Month: March 2007

ARMENIAN CHURCH REOPENS IN TURKEY

Story from BBC NEWS:
europe/6505927.stm
Published: 2007/03/29 11:31:17 GMT

A senior Armenian delegation is in eastern Turkey for the reopening
of a 1,100-year-old Armenian church restored by the Turkish government.

The move is being seen as a positive gesture by Ankara to help
overcome the animosity following the mass killings of Armenians by
Ottoman Turks in 1915.

The two countries have no formal diplomatic ties.

Located on the small island of Akdamar in Lake Van, the pink sandstone
church has undergone 18 months of renovation.

New projects

The building, which has now reopened as a museum, had long been left
empty and neglected, its intricate wall carvings crumbling.

In a move described by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
as a positive step, the government spent $1.5m (£763,000) on its
restoration.

The 20-strong Armenian delegation of architects, engineers and
archaeologists is headed by Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan.

Mr Gyurjyan said they were not in Turkey just to witness the renovation
of the church, which was built between 915-921.

"We think we can discuss new projects regarding the future," he said,
according to Turkey’s Anatolia news agency.

"Our experts can co-operate in many areas including archaeology,
architecture and industry."

Border closed

But relations between the two countries remain tense.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in the 1990s to support
Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

To get to Akdamar, Armenian officials have had to travel via Istanbul
or Georgia.

Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed in a genocide by
Ottoman Turks during World War I, either through systematic massacres
or through starvation.

More than a dozen countries, various international bodies and many
Western historians agree that it was genocide.

Turkey says there was no genocide. It acknowledges that many Armenians
died, but says the figure was below one million.

–Boundary_(ID_3Zjq7fZ4+Di3QVfzl8IVCw)–

U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ADOPTED RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HRANT DINK’S MURDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2007 13:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted human
rights legislation, authored by the panel’s chairman and presidential
candidate, Senator Joe Biden, condemning the murder of journalist and
human rights activist Hrant Dink and calling on the Turkish government
to repeal the law, Article 301, under which he was prosecuted. The
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports that this measure
was adopted unanimously by voice vote March 28. At the last meeting,
on March 6th, the panel, at the request of its Ranking Member Richard
Lugar, had deferred consideration of the legislation for three weeks.

Despite the efforts to cut any reference to the Armenian Genocide,
the resolution noted Dink’s persecution because of his speech on the
Genocide. The legislation condemns Hrant Dink’s murder as "a shameful
act of "democratic values, non-violence, and media freedom." It
specifically notes that he was "subjected to legal action under
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for referring to the 1915
massacre of Armenians as genocide." It also calls on the Turkish
government to repeal this anti-free speech law and "work diligently
to foster a more open intellectual environment." "We want to thank
Chairman Biden for his leadership in honoring Hrant Dink’s memory by
urging the Turkish government to repeal Article 301 – the law under
which he was prosecuted," ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said.

The version of the resolution adopted on March 28 is an amended version
of the text initially introduced by Senator Biden. The original version
included a more direct reference to the Armenian Genocide and a more
pointed mention of Turkey’s responsibility for its blockade and refusal
to normalize relations with Armenia. The State Department and Turkish
government, despite their aggressive lobbying, were unsuccessful in
removing reference to the Armenian Genocide from the resolution.

Earlier ANCA Press Secretary Elizabeth Chouldjian said removing the
term "genocide" from the text of resolution is unacceptable and makes
the document senseless.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

A MEETING BETWEEN THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF DIOCESES

His Holiness Aram I convened and chaired, on March 26-27, a meeting
between representatives from the dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
and Central Executive Committee with the aim of bringing under the spotlight
certain aspects of the work of the dioceses within the general framework of
the Armenian Church, and Catholicosate of Cilicia’s mission.

Delivering the opening remarks of the fruitful working sessions stretched
over a period of two days, the Pontiff talked about a number of plans
related to the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s mission and, through its dioceses,
the broadening of the Armenian Church’s mission.

The meeting featured talks on the recent activities of the Catholicosate’s
Ecumenical, Christian Education and Youth departments. Speaking about the
work carried out in the recent period, Bishop Nareg Alemezian highlighted a
number of important factors related to the ecumenical relations of the
Catholicosate on regional and international levels.

The work of the Christian Education Department was presented by the
chairman of the department’s committee, V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian and
director Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan. The presenters focused on those areas of
the department’s work that had gained new momentum recently, particularly in
the audiovisual and publishing fields.

The Youth Department director, Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian briefed the
attendants about the department’s projects in general, also talking about
the planned pan-Diaspora youth conference to be held in August 2008 in
Antelias.

The challenges facing the Armenian schools and Armenian education were an
important item on the agenda of the meeting. The head of the Catholicosate’s
education office, Sarkis Giragossian, talked about upcoming conferences,
planned reviews of educational programs and the reorganization of various
aspects related to this field. The Catholicos grabbed this opportunity to
praise the Armenian Affairs Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
and its director Dr. Zaven Yegavian for its continued support of the
Catholicosate’s efforts in the field of Armenology and education.

An important issue taken up during the meeting was the construction of a
village named "New Cilicia" in Nagorno Karabakh, an initiative which falls
under the Catholicosate’s national mission. The project was presented as the
would-be outcome of the joint efforts of all the Catholicosate’s dioceses
with the clear separation of labor and responsibility.

The Primates then made presentations about the spiritual, religious,
educational, national and publishing work being carried out in their
respective dioceses, at the same time underlining their concerns and
difficulties. His Holiness Aram I announced that the blessing of Holy Muron
(Holy Chrism) would take place on June 1, 2008. The meeting also decided to
convene the General National Assembly in December 2007.
The Catholicos assessed the work of the dioceses for the service of the
Armenian Church and nation to be organized and positive. He called on the
attendants to ignore obstacles and overcome difficulties and challenges in
order to continue the Holy See’s sacred mission.

The delegation of each diocese- the Primate and the National Executive
Council- held individual meetings with the Pontiff to discuss special issues
pertaining to their diocese.

##
View the photo here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.

RA MFA: ARMENIA READY TO START SEROUS DIALOG WITH TURKEY OVER PAST AND FUTURE

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2007 14:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenia and Armenians wish for substantive
progress with Turkey regarding our painful past and a potential of
a shared future as neighbors," RA MFA Acting Press Officer Vladimir
Karapetyansays in his statement. In particular, the statement notes,
"We do not want to be played in a never-ending process of "gestures"
that do not intend to make real inroads in reconciliation and pursues
propaganda purposes drawing away the attention of the international
community from real problems. Armenia calls on the international
community to encourage Turkey to engage in a substantive process
toward open borders and normal relations. Actually the Armenian
side would like to estimate Turkey’s initiative on renovation and
opening of the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar island as a real step
forward aimed at reconciliation and approach of Armenian and Turkish
people. However it is difficult to do that since the Turkish government
does not recognize the true value of the civilization and nation,
which created this monument. The Armenian side thinks that first of
all opening of Armenian-Turkish border, which was closed in 1993,
will become a real progress in improvement of bilateral relations."

Senate panel adopts Biden resolution honoring Hrant Dink

29.03.2007 14:00

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted on
March 28 human rights legislation, authored by the panel’s chairman
and presidential candidate, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), condemning the
murder of journalist and human rights activist Hrant Dink and calling
on the Turkish government to repeal the law, Article 301, under which
he was prosecuted, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The measure was adopted unanimously by voice vote at March 28 meeting
of the Committee. At its last meeting, on March 6th, the panel, at the
request of its Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN), had deferred
consideration of the legislation for three weeks.

During this time, the measure came under heavy attack from both the
Turkish government and its allies in the Administration. Despite their
efforts to cut any reference to the Armenian Genocide, the resolution
noted Dink’s persecution because of his speech on the Genocide.

The legislation condemns Hrant Dink’s murder as "a shameful act of
cowardice perpetrated with contempt for law, justice, and decency,"
and honors his commitment to "democratic values, non-violence, and
media freedom." It specifically notes that he was "subjected to legal
action under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for referring to
the 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocide." It also calls on the
Turkish government to repeal this anti-free speech law and "work
diligently to foster a more open intellectual environment."

"We want to thank Chairman Biden for his leadership in honoring Hrant
Dink’s memory by urging the Turkish government to repeal Article 301 –
the law under which he was prosecuted," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. "Article 301, and others on the books in Turkey,
reflect and encourage the environment of hatred and intolerance that
the Turkish government has long fostered against Armenians –
particularly those who speak truthfully about the Armenian Genocide."

Hrant Dink, editor of the bilingual Armenian/Turkish "Agos" newspaper,
was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul on January 19th –
sparking worldwide protests and renewed scrutiny of Turkey’s
repression of free speech and international campaign of Armenian
Genocide denial.

MESROB MUTAFYAN DEMANDS TO PLACE A CROSS ATOP HOLY CROSS CHURCH IN AKHTAMAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.03.2007 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Constantinople Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic
Church Mesrob Mutafyan turned to the Turkish government demanding to
return the cross to its original place on the renovated Holy Cross
Church on Akhtamar island. Turkish Daily News reports that Patriarch’s
letter was sent to the Turkish MFA three days ago. Patriarch Mutafyan
in his letter also says that the church must function not as a museum,
but as a working temple. Nevertheless, the priest; stated that he is
happy for the opening of Holy Cross.

"I congratulate everyone who realized this project," the Turkish
newspaper reports.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Bilman confirmed the request
in his weekly press conference, and said the ministry will report
its view to the Ministry of Culture, but it would take some time. The
newspaper reminds that Armenian Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjian
will represent his country in today’s inauguration, who is leading to
an Armenian delegation composed of experts, architects. The publication
underlines that the Armenian delegation made the entry to Turkey from
Georgia since the border between Turkey and Armenia has been closed
since 1993.

"However, having been under strong pressure because of a resolution
proposed to the U.S. House of Representatives that calls on the
United States to accept that a genocide occurred during World War I,
Turkey is aiming to gain the sympathy of Armenians using the opening
ceremony of Akhtamar," Turkish Daily News underscores.

In its part Zaman newspaper notes along with his letter Patriarch
Mesrob has sent old photographs of the Holy Cross Church, where clearly
is visible the metal cross atop the dome of the church. Levent Bilman
said this issue will be thoroughly examined.

FRENCH MOULINEX TO HOST FRENCH-ARMENIAN IT CONFERENCE

ARMENPRESS
Mar 29 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS: The French town Moulinex will host a
French-Armenian conference on information technology on March 30. The
Armenian Enterprises Incubator Foundation (EIF) said the conference
will look into Armenia’s chances to become an information technology
hub in the South Caucasus.

The conference is also supposed to offer Armenian companies an
opportunity to find French partners and present their products
in France.

Armenian church reopens in Turkey

BBC News
29 March 2007

A senior Armenian delegation is in eastern Turkey for the reopening of a
1,100-year-old Armenian church restored by the Turkish government.
The move is being seen as a positive gesture by Ankara to help overcome the
animosity following the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915.

The two countries have no formal diplomatic ties.

Located on the small island of Akdamar in Lake Van, the pink sandstone
church has undergone 18 months of renovation.

New projects

The building, which has now reopened as a museum, had long been left empty
and neglected, its intricate wall carvings crumbling.

In a move described by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a
positive step, the government spent $1.5m (£763,000) on its restoration.
The 20-strong Armenian delegation of architects, engineers and
archaeologists is headed by Deputy Culture Minister Gagik Gyurjyan.

Mr Gyurjyan said they were not in Turkey just to witness the renovation of
the church, which was built between 915-921.

"We think we can discuss new projects regarding the future," he said,
according to Turkey’s Anatolia news agency.

"Our experts can co-operate in many areas including archaeology,
architecture and industry."

Border closed

But relations between the two countries remain tense.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in the 1990s to support Azerbaijan in
its dispute with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

To get to Akdamar, Armenian officials have had to travel via Istanbul or
Georgia.

Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed in a genocide by
Ottoman Turks during World War I, either through systematic massacres or
through starvation.

More than a dozen countries, various international bodies and many Western
historians agree that it was genocide.

Turkey says there was no genocide. It acknowledges that many Armenians died,
but says the figure was below one million.

Story from BBC NEWS:
/6505927.stm

ARMENIAN HOLY CROSS CHURCH OPENS IN TURKEY

ARMENPRESS
Mar 29 2007

VAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian delegation of architects,
engineers, archaeologists and journalists, headed by deputy culture
minister Gagik Gyurjyan was present today at the official reopening
of a medieval Armenian Church of Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island in
Lake Van in Eastern Turkey.

The church was built between 915 and 921 during the reign of Armenian
King Gagik I of Vaspurakan and was one of the most important religious
buildings in the region that was the heartland of Armenian culture.

The Church of Holy Cross with sandstone walls and dome, adorned with
carvings of Jesus Christ and David and Goliath, is considered one
of the greatest examples of Armenian architecture of the period, and
an inspiration for the Gothic style that later developed in Europe,
according to the New York-based Landmarks Foundation, which has
advised on the church’s restoration.

It was abandoned since the slaughter of the country’s Armenian
community almost a century ago.

Turkish authorities spent $1.9 million on its restoration in a
hope that this move may help smooth relations with the U.S. and the
European Union.

After reopening the Holy Cross will be a museum and in all likelihood
will have no cross on its dome, as demanded by Armenian religious
leaders, who want it to serve for the Armenian community of the
country.

The ceremony was attended by Turkish culture minister Atilla Koc,
Patriarch Mesrob II, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Orthodox
community in Turkey and hundreds of people from the Turkish Armenian
community.

Catholicos Karekin II, the Armenian Supreme Patriarch, rejected a
Turkish invitation to attend the ceremony because the church will
operate only as a museum.

"This action of the Turkish authorities against the pious Christian
beliefs and emotions of the Armenian people cannot be perceived as
a positive step on the path of bringing the two nations closer,"
Karekin II said in a statement.

The Armenian Catholicos of Cilica, Aram I, joined Karekin II saying
since Turkey refuses to recognize the Armenian genocide he will not
attend the ceremony.

Earlier this month, Patriarch Mesrob I sent a written request to the
culture and tourism ministry of Turkey asking that a cross, prepared
by the Armenian Patriarchate itself, be placed on the steeple of the
Holy Cross. A Turkish foreign ministry spokesman, Levent Bilman,
was quoted by Turkish news agencies as saying that this issue is
being studied by foreign ministry and they await its decision.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

asp

US tops the super growth company league table for third year

a.. 56% decrease in number of super growth companies in India
a.. significant change in country league table rankings
a.. globalisation a greater opportunity for super growth companies.

The US tops the Grant Thornton International Super Growth Index for the
third year running. 44% of US companies hit ‘super growth1’ status, an
increase of 5% over the previous year. The Index measures the country
with the highest proportion of "super growth" companies.

This year Armenia (38%) has replaced India in second position. Indian
companies suffered a dramatic drop to 14th in the table as the country’s
proportion of super growth companies halved from 34% to 15%. Ireland has
maintained a top five ranking (29%; No.3) and is joined by the UK
(26%/No.4) and South Africa (25%; No.5), up from tenth position last
year.

Other significant climbers in the Super Growth Index include Russia
which has moved from 29th to 18th in the rankings; the Philippines from
23rd to 8th; Argentina from 27th to 15th; Italy from 30th to 21st.

Hong Kong – the other strong performer in 2006 at third place, has
fallen out of the top ten this year – coming in at number 11. Other
fallers in the chart include Malaysia from 8th to 26th and New Zealand
from 15th to 28th – its worst performance in four years.

The Super Growth Index 2007, now in its fourth year, is a unique
research project which forms part of the Grant Thornton International
Business Report (IBR). The report covers the opinions of 7,200 privately
held businesses in 32 countries and represents 81% of global GDP.

A ‘super growth’ company is one which has grown considerably more than
the average measured against key indicators including turnover and
employment.

Said, Alex MacBeath global leader of privately held business services
for Grant Thornton International, "The most significant finding from
this year’s survey is how two of last year’s strongest performers, India
and Hong Kong have fallen so considerably in the table. We expected
continued strong performance and maybe that one of them would possibly
take top spot this year. However, the US continues to defy predictions
and has not only retained the top slot but consolidated their position
by a further 5%. It is also very interesting to see Russia and the
Philippines jump from 29th to 18th and 23rd to 8th respectively."

When percentages of super growth companies year on year are compared, it
is interesting to see that economies such as Hong Kong and India have
fallen from 34% to 18% and 34% to 15% respectively. While the
Philippines (7% to 21%) and Russia (4% – 14%) have both grown
considerably.

MacBeath continued, "We should not necessarily consider that a drop in
the number of super growth companies is a bad thing for an individual
economy. Growth in employee numbers and turnover can only realistically
be expected to grow rapidly for a limited time before responsible
businesses take stock and review their growth strategies. What we might
be seeing now is a consolidation in Hong Kong and India with those super
growth businesses of the last few years perhaps concentrating on
profitability rather than simply on high levels of growth.

"Conversely, businesses in the Philippines and Russia could be
considered as being in a different stage of their economic expansion
with growth in employee numbers and turnover a component element of
their emergence as global economies."

Trends
a.. 63% of super growth companies believe globalisation presents
more of an opportunity for their company, compared with 55% of all
businesses in the survey
a.. super growth companies say the availability of a skilled
workforce is considered to be a greater constraint than for companies in
general (44% compared with 36%)
a.. red tape and regulation is another major concern for one in
three (32%) super growth companies
a.. super growth companies are considerably less constrained in
their ability to raise long-term finance with just 13% quoting this as a
problem compared with 21% of companies overall.