Author: Babajanian Karo

SYRIAN REBELS ACCUSED OF LOOTING CHRISTIAN CHURCHES, BURNING THEM

Rights group says fighters have burned and looted Christian and Shia
places of worship, increasing sectarian fears.

aljazeera.com

Rebels in Syria have burned and looted the religious sites of
minorities, Human Rights Watch says, warning that the 22-month old
conflict could become increasingly sectarian.

“The destruction of religious sites is furthering sectarian fears
and compounding the tragedies of the country, with tens of thousands
killed,” Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of the US-based
rights group, said on Wednesday.

“Syria will lose its rich cultural and religious diversity if armed
groups do not respect places of worship. Leaders on both sides
should send a message that those who attack these sites will be
held accountable.”

In the village of Zarzour in Idlib province, researchers found evidence
of deliberate damage to the local husseiniya, a Shia place of worship,
caused by opposition fighters in December.

Its windows were broken, prayer stones littered on the floor, walls
charred from flames, and what appeared to be the remnants of a burned
prayer rug lay on the floor.

Footage posted online showed rebels celebrating their victory in the
town as the husseiniya burns in the background.

Residents said the army had been using the husseiniya as a barracks.

Human Rights Watch condemned the government’s use of the husseiniya
for military purposes, but said that did not justify intentional
damage by the rebels.

The rights group said local rebel fighters had blamed Syria’s
government for the damage but residents said opposition fighters had
started the fire when they took control of the village.

Residents of Zarzour, a predominantly Sunni village, said their Shia
neighbours fled fearing retaliation for supporting the government.

Churches looted

In the Christian villages of Ghasaniyeh and Jdeideh in Latakia
province, residents said that gunmen operating “in the name of the
opposition” broke into and stole from churches in November.

A resident in Jdeideh cited by the rights group said armed men had
broken into the local church, stolen and fired shots inside, after
government troops had fled.

Local rebels denied they attacked the church.

“While the motivation for the church break-ins may have been
theft rather than a religious attack, opposition fighters have
a responsibility to protect religious sites in areas under their
control from wilful damage and theft,” Human Rights Watch said.

The group has previously documented the destruction and vandalisation
of a mosque in Taftanaz, Idlib by government forces.

Many mosques have been destroyed in shelling by regime forces.

About 70 percent of Syria’s population are Sunni Muslims, and a
majority of the rebel ranks are Sunnis.

Many members of minorities – including Christians, Shias and Alawites
– have stayed on the sidelines of the conflict or supported President
Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite.

Assad has portrayed his regime as a protector of minorities and has
blamed the uprising in his country on Muslim extremists and foreign
countries.

The opposition, however, is accusing the regime of igniting sectarian
strife.

R. HOVANNISIAN: CITIZENS’ PARTICIPATION WILL DEFEAT FALSIFICATION

Aysor.am
January 24, 2013

We will be able to defeat falsification and injustice only in case
of active participation of citizens in the election, the presidential
candidate Raffi Hovannisian stated today, when campaigning in Kentron
community of Yerevan.

Commenting on the talk that this election is uncompetitive,
Raffi Hovannisian said: “This is going to be the most competitive
election because at its conclusion we will have a new Armenia, a new
situation. This will be a new state of Armenian citizens, rather than
a new state of Raffi,” he said.

If the incumbent president wins the election, Hovannisian will shake
his hand only in one case: “I will shake his hand only if the election
has been free and independent. In this case I will shake hands with the
only de jure elected president in the 20-year history of independent
Armenia,” Raffi Hovannisian noted, adding that, nevertheless, he
himself is more likely to accept congratulations.

TODAY, 17:53

SIX KARABAKH ATHLETES TO REPRESENT ARMENIAN AT SAMBO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

January 24

The first international Class A Sambo tournament, which is called
the “Awards of Kazakh President Norsultan Nazarbayev” and one of the
stages of the World Sambo Championship will be held from January 26-29,
in the Kazakh city of Uralsk.

Six Karabakh athletes will be representing Armenia, Sambo Federation
of Armenia informs.

Narek Petrosyan – 62 kg weight category

Martin Mirzoyan – 68 kg

Armen Adamyan – 74 kg

Mavrik Nasibyan – 82 kg

David Grigoryan – 90 kg

Tigran Hambartsumyan – 100 kg

Coach Ernest Mirzoyan and judge Eduard Aslanyan have left for Uralsk.

NEWS.am Sport

ECHOES OF IVANISHVILI’S ARMENIAN VISIT

By Messenger Staff Thursday, January 24

The PM’s recent visit to Armenia brought to the forefront several
interesting issues. The Messenger has previously touched on some of
them, but there is one other issue that is worth addressing.

On January 17th, while meeting in Echmiadzin with Armenia’s Patriarch
Garegin II, the Georgian PM was asked by Garegin II to introduce the
History of the Armenian People as a subject in Georgian schools. This
is not an extraordinary request, as every school in Georgia can
introduce and teach a subject as an optional issue at school. However,
in this case, what becomes intriguing is the question: what kind of
manual will be used while teaching this particular subject?

The previous Georgian administration appeared to go through great
pains to remove Armenian written history manuals in schools in
Georgia. The explanation is very simple; in the Armenian written
manuals the historical events sometimes are interpreted and stated
in a very different form compared to the manuals written by Georgian
authors. Georgians by the way, translated Georgian written history
books into the Armenian language, recommending teaching regional
history according these manuals. For example, some Armenian written
history books declared that Javakheti is historically Armenian-owned
land. They claim that this territory was seized by Georgia in 1918.

Therefore it launched a war with Armenia. Georgian written books
however, state that the war in 1918 was initiated by the Armenian
side, and that Armenia aggressively tried to occupy Georgina owned
territory. It is worth mentioning here, that the ethnic Armenian local
population never participated in any kind of military hostilities
during those periods, neither did they later.

Some Georgian analysts believe that the introduction of Armenian
history manuals in Georgian- Armenian language schools will hinder the
integration of ethnic Armenian Georgians into Georgian civil society.

Furthermore, it can stimulate the development of separatist
tendencies. Of course, neither of the sides will benefit from such
possible conflicts and both parties will have serious problems.

Furthermore, an increase in such studies will trigger similar
claims from the Azeri population in Georgia. Occasionally there are
territorial claims from the Azeri side as well, against Georgia-
for example the David Gareji Monastery complex.

Some analysts also believe that such a distinct division between the
ethnically different Georgian populations could facilitate growing
antagonism between the Azeri and Armenian ethic population within
the country. Of course this is not in the interests of ether of the
nations, neither Armenians nor Azeri, and of course not in Georgia’s
interest either.

It would have been ideal if the historians of all three countries
could sit together and by interpreting different facts, find a common
solution. At least the history books should not contribute to hostility
and ethnic intolerance. Certainly it is very difficult to achieve
such an ideal situation, so the current Georgian administration and
the Ministry of Education in particular, should pay extra attention
to this issue, so that this does not become a greater aggravation.

2012 WAS PRODUCTIVE FOR INTERACTION WITH URUGUAY – ARMENIAN MFA

NEWS.AM
January 24, 2013 | 17:09

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s relations with Latin American countries became
more active in 2012, and different-level mutual visits contributed
to this activeness, the Armenian MFA 2012 Report states.

Aside from mutual visits by senior officials all through the year
past, an agreement on customs cooperation and assistance was signed
in October between Armenia and Argentina.

In addition to the visits, it was decided to open an Armenian Embassy
in Mexico.

In October, Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandian paid trips to Guatemala
and Costa Rica.

The year 2012 was productive in terms of Armenia’s interaction with
Uruguay. In November, a delegation led by speaker Jorge Orrico of the
House of Representatives of Uruguay paid official visits to Armenia
and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR); Orrico was the first foreign
senior official to have paid such high-level visit to NKR.

In May-in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt-and in September-along the lines
of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City-,
FM Nalbandian met with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

In April, diplomatic ties were established between Armenia and Grenada.

THE MAN BEAT HIS MOTHER FOR PENSION

Thu, 01/24/2013 – 14:49

52 years old Garnik Vardanyan in his apartment quarreled with his
mother, Lusik Vardanyan even hit her on head and various parts of
the body, causing life-threatening injuries. This is the conclusion
of the Police, based on the results of the preliminary investigation.

According to the same source the reason for the quarrel was the old
woman’s pension and his son was complaining that she wasn’t spending
money on family goods.

The incident happened on January 18, 2012 and in 20 day on February
8th, 2012 Lusik Vardanyan died. G. Vardanyan is charged with Article
112.2.14 of RA Criminal Code – Infliction of willful heavy damage to
health which caused the death of the aggrieved by negligence. The
signature of non-departure has been used as a preventive measure
against him.

The investigation of the case lasted for 10 months. The criminal case
was sent to court only on December 7, 2012.

Author: Factinfo

ARCHBISHOP NOURHAN MANOOGIAN ELECTED NEW ARMENIAN PATRIARCH

By Arthur Hagopian
24 Jan 2013

The Armenian church in Jerusalem is perched on the verge of a new era
following the election today of its new Patriarch, Archbishop Nourhan
Manoogian, the 97th in a direct line of succession from Abraham,
the first patriarch of the Holy City, Armenians believe.

Abraham was a contemporary of the Arab Caliph, Omar ibnul Khattab,
who conquered Jerusalem, and held office from 638 to 669 CE. He is
buried within a few feet of the entrance to the ornate cathedral
of St James, where the new incumbent was led in a solemn, jubilant
procession in an age-old church ceremony, by his fellow priests,
members of the Brotherhood of St James.

They had come from various parts of the world to cast their votes
for the man they considered most fit to inherit the mantle of St James.

After two days of prayer, deliberations and soul-searching, and the
narrowing of the field to two contenders, the enclave invested the
future of the 2000 year old Armenian presence in Jerusalem, into the
hands of one of the church’s most charismatic figures.

Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian, who until his election had been the
Patriarchate’s Grand Sacristan, will succeed the late patriarch,
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian (no relation) who passed away last year.

Armenians all over the world regard Jerusalem as their second
most significant and profound fount of spiritual rejuvenation and
reinforcement, and its patriarchs have traditionally held more sway
in universal church affairs than the relatively small number of their
fold merited.

The Armenian Patriarch’s role in Jerusalem is two-fold, to act as a
shepherd for their fold and at the same time take on the role of one of
the three main Guardians of the Holy Places. (The other two Guardians
are the Greek Orthodox church and the Latin Franciscan Custodia).

Manoogian, who was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1948. Endowed with an
imposing demeanour, a no-nonsense attitude and a determination to
face down threats to the Armenian presence in this city, Manoogian
carries the good wishes of many.

In the process, it is hoped he will bring a strong measure of stability
to an institution that has seen more than its share of turbulence in
recent years.

————–

© Arthur Hagopian is a writer and journalist currently based in
Australia. He has worked for the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

ARMENIA-IRAN TIES DEVELOPED IN NORMAL FASHION IN 2012 – ARMENIAN MFA

news.am
January 24, 2013 | 15:56

YEREVAN. – The Armenia-Iran mutually beneficial ties developed in
normal fashion and the officials from both countries paid mutual
visits in 2012, the Armenian MFA 2012 Report states.

The Armenian and Iranian FMs held numerous talks along the lines of
multilateral conferences.

In October, eleventh session of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental
Commission was convened at Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.

In November, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan was on hand at the
groundbreaking ceremony of Armenia’s Meghri Hydro Power Plant.

Also, several interdepartmental mutual visits and discussions on
cooperation were held between Armenia and Iran.

STEPANAKERT AIRPORT’S OPENING PURSUES HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES

Aysor.am
January 24

“Azerbaijan is kicking up a fuss, trying to politicize the opening
of Stepanakert airport. The three Co-Chairs have repeatedly made
appeals not to politicize this issue: neither the NKR nor Armenia will
take any steps aimed at politicizing the operation of the airport,”
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at the meeting with
reporters today, when discussing the opening of Stepanakert airport.

He said that in the presence of the Co-Chairs, the Azerbaijani side
assumed obligations not to use force or threats of force against
civilian aircraft.

“The Azerbaijani leadership – in flagrant violation of those
obligations – is threatening to use force against civilian aviation,”
the minister noted.

In his words, the opening of Stepanakert airport has nothing to
do with the Karabakh settlement – the Minsk Group Co-Chairs have
repeatedly stated that the airport’ s opening cannot predetermine
the final status of Nagorno Karabakh.

“Neither Karabakh nor Armenia have linked the opening of Stepanakert
airport with these issues,” Nalbandian said.

According to him, the airport’s opening pursues civil and humanitarian
purposes only, while Azerbaijan aims to isolate the NKR ad force its
people to leave the country.

“They have not succeeded and will never succeed in doing it,” the
minister said.

NEW JERUSALEM ARMENIAN PATRIARCH ELECTED

24 Jan 2013
(AFP) – 12 minutes ago

JERUSALEM – Archbishop Nurhan Manougian has been elected the 97th
Armenian Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, one of the five custodians
of Christian religious sites in the Holy Land, sources told AFP
on Thursday.

Manougian, 65, replaces Torkom Manougian, who died aged 93 in October
2012, after falling into a coma following a stroke.

The new patriarch will lead the small Armenian Orthodox communities
in Israel, the Palestinian territories and Jordan, as well as take
responsibility for parts of holy sites including the Church of the
Nativity in Bethlehem.

He was elected with 17 votes in his favour to 15 votes for Archbishop
Aris Shirvanian, who had been serving as interim patriarch, a source
in the Armenian community said.

Nurhan Manougian was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1948 and ordained in
Jerusalem in 1971. His election must be approved by Israel and the
Jordanian king.

There are an estimated 2,000 Armenians living in Jerusalem today, down
from an estimated 16,000 in 1948 when the state of Israel was created.