Author: Khoyetsian Rose

PanARMENIAN.Net

Angela Merkel for establishing united European army
24.03.2007 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The idea of establishing European united army has
been repeatedly expressed by European politicians and NATO
representatives. Besides cutting down expenses at the expense of
reducing strength of national armies this measure would significantly
make easier coordination of joint missions of the European Union. On
the eve of 50th anniversary of the EU German Chancellor Angela Merkel
also expressed her support to this idea. In her conversation to Bild
newspaper FRG Chancellor stated that the EU should deal with
establishing unified armed forces more closely. According the poll
published in The Financial Times, only 37 % of citizens of EU 5 large
countries support this idea, and 37 % of those surveyed expressed
against the idea, MIGnews reports.

ISTANBUL SECURITY BODIES’ OFFICIALS JERRAH AND GULER TO BE PUNISHED
FOR NOT PREVENTING HRANT DINK’S MURDER

ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The state bodies
finished the examination concerning faults found place in the Istanbul
and Ankara Secu rity Bodies on the occason of Hrant Dink’s murder. The
inspectors stated that Jelaleddin Jerrah, the Istanbul Security Bodies
head neglected in his duties as though they stated from Trapison about
organizing an enroachment upon Hrant Dink, however, no serious steps
were taken in the direction of failing the enroachment or securing
Dink’s safety. The inspectors proposed to subject Jerrah to
disciplinary punishment.

As Marmara states, a more serious punishment is envisaged for Ahmed
Ihsan Guler, the Chief of the Security Information Department of
Istabul, who ignored the information about Dink and did not seriously
pursued Yasin Hayal, planning that crime.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
March 23 2007

PETER SEMNEBY: PARTIES SHOULD RENDER DECISIONS OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL

March 23 the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian
received the European Union Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby, who is in Yerevan on a one-day visit, at the
NKR Permanent Representation in RA.
At a briefing held on completion of the meeting the EU Special
Representative for the South Caucasus stated the meeting was not like
negotiations. `’It was exchange of views over the situation in
Karabagh as a whole and around the talks”.
According to Peter Semneby, the fact that despite his promise this
time he did not visit the NKR either and met with the NKR President
in Yerevan is explained by lack of time.
When asked if the European structures put pressure on the leadership
of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh in the Karabakh settlement issue,
Peter Semneby noted the international community, first of all OSCE
Minsk group was waiting for the parties’ consent to the compromise
proposals. `’Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabagh should change
their stands”, the Special Representative stated, adding the parties
should render such decisions of their own free will.
In Peter Semneby’s words, the European Union can apply the levers of
the European security policy and Action Programs to support the talks
and MG OSCE efforts exerted at the Karabakh conflict settlement. The
Special Representative voiced confidence that the EU could do a lot
to establish the atmosphere of trust between the parties.
Explaining the fact that his visits to the region had become more
frequent, Peter Semneby said the European Union was interested in the
region, in part, the problems the region countries faced. `’It is
connected with the fact that besides the European Neighborhood policy
the EU develops substantial relations with all the countries of the
region. Taking into consideration that Bulgaria and Romania entered
the EU, it should be noted that the EU is becoming not an observer,
but an immediate participant of the events going on in the Great
Black Sea region”, Peter Semneby remarked.
The EU Special Representative refused to comment militarist
statements made in Azerbaijan. He just stated `’trust and
conciliation are necessary to settle the conflict”. `’The EU can
contribute to it”, he underscored.

Toronto Star, Canada
March 23 2007

Globalizing the Canadian way

Mar 23, 2007 04:30 AM
Carol Goar

One of the most liberating discoveries immigrants make when they come
to Canada is that old enmities don’t matter here.

They can talk to people they shunned in their homeland. They can work
and socialize with people their forebears spurned. They can reach
across ethnic, racial and religious divides that once seemed
unbridgeable.

Vahan Kololian, one of Toronto’s most successful financiers, has
lived that story. He has seen it happen on university campuses, in
corporate boardrooms and in community groups. He has come to think of
it as the Canadian way.

For years, the founder and managing partner of Terra Nova Partners, a
private equity firm, wanted to find a way to replicate the formula
internationally. If an Armenian like himself could get along with
Turks in Canada, maybe they could help facilitate a dialogue in their
ancestral lands. If Christians and Muslims could be friends here,
maybe they could pass on what they’d learned.

Kololian joined international development groups, sponsored
conferences and reached out to members of other diasporas. Everyone
liked the idea. Plans were hatched and papers written. But the
momentum always seemed to peter out.

A permanent focal point was needed, Kololian decided. But he didn’t
have the expertise to set up or run a think-tank.

Last fall, he met someone who did. Alidad Mafinezam had just returned
to Canada after earning a PhD in public policy at Rutgers University
in New Jersey. His specialty was think-tanks. His passion was
applying the Canadian approach to diversity to deeply rooted
ethnocultural conflicts. Like Kololian, he was an immigrant. But his
roots were in Iran and he was a Muslim, whereas Kololian was
Christian.

"This is perfect," Kololian said.

The two became partners. They created the Mosaic Institute. Kololian
is the chair. Mafinezam is the research director.

The institute won’t have its official launch until the fall, but its
website, , is up and running.

Kololian is not looking for money. He intends to bankroll the
think-tank himself until it is firmly established, has strong links
with Canada’s expatriate communities and is considered a credible
voice on international issues.

"You don’t take people’s money until you know what you’re going to do
with it," Kololian said.

For the moment, the institute is housed in Terra Nova’s corporate
headquarters on the top floor of an upscale office tower at Yonge and
Bloor. That is where Kololian and Mafinezam spent an hour recently
discussing their vision and plans.

"This is an emerging field of academic research," Mafinezam said.
"The scholarship has exploded in the past year or two.

"We want to put it into practice. And we think Canada is uniquely
positioned to do that. While other countries are built on
immigration, Canada doesn’t require newcomers to shed their first
identity. That gives them a sense of cultural freedom. It allows them
to develop a positive notion of diversity.

"I see this place as a model to the world."

Kololian picked up the thread. "We have more than 100 ethnic
communities in Toronto. Our aim is to bring together Canadians from
lands in conflict – be it civil or cross-border – with us as
facilitators. We get their input, we publish it and we hope our work
finds its way into official and non-official channels. If we earn
enough respect, it may filter into Canadian foreign policy.

"We’re not out to build a large institution. We’ll use existing
networks to the largest possible extent. We’ll use other think-tanks
as partners. Our aim is to bring people together."

In time, Kololian hopes, Canadians from different sides of
international conflicts will approach the Mosaic Institute, seeking a
place to share their knowledge. "That will happen when they know we
have no agenda, other than to gather and disseminate insight."

Individuals and groups with axes to grind will not be welcome. Both
Kololian and Mafinezam know expatriates bent on fighting old battles
and consider them an impediment to progress.

Nor are they interested in brilliant academic research with no
practical application. They want to solve problems, not study them.

Both partners reject the notion that Canada is too small to make a
difference in the world. "We don’t recognize our capacity," Kololian
said. "We underdeliver."

"Not having too much power actually helps you," Mafinezam added.

They’re not promising headlines or dramatic breakthroughs. They just
want to show that the Canadian way – making room for differences –
can turn deadlock into dialogue.

/195199

ALIEV’S UNREALIZED CHILDISH DREAMS TO PLAY A WAR
By A. Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
22/03/2007

In spite of statements by the OSCE Minsk Group mediators and other
interested structures, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev continues
his revelations with childish zest. "The power of the Azerbaijani
army and high rates of economic growth leave no doubts about the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict to the benefit of Azerbaijan,"
he said during celebrations of Novrooz.

Counting huge sums oil-dollars Aliev seems to have improved his skills
in mathematics. According to his calculations, Azerbaijan’s economy
is at present 7 times stronger than that of Armenia, but 2 or three
years are still necessary for Azerbaijan to have absolute advantage
of Armenia.

Without being deeply interested in Aliev’s plots, one thing we can
say: it’s evident that Aliev wishes war and is trying to persuade
himself that Azerbaijan can afford it.

TUSIAD HOLDS MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON

Turkish Press
Aksam
March 22 2007

Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association’s (TUSIAD)
officials are holding meetings to work against the so-called Armenian
genocide resolution before the US Congress both in Washington and
New York. The delegation includes TUSIAD Chairperson Arzuhan Dogan
Yalcindag, Vice Chairs Ferit Sahenk and Umit Boyner, board members
Haluk Dincer and Ali Kibar, member Cem Duna and advisor Soli Ozer.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

FUNERAL OF VOSGEPERAN ARZOUMANIAN,
A DEVOTED PERSON OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH
CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA

The Armenian Church and nation, and in particular the Catholicosate of
Cilicia with all its structures and dioceses, paid their last respects on
March 21 to one of their most praiseworthy and loyal followers Vosgeperan
Arzoumanian during a funeral service held in the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral in Antelias.

Arzoumanian had both served the Diocese of Lebanon in its National Council
and Central Executive Council for 40 years and worked at the Saint Joseph
French University in Lebanon during his lifetime.

Pontifical Vicar General Archbishop Ardavazt Terterian conducted the
service during which Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, Primate of the Diocese of
Lebanon and V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian read His Holiness Aram I’s
condolence letters in Arabic and Armenian.

Government officials, academics, representatives from national political
parties and unions, present and former deputies and ministers and a large
number of mourners attended the service.

In his condolence letter the Pontiff stressed the late Mr. Arzoumanian’s
values as a human being, thanks to which he gained the love and respect of
all his acquaintances and colleagues. His Holiness particularly highlighted
Arzoumanian’s humility, loyalty and dedication to service.

A mourning gathering in the hall of the Veharan followed the service. All
the speakers, Dikran Djinbashian on behalf of the Diocese of Lebanon, Father
Jean Dukree, former president of the Saint Joseph University and its current
president, Father Rene Shamoussy spoke with praise about Mr. Arzoumanian’s
dedication and commitment towards all his obligations and responsibilities.

A Brief Biography

Vosgeperan Arzoumanian was born in Turkey in 1924 to parents from the
region of Yozghat. While still a newborn, only forty days old, he moved with
his parents to Beirut.

In 1958 he married Shake Mahdessian and they had four children.

Studying in the Eastern Studies School of the French Saint Joseph
University, he received degrees in Armenology and eastern sociology. He
continued his education in the same university receiving a degree in
Business from its legal and economic department.

Arzoumanian worked for two years in the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Djemaran of Jesuit Fathers and served briefly in the economic department of
the French Mandate.

In 1945-1953 he worked as the chief secretary of Saint Joseph University’s
Eastern Studies and Eastern Sociology department. In 1953-1975 he occupied
the post of head secretary of the same university’s legal, economic and
business programs to be appointed as director of the Humanities and Social
Sciences Department in 1975. At the same time he served as a member of the
university’s board of directors.

Alongside his Academic career, Arzoumanian had an active contribution in
the life of his own Armenian people starting in 1956. He was appointed a
member of the Economic Committee of the Diocese of Lebanon for several
consecutive times and served as the chairman of the Educational Committee of
Armenian National Schools more than once. He was also elected several times
as chairman of the Armenian National Council.

Starting in 1963, he served as the delegate of the Diocese of Lebanon to
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s General Assembly. Since 1965 and until his
death he was a member of the Diocese’s highest body, serving as its chairman
in 1987-1995. Also starting in 1963 he served several times as a member of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Central Executive Council, being elected as
its deputy chairman in 2003.

Arzoumanian served as chairman of the Khatcher Kalousdian Pedagogical
Center’s Committee as well as of the board of Trustees of the Hamazkayine
Educational Institutions. He represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia in a
number of international and ecumenical conferences.

Arzoumanian has also worked with Armenian and foreign language newspapers
and periodicals, writing articles on national, religious, economic and
social issues. He published articles in "Aztag", "Hasg", "Spurk", "Masis",
"L’Orient Le Jour", "La Review du Liban", "Travaux et Jour" and the
Paris-based "Direct" newspapers and magazines.

In 1974 he was awarded the Lebanese Government’s National Cedars Medal of
the "Knight" rank as recognition of his academic services. The President of
the Republic of Lebanon awarded him with the National Cedars medal of the
"Commander" rank in 1997. He also received the Saint Joseph University’s
Honor Medal in 1996.

On 19 March 2004 His Holiness Aram I presented him with the Catholicosate
of Cilicia’s "Cilician Prince" medal for his dedication to the life of the
Armenian people and its church.

##
View the photo here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

March 21, 2007

Easter Message
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate
Armenian Apostolic Church of America (Eastern Prelacy)

MY LORD AND MY GOD

"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the
mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." (John 20:25)

Thomas was the only apostle who had not seen Jesus after His Resurrection,
and this is how he answered the other apostles, who had announced the Lord’s
Resurrection to him. Like the other disciples, Thomas had lived with Jesus,
enjoyed His divine presence, especially the performance of the many
miracles, and listened to His teaching and foretelling of His suffering,
crucifixion, and Resurrection (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19), but still he
did not believe in the Resurrection. He wanted to see with his eyes and feel
with his hands in order to make tangible the inexplicably recognized feeling
of "faith," instead of coming to the real essence and reality of faith, and
to comprehend the incomprehensible and invisible through the logic and
illumination of the spirit.

And when he saw the Lord, and saw His wounds, he cried out,

"My Lord and My God."

Thomas thought that he had faith in Christ. A faith away from doubt, a total
faith. And when the time came to bring the faith to the light, to tell the
truth and proclaim it, the human mind and experience put him into temptation
and wanted, through present explanation, to become "scientific."

But faith, whether in our personal understanding and feeling or as abstract
reasoning, is much greater than the scientific approach and evidence. Faith
is our perfect assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not
seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not a kind of chemistry investigated through
scientific foundations and hypotheses, but a supernatural virtue, higher and
deeper than worldly and secular reasoning. This is a grace that nourishes us
so that we become enriched and strengthened, a talent that "to all those who
have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they
have will be taken away." (Luke 19:26).

Like Thomas, I am sure, today there are many people who profess
Christianity. We think that we have faith, in the true sense of the word, a
faith that keeps our soul firm, illuminates our mind, and makes our
relationship with God close and intimate. On the other hand, we are
surrounded by temptations. Through the intervention and activity of evil we
turn away and depart from the way opened up for us by Christ, and by
doubting and questioning we fall into the snares that darken the brilliance
and splendor of the soul.

The Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christian faith. "If Christ
has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith
has been in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14). In this powerful form, the
proclaimed words gave life to all who believed in Christ and in their faith
died with Christ in order to rise with Him. As a people, we have not needed
in our faith to be like the Apostle Thomas. On the contrary, without seeing
Christ, we have had faith in Him and worshipped Him as our Lord and God, as
the source of life and the way to eternal life.

"Unless I see the wounds of the nails."

Aren’t there people who say this today? Aren’t there people who are
instruments of evil and want to trouble our minds, and in the name of
"science" proclaim the miraculous to be false by giving materialistic
explanations of faith? They produce nonsense concerning the tomb and remains
of Jesus. The Apostle Paul rightly predicted the presence of such men and
their destructive deeds and words: "For the time is coming when people will
not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will
accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn
away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths." (2 Timothy
4:3-4)

Be careful, be a thousand times careful that your Christian virtue not be
corrupted by human temptations, and that your pure faith not be ruined.

The Apostle Thomas wanted to see the Lord with his eyes, and wanted to touch
His wounds with his hands. Today, the tempter tries to blind our soul so
that we will not see the truth and act by the strength and motivation of our
faith.

The Feast of Christ’s Resurrection must make us rejoice. Our faith must be
founded on it and enriched through it, as it was in the past, so also in the
present and future.

For we always proclaimed "My Lord and My God," and never departed from Our
God, the Risen Christ.

A graceful and happy Holy Easter: Christ is risen from the dead.

May your life be filled by the Risen Christ, your days be given meaning
through Him, and may you remain steadfast and firm in your faith.

ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN
Prelate

Holy Easter, 2007

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE AS COUNTERACTION
Marlena Hovsepyan

"Radiolur"
20.03.2007 15:36

Construction of the Iran-Armenian gas pipeline is our response to
the attempts of tour neighbours to isolate the country from regional
projects, Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Bureau’s
Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Kiro Manoyan considers. Speaking
about reference to Nagorno Karabakh as an occupied territory of
Azerbaijan in the latest Human Rights Report of the US Department
of State, Mr. Manoyan said it is an additional lever of pressure on
Armenia prior to elections.

According to the speaker, the political and geopolitical importance
of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is an opportunity to move forward
and a response to the attempt of our neighbours to isolate Armenia
from regional projects.

What can be the influence of the pipeline’s operation on
Armenian-American relations? Kiro Manoyan mentions that the United
States is interested in increasing its influence in the region,
simultaneously preventing the possible influence of Russia and
Iran. Probably, that is the reason why the US tries to mediate and
solve the issue of the Armenian-Turkish border for the Armenian
side not to complain that under the blockade it has no one else to
cooperate with except for Iran.

The latest Human Rights Report of the US Department of State labels
Nagorno Karabakh as the occupied territory of Azerbaijan. Isn’t this
Armenia’s diplomatic failure?

"I consider this another lever of pressure for the American authorities
in this pre-election period. The American diplomats and the State
Department are teaching all of us. I think this is another expression
of this pressure," says Kiro Manoyan.

"Such abrupt position can question the impartiality of the United
States as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country," Mr. Manoyan added.

"In regard to the propaganda on the Karabakh issue Armenia has yielded
its positions," says the speaker and clarifies that we demonstrate fair
approach and do not make an attempt to hamper the negotiations. On
the contrary, Azerbaijan is attempting to prevent the negotiations
in the OSCE Minsk Group framework in every possible way. Elections
expected in Armenia, Azerbaijan, the US and Russia will protract the
talks. Therefore, the Armenian side should struggle via propaganda
as well. "We must not simply counteract," Kiro Manoyan concluded.

GENOCIDE BILL: WE MUST REMEMBER

RIA Novosti
15:04|20/ 03/ 2007

MOSCOW. (Konstantin Zatulin for RIA Novosti) – France intends to pass
a bill stipulating criminal liability for denial of the 1915 Armenian
genocide in Turkey.

Other countries are also working on creating instruments concerning
the acknowledgement of the tragedy, but with varying consistency of
legislative efforts and at varying levels of authority.

The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, made a statement
in 1995 to acknowledge the 1915 genocide in the Ottoman Empire, and
April 24 was declared Remembrance Day. I made a parliamentary report
on the subject as head of the Duma committee on CIS Affairs. The
document we passed back then remains a model of precise wording and
balanced stances.

Many countries have joined the cause since then. For example, two
thirds of states in the United States now have legislative acts
demanding that Armenian genocide is exposed in textbooks and its
history taught at school. Certain states intend to establish liability
for denial of genocide as in the case with Jewish genocide during
World War II. The federal Congress, however, has shelved a similar
act, blocked by a part of the military-industrial complex that is
lobbying Turkish interests. Not all Europeans support the cause,
either, though the majority of countries have recognized the tragedy,
which is of extreme importance to Armenia and Turkey alike.

Turkey attempts to deny the ethnic background of atrocious crimes
committed in 1915, and has not acknowledged its responsibility as
the bloodshed goes back to the Ottoman times. We can see Turkey’s
point-the issue implies not only moral condemnation, which would
put it on a par with rogue countries, but can also lead to material
claims: lawsuits by victims’ descendants, territorial claims, and
disputes concerning cultural artifacts, especially considering their
deplorable state in Turkey.

Europe is rather skeptical about Turkey’s arguments, which shows not
only respect for the dead but also a lack of political will to see
Turkey joining the European family, with its values.

If you ask me, I believe that past crimes must always be acknowledged.

Some former Soviet countries, however, are abusing the term
"genocide." For example, certain present-day Ukrainian political
activists accuse Russia of genocide with reference to the 1930s
famine. Their opinion has no documentary proof, contrary to the
1915 Armenian tragedy, with numerous papers to witness government
resolutions of massacres and ethnic reprisals.

Ossetian spokesmen have also appealed to the State Duma. But
Georgian-Ossetian disputes need a much more detailed study than has
been made so far.

Georgian leaders have done much for the issue to appear on the
agenda. However, the Ossetian drama is more likely to qualify as
reprisals than genocide such as what Nazis did to Jews or Ottoman
Turks to Armenians.

Konstantin Zatulin is Director of the CIS Institute.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s and do not
necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.