Author: Vasilian Manouk

Panorama.am
14:49 27/12/2008

TRIAL ON MILK POWDER WITH MELAMINE IN CHINA

People who have added melamine in milk powder in China are being
accused, reports rbc.ru. The poisoned milk powder killed 6 children
and more than 300 thousands have been poisoned.

The trial started on December 26 in Shijiazhuang city, where Sanlu
Company the producer of the milk powder is established. According to
the lawyers the accused will be sentenced for 10 years.

Note that Chinese Police revealed 600 tones of milk powder and source
of melamine was revealed in it.

Source: Panorama.am

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 SEMINARY STUDENTS CELEBRATE
THE FEAST OF ST. STEPHAN

The Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia marked the memory of
Proto-Deacon and Proto-Martyr St. Stephan, the first saint to have become a
martyr for the Christian faith, during a special event on December 23.

Given that the feast of St. Stephan is a feast of the deacons, the ceremony
was organized by the deacons and sub-deacons. The Seminary deacons presented
a lecture on the life and work of the Saint.

Kevork Saghdedjian delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the
uniqueness of the feast of deacons and the meaning of the service they
provide particularly in current times. Serge Tinkdjian read out a section of
the letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Romans.

Mourad Tchorbadjian delivered a lecture on the theme "The deacon in the
Church", touching on the challenges and the difficulties today’s youth face
and the importance of providing Armenian and Christian education to the new
generation. In this respect, he cast a critical look at the well studied and
well prepared formation process through which the Seminary students pass.
Following the lecture, Mike Tashdjian performed a section from the hymn
dedicated to the Saint.

The second lecture around the theme "what is the deacon’s calling in the
face of the 21st century’s challenges?" was presented by Apraham Manuelian,
who spoke about the various ways of serving especially in present-day
conditions.

V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian concluded the event. Addressing the attendants
he first congratulated the deacons for their efforts in organizing the
event. Through the lectures delivered by the deacons, Fr. Chiftjian
reflected upon the spirit of the event and explained the meaning of the word
service. "Service is not something that is done in return for compensation.
Otherwise, it would be emptied of its meaning. The word service acquires its
full meaning when it is realized through self-dedication." Fr. Chiftjian
concluded by calling upon the seminary students to follow the path of all
those who have loyally served our church, assuring that their compensation
would be in heaven, not on earth.

#Photos here:
tos/Photos349.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Theological
Seminary 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.

A CONFERENCE ON THE KARABAKHI ISSUE TOOK PLACE IN BERLIN

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2008-12-25 14:06
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Recently, a conference on "The variants of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement from the Azerbaijani viewpoint" had taken place
at the Conrad Adenauer Foundation’s office in Berlin.

Elhan Nuriev, director of the Center of Strategic Sciences under the
Azerbaijani President and Johannes Rau, member of the International
Security Forum under the German Military Academy were invited to
have speeches.

NKR Permanent Representative in Germany Gayane Apinyan and Ambassador
of Azerbaijan in Germany Parviz Shahbazov also partook in the
conference, held by senior officer of the Conrad Adenauer Foundation
Peter Hefele.

The Azerbaijani representative developed his speech in the
context of the Azerbaijani territorial integrity and threat of
the Karabakh conflict settlement by force. In response, officer of
the German International Institute on Security Issues Uwe Halbach
and representative of the Union of the Christian-Democratic and
Christian-Social Parties in the Council of Europe Rayner Dornzaifer
noted that they treated the Azerbaijani territorial integrity with
understanding; however the existing new realities and facts should
be taken into account in solving the conflict. Uwe Halbach added that
the demand of territorial integrity is not absolute and sometimes not
realistic, exemplifying Georgia. Rayner Dornzaifer advised Azerbaijan
to learn a lesson from the history of Germany that, according to
him, after the World War II had to accept the existing reality, thus
guaranteeing peace and security in Europe. He expressed confidence
that in case of refusing the territorial integrity, Azerbaijan will
contribute to the peaceful settlement of the conflict and together
with Armenia will be given great assistance from the Council of Europe
for liquidating the consequences of the conflict.

In response to Nuriev’s threatening to solve the Karabakhi issue by
use of force, Gayane Apinyan in her turn reminded how many people from
both sides sacrificed during the previous war and in what unfavorable
conditions the people of Nagorno Karabakh managed to uphold their
natural right to liberty.

"Today, in spite of Azerbaijan’s furious armament, Nagorno Karabakh,
due to its high state orderliness, is incomparably stronger and is
ready to defend its independence", she said.

Gayane Apinyan advised the Azerbaijani representatives to refuse the
revanchist aspirations and respect the right of the people of Nagorno
Karabakh to independent existence.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY’S ATTITUDE TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION CHANGED

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2008 15:22 GMT+04:00

The international community’s attitude to recognition the Armenian
Genocide has considerably changed recently, an Armenian professor said.

"Several years ago politicians and historians in the United State
could question the fact of the Genocide. Now, the situation is quite
different. Media publications referring to the 1915 events blame
the Ottoman Empire for the massacre of Armenians," Ruben Safrastyan,
director of the institute of oriental studies at the RA academy of
sciences, told a news conference in Yerevan.

Turkish political elite can’t renounce the Ottoman heritage. This is
the problem of the Armenian-Turkish relations, according to him.

"Turkey fears that Armenia will lay territorial claims. Actually,
it’s impossible over the absence an appropriate international legal
mechanism," prof. Safrastyan said.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA MEETS BUSINESSMEN

armradio.am
22.12.2008 17:45

On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, President Serzh Sargsyan
invited over hundred representatives of the business community of
Armenia to a reception at the President’s Office.

Congratulating the guests on Christmas and New Year, the President
said: "We all realize pretty well that 2009 is going to be a year
of hard work. Our task is to resist the existing challenges through
cooperation between the government and the private sector and pass
the exam of time. The success of every of us in his sphere is the
common success of all of us."

Recalling the old words "It’s hard to be wealthy in a poor country,"
Serzh Sargsyan said there is only one way in the current situation:
to make the country wealthier and stronger.

The President wished success, high spirit and productive work to the
businessmen in 2009.

UKAthletics, KY
Dec 21 2008

Former Wildcat Martirosyan Wins Four Futures Tour Titles in 2008

2005 UK grad Tigran Martirosyan collected two singles and two doubles
crowns this year

Dec. 20, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former University of Kentucky men’s tennis player
Tigran Martirosyan capped off a successful year by winning four titles
on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures Circuit this year
with two crowns apiece in singles and doubles action.

Besides the four titles in 2008, Martirosyan advanced to semifinals on
two occasions in both singles and doubles play. He finished the year
with a 31-12 singles record, upping his career mark to 51-29 all-time
on tour. On the doubles court, Martirosyan compiled a 14-9 ledger to
improve his career tour record to 26-17 overall. As a result of his
many wins this season, the former Wildcat has achieved his highest
career Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings in singles
(468) as well as doubles (829).

"Tigran has really had a great year on the USTA circuits," said UK
head Dennis Emery. "He has really positioned himself well to make a
run during the 2009 season. It’s good to see him continuing to improve
on the tour. It couldn’t happen to a nicer person."

Martirosyan won his first career doubles title last July in Peoria,
Ill. He teamed up with Marcus Fugate of Rochester, N.Y., to notch his
first career tour title. The pair knocked off the top seed in the
tourney quarterfinals en route to the championship.

A week later, the former Wildcat earned his first career singles
title. Martirosyan won the Joplin, Mo., tourney by defeating current
Florida State junior Jean-Yves Aubone 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 in the final.

Martirosyan’s best performance of the year took place in Decatur,
Ill., in late July. With doubles partner Daniel Yoo of South Korea,
Martirosyan won his third career title overall and second doubles
crown of his career. The third-seeded tandem defeated the second seed
pairing in the semifinals on the way to the final win. On the singles
side, Martirosyan defeated the number four seed in the semis before
falling to the second overall seed in the tourney final.

At the next singles tournament in Milwaukee, Wis., fourth-seeded
Martirosyan made a run to the singles semifinals before his doubles
partner Yoo defeated him 6-3, 6-3 on the way to the tourney crown.

In September, sixth-seeded Martirosyan defeated three consecutive
seeded players, including top-seed Michael McClune ranked 343 in the
world, en route to his second career singles title and fourth
championship overall in Claremont, Calif.

The 2005 UK grad knocked off another pair of seeded singles players
two weeks later in Irvine, Calif., to advance to the semifinals.
Martirosyan and partner Andrey Kumantsov of Russia also advanced to
the semis on the doubles side after eliminating the top seed in the
quarters.

Last month, Martirosyan jetted to Hawaii to close out the circuit
schedule. In Kohala Coast, Hawaii, the fourth-seeded Wildcat advanced
to the singles final by knocking off current doubles partner Kumantsov
as well as the number one seed overall, but former doubles partner Yoo
beat Martirosyan for the crown 7-5, 6-4. The next week in Honolulu,
Kumantsov and Martirosyan advanced to the doubles semis in the final
circuit event of the year.

A native of Armenia, Martirosyan currently lives in Boston where he
has taught tennis at the Westboro Tennis and Swim Club.

/spec-rel/122008aab.html

Hürriyet, Turkey
Dec 20 2008

Army opposes apology petition

ANKARA – The military became involved Friday in a deepening
controversy over an apology campaign launched by Turkish intellectuals
for the World War I-era killings of Armenians at the hands of the
Ottoman Empire.

"We definitely think what has been done is not right. Apologizing is
wrong and can yield harmful consequences," Brig. Gen. Metin
Gürak, spokesperson for the General Staff, told a weekly news
conference.

The Internet initiative coincides with a diplomatic rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia to end hostility. In Brussels, Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan, speaking to reporters, said the intellectuals’
initiative could harm the recent process aimed at normalizing ties
with Armenia.

The apology, which was also countered by a declaration from a group of
retired ambassadors, avoids using the word "genocide" and instead uses
the term "great catastrophe."

DIASPORA MINISTER MEETS WITH MELKONIAN ALUMNI MEMBERS – FULL TEXT

Gibrahayer
&page_id=76&path=76
Dec 08
Nicosia

Communique from the Association of Melkonian Alumni and Friends
Los Angeles, California – – On November
25, 2008, Armenia’s Minister of the Diaspora, Dr Hranush Hakobian,
met with the representatives of the Association of Melkonian Alumni
and Friends in the offices of Dr Harout Mesrobian in Glendale. The
meeting lasted approximately one hour. The minister was accompanied
by Mr Armen Liloyan, Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles.

Representing the Association of Melkonian Alumni and Friends at the
meeting were Chairman Raffi Zinzalian and members of the Administrative
Board Harout Mesrobian, Zohrab Shammasian, Vahakn Gharibian, and Garo
Kasabian. The Melkonian alumni brought to the minister’s attention a
number of issues related to the closure of the Melkonian Educational
Institute (MEI) in Cyprus.

The closure of MEI by a decision of the Central Board of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in June 2005 is no doubt one of the
most pressing issues of the Diaspora by virtue of its broader adverse
consequences. Consequently, it would be appropriate for Armenia’s
Ministry of the Diaspora to take up this issue with high priority.

Legal and other actions undertaken in Los Angeles and Cyprus in the
last few years with the leadership of the Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul and the joint efforts of Melkonian alumni organizations across
the world to halt the closure of MEI have not produced any positive
results. All legal rulings in these actions have favored the AGBU.

In late 2006, the Supreme Court of Cyprus ruled and affirmed that the
AGBU has full ownership rights over the MEI properties and that it
can dispose of them as it wishes. This ruling cleared the way for the
immediate sale of the Melkonian properties, which would have happened
had it not been for the intervention of the alumni in Cyprus.

In response to an appeal by the Cyprus alumni, the National Assembly of
Cyprus declared the original MEI buildings and 60 percent of its campus
of approximately 40 acres as a historic and architectural heritage
site and the adjoining grove of trees a "green zone." Although this
regulation reduces the monetary value of the Melkonian properties,
it makes the sale of the properties more difficult because it imposes
tough restrictions on any modifications on existing structures and
construction of new buildings in green areas.

Although the MEI has served as one of the most important centers of
preservation and advancement for Armenian existence and culture in the
Diaspora and provided high-quality education to thousands of Armenian
men and women over 80 years of its existence, it must not be viewed
solely as an educational institution. Indeed, it is an institution
established, above all, for the purpose of "avengement." The
following remarks by the benefactor Garabed Melkonian are so
apropos and memorable: "I am building this school to take avenge my
nation. The Turk decimated us. He first killed our leaders and then
our entire helpless nation. These young orphans must rebuild their
patriarchal homeland, and we must make leaders out of them. It is my
wish that the existence of these Melkonian educational institutions
be perpetuated for centuries to come and that they serve as hearths
of enlightenment that train productive and honest men and women for
the Armenian nation, the Armenian homeland, and all of humanity." This
was the vision of the founders of MEI. To that end, Krikor and Garabed,
the two Melkonian brothers gifted the vast sum of 600,000 British gold
pounds to the Armenian nation. That endowment is equivalent to hundreds
of millions of dollars in today’s prices. The interest on that gift
was sufficient to perpetuate the MEI "for centuries to come." The
MEI opened as an orphanage in 1924 to serve the needs of more than
300 helpless and destitute orphans who had survived the genocide of
1915-1923. Subsequently, hundreds of other orphans found shelter,
food, and education in Melkonian. Stretching in front of the twin
MEI buildings is a grove with hundreds of Roman pines.

Those trees were planted by those same orphans in memory of their
lost kin and the uncountable victims of the genocide. That grove is
essentially the first "monument" that eternalizes the memory of the
victims of the Armenian holocaust.

Consequently, the MEI is closely associated with and an integral part
of the history of the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people
at the beginning of the 20th century. As such, it is unthinkable to
sell it no matter how high the value of its physical assets.

Why was Melkonian closed? This question continues to torment our
minds. We believe that specious excuses to the effect that "the
existence of Melkonian is no longer justified" or that "Melkonian’s
mission has come to an end" are without grounds.

A comprehensive report dated November 23, 2003, and drafted by Mr
Sarkis Bchakjian, then Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MEI,
cited reliable statistical data to present an optimistic picture of
the situation that existed at the time and the future potential of
the school. At that point, the number of students in the institute had
risen to 251 over the previous eight years and the potential existed to
increase that number to as high as 350. However, the AGBU Central Board
sent instructions that this number should not exceed 250 to avoid any
budgetary strains. At the time of the report, the educational standards
of the school had reached unprecedented heights. Specif ically, 90
percent of MEI graduate were easily admitted to European and North
American universities to pursue their higher education. Thanks to the
generosity of the government of Cyprus and rent income from the MEI’s
commercial properties, the school’s revenues and investment returns
were on the rise. The institution was on its way to self-sufficiency.

Armenian schools in the Diaspora play a huge role in the preservation
of the Western Armenian language and culture, which remain in peril
and face extinction if we cannot keep these schools open. In some
countries, the use of local languages has become so prevalent among
Armenians that the few surviving Armenian schools are virtually
incapable of teaching our mother tongue. The MEI is the only Armenian
co-educational boarding school in the Diaspora. As such, it must
be reopened so that it can carry on its mission as a stronghold of
Armenian education and culture. The value of an educational institution
lies in its output. Can the "Melkonian Educational Center," a youth
complex the AGBU plans to create in Armenia, replace the MEI of
Cyprus and assume the role it played? In any event, the piecemeal
information that has been provided about planned Melkonian complex
in Armenia does not inspire much confidence or hope, given that the
plan has not yet taken concrete form and appears to be stumbling.

We have been told that the complex will bring together20around 200
Armenian students from various corners of the world and offer them
instruction in the Armenian language, literature, and history. We
are told that such activities will contribute to the preservation
of Armenian existence, culture, and education. We are told that all
these can be achieved over a period of at most six months.

Situated in a hospitable and generous country like Cyprus, a member
state of the EU with a superb geographical location, the MEI can be
gateway to Europe for Armenia. The matriculation of a certain number
of students from Armenia at the MEI would provide these students
with high-quality secondary education and prepare them for admission
to European and North American universities. After specializing
in various professions, these students can return to Armenia and
contribute to the advancement and prosperity of their homeland. Their
interaction with students from other countries would also help the
further strengthening of ties between Armenia and the Diaspora.

Minister Hakobian and Consul General Liloyan carefully listened
to the information presented to them and expressed compassionate
understanding for the work of the Melkonian alumni across the world
to have the MEI reopened.

Dr Hakobian took notes throughout the meeting and assured the
participants that she will present the MEI case to the serious
consideration of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan.

She said: "As your representative, I am prepared to present the
Melkonian case to the president and prime minister of the Republic. I
will also personally meet with Louise Simone and Berj Setrakian of the
AGBU Central Board to discuss the reopening of Melkonian. I will also
meet with relevant government authorities in Cyprus to discuss the
status of Melkonian. I believe that the preservation of the Armenian
language is an essential prerequisite of perpetuating the Armenian
nation. I am aware of the contributions of the MEI to the building
of the Armenian nation."

The Diaspora Minister also expressed her opposition to the closure
of any school in the Diaspora.

We thank Dr Hakobian for making room in her busy schedule for this
meeting and for listening to the concerns and problems of Melkonian
alumni. We are especially gratified by her commitment to work on the
Melkonian case and to find a positive solution to this problem. We
also thank Consul General Liloyan for his interest and patience in
listening to concerns about Melkonian.

ARMENIAN FOUNDATIONS WIN CASE AT EUROPEAN COURT

Today’s Zaman
Dec 17 2008
Turkey

The European Court of Human Rights yesterday announced its ruling
that Turkey violated the property rights of two Armenian charitable
foundations by seizing immovable property belonging to the foundations.

At the Strasbourg-based court, the applicants — Samatya Surp Kevork
Ermeni Kilisesi, Mektebi ve Mezarlıgı Vakfı Yönetim Kurulu
(The Board of Governors of the Samatya Surp Kevork Armenian Church,
School and Cemetery) and Yedikule Surp Pırgic Ermeni Hastanesi
Vakfı (The Foundation for the Armenian Hospital in Yedikule) —
complained that previous decisions by Turkish courts had deprived
them of property that they had acquired through donations, as Turkish
courts had ruled that their charters did not give them the right to
acquire immovable property.

The court ruled that Turkey had violated Article 1 of Protocol No. 1
of the European Convention on Human Rights, which regulates the
protection of property. It refused to review the complaints under
Article 6, which covers the right to a fair hearing, and Article 14
of the convention, which prohibits discrimination.

Turkey is now required to return the immovable property in question to
the Samatya Surp Kevork Armenian Church, School and Cemetery in three
months or pay 600,000 euros in compensation. The court judges also
agreed that Turkey must pay 275,000 euros to the Foundation for the
Armenian Hospital in Yedikule in compensation for the seized property.

The judgment is expected to set a precedent for other possible
cases against Turkey which are concerned with the property rights of
non-Muslim foundations. Nationalist critics say non-Muslim foundations
should not be allowed to acquire immovable property while the European
Union, which Turkey aspires to join, urges Ankara to lift restrictions
on the property rights of these foundations.

In February, the Turkish Parliament adopted a new law on charitable
foundations that was mostly welcomed by the European Commission and
the European Parliament. In a report released in March, the European
Parliament, however, stated that the new law should be analyzed by
the European Commission as to whether it is being implemented in line
with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Both Armenian foundations were established by Imperial Decree in
1832 under the Ottoman Empire and are recognized in Turkish law. The
European Court of Human Rights said their charter complies with the
provisions of the Lausanne Treaty affording protection to foundations
that provide public services for religious minorities.

Turkey has the right to appeal the judgment at the Grand Chamber of
the European Court of Human Rights. In a 2007 decision, the court
announced that Turkey and the Foundation for the Yedikule Armenian
Hospital had reached a friendly settlement in a similar case filed
by the Armenian foundation.

–Boundary_(ID_5D6ODkkV8s2HsEIGRoDRYQ )–

GYULNARA SHAHINIAN ELECTED MEMBER OF GROUP OF EXPERTS ON ACTION AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 15, 2008

STRASBOURG, DECEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. 13 independent experts from
the same number of states will be the first members of the Group of
Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), a new
body to supervise the implementation of the CE Convention on Action
against Trafficking in Human Beings. The Committee of the states in
support of the Convention held sittings in Strasbourg on December 5
and 8. Gyulnara Shahinian from Armenia has been elected to work as
a member of GRETA for a 4-year period starting from January 1, 2009.