Author: Kanayan Tamar

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Use – Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (+961- 4) 410001, 410003
Fax: (+961- 4) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Monuments for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide are coming to their completion

Antelias – 17 March 2015. The Catholicosate is completing its projects
related to the commemoration of the 100th anniversary; the projects
comprise publications, cultural and religious activities, and legal
actions. One of the major activities is taking in place in Bikfaya,
where the courtyard around the Renaissance statute has been expanded and
a new altar dedicated to the Martyrs has been built. In Byblos a new
museum will be dedicated to the orphans of the Genocide and in Antelias
the Holy Martyrs Chapel and other buildings are being renovated.

During the past two days, His Holiness Aram I has visited the monuments
and met with the personnel.

###

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]

YEREVAN MARKS CENTENARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Spy Ghana, Ghana
March 18 2015

World News
Mar 18, 2015

An international media forum was held Wednesday in Yerevan to mark
the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.

The three-day forum attracted media representatives from Turkey,
Italy, Russia and South Korea.

The media play a responsible role in the struggle against all
manifestations of aggression and crimes against humanity, said Ara
Saghatelyan, head of the Armenian President Press Office.

Armenia says about 1.5 million Armenians were killed by forces of the
Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. More than 20 countries have officially
recognized the fact of the mass killing.

Armenians across the world will mark the centenary of the genocide
on April 24.

GOKCEK QUESTIONS ORIGINS OF GERMAN-TURKISH POLITICIAN OVER ‘GENOCIDE’ REMARKS

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 18 2015

March 18, 2015, Wednesday/ 16:14:56/ TODAY’S ZAMAN / ISTANBUL

Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek on Tuesday asked if the leader of Germany’s
Greens, German-Turkish politician Cem Ozdemir, is Armenian due to
Ozdemir’s remarks calling on Turkey to recognize as genocide the
killings of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire.

“I am asking the deputy of German Greens Party just out of curiosity…

Please answer, Cem Ozdemir… Are you of Armenian origin?” Gokcek
asked in remarks posted on Twitter.

Gokcek then shared a two-minute video about the countries that accuse
Turkey of committing genocide and said “Those who blame us for genocide
should accept these genocides first.”

The video, apparently a part of a documentary aired on state-run TRT,
lists the countries’ previous acts that, the video said, amounted
to genocide.

In his recent remarks during an interview with the Armenian Service of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Ozdemir said Ankara should normalize
bilateral relations with Yerevan and open the closed border with its
easterly neighbor ahead of the upcoming centennial commemoration
of the 1915 events and that Turkey “will eventually recognize the
[1915 events as] genocide.”

Gokcek also accused Germany on Wednesday of practicing double
standards. He shared an online news portal website link that reports
Germany describing as chaos the anti-austerity protests ahead of the
inauguration ceremony for the European Central Bank’s new headquarters
in Frankfurt. The news portal also claims that Germany supported
nationwide Gezi Park protests in Turkey in the summer of 2013 by using
the common slogan during the Gezi Park protests, “Do not surrender.”

Gokcek, known for his controversial remarks, claimed in January that
Israeli intelligence Mossad is behind the deadly Paris attacks that
took place on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9.

SERZH SARGSYAN CLOSES REPUBLICAN PARTY

Hakob Badalyan, Political Commentator
Comments – 18 March 2015, 14:24

The leader of the Republican parliamentary group Vahram Baghdasaryan
announced that the discussions on the amendments to the Constitution
focus on reducing the number of parliamentary seats. He said so in
answer to the question of the Haykakan Zhamanak Newspaper whether it
is true that the new parliament will have 121 seats instead of the
present 131.

“Why not 75 seats?” Vahram Baghdasaryan said. He said he personally
thinks that it is more correct to have a professional parliament with
75 members.

Let us leave aside the meaning of the phrase “professional
parliament”. It is more interesting that the head of the Republican
parliamentary group is expressing his “personal opinion” and is
uttering the number 75. Can the Republicans express such “responsible”
personal opinions on such matters, even in a joke? After all, such
an opinion could cause concerns and panic in both the so-called
opposition field and the Republican Party.

Because the number of seats is reduced, and competition becomes
tougher, so the probability of being one of the winners becomes lower.

Vahram Baghdasaryan is an experienced participant of the Armenian
administration not to realize the responsibility of such “personal
opinion”. He knows very well what reaction his personal opinion may
cause. Hence, it is not ruled out that he is not expressing just a
“personal opinion” but an approach under consideration which is
considered necessary to be published.

Currently, there is one pole in the political field of Armenia and
such considerations will target the government pole. Obviously,
the suggestion on 75 seats may be meant to intensify passions, and
passions must be somehow dealt with. Serzh Sargsyan would hardly take
a step that would stir the opposition. There is no need for extra
efforts in this direction. All that Sargsyan wanted to get from this
opposition at this stage he got through meetings at the president’s
office and open letters written earlier.

The issue of the government pole is different. Sargsyan’s upcoming
activities are based here because disassembly of the opposite pole is
not enough unless he uses this circumstance for necessary reshuffle in
the Republican Party or the administration needed for gaining maximum
flexibility and autonomy for a reshuffle in the upcoming electoral
stage. It means that Serzh Sargsyan must cause some processes to
mature in this pole, empowering himself with some legitimacy to act.

And when it is announced that the seats in the parliament may be
reduced from 131 to 75, this statement causes more concerns in
the Republican Party rather than the opposition. It is clear that
Sargsyan cannot give all the 75 seats to the Republican Party, which
means that the Republican seats will be reduced, some people will be
deprived of mandates. In other words, the competition will intensify,
hence the aspirants will set to fight for it.

In other words, Serzh Sargsyan actually spurs an early fight for
mandates within the RPA through Vahram Baghdasaryan’s statement,
which may be equal to stimulating a miscarriage.

However, it means that Sargsyan needs to take care of his security
in this game. Of course, Gagik Tsarukyan’s demonstrative punishment
intended to fight off thoughts of a riot but since more people will
lose this game, resistance will be much stronger.

Perhaps, therefore, Sargsyan has recently announced in his speech
on the Constitution that he has concerns about change of the model
of governance, namely in regard to risks relating to internal and
foreign security and stability. He called to develop a change of the
model of governance, as well as options of improvement of the model.

Interestingly, Serzh Sargsyan is eliminating political hindrances
to his initiative to amend the Constitution, Afterwards, however, he
does not push forward the idea of change of the model of governance
without hindrances but actually puts forward the idea of leaving the
existing model and merely improving it. In addition, the stress is
on the security issue, which is related to administrative powers on
the security agencies.

The improvement of the existing model with such focus means increase
of the role of the security agencies rather than the parliament. It is
going to be the counterweight with the help of which Serzh Sargsyan
will be trying to charge and discharge the RPA, bridling the RPA
after the opposition.

By eliminating PAP Serzh Sargsyan has actually deprived the RPA of
blackmail against it, getting a bigger chance to align the RPA to
his own political plans. So far this party was a governmental stock
exchange where experienced brokers succeeded in administration.

Sargsyan who is facing the issue of leaving as a de jure active player
pursues the strategic goal of closing this exchange to deprive other
players of an opportunity to play after him.

DES COMPAGNIES AERIENNES DU QATAR ET DE LA GRECE VONT LANCER DES VOLS VERS L’ARMENIE EN 2015

ARMENIE

Des representants de Qatar Airways (Qatar) et Aegean Airlines
(Grèce) ont exprime leur intention de commencer l’exploitation de
vols vers l’Armenie en 2015 a annonce le ministre de l’economie
Karen Chshmarityan.

AZERBAIJAN’S HARDLINE POLICY HINDERS PROGRESS ON KARABAKH TALKS – DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, March 17. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan’s uncompromising policy is
hindering progress on the Karabakh peace process, Armenia’s deputy
foreign minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said on Sputnik-Armenia radio
on Monday.

“The Azerbaijani side agrees to no compromise. They want everything
or nothing, hence, it is not realistic to expect progress in these
conditions,” Kocharyan said.

Madrid principles proposed by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group is
not something the Armenian side dreamed of; it is just a compromising
document serving as basis for the talks and trying to bring the
mutually exclusive positions closer, the deputy minister said.

Madrid principles contain some compromising proposals where the
territorial issues are addressed, Kocharyan said.

The deputy foreign minister stressed that some of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic territories, part of Martuni and Martakert regions and
Shahumyan region in particular, are still under the control of
Azerbaijan.

Kocharyan also said that it is not Armenia, but Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, that should decide on all territorial issues.

The deputy minister said it would be desirable if Azerbaijan
recognized NKR’s independence, which would rule out any use-of-force
settlement. After that, the two sides should negotiate and settle
all the border issues, Kocharyan said.

The Karabakh conflict started in 1988 when prevailingly Armenian
population of Nagorno-Karabakh declared withdrawal from Azerbaijan. On
December 10, 1991, a referendum was held in Nagorno-Karabakh where
99.89% voted for independence from Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan responded by large-scale military operations that led
to loss of control not only over Nagorno-Karabakh itself, but also
over seven adjoining areas. About 25-30 thousand people were killed
and about a million had to leave their homes during the military
operations. A trilateral cease-fire agreement was signed on May 12,
2004, and has been followed since then.

The ongoing Karabakh peace process started in 1992 under auspices of
OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France. -0–

ZHAMANAK: KHACHATUR SUKIASYAN DECLARES WAR UPON COCA-COLA

11:12 17/03/2015 ” DAILY PRESS

Coca-Cola is not served in public food facilities belonging to
businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan for a long time now, Zhamanak reports.

Citing sources, the newspaper explains that Sukiasyan and Coca-Cola
failed to combine joint business interests. The Sukiasyan family
obliged Coca-Cola to insure its vehicles in the SIL Insurance Company.

Coca-Cola, however, refused and as a result, Sukiasyan prohibited
serving this drink at his public food facilities.

REFORM CONTROVERSY: ANC REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

NEWS | 17.03.15 | 10:49

The Armenian National Congress (ANC) will seek to scuttle the
constitutional reform initiated by the current administration or turn
a corresponding referendum into a “vote of no confidence” in President
Serzh Sargsyan and his government, the opposition party said on Monday.

In a statement the ANC said that the initiative has only one goal:
“To remove the constitutional barrier to extending [Sargsyan’s]
personal rule.”

The opposition party claimed that Sargsyan ordered a government
crackdown against the opposition last month “in order to reach
this goal”.

Last week the president held a series of meetings with representatives
of several political parties, including the Prosperous Armenia Party
(PAP), which had to change its leader earlier this month under apparent
strong pressure from Sargsyan and his ruling Republican Party of
Armenia, that described the PAP’s then leader Gagik Tsarukyan as
“evil”.

Since the change of leadership on March 5, the PAP has been less
categorical in its opposition to the constitutional reform that is
expected to turn Armenia into a parliamentary republic.

The ANC believes, however, that by making the National Assembly a
more dominant branch of power Sargsyan attempts to extend his own
rule beyond 2018 when, under the current Constitution, he will be
barred from seeking a third presidential term in a row.

Sargsyan, who formally endorsed the reform concept over the weekend,
earlier had pledged not to seek a top government post if the
constitutional amendments were made.

“The goal of this imitational show of “broad consolidation” of
political forces is to create an illusion of public approval around
the idea of changing the Constitution,” the ANC said.

“The ANC state that in the created situation it will do everything
to protect the Constitution from tyrannical encroachments, to return
the power to the people, to restore the disturbed constitutional order
and urges the public, all layers of society to consolidate and oppose
the unconcealed attempt to establish dictatorship in the country by
turning the referendum on constitutional amendments into a vote of
no confidence in Serzh Sargsyan and a nationwide process of removing
the current regime from power,” the opposition party said.

ARMENIA HAS A LOT TO OFFER TO EUROPE: CEM OZDEMIR

11:58, 17 March, 2015

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, ARMENPESS. Germany has good relations with Armenia,
but we would like to see democratic, independent and more European
Armenia. The Co-chairman of the “Alliance 90/The Greens” party of
the Federal Republic of Germany Cem Ozdemir told “Armenpress”, while
evaluating current relations between Armenia and Germany.

“Armenia obviously belongs to Europe, if you look at the map, but
we would like to see Armenia closer to Europe and therefore I’m sad
that the Association Agreement unfortunately failed. I think it’s a
missed opportunity. I understand that Armenia has strong relations
with Russia, and there is nothing wrong about that. Energy and
export relationship are one of the reasons. I do not see that as a
contradiction to, at the same time, the Association Agreement with
the European Union. Therefore I would love to see this put on the
table again and then hopefully with a different result this time,”
the member of German Bundestag concluded.

Among other things, Cem Ozdemir noted: “Armenia has a lot to offer. I
just had a chance to test Armenian wine, unfortunately very briefly,
because we had to meet with the President. On the other side I think
we can help with renewable energy. Germany has extensive experience
in that. In particular my party started it and the new government
continues that with a more sustainable economy. At the same time the
European Union is very experienced in the rule of law, strengthening
democratic institutions with free media and strong parliamentarian
system. There are many areas where we can collaborate.”

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS: SERZH SARSGYAN STARTED STATE TERROR ON FEB 12

by Ashot Safaryan

Tuesday, March 17, 11:14

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s decision to amend the Constitution
of Armenia and shift to the parliamentary system of government
pursues one goal i.e. to remove the Constitutional ban on retention
of de-facto power by the same person, the Armenian National Congress
says in a statement.

“To achieve that goal, Serzh Sargsyan launched a state terror against
the opposition on February 12. In particular: a) some political
forces were banned to deal with politics, b) the law-enforcement and
the taxation agencies were charged to settle accounts with a specific
political party and its leader, c) the takeoff rally of the opposition
was cancelled unlawfully, which failed all the following rallies,”
the ANC says.

At the ANC they believe that Serzh Sargsyan has rejected the
political methods of the problem settlement and grossly violated the
Constitutional norms trying to stop the nation-wide democratic movement
by means of a state terror. “To that end, on March 12, Sargsyan staged
a performance entitled ‘wide consolidation of political forces’,”
ANC says. The Congress calls the president’s actions a political show
and demonstrates its readiness to flight any encroachments upon the
Constitution by all possible lawful methods.