Catholicos of All Armenians received French-Armenian piligrims
ArmRadio.am
26.05.2006 12:25
May 25 the Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II received a group of
French-Armenian pilgrims headed by benefactor Sargis Petrosyan.
The Catholicos presented challenges the Church faces and its present
activity in the spheres of Christian education, Church building and
social services.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Regnum, Russia –
May 26 2006
Geghamian: Orinats Yerkir Party sent to break up opposition
Read it in Russian
The Orinats Yerkir Party has been sent into the opposition camp to
break it up; National Unity Party Head Artashes Geghamian stated,
while debating with Orinats Yerkir Party Head Artur Bagdassaryan on
air of Armenian Shant TV-Channel.
`Primarily Bagdassaryan and his party selflessly defended President
Robert Kocharyan, while being in the ruling coalition, and now they
got into the opposition camp, supporting People’s Party Leader Stepan
Demirchyan and accusing me that I have betrayed him in second round
of 2003 presidential elections,’ Geghamian was perplexed. Meanwhile,
the NU leader stressed, even before outcomes of the first
presidential elections’ round were processed, opposition contenders
had signed a statement that they would not take part in the
elections’ run-off. `I am not to be blamed for that Stepan Demirchyan
disavowed later his signature and decided to participate in the
run-off. I am a man of my word and I could not do so,’ Geghamian
stated. He stressed that opposition contender’s participation
legitimatized presidential elections’ second round outcomes;
President Robert Kocharyan and Defense Minister Serge Sarkisyan
counted on it. According to Geghamian, if Stepan Demirchyan had not
taken part in the second round of the 2003 presidential elections,
the international community would have not recognized its results,
ArmInfo informs.
It is worth stressing that Orinats Yerkir Party Leader Artur
Bagdassaryan recently publicly accused Artashes Geghamian at a
parliamentary session that, having not supported Stepan Demirchyan’s
candidature in the run-off of the 2003 presidential elections, he
betrayed opposition and fulfilled, in such way, order of Defense
Minister Serge Sarkisyan, who expressed his assurance several days
before the second round that the opposition would not be able to
unite around a single presidential contender.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 26 2006
Head of Democratic Reforms Party meets with European Parliaments’s reps
Source: Trend
Author: V.Sharifov
26.05.2006
Asim Mollazade, the head of the Democratic Reforms Party (DRP), met
on 25May with representatives of the European Parliament, including
Hannes Sloboda and Rob Van de Vater.
The meeting focused on the public political situation in Azerbaijan,
issues of democracy and human rights.
Mollazade spoke about the occupation of the Azerbaijani territory by
Armenia, problem evolved as a result of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
adoption of a document by the European Union on the destruction of
the Armenian culture monuments by Azerbaijanis.
The issues of Azerbaijan’s integration to the Euro-Atlantic bodies
were also on focus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
GAGIK KOSTANDYAN GOES BROKE FOR ARTASHES GEGHAMYAN’S SAKE
Lragir.am
26 May 06
The leader of the National Unity stated May 24 that his assistant
Gagik Kostandyan had supplied goods to the Ministry of Defense of
Armenia and suffered losses, and only for the sake of his
employees. On May 25 Aghasi Arshakyan, National Unity, gave some more
information. It turns out that Gagik Kostandyan’ s kind wish did not
come true, and after this order, which inflicted losses on his
company, Gagik Kostandyan closed down the factory and `sentpeople
home.’
Generally, Aghasi Arshakyan thinks that in Armenia `they do not allow
people to get promoted just in return for nothing, they should know
what is going to be next on a `boo’ or stamping of feet. If they fail
the order, on the next day a huge army from the customs and tax
agencies, the Office of Public Prosecutor, the Sixth Department of the
Police will devour them, tear to pieces, and grind them down. Keeping
this in their minds, people came and said, Arthur, they won’t let us
breathe, what can we do? We don’t want to lose our rocks. It was a
mistake to join Orinats Yerkir. Now let us quit.’
Aghasi Arshakyan says what happened to the businessmen who left
Orinats Yerkir threatens his fellow Gagik Kostandyan. `A worse future
awaits him because in the late 80s, in the early 90s Gagik Kostandyan
possessed much more than these people have.’ Simply Gagik Kostandyan’s
political status led to a considerable decrease in his property. To
show this decrease, Aghasi Arshakyan first raised his hand above his
head, then lowered it 3-4 cm below the table. Gagik Kostandyan used
to work in the Police. In answer to the question of Lragir.am where he
got the money to set up a business, Aghasi Arshakyan said, ` Ask
him. I am not an accountant and I do not ask personal questions to my
colleagues. You could also ask Serge Sargsyan where he got so much
money.’
LEADERS OF “ORINATS YERKIR” AND “NATIONAL UNITY” PARTIES BLAME EACH
OTHER FOR RELATIONS WITH SERGE SARGSIAN
Yerevan, May 25.ArmInfo. In the course of the debates over “Shant” TV,
Artur Baghdasarian, leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, again blamed
Artashes Geghamian, leader of “National Unity” party, saying that he
is carrying out the political orders of Serge Sargsian.
In response, Geghamian suggested Baghdasarian to apply to the court,
blaming him for taking money from Serge Sargsian. Baghdasarian said
that he won’t do that, as only God can judge. He grounded his
accusation in cooperation of Geghamian with Sargsian by the fact that
in the elections for prefect of Yerevan’s Center community Geghamian
supported the candidate nominated by Sargsian.
Besides, Baghdasarian said that Gagik Kostandian, member of “NU”
party, is the supplier of RA Defense Ministry. He emphasized that, in
the presence of Mher Shahgeldian, Kostandian turned to Mr. Sargsian
with the question whether he has any instructions or not. Baghdasarian
conditioned the behavior of Geghamian and his party members by the
atmosphere of fear ruling in Armenia.
In response, Geghamian said that Kostandian carried out the orders of
RA Defense Ministry, as all the rest of the entrepreneurs refused
to. “Often, he worked with loses, only to secure his employees with
jobs,” he said. At the same time, he said that he can’t help sharing
the critical viewpoint of Baghdasarian addressed against Serge
Sargsian, who created a clan structure. As for the support of “NU”
party to Gagik Beglarian, head of “Kentron” Yerevan community,
Geghamian said that his party appreciates the quality of the work
more, than this or than official or the persons supporting the
candidate. In response, Baghdasarian continued blaming Geghamian,
saying that “NU” party acts according to the public statements of
Sargsian. “I can’t remember any case, when “NU” party supported the
opposition in critical moments,” Baghdasarian said.
In response, Geghamian reminded about the April 12 night, 2004, when
the policemen broke up the opposition rally, while Baghdasarian was
watching them out of the window of his cabinet. Baghdasarian answered
that he protected Geghamian and other opposition figures, when the
authorities tried to arrest them.
Afterwards, Baghdasarian said that anyway, he respects some of
Geghamian’s allies, as they are normal people. “Just fancy what a
normal person I am, if all of my allies merely adore me,” Geghamian
reflected the attack. Baghdasarian said that he didn’t mean that
Geghamian is fully insane. “Sometimes You merely fall into agony,”
Baghdasarian explained. In the end of the debates, both political
figures began convincing the TV viewers that they don’t have any
unofficial relations with Serge Sargsian. “I had only working
relations with Sargsian,” Baghdasarian said. While Geghamian stated
that he had never had any relations with Sargsian. “Though, as
Mr. Baghdasarian said, Sargsian pays me for criticizing him. It’s not
quite a normal behavior for a normal person,” Geghamian said.
Afterwards, Geghamian remembered that his mother celebrates her 85th
anniversary and congratulated her, adding that he kept his promise by
communicating with Mr. Baghdasarian as with his young brother. In the
end, the political figures shacked each others’ hands and bade
farewell to each other.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Identity crisis
Guardian Unlimited; May 25, 2006
The creation of a new country in Europe this week – tiny Montenegro in
the Balkans – has inspired a posse of disputed territories in the
former Soviet Union in their bids for independence.
They believe Montenegro’s vote to secede from Yugoslavia and the
ongoing talks in Vienna over the future of Kosovo, the majority
Albanian province of Serbia under a UN protectorate, could set a vital
benchmark.
European diplomats indicate that Kosovo has a chance to gain a form of
independence and recognition by the international community later this
year.
That suggestion has prompted a wave of hope in self-declared
territories like Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, both disputed regions of
Georgia, the republic of Trans-Dniester in Moldova and the disputed
district of Nagorno Karabakh, an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan.
These scattered shards of the former Soviet Union have all been in
limbo since its break up in the early 1990s, crying out to be released
from “frozen conflicts” and integrated into the world community.
“Such a civilised road of self-determination can be only welcomed,”
Sergei Bagapsh, the de facto president of breakaway Abkhazia, said
this week of Montenegro’s independence vote last Sunday.
“Now that the process of self-determination of nations has resumed,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia should get independence.”
At first glance, the tiny self-declared republic of Abkhazia on the
eastern coast of the Black Sea is an earthly paradise.
For decades its palm trees, warm scented air and sweeping beaches drew
thousands of holidaymakers from across the USSR, including Joseph
Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev, both of whom relaxed on its shores.
Even today, it is famed for its gentle climate, its mandarin oranges
and its sweeping boughs of yellow mimosa blossom.
But look more closely and there are signs of an uglier past.
Sidestreets in the seaside capital, Sukhum, are dominated by the
gutted remains of smoke-blackened houses, choked with weeds.
In the countryside not far away, whole settlements stand in silent
desolation, abandoned in a furious war that raged here in the Caucasus
more than a decade ago.
The conflict flared up in August 1992 when the armed forces of Georgia
attacked Abkhazia, after it declared its intent to break away from the
country after the Soviet collapse.
After a year of savage fighting, and atrocities on both sides, the
Abkhazians drove out the Georgians – including hundreds of thousands
of civilians – with the help of their Russian neighbours to the north,
and declared independence.
Since then, this scrap of land which is home to about 200,000 people,
has led its own lonely existence, cut off by an embargo and
unrecognised by any country in the world.
“In the last 13 years, Abkhazia has formed a state with its own
institutions, authorities, army and democratic development,” Mr
Bagapsh told Guardian Unlimited at his offices in downtown Sukhum.
“But the world ignores us when we have every right to gain
international recognition.”
He predicts Abkhazia’s independence will be recognised “within three
days” if Kosovo is granted status as a country.
Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, threw his weight behind Abkhazia’s
cause at the end of January, when he said that if Kosovo was granted
independence, “why then should we deny it to Abkhazia and South
Ossetia?”.
“We need universal principles to find a fair solution to these
problems,” Mr Putin added.
Abkhazia’s victory in the 1992 to 1993 war came at a bitter price,
Georgia accused it of ethnic cleansing and severed all trade. Many
buildings were destroyed and the republic is desperately poor.
Sukhum has no functioning airport, receives little direct bilateral
aid and its coast is cut off by Georgian ships while its critics claim
it is a haven for organised crime.
And its only link is with Russia, which buys its oranges and sends a
trickle of tourists to the republic’s crumbling resorts.
UN-led talks between Tbilisi and Sukhum have borne little fruit since
the end of the armed conflict, but Abkhaz foreign minister Sergei
Shamba has renewed hope.
“The international community needs to face up to the fact that
obstacles put in front of people and their aspirations to
self-determination only lead to bloodshed,” he said, in a meeting at
his three-room ministry.
“In that sense, Kosovo could become a kind of marker that determines a
new world attitude towards these issues.”
The issue of Georgian refugees is likely to remain the largest
stumbling block. About 250,000 Georgians fled Abkhazia during the war,
and only 60,000 have been able to return to the south of the region.
“I had to rebuild my life from scratch after they forced us out,”
Zviad Mirgatia, 38, a Georgian from Sukhum who now lives in Tbilisi,
said.
“Now I can’t go back. But I could never accept my home, my soil, being
taken away from Georgia.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Armenian premier pledges aid in developing southern Georgian region
Mediamax news agency
25 May 06
Yerevan, 25 May: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and
Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze met in Dushanbe within
the framework of the session of the council of prime ministers of the
CIS states.
Markaryan and Baramidze noted with satisfaction the intensification of
bilateral relations in various spheres, the government’s press service
told Mediamax today.
The sides stressed that the Armenian and Georgian prime ministers will
head the Georgian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation which will promote resolution of a number of issues as
well as elaboration of the joint programmes in the spheres of energy,
transport and tourism.
Andranik Markaryan and Giorgi Baramidze expressed satisfaction with
the process of demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian border, noting
that a regular joint session of relevant commissions is planned to be
held in Yerevan in August.
While speaking about the problems of the Armenian population in
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Andranik Markaryan expressed Armenia’s readiness
to assist the Georgian authorities in the implementation of a
comprehensive programme on restoring infrastructure of this region.
The Armenian prime minister expressed the view that it would be useful
to involve the local population and entrepreneurs in the construction
work to soften the “noticeable tension in the region”.
Andranik Markaryan said that according to the bilateral agreements, at
this stage Armenia will help restore some educational institutions in
Javakheti, whereas the volumes and the methods of the future
assistance will be specified after Armenia studies the comprehensive
programme.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Kuwaiti Armenian School recovers from the latest war in the region
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 26 May 2006: After the formation of the United Arab
Republic in Egypt and Syria (1958), many Armenians emigrated to the United
States, Canada, Australia, Argentina and elsewhere. Some of them arrived in
Kuwait, then a desert Emirate, with limited modern comforts.
In 1961 priest Barouyr Sarkissian settled down in Kuwait City and served the
community for more than thirty years, including 9 years as a Principal of
the Armenian School (1961-1970).
The Kuwaiti Armenian community was originally formed by bachelors who were
employed in light industries, auto repair shops, electronics, services etc.
Eventually they got married and brought to Kuwait their brides from their
countries of origin (Syria, Lebanon, Iran, etc.).
As their children reached schooling age, the need for learning the Armenian
language, history and religion led to the establishment of a school in the
late 1960’s.
The new premises of the school was inaugurated in 1972, during the tenure of
Principal Manuel Charshafian (1972-1978).
Since then the number of the Armenians in Kuwait expanded and reached a peak
of 10000 in the mid 1980’s. The number of students enrolled in the Armenian
School scored a record 700 pupils. High School section (Jemaran) was
introduced, enabling graduates to get enrolled in University studies
worldwide. Today the school covers the whole range from kindergarten to the
12th grade.
Asadour Boghosian has been Principal during two different terms (1978-1983)
and (2000-2004).
The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq caused damage to the State of Kuwait and the
Armenian Community. Fortunately the invasion took place in August (1990),
during which many Armenian families were already outside the country and did
not directly suffer the consequences of the invasion. Only 500 Armenians
remained in Kuwait during the six months of the Iraqi invasion, many fled
the country through the Saudi border.
After the restoration of national authority in Kuwait, many Armenians
returned to their positions in Kuwait, yet a considerable number continued
living in new places. The returned ones were compensated by the Kuwaiti
government (through special arrangement with the United Nations) with
monthly salaries that covered the complete period of invasion.
The present day Principal is Dr. Manoug Manougian, a graduate of Karen Jeppe
Armenian High School (Aleppo, 1983) and Dentistry Faculty (Yerevan, 1990).
Dr. Manougian gave us the latest statistics concerning the school.
The number of the students in the 2005-2006 school-year has been 373. The
breakdown is as follows:
94 students in the Kindergarten
135 students in the Elementary level (1-5 grades)
88 students in the Intermediate level (6-9 grades)
56 students in the Secondary level (10-12 grades)
The number of students just two years ago was 324. Therefore we can say that
there is an increase of about 15%. This figure is very close to the
1999-2000 school-year (before the latest war in the region), when the number
of students was 376.
Dr. Manougian gave us also the overall number of the educational and
auxiliary staff as follows:
Educational staff (teachers): 37 (26 Armenians)
Administrative staff: 4 (all Armenians)
Auxiliary staff (drivers, caretakers, etc.): 10 (3 Armenians)
Total number: 51 (33 Armenians)
The number of the Armenians in Kuwait, according to Dr. Manougian is no more
than 3300. More than 70% are Syrian-Armenians and the rest are from Lebanon
and other countries. Lebanese Armenians are mainly from Ainjar
(Mousalertsi).
Until 1990 (the year of the Iraqi invasion), the percentage of the Iranian
Armenians was 30%, but almost all of them emigrated later to Western
countries. Currently many Syrian-Armenians use the so-called Armenian
passport for Diaspora (special residency status), which is easier for
obtaining Kuwaiti residency visa.
The number of graduates from the Secondary level (Jemaran) is 381, although
thousands of students have attended the school during different periods of
time. The mobile status of the families living in Kuwait has contributed to
the fluctuation of the figures.
Azad-Hye had also the opportunity to meet with the newly appointed Deputy
Principal Peggy Tokmakjian (graduate of Aleppo College and English
Literature Department in the University of Aleppo 1990, former Principal of
“Accad” Computer Science Center in Aleppo, Syria). She briefed us on the
educational aspects of the Armenian School in Kuwait.
See complete set of photos of the Armenian School in Kuwait here:
ure.asp?al=qhsdtrnshy111376a
net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=734ajg67
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Dr. Nora Arissian lectures on the “Armenians in the Syrian Press”
Azad-Hye, Dubai, 26 May 2006: The Islamic Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has chosen Aleppo as the capital for Islamic
culture for the year 2006 (Damascus is going to be the Islamic culture
capital in 2008).
Activities in this respect include holding various expositions and cultural
seminars in addition to screening of historical and documentary films on the
historical and architectural aspects of Aleppo.
As an integral part of the Syrian population, the Armenians in Aleppo also
are involved in this year-long celebration. One of the recent events was a
lecture delivered by Dr. Nora Arissian, the well-known scholar of oriental
research, on 20th May 2006 in “Aram Manougian” center, organized by the
Armenian Youth Union in Aleppo.
Dr. Arissian dealt with the subject of “The Armenians in the Syrian press”.
A number of University lecturers, several press representatives (local “Al
Jamahir” daily and correspondents of pan-Arab newspapers, public figures and
a large number of people attended the event.
Dr. Arissian highlighted the participation of the Armenians in the Syrian
public life and society in general, a fact that has been obvious in almost
all economic and social fields. She referred to the tolerance of the Arab
majority towards the Armenians, a tradition that stems from the teachings of
the Holy Quran.
Based on her researches she pointed out to the Armenian themes published in
the Syrian press, arguing that they are echoes of the Armenian presence in
this country. She brought examples from known newspapers such as “Al
Shahba”, “Al Mouqtabas” and “Al Asima” (the later was the formal
governmental gazette).
She said that although Syrians for a short period of time had their own
doubts about the wave of the Armenian refugees coming to their country
(especially in terms of employment opportunities and economic
competitiveness and hardships), nevertheless, the humanitarian aspects had
gained precedence and the Press of the time has echoed extensively to the
efforts of the Syrians to alleviate the burden on the Armenians and to host
them in the new environment. Especially the Government of the newly
appointed King Faysal (after the Ottoman withdrawal in 1918) has been very
much sympathetic towards the Armenian orphans and has provided aid to the
Armenian tradesmen to start their financial activity in Syria.
Dr. Arissian highly appreciated the stance of the Syrian Arab journalists
especially in referring to the plight of the Armenian people with boldness
and without any compromise. The bulk of these reports provide nowadays as a
rich resource for documentation on the subject of the Armenian Genocide.
At the end of the lecture Dr. Arissian mentioned the significance of the
decision for choosing Aleppo as a capital of Islamic culture, since it is a
city of tolerance and coexistence between different religions and cultures.
It can serve also as a best example of the harmonization of civilizations.
See Armenian text at:
734ajh67
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Zaman Online, Turkey
May 26 2006
US Recalls Armenian Envoy for Saying ‘Genocide’
By Anadolu News Agency (aa), Washington
Published: Friday, May 26, 2006
zaman.com
United States President George W. Bush recalled the United States
Ambassador to Erivan, John Evans, who termed the incidents that
occurred during World War I as `genocide.’
The White House announced in a statement that it nominated United
States Ambassador to Dushanbe, Richard Hoagland, as replacement
ambassador to the Armenian capital Erivan instead.
State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said Evans will leave his
post in Erivan, but offered no explanation as to why ambassador Evans
was leaving the three- year position after only two years.
More than 60 deputies from the Armenian lobby in the House of
Representatives reacted against the decision in a letter they wrote
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which cited they are worried
about the development and asked for a clarification about Evans’
condition.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), an umbrella
organization for radical Armenian institutions in that United States,
announced Evans was unseated because he called the Armenian incidents
`genocide.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress