian military base from Armenia, this means at least two of three
regional powers – Russia and Iran – could be sent off… Azerbaijan,
on its part, risks being cornered between Russia and Iran if a basic
agreement on Karabakh is in place… U.S.’s drive toward a quick
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through exerting pressure
on Armenia and Azerbaijan might basically strengthen Russia’s clout
in Yerevan and Baku, rather than weaken it.” (Hayots Ashkhar, March
18.)

A1+

ARAM KARAPETYAN BRINGS OLD TIMES

05:31 pm 22 March, 2006

Head of the `New Times’ party Aram Karapetyan announced in the
National Press Club that the coming authorities of Armenia will have
better relationship with Russia. The reason of the announcement was
the theme discussed in the Club – the Armenian-Russian relations. He
claimed, `All the countries, even India will try to get into close
cooperation with Russia because of energy resources’.

Aram Karapetyan was angry with the announcements of Shavarsh Kocharyan
and Hovhannes Hovhannisyan. For example, Kocharyan persuaded the
politicians in the Club that Russia is not our friend but our enemy.
According to him, even during the years of the Karabakh war Russia
allotted more weapon and equipment to Azerbaijan than to
Armenia. «In fact, during the Karabakh was Russian fought together
with the Azeris against Armenia», Kocharyan claimed.

He concluded that our relations with Russia were built not on reality
but on myths which are collapsing little by little. Shavarsh Kocharyan
also informed that the Russian military bases located in Armenia and
Georgia are much less important than the radio location station
«Gabali» in Azerbaijan.

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan too continues this theme, «All the hopes
connected with Russia are lost, as the country continues the
traditions of the Soviet Union and supports all the regimes in post
Soviet countries and outside them».

Asked a question by the journalists «Do you mean your own self by
saying – the coming authorities of Armenia? » Aram Karapetyan
answered, «Yes, of course», and even claimed, «Putin does not
trust the incumbent authorities». Hovhannes Hovhannisyan concluded,
That is to say, old times are coming».

In contrast to Kocharyan and Hovhannisyan, the deputy head of the
Armenian Pan-National Movement Aram Manoukyan spoke for the
preservation of good relations with Russia. He advised everyone not to
forget about the political and diplomatic support which is absent in
the present phase of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. «The
countries which once supported Armenia now call us an aggressor»,
representative of the past authorities Aram Manoukyan evaluated the
reputation of the present authorities for Russia and many other
countries.

ZENIT – Die Welt von Rom aus gesehen
ml?sid=86323

ZG06032108
Publikationsdatum: 2006-03-21

Benedikt XVI. fördert die Einheitsbestrebungen der getrennten armenischen
Kirchen

Empfang Benedikts XVI. für eine Delegation unter der Führung des
armenisch-katholischen Patriarchen Nerses Bedros XIX. Tarmouni
ROM, 21. März 2006 (ZENIT.org).- Benedikt XVI. hat die getrennten Kirchen
Armeniens dazu ermutigt, auf dem Weg “der Brüderlichkeit und der
Zusammenarbeit” mit Blick auf das Ziel der “vollen Einheit” weiterzugehen.

Mit diesen Worten wandte sich der Papst am gestrigen Montag an die
Synodenväter und eine Gruppe von Pilgern, die unter der Leitung von
Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX. Tarmouni von Kilikien für die katholischen
Armenier in der Sala Clementina im Apostolischen Palast zusammengekommen
waren. Die Begegnung mit dem Heiligen beschloss die Phase der
Vorbereitungssitzungen, die vor der Einberufung des Ständigen Rates der
katholischen Kirche in Armenien und der darauf folgenden Armenischen
Patriarchalsynode im Armenischen Kolleg in Rom stattgefunden hatten.

Die Geschichte der armenischen Kirche geht in ihren Wurzeln auf den Anfang
des 2. Jahrhunderts zurück. Nach der Tradition waren es die Apostel Judas
Thaddäus und Bartholomäus, die das Evangelium zum ersten Mal in Armenien
verkündigt hatten. Aber erst in Folge der apostolischen Bemühungen des
heiligen Gregors des Erleuchters, der im Jahr 301 König Tiridates III. und
dessen Hof taufte, wurde das Christentum zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte
Armeniens Staatsreligion. Der später zum Bischof von Cäsarea und Kappadokien
geweihte heilige Gregor widmete seine ganze Kraft dem Kampf gegen das
Heidentum, indem er seiner Kirche eine hierarchische Organisation gab, an
deren Spitze der “Katholikos” [kirchlicher Titel, der seit dem 4.
Jahrhundert dem Bischof von Seleukia-Ktesiphon verliehen wurde und mit der
Stellung eines Generalvikars, der zu allen Amtsgeschäften ermächtigt ist,
vergleichbar ist, Anm. D. Red.] steht.

In der Folge des 4. Ökumenischen Konzils von Kalkedon im Jahr 465 trennte
sich die Kirche Armeniens von der der byzantinischen und römischen Kirche,
da sich Papst Leo I. geweigert hatte, den 28. Kanon zu akzeptieren, der die
Gleichstellung des Apostolischen Stuhls von Rom mit dem Patriarchen von
Konstantinopel sanktionierte und diesem Patriarchat den Primat zuwies. In
späteren Jahren gab es dann jedoch vor allem in Kleinarmenien unter
Bischöfen, Priestern und Laien eine sehr wichtige Strömung, die der Lehre
von Kalkedon treu geblieben waren. Sogar nach dem Schisma von 608/609 nahmen
einige Katholikoi und Bischöfe die Lehre von Kalkedon an und schrieben den
Päpsten Briefe, in denen sie ihre volle Gemeinschaft im Glauben zum Ausdruck
brachten.

Die verschiedenen Verfolgungen, denen die Anhänger des kalkedonischen
Glaubens im Verlauf der Jahrhunderte ausgesetzt waren, führten diese dann
zum Versuch, eine unabhängige Hierarchie für ihre Gemeinden einzurichten. So
kam es am Ende zur Wahl des kalkedonischen Katholikos Abraham Arzivian,
Bischof von Aleppo, der im Jahr 1742 offiziell von Papst Benedikt XIV.
bestätigt wurde. Bischof Arzivian wurde damit Patriarch von Kilikien und der
Armenier mit Sitz in Beirut (Libanon). Ihm oblag die Jurisdiktion über den
Süden des Ottomanischen Reiches. Aufgrund politischer Probleme im Reich
wurde der Sitz dann nach Konstantinopel verlegt.

Ab diesem Moment trennte sich die Armenische Katholische Kirche von der
Armenischen Apostolischen Kirche, die ihren Sitz in Etchmiadzin (in der Nähe
von Jerjevan, der Hauptstadt Armeniens) hat und im Jahr 1441 von einigen
antikalkedonischen Bischöfen und Mönchen gegründet worden war. Die Leitung
der Armenischen Apostolischen Kirche liegt heute in Händen Seiner Heiligkeit
Karekin II., Oberster Patriarch und Katholikos aller Armenier.

Während der Audienz zeigte Benedikt XVI. sofort seine “große Anerkennung”
für die “starke, zuweilen bis zum Martyrium gehende Anhänglichkeit, die eure
Gemeinschaft dem Sitz des Petrus in einer gegenseitigen und fruchtbaren
Beziehung des Glaubens und der Zuneigung immer erwiesen hat”. Der Heilige
Vater rückte dann jene Leiden in den Vordergrund, die das armenische Volk
“im Namen des christlichen Glaubens in den Jahren der schrecklichen
Verfolgung” erfahren musste. Diese im Jahr 1915 begonnene Verfolgung sei
“mit einem Namen, der eine traurige Bedeutung hat”, in der Geschichte
eingeschrieben: “metz yeghèrn”, “das große Übel”.

Der Genozid am armenischen Volk wurde von den damals an die Macht gekommenen
“Jungen Türken” verübt. Von der Gesamtbevölkerung, die sich im Ottomanischen
Reich, das im Niedergang begriffen war, auf ungefähr 2.600.000 Menschen
belief, wurden fast 1.500.000 grausam getötet.

Für die Armenische Katholische Kirche starben acht Bischöfe, 111 Priester,
53 Ordenleute und ungefähr 80.000 Gläubige. Der größte Teil der
Bischofssitze, Kirchen, Konvente und Schulen wurde geplündert und entweiht.
Es gab auch zahlreiche Opfer unter den armenisch-apostolischen und
protestantischen Christen. Am 7. Oktober 2001 sprach Papst Johannes Paul II.
Erzbischof Ignazio Maloyan von Mardin aufgrund seines leuchtenden Beispiels
an Hingabe und seines Zeugnisses für den Glauben an Christus selig.

Der Völkermord war auch der Anfang der Diaspora der armenischen Christen in
die ganze Welt. Heute zählen sie mehr als 7.000.000 Gläubige. Sie sind neben
Armenien auch in Russland, in Georgien, im Mittleren Osten, in Südamerika,
in Europa und in anderen Diasporaländern vertreten. Nach dem Fall des
Kommunismus richtete der Heilige Stuhl im Jahr 1991 das Ordinariat für die
armenischen Katholiken Osteuropas ein, der Länder der ehemaligen
Sowjetunion. Nach und nach wurden in Armenien, Georgien und Russland
Pfarreien, Konvente und Kulturzentren gegründet. Heute lebt in diesen
Territorien die Mehrheit der armenischen Katholiken: von den insgesamt
600.000 sind es ungefähr 400.000.

“Die göttliche Vorsehung hatte das armenisch-katholische Patriarchat in den
Mittleren Osten, nach Kilikien und später in den Libanon verlegt. Zu ihm
blicken alle armenisch-katholischen Gläubigen als einem festen geistlichen
Bezugspunkt für ihre jahrhundertealte kulturelle und liturgische Tradition
auf”, erklärte der Bischof von Rom. Die untereinander getrennten Kirchen,
die im heiligen Gregor dem Erleuchter “ihren gemeinsamen Gründervater
anerkennen”, hätten in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten “einen herzlichen und
fruchtbaren Dialog aufgenommen, um die gemeinsamen Wurzeln wieder zu
entdecken”. Als “tröstliches Zeichen” dieser Sehnsucht nach voller Einheit
erinnerte Benedikt XVI. seine Gäste an die im Jahr 2001 stattgefundene Feier
zum 1700. Jahrestags der Taufe des armenischen Volks, als die Armenische
Katholische Kirche eine erneute Annäherung an die Apostolische Kirche von
Etchmiadzin und den Anfang neuer brüderlicher Beziehungen erlebt hatte.
Eigens zu diesem Anlass verfasste Papst Johannes Paul II. ein Apostolisches
Schreiben (2. Februar 2001), in dem er der katholischen Welt einen Einblick
in die Bekehrungsgeschichte und das Schicksal des armenischen Volks gewährt.

“Ich unterstütze diese wieder gefundene Brüderlichkeit und Zusammenarbeit
und bringe meine Hoffnung zum Ausdruck, dass daraus neue Initiativen für
einen gemeinsamen Weg zur vollen Einheit hervorgehen”, so Benedikt XVI.
“Wenn die geschichtlichen Ereignisse die Zersplitterung der armenischen
Kirche zum Vorschein gebracht haben, so wird die göttliche Vorsehung es dazu
führen, dass sie eines Tages wieder in brüderlichem inneren Einklang mit
einer Hierarchie und in voller Gemeinschaft mit dem Bischof von Rom vereint
sein wird”, fuhr der Papst fort. “Die Liebe des Herrn zur Kirche während
ihrer Pilgerschaft durch die Zeit wird den Christen – das ist unsere
vertrauensvolle Hoffnung – die notwendigen Mittel bieten, um den dringlichen
Wunsch Johannes Pauls II. zu verwirklichen: ‘ut unum sint’.”

Benedikt XVI. beschloss seine Ansprache mit folgendem Wunsch: “Wir alle
wollen Instrumente sein, die Christus zur Verfügung stehen. Er, der der Weg,
die Wahrheit und das Leben ist, möge uns die Gnade gewähren, mit aller Kraft
auszuharren, auf dass es sobald als möglich eine Herde unter einem Hirten
gibt.”

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ISSUE OF CLEANING OF CULTURE VERY IMPORTANT FOR RA MINISTER OF CULTURE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 21 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Gevorg Gevorgian,
the RA Minister of Culture and Youth Issues, has no information about
getting flats of the cream of the Cinematographers’ Union of Armenia
from the many-storied being built on the Cinema House. Even more, as
the Minister informed journalists during the March 21 meeting taken
place in the Ministry, he has had no contacts and meetings with anybody
during the recent two months. “I’m continuously engaged in problems
of the Ministry, have no contacts with my friends as well. As for
the Cinema House, I had a phone conversation with R. Gevorgiants,
the Chairman of the Cinematographers’ Union. The latter said that
this is done in the name of the cinema union, which will enlarge
the territory of the Cinema House by few times. Besides, the owner
of the building promised more than 200 thousand dollars by which
the Cinema House will be re-equiped with dolby stereo system. If it
is so, then it will be good. As for giving flats, I don’t think,”
G.Gevorgian emphasized. According to the Minister, at the meeting
with representatives of the creative unions of the country recently,
everyday issues weren’t discussed but a dispute concerning perspectives
of development of culture was promoted. “For me the issue of cleaning
of the culture is very important as a regress, introduction of
alien elements and continuous fall of the national are noticed in
all the spheres,” Gevorg Gevorgian mentioned. The Minister informed
that according to the preliminary agreement, programs of the Russian
“Kultura” TV will soon be broadcast 24 hours in Armenia. According to
G.Gevorgian, it’s also envisaged to give 8 hours of that TV channel
to similar Armenian programs. And the RA Minister of Culture didn’t
like composer Armen Martirosian’s “Without your Love” song performed
by singer Andre for the “Eurovision” concert program.