Author: Toneyan Mark

Ahead of the debate on Nagorno-Karabakh in the European Parliament (EP) this evening, several European politicians have already expressed their views on the worrisome situation in the region, calling for different measures of support to Karabakh.

One of them is the Vice-President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, MEP Josep-Maria Terricabras. He has already taken the floor during the European Parliament plenary opening yesterday, demanding the inclusion of Nagorno Karabakh in the peace negotiations and calling for its full international recognition based on the democratic referendum of 1991, as well as Karabakh’s working democratic institutions, low corruption levels, and well respected judiciary.

Likewise, MEP Françoise Grossetête, who is Vice-President of the EPP group in the European Parliament has also referred to this matter. She has tabled a written question, deploring civilian victims and asking the EU High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini, for measures to enforce and respect the cease-fire.
Lastly, MEP Jordi Sebastia has sent an inquiry to the EU High Representative/Vice-President, underlining atrocities committed by Azerbaijan on Karabakhi civilians and asking the EU to stop “calls on both sides” in situations where there is clearly one culprit. MEP Sebastia has recently travelled to both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh accompanied by EuFoA.

European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) welcomes these important voices. “We are very proud that our awareness-raising activities are bearing fruit”, comments EuFoA Director, Mr Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa. “In our opinion, all our European friends have a constructive message that could help to bring a sustainable solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict”.

The Armenian Defense Ministry reports that tensions were reduced along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border last night.

Only several shots were registered in the northeastern part of the border. No shooting was reported at the Armenia-Nakhijevan borderline.

The front divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces confidently control the situation at the border and resort to retaliatory measures only in case of extreme necessity.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is far from stable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, TASS reports.

“The situation is certainly far from stable,” Peskov said. “That’s why it is impossible to stop at what has already been achieved, and no one is going to do this,” he added.

Talking about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in general, “a setback has occurred,” Peskov said. “Very good progress was made before the resumption of heated clashes. Now, unfortunately, a setback occurred, and there’s a lot of catching up that will need to be done,” he concluded.

Moscow will continue its efforts to assist the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s peaceful settlement, Peskov went on to say.

“Certainly, this time again very prompt and major efforts have been exerted with a view to stopping the fire,” he said. “These Russia’s efforts have been welcomed by the parties concerned. Of course, Moscow will continue its consistent policy.”

Christian denominations in Syria, who follow the Western calendar, on Sunday celebrated Easter, the resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Prayers and masses were performed at churches in celebration of Easter, SANA reports.

In the Armenian Orthodox Archdiocese, Primate of the Armenian Church of Damascus Bishop Armash Nalbandian prayed to God to bless Syria and its people, calling for following the example of the Christ, the messenger of love and peace, for the sake of spreading the principles of love, justice and peace among all people.

In the Roman Catholic Patriarchate in Damascus, a huge mass was held, led by Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All East Gregory III Laham, assisted by a group of priests.

Patriarch Laham said during the sermon “Today, after five years of violence, war, destruction and bloodshed, the world discovers that the roads of Damascus, Jerusalem and Palestine are connected as they are the roads of faith, civilization and heritage”.

He called upon all people to follow the road of peace, life, reconstruction, reconciliation and amity, the road of Jesus Christ that gives life to all.

In the National Evangelical Church of Damascus, a mass headed by Rev. Peter Zaaour was organized. In his sermon, Zaaour said: “Syria is the land of prophets and it is a holy place. Let us protect it and keep it in our hearts and minds”.

He denounced all aspects of criminality used by the enemies of the homeland such as bombings, assassinations, human rights violations, the shedding of innocent blood and the kidnapping of innocent citizens.

The Christian clergymen implored God for security and stability to prevail in all Syrian areas and to bless the Syrian land, people, leadership and army.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will visit New York February 24-25 to participate in the Ministerial meeting dedicated to the 50^th anniversary of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Minister Nalbandian is expected to have meetings with his counterparts from a number of countries, Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign affairs reports.

On January 27, Ambassador Peter Selfridge, U.S. Chief of Protocol, bid farewell to outgoing Ambassador Tigran Sargsyan on behalf of the Government of the United States at the Department of State.

Ambassador Peter A. Selfridge and Ambassador John Heffern, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, made short farewell remarks, followed by Ambassador Sargsyan’s speech outlining the recent progress and achievements in U.S.–Armenia relations. Ambassador Sargsyan also underscored the commitment of the government of Armenia to strengthening bilateral relations and friendly partnership with the United States. “We share the same values, stand for the same principles and work towards achieving similar objectives”, he said.

 

 

 

Will the failure of the anti-Armenian resolution at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe restrain Azerbaijan’s aggression? “No,” says Giro Manoyan, Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau’s Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office.

“They have to divert attention from a growing number of problems inside the country,” Manoyan told reporters today. “Rejection of one anti-Armenian report and adoption of another one is like keeping the false balance,” he added.

According to Giro Manoyan, “one thing is clear, Armenia should make corrections in its foreign policy.” He suggests initiating new reports emphasizing Azerbaijan’s’ violence at the Armenian border, their actions against the peaceful population, the anti-Armenian statements of Azeri leaders.

Manoyan commended the latest statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs released before the discussion of the two reports. “We appreciate the interest paid by PACE members, but urge that steps not be taken which could undermine the Minsk Group’s mandate from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe or complicate ongoing negotiations,” the Co-Chairs had stated.

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic has adopted a statement on the 26^th anniversary of the mass killing of the Armenian population of Baku.

“On January 13-19, 1990 the Azerbaijani authorities organized and perpetrated the mass killing of the Armenian population of Baku. About 250 thousand Armenians were persecuted, massacred or exiled only for their nationality; as a result the city was completely cleansed of Armenians. More than 400 Armenians fell victim to Azeri violence, a figure confirmed by international human rights organizations.

The violence in Baku was the continuation of the unpunished 1988 massacres in Sumgait and other Armenian-populated cities of Azerbaijan perpetrated with the knowledge and permission of the USSR leadership.

The Azerbaijani authorities not only distort the essence of the “black January,” but also
consign to oblivion and silence the story of the “capital of three massacres,” trying to conceal the obvious consequences of the massacres and genocidal policy against Armenians in 1905, 1918 and 1990.

The terrible massacre of Baku Armenians has not been properly assessed by now. Furthermore, encouraged by impunity, the Azerbaijani authorities have been consistently implementing an anti-Armenian policy over the past 26 years, accompanied by periodic ceasefire violations and threats of resumption of war.

Paying tribute to the memory of the innocent Armenians that fell victims to the Baku pogroms and forced deportation and condemning any expression of xenophobia, radicalism and terrorism, the Foreign Relations Committee of the NKR National Assembly:

reiterates that the Baku pogroms fully comply with the legal formulation of the crime of genocide as defined by the UN Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide;

insists that the Republic of Ngaorno Karabakh (Artsakh) will be consistent to have the organizers and perpetrators of the genocide of Azerbaijani Armenians held accountable in compliance with international norms.

calls on the civilizes community and advocacy organizations to condemns the mass killing of the Armenian population of Baku and give it a legal assessment.”

THE MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II
SUPREME PATRIARCH AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, January 6, 2016

 

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,

good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

 

Dear Pious Faithful,

The Good News of Christmas has led us to our churches, so that with joy and spiritual awe we bow in front of the manger of baby Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Christ was born in the manger in Bethlehem, and through coming of the Savior to the world, the journey of return, reconciliation with God and of salvation, was initiated for those who fell away from Him because of sin. With the mystery of the incarnation of His Son, God turned mankind into heirs of the heavenly kingdom and through Him showed the path of being worthy of such glory in accord with the song of praises of the angels: “and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The incarnate Son of God with His saving mission changed the course of history by calling upon mankind to establish their life on the principle of love and peace. Christ is granting humanity the greatest gift of the world, His peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John14:27), says the Lord.

The most significant contemporary challenge responding to Christ’s call and invitation to a life of peace is the disruption of peace in the life of individuals, communities and governments. Humanity entered the 21st century with great unrest. Conflicts, clash of geopolitical interests, crises and humanitarian disasters continue to disrupt the world, sowing intolerance and mistrust and spreading devastation, poverty, and suffering. Across societies moral values are distorted. Lies, addiction, murder and vice are commonplace, and the foundations of social and family life are being shaken. The terrorist organizations who preach extremist ideologies in the name of faith spread death and destruction especially in the Middle East, where along with other nations the children of our nation also suffer.

Through these destructive and deadly situations humanity is trying to find a way out, and in the state of uncertainty we hear in our souls the hopeful words of our Savior born in Bethlehem: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” The peace given to us by Christ is not the peace of this world which is uncertain and unstable. Christ’s peace is the peace of souls, which, anchored in the faith in God and in God’s word and commandments, transforms life. It dwells in a righteous heart, in truth, in justice, and it strengthens in the hearts of those who live with the of hope of eternity. Accordingly, the Apostle writes, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7).Truly, life is steady with the peace of a spirit filled with the love of God. Nothing is stable when the feeling of the presence of the Lord is diminished in mankind, and when everything from personal relationships to relations between nations is solely built on personal gains or coercion. Finding the peace of Christ means having love and happiness in families, and having solidarity and prosperity in civil society and countries. The Incarnate Son of God has given strength throughout the centuries to all nations in order to realize the joyous message of reconciliation with God and good will toward men. He gives us the strength to accept the heavenly saving grace which lives within us when we are joined to establishing peace, justice and to provide support and comfort.  “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:18).

Dear pious children, in our national life as well it is an imperative to uphold the command of peace. For years our country has found itself blockaded between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The latter is committing provocations at our borders in order to trample the rights of the people of Artsakh to live freely. We believe that through initiation of peace and through strengthening of our faith in Christ, our people will turn their peaceful spirit into a stronghold against the aggression of the enemy, an indestructible shield against the encroachment of the borders of our homeland by heroically protecting our country and sacred values, and by a solid and united spirit, investing its efforts to overcome difficulties, to build our country, and our lives and communities around the world. Beloved, Christ is our might! Let us follow the messages of our Lord without doubt. According to the inspiring words of our Savior, let our hearts not be troubled or afraid. Let us not only take refuge in our weak human strength, but let us take refuge unto the blessing of God which can make the impossible possible for us. Let our guide be the spirit of service, love and devotion and our deeds born of the same spirit are a necessity to fulfill our visions of national awakening and the luminous future.

On this holy day of the birth of our Savior, let us send prayers together to heaven from our spirits, filled with joy, so that Christ our Lord may empower the souls of people with heavenly grace, faith, hope and love, in order to build a safe, peaceful and prosperous world.  May the Lord also keep our nation and people in peace, bless our lives in this world and lead us into the everlasting light.

We say once more, as an exhortation, the perpetual prayer of the Holy Church of Christ: Peace be unto all!

With the marvelous good news of the Holy Nativity we greet the incumbents of the hierarchical sees our Apostolic Church Sees; His Holiness, Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; the Armenian Patriarch of Jersualem, Archbishop Nurhan Manoogian; the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian; and to all the oath-bound clergy of our Church. We convey our greetings to the heads of our Sister Churches. With Pontifical blessings we greet the President of Armenia, Serj Sarkissian and the first lady present here today for the Divine Liturgy. We extend our greetings to President Bako Sahakyan of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh; Armenia’s state officials, and the representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia. We bring our pontifical blessing to our entire nation by greeting you with a spirit of joy.

Christ is born and revealed,

Blessed is the revelation of Christ.

President Francois Hollande has unveiled plaques to the victims of last January’s jihadist attacks in Paris as anniversary commemorations begin, the BBC reports.

Seventeen people died in three days of attacks targeting Charlie Hebdo magazine, police and a kosher store.

The first plaque was unveiled on Tuesday outside the former offices of Charlie Hebdo, where 12 people were shot dead.

However it was immediately covered up as onlookers expressed shock that the name of one of the victims, Georges Wolinski, had been spelt incorrectly with a Y.

Mr Hollande then took part in further ceremonies for a policeman killed as he chased the Charlie Hebdo attackers, and at the Jewish supermarket in eastern Paris where four shoppers died.