Month: May 2008

Pizzeli wins cup for Ararat
Friday 9 May 2008

Markos Pizzeli struck two minutes from time as FC
Ararat Yerevan won the Armenian Cup with a 2-1 win
against FC Banants.

Matiughin saves
It was the fifth time Ararat have won the competition,
equalling the record held by FC MIKA. Banants started
brightly with Simeon Zlatev coming close but their
ardour was soon cooled by bookings to Marko Markov and
Karen Aleksanyan in quick succession. Ararat took the
initiative and came close on ten minutes. Pizzeli’s
powerful drive was parried by Banants goalkeeper
Evghenii Matiughin into the path of Sargis Movsisyan
who blazed over. Matiughin denied Pizzeli again on 29
minutes, saving his fierce drive from 35 metres.

Pizzeli winner
Banants were playing largely on the break and showed a
real cutting edge seven minutes before the interval to
take the lead. Bulgarians Marko Markov and Simeon
Zlatev played a neat one-two before Markov shot in
from a tight angle. Banants had further chances soon
after and were made to rue those misses in the second
half when Ararat took command. After a period of
pressure Ararat finally drew level 15 minutes from
time when Vahagn Minasyan headed in Pizzeli’s
free-kick. The match was played in pouring rain,
disrupting its flow, but just as the game looked to
heading for extra-time Pizzeli struck, scoring with a
slight deflection off a defender. The victory earns
Ararat a place in the first qualifying round of the
UEFA Cup for the 2008/09 season.

©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

In line for study

10-05-2008 13:23:18 – KarabakhOpen

Of the 10 thousand monuments of NKR 3470, and 400 of 1500 churches and
chapels have been studied as of January 1, 2008, the NKR National
Statistics Service reports.

=11288325 < y_id=11288325>

Smyrna, 1922

End of an era

May 1st 2008
The Economist print edition

WHEN Smyrna-modern Izmir-fell to the Turkish army in 1922, and much of
it was destroyed by fire, the city’s role as a bastion of Greek and
Christian culture, going back nearly 2,000 years, came to an abrupt
end. Before that, the port had been home to a diverse and cosmopolitan
population; by the standards of the region, it was a beacon of
tolerance and prosperity.

In addition to the Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Turks, there were also
Americans and Britons and what Giles Milton calls the "Levantines",
rich families of European descent, who spoke half a dozen languages
and occupied vast villas. Their dynasties dominated the trade and
industry of the region. Some (like the Whittalls) retained British
nationality over generations of Ottoman life, and it is their
English-language diaries, letters and documents that provide Mr Milton
with his best material. Although this slant is unrepresentatively
British and privileged-lots of parties and picnics-it allows the
author to be fair towards the Greeks and the Turks, who still blame
one another entirely for the disaster.

The city’s destruction-still known in Greece as "the catastrophe"-had
its roots in the first world war and the effort by the great powers
to grab pieces of the disintegrating Ottoman empire.

Britain, America and France backed Greece’s charismatic leader,
Eleftherios Venizelos, in his pursuit of the megali idea ("great
idea"), the dream of creating a greater Greece by occupying Smyrna and
swathes of Anatolia. Having licensed a war by proxy, the allies in
varying degrees turned cool on it. They looked on passively as Mustafa
Kemal (later Ataturk, republican Turkey’s founder) and his troops
routed the Greeks from Anatolia and reoccupied Smyrna, bent on revenge
for Greek atrocities in the city and further east.

The port was ransacked and looted for days. Women were raped and
mutilated, children were beheaded and more than 100,000 people
killed. Meanwhile, 21 allied warships sat in the harbour. Hundreds of
thousands of refugees were trapped on the city’s quayside, yet
officers on the ships still dressed for dinner and ordered louder
music to drown out the screams. "Paradise Lost" is a timely reminder
of the appalling cost of expansionist political ambitions; it tells a
fascinating story with clarity and insight.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Friday, May 9, 2008

French AGBU Chapters Host "Armenian Security" Lecture Tour, Over 400
Attend

AGBU chapters in the French cities of Paris, Marseille, Valence and
Lyon, in cooperation with the Tchobanian Institute, organized a
lecture tour entitled "The Foundations for Armenian Security and Means
to Ensure It." The Tchobanian Institute is an independent research
center devoted to strategic studies in the South Caucasus, Asia Minor
and the Middle East.

With the participation of Armen Ayvazyan, director of the Ararat
Strategic Research Center and attending professor of Political Science
at the American University of Armenia (AUA), the first event took
place on April 4, 2008 in Paris, France. More than 150 people attended
the event at the city’s AGBU Alex Manoogian Centre. Varoujan Sirapian,
president and founder of the Tchobanian Institute, participated in the
lecture tour as moderator. Geopoliticist François Thual joined
Ayvazyan and Sirapian for the Paris leg of the tour.

After a presentation and analysis of the major threats that face
Armenia and Karabakh, Ayvazyan discussed the issues facing
Armenian-Turkish relations, including territorial sovereignty,
demographics, and the strategic importance of the Armenian-populated
territory of Javakhk in Georgia.

Thual offered a thorough analysis of the issues at hand and suggested
that political and strategic concerns excluded the possibility of
armed attacks on behalf of Azerbaijan and Turkey on Armenia. He said
the real danger facing Armenia was the shrinking population, which is
in stark contrast to the rapidly increasing population of neighboring
Azerbaijan. The presentations were followed by a question-and-answer
period when members of the public asked about Armenia’s demographic
crisis, as well as the current post-electoral situation in Armenia.

Among the distinguished guests attending the Paris lecture were Alexis
Govciyan, president of AGBU Europe, Nelly Tardivier-Henrot,
commissioner of last year’s "Year of Armenia" celebrations in France,
AGBU leaders, local Armenian clergy, community leaders, and
French-Armenian youth.

The tour continued on Tuesday, April 8, at the AGBU Centre in
Marseille and was attended by approximately 100 people. Michel
Guéviguian, vice-president of AGBU Marseille, introduced the event and
Robert Der Merguerian provided translation assistance throughout the
evening.

On Wednesday, April 9, Ayvazyan and Sirapian traveled to Valence in
southeastern France to speak to an audience of 100 at the local AGBU
centre. Philippe Panossian, president of AGBU Valence, welcomed the
audience that included members of the local town council, former AGBU
Valence leaders, as well as representatives of various French-Armenian
organizations.

The final stop was on Thursday, April 10, at the AGBU Centre in
Lyon. Attended by more than 80 people, the Lyon event was hosted by
Michel Sandjian, president of AGBU Lyon.

This lecture tour is the latest in AGBU Europe’s continuing program of
conferences and debates on the geostrategic questions concerning
Armenia within the framework of European institutions.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians on six
continents.

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
May 9, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ANCA CHAIRMAN SHARPLY CRITICIZES BUSH’S FINAL APRIL 24TH STATEMENT

— Hachikian Attacks White House Policy as
"Morally Bankrupt" in Letter to President

WASHINGTON, DC – Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
Chairman Ken Hachikian strongly criticized President George W.
Bush’s most recent April 24th statement as the final step of his
betrayal of his campaign promise to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, and a symbol of his Administration’s "morally bankrupt"
eight-year policy of complicity in Turkey’s lies and denials.

The letter also notes that the President, during his two terms in
office, has refused repeated requests by the leadership of the
Armenian American community to discuss the Armenian Genocide and
other issues of mutual concern. Earlier this year, on April 4th,
Hachikian wrote a separate letter to the Secretary of State
outlining 13 specific areas in which the Administration pursued
policies at odds with the views and values of America’s one and a
half million citizens of Armenian heritage.

The full text of the ANCA letter to President Bush is provided
below.

#####

May 9, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush,

I am writing, in the wake of your final April 24th statement, to
share with you the Armenian American community’s profound sadness
over your betrayal of your own pledge to properly recognize the
genocidal campaign committed against the Armenian people.

In each of your eight statements, you retreated from your campaign
statement, choosing instead to use evasive and euphemistic
terminology to obscure the full moral, historical, and contemporary
legal implications of Turkey’s genocide against the Armenian people
between 1915-1923. Beyond the depths of this moral failing, as
President you went further, utilizing the full force of your White
House to silence others who, through their own words and actions,
sought to properly commemorate the very crime that you had promised
to recognize as a candidate for office. You fired U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, for remarks that were entirely
within keeping with the spirit and letter of your own campaign
pledge. More recently, using every government resource at your
disposal, you sought to block Congress from adopting a resolution
that simply reaffirmed the vow, now forsaken, that you made to the
American people.

As you know, despite repeated requests on our part over your past
two terms in office, you never once offered the leadership of the
Armenian American community an opportunity to consult with you on
this issue, even as the media has consistently reported that you
have discussed the Armenian Genocide in meetings with leaders of
foreign nations.

We are truly saddened by your broken campaign pledge and, of
course, by your morally bankrupt policy of complicity in Turkey’s
campaign of Armenian Genocide denial. We respectfully ask, once
again, for a meeting between you and the leadership of our
community to discuss this and other issues of mutual concern.

Sincerely,

Kenneth V. Hachikian
Chairman

May 9, 2008
Press Release
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

PRELATE TO PRESIDE OVER DIVINE LITURGY AT
HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH

Sunday, May 11th, is the Feast of Pentecost as well as Mother’s Day.
On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will
preside over Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyrs Church and deliver the sermon.
The Prelate will also preside over special prayer services for the
victims of the cyclone in Myanmar. By the ordinance of the Prelate, prayers
will be offered in all Prelacy Churches for the victims.
We urge our faithful to assist in the relief efforts through the Red
Cross or World Vision.

ART EXHIBIT AT THE PRELACY FEATURING THE WORKS OF
RAZMIK HADJIKIAN

The Prelacy Outreach Committee, under the auspices of the Prelate,
has organized an art exhibit/sale to take place at the "Dikran and Zarouhie
Der Ghazarian" Hall. The exhibit will feature the works of artist Razmik
Hadjikian.
Opening night is on Friday, May 16th, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The exhibit will also be open on Saturday, May 17th, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.

PRELATE TO ATTEND "SASNA YERGIR" PERFORMANCE

On the evening of Sunday, May 11th, a special show, titled "Sasna
Yergir" will be presented at Alex Theatre in Glendale. The show will feature
dance, song, and poetry by a variety of artists.
The Prelate will attend and convey his blessings.

PRELATE TO BE REPRESENTED AT UCLA BANQUET

The 10th anniversary banquet of the Friends of the UCLA Armenian
Language and Culture Studies is scheduled to take place on the evening of
Saturday, May 10th.
Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian will represent the Prelate at the
banquet.

WESTERN PRELACY CLERGY CONFERENCE

On the eve of the 36th Prelacy Representative Assembly, the annual
clergy conference was held on Wednesday, May 7th, at the "Armenag Der
Bedrossian" Hall of St. Mary’s Church in Glendale. The conference was
presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, with the
participation of the clergy order. Former Prelate H.E. Archbishop Yeprem
Tabakian and retired clergy members also participated.
The day began with church services followed by a spiritual
meditation by the Prelate in which the he stressed the importance of prayer
and trust in God.
The conference convened with remarks by the Prelate who commended
the devotion and service of the clergy members, and wished for the day’s
proceedings to progress smoothly. He then presented a comprehensive report
of the Prelacy’s endeavors, including religious ceremonies, youth and Sunday
School activities, construction projects of our parishes and churches, the
establishment of a new high school, the need for new clergy members, the
spiritual needs of our parishioners, and adding new elements to the
Prelacy’s weekly television programming. The Prelate also spoke of the
organizing of joint events by the three Prelacies of North America and
Canada to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of a Prelacy
in North America, as well as the 35th anniversary of the Western Prelacy.
Archbishop Tabakian then thanked the Prelate for the invitation to
attend the conference and wished the participants success, stressing the
importance of collaboration. Following the election of Very Rev. Fr. Muron
Aznikian as Chair of the meeting and Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian as
secretary, the annual report of the Religious Council was presented and
subsequent changes made.
Very Rev. Fr. Aznikian presented a draft of the events planned for
the "Year of Christian Education" which includes a lecture series to take
place at each church in the coming months.
The second session convened after lunch with Very Rev. Fr. Barthev
Gulumian presenting the clergy guidebook for review, which was later adopted
by the members and by the approval of the Prelate will be published and
implemented. The Prelacy by-laws was then presented by the Prelate,
followed by the election of religious delegates for the Representative
Assembly and the outlining of proposals to present to the Assembly. The
conference concluded with a discussion of future endeavors including the
General Assembly, the blessing of Holy Muron, and youth group activities.
The conference concluded in the evening with the Prelate’s closing
remarks and benediction.

PRELACY YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN
ORTHODOX DAY OF PRAISE

On the morning of Saturday, May 3rd, Prelacy youth, under the
direction of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, participated in
an Orthodox Day of Praise held under the auspices of the Coptic Orthodox
Diocese of Southern California and Hawaii. The event was organized and
hosted by St. Peter and St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Santa Monica.
Among the participants were the Coptic, Syriac, Antiochian, Ethiopian, and
Russian Orthodox Churches. The Prelacy youth delegation was headed by
Christian Education Department Directors Very Rev. Fathers Muron Aznikian
and Barthev Gulumian.
The day began at 8:30 a.m. with the celebration of Divine Liturgy in
the Coptic Orthodox rite. At the conclusion of the Liturgy all participants
received Holy Communion, after which they headed to the adjoining hall for
brunch and a meet and greet with members of the sister churches.
The official program consisted of the singing of hymns by the choirs
of the ten participating churches. The program began with the Lord’s Prayer
and welcoming remarks by Pastor of the host church Fr. Paul Megally, who
acknowledged and thanked the members of all the churches for sharing in the
special day. Subsequently, a brief background was given on each church as
the choirs were invited up to offer their songs.
Closing remarks were offered by Fr. Paul who once again thanked all
the choirs for attending and for the preparation they undertook to make the
event a success. He exclaimed that there were eight languages represented
but one heart, one Lord, and one purpose, which was praise for our Lord
Jesus Christ. He then thanked the organizers and coordinators for their
diligent work in preparation for the event. The program concluded with the
Lord’s Prayer and the benediction by Fr. Paul.

Giving Form to Faith: Art @ the Cathedral
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral
630 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10016

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) presents Giving Form
to Faith: Art @ the Cathedral, an exhibition of work by major 20th and 21st
century Armenian-American artists. The exhibition opens on June 19, 2008 at
5:30 p.m. at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New York,
N.Y. A concert featuring renowned Armenian-American artists Lucine Amara,
soprano, Sahan Arzruni, piano, and Ani Aznavoorian, cello, will begin in the
sanctuary at 7:30 p.m.

The exhibition will remain on view until June 24, 2008. Hours are 11 a.m. to
7 p.m. June 20-23, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24. The exhibition is free
and open to the public, but the opening night concert carries a fee.

The exhibition will highlight the collection of the Cathedral and include
works by established and emerging artists. It will be professionally curated
and installed in a unique format, taking the viewer on a spiritual journey
beginning in the sacred spaces of the Cathedral, and proceeding in a
cultural and physical journey within the exhibition spaces: an edifying and
uplifting experience of the works of prominent as well as emerging figures
in the Armenian-American pantheon.

Through a display of writings and works, the exhibition will explore the
role of Armenian artists in their wider contexts and the influences they
have had upon other luminaries. It will include the works of contemporary
and emerging talents who have never before been exhibited under the aegis of
the Armenian Church.

The exhibition is sponsored by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the consecration of St.
Vartan Armenian Cathedral. It is organized by order of His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, and chaired and
curated by Vicki Hovanessian, with curatorial committee members Nishan
Kazazian, Ani Boyajian, Aileen Agopian and Rachel Goshgarian.

Since its consecration in 1968, St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral has served as
the spiritual center for Armenians in the Diocese. In addition, it has been
a vibrant social and cultural center in the neighborhood and in the
tri-state area, home to numerous art exhibitions, concerts and lectures. It
was home to the One World Festival, a joint venture with the City of New
York celebrating the richness of New York’s multiculturalism for some 20
years. For more information on St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, please visit

Featured Artists: Arshile Gorky, Reuben Nakian, Hovsep Pushman, Raoul Hague,
William Saroyan, Krikor Khanjian, Sarkis Khatchadourian, Vava Sarkis, Simon
Simonian, Soss Melik, Khoren Der Haroutiunian, Salpi Mavian, Atom Egoyan,
Lina Bertucci, Kardash Onnig, Shanoor, Jackie Kazarian, Peter Sarkissian,
Varujan Boghosian, Nishan Kazazian, Ani Boyajian, Vasken Kalayjian, Melissa
Dadourian, Linda Ganjian, Robert Ohnigian, Haik Kocharian, Aram Jibilian and
others.

DetNews.com, MI
May 9 2008

Humanitarian, Nobel nominee addresses local school

Catherine Jun / The Detroit News

SOUTHFIELD — Missiles were aimed skyward, but planes carrying food
and medical supplies landed anyway to aid besieged Armenians at the
Azerbaijan-Armenian border.

Though not widely known in the United States, this humanitarian
campaign during Azerbaijan’s attempt to wipe out the Armenian enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s was led by Lady Caroline Cox,
former Deputy Speaker of Britain’s House of Lords and human rights
advocate.

Cox, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, retold the dramatic stories of aid
and rescue Friday morning to more than 160 middle and high school
students at A.G.B.U Alex & Marie Manoogian School, an Armenian charter
school in Southfield.

Showing photos of survivors and cities reduced to rubble — the less
graphic images of the resulting devastation — Cox said everyone has
a responsibility to help those who are neglected and oppressed around
the globe.

"We can’t do everything, but each one of us should say to ourselves:
we must not do nothing," she said.

Chief executive of Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART), Cox has
visited Armenia more than 60 times, as well as the war-torn region of
Darfur, Sudan.

At another scheduled speaking engagement at the Meadow Brook Theatre
Friday evening, Cox will be awarded the 2008 Nightingale Award for
Excellence by Oakland University officials and honored with a
reception on the Rochester Hills campus.

At the Manoogian School, students for their part gave Cox $500 to help
run a rehabilitation center in Nagorno-Karabakh that serves disabled
children and is financially supported by HART.

Abigail Newman, 16, of West Bloomfield, said she was struck by Cox’s
compassion.

"I t makes me relieved to know that it’s not just my school and not
just my community that’s interested in Armenia," said Newman, a junior
in high school. "It brings such hope for the future."

l/article?AID=/20080509/UPDATE/805090437/1361

Catholic News Service
May 9 2008

Pope tells Armenian Orthodox God can work miracle of Christian unity

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God can work miracles, including the miracle of
Christian unity, Pope Benedict XVI told the Armenian Orthodox
patriarch and 18 bishops.

"If our hearts and minds are open to the Spirit of communion, God can
work miracles again in the church, restoring the bonds of unity," the
pope said May 9 during a prayer service with Catholicos Karekin II,
patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Catholicos Karekin was visiting the Vatican along with Armenian
Orthodox bishops from Armenia, Russia, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Turkey,
Egypt, Syria, the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Italy and
Germany.

Some 100 Armenian pilgrims from around the world joined Pope Benedict
and the Armenian bishops for the midday prayer service in the
Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace; afterward, the patriarch
joined the pope for lunch.

Speaking during the prayer service, Pope Benedict looked toward the
May 11 celebration of Pentecost, saying, "We will pray earnestly to
the Father, asking him to send his Holy Spirit, the Spirit whose task
it is to maintain us in divine love and lead us into all truth."

The pope said that while the path to restoring Christian unity appears
long and difficult and there are "deep and painful divisions" still
needing to be healed the Holy Spirit can unite people as occurred on
the first Pentecost.

The Spirit "can open doors that are locked, inspire words that have
been forgotten, heal relations that are broken," he said.

Pope Benedict prayed that the work of the international
Catholic-Oriental Orthodox theological dialogue "will bring us closer
to full and visible communion and that the day will come when our
unity in faith makes possible a common celebration of the Eucharist."
The Armenian Apostolic Church is an Oriental Orthodox church.

The pope also praised the Armenian Orthodox for the "remarkable
pastoral results that have been achieved" since the breakup of the
Soviet Union.

Catholicos Karekin raised political questions that the pope did
not. He said the people of Armenia are suffering from the results of
an embargo imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey related to ongoing
tensions in the region, specifically the independence efforts by
ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in Azerbaijan.

Turning to the importance of ecumenical relations, Catholicos Karekin
said, "Faithful to the holy church fathers and their legacy, despite
our differences and unique characteristics, we shall place greater
importance on that which unites us."

While theological differences remain, he said, Christians have an
obligation to work together because "many environmental, social,
political, economic and moral issues urgently need attention."

"True respect for life and man and love for God is diminishing," he
said. "Only through inclusive cooperation shall we be able to better
serve the establishment of peace in the world and to better defend
human rights and the rights of nations, families and those classes of
society which are at risk," he said.

Speaking to reporters after his lunch with the pope, Catholicos
Karekin said his visit was a further example of "that warm atmosphere
of love and respect" that exists between Catholics and Armenian
Orthodox.

The warm relations, he said, are found not simply between church
leaders, "but also among the communities, parishes and dioceses
throughout the world."

Archbishop Avak Asadourian, primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church
in Iraq, was asked about the situation of the faithful in his
violence-torn country.

"When we speak of Iraq today and the severe difficulties Iraqis face,
we do not want to differentiate between the different religions
because the plight is common to all. Terrorism or bullets do not
differentiate between religions," the archbishop said. "The
difficulties are the same for everyone across the board."

END

Turkish Press
May 9 2008

Pope recalls Armenian ‘martyrdom,’ avoiding ‘genocide’ term

05-09-2008, 15h54
VATICAN CITY (AFP)

Pope Benedict XVI on Friday recalled the "martyrdom" of the Armenian
Apostolic Church during a visit by its leader Karekin II, avoiding the
word "genocide" pronounced several times by his predecessor John Paul
II.

Karekin II, on the fourth and final day of a visit to the Vatican, had
on Wednesday urged "all nations to universally denounce the Armenian
genocide" in a speech to some 20,000 people gathered in St Peter’s
Square.

On Friday, however, the pope said: "The recent history of the Armenian
Apostolic Church has been written in the contrasting colours of
persecution and martyrdom, darkness and hope, humiliation and
spiritual rebirth.

"The restoration of freedom to the Church in Armenia has been a source
of great joy for us all," the 81-year-old pontiff added.

In November 2000, a meeting at the Vatican between John Paul II and
Karekin II ended with a joint statement condemning the Armenian
"genocide."

The following year, at Karekin II’s invitation, the Polish pope
travelled to Armenia where the two religious leaders again spoke of
"the extermination of one-and-a-half million Armenian Christians in
what is generally called the first genocide of the 20th century."

John Paul II also spoke of the "annihilation of thousands of people
that followed under the former totalitarian regime," referring to
Soviet-era religious persecution.

On Friday, Karekin II invited Benedict XVI to visit Armenia both in
his own name and on behalf of new President Serzh Sarkisian.

The two religious leaders had private talks after the pope led an
ecumenical celebration in the Apostolic Palace’s imposing Clementine
Hall.

The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world’s oldest independent
churches, numbers some seven million adherents of whom two million
live in present-day Armenia.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during the final years of the Ottoman Empire, with more than
20 countries officially recognising genocide as the decades passed.

Turkey says 300,000 Armenians and at least an equal number of Turks
were killed in civil strife when the Christian Armenians, backed by
Russia, rose up against the Ottomans.

The dispute has been a major obstacle in relations between Turkey and
Armenia, which have no diplomatic ties and whose border has remained
closed for more than a decade. (AFP)