Author: Kalantarian Kevo

The New York Times
Nov 29 2014

Pope Brings Message of Interreligious Peace to Istanbul

By SEBNEM ARSUNOV. 29, 2014

ISTANBUL — On the second leg of his trip to Turkey, Pope Francis was
welcomed on Saturday by curious bystanders and tourists from around
the world as he visited the historical district here to deliver his
message of further interreligious dialogue for peace.

Istanbul, which is home to several cultural landmarks for both
Christians and Muslims, offered the pope an ideal venue to put his
message into action. The pope, 77, first visited the Sultan Ahmet
Mosque of Muslims, then Hagia Sophia, now a museum but formerly the
leading temple for Eastern Orthodox Christians. Both monumental
structures overlook the same yard.

Pope Francis visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern
Turkey’s founder, in the capital city of Ankara on Friday.

In Turkey, Pope Francis Advocates Dialogue in Battling
‘Fanaticism’NOV. 28, 2014

Pope Francis, offering a “message of hope” to the European Parliament,
gave a strikingly frank critique of Europe’s malaise.

At European Parliament, Pope Bluntly Critiques a Continent’s Malaise
NOV. 25, 2014

In the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, the pope
did not wrap his hands under his chest to resemble the Islamic
tradition, as did his predecessor, Benedict XVI, in 2006, but he bowed
his head and clasped his hands alongside the city’s senior cleric for
a two-minute silent prayer, both facing the direction of Mecca. “May
Allah accept it,” said Rahmi Yaran, the grand mufti of Istanbul, as
the two finished their prayers.

Outside, a small but enthusiastic group of Christians waved Turkish
and Vatican flags, played guitars and cheered “Papa Francesco” as the
pope smiled and waved before entering the Hagia Sophia museum, which
dates to the sixth century.

The church was converted into a mosque after the 1453 Ottoman
conquest, and made a museum in 1935. Some ultranationalist groups have
protested to demand that it again serve as a mosque.

Live coverage of the visit showed Francis listening to the museum
director, Hayrullah Cengiz, who pointed at Islamic inscriptions and
adjoining images of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus.

Security measures included 7,000 police officers on duty in the
historical neighborhood, which is often crowded with tourists, and the
restriction of trams and pedestrian crossings.

Christians in Turkey number about 100,000 — including Armenians,
Orthodox Christians and Catholics — out of a population of 74 million.

“It is symbolically important that the spiritual leader of a different
faith visits Turkey to promote peace among civilizations,” said Tatyos
Bebek, an Armenian-Turk who lives in Istanbul.

During meetings Friday in Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
of Turkey and the head of the religious affairs directorate, the pope
repeated his call for interreligious dialogue, rather than military
action alone, to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, especially in
Iraq and Syria, where the Islamic State has been gaining ground.

On Saturday, Islamic State militants launched two suicide attacks with
explosive-laden vehicles at the border crossing of Mursitpinar, the
Turkish town near Kobani, Syria, where Islamic State and Kurdish pesh
merga forces have battled since late September. Four pesh merga
fighters were killed and 18 injured, CNN Turk television reported.
Planes from the United States-led coalition struck the radicals’ bases
in the area after the attack, said the report, quoting witnesses.

A group of Iraqi Christians who were forced to flee Mosul after the
Islamic State raided the Iraqi city in June were excited to see the
pope in Istanbul.

“Muslim Christians are dying in Iraq,” said Tony Quta, who has applied
for refugee status with the United Nations Humanitarian Refugee
Council. “I am very happy to see him today, I came to see him, and I
thank President Erdogan for everything.”

Turkey shelters at least 1.6 million refugees from Syria and maintains
an open-border policy for Iraqi and Syrian civilians who have escaped
violence.

The pope’s visit is considered a message of solidarity with the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, which represents
nearly 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. It has been based in
Constantinople, now Istanbul, since the sixth century, though the
institution is not recognized by the Turkish state.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, speaking to reporters on Saturday,
praised the cooperation between the churches and said that he and Pope
Francis would continue to pray “together for the unity of our churches
of the divided Christendom as well as the peace in the Middle East and
around the globe.”

Both leaders were expected to discuss concerns about the fading of
Christianity in its historical birthplaces and threats against their
communities in the Middle East, officials of the patriarchate said.

“In our journey of faith and fraternal living,” Pope Francis said in
his sermon at the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul,
“the more we allow ourselves to be humbly guided by the Spirit of
Lord, the more we will overcome misunderstandings, divisions, and
disagreements and be a credible sign of unity and peace.”

Pope Francis calls for respect for religious freedom on trip to Turkey

10:15 * 29.11.14

Pope Francis demanded respect for religious freedom during a meeting
with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, a call that
will resonate particularly with Christians who say they suffer
discrimination in a country where Islam has reasserted itself in the
public sphere, WSJ reported.

At the start of a three-day visit to Turkey, the pope also reaffirmed
his belief in dialogue between religions, saying it could be a key
part of bringing peace to the region. Relations between Christian and
Muslims have come under strain in recent months amid violence against
Christians by Islamic extremists in Syria and Iraq, with some critics
saying Islamic leaders haven’t denounced the atrocities strongly
enough.

“It is essential that all citizens–Muslim, Jewish and Christian–both
in the provision and practice of the law, enjoy the same rights and
respect the same duties,” the pope said. “Interreligious and
intercultural dialogue can make an important contribution to [peace],
so that there will be an end to all forms of fundamentalism and
terrorism.”

Pope Francis’ outreach to Islam during his 20-month papacy has earned
him praise by Muslim leaders. In making his comments, the pope walked
a fine line between extending a hand to Muslim leaders and prodding
them to do more to guarantee the rights of non-Muslim minorities, at
home and across borders.

Mr. Erdogan, a pious Muslim who has scaled back the rigid secularism
that long reigned in Turkey, held up the country’s Islamic-infused
democracy as a model for reconciliation in a region torn by sectarian
strife. But the country’s small Christian population argues its rights
are being trampled.

Mr. Erdogan welcomed the pope’s call for religious tolerance while
pointing out that Islamophobia was on the rise. He underlined the
issue of “increasing prejudice and intolerance against Muslims.”

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California)
November 26, 2014 Wednesday

Montebello installs Jack Hadjinian as its first Armenian mayor

by Mike Sprague

MONTEBELLO >> Councilman Jack Hadjinian was elected mayor Tuesday,
becoming the first Armenian American to be selected to that position.

Nearly 800 were present at the meeting held in Bagramian Hall at the
Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Cathedral.

Today is a historic day, said Araksya Karapetyan, a Fox 11 news
anchor. I m so proud as an Armenian to be standing before you. This is
not just a big day. It s an important day for all Armenians living in
America.

Hadjinian, who was elected to the Montebello City Council in 2011,
succeeded Bill Molinari as mayor. Councilman Art Barajas was elected
mayor pro tem.

Councilwoman Vivian Romero called the evening special.

It was truly a historic moment, Romero said. Here we are in 2014 and
we ve never had a Armenian mayor, Romero said. It also is the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. That makes it even more special.

Many public officials from Southern California attended the meeting,
including Sheriff-elect Jim McDonnell who swore in Hadjinian as mayor,
and Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian.

It s a great moment for you and your family and a great moment for
Armenian-Americans everywhere, Krekorian said.

Also present was Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, who is prelate of
the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. He delivered the invocation
at the meeting.

Hadjinian said he was humbled and grateful to be named mayor.

As a native resident of Montebello whose roots go back three
generations, my love and commitment to the growth and prosperity of
Montebello has grown even deeper, he said.

My inspiration comes from my family, he said. It was in this city that
my grandfather and uncles all purchased their first homes to
experience the American dream.

As mayor, Hadjinian said he wants the council to get along.

We don t always agree on the issues, but we can agree that we are
passionate about the good will of the city, he said. Next year will
require some tough decisions to be made. We must work together for
benefit of the city.

The council in the next year is expected to decide on a proposed
housing development in the Montebello hills, as well as how to provide
relief for blockages caused by trains on four streets in south
Montebello.

TURKEY’S DEMANDS AND WISHES UNACCEPTABLE TO ARMENIA – RUBEN MEHRABYAN

14:06 * 28.11.14

In commenting on a statement by Thomas de Waal, Senior Associate in the
Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment, that any decisive
step on Turkey’s part will cause a domino effect, political scientist
Ruben Mehrabyan told Tert.am that the statements are far from reality.

At a presentation of a book on Nagorno-Karabakh in the Turkish
language, Mr Thomas de Waal stated that, after signing protocols with
Armenia and reopening the border, Turkey may demand that Armenia cede
some regions of Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The statements are far from reality for the simple reason that Turkey
is incapable of such a step now or in the foreseeable future,” the
expert said.

“Despite being the West’s ally, Turkey acted in opposition to the
West’s strategy over both the Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as
over the Crimea, Black Sea, Islamic State and policy in the Caucasus,”
Mr Mehrabyan said.

With respect to the remark that Turkey has no right to interfere
in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict or set a precondition involving
Nagorno-Karabakh, he said:

“Any country that has to date had a constructive position and wants
to help has a moral right to that. But Turkey has lost this right
due to its biased policy. Turkey claims Azerbaijan is its brother
and the conflict must be resolved in Azerbaijan’s favor. That state
is not saying anything else, and interfering in the conflict in this
way means supporting Azerbaijan. It is unacceptable to Armenia.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

ANTI-CORRUPTION PLATFORM LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA

13:25 * 28.11.14

Armenian civil society organizations have embarked on an
anti-corruption coalition project in an effort to raise the society’s
awareness and perception of the pressing problem.

The initiative, launched by the joint efforts of Armenian Young Lawyers
Association and Freedom of Information Center of Armenia, is aimed at
fostering civil society NGOs’ role in the implementation and promotion
of anti-corruption reforms, says Karen Zadoyan, the project’s manager.

“In the frameworks of this project, the monitoring and control
mechanisms for penitentiaries and the media will be strengthened
and anti-corruption trainings will be organized for NGOs and the
media in Armenia’s regions to promote a better understanding of
corruption-related problems and freedom of information. Small grants
will be offered for raising public surveillance and implementing
investigative projects. As a result, we will promote a sustainable
dialogue between NGOs and the government,” he told today the
participants of an event adopting the coalition’s declaration for
2014-2018.

The coalition is an EU-funded project envisaged for three years. Its
total budget is 650,000 Euros.

CLOSED-DOOR MEETING WITH US ENVOY IN ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENT

13:46 * 28.11.14

US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern is conducting a closed-door
meeting with members of the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations.

No details have been unveiled as to the issues on the agenda.

Alexander Arzumanyan (Heritage faction), one of the Committee’s members
who left the discussion room for just a few minutes, said they are
considering Armenia’s treaty to join the Eurasian Economic Union.

“I give no comments,” he told our correspondent, adding that the
discussion is confidential.

The Committee periodically organizes meetings with foreign ambassadors
accredited to Armenia. Earlier, its members had one meeting with
Russian Ambassador Ivan Volynkin and two meetings with Mohammad
Raiesim, the ambassador of Iran.

Armenian News – Tert.am

YEREVAN TO ENHANCE COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE WITH BUENOS-AIRES

YEREVAN, November 28. /ARKA/. Armenia’s minister of agriculture Sergo
Karapetyan discussed on Thursday cooperation with the delegation
of the Argentinean ministry of agriculture and the ambassador of
Argentina to Armenia Diego Alvarez Rivera.

The sides talked about future prospects of bilateral cooperation in
agriculture. Key directions of the cooperation were defined in the
bilateral agreement signed back in 2011.

The potential for cooperation is great as Argentina has one of the
best rural sectors in the world, the Armenian minister said.

Karapetyan expressed hope the meeting will open the doors for closer
cooperation between the countries, the press office of the ministry
reported.

The minister has also invited his Argentinean colleague to visit
Armenia in 2015.

The delegation of Argentina visited a few research centers, processing
plants and farms as part of their visit to Armenia. Some important
fields of cooperation were outlined, including crop farming, livestock,
meat processing, construction of slaughteries, food safety procedures,
anti-hail technologies and irrigation systems. -0–

L’ARMENIE POURSUIVRA SES EFFORTS DIPLOMATIQUES AFIN DE TROUVER UNE SOLUTION POUR RECUPERER LES CORPS DES PILOTES

ARMENIE

La presse du jour relaie les propos du Ministre de la Défense, Seyran
Ohanian, selon lesquels, a l’heure actuelle, la partie arménienne
continue a déployer des efforts pour résoudre le problème créé
a la suite de la destruction de l’hélicoptère par des moyens
diplomatiques.

Le Ministre a dit espérer que les ” voisins ” finiront par
comprendre qu’en vertu des normes humanitaires, ils doivent permettre
l’accès a l’endroit du crash de l’hélicoptère, l’étude du terrain
et le transfert des corps des pilotes. ” D’autres solutions demeurent
en vigueur, mais a l’heure actuelle nos efforts sont concentrés
sur la solution du problème par la voie diplomatique ”, a-t-il
conclu. Prié de commenter la déclaration des coprésidents du Groupe
de Minsk , le Ministre a estimé que le travail diplomatique de la
partie arménienne, les rencontres avec les représentants des pays
membres du GDM de l’OSCE, l’Ambassadeur Kasprzyk, le CICR ont donné
un résultat qui s’est traduit par la déclaration des coprésidents
du GDM, ceux-ci ayant appelé l’Azerbaïdjan a permettre l’accès
a l’épave de l’hélicoptère. Le Ministre s’est dit convaincu que
la destruction de l’hélicoptère avait été préméditée et que
l’ordre avait été donné par avance. ” L’hélicoptère a été
abattu lors d’un vol d’entrainement et sur notre territoire, ce qui
est une violation de toutes les normes internationales ”. Prié de
commenter les propositions de l’Azerbaïdjan d’échanger les corps
des pilotes arméniens avec les deux ” saboteurs ” azerbaïdjanais,
le Ministre a invité a adresser cette question aux ” autorités ”
du HK, ajoutant qu’il est évident que les ” saboteurs ” ayant
commis un crime devaient en assumer la responsabilité.

Alors que les médias azerbaïdjanais ont accusé, hier, les forces du
HK d’avoir tué un soldat azéri, le porte-parole du ” Ministère de
la Défense ” du HK a fermement rejeté ces accusations, indiquant
que les forces du HK n’avaient rien a voir avec la mort du soldat
azerbaïdjanais.

Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun fait état de la lettre de l’Ombudsman
Karen Andreassian au Commissaire aux droits de l’Homme du Conseil de
l’Europe, Nils Muižnieks, invitant celui-ci a contribuer pour sa part
aux efforts visant a faire retourner les corps des pilotes arméniens.

Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun relaie également les propos du Président
de la Chambre des représentants de Chypre, Yiannakis Omirou, lors
d’une conférence de presse a Erevan, ayant condamné la destruction
de l’hélicoptère par l’Azerbaïdjan et jugé inadmissible le
comportement de celui-ci : ” Le respect envers les soldats décédés
est une loi qui a des siècles. Même pendant les guerres elle est
respectée. Ce comportement des autorités azerbaïdjanaises est donc
inadmissible ”.

Hayots Achkhar commente la déclaration du Groupe de Minsk, qui, aux
yeux de l’auteur de l’article, ne diffère pas beaucoup de celles, de
la même teneur ” vague ”, diffusée par les médiateurs a la suite
d’autres provocations azerbaïdjanaises. L’article en veut aussi au
porte-parole du Département d’Etat américain, qui, sollicité pour
commenter l’interdiction par Bakou d’autoriser l’accès de la mission
de l’OSCE au site, avait indiqué qu’il n’avait ” rien a ajouter ”
sur ce qui avait été dit, a savoir que cet incident traduisait une
fois encore la nécessité de redoubler d’efforts en vue de trouver
une solution au conflit du HK. Le journal estime que cette ” langue
de bois ” de la communauté internationale donne le droit a la partie
arménienne et aux forces armées du HK de décider elles-mêmes les
mesures a prendre pour retourner les dépouilles des pilotes. L’article
met toutefois en garde : ” après les mesures de l’Arménie,
ce sera le tour de l’Azerbaïdjan de s’adresser aux organisations
internationales pour récupérer les corps de ses militaires ”.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Arménie
en date du 21 novembre 2014

vendredi 28 novembre 2014, Stéphane ©armenews.com

IRAVUNK: HERITAGE ACTIVISTS DO NOT SUPPORT RAFFI HOVANNISIAN

12:27 28/11/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Zaruhi Postanjyan and other members of Heritage Party publicly oppose
the position of party leader Raffi Hovannisian, in particular with
regard to joint activities of the three non-government parties,
Iravunk writes.

“However, it turns out that deputy chairman of Heritage Party Armen
Hovhannisyan is not either, to put it mildly, delighted with Raffi
Hovannisian’s statements. In an interview with Hayots Ashkharh, he
said, “Of course I have my own view about the matters Mr Hovannisian
touched upon and other issues. But I believe it correct to maintain
party discipline…I prefer voicing my viewpoints inside the party
and presenting publicly only the decisions of the majority.” “It
is obvious that Armen Martirosyan disagrees with Raffi Hovannisian,
but from considerations of “party discipline” he does not publicize
his position, unlike Postanjyan, who, according to Martirosyan,
“enjoys wider freedoms,”” the newspaper says.

Source: Panorama.am

AZERBAIJAN INVOLVES UKRAINIAN JOURNALISTS – THE AUTHORS OF THE TV PROGRAMME ABOUT KARABAKH IN THE BLACK LIST

by Nana Martirosyan

ARMINFO
Thursday, November 27, 12:43

Azerbaijani Embassy in Ukraine has expressed protest to this country’s
Foreign Ministry regarding “15 republics” program aired on “1 + 1”
TV channel on November 23, 2014, Lenta. ru reported.

According to the embassy, “1 + 1” channel tried to cast a shadow over
socio-political system of the Republic of Azerbaijan, achievements
the country gained in the years of independence, distorted the causes
of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and praised
occupying Armenia and the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“A letter of protest has already been sent to the abovementioned TV
channel, as well as journalists Konstantin Andriyuk and Dmitry Volkov,
who without the consent of the Azerbaijani state made trips to the
Azerbaijani lands, which are under the occupation of Azerbaijan
and in where the separatist regime not recognized by any state,
including in Ukraine exists, will be declared “persona non grata”,”
– the embassy noted.