Author: Greg Madatian

PATRIARCH KIRILL: "I FELT AT HOME IN ARMENIA"
Milena Faustova

The Voice of Russia
March 19 2010

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II. Photo: RIA Novosti A joint communiqué between
the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church has been
signed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Catholicos
of All Armenians Garegin II.

Patriarch Kirill, who was enthroned last February, came to Armenia in
line with the long-standing tradition committing any newly-elected
Orthodox hierarch to pay his personal respects to the heads of
autocephalous Orthodox churches around the world.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the oldest branches of
Orthodoxy. Armenia adopted Christianity in 301 A.D., becoming the first
country to proclaim it as its state religion. Despite canonical and
ritualistic differences, the Russian and Armenian Orthodox churches
have much in common. The joint declaration signed this week reflects
their shared spiritual past and determines their future relations. A
spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate, Father Philipp Ryabykh, hailed
the significance of the document:

The declaration stipulates the joint protection of Christian values
in the modern world at a national, regional and international level.

Also, it pledges cooperation in the social sphere and in dealing with
pseudo-religious organizations. Special attention is given to the
exchange of experience in providing spiritual guidance for servicemen,
youths and convicts. Both sides confirmed their intention to open
church representations in Russia and Armenia.

During his visit, Patriarch Kirill spoke much about the peacekeeping
mission of the Orthodox Church in the Caucasus. Paying tribute to
victims of Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire at a memorial in
Yerevan, he urged Armenians to overcome the past without forgetting it
and think more about the present and future. In his speech at Yerevan
State University, the Patriarch, on behalf of the Russian church,
vowed to continue peacemaking efforts towards promoting a solution to
Armenia’s long-standing dispute with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

He called for closer spiritual and cultural ties between nations:

"The values that cement the basis of our national and spiritual life
are, in the first place, moral values. This is a system of coordinates
that gives man orientation in life. In Armenia, I saw that our nations
profess shared values rooted in our common religion. I am convinced
that the shared aspects of our nations’ historical being form a single
whole. And the rest, including politics, is secondary and should by
no means destroy these shared values".

The Patriarch said that during his visit he had felt at home and not
as a guest. He promised to step up efforts to bolster friendship
between Russians and Armenians. On the last day of his trip, His
Holiness consecrated the symbolic first stone for a new Orthodox
church in Yerevan.

JUDGE ORDERS "ARARAT BRANDY & WINE" TO HAND OVER FINANCIAL REPORT

/
2010/03/04 | 16:30

court

At today’s trial session in the on-going legal battle between the
German firm "Ostinvestor" and Gagik Tsarukyan’s "Ararat Brandy and
Wine", Judge Melkumyan sustained the motion of "Ostinvestor" to have
Ararat Brandy hand over company documents regarding the valuation of
50% of stock owned by "Brandy Bridge.

"Ostinvestor" had requested the account information from Ararat
Brandy but never obtained the documents. Davit Danielyan, one of
the German firm’s attorneys, warned that they would petition the
Compulsory Enforcement Service to procure the paperwork if Ararat
Brandy disregarded the court’s ruling. Judge Melkumyan postponed the
trial until he heard back from Ostinvestor as to whether they had
received the report or not.

ARMENIAN PREMIER OPENS INTERNET-DIARY

ArmInfo
2010-01-18 15:32:00

Arminfo. Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sarkisyan has opened an
Internet-diary The
blog contains only one message in Armenian: ‘It is important for me to
present the image of my ideas to you. In our dialogue with the press it
often makes a reader to agree to the views expressed by it. I think an
opportunity of direct dialogue will be useful for us. For this reason,
I have created a field for my thoughts and ideas, in which you will
directly express your views about my ideas and actions. One should
understand that our knowledge and imagination about the surrounding
world may depreciate. People change which I am working with, you
demands and expectations from me and visa versa also change.

I think we need mutual communication’, – the message says. The total
of 46 comments have been already received, one of which offers to
open the blog in Russian and English so that to extend readership.

MP: NEXT YEAR BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FUND FOR MASS MEDIA

APA
Nov 12 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev – APA. Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament)
continued discussion over the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2010
and heard proposals of lawmakers, APA reports.

MP Samad Seyidov said the budget bill considered funding of nearly 70
embassies and consulates and 51 million AZN were allocated for this
field as against 45 million in 2009. Seyidov called it as good case
and said there was no reduction in budget allocations.

Shamsaddin Hajiyev said successful policy of recent years secured
Azerbaijani economy.

Baba Taghiyev proposed to increase resources allocated for Public
Broadcasting Company and defense expenditure. "Armenia has military
bases and special military equipments in Gumru. From this view,
Azerbaijan should increase its defense expenditure".

Lawmaker Akram Abdullayev demanded to intensify care and attention
for youth in the country and to increase resources allocated for
this sphere.

Bakhtiyar sadigov spoke about the government care for the press and
said not enough resources were assigned for the Government Support
Fund for Mass Media. "Azerbaijani press will celebrate its 135 years
anniversary soon. If the assignment is increased, it will promote
realization of credits for the press".

Hikmet Atayev proposed to elaborate program for the development of
nut production, otherwise this sphere will end its existence, said
the lawmaker. Atayev said modern medical equipments were purchased
for the country, but the doctors couldn’t use it. He said experts
should be sent abroad to improve their skills.

Ali Huseynov said increase and reduction in the budget should be
accepted as normal. He also proposed to hold attestations in the
filed of high education in the country. He said it was not correct
to squander existing resources.

The discussions are continuing.

WCO SECRETARY GENERAL TO MEET WITH ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT

Aysor
Oct 23 2009
Armenia

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya paid his first visit to Armenia
to be introduced with praised reforms, implemented in customs system.

Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, Gagik Khachatryan, and WCO
Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya, presented meeting’s results to
journalists at a joint press-conference.

"The strategic reforming programs were carried out with direct
participation and contribution of World Customs Organization," said
Gagik Khachatryan. He praised the realization of a joint "Columbus"
project aimed at assessment of the capacity of customs-houses in
different countries over the world. WCO Secretary General Kunio
Mikuriya underlined that the reforming programs had "political
support".

It’s also expected that WCO Secretary General will meet with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan.

INTERNATIONAL TELETHON WILL TAKE PLACE IN NOVEMBER BY THE INITIATIVE OF ALL-ARMENIAN FUND "HAYASTAN"

ARKA
OCTOBER 21, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 21. /ARKA/. In November International Telethon
will take place by the initiative of All-Armenian Fund "Hayastan",
informed the agency "Novosti Armenia" on Wednesday.

International Telethon will be broadcasted on November 26 and will be
devoted to rehabilitation of Shushi which suffered during Artsakh war.

Armenian organizations of West coast of USA called all Armenians to
support the initiative of the Fund and participate in telethon and
make generous donations for the above mentioned goal. Prosperity and
security of borders of Armenia depends on every Armenian. All-Armenian
Fund "Hayastan" was founded in 1992.

Its main task is to implement national projects. The head of the
Fund is the President of Armenia and many well-known Armenians from
Diaspora are the members of the Board of Trustees.

MONUMENT TO THE GREAT ARMENIAN POET AND ASHUG SAYAT-NOVA ESTABLISHED IN CENTRAL YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2009 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The bust of the Armenian poet, ashug Sayat-Nova
was established October 16 at the center of Yerevan.

"We must remember our brilliant and talented ashugs. They have enriched
our culture and laid the basis for its further development, " a French
sculptor of Armenian origin, the author of the bust Toros Raskelenian
said. Toros Raskelenian was awarded the Legion of Honor of the French
Republic and the Order of Movses Khorenatsi of the Republic of Armenia.

Toros Raskelenian as early as in April this year, expressed willingness
to gift a monument to Sayat-Nova to Yerevan, the monument is dedicated
to the memory of the sculptor’s mother.

The bust unveiling ceremony was attended by the mayor of Yerevan
Gagik Beglaryan and the Minister for Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan.

"We will try to have as much as possible such remarkable sculptures
in Yerevan," the mayor Gagik Beglaryan said.

Sayat-Nova, Haroutiune Sayadyan – (1712-1795), Armenian poet,
musician, ashug (Caucasian folk poet and singer), a master of
love poetry, was born in a family of a native of Aleppo settled
in Tiflis. Nineteen-year-old young men he had left to wander for 7
years. It is still a riddle which countries had Haroutiune Sayadyan
visited.

He returned Tiflis with Sayat-Nova name, which means "king of songs"
or "lord of music" in Hindi, as Hovhannes Tumanyan suggested.

Rumour about the amazing ashug immediately spread over the town. After
listening to the singing of Sayat-Nova, King Irakli II generously
rewarded him and made his court ashug .

Sayat-Nova, serving as the head of the palace ensemble, lived at
the court more than 10 years and eventually became a victim of the
intrigues of the nobles. The king told him to take the vows. Sayat
Nova was named Stepanos, obtained the rank of Archimandrite and
became a member of the brotherhood of the Haghpat Monastery near the
Georgian border.

He remained there until of war with a fierce eunuch Agha Mohammed
Khan fro Turkic dynasty of Qajars, occupied the Persian throne. In
1795 Tflis fell under the onslaught of hordes of Aga Mohammad-Khan
and the 83-year-old monk was found killed in the Armenian cathedral
church of Surb Gevorg. Sayat Nova was buried in the place of his
death – under the north wall of the Church of Surb Gevorg.

AZERBAIJANI MINISTERS GO TO YEREVAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 28 2009

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Azerbaijani ministers go to Yerevan for the
first time after 20% of Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Armenia.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports reports that youth
and sports minister Azad Rahimov and minister of labor and social
protection and president of the Azerbaijani Judo Federation Fizuli
Alakparov go to Yerevan. The visit aims at providing of participation
of Azerbaijani delegation in the championship of Europe on judo,
to be held in Armenian capital in September.

Within the frames of visit of ministers new agreement is planned
to be concluded between the sports departments of two countries,
in accordance of which receiving party obliges to solve all issues,
connected with safety and organizational moments. So, in the case of
victory of the Azerbaijani sportsman the flag of the republic should
be raised, the hymn of the republic should sound, and at this moment
all people in the hall should rise. In addition, all issues of the
information support of the Azerbaijani delegation should be solved.

In 2007, similar agreement was concluded by the parties to provide
participation of Armenian delegation in the World Championship
Wrestling which passed in Baku. The European Judo Union, the European
Olympic Committee and the Armenian authorized bodies are guarantors
of new agreement.

SERZH SARGSYAN DOES NOT HAVE CONCRETE LOGICAL POSITION: AZERBAIJANI SENIOR OFFICIAL

Today.Az
cs/54367.html
Aug 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani President’s Administration’s International Affairs
Department Chief Novruz Mammadov spoke in an interview with APA.

APA: Is there a need for Azerbaijan to accept the suggested agreements
in the present stage?

Novruz Mammadov: I reiterate that the question is Madrid
principles. All are aware of the Basic Principles. It is shown in
the Madrid Principles and Azerbaijani President repeatedly stated
that the conflict should be solved within Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. The problem should be solved stage by stage. First of all,
Azerbaijan’s 5, or 6 regions, then 1 or 2 regions should be emptied,
after that IDPs should be settled, peacekeepers deployed, after that
reconstruction should follow and communications open. At the same time
settlement process of 1 or 2 regions should take place, even refugees
and IDPs should simultaneously return to Nagorno Karabakh. After that
Nagorno Karabakh’s autonomy should be solved within Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. Armenia often changes its position for fear
of losing its power.

Q: Some say pressure is exerted on Azerbaijan in connection with
these agreements. Are there any pressures on Azerbaijan?

A: Those who say it are mistaken, they tell a lie, or express biased
views. I attend Azerbaijani president’s meetings, see his character
and will. Therefore, I can say that Azerbaijan is one of the countries
where there is no pressure, influence on domestic or foreign policy. It
is impossible to influence Azerbaijani president. The president is
pursuing independent foreign policy to ensure the interests of the
state. The representatives of various countries note this both in
the region and in the international arena. The poll conducted by
the Gallup Institute has been released recently. According to the
poll, Azerbaijan is the country where there is the strongest ties
and confidence between the leader and people. There is no such an
indicator in other countries. Why should the president having such
a support undergo any pressures? It is impossible. Pressures are
exerted on weak countries.

Q: Does Armenia agree with the high autonomous status proposed by
Azerbaijan?

A: This issue is being discussed in the negotiations. If there is an
agreement on this issue, we will express concrete position. There is
still no a full agreement on that and therefore it is impossible to
say anything.

Q: Who will determine transitional and final status reflected in the
Basic Principles?

A: Of course, this status will be determined by Azerbaijan. No one
else can determine it. Azerbaijan’s goal is that the conflict is
solved peacefully through the negotiations. The transitional status
means the return of internally displaced persons to the occupied seven
regions of Azerbaijan, as well as Nagorno Karabakh, reconstruction
work there, restoration of communications, deployment of peacekeeping
forces and creating transitional corridor between Nagorno Karabakh and
Armenia. It will take at least 5-6 years. The return of internally
displaced persons is not an easy process. This process can take 7-8
to 10 years. Everything was destroyed there and it is not easy to
reconstruct it and to return to the normal conditions. It will take
years. Our main goal and the co-chairs’ position is that the process
will go on and the people can provide their previous life style and
then we can review the issue of status, which must be resolved within
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. There is no other way.

Q: Is any document will be signed during presidents’ Chisinau meeting
in October?

A: I can not say anything yet. Let the co-chairs visit the region
and after that we can review the question. Everything depends on the
Armenia’s position, let us to see it.

Q: Armenian president Sargsyan made terms before Ankara to visit
Turkey. He said he wouldn’t visit Turkey to watch football match in
October if the borders were not opened. How do you value his position?

A: It shows that Sargsyan has no concrete logical position on the
solution to the conflict and relations with the neighbor country. He is
frequently changing his position. How it can be that Turkish president
visited Armenia, but he says that he will not visit Turkey. It is
like kids’ game. They make terms and think that they will achieve
something. This is wrong. Therefore I wouldn’t like to comment on
this issue. There is no ground for his move. The opening of the
borders depends on other factors and the Armenian president should
understand that.

Q: There are reports about Matthew Bryza’s appointment as an ambassador
to Azerbaijan…

A: This is a business of US. President Obama and the State Department
know which country Bryza will be appointed to.

Q: Turkmenistan said it would sue Azerbaijan at the International
Court of Arbitration Arbitrary over the Caspian issues. What is the
Baku’s position on that?

A: We didn’t receive official documents about that and there is no
need to make comments on media reports. I think Turkmenistan and
Azerbaijan have deep historical roots. Azerbaijani president visited
Turkmenistan and Turkmen president visited Azerbaijan in previous
years. The Caspian issues have not been solved between us yet. There
are different thoughts about that. But the most optimal and profound
decision is to solve such issues through the useful negotiations. It
will bring better results. There is no concrete report that they
will appeal the International Court of Arbitration. We can express
an opinion after the official confirmation. It is important for
us to solve this issue. There are many factors on the basis of our
position. Our thoughts have scientific and practical basis. I think
the issue will be solved sooner or later and the two countries will
have normal relations again.

AIRCRAFT CRASHED 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKING OFF

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
15.07.2009 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The plane traveling from Tehran to Yerevan crashed
near the city of Kazvin 15 minutes after take-off from the capital’s
Imam Khomeini International airport, killing all 153 passengers and
16 crew members on board.

The causes of the crash are being clarified.

Iranian media says this is the first crash in Caspian Airlines’
history.