Author: Emil Lazarian

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB AWARDS FOR JOURNALISTS AND MASS MEDIA
Azg/arm
21 July 05
The arrangements dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Yerevan Press
Club completed yesterday by the ceremony of giving awards to a number
of journalists and mass media at the Chamber Music Hall after Komitas.
Hayk Gevorgian, reporter of Haykakan Zhamanak, was given a prize in
the nomination “For Contributing to Transparency of Economy.” Yerkir
Media TV won the award for “Best Political Analytical” program.
Tatoul Hakobian, reporter of Azg daily, won the prize for “Highlighting
Regional Issues.” While Hayrenik TV was given the award for “Programs
for Children.”
Radiolur program of RA Public TV was considered the best
informational-analytical program in the nomination “For Securing
Operative and Multilateral Information.” Shoghakat TV received the
prize “For Aesthetics.”
Other three journalists were awarded the prizes of the Yerevan Press
Club. Tigran Paskevichian was awarded the Valeri Aydinian prize for
a series of articles published in 168 Zham weekly. Artak Aleqsanian,
reporter of RA Public TV, received the Tigran Naghdalian prize.
The UN Office in Armenia awarded the journalists Arpine Harutyunian,
Sara Petrosian and Susana Shahnazarian prizes for the winning the
Millennium Development Goals contest. UNDP and the Yerevan Press
Club gave prizes to Hasmik Budaghian, reporter of Aravot weekly,
and Vahan Ishkhanian, journalist of Armenianow.com.
The jury of the Yerevan Press Club Annual Award included Astghik
Gevorgian, chairwoman of RA Union of Journalists, Ashot Melikian,
chairman of the Freedom of Speech Committee, Nune Sargsian,
executive director of Internews NGO, Levon Barseghian, chairman of
the Gyumri’s Asparez Club, Avet Demourian, chairman of Team NGO and
Edik Baghdasarian, chairman of Investigative Journalists NGO.

REFERENDUM IN KARABAKH WITHIN ONE YEAR
On Constitution, not the Status
By Tatoul Hakobian
Azg/arm
20 July 05
A constitutional referendum will be held in Nagorno Karabakh within
one year. As it is known, Karabakh, like Great Britain and Israel,
has no constitution but instead constitutional or main laws. Today,
the authorities in Karabakh think that the republic needs to have a
constitution. The Artsakhi Armenians w ill have to vote for or against
the constitution which clearly states that Nagorno Karabakh Republic
is an independent and sovereign state.
The constitutional referendum, perhaps, is the main factor why the
authorities in Karabakh turned down the offer to decide the status
of the region by a referendum. Political analyst Davit Babayan from
Stepanakert told daily Azg that it’s not expedient to hold a referendum
to decide the status of Karabakh. “A constitutional referendum
will take place in Karabakh soon. If any international organization
backs Azerbaijan’s position on referendum then the coming vote for
constitution will reveal the will of Artsakhi people”, he said.
Numerous publications in the press have been often indicating
lately that a referendum in 10-15 years may seal the fate of Nagorno
Karabakh. Official Yerevan seems to be in favor of referendum. Foreign
minister Oskanian, particularly, hinted that a referendum to decide
the status of Karabakh is an acceptable alternative for Yerevan.
Official Baku and the Nagorno Karabakh are not really enthusiastic
over the idea of a referendum. Information leakage from Baku lately
disclosed that Azerbaijan looks to “5+1+1” alternative, i.e. Armenian
forces will hand over 5 starting territories and afterwards Qelbajar
and Lachin.
Davit Babayan thinks that the territorial issue and the status are the
key elements of conflict regulation. “To understand the concessions in
the issues of territory and status, one should understand the essence
of the Karabakh conflict. The essence is neither the territories nor
the status but the issue of existence. Therefore, Nagorno Karabakh
has to have territories and status that will guarantee its security
and will allow it to develop. There are territories that cannot be
disputed. They are Lachin and Qelbajar”, he said.

‘GREECE AND CYPRUS WILL ORGANIZE FLIGHTS TO KARABAKH’
Greeks Threaten Azerbaijan, Azeri Press States
Azg/arm
20 July 05
During Turkish prime minister’s June 29-30 visit to Azerbaijan,
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev promised to support the “Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus” in order to get the latter out of
international isolation. Practical steps followed president’s
promise. Firstly, an Azeri private airline Importex Travel announced
about its readiness to organize direct flight to the Turkish sector
of Cyprus on July 31. Afterwards, a delegation of Azeri Mili Mejlis
headed for the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” on July 17.
PM Erdogan swiftly responded to this visit saying, “This visit supposes
de facto recognition [of Northern Cyprus]”.
The Azeri lawmakers took part in the so-called “peace and independence
day” celebrations which mark the invasion of Turkish troops on July 20.
Milliyet newspaper informed that on July 31, 60 Azeri businessmen
will land in the Turkish sector of Cyprus on an Azeri plane. This
would be the first foreign plane to land in the “Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus”.
Those troublesome developments made the Greeks take alarm, and they
threatened that in case Azerbaijan launches flights to Northern Cyprus,
“Greece and Cyprus will organize flights to Karabakh”.
By Hakob Chakrian
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 PARTICIPATION OF THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF WSCF AND IN THE WOMEN’S PROGRAM
The annual general assembly of the WSCF in the Middle East took place
in Cairo on July 1-3. Representatives from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan,
Sudan and Egypt participated in the conference.
Carla Khijoian, a member of the Executive Committee of WSCF and
the Student Association of the Armenian Church participated in the
conference on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.
The attendants discussed the activities of WSCF during the past year,
and the status of the organization’s Middle East office. They also
discussed and planned the activities of the coming year.
The assembly also accepted the membership of a newly formed Christian
youth movement in Iraq.
A conference entitled “Women in the East and honor crimes” followed
the assembly on July 4-7. Several lecturers and professionals in
various fields talked about the concept of honor in the Middle East
and its immediate relation to women.
The participants stressed the importance of educating the women of
the East, so they would get to know their rights and defend them.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities 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.

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:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I VISITS THE AZOUNIEH ARMENIAN NATIONAL SANATORIUM
AND THE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF DURZIS IN SHOUF
His Holiness Aram I visited the Azounieh Armenian National Sanatorium
in Shouf on July 16 with members of the Cilician Brotherhood. His
Holiness was received by the Board of Trustees of the sanatorium and
its staff.
The visit was an opportunity for His Holiness to get closely acquainted
with the activities of the Sanatorium and to review some plans that
will be implemented in the future for the purpose of reforming the
institution.
The members of the Board of Trustees of the Azounieh Sanatorium and
particularly its chairman Zohrab Torigian gave detailed explanations
to His Holiness on these matters. His Holiness also visited the
patients and the elderly and gave them his blessings, wishing for
their well-being and recovery.
The Board of Trustees of the sanatorium have planned a number of
construction projects both inside and around the sanatorium. The
institute currently hosts around 100 patients.
The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the community hospital
of Shouf’s Durzis, Dr. Abbas Halabi visited the Azounieh National
Sanatorium on the occasion of His Holiness’ visit to the region and
met with the Catholicos and the Board of Trustees of the sanatorium.
His Holiness Aram I then visited the community hospital of the Durzis,
where he was met with the religious and secular governors of the
hospital, the members of its medical committee and staff. His Holiness
Aram I was informed about the humanitarian mission of the hospital,
the services it offers and the modern medical equipment it possesses.
The director of the hospital welcomed His Holiness, a visitor
he regarded as “a champion of Christian-Muslim dialogue, who has
come to us to become a tangible example of inter-confessional and
inter-religious coexistence and cooperation.”
His Holiness commended the work carried out by the hospital under
the supervision of Dr. Halabi. He highlighted the imperative of
transforming inter-confessional coexistence into cooperation with
everyone’s positive participation.
His Holiness considered the visit an opportunity for cooperation with
the hospital and the Azounieh National Sanatorium, “two dedicated
institutions serving the same cause and bound together by good
neighborly relations for many years.”
His Holiness toured around all the departments of the hospital and
the building that shelters the elderly with the Board of Trustees
and the medical committee.
The visit became an opportunity for the two sides to familiarize one
another with the activities of the two institutions and to discuss
possibilities for future cooperation.
##
View pictures here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and the 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.

Venezuela parliament adopts Armenian Genocide resolution
20.07.2005 17:40
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Parliament of Venezuela adopted a resolution
on July 14 recognizing the Armenian Genocide, introduced by Parliament
Member Victor Hugo Morales and lawyer Janet Madris.
Archbishop Komitas Ohanian and Grigor Postalian represented Venezuela’s
Armenian community at the Parliament session. The resolution also
calls on the European Union to deny Turkey a European Union membership
unless and until that country recognized the Armenian Genocide.
The Cilicia Catholicosate and Catholicos Aram I have greatly
contributed to the years-long effort that crowned with success on
July 14.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian minister, Iranian envoy for Caspian meet
Mediamax news agency
19 Jul 05
Yerevan, 19 July: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan today met
the special envoy of the Iranian president for Caspian affairs and the
head of the department of the Iranian Foreign Ministry for the CIS,
Mehdi Safari, who is paying a three-day visit to Armenia.
“At the meeting they exchanged views on a number of bilateral, regional
and international issues,” a source in the press service of the Foreign
Ministry said. Oskanyan and Safari were pleased to say that cooperation
between Armenia and Iran is deepening and developing in all areas.
During the meeting, the Armenian minister also updated him on the
progress in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran stresses need for further cooperation with Armenia
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
July 19 2005
Moscow, July 19, IRNA — Iran’s Special Representative for the Caspian
Sea Affairs, Mehdi Safari, on Tuesday stressed the importance of
increasing the current trend of bilateral cooperation with Armenia.
Safari, who is also Director General of the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) Department, made the remark during a meeting with Armenian
Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan.
He assessed as positive the implementation of joint projects in
energy sector.
Movsisyan, for his part, highlighted the importance of bilateral
cooperation with Iran in various energy fields and expressed
satisfaction with growing trend of bilateral cooperation with Iran.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN IT INDUSTRY TO BE PRESENTED AT GITEX 2005 EXPO
PanArmenian News Network
July 19 2005
19.07.2005 06:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) is planning
to present Armenian IT industry at GITEX 2005 EXPO, that will be
held on September 25-29 at Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, United
Arab Emirates. EIF provided this information to .am edition of
PanARMENIAN.Net. Since its inauguration over 23 years ago, GITEX now
tends to become one of the largest IT showcase in the world serving
as the leading event for over 2, 000 exhibitors from more than 60
countries and over 70, 000 visitors from across the globe. EIF has
been offered a booth. The main goal of the organizers is to present
the Armenian industry, attract new contacts and business partners.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPPOSITION “REPUBLIC” PARTY TO MAKE ASSESSMENT OF POLITICAL PROCESS
RELATED TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
YEREVAN, JULY 18., ARMINFO. We hope that our colleagues from the
Justice bloc will reconsider their approaches ot the constitutional
reforms otherwise our party will make its assessment of the process,
says the press sectretary of the opposition Republic party Suren
Surenyants.
He says that Republic is strongly against the opposition’s returning
to the parliament for discussing the constitutional reforms. Any
discussions of the document give the authorities a chance to feign
civil accord in the country. The key obstacle to Armenia’s development
is not in the constitution but in the ruling criminal regime. So
reforms are possible only under legal aurthorities.