Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

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 MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ETHIOPIA

His Holiness Aram I met with the President of Ethiopia Girma Wolde-Giorgis
in the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa on July 11. The Armenian Pontiff
and the Ethiopian President discussed the relations between the Armenian and
Ethiopian Churches, the situation in Lebanon, the role of religion in the
world, Christian-Muslim dialogue and the role of the Armenian Catholicos
Aram I in reconciling the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches.

The Ethiopian President demonstrated a high interest in these issues. He
highly praised the reconciliatory efforts of His Holiness, especially in
these days, when more than before churches are called upon to cooperate on
issues affecting human society. Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer,
V. Rev. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer and national philanthropist
Gabriel Chemberdjian also attended the meeting.

After coming out of the Presidential Palace, His Holiness answered the
questions of reporters. The Ethiopian media extensively reported the meeting
of His Holiness Aram I with the President.

The Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia arrived in Addis Ababa on July 11 for a
two-day official visit. He was welcomed by the spiritual leader of the
Ethiopian Church Patriarch Paulos and about 20 bishops at the Addis Ababa
airport. The chairman of the small Armenian community of Ethiopia, Vartkes
Nalbandian, welcomed the Pontiff in the airport’s honor hall.

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View the photos here:
tos/Photos10.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.

WHAT THEY ARE AFRAID OF IN KARABAKH; SEPARATISTS ARE PANIC-STRICKEN
B. Safarov, N. Aliyev

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 13, 2007 Friday

AZERBAIJANI ANALYSTS REGISTER PANIC IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH; Azerbaijani
analysts perceive panic in the self-proclaimed Republic of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

Separatist media outlets keep discussing the return of the
Armenian-occupied territories to Azerbaijan. They are clearly upset
by the lack of certainty concerning the future status of the so-called
Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh. These speculations strike the reader with
the unmistakable absence of the feeling of security, hopelessness,
fear, and panic caused by the shortage of personnel and finance and
by the grave economic crisis affecting Karabakh separatists.

This is the only conclusion that leaps to mind upon reading a piece
by analyst Vagan Arzumanjan posted on the pro-separatist Karabakh
Open website last night. Here are some experts from it with comments.

"It is common knowledge that the conflict settlement plan stipulates a
delay with definition of the status of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh
in return for: 1) return of jurisdiction over seven districts apart
from the Lachin corridor whose size and status is to be discussed
separately; 2) Azerbaijani refugees’ return to their homes; 3)
deployment of international peacekeepers on the Azerbaijani-Armenian
front-line." The first two conditions are viewed as fundamental and
Armenian politicians add "in return for sovereignty only" essentially
second them.

Let us consider the consequences of these concessions for the Armenian
side. The front-line will become almost twice as long as it currently
is. The new positions will be much more vulnerable. It will take much
more in terms of personnel and military and engineering resources to
fortify the extended "border" and the particularly exposed positions
on it. Renewal of the hostilities will make control over the Lachin
corridor, wide open to attacks on both sides, extremely difficult
to retain. The enemy in the meantime does not even need to retake
it. Using artillery pieces, aviation, and raiding parties, the
enemy may make the Lachin Corridor impassable and Karabakh will be
essentially in a siege. A sudden mass bombardment of settlements
will kill a lot of noncombatants causing panic, demoralization,
and undeniably a stampede of civilians. Foreign contingents along
the front-line will merely permit third world countries to promote
their own interests in the region instead of trying to resolve
the crisis. Any "buffer" zone along the front-line will be purely
symbolic. Located as it is on the plains, a forced march across it
will take the Azerbaijani regular army less than half an hour.

"Restoration of Azerbaijani jurisdiction over the Zangilan, Jebrail,
and Fizuli districts will move the front-line closer to the Megri
district. This district of Armenia only 40 kilometer wide will be made
extremely vulnerable by this development. The return of Kjalbajar
in the meantime will allow for Azerbaijani control over Karabakh’s
water resources. The water supply of the enclave will be in jeopardy,
and the threat of acts of sabotage at water-flow control objects will
become imminent.

The railroad connecting Goradiz, Megri, and Nahchyvan enormously
benefits Azerbaijan and Turkey. Using it, Azerbaijan will be able to
bring whatever it needs from Nahchyvan and Turkey with insignificant
transportation costs. As for Armenia, it is not going to benefit much
and Nagorno-Karabakh not at all. The use of the railroad between
Hankendi, Agdam and Yevlah is unlikely for several reasons: being
a dead-end, Hankendi is not what Azerbaijan desperately needs. And
Nagorno-Karabakh does not produce anything the Azerbaijanis would
want to buy but flatcars and echelons."

The piece asserts as well that "Azerbaijanis alone will benefit from
the use of highways since they themselves will control them. Their
high birth rate, coupled with the deliberate policy of settlement in
new territories, will tip the Armenian-Azerbaijani population ratio
in favor of the latter."

Colonel (retired) Ildrym Mamedov, ex-commander of an army brigade,
is convinced in the meantime that the separatists are panic-stricken.

"Noncombatants have nothing to fear as long as their hands are not
smeared with the blood of peaceful Azerbaijanis from Shusha, Hojala,
and other cities and districts," Mamedov said. "It is Kocharjans,
Gukasjans, Sarkisjans, and other war-mongers who murdered Azerbaijani
who should be afraid. I reckon that there will be a special panel
one fine day, a structure established under the UN or a Council of
Europe aegis. Whoever broke the law will be brought to justice to
prevent something like that from happening again."

According to Mamedov, thousands of Armenians live beyond the
territories occupied by Armenia these days. "Everyone knows where
they live but has anyone harmed them in any way?" he said.

Beyond the Exotic – Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography f

denaindependent&i=2&storyid=1139
By Candyce Columbus

Esmail Abbasi wrote, �I am looking through old windows for new concepts,
drawing my inspiration from Greek mythological figures like Tantalus,
Procrust and Icarus; the German legends of Siegfried; and Persian
literature such as Rumi�s philosophy and poems.� His images,
particularly �Tantalus� which juxtaposes shackled feet with birds in
flight, have a mystical quality suggesting hidden meaning.

Armenian Arman Stepanian who resides in Iran contributed a series of
photos within photos, also incorporating elements that hold cultural
meaning.

Still and moving images on what is undoubtedly a very hot day are
combined to thought-provoking effect by Sadegh Tirafkan in �Persepolis.�
In contrast, a DVD called �The White Station� by Seifollah Samadian was
filmed during a snowstorm. Both pieces evoke a sense of isolation and
desolation.

�With more than 500,000 Iranian Americans living in Los Angeles County,�
explained Marketing and PR Manger Jennifer Caballero, �we expect this to
elicit a more powerful reaction than elsewhere in the country.�

To enhance the exhibition the museum has planned a series of activities
and events:

Curator Hallman will provide insights into the art, artists, politics
and story behind this bi-national exhibition at 1 p.m. on Sat., July 14.

The Ney Nava Dance Theatre will present an evening of timeless beauty on
Thurs., Aug. 9.

Persian Visions continues through Sept. 9. For more information, visit

Photographs, more than any other medium, have the ability to capture
moments and provide windows into the souls of both the subject and the
individual taking the picture.

Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran, a new exhibit at
Pacific Asia Museum, provides a multi-faceted glimpse into a complex
nation.

This exhibit is part of a larger project, shaped by the mutual interests
of Dr. Ali Reza Sami Azar, the director of the Tehran Museum of
Contemporary Art and Gary Hallman, associate professor in the University
of Minnesota�s Regis Center for Art. An exhibit of works by American
photographers was also shown in Iran.

�The artistry presented in the exhibition is crafted by some of the most
renowned and articulate photographers of Iran,� Hallman said.

With so much attention focused on the current political crisis in Iran,
this exhibit is topical and timely. But while some of the images, such
as those by Kaveh Golestan, examine the heart-wrenching consequences of
violence, the show also explores private and personal lives.

A series of four photos entitled �My Family (Hallelujah 1-4)� by
Shahriar Tavakoli showcase �at home� scenes. In his statement he said, �
This portfolio is a collection, a collection of my family mood. I see
how much humans are attached to these habits and moods, and how these
inconspicuous, petty and passing moods are passed on in the family from
one person to another and become the main ring of their attachment.�

NO NEED FOR BIG NOISE

Panorama.am
16:31 13/07/2007

"Foreigners and International Structures Representatives announcements
about the non-recognition of the coming presidential elections in NKR
are quite natural", Speaker of the Armenian parliament Tigran Torosyan
stated at the meeting with journalists today. Of course, it would be
good if international structures recognized the NKR President’s and
any election in NKR in general. Though he no how understands why they
should make an exception for NKR if they principally do not recognize
an election in any unrecognized country.

About the non recognition announcements of the elections in front of
Tigran Torosyan actually concern the elected persons’ not accepting
state structure representatives. Meanwhile representatives of that
same structure recognize NKR officially elected government members
as NKR people’s representatives. As regards the National Assembly
Speaker the thing is in the formulation of statements.

At the same time Tigran Torosyan underlined that by the formulation
of the above mentioned statements, we Armenians have "swallowed the
Azerbaijani bait". To him,whenever Azerbaijan is in unfavourable
conditions ,the local propaganding machine finds a "bait" and puts
that into force . "And we just take the bait ,make problems for us
and strat struggling against" he added. Tigran Torosyan advised not
to make big attention to such facts.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

July 13, 2007

ACNIS: Raffi Hovannisian Receives New Chinese Ambassador

Yerevan–Raffi K. Hovannisian, Heritage MP and founder of the Armenian
Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS), director of
administration Karapet Kalenchian, and research coordinator Syuzanna
Barseghian met at ACNIS headquarters today with an official delegation led
by Hong Jiuyin, the newly appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of
China to Armenia. During the meeting, the hosts and distinguished guests
discussed the activities carried out by the Center, Chinese-Armenian
relations, and the prospects for further cooperation.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2007, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, democratic development, conflict resolution,
and applied research on critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the
state and the nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit

THIEVES STOLE SEVERAL WORKS BY WORLD-KNOWN ARMENIAN PAINTERS FROM APARTMENT IN MOSCOW
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
11/07/2007

A 71 year-old private collector reported to one of the Moscow
police departments that the thieves had stolen the paintings by Ivan
Ayvazovsky’s from his apartment.

Police said overall 13 paintings by Aivazovsky, a famous
Russian-Armenian painter of sea, Martiros Sarian and Minas, two other
prominent 20-th century Armenian artists and some Russian painters,
were stolen from the apartment by thieves who broke in through the
balcony window of the apartment on the seventh floor.

The collector said the thieves stole also $20,000.

Moscow police said they are specifying the value of these paintings,
the circle of the collector’s close relatives who could know that he
had at his apartment money and precious pictures.

REPRESENTATIVE OF ICOMOS TO VISIT QARA KELISA
Soudabeh Sadigh

Cultural Heritage News, Iran
;section =2
July 10 2007

Representative of ICOMOS will visit Qara Kelisa in coming September
to study the status of this historic church to prepare the ground
for its world registration.

Tehran, 10 July 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) – Representative of
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will come to
Iran this September to make a visit to Qara Kelisa.

Qara Kelisa otherwise known as St. Thaddeus Church, has been nominated
for being inscribed as Iran’s 9th world heritage site in list of
UNESCO’s World Heritage sites in by the World Heritage Committee
during their 32nd session which will be held in 2008.

Since the dossier of Qara Kelisa did not include the necessary
supportive evidence, it was earlier turned down by UNESCO last year.

Anyway, after many efforts the file was completed and succeeded to
win UNESCO’s approval.

Church of Saint Thaddeus, locally known as Qara Kelisa (The Black
Church), was built 1700 years ago in the Iranian northwestern province
of West Azarbaijan. This church has a worldwide reputation among the
Armenian Christians of the world and every year a large number of
Armenians come to this church for performing religious rituals.

Historians believe that the church is the womb of Thaddeus who is
said to have been one of Christ’s disciples who traveled to Armenia,
then part of the Persian Empire, for preaching the teachings of
Christ. Experts from Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization
are also intending to have other famous churches in the province such
as St. Stepanous Cathedral in Khoy and Zoorzoor Church in Chaldoran
included as annexes to St. Thaddeus Cathedral after its registration.

CHAIRMAN OF PACE ASSURES CE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE ILLEGAL PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

TREND News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 9 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr K. Ramazanova / The Council of Europe
(CE) will not recognize illegal presidential elections in the occupied
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan scheduled for 19 July.

"I said several days ago that we would not recognize the elections
as legitimate," the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE), Rene van der Linden, said to journalists
in Baku on 9 July.

The conflict between two South Caucasus countries broke out in 1988
in view of Armenia’s territorial claims on Azerbaijan. Some 20%
of Azerbaijani territory (Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 nearby regions)
have been occupied by Armenian Armed Forces since 1992. In May, 1994 a
ceasefire agreement was signed between the sides. This is not the first
elections to be held by a separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh. The
elections were not recognized by any international organization.

Linden stated that the forthcoming elections in Karabakh would not
be recognized by the international community. The Azerbaijani Foreign
Minster condemned the forthcoming elections last Friday and stated that
"Holding of such elections roughly violates the basic regulations of
the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic, the principles and standards
of the international law, and consequently cannot have any legal
results."

Rene van der Linden has been visiting Baku since 7 July. After
the meeting held at the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on 9 July
Linden reported to journalists that they had discussed foreign
political issues, Azerbaijan’s obligations to the CE as well as the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

–Boundary_(ID_gSPIbqrssOp1Nw9hZMYcOw)- –

ARMENIAN CINEMA TO PROSPER IN A FEW YEARS, GOLDEN APRICOT PROGRAMME DIRECTOR SAYS

arminfo
2007-07-09 16:17:00

Golden Apricot the 4th International Film Festival has got underway
in Yerevan on July 9.

Golden Apricot Programme Director Mikael Stamboltsyan said at a
press conference, Monday, that the films to be demonstrated under the
programmme Armenian Panorama are of higher quality than before. "Over
the previous years we often faced too contrived plots contradicting
the reality, but the situation has radically changed. Moreover, I
am very glad to mention that young film directors started asserting
themselves and their interesting views. I am sure that Armenian
cinema will prosper already in a few years. I have never agreed with
the opinion that the Armenian movie has faded away. I am afraid that
the festival is not enough for all the film directors to show their
works," M. Stamboltsyan said.

Under the programme Armenian Panorama, shorts, documentary and
animation films will be demonstrated. Among them are "4 Songs"
Cartoon by David Sahakyants based on the book "For Children At the
Age of 0-100" by Ruben Hakhverdyan. D. Sahakyants says in his film
he used the four songs of the bard: "Kapik," "Tsiatsan," "Navak," and
"Folk Song." He appreciates humor and sincerity in movie first of all,
that is why David Sahakyants’s father, famous Armenian animator Robert
Sahakyants, had a great influence on his works. Another participants in
the programme Diana Kardumyan and the Creative Director of Yerkir Media
TV David Aslanyan admitted that in their works they strived to show the
"back side of reality." Thus, in his documentary film "Consecration
of Grapes" D. Aslanyan sowed his vision of the Transfiguration. He
said the film is a protest as the religious aspect in the celebration
of the Transfiguration went to the background. He says food and drinks
play the key role in this holy day nowadays, which is inadmissible. For
her part, Diana Kardumyan, devoted her short "Autumn Sun" to the women
beyond the age and everyday life. "I tried to show a woman that wants
to remain young and beloved despite her advanced years," she said.

To recall, the official opening ceremony of the Film Festival will
take place in the Freedom Square in Yerevan on July 9.

VIP ARMENIA

A1+
[02:58 pm] 06 July, 2007

It is the first time 42-year-old Dutch Alex has been in Armenia. Before
his visit he hadn’t even heard of Armenian. He only knew the country’s
place on the map.

Alex has already visited a few historical sights and learned a few
Armenian words.

It is a pity that construction work is under way in Armenia. I would
like to learn about Armenia more and enjoy my stay fully," he told A1+.

A visit to Armenia is really an expensive pleasure.

The price of package tour is equal to that of European countries.

According to our data, the average price of tour agencies is $155-1700.

Arayik Vardanyan, the President of the Armenian Tour-operators’
Association they cannot offer tourists new services because of the
damaged roads and current construction works.

"We cannot always take tourists to churches. Armenia has other sights
worth visiting," Arayik Vardanyan told A1+. According to him, the
current situation in Armenia might lead to stagnation and regress
of tourism.

The law on tourism needs amendments, says Arayik Vardanyan. Moreover,
tour agencies should be granted some privileges, i.e. the value on
added tax (VAT) should be lowered, tour-operators should be licensed,
etc.

It is noteworthy that out of 150 tour-operators in Armenia only 40
pay taxes.

The number of hotels is also troublesome. 30-40 hotels are too few
for a country having millions of inhabitants. We cannot host more
tourists because of the lack of hotels.

So far only four hotels have been granted stars – "Golden Palace,"
"Metropol," "Ani" and "Congress," said Mekhak Apresyan, the head of
the RA Ministry of Economy and Trade Tourism Department.

"We can lower the price of package tour to attract more tourists. But
we shall gain nothing. Instead we shall suffer losses. Tourism
should serve national interests," said Mekhak Apresyan, the head of
the department.

In comparison with the 2006 data, the number of tourists to Armenia has
increased by 25 % and over 382 thousand tourists have visited Armenia.