Author: George Mamian

Pope Francis said on Monday that  oil and weapons seem to weigh more on the scale of economic interests than the  lives of thousands of Christians in the Middle East, and while proclaiming peace and justice the world tolerates traffickers of death, Vatican Radio reports.

The Pope’s  words of condemnation were pronounced as he greeted participants of ROACO’s 88th Plenary Assembly in the Vatican.

In his address the Pope said the continuing conflict in the Middle East “make us feel the cold of a winter and a frost in the human heart that never seem to end”, and he remarked that “the land in these regions, crossed by the footsteps of those who seek refuge, is irrigated by the blood of so many men and women, including many Christians persecuted for their faith.

Pope Francis spoke with gratitude of the daily work and experience of the “sons and daughters of the Eastern Churches and their Pastors”, who share the suffering of the people and carry out the work of listening and service that is inscribed in the statute of the agencies coordinated by the Congregation for Eastern Churches.

He encouraged the delegates to continue in their humanitarian assistance with a Christian approach promoting people and nations with compassion and mercy.

Looking back to the drama that has been unfolding in the past months, Pope Francis said it would appear that the world’s conscience has been jolted and it has opened its eyes to the fact that Christians have been present in the Middle East for millennia.

And with a heartfelt appeal, Pope Francis encouraged those present to “continue the service of Christian charity, to denounce all that tramples on human dignity.”

Pope Francis also noted that during the Assembly particular attention with be devoted to the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

According to the Official Vatican Network, on the occasion of the centenary memorial of the Medz Yeghern suffered by the Armenian people, a session will be dedicated to the Armenian Catholic Church in Eastern Europe, which is present in Georgia and Russia, as well as Armenia.

Turkey’s Christian minority will be represented in the Turkish parliament in greater number after a long absence as four members of the community will become deputies after the June 7 elections, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

The results of the parliamentary election, one of the most critical and closely fought in years, ended the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) 13-year one-party rule, while also propelling four members of the Christian minority to the legislature.

Markar Esayan, an Armenian-Turkish journalist for the pro-AKP daily Yeni Şafak, entered the parliament on an AKP ticket as the 12th candidate from Istanbul’s second election area.

Selina Doğan, from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was elected as the first deputy candidate from the second election area of the CHP’s Istanbul list. Doğan, who is of Armenian origin, practices law as an attorney.

CHP head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said while introducing Doğan as a candidate that her candidacy was an important message for the world.

“We do not want division in this society. We want to grow and develop together,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in early April.

Two Christians will also enter parliament from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) ticket, one from Istanbul and the other from the southeastern province of Mardin.

Garo Paylan, who ran for parliament as the second nominee from the HDP’s third election area in Istanbul, holds Armenian roots and is listed as a trainer on the Supreme Election Board (YSK) candidate list.

Erol Dora, who is a member of Turkey’s Syriac community and a lawyer, was the HDP’s third deputy candidate from Mardin and an incumbent in the legislature.

In addition to the four Christians, two members of Turkey’s small Yazidi community were also elected for the HDP – Feleknas Uca from Diyarbakır and Ali Atalan from Batman.

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has conceded the election to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda following the release of exit polls, BBC News reports.

They suggested Mr Duda had taken the run-off vote by 53% to 47%.

Mr Duda had edged Mr Komorowski, who had been the favourite, in the first round but did not gain the 50% needed to win outright.

The president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

The exit polls had been delayed after a woman died at a polling station on Sunday.

Official results are expected later on Monday.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan has congratulated world-famous chansonnier Charles Aznavour on 91st birthday anniversary, wishing him good health, inexhaustible energy and ever new creative achievements.

“The United States as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues the efforts to solve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Today, we continue our efforts in this direction,” APA quotes US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta as saying.

According to him, the co-chairs have been negotiating with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia to organize a meeting of the presidents this year. He said “the leaderships of both countries must demonstrate the will to take a step based on the ideas proposed by the Co-Chairs towards a peaceful resolution of the protracted conflict.”

Armenia can pay tribute to victims of past atrocities and ensure protection under the rule of law for future generations by joining the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Coalition for the ICC said today.
Armenia is the May focus of the Coalition’s Campaign for Global Justice, which encourages states to join the Rome Statute—the founding treaty of the only permanent international court to try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
In a letter this week to President Serzh Sargsyan, the Coalition urged Armenia to take the necessary steps to join the 123 other ICC member states and help end to impunity.
“As a country of a nation who has survived through genocide, Armenia should be a pioneer in spreading jurisdiction of international justice and in particular that of ICC,” said Artak Kirakosyan, chairman of Civil Society Institute Armenia. “It’s high time to remove the political and legal barriers to ratifying Rome Statute by the Republic of Armenia.”
Although Armenia signed the Rome Statute in 1999, its constitutional court ruled in 2004 that the Statute was incompatible with the Armenian constitution and could not be ratified. However, a constitutional review begun in 2013 could pave the way for necessary amendments to allow for ratification. In March this year, the president approved a reform strategy that provides for such an amendment, however the actual constitutional amendment process may not commence before 2016.
“By joining the ICC, Armenia can pay homage to victims of the past, present, and future and ensure that ‘never again’ becomes a reality by helping to put an end to impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes,” said Kirsten Meersschaert Duchens, the Coalition’s regional coordinator for Europe.

The creation of the radio in 1895 changed a lot in our life. The radio reached Armenia in 1926, and this year the Public Radio of Armenia celebrates the 89^th anniversary.

Speaking on the threshold of the Radio Day (May 7), Armen Amiryan, Executive Director of the Public Radio of Armenia, said “today the Public Radio is both a cultural haven and classic media.

Armen Amiryan does not share the opinion that with the creation of television, radio lost its role and importance. “Technically the Public Radio is more accessible to public,” he told a press conference today.

The Executive Director said “we use all possible modern technologies to make the Public Radio accessible to listeners and readers.” These include the three-language website, social networks, mobile applications, etc.

The Public Radio of Armenia broadcasts in fourteen languages, including Azerbaijani and Turkish. According to Armen Amiryan, this is natural, as “every country in conflict has a message to convey to the neighbors.”

The Executive Director said efforts should be directed at covering the whole FM band in Artsakh to silence the signals of the neighboring countries. The issue was recently discussed with NKR President Bako Sahakyan, he said.

In Entertainment, UK
April 19 2010

Al Pacino’s portrayal of Jack Kevorkian
Filed Under: Movies | By: Tina Chubb

Veteran actor Al Pacino ` best known for his roles in movies such as
`The Godfather,’ `Scarface,’ `Carlito’s Way’ and `Scent of a Woman’ `
has been receiving rave reviews recently, for his portrayal of Dr.
Jack Kevorkian aka `Dr Death.’
81-year old Dr. Kevorkian, who claims he has assisted 130 of his
patients to die, is now the subject of a television movie called `You
Don’t Know Jack.’ And Al Pacinso, who will be celebrating his 70th
birthday soon, is playing the lead role.

The movie, which is also said to star Susan Sarandon, will be screened
on 24th April in the United States. Dr. Kevorkian ` a right-to-die
activist ` was convicted of second degree homicide in 1999, and jailed
in Michigan. He was then released in 2007.

Pacino said that he had not actually met Kevorkian, but says that he
did speak to him and studied television footage of him in preparation
of playing the part. The actor said that he sees Dr. Jack Kevorkian as
a doctor who cares for his patients.

19/al-pacinos-portrayal-of-jack-kevorkian/

WASHINGTON INTERESTED IN ARREST OF ARMENIAN JOURNALIST IN TRANSDNIESTRIA

Tert.am
15.04.10

No detail on the arrest of Armenian national journalist Ernest
Vardanyan in Transdniestria will be publicized till the end of the
investigation, the President of the Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic
Igor Smirnov said at a meeting with US Ambassador to Moldova Asif
Chaudhry in Tiraspol, quoted by the Regnum news agency.

In response to the American diplomat’s question why Vardanyan was
arrested, Smirnov has reportedly said that he had violated the
Transdniestrian law.

Vardanyan was arrested by Transdniestrian state security services on
April 7 on high treason charges. According to the local law he can
face 12-20 years in prison for high treason.

Moldovan authorities are also interested in Vardanyan’s release and
have called on Transdniestrian authorities to set him free.

Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Osipova was reported saying that
"such trick by the political police may add tension in the region,"
adding that Vardanyan’s arrest make his case an unprecedented one
which can kick up wide international response.

Vardanyan is well-known in Moldova as an independent journalist whose
articles and commentaries are often critical of officials in both
Chisinau and Tiraspol.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

17340.html
10:58:32 – 30/03/2010

In 2010, 9, 5 percent of growth of world trade is expected. This is the
prediction of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Pascal Lami. In 2009, the world trade circulation dropped by 12
percent.

WTO experts predict an 11 percent increase of trade scale in developing
countries, while in developed countries – 7, 5. "This means light
at the end of the tunnel which is good news for the world economy",
said WTO head Pascal Lami.