OFFICE OF ARMENIAN RELIEF UNION OPENS IN AKHALKALAK
Noyan Tapan
April 19, 2008
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TOD00AY. An office
of the Armenian Relief Union of Georgia opened in Akhalkalak. Local
religious figures, officials, members of the Armenian community took
part in the opening ceremony.
Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters’ rally ended under disguised shouting of oppositionists as a reply to the actions of the police
2008-04-19 17:20:00
ArmInfo. Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters’ rally has ended under the
disguised shouting of oppositionists as a reply to the actions of the
police, which switched off electric devices at 5:00 PM, the time of
possible ending of the rally declared in advance.
Chairman of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s election headquarters, his former
press-secretary Levon Zurabyan said that when the rally started
electric power was switched off for 30 minutes, and now they have to
continue the rally for 30 minutes. But the talks between organizers
of the rally and policemen had no result. After that supporters of
the opposition were shouting anti-governmental slogans for several
minutes and then left as the rally organizers called them to do it.As
the equipment was disconnected from energy supply, the leaders of two
large oppositional parties had no chance to make a speech, – Stepan
Demirchyan, the chairman of the People’s Party of Armenia, and Aram
Sargsyan, the head of the Political Council of the "Republic" party.
To note, the City Hall of Yerevan has acknowledged the notification
about the rally for the first time after state of emergency in Yerevan
was lifted. According to ArmInfo correspondent’s estimation, a total of
7-10 thsd people took part in the rally. The rally was held under the
scenario of the similar termless rallies from February 20 till February
29. During the intervals between the speeches, the participants
listened to the music and chanted the slogans "Levon president",
"Fight, fight up to the end", "Free, independent Armenia". After the
rally, some supporters of the opposition went to the Northern Avenue
to take part in the traditional political strolls. Levon Ter-Petrosyan
himself took no part in the April 19 activities.
IMF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONGRATULATES PM TIGRAN SARGSYAN
armradio.am
18.04.2008 15:53
The Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund Age Bakker
congratulated RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan on appointment. The
message says, in part:
"Let me use the opportunity to congratulate you on the occasion
of your appointment to the post of Prime Minister of the Republic
of Armenia. As Chairman of the Central Bank, for many years you
have played a pivotal role in the implementation of reforms in
Armenia. Under the conditions of close cooperation with the IMF staff,
your contribution to the above-mentioned process brought to brilliant
results and received a high evaluation. It was a great pleasure for
me to work with you last year. With the anticipation to cooperate in
the future I wish you success in this new position."
AZERBAIJANI SPORTSMEN READY TO TAKE PART IN OLYMPIC GAMES IF HELD IN YEREVAN
Today.Az
/44343.html
April 17 2008
Azerbaijan
"The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will have no influence on the
Baku’s struggle for the right to hold the summer 2016 Olympic games.
The due announcement was made by Chingiz Huseynzade, vice president
of the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan.
He said the conflict between China and Tibe us did not hinder the
conduction of 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.
"Delegations of 205 countries declared participation in the Beijing
Olympic Games, despite the Tibetus events, by results of the session
of the Association of National Olympic Committee in Beijing. This
proves once more that Olympic movement should not be bound to the
political events", said Huseynzade.
He noted that in case the 2016 Olympic Games are held in Baku Armenian
sportsmen will have no problems with participation.
"Armenian sportsmen will also be able to participate, if the Olympic
Games are held in our capital city. Also, in case it is held in Yerevan
we will also go there and participate. This means that we should not
confuse sport with politics", said he,
Huseynzade noted that Azerbaijani sportsmen will participate in
the Olympic licensed contests of the world and Europe to be held
in Armenia.
"Why did Armenians come to the world fight championship in Baku?
Because this was an Olympic licensed contest. If this contest had
any other status, they would not come. If the contest, held in any
country, involves the whole world, it is impossible for a country, not
conflicting to the organizers, not to participate", said Huseynzade.
ARMENIAN MP COMMENTS ON NEW GOVERNMENT
Mediamax
April 16 2008
Armenia
Yerevan, 16 April: The secretary of the parliamentary faction of the
[Armenian Revolutionary Federation -] Dashnaktsutyun party, Artashes
Shahbazyan, has said that the new president and prime minister of
Armenia have taken the promised path and are realizing serious staff
changes.
Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today, Artashes Shahbazyan
stated that a new, interesting and promising start has been initiated,
which gives people ground to think that the authorities have started
reckoning with the public discontent.
According to him, "society did not applaud the outgoing leadership".
"Today’s Armenia is radically different from the one which existed
before the presidential elections," the secretary of the parliamentary
faction said. One can no longer shut one’s eyes to the fact that
there are economic, foreign policy and internal policy problems in
the country, which cause the discontent of the population, he said.
According to Shahbazyan, it is obvious that ex-President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan will continue playing the role of an opposition leader
in our political life, and it is important that his struggle for
power does not destroy the basics of our statehood but lead to its
consolidation.
CANADIAN ARMENIANS COMMEMORATE GENOCIDE
AZG Armenian Daily
18/04/2008
Genocide
Ottawa – The Canadian-Armenian community and Armenians around the
world will soon commemorate 93rd Anniversary of the death of 1.5
million Armenians exterminated during the first genocide of the 20th
century by Ottoman Turkey.
In Canada, The various commemoration events will culminate on
Parliament Hill on April 24. Religious leaders, representatives
of other community organizations, political representatives, and
representatives of other genocide victim nations will attend the
commemoration ceremony in Ottawa.
Several speakers will address the gathering and a ceremony dedicated
to the disappeared will take place near the Eternal Flame.
POOR FAMILIES DISCUSSED IN GOVERNMENT
Panorama.am
17:13 16/04/2008
"The objective of the country and the government is to smooth the
social results caused by the increase of prices, particularly natural
gas price increase," said Vazgen Khachikyan, the president of social
investment foundation.
He mentioned that the government will take measures for the vulnerable
families. "The pensioners will get financial support from the
government which is being discussed," he said.
Note that yesterday the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan announced that
from May 1 the natural gas price will increase because the grant given
by the Government is over; thus the citizens should pay 84 drams in
stead of former 59 for one cubic meter.
CASES OF 20 SUSPECTED PARTICIPANTS IN MASS UNREST IN YEREVAN PASSED TO COURTS
Interfax News Agency
April 15 2008
Russia
Twenty criminal cases against people suspected of taking part in mass
unrest in Yerevan on March 1 have been passed to courts, the Armenian
Prosecutor General’s Office said on Tuesday.
Seventy-eight people suspected of taking part in mass unrest remain
in custody, and 16 others were obliged not to leave the city. Three
more suspects have been arrested.
The Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating a criminal case
on the organization of mass unrest with the aim of seizing power in
Yerevan on March 1-2. The case is being investigated by the Special
Investigative Service.
Ten people were killed and more than 180 injured on March 1-2 in
clashes between police and demonstrators supporting presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, who refused to agree to the official
outcomes of the February 19, 2008 presidential elections.
125 PERSONAL CRIMES RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN JAN-FEB 2008
ARKA
April 14, 2008
YEREVAN, April 14. /ARKA/. 125 personal crimes were recorded in
Armenia in January-February 2008 – a 4.6% decrease as compared with
the corresponding period last year.
The RA Statistical Service reports that seven of the crimes were
murders, 61 deliberate harm to health, eight sexual crimes.
Two rapes and attempted rapes were recorded – a 14.1% decrease as
compared with the corresponding period last year.
Forty-eight other personal crimes were recorded in January-February
2008.
From: Catholicosate of Cilicia <[email protected]>
Subject: ANTELIAS: Not Correct To Blame Religion As A Root Cause Of Violence
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
"IT IS NOT CORRECT TO BLAME RELIGION AS A ROOT CAUSE OF VIOLENCE"
Stated His Holiness Aram I in Barcelona
BARCELONA – In a context of a long intervention at an International
inter-religious conference taking place in Barcelona, His Holiness Aram I
addressed on the inter-connection between the religion and violence. He
said: "There is a growing tendency particularly in the western societies to
blame religion, as the cause of violence. This is an incorrect approach. We
should not blame religion as the cause of violence. We should rather blame
those, who exploit religion for their personal and political agendas by
using religious feelings to generate violence. Leaders of religion have a
responsibility not to allow religion to be misused or abused".
According to His Holiness "the root causes of violence are in global
governance, injustice, impunity, corruption, poverty and in abuse of power.
When religion is identified with power and powerful, with oppressive and
unjust structures and ideologies, then it becomes part of conflict".
Considering religion as a source of spiritual and moral values and
principals, Catholicos Aram I called for religious leaders and stakeholders
of civil society "to work together as partners to make use of the rich
potential of religion for peace building". Within this framework, Catholicos
Aram I spelled out three critical issues that needs to be given deeper
reflection. These are: Lack of mutual trust, decay of moral values, the
necessity of living together as a community.
In his concluding remarks Aram I said: "We have enough declarations,
messages, statements, communiqués on the importance of the inter-religious
dialogue. This is the time to translate our common word to common action.
Therefore, we need to initiate people oriented action processes aimed at
living together peacefully, by creating partnerships, establishing networks
of advocacy and by developing shared values".
##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos232.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos233.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.