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:
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM DIALOGUE
CONFERENCE
The Middle East Council of Churches, the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee
and the Islamic International Conference organized the second international
Christian-Muslim dialogue conference in Cairo on March 21-22. The conference
was entitled “Religion and Human Rights.”
The conference was sponsored by Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See
of St. Mark His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and Sheikh Al-Azhar Dr. Mohammed
Said Tantawi. Christian and Muslim theologians and scholars participated in
the conference. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Primate of the Diocese of
Tehran represented the Armenian Church (the Catholicosate of Cilicia) in the
conference as member of the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Committee.
Archbishop Sebouh took the stage during the opening of the conference to
convey the greetings of His Holiness Aram I to the attendants. The
Archbishop delivered a lecture entitled “The Christian Concept of Human
Rights.”
Archbishop Sarkissian held a private meeting with Dr. Tantawi on March 22.
He conveyed the greetings of His Holiness Aram I and his viewpoints on the
vital importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue.
##
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.

`Education for Armenia’s Prosperity’ project launched by UNDP and the
Ministry of Education and Science

ArmRadio.am
25.03.2006 11:23
On March 24 in the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia, the `
Education for Armenia’s Prosperity’ project was launched by United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Armenia office and the Ministry
of Education and Sciences.
The project is mainly funded by the Government of Norway and
co-financed by the Government of Armenia. It is foreseen that as a
result of the project, the size and quality of Armenia’s skilled
workforce will increase significantly, helping to lay the foundation
for the country’s economic growth over the medium term.
Recognizing the importance of skilled workforce for ensuring medium
and long-term sustainable development of the country, UNDP, in
partnership with the private sector, Government and academic
institutions, will aim to modernize and improve the Vocational
Education and Training System in Armenia.
In the framework of the project, facilities will be upgraded and new
equipment will be provided to vocational training institutions. In
this way, the project will try to ensure that the next generation of
skilled workers masters up-to-date and innovative technologies.
The direct beneficiaries of the project are students who will be
educated in the selected vocational training institutions. Small,
medium and large businesses working in relevant economic sub-sectors
will also benefit from a marked increase in the size and quality of
skilled labour force.
The project, with a total budget of USD 1,157,315 (including USD
55,000 provided by the Government of Armenia), will last two years.

Turkish lobbyist attacks Armenian Americans

ArmRadio.am
25.03.2006 12:24
Turkey’s top Washington, DC lobbyist, former Louisiana Congressman Bob
Livingston, in perhaps his most strident attack to date, has accused
Armenian Americans of seeking to impose a “tyranny of the minority” by
urging the Congress to adopt human rights legislation concerning the
Armenian Genocide, according to documents obtained this week by the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
“It’s truly the height of hypocrisy for a paid foreign agent for
Turkey – a government that violates the rights of its citizens on a
wholesale basis – to try to diminish the role that American citizens
play in the formulation of our nation’s foreign policy,” said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “But, apparently, in the ‘Alice in
Wonderland’ world of Bob Livingston, other nations dictate US policy,
genocides remain unpunished, and foreign lobbyists get to silence
American voters. He would do well to spend more time encouraging his
Turkish clients to learn about democracy, and less time seeking to
abridge the democratic rights of Americans here at home.”
In letters sent to Congressional offices last September, prior to the
House International Relations Committee’s consideration of Armenian
Genocide legislation, Livingston, escalated his rhetoric to
unprecedented levels, arguing, in his capacity as a paid agent of a
foreign government, that he believed the measure “caters to a small
minority of citizens promoting the narrow goals of the minority at the
expense of America’s broader interest.” He went on, in an example of
overstatement rare even by Washington, DC standards, to contend that
Armenian Genocide legislation “is the truest expression of the tyranny
of the minority.” The panel rejected Livingston’s attack, voting 40 to
7 to approve the legislation.

The situation in Tsalka is calm

ArmRadio.am
25.03.2006 13:51
After the known March 9 events in Ghushchi village of Georgia the
number of military units of the Ministry of Interior Affairs deployed
in Tsalka region was added, a criminal case was launched.
Head of Administration of Tsalka region Vardo Yeghoyan said in his
phone talk with `Radiolur’ correspondent Alisa Gevorgyan that the
military units of the Georgian Ministry of Interior Affairs are
currently in Tsalka. In the initial stage these had created some
difficulties in the region. However, the situation is much calmer
currently.
`Today the situation is calm, but if the trial of the case of
murdering the Armenian young man proceeds in an unfair way, we shall
raise a wave of protest,’ Vardo Yeghoyan said, adding that they do not
connect hopes with the fairness of the judicial bodies.
Currently five men are under arrest. Gevorg Gevorgyan’s murderer has
already confessed his guilt.
To remind, on March 9 a severe murder was registered in Tsalka. Gevorg
Gevorgyan, 23-year-old Armenian resident of Ghushchi village was
knifed in one of the crowded sites of the administrative center, two
others were injured and hospitalized.

Armenian delegation to observe the Parliamentary elections in Ukraine

ArmRadio.am
25.03.2006 13:05
At the eve of Parliamentary elections, the election campaign in
Ukraine has come to an end.
At the invitation of different missions, an Armenian delegation
departed for Kiev to observe the elections to the Supreme Rada. The
delegation comprises Republicans Samvel Nikoyan and Rafik Grigoryan,
and member of the `Orinats Yerkir’ Party Hovhannes Margaryan.
Secretary of the RA Central Electoral Commission Hamlet Abrahamyan and
30 members of the `The choice is yours’ NGO are also in Ukraine to
observe the elections.

Phone£ 617-926-5892
Armenian Relief Society, Inc.
FAX£ 617-926-4855
Central Office
e-mail£ [email protected]
80 Bigelow Avenue
Website£ www.ARS1910.OrgWatertown,
MA 02472
Contact: Hamesd Beujekian
The Educational Fund of the ARS Sponsor-A-Child Program
Nearly two decades ago, in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake
of 1988 and the ensuing liberation war of Artsakh, numerous severely
damaged communities of our Homeland were filled with thousands of
orphaned children. In order to relieve — at least partially — the
suffering of these parentless youngsters, in 1992« the ARS started the
Sponsor-A-Child program which — with the generosity of concerned
sponsors and devoted members of ARS entities — after almost
one-and-a-half decades of uninterrupted service, continues to send
annual payments to 3,500 or-phans.
Today, there are less than 300 orphans on our lists in need of sponsors.
Over the past 14 years, around 7,000 orphans have received the
uninterrupted assistance of this program. At this time, in view of the
fact, that the majority of those orphans has already reached an age when
one must think of making a living at a suitable career in a chosen
profession — or trade — as productive members of the community, the
ARS 68th International Convention passed a resolution to create an
Educational Fund for orphans of Armenia and Artsakh who have reached the
age of 18. This fund will become viable through the generosity of
sponsors who are willing to continue their annual contributions of $130,
as well as additional tax exempt donations, promoting the higher
education of these parentless young men and women.
Assured of the assistance of our communities, we invite our fellow
Armenians to remember the ARS Orphans Educational Fund when they make
tax-exempt donations in lieu of flowers, or other occasions. Donations
to this Fund can be done through local ARS entities.
The ARS Central Executive Board appeals to all — members, supporters
and friends — of the Sponsor-A-Child program, to give to its
Educational Fund their moral and financial support, in order to bring a
program, conceived and born in the blood and tears of tragic
circumstances, to an auspiciously beneficial completion.
24 March, 2006
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
People of Armenia and Azerbaijan Capable to Solve Karabakh Conflict
25.03.2006 00:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `If an agreement, according to which Armenia will
abandon interference in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs, is signed
between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the near future, it won’t be hard to
find the ways of coordinating peaceful life of the citizens of
Azerbaijan and all the residents of Karabakh regardless of
nationality. Certainly, it will be achieved with the guarantees of
great powers and the UN,’ Azeri political scientist Zardusht Alizade
stated in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. When commenting on the
militaristic statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev the
political scientist said he doesn’t believe in resumption of
large-scale hostilities in the near future. `But I am often mistaken
because I do not take into account the greed and stupidity of game
participants,’ he added. Zardusht Alizade is convinced that the
people of Armenia and Azerbaijan are capable to settle the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Armenian Library & Museum of America
March 22, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Contact Person: Mariam Stepanyan
Tel: 617.926.2562

Martiros Saryan:
‘European in Asia, Asian in Europe’
Presentation by Professor John Malmstad
4 PM Sunday, March 26, 2006

“Painter of happiness”, “Maestro of colors”, “Great Master of Armenian
art”… Regardless of how one refers to him, Martiros Saryan
(1880-1972) was a true artist. He laid the foundation and established
standard for Armenian national art of the 20th century. The Armenian
Library and Museum of America (ALMA) is paying tribute to the great
Master of Art by hosting a presentation on March 26. Professor John
Malmstad, Samuel Hazzard Cross Professor of Slavic Languages and
Literatures at Harvard University, will deliver a slide presentation
and talk about famed Armenian artist Martiros Saryan and his impact on
the evolution of European and Armenian art. Dr. Malmstad was the 1997
recipient of the Lomonosov Prize, for the book “Mikhail Kuzmin:
Iskusstvo, zhizn’, epokha”, which he had co-authored with Nikolay
Bogomolov, as “best piece of literary criticism or history in Russian
in 1996.”
When exposed to Saryan’s art, one is not simply looking at marvelous
paintings. Rather, one comes in touch with Saryan’s world, with warmth
and light of nature, with diversity of colors, thoroughly felt and
clarified by the painter. Saryan never longed for the doubtful glories
of easy successes, and never mistook painting with taking
photographs. He does not copy nature: he creates it. Saryan himself
thought that “true art was not simply illustration but a great
discovery of the world”. Influenced by Russian, Western European and
Armenian artistic cultures, Saryan was able to fuse the rich variety
of impressions and and traditions into a profoundly individual style
that invariably bore the stamp of his vivid, powerful and
intrinsically positive personality. Known for his saturated colors
(the signature yellow-brown hues and the deep blues), a unique harmony
of shapes and colors, Saryan was a master of composition. French poet
Louis Aragon thought that Saryan’s colors were ! so beautiful that
future generations would assign him a supreme place even higher than
France’s Cezanne and Matisse, because Saryan was the painter of
happiness.
The talk will be held at ALMA’s contemporary art gallery, which
currently showcases the artwork of Ghazaros Saryan, the great grandson
of Martiros Saryan. Ghazaros Saryan is exhibiting a new collection of
oil and water color paintings which provide a link to the past and a
glimpse of the future for Armenian contemporary art.
The presentation will take place at 4 pm on Sunday, March 26 at the
Armenian Library & Museum of America (Watertown Square, 65 Main
Street, Watertown, MA). It is open to public. For more information,
please contact ALMA at 617.926.2562 ext. 3 or email [email protected].
Armenian Library and Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown MA 02472
Tel: 617 926 2562
Fax: 617 926 0175
Armenian Library and Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown MA 02472
Tel: 617 926 2562
Fax: 617 926 0175
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kommersant, Russia
March 24 2006
Weapons Used to Convince Armenia
// Russia compensates for its expensive natural gas with cheap arms
Friendship of the Nations
A week before Gazprom is set to increase the price of natural gas for
Armenia, Yerevan has announced significant progress in negotiations.
According to Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sarkisyan, the public
and industry will both receive gas at lower prices than stated
earlier. The price that left Yerevan gasping in horror at the end of
last year – $110 per 1000 cu. m. – has not changed. Kommersant has
learned that the difference lies in a plan proposed by Moscow to
provide a valuable bonus with its expensive gas – the latest Russian
weaponry at rock-bottom prices.
Gas for Property
Although here is only a week left until Russia and Armenia convert to
a new billing system for natural gas, the situation remains far from
clear. On Wednesday evening, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan announced that the price would not change. `The price of
$110 fixed in the bilateral agreement is final, and no change in it
is expected,’ he said, adding that they were still discussing
possible forms of compensation. That much had been known since the
beginning of the year, when Moscow and Yerevan began their search for
a mutually acceptable decision.
When deputy head of Gazprom Alexander Medvedev announced that the
price of gas that Russia will supply to the Transcaucasus will be
$110 per 1000 cu. m. in 2006, Moscow made it clear that that figure
was firm. Medvedev noted in particular that political alliances would
not play any role in the changing price. Moscow did, however, say
that it would consider forms of compensation for the raising price of
gas that would lighten the blow for Armenian consumers.
Moscow expressed interest in buying a large package of shares in
Armrosgazprom. Russia intended the proceeds from that sale to support
low gas prices for the domestic consumer. Russia also proposed buying
all five generating blocks of the Razdan electric plant and the
country’s entire gas transport system. Russian specialists estimated
the value of those objects at $140 million.
Those ideas came to naught thanks to Russia’s `sworn partner’ Iran.
Armenia is giving that country its gas pipeline and one of the Razdan
generating blocks. When the Islamic Republic found our about Russia’s
proposal, it was strongly opposed to it and threatened to undermine
the deal. Armenia was forced to give in to Iran’s ultimatum.
The Search for a Solution
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan visited Moscow in January. His
meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not bring results
in gas negotiations, however. `Considering the strategic character of
our relationship with Russia, we were counting on settling the
question of the price of Russian gas more simply and without such
long negotiations,’ the Armenian president’s press secretary Viktor
Sogomonyan commented at the end of the president’s trip.
For the first time in Russian-Armenian relations, he almost made a
veiled threat to Russia. `What concerns us most in the developing
situation is that public opinion in Armenia can hardly be interpreted
as favorable to Russia. We are concerned that that mood may play a
role in the long-term perspective,’ Sogomonyan said.
After that, Armenian politicians formed two camps. Speaker of the
parliament Artur Bagdasaryan stated that, although he remains in
favor of the development of Armenian-Russian strategic relations, he
considered it necessary to `specify their framework.’ Deputy speaker
of parliament and Dashnaktsutyun Party leader Vagan Oganesyan noted
that the `empirically pro-Russian mood’ of the Armenian public would
take on a more pragmatic character after the rise in the price of
Russian gas.
The press began to opine that there was no need for Armenia to ask
continually for lenience from Russia. Yerevan, journalists said,
should look at the example of its neighbors Georgia and Azerbaijan,
which accepted the price hike silently. `At least that gives us the
freedom of political maneuvering,’ one publication noted.
The Armenian government tried not to go to extremes. Defense Minister
Sarkisyan rejected suggestions that the country begin demanding
rental payments for the Russian military base in Armenia. `The price
of Russian gas is in no way related to our security. The Russian
military base was located there at the request of the Armenian
government. It is one of the components of our security and we still
feel the need for that base,’ he said.
Russia made no concessions. In February, while visiting Switzerland,
Kocharyan stated that he still did not know what the price of Russian
gas for Armenia would be after April 1. He noted that negotiations
were continuing on `mechanisms of compensation’ that would reduce the
consequences of the price increase and `could function for two or
three years.’
While the negotiations were going on, the Armrosgazprom company, as
required by Armenian law, applied to the commission on public
utilities regulation to raise the domestic price for natural gas.
They said in the company that they had nothing else to do, since
there had a contract dated December 28, 2005, where it was clearly
written that the new price for gas would be $110. The commission
ruled that, beginning on April 10, the Armenian public would pay 90
drams (about $0.20) per cubic meter, up from 59 drams. Industrial
consumers would pay $146.51 per 1000 cu. m., up from $79.10.
Guns for Gas
Only late Wednesday evening did the Armenian public find out news
from the gas negotiations. `On the instructions of the president of
Armenia, I have sent a letter to the head of Gazprom Mr. Miller with
a number of proposals. On Friday, we received an answer from Miller.
Gazprom is prepared to sign documents before the end of April that
will make it possible for the Armenian public and industry to pay a
lower price than had been suggested earlier,’ Sarkisyan, one of
Armenia’s most influential politicians, stated. He expressed hope
that the rising price would not have a great impact on the public and
industry. He did not hide the fact Gazprom was not conceding on its
$110 price. Kommersant has learned the details of the scheme that is
to save the Russian-Armenian alliance.
According to information obtained by the newspaper, the saving
mechanism was worked out in Moscow. Yerevan will receive a bonus that
will be almost more valuable than the main product. Supplies of
modern Russian weaponry will be made to Armenia at reduced prices.
Part of the contracts will be completely free.
That mechanism is fully acceptable to Armenia. It will allow Yerevan
to use money set aside for armaments as compensation to hold gas
prices, if not at their previous levels, at levels close to the
previous ones. Russia is also expecting to benefit from the scheme.
According to Kommersant’s information, Kremlin analysts are
predicting that the appearance of a large quantity of modern weapons
in Armenia will pique the interest of Azerbaijan. Baku may try to
undermine the deal at first, but it will understand soon enough that
Moscow will stand up for its own interests and then it will make
similar purchases to remain on parity with Armenia. In Moscow, they
are already painting rosy pictures of the future of the military
industrial complex. The dangers of an arms race in such an unstable
region are not being mentioned.
by Ara Tatevosyan, Yerevan; Alexander Reutov

Reuters AlertNet, UK
March 24 2006
ICRC (press release), Switzerland
International Committee of the Red Cross
Armenian prisoner of war repatriated under ICRC auspices
Geneva (ICRC) – On 24 March an Armenian prisoner of war detained in
Azerbaijan was repatriated under the auspices of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The operation took place on the road between the Azerbaijani town of
Gazakh and the Armenian town of Ijevan.
The ICRC, participating as a neutral intermediary and in accordance
with its mandate, facilitated the repatriation of the released
prisoner at the request of the Azerbaijani and the Armenian
authorities.
ICRC delegates visited the prisoner of war before the operation to
ensure he was returning home of his own free will.
Since the start of its activities in connection with the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict in 1992, the ICRC has helped repatriate or transfer
656 people, and the organization will support any similar operation
in the future should the need arise.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress