Author: Torosian Aram

DIASPORA HAS MORAL OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT ITS HISTORICAL HOMELAND

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 21, 2010 – 14:51 AMT 09:51 GMT

French Minister of Economic Recovery Plan and President of the General
Council of Hauts-de-Seine department, Mr. Patrick Devedjian said
that the Armenian-Turkish normalization is possible only if there
are no preconditions.

Although lacking the possibility to enjoy equal rights with Armenian
citizens, the Diaspora has a moral obligation to support the historical
homeland and Armenians residing there, according to him.

"As a non-citizen of Armenia and having no right to vote, I refrain
from voicing my opinion and discussing the Armenian government’s
policy. Living outside Armenia and being a part of the Diaspora,
I have no right to influence," he said.

Mr. Devedjian added that every Armenian has own opinion and is well
aware of the developments in the country.

"However, I diligently follow the authorities’ actions and have my
own stance on what is going on," said Devedjian.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION WILL GO TO LEIPZIG FOR PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FORUM

ARKA
May 21, 2010
YEREVAN

On May 26-28 Armenian delegation headed by Manuk Vardanyan, Armenian
Minister of Transport and Communications will go to Leipzig (Germany)
for participation in the international transport forum "Transport
and innovations: detecting opportunities".

Susan Tonoyan, press-secretary of the Minister informed that
international transport forum is a part of Organization of Economic
Cooperation and Development which provides opportunities to the
representatives of transport sphere and private sector to conduct
joint discussions on innovations in the given sphere.

On May 27 meeting of ministers of transport will take place where
innovations and existing problems in different countries will be
discussed.

ISSUES ON DEEPENING ARMENIA-GERMANY BILATERAL COOPERATION DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
MAY 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: May 17-20, the delegation headed by
Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan
visited Germany.

Press service of the Armenian National Security Council told Armenpress
that the first meeting was held in the Chancellor’s office, with
Coordinator of Research Services Hans Vorbeck. The prospects of the
bilateral cooperation in this sphere were discussed.

Issues on deepening of Armenia-Germany bilateral cooperation were
discussed with Charge d’Affairs of the Security Policy of the Foreign
Affairs Ministry Mincht Eberhard Pole. With the latter’s request
Arthur Baghdasaryan presented Armenia’s position on Armenian-Turkish
relations and on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. A.

Baghdasaryan’s meetings with Home Affairs and Defense Ministers passed
in an atmosphere of mutual comprehension.

The parties noted with gratification that in the sphere of defense the
Armenian-German cooperation has reached a high level. State Secretary
of Defense Tomas Cosendey highly assessed the activity of the Armenian
peacekeepers in Kosovo and Afghanistan. A. Baghdasaryan noted that
radical reforms are being implemented in the Armenian Armed Forces, and
the study of the German experience is of great importance for Armenia.

The opportunities of deepening cooperation in the spheres of military
education, military medicine and military engineering were discussed.

An agreement was gained with the Home Affairs Ministry and board
of the Police to deepen the cooperation between the bodies of the
Emergency Situations Ministry and Police of the two countries.

Arthur Baghdasaryan said that by Armenia-European Union Cooperation
Action Plan serious reforms are being implemented in Armenia in the
sphere of police as well, and the study of the German experience in
this sphere will be useful for the Armenian party.

Importance was attached to creation of the legal-contractual basis,
which will put the cooperation between the relevant institutions of
the two countries on institutional bases. A cooperation agreement will
be signed in near future between the German and Armenian police bodies.

Arthur Baghdasaryan met with the members of Caucasus parliamentary
friendship group, presented the process of reforms in Armenia. An
importance was attached to activation of the political dialogue
between Armenia and Germany.

The presentation on "the reforms of the security sphere in Armenia"
by Arthur Baghdasaryan was held at the end of the visit in "Konrad
Adenauer" fund, with participation of representatives of Foreign, Home
Affairs and National Security Ministries, of scientific, political
and expert fields, journalists.

A. Baghdasaryan presented the reforms of the security sphere of Armenia
and answered to a number of questions. The German party highly assessed
the main directions of the reforms and expressed readiness to support.

ARGENTINA INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS PRESENCE IN ARMENIA

ARKA
May 21, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 21. /ARKA/. Relations between Yerevan and Buenos Aires
are traditional, and Argentina intends to strengthen its presence in
Armenia, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said at a briefing
in Yerevan.

He said Armenian embassy in Argentina is very active.

That is why, he said, Argentina wants to open its embassy in Yerevan
to make ties between the two nations closer.

The embassy opening is scheduled for Friday.

The minister said that there is a quite large Armenian community in
Argentine – 100,000 people.

He expressed appreciation of the Armenian community’s contribution
to Argentina’s economy, culture and sports.

Taiana said that Argentine businessmen make investments in Armenia.

These investments, he said, show confidence in the country and will
lay groundwork for strengthening and developing relations between
the two countries.

OPENING OF UPPER LARS IS MOSTLY BENEFICIAL FOR RUSSIA RATHER FOR ARMENIA: REZONANSI

Tert.am
20.05.10

The opening of the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russo-Georgian border
in Kazbek has brought no single penny to Georgia’s state budget.

Armenia does not benefit from the opening of this checkpoint very much,
which cannot be said for Russia, which is the most interested party for
the opening of the checkpoint, reports Georgian Rezonansi newspaper.

Shota Buchukuri, a Georgian economist and member of Stepantsminda
non-governmental organization, says the Georgians were purposefully
lying while saying that the opening of Upper Lars would bring millions
to the state budget. What he points to is the fact that the rules of
payment for the shipment of loads vie this checkpoint was simplified
in 2006.

"As what concerns the Armenian side, it insists that the opening of
this checkpoint is not as important for Armenian exporters as the
routes passing through the Black Sea ports," said Buchukuri, adding
that 70% of Armenia’s exported goods is brandy – subject to excise
taxation – and therefore is not transported via Upper Lars checkpoint.

According to him the rest of goods exported from Armenia are apricot
and peach – seasonal produces that are transported within two months.

Besides the Armenian exporters say they are sick and tired of paying
officially binding and non-binding payments they are obliged to make
while transporting their produces via South Ossetia.

According to Buchukuri, it turns out that the opening of Upper Lars
is beneficial mostly for Russia that can transport food and ammunition
to its military base located in Armenian second-largest town of Gyumri.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONCERNED OVER CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT ZONE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 19, 2010 – 16:10 AMT 11:10 GMT

The European Commission issued a Progress Report Armenia on
implementation of the European Neighborhood Policy in 2009.

According to it, negotiations within the Minsk Group on the peaceful
settlement considerably intensified in 2009 and contributed to
enhanced dialogue.

"The Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan held six bilateral
meetings during the year. In addition, the Foreign Ministers of
the two countries met a number of times, including during the OSCE
Ministerial Council in December 2009 in Athens," the report reads.

Besides, the European Commission referred to the joint presidential
statement issued during the G8 Summit in L’Aquila in July 2009,
urging the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan "to resolve the few
differences remaining between them and finalize their agreement on
the Basic Principles."

"However, overall tensions remain and the situation continues to be
fragile. Incidents of exchanges of fire and casualties on the line
of contact continued to be reported and are cause for concern,"
the report reads.

VICTIM’S RELATIVES SLAM PROBE OF DETENTION DEATH
Ruzanna Stepanian

rticle/2046054.html
18.05.2010
Armenia

Anahit, mother of Vahan Khalafian who died in police custody,
Charentsavan, 18May2010

Relatives of a man who died in Armenian police custody last month
condemned on Tuesday state forensic experts for giving more weight to
police claims that he committed suicide and was not tortured to death.

The experts concluded late last week that Vahan Khalafian, a resident
of the central town of Charentsavan, may have stabbed himself to death
at the local police station. Their findings are supposedly based on
detailed examinations of the 24-year-old’s body and may be decisive
for the outcome of the ongoing criminal investigation conducted by
the by Armenia’s Special Investigative Service (SIS).

The forensic medics confirmed earlier reports that there were two
stab wounds on Khalafian’s abdomen. But they said the nature of those
wounds and their "anatomic location" suggest that "their infliction
by V. Khalafian upon himself is possible."

The experts also found numerous injuries in various parts of his body.

But they said none of those were life-threatening.

Armenia — Hmayak Khalafian, uncle of a man who died in police custody,
speaks to RFE/RL, 18 May 2010.

The dead man’s relatives interviewed by RFE/RL’s Armenian service
angrily rejected their findings. "The examination report shows that
there are bloodied wounds on his skull, in the nose and mouth cavity,
vertical cuts caused by a knife on the upper abdomen, injuries on the
knee joints and feet," his uncle Hmayak Khalafian said. "I’m simply
amazed. After suffering so many injuries, how could a person stand
up and kill himself?"

"Vahan must have rolled on the floor in pain. How could he have
stood up and resorted to such an action? He would have rather struck
the criminal investigations unit chief who beat him up," he said,
referring to one of the two Charentsavan police officers arrested on
charges of torture.

Hmayak Khalafian also argued that investigators have failed to
identify fingerprints on the kitchen knife with which the young man
killed himself after a brutal police interrogation on April 13. "If
he stabbed himself twice, how come there are no fingerprints on the
knife?" he asked.

The Khalafian family, backed by some Armenian human rights activists,
has alleged all along that Vahan was killed by police interrogators.

After initial denials, the Armenian police have acknowledged that
he was ill-treated in police custody. But the police insist that his
death was caused by a suicide.

Whether the SIS, which is directly subordinated to Armenian
prosecutors, itself has already drawn any final conclusion on the
cause of the death is not yet known.

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

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE
KARAGEOZIAN FOUNDATION

On Tuesday, 18 May 2010, His Holiness Aram I received Dr. Walter Bandazian,
the Director General of Karageozian Foundation, from the Head Ofice in New
York.

The Director of the Lebanon branch, Rev. Robert Sarkissian, accompanied Dr.
Bandazian. Dr. Bandazian informed His Holiness of the humanitarian and
social activities of the Foundation’s regional offices in Lebanon, Syria,
Armenia and other countries.

His Holiness highlighted the necessity of helping the deprived children in
the Middle East and Armenia. His Holiness also appreciated the Foundation’s
humanitarian and social activities and close cooperation with benevolent
associations and educational bodies in Lebanon.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos479.htm#4
*****
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.

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
Mira Yardemian
Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
Email: [email protected]

Representatives of Lebanese and Syrian Armenian and Arab Evangelical
Churches met with members of the International Congregational
Theological Commission (ICFTC) on Saturday 15th May 2010, with the theme
of ‘Living the Congregational Way – Global Perspectives’.

Speakers from Great Britain, the USA and Argentina spoke of the way
Congregational Christianity had developed in their cultures, and
Lebanese speakers set the context in the Middle East. The conference was
chaired by Rev Dr Manfred Kohl (Canada).

Rev Dr Janet Wootton (UK) said that the vision had originated in the
ferment of the European Reformation, as British Christians longed for a
true return to simple, New Testament Christianity, while Rev Dr William
Fillebrown (USA) spoke of the Pilgrim Fathers’ escape from persecution
in England, to form a new life in the then ‘New World’.

Congregationalism had come to Brazil and Argentina with a group of
immigrants from a German speaking part of Russia. Rev Dr Harding
Stricker (Argentina) described the struggle of the Argentine and
Brazilian churches to raise the level of training for ministers and
churches.

>From Lebanon, Rev Dr Habib Badr outlined congregationalism in the Near
East. Historically the evangelical (congregational) churches had had a
great influence. The President of the host, Haigazian University, Rev Dr
Paul Haidostian, guided the symposium to look into the future, ending
with a series of questions about congregationalism. The movement had
been formed as a form of church organisation, but was now discovering an
underlying theology.

An excellent discussion followed. "We were seeking to discern the way
that congregational churches were being led by the Spirit of God.
Certainly, we wished to proceed in fellowship with other denominations
locally and internationally. We had a great deal to offer to the
ecumenical community" concluded one organizer.

The International Congregational Fellowship, with its major regular
publication, International Congregational Journal, offers a broad
fellowship of churches, under whose auspices the symposium had been
organized.

NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT HAS GROUND TO A HALT: ARAZ AZIMOV

Tert.am
14.05.10

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process has recently ground
to a halt, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said,
reported by the Azerbaijani news website 1news.az.

"There is a pause in negotiations due to Armenian president’s approach
following the presidents’ meeting in Sochi, and the meetings and
the discussions are not taking place the way they were expected to,"
said Azimov, adding that Armenia should change its approach for the
negotiation process to see a breakthrough.

"Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was recently invited to Washington,
Berlin [not true], and Paris to participate in some meetings. The
main topic of these meetings was the Karabakh issue. Currently we are
in a stage of pause, and for negotiations to see any breakthrough,
it is necessary that Armenia changes its position," said Azimov.

According to Azimov the constructiveness of Azerbaijani position is
that it thinks "the sides could temporarily agree upon the status
of the communities in Karabakh, before Karabakh’s status is finally
determined, as there are both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities
in Karabakh."