ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN CSTO AND COOPERATION WITH NATO DON’T CONFLICT
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 12:50 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Armenia should multiply its security elements,”
Secretary of the Security Council at the RA President, Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan told reporters before departing for Brest to participate
in the sittings of the Council of Defense Ministers and Council of the
Security Secretaries of the CIS member states. The Minister stated that
‘the membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
and cooperation with the NATO do not conflict’. “It’s time to realize
that military and political alliances are formed not against anything.
The NATO, for example, was formed not against any other structure but
for the security of Europe. The Collective Security Treaty Organization
was signed not against the NATO but for ensuring security of the CSTO
member states,” Serge Sargsyan said, reports IA Regnum.

OSCE MG: YEREVAN AGREED ON PRESIDENTIAL MEETING IN MINSK
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 13:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov
said today in Yerevan that the meetings of the mediators with the RA
President and Foreign Minister were efficient. Before departing for
Baku Yuri Merzlyakov told reporters in Zvartnots airport that the
Armenian side agreed on the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents November 28 within the CIS summit in Minsk. According to
the Russian Co-chair, “we should receive the essential confirmation
from the Azeri President as well, though the Azeri FM has already
made an appropriate statement.”
When commenting on the absence of U.S. mediator Matthew Bryza Yuri
Merzlyakov said, “The Co-chairs divided responsibilities and our
American counterpart will meet with Arkady Ghukasian in the U.S. On the
whole the year is coming to an end with an optimistic estimation and
if we manage to maintain the mood of the sides we will meet the year
of 2007 with good outlook. Although elections restrain the negotiation
process in a way we think that the achievement of the current year
will alleviate the election period,” reports Mediamax.

INFORMAL MEETING OF RA AND AZERI DEFENSE MINISTERS MAY BE HELD IN BREST
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 13:14 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The meeting of the Armenian and Azeri Defense
Ministers may be held within the framework of the sitting of the
Council of CIS Defense Ministers. As reported by the Agency of
National News with a reference to the CIS Executive Committee, two
months ago a meeting of the Defense Ministers was held at the border
of the two for the first time after a long break. The possibility
of the dialogue was discussed for three days during the meeting of
CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushaylo and Secretary of the RA
Security Council Serge Sargsyan. The meeting to all appearance will
be informal and will be held after the sitting of the Council of CIS
Defense Ministers scheduled for Thursday in Brest.

OSCE MG HAS EXTRA IDEAS ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.11.2006 13:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs have extra ideas on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement but over the confidentiality
of the negotiation process they cannot be divulged, said OSCE MG
Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov on arrival in Baku November 22. The
diplomat also informed that U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza will meet with
Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian in Los Angeles and over
this reason he did not join the mediators in the regional visit. At the
same time he voiced hope that all 3 Co-chairs will be present at the
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani President in Minsk November 28.
French mediator Bernard Fassier said that the negotiation process
is going on. “We met with the Foreign Ministers three times within
several weeks. We are trying to build a wall in order to create a basis
for the future agreement. Each time we add a brick,” he underscored,
reports Trend news agency.

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS IN FRANCE
A1+
[01:20 pm] 22 November, 2006
Tomorrow a wrestling competition will start in Nice, France, dedicated
to the memory of World and Olympic champion Henry Dulagan. Armenian
sportsmen will also participate in it. Graeco-Roman wrestlers Vahan
Juharyan, Khosrov Meliqyan (60 kg), Arman Atikyan (66 kg), Arsen
Julfalakyan (74 kg), Tigran Sahakyan (84 kg) and Vahram Galstyan
(96 kg) have left for France.
As for free-stylers, Armenia will be represented by Arthur Araqelyan
(60 kg), Souren Markosyan (66 kg), Garsevan Vardanyan (74 kg),
Haroutyunyan Yenoqyan (84 kg) and Edgar Yenoqyan (96 kg).

SMALL GOVERNMENT IN THE WORKSHOP OF THE SHOEMAKER
A1+
[01:40 pm] 22 November, 2006
64-year-old master Hakob is one of the best shoemakers of Nor Aresh,
as the residents of the district claim.
He has been doing his favorite job for the last 50 years. He started
it quitting the school in the 7th form and joining a local master in
order to study the trade.
“What shall I do at home? I work here, and time passes”, the master
explains his wish to come to work every day. People of different
age visit the shoemaker. Often he repairs shoes free of charge, if
the owners do not have money. “I can’t let them freeze in the cold”,
he says.
About 3-5 customers come to him every day.
Nevertheless, the work is not what it used to be.
People prefer to buy new shoes instead of repairing old ones. “There
are cases when I don’t have anything to do for weeks”. During those
days he makes his workshop a kind of National Assembly or Government
where people discuss different issues and offer solutions. Master
Hakob’s friends visit him, and they discuss different problems
of their lives, hoping that the experiences master will give them
valuable advice.
At the end of the conversation the shoemaker said, “Let the country
be in peace, let our compatriots return to their homeland, and let
the young achieve their aims”.

AMERICANS WANT TO LIVE IN ARMENIA
A1+
[01:53 pm] 22 November, 2006
There are 77 Americans working in the schools, Universities, NGOs and
medical institutions of Armenia. They are all representatives of the
Peace Corps who live in Armenia voluntarily for two years and help the
Armenians to better understand the American way of thinking in the
market, health, education and ecology fields. The volunteers of the
Peace Corps realize small projects costing not more than 5000 USD each.
In the Business center of the American University in Armenia the eighth
annual presentation of the Peace Corps organizations took place. Arshak
Hovhannisyan, the head of the business developing program in Armenia,
said, “Not all the programs are perfect. All of them have positive and
negative sides. On the whole I’m pleased with the programs”. He added
that the Peace Corps does not carry out large projects like the USAID.
US deputy Ambassador to Armenia Anthony Godfry who was also present at
the ceremony, mentioned, “This is the third fair I have had the chance
to work in. The presence of the NGOs here presupposes that the links
established are valuable. Today we will represent to you 77 citizens
of the USA who look for ways to work more efficiently in Armenia”.
The US Peace Corps was established in 1961 and aims at supporting
the people of other countries: helping them to better understand
the American culture and helping the Americans to better understand
those countries.
The Peace Corps has acted in Armenia since 1992.
During the last 14 years 529 volunteers have worker in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KHACHQAR ERECTED FOR THE FRIENDSHIP OF ARMENIANS AND RUSSIANS
A1+
[02:43 pm] 22 November, 2006
In the town of Barnaul, region of Altay, the crosses of the newly
built church St. Hripsime were anointed by Bishop Nersisyan of
the Armenian Diocese of Russia and New Nakhijevan. A red khachqar
brought from Armenia was also anointed. It was donated by Aramayis
Martirosyan. The khachqar was erected near the church in memory of
the long-lasting friendship of Armenians and Russians.
Bishop Maxim, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Altay,
President of the Barnaul Duma S. Krasnov, as well as representatives
of the city municipality were present at the ceremony.

DEPUTIES CANNOT ENGAGE IN CHARITY
A1+
[01:30 pm] 22 November, 2006
NA Deputy Hranoush Hakobyan does not want the electors to be misled,
“Some people say this or that deputy carried out a charity act. The
rights and responsibilities of NA deputies do not include charity;
it is not our responsibility. We get a salary of only 500 USD which is
barely enough for our own needs. A question rises: how can we engage
in charity?”
According to the deputy, it would be more correct for the journalists
to say that a businessman (who might also be a deputy) carried out
a charity act. “In this case it is clear that a businessman can have
income and can do whatever he wants. These are two different things”,
the deputy told “A1+” complaining that the people are misled by wrong
formulations. “When you meet your electors, they think you must give
them money from your own pocket”.
The head of the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture
and Youth thinks that any act of charity carried out by a deputy or
a party in the pre-election period is bribery. “Charity is what you
do and keep silent about. But if you do something hoping to get votes
for it tomorrow, that has nothing to do with charity”.

PAPAL TRIP TO TURKEY: KEY QUESTIONS TEST BENEDICT’S PONTIFICATE
By John Thavis
Catholic News Service
Nov 21 2006
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI travels to Turkey in late
November, a four-day visit aimed at building bridges with Islam,
reaffirming dialogue with Orthodox Christians and encouraging a tiny
Catholic minority in a Muslim country.
The Nov. 28-Dec. 1 trip was first envisioned as an ecumenical event,
but interreligious issues have taken center stage. The pope’s remarks
about Islam at the University of Regensburg in September upset many
Muslims, and Turkey will offer the pope a platform to explain his
views to the Islamic world.
It will be the pope’s fifth visit outside Italy and his first to a
country with a Muslim majority. He arrives in Ankara for meetings
with government officials, goes to the historic site of Ephesus for
Mass, and closes out his visit with Orthodox and Catholic communities
in Istanbul.
Situated where Asia and Europe meet, Turkey has for centuries been
a place where Islamic cultures met the “Christian” West — often in
conflict, as at the time of the Crusades. In the current climate of
global cultural and religious tensions, that makes the papal visit
all the more significant.
“It’s an extremely important trip,” said Father Justo Lacunza Balda,
an official of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies
in Rome.
“There are so many issues that touch Turkey, including dialogue
with Muslims, cultural and religious identity, the future of Europe,
church-state relations, religious freedom and ecumenism. The pope’s
visit is a sign of respect for the country and a sign that these
issues need to be discussed,” he said.
On several levels, the trip represents a test of Pope Benedict’s
18-month-old pontificate. Vatican officials believe the results will
hinge on answers to some key questions:
— Can the pope begin to heal the recent rift with Islam, while still
engaging Muslims in honest dialogue on crucial issues — including
the question of faith and violence?
— Can the pope get a hearing from the Turkish population and
government hosts when he speaks about the importance of religious
freedom and human rights in a modern democracy?
— When he meets with Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of
Constantinople, will the pope simply be keeping up a tradition, or
can he use the encounter to generate ecumenical momentum and direction?
Pope Benedict knows how important this trip is, and he’s showing it by
taking along five top Vatican cardinals, including those responsible
for interreligious and ecumenical dialogue.
The tone of the visit may become clear on the opening day, when
the pope meets with government officials and diplomats in Ankara,
the Turkish capital.
On his way into the city from the airport, the pope will make a brief
but significant stop at the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of
modern Turkey. The pope is expected to write a sentence or two in the
guest book, and his words may offer a thematic clue to the visit —
especially on the issue of church-state relations.
At the Ankara State Guest House, the pope will be greeted by President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The absence of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
who will be out of the country at a NATO summit, has been seen as
a snub by many observers, but Vatican officials say the scheduling
conflict was known for months.
One of the most interesting encounters of the first day will be the
pope’s meeting with Ali Bardakoglu, the head of Turkey’s directorate
of religious affairs. After the Regensburg speech, Bardakoglu sharply
criticized the pope’s remarks on Islam and said the pontiff should
“rid himself of feelings of hate” and apologize. He later accepted
the pope’s expression of regret.
Both the pope and Bardakoglu will deliver speeches. Church officials
hope it will be an opportunity for mending bridges and looking ahead,
rather than a revival of the recent polemics. Bardakoglu, in fact,
has said he doesn’t intend to bring up the Regensburg speech unless
the pope does.
At the Vatican, sources say they expect the pope to present a strongly
positive message, communicating his respect for Muslim believers and
his appreciation for the values of Turkish society and indicating
common ground in the idea that civil society cannot exclude God.
On Nov. 29 the pope will say Mass at a Marian sanctuary near Ephesus,
a center of early Christianity that St. Paul used as a missionary
base. The shrine, called the House of the Virgin, is believed by
some to be the place where Mary lived at the end of her life and is
visited by some 3 million pilgrims each year — most of them Muslims,
according to church sources.
The pope lands in Istanbul later Nov. 29, and the focus of the visit
turns ecumenical. He will attend a prayer service that evening at
the headquarters of Patriarch Bartholomew and will return there for
a major liturgy to mark the Nov. 30 feast of St. Andrew the Apostle,
the patron saint of the patriarchate. The pope and patriarch will then
sign a joint declaration on the continuing search for Christian unity.
Vatican and Orthodox officials don’t want the ecumenical side of the
Turkey trip to be overlooked.
“We are very unhappy with the fact that people are only talking
about the interreligious aspect. The main purpose of the trip remains
ecumenical, and we hope it will bring a new impetus and enthusiasm
for dialogue with the Orthodox churches,” said Cardinal Walter Kasper,
the Vatican’s top ecumenist.
The pope also will visit the heads of the Syrian Orthodox and Armenian
Orthodox churches in Turkey and will meet privately with Turkey’s
chief rabbi in Istanbul.
In a visit that was rescheduled from a Friday to Thursday in order
not to risk offending Muslims on their day of prayer, the pope will
tour the Hagia Sophia Museum — an architectural masterpiece that
began as an Orthodox church, was transformed into a mosque in the
15th century and became a museum in 1935.
The pope’s final day is dedicated to Turkey’s tiny Catholic
minority, estimated to number about 33,000 — about .05 percent of
the population.
He will say Mass in Istanbul’s small Cathedral of the Holy Spirit;
those who can’t squeeze into the church can watch the liturgy on
screens in the courtyard of the nearby Church of St. Anthony.
Throughout the visit, the pope is likely to highlight the church’s
deep roots in Turkey. Asia Minor was visited by apostles and was home
to church fathers, and every ecumenical council during Christianity’s
first millennium was held on what is now Turkish territory.
At some point, the pope also is expected to remember the sacrifice
of a modern evangelizer: Father Andrea Santoro, an Italian missionary
who was shot and killed by a 16-year-old Muslim last February.
Both Orthodox and Catholic leaders hope the papal visit will boost
their ongoing efforts for recognition of religious rights. Catholic
officials, for example, have been pressing for legal recognition of
the Latin-rite church, which has no juridical status in Turkey.
Turkey’s Constitution protects freedom of conscience, but the
country’s brand of secularism controls all religious activity and
keeps an especially tight rein on religious minorities.
Church leaders are hoping that Turkey’s projected entry into the
European Union will provide leverage for greater protection of their
rights. But that could backfire; European pressure on human rights
is thought to be one reason for a recent decline in support for EU
entry among Turks.
If the pope does address the religious liberty issue, he may choose
to cite Turkey’s own Constitution, rather than ask the country to
meet European standards.