Author: Hambardsumian Paul

KARABAKH PRESIDENT MEETS MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

armradio.am
17.11.2008 10:22

NKR President Bako Sahakyan met co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
Matthew Bryza (USA), Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) and Bernard Fassier
(France), Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR
President reported.

A wide range of issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement was discussed at the meeting. Special attention was paid
to the Moscow declaration signed by Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian
presidents.

Bako Sahakyan underlined that Artsakh values any document that
can contribute to the establishment of a civilized dialogue in the
Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement process. In the meantime,
the Head of the State noted that the settlement process will be
impossible to make comprehensive without full-fledged participation
of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic, especially taking into consideration
that Artsakh has its view on the settlement of the conflict.

The co-chairs in their turn reaffirmed that without consent and
participation of Nagorno Karabakh and its people it will be impossible
to settle the conflict.

NKR foreign minister Georgy Petrosyan and Personal Representative of
the OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk partook at the talks.

SEYRAN OHANYAN RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL COUNSELOR GROUP

; p=0&id=667&y=2008&m=11&d=17
13.11. 08

On November 13, 2008 the Minister of Defense of the republic of
Armenia, Mr. Seyran Ohanyan received the international counselor
group supporting the strategic examining of defense.

At the beginning of the meeting Minister greeted the guests noting
that today cooperation is going on in such an important field as the
strategic examination of defense is.

During the meeting Seyran Ohanyan stressed the importance of the
counselor group’s work as such a measure is being organized in Armenia
for the first time. Then he noted that by the decree of RA President
Serzh Sargsyan interdepartmental council was established.

At the end of the meeting Minister Ohanyan expressed a hope that
intergovernmental council will manage to have a document at the end
of the works, which will be a base for planning long-lasting defense
projects.

RE-ELECTION IN SEVERAL COMMUNITIES

A1+
[06:07 pm] 17 November, 2008

Revoting took place in Armenian marzes of Aragatsotn, Shirak and
Gegharkunik on November 16.

Non-party candidates Ruben Sahakyan and Robert Sirakanyan stood for
the community head of Vardadzor, Gegharkunik marz. After the reelection
Robert Sirakanyan took up the post.

Republican Rita Hovhannisyan lost to Yurik Avalyan in Chambarak,
Gegharkunik marz.

Nonpartisan Grigor Sargsyan was elected head of Mantash community
in Shirak marz. He won over his Republican contender with nine
additional votes.

Republican Gevorg Sargsyan, non-party candidates Samvel Baghdasaryan
and Anatoli Grigoryan ran in Aragatsotni marz. Remind that during
an October 26 vote Gevorg Sargsyan beat Samvel Baghdasaryan with an
additional vote. In the result of revoting Samvel Baghdasaryan was
elected head of the commune.

MEETING IN FOREIGN MINISTRY

Panorama.am
17:13 13/11/2008

Today the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan met the
Chairman of Parliament of Cyprus Republic Marios Garoyan. Greeting
the guest, Minister Nalbandyan said that Armenia is satisfied with
developing relationship between Armenia and Cyprus. The Foreign
Minister has signified the role of Armenian community in Cyprus.

Marios Garoyan has also highly evaluated bilateral relationship
mentioning that there is a need to strengthen them and to use
the potential more actively. The officials discussed cooperation
perspectives of the Parliaments, reported the public relations
department of the Foreign Ministry.

ARMENIAN PREMIER CHARGES YEREVAN MAYOR TO PREPARE REPORT ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION IN CAPITAL

ARKA
Nov 13, 2008

YEREVAN, November 13. /ARKA/. The RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
charged Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan to prepare a report on illegal
construction in the capital.

"The National Assembly deputies made an inquiry about the situation of
illegal construction in Yerevan and we have to give them an exhaustive
answer," he said at parliamentarian sitting.

Premier Sargsyan stressed the Mayor’s report must include information
on the situation of illegal construction in Yerevan as well as on
activities the Government must undertake to prevent the process.

"The issue worries all residents of Yerevan. We have discussed it in
the Government, but there are some discrepancies in the responses of
the City Planning Minister and Yerevan Mayor," said the Premier.

Yervand Zakharyan stated there is a necessity for studying this issue
in principle and in-depth as the problem of illegal construction is
very serious both for Yerevan and other regions of the republic.

"I offer to discuss the problem at the sitting of the Committee
of Ministers on November 20, and then submit to the Government for
examination," he said.

RECALLING THE CATASTROPHE OF EUROPEAN JEWS THE WORLD CAN’T FORGET ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2008 GMT+04:00

No president or prime-minister of Turkey will ever lay a wreath on
the Memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, even if it
costs them a membership in the EU.

Last week Germany and Israel marked 70 years since "Kristallnacht"
(Crystal Night), Jewish pogroms in Nazi Germany, which served as
a prelude to the Catastrophe of European Jews (the Holocaust). On
the night of 9-10 November 1938 Jewish property was destroyed,
and thousands of synagogues were demolished and set on fire by the
Nazis. About a hundred Jews were murdered and thousands were arrested
or deported to concentration camps. The bloody pogroms received the
name "Crystal Night" or "The Night of Broken Glass" for the countless
broken windows of Jewish shops and houses covering the streets of
German cities.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem,
Sunday, November 9 concerts, prayers and ceremonies were vowed
to mark the 70th anniversary of the tragic Nazi-incited riots in
Germany. German chancellor Angela Merkel, who was present at a
ceremony in Germany’s newly renovated largest synagogue, declared:
"We must not be silent to any manifestation of extremism. The lessons
of the nation’s past were crucial in confronting a current increase
in xenophobia and racism. Anti-Semitism and racism are a threat to
our basic values – those of democracy and respect for diversity and
human rights."

The words of Angela Merkel, as well as those of Konrad Adenauer
and other German chancellors prove that a truly civilized nation
will always be potent enough to recognize its bloody past and try
to repair its relations with other nations. In 1969 then Chancellor
Willy Brandt knelt in front of the Warsaw Ghetto memorial and asked
forgiveness for the crimes committed by his people in Poland.

Hence how does it happen that the Holocaust, which is of utmost
interest to Armenians since it occurred "thanks to" concealment of
the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire, now draws more attention
in the world than the first Genocide of the 20th century? One of the
reasons, if not the key one, is the "silent" position of Official
Ankara. For 93 years Turkey has not found itself strong enough
to recognize this fact and put a full stop to vain disputes of
politicians. Armenians might have their share of fault in all this,
since unlike the Jews they tried to survive by escaping to sheltering
countries. Be that as it may, today recalling the Catastrophe of
European Jews, the world simply can’t forget about the 1.5 million
of Armenians slaughtered in the years of the World War I.

Historical facts, which Turkish politicians love to appeal to when it
comes to the Armenian Genocide, state that Germany had its share in
the process of extermination of the Armenian nation by simply offering
the Young Turks a carte blanche for slaughter. Historian Toros Saryan
adduces strong proof on a secret agreement between Germans and Turks,
according to which Turkey was to take Germany’s side against Russia. In
exchange for it German diplomats were to shut their eyes to deportation
of Armenians from Western Armenia. Moreover, according to another
agreement of 2 August 1914 the Ottoman Empire expressed its consent
to German General Liman von Sanders to be in command of the Turkish
Army. Nevertheless, even with the German general the Turkish troops
were unable to defend themselves against the Entente, and Russia
in particular. And then they found a scapegoat in the person of the
Armenian population.

However, we are more interested in the position of victim
parties. Thanks to their solidarity the Jews were able to make Germans
pay for the Holocaust, otherwise the latter would go down in history
with the stamp of "murderers and tyrants". Germany did it and it is
still paying off great compensation to the prisoners of concentration
camps. And what are Armenians doing? Till 1991 it was only the Armenian
Diaspora that struggled for recognition of the Genocide, but, of
course, it could not do what a government can. Nevertheless, if we take
into account the time limits and the greater resistance of Official
Ankara as compared to Germany, it should be admitted that Armenia
has achieved some progress, though no president or prime-minister of
Turkey will ever lay a wreath on the Memorial to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide, even if it costs them a membership in the EU.

SERIES OF EVENTS DEDICATED TO HRACHYA GHAPLANIAN’S 85TH AND YEREVAN DRAMATIC THEATRE’S 40TH ANNIVERSARIES

AZG Armenian Daily
13/11/2008

Culture

Ten-day events dedicated to Hrachya Ghaplanian’s 85th anniversary of
birth and Yerevan Dramatic Theatre’s 40th anniversary of foundation
will start November 14.

A ceremonial meeting will be held, as well as performances will be
given in the framework of the events, head of literary department
of Yerevan Dramatic Theatre, prose-writer Norayr Adalian told
"Armenpress".

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: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF THE "IMAM KHOMEINI" UNIVERSITY

His Holiness Aram I received yesterday the President of the Imam Khomeini
International University of Iran. The Iranian academic was accompanied in
his visit to Antelias by the cultural attaché of the Iranian Embassy in
Lebanon, as well as five professors and five doctoral candidates from Iran.

The purpose of the visit was to get closely acquainted with the Armenian
Church, its spiritual and administrative structure, its diocesan
configuration and its religious principles. The meeting also became an
opportunity to talk about the dialogue of religions and Christian-Muslim
cooperation in particular.

Having recently returned from the third Christian-Muslim dialogue conference
in Iran, His Holiness provided his guests with vast details about the
successes achieved by this dialogue thus far and its future projects.

##
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: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I, PATRIARCHS SHENOUDA II AND ZAKKA I
CALL FOR A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM

Meeting in the Coptic Patriarchate of Cairo, His Holiness Aram I of the Holy
See of Cilicia and His Holiness Patriarch Shenouda III released a joint
declaration with regard to the sad incident between Armenians and Greeks in
Jerusalem recently. The Spiritual Leader of the Syrian Orthodox Church, His
Holiness Patriarch Zakka I expressed his support for the declaration.

In their joint declaration the spiritual leaders expressed sadness at the
clashes between the two groups. They emphasized the respect for the historic
rights of all churches in Jerusalem and the importance for resolving
misunderstandings and sensitivities through mutual understand. The
declaration also stressed the need to strengthen Christian unity in the
Middle East.

His Holiness Aram I visited Cairo on a one-day trip to meet with Patriarch
Shenouda II. He was accompanied by Bishop Nareg Alemezian.

##
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.

BAKO SAHAKIAN: KARABAKH ISSUE NOT TO BE SETTLED, SINCE NKR DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN TALKS

De Facto
Nov 11, 2008

YEREVAN, 11.11.08. DE FACTO. All attempts to settle Karabakh conflict
without participation of its principal party – Nagorno-Karabakh –
are inferior, Nagorno-Karabakh President Bako Sahakian stated
in an interview with Freedom Radio Station commenting on an
Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian Declaration on Karabakh conflict
settlement, Regnum reports.

"Naturally, the fact that international community, the region’s
countries and mediators try to influence and bring the issue to a
logical end is welcomed. The matter concerns a dialogue, and during
all these years we have underscored the necessity of a dialogue in
our statements.

Undoubtedly, any dialogue positively influences on the issue’s
settlement, however, at the same time we have noted that the dialogue
and all efforts undertaken by the Minsk group and especially Russia
are inferior without NKR’s participation" he noted. Answering a
question what was being done for Karabakh to become a talks’ party
Sahakian stated that at all meetings, especially those held with the
Minsk group Co-Chairs "we request and, why not, demand that they
exercise their authorities and restore the broken format, realize
the Budapest summit decision, according to which NKR is a valuable
party of the negotiations".

Bako Sahakian noted the same work was being realized with RA
authorities.

"We welcome the talks within the Minsk group frames, however, the issue
will not find its final solution, since NKR does not participate in
the talks", the President noted. Answering a question which minimal
concession NKR is ready to make taking into consideration the fact that
the Moscow Declaration reaffirmed that Madrid principles, which imply
some concessions, should be the talks’ basis, Sahakian underscored that
participation in the talks was important for NKR, after which it will
become possible to discuss the whole package of proposals. "We have
some viewpoints, however, being deprived of participation in the talks,
we cannot put them forward … we realize that all principle should
be first of all be coordinated with Nagorno-Karabakh authorities",
he underscored.

Sahakian’s reaction at possible dislocation of peacemakers in the
conflict zone was the same. "Until we are a conflict party all answers
to such questions bear declarative nature".