Author: Torosian Aram

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
January 6, 2010 Wednesday

Azzam Congratulates Armenian Orthodox Denomination on Occasion of Christmas

Damascus, (SANA) – Minister of Presidential Affairs Mansour Azzam on
Wednesday congratulated the Armenian Orthodox denomination that
follows the Eastern calendar on the occasion of Christmas.Azzam
visited Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Damascus Bishop
Armash Nalbandian, relaying the season’s greetings from President
Bashar al-Assad to the Bishop and members of the Armenian Orthodox
denomination.For his part, Bishop Nalbandian thanked President
al-Assad for his kind gesture, praying that God protect Syria and
grant President al-Assad success.A religious ceremony was also held at
the Mar Sarkis Church for the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Damascus on
the same occasion, presided upong by Bishop Nalbandian who discussed
the noble meanings of Christmas."Our hearts are in great pain during
our celebration of this great occasion today over the wounds and
desecration that Jerusalem, the land of purity and sanctity, is
witnessing at the hands of the Israeli occupation, and over the pain
that our brethren are suffering in Palestine and the pious martyrs
they are offering to defend the land and sanctities," Bishop
Nalbanidan said in his sermon.He also pointed out to the deep-rooted
national unity in Syria, praying that God preserve President
al-Assad.H. Sabbagh

Message of His Holiness Karekin II on the Feast of the Holy Nativity
and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ

armradio.am
06.01.2010 14:54

Dearly beloved faithful,

Our souls rejoice today with the tidings of the Holy Nativity and are
filled with songs of praise, to accept the babe, born in Bethlehem,
wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. It is the Son of
God who became incarnate. It is the promised Savior who has come to
the world. He came to save us from sin, to liberate us from the reign
of evil, to defeat death itself.

Our joy is endless, for the Savior our Lord has granted us a renewed
soul, a reborn life, to walk toward God, toward the Creator of all
life, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life."

Today the sacred mystery of God’s love and mercy hovers over the
world, above the temporary vanities and above time. Everything is
humbled before this limitless love, according to the prophetic words
from Isaiah, the valleys are lifted up, mountains and hills are made
low, the uneven ground made level, the rough places become fields and
the grace of salvation reigns – the grace that entered the world with
the Newborn Jesus.

That same true love with which Christ entered the world, gathered his
people together so that they become children of God, sons and
daughters of the kingdom. His family – the Holy Church – Christ
established on the commandment of love, on that miraculous power
whereby men are not strangers to one another, rather they are kin. "By
this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another." John 13:35. He who has love within him is a follower of
God; he performs the saving will of God.

It is love for God and for each other that will bring peace and
harmony to this world troubled by countless crises. It is love that
will eliminate the trampling of the rights of men and nations, the
destruction of their holy shrines and spiritual treasures. It is this
kind of love whereby poverty, disease, casualties and strife from
natural disasters will be defeated. It is with the light of this love
that the world shall be renewed, the earth shall become heaven, and
God be glorified by the life of mankind.

Dearly pious faithful,

Today, Jesus Christ comes to live in our hearts and in our families
with His divine love, so that the graces of salvation be dispersed
from familial homes, be transformed to life and grant manifold fruits
of goodness. Faith, hope and love are nurtured and strengthened in the
family, through which, in the free, warm and familiar environment of
the family, the individual grows and develops toward the good and the
perfect. God formed and blessed the family, so that it remain
established, grow and multiply in love and reflect the glory of God,
the presence of God and God’s care for His creation and all mankind.
The family is called upon to continue God’s creation and protect the
divine image of the soul of man. The family is holy due to this very
calling, it is the nourisher, the bearer and conveyor of the
divinely-established commandments, on which are founded the
God-granted life and on which are built the relationships with
neighbors, with man and with God. The values that are cultivated in
families are those that are expressed and find their place within
life. That which is given importance in the family, that which is
either directly or indirectly learned… honesty or falsehood, jealousy
or good will, hatred or compassion, malice and ignorance or sympathy
and philanthropy, all of this will be expressed also in the life of
society. "The people, if (they are) progressing, take their first
steps from the familial home…" writes the Pontiff of the Armenians
Khrimian Hayrik… "If they are illuminated, their light is from the
familial lantern; if they are united, their spirit and connection is
the family; if they grow strong, their power and might is the family;
if they are enriched, their treasury and treasurer are the family; if
their home and table are filled with goodness and plentiful, the
fertile field is the family."

In today’s contemporary world of progress, developments and
achievements, unfortunately the problems facing families also continue
to increase. Not only do financial difficulties remain a concern, but
also domestic violence and arguments; the sacredness of the family,
and the preservation of its tranquility and harmony. Today we see
penetrating into life, and at times even affirmed by legislation, a
distorted concept of the family. The divinely established order of a
holy union between a man and a woman, and the honor of being blessed
by the birth of a child through the love granted by God are being
corrupted. We cannot accept or remain indifferent toward realities
that deny God, regardless of how they are cloaked in modernity or
exhibited under the banners of democratic values and human rights.
Today it is essential for the family, as well as mankind, to be valued
and appreciated by its God-granted calling and image, to be and remain
the true witness of the love that God has for man.

Dear faithful Armenians in Armenia, Artsakh and the Diaspora,

We too are members of God’s family, the children of the Armenian
people bearing the seal of Etchmiadzin. Throughout the centuries, in
the face of our history’s deadly storms and abysses, we have remained
steadfast with the faith of the Armenian family. The Armenian family
is our small home turned into a church, through whose prayers are
strengthened the mortar of our spiritual and national life, and its
foundation, our state. The Armenian family is the first school and the
first nourisher of spiritually-molded values. The Armenian family is a
miniature homeland, where the memories of ancestors live and the
native heritage is preserved intact, where the Armenian soul is joyful
and endures. Let us keep our families strong with faith, bountiful in
hope and reinforced with love, so that the united life of our great
spiritual family – the Armenian Church – be renewed and bright with
the grace of our Lord’s salvation; so that abundant in blessings, the
aspirations and desires of our great home – the Armenian homeland –
become reality. The homeland is the anchor of our hopes; the guarantor
of our free, secure, prosperous life and future; the God-granted
shelter which gathers together the entire nation. In the home, love is
spontaneous, harmony is the rule, the desire to help one another
reigns; and it is natural to be saddened by each other’s sadness and
be delighted by each other’s happiness. This is the blessed path, dear
ones, by which we shall create our prosperous life in Armenia, Artsakh
and the Diaspora, to face both internal and external challenges, to
defend the right of self-determination for Artsakh, to defend our just
Cause resulting from genocide, to together build relationships with
all countries and all peoples through positive means, and to bring our
contribution to the building of a better world. This is the blessed
path, by which we shall become worthy to reach our heavenly home, to
be near our Father, by the grace of the Only Begotten Son and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us remain in faith, hope and love,
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

On this soul-renewing feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of our
Lord and Savior we extend our brotherly greetings of Christ-bequeathed
love and appeal for the manifold graces of the Holy Spirit for the
leaders and heads of our Sister Churches; to the incumbents of the
hierarchal sees of our Apostolic Holy Church, His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; and His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople. We
convey our pontifical love and blessings to the oath-bound ranks of
clergy of our Church and to all our sons and daughters dispersed
throughout the world.

With the tidings of the Holy Nativity and an appeal for the assistance
of the Almighty, we greet President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh
Sargsian, President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh Bako Sahakian,
all state officials of the Armenians, and leaders and representatives
of all diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia.

On this day of glad tidings and bounteous grace, dear faithful sons
and daughters, let us pray for the inextinguishable heavenly
lighthouse of the star of Bethlehem to illuminate our path and
overcome the darkness. May our Lord Jesus Christ at all times guide
and bless the entire world, our lives and all our efforts, for the
sake of our country, our people dispersed throughout the world and our
Holy Apostolic Church.

CHRIST IS BORN AND REVEALED
GREAT TIDINGS TO US ALL

Armenian National Congress
Koryun 19A, IV floor, Yerevan 0009
Tel: (37410) 52.09.74
December 28, 2009

Statement on Attack on Activists During Election Campaign

On December 27, there was a brutal attack on youths who were
distributing informational campaign pamphlets about Nikol Pashinyan,
candidate for the National Assembly.

Altogether unable to counteract Nikol Pashinyan’s successful campaign,
and understanding that such a successful campaign could well lead to
victory, just 15 days prior to the election the authorities has turned
to its usual illegitimate violent methods and criminal behavior to
deal with the challenge. In fact, our opponents – the authorities –
do not constitute a political force working against us, but rather a
criminal gang gifted at constantly setting new records in the levels
of depravity and barbarity which they can reach.

The planned attack was carried out by approximately 20-30 thugs based
at Vardanants Avenue building 5a, the local campaign office of the
rival candidate from the National Unity party, a gheghamyan stooge.
The thugs demanded that the youth campaigning for Nikol Pashinyan stop
distributing the campaign material; armed with metal pipes and cold
arms, the thugssnatched the pamphlets and attacked and beat the
youth.

As a result of this thuggish attack, Nikol Pashinyan’s proxies –
Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sergey Gasparyan, Tevos Matevosyan, Sargis
Gevorgyan, and Sahak Mouradyan- were injured and transported to the
hospital. Vladimir Karapetyan, Representative of the Commission of the
Foreign Relations at the Armenian National Congress, was attacked as
well. Three of the wounded were released after receiving first aid.
The other two have more serious injuries requiring further attention,
and are still in the hospital. The police who had arrived at the
scene late met with the victims only at the hospital. According to
information available to us, the attack was ordered by parliamentarian
Ruben Sadoyan, Republican Party, and the order was carried out by
Vahan Nadaryan, head of the Republican Party campaign offices in
sub-districts 10/19 and 10/20. Overall, the responsibility for
ensuring that the rival candidate, Ara Simonyan, won the election was
placed on Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan.

The ANC condemns this base act by the authorities and their servants
and will put all available political mechanisms in place to counteract
it.Such desperate and cowardly actions by the authorities have never
had an impact on our determination; such actions serve only to erode
the foundations of the rule of the authorities and to strengthen the
spirit of and support for our struggle.And all those guilty will
certainly be brought to justice.

ARMENIA IN 2009: PROMISE AND REALITY

The Civilitas Foundation
Tuesday, 22 December 2009

This second annual country report comes to build on the analysis
and projections made in the Civilitas Foundation’s first annual
report issued in December 2008. At that time, the newly established
foundation launched this annual publication to fill a gap – the need
to assess global, regional and domestic developments from the inside,
looking out. In other words, these annual reports come to complement
the various assessments carried out by international organizations, to
serve as the Armenian perspective on the year’s developments within and
around Armenia, and to take stock of the outlook for the coming year.

During the year, the Civilitas Foundation’s three program areas —
the Council on International Relations, the Democracy and Development
Initiative and the Generation Center – offer opportunities to publicly
and privately discuss and debate the economic and political realities
around us. The Generation Center convenes periodic gatherings with
individuals from various walks of life and different political
perspectives to identify the challenges and propose approaches. The
Democracy and Development Initiative supports the strengthening
of civil society through a variety of rural economic facilitation,
media projects and educational programs. The Council on International
Relations hosts public forums to debate the urgent issues of the day.

This annual report is the product of the work of all three of these
program areas. The editorial team distills the varying perspectives
we hear during the year from the Armenian public, as well as the
international community and experts, and combines them with reasoned
analysis. The outcome does not adhere to any one ideology or support
any one agenda.

As in the developed world, so in the developing world, this is not
always a clean and definable process. It is not always that opinions
and positions correspond to that which is expected or desirable. Our
attempt is to broaden the debate beyond black and white, beyond easy
and mutually exclusive choices, and to acknowledge the complexities
of our reality and our prospects.

Indeed, in the best international tradition, the Civilitas Foundation
reaffirms its commitment to highlight Armenia’s options in global,
regional and domestic processes and address how they affect Armenia
and the region. The Civilitas Foundation is guided by the principle
of consistent, open and objective discourse, utilizing cultural,
educational and political dialogue.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY MET WITH TOP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.12.2009 18:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President Serzh Sargsyan and his spouse Rita Sargsyan
received Monday Armenia’s top high school students who participated
in the composition contest titled "Who if not Me". The contest was
launched by RA Ministry of Education and Science early in December.

Congratulating the winners, President said, "May 2010 mark your first
serious victories during your university entrance exams. I am sure
you’ll be a success.".

"The most important thing I saw in your compositions was patriotism
and belief in future. I am sure you’ll become good personalities and
citizens," Mr. Sargsyan added.

Armenian leader gifted to the students Grigor Narekati’s Book of
Sadness and Orange telecom’s number package.

The first lady, for her part, expressed hope that such contests and
events would bear traditional nature.

Let’s note that this year there were 138 school medal winners in
Armenia.

president.am, Armenia
Dec 27 2009

The Council of the Yerevan State University holds its end of the year meeting

The Council of the Yerevan State University held today its end of the
year meeting, which was chaired by the President of Armenia, Chairman
of the Council Serzh Sargsyan.

In his opening remarks, President Sargsyan said in particular, `Year
2009 is coming to an end. According to the established tradition, we
hold our end of the year meeting to summarize works accomplished
during the year, achievements, and failings.’ Noting that since the
last meeting, two members of the Council ` Academician Aida Avetissian
and Deputy Chief of Police Gevork Mherian – have passed away, the
President suggested to honor their memory by observing a minute of
silence.

The President of Armenia also said, `this has been a jubilee year for
us all ` our University celebrated its 90th anniversary. And I mean
not only the members of the Council but the entire nation, because
Yerevan State University is the pride of our nation, the pioneer of
our education and science, which in the 90 years of its existence
produced over one hundred thousand graduates. The faculty and students
of the YSU, in the Republic of Armenia and also during Soviet times,
have always been the founders and promoters of new scientific areas,
and have had in general an enormous role in the advancement of our
people. I believe it is our task to preserve this tradition, cherish
and develop it further for the glory of our nation and our state.’

The rector of the YSU Aram Simonian made a report on the activities of
the University in 2008-2009 academic year.

He said that the activities of the University in all areas were aimed
at further development of the institution, enhancement of its role and
prestige in the academic and scientific areas. According to Aram
Simonian, during that period significant works were conducted for the
program innovation, improvement of its administration and planning
activities, and improvement of the quality of education. To bring the
University education in line with the international standards, the YSU
held a number of events and in order to provide a more efficient
process of learning and to bring into conformity with the Bologna
principles has entirely switched to the credit-based system of
education.

Aram Simonian mentioned with satisfaction that each year more and more
students engage in scientific research and new programs. He also said
that serious work was conducted with the secondary schools to
establish a system of feedback, make the activities of the University
more open and transparent, and engage students in all spheres of the
University life.

The report on the YSU activities in 2008-2009 academic year was
approved by the Council.

The Council also took note of the rector’s financial report of the YSU
activities in 2009 and also approved it. The Council adopted the
University’s budget for 2010.

Next agenda item discussed by the Council pertained to the strategic
plan of the YSU development for 2010-2014.

Rector Simonian noted that this kind of planning allows to
successfully implement long-term objectives of the University.

The strategic plan of the YSU development for 2010-2014 was also
approved by the members of the Council.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the rector of the Yerevan State
University announced the decision of the Scientific Council of the YSU
to award the President of Armenia, Chairman of the Council of the YSU
with the highest honor of the University `YSU Order of Honor’. The
award was established on the occasion of the University’s 90th
anniversary and the President of Armenia is the first recipient of the
award.

Turkey’s National Security Council to convene on Monday
27.12.2009 18:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) will
convene on Monday. The council, chaired by President Abdullah G?Ã?¼l,
will have its regular meeting with the participation of Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdo?Ä?an, deputy prime ministers, justice, national
defense, interior and foreign ministers, chief of general staff, as
well as land, naval and air forces commanders and gendarmerie
commander.

The meeting will discuss internal and external security issues, The
Anatolia News reported.

GOVERNMENT OVERSTEPPED MORAL AUTHORITY TOWARDS NATION: GIBRAHAYER

news.am
Dec 25 2009
Armenia

For us Armenians, 2009 was not a year, which we would remember with
fondness, thanks to the unfortunate events, which have precipitated
from the misguided actions of the government of Armenia. Namely,
the process of normalization of relations with our western neighbour
and historical adversary Turkey," reads the article by Jean Ipdjian
published in Gibrahayer e-magazine.

"The problem is the manner in which the government of Armenia has
chosen or has been forced to conduct the process. We, Armenians,
have major issues with Turkey. There is the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, the matter of our historical lands which form
part of eastern Turkey and where for years systematic work has been
undertaken by Turkey to erase the historical fingerprints of its true
owners, us Armenians, and last but not least, Artsakh. These issues
are not confined to and nor are within the narrow concerns of the
republic of Armenia and its population, but they concern and belong to
the Armenian nation as a whole in its entirety, that is Armenia and
the Diaspora. Therefore, they should have been the results of prior
consultations with the nation through its organized representatives
and establishments.

The Diasporans are not concerned about the policies of running the
government, since it is the elected choice of the people of Armenia.

However, by signing the Protocols the President of Armenia and his
government have overstepped their moral authority and obligations
towards the nation. Probably we and the government will be saved
and taken out of an unfortunate position by Turkey itself, because
of that nation s inexhaustible arrogance and extreme nationalism,"
the article says.

ACCORDING TO TIGRAN SARGSYAN, DANGER RELATED TO REPAYMENT OF FOREIGN DEBTS NOR PRIMARY FOR ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

NOYAN TAPAN
DECEMBER 25, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. There are four scenarios of
further development of the global financial and economic crisis,
which include both a slow and continuous recovery to last about 10
years and a second wave of the crisis. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
said at the December 25 press conference that Armenia must be prepared
for all the scenarios.

"We are entering the year 2010 with a balance of 80 billion
drams. We have 54 billion drams in the stabilization fund, besides,
we have pledges of 100 million dollars from international financial
organizations, and taken together, all this creates a serious basis
for withstanding new ordeals in 2010," the prime minister noted.

Speaking about the foreign debt of Armenia, he said that the danger
related to repayment of foreign debts is not primary for the Armenian
government. "At the moment the debt burden of our country is not high.

We have the opportunity to increase it, especially as we do it in
cooperation with international organizations," T. Sargsyan said.

RA NA SPEAKER WELCOMES POSSIBLE ELECTION OF NIKOL PASHINYAN TO PARLIAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.12.2009 15:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan
said he would be happy if Nikol Pashinyan is elected as member of
parliament.

"I wish him luck in this undertaking,", he told a press conference in
Yerevan. "The more deputies represent opposition in the parliament,
the more efficient debates will be."