Author: Andres-Papazian

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Sisters Academy
440 Upper Gulph Road
Radnor, PA 19087
Contact: Susan Pogharian
Tel: 610-757-7090
Fax: 610-687-2450
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Armenian Sisters Academy hosts Giving Tree for the Needy

In the Academy’s gym lobby in early December, there stood an empty
Christmas tree. Slowly the colors started to take shape and then it
became packed with every hue of the rainbow. No, it wasn’t decorated
with ornaments, but with new socks, hats, scarves, mittens and gloves
that were clothes-pinned to its branches.

In what has become a tradition at the Academy, the 4th and 5th grade
students sponsor a Giving Tree during the holiday season. Throughout
the month of December, these students encourage their schoolmates to
bring warm goodies to help those in need. The 4th and 5th grade
classes created and displayed hand-designed posters around the school
to remind others that giving is the true spirit of Christmas.

This year, the students donated the contributions to Cradles to
Crayons, a non-profit organization based in nearby Conshocken,
PA. This group collects items for children ages newborn – 12 years and
distributes them within Philadelphia and the surrounding
counties. Cradles to Crayons also offers volunteer opportunities for
students as young as first grade; ASA students will have the
opportunity to volunteer there in early 2011. For more information
about the Academy, visit

From: A. Papazian

TATEVIK GHAPLANYAN PASSED AWAY

ARMENPRESS
DECEMBER 22, 2010
YEREVAN

Tatevik Ghaplanyan – famous Armenian actress, living in the USA in
the recent 15 years – passed away today in Los Angeles.

From: A. Papazian

WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING BY ROBERT GIBBS, DECEMBER 21

State Department Documents and Publications
December 21, 2010

[parts omitted]

Q: Robert, on foreign policy, what was the reaction of President
when he got the letter from Prime Minister of Turkey who mentioned
about serious concern on Armenian resolution in Congress? Has the
President talked with any congressional leader, calling Nancy Pelosi
to oppose this one? Or if the Armenian resolution passes in Congress,
do you have any concern future relationship with Turkey?

MR. GIBBS: Well, obviously our relationship — our bilateral
relationship with Turkey is enormously important. I do not know that
the President — I do not believe that the President has made any
calls specifically on this, and I think his views on this are known.

Yes, sir.

From: A. Papazian

LINKS PUBLISHES PART OF REPORT ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH, REFLECTING VIEWS OF AZERBAIJANI SIDE
Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva

Trend Daily News
December 21, 2010 Tuesday 7:49 PM GMT +4
Azerbaijan

Today, Dec. 21, the British LINKS Research Center published the
second part of its report: “Karabakh: the big debate”, Dennis Sammut,
executive director of the British NGO LINKS, told Trend.

This part of the research reflect the views of the Azerbaijani
political parties.

According to Sammut, in future LINKS also hopes to publish the views of
Armenian politicians of separatist Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani
politicians expelled from the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh as a
result of the conflict.

“This work is part of our efforts to expand the discussion over
Karabakh conflict and its solution within and between Armenians and
Azerbaijanis. This discussion will contribute to the peace talks
between the two countries,” he said.

The part of the LINKS report published today says that Azerbaijani
political parties are fairly unanimous in seeking a solution to
the Karabakh conflict based on the restoration of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, i.e. the return of Nagorno-Karabakh and the
adjoining territories lost to Armenia in the conflict.

There is widespread recognition of the need to give Nagorno-Karabakh
extensive autonomy within Azerbaijan. Some parties have elaborated
detailed plans of how this can be done. There is also recognition by
some parties that the deployment of international peacekeeping forces
of some sort will be needed, the LINKS report says.

Some party spokespersons highlighted the need for Azerbaijani democracy
to be strengthened in order to make the preposition of a return of
the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh back into the Azerbaijani
fold more attractive, according to the report.

Most of the political parties interviewed by LINKS consider the
military option as a possible solution to the problem. There is a
quasi fatalistic tone to this preposition based on an assumption
that Azerbaijan will have to resort to the military option if all
else fails, whatever the cost.

There are many different opinions with regards to the role of the
international community, the Minsk Group process and key international
actors. However there is a tone of suspicion in the voice of all those
interviewed. Only Turkey’s role is generally welcomed, the report says.

According to the report, the European Union, in as much as it is
mentioned, is usually regarded in a positive manner.

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.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA INVITED TO THE CONFERENCE ON CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM
DIALOGUE IN DAMASCUS

Recently the Minister of Religious Affairs of Syria and the Greek Catholic
Patriarchate organized a meeting to discuss the recent The Vatican Synod on
the Middle East and its official message. The meeting was held in Damascus
with the participation of around one thousand persons.

His Holiness Aram I could not attend the meeting personally, but he sent a
delegation of three persons, consisting of His Eminence Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkissian, Prelate of Tehran (Iran), His Grace Bishop Shahan Sarkissian,
Prelate of Peria (Syria) and Mr. Mesrob Shirinian, to represent him.

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian greeted the conference and welcomed the
initiative in the name of Catholicos Aram I, and hoped that the meeting
would give a new impulse to Christian-Muslim dialogue. He then continued,
“His Holiness Aram I continually reminds dialogue partners of the urgency of
cooperation along with dialogue meetings”. The Archbishop then described the
commitment of the Catholicosate of Cilicia to interreligious dialogue, and
said, “During the fifteen years when His Holiness Aram I was Moderator of
the World Council of Churches, and currently as a President of the Middle
East Council of Churches, he persistently reminds the ecumenical community
of the importance of existential dialogue.” Archbishop Sebouh concluded his
speech by describing the Armenian diaspora and the existential dialogue of
Armenians with their host neighbours, particularly in the Middle East for
many centuries as a vivid example of this commitment of the Catholicosate.

##
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.

From: A. Papazian

SASUN MIKAELYAN UNDERWENT HEART SURGERY

08:09 pm | December 22, 2010

Politics

Armenian ex parliamentarian Sasun Mikaelyan, one of the few opposition
leaders remaining in jail after the post-election clashes of March 1,
2008, has undergone a heart surgery.

In February 2010, Mikaelyan had an operation of cardiac artery. He
has been under strict supervision ever since, Merujan Saghatelyan,
a cardiologist at Nork-Marash Medical Center, told A1+.

After the surgery, Mikaelyan was taken back to the Hospital for
Convicts.

Sasun Mikaelyan was convicted in June 2009 of organizing “mass
disturbances” in the wake of the February 2008 presidential election.

He was also found guilty of illegal arms possession. The resulting
eight-year sentence disqualified him from a general amnesty that led
to the release of some 30 opposition members and supporters.

The prominent oppositionist, who was stripped of his parliament
mandateafter the arrest, was diagnosed with serious respiratory
problems that had adversely affected his heart.

Since detention, Mikaelyan has undergone numerous operations but to
date he has not properly recovered.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICAL ANALYST: AZERBAIJAN INSURED AGAINST DEFEAT IN POSSIBLE WAR IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
T. Hajiyev

Trend Daily News
December 21, 2010 Tuesday 5:44 PM GMT +4
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is insured against defeat in a possible war in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Mubariz Ahmedoglu, political analyst, director
of the Center for Political Innovation and Technologies, said at a
press conference.

“The only issue stipulating the war is to continue the occupation
policy of Armenia. Azerbaijan will face no defeats in the future,”
he said.

He said that the OSCE Minsk Group has demonstrated courage in a number
of issues relating to Nagorno-Karabakh problem

“Now it deals with using the phrase “occupied territories”. The
original name of the city – Khankendi is used instead Stepanakert.

This is a very brave step of the OSCE Minsk Group,” he said.

He said that the Minsk Group was indecisive in 2010.

“Armenia has not adopted the Madrid principles. However, the OSCE
has not declared Armenia about its protest. It deals with the OSCE
Minsk Group’s indecisive actions. The OSCE creates the conditions for
alternative mediation. Now the UN and EU are active in resolving this
conflict,” he said.

He said that important work was conducted to strengthen the position
of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh issue in 2010. “In 2010, the Azerbaijani
president has turned the Karabakh issue into the national idea.

Special attention was paid to military issues. A number of large
exercises were conducted. The military expenditure was increased. A
military doctrine was adopted. The Azerbaijani army entered a new
stage both in qualitative and quantitative terms,” he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces 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 peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian

MP: LAW SHOULD BE PASSED DECLARING PERSONS VISITING AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED TERRITORIES AS PERSONA NON GRATA
Trend M. Aliyev

Trend Daily News
December 21, 2010 Tuesday 5:35 PM GMT +4
Azerbaijan

It is necessary to pass a law declaring persons visiting the occupied
territories without Azerbaijan’s permission for it, MP Ganira Pashayeva
said today at the parliamentary meeting.

“This law should apply not only to politicians, but also culture
figures,” she added.

According to Pashayeva, it is important that appeal, which will be
sent to the leadership of the European Parliament in connection with
Tomasz Poreba, was also addressed to all European parliamentarians.

This appeal separately should be directed to the leadership and
Polish MPs.

Pashayeva urged all Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations to send protest
letters regarding Tomasz Poreba in the European countries’ parliaments.

MEP, the keynote speaker on Armenia Tomasz Poreba, is on a visit
to Nagorno-Karabakh from Dec.19, where he is holding meetings with
the leadership of the unrecognized republic and discussing issues
concerning the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, the situation
in the region and bilateral relations, the Armenian media outlets
reported.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces 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 peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the United Nations Security Council’s
four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

From: A. Papazian

ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATION OF OSCE DOCUMENTS LAUNCHED IN YEREVAN

AZG DAILY #237
23-12-2010

The Armenian translation of three key OSCE documents prepared by the
OSCE Office in Yerevan together with the Armenian Foreign Ministry
was presented yesterday to the Armenian public.

The publication is to mark the 35-year anniversary of the “Helsinki
Final Act”, the 20th anniversaries of the “Charter of Paris for a New
Europe” and the “Copenhagen Document”, and the 10-year anniversary
of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the OSCE official website reports.

Representatives of Armenia’s state administration, National Assembly,
civil society, international community and media participated in
the presentation.

“The three OSCE documents that we have published are the OSCE’s
“genetic code” as no single decision may be taken within the
organization that eclipses or violates the principles of these basic
documents,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan. “We hope this publication will contribute to a
better understanding of the OSCE principles and values among the
Armenian public”.

“Armenia attaches great importance to full and fair implementation
of the OSCE/CSCE principles and commitments, as a prerequisite
for the regional security and stability. In the rapidly changing
international environment it is crucial for the OSCE participating
States to fully comply with their commitments and implement the OSCE
norms and principles”, said Armenian Deputy Minister Arman Kirakossian.

The Armenian version of the anniversary documentary prepared by the
OSCE Secretariat on the history of the Helsinki Final Act was shown
during the event.

The Helsinki Final Act is a founding document of the OSCE, adopted
in 1975 to reduce tensions between the East and the West during the
Cold War. Its ten basic principles are guiding the conduct of the
participating States vis-a-vis their citizens, as well as between
each other.

The Charter of Paris for a New Europe signed in 1990 marked a turning
point in the history of the organization, officially proclaiming the
end of the Cold War, and starting the institutional transformation
of the then Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The Copenhagen Document of 1990 addresses the human dimension of the
OSCE security policy, including the democratic elections, minority
rights protection and the rule of law.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS’ NEW TITLES

AZG DAILY #237
23-12-2010

World Chess Federation has awarded FIDE Master’s Title to the silver
medal-holder of the European U16 Championship, Karen H. Grigoryan
and FIDE Candidate Master’s Title to the silver medal-holder of the
European U8 Championship, Shant Sargsyan, armchess.am reports.

From: A. Papazian