Author: Badalian Vardan

WHO WILL STOP AZERBAIJAN’S AGGRESSION?

Friday, October 25th, 2013

Azerbaijan’s President Ä°lham Aliyev inspects a military outpost on
the Armenian-Azeri border

BY HRANT APOVIAN

Aggression (noun): Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward
another, readiness to attack or confront.

On October 16, at 20 30 hours another Armenian defense force officer,
senior commander of strategic planning, Captain Kevork Mnatzaganian
was killed as a result of Azeri machine gun fire. Seriously injured
were senior corporal Karoush Hampartsoumian, privates Nareg Hagopian
and Edgar Haroutiounian. Over the last several years, over one hundred
members of the Armenian Defense Forces were either killed or injured
by Azeri border attacks or sniper fire.

The border attacks on Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia are not accidental
incidents. They are part of a long standing political-military
strategy of Azerbaijan, to keep the line of demarcation volatile,
to test Armenian defense positions, and as a ploy to challenge and
derail peace efforts by the O.S.C.E.

It is significant, that the attack occurred on the eve of an O.S.C.E.

Mission scheduled to observe the line of contact on the two sides
of the border in Hatrut. O.S.C.E representative Andrzej Kasprezyk
suspended the monitoring for security considerations.

What is glaringly obvious, is that Azerbaijan’s aggressive behavior
is revved up, whenever there is monitoring or prior to negotiating
sessions. One was during then Secretary State Hillary Clinton’s visit
to the region.

It is a fact that Azerbaijan is never held accountable and exposed for
its violations. O.S.C.E. Representatives never accuse the aggressor.

They resort to a non-committal call for restraint to the parties
involved. This emboldens Azerbaijan even more. Its challenges to
peace efforts remain unpunished.

Publicly, Armenian Defense Force communiqu̩s Рwhile mourning the
loss of young conscripts- are satisfied with a laconic and vague
pronouncement of a proper response repelling and punishing the
aggressors.

Politically we are still waiting for world condemnation of Azerbaijan’s
aggressive behavior. Rather, there is an effort to appease Azerbaijan,
and to woo it back to the negotiating table. There is a stark effort
not to alienate Azerbaijan.

Politically Armenia is reluctant to stop negotiations, while the
killing of Armenian soldiers at the line of contact goes on unabated.

With each loss of human life, one expects a response from the Armenian
government that never materializes.

Negotiations were not suspended when Ramil Safarov, “The Ax Murderer”,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and was welcomed as a hero.

They were not broken off while President Aliyev repeatedly threatened
to attack Nagorno Karabakh with his mighty military arsenal. Finally
they were kept alive when Azerbaijan tried to present Armenia as
the aggressor in Muslim nation forums or at the United Nations,
succeeding in passing anti-Armenia resolutions.

It seems that time is not in favor of a just resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh quest for independence.

Azerbaijan is amassing a formidable arsenal, outspending Armenia by
two billion dollars a year.

Azerbaijan has no intention of coming to terms with Nagorno Karabakh
independence.

The West is pampering Azerbaijan and overlooks its rigged presidential
elections, turns a blind eye to human rights abuses, arrests of
journalists, and opposition figures.

Azerbaijan is violating the terms of a cease fire that it is a
signatory to.

What is unacceptable is the killing of young soldiers. It is a war
crime to post snipers on the Azerbaijan – Nagorno Karabakh border,
as if it were a shooting gallery.

Azerbaijan’s transgressions are extensive; they need to be exposed
one by one:

1. There has to be worldwide condemnation of Azerbaijan’s aggressive
posture and war crimes.

2. Azerbaijan needs to pull its snipers away from the contact line
and stop the killing.

3. Azerbaijan has to adhere to its pledge made in Moscow of not
resorting to a military solution.

4. Azerbaijan has to adhere to a pact of limiting military expenditures
in the Caucasus.

5. Azerbaijan has to adhere to the Geneva Convention and give access
to the International Red Cross to visit Armenian war prisoners and
repatriate Armenian soldiers that are still being held.

6. Azerbaijan has to stop its anti-Armenian hateful rhetoric.

7. Azerbaijan has to stop presenting the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
as a religious war to the Muslim world.

8. Azerbaijan has to stop its multimillion dollar lobbying effort in
the United States to buy influence.

9. Azerbaijan has to stop blacklisting foreign officials that visit
Nagorno Karabakh, or maybe it should continue to do so.

10. Finally, Azerbaijan must come to terms with the concept of self
determination for a people that has lived there for centuries and
was subjected to massacres and persecution by the Azeri Government.

The West should not remain silent; it has to force Azerbaijan to stop
the killing.

The cease fire is a sham. The killing has to stop. We will not stand
for this.

Azerbaijan is accountable for each Armenian soldier killed.

Armenia: neutralize the snipers or stop all negotiations…

CYPRIOT, ARMENIAN DEFENCE OFFICIALS DISCUSS TIES, ENERGY, SYRIA

Cyprus News Agency
Oct 23 2013

Fotiou and Armenian Deputy Minister of Defence Discuss About
Cooperation

Nicosia, Oct 23 (CNA) — Cyprus’ natural resources in its Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) should be exploited to the benefit of all people
of Cyprus, peace and security in the region but also they should
constitute a motive for the achievement of a solution of the Cyprus
problem, Minister of Defence Fotis Fotiou has said.

Speaking Wednesday [23 October] during a meeting he held with Deputy
Minister of Defence of Armenia, Alik Mirzabekyan, Fotiou also referred
to the economic crisis, noting that the government of Cyprus is
determined to work hard to restart the economy.

According to an official press release, Fotiou and Mirzabekyan praised
the “long-lasting and excellent relations, which are based on common
values and their struggle for survival.”

They exchanged views on how to further enhance relations between
the two Ministries and decided to draft an agreement for the mutual
protection of upgraded information.

According to the press release, they exchanged views on issues of
mutual concern and discussed about the political situation in the
wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean placing emphasis on Syria.

They also expressed conviction that their bilateral relations would
be further enhanced for the benefit of stability in the region.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Fotiou said that the Republic of Cyprus
wants to resume the negotiations that would lead to a viable, just
and mutually acceptable solution, on the basis of the UNSC resolutions.

He pointed out that the government of Cyprus is willing to proceed
to a substantive dialogue, provided that the basis of the solution
is clarified and the procedure of the talks is well prepared.

As regards the developments in the energy sector, Fotiou stressed
that the hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus’ EEZ should be exploited to
the benefit of all people of Cyprus and for peace and security in
the region.

He added that the natural resources in Cyprus’ EEZ should constitute
a motive also for the achievement of a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied
its northern third. Repeated UN-led efforts over the past decades have
not led to a negotiated settlement in Cyprus. Talks are expected to
resume in the coming weeks.

Cyprus is currently developing natural resources discovered within
the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone, while several international
companies are involved in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation
activities.

4 YEAR-OLD SHANT NEEDS YOUR HELP!

11:50, October 25, 2013

Four year-old Shant was diagnosed with acute leukemia in July.

The little boy is now being treated at Yerevan’s R. Yeolyan Haematology
Center.

But Shant will need expensive medication to continue his treatment.

The “Give Me Life” association implores all to donate whatever possible
to help little Shant

Donations can be made to the following VTB-Hayastan Bank accounts:

AMD 16028018838600

USD 16028018838601

EUR 16028018838602

RUR 16028018838603

Shant’s parents are ready to provide copies of all medical documents
and bills.

For more information, please call +37494 63 46 84:

Sincerely,

Sargis Hovnanyan

“Give a Life”

!.html

CHARLES AZNAVOUR TO PERFORM IN ROYAL ALBERT HALL

October 25, 2013 | 18:34

World famous singer Charles Aznavour on Friday will be appearing for
one night only for his first live concert at Royal Albert Hall for
over 25 years.

French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour is also Armenia’s Ambassador
to Switzerland, permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva,
a National Hero of Armenia, a songwriter, actor, and public activist.

The 89-year-old singer has recorded 1,200 songs and released 294
albums.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

SPORTS COMMENTATORS IN AZERBAIJAN ARE AFRAID OF ARTICULATING MKHITARYAN’S SURNAME

18:39, 25 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Sports commentators in Azerbaijan
because of the state level of hatred towards Armenians, avoid
articulating the surname of the footballer Henrikh Mkhitaryan of
“Borussia “(Dortmund) team of Germany being afraid that they will lose
their job. “Arsenal”-“Borussia” meeting of UEFA’s Champions League
due to the goals shot by Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Robert Lewandowski
was over by the victory of German team with the score 2:1.

Armenpress reports that the TV channel “Azerbaijan TV” also provided
the live broadcast of the match. But the Azerbaijani commentators
acted like racists. At the time of the goal scored by the Armenian
footballer in the 16 minute of the match, the Azerbaijani commentators
avoided pointing out Mkhitaryan’ssurname and kept silence.

ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION WILL PROVIDE ARMENIAN JEWELERS WITH CERTAIN ADVANTAGES

YEREVAN, October 25. / ARKA /. Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union
of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus will provide Armenian jewelers with
certain advantages, according to Artak Udumyan, vice -president of
the World Association of Armenian Jewelers (AJA).

“Of course, I am for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, since
Russia is the largest producer of diamonds and gold, and we will be
able to get cheaper uncut diamonds,” he said to a news conference
today.

According to him, Russia is one of the largest jewelry markets,
and jewelers from around the world, including Armenia are seeking to
enter this market.

“The Customs Union will open new opportunities. In the meantime, the
share of Armenian jewelry in the Russian market is extremely small,
less than one percent. The main suppliers are China and Turkey,”
he said.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in January
-August some 759.1 kg of jewelry were produced in the country, up 7.8%
from the same time span in 2012.

Diamond production during the same period amounted to 58,927 carats,
an increase of 49.2 % compared to January-August 2012.

Also $120.3 million worth precious and semi-precious stones were
exported in January -August this year, an increase of 5.9 % compared
to the same period of 2012 . -0-

– See more at:

FROM TREATY OF GULISTAN TO TODAY’S REALITY: EXPERTS SAY 200 YEARS ON, RUSSO-PERSIAN PEACE DEAL STILL RELEVANT

KARABAKH | 25.10.13 | 09:25

By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

The Treaty of Gulistan concluded two centuries ago between the Persian
and Russian empires regarding control of the South Caucasus still
has importance today, according to experts in Armenia and Russia.

Advisor to the Russian ambassador to Armenia, head of the
Rossotrudnichestvo agency Viktor Krivopuskov believes that the treaty
signed exactly 200 years ago marked the beginning of modern drastic
geopolitical change in the region.

After the end of the Russo-Persian war in which the Persian Empire
was defeated, the two sides signed a peace treaty under which Moscow
took control over vast territory in the South Caucasus, including
the Karabakh khanate. What became known as the Treaty of Gulistan
was signed on October 12 (24), 1813.

A roundtable dedicated to the anniversary was hosted by the
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University in Yerevan on Thursday.

Talking to the media on the sidelines of the event, the Russian
diplomat, who was a member of the operative-investigative group of
the USSR Interior Ministry working in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous
Oblast in 1990, said that although quite a long time has passed after
the conclusion of the treaty, it still does not mean that the story
connected with the Treaty of Gulistan and the way preceding it should
be forgotten.

“There is a direct connection. Russia is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group. Today Russia, too, as it is noted in the Treaty of Gulistan,
is undoubtedly interested in the preservation of peace in this region,”
said Krivopuskov.

Leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargsyan said that
the Treaty of Gulistan had led to the historical reality that the
Armenian people has been with the Russian people for 200 years,
having had both achievements and losses during this period, but not
choosing another way.

The Treaty of Gulistan became an occasion for discussions in recent
days in the wake of an open letter by prominent Armenian publicist Zori
Balayan to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he essentially
urges Russia to restore its dominance in the South Caucasus, including
in Nagorno-Karabakh.

But according to Sargsyan, the main purpose of Balayan’s letter was
to demonstrate that “historically and legally there was no notion of
Azerbaijan in this region and Balayan draws the attention of Russia
to the fact that Azerbaijan gets its privileges out of geopolitical
interests.”

Directory of the Institute of History of Armenia’s National Academy
of Sciences Ashot Melkonyan said that historically Armenia has
sufficiently demonstrated its loyalty to Russia and as a member of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization Russia certainly has a lot to
do in this region to fairly resolve the current geopolitical realities.

“We should constantly remind our strategic ally that the 1921 treaties
of Moscow and Kars, as a result of which Armenia lost nearly half of
its territory, are unacceptable to us. As strategic allies we should
know one important thing – yes, we do expect Russian support in this
matter, in particular in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, and most probably
have the right to expect that among the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs
Russia will have a more decisive role in finding a fair solution to
this problem,” stressed Melkonyan.

A GROUP OF SENIOR OFFICIALS’ SALARIES SHOULD NOT BE RAISED – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MP

October 25, 2013 | 11:37

YEREVAN. – The raising of the salaries of a group of senior officials
and the law on depriving the Armenian citizens of unemployment benefits
is a discriminatory approach.

Opposition Heritage Party National Assembly (NA) Faction leader
Zaruhi Postanjyan noted the aforesaid at Friday’s NA briefing with
news reporters.

Summing up the NA four-day session, she stated that this session
made sure that Armenian citizens will no longer receive unemployment
benefits and a discussion took place regarding the raising of salaries,
whereby a group of officials’ salaries will be raised several times.

“This law is just a discriminatory law. Today’s ministerial,
political elite is creating more favorable, privileged conditions
for itself. In the meantime, our citizens are in poor condition,”
the MP said, in particular.

Zaruhi Postanjyan also stressed that, “the state budget management
should not be conducted arbitrarily. If there is extra money, it
should be given to the [socially] insecure.”

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ANCA RALLIES AGAINST WHITE HOUSE DECISION TO BLOCK SMITHSONIAN DISPLAY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ORPHAN RUG

11:13 25/10/2013 ” SOCIETY

Armenian Americans across the U.S. are calling upon the White House
and Congress to secure a prominent and permanent public display of
a historic rug woven by Armenian Genocide orphans and presented to
President Calvin Coolidge in 1925, in appreciation for U.S.

humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of Turkey’s murder of over
1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

The ANCA campaign was initiated after The Washington Post reported,
earlier this week, that a planned December 16th Smithsonian
Institution exhibit featuring the rug, organized in conjunction
with the Armenian Cultural Foundation and the Armenian Rug Society,
was abruptly cancelled when the White House, reversing an earlier
affirmative decision, refused to lend the iconic symbol of American
and Armenian shared heritage to the museum.

Armenian Americans can take action by visiting:

Washington Post staff writer and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist
Philip Kennicott, reported, “There was hope that the carpet, which has
been in storage for almost 20 years, might be displayed December 16th
as part of a Smithsonian event that would include a book launch for
Hagop Martin Deranian’s ‘President Calvin Coolidge and the Armenian
Orphan Rug.’ But on September 12th, the Smithsonian scholar who helped
organize the event canceled it, citing the White House’s decision not
to loan the carpet. In a letter to two Armenian American organizations,
Paul Michael Taylor, director of the institution’s Asian cultural
history program, had no explanation for the White House’s refusal to
allow the rug to be seen and said that efforts by the U.S. ambassador
to Armenia, John A. Heffern, to intervene had also been unavailing.”

Kennicott described the controversy as “a sign of the Obama
administration’s dismal reputation in the Armenian American community
that everyone assumes… must be yet another slap in the face for
Armenians seeking to promote understanding of one of the darkest
chapters in 20th-century history.”

The complete Washington Post article is available online at:

The White House response thus far has been vague – with National
Security Staff Assistant Press Secretary Laura Magnuson offering the
following comment to the Asbarez Armenian Newspaper: “The Ghazir rug
is a reminder of the close relationship between the peoples of Armenia
and the United States. We regret that it is not possible to loan it
out at this time.” A statement with the same exact wording was released
by the White House last week and included in Kennicott’s article.

“The White House should simply come clean,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “It’s time for the White House to open up
about Turkey’s role, and lay out all the facts about its decision
to block the Smithsonian’s exhibit of the Armenian Orphan Rug – a
historic, Armenian Genocide-era work of art that speaks powerfully
to the common values and shared experiences of the American and
Armenian peoples.”

In a letter sent earlier today to President Obama’s Chief of Staff,
Denis McDonough, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian reminded the White
House that “upon receiving the rug, President Coolidge wrote,
‘The rug has a place of honor in the White House where it will be
a daily symbol of goodwill on earth.’ I ask you, in this spirit, to
remove any obstacles to the Smithsonian’s display of this historic
artwork and to secure a prominent and permanent public home for this
powerful symbol of America’s humanitarian values and friendship with
the Armenian people,” continued Hachikian.

Placing this latest controversy in context, Hachikian noted that:
“since taking office, President Obama has not only failed to recognize
the Armenian Genocide, but has actively blocked Congressional
legislation (H.Res.252, 111th Congress) to commemorate this atrocity
and, through his Solicitor General, officially opposed efforts in the
U.S. courts (Arzoumanian v. Munchener Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft AG) to allow American citizens to pursue
Genocide-era property claims. In addition, the Administration has
regularly sent senior officials to speak at events organized by
Armenian Genocide deniers, while refusing repeated invitations to
simply attend Congressional observances of this atrocity. In these
areas, and, sadly, many more, the President has not simply failed
to honor his pledge, but rather – in both letter and spirit – worked
to fundamentally undermine and reverse the very policies he pledged
to pursue.”

According to Dr. Hagop Deranian, the Armenian orphan rug measures
11’7″ x 18’5″ and is comprised of 4,404,206 individual knots. It
took the Armenian girls in the Ghazir Orphanage of the Near East
Relief Society 10 months to weave. A label on the back of the rug,
in large hand-written letters, reads “IN GOLDEN RULE GRATITUDE TO
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE.”

Source: Panorama.am

APOSTOLIC CHURCH HELD HOSTAGE – II

Vosgan Mekhtarian, Los Angeles, 20 October 2013

continued from “Apostolic Church Held Hostage – I”

Let us consider, for a moment, the letter of protest by the Patriarch
of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian-addressed
to his Holiness Karekin II-and its impact on the psyche of the clergy.

According to historical accounts, the Armenian Patriarchate of
Jerusalem was established almost at the same time as the Mother See
Holy Etchmiadzin. The Patriarchate had its own special position as
ecclesiastical/spiritual centre in the Hierarchy of the Armenian
Church. In an environment, frequently hostile to Armenians, it was
able to retain its preeminent position among all other Christian
denominations, and because of the politically favorable conditions,
was able to become a fortress of enlightenment where our Church
traditions were kept safe.

However, under new political conditions, the Armenian Patriarchate
of Jerusalem is struggling to keep its own traditions, independence
and identity, and is ill-prepared to guide new generations of priests.

Today, as a nation, we live under tragic conditions. Our laissez-faire
approach to addressing issues and solving problems within our
communities puts us face-to-face with very serious dangers such as
dysfunction, corruption, and ultimately, the loss of identity.

Unfortunately, however, we have no grasp of these dangers. The
theatrical performance of our clergy has found more ground in our
hearts than in understanding of the laws, which are the foundations
of a healthy Church.

Let us examine and understand these laws.

1. The law of the jungle–a place where there are no principles,
other than “might makes right”.

2. The law of nature– inherent balance and regularity between all
living entities in nature.

3. The law of the mob– where the accused is judged by the mob and
not in a court of law, and is summarily sentenced to death.

4. The constitution– the law that governs the relationship between
the government and its citizens.

5. International laws– those that govern the relationships between
countries and define their duties to each other.

6. Civil law– body of laws which sanction the supreme authority of
the state.

7. Criminal laws- those enacted to preserve the public order by
defining offenses against the state and public, and imposing penal
sanctions.

Furthermore, there is another incomprehensible and unacceptable
condition in life whereby man impugns all laws and creates his own
scheme of rationalizations to impose his will upon all others.

Having looked at the various types of laws that govern the human
condition, how should one regard the relationship between the Holy
See of Etchmiadzin and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem? We maintain
the public be the judge.

Before analyzing Nourhan Patriarch’s letter of protest, it is important
to pay attention to the sentiments and discontent of our readers, i.e.,
the relationship of the two patriarchates (Jerusalem and Istanbul)
is in discord. During the last Jerusalem patriarchal elections,
Catholicos Kareken II attempted to interfere and manipulate the
situation but was thwarted.

Furthermore, while late Torkom Patriarch was the locum tenet in
Etchmiadzin, he attested to the corruption of the Nersisyan clan and
was courageous enough to express his opinions and make recommendations,
which were not cordially received by Archbishop Karekin Nersisyan
and his group.

Let’s return to the protest letter dated August 3, 2013, and analyze
the impetus for Nourhan Patriarch to officially pen and submit such
a letter.

Foremost, the letter was written in a brotherly spirit, a letter
addressed to his big brother, Catholicos Karekin the II.

Second was the final decision of the Supreme Religious Council to
accept Archbishop Norvan’s resignation from his post as Primate of
France. The non-elected and irresponsible members of the Religious
Council, did not have the courage and integrity to question His
Holiness Karekin the II and, under duress, took the degrading decision
of accepting the resignation of Archbishop Norvan. What would have
they thought if, instead of Archbishop Norvan, one of them had his
integrity questioned by their spineless “brothers” making such a
heartless decision? They would probably have cursed the day they
joined the ranks of the clergy.

It is understandable and only just that a brother should be able to
advise his older brother to be lenient and considerate to another
brother, even though there are some misunderstandings, and that the
latter deserves punishment commensurate to his transgression. But
in a situation like this, where there is injustice perpetrated,
it is unconscionable to stand by and let a brother be sacrificed and
become the target of vengeance. After mentioning in his letter that the
decision was “unacceptable and unjust”, Patriarch Nourhan suggests that
his Holiness should act with forgiveness towards his younger brothers.

“Two years ago you tried to convince Torkom Patriarch to elect
Coadjutor and when Archbishop Aris Shirvanian objected saying that
there is no such Article in the Jerusalem Patriarchal constitution,
you were furious and declared ‘I will defrock all of you’, and
furthermore you repeated the same to me and my answer was ‘Is this
how you will threaten every one? Don’t you know anything else’?” It
is very likely that this threat has seriously affected all the
members of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Indeed it is very sad,
but it reflects a reality, a reality that is unlawful, unjust and
non-Christian, and unfortunately this kind of behavior is practiced
in both Catholicosates–Etchmiadzin and Antelias.

The last piece of advice given by Nourhan Patriarch, where he says “it
is impossible to bring up and prepare a healthy-minded new generation
of clergy under pressure and dictatorship”, is a sad commentary on the
state of affairs in the Church, which is not only widely expressed in
the newspapers, but is also by members of the clergy, who are currently
suffocated and muzzled under the dictatorship of the Catholicos.

The bishops who participated in the conference, especially those who
grew up in the Jerusalem Patriarchate, knew all these facts, but did
not have the courage to bring up this subject for discussion at the
Bishops’ Conference. What will the young generation of clergy think?

One can only shudder about the impact of that letter on the psyche
of the clergy.

Some people adhere to the belief that such subjects should not be
discussed openly. We disagree completely. It is time to address all
issues openly and publicly, if we are to believe that the Armenian
Church should be governed democratically-of, by, and for the people.

The Armenian Church is becoming a dictatorial institution, ignoring all
democratic laws and canons. Even though there is a small contingent
of humble clergy who oppose these unjust practices, they do not have
the power to voice their opinions, and regrettably, are relegated to
self-imposed isolation.

Do we have to constantly reiterate this one indisputable truth: the
Armenian Church is the sole force that led our nation throughout the
troubled years when we lost our political independence. The Armenian
Church molded the spiritual character of our nation and kept our
identity intact to parallel the exercise of our political powers.

Although it is a sad reality of our times, we should, nevertheless,
declare openly that some leaders are hesitant to uphold our religious
constitution and criticize the lifestyles of corrupted clergy and
admonish them to stay within the boundaries of their vows.

The ultimate authority in the Armenian Church is the Catholicos, who
is obliged to uphold the constitution down to its every detail. The
absence of such a practice is an insult to democracy and the sacred
rights of the Armenian people.

(to be continued)