Author: Meline Chalian

The Armenian Church has expressed willingness to contribute to the restoration of the ancient tomb in Jerusalem where Jesus was buried.

The issue was discussed at today’s sitting of the Supreme Religious Council held at the Mother See of holy Etchmiadzin.

Underlining the importance of Jerusalem in the national life and the responsibility of the Armenian Church in the maintenance of the holy site, the Supreme Religious Council committed itself to supporting the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem and raise the necessary funds through its Dioceses around the world.

The electricity price will be reduced to AMD 48.78 (down from AMD 46.2) from August 1, 2016.

Garegin Baghramyan, Head of the Tariff Policy Department of the Public Services Regularoty Commission, revealed the news to reporters following the Commission’s sitting on Wednesday.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s sister has dropped a heavy hint that the Dortmund star will sign for Arsenal this summer – by following the Gunners on LinkedIn, according to .

The Armenia international looks set to leave the Bundesliga giants this summer and both the Gunners and Manchester United are interested.

The 27-year-old is out of contract next summer and Dortmund chief Michael Zorc admitted the club will be forced into making a decision over the midfielder’s future this week.

Jose Mourinho is known to be a huge admirer of the former Shakhtar Donetsk star but Arsenal are thought to be leading the chase with the midfielder preferring a move to London.

With Mkhitaryan remaining tight-lipped over his future, the midfielder’s sister may just have let the cat out of the bag by recently following Arsenal on social networking site LinkedIn.

Monika Mkhitaryan works for UEFA and doesn’t follow a single football club on LinkedIn – other than Arsenal.

Slovenia supports the efforts of Armenia to achieve full recognition of the 1915 massacre of the Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, a spokesperson for the Slovenian Foreign Ministry told Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Czech President Milos Zeman said he would ask his country’s parliament to adopt a resolution recognizing the killings of Armenians in 1915 by the Turks as genocide.

“The Republic of Slovenia fully respects Armenia’s efforts to achieve genocide recognition, because massacres, death marches, and unbearable living conditions have fatally marked Armenians’ identity and historical and cultural heritage,” the spokesperson said, adding that “Slovenia deeply regrets the tragic events of 100 years ago.”

Moreover, Turkey and Armenia should join forces to address the mass killings of Armenians in 1915, that would help to prevent the repeat of such atrocities in the future, a spokesperson for the Slovenian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik Wednesday.

“Slovenia believes that the issue of mass killings of Armenians should be addressed, above all, by Armenia and Turkey,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson reiterated the words of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that keeping the memory of the victims alive and establishing cooperation between Armenia and Turkey in identifying facts could contribute to prevention of similar atrocities.

“Slovenia also believes that positive steps towards resolving historical issues will contribute to peace, security and stability in the region and around the globe,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Slovenia devotes particular attention to genocide prevention, “because numerous crisis areas where people experience mass violence remind us repeatedly that continued efforts are necessary to prevent crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.”

Armenian Archbishop’s letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has angered the Armenian community of Turkey.

Archbishop Aram Atesyan, the General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, sent a letter toErdogan slamming the German Parliament’s  2 adoption of an Armenian Genocide resolution, saying that the Bundestag’s decision “about the events happened during the tragic times of World War I caused regret in our nation,” reports.

“It is unacceptable that a parliament, which was formed by the votes of German citizens and has the duty of establishing laws for the peace, prosperity, and security of their nation, expressed its opinion, though it has no right to do so. It is unacceptable that this parliament legalized its decision on behalf of the entire German nation and considers itself a judge,” Atesyan wrote in his letter, which made no reference to the Armenian Genocide as such.

In his letter, shared on the Armenian Patriarchate’s Facebook page, Atesyan criticizes the use of the “tragedy that traumatized the Armenian nation” in international politics and claimed that such resolutions cause “sorrow and pain.” “Unfortunately, this historical pain of the Armenian nation is considered as a tool for accusing and punishing Turkish state and nation. And because of this ugly mentality, sub- and supra-identities of Turkish Armenians are harmed. The ones who are willing to see the truth can realize how Armenian nation has been abused by imperialist powers,” reads a part of the letter, which concludes with prayers to God to bestow “health, success, and happiness” on Erdogan.

In response to Atesyan’s letter, the Turkish-Armenian Weekly , condemning his praise of Erdogan, despite the President’s gross violation of human rights, anti-Armenian and racist policies, and denial of the Armenian Genocide. The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Archbishop,

 

 

 

“Some facts have been distorted in the “Stone Dreams” by Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli,” says historian Argam Ayvazyan, author of a number of works on Armenian monuments of Nakhijevan. According to him, five Armenian translations of the book have been published since 2013, but none has an analytical preface or necessary footnotes.

The book was released in Spanish on May 6 with Argam Ayvazyan’s preface included. The author points to the distortions he found in the book.

The book “Stone Dreams,” in which Aylisli speaks about Armenians with great warmth, refers to the events of 1990 in Baku and the 1919 barbarities against the Armenian population of Verin (Upper) Agulis, found a wide resonance in Armenia.

Aylisli pictures Azerbaijanis that left Armenia as the main perpetrators of the massacre, presenting their actions as a demonstration of revenge, while the atrocities of 1919 are ascribed to Ottoman Turks. Argam Ayvazyan says “Aylisli distorts the facts in both cases. There are proofs that the Armenians pogroms in Baku and Sumgait were organized by the local authorities and representatives of the Azerbaijani population. This was also the case with the 1905, 1918-1919 atrocities in Baku, Shushi and the cities of Nakhijevan, as well as the Armenian-Tatar confrontations and massacres.”

According to the historian, there are a number of mistakes related to historic facts, names of settlements and monuments. “Aylisli says Mesrop Mashtots created the Armenian alphabet in Agulis, which is an obvious distortion of facts. “The author’s wish to restore friendship between the Armenian and Azerbaijani nations is a frank step, but it’s also necessary to present the history and historic facts exactly,” Ayvazyan said.

Massis Post – On May 24, 2016 a delegation of Armenian Council of America and Gaidz Youth Organization visited the German Consul General to hand deliver a letter from the Armenian American community, urging Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German Parliament to remain steadfast and recognize the Armenian Genocide. Similar letters will be delivered to German Missions throughout the Armenian Diaspora as well as to German government representatives and Parliamentarians.

Germany’s parliament is set to vote on a cross-party bill on June 2nd, recognizing the 1915-1923 Genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey.

The following is the English translation of the open letter:

Honorable Chancellor Merkel,

In view of the approaching vote by the German Bundestag on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people are hopeful that the national government and the coalition partners led by you will formulate a clear and unambiguous resolution in the Parliament, in which the crimes against the Armenian people ARE recognized as Genocide.

Regrettably, it was not until 2005 that the subject of the Armenian Genocide was first discussed in the German Parliament. The subsequent resolution in June 2005 was accepted by all factions but fell far short of the expectations of the Armenian people.

In contrast to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament in 1987, followed by resolutions of numerous national parliaments, the German Parliament refrained from clearly acknowledging these crimes as Genocide. A further ten years passed before the Armenian Genocide issue was once again raised in the German Parliament on April 24, 2015.

Last year, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, German President Joachim Gauck in his speech at the Berlin Cathedral declared the massacres as Genocide. The following day, on April 24, 2015, during the debate in the Parliament, representatives of all factions followed the President’s lead in acknowledging the massacres as Genocide, but unfortunately the parliament was unable to agree upon a closing resolution.

In 2005, the Parliament accepted partial responsibility for the elimination of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire. In view of the historical importance of this fact, the Armenian people find the current stance of the German government unacceptable and incomprehensible. This stance is unbecoming to a country where the commemorative culture has such a high value. The Armenian people expect that the German Government and all Parliamentary parties will finally show enough courage to officially recognize the events of 1915 for what they were: Genocide.

In 2005, France took a clear stand and officially recognized the events as Genocide despite tremendous pressures by the Turkish government. If Germany declines to recognize these crimes as Genocide, we can only view this decision as an act of appeasement toward Turkey, very much like the period between 1915 and 1918, when Germany did nothing to prevent or stop the slaughter of Armenians out of consideration to its Turkish allies. Former Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg wrote at the time “Our only goal is to KEEP Turkey as an ally until the end of the war, indifferent to whether the Armenians perish or not.”

Recently, the Chairman of the CDU/CSU Faction stated in a newspaper interview that his faction will put forward a motion in the Parliament on June 2nd, 2016 in which the crimes against the Armenian people will be recognized as Genocide. He has also stated that Germany will not bow to Turkish pressure. We are optimistic that the CDU/CSU faction will position its decision around this clear statement and urge you and your Government not to be influenced by the threats and blackmail attempts of the Turkish Government, and follow the example of other European institutions and Parliaments in recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday approved a new government formed by one of his most trusted allies, who immediately asserted his intention to institute constitutional reforms that would expand the powers of the presidency, the Associated Press reports.

Binali Yildirim, 60, formerly minister of transport and communications, replaces Ahmet Davutoglu, who stepped down on Sunday amid a range of differences with the president, including Davutoglu’s apparently less-than-enthusiastic stance toward an overhaul of the constitution to give the largely ceremonial presidency executive powers.

“We will immediately start work to achieve a new constitution, including a presidential system,” Yildirim told lawmakers of his Justice and Development Party, or AKP, in his first speech after taking office.

“Our priority is to make the constitution in harmony with the de-facto situation regarding our president’s ties to the people,” Yildirim said.

The new government — which Yildirim is widely believed to have formed in consultation with Erdogan — includes nine new names, although most ministers from Davutoglu’s previous Cabinet retained key portfolios.

They include Mevlut Cavusoglu, who remains foreign minister, and Mehmet Simsek, the deputy minister who heads economic affairs.

Volkan Bozkir, the minister in charge of relations with the European Union, was replaced by Omer Celik, a founding member of the AKP who is known to be close to the president. Erdogan’s son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, kept his position as energy minister.

In a clear sign that Erdogan would continue to influence government, he was scheduled to chair the new Cabinet’s first meeting at his palace on Wednesday.

 

 

 

The Office of the NKR Human Rights Defender has launched a fact-finding mission to prepare a final report on the atrocities committed by Azeri forces against civilians and soldiers in Nagorno Karabakh, NKR Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan said in an interview with

The Ombudsman’s Office released an report on April 22 to present the violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, the cases of attacks on civilian population of NKR, cases of inhuman treatment, as well as cases of torture and mutilation of the NKR Defense Army servicemen.

“The interim report was based exclusively on published facts, which are not enough for a final report,” the Ombudsman noted. Therefore, he said, the Human Rights Defender’s Office has started an independent fact-finding work.

The initial report includes photos and description of facts meant for people above 18. Only photos widely shared and discussed in mass media and on social networks have been used in the document.

According to Ruben Melkonyan, the Azeri atrocities have always been spoken about, but the recent cases were different. The utmost goal, he said, is to present the inhuman actions of the Azeri forces on international platforms.

The Ombudsman believes that the atrocities should be condemned and properly assessed by the international community. “There are enough facts and the Human Rights Defender’s Office will be consistent in presenting the facts to the world.”

With a signature from Governor Rick Snyder some of the darkest chapters in human history may soon become required reading in Michigan classrooms, reports.

Both the House and Senate approved legislation that would make the Holocaust and the 1915 Armenian Genocide required subjects for students between 8th and 12th grade.

The bill also creates a 15 member Genocide Education Panel.

The Senate narrowly turned down an amendment that would have added more massacres to the requirements including those in Rwanda and Bosnia.