Author: Madatian Greg

ON OCCASION OF MAY 9 THOUSANDS OF ARTSAKH RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE ONE-OFF ALLOWANCE

Noyan Tapan
April 18, 2008

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 18, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion
of the May 9 holidays (Day of Victory and Day of Liberation of Shushi),
7260 people in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh will receive one-off
allowance. In general, 90 million drams will be allocated from the
state budget.

As the Karabakh Open reports, the representatives of a number of
social groups are allocated one-off allowance thrice a year: on the
occasion of May 9, September 2 /Day of Independence/ and New Year.

The families of the freedom fighters, who died in the Artsakh war,
and the veterans of the World War II will receive monetary allowance,
which makes 16 thousand drams.

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: nian.htm

CATHOLICOS ARAM I COMMENDS THE BOULGHOURDJIAN FAMILY

National benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Melkon Boulghourdjian visited Catholicos
Aram I in his office in Antelias on April 17. The Boulghourdjian family,
whose support for the Armenian Relief Society of Lebanon has been essential
for the charity organization’s activities, has always been praised by the
Catholicoses of the Holy See of Cilicia.

Receiving the couple, the Pontiff once again stressed how the Armenian
community of Lebanon has benefited immensely from the services of the "Araxy
Boulghourdjian" socio-medical center both during the devastating years of
the Civil War and the acute economic crisis of the present. His Holiness
also grabbed the opportunity to uphold the role of the Armenian Relief
Society of Lebanon in the community’s life and praised the dedication of its
volunteers.

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View the photo here:
tos/Photos246.htm#4
*****
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.

GAYANE GRIGORYAN IS JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT

KarabakhOpen
17-04-2008 10:24:20

On April 16 the parliament of NKR appointed Gayane Grigoryan judge
of the Supreme Court. Now 4 of the 7 judges of the Supreme Court
are women.

In answer to the question of Member of Parliament Rudolf Martirosyan
whether she has sufficient experience, Gayane Grigoryan said she has
been teaching law at the University for many years, and "students
are the strictest judges". Besides, over the past year she has worked
at the political department of the ministry of foreign affairs. She
realizes the responsibility she assumed and can see her potential to
work in this position.

The position of the judge was vacant after Naira Hakobyan had been
released from duties and appointed adviser to the minister of foreign
affairs.

On April 16 the parliament passed amendments to the law on the judicial
system, according to which from July 1 the judicial system will be
reshaped into a three-tier system.

LORD RUSSELL-JOHNSTON TO MEET HEADS OF ARMENIAN, AZERI DELEGATIONS IN STRASBOURG

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.04.2008 14:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Lord Russell-Johnston, chairman of the Subcommittee
on Nagorno Karabakh of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE), will meet with heads of Armenian and Azerbaijani
parliamentary delegations in Strasburg on 17 April, PACE Secretary
for Political Affairs, Mrs. Agnieszka Nachilo told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

The meeting participants will focus on future activities, according
to her.

The next meeting of the Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh will
presumably take place in Strasburg in late June during the PACE
summer session.

AZERBAIJAN INCREASES ITS MILITARY BUDGET

AZG Armenian Daily
17/04/2008

Regional

The Azerbaijani military budget will reach two billion dollars in
2008, announced Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the meeting of
the country’s government.

The expenses of the defense sphere were anticipated to increase to 1
billion 300 million dollars, mentioned Aliyev. However, according to
him, the increasing incomes of the country let them review the state
budget and increase military appropriations.

Aliyev also announced that he intends to develop Azerbaijani
military-industrial complex.

Touching upon the settlement of Karabakh conflict Aliev again announced
that Azerbaijan will not compromise on the issue of its territorial
integrity, "Noyan Tapan" agency reported.

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: nian.htm

THE SHENORHALI CHOIR OF THE CATHOLICOSATE PERFORMS
AT THE SIRAN MANOUKIAN HALL IN DBAYYE

Catholicos Aram I declared 2008 the "Year of Christian Education" in his
Holy Encyclical earlier this year.

In line with the Pontiff’s call, several events are being organized in the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Dioceses and many communities to bring to life
the theme of this year. Christian Education has an important role to play in
contemporary society, starting from the teaching of basic facts to children
to enhancing the knowledge of adults.

As part of the events held during the Christian Education Year, the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Christian Education Department organized a
concert by the Catholicosate’s "Shenorhali" Choir in the "Siran Manoukian"
Hall of the Yeghishe Manoukian College on April 15.

The concert was held under the auspices of Catholicos Aram I, who also
attended and presided over it along with the members of the Cilician
Brotherhood. Some 120 delegates participating in the international
conference in Antelias from throughout the world also attended the concert,
which attracted a large audience from the public.

Artistic director Zakar Keshishian guided the Choir with the skills of an
artist who has mastered his art and delivered a memorable performance both
for the foreign and Armenian audience.

The program of the concert included Yegmalian’s "Hayr Mer" and "Sourp Sourp"
which conveyed the beauty of holy songs to the enthusiastic listeners. New
performances were delivered of three songs from the middle ages- "Varanimk",
"Khengi Dzari Neman Es" and the song dedicated to the Virgin Mary- as well
as the Holy Resurrection song of "Ov Bardizban". Gomidas’ "Ov Zaramanali",
"Aysor Tsaynn Hayragan" and "Kovya Yerousaghem Zder" also featured on the
event’s program. "Ov Kerahrash Dzaghig" and "Nor Dzaghig", samples of the
Armenian Church’s beautiful hymns, captured the audience. Shahan Berberian’s
"Chrisdos Badrakial" was performed with a new style. The masterpiece of the
concert both music and lyrics wise was Robert Bedrossian’s "Khatchkar".

The concert ended with "Cilicia" with the audience signing along with the
Choir.

The Catholicos praised the "Shenorhali" Choir for the improvement of its
performances over time. He commended its artistic director and the
individual singers, who voluntarily contribute to out national and church
life.

In his English language address to the foreign guests in the audience, the
Pontiff upheld the importance of Christian education in the life of
present-day society as the pillar of society and the guarantor of the
survival of the Church.

##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos242.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos243.htm
*****
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.

RA PRESIDENT DISMISSED REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT

DeFacto Agency
April 10 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 09.04.08. DE FACTO. The RA President Serzh Sargsian dismissed
the Republic government.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, being guided by Item 4
of Article 55 of Armenia’s Constitution and taking into consideration
the fact that official accession to the presidency was held April 9,
Serzh Sargsian signed a decree on the resignation of the country’s
government.

The members of the RA government have been charged to continue
discharging their duties until the new government is formed.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: I BELIEVE IN ARMENIA’S FUTURE AND THE POWERFUL POTENTIAL OF OUR PEOPLE

armradio.am
08.04.2008 16:16

"Dear compatriots,

This is my last address to you as President of the Republic of
Armenia. Of course, great is the temptation to report on the way
passed. However, I will not enlist the achievements of the past ten
years. The progress in the modernization of the country is evident,
the life of citizens has considerably improved. There are few countries
in the world, the paces of development of which are comparable to
Armenia. At the same time, it’s obvious that there is still much to
do. The quality of life is still far from the desirable level. However,
I will not speak about the issues of the future, either. That is the
task of the next President and the Government.

These ten years were like a moment for me. The work of the President of
the Republic is hard and responsible. But it is also very interesting,
creative and demands permanent self-improvement.

I’m grateful for the trust of the Armenian people, due to which I
carried responsibility for our country for ten years. I’m grateful
to all those who I had the opportunity to work with and accomplish a
number of programs. I’m grateful to every citizen, who has made the
least contribution to the development of the country. I’m grateful
to the Diaspora for supporting all my initiatives.

I beg the pardon of those whose life did not improved during these
years, those whose expectations did not realize and whose dreams
were not fulfilled. When leaving the post, everyone asks: wasn’t it
possible to do more? Perhaps, it was possible, but I did my utmost. I
worked with a tense schedule and spared no effort. In any case,
I have fulfilled all the promises to my electorate.

I believe in Armenia’s future and the powerful potential of our people.

I believe in the new President’s capacity to effectively lead the
country. For maintaining the success, the society needs more optimism,
trust and tolerance.

We always repeat that our country is not rich in natural resources,
and people are our greatest wealth.

Dear compatriots, You are the ones who set Armenia on its feet and
continue developing our country. You are the ones who develop our
economy with your diligence and entrepreneurship. It’s due to you
that Armenia will have new achievements during the years to come. I
believe that the stable, secure and prosperous Armenia is not far,
because I believe in you.

Thank you."

FOUR ARMENIAN SPORTSMEN TO TAKE PART IN TAEKWONDO EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
April 7, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Between March 28 to April 5, the
Armenian taekwondo national team held a joint teaching and training
gathering with the Iranian national team in Tehran headed by principal
coach Rahim Saleh (Iran). The Armenian national team will leave for
Rome on April 8 to take part in Europe Championship. Aram Sahakian
(84 kg), Arman Yeremian (78 kg), Grigor Vardanian (72 kg), and Levon
Pashabezian (67 kg, all of them from Yerevan) are included in the
team. Europe Championship will finish on April 14.

Work of the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship to continue, says new Finnish
Foreign Minister

armradio.am
05.04.2008 11:26

Alexander Stubb was appointed as Foreign Minister of Finland today. The
new Minister, serving also as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, pledged to
push ahead with Finland’s Chairmanship priorities.

`The Finnish Chairmanship will pursue the detailed schedule of work
that builds on the OSCE’s strengths as a forum for dialogue and a
platform for action across Europe," the new Chairman-in-Office said.

Priorities of the 2008 Finnish OSCE Chairmanship include progress
towards resolving the region’s protracted conflicts, enhancing
engagement with Afghanistan as well as co-operation on maritime and
inland waterways, combating trafficking in human beings, promoting
tolerance and non-discrimination and gender equality.