Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN EEU OPENS UP NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR EXPANSION OF ARMENIAN-CHINESE ECONOMIC RELATIONS

YEREVAN, March 26. / ARKA /. Armenia’s membership in the
Eurasian Economic Union opens up new possibilities for expansion
of Armenian-Chinese economic relations, Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan said at a meeting with Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang
today, Sargsyan’s press office said.

The two men were said to have noted with satisfaction the progress
in bilateral trade and economic relations. According to the parties,
despite the significant increase in trade turnover that was worth last
year more than half a billion US dollars, and the growth of Armenian
exports to China, the countries should continue efforts to fully use
the available economic potential, to increase Chinese investment in
Armenia and implement joint programs.

They also discussed a set of issues on how to enhance Armenian-Chinese
cooperation in energy, transport, chemical industry, education,
science, culture, agriculture, aviation, tourism and infrastructure
sectors, the press service said.

It said Sargsyan and Li Keqiang emphasized also the work of the
joint Armenian-Chinese commission on trade and economic cooperation
saying the agenda of the next meeting of the commission to be held
in Yerevan in summer should include long-term Armenian-Chinese
cooperation projects.

Sargsyan once again welcomed the Chinese initiative to restore the
Great Silk Road saying Armenia can also contribute to that effort. In
this context they spoke about the projected Armenia-Iran railway and
the possible participation of Chinese companies in the construction
of a new Armenian nuclear power plant.

Serzh Sargsyan thanked the Chinese government for a 60 million Yuan
($9.7 million) donation that will be used to build a new pavilion
for Armenian Public Television.

Armenia’s foreign trade turnover with China in 2014 was $588, 4
million, an increase of 29.4% from the previous year. -0-

ALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF YEREVAN TO HOST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION EVENTS

19:52, 26 March, 2015

YEREVAN, 26 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Aram Sukiasyan
convoked today a consultation with the principals of all primary
schools under the subordination of Yerevan Municipality. The deputy
mayor presented the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian
Genocide, as well as the generalized approaches and principles for
organizing those events, as the Department of Information and Public
Relations of Yerevan Municipality reports to “Armenpress”.

“As you know, Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan is a member of the State
Commission on Coordination of the events for the commemoration of
the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide led by the President
of the Republic of Armenia, and Yerevan Municipality, with its
subordinate structures, will also be actively participating in
holding the events. We also look forward to the active participation
of schools. There are several principles that are of pivotal
significance. The two components of the slogan “I Remember and Demand”
must be equally emphasized. The idea of renaissance and the episodes
of self-defense battles must also be emphasized. Importance must be
attached to the state and statehood, the achievements that have been
made over the past century and the activities that individuals have
carried out in this period,” Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Aram Sukiasyan
emphasized and added that the events to be held by the schools named
after Armenian writers killed in 1915 (Krikor Zohrab, Siamanto,
Daniel Varoujan and Ruben Sevak) are part of the municipality’s list
of events.

At the end of the meeting, Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Aram Sukiasyan
called on the school principals to engage the representatives of their
respective schools in the citywide cleaning day and tree-planting
ceremony to be held on April 11th ahead of the Centennial of the
Armenian Genocide on April 24th.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

On the Feast of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenians renew their faith
with the relics of the Saint

Antelias – Sunday 22 March 2015. The Feast of St. Gregory the
Illuminator, patron saint of the Armenian Church, is also the day of
pilgrimage to the St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. His
Holiness Aram I entered the Church holding the relic of the right hand
of Saint Gregory, accompanied by the clergy who carried different relics
of other saints.

Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the Prelate of Tehran, celebrated the Holy
Liturgy and preached the sermon, in which he assured the faithful that
the Armenian Church continues the mission of the Great Saint as
confessor and witness of Jesus. At the end of the liturgy, the
Catholicos and the clergy circled the Catholicosate, holding the relics
and blessing the people, then returned to the church where His Holiness
blessed the water with the relic of Saint Gregory, to whom the faithful
presented their intercessory prayers.

His Holiness Aram I in Cairo

Antelias – 19 March 2015. His Holiness Aram I left for Cairo yesterday
to meet with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, Patriarch of
the Coptic Orthodox Church and His Holiness Mar Ignatius Aphrem II,
Patriarch of Antioch of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

The three Oriental Orthodox Hierarchs of the Middle East, who meet
annually to deepen theological understandings and encourage exchange
programmes between the seminaries, will discuss issues in the region
affecting their communities and explore possible ways of cooperation.

A Standing Committee appointed by the Churches prepared the agenda of
the meetings. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Prelate of Tehran and Very
Rev. Housig Mardirossian, the Ecumenical officer, represented the
Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia on the Committee.

His Holiness Aram I’s representative attends ecumenical events

Antelias – During the week of 16 March 2015, V. Rev. Housig
Mardirossian attended a special event organized by the Bible Society of
Lebanon. The Society invited Ambassadors of countries accredited to
Lebanon and representatives of religious communities to speak of their
activities.

On behalf of the Catholicos, V. Rev. Housig Mardirossian also attended
the official reception organized by The Near East School of Theology on
the occasion of a conference on `The Protestant Reformation and the
Middle East’. The reception was an opportunity for the participants
to meet the local church representatives.

###

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia

Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]

I AM ARMENIAN: RAVISHED ARMENIA

US Official News
March 23, 2015 Monday

The University of California has issued the following news release:

I Am Armenian: Ravished Armenia

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm, UCLA Hammer Museum –
Billy Wilder Theater

Hammer Screenings

Admission: Free and open to the public.

Contact: Hammer Museum (310) 443-7000 [email protected] Website

Additional Information

The story of Aurora Mardiganian, an Armenian girl caught up in the
1915 Armenian Genocide, was the basis of a hugely popular book and
the 1919 silent film Ravished Armenia. After witnessing the murder of
her family, Aurora was kidnapped, forced to march over 1,400 miles,
and sold into slavery before finally escaping. All known copies of the
film, which starred Aurora herself, have been lost. For this program,
filmmaker Carla Garapedian of the Armenian Film Foundation and film
historian Anthony Slide, author of Ravished Armenia and the Story of
Aurora Mardiganian, bring Aurora’s compelling story to life through
rare film clips and photos.

I Am Armenian: A Year of Armenian Culture and History on Film In
commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
we dedicate 2015 to an exploration of multiple facets of Armenian
culture, history, and landscape through film.

ISTANBUL-BASED ARMENIAN CHURCH DAUBED WITH HATE MESSAGES

21:49, 25 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Surp Astuanzazh Armenian Church in Istanbul’s Bakırköy
neighborhood was daubed with hate speech on Tuesday as “1915, blessed
year” was written on the side of the building in reference to the
massacre of more than 1 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire
during World War I,Today’s Zaman reports.

In addition to “1915, blessed year,” further graffiti on the church
stated, “What does it matter if you are all Armenian when there is
already one Ogun Samast.”

The message echoes a demonstration slogan that commemorated the murder
of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink who was assassinated in
2007 by then-17-year-old ultranationalist Samast. In the aftermath
of the murder, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to show
empathy for the slain journalist with signs reading “We are all Hrant,
we are all Armenian.”

Today’s Zaman visited the site on Wednesday morning and found that
the graffiti had been painted over. But an administrator at the
church said, “This type of thing happens all the time.” The Armenian
Patriarchate of Istanbul refused to comment on the matter. No criminal
complaint has been filed.

The incident comes hot on the heels of another racist slur against
Armenians in Turkey. It was reported on Tuesday that Ankara Mayor
Melih Gökcek had filed a criminal complaint against Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hayko Bagdat on defamation charges after Bagdat posted
lighthearted tweets on his Twitter account referring to the mayor as
an Armenian after the March 2014 local elections.

Gökcek appears to believe it an insult to be called an Armenian
as his lawyer petitioned the Ankara Prosecutor’s Office, saying,
“The statements [by Bagdat] are false and include insult and libel.”

WHO REMEMBERS THE ARMENIANS? 100 YEARS OF IMPUNITY

Amnesty International UK
March 24 2015

Event typePanel discussionDate Wednesday 22 April 2015 LocationAmnesty
International UK, Human Rights Action Centre 17 – 25 New Inn Yard
London EC2A 3EA Time18:30PriceFreeContactAmnesty International UK

-Exclusive free film screening and Q&A session -Reception with canapes
follows event

This event is free to attend but reserve tickets in advance via
eventbrite

Speakers:

Carla Garapedian, Armenian film Foundation and Project Leader, Armenian
Genocides Testimonies Collection Dr James Smith CBE, CEO of the Aegis
Trust and co-founder of the UK National Holocaust Centre Chaired by
Kate Allen, Director Amnesty International UK

It’s estimated that between 1 and 1.5 million people died through the
attempted extermination of Armenians from the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

April 24 marks 100 years since the start of that awful period in
Armenian history.

We’ll remember the victims on the night, through an exclusive film
screening. For the last three years, the Armenian Film Foundation has
been working with Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation and has collected
400 testimonies of Armenian genocide survivors and eyewitnesses,
filmed over the last four decades. This rare collection includes
Armenians, Greeks, Arabs, Assyrians and Yezidis. The Yezidis were
eyewitnesses to the Armenian genocide – and now, sadly, are seeing
history repeat itself.

After the screening, the panel will look at how impunity and failures
to bring to justice the perpetrators of atrocities leads to future
atrocities. We’ll focus on the Armenian genocide, and then look wider
to subsequent crimes against humanity and genocides committed in the
century since – right up to the emergence of ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

ARMENIAN SOLDIER REVEALS REASONS FOR SURRENDERING TO AZERBAIJANI SIDE

Cihan News Agency (CNA), Turkey
March 23, 2015 Monday

BAKU (CÄ°HAN)- The identity of the Armenian serviceman, who voluntarily
surrendered to the Azerbaijani side on Mar.22, has been established,
Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on March 23.

He is Andranik Grigoryan, born in 1991, according to the ministry.

During the interrogation, Grigoryan said he surrendered to the
Azerbaijani side because he feared a senseless death. The Armenian
soldier also said that several servicemen were also planning to
surrender to the Azerbaijani side, but he did it before them.

“I don’t know anything about the fate of the others,” he said.

Grigoryan also talked about the terrible situation prevailing in the
units of the Armenian armed forces, the lack of weapons and food,
and conflicts among the servicemen.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
holding peace negotiations.

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

ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE AND RESEARCH CENTER, SEYFO CENTER, EXPRESSES ITS DEEPEST THANKS TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA FOR ITS RECOGNITION OF THE ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE

Midland Daily News
March 24 2015

The Assyrian Genocide and Research Center, SEYFO Center, publicly
thanks the Republic of Armenia for officially recognizing the Assyrian
Genocide of the early 20th century, on March 24th, 2015..

Los Angeles, Califronia (PRWEB) March 24, 2015

In 1915, during the First World War, Turkish and Kurdish forces
launched a campaign of genocide to exterminate the Assyrian people
living in the Turkish Empire. Lasting from 1915 to 1923, this campaign
of genocide is known as the “Seyfo,” or “The Sword” by Assyrians
worldwide.(1,2)

The centerpiece of a larger plan of ethnic and religious cleansing,
the Turkish state and its Kurdish allies conspired and murdered
millions of Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks 100 years ago during the
height of the First World War.

Descendants of those who escaped this genocide now campaign globally
for international recognition of the Seyfo and are demanding an
official apology from the Republic of Turkey for its role in the
murder of millions. (2)

Sabri Atman, director of the SEYFO Center, noted that “Today, March
24th, 2015, history is being rewritten in Yerevan, the capital of
the Republic of Armenia, as that nation officially recognizes this
terrible and shameful period in history. The Republic of Armenia’s
decision to recognize the Assyrian and Greek Genocide, (the Seyfo),
encourages Assyrians everywhere – it strengthens us to continue
our fight to have the Seyfo recognized by the whole international
community. We salute the Republic of Armenia for taking this most
human and principled stand.”

This recognition of the Assyrian Genocide also represents a challenge
for Turkey and its National Socialist forces who still admire their
Adolf-Hitler-like historical figure, Talat Pasha.

“Talat Pasha,” stated Mr. Atman, “Who served in various high
governmental position in the Turkish state during the First World
War, was the central architect in the genocide against the Armenians,
Assyrians and Greeks. He is a war criminal of monstrous proportions
and should be viewed in the same light as Hitler, Himmler or Eichmann.”

To date, 21 countries have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide
that was part of the Seyfo Genocide. The SEYFO Center will continue its
work until all the countries of the international community recognize
Assyrians and Greeks who also fell victim during the same genocide.

Assyrian Genocide Research, Seyfo Center, is an international research
center devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary
issues related to the history, politics, society and culture of
Assyrians around the world. It’s research is conducted to document
past and current events and to analyze their impact on individuals
and institutions in occupied Assyria and the diaspora.

(1) international Association of Genocide
Scholars recognizes the Assyrian Genocide
”

(2) Sweden: Parliament Recognizes the Assyrian Genocide
“”

For the original version on PRWeb visit:

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HAS NO RIGHT TO PRESENT CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS TO PEOPLE – RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

13:51 * 25.03.15

Chairman of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian told reported on
Wednesday about the latest developments within the party during
his absence.

Specifically, he commented on a meeting Heritage party Vice-Chairman
Armen Martirosyan and Head of the Heritage parliamentary faction
Ruben Hakobyan had with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan as part of
discussions of constitutional reforms in Armenia.

“Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan was responsible for the party’s
actions during my absence, and the major problem is the decision made
by Armen Martirosyan and the board,” Mr Hovannisian said.

Although Mr Martiroyan and Mr Hakobyan acted within their competence,
Mr Hovannisian himself would have never participated in that meeting.

His position remains unchanged: Serzh Sargsyan is an illegitimate
president in both political and civil terms to present constitutional
reforms to the Armenian people.

L’ARMENIE RECONNAIT LE GENOCIDE DES ASSYRO-CHALDEENS ET DES GRECS

Parlement

L’Armenie a officiellement les genocides des Assyriens et des Grecs
lors d’une resolution adoptee a l’unanimite par son Parlement hier.

“L’Assemblee nationale d’Armenie declare qu’elle condamne le genocide
des Grecs et des Assyriens commis par l’Empire ottoman en 1915-1923”,
est ecrit dans la resolution coparrainee par les principales factions
parlementaires.

Le document dit que ces massacres, largement documentes, sont
conformes a la definition du genocide etablie par une convention des
Nations-Unies en 1948.

On estime a 300 000 le nombre d’Assyriens de l’Empire ottoman qui ont
ete tues ou sont morts de faim pendant et au lendemain de la Première
Guerre mondiale.

L’Association internationale des genocides a conclu en 2007 que