Author: Tvankchian Parkev

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

HUNDREDS OF SEMINARY SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE
IN HOLY MASS IN ANTELIAS

The Feast of St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, the founding Apostles of the
Armenian Church, was celebrated in Antelias on November 29 by a Holy Mass
for students held in the Cathedral of the Catholicosate of Cilicia with the
participation of the students of Sunday Schools of the Diocese of Lebanon.
The Mass was organized by the directorship of the Sunday Schools and the
Religious Assembly of Sunday Schools under the auspices of His Holiness Aram
I.

The principle of Sunday Schools, Rev. Father Ghevont Penteznian officiated
the mass. The students of the Sunday Schools sung the hymns. During the
mass, hundreds of students received the Holy Communion.

After the Holy Mass, the students held a meeting with His Holiness Aram I.
They sung to him and listened to his fatherly advice. The results of the
painting competition organized by the directorship of the Sunday Schools
were announced creating great enthusiasm among the students. The students
received the Pontiff’s blessings, had a group photo taken and were offered
food and beverages after which they returned home happily.

The "Day of Sunday Schools" without a doubt registered unforgettable
memories in the minds of Sunday School children particularly that it was
organized in the Year of Christian Education. Their meeting with His
Holiness Aram I will no doubt leave lasting impressions in their minds.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos342-.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
jurisdiction and the Christian Education activities in both the
Catholicosate and the dioceses, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

AZERBAIJAN CAN USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST NKR?

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.12.2008 15:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan has joined the International Convention
for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism on the stipulation
that the document will not be valid for the so-called "occupied
territories."

"According to Azeri Milli Mejlis member Ziyafet Askerov, Azerbaijan
can’t guarantee observation of the convention before liberation of
these territories," NKR political scientist David Babayan told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"Such behavior proves that this country can resort to nuclear
terrorism, specifically to its water form, against NKR and Armenia. I
mean Karvachar (Kelbajar) region, the hydro-donor both for Armenia
and NKR. It’s not ruled out that the Azeri authorities used to "apply
the method" during the Karabakh war. Baku has been for 15 years
already spreading rumors about the burial of ANPP radioactive waste
in Karvachar. Thus, it tries to put the blame for its own deeds on
the Armenian side," Babayan said.

ANALYSIS: THE DANGER OF ‘LOSING TURKEY’
By Claude Salhani

Middle East Times
Dec 1 2008
Egypt

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) — Is it possible to lose something you
haven’t yet found?

That is a question being asked by two scholars from the Brookings
Institution in Washington, and what would happen in the event that
Turkey got tired of waiting to be accepted as a full partner by
the West.

Philip H. Gordon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution
and former director for European affairs on the National Security
Council, and Omer Taspinar, a professor of national security studies
at the U.S. National War College, as well as a director of the Turkey
Project and a non-resident fellow at Brookings, just released their
thoughts on the matter in a publication put out by Brookings, titled
"Winning Turkey."

They start off by asking, "Who lost Turkey?" and play off the following
scenario: The year is 2012, and a televised presidential debate is
under way in the United States. Following a coup by Turkey’s military,
the elected Islamist-leaning government is overthrown after being
accused of "promoting a hidden Islamic fundamentalist agenda and
selling out Turkey’s national interests."

As might be expected, Europe and the United States impose strict
economic sanctions on Turkey. The new government in Ankara responds
by declaring it would pursue a more independent foreign policy.

Turkey’s military government withdraws Ankara’s more than 10-year-old
application to join the European Union, suspends its membership in
NATO, bars the United States from the use of military bases on its
territory and announces that henceforth Turkey would pursue a more
independent foreign policy in which it would seek to develop closer
diplomatic, economic and energy relations with Russia, China and
Iran. Furthermore, Turkey orders its military forces into northern
Iraq to act against the Kurds.

The questions in this hypothetical presidential debate being asked
by the moderator are the following: How could the United States let
this happen to a relationship with such an important American ally? As
president, the candidates in the debate are asked what they would have
done to prevent this foreign policy disaster. Who lost Turkey? And
how can we win it back?

Indeed, there is a growing feeling among many Turks of being fed up
with the way they are currently treated by the West, and particularly
by the Europeans. In addition to the current problems facing
Turkey in foreign policy, the Islamist-leaning government of Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accused of pursuing a hidden Islamist
agenda. However, as the authors point out, Turkish secularists believe
Western observers tend to underestimate what is really transpiring
in Turkey and to see the country more as a "moderate Islamic country."

A monumental mistake being made by the West is falsely believing that
Turkey has no other option but to align itself with the West. Turkey’s
love affair with Europe and the United States is a result of a policy
set out by Mustafa Kemal, the founder of modern-day Turkey. Kemal,
also known as Ataturk, saw the future of his country after the demise
of the Ottoman Empire, when Turkey retrenched itself within its borders
after having lost all its territories in World War I with Europe.

While the vast majority of Turkish politicians since Ataturk have
followed his ideas and remained faithful to the Kemalist principle,
there are no ironclad guarantees that this will remain the same in
the years to come. It is not impossible to expect future Turkish
governments — either through elections or, as the two Brookings
scholars point out, through a military coup, something modern-day
Turkey has already experienced several times — to alter the course
of Kemalism. Yes, this is unthinkable today, but who could have
predicted the sudden turn of events in Iran, for example, when the
shah, a staunch U.S. ally, was overthrown by an Islamic revolution?

Turkey represents an important ally in the Levant for a number of
reasons. The country counts more than 70 million Muslims, and despite
its paradoxes it remains the most advanced democracy in the Islamic
world. It straddles far more than just Europe and Asia; but with
borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran,
Iraq and Syria, it also straddles the Caucasus and Europe, as well
as the Middle East and Europe, the Arab world and Iran.

It should not be ruled out that Turkey one day might decide enough
is enough and turn away from Europe and Kemalist ideas, and seek
alliances with the Central Asian republics, with some of whom it even
shares a similar language, not to mention religion.

In conclusion, the authors point out that at this time Turkey is not
"lost." Of course, it could become so, unless current trends are
quickly reversed and Turkey is given a reason to believe its future
is well assured as part of the Western world.

With almost certain guarantees that the situation in Afghanistan
will get much worse before it gets any better, and with tensions
between India and Pakistan rising to dangerous new levels, "losing"
Turkey would be more than a monumental mistake. It would border on
outright stupidity.

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Nov 27 2008

Former Armenian speaker: "The statements that Moscow declaration
excludes the armed way of the conflict resolution are wrong"

28 November 2008 [17:36] – Today.Az

"The Moscow declaration on the Karabakh conflict, signed in Russia,
bases on unknown principles, therefore, it is difficult to discuss
its regulations in details", said former speaker of Armenian
parliament Tigran Torosyan at a press conference on November 28.

At the same time, commenting on the declaration, Tigran Torosyan noted
that the statement that the Moscow document exludes military
resolution of the conflict is wrong.

The politician also tried to prove that the document has no definition
that the conflict must be settled only peacefully.

"It speaks of only political solution, but if is naive to consider the
military interference beyond the political process", noted he.

According to Torosyan, it is necessary to wait until Madrid principles
get a final form.

He noted that the biggest omission of the Armenian side in the
Karabakh resolution is the failure to involve Karabakh into the
negotiation process. He said this is the only difference from the
Kosovo conflict.

/Regnum/

URL:

AZG Armenian Daily #222, 29/11/2008

Armenian Genocide

WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AFFIRMS THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

The World Medical Association that has a membership of 85 countries
health care institutions put forward the candidature of Armenia as a
Country of the year.

In connection with it, the Association mentioned that a genocide was
committed against Armenians in 1914-1918; 1,5 mln Armenians were
killed, and the survivors of the genocide were spread all over the
world.

The Association also touched upon the Karabakh conflict informing
details of the movement and war.

Turkish "Jumuriet" informed of it mentioning that the Turkish doctors
are disappointed with similar attitude of the World Medical
Association and are going to demand the Association to remove the
information from the Internet.

"The position of the Association is anti-Turkish in general. In 2004
it stood up for Abdullah Ojalan as well", said one of the leaders of
Turkish Medical Association Dr. Ali Reza Ucher, adding that the
Turkish Ministry of Health should take measures against it "In case of
failure the Turkish Medical Association should renounce its membership
of the World Medical Association.

Translated by L.H

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AROUND KARABAKH PROBLEM ARE NOT AIMED AT CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT, FORMER SPEAKER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SAYS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The latest events related to the
Karabakh problem are conditioned by other regional developments rather
than by the process of this problem’s solution, Tigran Torosian –
former speaker of the RA National Assembly, now an independent deputy
of the NA – expressed this opinion at the November 28 press conference.
In his words, no notable progress has been made in the conflict’s
settlement, while the developments taking place around the problem
serve the interests of other states.

A new situation has formed in the region after the Russian-Georgian
war. Under these conditions Georgia has finally asserted its
pro-American orientation, while Armenia allies itself with Russia, and
Azerbaijan’s role is increasing because, according to T. Torosian, the
one of the two superpowers, with which Azerbaijan will join up, will
have an influence in the region.

In the opinion of T. Torosian, signing the Moscow Declaration by
Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan is not aimed at settlling the Karabakh
problem: Russia simply made an attempt to show that it plays an
important role in the region. The Mayendorf document indicates the
Madrid principles, which are actually unknown. In the words of T.
Torosian, he cannot recall such a precedent. He said that some people
are mistaken, thinking that henceforth a military solution of the
problem is impossible in the region. However, according to T. Torosian,
the declaration does not contain any wording about the problem’s
solution only in a peaceful way: it notes about a political solution of
the problem which cannot exclude the possibility of a war.

Although Armenia’s foreign political activity has increased since
August, T. Torosian believes that there are no new achievements in
terms of results. In particular, no progress has been made in
Armenian-Turkish relations, and Turkey has not given up any of its
conditions for establishing relations with Armenia.

TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School
1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Tel: 323-461-4377
Fax: 323-323-461-4247

PRESS RELEASE

Contact ~ Salpi
[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])

Saturday, November 29,2008

ARGENTINIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBER SERGIO NAHABETIAN VISITS
TCA ARSHAG DICKRANIAN SCHOOL

Los Angeles: During his weeklong tour of Southern California as the
guest of State Senator Jack Scott, the Honorable Sergio Nahabetian,
Argentina’s only Armenian Member of Parliament, took the time to visit
the TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School on Monday, November 24.

Accompanied by several members of the Armenian Rights Council of
America, the coordinators of Mr. Nahapetian’s tour, the honorable
guest was first greeted at the school entrance by the principal and
several members of the Board of Trustees. After which, Mr. Nahabetian
was lead to the conference room for a briefing about the Dickranian
School and Armenian day schools in California as well.

His visit being close to noon time, Mr. Nahabetian got the opportunity
to mingle with the students at the playground while touring the
campus, thus tripling his preset 30 minute visitation time. At the
end, the honorableguest joined the upper grade students who had
gathered at the Walter and Laurel Karabian Hall to meet and talk with
the Armenian Member of Argentina’s Parliament. The students were much
impressed to hear the guest speak in their mother tongue about the
Armenian community of Argentina, their schools, cultural centers and
daily life. During the question and answer period, the students also
learned how Mr. Nahabetian, soon after being elected, had single
handedly embarked upon and succeeded to pass the resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide in Argentina.

The TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt,
Pre-K to 12th grade private educational institution serving the
Armenian community of Greater Los Angeles since 1981.

AZG Armenian Daily #221, 28/11/2008

Armenia-Turkey

"NEGATIVE SCENARIOS ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA OF THE MEETINGS"

Ali Babacan comments on the Armenian FM’s visit

Before leaving for Tajikistan on November 25 Turkish Foreign Minister
had a conversation with the journalists at "Esenboga" airport in
Ankara.

According to the Turkish Public TV, to the question of the journalists
how the failure of Azerbaijani-Armenian talks will reflect on the
process of Turkey-Armenia dialogue, Ali Babacan said, ""Negative
scenarios are not on the agenda of the meetings. We always put our
efforts to have positive results".

Babacan underlined that the reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey
will reflect positively on Azerbaijani-Armenian relations as well.

"Those are not separate issues. From a positive perspective, we want
this reconciliation and relations to move forward and not to have a
regress. Taking into account the signals received until today I can
state that we have worked quite positively".

We would like to mention that the EP delegation conducting
negotiations in Ankara highly assessed Turkish Prime Minister’s
initiative to create the "Stability and Cooperation Platform in the
Caucasus" and welcomed the start of Armenia-Turkey dialogue.

By Hakob Chaqrian, translated by L.H

EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS MEMORY BRIGHT IN VIENNA

Panorama.am
15:34 24/11/2008

A commemoration of the victims of Spitak earthquake has been organized
in Vienna. Under the support of the Foreign Minister of Austria Ursula
Plasniki and the Ambassador of Armenia to Austria Ashot Hovakimyan
in October-November a range of events called "Armenian days" devoted
to 20 anniversary of Spitak earthquake was conducted. Events were
financed by Austrian junior medical center in Gyumri.

The events were benevolent and the collected money should be disposed
to the medical center to buy new equipments, medicine and to organize
trainings for the medical staff.

‘TURKEY, ARMENIA TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS’

Aljazeera.com
/news/newsfull.php?newid=187187
Nov 25 2008
UK

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has said that his country will
continue efforts aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has said that his country will
continue efforts aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia.

"Our aim is to fully normalize bilateral relations," Babacan said
after meeting with his Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian in
Istanbul on Monday.

According to the Turkish official, the two-hour meeting was fruitful
and constructive as the two leaders discussed cooperation and regional
issues as well as establishing a security and stability platform in
the Caucasus.

He noted that Turkey and Armenia would continue their political and
technical contacts in the following days.

Babacan also announced that his Armenian counterpart is expected to
visit Turkey some time soon.

Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia
since 1991, because it objects to Armenian forces’ occupation of
Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenia insists the deaths of about 1.5
million ethnic Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th
century should be recognized as genocide but Turkey says the number
is inflated and that the killings were the result of a civil war.