Author: Kajoyan Gevork

GEORGIA: LAW ON RELIGIOUS GROUPS’ STATUS MAY BOOST ARMENO-PHOBIA MOODS

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2011 – 21:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – One of leaders of Georgia’s Christians-Democrats
Levan Vepkhvadze thinks that the Law on Religious Groups’ status may
bring to armeno-phobia and xenophobic tendencies.

In this connection, Vepkhvadze calls on ruling party to assume
responsibility.

“The point is that the authorities had fears connected with high
prestige and rating the Church has. They found a moment for breaking
the prestige. The fact that after requests and appeals of Church the
authorities nevertheless passed the draft law may arouse indignation
among peculiar population,” Vepkhvadze said, as reported by Georgia
Online.

Amendments to Georgian Civil Code on granting the status of legal
persons to religious units in Georgia have entered into force.

According to the acting law, the Georgian President has 10 days
to adopt a positive decision either veto it, or return it to the
Parliament for corrections. Georgian parliament introduced amendments
to Civil Code, granting the status of legal persons of public law to
5 religious units – Armenian Apostolic Church, Roman Catholic Church,
the Muslim community, the Jewish community and the Baptist church in
Georgia. Law of Georgia defines a legal person of public law as an
organization separated from the state bodies, created by the relevant
law, enact of the President of Georgia or by the administrative act of
state bodies, adopted on the basis of law, which conducts political,
state, social, educational, cultural and other public activities. The
issue of Armenian Apostolic Church status is in the agenda of the
Armenian-Georgian relations. Within the visit of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians to Georgia, the
Georgian side offered to provide Georgian Orthodox Church in Armenia
the same rights as the Armenian Apostolic Church has in Georgia.

KAREN BEKARYAN SAYS AZERBAIJAN’S ACTIONS RESTRICTING JOURNALISTS’ ACTIVITIES UNACCEPTABLE

ARMENPRESS
JULY 7, 2011
YEREVAN

The Azerbaijani authorities’ actions, directed to the restriction
of activities of journalists covering the Nagorno Karabakh issue,
are unacceptable, according to Karen Bekaryan, expert, chairman of
“European Integration” NGO.

Karen Bekaryan commented on a release by “Reporters without Borders”
that expresses concerns about such actions by the Azerbaijani
authorities. The expert said many international establishments speak
about this; however no any step is undertaken to prevent it. “This
is an indirect proof of that the international establishments should
work with the Nagorno Karabakh directly, because if Azerbaijan does not
allow reporters to do their job, it means the international community
must not be aware of Nagorno Karabakh. The only thing that can balance
this is working in Nagorno Karabakh,” Karen Bekaryan said.

ANATOLY TADEVOSYAN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE ARTSAKH REPUBLIC COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE

ARMENPRESS
JULY 7, 2011
STEPANAKERT

On 7 July President of the NKR Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on
appointing Anatoly Tadevosyan chairman of the Artsakh Republic Court of
First Instance releasing him from the post of the judge of the court.

According to another Presidential decree Spartak Grigoryan was
appointed a judge of the NKR Court of First Instance.

The newly appointed judge took the oath in the presence of Artsakh
Republic President Bako Sahakyan.

The NKR President underlined that replenishing the sphere with young
and experienced specialists is considered among the pivotal factors
of the system’s development.

MALAYSIA INTERESTED IN STRENGTHENING TIES WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 7, 2011 – 17:09 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On July 7, the newly appointed Malaysian ambassador
to Armenia H.E. Dato’ Zainol Abidin Omar (residence in Moscow),
submitted a copy of his credentials to Armenia’s Deputy Foreign
Minister Karine Kazinian.

The parties expressed interest in development of Armenia-Malaysia
relations. As the ambassador noted, he’ll take his best efforts to
intensify bilateral ties.

The meeting further focused on discussion of bilateral cooperation and
regional issues, Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service reported.

KARABAKH PRESIDENT MEETS WITH DIASPORA PHILANTHROPISTS

Tert.am
07.07.11

President of the Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received on 6 July
a group of philanthropists arrived from the USA headed by Andreas
Roubyan, president’s press service reported.

Issues related to the realization of different programs in Artsakh
were discussed during the meeting.

Special attention was paid to the art sphere, particularly the
development of painting in our republic.

The Head of the State underlined that the assistance of philanthropists
in this sphere was demanded and is considered among pivotal components
of both the comprehensive development of the younger generation and
integration of Artsakh into the civilized world.

Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Narine Aghabalyan, MP Karine
Achemyan and other officials attended the meeting.

LE SERVICE SPECIAL D’INVESTIGATION N’A PAS ENCORE REALISE DES PROGRES NOTABLES
Stephane

armenews.com
jeudi 7 juillet 2011

Hayots Achkhar, 168 Jam et Aravot relèvent que le Service special
d’investigation n’a pas encore realise des progrès notables dans
la nouvelle enquete sur les emeutes postelectorales de 2008. Vahagn
Haroutiounian, chef du service, a declare qu’aucun des quelque 100
temoins interroges au cours des deux derniers mois n’a fourni de
renseignements d’importance. ” L’enquete se poursuit avec la meme
intensite, mais nous n’avons pas de revelations a vous faire “,
a-t-il declare. Il a ajoute que des centaines d’autres citoyens qui
ont assiste ou participe a ces affrontements seront interroges durant
les prochains mois. Au sujet d’un enregistrement video recemment
publie sur Youtube qui montrait un homme en uniforme ouvrir le feu en
direction des manifestants, Vahagn Haroutiounian a declare que son
equipe a examine la video et peut confirmer que les tireurs etaient
des policiers, mais les enqueteurs sont incapables de les identifier
en raison de la mauvaise qualite des images. ” Nous allons demander
un examen [plus detaillee] impliquant des experts balistiques et des
specialistes en informatique pour essayer de comprendre de quel genre
d’armes il s’agit sur ce film “, a-t-il ajoute.

Ambassade de France en Armenie

Service de presse

LES AUTORITES S’INQUIETENT DE L’EMIGRATION MASSIVE
Marion

armenews.com
jeudi 7 juillet 2011

Hranush Hakobian, ministre de la Diaspora, s’inquiète des vagues
massives d’emigration en Armenie mais ne considère pas cela comme une
” catastrophe nationale “.

Lors d’une conference de presse, mercredi 6 juillet, elle a reconnu,
pour la première fois, que ces trois dernières annees l’Armenie a
perdu une partie de sa population a cause de l’emigration.

Un groupe de chercheurs armeniens a recemment adresse une lettre
ouverte aux dirigeants politiques du pays en leur demandant une action
immediate sur ce qu’ils considèrent comme une tendance dangereuse
qui affecte l’economie et met en peril la nation armenienne.

La ministre a attribue ces flux migratoires aux mauvaises conditions
sociales et economiques. EN revanche, elle a insiste sur le fait que la
plupart des migrants, en particulier ceux qui partent pour la Russie,
le sont temporairement et ont pour but de rentrer chez eux a l’avenir.

” Ils ne quittent pas l’Armenie pour toujours. Ils cherchent un emploi
pour permettre a leurs familles de rester ici “, a souligne H.

Hakobian.

La ministre a par ailleurs suggere que les detracteurs du gouvernement
armenien, en particulier ceux de la diaspora, devraient prendre des
mesures concrètes pour aider a resoudre les problèmes sociaux et
economiques en Armenie, par exemple en investissant et en creant
des emplois.

” Notre objectif est de stimuler l’immigration, et aujourd’hui, nous
observons egalement que plusieurs personnes viennent s’installer en
Armenie. ”

La première vague d’emigration a frappe l’Armenie peu après son
independance en 1991. Elle s’est poursuivie durant le conflit du
Haut-Karabagh. Sur une population de 3,8 millions, on estime qu’environ
800 000 Armeniens ont quitte le pays durant cette periode.

La reprise economique, durant les annees 2000, a ralenti l’emigration
sans pour autant la stopper.

Les recentes statistiques officielles montrent que près de 80 000
personnes ont quitte le pays au cours des trois dernières annees.

L’opposition et certains medias avancent que ce nombre pourrait
s’approcher en realite de plusieurs centaines de milliers de personnes.

Gagik Yeganian, a la tete du Service d’Etat de migration, a, en mai
dernier, dementi tout bilan negatif de la balance migratoire ces
dernières arnnees.

Le recensement de la population armenienne doit avoir lieu cette
annee. Le precedent recensement effectue en 2001 estime la population
a environ 3,2 millions.

HAND IN HAND, AGAINST THE STATE
YEGHISHEH METSARENTS

Lragir.am

06/07/2011

The wave of protest is gathering momentum in social networks. The
protest is against the reconstruction of the churches of Haghartsin
and Gandzasar, which distorts the historical and cultural value of
these historical and cultural monuments.

In particular, the wall around the monastery of Gandzasar is being
faced, in a way the wall around the mansion of an oligarch would be.

It was known that the sponsor is, in fact, an oligarch, Levon
Hayrapetyan, a Russia-based businessman, born in Vank village,
Karabakh. Gandzasar is near Vank village, on the height. Levon
Hayrapetyan sponsors Vank, funds reconstruction, helps the village
people to maintain the area, creates jobs. He has established a
woodworking workshop which is not so dynamic, in fact. He has built
hotels, restaurants in the village.

However, too much beauty is not beautiful. Too much love and devotion
produce the opposite effect. The Russia-based businessman thought the
wall around Gandzasar dated 13th century must be improved, made more
beautiful, and therefore the wall is being faced. The NKR Ministry
of Culture announced that it hadn’t authorized facing of the wall
because it distorts the historical environment. Nevertheless, the wall
dating from the 13th century continues to be faced. Interestingly,
the leadership of the Diocese of Artsakh has appealed to the NKR
Ministry of Culture for permission, whereas the church was thought to
be the first to thank Levon Hayrapetyan for his willingness to help
the church but explain that a modern finish on a historical building
is harm rather than help.

It is not ruled out, of course, that the idea of facing occurred to the
Diocese which turned to Levon Ter-Petrosyan for sponsorship. In any
case, the ultimate responsibility of the leadership of the Armenian
apostolic Church is concerned. In addition, this is not a singular
case but a frequent phenomenon.

Evidence to this is the reconstruction of the monastery of Haghartsin.

Recently it became known that reconstruction distorts the historical
look of the monument. Moreover, cases of vandalism were reported,
namely the cross-stones and reliefs were smashed by builders to make
the bed of the stream.

Recently there have been other negligent cases of reconstruction of
churches with distortion of the historical and cultural value of
these monuments which were carried out with the connivance of the
Armenian Apostolic Church leadership. Although, there is no need to be
surprised because judging by the recent behavior of this leadership
they are concerned about the achievements of world car industries
and vacant road sections in Yerevan rather than the historical and
cultural environment.

The Armenian clergy leadership with their values, ideas of social
life does not differ from the secular leadership of Armenia. Moreover,
they form an organic union and a harmonious whole, advocating mutual
interests at the expense of total distortion of the environments
within their domains of rule.

SEROP DER-BOGHOSSIAN “SEX” TRIAL OFF TO ROCKY START
Larisa Paremuzyan

hetq
July 6, 2011

American-Armenian businessman Serop Der-Boghossian refused to enter
the Lori Regional Court in the presence of reporters today at the
start of his trial. Der-Boghossian is charged with engaging in
“involuntary sexual activities” with minors.

His attorney successfully petitioned the court to have the journalists
removed.

Prosecuting attorneys Aram Amirzadyan and Hovsep Sargsyan promised this
reporter that an explanation of what transpired would be forthcoming.

The trial was later postponed to July 21 so that attorneys could
familiarize themselves with the case materials.

VATICAN TO CO-PUBLISH A BOOK ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
July 6, 2011

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Vatican will co-publish a book with documents
and information about the Armenian Genocide.

According to Agenzia Giornalistica Italia, the papers are from the
Vatican Secret Archives, and, to quote Monsignor Sergio Pagano, the
clergyman who runs the archives, “they make me feel ashamed to be a
man. Without faith, they’d make me see only darkness.”

Pagano’s announcement was made during the presentation of the “Lux
in Arcane” exhibition, which opens next February in Rome to show one
of the world’s most important collections of papers, with documents
from the 8th century to the 20th century. Lined-up, they would cover
85 kilometers.

With regards to the Armenian Genocide, “when I read documents about
the torture practices used by the Turks against the Armenians, I feel
an irrepressible sense of pain and horror,” Pagano said.

According to the prefect, some of the papers describe how Turkish
soldiers “bet and played dice to guess the sex of a child before
stabbing him or her with a bayonet after extracting them out of
the womb.”

During the presentation, Pagano, the prefect of the Vatican Secret
Archives, also announced that within two or three years, the papers
concerning World War II and the pontificate of Pius XII will be ready.

The current pope will then be able to decide whether to release them
to the public, as many expect, or not.

The exhibition will also present less traumatic but equally relevant
historic documents, including the Letter of the Peers of England to
Clement VII on the matrimonial cause of Henry VIII (1530), the codex
of the trial of Galileo Galilei (1616-1633), the Letter of Empress
Helena of China on silk and the Letter of American Indians to Leo
XIII on birch bark.