Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

MESS AGE

ASIA -MIDDLE EAST INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
12-14 November 2006
Antelias, Lebanon

Religious leaders from Asia and the Middle East came together in Antelias,
Lebanon on November 12-14, 2006 at the invitation of His Holiness Catholicos
Aram I at the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilica. His Holiness Aram I provided
the vision and guidance for this meeting, which was convened so that
religious leaders from these two regions could get to know each other better
and begin to develop greater understanding of each other’s religious
traditions.

Between them, Asia and the Middle East gave birth to the world’s great
religions. And yet until now, there has been little inter-religious exchange
between these two regions. During this meeting, through panel discussions,
dialogue and meditation, we sought together ways to build bridges between
religions, cultures and nations, striving to understand each other’s
concerns and challenges.

Bridges of faith can provide hope and healing to wounded nations and
pain-filled people, of which there are too many in our world today. During
the dialogue, we heard serious concerns from both Asia and the Middle East
regarding the world situation. We heard of the need to recommit ourselves
to the spiritual core of our religious traditions so that people and
societies may translate into daily life the spiritual and moral values
cherished by our traditions. We also heard of the need for religion to
provide us with the strength, vision and understanding for reconciliation
among individuals and communities based on truth and justice. We heard of
the need for an engaged spirituality, where the deeper meaning of our
traditions, moral teachings and values can be experienced. And we heard of
the need to foster a deep respect for the differences that give us our
distinctive identities, while recognizing the universal values that bring us
together as a human community.

Because these issues present strong challenges and because there is an
urgency felt by all, we dare to move from dialogue and contemplation to
common action. These small groups of religious leaders from Asia and the
Middle East have listened intently to one another. Trust has begun to build.
We have found common ground and acknowledged our differences. We have
challenged one another and have grown in love, mutual understanding and
respect. Our beginning, though humble, is strong. We believe there can be no
turning back! We declare this not for ourselves, but because we fervently
seek peace for our hurting and war-weary world.

Therefore, we, the participants in this first, historic Asia-Middle East
Inter-Religious Dialogue, urge His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to continue
this pioneering journey by initiating a process and providing a framework
for deeper exchange. We call for an ongoing effort that will enable the
spiritual leaders of our regions to come together with a united moral voice
to address issues of great concern to the world community. A small working
group can continue this process and create the necessary framework so that
this effort can grow. In closing, we leave this place agreeing to pray for
one another and to continue our exchange. Hearing the call for renewed and
joint spiritual action on the part of the world’s faith communities, we must
and will respond.

##
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.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Camp Nubar’s 2006 Summer Session A Huge Success

On August 14, 2006, AGBU Camp Nubar wrapped up its 42nd summer
season with 235 enthusiastic campers and 75 devoted counselors and
administrators. AGBU’s largest camp continues to lead the way in
providing high quality facilities and an extensive list of activities
for youth from around the world.

Ranked by the American Camp Association (ACA), the American Red Cross
and the American Academy of Pediatrics as a first-rate modern facility,
Camp Nubar is unique among Armenian camps.

Campers participated in a vast array of activities such as
horseback riding, ceramics, tennis, archery, swimming, basketball
and sailing. Alumni and guest instructors were invited to teach
in specialized areas of interest such as water-skiing, wilderness
survival and Armenian language and cooking.

To keep pace with the growing demand for modern and spacious
accommodations, Camp Nubar has undergone drastic renovation and
expansion efforts in the last several years. This year alone,
construction was completed on another Girl’s Camper Cabin, a
new Girl’s Counselor Cabin, a major expansion to the Director’s
Cabin/Administration Building, the renovation of a former Camper
Cabin into a Counselor Lounge, and the addition of an Alumni House
for visiting staff members.

Some highlights of the 2006 camp sessions included an Open House for
family and friends, a carnival, a banquet, and the traditional 3-day
event called "Color Wars" for campers. These highlights and the rest
of Camp Nubar’s activities help Armenian youth create valuable and
long-lasting relationships and memories.

Accredited by ACA (), AGBU Camp Nubar was founded in
1963 and continues to be a summer haven for Armenian youth from all
around the world. For more information on Camp Nubar, please call (212)
319-6383, visit or email [email protected].

For more information on AGBU and its youth programs, please visit

200 TERRORIST GROUPS FUNCTIONING IN GREAT BRITAIN
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/11/2006

Elisa Manningham-Buller, head of the British MI 5 counterespionage
service, informed that there are at least 200 terrorist groups that
consist of over 1600 members. According to the France Press, she said
that recently, they received information about 30 terrorist act that
were in the preparation stage. The terrorist acts were directed to
murdering people or making huge economic damage.

Mrs. Manninhgam-Buller stated that the threat of terrorist constantly
exists in the country and will always threat to several generation
of the British citizens. At present, the terrorist use self-made
explosive materials, but very soon they may enrich their armory by
purchasing dangerous chemical, bacterial or radioactive materials.

U.S. EMBASSY EXPRESSES DEEPEST CONCERN FOR ARMENIAN SOLDIER INJURED IN IRAQ

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 13 2006

The Embassy of the United States of America in Yerevan would like to
express its deepest concern for the Armenian soldier who was seriously
injured in Iraq, as well as its condolences for the Polish and Slovak
soldiers who were killed during the incident, says the statement of
U.S. Embassy in Armenia.

Earlier Armenian Defense Ministry Press Secretary, Colonel Seyran
Shahsouvaryan, told ArmInfo that Senior Lieutenant Georgy Nalbanyan
(born in 1981) was injured in a blast of a self-made mine. Polish
and Slovakian soldiers who were accompanying him were killed in the
blast. The leg of the Armenian officer was ablated. He will undergo
further treatment in Germany. It was the first incident wherein an
Armenian soldier was involved during the 2 years of the Armenian
contingent’s mission in Iraq.

U.S. Embassy told ArmInfo Armenia’s contingent in Iraq is carrying
out the extremely important but dangerous work of bringing peace and
democracy to the country. " The injured Armenian solider is receiving
the best medical care available, and we would like to thank him and
his Armenian colleagues for their vital role in the international
coalition fighting the global war on terror," says the statement of
the U.S. Embassy.

MINISTRY RE-EXAMINES GENOCIDE DEFINITION

Swissinfo, Switzerland
Nov 13 2006

Photo: A demonstration in 1994 ahead of a vote on the anti-racism law
(Keystone Archive)

A senior justice ministry official says the current anti-racism law
needs to be re-examined to modify a clause on genocide.

The head of the Federal Justice Office, Michael Leupold, argues that
a judge is not in a position to decide on the definition of genocide.

The debate on Switzerland’s anti-racism legislation came to the fore
after Justice Minister Christoph Blocher, a member of the rightwing
Swiss People’s Party, announced during a visit to Turkey in October
that he wanted to change the law.

Any act of denying, belittling or justifying genocide is a violation
of Swiss anti-racism legislation.

The law prompted investigations against two Turkish citizens, including
a historian, for allegedly denying the 1915 Armenian massacre.

In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Leupold said
there could be no question of abolishing the anti-racism law but
certain changes were necessary.

For Leupold it is up to historians and not judges to decide on the
definition of genocide. He added that it was not clear whether the
current law infringes on the freedom of speech.

However, Boël Sambuc, vice-president of the Federal Commission on
Racism she was shocked by Leupold’s comments.

"The law is very clear and Switzerland also signed an international
convention aimed at preventing genocide," she told public radio.

What’s this? Federal Commission against Racism One expert group

Leupold added that judges should seek assistance from an international
institution or that the relevant clause be struck from the law
altogether.

His comments echo a statement by Justice Minister Blocher who said
the anti-racism law needed to be clearer and less ambiguous.

A working group re-examining the legislation is made of one person
so far, according to Leupold.

He added the he had not been asked to exclude the president of the
Federal Commission against Racism from the group.

The controversial head of the government-advisory committee has
publicly accused Blocher of telling lies.

Geneva prison

In a separate issue, Leupold announced that the justice ministry was
ready to consider a financial contribution to upgrade the overcrowded
prison of Champ-Dollon outside Geneva.

He said the federal authorities were willing to pay just over a
third of the planned costs estimated at SFr68 million ($54.8 million)
which the Geneva cantonal parliament is due to consider next year.

Champ-Dollon is notorious for being Switzerland’s most overcrowded
jail. It contains more than 500 inmates, but its normal capacity is
set at 270.

A series of hunger strikes over alleged police brutality and slow
justice, suicides, and a fire in the prison have caught media attention
over the past few months.

In April human rights campaigners described the situation in the
prison as potentially explosive.

–Boundary_(ID_eo+xZKJ6jO0jwlrbTYfTzQ) —

ELECTIONS ARE AHEAD

A1+
[07:24 pm] 09 November, 2006

Today the residents of North and Main Avenues, Firdus and Kozern
districts and the gardeners of Dalma and Nor Norq, organised a rally
of complaint opposite the National Assembly.

They called on the NA deputies to discuss their version and proposals
of the draft bill on "Alienation of Property for Public and State
Needs." But their attempts were a failure as the NA passed the old
version with 61 votes for. "We approve of the law but not in its
current form," complained the residents.

"They were elected due to the residents’ votes. Let them not forget it
and not become the stooges of the government. The government has once
more revealed its "real face." We see the interests of the government
quite well," said Sedrak Baghdasayan, one of the rally participants.

By the way, the strikers urged the authorities, "We did everything
within the framework of the law, whereas our-high rank officials
breeched it. They will soon start election campaigns. And the acting
authorities will be treated just the way they treat people. They stir
us to be disobedience… "

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SELLING ITS STAKE IN ARMENTEL TO FUTURE BUYER
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 8 2006

The Armenian government is likely to sell its 10 percent stake in
the Armenian Telephone Company (ArmenTel) to its future buyer if the
latter vows to end its monopoly on Armenia’s telecom market.

Armenia’s Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik Manukian,
who was entrusted last week to manage the state-held share in the
company, announced Wednesday that the government will not object to
Vimpel-Communications buying the remaining 10 percent share if the
Russian mobile operator rejects all types of monopolies currently
enjoyed by ArmenTel.

"We kept our shares to be able to influence somehow the company’s
decisions during the meetings of its shareholders," Manukian said,
adding that if the monopoly provisions are reconsidered ‘prices
will result from competition and there will be no question of tariff
policy regulation.’

"It seems to me that the government’s participation with its 10
percent stake will not give anything. For us it is important that the
monopoly provisions be removed," the minister said, giving assurances
that the government will not give up its stake otherwise.

Vimpel-Communications agreed last week to buy a 90 percent stake in
ArmenTel Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA for
341.9 million euros ($436.3 million) plus about 40 million euros
(US$51 million) in debt.

ArmenTel has about 600,000 fixed-line and 400,000 mobile subscribers.

Vimpel-Communications operates phone services in Russia and Kazakhstan
and recently acquired cellular operators in Ukraine, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan and Georgia. The Group’s cellular license portfolio covers
a territory with a population of about 237 million.

KASPRZYK: TO MAINTAIN CEASEFIRE AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTERS SHOULD HOLD NEGOTIATIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006

"There is stability in Azerbaijan and Armenian front line," special
representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Anjey Kasprzyk told
journalists, APA reports.

He said that for maintenance of ceasefire Azerbaijani and Armenian
ministers should hold negotiations.

"Defense ministers should have a chance to discuss the details of the
maintenance of ceasefire regime. I agree with the position of both
governments. The ceasefire regime is connected with the demonstration
of political will. The monitoring I hold helps to reinforce the
ceasefire regime and I always felt support from both sides.It proves
that the sides are interested in the maintenance of ceasefire regime,"
the representative said.

‘BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR TOWN PLANNING EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN

AZG Armenian Daily
08/11/2006

The opening ceremony of the seventh specialized exhibition of the
Iranian Republic in Armenia "Building Materials and Equipment for
Town Planning" was took place recently, on November 4 in the Yerevan
K. Demichyan’s Sport- Concert Complex.

Levon Aharonian, the Director of the Iran-Armenia Chamber of Commerce,
stated in his speech during the opening ceremony that building
materials, sanitary engineering, electrical appliances, furniture
of about 20 companies of the Iranian building industry were going to
be exhibited at the exhibition till November 10. In particular, the
production of ALVAN, KNAUF GATE, GAPEX, KHORASAN ELECTRIC Companies,
which have already gained the attention and the trust of the Armenian
construction companies will be displayed at the exhibition. In
his turn, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran
to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, added that that the exhibition is
directed to introduce the Armenian and Iranian businessmen to each
other He emphasized that the collaboration of high ranked officials
and businessmen of Armenia and Iran will certainly lead to the opening
of new economic spheres in both countries. Meanwhile, the RA Energy
Minister, the cochairman of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental
Commission, Armen Movsessian, said that a real progress is being
observed in the Armenian-Iranian relations in the course of the recent
years. The Commission, the work of which is aimed at the formation of
a legal field for the two neighboring states, plays a significant role
in it. As for that, A. Movsessian emphasized that the Commission’s
activity is mainly fixed on the development of Armenia-Iran economic
relations. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia
to Iran, Karen Nazaryan, said, in his turn, that the diplomatic
representations in two countries spare no efforts to contribute to
the development of Iran and Armenia trade-economic cooperation. He
also expressed hope that organization of such exhibitions will have
long-term prospects.

‘DISINFORMATION ON ARTICLE 301 IS OF TURKISH ORIGIN’
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 6 2006

Turkish Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek has said that there was
disinformation in Turkey regarding the "notorious" Article 301 of
the Turkish Penal Code and it was of Turkish origin.

The controversial article has been used to try many journalists and
writers in court under criminal charges for "insulting Turkishness,"
generally for topics related to the ‘Kurdish question’ and an Armenian
genocide.

Cicek was speaking at the Turkish Journalist Federation’s general
assembly meeting in Ankara on Sunday.

He pointed out that most of the issues labeled as "incomplete"
in the EU’s Progress Report on Turkey, which are hindering Turkey,
were reported to the EU by some people in Turkey.