Author: Vardanian Garo

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

A RELIC OF ARMENIAN MARTYRS FROM ANTELIAS IN ROME

The official visit of His Holiness to the Holy See of Rome was marked by the
commemoration of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. A special
commemoration service was held in St. Bartholomew Church in Rome. It was
attended by many people.

In his sermon His Holiness spoke about the meaning and importance of martyrs
and martyrdom for the life and witness of the church. He described the
martyr as the promoter of Christian values and defender of Christian faith
to the extend of shading his or her blood. His Holiness then spoke about the
Armenian Genocide of 1915 by the Ottoman Turkish Empire which caused the
death of one and half million Armenians.

At the end of his sermon, His Holiness said that he has brought with him
from Antelias, the Headquarters of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia, a
small piece of relic to be put on the altar of St. Bartholomew Church.

After the Armenian Genocide the relics of Armenian martyrs were collected by
the clergy of the Armenian Church and brought to Antelias, where martyrs
chapel was built, which was the first memorial monument in Armenian Diaspora
dedicated to the martyrs.

This moving ceremony was concluded by the song of "Cilicia", the anthem of
the Catholicosate.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos337.htm
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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.

PREPARATORY WORKS OVER EXPORT OF ELECTRICITY TO TURKEY GOING ON

ARMENPRESS
Nov 24, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: Preparatory works over exporting
electricity from Armenia to Turkey are being held. Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Armen Movsisian said the reporters that according
to the agreement, within six months the Turkish side must be able to
solve all the issues connected with the restoration of sub-stations,
relevant license and import. Several days ago the Turkish side informed
that the works pass normally.

A. Movsisian expressed hope that from March 2009 the export of
electricity will start.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT MAY HOLD HEARINGS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

Today.Az
tics/49115.html
Nov 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenian opposition faction Heritage offers to hold parliamentary
hearings during the upcoming session of the National Assembly, said
the press service for the party.

"On Tuesday, secretary of the Heritage faction Stepan Safaryan
made an official appeal to chairman of the permanent parliamentary
commission on external relations Armen Rustamyan offering to hold
hearings regarding the Karabakh problem", says the statement.

The letter reads that the processes in the region and around Nagorno
Karabakh prove that conduction of parliamentary hearings is extremely
important.

"The parliamentary hearings may become a stimulus for effective
resistance to growing regional challenges", says the letter.

The Heritage faction voiced hope that the commission on external
affairs is aware of the urgency and the need for holding hearings
and they will be arranged during the autumn session.

AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES FIRE ARMENIAN AND KARABAKHI TERRITORY 63 TIMERS OVER THE LAST 45 DAYS

ArmInfo
2008-11-20 14:39:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani armed forces fired Armenian and Karabakhi
territory from the large-caliber weapon 63 timers over the last 45
days, commander of the department of the frontier representation
of General Headquarters of Armenian Armed Forces, Colonel Andranik
Mkrtumyan said at yesterday’s briefing held at the administrative
building of Tavush region after the OSCE monitoring.

He also added 39 cases of firing happened towards Tavush, in particular
in Mehrab direction (Chinari village) and 24 cases towards the line of
contact between Azerbaijan and Nagornyy Karabakh. Over the reported
period Azerbaijani armed forces used light anti-tank weapon 7 times
at the line of contact with Karabakh (Martakert direction). The
Azerbaijani party applied light anti-tank weapon 4 times in 2007 and
6 times in 2006.

Over the reported period two Armenian servicemen were killed by the
enemy in the NKR and two civilians injured in Berdavan village of
Noyemberyan region.

To recall, previous monitoring of the OSCE was held on 30 September
at Berkaber village region. About 2600 cases of cease-fire regime
breaking by the Azerbaijani party were registered by that time since
the beginning of the year, in 200 of which large-caliber weapon was
applied. To compare: 273 such cases were registered in 2005, 600 in
2006 and about 1500 in 2007.

HEAD OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PRAISES THE PRESENT CONDITION OF ARMENIAN ECONOMY

ARMENPRESS
Nov 18, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsian received today the delegation headed by the head of Asian
Development Bank (ADB) Haruhiko Kuroda. The head of ADB noted that
this is his first visit to Armenia which has two main aims – to
discuss the directions of further cooperation and to take part in
the official opening ceremony of the Yerevan office of the Bank.

The public relations department of Armenian government told Armenpress
that Haruhiko Kuroda praised the present condition of Armenian economy
taking into consideration the high economic growth, limited increase
of prices and the carried out smart macro-economic policy.

According to the head of ADB, today quality infrastructures are
necessary for Armenian economy and the ADB and Armenian government
already cooperate in this direction.

In connection with this Armenian prime minister Tigran Sargsian
thanked for the Bank’s support in the reconstruction of rural
roads, the programs of water supply and sewage and in working out of
strategy of development of transportation sphere and considered the
above mentioned programs extremely important from the viewpoint of
proportionate development of Armenian territories which is considered
a priority for the Armenian government.

Tigran Sargsian presented to the guest the possible directions of
further cooperation and the existing potential. He particularly
underscored the importance of technical and financial support to
the pension reforms, support directed to the smoothening of the
results of global financial crises especially for the development
of infrastructures as well as the support to the implementation of
electronic management with the usage of rich experience of ADB and
the crediting of small and medium-sized enterprises through providing
loan recourses to Armenian banks.

The prime minister also expected the participation of ADB in the
works of establishment of techno parks and free economic zones and
development of transit transportation infrastructures.

The Armenian prime minister also asked Haruhiko Kuroda to support
the representation of our country in the ADB council for presenting
Armenian interests in the council.

The head of ADB considered all the suggestions of Armenian prime
minister important and noted that the bank has a great experience
in a number of spheres and is ready to support Armenia. To all the
spheres mentioned by Tigran Sargsian Haruhiko Kuroda also added the
information technology sphere where, according to him, Armenia has
a serious potential.

The head of the Bank promised to discuss the presented suggestions
circumstantially and to respond to them.

AZERI FM, U.S. GENERAL DISCUSS COOPERATION

Interfax
Nov 18 2008
Russia

Azerbaijan is always ready to contribute to ensuring peace and security
in the world, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov told a meeting
with United States Transportation Commander Gen. Duncan J. McNabb.

Mamedyarov in this respect mentioned the activity of Azeri
peacekeepers in Afghanistan and said that Azerbaijan is restoring civil
infrastructure, including the construction of schools and hospitals,
in the country, the Azeri Foreign Ministry’s press service said in
a statement on Tuesday.

Informing the general about the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the Azeri
foreign minister stressed that the conflict poses a threat to the
region.

McNabb praised the role of the Azeri contingent in securing stability
in Afghanistan and Iraq and hailed the U.S.-Azeri cooperation in
this area.

The parties stated that there is a great potential for military
cooperation and noted the importance of activating direct contacts,
the statement reads.

EX-FOREIGN MINISTER OF ARMENIA:THE MOSCOW DECLARATION FAILS TO AFFIRM NON-USE OF FORCE

armradio.am
17.11.2008 12:33

Ex-ForeignMinister of Armenia, President of Civilitas foundation
Vartan Oskanian gave an interview to Azerbaijani Day.Az agency. .

Asked to comment on the Moscow Declaration signed by the Presidents
of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, Vartan Oskanian stated: "I don’t
think this document will add anything to the process. It does not go
beyond generalities. But for someone who can read between the lines,
it is very telling. First, in my view, given the Russian mediation and
what transpired in Georgia, this document was to affirm the commitment
of all involved parties to non-use of force, but it does not. Second,
given the vague and indirect reference to Madrid principles, it is
clear that the long existing differences between the parties have
become even deeper. Third, Azerbaijan remains fixated on non-Minsk
process documents advancing a one-sided solution, which are contrary to
the letter and spirit of the very document that the parties seemingly
remain committed to."

Why is Moscow decided to undertake the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict at this moment? Which dividends does Russia hope to take from
its mediation mission? In response to the question, the ex-Foreign
Minister said: "It is not unusual that a president of a Minsk Group
co-chair country intermittently takes such initiative. Preside nt
Chirac of France has done it before, President Putin on few occasions,
even President Bush has done it right after Key West meeting. Today
the context and the circumstances under which this meeting has taken
are, of course, different. Russia clearly would like to demonstrate
its leadership in the region and rebuff the criticism leveled against
her for recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia."

Asked whether it is possible that the Kremlin puts pressure on
Yerevan for the latter to make concessions in the Karabakh issue and
if yes, will Serzh Sargsyan be able to persuade Karabakh Armenians
to make concessions in this conflict, Vartan Oskanian responded:
"I am not in the inner circles of decision making and cannot say
whether there is pressure or not. In the past there has not been
any pressure from anyone. But again the situation in the region
and the world is different today. However, Armenia’s president’s
options are limited. As far as I sense our public’s sentiments, we
have already pushed that to the limit in the Madrid document for the
sake of reaching a peaceful solution. I really don’t see how anyone
can sign a document in which Karabagh people’s unequivocal right to
self-determination, its integral link to Armenia and security are
not guaranteed."

ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVING IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2008 17:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Lazar
Comanescu will be in Armenia on November 15-16, the RA MFA press
office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Mr. Comanescu is scheduled to meet with RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian and chairman of standing
parliamentary committee on European integration Avet Adonts.

He is also expected to attend Holy Echmiadzin and Matenadaran, the
Depository of Ancient Manuscripts.

STARTING FROM 2010 ARMENIAN CITIZENS TO RECEIVE PASSPORTS WITH BIOMETRICAL DATA

Noyan Tapan

Nov 14, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Reforms are being implemented at
the Passport and Visa Department of the RA Police, and a concept of
introducing passports with biometrical data has been approved. The
deputy head of the RA Police, Colonel Gevorg Mherian said during the
November 11 meeting with reporters that the respective legal acts have
already been prepared and will be soon put into circulation. According
to a schedule, passports with biometrical data will be put into
circulation starting from 2010, which will allow Armenian citizens to
get visas in the Schengen zone by a simplified procedure. According to
G. Mherian, this has already been agreed on with EU member sttaes. The
concept envisages availability of passports of two types: an ID
and a passport for a foreign country. The cost of passports will be
determined only after holding a competition for their printing.

G. Mherian informed reporters that in Yerevan, citizens may receive
passports within a 5-day period. In his words, a draft decision of
the government is now being developed, by which in case of making the
respective payment, this service can be provided in a period of less
than 5 working days. It will be necessary to pay 20 thousand drams
for receiving a passport within one working day, and 10 thousand drams
for receiving it within 4 working days. It was mentioned that an exit
visa will be granted to citizens within one working day without any
additional payment.

Some changes have been made in the periodicity of changing the
passports of under-age citizens: under-age citizens of any age will
have the opportunity to get passports for a 3-year period and to
change their passports at any time.

Henceforth the consent of both parents with a notary’s attestation
will no longer be needed for getting a passport and an exit visa
for an under-age child. The deputy head of the RA police announced
that this order will not be valid only in case of an argument
between the parents about moving the child out of the country or
granting him a passport. In this case the argument must be settled
in court. G. Mherian said that henceforth no under-age citizen will
have problems with an exit visa: "Certificates from the military
registration and enlistment office were required in the past.

The law does not envisage such a restriction".

Accoridng to G. Mherian, criminal cases were opened against the
officials who had committed abuses. "A criminal case was opened
against some employees of the airport’s visa unit, there are arrested
persons. A case was also opened against the head of the Jermuk passport
service. He was arrested, and now the issue of choosing arrest as a
precautinary measure with respect to him is being discussed".

LEADER OF PEOPLE’S PARTY OF ARMENIA: A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS OF MOSCOW DECLARATION CAUSES DEEP CONCERN

ArmInfo
2008-11-14 13:42:00

ArmInfo. ‘A number of provisions of Moscow Declaration on Karabakh
conflict settlement causes deep concern>, leader of the oppositional
People’s party of Armenia Stepan Demirchyan told journalists in
‘Pastarq’ club today. As he said, PPA has always advocated active
participation of the NKR representatives in the negotiation process,
that was considered incorrect by ex-President of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan during the election campaign of 2003. ‘Now, the authorities
have to agree to our position, however, the Moscow Declaration fixes
an adverse tendency’, S. Demirchyan said.

He also expressed concern about fixing of the so-called Madrid
principles in the Declaration, the content of which has not
been disclosed. ‘It is necessary to present the content of
these principles to the public inn details, however, the available
preliminary information indicates their unacceptability’, S. Demirchyan
said. He added that the formulation about observance of international
documents, the content of which is pro- Azerbaijani, is unacceptable
for the opposition. ‘Weakness of positions of the incumbent Armenian
authorities during the negotiation process is apparent’, PPA leader
emphasized. At the same time, he drew attention to some positive
aspects of Moscow Declaration, in particular, fixing of readiness to
solve the Karabakh problem peacefully and within the frames of OSCE MG.