"HAYPOST" OPENS NEW BRANCH IN MASIS
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 18:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official opening of "Haypost-Masis" branch
is scheduled for October 9, "Haypost" CJSC’s press service
reports. Armenia’s official post operator, company offers postal,
payment and wholesale services. Currently "Haypost" operates 900
branches on Armenia’s territory, including both towns and remote areas.
WE MANAGED TO HEAR ALL POSSIBLE APPROACHES IN DIASPORA: SERZH SARGSYAN
Tert.am
18:06 08.10.09
Armenian President and Chair of National Security Council Serzh
Sargsyan convened an expanded session of the National Security Council
today. Besides the council members, His Holiness Catholicos of All
Armenians Karekin II , Leader of Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik
Tsarukyan, Chair of Public Council of the Republic of Armenia Vazgen
Manukyan, and Minister of Diaspora Hranoush Hakobyan were present at
the session.
According to the release circulated by Armenian president’s press
service, opening the session, Serzh Sargsyan remarked on his visits
to the Diaspora Armenian communities and said: "From the beginning,
we realized that it would be impossible to ensure such a level of
representation that would satisfy everyone. However, I think, we
managed to ensure such a circle of invitees that allowed us to ensure
a wide range of viewpoints and approaches. Since the purpose of my
visits was not to analyze the entire Diaspora’s collective opinion
in terms of numbers, we didn’t place importance to the proportional
representation of each opinion’s supporters that were in the hall. It
was more important for us to hear all the possible approaches and
to get all the possible consultation in this matter, and I think we
managed to do that."
"I had an opportunity to reconfirm our approach that we don’t
consider the Protocols to be read as documents that hinder Armenia’s
negotiation positions in the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover,
I reconfirmed our approach to the terms of the possible settlement:
determination of their own legal status by the Nagorno-Karabkah people
by free expression of their will without any limitations. I find it
important that that was once again reconfirmed by US President Barack
Obama, with whom I had a telephone conversation while I was in Los
Angeles. In this matter it is understandable both the concerns of our
compatriots and the statements periodically made by the Turkish leade
ur small region can influence one another. But the point is that we
are not ready and will never make one-sided concessions in the issue
of Nagorno-Karabakh, irrespective of what we’ll be offered in exchange.
"Next among the main concerns is the supposed possible retreat
in the cause of Genocide recognition and condemnation. I think it
is obvious that no Armenian can not raise the reasons for being a
nation that is spread all over the world and is deprived of our own
vital territory. We have a responsibility in the issue of Genocide
recognition and condemnation, and we will carry out that duty to
the end.
"It was painful for me that, riding the emotional wave, some of our
sisters and brothers lost the ideological basis of their actions. If,
for all of us, the just claim is to raise the importance of the
recognition of the fact of Genocide in Armenia-Turkish relations,
then it was directed to that [aim], as an intention, to start
my pan-Armenian tour by honouring the Genocide victims at the
Komitas Memorial in Paris. I expected that our unity and position
in this matter should be shown not by provocation of 100 people
but by thousands of demonstrators. I also heard words of support
and encouragement in the Diaspora. I don’t want to refer to them
separately, since the whole responsibility of signing the Protocols
is on us, as a state and as state officials, and we are not preparing
to place the responsibility on others. My purpose wasn’t at all,
after returning from the pan-Armenian tour, to state that the whole
Diaspora is for signing the Armenian-Turkish Protocols," the president
particularly stated.
RA GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE REAL CHALLENGES OF RA – TURKEY BORDER OPENING
PanARMENIAN.Net
08.10.2009 14:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Government is unready to acknowledge real
challenges of RA -Turkey border opening, ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Parliamentary Faction representative Artsvik Minasyan stated during
discussions on "Initialed Protocols and RA-Turkey relations: National
and state interests and challenges".
"Possible challenges of RA-Turkey border opening are not reflected
in RA budget for 2010. So how can we risk border opening ?" RA
parliamentarian questioned.
TURKEY MANAGED TO DRIVE WEDGE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND DIASPORA, SAYS PSYCHOLOGIST
Tert.am
16:32 07.10.09
The improvement of Armenian-Turkish relations is an issue which is
connected with each and every Armenian’s security, irrespective
of where he or she lives, according to ethno-psychologist Karine
Nalchajian.
"It’s a very sensitive topic," Nalchajian said, adding that the
response of the Diaspora and those in Armenia is different.
According to the psychologist, there is no revolt and public movement
in Armenia. At the same time, she said that local population "follows
fearfully and attentively to what’s going on." Proceeding from that,
the psychologist added that, depending on the approaches proposed for
the settlement of the issue, further processes of the developments
may vary.
Nalchajian also presented to journalists the study results on the
attitudes of the public towards Armenian-Turkish cooperation. In her
research, the psychologist divided the public into three groups.
The first group includes people who flatly refuse to have any
relations with Turkey whatsoever. According to Nalchajian, this group
of respondents explains its viewpoint by the motives that Armenia
has no right to establish relations directly as they may lead to
adverse consequences.
The psychologist considers the second group’s viewpoint as not
serious and superficial. The second group of respondents consider
the establishment of relations to be positive. According to them,
they will live better after the process has come to an end.
"It’s surprising that within the country there were people who
disseminate Turkish propaganda. That is the most dangerous group,"
Nalchajian stated. In that context she also added that "Turkey managed
to drive wedge between Armenia and Diaspora to some extent."
Thus, the third group is for the establishment of relations but
proposes to make some changes.
AZIMOV: OPENED COMMUNICATIONS – IMPORTANT ARGUMENT IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS
es/11364
oct 03 2009, 11:00
As reported to journalists by Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Azerbaijan, opening of communications is an important
component of negotiations on Karabakh settlement.
"We find it important to operate the Lachin Highway in both directions,
and not just for communication of Karabakh Armenians with Armenia. This
road is very important for Azerbaijanis too, and we can’t accept that
this road is used by one party only," said Mr Azimov.
Ahmed Davudoglu, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey,
said earlier that the use of this road will help improving mutual
relations of three countries: Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. However,
the Armenian party would not give up its position on this issue.
Back in 2006, the Azerbaijani party suggested to open the highway
Agdam-Nagorno-Karabakh-Lachin-Goris (Armenia)-Nakhichevan-Turkey,
which could connect three countries.
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
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE
FORMER AMBASSADOR OF CANADA TO LEBANON
On Monday 5 October 2009, Haig Sarafian, the former Ambassador of Canada to
Lebanon visited His Holiness Aram I in his office in Antelias. After six
years of service in Lebanon Ambassador Sarafian had been transferred to
Libya and actually he is retired. Discussions between His Holiness Aram I
and the Ambassador focused on the recent negotiations between Armenia and
Turkey.
His Holiness Aram I had also discussed this same topic with Levon Sarkssian
the former Ambassador of Armenia to Syria and the brother of the President
of Armenia, in view of the forthcoming visit of the President to Lebanon.
##
View the photo here:
tos/Photos399.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.
ANDRANIK MIHRANYAN: INITIATIVE OF ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT SHOWS HIS COURAGE
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2009 20:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian authorities face the important issue,
while the Diaspora is not yet ready to it, Andranik Mihranyan political
scientist, professor of the Moscow State Institute for International
Relations said.
According to him, the people, bearing responsibility for the future
of their country, make the decisions today, while other people, who
also want to participate in the talks and who are worried about this
country, do not understand the full depth of the issue.
He also welcomed the initiative of the Armenia’s President to meet
with representatives of Armenian communities. "The Serzh Sargsyan’s
step to openly discuss the issue of normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations with the Diaspora, shows his courage, " Andranik Mihranyan
said. According to him, president’s initiative is an attempt to create
dialogue between Armenia and Diaspora.
"Only through dialogue Armenians from all over the world can unite and
stand before Turkey as a whole", the political scientist said. Armenia
is undergoing the period, followed by major changes, he said.
"Changes shouldn’t be treated as a defeat or retreat. I think,
last year the Armenian diplomacy was excellent, " Mr. Mihranyan
said. According to him, the widespread opinion that Turkey has a
stronger diplomacy, than Armenia is not true because today Turkey
abandons its preconditions, but not Armenia.
HACHIKIAN TO SARKISIAN: HOW DARE YOU SQUANDER OUR POLITICAL CAPITAL?
5/hachikian-to-sarkisian-how-dare-you-squander-our -political-capital/
October 5, 2009
Below is the text of the comments made by ANCA chairman Ken Hachikian
during the Oct. 3 meeting with President Serge Sarkisian in New York.
Mr. President:
The Armenian National Committee of America stands with the overwhelming
majority of the Armenian American community in opposition to the
intense pressure by Turkey and its allies to force Armenia into
accepting a flawed and dangerous set of protocols that threaten the
security of Armenia, surrender the rights of the Armenian nation,
and insult the dignity of the Armenian people. Among the ANCA’s
primary concerns, in keeping with the basic American principles of
fairness and the enduring values of the Armenian nation, is that
Armenia, illegally blockaded by Turkey and under intense economic and
diplomatic pressure, is being forced into accepting terms that threaten
her interests, rights, safety, and future-very notably in the form of
a proposed "historical commission," whatever its composition turns
out to be. This provision, a tactic long pursued by Ankara to cast
doubt on the historical record of the Armenian Genocide, is clearly
intended to serve Turkey’s drive to roll back the growing tide of
international recognition of this crime against humanity. There can
be, as a matter of basic morality and political reality, no enduring
relationship between Armenia and Turkey that is not built upon the
foundation of Turkey’s acceptance of a true and just resolution with
respect to the Armenian Genocide.
Further, these protocols outrageously surrender the historical
rights of the Armenian nation to a just resolution of the Armenian
Genocide. They also dangerously undermine the right to freedom and
self-determination for the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.
Mr. President, your actions in pursuing these protocols are naive. They
are reckless. And they are simply irresponsible. Your assertion that
they do not contain any preconditions insults our intelligence. The
requirement for a commission of historians, which I might point out
has been soundly rejected by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars, the formal recognition of borders, and the acknowledgment
of territorial integrity without any mention of self-determination
are all preconditions imposed and insisted upon by Turkey, which
you have unwisely accepted at the point of their blackmail of the
closed borders.
These preconditions were and are requirements of Turkey; they are
the price you are willing to pay to the Turkish blackmailers. Many
countries readily normalize relations without such one-sided
preconditions.
How dare you accede to Turkish blackmail when our forbearers sacrificed
so much and suffered at the hands of the Turks, who to this very day
deny the Genocide which the rest of the world acknowledges?
How dare you attempt to squander the political capital that so many
have, at great sacrifice, built up over the decades in capitals around
the world? And make no mistake, signing the protocols would put at
risk that very capital. You have no moral right to do so. You have
no power to do so. And we will not allow you to do so.
You cannot take away the rights of our nation and our people simply
because you view yourself as the savior of our country. You are not
saving our country; you are relegating us to a subservient position
to Turkey while simply abandoning our rights to justice. Your efforts
are doomed to failure.
You will be remembered as the president who led our country to a
path of dependency, who foolishly bargained away our lands, whose
misjudgments led us to a weakened status. If you go forward with
these protocols, your legacy will be deeply flawed.
Do not attempt to hide behind the support of the minority who blindly
offer support for your initiatives.
They are not the true grassroots of the diaspora. They simply do not
represent the majority of the community. In the face of our vigilance
in confronting successive U.S. administrations over their blind and
unwavering support for Turkey, their default position is to support
these policies of the U.S. State Department. They are the same people
who surrendered Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, who supported
the disastrous Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission, and who
supported the nomination of Richard Hoagland, a morally reprehensible
genocide denier, to be ambassador to Armenia. They no longer have
political relevance in our community. Don’t be seduced by their
meaningless support.
Mr. President, you are making a grave mistake here. I hope you have
the wisdom to listen to your countrymen and to back away from this
disastrous agreement, before you bring great harm to our country,
to our people, and to your presidency.
OBAMA: THE PROCESS SHOULD PASS WITHOUT ANY PRECONDITION
Aysor.am
Tuesday, October 06
The RA President Serzh Sargsyan, during his stay in Los Angeles had
a phone talk with the President of the USA Barak Obama. As the Press
Office of the USA President informs the phone talk took place by the
initiation of the US President.
President Obama informed about his support to the Armenian President
for the regulation process of the Armenian – Turkish relations. The
US President restated the official disposition of the USA, which
is, the regulation of the Armenian – Turkish relations should go on
without any preconditions and should be tied to the process of the
NKR conflict settlement.
The President Serzh Sargsyan has expressed his gratitude to the
President of the United States of America for the support showed in the
process of regulation of Armenian – Turkish relations and has shared
with his impressions got from his pan-Armenian tour. The RA President
has underlined that the anxiety and fears of the Armenians, that
are spread all over the world, concerning this process are natural,
taking into consideration the fact that the Armenian people have seen
Genocide from the side of Osmanian Turkey, about what President Obama
has many times mentioned in his speeches.
Serzh Sargsyan thanked President Obama for the mediation work done by
the American representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group and has stressed
the readiness of Armenia to move forward for the peaceful regulation
of the conflict, the axis of which should be the decision of the
final status of the NKR people by their own free will, which is in
the basis of the Madrid principles presented by the Minsk Group.
Tert.am
Reporters in Turkey Punished for Visiting Karabakh
11:49 ¢ 03.10.09
On one of Turkey’s most widely publicized TV stations yesterday, NTV
journalists weren’t allowed to attend a press conference organized by
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As informed by Tert.am’s
correspondent in Istanbul, the reason for being denied access wasn’t
officially announced, but all knew what the real reason was. The issue
is connected with NTV reporter Bilge Egemen who visited the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh and had prepared a series of reports and broadcast
them from Karabakh.
A few days ago, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded
curtly to this, after which Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Ministry also
made a decision not to allow NTV’s reporters to cover Ministry of
Foreign Affairs’ events. Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Ministry finally
officially announced that it is prohibiting broadcasting of Turkish FM
Ahmet Davutoglu’s meetings in Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan.
This step has instigated a serious complaint from Turkey’s
journalists, who are already referring to the decision as hindering
freedom of speech, which they find to be unacceptable. Representatives
from the TV station promised to state their position on the issue
after Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially announces the
reason for its decision.