Author: Kalantarian Kevo

FRANCE’S STANCE IMPLIES RETURN TO INQUISITION, SAYS DEPUTY PM ARINC

Anadolu Agency
Jan 24 2012
Turkey

Strasbourg (A.A) -Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said
Monday that “France’s stance (on the Armenian bill) implied a return
to the Inquisition”.

In a press conference held at the Council of Europe, Arinc said that
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his close colleagues supported an
Armenian bill that would criminalize the denial of Armenian allegations
pertaining to the incidents of 1915 due to local political reasons.

A bill that would punish a certain thought would imply going back to
the inquisition in France, Arinc stressed.

Certain international news agencies ignored Turks’ protests in Paris
against the Armenian bill and acted as if these protests did not take
place. This is a saddening situation, Arinc added.

Bulent Arinc said that Turkey had A and B plans regarding the Armenian
bill being debated at the French Senate today.

Arinc said that “in the event the Armenian bill got adopted at the
French Senate on Monday, Turkey had its A and B plans ready”.

We hope that the French senators act with common sense. Otherwise,
Turkey would react by utilizing legal, political and diplomatic
channels, Arinc stressed.

If adopted, the Armenian bill at the French Senate would criminalize
the denial of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apost. Church of America and Canada
H.E. Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Easter Prelacy and Canada
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
Web:

January 26, 2012

PONTIFICAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
TO EASTERN PRELACY IN OCTOBER ANNOUNCED

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and the Religious and
Executive Councils are pleased to announce that His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has accepted an invitation
to visit the Eastern Prelacy in October.

Jack Mardoian, Esq., a member of All Saints Church in Glenview,
Illinois, and Karen Jehanian, a member of St. Gregory Church in
Philadelphia, have been appointed co-chairs of the Pontifical Visit
National Steering Committee. The co-chairs have served in leadership
positions on the Prelacys Executive Council for a number of
yearsMr. Mardoian as chairman and Ms. Jehanian as secretary.

The Catholicos is expected to arrive in the United States on October
4, and remain until October 31. With guidance from His Holiness, the
theme of the visit has been designated as Witness and Renewal: Taking
the Church to the People. With this in mind, His Holiness will visit
all of the parishes and will focus his attention on parish renewal and
making the life of the Church a part of everyday life for the faithful
of all ages.

A National Steering Committee is currently being formed to oversee the
Pontifical Visit, as well as a number of sub-committees with specific
responsibilities.

Archbishop Oshagan noted, We are grateful to His Holiness for
accepting our invitation. This visit will be an occasion for all of
our parishes and faithful to welcome our beloved Vehapar, and a
magnificent opportunity to rededicate ourselves to our Christian faith
and Armenian heritage.

OBITUARY: ARMEN TANIELIAN

Archbishop Oshagan and the Religious and Executive Council expressed
profound sorrow on the death of Armen Tanielian, eldest brother of His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern
Prelacy. Mr. Tanielian passed away on Tuesday, January 24, in Beirut,
Lebanon, following a stroke. Bishop Anoushavan immediately left for
Lebanon upon receiving the news of his brothers serious illness.

Funeral services took place on Wednesday, January 25, at Forty Martyrs
Armenian Church in Beirut. Interment followed at the National Cemetery
in Bourdj Hamoud.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Bishop Anoushavan and all members
of the Tanielian family. May he rest in heavenly peace.

FRENCH SENATE PASSES GENOCIDE BILL

The French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian Genocide early this week, despite continuing threats of
retaliation by the Turkish government. The bill easily passed the
Senate; the lower house had already passed it in December.

Vive la France.

YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN BOOK

This Sunday, January 29, all of the Eastern Prelacy parishes will read
portions of the pontifical message of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of the Great House of Cilicia, declaring the year 2012 as the Year of
the Armenian Book.

His Holiness designation coincides with the 500th anniversary of the
printing of the first book in Armenian utilizing newly-developed
technology, and the recent selection of Yerevan by UNESCO as the Book
Capital of 2012.

In a recent sermon delivered at the Cathedral of St. Gregory the
Illuminator in Antelias, Lebanon, His Holiness said that the Armenian
book should remain the reliable friend of every Armenian and called on
Armenians in all walks of life to value the Armenian book. The
Armenian book should remain the reliable companion of the Armenian
family, the school, and community organizations. It will contribute to
the spiritual and intellectual growth of every Armenian. Because of
its power to enrich and enlighten, it will equip our people to enter
into dialogue with civilizations.

In his pontifical message His Holiness also noted: The book is a rich
source of knowledge; and knowledge generates faith and faithfulness,
responsibility and commitment; it enhances self-understanding and
promotes mutual respect and understanding. It is our wish that through
these efforts and other ways that you may think of, we shall
re-establish the centrality and vital importance of the book in the
life of the Armenian church and nation. We also hope that through our
commitment to Armenian published works, we shall strengthen our
national identity and deepen and broaden the dialogue with our
neighbors in different environments in which we live.

To read His Holiness message in English click here (

). For Armenian click here (

).

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EXHIBITION WILL OPEN IN APRIL

In honor of the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing, the Library of
Congress is planning an exhibit of Armenian treasures. The exhibit
entitled To Know Wisdom and Instruction, will open on April 19 and
will include a collection of Armenian manuscripts and printed
books. The exhibit will remain open to the public from April through
summer.

VICARS 40th ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

TO BE CELEBRATED ON MARCH 25

The 40th anniversary of the ordination of Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy, will be celebrated on Sunday,
March 25. His Grace will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday morning
at St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, where he served as the
parish priest for many years. This will be followed by a celebratory
banquet at Terrace on the Park in Flushing, New York.

GHEVONTIANTZ CLERGY GATHERING

The annual clergy gathering on the occasion of the Feast of
St. Ghevont and the Priests will take place February 13 to 16. Clergy
from the Eastern and Canadian Prelacies will be meeting jointly this
year at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey.

SEMINAR AT ST. ILLUMINATORS CATHEDRAL

At the invitation of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor, and the Board
of Trustees of St. Illuminators Cathedral in New York, a three-hour
seminar was held for the board members on Christian Basics, conducted
by Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Director of the Prelacys Armenian Religious
Education Council (AREC), yesterday evening, January 25.

BIBLE READINGS

Bible readings for Sunday, January 29, Third Sunday after Nativity,
Eve of the Fast of the Catechumens, are: Isaiah 61:10-62:9; 2 Timothy
2:15-26; John 6:15-21.

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force
to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When
evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and
started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had
not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was
blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus
walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were
terrified. But he said to them, It is I; do not be afraid. Then they
wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the
land toward which they were going. (John 6:15-21)

For a listing of the coming weeks Bible readings click here (

).

ST. GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN

This Saturday, January 28, the Armenian Church commemorates
St. Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory of Nazianzus). He is
a Doctor of the Church and one of the three Cappadocian Fathers (Basil
the Great and Gregory of Nyssa are the other two). He was a scholar in
Christian writings, especially the works of Origen and Greek
philosophy. His own writings, notably his five Theological Orations,
earned him the title The Theologian and he is remembered as one of the
great Fathers and Doctors of the Church.

By the light of the divine word you beatified the Church and dispelled
the darkness of ignorance from the souls of men; O master holy
Gregory, be our intercessor before the only-begotten Word of the
Father.

You revealed to the Church to confess as one the consubstantial nature
of the undivided Trinity; O master Saint Gregory, be our intercessor
before the only-begotten Word of the Father.

You taught to confess the saving economy of him who became man for us
as one Christ from two natures, a marvelous mixture; O master Saint
Gregory, be our intercessor before the only-begotten Word of the
Father.

Hymn to Saint Gregory the Theologian according to the Liturgical
Canons of the Armenian Church.

PAREGENTAN OF THE FAST OF THE CATECHUMENS

This Sunday, January 29, is the Paregentan (Mardi Gras) of the Fast of
the Catechumens. This occurs three weeks before Poun Paregentan (Eve
of Great Lent) and ten weeks before Easter, ushering in five days of
strict fast (dzom). According to tradition, the Catechumens were
instructed for several hours daily and required to stand through every
church service, separate from the baptized congregation. This
continued until Easter when the catechumens were baptized, anointed
and received their first Communion.

CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM CONFERENCE AT CATHOLICOSATE

A Christian-Muslim Conference on the Christian presence and witness in
the Middle East is taking place at the Catholicosate of Cilicia this
week. The conference, organized by the World Council of Churches, is
focusing on issues and challenges facing the Christian communities at
this critical time.

In his remarks during the opening of the conference, His Holiness Aram
I said, In view of the changing political landscape in the Arab world,
the Christian communities are called to engage in dialogue with all
trends of Islam which advocates democracy, coexistence, and
non-violence. The Catholicos told the participants that the Christians
are deeply concerned about their future in the Middle East, and
emphasized that the Middle East is at a crucial juncture of its modern
history and that although the present situation is depicted by some as
an Arab spring or Arab revival, and by others, the end of autocracies
and emergence of democratic processes or simply regime change, the
common denominator in all these characterizations is that the region
is in a process of transformation.

ERIC BOGOSIAN IN SEARCH OF TEHLIRIAN

Writer and actor Eric Boghosian will discuss his writing and acting
career as well as his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters
series, next Thursday, February 2 at The Cornell Club, 6 East 44th
Street, New York City, 7 to 9 pm. Admission is $75 for advanced orders
and $85 at the door. For students with valid ID the fee is $40 in
advance and $50 at the door. Advance orders accepted up to January
30. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) and for tickets go to
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 29Unprecented performance of two plays: The Foolish Man and
The Birthday Gift, and a concert of Armenian folk songs by the
celebrated State Puppet Theater of Armenia, organized by
St. Illuminators Cathedral and Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Society of New York. Donation: $10 for children; $20 for
adults. Event will take place at John Pashalian Hall, St. Illuminators
Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street, New York City. For tickets write to
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call
the Cathedral office 212-689-5880 or 404-538-5323.

February 2Inaugural lecture of the Hamazkayin Arts & Letters Series,
Searching for Tehlirian, by Eric Bogosian, discussing his writing and
acting career and his new book and ongoing research on Soghomon
Tehlirian, at the Cornell Club, 6 East 44th Street, New York City, 7
to 9 pm. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]) and for tickets:
hamazkayin.ticketbud.com/eric.

February 2Grammy composer Hayg Boyadjian will discuss his music during
a noontime Avak luncheon at St. Gregory Church, 158 Main Street, North
Andover, Massachusetts. Public is invited.

February 12St. Gregory Church, North Andover, Massachusetts,
Consecration of new baptismal font and special prayer for the newly
renovated sanctuary, and 42nd anniversary celebration, under the
auspices of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, at 1 pm in the churchs
Jaffarian Hall. Adults $40; children $10. Tickets must be purchased in
advance.

February 13-16Ghevontiantz Clergy Gathering, Eastern and Canadian
Prelacies, hosted by Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Mid-Atlantic Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey.

March 3Hovnanian Schools 35th Anniversary Gala at Westmount Country
Club, Woodland Park, New Jersey. Honorees are Dr. John Apovian and
Mr. Hratch Kaprielian. Cocktail hour 6 pm; dinner and dancing 7:30
pm. Art Exhibition during cocktail hour. Entertainment by Kevork
Artinian and his band; Ara Dinkjian; and Yuri Yunakov. $175 per
person. For reservations, information or sponsorship contact at:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or
201-967-5940.

March 17Mid-West Regional Seminar for Sunday School teachers, 10 am to
3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) at
St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan.

March 24New England Regional Seminar for Sunday school teachers, 10 am
to 3 pm, organized by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC)
at St. Stephens Church, Watertown, Massachusetts.

March 25Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielians ordination to the priesthood. Save the date.

May 9-12National Representative Assembly of Eastern Prelacy, hosted by
Sts. Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island. Clergy conference on
May 9; full delegation May 10 to 12. Accommodations at Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Warwick, Rhode Island. Details will be forthcoming to parishes
and delegates.

May 11-12National Association of Ladies Guilds (NALG), 30th
anniversary celebration and annual conference in conjunction with the
National Representative Assembly, Crowne Plaza, Warwick, Rhode
Island. For information: Mary Derderian 781-762-4253.

May 4 thru May 24Sixteen performances in May (including matinee
performances on Saturdays and Sundays) of Herand M. Markarians new
play commissioned by the New York State Theater Institute,
Silence. With award-winning actress Lorraine Serabian. This story of
love, loss, and relentless search by a women for her son after the
Armenian genocide of 1915, is directed by Kevin Thomson. Performances
at the Shell Theater in the Times Square Arts Building, 300 West 43rd
Street, New York City. Reserve tickets now ($18): SmartTix.com or
212-868-4444. For information: [email protected]
(mailto:[email protected]).

July 14Sts. Vartanantz Church Ladies Guild and ARS Ani Chapter,
Providence, Rhode Island, A Hye Summer Night VI dance, featuring
Hachig Kazarian, Richard Hagopian, Kenneth Kalajian, Jason Naroian, 8
pm to 1 am; $35 adults; $15 children 16 and under. At the Annunciation
Greek Orthodox Church, 175 Oaklawn Avenue, Cranston, Rhode
Island. Mezza will be served. Limited seating. For tickets and
information: 401-434-4467 (Joyce Bagdasarian); 401-354-8770 (Joyce
Yeremian).

Web pages of the parishes can be accessed through the Prelacys web
site.

To ensure the timely arrival of Crossroads in your electronic mailbox,
add [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to
your address book.

Items in Crossroads can be reproduced without permission. Please
credit Crossroads as the source.

Parishes of the Eastern Prelacy are invited to send information about
their major events to be included in the calendar. Send to:
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

MOSCOW REPEATS HOPE FOR KARABAKH TALKS PROGRESS

News.Az
Thu 26 January 2012 13:37 GMT | 13:37 Local Time

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that the work of all the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs contributed to the recent statement by the
Armenian, Azerbaijani and Russian presidents. The three presidents
issued the statement following their meeting in Sochi on 23 January
to discuss resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The statement noted the importance of moving on to draft a peace
agreement and said that the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia
expressed readiness to speed up agreement on the basic principles
for a peace deal.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Russia
hoped that this acceleration of the talks would have the desired
effect, Rossiya 24 reported.

“We do hope that acceleration of the negotiations will clarify
positions and lead to the adoption of the basic principles to clear the
way for work on a more complicated document – the peace agreement on
the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” the Russian Foreign
Ministry spokesman said.

NEW ANTI-HAIL STATIONS TO BE PLACED IN LORI PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
14:52, 26 January, 2012
VANADZOR

Last year anti-hail stations were laced in two communities of Lori.

This year with the co-financing of the state and the communities
anti-hail stations will be placed in other four communities, an
official from the agriculture and nature protection department of
Lori governor’s office told Armenpress. Besides, with the financing
of international donor organizations works are being carried out for
placing anti-hail stations in other communities of the province.

ARMENIA’S RULING COALITION PARTNER JOINS PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION’S INITIATIVE

news.am
January 26, 2012 | 15:48

YEREVAN. – Armenian ruling coalition’s Rule of Law Party, and the
National Assembly’s (NA) opposition ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Heritage
parties jointly petitioned to NA Speaker Samvel Nikoyan, and chairman
Davit Harutyunyan of NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

With the petition, these parties request the holding of parliamentary
hearings devoted to the matter of conducting 100-percent proportional
elections.

‘SPOTLIGHT’ ON OBAMA
By James Morrison

The Washington Times
January 25, 2012 Wednesday

Armenian-Americans predict that Washington will be the next diplomatic
battlefield after the French Parliament approved a bill that would
make it a crime to deny that the Turkish massacre of Armenians during
World War I was genocide.

“The spotlight is on President Obama,” said Aram S. Hamparian,
executive director of the Washington office of the Armenian National
Committee of America.

Turkish-Americans, however, say the French bill will have no impact
on the U.S. debate because France is “criminalizing thought,” said
Gunay Evinch, a former president of the Assembly of Turkish American
Associations.

The bill would impose a penalty of up to a year in jail and a fine
of $57,000 for denying that the killings amounted to genocide –
the deliberate attempt to eliminate an entire people.

Mr. Hamparian criticized Mr. Obama Enhanced Coverage LinkingObama
-Search using:Biographies Plus NewsNews, Most Recent 60 Daysfor
failing to recognize the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire as genocide.

When he was a U.S. senator, Mr. Obama supported congressional
resolutions on the Armenian issue. As a presidential candidate in 2008,
he promised Armenian-Americans, a small but powerful bloc, that he
would declare the massacre a genocide if he won the White House.

“He supported legislation as a senator that he opposes as president,”
said Mr. Hamparian, adding that Armenian-Americans will use the French
action as leverage to get Congress to adopt an Armenian resolution.

A House resolution is awaiting action in the House Foreign Affairs
Committee. A Senate resolution was sent to the Foreign Relations
Committee last year, but Chairman John F. Kerry, Massachusetts
Democrat, took no action.

Mr. Hamparian said he hopes that the Senate sponsors, Democrats Barbara
Boxer of California and Robert Menendez of New Jersey, will introduce
another resolution this year.

He praised the French bill as a “very principled stand.”

Mr. Evinch said that Turkish-Americans see the French bill as an
attempt to prohibit any independent research into the facts about
the Armenian massacre.

Turkey disputes Armenian claims of 1.5 million deaths. It insists
that about 500,000 Armenians were killed in an uprising during and
after World War I and that Turks and Kurds died at the hands of
Armenian rebels.

Asked whether the French action would affect the debate in Washington,
Mr. Evinch said, “I don’t think so. … It puts the issue in a
negative light.”

“As an American,” he added, “I can’t envision criminalizing thought.”

In Turkey on Tuesday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced
the French bill as “discriminatory and racist.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu over the weekend threatened
France with “permanent sanctions” if the assembly adopted the bill.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57
Muslim-majority nations, accused the French of approving the bill for
“political and electoral gain” to win support from some 500,000 ethnic
Armenians in France.

“We reject this law and consider it to be inconsistent with historical
fact,” the group said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to sign the bill within two
weeks, his office announced in Paris on Tuesday, while Foreign Minister
Alain Juppe appealed to France’s “Turkish friends” to stay calm.

OSCE REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE IN AZERBAIJAN

Vestnik Kavkaza
Jan 26 2012
Russia

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement will be discussed during
the visit to Baku of the special representative of the OSCE and
acting chairman of the South Caucasus committee, Patrick Murphy,
Trend reports on Thursday.

“I am coming here because at the beginning of this month I shall take
on the OSCE chairmanship,” Murphy told media in Baku. “I am a special
representative of the OSCE chairman. It is normal that I visit the
South Caucasus countries, one of which is Azerbaijan. We will discuss
the issues that arise between OSCE and Azerbaijan,” he added

OSCE Special Representative Andrzej Kasprzyk is already in Baku,
he informed.

TURKEY: TURKISH-FRENCH TENSIONS ENTER THE KITCHEN

EurasiaNet.org
Jan 25 2012
NY

Despite threats to punish France for its parliament’s recent passing
of a bill that would make it a crime to deny that the mass killing of
Armenians by the Ottoman state in 1915 was a genocide, Ankara for now
is holding back on hitting the French with any sanctions. But things
appear to be a bit different in the culinary realm. As the Financial
Times reports, while the Turkish government might be taking a more
patient approach, some Turks are talking about boycotting Sodexo,
a French company that is responsible for managing a large program
that allows Turkish companies to provide their employees with lunch,
either in-house or by going out using chits. From the FT:

Turkey is talking of boycotts in its increasingly bitter dispute
with France.

At the centre of attention: Sodexo, the French food company now the
target of Istanbul restaurateurs who say revenue from $2bn’s worth
of Turkish meals is at stake….

….”We will carry out a boycott against the people who are trying to
blacken the name of Turkey for political reasons in France,” declared
Sait Karabagli, the [Chamber of Istanbul Restaurant Owners] chairman,
announcing steps he said would hit not just Sodexo but also Ticket
and Multinet, two other French-owned food groups. “We and our 13,500
members have decided to say enough to the French companies,” he added.

Karabagli reckons $150m is at stake in the boycott he is proposing –
part of the reason for his action in the first place. He claimed the
French companies were exploiting Turkish restaurants by imposing an
eight per cent commission on $2bn or so or receipts – and also asked
for help for the Turkish state to get the commission come down.

Sodexo was unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, it appears that Turkey’s First Lady, Hayrunnisa Gul,
is practicing some dining diplomacy of her own. According to Turkish
reports, Gul is hosting a dinner tomorrow for the spouses of diplomats
in Ankara. Not on the guest list? The wife of French ambassador
Laurent Bili.

ARMENIAN COUPLE NAME NEWBORN ‘SARKOZY’

Hindustan Times

Jan 26 2012
India

couple in Armenia have named their baby Sarkozy — after the French
senate outlawed the denial of the Armenian genocide by Turkey.

The couple from Akhurik village expressed their gratitude to Nicolas
Sarkozy, RIA Novosti reported. The legislation calls for up to one
year in prison and a fine of about $58,000 for those who deny an
officially recognized genocide, said the New York Times.

Armenian daily Aravot said the three-kg baby has received a birth
certificate with the name Sarkozy Avetisyan.

The Armenian Genocide took place in the First World War. An estimated
1.5 million Armenians were killed under the Ottoman Turks.

Turkey has never acknowledged that the mass killing of Armenian
people was a crime against humanity. The government says the deaths
were never an attempt at wiping out a whole race.

Turkey and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since the latter became
independent following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY DISCUSSES BORDER SECURITY WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIAL

news.am
January 26, 2012 | 12:24

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Arthur
Baghdasaryan received Thursday a delegation led by Valentin Sobolev,
Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia.

The interlocutors discussed the 2012-2013 Cooperation Program, which
the Armenian and Russian Security Councils signed at the end of 2011,
NSC Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Arthur Baghdasaryan noted that this program’s measures are being
carried out effectively, and, in this context, he underscored the
upcoming visit to Armenia by Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the
Security Council of Russia.

The parties also examined the border security cooperation, the
implementation of joint projects in emergency situations, military
industry cooperation, and the establishment of Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO) Information Centers.

In his turn, Valentin Sobolev stressed the high level of cooperation
between the security councils of Armenia and Russia, and expressed
confidence that all measures will be fully materialized.