Author: Anna Tamamian

PATRICK DEVECHIYAN: WE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT PROTECTION AFTER “BOZQURDS” ATTACK
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006
Because of harming the freedom of speech I was against of this law
a year before. But I change my mind after Turkish patriots’ actions
in Lion. “Bozgurds” did it.
Turkish diplomacy declared that Turkish people support these attacks.
We could not pat attention to the disputes on freedom of speech
after the events happened in Lion. We should have thought about our
security. We needed legal mechanism that could protect Armenians
in France,” Patrick Devechiyan, Armenian Parliamentarian, one of
the authors of the law that was adopted in France parliament said,
APA reports. Devechiyan said that they worked for three years for
France to recognize Armenian genocide and they can wait for the law
for a long time.
“We are waiting for 90 years,” he said. He said that only foreign
pressure can change official Ankara’s position.
It should be noted that Devechiyan was born in France, but he is
from Elazig region of Turkey by origin. His father was an official
during Ottoman Empire. Formerly being the lawyer of ASALA terrorists,
Devechiyan also worked as minister in France. At present he is the
leader of popular Movement Union Party and the counciller of Nikola
Sarkozi, Interior Minister.

Haaretz
Thursday March 9, 2006
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The holy basin: sovereignty, autonomy, internationalization or division?
By Nadav Shragai
The poet Uri Zvi Greenberg devoted his first speech to the First Knesset
to “the divided Jerusalem” and to his longing for the Old City beyond
the border. Greenberg, who accepted Menachem Begin’s offer to assume the
second spot on the Herut movement’s list for Knesset, emphasized that
the name Jerusalem meant only the area within the walls, “in which lies
the Temple Mount.” The city outside the walls was considered the
“outskirts of Jerusalem.”
As Israel heads toward the elections for the 17th Knesset, most elected
officials are a long way from echoing the feelings expressed by Uri Zvi
Greenberg. (Five years ago, at the most recent Camp David summit, the
Barak government even showed its readiness to concede roughly one-half
of the Old City, as well as a major share of Israeli sovereignty over
the Temple Mount.) But on the eve of elections, the parties prefer not
to engage in an open discussion about the future of the most serious
core of disagreement in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
As opposed to their readiness to discuss the transfer of Arab
neighborhoods in East Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority, when it
comes to the Old City and the Temple Mount, there is still reticence
among Israeli political parties when it comes to shattering public
conventions. The same public opinion that favors the concession of Arab
neighborhoods is opposed to concessions on the Old City and Temple
Mount. But on one matter there is no dispute: These are the most
sensitive and emotionally charged places in the world.
One fact, not necessarily a major one, found in the Lapidoth report,
which was issued a few years ago, possibly tells the entire story. The
report, which for the first time mapped out in detail the 900 dunams
(225 acres) that are so charged with emotion, that hold such significant
symbols and memories, revealed that the holy places have a tendency to
reproduce. Particularly in Jerusalem. And especially in the Old City. In
1949, a list of 30 holy places in Jerusalem was submitted to the United
Nations. Only half a century later, three authors – an Israeli Jew, a
Palestinian Armenian Christian and a Palestinian Muslim – prepared a
list that enumerated no less than 326 holy places.
The Lapidoth committee, which labored in the framework of the Jerusalem
Institute for Israel Studies (JIIS), also placed at the disposal of
policy makers a type of “holy meter,” which was developed by Dr. Yifrah
Zilberman, who proposed eight indicators for ranking holiness of the
holy sites in Jerusalem.
Currently, Professor Ruth Lapidoth, who on the upcoming Independence Day
will receive the Israel Prize for Justice, heads another team, also in
the framework of the JIIS. The team submitted to the policy makers
several weeks ago options for a settlement in the “historic basin of
Jerusalem” – that is, the Old City and adjacent territories.
Lapidoth and her team are not the first to offer a different solution to
the Old City and to the holy basin, and to the rest of Jerusalem. For
example, as early as April 1992, in an article that appeared in a
Jordanian newspaper Adnan Abu Odeh, chief of the Royal Court of Jordan
and an aide to the late King Hussein, raised the idea of expropriating
all political sovereignty from Jerusalem within the walls, and to see it
as a holy place worthy of being governed by a joint council of Jews,
Muslims and Christians.
“The Old City within the walls should be divided from the areas outside
the walls,” Abu Odeh wrote. “The main holy sites of the three religions
are clearly defined, distinguished and known: The Church of the Holy
Sepulcher for Christians, the Western Wall for Jews, and the Temple
Mount for Muslims – the true and holy Jerusalem will not belong to any
state or any single religion. It would belong to the entire world and to
the three religions, such that no state would have political sovereignty
over it.” Abu Odeh even suggested a complete ban on flags waving between
the walls.
Similarly, in the numerous meetings held between Yitzhak Rabin and King
Hussein, use was made of the term “Super-sovereignty” in relation to the
Old City and the holy places. Rabbi Menachem Fruman of Tekoa, a Hassid
of inter-religious dialogue, has for years called for the definition of
areas that would have no sovereignty, and their assignment to members of
the religions. Lapidoth herself, raised the idea during the 1990s of
suspending Israeli sovereignty in the Old City for an agreed-upon
period, even up to 20 or 30 years.
However, the current report, which was composed by the JIIS team headed
by Lapidoth, to a large extent abandons the idea of areas devoid of
sovereignty, and – in the majority of the options it proposes – returns
to the old-style partition. The five options that were recently
presented to the Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the chairman of
the Likud and Labor parties were formulated by a series of experts
gathered by the JIIS: Professor Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov, Ora Ahimeir, Dr.
Shmuel Berkowitz, Dr. Moshe Hirsch, Dr. Yifrah Zilberman, Dr. Maya
Choshen, Dr. Kobi Michael, Reuven Merhav, Israel Kimhi, Dr. Yitzhak
Reiter, Amnon Rimon and Dr. Emanuel Sharon.
The first option proposes full sovereignty and control by Israel
throughout the basin, while granting some autonomy to the Palestinian
residents, and perhaps also determining a special status for the holy
places to Christianity and Islam. The meaning of this proposal is
essentially institutionalization of the existing situation, as even now
the Muslims and Christians operate their institutions autonomously. This
option also proposes to explore the possibility of granting
international immunity to the holy places or to the clergymen serving in
them.
The second option is the exact opposite: Full sovereignty and control by
the Palestinians throughout the basin, with autonomy for the Jewish
residents (for instance in the Jewish Quarter) and special status for
holy places to Jews. This option would perhaps be acceptable to the vast
majority of Palestinians, but one may safely assume that the State of
Israel would reject it out of hand, just as the Palestinians would
reject the first option.
The third option proposes a territorial division between the sides, with
international supervision. In this option, following an agreement on the
borderlines, each side is the sovereign and the source of authority in
the territory allocated to it in the agreement. The territorial division
of the historic basin, between Israel and Palestinians, could be
executed on the basis of a wide variety of alternate borderlines, which
the team lays out in the form of five sub-options:
1.The Jewish Quarter and Armenian Quarter would be included in the
sovereign territory of Israel. The Muslim Quarter and the Christian
Quarter would be under Palestinian sovereignty. The Temple Mount would
be included in the sovereign territory of Israel.
2.The Jewish and Armenian quarters would be included in the sovereign
territory of Israel. The Muslim and Christian quarters would be under
Palestinian sovereignty, and the Temple Mount would be under Palestinian
sovereignty.
3.The Jewish Quarter would be under Israeli sovereignty, the other three
quarters and the Temple Mount would be under Palestinian sovereignty.
4.The Jewish, Armenian, and Christian quarters, and the Temple Mount,
would be under Israeli sovereignty, and the Muslim Quarter under
Palestinian sovereignty.
5. Each of the above options, with territorial division of the Temple
Mount between Israel and the Palestinians.
The issues raised by this sort of division are complex, and some of them
seem unsolvable at first glance. A few examples: The request for freedom
of Jewish ritual on the Temple Mount, the issue of supervision of
construction, human rights, preservation of antiquities, border-crossing
conditions, restrictions on security matters, the scope of judicial and
criminal jurisdiction of each side over citizens of the other side that
enter territory under their control.
On the basis of this option, the two sides would grant surveillance and
oversight authorities to an international body. The international body,
which would function as an “observer,” would have to examine whether the
sides were in fact carrying out the directives of the arrangement.
A fourth option proposes joint management, and a division of authorities
between the two sides with international backing. The Old City basin
would operate as a single unit, and the sides would share the majority
of administrative and policing authorities in the basin. The
international body would be responsible to assume its authorities from
the sides and to apply them in areas in which the joint operation would
for whatever reason fail. The agreement could determine a minimal or
maximal period of time upon the conclusion of which the international
body would have to restore to the different sides those authorities that
it assumed.
The fifth option. Similarly, based on this option, the historic basin
would “usually” be administered as a single unit, although this would be
carried out by the international body itself, and not by the sides.
Nevertheless, it is possible that relatively small areas, primarily
those holy places on which there is no dispute, would be divided among
the sides on a territorial basis. According to this plan, which would
essentially mean the internationalization of the holy basin, the
international body would retain not only supervision and oversight
authorities, but would also be responsible for administration of the
holy basin, and would constitute the source of authority and control of
it.
One of the more interesting questions is who would operate the
international body, and here, once again, the team lays out several
sub-options, such as an international organization such as the UN, a
multi-national organization that would be established especially for the
purposes of this task, or a country such as the U.S. or Switzerland.
The permanent settlement team of the JIIS did not give its express
recommendation of any of these options, but it does favor some sort of
international involvement in administration of the Old City, mainly in
the area of security and preservation and supervision of the holy
places. The bottom line of the new report states: “It is especially
complicated to plan and put into place a special regime for the historic
basin, but it may be assumed that there is no other solution that could
gain the agreement of the two sides and of the international community.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CEC ALLOCATES 285 DOLLARS FOR COVERING EXPENSES OF ELECTIONS OF
JRAHOVIT VILLAGE COMMUNITY HEAD IN ARARAT MARZ
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 9 sitting, the Armenian
government assigned the RA Minister of Finance and Economy to allocate
128 thousand 165 drams (about 285 USD) from the 2006 governmental
reserve fund to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Fund for the
purpose of covering the expenses on the preparation and holding of the
regular elections of the community head in the village of Jrahovit
(Ararat marz) held on March 5, 2006. NT was informed about it from the
RA Government Information and PR Department.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUDGET BROUGHT TO NA
A1+
| 16:56:44 | 12-10-2005 | Politics |
NA started to discuss the 2006 draft budget. At present it is discussed
in standing committees. The discussion will last several days, and
the budget will be investigated part by part according to sections.
The first day of representing the budget to NA saw the Prime Minister,
the Minister of Finance and the President of the Central Bank in
the Parliament.
According to them, the budget of the coming year has an important
peculiarity: for the first time in the history of independent Armenia
the budget crossed the border of a billion.
The Government offers the Parliament to confirm the following data of
the budget: income – 382 billion ARMD, expenses – 451.9 billion ARMD,
and deficit – 69.9 billion ARMD. Minister of Finance Vardan Khachatryan
mentioned that for the last few years the budget deficit has been 3%
only which meets the CoE demands.
It is noteworthy that in the draft budget 1USD costs 468.2 ARMD.
Nevertheless, the relation is not yet confirmed, and it will be revised
before representing the budget to the NA plenary session. The officials
mentioned that in 2006 wages in several fields, as well as pensions
will be raised. For example, the average salary of the teachers will
be more than 58 000.
Several RA Laws are to be amended for the RA Government to be able to
keeps their promise about the raise of the old-age pensions. Although
there will be no changes in the tax field, there will be some referring
to the social security payments.
By the way, in the Parliament hall the draft was discussed mainly
by the members of the coalition. The only representatives of the NA
opposition were independent deputy Manouk Gasparyan and representative
of “National Unity” fraction Aghasi Arshakyan who soon left the hall.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SARGSYAN AWARDED MEDALS TO PEACEKEEPERS, WHO TOOK PART IN HUMANITARIAN MISSION IN IRAQ
Pan Armenian
11.10.2005 22:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 11 Secretary of the National Security Council
at the President of Armenia, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan awarded
Andranik Ozanyan, Vazgen Sargsyan medals, diplomas and memorable
gifts to first group of Armenian peacekeepers, who took part in the
humanitarian mission in Iraq.
Addressing the servicemen, the Armenian MOD head expressed gratitude
for successful fulfillment of the military mission, which was a hard
one in his words. “You promoted enhancement of our country’s authority
in the world.
Working for integration into Europe, we cannot stay indifferent towards
international community’s problems, just like the community cannot be
indifferent towards ours. Thus we have a mission in Kosovo and Iraq,”
he remarked.
In a conversation with journalists S. Sargsyan appreciated the
professionalism of the Armenian peacekeepers. “Undoubtedly, being
in another country our soldier defends the security of our lands. We
protect their security, acting for the sake of their interests, while
they do the same for the sake of ours. We should not forget that
the cease-fire in Nagorno Karabakh is secured not only by our army,
but also owing to our allied states,” he emphasized. S. Sargsyan also
informed that the Armenian MOD “to all appearance will address the NA
requesting to consider expediency of sending third and fourth shifts
of Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq.”
It should be noted that representatives of Armenia serve in Iraq as
part of the Polish peacekeeping division. The US Government covers the
expenses of dislocation, rear, communication, technical and medical
equipment of the Armenian humanitarian contingent. The first shift of
Armenian peacekeepers was sent in Iraq January 18. The first rotation
of the contingent took place six months after that. To continue the
mission Armenian Parliament’s agreement is necessary. The Armenian
contingent includes medical officers, sappers and drivers. Armenia
does not have military tasks and limits itself to the humanitarian
component of the peacekeeping mission in Iraq, reported IA Regnum.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 11, 2005
Holy Etchmiadzin Ordains Nine More New Priests
During the celebration of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 19, nine
deacons were anointed and ordained into the Holy Order of Priesthood by His
Grace Bishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Eastern Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America. His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during the Divine Liturgy. The
deacons are graduates from the Accelerated Academic Course for the
Priesthood, under the auspices of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
The Accelerated Academic Course for the Priesthood was a new program
instituted by His Holiness several years ago to select individuals with
higher educations who wished to bring their service to the Armenian Church
and Nation as priests. The goal of the program was to reach out to the
rural villages and settlements that are in dire need of pastors. Among the
graduates are economists, engineers, scientists and others specialists, who
expressed their desire to prepare themselves for greater service to the
Armenian Church and people.
During the Liturgy, the ordaining bishop anointed the foreheads and palms of
both hands of each new priest with Holy Chrism (Muron) and gave them new
names.
Deacon Vrej Aleksandrian became Father Hovhannes, Deacon Gurgen Margarian
became Father Stepanos, Deacon Arushan Harutiunian became Father Sepouh,
Deacon Vartan Ter-Mkrtchian became Father Simeon, Deacon Robert Stepanian
became Father Mashtots, Deacon Armen Abrahamian became Father Zgon, Deacon
Arkadi Matevosian became Father Shnork, Deacon Artak Markarian became Father
Torgom and Deacon Hakob Ter-Barseghian became Father Gevork.
“Today you are called to serve God, to serve our nation through our Church,
and for the first time Christ will be the central focus of all your future
activities. Priesthood is a gift from God, and you must know how to use
that gift. Not everyone can serve as a priest, it is granted only to the
chosen ones, before the Holy Altar of God. With Jesus Christ as the real
shepherd, you must lead your nation on the path to eternal life. Your
weapon must be the Gospel and the Holy Cross. Love your nation, as you love
yourself,” stated His Grace in his message congratulating encouraging the
newly ordained priests as they commence their preaching activities and
pastoral life.
Following the traditional 40-day seclusion period of fasting, mediation and
prayer, the new priests will celebrate their inaugural Divine Liturgies at
churches throughout Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN AND LENNMARKER DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS
Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:26
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian has met with
OSCE Special Representative for Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. In the course of
the meeting the interlocutors exchanged view over Lennmarker’s report
on Karabakh conflict.
At the instance of the OSCE Special Representative, R. Kocharian
briefed him on the current stage and prospects of Karabakh
settlement. The Armenian President also touched upon the increasing
OSCE cooperation, noting the importance of interparliamentary
cooperation in that respect.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE October 4, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected] ;Web:
Armenian Agriculture Minister Calls on U.S. Counterpart
On September 26, 2005, Armenia’s Agriculture Minister Davit Lokian met with
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to discuss U.S.-Armenian cooperation
in the area of agriculture. Ambassador Tatoul Markarian also took part in
the meeting. Minister Lokian expressed his appreciation for the past USDA
programs in Armenia, which he said strengthened food-processing capacity and
resulted in increased exports of agricultural products from Armenia. The
prospects for continued programs introducing new technologies in this sector
in Armenia were addressed.
Minister Lokian also raised the importance of farm credits to generate
further economic growth and help Armenia’s struggling farmers. In this
regard, it is planned that Armenian specialists will study and apply the
U.S. Farm Credit Administration’s model in Armenia. Another important issue
discussed during the meeting was food safety in Armenia. Armenia will work
together with the United States to establish modern food safety laboratories
in Armenia and train staff.
Secretary Johanns expressed the USDA’s willingness to continue its
cooperation in Armenia, including in the areas proposed by Minister Lokian.
Secretary Johanns also stressed the importance of Armenia’s inclusion in the
Millennium Challenge Account program, which will provide an opportunity for
the United States and Armenia to work together in the area of agriculture.
Minister Lokian extended an invitation to Secretary Johanns to visit Armenia
at his convenience to witness first-hand the positive impact of the USDA
programs in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LISTEN TO YOUTH, BISHOP URGES; Aram I BRINGS MESSAGE OF PEACE
By Brodie Fenlon
The Toronto Sun
October 1, 2005 Saturday
FINAL EDITION
The Christian church must address the “critical issue” of its alienated
youth by reaching out and engaging young people as equals, says a
leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
“The gap between youth and the church is growing. This is a critical
issue, a pan-Christian issue,” said His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of Cilicia, who is here this weekend as part of a two-week visit
to Canada.
“The church should go beyond its walls,” listen to young people and
involve them in making decisions, said the bishop, who represents
Orthodox Armenian Christians in Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus.
340 CHURCHES
He also serves as moderator of the World Council of Churches, an
ecumenical group of 340 Christian churches and denominations from
around the world.
“The church must not look to youth as the future — the youth are
our present,” he told the Sun yesterday.
“Churches are often in a position where they only tell and give
guidance. But I think we must start listening ,” he said.
“We must establish a meaningful dialogue with youth.”
Aram will practice what he preaches Monday night when he hosts more
than 500 local Armenian youth for a banquet and question period at
the Toronto Armenian Community Centre on Hallcrown Pl. in North York.
He will also celebrate a large mass tomorrow at Toronto’s St. Mary
Armenian Apostolic Church.
The bishop’s agenda also includes a visit to Cambridge tomorrow night
and a banquet at the St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church in St.
Catharines on Tuesday.
Sarkis Ghazarian, president of the Toronto church, said Aram’s visit
is an important event for the more than 30,000 Armenians living
in Ontario.
HE’S A ‘REMINDER’
“He reminds us of who we are and where we are from. He’s here to put
us on the right track as Armenian Christians,” Sarkis said.
In a wide ranging interview, Aram said much of the violence that
plagues the world today is caused by the failure of states and
religious leaders to “build bridges of communication and common values”
between different faith communities.
GRAPHIC: photo by Ernest Doroszuk His Holiness Aram I serves as
moderator of the World Council of Churches, an ecumenical group of
340 Christian churches.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATIONING PEACEKEEPERS POSSIBLE WITH CONSENT OF BAKU, YEREVAN – FINNISH PRESIDENT
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 28 2005
Finnish President Tarja Halonen has said that it is possible to
station peacekeepers in the region if the parties to the Upper Garabagh
conflict – Azerbaijan and Armenia – agree on the issue.
“If the parties agree on this, peacekeeping forces may be stationed
in the region. This, in turn, will increase Finland’s positive role
in the conflict settlement”, Halonen told a news conference held
jointly with her Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian in Yerevan.
The Finnish President also said that the international community
‘has much work to do’ to ensure a peaceful conflict resolution.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress