Author: Virabian Jhanna

SURB KHACH CHURCH OF DAMALA VILLAGE IN ASPINDZA REGION RE-CONSECRATED

AKHALKALAK, MAY 6, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Surb Khach (Holy
Cross) Church of the village of Damala in Aspindza region was
re-consecrated on May 1 with the participation of the head of Georgian
Armenian diocese Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and clergymen of the
diocese.

Damala is the biggest village of Samtskhe-Javakhk’s Aspindza region.
The ancestors of its residents migrated from Erzrum in 1829-1830. A
parish school was opened in the village in 1865. Surb Khach Church was
founded in the 1830s, later it underwent major repairs and was
re-opened in 1873. There is an old graveyard near the church. In the
1920s the church was closed and its priest exiled. For some time the
church was used as a warehouse, later its roof collapsed.

According to the press service of the Georgian Armenian diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, a lot of people gathered in Damala village
on May 1. Among them were former residents of Damala and guests,
high-ranking heads of Samtskhe-Javakhk local government body, deputies
of the Georgian parliament, the Armenian ambassador to Georgia Hrach
Silvanian.

The guests were welcomed by Armenia-based "Karin" ethnographic dance
group that performed festive songs and dances.

The numerous guests and villagers led by clergymen went to Surb Khach
Church. The re-consecration ceremony started by the blessing of the
church, signing of salmons and sharakans (Armenian church psalms),
after which Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian performed the re-consecration
ritual with the participation of Samthskhe-Javakhk’s vicar, monk Babken
Salbiyan. Then the first liturgy was celebrated by priest Manuk
Zeynalian.

Following the liturgy, a festivity took place in the church yard, and
"Karin" ensemble gave a performance. Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian and
priest Babken Salbiyan addressed those present with words of blessing.
The Armenian ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanian made a speech of
welcome and congratulation.

Surb Khach Church was repaired and the surrounding area was improved
with financial assistance of Damala’s former residents who currently
live in Armenia, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan and under the
supervision of deputy of the Aspindza regional assembly Emin Baloyan.

DemAz.org, Azerbaijan
May 6 2008

Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Make Statement on `Election
of Ombudsman’ of the so-called `Upper Garabagh Republic’
06.05.2008

Ombudsman of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Elmira Suleymanova, made
statement connected with `election of Ombudsman’ of the so-called
`Upper Garabagh Republic’.

Statement reads that at result of annexation policy and ethnic
cleaning pursued by Armenia against Azerbaijan over 20 years, in
Nagorni Garabagh region, integral part of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
there reigns separatist regime. Time from time notorious regime,
grossly violating international standards and principles of
international law, holds the so-called `elections’. Naturally, these
`elections’ having no legal force are not recognized internationally
and to the contrary they are evaluated as action harmful for peace
talks.

From this point of view `election of Ombudsman’ of the so-called
`Upper Garabagh Republic’ is unlawful.

Occupied by aggressive Armenian state the Upper Garabagh and
neighboring regions are internationally recognized territories of the
Republic of Azerbaijan. Armenian state doesn’t follow obligations
assumed before UN and Council of Europe. All this necessitates taking
sanctions on the part of international organizations against Armenia.

Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova stated that on the territory of the
Republic of Azerbaijan only those structures founded on the basis of
laws of the state have legal status.

In accordance with constitutional law on Ombudsman of the Republic of
Azerbaijan elected by Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Ombudsman is empowered to protect the rights of whole population
living in the country including population of the Upper Garabagh
region.

PILGRIMAGE TO SHUSHI

Panorama.am
17:15 01/05/2008

Today the Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians Garegin II received
five hundred members of pilgrimage group to Shushi. The group will
start from Saint Echmiatsin and reach to Artsakh – Shushi Saint Savor
Church. The Patriarch told them the sacrament of Ascension Day and
called them on to accompany prayers and the ten tables.

"Today when you start your way of pilgrimage you should let the
commandments move into your hearts and souls. Only by love we can
develop our country and meet all the problems," said the patriarch.

The pilgrimage is organized by Pan Armenian international youth center
and "spiritual-cultural renaissance" foundation.

AZERBAIJAN RELEASES SHIPMENT FOR IRAN’S BUSHEHR NPP

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2008 14:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan released a shipment of Russian equipment
for Iran’s first nuclear power plant on Thursday, more than a
month after it was halted at its border, Azeri MFA spokesman Khazar
Ibrahim said.

Azerbaijan had halted the cargo of heat-isolating equipment headed
for the Bushehr plant on March 29, demanding more information from
Russia about the nature of the material. Azerbaijani officials said
they feared the equipment could violate United Nations sanctions.

The Russian state-run company building Bushehr, OAO Atomstroiexport,
accused Azerbaijan of deliberately obstructing the cargo, the AP
reports.

TURKEY STRONGLY CONDEMNS TRAMPING AND BURNING OF TURKISH FLAG BY ARMENIANS, MFA

Turkish Press
April 29 2008

ANKARA – A Spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said
Friday that Turkey strongly condemns the tramping of the Turkish flag
in Yerevan on April 24th and the burning of the Turkish flag a day
earlier in Yerevan by Armenians.

In a written press release, the Turkish MFA said that "the Turkish flag
symbolizes the values, beliefs and freedom of the Turks. All peoples
know how much importance the Turks attach to the Turkish flag. News
from Yerevan pertaining to the Turkish flag have caused deep sorrow,
reaction and anger in the Turkish society. We strongly condemn all
acts made against the Turkish flag in Yerevan".

SLOVAKIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: "OUR COUNTRY APPROACHES NAGORNO KARABAKH FROM POSITION OF STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY"

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
April 28 2008

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov has today received
Slovakian Foreign Minister and chairman of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers Jan Kubish.

According to Day.Az, Mamedyarov said at a press conference by results
of the meeting that the sides discussed bilateral relations between
Azerbaijan and Slovakia.

"Unfortunately, currently the bilateral cooperation is on the due
level. In this sense we exchanged views regarding the activity, which
would promote development of bilateral relations", said Mamedyarov.

According to him, the meeting participants discussed possible
cooperation in the sphere of transport, energy, investments and
development of inter-parliamentary relations.

Mamedyarov noted that the two countries have signed only 4 documents
and discussed consolidation of the legal basis of the bilateral
cooperation.

At the same time, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister noted that he had
informed his counterpart about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, a meeting
with the new Foreign Minister of Armenia to be held in Strasbourg on
May 6. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister noted that he will also meet with
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Strasbourg.

In turn, Kubish noted that discussion of the bilateral cooperation
revealed the unused potential between the two countries, including
political visits and consultations, cooperation between the parliaments
of the two countries, as well as economic cooperation. He noted that
Slovakia is the most dynamically developing country in the European
Union and it outstrips them by 2-3 times.

"We have initiated discussions of definite spheres of potential
cooperation. Such spheres are energy, construction of railways and
other issues, including plans of the European Union, envisioning
energy security, diversification of energy supplies. It would all be
interested for the European Union and Slovakia", said Kubish.

Slovakian Foreign Minister noted that he received necessary information
about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and said it is necessary to work
further in this direction. At the same time, he stressed Slovakia’s
position on the conflict settlement. Kubish said that his country
adheres to the principle of state sovereignty and territorial
integrity.

Touching upon the cooperation of Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe,
Kubish said that the meeting participants discussed the coming
presidential elections and need for free mass medias.

NKR CONSTRUCTION IN 2007

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on April 28, 2008
NKR Republic

Official Notification of NKR National Statistical Service A
construction of 20810.1 million drams was realized in NKR territory
in 2007, which, in comparison with the previous year, has increased
by 18.2 per cent or 3208.1 million drams. 91.2 per cent of realized
construction or 18974.2 million drams are constructional assembly
works, instead of the previous year’s 86.5 per cent or 15218.9
million drams. NKR construction in 2007 just as in 2006 has been
basically realized on account of means of state budget and humanitarian
assistance, accordingly compiling 48.4 per cent of the general size
( instead of the previous year’s 47.4 per cent). Construction works
of 2007 according to the economy’s branches, in comparison with the
previous year, have increased in the branches of trade, culture and
sport, communal utilities company, health service and agriculture,
accordingly 2.9 times, by 67.3, 48.1, 31.4, 2.8 and 1.1 per cents.
202 apartments of 22133.1 cub. metre surface and two schools were
put into operation in NKR in 2007. In the republic in period under
review 158 apartments and 5 schools have been repaired, 855.0 and
121.1 million drams have been accordingly expended.

L’Opinione, Italia
19 Aprile 2008

Campagna della comunità armena

In occasione del 93° anniversario del genocidio il Consiglio
per la comunità armena di Roma ha promosso la Campagna di
sensibilizzazione `Una tragedia che non ha parole’ con la
pubblicazione di un manifesto in memoria delle vittime del Metz
Yeghern. Si tratta di una campagna unica nel suo genere che prevede
oltre che alla pubblicazione del manifesto su alcuni quotidiani anche
la trasmissione, in formato spot, sui mezzi pubblici provvisti di
video. Lo spot è in programmazione sia sul Canale Moby Tv Metro
sia sul canale Columbus (per gli autobus) già dall’11 aprile e
fino al 30 aprile, con 150 passaggi giornalieri. L’iniziativa riguarda
900 autobus a Roma, la linea A della metropolitana romana e
sarà esteso anche alle città di Milano (20 autobus),
Siena (20 autobus), Firenze (60 autobus) e Bari (70 autobus).

z&act=art&edi=77&id_art=3172&aa08

REMEMBERING GENOCIDE; U.S. LEADERS STILL AFRAID TO RECOGNIZE ANCIENT CRIMES AGAINST ARMENIANS

The Fresno Bee (California)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
April 24, 2008 Thursday

Just last fall it appeared there might be a breakthrough in the
long-standing reluctance of the American government to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide. That murderous event was begun by the collapsing
Ottoman Turk empire in World War I and carried out with methodical
determination in the next few years. All told, some 1.5 million
Armenian men, women and children were killed outright, or driven into
a brutal and deadly exile.

A resolution calling on the president to use the word "genocide" in his
annual Armenian message passed out of a House committee with strong
support. That message is traditionally delivered on "Martyr’s Day"
— today — which marks the beginning of the genocide in 1915. The
House resolution was symbolic, but sent a strong message.

Too strong for some, it turned out. The weight of past timidity and
decades of geopolitical cynicism came crashing down. One by one,
hundreds of ostensible congressional supporters of the resolution
peeled away. Turkish government officials and hired lobbyists in this
country went to work. Former secretaries of state rallied to the cause
of historical indifference, testifying that America’s relations with
Turkey would be irretrievably damaged if we allowed this insult to
Turkish honor to proceed.

The resolution never reached the House floor for a vote.

Modern Turkey bears no responsibility for the past crimes of previous
regimes. Yet Turkish officials and citizens alike are inflamed by
the subject of the genocide. They insist it never happened, that some
deaths occurred, but they were the natural outcome of civil war and
Armenian support for the Ottoman Turks’ bitter enemy, czarist Russia,
during World War I.

Few people outside Turkey buy that story. The evidence is
overwhelming. The Ottoman Turks organized the massacres and
deportations with great care in advance. They began the genocide
with a classic move: Some 250 Armenian intellectuals — doctors,
lawyers, writers, teachers — were arrested and deported from
Constantinople. Almost all were later executed. And that was just
the tiny beginning of the slaughter.

For decades, American governments of both parties have shied away
from confronting the Turks on their nation’s bloody past. Turkey was
seen as an essential ally during the Cold War, sitting on the Soviet
Union’s southern flank. The Soviet Union is no more, but we’re still
afraid to upset the Turks by asking them to acknowledge the truth.

Turkey pays a price for its intransigence. The Turks want very badly
to join the European Union, but the members of that body have, for the
most part, officially recognized the genocide for what it was. That’s
a big obstacle to Turkey’s cherished dreams of membership.

And yet the Turks continue to preach denial. It’s even a crime in
Turkey to suggest that the genocide was real.

Some day, perhaps, a new generation of Turks will find the courage
to confront their nation’s past. Some day, perhaps, a new generation
of American leaders will find the courage to speak the truth on
this issue.

Some day, but not today. For now, all the rest of us can do is
remember.

CAMPAIGN URGING ANKARA TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE STARTS IN FRANCE

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2008 17:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe amid 100 thousand of
French paid a homage to the Armenian Genocide victims and reaffirmed
his urge for Turkey’s acknowledgement, independent French journalist
Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net

For this exceptional occasion, three Genocide survivors, respectively
94, 100 and 103 years old were invited to take part in the event.

Turkish journalist Ali Ertem (currently residing in Germany) was
also resent at the site. Decrying Turkey for its negationism, he
announced start of a campaign calling on French Turks to urge Turkey
to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The same initiative in Germany
gathered more than 15 000 signatures, according to him.

Alexis Govcyian, chairman of the Coordination Council of the Armenian
Organizations of France, for its part, challenged the Turkish
government by inviting it to recognize immediately and "to assume
all consequences of the Genocide".

But, on this painful day for all Armenians throughout the globe,
Turkish hackers once again wanted to point out their virulent hatred by
pirating the imprescriptible.com web site. Curiously, their inscription
refers to the Kurdish PKK.

It says, "Pkk/kadek/hpg is the world’s most bloody and brutal
terrorism group. They killed approximately 35.000 innocent people
without any cruel till now. All the nations and states must know which
are supporting these bloody and brutal terrorism groups, supporting
terrorism will brings suffer and death. We are always be a side of
peace but we have always some words to say these terrorists "which"
wants to separate us and kill innocent people."

On April 27, an initiative of Collectif VAN (Armenian Vigilance
against the negationism) will pay homage to the victims of Genocides of
Armenians, Jews, Tutsi and that of Darfur. This demonstration will be
organized in front of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris with a slogan
"The Genocides look at you."