Month: May 2008

PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

*UNDP continues successful partnership with Dilijan city*

*United Nations, Yerevan* – On 21 May 2008 Ms. Consuelo Vidal, the head
of the United Nations in Armenia (UN Resident Coordinator / UNDP
Resident Representative), and Mr. Armen Santrosyan, the Mayor of Dilijan
city, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the rehabilitation of the
city center in support of its thrust towards becoming a major touristic
and a financial center. Dilijan city, located in north-eastern part of
Armenia, is famous for its wild forestry and mineral water. The United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) has a long history of cooperation
with Dilijan municipality. In 2005 it was chosen as one of the first
pilot cities for the implementation of its Performance Based Budgeting
Project, which works with the Municipalities to improve its planning and
budgeting processes.

-In line with the emerging priorities, UNDP will continue its efforts of
successful partnership with the regions to decrease disparities.
Considerable reduction of differentials between Yerevan and the regions,
through encouraging private investment, is an important goal for the
country to prevent social inequalities and migration. This applies also
to Dilijan city, which the government plans to transform into a main
regional financial center,- stressed Ms. Consuelo Vidal. Reaffirming the
importance of this partnership, the sides stated that this is the second
joint project and the community is very pleased with the support of and
cooperation with UNDP.

The rehabilitation of the famous Lions’ Stairs and beautification of
Dilijan city are among the top issues prioritized by the community. The
implementation of this project as well as Dilijan’s development as a
touristic and financial center, will create additional job opportunities
for the local population. UNDP, together with the National Center of
Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) Development, will provide through
another of its on-going projects, support to the establishment of SMEs
related to the tourism sector. UNDP has already been supporting the
development of tourism in Dilijan, as well as in the region, through a
very successful B&B (bed & breakfast) promotion project in Tavush region.
——————-
The United Nations in Armenia fosters governance and human development,
and focuses on achieving of the Millennium Development Goals. UN
established its office in Armenia in December 1992.

—
Communications Associate
UNDP Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan, 0010, Armenia
Tel.: +37410 566073 +128
Fax.: +37410 543811
Mob.: +37491 420122
E-mail: [email protected]
URLs:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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: nian.htm

THE ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN THE WCC ECUMENICAL OFFICERS’ MEETING

The Ecumenical officers of World Council of Churches (WCC) member churches
convened a meeting in the organization’s Geneva headquarters on May 20-22.
Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Affairs officer of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia) and Father Hovagim Manougian (Assistant to the director of the
Ecumenical Relations Office of the Catholicosate of All Armenians in
Etchmiyadzine).

Some 40 representatives from churches in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin
America, Northern America and the Middle East participated in the meeting.

The following issues were discussed during the meeting: the main ecumenical
facets of each church, the reports of WCC project managers, the activities
of the WCC Youth Department, ecumenical relations and the mission of
churches in globalized societies, the imperative for the unity of churches,
the essential importance of ecumenical relations, the situation in the
Middle East and the need to overcome violence, issues related to the global
climate, immigration as an international phenomenon and understandings of
Christianity’s mission and evangelism today.

Bishop Nareg presented during the discussion interfaith and interchurch
activities of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and held meetings with
representatives from various churches, shedding light on the socio-economic
challenges Lebanon faces currently.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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
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: nian.htm

"IT IS THE LEBANESE COEXISTANCE THAT PREVAILED IN QATAR"
SAYS HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

"Various interpretations were made about the agreement reached between the
Lebanese sides in Qatar; more will surely follow. For me, however, one thing
is clear: the victory in Qatar was for the coexistence in Lebanon. Any
assessment should be made from this perspective; otherwise it will be an
incorrect approach. Let us not look for winners and losers in the Qatar
agreement. What we should look for instead is a collective commitment driven
by the concern of all sides to salvage Lebanese coexistence. And saving the
Lebanese coexistence means saving Lebanon, because Lebanon is anchored on
that coexistence."

It is with these words that His Holiness Aram I welcomed the agreement the
Lebanese sides reached in Qatar recently.

"An agreement is not the end; it is only the beginning of consultations and
discussions to be held through an honest dialogue. Through the Qatar
agreement, the sides decided to look for solutions within a political
framework. All sides and all communities should participate in this process
under the auspices of the President. The purpose of this process should be
strengthening the authority of the state with the aim of preserving the
sovereignty, integrity and unity of Lebanon," he continued.

Catholicos Aram I emphasized the importance of mutual trust: "All this will
be difficult to realize if we lack mutual trust. It is through mutual trust
that problems enter the course of their solution. It is mutual trust that
leads us to mutual understanding and compromises. Concessions were made in
Qatar and Lebanon was the victor."

The Armenian Pontiff also stressed the need to implement the agreement in
real life. "The agreement will remain on paper if it is not implemented on
the ground. Not only the signatories to the agreement, but also each and
every Lebanese, Lebanon as a whole, face the obligation to avoid attempts
that could destabilize the coexistence in Lebanon."

Finally, the Spiritual Leader welcomed the agreement on electing General
Michel Suleyman as the next president of the Republic of Lebanon, expressing
hope that a new and bright page in the history of Lebanon will be written
under his leadership.

##
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
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: nian.htm

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA’S DELEGATES PAY SOLIDARITY VISITS TO
THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF THE SHIITE AND DRUZE COMMUNITIES

The Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian and Bishop
Norayr Ashekian visited the spiritual leader of the Shiite and Druze
communities in Lebanon, Sheikh Kabalan and Sheikh Nayim Hassan respectively,
to express solidarity and the support of Catholicos Aram I in view of the
critical situation facing Lebanon presently.

Conveying Catholicos Aram I’s views on Christian-Muslim cohabitation and
harmonious coexistence, the two Bishops emphasized the need to protect the
multi-religious and multi-ethnic identity of Lebanon. On behalf of the
Armenian Pontiff, they expressed satisfaction at the meeting convened in
Doha on the initiative of the Qatari authorities. They assured both
Spiritual Leaders that the Lebanese Armenian community will support all
those efforts that bring together all the Lebanese communities, pave the way
for Christian-Muslim dialogue and endorse the perpetuation of mutual
brotherhood, respect and cooperation between them.

A similar solidarity visit will be paid today to the Spiritual Leader of the
Sunni community, the Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Kabbani.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos265.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

European Parliament (press release), EU
May 22 2008

Wednesday in Strasbourg: Turkey, crisis in Burma, China

Institutions – 22-05-2008 – 15:21

Turkey’s EU aspirations were debated by MEPs on Wednesday
morning. Parliament’s rapporteur on Turkey, Ria Oomen-Ruijten
(EPP-ED), called for 2008 to be "a year of reforms". Later the House
voted to support criminal sanctions for offences against the
environment. MEPs also debated recent natural disasters in Burma and
China – deploring the obstruction of Rangoon and praising the reaction
and transparency of China. A treaty to ban uranium shells was also on
the agenda.

Turkey progress in 2007 – "We have a mixed picture"

Speaking about Turkey’s 2007 progress towards EU accession, Mrs
Oomen-Ruijten, said that only the new Turkish constitution will
guarantee the separation between the state and religion and safeguard
the protection of religious and ethnic minorities – namely Kurds. "We
have a mixed picture, a lot more needs to be done, in order for Turkey
to keep their promises to the EU and to their own people."

Women’s and children’s rights, trades unions and cultural and
linguistic freedoms were quoted in the report as among the areas where
Turkish authorities still have serious backlogs. In addition,
so-called "honour killings" and a failure by Ankara to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide as well as bans on political parties were all
matters cited by members in the debate as indicators of Turkey’s
continued need to reform.

The adopted report says recent changes to the controversial Article
301 of the Turkish Penal Code is a "first step towards a fundamental
reform of that article as well as other articles of the Penal Code,
and looks forward to further moves in this respect." Parliament adds
that in its view "the repeal of Article 301 and other legal provisions
representing an illegitimate restriction on freedom of expression as
guaranteed by international law would be the best solution."

In her speech Ms Oomen-Ruijten welcomed the fact that in 2007 the
country stood up to the military and said she wanted Turkey to remain
a "lay state".

Criminal measures to protect the environment

In adopting a report by German Christian Democrat Hartmut
Nassauer,MEPs agreed on the principle that governments should apply
criminal measures to punish any illegal behaviour likely to seriously
injure people or damage the environment. The entry into force of this
legislation would oblige national government to apply "effective,
proportionate and dissuasive" criminal penalties to specific cases.

Burma cyclone and its generals – "dialogue of the deaf"

As the situation continues to deteriorate in Burma following
dramatically cyclone Nargis, MEPs were united in denouncing the ruling
military Junta for its reluctance to accept international aid and in
urging, the international community to work through the UN to
pressurise Burma’s Generals.

Speakers from the Socialist, Liberal, Green and Union of Nation’s
groups said the Burmese military’s behaviour was a "crime against
humanity" and said the Generals should face international justice.

The speaker for the largest group in parliament, the EPP-ED group,
said they wanted other Asian countries to put more pressure on the
regime in Rangoon.

Earlier EU Aid Commissioner Louis Michel called his fact-finding trip
to Burma a "dialogue of the deaf" with Burmese officials. He said
epidemics such as diarrhoea and malnutrition affected hundreds of
thousand of people.

China quake – Beijing praised for openness to help

In contrast, China was praised for way it had reacted to the 12 May
quake in Sichuan province and its willingness to accept international
aid. Many MEPs expressed condolences to Chinese people. Speaking for
the Slovene Presidency Janez LenarÄ?iÄ? told MEPs that 10
million had been affected and that 50,000 were dead. Louis Michel said
the EU has funded Red Cross blankets, tents, food and drinking water.

All groups praised the transparency of Beijing and the willingness to
allow media access. The Speaker for the Socialist group said that the
EU should help China with reconstruction The EPP-ED and Green speakers
voiced concerns over construction of buildings, especially schools.

Depleted uranium weapons

A group of MEPs tabled oral questions to the Commission and the
Council on the Global treaty to ban uranium weapons. In November 2006,
the Parliament called for a moratorium on uranium weapons in a
resolution on `biological weapons and inhumane conventional
weapons. The oral question urges Commission and The Council to follow
up the document. In December 2007, the UN General Assembly passed a
resolution highlighting concerns over the military use of uranium that
urges UN member states to re-examine the health hazards posed by the
use of uranium weapons.

Dutch Green Eli de Groen said that of EU/NATO members only Germany,
Italy and Ireland supported the UN resolution. "World storage of
depleted uranium weapons is estimated at 1.3 million tons, while far
less then one microgram of the material in the body can be fatal to
humans," she told fellow MEPs. Italian MEP Stefano Zappalà
(EPP-ED) underlined that uranium "pollutes water, soil and
agricultural crops".

REF.: 20080520STO29282

ws/public/story_page/008-29294-140-05-21-901-20080 520STO29282-2008-19-05-2008/default_en.htm

DECONSTRUCTING GENOCIDE
Professor Gregory Stanton

Kurdish Globe
sp?id=FE4AD2E90CF688C0960CF8CDDD8E5B61
May 22 2008
Iraq

An academic search for information on the Anfalization of Kurds

The president of Genocide Watch warns Kurds to be watchful; otherwise,
they may face another genocide.

American Professor Gregory Stanton stated that genocide, which is
defined in international law in the Convention on the Prevention and
Punishment of Genocide, means acts committed with intent to destroy,
in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.

"According to the definition of genocide, ‘Anfal’ is classified as
genocide, because the Baath Regime committed the Anfal Campaign with
the intent to destroy Kurdish ethnicity; it killed and buried alive
180, 000 Kurdish people in the campaign in 1988," remarked Stanton.

The professor recently arrived in Kurdistan Region to gather
information and evidence about the Anfalization of Kurds, which he
will publish in a book on worldwide genocidal crimes. During his stay
here, he hopes to discuss plans on holding an international conference
on the Anfal genocide in Europe. While in Erbil city, he also led an
academic seminar on genocide at the College of Engineering, attended
by university teachers and ministers.

He explained the eight stages of genocide. The first is classification,
where a regime distinguishes people into "us and them" by ethnicity,
race, religion, or nationality; the second stage is symbolism, where
names or other symbols are given to the classifications, combined
with symbols of hatred; the third is dehumanization, where one group
denies the humanity of other group; the fourth is organization, as
genocide is always organized, usually by a state, using a state army
or militias; fifth is polarization, where extremists drive groups
apart; the sixth is preparation, where victims are identified and
separated because of their ethnicity or religion; the seventh stage,
extermination, begins and quickly becomes the mass killing legally
called "genocide"; and the final stage is denial.

He said that denial defines the current stage of Iraqi Kurds, mainly
due to a number of Arab countries that have denied the Anfal Campaign
as genocide. It is very important for Kurds, therefore, to hold an
international conference about Anfal so that international communities
are informed about what occurred in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Before the Baath Regime embarked upon the Anfal Campaign against
Kurds, Kurdish people in Iraq were considered third-class citizens
after Sunni and Shiite Arabs. Baath Party members called Kurds
"mountain barbarians."

"Genocide cannot happen without a massive organization and may include
international cooperation; in Iraq, for instance, some U.S. and German
companies cooperated with Saddam by selling weapons, including chemical
weapons," said Professor Stanton. "These companies should be brought to
justice and I strongly suggest that Kurds collect documents regarding
the companies that sold weapons to Saddam," he further added.

Stanton said he feels shame that the U.S. allied itself with Hussein
when he committed genocide against Kurds, and the U.S. still has
alliances with some countries that it shouldn’t align itself with,
he said.

In a meeting with Stanton, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani
said it is imperative to identify all those companies that supplied
the former regime with chemical weapons and those victims of the
chemical weapons attacks should be compensated by those companies.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ziryan Osman, Kurdistan Region’s Health Minister,
asked Professor Stanton why Kurds should only try to bring the
companies to justice and not the governments of the countries
from which those companies operated, because Kurds are sure these
companies did not sell weapons to Saddam without the permission of
the governments. Responding to Dr. Osman’s question, Stanton said
he used to work for the U.S. State Department, and since he believes
the policy of the U.S. State Department isn’t based on a human rights
policy, he resigned from his post.

Stanton cautioned Kurds that they might face another genocide if they
are not vigilant.

"I am afraid that Turkey could carry out genocide against Kurds since
in its past it has committed genocidal crimes against Armenians,
which they are denying. Also, Turkey denies the existence of Kurds in
Turkey," said Stanton. He believes some Arab countries, such as those
that deny the Anfal Campaign and the Holocaust, are also capable of
committing further genocide against the Kurds.

Stanton mentioned his disappointment in Hussein’s expedited execution,
because it prohibited Hussein from being tried for all of his crimes
against humanity. He also called on the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
to stop using violence in order to gain its objectives. "The PKK
should use peaceful means; otherwise, I believe resorting violence
will harm the Kurds," remarked the professor.

Dr. Osman told Stanton that what Saddam did against the people of
Kurdistan Region was not just a crime against humanity or genocide. "It
was a crime against a small part of earth; it was bigger than genocide,
because when Saddam’s regime attacked Kurdistan with chemical weapons,
it not only killed humans, but also killed and destroyed animals,
birds, trees, and water springs." Stanton nodded and said, "It is true;
it was bigger than genocide; we call this crime "ecocide."

Iraqi Parliament commemorated Anfal on April 14, and officially
recognized Anfal as genocide.

REPRESENTATIVES OF ICRC FAILED TO GAIN ACCESS TO ARMENIA’S CITIZENS DETAINED IN NAKHIJEVAN DIRECTION

DeFacto Agency
May 22 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 22.05.08. DE FACTO. The representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross have not gained access to the RA four
citizens detained in Nakhijevan direction of the front line.

According to the information received from the ICRC Yerevan delegation,
the Committee got the information from the families of Armenia’s four
citizens detained in Nakhijevan.

"Receiving the information, in line with the usual practice, the
ICRC made an attempt to gain access to the above-mentioned persons to
estimate the custody’s conditions, as well as to ensure the possibility
of exchanging family news with their relatives.

Unfortunately, the representatives of the ICRC have not obtained
admittance to visit the persons in Azerbaijan. However, the attempts
to organize the visits are still being made", the members of the ICRC
Yerevan delegation said, ArmInfo reports.

AZERBAIJAN ONE OF MOST AGGRESSIVE STATES IN WORLD

DeFacto Agency
May 22 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 22.05.08. DE FACTO. Azerbaijan has occupied the 101st place
in the Global Peace Index-2008, becoming one of the most aggressive
countries. To note, the Global Peace Index is made by independent
Institute for Economics and Peace and analytical department of The
Economist British magazine.

Experts estimate each state by 24 criteria – relations with neighboring
states, number of soldiers dislocated abroad, etc. 140 countries have
been considered by the experts.

According to the research’s results, Island has been recognized as
the most peace-loving country. Norway, New Zealand, Japan, Ireland
have also been included in the list of ten peace-loving states.

Estonia has turned to be the most peace-loving states among post-Soviet
countries and occupied the 35th position. Latvia is 39th; Lithuania
41st. Armenia has not been included in the rating.

ISSUES REFERRING TO RAISING NKR GOVERNMENT’S EFFICIENCY DISCUSSED IN STEPANAKERT

DeFacto Agency
May 22 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 22.05.08. DE FACTO. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President
Bako Sahakian held a meeting, in the course of which the issues
referring to raising efficiency of the Republic government’s activity
were discussed. The NKR PM Ara Harutyunian and other officials
participated in the meeting.

According to the Central Department of Information under the
NKR President, the state’s head noted that the process of raising
efficiency of the Republic’s executive organ should be implemented in
two stages, via structural and cadre amendments. The NKR President
underscored that the opinion of corresponding specialists should be
taken into consideration.

VARNA CONDEMNS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Petar Kostadinov

Sofia Echo
May 22 2008
Bulgaria

The municipal council in the city of Varna on the Black Sea adopted a
declaration on May 21 2008, which condemned Armenian genocide in 1915,
local Cherno More daily said.

Twenty-four councilors supported the declaration. Councilors also
decided to declare May 24 as the day of commemorating the victims
of the genocide, which happened in the times when Ottoman empire
still existed.

Councilors hoped that their decision would prompt a similar reaction
from other cities in the country and would lead to a similar decision
made on a nation level, Cherno More said.

The issue on recognising the 1915 events as a genocide against Armenian
people has been raised several times in Parliament by the opposition,
but there has never been a decision on it, with the ruling majority
refusing to put on the agenda.

The last time this happened on January 17 2008, when the ruling
majority refused to review three draft declarations that aimed at
recognising the Armenian genocide.

They were tabled by ultra-nationalist Ataka party’s leader Volen
Siderov, the leader of nationalist party Internal Macedonian
Revolutionary Organisation Krassimir Karakachanov and the United
Democratic Forces coalition.

Alexander Radoslavov from the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party said
back then that he voted against the declarations because there was
too much "hatred" in them, which "was not what a national Parliament
should preach".

He also said that "historical facts are one, but the political reality
was something else". This remark referred to Bulgaria’s neighbour
Turkey, the successor of the Ottoman empire, who denies the events
from 1915/1922 as a genocide.

A declaration adopted by Bulgarian Parliament on the topic would beyond
doubt have consequences on bilateral relations. Such a position is
strongly defended by the ruling coalition partner the Movement for
Rights and Freedoms (MRF), which represented mainly Muslim Bulgarians
of Turkish decent.

When the issue was raised in Parliament in April 2007, MRF MPs left
the hall as a sign of protest against the discussion on whether the
death of nearly 1.5 million Armenians was a genocide or not. MRF MPs
were also against Parliament holding a minute of silence in memory
of the victims.

MRF deputy-chairman Lyutvi Mestan said that the MRF had distanced
itself from historical events that have not been properly evaluated
yet and had been used for political purposes.

The May 21 vote in Varna put the town on the list with Bulgarian cities
that have already recognised the events as a genocide. Plovdiv, Rousse
and Bourgas have adopted similar declarations, with MRF challenging
the vote in Rousse in court. Unfortunately, Sofia is not on the list.

Earlier this April, Sofia was one step closer to adopt a declaration,
but councillors from the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria
(GERB) party of Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov, withdrew their proposal
in the last minute. "I don’t want to confront Turkey," Borissov told
reporters at the time.