Author: Emil Lazarian

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:

DIOC ESAN COUNCILS MEET IN ANTELIAS

Several Primates of the dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and
representatives of diocesan councils, who arrived in Lebanon to attend the
bishops’ ordination, met with the Religious and Lay Councils of the Central
Executive Council of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, on Saturday 3 June 2006.
His Holiness Aram I presided over the meeting.

The meeting was convened between the primates and diocesan council
representatives of the Dioceses of Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz, Lebanon,
Cyprus and the Eastern diocese of the United States. Two Armenian MPs in the
Iranian Parliament were also present.

His Holiness welcomed the representatives of the dioceses and passed on his
advice to the attendants. The Pontiff spoke about the importance of holding
such consultations and meetings, and preserving active cooperation in the
Catholicosate-diocese mutual relations.

“Such meetings are important for the success of our common functions. Such
consultations have always contributed to warm cooperation between the
Catholicosate and its dioceses and to the immediate achievement of projects.
Within this context of cooperation, the Catholicosate of Cilicia is always
ready to help the dioceses in the spiritual, cultural, educational and other
fields,” the Pontiff said.

The Catholicos also spoke about the importance of Armenia-Diaspora
cooperation and considered the participation of dioceses important in this
respect. He specifically mentioned the project of building a village called
“Cilicia” in Nagorno Karapagh.

The Pontiff also spoke about the importance of cooperation between the two
Catholicosates in Antelias and Holy Etchmiadzine. His Holiness said the two
Sees had formed committees and planned to carry out projects in various
fields.

The primate and representatives of each diocese then talked about the works
carried out in their diocese and future plans. Discussions and a question
and answer session was then held.

The dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia are well organized. They are
active in various fields. Their work includes spiritual, educational and
social initiatives preserving the healthiness of church and national life in
the Diaspora.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses of
the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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:

THE CATHOLIOCSATE OF CILICIA DONATES 100,000 U.S. DOLLARS
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CHURCH IN NAGORNO KARAPAGH

There are plans to construct a mother cathedral in the capital of Nagorno
Karapagh, Sdepanagerd and construction works have already started.

As a tangible expression to the comprehensiveness and unity of the Armenian
Church as well as the active contribution of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in
the construction of churches and the homeland, the Catholiocsate donated
100,000 U.S. dollars for the construction of the cathedral.

“Let us once again affirm the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s and Our personal
commitment to support all efforts that aim to the strengthening and
development of Armenia and Karapagh,” wrote the Pontiff in his letters
addressed to His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians and Argati
Ghougassian, the president of the Republic of Nagorno Karapagh.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

SERGE WAS TOO LATE

Lragir.am
10 June 06

Everything seems to be changing in Armenia. Although the ruling regime
asserts that the divorce of the Orinats Yerkir Party and the coalition
cannot change anything in the country, it does not tend to believe it
either. It does not believe because it can see what is going on among
the political forcesat home.

First of all, the nervous expansion of the present axis of the ruling
regime – the Republican Party – is arousing more and more admiration.
Something is really happening with this corps of functionaries. They
launched the administrative terror against teachers, they started
`disseminating’ the state budget in the regions (only by pledges, of
course). They say they are evenlikely to give up the ideology of
Garegin Nzhdeh and adopt a liberal-democratic ideology.

The most admirable of all is that the Republicans are shouting louder
and louder where Serge Sargsyan might be and why he would not confirm
that he will ally with only this political party. In the meantime,
Serge Sargsyan keeps silent. He keeps silent because he knows that the
Republicans missed the train.

Moreover, he might be guessing where he might be after the year
2007. And he is right because the problem is not only the resignation
of Arthur Baghdasaryan.

For everybody can see that not only the opposition was missed. Gagik
Tsarukyan with his vast body occupies the rest of space of the
political sphere of Armenia. Gagik Tsarukyan will grab the rest from
Arthur Baghdasaryan. How about the Republicans. The Republican is
overboard. Why should Serge need them? Serge needs a lot of votes to
display his almightiness to Kocharyan. But where is he supposed to get
votes? This is not peanuts. What would Serge have to give his allies
in return? Nothing.

Only now did the `superminister’ realize, however, that he is nothing
without Robert Kocharyan. And he has always been nothing. If he allows
himto sit on the sofa, he will, if not, there will be nothing to do
but to weep. He is an authority and Fouchet for Hmayak, Kocharyan does
not accept anyone=80=99s authority except his. Kocharyan is interested
in those who can get votes by themselves, such as Tsarukyan. As well
as Arthur Baghdasaryan, whose votescan give him an unpleasant
surprise. As for Serge, let him inspire everyone that his hand can
reach anywhere. After all, Kocharyan knows the span of his arm better
then anyone else.

In fact, former allies Serge and Andranik realized too late what had
happened in Armenia. And people who keep enquiring `when Serge will
appear on the party ticket of the Republican’ failed to understand
anything. They failed to realize that from now on everything in
Armenia will be decided by another list, where the superminister will
be denied access without permit. Everyone wonders why. This is very
interesting. They do not tell anyone, even Serge.

What are the `strongmen’ of Armenia – the Superminister, the Attorney
General, etc. – going to do further on? Plant trees, watch chess,
draft a concept of national security, think up fish-breeding projects,
and all for a period of ten years. Yes, ten years of unfulfilled
dreams. Kocharyan may believe that these guys are worth anything. It
is too late, it appears to be=80¦ Whereas they say nothing changes in
Armenia.
MELIK YESAYAN

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

OSCE and Armenian Government Signed Additional Protocol
09.06.2006 19:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The signing ceremony of the additional protocol to
the Memorandum on Establishment of OSCE Office in Yerevan concluded by
the Armenian government and the OSCE took place in Yerevan. The
protocol creates a legal basis for the establishment of branches of
the OSCE Yerevan Office in the regions of Armenia and determines the
priority programs.

The protocol was signed by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and head
of the OSCE Yerevan Office, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin. The first
branch of the OSCE Yerevan Office will be opened in Syunik. It will
deal with the economic and environmental problems, reported the RA MFA
press office.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #107, 10/06/2006

UN

DIPLOMATIC ROW BETWEEN UN AND USA

John Bolton, USA permanent representative to UN, criticized the
statement by Malloch Brown, assistant of the UN Secretary general, who
said that the US administration doesn’t protect UN from criticism and
uses this international organization as a diplomatic tool.

Bolton called this statement “a very serious mistake” and demanded
from the UN Secretary General to restrain his assistant. This
diplomatic dispute reflects the tension that emerged between USA and
UN long ago. Reuters reported that the disputes were caused by the
current financial problems of the UN.

Already in late June, the UN sources will be ran out, while USA stops
to make the budget payments, if no considerable progress is achieved
in the USA-UN relations.

Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, supported the statement of his
assistant in the course of the New York Press conference. Then, Brown
held speech and called for the American people to support the
international organization. At the same time, he expressed
bewilderment how they could comment his statement as “an anti-American
speech.”

By Petros Keshishian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Future cooperation with Montenegro, participation of women in elections,
Venice Commission meets in plenary

Strasbourg, 09.06.2006 – Future cooperation with Montenegro, restitution
of property to the victims of Georgian-Ossetian conflict, and the
participation of women in elections are on the agenda of the Council of
Europe Venice Commission’s 67th plenary session (9-10 June, Scuola
Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, Venice).

The Speaker of the Montenegrin Parliament Ranko Krivokapich will attend
the plenary and will inform the Commission on possible future
cooperation on the new Constitution for Montenegro following the
referendum on independence.

The Commission will hold an exchange of views with the Georgian
authorities on the draft law on compensation and restitution of property
of victims of the conflict in the former autonomous region of South
Ossetia. It is due to adopt an opinion on the latest version of the
draft law.

The draft legislation on churches and religious communities in Serbia
will also be discussed during the session.

Following the November 2005 revision of the Armenian Constitution,
introducing individual complaints with the constitutional court, the
Commission is due to adopt an opinion on the amendments to the law on
the Constitutional Court. The Commission will also discuss and adopt an
opinion on possible constitutional and legislative improvements to
ensure uninterrupted functioning of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.
The lack of nominations produced an incomplete composition of this
Court, preventing it from sitting.

A study on remedies for excessive length of proceedings before national
courts is also on the agenda. The study is part of discussions on
principles of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights and
takes into account relevant work by the Council of Europe’s European
Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ).

The Commission will also adopt:
– Guidelines on referenda, defining European standard on the matter;
– A declaration on women’s participation in elections, stressing on the
equality principle;
– A report on electoral law and administration in Europe, aiming at
identifying weaknesses and new challenges;
– joint Venice Commission-OSCE/ODHIR opinions on the electoral
legislation of Armenia and Georgia.
***

The Venice Commission is the Council of Europe’s independent advisory
body on the constitutional issues. All adopted opinions of the
Commission become public after the session and will available on the
website of the Commission: .

Contact : Tatyana Mychelova, External Relations Officer
Tel. +33 3 88 41 38 68 ; E-mail : [email protected]

Press Release
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 337a06
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
June 08, 2006

Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Tel. (613) 235-2622

ANCC Participates in Genocide Gathering
Meeting Pledges “Never Again”

Ottawa – the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) participated
in a historic meeting, on June 6, to work for the eradication of
genocides through education. The meeting was held in the west block of
the Parliament building in Ottawa.

The meeting, organized by Ze’ev Kalin–founder of Genocide Education
Never Again (GENA), was attended by survivors and representatives from
various genocide-victim communities (Armenians, Cambodians, Jews,
Rwandans, Sudanese, Ukrainians). Members of parliament, diplomatic
representatives, human rights organizations and scholars also took part
in the meeting.

Yvonne Bedrossian was the sole Canadian-Armenian survivor of the 1915
Armenian Genocide who could attend the meeting. In addition to Aris
Babikian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC), other attendees included Armand Hagopian, charge d’
affaires and Michael Vartanyan, first consul of the Armenian Embassy;
Vahe Balabanian (CAN); Victoria Cop, the president of the Armenian
Students Association of Ottawa; and other Armenian community leaders.
Prelate Archbishop Khajag Hagopian sent letter of support and
solidarity.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring genocide survivors and their
descendents together to pledge to work to eradicate genocide, and raise
awareness about various genocides and explore options to prevent it.

Keynote speaker Dr. Gerry Caplan delivered an inspiring and
compassionate speech, urging the Canadian Government and the
international community to be more resolute in their efforts to put an
end to the scourge of genocide. He emphasized that politicians should be
consistent in their dealing with such heinous crimes as genocides. “They
should not be selective in condemning and trying to prevent genocidal
acts,” said Caplan. He also commended the Harper Government for its
recent recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

In his ” Solidarity of Sorrow” speech, Dr. Caplan urged the various
victims of genocide to stand by each other, recognize each others
suffering, and work together to prevent other races from going through
what they have experienced. He reiterated that there is no hierarchy
among genocide victims.

Dr. Caplan deplored the Turkish Government’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide and the Israeli Government’s refusal to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. He also talked about the Rwandan Genocide and the horrific
situation in Darfur, and the “cynical political games some super and
regional powers play to determine how, when, where and why to interfere
to stop genocide acts form taking place.”

Dr. Caplan commended Babikian of ANCC for his commitment and efforts to
reach out and work with all victims of genocides regardless of their
colour, religion or race.

The keynote speaker said he is hoping the pledge by the various victims
of genocide to work together would put moral pressure on the Canadian
Government to act more decisively.

“We as a victim nations of genocide, should form common front to fight
racism, xenophobia, intolerance, and hatred. It is our duty and
obligation to humanity to prevent future genocides from happening. We
also should stand in solidarity against denial. Because the last act of
any genocide is the denial aspect. As we have seen no one is immune
from denial and revictimizing the survivors and their descendents,” said
Aris Babikian, the executive director of ANCC.

-30-

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.

Regional Chapters

Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Capital FM, Kenya
June 9 2006

Armenian brothers deported after scuffle with police

Armenian brothers Artur Margaryan and Sargasyan, have been taken to
the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ,where it is believed they
are to be deported from the country.

The Armenians, who were arrested this morning during a police raid at
their Runda residence, were whisked to the airport under tight
security of armed officers.

They were nabbed following a brush with security officials, after
they allegedly roughed up customs officials at JKIA last night, and
refused to allow officials to inspect their luggage.

One of them is said to have drawn a gun, and threatened the customs
officers, who insisted that they follow procedure to clear at the
airport.

They are however denying the allegations, and have told journalists
at JKIA, that they were not armed as claimed. They further claim to
have been denied access to their lawyers, adding that they have not
recorded statements with the police.

The Armenian brothers, who made headlines in March, after allegations
that they were mercenaries, say their arrest is a political frame-up,
blaming Langata MP Raila Odinga for the turn of events.

Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargasyan, were arrested early this
morning, along with 5 other people at their Runda residence.

Police found 11 top-of-the-range vehicles at the compound, some with
‘GK’ registration plates.

The raid sent panic among senior police officers due to what they are
terming as ‘interference from above’.

No senior police officer involved in the operation is willing to
comment on the matter reffering all questions to the Police
Commissioner himself.

A high powered security meeting was convened at Police Headquarters
over the late night operation.

Seven people, among them Artur Margaryan, his brother Sargasyan and
another man said to be their brother, are recording statements with
the police at Gigiri, Muthangari and Hardy police stations.

The Armenian brothers prominently featured in the media 3 months ago
when they were branded mercenaries by former Roads Minister Raila
Odinga.

Margaryan has since sued the Lang’ata legislator for maligning his
name.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
June 9 2006

Outside mailer generates woes for Quintero
BY ALEX DOBUZINSKIS, Staff Writer

GLENDALE – Although his failed run for state Assembly is behind him,
City Councilman Frank Quintero still faces questions about the
campaign because of a last-minute mailer some denounced as racist.
The mailer was distributed by the California Latino Leadership Fund,
and sought to link Paul Krekorian, an Armenian-American who was
Quintero’s opponent in the Democratic primary, to terrorism.

Quintero has worked for years to cultivate ties with Glendale’s huge
Armenian community and maintains he had nothing to do with the
campaign hit piece.

“I condemn the independent mailer and its message,” Quintero said.
“Now I’m looking forward to continuing to serve the people of
Glendale and enjoying my time on the council.”

But City Councilman Ara Najarian, another Armenian-American, wants
the council to hold a hearing into the mailer and a related phone
message campaign.

“It went way past Paul Krekorian,” Najarian said. “It went to all the
Armenians, so essentially I feel that all Armenians were under attack
when that mailer was sent out.”

The mailer sent by the Oakland-based Leadership Fund targeted
Krekorian and the Armenian National Committee of America, an advocacy
group that endorsed him.

The mailer accused the ANC of giving an award to “suspected
terrorist” Mourad Topalian in 2000, and faulted Krekorian for
accepting the ANC’s endorsement in the Assembly race.

Topalian, a former Armenian National Committee leader, was sentenced
in 2001 to 37 months in prison for storing stolen explosives and
owning two machine guns. The ANC says it cut its ties with Topalian
after his conviction.

In fact, Quintero himself had been endorsed by the ANC when he ran
for City Council in 2001.

“I’m fine with the Armenian community,” Quintero said. “I don’t have
any issues with the Armenian community.

“The California (Latino) Leadership Fund needs to issue a letter and
a statement telling people that I have not in any way been involved
in that mailer.”

Krekorian, 46, a Burbank school board member, said he was hurt by the
mailer, which implicated his wife because she is an ANC member.

“It’s beyond anything that really should be acceptable,” he said, “by
anyone in the political arena.”

Officials with the Latino Leadership Fund did not return phone calls.

Although the group was prohibited by law from contacting Quintero’s
campaign before the primary, City Councilmen Rafi Manoukian and Bob
Yousefian – both Armenian-Americans – said they believe Quintero was
involved in sending out the mailer.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen but there is a lot of anger in
the community,” said Manoukian, who supported Krekorian for the 43rd
Assembly District seat.

Krekorian defeated Quintero 57-43 percent in Tuesday’s primary and
will face Republican Michael Agbaba and Libertarian Steve Myers in
November.

The Latino Leadership Fund received money from PG&E Corp., Sempra
Energy and others, although most of its money came from the San
Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The Indian band also gave $3,200 to
Quintero’s campaign.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The New Anatolian / Ankara
June 9 2006

After 8 years, sociologist Selek in the clear

Charges were dropped yesterday against sociologist Pinar Selek over a
deadly blast in Istanbul’s spice market eight years ago.

Selek, along with 15 others, has been accused of being responsible
for a blast that claimed the lives of seven people and injured 127
others in 1998. She was charged under article 125 of the TCK and
faced a life sentence.

The court ruled yesterday to drop charges of aiding and abetting the
terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) against Selek, due to the
statute of limitations. The court also dropped charges related to the
blast, as the reason for the explosion is unknown.

Charges against Selek and other defendants were widely debated when
the indictment was released and an expert report argued that the
explosion was caused, not by a bomb, but by a spark by a liquid
petroleum gas cylinder in a nearby snack booth, but this argument, as
well as the theory about Selek, failed to be supported by sufficient
evidence.

The court also ruled for 36 years of imprisonment for three other
suspects on charges of murder on behalf of the PKK.

Selek was also claimed to be a close aide to Abdullah Ocalan, leader
of the PKK, and both the media and non-governmental organizations
divided into two camps supporting and condemning her.

Her case received great local and international scrutiny as her
supporters claim that charges against her were filed due to her
reluctance to cooperate with the police regarding the names of the
PKK members she interviewed in the course of academic research.

Selek also claimed that she has been subject to intense torture
during questioning by the police.

Arabaslik: Court acquits reporter of ‘interference in judiciary’
charges

Also yesterday, a court dropped two cases of a journalist charged
with interfering in the judicial process in two articles over a
controversial Armenian conference held last year amidst severe
protests from ultranationalist groups.

Journalist Murat Belge was tried upon a complaint from Kemal
Kerincsiz, head of the Grand Lawyers Association, a group well-known
for its efforts against journalists and intellectual figures
advocating minority rights.

Along with Belge, Kerincsiz filed complaints with the Bagcilar Public
Prosecutor’s Office against four other journalists on similar
charges, but the court released the four on grounds that the
complaint didn’t come in time, and separated the file of Belge.

The five journalists were facing prison terms of up to 10 years
apiece.

Belge was also among those supporting Selek.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress