Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ACCORDING TO HAYK DEMOYAN, SOME ELEMENTS OF DECLINE OBSERVED IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 24, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The culmination of development
of Armenian-Turkish relations was the visit of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul to Yerevan. Since that moment, as the Director of the
Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan said at the November 24
press conference, some elements of a decline, which does not depend
on the Armenian side, have been observed in the relations between
two countries.

According to him, it was the Armenian side that initiatied that meeting
which was accepted by the Turkish side, but the Armenian side has
been waiting for a response "pass" of Turkey so far. H. Demoyan said
there is an opinion that the Armenian side had to take this step but
such is not the case. He reminded that even President Serzh Sargsyan
noted in his interview with the German press that the meeting had been
organized without any conditions. According to historian H. Demoyan,
the meeting of the two presidents should have been followed by some
actions – instead of stating the previous preconditions, that is,
the issues of setting up a commission and discontinuing the process
of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide by other states.

In the opinion of H. Demoyan, in order to prove its readiness to
cooperate with Armenia, Turkey first of all should open the Kars-Gyumri
railway in a maximum period of a year. Besides, bilateral negotiations
should start on opening diplomatic representative offices in Armenia
and Turkey. In his words, the Turkish side should not link any
statement or action (in terms of improving its realtions with Armenia)
to Karabakh as the Armenian side does take such a step with respect
to Cyprus.

As regards the meeting of Armenian and Turkish foreign ministers to
be held in Instanbul on the same day, H. Demoyan said he does not
expect serious progress from this meeting.

ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC LEADER TO VISIT ROME, JOIN IN ECUMENICAL SERVICES

Catholic Culture
nes/index.cfm?storyid=1214
Nov 21 2008

Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Lebanon, will visit Rome next week and participate in a
series of ecumenical events, the Vatican has announced. The Armenian
prelate will be in Rome from November 23 to 27; he will attend the
Pope’s regular public audience on November 26 and meet the Pontiff
in a private audience on November 24.

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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I ADDRESSES THE SAINT’EGIDIO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
"ECUMENISM, CHRISTIAN UNITY AND PEACE AMONG NATIONS"

His Holiness Aram I addressed the Saint’Egidio international conference in
Cyprus during a special session dedicated to the ecumenical movement.

In the first part of his talk, His Holiness highlighted the challenges the
ecumenical movement faces today. He described the present ecumenical
landscape with the following words: uncertainty, restlessness, tiredness and
stagnation. He said that ecumenism needs to redefine itself, its identity,
its goals and vision. Focusing on the unity of the church, His Holiness
highlighted the major aspects of the work performed by the ecumenical
movement, by referring particularly to a number of models and concepts of
unity. Aram I said that for various reasons churches were not able to take
concrete steps on the way towards visible unity. He challenged the churches
to take the question of unity seriously and within this context he mentioned
two imperatives specifically: the mutual recognition of baptism and fixing a
common date for the Easter.

Towards the end of his talk, the Pontiff made a number of practical
proposals with a view to giving a new drive to relations and cooperation
between churches. He then answered questions from participants in the
conference.

Talks were also delivered in that session by the Greek Patriarch of
Alexandria, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Cardinal Walter Kasper, the
President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and Dr. Mary Taner,
Co-president of the World Council of Churches.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos329.htm
*****
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.

BUSINESS SUPPORT COUNCIL APPROVES THE FORMATION OF THREE THEMATIC TASK GROUPS

ARMENPRESS
Nov 19, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: The session of Business Support
Council took place today chaired by the head of the council, Armenian
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that the commission
discussed the issues of necessity and principles of establishment
of thematic task groups within the frameworks of the Business
Support Council, improvement and development of Armenian business and
investment environment, as well as the 2008-2011 program of strategy of
Armenian tax administration, the suggestions and schedule of events,
issues of financing of the real sector of the economy and the regular
rotation of new members of the council.

During the session the participants referred to the increase of the
resistance of Armenian economy in the conditions of world financial
and economic crisis and the events intended by the government towards
smoothening of the effect of the crisis.

The prime minister once more reconfirmed the government’s readiness
to support all the practical suggestions and grounded programs which
will be presented with an intention of support. T. Sargsian also
informed the participants of the session the process of negotiations
with the World Bank and other financial institutions and opportunities
of involvement of additional financial means.

ARMENIAN AMERICANS AWAITING SECRETARY OF STATE APPOINTMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2008 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Americans are awaiting appointment of
the Secretary of State, who will determine the U.S. foreign policy,
a source in the Armenian diaspora in Washington told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.

"If Hillary Clinton becomes Secretary of State, she will do everything
her husband says," the source said.

"Obama seemed more sincere when pledging to recognize the Armenian
Genocide. The Armenian community believed him. We should not forget
that Mrs. Clinton paid a visit to Turkey as a presidential candidate
and there were rumors that some Turkish lobbying organizations
sponsored her election campaign," it said.

As reported by The Guardian, Hillary Clinton plans to accept the job
of secretary of state offered by Barack Obama, who is reaching out
to former rivals to build a broad coalition administration.

Clinton would be well placed to become the country’s dominant voice
in foreign affairs, replacing Condoleezza Rice. Since being elected
senator for New York, she has specialized in foreign affairs and
defense. Although she supported the war in Iraq, she and Obama
basically agree on a withdrawal of American troops.

Former US president Bill Clinton said that his wife Hillary will be a
"great secretary of state."

KAZIMIROV: MOSCOW DECLARATION PHENOMENAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.11.2008 18:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It’s saddening that nothing was done to build
confidence between the sides, specifically in Azerbaijan, a Russian
diplomat told a news conference in Yerevan today.

"The Moscow declaration is phenomenal in this respect. Three Presidents
signed a document envisaging peaceful and political resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict," said Vladimir Kazimirov former Co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group.

"A similar document was signed in Tehran on May 7, 1992. But Shushi
was liberated on May 9 and the document proved useless," he said.

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

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I COMMENDS THE 90-YEAR SERVICE OF H.M.E.M.

The 90th anniversary of HMEM was marked in an official event on November 14
in the hall of the "Emil Lahoud" cultural complex. The spiritual leaders of
the three Armenian religious denominations, government officials and a large
crowd attended the event, which was held under the auspices of His Holiness
Aram I.

In his pontifical message, His Holiness upheld the defining aspects of HMEM’s
mission and the educational purposes the organization aims to. He noted that
HMEM’s strength rests in its ability to bring together all the classes and
layers of society, assuring that the spirit, faith, willpower and vision of
HMEM shape its identity and uniqueness.

The Pontiff assured that during the 90 years of its existence, the
organization became an intellectual-spiritual school, where our nation’s
dreams became reality. He observed that the organization remained a powerful
presence in our nation’s life; it acted without speaking, providing the best
example of self-sacrifice.

His Holiness said that HMEM has a 90 year old capital, gained through
dedication and with difficult, adding that this capital should be enhanced
through the same spirit of service.

"HMEM is 90 years old, but has not become old; it always remains young. With
renewed will, walk ahead HMEM, ahead immortals of a martyred nation, towards
victory," concluded His Holiness quoting from the organization’s Alma
Matter.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos328.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission 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.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: "ADOPTION OF THE MOSCOW DECLARATION ON THE KARABAKH ISSUE BY THE PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA IS A BIG STEP FORWARD"

Today.Az
olitics/49024.html
Nov 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said he sees the prospects of
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"Certainly, this way requires time. It is quite long. There is a
light. And I see the light in that both presidents confirmed their
readiness and intention to continue meeting on the high level, which
they did for the first time through 14 years in a form of the document,
they undersigned", said Russian Foreign Minister in his interview to
Ekho Moskvy radio station.

He said this occurred for the first time from the moment of "completion
of the hot phase of the conflict".

"Second, the Moscow declaration contains definite instructions of
President Aliyev and President Sargsyan to their foreign ministers
to intensify work on the search of compromises. Third, they fix the
very fact of existence of the Madrid document, which the co-chairs
transferred to the sides a ear ago and now registered in OSCE",
noted the Minister.

Lavrov attaches special importance to the fact that the "Armenian
and Azerbaijani parties fixed existence of this document and work
consider it on the level of the presidents".

"Each side has its own claim towards the Madrid documents, especially
to the parts, fixing the compromise vision of the settlement of
the remaining differences on three-four issues. But the fact that
both parties fixed existence of a document and readiness to work
considering it is a big step forward", said Lavrov stressing the need
for the participation and cooperation of Russia, United States and
France in this issue.

"Most our partners in the West had suspicions that Russia tries to
create a new format but we do not even think about it, we value the
trilateral format", said he.

"Russia, USA and France to do have tactical discrepancies, work in
the same direction and push the parties towards the agreement. The
Moscow declaration fixes the preserved importance of this mechanism
and it should be used", said Lavrov.

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
15 Nov 08
Armenia

`Some believe morality has nothing to do with market relations. It is a
very defective approach. Moral norms must dominate in state policy.
Which means the policy of the state must be anchored on moral norms.

Had the countries like ours adopted the most important principle of
social-democracy 15-20 years back, which is – free market, as much as
it is possible, state regulation, as much as it is required, we would
have never appeared in this situation. The state shouldn’t have missed
all the levers, it should have tried to regulate rather than manage the
market. Unfortunately they didn’t do that and nothing has changed at
the moment.

They say you reap what you sow, you usually get the response of the
system you have established,’ Aram Sargsyan says.

GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER XENOPHOBIC HATE CAMPAIGN FROM EXTREMIST GROUPS
By Yuri Zarakhovich

Eurasia Daily Monitor
Nov 14 2008
DC

A 2007 attack by Russian neo-Nazis is recorded on video (Der Spiegel)
The November 5 election of Barack Obama marked an historical watershed
to many in the United States and elsewhere in the world, culminating
decades of civil rights efforts and the fight against racism and
encouraging new hopes for the recovery of the American dream.

A day earlier, on November 4, Russian neo-Nazi skinheads
fatally stabbed an ethnic Uzbek in Moscow and badly
knifed another in a racially motivated attack in Moscow
( l). Also
on November 4 participants of the nationalist "Russian
March" in downtown Moscow badly beat up a Turkmen diplomat
() .

Racially-motivated attacks are increasing with frightening speed and
violence.. In 2007 Russian neo-Nazis and other nationalist groups
killed 73 and beat up 580 people in attacks against non-Russian
minorities.

By November 5 of this year, 81 had been killed and 320 wounded in
xenophobic attacks according to the SOVA Analytic Center, which
monitors neo-Nazi and other nationalist crimes in Russia, reported.

SOVA’s deputy director Galina Kozhevnikova told the Eurasia Daily
Monitor on November 12 that although the number of such attacks might
have decreased, they have obviously become far more violent. SOVA
estimated the number of attacks from January 1 through November 5 as
"somewhere around 700." At the same time, Kozhevnikova believes that
many more such attacks go unreported, while the attackers and the
police seek to present the reported ones as mere hooliganism rather
than racist assaults.

Russian courts are reluctant to establish the true nature of such
beatings and murders, citing the lack of professional expert
witnesses. Indeed, just a handful of such experts exist in the
country, and their work is extremely dangerous. Nikolai Girenko, the
most skillful and principled of such experts, was shot dead through
the door of his apartment in St. Petersburg on June 19, 2004, as he
identified himself to the killers. Russian investigators believe that
his murderers belonged to St. Petersburg’s notorious neo-Nazi group led
by Dmitry Borovikov ().

According to a poll taken by the VTSIOM sociological center on June
1, 68 percent of Russians (75 percent in Moscow and St. Petersburg)
view ethnic immigration into Russia as a negative phenomenon
( ss-vypusk/single/10274.html).

Novaya Gazeta, a Moscow-based liberal biweekly, wrote on March 3
that 55 percent of Russians supported the nationalist "Russia for
the Russians" slogan ().

Mass clashes between ethnic Russians and ethnic minorities have, in
fact, been common for some time. The following are just a few examples:

–On April 21, 2001, some 200 Russian extremists staged a pogrom
at the Moscow Yasenevo metro station and badly beat at least
10 Azeris. In March 2005 some 200 Cossacks destroyed Armenian
shops and cafes in the littoral Black Sea city of Novorossiysk
( _2.html#1).

–From August 3 through September 3, 2006, there were mass clashes
between ethnic Russians and Chechens in the northern Russian town of
Kondopoga ().

–A bomb set off by a Russian nationalist at Moscow’s Cherkizovo
market on August 21, 2006, killed 12 and wounded more than 40
().

–Some 300 Russians and people from the Caucasus clashed on May 24,
2007, in the Southern Russian city of Stavropol. At least one person
was killed in the clash, and the police had to use arms to disperse
the crowds ().

— On June 8, 2008, four Russian nationalist groups, including
the most notorious Movement against Illegal Immigration (DPNI)
united into a single movement to fight ethnic minorities
( /).

–On November 10, 2008, up to 70 Russians and immigrants from the
Caucasus clashed violently in the Moscow suburb of Solnechnogorsk. Both
sides used firearms, knives, and iron clubs, leaving seven people
badly wounded. In September a similar melee with Uzbek immigrants
had left two dead ().

Ost ensibly, the state has finally started paying attention
to the nationalist menace. On November 10 Vladimir Markin
of the Investigative Committee of the Prosecutor’ General’s
Office stated, "Growth of extremist crimes remains stable"
( 2878759.shtml). Galina
Kozhevnikova, however, sees here a certain rivalry on the part of
the state, which is now eagerly trying to assume nationalist slogans
for its own use. Kozhevnikova points out that on November 4 the Young
Guards Youth Movement (MGER) of the ruling United Russia party led by
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin signed a cooperation agreement with the
Mestnye (Locals), another pro-Kremlin group, "on actions and other
measures to oppose illegal immigration." MGER and Mestnye are taking
an active part in the anti-immigrant campaign now unfolding in Russia
().

As the economic crisis hits Russia ever harder, xenophobia and hate
crimes are certain to be on the rise, she believes, and will be used
by the government to help keep control and divert potential social
unrest onto immigrants and other ethnic minorities.