“We” (Menk) Alliance representatives Aram Sargsyan, Khachatur Kokobelyan, and Anzhela Khachatryan on Thursday met with Ambassador Piotr Świtalski, Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Armenia, and the EU member states’ ambassadors who are accredited in the country.
They conferred on the forthcoming snap parliamentary election in Armenia, the platform of the alliance, Armenia-EU cooperation, and domestic policy, the alliance reports.
During his meeting with the representatives of the Armeinian community in Astana, the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan urged them to work.
He noted that soon legislative changes will be made in Armenia to make the opportunities for evolving business activity more accessible.
"Our main goal is to encourage people. As it was the case during the revolution, we told them, my dear people, you are powerful, get up and stand up for your rights. Now we are saying the same thing regarding business. Now our task is to have hundreds of thousands of people do something in terms of economics, so that people can understand that it’s only through work that we can solve the existing problems," he said.
Pashinyan said that if they were driven by sitting at home and waiting for the government, these issues would not be resolved.
"Poverty is a serious problem in Armenia today, and it’s first of all the responsibility of the government to find a solution to the problem. But let me tell you something: will the government be able to find a solution to overcome the poverty of the family if the family members do not do anything to improve that situation? " he said.
The Acting PM noted that during their meetings in the villages, people stated: "We wish we had work and could work".
"Then, after a few inquiries, we find out that in the same village where we were asked for workplaces, there is a vacancy and the owner says that he has nor been able to employ anyone for two years because people do not want to work since they receive poverty benefits which equals 25,000 drams. It has come to the point that people are slaughtering their cows so that they can receive poverty benefits, or they do not buy a TV so that can receive poverty benefits," he said.
According to Pashinyan, 350,000 people are employed in Armenia and they need to provide for 800,000 people.
"800 thousand people demand from those 350 thousand, 350 thousand people are working quite hard, and 800 thousand people want them to get out of their way and work even harder," he stressed.
Representatives of ANC Australia make a presentation in Canberra
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has called for Australia to provide aid to Artsakh, as part of a wide-ranging presentation made to the Federal Parliament’s Joint Foreign Affairs & Aid Sub-Committee in Canberra.
The role of the Joint Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defense & Trade, and its Sub-Committees, is to consider and report on foreign affairs matters, providing advice to the House of Representatives, Senate and Ministers.
ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian presented to the Joint Foreign Affairs & Aid Sub-Committee, which is chaired by lawmaker Chris Crewther and includes 18 members of parliament and Senators as its members.
The topics covered included: a) Australia’s position on the Armenian Genocide together with an overview of Australia’s humanitarian relief efforts to assist genocide survivors; b) the history of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict including current resolution efforts; and c) ongoing international aid programs in Armenia and Artsakh.
The ANC-AU concluded the one-hour session by requesting the Australian government reviews its policy on providing foreign aid to Artsakh.
“Thanks to the advocacy efforts of our sister Armenian National Committee in America (ANCA), foreign aid has been secured for humanitarian relief efforts in Artsakh,” Kayserian explained.
Since 2000, the HALO Trust – an international organisation that concentrates its efforts on mine-clearing operations in Artsakh – has used USAID dollars to finance its activities in the region. As well as U.S. funding, the HALO Trust in 2013 also received funding from the UK Foreign Office to finance its de-mining activities in Artsakh.
“Australia has in the past participated in de-mining efforts internationally,” Kayserian added. “We highlighted that Australia has even contributed to the HALO Trust’s de-mining operations in the Asia-Pacific, while in 2006 and 2010, Australia through the NATO Partnership for Peace Program and the Red Crescent, contributed towards unexploded ordnance decontamination efforts in Azerbaijan.”
“We thank the Joint Foreign Affairs & Aid Sub-Committee for allowing us the opportunity to make the case on behalf of Armenian-Australians, that Australia’s assistance should stretch to help the Armenians trying to make lives for themselves in the Republic of Artsakh,” said Kayserian.
The presentation to the Joint Foreign Affairs & Aid Sub-Committee sought to achieve equitable funding to humanitarian de-mining activities in Artsakh, in a first time effort by the ANC-AU to secure Australian foreign aid. The appeal also called for revisions to Australia’s position on the Armenian Genocide and for a more balanced approach to future peace in the Republic of Artsakh.
First, the athletes will compete in the European Championship for a quota to the European Games, due to be held in Minsk this summer.
“The quotas are reserved for prize-winning places. The Olympic quotas can be won in 8 series of the World Cup, and we’ll have athletes in 4 of them,” said Serobyan.
In just a few days, four gymnasts (Artur Davtyan, Vahagn Davtyan, Artur Tovmasyan and Harutyun Merdinyan) will travel to Germany for the World Cup (November 20-26). The other competitions of the series are scheduled for 2019 and 2020.
“The athletes with the highest point tally, earned over the two years, will go to Tokyo Olympics. Our team will miss the competitions in Azerbaijan, so apart from Germany, we’ll have the tournament in Doha,” noted Serobyan.
After the World Cup competitions in Germany the team will travel to Moscow for the annual Voronin Cup.
An interview with the representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See to mark the visit of Karekine II to Pope Francis. A theological dialogue between increasingly closer Churches. Pastoral collaboration in America and other regions. The history of a Church that has determined national identity, even under the genocides of Turkey and the USSR. Lack of clergy one of the most burning issues.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Yesterday, October 24, Patriarch Karekine II of the Armenian Apostolic Church met Pope Francis (photos 1 and 2). Recently, in April, he was in Rome for the blessing and unveiling of the statue of Saint Gregory of Narek in the Vatican gardens. There is no official communication on the contents of the meeting. In an informal way, it can be said that they discussed various issues, including how to support Christians in the Middle East.
In order to support and strengthen the relations of friendship between the Vatican and Etchmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Patriarchate, Msgr. Khajag Barsamian (photo 3) will remain in Italy. The archbishop, 67, former primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in America, is now a representative of the Armenian Apostolic Church to the Holy See and a legate of the Armenian Church in Western Europe. Throughout Italy there are about 7 thousand Armenian faithful, scattered between Milan, Rome, Bologna, Venice, Florence.
AsiaNews met Msgr. Barsamian, who granted the following interview.
Excellency, can you share any progress in the relationship between you, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches?
From the theological point of view, we have dialogue and in them we discuss issues such as the Eucharist, ordination, the sacraments. There are no substantial differences. One of the most obvious differences is obviously that on the primacy of the Pope as head of the Church. Which must be studied and understood. Pope Francis, when he came to Armenia, declared that "unity is where one is no higher than the other".
In terms of theological discussions, we note that there are no great differences. Sometimes there are differences in the family of Eastern Orthodox Churches, but they are not an obstacle to our unity. In the same way, in history some Catholic theologians considered the Armenian Church as monophysite, but when studying the Armenian texts of the fifth century, hymns, we see how the two natures of Christ were accepted among the Armenians: human and divine.
From a pastoral point of view, for example in the United States, there is a strong dialogue between Catholics and Orientals. I was the president of the Armenian Church in America, and we had good relations in pastoral care. In case of marriage, if the couple were Catholic and the ritual took place in a Catholic church, we would accept to participate in the Catholic sacraments.
Let's talk about Armenia: what is the relationship between the Church and its people?
The Armenian Church is a Church of the people, therefore a national Church. Not nationalistic, but national. Faith is part of the Armenian identity, as when in the fifth century, the Persian King Sassanid wanted to force the Armenians to deny their Christian faith and embrace Zoroastrianism, General Vardan [Mamikonan] replied: "Faith is part of our skin, we cannot change it ". And they fought, became martyrs but did not give up. Also in the fifth century, there is the so-called Golden Age, when the monks created the Armenian alphabet …. Our culture, architecture, music and everything else is based on Christ.
Faith is part of the Armenian identity, so in case of a vacuum in reign or political leadership, the Church is the driving force. For example, during the period of the diaspora in the United States, Armenian Christians remained such thanks to the Church. In every parish there is a room where there are cultural programs, catechism classes, meetings for young people, where faith is taught, but also identity.
Did all this endure even during the genocide?
We lost a lot during the genocide. Before the genocide there were 6 thousand Armenian priests around the world. During the [Turkish] genocide, 4 thousand of them were massacred. Then communism arrived in Armenia, which killed about 2 thousand priests. This created a void: 98% of spiritual leadership was destroyed. And it must be said that the Communists did worse than the Turks because the Turks only killed the body, but the communists also destroyed the spirit.
Let me give you an example from my own experience. I was born in Anatolia, in the central part of Turkey. My grandmother was three months pregnant when one night they came and took her husband and all the men. When my father was born, there were no churches. But he used to say: "My mother was a mother and a father". I was born in Arapkir, where there was no church: all seven had been destroyed, but my brother and I learned to pray from my grandmother. The Church was at home. So when we moved to Istanbul, it was very natural for us to start going to church right away. I am a priest thanks to my grandmother, because the spirit [of Christianity] was there.
The communists not only destroyed the churches and annihilated the clergy: they taught atheism in schools against the Church, faith, Christ. In every [scholastic] curriculum faith was set aside.
And when Armenia chose independence from the USSR in 1991?
When we gained independence, Armenia was in turmoil. It was a moment full of challenges, and once again at the forefront, the Church offered great support. In our diocese, we immediately created a fund to support the Armenians and I personally signed an agreement with the US government for aid of up to 10 million dollars. I spoke to the State Department and I said that the Armenians needed help.
At present the Armenian aid fund has donated $ 315 million for development projects in the medical, agricultural, educational and other areas. The Church has offered its support to orphans, children, etc. And this from a single diocese, the American diocese, but certainly others also contributed.
There are still several challenges. The first is that in all the world the Armenian clergy is made up of only 815 members. This number is not enough, so new seminaries have been opened in Armenia. His Holiness the Katolikos is placing great emphasis on this aspect, and is sending many young priests to study at universities, especially Catholic ones, particularly in Rome, Paris, Europe and the United States. Some of these priests have already returned and have now become professors in the seminaries. In this way the younger generations are prepared.
Another challenge is on Christian education: this is why the Katolikos signed an agreement with the government to teach the history of the Armenian Church in public schools. On the recommendation of the European Union, religion cannot be taught at school, but history can be taught. Thus the new generations can learn something about the Armenian Church. Religious texts are written by the Etchmiadzin, as well as teachers for these courses.
The Etchmiadzin has also created youth organizations, television programs that talk about catechesis, films, various programs to communicate the faith to people.
What is the current economic situation in the country?
The main problem is that the borders are still closed with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Instead, those with Georgia and Iran are open. Armenia tries to maintain a good balance in relations with the West, the European Union and the United States, but also with Moscow, because the situation imposes it.
I myself tried to create dialogue with Turkey because I believe that opening borders could improve the economy. There were many more possibilities during the presidency of Abdullah Gül; now with Erdogan it is different. When the Holy Father Francis visited Armenia in 2016, I suggested to Card. Pietro Parolin that the Pope could also go to Turkey, crossing the border between our two countries. But the Turks did not agree to this. With closed borders, there are not many opportunities for free markets. In any case, I believe that something good is happening in Turkey: there is a development in small steps.
In Armenia, months ago there was a change of government, demonstrations by young people: These are all good signs. This means that the previous government – with all the problems it had – was able to give the new generations the freedom to start thinking freely. This is positive, and it is not automatic. For example, this is not happening in Azerbaijan.
What are the main evangelization challenges for the Armenian Church?
One of the main challenges, once again, concerns people: young people now have an open mind, but the elderly have a Soviet mentality. The Church is experiencing this process: during the Soviet domination, the clergy did not have permission to evangelise, to go out and announce as Jesus told us to. They waited for people to come for baptism, confirmations and all the rest. But now there are new developments: clergy go out, the go out to meet people, and people know that priests can go to them. It is beginning to happen, but it takes time to become customary.
Collaboration between priests and laity is also important. For example, in my American diocese, religious and lay collaborate together to carry out the mission at the diocesan and outside level, in assemblies, in parish councils. Even the laity are involved, it is not the priests who do everything. This process is also taking place in Armenia and His Holiness Karekine II is pushing a lot for this.
Another challenge is the lack of clergy. In every city, community or village there is a need for a pastor, a priest who can take care of people's spiritual needs. For example, in the United States, 85% of priests' time is spent on pastoral care: visits, assistance, organization, celebrations, liturgy. And also for the remaining 15%, the needs are pastoral. This is another necessity and reflects the vision of His Holiness the Katolikos. But it takes time. For their part, the laity also help in the administration of the dioceses.
Finally, there are programs for the care of orphans, hospitals, meetings to advise how the Church can help people start a business, even small businesses.
From the point of view of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, I must say that in our country there are Kurdish and Muslim villages that are very free. Then there are Russian, Georgian, Syrian villages and even a Jewish community with the Synagogue. There are no problems of any kind. Also in Yerevan there is an ancient mosque, which has recently been restored, I believe by the Iranians.
PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenian lifter Andranik Karapetyan (85kg) and Hakob Mkrtchyan (94 kg) have won gold medals at the U23 event of the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships.
The 2018 edition of the championships is currently underway in the Polish town of Zamość.
In addition to the medal, Karapetyan set a new European record in the clean and jerk event.
Karapetyan and Mkrtchyan lifted 369 kg and 368 kg above their heads, respectively.
Samvel Babakyan (94 kg), meanwhile, took silver in the U20 event of the championships, bringing in the 3rd medal for Armenia among juniors.
«Հայ դիրքապահները Նախիջևանի ուղղությունից դեպի Երասխ հատվածում հայտնաբերել են սահմանախախտ։ Այլ մանրամասներ այս պահին չենք կարող հայտնել»։
Այս մասին Facebook-յան իր էջում գրել է ՀՀ ՊՆ խոսնակ Արծրուն Հովհաննիսյանը:
Նա նաև նշել է, որ ՀՀ պաշտպանության նախարար Դավիթ Տոնոյանը և ՀՀ ԶՈւ-երի ԳՇ պետ գեներալ լեյտենանտ Արտակ Դավթյանը այցելել են Նախիջևանյան սահման և տարբեր հատվածներում հետևել հրադադարի պահպանմանը։
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE and the State Service for Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia have been engaged in negotiations for a long time over exporting meat and meat products from Armenia.
The State Service for Food Safety reported that authorities of both countries have already confirmed the certificate of exporting meat and meat products from Armenia to the UAE.
The service said that the exports will not only encourage trade turnover growth, but will also contribute to strengthening of bilateral business ties and development of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Today marks the International Day of the Disappeared aimed to raise awareness of governments, communities, media and public worldwide about the plight of people who went missing in conflicts and other circumstances, and the needs of their families. With 24 years passed since the signing of the ceasefire agreement on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, thousands of families of the missing are still waiting for news of their loved ones.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) acts as a neutral intermediary to support efforts of the conflict sides to determine the fate of those persons. In connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, there are over 4,500 missing people, both military and civilians, registered by the ICRC Delegations in Yerevan and Baku and its Mission in Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 400 of them were registered in Armenia. Since 2014, the organization has been collecting biological samples from the close relatives of the missing. In the future, in case of exhumation, these samples will serve as a complementary tool in identification of human remains.
The ICRC gives support to relatives of the missing by helping them improve access to medical, legal and administrative services. We provide economic and psychosocial assistance, and help with finding ways to commemorate their missing relatives and to sensitize communities around them.
“The needs of the families are the central focus of the ICRC”, says Dominique Liengme, head of ICRC Delegation in Armenia, “Families have the right to receive answers on the fate of their missing relatives. To ensure this right is the obligation of States under international humanitarian law. We stand ready to support the conflict sides to progress on this important humanitarian issue, and it is never too late or early to intensify efforts.”
The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other violence. The organization has been carrying out humanitarian work in the region related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since 1992.