Author: Tambiyan Samvel

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 CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE MEETING OF THE "RELIGIONS
FOR PEACE" INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION IN EGYPT

The Middle East round table meeting of the "Religions for Peace"
international organization was convened in Alexandria on December 4-5. Forty
representatives from the three monotheistic religions came to Egypt from
different regions in the world to attend the meeting.

As an Honorary President of the "Religions for Peace" organization,
Catholicos Aram I was invited to personally participate in the meeting. The
Pontiff delegated Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical Officer) to represent
the Armenian Church and the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the meeting.

The first day of the meeting featured presentation on the Helsinki Process,
a project initiated in 2002 (and still ongoing) by the governments of
Finland and Tanzania with the aim of preparing a collective response to the
challenges caused by globalization and the bridging of cooperation between
governments.

The General Secretary of "Religions for Peace" Dr. William Vendli presented
the cooperation between the organization and the "Helsinki Process",
inviting participants to make proposals for future cooperation.

The General Secretary of the "Helsinki Process", Illary Rantakari
highlighted the main aspects of the project’s achievements thus far and
underlined the important contribution to be brought by the religions of the
Middle East to understanding and seeking solutions to issues affecting all
of mankind.

Divided into four groups, the participants made practical proposals
regarding the establishment of a Middle East office for this international
organization, its structure and the activities it should undertake.

On the second day, the participants listened to accounts from four delegates
from the Holy Land about their daily experiences. Discussions focused on the
establishment of an inter-faith council in Palestine.

The delegates affirmed their readiness to deepen the spiritual, moral and
social cooperation between the religions of the Middle East- with the full
support of "Religions for Peace"- in order to advance justice, human rights,
peace and security.

##
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.

Panorama.am

16:48 06/12/2007

`OUR ELITE IS OF BAD TASTE’

`The theater is an elite art and if we want to preserve it as a
spiritual fact, theater halls of 100-200 are sufficient unlike
performances that have become a show,’ Ruben Babayan, director of
Puppet Theater, told a news conference today. Suren Shahverdyan, a
producer, said he is sorry to see performances like shows.

`Persons in foreign trade cars attend such performances and there is
no parking space during that time on the street,’ Shahverdyan said. In
Babayan’s words, this is the taste of our elite.

The speakers reflected on the question whether theaters must have art
heads. `Theater directors mainly are not related to theater. They do
not appreciate the value of art. Normally they are members of a
political party and are chiefly engaged in commerce,’ Shahverdyan
said. In his words, if theater must have only directors, they must be
persons of art.

Source: Panorama.am

PanARMENIAN.Net

Spitak earthquake victims commemorated in Stepanakert
07.12.2007 14:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 19th anniversary of the Spitak
earthquake was marked in Nagorno Karabakh today.
President Bako Sahakian, NA Speaker Ashot Ghulian,
Prime Minister Ara Harutyunian, MPs and army
commanders laid wreaths to the Memorial of
Stepanakert.

The priests of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church held a public service for the peace
of the victims’ souls, IA Regnum reports.

ARMENIAN-IRISH INTERPARLIAMENTARY TIES ARE DEVELOPING

armradio.am
06.12.2007 14:38

December 6 Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan received
the Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland Jeffery Keating.

Congratulating the Ambassador on appointment, the Parliament Speaker
expressed confidence that his activity will encourage the development
of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Although
Armenia and Ireland are far from each other geographically, it cannot
be an obstacle.

Turning to the similarities of the two countries, Speaker
Torosyan pointed to historic developments and existence of the
Diaspora. Mr. Torosyan informed the Ambassador that a Friendship
Group with the Parliament of Ireland has been created in the
Armenian National Assembly, which is targeted at the development of
interparliamentary ties.

Upon the request of Mr. Keating, Tigran Torosyan referred to electoral
processes. He noted that over the past years the Armenian National
Assembly has been closely cooperating with the Venice Commission
and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights,
has carried out an important legislative activity, adjusting the
legislative field to the constitutional amendments. In this context,
importance was attached to the changes in the Electoral Code, which
are aimed at creating maximally perfect legal bases to conduct the
forthcoming presidential elections in accordance with international
standards and receive a high evaluation by international organizations.

POTENTIAL OF SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN GEGHARKUNIK MARZ MAKES 119 MILLION KILOWATT-HOURS ANNUALLY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 6, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Commission has
assessed the potential of renewable energy in Armenia, particularly
in the Sevan Lake basin. According to the European Commission, the
potential of small hydropower plants in Gegharkunik marz makes 119
million kwh annually.

Besides, monitoring of wind energy was implemented in the marz –
in the Semyonovka moutain pass. The monitoring has given a basis for
design and feasibility study of a wind power plant with the capacity
of 14.5 megawatts.

During the December 6 meeting with reporters, the RA minister of energy
Armen Movsisian said that Armenia’s small hydropower plants currently
generate energy that meets 5% of the total demand of the country,
and this index will be increased to 10% within the next 2-3 years.

Zvezda TV, Russia
Dec 5 2007

RUSSIAN TV SHOWS RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA

by Russian Zvezda TV, Defence Ministry controlled, promotes patriotic
values,

[Presenter] A new training year has begun at the Russian military
base in Armenia. However, the servicemen marked it on active service
rather than by sitting at desks. Combat is the best training,
military commanders say. Vadim Astafyev reports on how they learn how
to protect Russian skies on Armenian land.

[Correspondent] To detect an airspace intruder before it crosses the
border is the main task of the air defence units of the 102nd Russian
military base. The task is performed here, at the control station, in
cooperation with the Armenian armed forces.

[Aleksandr Kevin, captioned as deputy head of staff of the air
defence missile battery of the 102nd Russian military base] We have
our own control centre where both our and Armenian duty officers
work. Consequently, when we receive some information, we share it
with them thanks to our cooperation, and they share their information
with us.

[Correspondent] This is a radar station. Next to the radar there is a
control station. The term of duty here is six weeks, then a nine-day
leave, four weeks of regular service and again 45 days of duty. Manuk
Oganesyan, a senior sergeant serving on a contract, has been working
like this for 12 years.

[Manuk Oganesyan, captioned as commander of a radar intelligence
unit] Getting a job was the key consideration. Also, there are
benefits such as a travel allowance, housing conditions are likely to
improve upon retirement, pension. That’s why we’ve stayed.

[Correspondent] If living conditions are good, nothing can distract a
radio intelligence officer from performing his task. Information
appears straight on the display of the duty officer at the joint
control centre. The command to destroy an intruder is sent from here.
Servicemen of the 102nd Russian military base guard the southern
borders of our country. The place where the commander reads out his
orders is called a ceremony square. In case of an alert it takes
servicemen only six minutes to take their action posts and start
their mission.

[Sergey Fedchenko, captioned as commander of the 2nd air defence
missile battery of the 102nd Russian military base] The unit has a
task of protecting and defending the state border of the Republic of
Armenia within the impact area along the state border and also of
alerting the 102nd military base troops about foreign aircraft
trespassing the state border and informing them about aircraft in
distress.

[Correspondent] In six months conscripts called up for one-year
service will be taught how to operate modern air defence systems.

PRICES OF GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUEL GROW BY 7.3% AND 5.7% RESPECTIVELY IN ARMENIA SINCE EARLY 2007

Noyan Tapan
Dec 03 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Prices of gasoline and diesel
fuel grew by 2.5% and 6.3% respectively in Armenia in November on
October 2007.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, prices of gasoline
and diesel fuel grew by 2.2% and 3.8% respectively in the country in
November 2007 on November 2006 and by 7.3% and 5.7% in November 2007
on December 2006.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: METHODS FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT ARE NOT EXHAUSTED

2007-12-04 22:26:00

ArmInfo. The methods for the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict are not exhausted, Armenian Defense Minister Mikayel
Harutyunyan said during his meeting with a delegation of the OSCE
Office in Yerevan headed by Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Tuesday,
the Armenian Defense Ministry’s press-service told ArmInfo.

According to the source, the sides discussed the alternative military
service and improvement of the democratic control mechanisms in
Armenian military forces within the frames of defense reforms. In
addition, the meeting covered a number of issues concerning improvement
of mechanisms of human rights protection in the armed forces under
the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. Sergey Kapinos
thanked the minister for efficient cooperation with the OSCE Office.

ARMENIA AND ESTONIA WILLING TO DEEPEN COOPERATION IN ALL DIRECTIONS

armradio.am
04.12.2007 10:18

December 3 RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with the Foreign
Minister of Estonia Urmas Payet.

Greeting the Armenian Foreign Minister, Mr. Payet noted that Estonia is
interested in reinforcing the bilateral relations in different spheres.

Minister Oskanian expressed Armenia’s willingness to deepen the
cooperation with Estonia in all directions, especially taking into
consideration the existing potential and the historic ties between
the two peoples.

The Foreign Ministers discussed the opportunities of intensifying
the economic cooperation, prioritizing the information technologies
and tourism.

The interlocutors attached importance to the enlargement of the
contractual-legal field between the two countries, which will promote
the deepening and intensification of bilateral ties.

Turning to the Action Plan of the European Neighborhood Policy, the
Foreign Minister of Estonian expressed the willingness of his country
to share the experience of membership in European organizations. Later
Minister Oskanian presented Armenia’s current programs of cooperation
with EU and NATO.

Reference was made to the cooperation between the countries within
international organizations.

During the meeting views were exchanged on regional developments, as
well as Armenia’s relations with neighbor countries. Minister Oskanian
presented the current state of settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Minister Oskanian invited his Estonian counterpart to Armenia.

The same day Minister Oskanian had meetings with the First Deputy
Speaker of the Estonian Parliament and representatives of the Armenian
community.

GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF ARMENIA BELIEVES THAT THE GAINED EXPERIENCE WILL ASSIST THE PREVENTION OF VIOLATIONS DURING THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Mediamax
December 4, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. General Prosecutor of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepian
received in Yerevan today the Co-Rapporteur of the Monitoring
Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
George Colombier and the Secretary of the Commission Despina
Chatsivasiliou.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the General Prosecutor’s
Office, Aghvan Hovsepian stated that the Prosecutor’s Office has
thoroughly examined all the violations, marked during the parliamentary
elections of 2007. As a result of the work, 8 criminal cases against
17 people were sent to courts.

In four cases, 12 members of area electoral commission were passed
in a verdict of guilty, 11 of which – on the fact of falsifications
of the results of voting, and one – on the fact of hindering the work
of the electoral commission, Aghvan Hovsepian stated.

He also noted that in two criminal cases, three citizens were convicted
because of efforts to hinder the right of citizens for free will.

General Prosecutor noted that the gained experience will assist in
preventing violations during the upcoming presidential elections in
February of 2008.