Author: Toneyan Mark

Archbishop Raphael Minassian hopes that the Papal visit to Azerbaijan and Georgia will promote peace in the region. The small Catholic community in Georgia, which Pope Francis is visiting on Friday and Saturday, is made up of Latin, Chaldean and Armenian rites.

The Armenian presence in Tbilisi and the region on the border with the republic of Armenia dates back to the 4th century. Today the community is under the care of the Ordinary for Armenians in Eastern Europe, Archbishop Raphael Minassian.

Ahead of the Pope’s trip to Georgia, the Archbishop talked to Philippa Hitchen of about the relationship of the Armenian community between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Archbishop Raphael Minassian discusses the history of Armenians in Georgia: “The relationship with this country is very old and very constant because Tbilisi was the culture and the city of the Armenians for centuries. It is very normal to see the presence of the Armenians in this country.” He says that the presence in Georgia, “of Armenians is over 200,000 and Armenian Catholics are over 150,000.”

The Archbishop says that the Armenian community in Georgia can act as a bridge for peaceful relations. “In the relationship between the Orthodox and the Catholic Churches, the friendship remains as a base of all kinds of relations.” He also mentions that the Georgian government has been assisting the Catholic Churches, the Chaldean, Latin, and Armenian Catholics, for two years.

Although the Armenian community and the Georgian government are able to maintain a positive relationship, the Archbishop admits that they do experience problems. He says that “Both of them are working strongly for the propaganda of faith and the consolation that we have to encourage and accept it. Even if we are not working together we should work for the same case.” He also says that they are proud to be Christians in this country.

Archbishop Minassian says that Pope Francis has a hard situation on his shoulders: “He is obliged to work with a society where they preach liberty and they are in the situation of domination. They speak about rights and they are the people that strip the rights of human society and at the end if I were to say the word peace, they are the war makers. I am talking about presidents, kings, societies, governments, and all of these, the Holy Father has to pass by and say the reality, defend the rights, defend the liberty, and give peace to everybody. We lost the meaning of these three words and have to rebuild again.”

The Archbishop discusses his thoughts on the Pope’s appeal for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan: “You know, in a way they used the religion for political issues and the possibility to have peace is very easy. The most important point is between the two nations or the two presidents who have to forget the people because they are the minority of the minorities that are leading the country. I think that if you take out all of the governments all of the people would live in peace.”

Although the governments are taking steps towards peace, the Archbishop hopes that more can be done. “There is work going on for peace, but I hope that also in the visit of his Holiness to Azerbaijan would encourage them also accept the realities because all of us in this world are passengers. No one owns anything in this Earth. So it is not useful to have these wars between people that can live peacefully and very happily.”

Photo: AFP

 

At least 33 tourists who spent a cold Thursday night trapped in several cable cars high above the French Alps have been rescued, officials say, the BBC reports.

The tourists were suspended above the glaciers of Mont Blanc at an altitude of about 3,800m (12,468ft) after wires carrying the cars became tangled.

They were among 110 people initially trapped when the cable cars ground to a halt on Thursday afternoon.

The cars are believed to have stopped after cables tangled in high winds.

Those trapped overnight were freed on Friday after rescuers managed to restart the cars by relaxing the tension of tangled cables.

 

 

 

The Executive Body and Board of the Republican Party of Armenia unanimously approved Karen Karapetyan’s candidacy for the Prime Minister’s post, Vice-President of the Party Armen Ashotyan told reporters after the meeting.

He said the Republican party has decided to enter the parliamentary race with a new government.

Ashotyan added that the issue of Ministers was not on the agenda. “Obviously, the cabinet will be formed within the framework of the coalition agreement. But the issue was not referred to during today’s sitting,” he said.

Speaking to reporters before the sitting, the Head of Staff of the National Assembly Hrayr Tovmasyan said the government will be temporary and will work until the 2018 elections.

PHOTO: SHANNON

 

Sixteen people have been injured after turbulence prompted a transatlantic flight to make an emergency landing in the Republic of Ireland, the BBC reports.

Fourteen passengers and two crew members were taken to hospital from Shannon Airport at about 06:00 BST.

The United Airlines flight was travelling from Houston, Texas, to London Heathrow.

The emergency landing followed “severe and unexpected turbulence”, said the airline in a statement.

The injured passengers and crew were taken to University Hospital, Limerick, for treatment.

The Boeing 767-300 jet had 207 passengers and 13 crew members on board.

“The aircraft diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland where it was met by medical personnel,” said the airline.

“United Airlines is providing care and support to customers and crew of flight UA-880.”

Jailed member of the Sasna Tsrer group Arayik Khandoyan will run in local self-government elections. The Central electoral Commission has registered him as a candidate for the head of Tsakhkahovit community.

Arayik Khandoyan will compete with acting head of the community Yervand Khachatryan representing the Republican Party of Armenia, Horayr Hakobyan. Ashot Hakobyan (representing the Prosperous Armenia Party) withdrew his candidacy immediately after Arayik Khandoyan was registered.

The elections will take place on September 18.

Photo: TASS

 

Russia will not compete at next month’s Paralympics in Rio after losing an appeal against a ban imposed for state-sponsored doping, the BBC reports.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) upheld the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) ban on all Russian competitors.

The IPC made the decision in light of the McLaren report.

The Paralympics begin on 7 September.

The IPC’s decision to ban the entire Russian team “was proportionate in the circumstances”, according to the Cas panel, which said it would publish the full grounds of its decision later.

It added that the Russian Paralympic Committee did not file any evidence contradicting the facts put forward by the IPC.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent today a letter of condolences to the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Gauck on the occasion of the terrorist attack, which took place in Munich.

“The tragedy which has befallen friendly German nation stressed once again the importance of international unity to eradicate all the manifestations of extremism. At the grave time of grief and loss, I express my deepest condolences to you, the friendly people of Germany, and wish fortitude to families of the victims and a speedy recovery to the injured. Our hearts and prayers are with you,” reads the letter of condolences of the President of Armenia.

 

 

 

The Walk of Fame was opened in front of the Public Radio building today. The alley features the names of the devotees, who have contributed to the establishment and development of Armenian TV and Radio.

Plates with the names of Ohan Duryan, Ofelya Hambardzumyan, Vera Hakobyan, Tigran Naghdalyan, Robert Mavisakalyan, John Kirakosyan, Vache Hovsepyan , Hovhannes Badalyan, Grigor Chalikyan, Zhirayr Avetisyan, Atrmen aAmiryan, Klara Terzyan and other were solemnly opened today.

Ruben Jaghinyan, President of the Council of Public TV and Radio Company and the initiator of the event, assured that the tradition would continue and the names of other devotees would find their place in the Walk of Fame.

“Armenian radio and TV have developed thanks to those people. They serve an example to the younger generation and all those working in the sphere,” Ruben Jaghinyan said in his opening remarks.

“These people have created the 90 and 60 years of history of Armenian radio and television with their devotion. For those, who’re alive it’s a great responsibility,” said Armen Amiryan, Member of the Council of Public TV and Radio Company and a long-time director of the Public Radio of Armenia.

“I’m deeply confident that under the current conditions of development of TV and radio, it’s important to build upon the old traditions.  These plaques are the cuneiform tablets that shape the solid basis, which the future of Armenian television and radio will be built upon,” he added.

Armenians from all over the UK gathered in London Sunday for the the 6th Armenian Street Festival in London, Naira Hairapetyan reports from London.

The London Armenian Street Festival is an annual celebration of Armenian culture and heritage that takes place at St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Kensington/Chelsea. The family-friendly event features Armenian cuisine, live street entertainment, special guests and vendors, and a concert at the church.

Attending the events were a number of foreign guests, British officials, clergymen, representatives of the Armenian Embassy in the UK and guests from Armenia.

The Iverna Gardens in South Kensington had turned into a small Armenian district with traditional songs and dances.

“The festival aims to bring together Armenians from different parts of Great Britain at least for one day,” said Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Great Britain. He attached special importance to the involvement of young people. “This year is special, as we are celebrating the 25^th anniversary of Armenia’s independence,” he said.

The festival featured performances by violinist Levon Chilingaryan, the Komitas choir, the Akhtamar folk ensemble and others. Duduk player Gevorg Karapetyan and singer Iveta Mukuchyan were special guests at the festival.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender has been studying all reports on detention of civilians after the attack on police station in capital Yerevan early on Sunday.

The Ombudsman’s Office has received reports on violence, application of force at police stations, as a result of which many detainees have received injuries.

“Although the preventive actions of the police targeted at maintenance of public order are understandable, any interference with the implementation of human rights should be excluded and the rights of civilians reserved by law should be respected,” the statement reads.

The Ombudsman’s Office says any report on violence against civilians should be checked. “It’s necessary to reveal all violations of citizens’ rights, all cases of abuse of power and hold those responsible accountable,” the Office said in a statement.