Author: Talalian Arpi

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

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"GHEVONTIANTZ AND VARTANANTZ FEASTS REMIND US EVERY YEAR OF THE NEED TO
UNITE AS PEOPLE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES"

Said His Holiness Aram I

On Thursday 11 February 2010 the Armenian Church celebrated the feast of the
martyr saints Ghevontiantz and Vartanantz at the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral in Antelias.

After the liturgy, celebrated by Bishop Norayr Ashekian and presided over by
His Holiness Aram I, the Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabagh, the honorary
guest of the day, the clergy, the seminarians and the people walked in
procession to the Main Hall of the Catholicosate. After blessing the people,
His Holiness addressed them and said: "The commemoration of the martyrs of
the battle of Vartanantz is a constant reminder of the challenges the
Armenian people face at all times and in all places. The only way to respond
to these challenges is to be united just as Vartan and his men were in their
time.

After the message of His Holiness Aram I, Foreign Minister Kevorki
Bedrossian greeted the people and asked for them to be in solidarity with
the leadership and people in Nagorno Karabagh as they search for peaceful
solutions to their problems.

The commemoration ended by singing spiritual songs dedicated to the
Ghevontiantz and Vartanantz martyrs.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos437.htm
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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 history and
the 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.

PUBLIC DEFENSE OF A THESIS AT THE INSTITUE FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES, MOD, REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

p;p=0&id=1201&y=2010&m=02&d=20
19. 02.10

On February 19, 2010 at the Institute for National Strategic Studies,
MOD, Republic of Armenia the public defense of the "Key Issues of
Democratization and the Factor of Armed Forces in Post-Cold War Turkey"
Thesis by Abraham Gasparyan, Post-Graduate Student at the Chair of
Political Science of Yerevan State University, was on the agenda of
the recurrent session of the Academic Committee conferring Academic
Degrees in "Political Institutions and Processes" and "International
Relations" specializations of security and defense oriented political
science. At the session the Thesis presented for the Academic Degree
of a Candidate of Political Sciences in "Political Institutions and
Processes" specialization was discussed in detail.

The official opponents presented their assessments and observations.

The speaker gave satisfactory answers to the opponents’ remarks.

The session chaired by Major General Hayk Kotanjian, Advisor on
Defense Security Policy to the Minister of Defense, Doctor of Political
Sciences, Commandant of the INSS passed in a constructive atmosphere
of academic discussions. At the session the members of the Academic
Committee stressed that it was already the third thesis in defense
and security oriented political science being defended at the INSS
in such a relatively short period. Moreover, such up-to-date issues,
as the systemization of information security, effectiveness of public
administration structure, the role of the Armed Forces in the internal
dynamics of Turkey have been discussed during those sessions.

The discussion was followed by voting through which Abraham Gasparyan
was conferred the Degree of a Candidate in Political Sciences.

LET’S CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMEN, TO-BE PATRIARCH SAYS

Hurriyet
Feb 18 2010
Turkey

Sebouh Chuljyan delivers warm messages to the Turkish public. DAILY
NEWS photo, Hasan ALTINIÅ~^IK

For the first time in history, an Armenian candidate will likely head
the Armenian Patriarchy of Turkey.

Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese of Gougark Bishop Sebouh Chuljyan
Primate will be the 85th patriarch of Armenians in Turkey if he wins
the elections expected to take place in May.

According to an 1861 Ottoman regulation that is applicable even today,
a bishop can be the patriarch of Armenians in Turkey if his father
was born in Turkey.

Speaking to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review during a visit
to Istanbul, Chuljyan delivered important messages not only to the
Turkish and Armenian communities, but also to the Western world.

Speaking at the historical Armenian church of "Surp Kevork" (St.

Gregory) at KocamustafapaÅ~_a in Istanbul, Chuljyan said if he wins,
then the patriarchy would be "kept away from politics."

"We will not repeat the previous mistakes. Let politicians deal with
politics. I will put effort into enhancing the dialogue between the
Turkish and Armenian peoples," he said. "We need to look deep in each
other’s eyes and talk about grievances."

Chuljyan also said the recent warming of bilateral relations is
a historic milestone. He said steps must be taken immediately to
re-establish official relations. "This chance to open the path of
dialogue between the two peoples should not be missed. Time works
against us," he told the Daily News.

The bishop criticized the Western world’s mediation, also saying that
Germany played a major role in the events of 1915. "Germany has not
accepted its responsibility in the events of 1915 until today. It has
always preferred to keep silent," he said, adding that the innocent
Armenian population in Anatolia went through great agonies in the
past because of the "egocentric stance of the West."

"The Western world has manipulated us for its benefits in Anatolia,"
he said. "I would like to think that those who try to act as mediators
between the Turkish and Armenian peoples are trying to get rid of
the burden of their consciences. However, they have their interests
in mind once again, in the form of the Caucasus."

No need for mediators

Chuljyan said he believes Turkey and Armenia should start building
dialogue immediately, without mediators. "There is no one who knows
us better than us. Let us overcome our grievances together and start
a dialogue," he said.

Throughout the interview, Chuljyan kept his critical stance toward
the Western world, addressing the West: "Do not add any more salt
to our wounds, do not pit the two peoples against themselves for
your interests."

Chuljyan was actually born in Turkey, in the eastern province of
Malatya, before migrating to Armenia at the age of 10 with his family.

The bishop speaks Turkish fluently. If he is elected patriarch, he
will apply for Turkish citizenship, provided the Turkish Republic
approves. He said he would keep his Armenian citizenship and become
a dual citizen.

Chuljyan said he visits Anatolia every chance he gets. "We Armenians
are the children of these lands and are bonded here by heart," he
said. "Do not misunderstand me. We respect the unity of Turkey. We
love these lands as much as you do because we [too] are a part of it."

On the matter of Armenian cultural artifacts within Turkish borders,
Chuljyan said: "We can repair historical structures together, we
can bring our experts together for that. The remains may be a part
of the Armenian culture but they are Turkey’s legacy. All we want
[from Turkey] is to not deny their ownership."

When reminded of the possibility of reopening for prayer the historical
church of Surp Hac on Akdamar Island in Van province in eastern Turkey,
Chuljyan said: "I believe that the Turkish people have respect for
all beliefs. I believe they will understand the importance of Surp
Hac for Armenians."

Mesrop II, the current patriarch, has fallen ill and was diagnosed
with dementia. Chuljyan said Mesrop II has already earned his place
in history books and commented on his sudden illness, which came in
the aftermath of the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist
Hrant Dink: "He received many threats and they damaged his health in
an irrevocable way."

When asked what he would do if he faced such threats, Chuljyan said:
"Intelligent people full of the love of God do not seek solution in
threats and conspiracies. Strong people who have faith in themselves
overcome problems through dialogue."

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM TO BE HELD IN TSAKHKADZOR

news.am
Feb 17 2010
Armenia

The 7th international economic forum "Bridge" will be held in the
resort town of Tsakhkadzor, Armenia, on February 19-22.

The forum organizers informed NEWS.am that Government officials,
industrialists and businessmen, scientists and public figures from
Armenia and other countries will take part in the forum and exchange
views on the urgent economic problems in Armenia. RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan will deliver a keynote address at the forum.

The goal of the forum is presenting Armenia’s economic potential to
political and business circles of the West and Near East, as well as
creating favorable conditions for investments in Armenia. Among the
speakers at the forum will be President of the Union of Manufacturers
and Businessmen of Armenia (IMBA) A. Ghazaryan, Chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia Artur Javadyan, RA Minister of Economy
Nerses Yeritsyan, ArmenTel Director General I. Klimko, President
of the Armenian Farmers’ Association G. Berberyan, President of the
Union of Builders of Armenia G. Galstyan, President of the Union of
Armenian Banks A. Ghukasyan, President of the Association of Transport
Workers and Forwarders M. Arakelyan, Rector of Yerevan State Institute
of Economy Yu. Savuryan, RA Deputy Minister of Economy A. Petrosyan,
and others.

ACCORDING TO TIGRAN SARGSIAN, BILLS WORKED OUT BY GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE IN ADVANCE DISCUSSED WITH CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERS OF NA STANDING COMMITTEES

Noyan Tapan
Feb 18, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. According to an agreement reached
with the RA National Assembly Speaker in advance, government’s
legislative initiatives should be in advance discussed with chairmen
and members of NA standing committees to avoid problems during the
introduction of the bills. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian stated at
the RA government’s February 18 session. He mentioned that it is an
order that should be observed.

"If we can improve the bills before they reach NA, we should take
that opportunity, otherwise problems regarding the bills are disclosed
already in NA," T. Sargsian emphasized.

TEN REASONS WHY TURKS WON’T ALLOW THEIR LEADERS TO RATIFY THE PROTOCOLS

NOYAN TAPAN
FEBRUARY 17, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. In earlier columns, I pointed out
Turkey’s deceptive designs in negotiating and signing the Protocols
with Armenia on October 10, 2009.

In addition to planning to deceive Armenia and international public
opinion, Turkish leaders tried to mislead their closest ally,
Azerbaijan, and the Turkish public, about the potential benefits of
the Protocols. Even though the Protocols were clearly in Turkey’s
interest, its leaders tried to oversell the benefits of the negotiated
agreement in order to overcome possible objections from critics at
home and abroad, particularly Azerbaijan.

As expected, the Erdogan government did get into trouble with
Azerbaijan when Pres. Ilham Aliyev complained loudly that by planning
to open the border with Armenia, Turkey would be abandoning its
"Little Brother" which would remove the key incentive for Armenia to
negotiate the return of Karabagh (Artsakh). Azerbaijani officials,
not appeased by Turkish assurances, retaliated by tripling the price of
gas exported to Turkey, taking down Turkish flags from public places,
banning Turkish movies and songs from Azeri TV, and shutting down
Turkish-financed mosques in Baku!

Meanwhile, opposition forces in Turkey, seeing a golden opportunity
to diminish Prime Minister Erdogan’s Parliamentary majority,
immediately accused him of betraying Turkey’s national interests by
siding with their perennial Armenian enemies, rather than with their
Azeri brothers!

In order to counter such accusations, Turkish leaders were forced to
make a series of unsubstantiated claims, exaggerating the benefits of
the Protocols to both Azerbaijan and Turkey. They assured the Azeris
that they would pressure Armenia into returning Artsakh to Azerbaijan
before the Turkish Parliament would ratify the Protocols and normalize
relations with Armenia. Furthermore, Turkish officials reassured their
own public that the Protocols would put an end to "Armenian claims"
of genocide and territorial demands in Eastern Turkey.

The Turkish and Azeri publics were not fooled by Ankara’s
misrepresentation of the Protocols. Here are ten major reasons why
the Turkish Parliament could refuse to ratify the Protocols:

1) Despite repeated announcements by Gul, Erdogan and Davutoglu that
the resolution of the Artsakh conflict is a precondition for the
ratification of the Protocols, the United States, Russia, the European
Union as well as Armenia have repeatedly pointed out that there is no
such stipulation in the Protocols. In addition, they have counseled
against linking the two issues or holding hostage the negotiations
on the Artsakh conflict to the ratification of the Protocols. Armenia
has steadfastly refused to link the Protocols to the Artsakh issue.

2) There is no truth to the Turkish claim that the Protocols would
put an end to Armenia’s pursuit of genocide recognition and its
acknowledgment by third countries. It is also untrue that the
Protocols would set up a mechanism for the study of the Armenian
Genocide. In fact, the Protocols have triggered renewed efforts by
Armenians in recent weeks to seek acknowledgment of the Genocide by
the British, Bulgarian, Israeli and Swedish Parliaments. Moreover,
the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has scheduled a vote on
the Armenian Genocide resolution on March 4. A similar resolution is
pending in the U.S. Senate.

3) Contrary to Turkish assertions, the "historical commission"
mentioned in the Protocols would serve not as a genocide review board,
but as a platform for Armenia to present demands for restitution
from Turkey.

4) The Turkish claim that the Protocols would end Armenian territorial
demands is belied by the fact that no mention is made of any past
treaty that requires Armenia to renounce such rights. Rather than
abandoning Artsakh or Western Armenia, Pres. Sargsyan raised for the
first time in his last week remarks the depopulation of the Armenian
region of Nakhichevan, after Soviet authorities relinquished it
to Azerbaijan.

5) Armenia and the major powers have rejected Turkish demands that the
Armenian Constitutional Court "correct" its January 12, 2010 ruling
which limited Turkey’s exaggerated interpretations of the Protocols.

The Court insisted that the pursuit of Genocide recognition cannot
be abandoned, and Artsakh’s status cannot be negotiated with Turkey
due to the bilateral nature of the Protocols.

6) Turkish leaders have no reason to protest against the Armenian
Court’s reference to the Preamble of the Constitution on pursuing
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This Preamble is based on
Article 11 of Armenia’s Declaration of Independence which has existed
since 1990, long before Turkey first opened its border with Armenia.

Indeed, Turkey’s leaders were well aware of this provision before
signing the Protocols in 2009.

7) Turkish officials have falsely stated that the Protocols
acknowledge the Treaty of Kars of 1921, which Soviet Armenia was
forced to sign. There is no reference to the Kars Treaty in the
Protocols. Furthermore, the Constitutional Court of Armenia ruled that
only those treaties that have been ratified by the present Republic
of Armenia are valid.

8) Rather than achieving its lofty objective of "zero-problems with
neighbors," the Turkish government, by signing the Protocols, has
created a serious rift with neighboring Azerbaijan, where no problem
existed before!

9) It is noteworthy that Turkish officials have not expressed any
objection to Armenia’s demand that Turkey be the first to ratify the
Protocols. This is a humiliating imposition on Turkey as it implies —
for good reason — Armenia’s lack of trust in Turkey!

10) Likewise, Turkish leaders have not responded to Armenia’s threat
to rescind its signature should Turkey not ratify the Protocols by
the end of March — one month before April 24! This is yet another
humiliating imposition by Armenia on a country whose leaders espouse
grandiose neo-Ottoman fantasies!

The foregoing 10 points demonstrate a serious credibility gap between
the Turkish government and its own public as well as the international
community. Ankara has tried to deceive everyone within and outside
Turkey by creating the false impression of wanting to normalize
relations with Armenia. Turkish officials have no one but themselves to
blame for this predicament. They thought that by bluffing they could
extract more concessions from Armenia! It did not work. They have
now fallen in their own trap and no one is too eager to rescue them!

DOES ERDOGAN HAVE HIS EYE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAT?

Tert.am
16:11, 16.02.10

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to take over the
president’s post, said former Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif
Å~^ener, reports Turkish paper Vatan.

Å~^ener supported his viewpoint by citing the fact that Erdogan is
currently spending great efforts in making amendments in the law on
the president’s immunity. According to Å~^ener, this way, Erdogan
wants to secure guarantees for himself in case he becomes president
in the future.

GAGIK MINASYAN RECEIVES IMF REPRESENTATIVES

National Assembly of RA
Feb 12 2010
Armenia

On February 11, the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Mr. Gagik Minasyan met the
Resident Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
for Armenia Mr. Guillermo Tolosa, head of the mission Mr. Mark Lewis,
economists Ms. Veronica Bacalu and Ms. Asma el Gana.

Mr. Minasyan emphasized the increase of diversification, the economic
development aimed at the export, the provision of higher competitive
field and effective tax policy.

During the financial year the 1.2% economic growth to be envisioned,
according to Mr. Minasyan’s assessment, is the minimum index that must
be provided, and careful policy must be pursued on the inflation and
macro indices. There will be increase in gas price, as a consequence
of which the increase of price of some services and goods will be
possible in different spheres.

It’s necessary that the RA Government and the Central Bank work for
mitigating the increase in price.

Agreeing with Mr. Minasyan’s views the IMF representatives noted that
the indices of inner increase of price must be at the center of the
authorities’ attention.

During the meeting both sides also discussed issues concerning the
purposeful and effective use of the foreign debt of the Republic of
Armenia and provision of competitive field.

ARMENIA URGES TURKISH LAWMAKERS TO UNBLOCK ACCORD

Agence France Presse
Feb 10 2010
France

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian called on Turkish lawmakers
Wednesday to take the first step in implementing a stalled accord on
normalising ties between the two countries.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols in October to establish
diplomatic ties and reopen their shared border, in a historic step
towards ending decades of hostility stemming from World War I-era
massacres of Armenians.

The protocols must now be ratified by both countries’ parliaments,
but the process has stalled as the two sides have traded accusations
of trying to modify the landmark deal.

"The (Armenian) parliament will vote on the protocols if the Turkish
parliament goes ahead with that," the Armenian leader told the Chatham
House thinktank in London.

"As a leader of the political majority (in Armenia) I guarantee
a positive vote in parliament if the Turkish side votes without
preconditions and in the timeframe," he added.

But it was impossible to predict the Turkish parliament’s approval
due to its independence. If Armenia goes first "we risk being in a
situation where the (Armenian) parliament will approve it and Turkey
fails" to do so, he said.

Ankara has accused Yerevan of trying to set new conditions after
Armenia’s constitutional court said the protocols could not contradict
Yerevan’s official position that the Armenian mass killings constituted
genocide — a label Turkey fiercely rejects.

Armenia, for its part, is furious over Ankara’s insistence that
normalising Turkish-Armenian ties depends on progress between Armenia
and Turkish ally Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in solidarity with
Azerbaijan after ethnic Armenian forces wrested Nagorny Karabakh from
Baku’s control in a war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives.

DISCUSSION OF GENOCIDE RESOLUTION AT US CONGRESS IS ARMENIAN LOBBY’S ACHIEVEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.02.2010 15:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Discussion of Armenian Genocide Resolution,
H.Res.252, at U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, is, first of
all, the result of successful lobbying of Armenian organizations,
including Hay Dat, ARF-Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group leader
Vahan Hovhannisyan stated.

As he told a news conference in Yerevan, the discussion came as a
result of Armenian organisations’ consistent struggle for Genocide
recognition.

Mr. Hovhannisyan emphasized that in case the U.S. House of
Representatives passes the resolution, there’s a high possibility
Barack Obama will use the term Genocide in his annual April 24 address.

Dwelling on Armenia-Turkey reconciliation process, he said, "If
Turkey doesn’t ratify protocols by the end of March, we can give up
on rapprochement."

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun is an Armenian
political party founded in Tiflis (Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia)
in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian
The ARF has the largest number of members from the political parties
present in the Armenian Diaspora, having established affiliates in
more than 200 countries.

The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun led the effort toward the establishment of
the first Armenian Republic in 1918 and was the party in power for
the duration of its existence. Following the Sovietization of Armenia
in 1920, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun was banned by the Communists and its
leadership exiled.

In the Diaspora, the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun fought Soviet rule over
Armenia and championed the cause of Armenian rights and independence;
it played a leading role in organizing a social and cultural framework
aimed at preserving the Armenian identity.

The ARF-Dashnaktsutyun officially re-emerged in Armenia during the
dissolution of the USSR, in 1990.

On December 28, 1994, the activities of the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun
were "temporarily suspended" by the Armenian authorities. In
view of the political nature of the anti-ARF interdictions by the
Armenian authorities, the ARF continued to operate in Armenia. On
February 9, 1998, less than a week after the resignation of the then
president Ter-Petrossian, the Justice Ministry lifted the ban on
the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun.

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of
the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet
Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks
held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of
Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic
destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during
and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres, and
deportations involving forced marches under conditions designed to
lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths
reaching 1.5 million.

The date of the onset of the genocide is conventionally held to be
April 24, 1915, the day that Ottoman authorities arrested some 250
Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople.

Thereafter, the Ottoman military uprooted Armenians from their homes
and forced them to march for hundreds of miles, depriving them of
food and water, to the desert of what is now Syria.

To date, twenty countries and 44 U.S. states have officially recognized
the events of the period as genocide, and most genocide scholars
and historians accept this view. The Armenian Genocide has been also
recognized by influential media including The New York Times, BBC,
The Washington Post and The Associated Press.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the
Genocide survivors.

The Armenian Cause (Hay Dat) is Armenian national liberation movement
for restoration of the independent Armenian state and reunification
of Armenians. The core issue is the worldwide recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Hay Dat has offices across the globe.

The Armenian Genocide resolution (H.Res. 106) was submitted to the
House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), during
the 110th United States Congress. It is a non-binding resolution
calling upon the US President to ensure that the foreign policy of
the United States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing,
and genocide documented in the United States record relating to
the Armenian Genocide, and for other purposes. The resolution was
introduced on January 30, 2007.