Author: Basmajian Ani

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

ARTIST HAROUTIOUN TOROSSIAN IS AWARDED THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA’S
"ST. MESRBO MASHDOTS" MEDAL

His Holiness Aram I awarded the "Saint Mesrob Mashdots" Medal to Lebanese
Armenian artist and painted Haroutioun Torossian during a ceremony in the
Saint Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya on July 18. The event also
celebrated the launch of Torossian’s "Tuidanguines" ("From my Perspective")
book.

Father Sahag Yemishian delivered the opening remarks of the conference,
highlighting the importance of art and its influence on the lives of people.
Well known pedagogue Krikor Shahinian, an old friend of the artist, then
spoke about Torossian and his paintings. "The lines of his paintings are
clear and firm, his shapes are impressive but not severe." Due to his
long-standing friendship with Torossian, Shahinian had come to know the man
beyond the artist. "He’s a good man and a passionate Armenian. It is a true
pleasure to see artistic skills and moral values on one person", Shahinian
observed.

Speaking in French, Mrs. Mary Therese Tabet portrayed in detail the artist’s
personality. "The art of Haroutioun Torossian is an experience that enriches
the soul, specially when produced by an artist who has such a sensitive
spirit," she said.

A student of Torosian, Hanna Bou Soujwan, expressed his gratitude towards
her teacher. "An artist in every sense of the word, he never knew hatred,
nor rest. He breathed with the colors, having Lebanon as his source of
inspiration," he said in his Arabic speech.

In his concluding remarks, His Holiness Aram I upheld the characteristics of
Torossian the man and the artist. "Haroutioun Torossian is the combination
of simplicity, love and spiritual values. As an artist, he has been one that
has remained peaceful at times like the calm sea and restless at others like
the stormy sea." His Holiness highlighted three unique characteristics in
Torossian: the artist of letters, colours and lines; the artist of dialogue
between east and west; the artist who clearly articulates the spirit of what
does it mean to be Armenian. His Holiness observed that Torossian had
produced his art with faith and a firm dedication to our nation’s values.
"We come and go, but we remain in the life of people by what we give to
humanity" added the Pontiff.

His Holiness then placed the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s "Saint Mesrob
Mashdots" Medal on the artist’s chest as a symbol of appreciation for his
valuable work. The event also featured a cultural entertainment program
including a performance by Father Torkom Donoyan on the piano. The ceremony
ended with the collective singing of "Cilicia".

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos288.htm#2
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the conferences
held in Antelias, you may refer to the web page of the Catholicosate,
The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS ON MADRID PROPOSALS ON AUGUST 1

Azeri Press Agency
July 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigorieiva -APA. Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian scheduled their next
meeting on August 1, Khazar Ibrahim, press officer of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs told journalists, APA reports.

He said the ministers would continue discussions on Madrid
proposals. Khazar Ibrahim said territorial integrity was and would
be main principle in the solution process.

PRESS RELEASE

Nor Serount Cultural Association
440 W. Colorado Blvd. #201
Glendale , CA 91204
Contact: Seta Khodanian
Tel: (818) 391-7938
Email: [email protected]

Nor Serount Cultural Association to hold its 10th annual Armenian
Independence Day Festival

GLENDALE – Members of the Nor Serount Cultural Assocation’s Festival
organizing committee are gearing up for another fun filled day to
celebrate the Independence of the Republic of Armenia on Sunday,
September 21, 2008 at the Verdugo Park in Glendale, California.
In this tradition of celebration, NSCA will provide a day of fun and
activities. The entertainment will be provided by a line-up of well
known performers and dance groups. Armenian businesses, artists and
craftsmen will display their works and services. Traditional Armenian
food will be served and the youngsters will enjoy the different
carnival games setup only for their enjoyment.
So please join us this day to celebrate this most important event.
Admission is free.
For more information and to reserve your booth, please call us at
(818) 391-7938.

HYE-TERT, Turkey
July 20 2008

GUL TO SEND CONCILIATORY MESSAGE TO ARMENIA

Kaynak: armtown.com
Yer: Armenia
Tarih: 19.7.2008

Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul will send neighboring Armenia a
conciliatory message wrapped in a warning over regional isolation when
he visits the Turkish-Armenian border next week. Gul will visit Ani,
an uninhabited medieval Armenian city in the province of Kars on the
Armenia border, on July 23, during a visit to the region to attend a
ceremony to inaugurate the construction of the Turkish part of a
regional railway passing through Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan; the
line excludes Armenia. The presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia will
also attend the inauguration ceremony, scheduled for July 24, Today’s
Zaman reports. `Despite Turkish efforts to deepen cooperation with
other regional countries at the expense of landlocked Armenia, Gul’s
visit to Ani is a sign of readiness to improve ties with
Yerevan. Armenia wants Turkey to restore medieval churches in Ani and
Turkish authorities began renovation works in the city early this
year,’ the newspaper says. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday
appeared to confirm a report in the Turkish media that Turkish and
Armenian officials had secret talks in Switzerland earlier this
month. The report in the Hurriyet daily said the officials met for a
few days starting on July 8 and that a senior Foreign Ministry
official headed the Turkish delegation. `Such talks are held from time
to time,’ Babacan told reporters. Turkey imposed blockage on Armenia
as a token of support to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh
issue. Ankara also urges Armenia to stop the Armenian Genocide
recognition process and says that both Armenians and Turks died during
the World War I. `We have problems about current issues and
disagreements about the 1915 events. It is essential that these
problems are handled through dialogue,’ Babacan said. Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan proposed `a fresh start’ in relations with
Turkey in an article published in The Wall Street Journal earlier this
month. `The time has come for a fresh effort to break this deadlock, a
situation that helps no one and hurts many. As president of Armenia, I
take this opportunity to propose a fresh start – a new phase of
dialogue with the government and people of Turkey, with the goal of
normalizing relations and opening our common border,’ he
said. Sargsyan also invited Gul to a World Cup qualifying match
between Armenian and Turkish teams in September. Officials say the
invitation is still under consideration and that the president will
decide according to developments. During a meeting with Iranian
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Gul said that Sargsyan’s
invitation is being considered.

U.S. HOPES GUL WILL ACCEPT ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S INVITATION

HYE-TERT
July 19 2008
Turkey

The U.S. administration hopes Turkish President Abdullah Gul
to accept the invitation of his Armenian counterpart to watch a
qualifying football game in Yerevan in September, Hurriyet daily
reports. Officials said if Gul accepts the invitation and visits
Yerevan to watch the football game between the Turkish and Armenian
national teams, then this would a "great opening." "We want those
two neighboring countries to speak to each other, to get closer,
and to normalize relations between Ankara and Yerevan. We hope
President Abdullah Gul accepts the invitation and visits Yerevan
to watch the game," an official was quoted as saying. Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan invited in early July Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to watch the football match in Yerevan between the two
countries on Sept. 6 for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers to mark "a
new start in relations". Gul is yet to declare his official decision
on the invitation as the evaluation of the Turkish foreign ministry
continues. Turkey is among the first countries that recognized Armenia
when it declared its independency. "However there is no diplomatic
relations between two countries, as Armenia presses the international
community to admit the genocide claims," the newspaper says. However,
a warm exchange of letters between Sargsyan and Gul in late April
raised optimism for a fresh initiative to normalize relations, while
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan then expressed his hope that
Sargsyan’s election victory will "lead to a new period in relations."

WASHINGTON READY TO ASSIST ARMENIA’S DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT

Interfax News Agency
July 16 2008
Russia

The United States, as a country friendly to Armenia, would like
Armenia to overcome the current difficulties as soon as possible and
to continue democratic development, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor David Kramer said.

The U.S. is ready to give appropriate assistance to the Armenian
authorities to promote the country’s democratic development, Kramer
told Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan in Washington.

Nalbandyan and Kramer discussed steps to overcome obstacles in
implementing democratic reforms in the post-election period, the
Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax.

"Nalbandyan said that democratic reform was the Armenian people’s
carefully weighed choice and that the Armenian leadership was resolute
in its commitment to continue and deepen this process not only in the
context of the obligations to European organizations, or calls from
friendly nations, but also, primarily, because the authorities are
being guided by the interest of Armenia and its people," the ministry
quoted Nalbandyan as saying.

ARMENIAN-AMERICAN JOINT ACTION PLAN AGAINST NUCLEAR MATERIALS SMUGGLING SIGNED

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 15

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian, on July 14, signed the Joint Action Plan between
the Government of the United States of America and the Government
of the Republic of Armenia on Combating Smuggling of Nuclear and
Radioactive Materials.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the U.S. Embassy in
Armenia, this political agreement expresses the intention of the two
governments to cooperate to increase the capabilities of the Republic
of Armenia to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to attempts
to smuggle nuclear or radioactive materials. With this agreement,
the U.S. and Armenian governments are significantly enhancing their
collaborative efforts to combat the threat that nuclear or highly
radioactive materials could be acquired by terrorists.

This is the fifth agreement of this nature that has been concluded by
the U.S. government’s Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative. Previous
agreements were completed with Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and the
Kyrgyz Republic.

Eight countries and three international organizations have
partnered with the U.S. government to provide assistance to support
implementation of these agreements.

THE MEDITERRANEAN-BLACK SEA UNION: THE SHIP SETS SAIL
Rene Wadlow

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

On July 13, in the Grand Palais, an ornate meeting hall built for the
1900 World’s Fair in Paris, the Mediterranean-Black Sea Union ship was
set to sea with many good wishes from the assembled 44 heads of State
or Government. How sea worthy the ship is and what it will carry is
too soon to tell.

Much of the ship’s planning was done by the French President,
Nicolas Sarkozy and the small, high level group of his foreign policy
staff led by Jean-David Levite, former Ambassador to the UN, the
Secretary-General of the Presidency, Claude Gueant, Henri Guaino,
the president’s personal envoy on the issue along with the Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner.

There is always a tendency, largely for public relations reasons, to
name an institution in broader and brighter terms than the reality
merits. Thus when Roosevelt and Churchill decided upon the name
"United Nations" the reality was neither united nor nations but rather
a traditional alliance of States. Likewise, the Mediterranean- Black
Sea Union comprises States which have little Mediterranean tradition
nor is there an aim for a union in the middle-range future.

At the insistence of Germany, the earlier name for European efforts
of collective relations with North Africa and the Middle East –
the Barcelona Process – was kept. The new institution is called The
Barcelona Process-Mediterranean Union. In addition, because all 27
States of the European Union (EU) are involved, the process would be
better called the Mediterranean-Black Sea Union. There already exists
since 1992 the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Project (BSEC) among
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine.

Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Turkey are part of the
Barcelona Process-Mediterranean Union, and Turkey is the "swing State"
between the Mediterranean and Black Sea processes.

The Barcelona Process-Mediterranean Union’s membership includes
the 27 States of the EU, the North African States of Mauritania,
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. (Libya was represented at the
meeting by its Foreign Minister; it is not clear what policy it will
follow.) Five Middle East States: Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon,
Syria. Three States of former Yugoslavia – Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Montenegro. (Serbia, which has no outlet to the sea was excluded,
but obviously has more economic weight than Montenegro). Lastly,
as a place to put one’s money, Monaco is part of the Union.

President Hosni Moubarak of Egypt and Nicolas Sarkozy were co-hosts
of the launch and will be co-presidents for two years of a rotating
presidency. The fact that heads of State who are often not on speaking
terms such as Bachar al Assad of Syria, the new president of Lebanon,
former General Michel Sleimane, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehoud
Olmert were all at the same table can be taken as a good omen but
must be followed up quickly with meaningful steps.

The Barcelona Process has had some useful, largely ‘low profile’
activities of cultural and scientific exchanges. While the term
‘partnership’ is often used, the Barcelona Process has been one
nearly exclusively set by the EU and largely to facilitate European
interests. It is hoped that by having co-presidents and a small
Secretariat in a southern country (probably Tunisia or Malta), the
Mediterranean Union will be closer to a real partnership. In practice,
most relations between EU members and North Africa-Middle East States
have been bilateral rather than through EU institutions.

However, there is little civil society structure to support the
Union. While there are a good number of people from North Africa
working in Europe, they do not serve as a political force pushing
for closer ties among the Mediterranean countries. In fact, one of
the not-so-hidden agenda items for the Union on the part of European
States is to limit migration, especially illegal immigrants. However a
negative agenda of curbing illegal immigration and fighting terrorism
will not build enthusiasm among southern countries.

There are a number of structures proposed for the Union, largely
based on existing EU structures :

-A Mediterranean Investment Bank, modelled on the European Investment
Bank created to facilitate economic development in Central Europe
and the States of the ex-USSR

-A Mediterranean university exchange program inspired by the EU’s
successful Erasmus program

-An environmental agency working especially on Mediterranean pollution

-A common audiovisual structure

-A nuclear energy agency

Today, we see growing cooperation among States and peoples of the
Mediterranean

and Black Sea regions. Common problems of poverty, social tensions,
and environmental degradation call for common strategies. Enlightened
leadership, understanding these common interests of all the peoples
of the Mediterranean and Black Sea area is required as well as a
multitude of cooperative initiatives among the peoples of the area.

Work on common tasks will deepen the cultural foundations upon which
Mediterranean and Black Sea integration will be built. Much will depend
on an uninvited State, Russia. Russia is the largest State of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Project and is currently re-negotiating its
general relations with the EU and is also engaged in energy-security
negotiations with individual EU countries.

A Mediterranean-Black Sea Union is not a unified, fixed concept
but is always in the making. A more realistic title would be a
Mediterranean -Black Sea regime in the sense of Stephen Krasner’s
widely used definition of regime: "Regimes can be defined as sets
of implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules and decision-making
procedures around which actor’s expectations converge in a given area
of international relations." (1)

But regime is a less hopeful word than union, even if more realistic in
this case. Bold steps are needed to build on the impressive launch. The
Mediterranean-Black Sea ship has set sail.

Rene Wadlow, Representative to the United Nations, Geneva, Association
of World Citizens and editor of the on-line journal of world politics
and culture:

SERZH SARGSYAN: ALL CITIZENS OF ARMENIA AND THOSE CONSIDERING ARMENIA THEIR MOTHERLAND SHOULD BE JOINTLY ENGAGED IN BUILDING OF FUTURE ARMENIA

ArmInf
2008-07-15 12:12:00

All the citizens of Armenia and those considering Armenia their
Motherland should be jointly engaged in an important business, that
is, building of future Armenia, RA President Serzh Sargsyan said at
the meeting with participants in the All-Armenian Forum "Baze-2008",
ArmInfo correspondent from Jermuk reports.

S. Sargsyan called on to leave new, developed, democratic and peaceful
Armenia "to our next generations", and he expressed confidence
that this goal should be consolidated in each of us". RA president
emphasized that every Armenian has to be guided by a slogan "I love
my country" that "should become a way to prosperous Armenia". Calling
on all the Armenians in all over the world to remember that Armenia
is their home and childhood, S.

Sargsyan said that each of them has to show care about it even
once. The president applied to all the businessmen and influential
people of Armenia with a call to assist in upbringing of a new
generation of youth. He also expressed confidence that their actions
will not be left without response.

"Baze" international Forum embodies a mosaic of the Armenians spread
all over the world. The key goal of the Forum is consolidation of all
the world Armenians for prosperity of Armenia, RA president emphasized.

KHAZAR IBRAHIM: "AZERBAIJAN FULFILLS ALL PRINCIPLES OF THE HELSINKI FINAL ACT"

Azeri Press Agency
July 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. "Azerbaijan fulfills all principles of
the OSCE Helsinki Final Act, but Armenia, on the contrary, rejects it",
Khazar Ibrahim, press-secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
told journalists, APA reports.

Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian stated that the
negotiations over the solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are
held on the basis of Article 2, 4 and 8 of the Helsinki Final Act,
but Azerbaijan reports on the negotiations on its own desire. Reacting
to the Nalbandian’s statement, Khazar Ibrahim reminded about those
articles. "It is said in the Article 2 that the participating
States will refrain from any acts constituting a threat of force
or direct or indirect use of force against another participating
State. Everyone knows that Armenia is acting against this Article and
used force to occupy the territory of other state. On the other hand,
with this statement Nalbandian directly acknowledged that not any
forces in Nagorno Karabakh, as they claim it, but just Armenia is an
occupier. Azerbaijan never threatened anyone by the force. We simply
say that we will restore our internationally-recognized borders and
territorial integrity".

Khazar Ibrahim said Article 4 of the Helsinki Final Act was about
the territorial integrity of the countries. "The participating
States will likewise refrain from making each other’s territory the
object of military occupation or other direct or indirect measures
of force in contravention of international law, or the object of
acquisition by means of such measures or the threat of them, said in
the document. Nalbandian and his country should fulfill these points
in practice. A self-determination right, they frequently decline,
was reflected in Article 8. It is clearly said in the document that
the participating States will respect the equal rights of peoples and
their right to self-determination, acting at all times in conformity
just with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United
Nations and with the relevant norms of international law, including
those relating to territorial integrity of States". Khazar Ibrahim
once more stated that Azerbaijan was loyal to the principles of
Helsinki Final Act and international law.