Armenian Patriarch Karekin Investigated
Following the first visit to Turkey of the Head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, an investigation is launched against Karekin II under article 301
of Anti-Terror Law for “insulting Turkishness”.
BI.A News Center
29/06/2006
BI.A (Istanbul) – An investigation has been launched in Turkey
against the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church Catholicos Karekin II
related to remarks he made during his first visit to the country last week.
The investigation was started under controversial article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code for “insulting Turkishness” and is related to a criminal
complaint filed by an individual named Recep Akkus and the right-wing
Jurists Union that has pursued a series of similar complaints against
high-profile Turkish authors and intellectuals.
Akkus himself as among those who filed a criminal complaint against
Turkey-EU Mixed Parliamentary Commission co-chairman Joost Lagendijk for,
“insulting the Turkish army and judiciary organs and attempting to
influence the judiciary?.
The complaint related to a press conference held at the Armenian Patriarchy
last week where Karekin II said “genocide is not an issue of research for
our people, it is an incident that has happened and it should be
recognised”.
Turkey’s NTV channel reported that as Karekin II is currently in Armenia
and there is no judicial assistance agreement between Turkey and that
country, it is not likely for a statement to be taken from the head of the
Armenian Apostolic Church by Letter of Request.
If the prosecution deems it necessary, it can issue a warrant to all border
doors and entry points for Karekin II to be questioned and a statement
taken from him on his next entry into the country. (EO/TK/II/YE)

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:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES SHEIKH KABALAN
His Holiness Aram I received a delegation headed by the Head of the Higher
Islamic Shiite Council (HISC) Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan in Antelias on June
29.
Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon, Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, member of the
National Council, Tsolag Tutelian, chairman of the Armenian Political
Council in Lebanon, Hagop Shamelian, representative of the Armenian
community in the Christian-Muslim Dialogue committee, Dr. Jean Salmanian and
chancellor of the Catholicosate of Cilicia, Khatchig Dedeyan.
The two spiritual leaders met for over an hour during which discussions
focused on the Middle East in general and the internal situation in Lebanon
in particular. Sheikh Kabalan talked with great respect about the Armenian
community of Lebanon as an organized and exemplary community. He emphasized
the important role of community leaders in strengthening the internal unity
of Lebanon, keeping the people above internal sensitivities and personal
interests and pursuing the collective and chief interests of Lebanon.
His Holiness Aram I recalled his first encounter with Imam Moussa Sader in
1970 when he was still a young priest attending a Christian-Muslim
international conference. His Holiness also recalled his warm cooperation
with Sheikh Shamseddine, reminding his guest of the existence of a strong
and an organized Armenian community in Iran.
Speaking about Lebanon, His Holiness said: “The unity of Lebanon, its
sovereignty, integrity and the coexistence of its communities have become
unchangeable principles and chief values for the Armenians of Lebanon. The
approach and commitment of the Armenians of Lebanon stays the same: it is
with this realization that we, as a community, have first fulfilled our
obligations and then demanded our rights. More than ever, today I consider
the strengthening of the internal unity of Lebanon to be an imperative
necessity.”
At the end of the meeting Sheikh Kabalan invited the Catholicos to
participate in the Chrisitian-Muslim inter-communal meeting to be held in
the center of Shiites in Hazmiyeh on July 20. The two spiritual leaders then
answered the questions of reporters. The pontiff and Sheikh Kabalan
condemned the recent attacks of Israel against Palestinians during their
press conference.
##
View photos here: tm
*****
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.

Galust Sahakyan: Matthew Bryza made no revelations

ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 17:55
`Matthew Bryza made no revelations, since every day in the course of
the last two month the press was writing about the negotiations
process,’ Head of the Republican faction Galust Sahakyan declared.
Head of the Republican faction is confident that the Armenian side did
not agree to anything, and the leakage pursued one aim ` to check the
dispositions of the societies of the twp countries.
The meeting of the Republican Party scheduled July 22 is
extraordinary, but not an emergency one. According to the Republican,
the confusion around the meeting is a result of the heat in Yerevan
and the snoozing internal political life.
Turning to the extraordinary meeting of the Republican Party, Galust
Sahakyan said, `Serge Sargsyan should decide himself whether he will
become Co-President of the Party of not.’
In response to the question how the other political forces will take
Serge Sargsyan’s joining the Republican Party, Mr. Sahakyan said,
`They take it normally. I’d like to note, however, that the Republican
Party has never put an aim to conquer the whole field.’
In a interview to `Haykakan Zhamanak’ newspaper, independent Deputy
Manuk Gasparyan resolutely asserted that after Serge Sargsyan joins
the Republican Party, Andranik Margaryan will resign because of
unsatisfactory health condition, and Serge Sargsayn will replace him
as Prime Minister. The Republicans do not take such scenarios
seriously. `We do not even discuss it, it has been six years that they
are speaking about Andranik Margaryan’s resignation. At last everyone
` the politicians and the society ` should understand that Andranik
Margaryan is an important factor.
Predicting which political forces will be represented in the National
Assembly of the fourth convocation, Galust Sahakyan expressed the
opinion that the status quo will be maintained. However, if one or two
of the new parties manage to lead a clever election campaign, the
number of the factions may increase with one.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

First International Youth Conference on National Democracies to open in
Yerevan July 3

ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 18:00
July 3 the first International Youth Conference on National
Democracies will open in Yerevan. The conference will be held on July
3-7 and will cover topics related to National Democracy, such as Youth
and Democracy, National Culture and Democracy, Nationalism,
Cosmopolitism and Democracy and Democratic Education. It involves
students from different countries including Armenia.
There will be speakers from Stockholm City Hall, Sweden, Caucasus
Media Institute, Armenia, Russian Embassy in Armenia, Yerevan State
University, the “European Integration” NGO, the “Sociometr” Research
Center, Caucasus Research and Resource Center, Armenian Center of
Political and International Research, OpenArmenia.com, ICSRD, Florida
State University and AIPRG.

ARMENTEL TO BE SOLD TO A COMPANY OFFERING MOST FAVORABLE CONDITIONS
FOR ARMENIA
Yerevan, June 30. ArmInfo. The Armenian economy is organically tied up
with the Russian economy, consequently, Russia is the key market for
Armenian goods, says the leader of the parliamentary faction of the
Republican Party of Armenia Galust Sahakyan.
He says that there is nothing strange or dangerous in Russia’s
increasing its economic capital in Armenia.
Concerning the possibility of a Russian company buying the 90% stake
of the ArmenTel telecom company, Sahakyan says that ArmenTel will be
sold to a company who will offer conditions that will be most
favorable for Armenia.

GALOUST SAHAKIAN: THE STRICT STATEMENTS OF THE US OFFICIALS ARE AIMED
TO ACHEIVEMENT OF USA’S GOALS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
Yerevan, June 30. ArmInfo. The statement of Mathew Bryza, US Co-Chair
of OSCE MG, who said that Armenia should follow the example of
Azerbaijan in democratic development, is merely aimed to settle the
economic interests of USA in Azerbaijan. Galoust Sahakian, head of the
Republican Party Faction, expressed such an opinion at today’s press
conference.
He said that even the most radical Armenian opposition members would
never dare to say that Azerbaijan is a more democratic party than
Armenia. “From the viewpoint of democratization, Azerbaijan can’t be
compared even to Turkey, as Turkey is a much more democratic country,”
Sahakain said.
As for the strict statement of John Danilovic, head of “Millenium
Challenges” Office in Armenia, about probable stopping of the
program’s implementation in Armenia, Sahakian emphasized that USA
tries to exert pressure on Armenia for reaching its own goals in the
region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ISTANBUL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE BRINGs CRIMINAL ACTION AGAINST CATHOLICOS
OF ALL ARMENIANS
Istanbul, June 30. ArmInfo. The prosecutor’s office of Istanbul has
brought criminal action against Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II
for “encroaching on the dignity of the Turks,” Trends news agency
(Baku) reports with reference to Turkish media.
The prosecutor’s office says that during his last visit to Istanbul
Garegin II called for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. In
response, a group of lawyers filed a complaint to the prosecutor’s
office. Garegin II cannot testify as Armenia and Turkey has no
agreement on cooperation in the sphere of justice. However, if the
prosecutor’s office deems necessary it can instruct all customs points
to detain Garegin II if he enters the Turkish territory.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE IN ARMENIA AND
AZERBAIJAN THINK ABOUT THEIR PROPOSALS
Yerevan, June 30. ArmInfo. What OSCE MG US co-chair Matthew Bryza said
was in no way some sensational information leak. His statement and the
following statement by the three OSCE MG co-chairs were just aimed at
seeing how people in Armenia and Azerbaijan would react, says the
leader of the parliamentary faction of the Republican Party of Armenia
Galust Sahakyan.
However, if the co-chairs really want to know the public opinion in
the conflicting states they should make public all the documents
discussed by the Armenian and Azeri presidents. Bryza’s statement says
nothing whether Armenia has accepted the promulgated elements or
not. In Armenia only the president and the FMs actually know the
details of the talks. Concerning the co-chairs’ statement that they
are running out of fantasy, Sahakyan says that they will hardly stop
their mediation even if they fail the next round.
Sahakyan says that despite promises of a breakthrough there will be no
serious progress in the peace process this year. He condemns those
local forces who are trying to speculate on the Karabakh problem for
their own purposes.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 30, 2006
___________________
DIOCESAN LEGATE, CLERGY REPRESENT CHURCH AT CONSULTATION
The annual United States Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic Consultation
took place May 30 and 31, 2006, at the Cardinal Spellman Retreat Center in
Riverdale, NY.
Leading a delegation from the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) was Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical
officer. Other members of the delegation included Fr. Papken Anoushian,
pastor of the St. Thomas Church of Tenafly, NJ; Fr. Shnork Souin of the St.
Mary Church of Livingston, NJ; and Fr. Tateos Abdalian, pastor of the Holy
Trinity Church of Cheltenham, PA.
The consultation was among leading members of both the Roman Catholic and
Oriental Orthodox Churches, including His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Cyril
Aphrem Karim of the Syrian Orthodox Church and Bishop David of the Coptic
Orthodox Church.
During the two-day consultation, the 25 clergy discussed the general
relationship between the Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Churches. During
the meeting they discussed many subjects including the Armenian Church’s
support in the newly formed Christian Churches Together, the activities of
the World Council of Churches General Council, and the dire situation in
Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Also during part of the session, Fr. Souin read a paper about marriage and
annulment in Oriental Orthodox churches to further understanding of that
area among the Roman Catholic community.
“It was important that we attend because the Armenian Church has been
playing a leading role in the ecumenical movement in United States,” Bishop
Aykazian said.
— 6/30/06

SERGE SARGSYAN’S NOMINATION WAS NOT DISCUSSED
Lragir.am
30 June 06
The problem of Karabakh will bring back 1998, stated Vahram
Baghdasaryan, one of the founders of the Union for Armenia Party June
30. He said at the Pastark Club he is so convinced that a change of
power because of the Karabakh issue is unlikely, that it did not even
occur to him that Serge Sargsyan will become president in this
context. Vahram Baghdasaryan describes Mathew Bryza’s statements as a
`symptom of stress.’
`And I think that if there were confidence that the problem would be
solved this year or in the upcoming one or two years, it would not be
stated so openly. And I think a new round of talks will follow, and
everything will be put off again,’ says Vahram Baghdasaryan, adding
that the Union for Armenia Party has not discussed the Karabakh issue
yet. MP Vahram Baghdasaryan thinks that even if they were hopeful to
settle the conflict, now it is certain that it will not happen and the
issue will be suspended.
`Naturally, we cannot approve this, because it is not in the interests
of the Armenian side, the winner. I think this question must be
decided by the people of Karabakh. Both the Azerbaijani and Armenian
sides must be more passive and let Karabakh be active. The question
should be put to popular voting.
There was a referendum once, it could be held twice,’ states Vahram
Baghdasaryan. For him, the independence of Karabakh involving the
liberated areas is the best settlement.
`Independence is guaranteed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Because,
if you follow attentively, if we take only Karabakh, and we say O.K.,
we take only Karabakh, they have nothing to do, we see the tie between
Karabakh and Kelbadjar, in terms of communication, water, energy. I
think speaking about Karabakh alone would not work, it means
isolation,’ thinks Vahram Baghdasaryan. He believes that it is not
worthwhile to change the format of the talks because frontal
controversies between Armenia and Azerbaijan are so intensive thata
new format will may not even enable finding a common approach.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress