Baku: Participation of Cypriot Ambassador to Russia in Islamic Conference Organization Not Allowed
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.06.2006 14:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azeri Government did not allow participation
of Cypriot Ambassador to Russia Leonidas Pantelidis in 33rd session
of the Council of FMs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC). No room was provided for Leonidas Pantelidis in Baku and he
had to stay in city streets and restaurants for the night.
According to Turkish media reports, official Ankara got to know
that the Greek Cyprus intends to send its representative to that
session and Turkish authorities asked Azerbaijan not to allow his
participation. After that official Baku got in touch with Pantelidis
and informed him that due to not being accredited from the beginning,
his participation in the event, as well as accommodation in hotels
is impossible. However, the Azeri Government noted Pantelidis can
come to Baku on a tourist visit. Pantelidis, who arrived in Baku
June 19, he had to stay in city streets and restaurants for the
night. Disappointed, he went back.
During the past OIC session in Yemen representatives of Cyprus found
themselves in a similar situation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

No Military Way Can Help Conquer Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.06.2006 15:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “I did not expect to see what I saw in Nagorno
Karabakh,” Senior Research Fellow of the Institute of World Economy and
International Relations Victor Nadein-Rayevsky stated in an interview
with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the situation in the
NKR is humane and normal. “Internal consolidation of the society
is felt. No military way can help conquer Nagorno Karabakh,” he
underscored.
Victor Nadein-Rayevsky remarked that at present the NKR
successfully develops tourism. “And the architectural monuments
are marvelous. I was especially impressed by Shushi and Gandzasar
temple complex. Stepanakert is a very clean town. In Karabakh I saw
what is absent in Moscow and Russia – unity of people,” the Russian
scholar said.
Victor Nadein-Rayevsky had participated NKR: Past, Present Future
international conference in Stepanakert.

Baku Attempts to Arrogate Iran’s History to Azerbaijan Dangerous
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.06.2006 15:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Baku attempts to arrogate Iran’s history to
Azerbaijan are dangerous, Senior Research Fellow of the Institute
of World Economy and International Relations Victor Nadein-Rayevsky
stated in an interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words,
such trends in Azerbaijan’s official historiography started already
at the time of President Abulfaz Elchibey.
“The leaning towards Turkey started at that time. What is taking
place in Azeri-Iranian relations now is the US policy, aimed at
splitting Iranian society and country. Baku does not understand that
hypothetical unification of North and South Azerbaijan will result
in disappearance of Baku ruling elite,” the scholar underscored.
Nadein-Rayevsky remarked that South Azerbaijan’s population is two
times more that that of Azerbaijan itself, which will inevitably result
in the victory of Iranian Azeris at the elections, if these are held.
“The nuclear factor should not be forgotten. It is the most dangerous
in the game of Washington and Baku,” he remarked.

If Peacekeeping Forces Appear in Karabakh, They Will End Like Those in Kosovo
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.06.2006 15:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If peacekeeping forces appear in Nagorno Karabakh,
they will end like those in Kosovo, Senior Research Fellow of the
Institute of World Economy and International Relations Victor
Nadein-Rayevsky stated in an interview with a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, if the situation develops this way, the
genocide of the Armenian population of the NKR will be protracted,
however the outcome will be the same as that in Kosovo.
“There is no single Serb in Kosovo, Serb monuments are destroyed. This
proposal is favorable to one party of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
– Azerbaijan, while the initiators, i.e. the US and EU, need the
peacekeepers only to guard the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
However, the major goal of all interested parties is to push Russia
out of the region,” Nadein-Rayevsky remarked.
At that he underscored that the international law is a system of
mutual concessions and keeping parity. “If return of Azeri refugees is
concerned, why are Armenian refugees from Baku, Kirovabad and other
Azeri towns denied this right? However, the most important thing is
that all parties should agree to sending peacekeepers to the region
and this is impossible,” he said.

AZG Armenian Daily #117, 24/06/2006
Armenian Church
PONTIFF OF ALL ARMENIANS WELCOMED IN THE CATHEDRAL OF
THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN ISTANBUL
On the evening of June 22, having concluded the Fraternal Visit to
the Ecumenical Patriarchate and His All Holiness Bartholomew I, the
Catholicos of All Armenians officially began the Pontifical Visit to
the Armenian Patriarchate and the Armenian community of Istanbul. His
Holiness and the pontifical entourage visited the Mother Cathedral of
St. Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) in Kumkapi, Istanbul, and were
greeted by a “Hrashapar” service welcoming the Pontiff. In attendance
were high-ranking clergy of the Armenian Patriarchate, representatives
of Sister Churches, Mr. Karen Mirzoyan (Representative of the Republic
of Armenia in Turkey), and countless Armenian faithful, many who had
come to see the Catholicos of All Armenians for the first time.
Following the traditional service of greeting a hierarch, His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople,
warmly greeted the Catholicos of All Armenians and welcomed him
to Istanbul on behalf of the Armenian Patriarchate, the clergy and
faithful. His Beatitude then invited His Holiness to offer his words
of blessing to the assembled.
His Holiness addressed his message of blessing and love, stating
in part, “…We are with you now with our prayers of thanksgiving
and praise. At this historic and emotional moment, we turn our gaze
to heaven with the prayer of our holy forefathers: ‘King of Peace,
Our Lord Jesus Christ, keep and protect Your people under Your holy
and revered Cross in peace’.
“This cherished prayer has resounded throughout the halls of this
sanctuary for centuries as well. It has been uttered from the lips
of many courageous and glorious clergymen, who became martyrs of the
faith; the good shepherds who devoted their lives to God for the flock
entrusted to them, and with the life-giving light of faith, led them to
creativity, loyalty and fidelity. Five Patriarchs of Constantinople,
by the will of God and the nation, were called to become Catholicos
of All Armenians – the first servant of our Holy Church. Only after
kneeling down before this Holy Altar and asking for the intercession
of the Holy Mother of God on behalf of the Armenian nation, did they
depart to sit on the Throne of the Illuminator. In difficult times,
our luminous and brave-hearted Pontiffs protected our people and
kept them gathered around Holy Etchmiadzin with the hope and belief
in salvation. And now from the Throne of the Illuminator – the holy
cradle of our faith – Holy Etchmiadzin, we have come to see you, our
dearly beloved sons and daughters, to extend our blessings and love
to you all. We have come so that Pontiff and flock can be united once
again with the same oath of our holy fathers, and unite our prayers to
their appeals for the peace of mankind and for keeping all Armenians
dispersed throughout the world reinforced in faith and unified.
“…For six hundred years, the churches of the Armenian Patriarchate
kept the belief in Christ and hope of salvation alive and vibrant in
the souls of our people. For six hundred years, our mother tongue was
proclaimed undefiled in our schools, where our national traditions
transformed into the spirit of our people. Connected with the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople are the brightest achievements of our
culture – in literature, art, music and architecture…
“It is with these emotions that we have come to visit you, to see our
ancient, incense-filled churches, which remain vibrant through your
presence. We came to see our educational and cultural institutions,
which continue to remain alight through your vigilant efforts. We came
to bless your lives, to encourage your devoted spirits, your resolute
will and selfless allegiance, through which you are firmly standing
on the foundation-stone established by Saint Gregory our Illuminator,
keeping the light of Holy Etchmiadzin sparkling in your souls, which
has always shined and glowed in the monasteries and churches of the
Patriarchate.
“We have brought the boundless yearning and love of the Mother
See of All Armenians to you, dear faithful, and greetings from
your brothers and sisters in Armenia, Artsakh and the Dispersion,
who are always with you in their warmest of prayers. We have also
brought the optimism of the reborn new life of our homeland, and our
people’s hopes for strengthening our unified spiritual and cultural
life. Our Church is strong and alive with all of her children, and
steadfast in the path of her mission, which is the same yesterday,
today and always – to lead the small flock of the Armenians toward the
life-giving and saving light of faith, toward God Who makes peace and
creates beneficence. Let us stay loyal to the Holy Gospel of our Lord,
loyal to our Holy Church, and loyal to our inherited appeal for peace.”
In his remarks, His Holiness also offered prayers to heaven, asking
for God to grant rest to the souls of the Armenian Patriarchs of
Constantinople of blessed memory, as well as long years of health
and fruitful reign to His Beatitude Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian.
At the conclusion of the service, the special Pontifical Encyclical
of the Catholicos of All Armenians was read, wherein His Grace Bishop
Aram Ateshian, a member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin and
the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, was elevated to the
rank of “Archbishop” by His Holiness Karekin II. Archbishop Ateshian
was commended by the Pontiff of All Armenians for his devotion and
efforts as Chairman of the Religious Council and Sacristan of the
Armenian Patriarchate.

RA NA Delegation to Depart for Strasbourg to Participate PACE Session
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 17:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian National Speaker Tigran Torosian leads
the Armenian parliamentary delegation that will take part in the
session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
starting in Strasbourg June 25. The delegation includes chairman of
the NA standing committee for foreign relations Armen Rustamian, NA
members Stepan Demirchian, Artashes Geghamian and Hermine Naghdalyan,
reported the RA NA press service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Rustamian: Dual Citizenship to Contribute to Organization of Armenianhood
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 17:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee on
Friday held hearings titled “Dual Citizenship: International Law and
Experience,” attended by representatives of political parties and
non-governmental organizations. The hearings were initiated by the
NA’s Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun faction. Foreign
Relations Committee Chairman Armen Rustamian noted in his opening
remarks that such discussion would be held regularly to study in detail
the international practice and make the future law more consistent
with the international standards.
“The dual citizenship is a crucial issue to us and it we should discuss
it comprehensively in order to adopt a law that would flawlessly
contribute to organization of Armenians and strengthening of Armenia,”
Rustamian said. Science and Education Minister Levon Mkrtchian made
a report on the international regulation of the dual citizenship,
noting that the discussion has been going on for over 10 years. But
following the latest amendments to the constitution, a new situation
has emerged, Mkrtchian noted. Constitutional Court President Gagik
Harutiunian, in turn, reminded that only 54 out of 191 member states
of the United Nations recognize the dual citizenship, and that in
1950’s many voiced concerns about it. Therefore, Harutiunian said, it
is critical to adopt such law that would dismiss those concerns. Other
politicians and experts also presented their views, reported Yerkir.

Karabakh Conflict Bound not with Territorial Problems but with Right to Self-Determination
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 18:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ International conference “NKR: past, present and
future” is important not only from the scientifically viewpoint but
also by the place where it proceeds, German scientist Tessa Hoffman
stated in Stepanakert.
“My arrival in Nagorno Karabakh is the token of solidarity with the
country that for many years exists as a de facto state,” Doctor
Hoffman said. She underscored that the Karaabkh conflict is not
bound with the problem of territories but with the right of people
to self-determination and voiced assurance that with time the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic will receive legal recognition of the international
community.

Istanbul Incident during Visit of Catholicos of All Armenians is Barbarism
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 18:26 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The protest action against the visit of Catholicos
of All Armenians Garegin II is barbarism, Armenian writer Razmik
Davoyan stated in Yerevan when commenting on the incident connected
with the visit of Catholicos of Armenians to Istanbul.
“It’s impossible to speak of democracy, Eurointegration and adherence
to national values in the atmosphere of hatred to the Armenian
nation. The Turkish authorities should think over the upbringing of
the new generation. In Armenia such incidents are excluded, since our
upbringing and historical values are quite different,’ he underscored.
According to Davoyan, Catholicos’s visit was a brave move, since the
Patriarch knew “what was waiting for him there”. “For us the most
important thing is that our spiritual leader holds meetings with
the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and it’s possible that some
important agreements will be achieved,” he added.
Razmik Davoyan emphasized that Armenia and Turkey should find
ways for normalizing relations. “There are no diplomatic contacts
between our states but there is a possibility to normalize personal
relations. For this the Turkish authorities should take into account
some circumstances including the Armenian Genocide recognition
and prevention of incidents of the kind, he remarked, reported
Novosti-Armenia.

German Reporters to Shoot Two Films about Nagorno Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.06.2006 18:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ German reporters, who are in Nagorno Karabakh at the
moment, are going to shoot two shots about the life and people of the
republic. The first film will be dedicated to the women-participants
of the Karabakh war and the second- to the post war reconstruction. In
an interview with the Artsakh Public Television Tomas Eiberg said the
films will be shown by two popular German channels. “Our viewers wish
to know how the people of Nagorno Karabakh live and how they overcome
the difficulties of the post war period,” he said. During the visit
the German reporters met with the NKR officials, participants of the
Karabakh war and young people. Documentary shots of the Azeri-Karabakh
will be also used for the film, reported Novosti-Armenia.