Nephew of Former Gyumri Mayor Detained for Marijuana Stash
15:30, April 26, 2013
Late last night, Armenian law enforcement personnel took into custody
the nephew of Vardan Ghukasyan (photo), the former mayor of Gyumri and
four others on the suspicion of drug possession.
Gyumri police searched the car they were driving and found what
appeared to be a small stash of dried cannabis.
Akram Aylisli left Azerbaijan
17:04, 26 April, 2013
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, ARMENPRESS: The author of `Stone Dreams’ Akram
Aylisli left Azerbaijan, as reported by Armenpress, quoting the
Azerbaijani sources. It was reported that for several days Aylisli
does not answer the phone calls. His son said that the father left the
country, not mentioning in which country Aylisli is. Azerbaijani mass
media suppose that Akram Aylisli could leave to abroad to search for a
political shelter.
The book caused a lot of noise and hysteria in Azerbaijan. On February
7, 2013, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a
presidential decree that stripped Aylisli of the title of “People’s
Writer” and the presidential pension. Earlier, Aylisli confirmed
reports that his son, a customs official, and wife were dismissed from
their jobs. Hafiz Haciyev, the leader of the pro-government political
party Muasir Musavat (Modern Equality), said his party would pay
$13,000 to anyone who would cut Aylisli’s ear off.
Aylisli was born in the village of Aylis in 1937 in the Ordubad region
of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. He received
his higher education at the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute in
Moscow. His first work, a poem entitled “QeÅ?em ve onun Kürekeni”, was
published in the journal Azerbaycan. From 1968-70, he became the
editor-in-chief of Gençlik, and later worked as a satirist for the
journal Mozalan. From 1974-78, he served on the Azerbaijan SSR’s State
Committee for Cinematography.
In late 2012 and early 2013, Aylisli found himself embroiled in
controversy when his novel, DaÅ? Yuxular (Stone Dreams), was published
in a Russian-language journal called Druzhba Narodov (Friendship of
the Peoples). Completed in 2007, the novel tells the story of two
Azerbaijani men and their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors
during the Sumgait and Baku Pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet
Union. Many in Azerbaijan took offense to Aylisli’s sympathetic
portrayal of Armenians, with whom they fought and lost a six year-long
conflict over control of the region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the early
1990s.
The US Department of State, OSCE Baku Office and European Union
condemned the actions held in Baku against Akram Aylisli and appealed
to the Azerbaijani authorities to fulfill their obligations protecting
the writer.
`Stone dreams’ was translated into Armenian as well.
USAID supports full funding for Karabakh aid program
11:11 26.04.2013
Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International
Development, in response to questions this week from Congressmen Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA), affirmed the Obama
Administration’s commitment to fully fund Congressional assistance
allocations for Nagorno Karabakh and to support public-private
partnerships to generate sustainable economic growth in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti (Javakhk) region of Georgia, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
During an April 24th hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee
on State-Foreign Operations, Congressman Schiff asked a series of
questions about U.S. aid programs for Nagorno Karabakh and Javakhk.
In response, Administrator Shah noted that, `in the past we haven’t
expended all the funds,’ adding that, `I know our Assistant
Administrator for the region is committed to doing that and we believe
will be successful of getting that done. With respect to the
public-private partnership with the Diaspora community, we are very
enthusiastic about that and think that also is a good model for how
we’d like to work in the future. The Armenian community has been a
very good community to work with. And so, we’re eager to kind of get
that going.’ The full exchange between Congressman Schiff and
Administrator Shah went as follows:
Congressman Adam Schiff: Two quick questions, one funding for Nagorno
Karabakh. The history of the last several years as Congress has
appropriated funding USAID hasn’t used it at least not completely. We
hear at times there is a lack of capacity. But it seems given the
small amount that we are talking about, a leap of imagination to think
that with the humanitarian needs there it couldn’t really be fully be
absorbed.
So I’d like to get your thoughts on that. And I’d like to work with
you to make sure we can utilize all the assistance that’s been
provided to help meet the humanitarian needs there.
Second in the Javakhk region of Georgia is a very impoverished
Armenian community. We have raised with the Georgian government and
USAID an interest of trying to meet the needs of that population as
well as the country more broadly. And over the past year
Armenian-American groups have been working closely with USAID to
explore a public-private partnership that could leverage U.S.
assistance to Georgia and that region. If you could give us a progress
report on those efforts?
USAID Administrator Shah: Thank you. I will make sure my team
provides more details on both of these. But I will say with respect
with Nagorno Karabakh I believe we actually have a plan to fully
execute the program as we have it.
I know in the past we haven’t expended all the funds. But I know our
assistant administrator for the region is committed to doing that and
we believe will be successful of getting that done.
With respect to the public-private partnership with the diaspora
community, we are very enthusiastic about that and think that also is
a good model for how we’d like to work in the future. The Armenian
community has been a very good community to work with. And so, we’re
eager to kind of get that going.
I don’t have an immediate update on where that is. But I know when we
put it together we were enthusiastic because it came – we had a lot of
private sector commitments to leverage our resources from the get go
which is relatively unique.
Congressman Adam Schiff: Thank you with that. I look forward to
working with you on both those issues.
NA President Receives the Members of the EU-Armenia Friendship Group
25.04.2013
On April 25 the RA NA President of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan received
the Head of the EU-Armenia Friendship Group of the European Parliament
Eleni Theocharous, members Ewald Stadler and Kyriacos
Triantaphyllides, NA deputies of France Valérie Boyer and Gui Tessier,
and the Honourable President of the University of Louvain, well-known
scholar on Armenian studies Bernard Coulie.
The NA President thanked the European guests for being next to the
Armenian people during these days and paying tribute to the memory of
the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Tsitsernakaberd. `With
that, you reiterate your commitment to high universal human values and
support to Armenia’s efforts towards achieving a full international
recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide,’ Abrahamyan
said. The member of the Friendship Group Ewald Stadler noticed that
Europe had a moral obligation towards Armenian people not only in
Armenia, but also in Nagorno Karabakh. Kyriacos Triantaphyllides also
noted that Europe should express solidarity by fighting for Armenia’s
Genocide recognition and assist in the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the lifting of blockade by Turkey and
Azerbaijan. The Greek MP said they knew by Cyprus’s example how
difficult it was to persuade Turkey to confront its past. In Valérie
Boyer’s opinion, we should make audible the facts of violation of
human rights in the past, as well as now in Nagorno Karabakh and make
the rich history and culture of Armenia and Artsakh accessible to the
world.
The development of relations between Armenia and European Union, the
new format of cooperation and perspectives was on the agenda of the
meeting. Hovik Abrahamyan expressed conviction that the Parliamentary
Friendship Group functioning in the European Parliament from January 9
would give new quality to the cooperation, making it more effective.
According to the Head of the Parliament, the past three years’
dynamics of the development of relations witnesses good preconditions
of cooperation between the legislative and executive bodies. The NA
President expressed willingness to support all the initiatives and
formats of cooperation by the Group. The Head of the Friendship Group
Eleni Theocharous noted the necessity of deeper cooperation between
the European Parliament and the Armenian Parliament, which would give
the EU bigger opportunity to back Armenia and Armenian people.
In the course of the meeting the sides discussed the procedure of the
implementation of the Armenia-EU Association Agreement, particularly
its final round, and the issue of the EU visa facilitation. Hovik
Abrahamyan conveyed the readiness of the parliament to ratify the
Association Agreement and take further measures to bring Armenia’s
legislation in compliance with the European standards.
The NA President presented to the MEPs the authorities’ positions on
the Karabakh problem and the Armenian-Turkish protocols. He reiterated
Armenia’s commitment to settle the problem based on the format
proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group and the three principles: nations’
self-determination, territorial integrity, and non-use of force.
During the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were discussed.
Russian military base in Armenia transfers several plots of land and
realty to Armenian side
April 26, 2013 | 14:22
YEREVAN. – The Armenian-Russian interstate commission held a session
on handing – to the Armenian side – of the plots of land and realty of the
Russian military base in Armenia. The event was held in Armenia’s
capital city Yerevan, from Wednesday to Friday.
In addition, Armenia’s First Deputy Defense Minister, Davit Tonoyan,
received Valery Yevnevich, the Assistant to the Russian Minister of
Defense, who is among the Russian delegation visiting Armenia. They
discussed bilateral military cooperation, and the avenues for
optimizing and modernizing the Russian military base in Armenia.
During the aforesaid session, the parties signed the acts with respect
to handing and receiving the plots of land and realty of the Russian
military base in Armenia, and the minutes of the session of the
Armenian-Russian interstate commission.
News from Armenia – NEWS.am
ARF Dashnaktsutyun is Armenia’s sole ideological force – former MP
April 26, 2013 | 11:54
YEREVAN. – It is difficult to find a political party in Armenia that
is based on ideology, former MP, economist Vardan Bostanjyan noted
during a press conference on Friday.
`[But] solely one party can be considered as such: the [opposition]
ARF [Dashnaktsutyun Party],’ Bostanjyan added.
To the query as to why, in that case, he has not joined ARF, he
replied: `Because I support PAP [that is, the Prosperous Armenia
Party].’
And with respect to the question as to what will occur in Armenian
politics if PAP were to ultimately declare itself an opposition,
Vardan Bostanjyan responded as follows:
`The important thing is the substance of those positions and views
that we express and, today, they are in the society’s favor.’
Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am
News from Armenia – NEWS.am
Country Of Fake Criminals-In-Law
Chief of Police of Armenia Vladimir Gasparyan said after the closed
meeting in Gyumri that when the participants of 23 March shooting in
Gyumri were being taken to the police, many MPs and other officials
called his deputy asking not to take written but only oral testimonies
from `the guys’. `Are you parliamentarians or criminals-in-law?’ said
Vladimir Gasparyan.
The Head of Police raised a sacral issue which describes the realities
of Armenia which for their part can be defined as follows: the
political-business `elite’ lives and works in accordance with the
rules and notions of the marginal culture of criminals-in-law.
On the other hand, a particular `synthesis’ is happening in Armenia:
the criminal oligarchy which usurped all the spheres of life had to
wear a tie, accept a mandate and obey to laws, sometimes even make
testimonies. These are shameful things in the world of
criminals-in-law.
Therefore, the MPs and officials asked to accept only oral testimonies
from the `guys’, because making testimonies in written form is
something shameful for them and it can crush their reputation of
criminals-in-law. After all, it can also turn a precedent for a
similar treatment of other officials and MPs.
Once, a famous intellectual dwelling on the Armenian realities said
that `worse than criminals-in-law can be only fake criminals-in-law’.
Vladimir Gasparyan’s indignation is understood: one does not know if
he deals with criminals-in-law or MPs. Everything is confused, the
wrong and the right things. Criminals-in-law don’t seem such, neither
do MPs.
Adventurers, pickpockets, `guys who fought’ and the criminal gang
appeared in the right place once and occupied all the essential
spheres of life. Since they needed ideological support of their right
to own what they had, they chose the principle `power is right’ and
instilled it in the nation. So, they had the `right’ and they needed
power to exercise the `right’. They needed `laws’ too since the state
laws contradicted their `right’ and customs, so they chose the
`legislation’ of the world of the criminals-in-law. Especially it was
useful to `conceal’ their shadow-criminal activities.
Vladimir Gasparyan must give the names of those MPs and officials who
made the aforementioned request.
P.S. The Armenian media is busy covering the life and work of the
influential Armenian criminal-in-law Rafik Khoyetsyan. All reports are
full of respect because Khoyetsyan who passed half of his life in
prison was a real criminal-in-law, a Mahican of the old generation.
Armenians respect criminals-in-law as a symbol of justice and
principles. Simply there are no other symbols.
Haik Aramyan
11:25 26/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
Presse arménienne : Revue des 24 et 25 avril 2013
Publié le : 26-04-2013
Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
présente cette Revue de Presse parue sur le site de l’Ambassade de
France en Arménie le 25 avril 2013.
Ambassade de France en Arménie
Revue de la presse arménienne des 24 et 25 avril 2013
I. Commémoration du 98ème anniversaire du Génocide arménien
Des centaines de milliers de personnes ont convergé, toute la journée
du 24 avril vers le Monument du Génocide pour déposer des fleurs en
commémoration des événements de 1915. Les dirigeants arméniens, dont
le Président Sarkissian, le Président de l’AN, le PM, des Ministres,
des officiers de haut rang etc, ainsi que le corps diplomatique
accrédité en Arménie s’y sont rendus le matin. Les médias signalent la
présence de la députée française, Valérie Boyer, auteur de la
proposition de loi pénalisant la négation du génocide arménien,
invalidée ensuite par le Conseil constitutionnel. Les chaînes de
télévision ont abondamment rendu compte des manifestations organisées
à travers la France, dont celle à Paris en présence du Ministre de
l’Education nationale, M. Vincent Peillon.
Le soir du 23 avril, a eu lieu à Erevan, la retraite aux flambeaux
traditionnelle de milliers de jeunes organisée par le parti Dachnak.
Dans son message à la nation arménienne, le Président Sarkissian a
estimé qu’un peuple millénaire a été exterminé sur sa propre terre. «
Il est de notre devoir de témoigner et d’attirer l’attention de la
communauté internationale sur le fait que la négation, par la Turquie,
du Génocide constitue le prolongement direct de ce crime. Certains
nous proposent de ne pas rouvrir les blessures du passé et de regarder
en avant. A cela je réponds : Orhan Pamuk et Hrant Dink n’ont pas été
condamnés il y a cent ans, mais sous nos yeux ».
Les quotidiens reproduisent en outre la déclaration conjointe des
Catholicos Karékine II et de la Grande Maison de Cilicie, Aram I, qui
appellent la Turquie à reconnaître le Génocide arménien, à dédommager
le peuple arménien pour les pertes subies et l’atteinte à ses droits
nationaux, à restituer immédiatement au peuple arménien des centaines
d’églises, de lieux de culte et d’autres biens qui ont appartenu à
l’Eglise arménienne. Les deux Catholicos relèvent que l’on se
souviendra toujours avec reconnaissance de tous les peuples et Etats
ayant accueilli les rescapés du Génocide, ainsi que des Etats qui ont
fait preuve d’humanisme et de justice en reconnaissant le Génocide
arménien.
Et d’ajouter que l’Arménie ne compte aujourd’hui plus que 55 citoyens
rescapés du Génocide, dont 43 femmes, qui reçoivent à ce titre une
pension de l’Etat arménien (141 en 2011 et 250 en 2010).
2. Le Président Obama n’a pas prononcé le mot « génocide »/ Au grand
dam de la communauté arménienne des Etats-Unis et des membres
pro-arméniens du Congrès, le Président Obama s’est à nouveau refusé à
prononcer le mot « génocide », dans son message annuel à l’occasion du
24 avril. Il a à nouveau employé le terme de « Mets Yeghern » (Grand
Massacre). « J’ai toujours donné ma propre vision sur ce qui s’est
passé en 1915, et mon opinion n’a pas changé. Une complète, franche et
juste reconnaissance des faits est dans notre intérêt à tous. Les
nations se renforcent en reconnaissant les événements douloureux du
passé, pour jeter ainsi les bases d’un avenir plus juste et plus
tolérant », a-t-il déclaré. Rappelons qu’en 2008, encore candidat à
l’élection présidentielle, Barack Obama avait déclaré que « le
Génocide arménien est un fait largement documenté et prouvé » et que «
les Etats-Unis méritent un dirigeant qui ose parler du Génocide
arménien. J’ai l’intention d’être ce président ».
II. Politique intérieure
1. Une fusillade à Gumri fait un mort/ D’après les quotidiens, il
s’agirait d’un règlement de compte entre deux clans hostiles, l’un
proche de la famille de l’ancien maire de Gumri et l’autre d’un député
d’Arménie prospère. Une vingtaine de personnes, dont l’ancien maire et
son fils controversé, ont été conduites à la Police pour
interrogatoire, puis relchées, tandis que le neveu de l’ex-maire,
Vahé Ghoukassian, a été arrêté, suspecté de meurtre. Selon Haykakan
Jamanak, une ambiance de terreur règnerait dans la deuxième ville,
dont les habitants craindraient une vendetta de la part des proches de
la victime. Hraparak estime que cet incident traduit l’ambiance de «
tout permis » dont ont joui pendant de longues années les proches de
l’ancien maire.
2. Le conseil de Vartan Oskanian à son parti Arménie prospère/
L’ancien Ministre des AE a écrit sur son compte Facebook qu’Arménie
prospère, dont il est membre, aurait raison de se déclarer parti
d’opposition. Rappelons qu’Arménie prospère se présente comme une «
alternative » au pouvoir comme à l’opposition.
3. Contrôle au sein de la Police/ Jamanak croit disposer
d’informations « fiables » sur des contrôles au sein de la Police, en
vue d’identifier les fonctionnaires ou officiers de la Police
possédant des intérêts économiques. Selon ce quotidien, le chef de la
Police, Vladimir Gasparian, aurait l’intention de se débarrasser de
policiers se livrant à de telles activités. [Ces contrôles
interviennent suite au limogeage du chef de la police d’Erevan Nersès
Nazarian, qui, d’après des informations des médias, aurait été renvoyé
pour cause d’affairisme].
III. Relations extérieures
1. Rapport objectif ou partial ?/ L’ensemble de la presse rend compte
du rapport 2012 du Département d’Etat américain sur les droits de
l’Homme. Dans son chapitre relatif à l’Arménie, le rapport estime que
les problèmes majeurs en matière de droits de l’Homme demeurent les
manquements aux élections empêchant l’alternance, l’absence de
transparence au sein du Gouvernement, la corruption, l’absence d’un
système judiciaire indépendant. Le rapport évoque les élections
législatives du 6 mai 2012, soulignant leur « caractère frauduleux »,
l’utilisation des ressources d’Etat par le parti Républicain, des cas
de distribution de pots-de-vin, l’examen incomplet des plaintes et les
lacunes du Code électoral. Le rapport souligne que les médias ont
objectivement couvert la campagne électorale, mais que cette
objectivité n’a pas été respectée au-delà de la campagne. Un chapitre
entier est consacré à la corruption généralisée, en dépit des «
mesures restreintes » des autorités visant à punir les fonctionnaires
corrompus. Evoquant le système judiciaire, le rapport souligne qu’il
ne saurait être considéré comme indépendant et demeurerait sous le
contrôle du pouvoir exécutif. Le rapport évoque l’affaire Civilitas
comme un cas de représailles politiques. Le rapport du Département
d’Etat évoque en outre des cas de décès suspects au sein des forces
armées, des violations des droits des minorités religieuses et
sexuelles, des violences familiales etc. Le parti Républicain a
qualifié ce rapport de « partial ». Le porte-parole du MAE, Tigran
Balayan, a quant à lui, déclaré qu’en dépit de divers rapports, les
autorités arméniennes sont décidées à poursuivre les réformes
démocratiques.
2. Le rapport du Conseil de l’Europe sur les élections présidentielles
en Arménie/ Selon un rapport publié par Karin Woldseth, chef de la
mission d’observation de l’APCE aux élections du 18 février, « le
scrutin présidentiel a été, dans l’ensemble, bien administré et s’est
caractérisé par le respect des libertés fondamentales ». Le rapport
salue notamment le fait que les candidats aient pu faire campagne sans
entrave, que les médias publics aient assuré une couverture équilibrée
et que l’élection se soit déroulée dans le calme et sans violence.
Toutefois, le rapport précise « qu’un certain nombre de déficiences
ont été observées, en particulier l’utilisation abusive des ressources
d’Etat, et l’intervention de représentants et de partisans des
candidats dans le processus électoral ». Le rapport regrette par
ailleurs que les électeurs aient vu leur possibilité de choix limitée
par la décision de partis politiques de premier plan de ne pas
présenter de candidats. L’APCE a exhorté les autorités arméniennes à
pallier ces déficiences qui sapent la confiance de la population dans
le processus électoral, afin qu’elles ne se reproduisent plus lors de
futures élections, tant à l’échelon national que local ou régional.
Elle a également demandé aux autorités de mener des enquêtes sur
toutes les allégations de fraude électorale et d’agissements fautifs,
et de punir leurs auteurs. / Rapporté par l’ensemble de la presse
3. Le Prince Charles à Erevan fin mai ?/ Jamanak écrit à la « une »
que le Prince Charles pourrait se rendre à Erevan fin mai. Sa visite
serait organisée par l’ancien PM arménien, Armen Sarkissian, un proche
du Prince, actuellement résidant à Londres.
IV. Questions régionales
1. Nouvelle reconnaissance de l’indépendance du HK/ L’ensemble de la
presse se félicite de la reconnaissance de l’indépendance du HK par le
comté de Fresno, premier Comté de Californie à reconnaître le HK. Il
est possible que Sacramento fasse de même. Le Conseil de Surveillance
du Comté a par ailleurs appelé Washington à reconnaître la «
République du HK ». Trois États américains ont déjà reconnu le HK :
Rhode Island, Massachusetts et Maine.
2. Le Ministre des AE, Edouard Nalbandian, en visite officielle à
Moscou, le 25 avril, à l’invitation de son homologue russe / Hayastani
Hanrapetoutioun
V. France-Arménie
1. Explosion devant l’Ambassade de France en Lybie/ Azg reproduit la
déclaration du Ministre français Laurent Fabius et fait état de sa
visite en Lybie.
2. Valérie Boyer reçue à l’AN arménienne/ Hayastani Hanrapetoutioun et
Haykakan Jamanak rendent compte de la rencontre de la députée
française avec les membres du Groupe d’amitié France-Arménie, qui
l’ont vivement remerciée pour ses activités en faveur de l’Arménie.
Mme Boyer a évoqué la récente création d’un cercle d’amitié avec le
HK, dont elle est membre. Elle a regretté que la loi dont elle était à
l’origine ait été invalidée par le Conseil constitutionnel.
3. Les interviews de l’Ambassadeur de France à l’occasion de
l’anniversaire du Génocide/ Deux chaînes de télévision, ATV et
Kentron, ont diffusé un entretien avec l’Ambassadeur, qui a rappelé
que la France avait été le premier pays à reconnaître le Génocide
arménien par une loi, le 29 janvier 2001. L’ensemble des chaînes de
télévision ont par ailleurs retransmis l’interview de l’Ambassadeur
réalisée lors de la cérémonie au Mémorial du génocide, soulignant la
signification de cette commémoration pour la France.
Rédaction : Meri Hakobian
LA KNESSET S’INTERROGE SUR L’OPPORTUNITE D’UNE RECONNAISSANCE DU GENOCIDE DES ARMENIENS
vendredi26 avril 2013, par Gari/armenews
Le Parlement israelien, la Knesset, a consacre une seance special a
la question de la reconnaissance du genocide des Armeniens, dont on
commemorait mercredi 24 avril le 98e anniversaire. Le debat revient
regulièrement a l’ordre du jour du Parlement israelien, a l’initiative
des deputes israeliens favorables a la reconnaissance d’un genocide que
l’Etat hebreu refuse de reconnaître, afin de menager ses relations avec
la Turquie. Alors qu’après près de trois annees de crise diplomatique
avec (…)
EVENTS IN TBILISI, DEDICATED TO THE 98TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia
25 April 2013
In the morning on 24 April, 2013 a crowded procession of the Armenian
community in Georgia moved from Avlabari Surb Etchmiadzin Church in
Tbilisi to the Tbilisi Pantheon of the Armenian Writers and Public
Figures “Khojivank”. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Armenia to Georgia Hovhannes Manoukian, Head of the Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church in Georgia, His Grace Bishop
Vazgen Mirzakanyan, Advisor to the President of Georgia Van Baiburtian,
First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights and
Civil Integrity Gedevan Popkhadze, Deputy Chairman of the Committee
Ruslan Pogosyan, representatives of the sister Churches in Georgia
the Head of Roman Catholic Church in the Caucasus Bishop Giuseppe
Pasotto, the representative of the Baptist Church in Georgia Bishop
Ilia Osepashvili, Pastor of the Lutheran Church Viktor Miroshnichenko –
bowed to the memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide.
They laid wreathes at khachkar, then a prayer service for the souls
of the victims of the Armenian Genocide was conducted.
On the same day at Surb Etchmiadzin Church under the leadership of
the Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Holy Church
in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan Divine Liturgy
was conducted. Diplomatic staff of RA Embassy to Georgia, spiritual
fathers of the sister Churches, the representatives of the diplomatic
missions accredited in Georgia attended the service. The sacristan
at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi Priest Husik Harutyunyan
conducted the liturgy.
In His sermon Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan stressed the impartiality
of the Armenian justice, he named the memory event consolation and
urged unity for the sake of victory.
During the church service, the Head of the Diocese of Armenian
Apostolic Church read a statement of the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and the Catholicos of the
Great House of Cilicia, Aram I, which urges the Turkish government to
recognize the Armenian Genocide, to compensate the loss, violated
national and human rights of the Armenian people, and to return
immediately churches, monasteries and other church property, spiritual
and cultural values to the Armenian people.
Then, at the initiative of the NGO “Armenian Community of Georgia”,
and with the participation of the “Hayartun” Center of the Diocese of
Armenian Apostolic Church in Georgia and other operating in Georgia
Armenian non-governmental organizations, with the national flags of
Armenia and Georgia the procession headed to the Turkish Embassy in
Tbilisi, where a crowded protest meeting passed. The representatives
of living in Tbilisi Kurdish and Assyrian communities, as well as
Georgian supporters, attended the meeting along with Armenians.
All the speakers on the meeting condemned the Armenian Genocide; they
demanded to recognize the Genocide and to compensate for the lives
of the victims, whose only crime was the fact that they were Armenians.
“April 24 is the day of all Armenians unity, the day of the Armenian
people struggle for justice, the day of a claim for compensation,
which will for sure have the logical end,” – declared the head of
the Armenian Community in Georgia Samvel Lazarian.
The Head of Georgian NGO “Irakli II Society” Archil Chkoidze called
on the Georgian authorities to recognize and condemn the Armenian
Genocide, Giorgi Altunashvili bowed to the memory of innocent victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
Armenian students from Javakheti, intellectuals, writers,
representatives of Armenian youth organizations required compensation
during the meeting. Patriotic and folk songs sounded.
Georgian mass media covered the protest action, organized in Tbilisi
in front of the Turkish Embassy.
More information is available at
Armenian Diocese in Georgia
18, Armazi Street, 0103, Tbilisi, Georgia
Phone: +995322546411
Cell: +995593397170
Fax: +995322751790
Email: [email protected]