Author: Harutyunian Christine

SHEIKHA MOZAH VISITS LISBON MUSEUM

Gulf Times
e.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=286168&version=1&amp ;template_id=36&parent_id=16
April 22 2009
Qatar

HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad, accompanied by the wife of the
Portuguese President Maria Cavaco Silva, yesterday visited the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation in the Portuguese Capital, Lisbon.

Sheikha Mozah and the Portuguese president’s wife were briefed about
the rare art objects, collected in the beginning of the last century,
and the Foundation’s various departments, which include an education
centre and the Modern Art Centre as well as auditoriums and exhibition
halls.

Sheikha Mozah toured the Foundation where she was briefed about the
Art Library, the Fine Arts Center and the Music Department.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private foundation
of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts,
charity, education, and science. It was created by a clause in the will
of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, a petrol magnate of Armenian origin.

Sheikha Mozah also visited Lisbon Cathedral, the oldest church in
the city, which was built by King Afonso Henriques in 1147.

The Cathedral’s building has been modified several times and survived
many earthquakes. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural
styles.

Sheikha Mozah toured the cathedral and was briefed about its ancient
history and its unique sculpture drawings and architecture.

COMMUNITY URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION

Asbarez
showarticle=41705_4/21/2009_1
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

GLENDALE–The Armenian Genocide United Commemoration Committee issued
the following announcement, which we publish as is:

Turkey’s premeditated, organized and successfully perpetrated genocide
of its Armenian minority, the first genocide of the 20th century,
remains unpunished by the international community of nations.

Today more than ever, Armenians remain the masters of their civil
rights and responsibilities. Political developments over the past
few weeks, especially those pertaining to the potential opening of
the border between Armenian and Turkey, are nothing more than a fig
leaf for Ankara to avoid addressing the real and substantive issues
of acknowledgement and reparations vis-a-vis the Armenian Genocide.

Armenians will not allow Turkey to shirk from its
responsibilities. With a resounding voice, we will continue to remind
the world that Turkey is obligated to provide pecuniary and territorial
compensation to the Armenian nation. Armenians will never cease in
its pursuit of justice for the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

We appeal to Armenians in California to partake in our collective
pursuit of justice by participating this April 24th at the annual
Armenian Genocide commemoration at the Armenian Martyrs Memorial
Monument in Montebello.

Specifically, at 10:30 am a dignified Divine Liturgy (Soorp
Badarak) followed by a solemn requiem service, involving clerical
representatives from the three Christian Armenian denominations
– Apostolic, Catholic and Protestant ‘s will take place at the
Montebello monument.

This will be followed at 12:30 pm with a political rally and the
94th anniversary observance of the Armenian Genocide. A number of
elected public officials and dignitaries will be attending the rally
and addressing the audience.

In addition, a wreath- and flower-laying ceremony will take place
before the Montebello monument, allowing all in attendance to pay
homage to the 1.5 million Armenian martyrs who perished during the
Genocide.

The address of the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument in Montebello
is at Bicknell Park, 900 Via San Clemente.

At 10:30 am on April 24th, let us all ‘s young and old, Armenians
and our non-Armenian friends ‘s make a concerted effort to attend
the 94th anniversary observance of the Armenian Genocide in Montebello.

Armenian Genocide United Commemoration Committee

NKR PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE ALL-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OF ARCHITECTS

armradio.am
21.04.2009 18:00

NKR President Bako Sahakyan issued an address to the participants
of the "Armenian Architecture and the 21st Century" All-Armenian
Conference of Architects. The message reds:

"Dear participants of the conference

Organizing in the Motherland the All-Armenian Conference of Architects
for the first time in such a format deserves the highest appreciation.

It is gratifying that the event is organized on a high level, with
the participation of state structures, scientific and expert community
of Armenia, the Diaspora and Artsakh.

Architecture is one of the strongest symbols of our national
individuality, its intellectual potential and unity, indissoluble
bonds between the past, the present and the future.

In the current situation preservation and further development of the
unique style of the Armenian architecture could be secured through
tight coordination of the scientific potential of the Motherland and
the Diaspora.

I am confident that this kind of events will highly contribute to
establishing and broadening functional cooperation between Armenian
architects living in different countries, as well as to mutually
beneficial interpenetration of national and international architecture.

I wish success and effective work to all participants of the
conference."

WB plans to provide additional $20mln to Armenia

YEREVAN, April 18. /ARKA/. The World Bank is planning to increase
525mln dollars worth funds provided to Armenia by another 20mln
dollars, Head of WB Office in Armenia Aristomene Varoudakis said at his
meeting with Armenian Premier Tigran Sargsyan Friday.

The additional funds are to be used under the draft strategy of
assistance to Armenia, Varoudakis said as quoted by the Press Service
of Armenian Government.

If agreed upon, the draft strategy will be submitted for consideration
of WB Directors Board in early June, he said adding that the document
was compiled in a short period of time and has been already discussed
in Armenian Ministry of Finance.

He stressed the importance of the strategy directions’ being in line
with the government programs and focusing on solutions to social
problems.

Armenian Premier, in his turn, said that the country’s ministers of
finance and economy have already provided positive conclusions on the
draft strategy and today the main objective is to approve the document
and start implementation the soonest possible to ensure efficiency of
the government anti-crisis measures.

Sargsyan expressed satisfaction with the country’s cooperation with the
WB. The 50mln dollars worth WB-financed program for small and medium
businesses shows considerable progress, he said.

He expressed confidence that other Armenia-WB cooperation programs
will have similar results.

Varoudakis and Head of Country Assistance Strategy program Samya Mitra
expressed readiness to cooperation also with donor countries and
international organizations willing to extend loans to Armenia. N.V.
`0–

PanArmenian, Armenia
April 18 2009

Heritage Party to hold protest rally in front of US Embassy

18.04.2009 16:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On April 21, Heritage party will organize a rally in
front of the US Embassy in Yerevan. The rally will start at M. Saryan
monument. Upon reaching the US Embassy, the protesters will hand the
US Ambassador a letter addressed to US President Barack Obama.

`We aim to expresses our disapproval of the US position in Armenian
Genocide issue,’ Heritage Party representative David Sanasaryan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to him, the Armenians lost 90% of
their cultural values and were deprived of their homeland as a result
of Turkey’s policy aimed at extermination of the Armenians. And this
act shouldn’t go unpunished.

`The problem didn’t find a reasonable solution over the past 94
years. But the fact that Turkey committed the Armenian Genocide is
beyond doubt. Genocide recognition is of vital importance to our
nation, and it’s our moral duty to once again raise the issue,’ he
noted.

SERVICES IN IT GREW BY 24.2 PER CENT, WHILE COMMUNICATION SERVICES DECREASED BY 5 PER CENT.

Noyan Tapan
April 16, 2009
Yerevan

Over January-February of 2009 the volume of services in the sphere of
IT (computer and related activities) reached 3 billion 184.6 million
AMD (about 10.41 million USD), which is 24.2 per cent more than
the recpective indicator of the same period last year. The volume
of services in the sphere of research and development reached 190.4
million dram over January February, which is 32.3 per cent less than
last year’s performance of the same period.

According to the national statistical data, over January-February
of 2009 the volume of communication services reached 24 billion 974
million AMD, 5 per cent less than the relevant indicator of the same
period of last year (calculated in comparable prices).

Within the first two month of this year 524 computers were produced
in Armenia against 283 over the last January-February (54 per cent
growth).

In 2008 the volume of foreign investments in communications reached
301 million 592.2 thousand against 261 million 186.2 thousand USD
in the previous year. Particularly, investments Lebanon reached 39
million 540 thousand USD against 133 million 461.5 thousand USD of
the previous year.

French investments reached 64 million 738.3 thousand USD over 2008,
while in the previous year France didn’t invested in Armenia’s
communications. Russia invested in 2008 197 mill ion 313 thousand USD,
against 127 million 724.7 thousand USD of the previous year. On the
whole, over the last ten years investments in Armenia’s communications
reached 1 billion 175 million 35.7 thousand USD, which accounts for
27.84 per cent of the whole investments in country’s economy.

In the sphere of Information Technology (computers and related
activities) 13 million 531.2 thousand USD were invested in 2008 against
10 million 255.4 thousand of the previous year. Russia invested 0.2
thousand USD, while within the previous year Russian didn’t invested
in IT sphere. US invested 13 million 531 thousand USD in 2008 against
10 million 255.4 thousand USD made in the previous year. On the whole,
over the last ten years investments in Armenia’s Information technology
(computers and related equipment) totaled 78 million 947.2 thousand
USD, which accounts for 1.67 per cent of the whole investments in
country’s economy.

In 2008 11 million 106.3 thousand USD were invested in the sphere
of research and development, against 7 million 323.6 thousand of
the previous year. In particular, 5 million 937.4 thousand USD were
invested by Ireland against 3 million 745.4 thousand USD of the
previous year. Another 5 million 168.9 thousand USD were invested by
US companies, against 4 million 178.2 thousand USD invested in the
previous year. On the whole, over the last ten years investments
in Armenia’s research and development sphere tot aled 41 million
375.9 thousand USD, which accounts for 0.87 per cent of the whole
investments in country’s economy.

In 2008 no investments were made for the production of office
equipment, computing, radio, television and telecommunication
related equipment, while during the previous year the Great Britain
invested 2 million 597 thousand USD for the production of mentioned
equipment. On the whole, over the last ten years investments in
production of computing and office equipment totaled 61.1 thousand USD
(which accounts for 0 per cent of the whole investments in country’s
economy), while investments in production of radio, television and
telecommunication related equipment totaled 14 million 300.3 thousand,
which accounts for 0.3 per cent of the whole investments in country’s
economy.

1229 LETTERS RECEIVED

National Assembly
April 17 2009
Armenia

According to the Law of the Republic of Armenia on the Order of
Discussing the Proposals, Applications and Complaints of the Citizens,
the Legislative Activity Services Department of the National Assembly
announced brief information on the results of the letters of the
first quarter of 2009.

375 letters of the citizens were registered and conveyed to the
President of the National Assembly, and 19 letters were conveyed to
the Vice-President of the National Assembly. All the letters were
responded.

419 letters of the citizens were conveyed to the Standing Committees
of the National Assembly. All the letters were responded.

416 letters were conveyed to the factions of the National Assembly. All
the letters were responded.

Legislative, legal, health care, social, educational, financial and
everyday issues were raised in the letters.

AMERIABANK LEASING OPERATIONS UP 119% FOR 1Q OF 2009

ArmInfo
2009-04-17 14:27:00

Ameriabank ensured 119% growth of leasing operations for 1Q of 2009,
Ameriabank press-service told ArmInfo. Ameriabank launch this service
in June 2008. The bank is among the few local banks providing leasing
services.

In 2009 the bank has intensified the market of leasing services by
creating flexible and competitive conditions for the given product. In
early 2009 leasing operations of Ameriabank totaled 146 million drams
and grew to 320 million drams over the 1Q of 2009, including 84%
was the share of construction, 12% of commercial companies and 4% of
health sector. The bank organized presentation of leasing services at
the end of March 2009, which raised the interest in the given service.

To recall, TDA Holdings LTD, the affiliated company of the investment
company Russian Troika Dialog, became the majority shareholder of
CJSC Ameriabank in August 2007 (now it holds 99.7% stake in the bank).

STATUS OF BSEC PARTNER GIVEN TO IRAN

ArmInfo
2009-04-16 16:54:00

A decision on providing Iran with BSEC partner status is one of the
most important resolutions made today, BSEC Secretary General Leonidas
Chrysanthopoulos said in Yerevan today after BSEC foreign ministers’
meeting.

According to him, BSEC will establish the cooperation with Iran in
different spheres, in particular, in agriculture, energy and transport,
that is an important step at this stage of international relations
and demonstrates the Organization’s progressive approaches.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I:
"TAKE COURAGE FROM CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER DEATH"
"THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF LEBANON IS COMMITTED TO THE INDEPENDENCE AND
SOVEREIGNTY OF LEBANON"

On Sunday 12 April 2009, the church and courtyard of the Catholicosate was
packed with people who had come to celebrate the Easter Sunday Holy Divine
Liturgy. Representatives of other communities in Lebanon and political
personalities came to Antelias to greet His Holiness Aram I as well on this
important day in the life of the Christian church.

The Liturgy was celebrated by His Holiness Aram I, with the assistance of
Archbishop Komitas and Bishop Nareg. Catholicos Aram I used the Biblical
verse, "Take courage: I have conquered the World" (John 16:33) for his
sermon. His Holiness said that Jesus conquered the world through the
principles and values he brought to humanity, and that our people have
lived, struggled and created through their deep Christian faith, martyrdom
and the hope of resurrection inherited from their ancestors.

As one of the Spiritual Heads of Lebanon’s seven major communities, His
Holiness then addressed the current situation in Lebanon. He said: "These
days are critical moments for the country. As children of Lebanon we must
strengthen its internal coherence, participate in its reconstruction and
nation building." He then directed his message to politicians and reminded
them of their responsibilities: "The divisive political culture of the
country has deepened tension among its leaders and the people. Armenian
political parties should avoid such a confrontational culture and express
their opinion based on mutual respect. The three Armenian political parties
should consult one another on important national issues and develop common
perspectives in spite of their differing political opinions. Such an
approach will not only help the Armenian community, but Lebanon as a whole.
Let our internal consensus serve as an example to other communities".

He went on to say: "The Armenian candidates running for legislative
elections should remember that they represent the whole of the Armenian
community and thus act accordingly. Representation means seeking the mind of
the community and serving it with the sense of responsibility and
accountability.

His Holiness then reminded that "The Armenian community will continue to act
responsibly and work for the independence, sovereignty, integrity of Lebanon
and safeguard its specificity. With these goals in mind, the Armenian
community will cooperate with everybody. We believe in the important role of
Lebanon in the Arab World, its model of Christians and Muslims living
together, its democratic system and its human and cultural values. Because
of its important political role in the Arab world, Lebanon is a bridge
between the East and the West.

His Holiness finished by stating: "Lebanon is our homeland. We have defended
its territorial integrity, its independence and unity under all
circumstances and will continue defending these sacred values. Lebanon
belongs to all the Lebanese. There are no majority or minority in Lebanon.
We are all minorities and Lebanon alone is the majority. Lebanon is a
country of co-existence, and this is its unique message. We are all
accountable to Lebanon. There cannot be ‘us’ and ‘them’ in Lebanon. This
thinking should end. Lebanon comes first and foremost. We must establish
together a Lebanese agenda for Lebanon, and elaborate a common vision
sustained by the basic values of Lebanon. All Lebanese are called to serve
the interests of Lebanon. This should be the basic principle for everybody
before and after Legislative elections. This should be the driving force of
the Armenian Community".

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Photos: os/Photos376.htm

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GOOD FRIDAY

CEREMONY SYMBOLIZING CHRIST’S BURIAL ENDS BY BLESSING WITH THE RELIQUARY OF
JESUS’ WOODEN CROSS

On 10 April 2009, Armenian faithful gathered around the ‘tomb’ constructed
in front of the Altar of the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator. The
tomb was covered with colorful flowers and the Reliquary of the wood from
the cross of Jesus stood on it. While the seminary choir sang "Sourp
Asdvadz" (Holy God), His Holiness Aram I and the clergy knelt in front of
the tomb and then His Holiness Aram I presided over the funeral service.

At the end of the service Catholicos Aram I shared his reflections on the
meaning of the ’empty tomb’, and the power it has acquired from the
Resurrection event and its promise of eternal life. He described the ’empty
tomb’ as the unfolding of the mystery of Christian faith through Jesus’ life
and death. He said: "the eternal entered time and the incomprehensible was
comprehended ". For him the presence of youth at the commemorative service
was an affirmation of the mission of the church transmitted through
generations. In conclusion he told the youth, "Jesus is present among us
every moment and everywhere. Your continual presence in the church and your
participation in its life transforms the church into a mission."

At the end of the ceremony His Holiness Aram I blessed the people with the
Reliquary, After that, according to the tradition, the faithful then passed
under the empty tomb and took with them flowers as a sign of the promise of
eternal life.

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Photos: os/Photos375.htm

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HOLY THURSDAY
A DEEP SPIRITUAL DAY IN ANTELIAS

On Holy Thursday Armenians accompany the last events in Jesus’ life up to
his crucifixion, through readings of the Gospels and singing the hymns of
the day.

Thursday 9 April: At the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias
(Lebanon) the day began with the performance of Prayers of Matins, followed
by a brief ritual of repentance and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy,
at which the faithful partook in the Holy Eucharist. This taking of the
Eucharist symbolizes the Last Supper of the Lord, which is the beginning of
the mystery of the Holy Eucharist.

On the same day at four o’clock in the afternoon the solemn ceremony of
"Washing the Feet" began as a reminder of Jesus’ washing the feet of his
disciples. His Holiness Aram I performed the ceremony. After the Gospel
readings, the Catholicos replaced his liturgical vestments with an apron,
blessed the water and oil and washed the feet of twelve seminary students.
Later, in his message, His Holiness said that the path to peace as taught by
Jesus is founded on love and mutual acceptance. Through his humility, by his
service to the poor and the suffering and by restoring their dignity, Jesus
showed humanity the road to peace building. At the end of the ceremony, the
blessed oil was distributed among the faithful.

At 7:00 in the evening, the service of "Lamentation" (Khavaroum) began and
continued until late in the night with the participation of many faithful,
particularly youth. As always, the ceremony included seven readings from the
Gospels by the priests. These readings tell the story of Jesus at the Garden
of Gethsemane up to his crucifixion. Twelve candles (one for Jesus) are lit.
After every reading candles are extinguished until there is total darkness
in the church. This rite reminds the faithful of the betrayal of Christ by
Judas, and the denial and desertion of his disciples.

According to the ancient tradition of the church, after each Gospel reading,
the faithful tie a knot on a string. At the end of the readings they wear
the string with seven knots on their wrists and keep it there until the
Feast of Ascension.

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Photos: os/Photos374.htm#4

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TUESDAY HOLY WEEK
COMMEMORATING THE PARABLE OF TEN BRIDES-MAIDS

On the evening of Tuesday 7 April 2009, prayers were devoted to the parable
of the Ten Bridesmaids. This parable is both read and enacted in the church.
While the parable is read, ten young girls, each wearing a deacon’s tunic,
stand in front of the Altar with lit candles. They then draw folded papers.
The girls who have drawn the "unwise" papers extinguish their candles. The
commemoration of the parable and its visual presentation at the beginning of
the Holy week reminds the faithful that because the Kingdom of God may come
any time, they should always be ready.

After the prayers His Holiness Aram I blessed the ten young girls and hoped
that the experience of that service would guide them in their Christian
life.

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Photos: os/Photos374.htm

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. Its jurisdiction extends over the Armenian
Communities in the Middle East, Europe and North and South America. The
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon. /// Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia – Communication and
Information Department.
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer.