Author: nina hovnanian

Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 4 2012

Permanent representative to UN: Azerbaijan has its position on many
issues of UNSC agenda
4 January 2012, 12:04 (GMT+04:00) Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.4 / Trend /

The UN Security Council (UNSC) will hold the first working session in
2012 on Wednesday. Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan and Togo,
which were elected to the organization for 2012-2013 during the
elections held at the General Assembly in October 2011, assumed their
authorities as the UNSC non-permanent members on Jan.1. They replaced
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria at the UNSC
Council, whose two-year term expired on Dec.31, 2011.

Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Agshin Mehdiyev told
ITAR-TASS that at the Security Council his country “plans to be
actively involved in all processes taking place there, in developing
and making decisions, in committees and working groups”.

With regard to the developments in Syria, Mehdiyev said that Baku “has
fairly clear view” of the work in this area. “First, we support the
Arab League’s actions in this direction,” he said, stressing the need
that “any decision that would be taken on this issue” should not
result in “further escalation of violence”. Mehdiyev said Azerbaijan
“fully shares the view that both sides should refrain from any action
that can lead to further escalation of tension”. “At the same time, we
believe that at present one should not talk about some kind of
external interference in Syrian affairs,” he added. “It is necessary
to enable people to sort out their issues themselves, while avoiding
any escalation of tension”.

Commenting on the possible submission of a draft resolution with the
General Assembly’s recommendation to the UN Security Council to admit
Palestine to the UN, Mehdiyev stressed that “Azerbaijan recognized
Palestinian state long ago, and Palestinian Embassy functions in
Baku”. “I think we will rely on it,” he said.

Stressing that Azerbaijan is a member of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement, Mehdiyev also drew attention to
the fact that his country has “its position on many issues of the UNSC
agenda”. “If our position coincides with the positions of other
countries at some point, then it is great. If not, then we have our
principles and we are not going to disavow them,” he said.

Mehdiyev said Baku insisted and will insist on the necessity to
fulfill the Security Council resolutions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. He expressed the hope that “Azerbaijan’s increased authority
in the international arena and its membership to the Security Council
can play a positive role in resolving the conflict”.
Mehdiyev pointed to his country’s very close relations with Russia at
the UN “at all levels”.

“There are too little issues where our positions do not fully
coincide,” Mehdiyev said.

“We will continue to work closely with Russia within the Security
Council and beyond it,” Mehdiyev added.

PolicyMic
Jan 4 2012

France’s Armenian Genocide Bill An Attack On Free Speech

William Bauer

Denying the historical veracity or authenticity of a genocide is
wicked, untruthful, and immoral. It is a post-mortem affront to those
many people who perished, to their descendants, and to the collective
memory of humanity. It is truly one of the basest intellectual acts an
individual can commit. However, the act of genocide denial, written or
verbal, must never be made an illegal, criminal act.

Recently, France stirred up controversy, especially with Turkey, when
their lower house of parliament passed a law that would criminalize
any denial of the Armenian Genocide and sentence anyone convicted to
one-year imprisonment and a fine of $60,000. The upper house will
review the law this month, amidst a diplomatic spat with Turkey, who
froze military ties with France after the bill initially proceeded.
Turkey has threatened further action if the bill makes it to French
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s desk.

The genocide of the Armenians by the Turks from 1915-1923 in the dying
years of the Ottoman Empire cost the lives of over 1.5 million people,
and can be deemed the first near-total holocaust of a people by
Turkish soldiers. It was evil and brutal murder of a people in cold
blood, one that wiped a thriving community off the face of the earth.
Of this there can be no doubt. Yet, many Turks have long vigorously
denied this historically accurate version of events; now France, for a
plethora of reasons, seeks to make this denial illegal.

This is an utterly unacceptable attack on freedom of speech.

The actual law, which has yet to be signed into law by Sarkozy, was
passed by the French lower house of parliament in late December. It
provoked a sharp diplomatic response from Turkey, who withdrew its
ambassador from Paris in protest of what it views as an unjustified
attack on Turkish state history. This could have long-term diplomatic
consequences.

Reasons as to why France decided to pass this unnecessary and
unenforceable law at this current juncture are mixed. Ostensibly, this
law would combat genocide denial, however it seems the bill may be a
short-term vote-winning measure designed to sway over key voters from
the Armenian community in upcoming presidential elections. This is
also not the first time Sarkozy has used history for electoral gain.

Freedom of expression is sacrosanct. It must extend to opinions
mainstream society would never want to hear or consider. Indeed, it
extends over opinions that many of us find distasteful, even
repulsive. However, freedom of speech covers the rights of all people,
of all strife and stripe, of all races and creeds, of all backgrounds,
to be able to express their beliefs in security and safety. This
French law, purportedly enacted to protect the historical memory of
the Armenian genocide, actually hurts it, by giving the deniers a
platform from which to proselytize these very falsehoods to a wider
audience.

Eventually, history will render its judgement on this era without help
of this ineffective legislation. France needs to ensure that freedom
of speech is protected, that no event is too large to be considered
exempt, and that those who want to speak should be allowed to do so,
no matter what they choose to say. It is both dangerous and foolish to
let the will of the majority of the community dictate the legal
codifying of opinions, no matter how noble the intention.

In the 18th century, at a time of great strife and turmoil, and of new
ideas versus old ones, Voltaire, the great French philosopher, wrote:
`I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death
your right to say it.’

The French Republic, whose very foundations lie upon such
enlightenment, should not forget the precepts of this mantra. Equally,
we in turn must not forget that the strength of our long held freedoms
lies in our ability to counter such ill-founded genocide denials, not
suppress them with suffocating laws.

Weigh in: In a time when people across the world are still fighting
for freedom of speech, is it right to erode our own so willingly at
home?

Public Radio, Armenia
Jan 4 2012

French Senate to vote on Armenian genocide law this month
04.01.2012 16:42

France’s upper house of parliament will vote this month on a bill to
outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide, a government official told
AFP, despite a furious diplomatic spat with Turkey.

The French lower house approved the law last month, threatening anyone
who denies that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces
amounted to genocide with jail, drawing a threat of sanctions from
Turkey.

Ankara froze political and military ties with France when the bill was
passed by the National Assembly, and has threatened further measures
if it continues through the Senate or is approved by President Nicolas
Sarkozy.

France recognised the killings as a genocide in 2001, but the new bill
would punish anyone who denies this with a year in jail and a fine of
45,000 euros.

Monsters and Critics.com
Jan 4 2012

Report: France plans quick adoption of genocide denial bill
Jan 4, 2012, 9:39 GMT

Paris – The French government is planning to hurry the adoption of a
bill making it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered genocide, at
the risk of incurring further sanctions from Turkey, France Info
public radio reported Wednesday.

According to the broadcaster, the government plans to put the
controversial bill on the agenda of the Senate by the end of January.

The bill was adopted by the lower house of parliament on December 22,
prompting a furious reaction from Turkey, which recalled its
ambassador and suspended contacts and military cooperation with Paris.

It now needs Senate approval to become law.

If the bill passes the Senate, as is expected, people who deny that
the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I
constituted genocide will face a one-year jail term and a fine of up
to 45,000 euros (58,000 dollars).

More than 15 countries have recognized the slaughter of up to 1.5
million Armenians during the break-up of the Ottoman Empire as
genocide.

Turkey admits that hundreds of thousands of Armenians died, but denies
there was a systematic policy to eliminate them.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused French
President Nicolas Sarkozy of seizing on the sensitive issue in order
to win votes from France’s small but influential Armenian community in
this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVED REV. Dr. PAUL RUHANNA,
GENERAL SECRETARY ELECT OF THE MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

On Friday 23 December 2011, Rev. Dr. Paul Ruhanna visited His Holiness Aram
I. Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, Director of the Diakonia and Social Justice Unit of
MECC, accompanied him.

Rev. Dr. Ruhanna will take office on 2 January 2012. The purpose of his
visit was to inform His Holiness on his findings following his meetings with
MECC staff, and his plans to implement the priorities set by the 10th
Assembly. The General Secretary also discussed his plans for internal
restructuring of the Council.

After listening to the General Secretary, Catholicos Aram I proposed that he
also visit the Heads of Churches in the Middle East in order to hear their
priorities for the Council.

In the end, Catholicos Aram I commended the new General Secretary on his
approach to his new position, and the proposals he will take to the next
Executive Committee meeting to be held in March 2012 at the Catholicosate of
Cilicia in Antelias.

South China Morning Post, HongKong
January 2, 2012 Monday

Trivial spat with profound implications

by Bonny Schoonakker

Bethlehem, which has entranced mankind for millennia, had a
21st-century moment this week after an unseemly spat there made the
news.

As shown on television, men of the cloth came to blows at the Church
of the Nativity, one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. It was
another bout in the turf war between the Greek and Armenian churches
for the privilege of celebrating next Saturday’s Orthodox Christmas on
the actual site where, they believe, the God who made the universe
became a human being.

“It’s a trivial problem,” a police officer told the BBC, referring to
bearded men belabouring each other with broomsticks.

You can understand why he would say that, in a notoriously
disputatious part of the world. The phrase “fighting in Palestine”
brings rocks, missiles, tanks and suicide bombs to mind, not priests
imitating football hooligans.

However, the only reason this year’s rumble made the news was because
someone had the presence of mind to record the incident on video. Had
the fight been recorded only in words, in a news agency report, for
example, it is doubtful it would have made more than a digest buried
among the acres of wire copy on the world pages.

The dispute between the Greek and Armenian Orthodox churches goes
right back to the origins of Christianity, with the Armenians, also
known as the Gregorian church, claiming to be the first Christians,
from the first century AD. The rest of us are apostates, heretics or
worse, the way they see it, so the fight over the place where Jesus
was born has profound implications, if you have the time to consider
them.

However, the BBC denoted its view of the significance of the incident
by broadcasting its report in the “and now for something completely
different” slot. The only news item whose triviality exceeded the
fighting over the Nativity in Bethlehem was one from Australia, about
a crocodile that had attacked a zookeeper’s lawnmower.

EurasiaNet.org, NY
Jan 3 2012

What Santa Brought Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

January 3, 2012 – 9:42am, by Giorgi Lomsadze

It’s gift-opening time here in the hung-over South Caucasus, and early
reports indicate that Santa Claus left more sweets than switches in
the stockings of all three of the region’s countries.

Armenia’s present came, of course, from France. Le Père Noël brought
preliminary passage of a bill that bans the denial of Ottoman Turkey’s
1915 massacre of ethnic Armenians as genocide. If the upper chamber of
the French parliament approves the bill, France will become the first
major country to pass such a law — an event eagerly awaited in
Armenia, where memories of the 1915 massacre run strong and bitter.

Turkey, now barely on speaking terms with France, says that the
massacre was — to paraphrase a Russian saying — too long ago to be
true.

Azerbaijan, Ankara’s longtime pal, shares Turkey’s anger over this
pro-Armenia move, but it also has reasons to celebrate. On December
26, it signed an agreement with Turkey on a $5 billion pipeline that
will bring Azerbaijani gas to eager European customers, and even more
cash to its cash-rich coffers.

But Santa also brought Baku the chance to show some policy panache
with its energy pedigree. In 2012, Azerbaijan wakes up in the city
that never sleeps as the new, non-permanent member of the United
Nations Security Council, an historic first in the country’s short
history as an independent republic. Its New York run kicks off on
January 4, when the Council settles down to talk sanctions against
Iran and the turmoil in Syria, among other topics.

And Georgia also found a little something when it reached into its
stocking. What can it be? Membership in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization? News that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was
kidnapped by aliens? No, it’s a US defense weapon.

On December 31, President Barack Obama signed a bill that allows the
sale of much-wanted American weapons to Georgia. It is not yet clear
what kind of toys Georgia can buy with this gift card, and Obama may
have included a disclaimer `for defensive purposes only,” but, for
Tbilisi, it’s the thought that counts.

2012 is shaping up as an interesting year, but, for now, longtime
observers refrain from predicting whether the region’s threesome will
be naughty or nice.

NOW LEBANON
Jan 3 2012

Turkey’s ambassador will return to Paris, sources say
January 3, 2012

Turkey’s ambassador to Paris will soon return to France after he was
recalled as French lawmakers approved a bill criminalizing denial of
the Armenian genocide, Turkish diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoglu, who was recalled to Turkey for
consultations on December 23, will resume his work in Paris to try to
prevent the French Senate from approving the bill, they said.

“I do not rule out [the possibility] that he is going back. He was
recalled for consultations and it was not expected that he would stay
in Turkey forever,” a diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Another diplomatic source said Burcuoglu planned to be back to Paris next week.

French lawmakers last month voted to jail and fine anyone in France
who denies that the 1915 killings of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire amounted to genocide, prompting Turkey to suspend political and
military cooperation with Paris.

Turkey also threatened a new round of retaliations if the French
Senate passes the bill, a process which could take months.

In 1915 and 1916, Armenia says 1.5 million were killed in a genocide,
while Turkey argues that around 500,000 died in fighting after
Armenians sided with Russian invaders against the Ottoman Empire in
World War I.

-AFP/NOW Lebanon

Kuwait News Agency
Jan 3 2012

Armenia keen on developing ties with Kuwait

Politics 1/3/2012 1:33:00 PM

YEREVAN, Jan 3 (KUNA) — Armenian Vice-Premier and Co-Chairmn of the
Armenian-Kuwaiti Intergovernmental Commission Armen Gevorgyan held a
meeting here last week with the newly appointed Kuwaiti Ambassador to
Armenia, Basam Muhammad Al-Qabandi.

Given friendly political relations, Armenia is interested in
developing economic cooperation with Kuwait as well. Kuwait is the
first of the Gulf countries Armenia is forming systematized relations,
news agency TERT.AM of Armenia reported.

In October, the Armenian-Kuwaiti Intergovernmental Commission held its
first meeting in Yerevan. Both countries have opened their embassies,
which is a new impetus for bilateral relations development.

A delegation of the Armenian Development Agency (ADA) visited Kuwait
recently and held meetings, and Kuwaiti businessmen visited Armenia to
study opportunities for cooperation.

With respect to developing bilateral relations, the two sides stressed
the importance of establishing direct air communication.
The two countries signed a relevant agreement at the Intergovernmental
Commission’s maiden meeting. Food export from Armenia to Kuwait and
cooperation in investment are highly promising. Specifically, Kuwaiti
companies can be involved in Armenian programs, particularly
infrastructure programs, added TERT.AM As Kuwait’s first ambassador to
Armenia, Al-Qabandi last week submitted his credentials to Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan.

Al-Qabandi was counselor at Kuwait’s embassy in Belgium before his
appointment as ambassador in Yerevan.(end) nk.wsa KUNA 031333 Jan
12NNNN

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Watch our latest videos on YouTube here:

2012 YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN BOOK
(Summary in English of the Pontifical Message of His Holiness Aram I)

Pontifical Message Addressed to the
Prelates of the Dioceses of the Holy See of Cilicia,
Members of the Clergy,
Church Councils and Community Organizations,
And the Faithful of the Armenian Church

We greet you from the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias with Christian love
and fatherly blessing, and we pray that 2012 will be a year of spiritual
growth and renewal, arising from the Christian values and traditions
transmitted to us by our church. We also pray that it will be a year of
accomplishments, as we seek justice and peace.

In 2006 we celebrated the “1600th Anniversary of the invention of the
Armenian Alphabet”; in 2007 we declared “2007 Year of the Armenian
Language.” In our messages, we said, “along with our faith and homeland,
the Armenian language should remain the source of our identity and a symbol
of national unity.”

2012 is the 500th Anniversary of the Armenian printing press, which has
played a significant role in preserving and transmitting our language, faith
and culture. The 500th Anniversary also coincides with UNESCO’s nomination
of Yerevan as “2012 Armenian Book Capital.”

Against this background of important events, we declare

“2012 YEAR OF THE ARMENIAN BOOK”

In fact, the Armenian printed book has accompanied our people at all times,
deepened its spiritual growth, enriched its cultural values and strengthened
its resistance to all efforts to distort our identity and destroy our
community life. I am sure that our people will associate themselves with
this important event and, through the Armenian book, focus on the essential
issues and challenges touching the life of our church and nation.

In order to appreciate the significant achievements made in the area of
printed books, we should become acquainted with the history of the Armenian
printing press.

History and Centers of 500 Years of Armenian Printing

Historically, printing technology began in China around the 11th Century
with woodcuts stamped on leather or other materials. This primitive
technology arrived in Europe during the 15th Century. According to Nicholas
Milescu, Europe’s first Ambassador to China, a certain Armenian traveler
named Anton played an instrumental role in the invention of the typographic
technology by Gutenberg in 1439. By 1512, the Armenians were using the
Gutenberg technology and around this time the first Armenian carving of
letters and miniatures on metal moulds appeared. It is important to note
that Armenian block books were compiled at the same time as Hebrew and
Arabic.

The publishing work begun with Hagop Meghabart, Apkar Tokhatetsi, Apkar son
of Sultanshah, Hovhannes Derzntsi, Voskan Yerevantsi and Khatchadour
Kesaratsi. The Armenian prayer book, “Ourpatakirk” (“Book of Friday”), was
published by Hagop Meghabard in 1512 in Vienna. This publication was
innovative because it was the first to incorporate red and black inks. The
second book to be published in Armenian was the Bible. The printing of the
Bible and other prayer books changed how Armenian faith and culture were
communicated.It created a living relation between the faithful and the
liturgical life of the church. It also greatly impacted and renewed the
spiritual life of the people.

During the following two hundred years, the most important works dealing
with the history of the Armenian people and the church and several church
fathers were printed. The classical Armenian translations of major Greek and
Latin church fathers too appeared in printed form.

The avant-guards of Armenian printing encouraged other European publishers
to produce Armenian books. The theological debate prompted the publication
in Rome of a number of theological books and sermons. These books were then
used to proselytize Armenians. At the same time, many other books on the
Armenian Church, history, culture, language and grammar also appeared. These
books aimed at reaching Armenian communities everywhere. The most important
of these were: “Grammar and Rational Thinking” (1645) by the Armenologue
Gueghemes Galanos, “Zedoutiun Haygapanutian” (1674) by Hovhannes Holov of
Constantinople and a book on classical Armenian, “Dictionary for Latin and
Armenian” (1695) by Asdouadzadour Nersesovich.

Despite political and financial difficulties, Armenian books continued to be
published. These treasures of Armenian literary works, academic writings and
patristic literature contributed profoundly to our people’s knowledge of
their history, church and culture. In other words, they helped the Armenian
people to deepen their self-understanding and remain firmly attached to
their spiritual, cultural and ethnic roots at a crucial period of their
history.

Let us now look at the major centres that harnessed the publication of
Armenian books as the life-giving sap of the Armenian people.
Our most important publication was the “Bible” (1666-1668) by Voskan
Yerevantsi in Amsterdam. Also during the years,1668-1675, Voskan Yerevantsi
published theological and ecclesiological works, such as Movses Khorenatsi’s
“Kirk Ashkharhats” (1668), Vartan Aikegtsi’s “Aghouesakirk” (1688), Arakel
Tabrijetsi’s “Kirk Badmoutian” (1699) and “Arhesd Kamaroghoutian” (1675),
which was the first book in the Western Armenian language. During this
period, the number of copies published per title rose from 500 to 5000, thus
making the Bible and Armenian literature available to the wider public.

As a result of the efforts of Mekhitar Sepasdatsi and through the
sponsorship of many wealthy Armenians, Constantinople, with its large
Armenian population, became a major centre for publications. For thirty-five
years (1698-1734), the printing house of Krikor Marzounetsi among important
books also published the following titles: “Haysmavourk” (1706), “Armenian
History” (1709) by Akatankeghos, “Badmoutiun Yerkri Daron” (1719) by Zenob
Klag and “Kirk Hartsmants” (1720) by Krikor Datevatsi.In 1699, Asdouadzadour
Tbir of Constantinople established his own printing house, and for 50 years
he published more than 80 religious titles. He also published the first
edition of Naregatsi’s “Book of Lamentations” in 1702. During the 18th
Century, more than 20 printing houses were active in Constantinople.

Starting in 1727, the Mekhitarist Fathers played a pivotal role in this
domain. They published 270 volumes at their printing house on the island of
St. Lazarus (Italy). Among these were Mekhitar Sepastatsi’s “Tourn
Ashkharhapar Lezoui” (1727), “Parakirk Haygazian Lezoui” (1779) and Ghazar
Parbetsi’s “Badmoutiun Hayots” (1793). The printing house of the Mekhitarist
Fathers in Vienna (Austria) also published many important titles.

In 1772, a printing house was established in Madras (India) by the
Shahamirian family. Their publications included: Hagop Shahamirian’s “Nor
Dedrak Vor Gotchi Hortorak” (1772) and Shahamir Shahamirian’s “Vorokayt
Parats” (1773). They also published the first Armenian Monthly, “Aztarar,”
which was edited by Rev. Shemavon Shemavonian. With the publication of
Aztarar a new page was opened in the literary life of the Armenian community
in India.

Several Armenian communities contributed to publishing work. In 1637, the
Abbot of Saint Amenaperguitch Monastery in New Julfa (Iran) established a
printing house, and in 1638 he published “Saghmosaran”. In 1781, the first
printing house in Moscow was established by Krikor Khaltarian, a businessman
from New Julfa, under the auspices of the Armenian Prelate in Russia, Rev.
Hovsep Arghoutian. In 1823, a year after the establishment of the Nersesian
School in Tbilisi (Georgia), Catholicos Nerses Ashdaraketsi of Etchmiadzin
established a new printing house there. This printing house became the
centre of the Eastern Armenian Renaissance.

Over the years and with the expansion and organization of the Armenian
Diaspora, many new printing houses were founded in Armenian communities
everywhere, and funds to support publications were established.

The Armenian Church and the Armenian Book

Culture has been a vital dimension of the life and mission of the Armenian
Church. Not only did the Armenian Church create the Armenian alphabet, it
also supported and supervised the writing of manuscripts and the painting of
miniatures. Hence, it was natural that the church also engage actively in
the printing work.
Publications flourished in the monasteries of Armenia and Cilicia. The
printing houses in Etchmiadzin, Sis (later Antelias), Jerusalem and
Constantinople continued to provide old and new spiritual, liturgical and
literary works to the people.

In 1771, Catholicos Simeon of Yerevan, Catholicos of All Armenians,
established the first printing press (St. Gregory the Illuminator) on
Armenian soil in St. Etchmiadzin. In 1772, “Sposaran Hokevor,” the
prayerbook of the Catholicos, was printed. The printing house continued to
functionactively in St. Etchmiadzin.

The Catholicosate of Cilicia also published important titles in its
monasteries and its own printing house. With the Armenian Genocide, the
Ottoman Turks not only killed one and a half million Armenians, but also
destroyed old manuscripts, books and the printing houses. In 1930, in
Antelias (Lebanon), before constructing the Cathedral and the residence of
the Catholicos, Sahak Catholicos Khabayan establishd a printing house. Under
the leadership of Catholicos Karekin I Hovsepiantz, the Catholicosate
published many scholarly books on Armenian studies. Publishing work expanded
to other domains of Armenian religious and cultural life and literature and
became an integral part of the mission of the Holy See of Cilicia.

The printing house of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, founded in
1833, started its own publication work in religion, history and literature.
Among its publications, it is important to mention “Badmoutiun” by Hohannes
Traskhanaguertsi and “History of Tatars” (1870) by Vartan Arevelktsi.

The publications work of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople has
remained limited because of restrictions imposed by Turkish authorities.

The Armenian Book
The Indicator of the Spiritual and Cultural Mission of the Holy See of
Cilicia

Despite all difficulties, the Holy See of Cilicia has guarded the essential
role of publications as part of its vocation. By encouraging new authors and
researchers, the Catholicosate reaches out to the members of Armenian
communities everywhere. Only through the written Armenian word will the
language created by St. Mesrob Mashdotz strengthen the faith of the Armenian
believer, enrich the spirituality of our church, shape the vision of the
people and build community by communicating our spiritual, moral and
national values and ideals and by building relations. With this firm
expectation, the Holy See of Cilicia continues, with new impetus, to publish
books. By reading Armenian books, our people will discover our history of
struggle and survival, guard our historical memories and traditions and
discover our spiritual and cultural treasures.

In spite of major advances in the area of audio-visual and communication
technology, we believe that the printed book has a special place and role in
education, in the promotion of our cultural and spiritual values and
traditions, as well as in our church’s missionary outreach and community
building. It is with this conviction that new publication funds have been
established by benefactors under the auspices of our Holy See of Cilicia.

Along with these continuing efforts, over the past few years, we have
observed a new phenomenon. It became clear to us that our people are reading
fewer books. In 2004, in our message during the opening of the book fair,
which our Catholicosate organizes every October, we said, “it is with regret
that we observe the marginalization of the Armenian book in Armenia and the
Diaspora. New value systems are guiding the life of our people; new
priorities are dominating our life. We are most concerned that our clergy,
our academics, teachers and our students remain indifferent towards the
book”.

In 2009, in our message at the opening of the book fair, we said:

We must be consciously aware that:
Without the Armenian book our desk is poor,
Without the Armenian book our life is empty,
Without the Armenian book our spirit is thirsty;
Without the Armenian book the road before us is dark,
Therefore, read the Armenian book and remember that:
The one who reads books is enriched,
The one who prints books is dignified,
The one who writes books is immortalized .”

On this occasion of the 500th Anniversary of Armenian printed books, we want
to express our great appreciation to publishers and donors who continue to
support the Armenian book. We call upon our people and particularly to
youth, students and teachers not to become drowned in the new technologies
that make reading easy and give quick and superficial information. We want
us to recover and rediscover the true vocation of the Armenian book. We
would like to see the Armenian book become the friend of Armenians of all
age groups and to inspire our people in their quest for a
spiritually-sustained and vision-oriented life.

Conclusion

On the occasion of the “Year of the Armenian Book”, through our Pontifical
Message, we address the Prelates, Clergy, the leadership of Church Councils
and Community organizations of the Holy See of Cilicia, and ask them to
cherish and promote the Armenian book as the bastion of Armenian spiritual
and cultural values, as the foundation of our Armenian national heritage and
identity and as the source of the ideals and dreams of the Armenian people.
We therefore recommend the following:

Armenian academics and writers be invited to produce works of quality and
vision that may enable our people to enrich their lives with spiritual,
moral, cultural and national values, tradition and ideals.

Armenian benefactors be encouraged to sponsor the publication of specific
works or create earmarked funds to support publication projects.

Armenian families be encouraged to build their own libraries at home and
read and discuss Armenian books as an integral part of family life and
activities.

Armenian publishers be supported in their endeavors and helped to ensure
reasonable prices for books to make them available to the wider public.

Libraries be created in schools and community centres in order to enrich the
interaction between the Armenian book and our youth and children.
The book is a rich source of knowledge; and knowledge generates faith and
faithfulness, responsibility and commitment; it enhances self-understanding
and promotes mutual respect and understanding.

It is our wish that through these efforts and other ways that you may think
of, we shall re-establish the centrality and vital importance of the book in
the life of the Armenian Church and Nation. We also hope that through our
commitment to the Armenian published works, we shall strengthen our national
identity and deepen and broaden the dialogue with our neighbours in
different environments in which we live.

We pray that the grace and blessings of the Almighty God may strengthen
spiritually our people in Armenia and in the Diaspora.

Prayerfully,
ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

1 January 2012
Holy See of Cilicia
Antelias, Lebanon