Author: Antranik Varosian

                                        Monday, 
New Armenian President Sworn In
Armenia - Armen Sarkissian is sworn in as new president of Armenia in Yerevan, 
9 April 2018.
Armen Sarkissian, a former scholar who has long lived in Britain, pledged to 
strive for a “new Armenia” able to meet challenges of the modern world as he 
was sworn in as the country’s new president on Monday.
He took the oath of office at a special session of the Armenian parliament 
attended by hundreds of other dignitaries.
The ceremony took place at a concert hall in Yerevan just over a month after 
the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly to elect Sarkissian president of the 
republic. His candidacy was nominated by the outgoing President Serzh Sarkisian 
(no relation) and the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) earlier this 
year.
Sarkissian, 64, is the first Armenian president not elected by popular vote. 
The change stems from controversial constitutional changes that have 
transformed Armenia into a parliamentary republic. Sarkissian will therefore 
have largely ceremonial powers.
The HHK-controlled parliament is widely expected to appoint Serzh Sarkisian as 
prime minister next week. The latter met with his handpicked successor shortly 
before the inauguration ceremony broadcast live by national television.
Armenia - Armenia's outgoing and incoming presidents and their wives meet in 
Yerevan, 9 April 2018.
Putting his right hand on the Armenian constitution and a 7th century Armenian 
Bible, Armen Sarkissian vowed to stay “impartial” in performing his duties and 
do his best to “strengthen national unity.”
In an ensuing speech, Sarkissian mentioned challenges facing the country. “We 
must jointly and consistently fight against negative and vicious practices in 
the state system, society and our environment: from corruption to social 
injustice, from indifference to irresponsibility,” he declared. “In this just 
and uncompromising fight, each of us has a role to play. We will succeed if we 
not only criticize but also propose, if we join forces and work together, 
rather than create divisions.”
The new president, who has tried to reach out to various political and civic 
groups, intellectuals and business circles in recent weeks, went on to stress 
the need for faster economic development. “No matter how attractive and 
substantiated promises of the bright future are, people want to feel their 
fruits now, and they are right,” he said.
“The 21st century is a century of thought and rapid scientific progress,” said 
Sarkissian. “Accordingly, we must build a new Armenia; a young Armenia; a 
dynamic, flexible, and creative Armenia.”
The inauguration was attended by 92 of the 105 members of the parliament. Most 
of the absent deputies are affiliated with the opposition Yelk bloc, which 
controls 9 parliament seats. Seven Yelk deputies voted against Sarkissian while 
the two others did not vote at all on March 2.
Armenia - Armen Sarkissian is sworn in as new president of Armenia in Yerevan, 
9 April 2018.
A physicist and mathematician by education, Sarkissian worked at the Cambridge 
University when he was appointed as newly independent Armenia’s first 
ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1991. He served as prime minister for four 
months in 1996-1997 before being again named ambassador in London.
His second ambassadorial stint was cut short in 1999 by then President Robert 
Kocharian. Sarkissian stayed in Britain and made a fortune there in the 
following decade, working as an advisor and middleman for Western corporations 
doing business in the former Soviet Union. He was appointed as Armenian 
ambassador to Britain for a third time in 2013.
Under the amended constitution, Sarkissian will serve for a seven-year term. He 
will be primarily tasked with ensuring “observance of the constitution” by 
various branches of government. In particular, he will be able to send 
parliament-approved bills to the Constitutional Court for examination in case 
of objecting to their provisions. The bills will have to be signed into law if 
the court certifies their conformity with the constitution.
The president will also formally appoint members of the government, Armenian 
ambassadors abroad and the Armenian army’s top brass nominated by the prime 
minister. In addition, he can sign international treaties recommended by the 
ruling cabinet.
Russia’s Lavrov Upbeat On Karabakh Peace
        • Aza Babayan
RUSSIA -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a joint press 
conference with his Chinese counterpart following their talks in Moscow, April 
5, 2018.
Joint efforts by Russia and other world powers to help resolve the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will eventually end in success, Russian Foreign 
Minister Sergey Lavrov said over the weekend.
In an interview with an Armenian reporter, Lavrov also praised Armenia for 
remaining firmly allied to Russia while forging closer links with the European 
Union.
Commenting on prospects for a Karabakh settlement, he said: “The most important 
thing [for the conflicting parties] is to step back from distrust, which still 
manifests itself sometimes during negotiations, and to concentrate on 
realistic, pragmatic ideas which are in abundant supply.”
“The parties seem to conceptually agree to do that, but when things start 
developing into concrete wordings … complications arise. But I think that we 
will continue to consistently overcome them and achieve a result,” Lavrov said 
in the televised interview publicized by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents pledged to try to break the deadlock in 
the Karabakh peace process when they last met in Geneva in October. Their 
foreign ministers held follow-up negotiations in December and January. The 
U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group said in 
February that the two sides intend to “continue intensive negotiations, taking 
into account the current electoral period.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will likely win another term in office in a 
snap election scheduled for Wednesday. Aliyev’s Armenian counterpart, Serzh 
Sarkisian, served out his final presidential term on Monday. Sarkisian is 
widely expected to become Armenia’s prime minister and thus extend his rule 
later this month.
Aliyev and Sarkisian most recently came close to reaching a framework peace 
accord at a 2011 meeting held in Kazan, Russia. Armenian officials accused 
Aliyev s at the time of scuttling the deal with last-minute additional 
concessions demanded from the Armenian side.
“During the [Kazan] summit there emerged additional questions and comments,” 
said Lavrov. “Such things happen. We don’t regard that as a tragedy. Efforts 
will continue. I am sure that a lot of what is contained in the so-called Kazan 
document is still in demand.”
“So I think nothing from what was worked out at that time has been lost, even 
though some new ideas, which the co-chairs are now furthering in their contacts 
with the parties, have emerged since then,” he added without elaborating.
The Kazan document is thought to be one of the versions of the Basic Principles 
of a Karabakh peace which were first put forward by the U.S., Russian and 
French mediators in 2007. The framework accord calls for a phased settlement 
that would start with Armenian withdrawal from virtually all Azerbaijani 
districts around Karabakh. That would be followed by a referendum on Karabakh’s 
internationally recognized status.
Lavrov was also satisfied the current state of Russian-Armenian relations, 
saying that they have grown even closer in the political, economic and military 
areas in the past decade. He praised Armenia for joining the Russian-led 
Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) at the expense of an Association Agreement with 
the EU which was due to be finalized in 2013. Yerevan signed a less 
far-reaching Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU last 
November.
“It’s wrong to leave countries in the post-Soviet space with the choice of 
either with the West or with Russia,” Lavrov said in a jibe at the EU. “That is 
an absolutely ideological and politicized approach. And I think the fact that 
Armenia insisted on the kind of relationship with the EU which involves … 
recognition of Armenia’s rights and obligations in other integration processes 
is a step in the right direction.”
Serzh Sarkisian’s Continued Rule All But Confirmed
Armenia - Outgoing President Serzh Sarkisian (R) and outgoing Prime Minister 
Karen Karapetian meet in Yerevan, 7 April 2018.
Outgoing Prime Minister Karen Karapetian effectively confirmed on Monday that 
Serzh Sarkisian will remain Armenia’s top leader even after completing his 
second and final presidential term.
Karapetian made the announcement shortly after tendering his and his ministers’ 
resignations to Armen Sarkissian, the new president of the republic who took 
office earlier in the day.
The resignations are mandated by Armenia’s amended constitution envisaging a 
parliamentary system of government. This means that the next Armenian prime 
minister will be the country’s most powerful official.
Serzh Sarkisian, who also leads the ruling Republican Party (HHK), signaled his 
plans to become prime minister when he met with Karapetian on Saturday.
Commenting on that meeting, the outgoing premier said: “We decided to propose 
to our party comrades to maintain the current government configuration in this 
period: namely, to nominate Serzh Sarkisian as the number one figure.”
“Because it is extremely important to expedite a smooth and effective 
transition to the new government system which will minimize risks,” he added in 
comments reported by his press office.
The Armenian parliament, in which the ruling HHK has a solid majority, is due 
to elect the next prime minister on April 17. In recent weeks, many senior HHK 
members have backed Sarkisian to take up the top executive post.
Sarkisian said on Saturday that he and Karapetian will “bear the burden of 
responsibility” for Armenia’s government for the next four years. This was a 
further indication that the politically inexperienced Karapetian will be 
appointed first deputy prime minister primarily responsible for the 
government’s socioeconomic policies.
The Armenian opposition has strongly condemned Sarkisian’s plans to extend his 
decade-long rule, calling it a gross failure. Some opposition groups are 
planning to launch daily street demonstrations in Yerevan later this week in a 
bid to thwart those plans.
Opposition leaders also accuse Sarkisian of backtracking on his 2014 promise 
that he will “not aspire” to the post of prime minister if Armenia becomes a 
parliamentary republic. Sarkisian claimed last month that his political 
opponents are taking his 2014 statement “out of context.” “I still do not 
aspire to the post of prime minister,” he said.
Opposition Leader Congratulates New President
        • Harry Tamrazian
        • Naira Bulghadarian
Armenia - Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian (R) congratulates the new 
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian after an inauguration ceremony in Yerevan, 
9 April 2018.
Opposition leader Raffi Hovannisian attended Armen Sarkissian’s inauguration on 
Monday, saying that the new Armenian president is more legitimate than his 
predecessor.
Hovannisian was the main opposition candidate in Armenia’s last presidential 
election held in 2013. He rejected as fraudulent the official election results 
that gave victory to the incumbent Serzh Sarkisian. A series of demonstrations 
organized by Hovannisian in Yerevan at the time failed to force the authorities 
to invalidate the vote.
The new president of the republic was elected by the Armenian parliament, 
rather than popular vote, in line with controversial constitutional changes 
enacted in 2015.
“Five years on, we have a new electoral system,” Hovannisian told reporters 
after the inauguration ceremony. “You can say it’s still based on fraud, but 
it’s a de facto new electoral system and we had today an inauguration which was 
more or less far from illegitimate. And so I congratulate Armen Sarkissian.”
“Let’s hope that with his proposals and experience he will help to mark, little 
by little, the beginning of a new, free, independent and creative Armenia for 
which our people fought not only five years ago but also for the last 25 
years,” said the U.S.-born politician.
Sarkissian’s swearing-in ceremony was boycotted by all nine lawmakers 
representing the opposition Yelk alliance. They have questioned his eligibility 
to serve as head of state.
Armenia’s amended constitution requires presidential candidates to have had 
only Armenian citizenship for the last six years. Sarkissian has admitted 
receiving British citizenship in 2002. He insists that he gave it up in 2011. 
Yelk has been unconvinced by these assurances, demanding that Sarkissian 
produce a British government document certifying that.
One of the opposition bloc’s leaders, Nikol Pashinian, hit out at the new 
president as he continued to tour northern and central regions of Armenia on 
foot in an effort to drum up popular support for his upcoming anti-government 
rallies in Yerevan.
“His [British-based] sons and grandchildren will tell their grandchildren, ‘You 
know, our grandfather was Armenia’s president,’” scoffed Pashinian. “But if the 
grandchildren are a bit more mindful, they will realize that that story is far 
sadder than is presented.”
Pashinian, whose campaign is not supported by other Yelk leaders, is planning 
to hold daily demonstrations immediately after reaching Yerevan on Friday. They 
will be aimed at preventing former President Serzh Sarkisian from becoming 
prime minister later this month.
Also campaigning against Sarkisian’s “reproduction” is the For the Armenian 
State coalition of more radical opposition groups and activists, including the 
Zharangutyun party which Hovannisian founded and headed until last month. The 
grouping held its latest rally on Monday several hours after Hovannisian 
attended the presidential inauguration.
Press Review
(Saturday, April 7)
“Zhamanak” notes that the Armenian-born billionaire Samvel Karapetian is not in 
the latest group of more than two dozen Russian oligarchs and government 
officials sanctioned by the United States. The paper speculates that Karapetian 
is keen to have one or possibly more American companies join his energy 
projects in Armenia to try to “neutralize his risks in Russia.”
“Zhoghovurd” says Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sarkisian have used foreign media 
outlets to accuse each other of impeding a peaceful resolution of the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Aliyev said that Armenia is “imitating” peace talks 
with Azerbaijan, while Sarkisian again blamed the lack of progress on Baku’s 
“maximalist” position. The paper says the conflict remains unresolved because 
both Aliyev and Sarkisian are not interested in peace.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reacts to the Russian-Turkish agreement to build a 
Russian-designed nuclear power station in Turkey. The paper says the Armenian 
government had pledged to build a new nuclear plant with Russian aid even 
before the Turks decided to utilize atomic energy. It also blames Moscow for 
the failure of the Armenian nuclear project and claims that the Russian-Turkish 
deal is “directed against Armenia’s interests.”
(Tatev Danielian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
Copyright (c) 2018 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc.
1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
www.rferl.org

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: www.westernprelacy.org
PRELATE TO CELEBRATE EASTER DIVINE LITURGY AT ST. MARY'S CHURCH IN GLENDALE
        On Sunday, April 1, 2018, the glorious Resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ will be joyfully celebrated in Prelacy Churches.
        H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, will celebrate
Divine Liturgy and deliver his Easter message at St. Mary's Church in
Glendale. Divine Liturgy begins at 10:30 a.m. Very Rev. Fr. Torkom Donoyan,
Vicar General, will celebrate Easter at Holy Martyrs Church in Encino.
Divine Liturgy begins at 11:00 a.m.
        On Monday, April 2nd, Easter Memorial Day, the Prelate and clergy
will gather at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills "Hall of Liberty" and Forest Lawn
Glendale "Church of the Recessional" for requiem service, which begins at
10:00 a.m.
        We invite our faithful to participate in the spiritually uplifting
Easter services and be strengthened by the spirit and message of the
Resurrection. 
***
EASTER SERVICE TO BE HELD AT ARARAT HOME IN MISSION HILLS
        On Wednesday, April 4, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, and clergy members will visit Ararat Home in Mission Hills to
conduct Easter services and convey their blessings to the residents and
faculty.
        The celebration will begin with a prayer service at the Nursing
Facility at 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy will follow at the Sheen Memorial
Chapel celebrated by Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, who will also deliver
the sermon. A prayer service will then be held at the Assisted Living
Facility. A luncheon will follow.
***
MAUNDY THURSDAY VIGIL SERVICE AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH IN PASADENA
        On the evening of Thursday, , the solemn vigil service
commemorating the betrayal, arrest, trial, suffering, and crucifixion of our
Lord Jesus Christ was held in Prelacy Churches, with H.E. Archbishop
Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presiding over the service at St. Sarkis
Church in Pasadena. 
        The moving service was comprised of Gospel readings detailing the
last hours of our Lord's earthly life, as well as psalms, prayers, and
hymns. Candles representing Christ, the eleven apostles, and 1 black candle
representing Judas were placed before the altar, and distinguished with each
Gospel reading, in the end only that of Christ remaining lit.
        The Prelate began his message by citing the seven last words our
Lord Jesus Christ spoke from the Cross, the message of which is the love,
mercy, obedience, and submission to God. The unspeakable suffering and
torture that Jesus endured for our sins was the supreme example of His love
and mercy for mankind, said His Eminence, who added that even in His last
moments on the Cross, Jesus granted salvation to the criminal on the cross
next to Him and sought forgiveness for those who persecuted Him. The Prelate
added that the Crucifixion was the climax of Jesus' obedience and sacrifice,
stating that Jesus was born by obedience and died by obedience, with His
final words being "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." The Prelate
invited the faithful to trust absolutely in the Lord in all aspects of our
life and submit to His will, and concluded by praying that we look to our
crucified Savior as the way, the truth, the life, and the light, and for His
light to permeate within our spirits. 
***
WASHING OF THE FEET SERVICE AT ST. GARABED CHURCH 
IN HOLLYWOOD
        On Thursday, , Maundy Thursday was commemorated in
Prelacy Churches with a number of poignant services. In the morning, the
institution of the Eucharist by our Lord Jesus Christ at the Last Supper was
commemorated with Divine Liturgy and the offering of Holy Communion. H.E.
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, presided over the service at Holy
Martyrs Church in Encino.
        In the afternoon, the act of Christ washing the feet of His
disciples during the Last Supper was commemorated with clergy washing the
feet of young faithful. The Prelate presided over the service, delivered his
message, and conducted the washing of feet at St. Garabed Church in
Hollywood.
        In his message, the Prelate highlighted the virtues of love,
devotion, and sacrifice. The Lord and Teacher took on the role of a servant;
He became a servant and in doing so He offered a supreme example to the
Apostles and for us all, he said. And when Peter objected to his Lord
washing his feet, Jesus answered "If I do not wash you, you have no part
with Me," alluding to the ultimate sacrifice that He would bear for them.
Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles was a beautiful expression of His
love for them, and is an invitation for us all to love one another with the
same devotion and sacrifice, said His Eminence, and concluded by praying for
the grace and blessings of our Lord to be upon all the children. 
***
HOLY TUESDAY COMMEMORATION AT HOLY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ENCINO
        On Tuesday, March 27, 2018, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian,
Prelate, presided over Holy Tuesday service and delivered his message at
Holy Martyrs Church in Encino. Ten Sunday School students participated in
the service representing the ten maidens of the day's parable.
        The Parable of the Ten Maidens is the story of the heavenly kingdom,
said the Prelate, and the path to the heavenly kingdom was initiated on Palm
Sunday when our Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem for the last time and
until His arrest preached and taught in the Temple through various parables
announcing the coming of the His kingdom and how to inherit it. 
        His Eminence recounted the Parable of the Ten Maidens, of the five
wise maidens who had enough oil for their lamps and were thus worthy of
greeting the groom and the five foolish who ran out of oil and thus were not
present when the groom arrived. In the olden days, one could not light a
lamp without oil; what is the "oil" of our lives today asked the Prelate. It
is the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, he said. "Jesus, the bridegroom,
will one day return; and in order to be ready to greet Him we must have oil
in our lamps at all times, like the wise maidens, by being in communion and
communication with Him and keeping our hearts and souls open to Him at all
times. God gave us the necessary tools to be in communion and communication
with Him; He gave us our church, the teachings of our church fathers, our
rites, and more, and all of these are to increase the oil in our lamps. And
the source of the oil is His Word and His teachings. With its plentiful
services, Holy Week is the perfect opportunity to fill up the oil in our
lamps. In the example of the wise maidens, prior to His coming let us be
alert and spiritually ready to meet Him by knowing and uniting with Christ
so that we too may be worthy of greeting Him and inheriting His heavenly
kingdom." 
        
***
PALM SUNDAY AT FORTY MARTYRS CHURCH IN ORANGE COUNTY
        On Sunday, March 25, 2018, Prelacy Churches were filled with
faithful and beautifully adorned with palm fronds for the celebration of
Palm Sunday, the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, celebrated Divine Liturgy,
delivered his sermon, blessed young faithful during the children's
procession, and conducted the Opening of the Portals service at Forty
Martyrs Church in Orange County. Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian
and Archpriest Fr. Hrant Yeretzian assisted at the altar.
        The Prelate began his sermon by joyfully greeting the parish
community with chants of "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" giving thanks to God
for granting the opportunity to once again collectively celebrate Palm
Sunday.  
        When Jesus rode into Jerusalem He was bringing the message of His
kingdom and His peace, said His Eminence. Just a day before He had raised
Lazarus from the dead and was now entering Jerusalem triumphantly for the
last time to cleanse the temple of moneychangers and merchants. It was the
Jewish Passover and thousands had descended upon Jerusalem. Having heard of
Jesus and His miracles, they had gathered to witness the coming of the
Messiah and greet Him with chants of Hosanna. In addition to His followers
and innocent children, His opponents, the Scribes and Pharisees, who a few
days later would call for His crucifixion, were also present. 
        Jesus rode into Jerusalem knowing well that the path would lead to
the Cross, yet He continued on for us, so that through His Resurrection on
Easter Sunday He would lead mankind from despair to hope, from sorrow to
joy, from darkness to light, from death to life, stated the Prelate. As the
crowds were laying down their cloaks before Jesus, they were symbolically
relinquishing control and submitting themselves to Him. And that is what we
are called to do today; to lay down our cloaks before Jesus, open the
portals of our hearts and souls to Him, and surrender to His will, he
stressed. 
        Speaking on the large number of children who were among the
multitude who greeted Him in Jerusalem, the Prelate exhorted, "let their
innocence be an example for us all to emulate, and as the children lined up
to welcome Jesus with joy and enthusiasm, let us welcome His glorious
Resurrection with renewed faith and pure hearts and souls."
        Finally, the His Eminence touched on the Opening of the Portals
ceremony which symbolizes the Second Coming of Christ and the opening of the
doors of salvation, and invited the faithful to follow the service
attentively, to open the doors of their hearts and souls to Him, and with
humility and atonement to beseech the Lord to open for us the door of His
mercy and make us worthy of inheriting the Kingdom which He has prepared for
us. 
        Following the sermon, the Prelate exited the church in a procession
and circled the courtyard blessing the multitude of faithful and children in
particular who had gathered to receive his blessings with decorated candles
in hand. Afterward, the Prelate and assisting clergy conducted the Opening
of the Portals service, with young John Calkins serving as the Godfather. 
***
ARI GUIRAGOS MINASSIAN SCHOOL'S 32ND ANNUAL BANQUET
        On Saturday, March 24, 2018, Ari Guiragos Minassian School of Orange
County celebrated its 32nd anniversary with a banquet held at "Gugasian"
Hall with the theme "Growing Together." H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, attended and conveyed his congratulatory message.
Forty Martyrs Church Parish Pastor Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian and Board of
Trustees members, Board of Regents Chair Mrs. Lisa Gaboudian, School Board
members, representatives of community organizations, parents, and sponsors
were among the guests in attendance.
        The program opened with remarks by Mr. Kevork Keshishian on behalf
of the School Board. Fr. Karekin delivered the invocation. Fourth grade
student Arpi Aywazian and second grade student Kristina Tatarian presented
songs and recitations. Principal Ms. Sanan Shirinian spoke on the School's
latest endeavors and advancements, conveyed her thanks and well wishes to
the School family and to Forty Martyrs Church Board of Trustees for their
unwavering support.
        The Prelate delivered his message congratulating and commending the
school family. He expressed his joy at joining the community for the
celebration as Ari Guiragos Minassian School has a special place in his
heart dating back over thirty years and fondly recalled the School's early
days. His Eminence served as parish dean and a teacher at the School over
thirty years ago. 
        Referencing the evening's motto, "Growing Together," His Eminence
commended the community's collective efforts which have led to the School's
continuous progress over the past thirty-two years. He stressed the
importance of unity in our service to our parishes, schools, and our nation,
stating that "in order to grow together we must work together, with harmony,
goodwill, and honesty, with one mind, one accord, and one goal, the good of
the collective." He blessed the devoted servants who have dedicated their
time and efforts to building churches and schools, blessed the memory of the
founders who are no longer with us, and commended all those who continue to
serve in their example for the flourishing of Ari Guiragos School, including
the Principal, past and present board members, faculty, parents, alumni,
benefactors and sponsors.
***

                                        Monday, 
Ruling Parties ‘Untroubled’ By Opposition Protests
        • Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenia - Civic activists protest against President Serzh Sarkisian's continued 
rule outside the ruling Republican Party's headquarters in Yerevan, 24 March 
2018.
The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) and its junior coalition partner, 
Dashnaktsutyun, said on Monday that they are not worried about opposition plans 
to stage street demonstrations against President Serzh Sarkisian’s apparent 
plans to extend his rule.
Sarkisian is widely expected to become prime minister and thus remain Armenia’s 
most powerful man after serving out his final presidential term on April 9. 
Various opposition groups, notably Nikol Pashinian’s Civil Contract party, have 
pledged to rally supporters next month in a bid to scuttle his perceived plans.
Pashinian indicated last week that the focal point of his and his allies’ 
campaign will be the period between April 9 and April 17, the anticipated date 
of the new prime minister’s election by the Armenian parliament. He claimed 
that Sarkisian will be particularly vulnerable to popular pressure during that 
time because he will have no formal control over the government, the military 
and security agencies.
“I don’t take that seriously,” Vahram Baghdasarian, the leader of the HHK’s 
parliamentary faction, said, commenting on Pashinian’s statement. “Power is not 
a box which they can pick up. You need grounds to take power.”
“We have had many cases where the president of the republic was abroad or on 
vacation,” Baghdasarian told reporters. “He was substituted for during those 
times.”
Dashnaktsutyun’s Aghvan Vartanian also dismissed Pashinian’s plans. “During 
that period [from April 9-17] power won’t be lying on the street,” he said. 
“Every state body will be performing their functions.”
Pashinian’s Civil Contract is one of the three opposition parties making up the 
Yelk alliance which finished third in last year’s parliamentary elections. 
While also opposing Sarkisian’s continued rule, the two other Yelk parties have 
refused to back his plans. They say that anti-Sarkisian protests are unlikely 
to attract big crowds.
Also campaigning against Sarkisian’s “reproduction” is the For the Armenian 
State coalition of more radical opposition groups and activists, including 
Raffi Hovannisian’s Zharangutyun party. The grouping pulled a small crowd for 
its most recent rally held in Yerevan on Friday. It hopes to team up with Civil 
Contract.
“I can understand when extraparliamentary forces try to use the street,” said 
the HHK’s Baghdasarian. “It’s just a bit unclear to me why there are 
parliamentary forces willing to leave the parliament and opt for street 
protests.”
“I think that there are no grounds [for doing that,] but as I said, it’s up to 
a political force to choose its method of political struggle,” added the 
pro-government lawmaker.
Russian Official Plays Up Fresh Arms Supplies To Armenia
        • Artak Hambardzumian
Armenia - Konstantin Zatulin, deputy chairman of a Russian State Duma 
committee, speaks to reporters in Yerevan, .
Russia has supplied Armenia with more weapons and other military equipment in 
response to the April 2016 fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, a senior Russian 
lawmaker said during a visit to Yerevan on Monday.
“We do realize that after the 2016 escalation, which was initiated by one of 
the parties, Armenian public opinion showed serious discontent with Russia 
regarding arms supplies to Azerbaijan on the part of Russia,” Konstantin 
Zatulin told reporters. “We very much regret that Azerbaijan found no use for 
them other than violating the ceasefire agreement on the [Karabakh] Line of 
Contact reached in 1994 with our help.”
“We have drawn conclusions regarding the breach of the military balance in the 
region and provided Armenia with state-of-the-art defense equipment which we 
had a chance to see at the [September 2016] military parade organized on the 
occasion of [Armenia’s] Republic Day,” said the deputy chairman of a Russian 
State Duma committee on relations with former Soviet republics.
Despite its military alliance with Armenia, Russia signed an estimated $5 
billion worth of defense contracts with Azerbaijan in 2009-2011. Many in 
Armenia feel that the resulting deliveries of hundreds of Russian tanks, 
artillery systems and combat helicopters to Baku encouraged the latter to 
launch the April 2016 offensive in Karabakh.
The four-day hostilities, which Moscow helped to halt, left at least 180 
soldiers from both warring sides dead.It was the worst escalation of the 
Karabakh conflict since 1994.
Visiting Yerevan earlier this month, another senior Russian lawmaker, 
Konstantin Kosachev, indicated that Moscow will scale down its future arms 
dealings with Baku. “Of course, we are reacting to what occurred in April 
2016,” said Kosachev, who chairs the foreign relations committee of the 
Federation Council, the Russian upper house of parliament.
Armenia - The Armenian military demonstrates Iskander missile systems during a 
parade in Yerevan, 21Sep2016.
The fresh Russian arms supplies to Armenia mentioned by Zatulin stem, in part, 
from a $200 million Russian loan allocated in June 2015. The Armenian military 
has used that money for buying, among other things, Smerch multiple-launch 
rocket system, thermobaric and anti-tank rocket systems and shoulder-fired 
surface-to-air missiles.
At its September 2016 parade in Yerevan, the military also demonstrated 
medium-range Buk air-defense systems and, more importantly, Iskander tactical 
missiles. Armenia most probably received the precision-guided missiles shortly 
before or after the four-day war in Karabakh.
In October 2017, the Armenian government announced that Moscow will provide it 
with a further $100 million loan that will be spent on the purchase of more 
Russian weapons at internal Russian prices set well below international 
market-based levels. Deputy Defense Minister Artak Zakarian said in December 
that the Armenian side has already finalized three defense contracts with 
Russian arms manufacturers as part of the loan agreement.
Zatulin, who is known for his pro-Armenian views on the Karabakh conflict, on 
Monday also denounced Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent pledge to 
“return Azerbaijanis” to Yerevan and other parts of Armenia which he called 
“historic Azerbaijani lands.” “It’s just not clear how anyone can take such a 
statement seriously,” added the veteran lawmaker.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also criticized Aliyev’s remarks last month. 
Nevertheless, the Azerbaijani leader repeated his claims last week.
Former German Envoy Again Visits Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh - Hans-Jochen Schmidt (R), a former German ambassador to 
Armenia, meets with Masis Mayilian, the Karabakh foreign minister, in 
Stepanakert, .
Germany’s former ambassador to Armenia, Hans-Jochen Schmidt, met with senior 
officials in Stepanakert on Monday during yet another private visit to 
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Schmidt, who headed the German diplomatic mission in Yerevan from 2009-2012, 
was reported to discuss with Arayik Harutiunian, Karabakh’s state minister 
primarily responsible for economic policies, the socioeconomic situation in the 
Armenian-populated territory.
A Karabakh government statement said Harutiunian briefed him on recent economic 
developments and “a number of investment projects.”The retired German diplomat, 
for his part, “presented details of his visit and forthcoming plans.”
The two men also spoke about “prospects for cooperation between Karabakh and 
Germany in some sectors of the economy,” the statement added without 
elaborating.
Schmidt also had a separate meeting with Masis Mayilian, the Karabakh foreign 
minister. According to Mayilian’s press office, they discussed international 
efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict and the unrecognized republic’s 
contacts with the outside world.
Schmidt is known to have also visited Karabakh on at least two occasions in the 
past, most recently in September 2016. Bako Sahakian, the Karabakh president, 
awarded him a “medal of gratitude” at the time. Schmidt reportedly called for 
more political and people-to-people contacts between the European Union and 
Karabakh.
“I always thought that it is impossible to be informed about Karabakh without 
visiting it,” he told the local Artsakhpress news agency. In that regard, he 
criticized Azerbaijan for blacklisting non-Armenian foreign dignitaries 
travelling to the region.
Schmidt, 70, is one of the founding members of the German-Armenian Forum (DAG), 
a group set up in Berlin in 2015 to “promote mutual understanding between 
Germans and Armenians and safeguard the interests of Armenians living in 
Germany.”
Press Review
(Saturday, March 24)
Interviewed by “Haykakan Zhamanak,” opposition leader Nikol Pashinian defends 
his decision in 2015 not to campaign against President Serzh Sarkisian’s 
controversial constitutional changes that eventually enabled the latter to 
prolong his rule. Pashinian insists that now is a better time to fight against 
Sarkisian’s continued rule. “We are capable of organizing a struggle and 
creating a platform for the people and winning,” he says. “If there is an 
expression of popular will, it will be easier to effect regime change under the 
current constitution than the previous one. Why? Because Serzh Sarkisian will 
not be president during the political processes envisioned by us.”
“Zhamanak” disagrees with Pashinian’s view that the period between the end of 
Sarkisian’s presidential term on April 9 and his anticipated appointment as 
prime minister on April 17 represents a unique opportunity for the Armenian 
opposition to seize power. The paper believes that Pashinian and his Civil 
Contract party cannot topple the ruling regime on their own. It says they are 
extremely unlikely to cobble together a broad-based opposition coalition for 
that purpose. Armenia needs a smooth and lawful transition of power, rather 
than revolutionary upheavals, it says.
A German political analyst, Susan Stewart, tells “168 Zham” that she expects 
only minor “technical” obstacles to the ratification of the European Union’s 
Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Armenia. She also 
notes that Russia did not react negatively, at least in public, to the signing 
of the CEPA in November.
“Zhoghovurd” comments on serious problems with the implementation of an 
ambitious government project to refurbish Armenia’s main highways stretching to 
the Iranian and Georgian borders. “Right from the beginning it was evident that 
this project is not cost-effective for Armenia,” writes the paper. “On the 
contrary, it will mean a waste of financial resources, part of them loans.” It 
accuses senior government officials of using the project to enrich themselves.
(Tatev Danielian)
Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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