Author: Karagyozian Lena

ZE09051508 – 2009-05-15
Permalink:
Pop e Meets With Greek Orthodox, Armenian Churches

Expresses Joy at Signs of Ecumenical Unity

JERUSALEM, MAY 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI met with
representatives of Christian communities in the Holy Land, and is
affirming the Catholic Church’s desire to work toward common goals of
unity.

The Pope said this today, the final day of his Holy Land pilgrimage,
in the presence of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of
Jerusalem and All Palestine, Theophilus III, in an ecumenical meeting
at the patriarchate.

The Pontiff expressed the hope that the meeting will "give new impetus
to the work of theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and
the Orthodox Churches, adding to the recent fruits of study documents
and other joint initiatives."

"Such ecumenical experience bears clear witness to the link between
the unity of the Church and her mission," he noted.

The Holy Father affirmed the necessity of the witness of Christian
communities, to testify to "what our faith proclaims: the eternal
Word, who entered space and time in this land, Jesus of Nazareth, who
walked these streets, through his words and actions calls people of
every age to his life of truth and love."

Benedict XVI recognized the work of the community leaders who meet
regularly together, and encouraged them in the task of upbringing and
educating "a further generation of well-formed and committed
Christians."

"This common pastoral concern," he added, "will ensure that your
regular meetings are marked by the wisdom and fraternal charity
necessary to support one another and to engage with both the joys and
the particular difficulties which mark the lives of your people."

The Pope expressed a prayer that "the aspirations of the Christians of
Jerusalem will be understood as being concordant with the aspirations
of all its inhabitants, whatever their religion: a life of religious
freedom and peaceful coexistence and — for young people in particular
— unimpeded access to education and employment, the prospect of
suitable housing and family residency, and the chance to benefit from
and contribute to economic stability."

Significant growth

After this meeting, the Pontiff went to visit the Holy Sepulcher
nearby, and then went to the Armenian Apostolic patriarchal church of
St. James.

In the presence of Archbishop Torkom II Manoukian and members of the
Armenian Church, the Holy Father affirmed that the meeting "is another
step along the path towards the unity which the Lord desires for all
his disciples."

He acknowledged the recent "significant growth in the relationship
between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church,"
thanking the latter for its commitment in furthering theological
dialogue between the former and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Benedict XVI recalled his previous visits with Karekin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, and Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians.

He continued, "A particular sign of hope is the recent document on the
nature and mission of the Church produced by the Mixed Commission and
presented to the Churches for study and evaluation."

The Pope entrusted this effort to prayer "so that it can bear abundant
fruit for the growth of Christian unity."

After the meeting, he departed Jerusalem for Tel Aviv airport, where
he bade farewell to the Holy Land leaders and boarded a plane for
Rome.

— — —

On ZENIT’s Web page:

Full text of address at Greek Orthodox patriarchate:
nglish

Full text of address at Armenian patriarchate:
nglish

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS NAIRIT TRAGEDY SERIOUS TRIAL FOR ARMENIA’S RESCUE SERVICES

ARKA
May 15, 2009

YEREVAN, May 15. /ARKA/. The tragedy at Nairit plant was a trial for
Armenia’s rescue services, RA President Serzh Sargsyan said.

An explosion in Armenia’s rubber producing giant Nairit plant on
Thursday at around 6:00 pm local time took lives of four workers.

"The rescuers risked their lives to extinguish the fire without a
delay," the president said as he visited today the enterprise.

Sargsyan has charged relevant agencies to launch an investigation
into the accident, expressing condolences to the families of the
dead workers.

"Though the owner of the enterprise and state agencies are ready
to recompense the losses, it will not console them," Sargsyan was
quoted saying.

The president urged other enterprises to take lessons from the tragedy
and become more cautious.

A lawsuit filed against the explosion at the Yerevan-based Nairit
chemical plant for violating safety rules in highly explosive areas,
causing human losses, as well as for careless utilization of hazardous
chemical and biological agents and toxins.

The police have launched preliminary investigation into the case.

Established in 1949, Armenia’s leading rubber producer Nairit chemical
pant manufactures chloroprene rubber marketing its products under
the Nairit brand.

AZERBAIJAN DISPLEASED WITH OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
16.05.2009 14:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza and
head of international relations department at Azerbaijani president’s
administration Novruz Mammadov continue a battle of words.

In an interview with Azeri Press Agency, Mr. Bryza refuted Mammadov’s
statement that the Prague talks ended in a fiasco.

"I am a mediator and I assess the ongoing processes. Mammadov was not
present at any of the meetings and can’t know how these proceeded,"
Bryza said.

Mammadov’s response followed immediately. At that, he did not
restrict himself to slamming Bryza. Mammadov accused the entire Obama
administration of pro-Armenian mood.

AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM OF ART FIGURES UNDER "GENDER CONCERN" SLOGAN TO OPEN IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
May 8, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS: An international symposium of art figures
under "Gender Concern" slogan will open today in Yerevan in which
works presenting the gender issues will be presented.

During today’s press conference the project coordinator Susanna
Gyulamirian noted that the symposium objectives are to point out to
the issues of gender equality, once more to uncover the issues of
the sphere which are very up to date and worrying.

The project coordinator informed that five young art figures
from Germany, Iran, Finland, Turkey and USA will take part in the
symposium. From Armenia three art figures representing painting,
video art, performance and photo will take part. During the five-day
event photos and documentary films on gender issues will also be shown.

"Symposium peculiarities will be that the presented works will be
accompanied with the comments of the authors; they will present their
works and answer to the questions", – she added.

According to S. Gyulamirian, the researches in the sphere of gender
issues have long become a culture, different cognitive events are
organized and conferences invited.

"Day by day the public understands that gender does not only refer
to the equality of men and women but also the homosexuals, age and
other differences", – she added.

SHOUSHI IS MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN EVER

Asbarez
-significance-is-more-crucial-than-ever/
May 8th, 2009

The liberation of Shoushi was the most significant turning point in
the Karabakh movement, and today, 17 years later, its significance
is even more crucial to the Armenian reality as we live in uncertain
political times.

The last two weeks have been fraught with developments that have shaken
the Armenian reality as we know it. The announcement of a "roadmap"
agreement by Armenia, Turkey and Switzerland, speculation on whether
the Karabakh conflict resolution will be a precondition to normalizing
relations with Turkey, the dual disappointment from President Obama-no
to Genocide and slashing of aid to Armenia-and the vague announcement
that Armenia and Azerbaijan are "inching closer" to an agreement have
made the Karabakh liberation movement, and especially the victory
in Shoushi more than just a bright page in modern Armenian history,
but a crucial element in our national self-preservation.

It goes without saying that any peace agreement that will alter the
current status of Karabakh (save its reunification with Armenia) will
critically endanger the population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
and pose a threat to the national security of not just Karabakh but
also Armenia.

The victory in Shoushi ensured an imminent end to the war and
guaranteed the liberation of all of Artsakh. The sheer resilience
of the people of Karabakh and their unwavering commitment for
self-determination and freedom were the hallmarks of a movement marred
by bloodshed, war and oppression. Their heroism became a lesson for
all Armenians regardless of their proximity to Karabakh or Armenia
and proved that the decades-long struggle for justice was not in vain.

As we are thrust in a new political reality, where foreign forces
are pressuring Armenia to give up its hard-won freedoms, we-as a
nation-must come together to ensure that the heroism as a result of
which Shoushi was liberated and Karabakh was won also was not in vain.

As the late Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov declared at the height of
the Karabakh movement, for Azerbaijan Karabakh is a matter of prestige,
whereas for Armenia it is a matter of survival.

Almost two decades later, the losses incurred by Azerbaijan are still
a matter of prestige-emasculation-whereas the preservation of Karabakh
remains, now, more than ever, a matter of life and death.

We honor those who fought hard to liberate Shoushi and Karabakh as
we mark this momentous anniversary.

ARRANGEMENTS DEDICATED TO TRIPPLE HOLIDAY-NKR DEFENCE ARMY, 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION OF SHOUSHI AND VICTORY DAY

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
May 9, 2009

11.00 The sate and governmental delegation’s start from Rebirth Square
to Memorial Complex of Stepanakert. Placing of wreaths and flowers
to monuments by delegation members and laying flowers on graves by
leadership and public representatives.

11.45 Visit of the state and governmental delegation to Shoushi.

12.00 Laying flowers and wreaths on pedestal of memorial-tank.

12.15 Placing wreaths and flowers to Commander Vazgen Sardsyan’s
monument.

12.30 Visiting the Ghazanchetsots Church.

13.00 Organization of a solemn arrangement in view of a new building,
constructed for the officers’ staff of the NKR DA, house – warming.

17.00 A solemn meeting in the Officers’ House of Stepanakert.

19.00 The NKR President’s reception in the session hall of the NKR
Government.

20.00-23.00 Festive concert in the Rebirth Square.

22.00 Festive firework.

13.00-20.00 Concerts, sport competitions, shows, and folk outdoor
merrymakings will take place in public gardens, parks and squares
of Stepanakert.

RA MFA TAKES ITS BEST EFFORTS TO PROTECT RA CITIZENS NO MATTER WHAT COUNTRY THEY’RE IN

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.05.2009 19:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Every Armenian is safe regardless of country he is
in, RA Deputy Foreign Minister, Karine Kazinyan told a news conference
today. "RA MFA always conducts negotiations with different countries
and takes its best efforts to provide RA citizens security, though
accidents might happen."

"RA MFA takes its best efforts to protect RA citizens no matter what
country they’re in, not only in Georgia," RA Deputy Foreign Minister
emphasized.

EFFICIENCY AND OBSTACLES TO INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN MEDICINES
Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
05/05/2009

Two-day international conference under heading "Integration of
traditional and modern medicines" was held on April 28-29 in Yerevan
on the initiative of the University of Traditional Medicine (UTM).

The conference aimed at giving opportunity to the specialists in
both practical and theoretical spheres to be informed directly of
their achievements.

"The modernization of traditional and modern medicines’ integration is
evident and explicable, as the technological achievements of modern
medicine afford opportunity for more accurate diagnoses, besides;
the traditional medicine is inexpensive providing treatment without
secondary after-effects. And it is obvious that in many cases the
traditional medicine can substitute the modern one and because of that
it is often called alternative", Head of UTM International Relations
Department Ali Namavar informed. According to him, the mentioned
integration and spread of the traditional medicine is hampered by the
modern medicine, as the specialists of the modern medicine are not
properly informed of the traditional one. "Holding of international
conferences with active participation of specialists and publication
of their results can contribute to solution of this problem", Ali
Namavar mentioned.

University of Oriental Medicine founded by Norayr Saribekian
(UOM Rector) in 1991 is the first and the only institution in the
region that organizes various conferences and forums in direction
of development and spread of oriental medicine. It was the first
institution that organized conferences under heading "Integration of
traditional and modern medicines".

The first conference was held in 2007, and the second one – in
2008. April 28-29 conference was the third one with participation of
specialists from Russia, Tajikistan, Georgia, Iran and Armenia.

Five specialists from Armenia – Elionora Minasian (physiotherapist),
Hasmik Davtian (reflexotherapist), Vahe Vardanian (reflexotherapist),
Petros Ghazarian (Dr. of Biological Sciences) and Ashot Ashotian
(surgeon, phitotherapist) – delivered speeches within the framework
of the conference’s theme.

Chairman of Tajikistani Traditional Medicine Association, Associate
Member of Russian Academy of Technological Sciences Tokhiri
Mulozakhur, Chairman of Georgian Traditional Medicine Association
Tornike Alashvili, Director of Iranian Institute of National Phlebotomy
Studies Heyrandish Hussein and International trainer of yoga, Editor
of Iranian magazine "Yoga" Kazemir Nadir also participated in the
conference. 24 Iranian specialists participated in the conference
presenting their scientific articles.

Speaking of the conference’s results, Head of UTM International
Relations Department Ali Namavar mentioned, "Thanks to international
cooperation long-lasting working relations are established with the
equivalent institution in Iran that is organizing a seminar dedicated
to reflexotherapy this year in Tehran where Armenian representatives
will also participate".

The following specialists from the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered
speeches at the conference "Integration of traditional and modern
medicines" – Mahdi Askarfarashar, Mohammad Yusef, Ali Javadi, Hamid
Reza, Khoshnezad Azam, Abdullah Baharlui, Abas Musavi, Rasul Daleb,
Reza Rezayidaregyanar, Aligo Naseri, Rahman Ebrahimi, Gholamreza
Carimi, Akram Falah, Sharare Dustirezai, Mamak Hashemi Habibabadi,
Hasan Sarbazhusein, Masud Balaghatnia, Aldas Tahebnejad, Amolbanin
Tavakoli, Mohsen Dehlan, Gholamreza Salsali, Masud Purmehrab,
Shokoola Mirkafari.

FITCH RATINGS AFFIRMS VTB BANK ARMENIA AT ‘BB+’ AND ACBA-CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK AT ‘BB’

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2009 15:02 GMT+04:00

Fitch ratings has on April 30 affirmed two Armenian banks, VTB Bank
Armenia (VTBA) and ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank (ACBA), at Long-term
Issuer Default (IDR) ‘BB+’ and ‘BB’, respectively.

The outlooks on both banks are Stable. The Individual Ratings of VTB
A and ACBA have been also affirmed at ‘D/E’ and ‘D’, respectively. A
full list of rating actions is provided at the end of this commentary.

The IDRs of both banks reflect Fitch’s view of the moderate probability
of support being forthcoming, if required, from their owners. Fitch
believes Russia’s JSC VTB Bank (VTB; ‘BBB’/Negative) would have a
strong propensity to support VTB A, in case of need, due to its 100%
ownership, the strategic importance of CIS markets for VTB and the
small size of VTB A relative to its parent.

In respect to ACBA, the probability of support being forthcoming
from Credit Agricole (CA; ‘AA-‘ (AA minus)/Stable) is undermined by
CA’s minority stake (28%) and the fact that the Armenian market does
not appear to be of high importance for CA; these considerations
are reflected in the lower Long-term IDR of ACBA, relative to VTB
A. Nevertheless, support is factored into the ratings of ACBA due to
brand association, the close involvement of CA in establishing and
supervising ACBA and ACBA’s relatively small size.

The Individual Ratings of both banks reflect rapid loan growth in
recent years, the high proportion of foreign currency loans and
the high-risk operating environment, but also take into account
the solid capitalisation of both banks and their broad domestic
franchises. However, the high concentration of VTB A’s loan book, its
relatively high exposure to the vulnerable construction sector, the
somewhat higher current loan impairment level, larger tier 2 component
in capital and much higher reliance on shareholder funding/liquidity
support make the bank weaker on a standalone basis, which is reflected
in its Individual Rating of ‘D/E’. The Individual Rating of ACBA at
‘D’ considers the high granularity of its loan portfolio, diversified
funding base and stable liquidity position, high profitability and
good corporate governance.

ACBA is Armenia’s largest bank by assets and loans, with market shares
of 12% and 13%, respectively, at end-2008. It has a leading position
in agricultural lending with a 71% market share. The biggest stake
in the bank is owned by CA and the remainder is distributed among 10
regional agricultural unions.

VTBA held 11% of sector loans and 5.9% of retail deposits at
end-2008. The bank has an extensive branch network covering all
regions of Armenia and is 100%-owned by VTB, finchannel.com reported.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Any attempt to question historical fact of Armenian Genocide can be
characterized as atavism
02.05.2009 19:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In connection with the information on the
press-conference of Genocide Museum Director Hayk Demoyan (30
Apr. 2009), the speaker himself turned to PanARMENIAN.Net saying that
the term `genocide’ gives way to manipulations. Mr. Demoyan said that
as a result of editing the text, some of his statements were cut from
context, acquiring a new sense. As a matter of fact, the statement
sounds as follows:

`I want all of us to avoid emotions. It’s unclear why we get
disappointed ahead of time and try to demonstrate complexes that have
already fallen out of use.’

With regard to Barack Obama’s April 24 address, I see both positive
and negative consequences. As Director of Genocide Museum-Institute
and researcher studying Genocide issues I find that exploiting the
term `genocide’ contains a serious danger. It establishes a precedent
for further manipulations. `Genocide’, as a legal term, means a
gravest crime. Such manipulations, I mean, promise to use or not to
use the term or the language trainings are extremely dangerous. I
don’t view the issue in the Armenian context; I view it in a broader,
global context. Unfortunately, mankind will survive genocides in the
XXI century as well. As to me, I’d rather Obama hadn’t promised
anything. In such case, I would have realized everything. But when
everything is obvious¦ to avoid saying a broken promise, I would
characterize it as an attempt to devalue to term. In the history of
mankind, genocide means a gravest crime. Hence, any manipulation of
the term is extremely dangerous. And I don’t view the problem in the
Armenian context. I view it in a broader, global context.

With regard to positive consequences, I would first of all mention
that Obama is a quite charismatic personality. I think, the rumors
about his statement, i.e. that Obama didn’t use the word, swaying his
electoral pledge, will attract more public attention to the Armenian
Issue and Armenian Genocide Studies. In this respect, I find it a
positive phenomenon, as it may help raise international community’s
awareness of Armenian Genocide. I don’t only mean the American
community; I speak about the international community on the whole.

Besides, if we look back to the past 20 years, and draw comparisons
with the present-day reality, we’ll see an unprecedentedly high level
of awareness, a greater number of scientific studies and, of course,
international recognition. Currently, any step and even dream or hope
to question the historical fact of Armenian Genocide can be
characterized as atavism, reversion to a more primitive state, which
may but arouse irony and nothing more".