Author: Kanayan Tamar

Armenia’s foreign debt to increase by $180 million – newspaper

June 07, 2014 | 08:34

YEREVAN. – The National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations endorsed two loan agreements which, in all likelihood, will
be ratified by the Armenian parliament, 168 Zham daily reported.

“As a result of them, Armenia’s foreign debt will increase by another
180 million dollars, or more precisely, by 100 million dollars and 60
million euros.

“The first loan agreement was signed between Armenia and the European
Investment Bank. With this contract, the bank will provide a loan of
60 million euros to fund Armenia’s ‘North-South’ road corridor,
wherewith the corridor’s Maralik-Gyumri section shall be built.

“And with the loan agreement signed between Armenia and the Asian
Development Bank [ADB], ADB will allocate 100 million dollars, whereby
the section from Talin [city] to Maralik [city] section shall be
built, and several project-calculation works, consulting, and audit
will be conducted,” 168 Zham wrote.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

ANCA-WR Announces Collaboration with Near East Foundation

Friday, June 6th, 2014

ANCA-WR board and ‘America We Thank You’ committe members with Near
East Foundation’s Shant Mardirossian (center, seated)

GLENDALE–The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region and
the Near East Foundation, the descendent of Near East Relief,
announced that they will collaborate closely on a broad range of
activities to mark the centennial of US efforts to aid over one
million Genocide survivors in the immediate aftermath of the Armenian
Genocide.

ANCA-WR Board representatives and members of “America We Thank You: An
Armenian Tribute to Near East Relief” recently met with Shant
Mardirossian, the chairman of the Near East Foundation, to discuss
mutual efforts and identify areas where both organizations can
collaborate.

Mardirossian commended the ANCA-WR for kicking off the “America We
Thank You” initiative and for emphasizing the critical role Near East
Relief played in the lives of countless survivors, refugees and
orphans of the Armenian Genocide.

Mardirossian also noted that “While the collaboration will focus on
the 15 formative years of Near East Relief (1915-1930), which provided
relief to Armenian Genocide survivors, the efforts had a far-reaching
impact by serving as a model for philanthropy around the world. Its
successor organization, the Near East Foundation, continues to provide
development and relief support to vulnerable people in need in Armenia
as well as the Middle East and North Africa.” Mardirossian went on to
further say “We are pleased to be working with the ANCA-WR to make
sure that this important chapter in American history is proudly
remembered and that we continue to honor its legacy through the work
we do today.”

The Near East Foundation will commemorate the centennial of the
organization next year while collaborating on various events and
activities with ANCA-WR’s “America We Thank You” initiative – as well
as with Armenian partner organizations on the East Coast – to pay
tribute to Near East Relief.

“We would like to thank Mr. Mardirossian and Near East Foundation for
an enlightening meeting about the scope of their activities for the
centennial,” said Nora Hovsepian, Esq., chairwoman of the Armenian
National Committee of America-Western Region. “We are looking forward
to our collaborative efforts to ensure that this massive effort to
assist refugees and orphans receives a tribute worthy of its
magnitude.”

“While this is just the beginning of our journey at ‘America We Thank
You,’ our meeting with Mr. Mardirossian brought to light some critical
elements of the monumental role Near East Relief played in galvanizing
the American people specifically to aid in the plight of Armenians,”
said Vanna Kitsinian, Esq., co-chairwoman of the “America We Thank
You” initiative.

“We are looking forward to working with the Near East Foundation. The
key to the success of this collaboration will be how well we can share
resources and engage the Armenian and non-Armenian communities for
this fitting tribute,” added Hermineh Pakhanians, co-chairwoman of
“America We Thank You.”

Mardirossian was accompanied by Dr. Charlie Benjamin, President of the
Near East Foundation and Stacia Van Dyne, Director of External Affairs
each of whom briefed the ANCA-WR representatives on specific
initiatives being undertaken currently or planned for the future by
Near East Foundation.

The ANCA-WR launched the campaign in March, timed for the centennial
of the Armenian Genocide, to honor Near East Relief, an organization
that mobilized Americans and rescued more than 132,000 orphans and
nearly 1 million survivors of the Genocide.

The campaign, called “America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to
Near East Relief,” is a movement to recognize the outpouring of
generosity by the American people in the immediate aftermath of the
Armenian Genocide (1915-1930) and to highlight the efforts of Near
East Relief in reining more than $117 million (over $2 billion in
present day value) to feed, clothe, house, train, educate and provide
medical care to hundreds of thousands of survivors of the Genocide.

ANCA-WR officials said that the campaign is committed to promoting the
role Near East Relief played in providing assistance to those less
fortunate and for its groundbreaking ability to bring the American
people together under one cause–the aid to refugees of the Armenian
Genocide for an unprecedented period of 15 years from 1915 to 1930.

In April, the California State Assembly unanimously approved AJR 41, a
resolution honoring and commemorating the extraordinary service of
Near East Relief and the American people for salvaging the Armenian
and Assyrian people from annihilation. A similar measure unanimously
passed the California State Senate on June 5.

Through various events and programs, such as the ones in Sacramento
and Los Angeles, “America We Thank You: An Armenian Tribute to Near
East Relief,” will mark the centennial of the Near East Relief efforts
and express its gratitude to the American people for establishing and
continuing the tradition of being the most generous nation. Countless
Armenian-Americans are direct descendants of those rescued by Near
East Relief.

CHORRORD ISHKHANUTYUN: PUBLIC TELEVISION DIRECTOR TO BE DISMISSED

10:47 06/06/2014 >> DAILY PRESS

Chairman of the Council of the Public TV & Radio Company of Armenia
Ruben Jaghinyan is looking for someone to replace CEO of Public
Television of Armenia Margarita Grigoryan, Chorrord Ishkhanutyun
writes.

According to the newspaper’s sources, Jaghinyan is dissatisfied with
Mrs Grigoryan’s work and almost the entire staff of the TV company
has tense relations with her.

Source: Panorama.am

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

His Holiness Aram I invited to preach during the Special Prayers with the
St. Egidio Community

Vatican – During the visit to the Vatican, His Holiness Aram I and his
delegation attended a special prayer service organized by the St Egidio
community at the St. John the Lateran Church in Rome.

In his sermon, the Catholicos spoke of the theological and spiritual
meaning of martyrdom (martyria) and linked it to the Armenian Genocide in
1915, when one-and-a-half-million Armenians were massacred by Turkey. He
then spoke of the historical importance of St. John the Lateran Church and
the St. Egidio community, which began as a movement in 1968 following the
Vatican II Council. He then added, “In appreciation of the commitment of its
members to justice and peace, during my last visit to the community I
offered relics of Armenian martyrs from the Chapel of the Martyrs of
Genocide in Antelias.”

At the end of the service, the leadership of St. Egidio held a special
reception to honor His Holiness Aram I and his delegation.
His Holiness Aram I meets His Holiness Pope Francis

In a private meeting this morning with His Holiness the Pope Francis
Catholicos Aram I briefly discussed the following issues.- The Christian
presence in the Middle East, challenges and concerns facing the churches in
the region, the Syrian conflict and the problems facing the Armenian
community in Aleppo and Kessab, the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the
bio lateral dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox
Churches, the presidential election in Lebanon.

The private meeting between two spiritual leaders was followed by a public
meeting during which they exchanged addresses and gifts in the presence of
Archbishops and community leaders accompanying His Holiness Aram I.
##

GERMANY FACE ARMENIA IN FINAL SHOWDOWN

VAVEL.com
June 5 2014

05-06-2014

Germany go into their third and final warmup game in search of getting
their first win of the Summer.

Germany face Armenia this week in hope of finally picking up a
victory, with their previous two warmup games last week finishing in
draws. Low’s side played out a 0-0 draw with European nation, Poland,
as well as being involved in a fascinating goal fest, which saw the
Germans draw 2-2 with African nation, Cameroon.

Entering their final warmup game, it’s vital that the Germans pick up
a needed win, with the morale evidently low within the squad. Momentum
is a key element during the World Cup season, and the European side
will be aware to put things right before jetting off for Brazil. It’s
crucial that the players pick up sufficient minutes in order to regain
their fitness, but they’ll be wary not to pick up any injuries.

This game represents Germany’s first international friendly since
their 30 man squad was reduced to 23. Armenia will take this game
vastly serious, with this being their 3rd encounter in the last 11
days. Armenia last faced Algeria at the weekend, with the African
nation running out the victors, in a one sided 3-1 game.

The German boss, has spoke about the conditions he expects in Brazil,
prior to the game against Armenia. “We gave them a lot of information
(about the conditions),” he told the German Football Association
website. “But they have to feel it locally.”We will fly out early,
(and) simulate the competition situation by training in the midday
heat, or at the kick-off times of the games.”

Finally, Low spoke about this being the potential final tournament
for German legends, Lahm, Klose and Schweinsteiger. Low added:
“Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm have won the UEFA Champions
League and many national titles. “They already have more than 100
international caps and so many positives for German football. “They
all have already had great careers but a world title would of course
be the crowning glory, so to speak, the icing on the cake.”

GERMANY PREPARE TO BATTLE FINAL WORLD CUP TEST AGAINST ARMENIA

Deutsche Welle, Germany
June 5 2014

Germany head for Brazil at the weekend after a difficult final few
weeks of preparation – on and off the pitch. The final warm-up fixture
against Armenia is a chance to lift the spirits ahead of the World Cup.

Germany will conclude their preparations for Brazil on Friday with a
friendly against Armenia in Mainz. Fitness concerns remain, however,
surrounding goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who won’t train until the team
arrives in South America on Saturday.

Neuer was left out of the German side that faced Cameroon on Sunday,
as his recovery from a shoulder problem lasts longer than planned –
but there is “no doubt” the keeper will have regained fitness in time
for the Portugal clash on June 16.

The squad returned to Dusseldorf on Sunday after a training camp in
South Tyrol that lasted 10 days and helped to improve the physical
condition of the team. Several warm-up games against the accompanying
U20 squad proved to be a decent preparation.

The team went its separate ways on Monday afternoon – but Lahm,
Neuer and Schweinsteiger returned to Munich and spent the half-week
with the Bayern medical staff.

One final training session takes place in Mainz – which is hosting an
international match for the first time – before the last game against
the Armenians.

“Lahm and Bastian have no problems any more and they have been training
with the ball,” Low said on Thursday.

“They will have some playing time. What is important though is that
they are problem-free. Maybe it makes no sense to play the entire 90
minutes but exactly how long is something I will decide this evening.”

“Preparations, from my point of view, have worked out very well with
the players we had. I also think it was important for the players to
rest a couple of days (this week), for them to recover some energy.”

Germany must sharpen up

Low and his players have been on the defensive this week following
Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Monchengladbach.

Germany return to Dusseldorf after training camp in Austria

The Germans lacked thrust and energy in attack, with Mesut Ozil,
for one, on the end of some strong criticism over his performances
for the national team. The Arsenal attacking-midfielder has been
struggling for confidence in recent months, but his coach was quick
to protect the 25-year-old.

“To be honest I am a bit surprised by the reaction against Mesut,”
Low added at the pre-match press conference.

“Mesut won German national team player of the year last season but
it is clear that he has not performed to the fullest of his abilities
in the past few games.”

Matches against Chile, meanwhile, highlighted how vulnerable the
team remains in defensive positions, as the South Americans somehow
failed to secure even a draw in Stuttgart, having dominated most of
the proceedings.

In other matches, a lackluster touch in the attacking-third has
appeared the largest threat to Germany’s hopes of winning a fourth
World Cup.

The DFB team fired a blank against Poland in Hamburg, whilst
the Cameroon defense was rarely questioned with conviction. The
introduction of Lukas Podolski carried some intent in attacking
positions and the Arsenal attacker was pivotal in Germany’s turnaround,
before Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting equalized.

Armenia, with Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan in their ranks,
won’t be heading to the World Cup themselves, but will still offer
sturdy opposition for the Germans. The feeling around the team’s
chances has been negative – perhaps realistic – and many are expecting
Germany to return from Brazil empty-handed.

That should do little to qualm the enthusiasm of the fans on Friday
who will demand a strong victory to round-off World Cup preparations.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH OF CONCERN TO ALL CIS MEMBERS – ANDRIAS GHUKASYAN

21:22 * 04.06.14

The events in Astana only revealed that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
have an idea of the real state of affairs which is not shared even by
Armenia’s allies, including CIS member Kazakhstan, political scientist
Andrias Ghukasyan told Tert.am.

“I have a broader view of the problem. I think Nagorno-Karabakh has
serious reasons for concern, because we see that the global perception
of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process in not in harmony with either
our people’s perception or the real state of affairs,” Ghukasyan said.

Armenia’s borders are not the only problem. The problem is the proposal
made by one of Armenia’s military allies.

“On my Facebook page, I referred to the UN website, which clearly
shows the UN’s stance. Let all the people that are not concerned answer
why the UN website shows Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. The
UN website shows what plays into Azerbaijan’s hand, and no one in
Armenia is concerned nor is anyone going to be,” Ghukasyan said.

According to him, the problem is not Kazakh President Nursultan
Nazarbayev’s step. Rather, the problem is that the Nagorno-Karabakh
problem is of the same concern to Armenia as to the other CIS members.

“If we are Kazakhstan’s ally within the CIS, why do not we have an
identical stance on Nagorno-Karabakh?”

Armenian News – Tert.am

HRAPARAK: ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN MP TO BE APPOINTED AMBASSADOR?

08:22 * 05.06.14

Samvel Alexanyan, the businessman MP from the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia, is said to have left for Iraq for meetings with local
officials and Kurdish circles.

But he appears to have not only business-related plans but also
diplomatic programs in the country. Citing its sources, the paper says
that the authorities are going to give him the status of a diplomat.

The issue is now reportedly on the Foreign Minisry’s agenda. Armenian
Ambassador to Iraq Murad Muradyan, who is said to be hurt by the
authorities controversial plan for selling the Sports and Complex
Center (which belongs to his family) is expected to quit post to give
way to Alexanyan, says the paper.

Armenian News – Tert.am

IS CHRISTIANITY REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GREATEST GENOCIDES IN HISTORY?

News 24, South Africa
June 3 2014

03 June 2014, 07:37
Richard Cypher

Last week in an article written by Stream Too, a comment was made that
made my hair stand on end. It was a classic hasty generalisation with
a good dose of subjective opining thrown in for good measure. The
statement was also made with no references whatsoever, as if the
author’s opinion should carry enough authoritative weight. It read
as follows:

“The greatest genocides in human history stemmed from the Christian
faith”.

The closest I could get to challenge that statement was to request
references. Try as I might, I couldn’t respond any further. My comments
kept being removed. So I decided to address it in an article.

Hopefully that way it will escape both the keyword nanny and the
arbitrary censor board stalking the forum.

Let’s start this by stating very clearly and unambiguously that I
am not defending Christianity in the slightest. I only aim to have
truth prevail from all sides of the religious spectrum, without fear
or favour. As an agnostic, I am only interested in facts.

First off, we have to at least have a common understanding of the
terminology. The international legal definition of the crime of
genocide is found in Articles II and III of the 1948 Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.

Article II describes two elements of the crime of genocide:

1) the mental element, meaning the “intent to destroy, in whole or
in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such”, and

2) the physical element which includes five acts described in sections
a, b, c, d and e. A crime must include both elements to be called
“genocide.”

Article III described five punishable forms of the crime of genocide:
genocide; conspiracy, incitement, attempt and complicity.

Excerpt from the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
Genocide

“Article II: In the present Convention, genocide means any of the
following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part,
a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group;

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Someone conflated genocide and wars in that same article. They are
not necessarily the same thing.

Seeing that the accusation revolves around the greatest genocides in
history, let’s make a list of the greatest ones. I doubt if anyone
will differ if we use death toll as an indicator of greatest. A list
of genocides according to death toll is shown below. This list is
obviously not exhaustive and only lists the top 15.

The Holocaust – between 4 and 17 million deaths (racial motivation)

Holodomor and Soviet famine – between 2.5 and 8 million deaths
(political motivation)

European colonisation of the Americas – between 2 and 100 million
deaths (various reasons including Christian evangelisation)

Nigerian Civil War – 1 to 3 million deaths (ethnic motivation)

Cambodian Genocide – 1 to 3 million deaths (Communist ideological
motivation)

Rwandan genocide of 1994 – 500k to 1 million deaths (ethnic motivation)

Expulsion of Germans after WW2 – 500k to 3 million deaths (ethnic
motivation)

Zunghar Genocide – 480 to 600 thousand deaths (ethnic motivation)

Circassian Genocide – 400k to 1.5 million deaths (political and
ethnic motivation)

Armenian Genocide – 1.5 million deaths (ethnic and religious (against
the Christian minority) motivation)

Decossackisation – 300 to 500 thousand deaths (political and ethnic
motivation)

Assyrian genocide – 275 to 750 thousand deaths (ethnic and religious
(against the Christian minority) motivation)

Utashe Genocide (aka The Holocaust in Croatia) – 270 to 655 thousand
deaths (racial motivation)

Greek Genocide – 200k to 1 million deaths (ethnic and religious
(against the Christian minority) motivation)

Darfur Conflict – 178 to 400 thousand deaths (ethnic motivation).

These are the top 15 genocides according to death toll and of these,
only the European Colonisation had any roots tied to the Christian
faith. Christian minorities were actually on the receiving end of
three of these genocides.

I would challenge anyone to prove me wrong on this. If you want to
attribute any of the other genocides to Christianity, please make sure
that you have proper evidence to back up your claims. Opinions don’t
count for anything. Someone on this forum often uses a quote along
the lines of: “What you think is irrelevant. What you can prove, is.”

Sweeping statements that tar entire groupings of people is nothing
other than lazy thinking. Anyone that makes such statements might as
well call all white people racist, there is no difference.

There are a great many horrible and atrocious historical events that
can correctly be attributed to Christianity, but blankly stating that
the greatest genocides in human history stemmed from the Christian
faith, is an outright lie.

There is no religion higher than the truth.

COCA-COLA AZERBAIJAN LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT OF ARRESTED NIDA ACTIVISTS

18:16 04/06/2014 >> SOCIETY

Coca-Cola Azerbaijan launches a series of drinks, on the banks of which
the logo of the Azerbaijani youth movement NIDA is to be depicted,
Azerbaijani news portal “Haqqin.az” reports.

As noted in the article, this was realized due to the new campaign
of Coca-Cola, in frameworks of which anyone can order a logo for a
certain amount of beverage cans.

“The exact number of the ordered cans and the amount that was spent on
this action are not known, but we know one thing for sure – thousands
of cans of cola with the emblem of the revolutionary organization is
already being sold out in stores across Azerbaijan,” the portal writes.

Note that the youth activists of NIDA are accused of preparing
riots at Fountain Square of Baku on March 10. They are also charged
with illegal possession of weapons, drugs and hooliganism. Amnesty
International human rights organization recognized all of them as
“prisoners of conscience”. On May 6, the defendants were sentenced
to 6-8 years of imprisonment.

The U.S. embassy to Azerbaijan, the U.S. Helsinki Commission , UK
Minister for Europe, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and
Freedom House human rights organizations have condemned the arrest of
Azerbaijani youth activists of NIDA, given the forthcoming chairmanship
of Azerbaijan in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.