Month: November 2009

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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I IN DIALOGUE WITH THE YOUTH

Rev. Karnik Koyounian, the parish priest of St. Hagop Church in Montreal,
presented His Holiness Aram I with the collection of his dialogues with the
youth, published in a book in Armenian, English and French.

The book is a collation of the statements and letters His Holiness Aram I
has written to the youth during the past two years in an attempt to respond
to their concerns within the framework of ‘being church today’.

Rev. Koyounian said that the book explains to the youth the mission of the
Armenian Church today.

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View the book cover here:
tos/Photos417.htm#8
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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the books
published in the Printing House 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 Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

CONSULTATIONS WITH THE PRELATES AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIOCESES OF NORTH
AMERICA

18-20 November 2009, His Holiness Aram I presided over meetings between the
Prelates and lay representatives of North American Dioceses and the members
of the Executive Committee and Religious Council of the Catholicosate.

During these three days, participants discussed issues of concern for each
of the dioceses on spiritual, educational, social, administrative and legal
matters, and then common concerns for cooperation.

After expressing his appreciation both to the clergy and lay
representatives, His Holiness Aram I urged them to engage the youth in their
efforts to shape the mission of the church within their pluralist contexts.

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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.

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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I SENDS A LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO
THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

On 16 November 2009, His Holiness Aram I sent a letter of condolence to the
Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, expressing his sorrow at the passing
of late Head of the Church, Patriarch Pavle, who had been hospitalized since
2007.

In his message, Catholicos Aram I said that the late Patriarch steadfastly
repeated his message of peace even under the most difficult times in the
country and that he will pray for the departed Patriarch Pavle from the
Cathedral in Antelias.

##
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 Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

A GENERAL MEETING OF THE BROTHERHOOD

On the occasion of the visit of the Prelates of North America, His Holiness
Aram I organized a general meeting of the Brotherhood. He expressed his
appreciation of all the clergy serving the Armenian Church through the
Catholicosate of Cilicia, and spoke of their mission as ‘servants’ of God.

The meeting provided the opportunity for an intergenerational dialogue and
learning, and it ended with an agape meal.

##
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 Director
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE
ARMENIAN HUNCHAG PARTY VISIT HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

On Thursday 19 November 2009 in the evening, the members of the Central
Committee of the Armenian Social Democrat Hunchag Party visited His Holiness
Aram I in his office.

The Hunchag leaders and the Catholicos discussed the recently signed
Armenia-Turkey Protocol and related reactions from the diaspora. His
Holiness Aram I stressed the importance of strengthening Armenia-Diaspora
relations, while, at the same time, continuing to discuss the just cause of
the Armenian diaspora with the international community.

##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos417.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
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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE NEWLY APPOINTED NUNCIO TO LEBANON

On Friday 20 November 2009, His Excellency Mgr. Gabriel Gassi paid his first
visit to His Holiness Aram I and the Catholicosate. Mgr Gassi was
accompanied by his assistant, Mgr. Thomas.

The Catholicos and his guests discussed relations between the Armenian
Church and the Roman Catholic Church, concerns arising from Councils of
Churches internationally and regionally and the situation in Lebanon.

After thanking His Holiness for the visit, the Nunzio assured the Catholicos
of their future cooperation.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos417.htm#5
*****
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.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009

Azerbaijan’s first vice speaker accuses int’l community of inaction in
Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 20 / Trend News E.Ostapenko /

Azerbaijani Parliamentary First Vice Speaker Ziyafet Asgarov accused
the international community of inaction in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.

"Today, international law does not work. If it worked, the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem would be solved," he said at the
international conference "Obstacles to Security in South Caucasus:
Realities and Prospects for Regional Cooperation" in Baku today.

"If someone thinks international law and international norms will
resolve the problem, then they are severely mistaken. Only Azerbaijan
and its troops will be able to resolve this problem. During this
period, the Minsk Group did not do anything. The solution depends only
on the will and the troops of Azerbaijan," the MP said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2009

Azerbaijan accuses OSCE of postponing Nagorno-Karabakh resolution

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 20 / Trend News A.Huseynbala /

The Azerbaijani delegation in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly accused
the organization of postponing the adoption of a report on the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem.

"We have repeatedly raised the question of adopting a report on
Nagorno-Karabakh. However, OSCE Special Representative on
Nagorno-Karabakh and Special Envoy on Georgia Goran Lennmarker still
has not made a report for discussion," Azerbaijani OSCE delegation
member Eldar Ibrahimov told Trend News today.

OSCE has delayed the adoption of a report on Nagorno-Karabakh for
several years. Azerbaijan demands that Armenia be named as the
occupying country in the document.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.

"Lennmarker said he can make a report for discussion at the OSCE
following the Minsk Group’s resolution of the problem. We want the
OSCE to mull the issue and give an assessment of Armenia’s aggressive
policy," the MP said.

According to the official, the OSCE and Council of Europe must make a
decision on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The decision should point out that Armenia is the occupier. We demand
from the OSCE such a decision," Ibrahimov said.

He said the report also must indicate the need to ensure the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2009

Not only Azerbaijan, but also U.S. regards Section 907 as unjust:
Presidential Administration

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 20 / Trend News E.Ostapenko /

Not only Azerbaijan, but also the U.S. sees Section 907 as unjust,
Foreign Relations Department head at the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Novruz Mamedov said today at the international
conference on "Obstacles to Security in the Caucasus: Realities and
Prospects for Regional Cooperation." Section 907 prohibits the U.S.
from assisting Azerbaijan.

In October 1992, U.S. Congress passed the "Freedom Support Act,"
regulating the provision of state aid to former Soviet republics.

Under Section 907 the U.S. prohibits public entities from providing
assistance to Azerbaijan. The amendment has been suspended annually
since 2002.

According to Mammadov, not only the economy has been hit with a
crisis, but also diplomacy and foreign policy.

"In 1993, as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijani conflict, the U.S.
Congress passed Section 907, restricting the provision of humanitarian
assistance to Azerbaijan," Mamedov said. "The leading Western powers
came to the conclusion at the time that Armenia needed assistance,
although Azerbaijan actually had a greater need for the aid."

According to the official, despite Section 907, Azerbaijan is the only
country in the post-Soviet space cooperating productively with the
West.

"Azerbaijan is building a civil society. I recognize that we have
domestic problems. Show me a country that does not have any problems!"
he said. .

"They say, if Azerbaijan is fair, then Europe will support us. I do
not agree," Mamedov added.

The official called on all participants in the talks to be more
specific in their judgments

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 21 2009

Prospects for resolving Nagorno-Karabakh better than ever: British expert

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 20 / Trend News E.Ostapenko /

The situation with Nagorno-Karabakh is more positive now than at any
time since the start of the conflict, International Institute for
Strategic Studies Senior Fellow Oksana Antonenko said today at the
"South Caucasus Security: Realities and Perspectives of Regional
Cooperation" international conference in Baku. Intensified meetings
between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents testifies to this
fact, she added.

The expert said if the chances of resolving the conflict in Georgia
are thin, there is clear progress in resolving Nagorno-Karabakh.

The OSCE Minsk Group has become more active lately and is paving the
way to strengthening trust between the two nations, Antonenko said.

The expert added that Azerbaijan’s concerns over the protocols signed
between Armenia and Turkey are well grounded.

Antonenko added that the country is also worried that today’s progress
may collapse and bring the talks back to earlier levels.

"The EU should lay out a concrete plan to advance the negotiations
process," she said. "The plan should include proposals on how to reach
a dialogue between the Azerbaijani and Armenian societies and how to
achieve the return of refugees."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are
currently holding the peace negotiations.