Armenian News... a topalian...8 editorials

News.am, Armenia

April 20 2019

Armenian President: Resurrection of Jesus Christ unites us, inspires and empowers us all 

      

YEREVAN.- I cordially congratulate our people in Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk on the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. I also congratulate friends of our nation, all Christians who celebrate Easter, and the guests visiting Armenia these days, Armenian President Armen Sarkissian's office noted.

This day is celebrated by the Christian world with a special festiveness and love, especially by our people. In the country, which was the first to make Christianity state religion, Christian faith has been for centuries deeply and strongly embedded in the Armenian soil, Armenian peoples’ minds, and our self-identification.

The meaning and significance of Easter is more than just a church holiday. In a certain way it unites us, inspires and empowers us all, brings forth and renews, makes our faith in our own strength stronger, inspires new hopes for tomorrow. 

This holiday is also a kind of appeal to be more united and unified, to be more far-sighted, resolute, tolerant, especially now, when the world is full of instability and concerning developments. 

I wish that the hope-inspiring news on Jesus Christ resurrection will light us up and will fill our hearts with new ardor, will call for new and good deeds for Armenia and for our nation.

Christ rose from the dead.

Happy Easter!

Public Radio of Armenia

April 21 2019

 Message of the Catholicos of All Armenians on the Feast of Holy Resurrection

In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

 

“God has risen, and all of his enemies have been scattered.”

(Book of Hours)

 

Dearly beloved faithful,

 

 

The joy of the Feast of the Holy Resurrection has filled our souls, and the victorious exuberance of the Resurrection is to be found everywhere: in our surroundings, our churches, our families, the entire Christian world, as well as in the budding nature. Christ has triumphantly arisen from the sealed cave, and the angel announces the Good News of His Resurrection from the empty tomb. The chains of sin and death have been shattered by the victory of the Saviour, the doors to the Heavenly Kingdom have been opened, and divine grace is offered to humanity — the priceless gift of inheriting eternal life. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11.25-26). 

 

The path of eternal life and resurrection in Christ begins in this world. It begins with a change in the life of the person, the rejection of sin and evil, and with a movement toward a way of holiness and perfection. Indeed, wherever human souls are exposed to the light of Christ’s resurrection, there also the darkness of God-rejecting evil thoughts, corrupting ideologies, divisions and polarizations, intolerance, enmity and dissensions retreat and are scattered. In their stead, cooperation and agreement, faithfulness, holiness, love and happiness are established. “God has risen, and all of his enemies have been scattered,” proclaims the prayer.

 

Those paths, which reject renewal in Christ, making life captive to sin and subject to corrosion and destruction, are antithetical to peace in the world, the public welfare, the harmonious coexistence of humanity, the strengthening of families, and all that is good.

 

The Good News of the resurrection of Christ is an invitation to all — to live in the graces bestowed upon us by the Saviour as a new person, as the Apostle exhorts and says, “put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4.22-24). To believe in the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection through Christ as well as transformation of our life, means not only to overcome sin, addictions and spiritual error, but also to be filled with love toward all and to reject everything that tramples justice, dignity and all that is human. It also means striving to spread care and general goodwill as did Christ, “who came and saved all creatures” (Sharakan - Hymnal). Greed, theft, violence, hatred, enmity and other manifestations of blindness to God’s commandments have no place in the life of the Christian who has received the grace of the Resurrection. Such deeds reject the grace of freedom in Christ from sin and death, they destroy good and undermine the well-being of the human person, the family unit, and national life. Freedom is given in order to choose good and not as a pretense for evil and unruliness (cf. 1 Peter 2.16). Truly, being an heir of the grace of the Resurrection is made apparent in one’s lifestyle and deeds, not only personal and familial, but in the help rendered and efforts brought in the life of the public, nation and humanity. Faith is made radiant and fruit-bearing, hope increases, love of others is affirmed as we move forward together. 

 

The passions and resurrection of Christ for our sake and for all humanity, are the _expression_ of divine, boundless love. “And he died for all, that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor 5.15). Love, dearly beloved, does not focus on the self, it does not look for its own benefit (1 Cor 13.5), but rather it is expressed in dedication toward one another and is the foundation of flourishing, ascension and resurrection. It is this great message that Our Lord and Saviour passes on to humanity through His own example. The resurrection of the Lord manifests the mystery of solidarity, community and accord to the world. Christ brought his service to all, and in a similar manner we too must live with each other in a spirit of service, dedication and commitment. It is with this understanding, that we will be able to overcome the difficulties that afflict our state and pan-national life, to solve the problems befallen to us, to strengthen families, to defend steadfastly and build up both our homeland and our diasporan national life. Our people–which accepted Christ as its Saviour and have risen from the ashes of history in faithfulness and the love of the Lord – will today with that same faith and strength continue to fortify its victories and accomplishments. Now, dearly beloved, let us always keep the light and power of Christ’s resurrection in our lives and in our land, sanctified by the descent of Christ, and continually be renewed by the grace bestowed upon us by our Saviour. Doing so, we will be able to join together toward a revival of a strong homeland and toward new horizons in our life, testifying, that we are a people resurrected in Christ; we are the people of Christ, God’s own people. 

 

In the exuberant Good News of the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, We convey our greetings to the incumbents of the hierarchical sees of our Apostolic Holy Church: His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Abp. Nourhan Manougian, the Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, His Eminence Abp. Aram Ateshian, to the spiritual leaders of our sister Churches in supplication for the fruitfulness of their service. With patriarchal blessing we greet and bring our well-wishes to the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Armen Sarkissian and to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan. We extend our greetings to the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Mr. Bako Sahakyan, and to the state officials of Armenia. On this graceful occasion of the Resurrection we convey our best wishes to the representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in Armenia. We express Our love and blessings to the clergy of our Holy Church and to all our faithful people. 

 

On this grace-filled day of the Holy Resurrection we pray, that the grace of our Saviour’s Resurrection work miracles in the world; that people be renewed by the good intensions and fulfillment of life, peace and unity and that they may be one family under divine blessing. We ask again that in this year, dedicated to the family, our family ties may become strong and radiant with the light of Christ’s resurrection, full of love, solidarity and happiness. May the Lord protect our people in his boundless love, and keep the light and joy of the resurrection aflame in our hearts, in our country and in the entire world.

May the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ remain with us and with all. Amen

 

Christ is risen from the dead,

Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!

News.am, Armenia

April 20 2019

French PM to attend Armenian Genocide commemoration ceremony 

                  

Prime Minister of France Edouard Philippe will attend the ceremony dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Paris on April 24 which will take place at 18:00 local time near the monument of Komitas, Nouvelles d`Armenie reported adding that the ceremony is of historical importance this year, given its official nature.

By the decree of French President Emmanuel Macron April 24 has been declared national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

Initiated by the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France, commemoration events will be held also in other cities of France, including Lyon and in Marseille.

Aysor, Armenia

April 20 2019

Davit Sanasaryan is my friend but there are no immune people in Armenia: Armenia’s PM on charges against SCS head

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan referred in his Facebook post to the charges brought against head of State Control Service Davit Sanasaryan.

Pashinyan stressed that today he finally managed to get familiarized with the discussions over SCS head Davit Sanasaryan and came to the conclusion that the “brotherly” mentality has deeper roots in Armenia than oligarchy and criminal.

“Even for civil activists and politicians “brotherly” relations stay as the main formula of worldview. They do not care less about truth, the revolution and its values. Davit is my friend too, but you should know that there are no immune people in Armenia. Be he an opposition, authority, revolutionary or counter-revolutionary,” he wrote stressing that the law will be double strict toward those who stood in front of people and spoke of legality and justice, inadmissibility of permissiveness and sponsorship.

He stressed that they will not only be punished by Criminal Code but will be accused of bertrayal of people.

“I say this without violating the presumption of innocence. Let normal investigation pass. If you do not allow it I will ensure it within the framework of authorities given me by the law,” he wrote.

[the business section of CITY AM News reports that BP plans to spend £6 billion to double oil production from Azeri fields, allowing their government further huge military expenditure]

News.am, Armenia

April 21 2019

Expert: Turkey's possible transfer of S-400 systems to Azerbaijan should worry Iran 

                  

Turkey's possible transfer the S-400  anti-aircraft missile systems to Azerbaijan should worry Iran, stated military expert Arkady Grigoryan, commenting on a such development of the situation at the request of Armenia News  - NEWS.am correspondent.

“The deployment of such systems on the territory of Azerbaijan should not only worry Armenia. First and foremost, this should worry Iran. I think if there is any serious likelihood of placing systems, there will be a reaction from Iran, ”the expert said.

Regarding allegations in the Azerbaijani media that “for Baku, these systems are important for eliminating the threat of Iskander medium-range ballistic missiles available in Armenia", the expert stressed that neither S-400 nor S-300 can eliminate no matter how much the opponent wants to embellish reality, the real capabilities of the systems are small.

[note correspondent's name who does not mention the mass transfer if Armenians from Azerbaijan following the programs in that country ]

Caspian News

April 21 2019

U.S. Wants To Give Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Process A Boost

By Mushvig Mehdiyev 

                                                         

The U.S. Secretary of State may put forward his proposals on achieving a negotiated solution if ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia agree to meet in Washington, according to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov / Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Officials in Washington are doing their part to help broker a lasting peace between Baku and Yerevan. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday that a proposal from the U.S. Department of State for him to continue meeting with his Armenian counterpart came shortly after he and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met in Moscow on March 28.

“I briefed about our desire to resolve the conflict, which is almost 30 years old, and noted that we need to achieve a breakthrough,” Trend quoted Mammadyarov as saying during a press conference in Poland on Thursday. “Yesterday we received an invitation from the United States to visit Washington, where the Secretary of State will also put forward his proposals for achieving a breakthrough in resolving the conflict.”

Mammadyarov and Mnatsanakyan met in Moscow in what is considered by policy experts the next phase of deliberations that could help solve a longstanding conflict between the two South Caucasus neighbors over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan, but has been occupied by Armenia since the early 1990s. As part of a trust building process, the two ministers agreed to let journalists from each country visit other country in necessary cases.

Negotiations aimed at achieving an end to what is an international conflict kicked off after the ceasefire deal went into effect in 1994. The armed campaign resulted in the occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region plus seven surrounding districts, totaling about 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s landmass. From its start in 1991, when the Soviet Union finally dissolved and until the signing a ceasefire deal in 1994, the war claimed the lives of 30,000 Azerbaijanis and displaced one million others.

The ceasefire, however, is fragile given the daily violations that sometimes escalate to war like it did in April 2016. Brief but severe hostility over four days in April proved that the conflict continues to be a catalyst for another bloody war that may result in broader regional implications, possibly drawing in Turkey, which is an ally of Azerbaijan; and Russia, which keeps a military base in Armenia.

Some analysts, including former program director at International Crisis Group, Magdalena Grono, believe that Iran – which shares a border with Azerbaijan and Armenia – could be a third regional actor, as a war could spill over into its territories. Some say it may have repercussions on the security of Europe as well.

“Of course, an escalation that could occur in the region would be very close to the EU’s borders. The EU takes that very seriously,” Grono said in a report on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict issued in 2017 by the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

 

Today, no ethnic Azerbaijanis live in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region, as the indigenous Azerbaijani population was either killed or subjected to forcible expulsion by Armenian forces that made claims on the land as early as 1988. Occupiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh region unilaterally and illegaly declared independence.

The United States, along with all other countries represented in the United Nations – including Armenia – does not recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh region as an independent country. Despite its efforts, the OSCE Minsk Group, which is co-chaired by the U.S., Russia and France, has not been able to find a lasting peace to what has been a never-ending conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump stressed in his letter to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in September 2018 that peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will boost efforts to improve Europe’s energy security. Azerbaijan is set to pump 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to Europe via the Southern Gas Corridor starting sometime next year. This will be the first supplies of gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe and serve the European Union’s interest in diversifying the continent’s energy imports.

Trump addressed a similar position to Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in January. In a congratulatory letter to the Armenian premier after his electoral win, Trump underlined the significance of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in enhancing global security.

Public Radio of Armenia

April 20 2019

Tourists visiting Artsakh to be granted free entry visa from April 29 

On April 29, the law of the Republic of Artsakh ‘On Making Amendment to the NKR Law ‘On State Duty’, signed by President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan on April 12, 2019, will come into force.

On December 1, 2018, the Foreign Ministry came forward with a proposal to make an amendment to the law, which would provide for abolishing the state duty for the 21-day single tourist entry visa to the Republic of Artsakh. The introduced legislative amendment is aimed to promote tourism development in Artsakh by facilitating the issuance of entry visas to foreign citizens․

According to the new procedure, foreign citizens will be granted an entry visa at the passport control points upon entry to Artsakh, and at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Artsakh to the Republic of Armenia (address: Yerevan, Nairi Zaryan St. 17a / 2).

Panorama, Armenia

April 20 2019

Number of beggar and street children up in Armenia

4 beggar and homeless children were registered in Armenian as of the end of 2018, up by 2 from the previous year’s numbers, according to the report of the Armenian Police.

The figures released by the National Statistical Service (NSS) of Armenia show that the three street children are 14-15 years old and the forth is 16-18 years old. Two of them are registered in capital Yerevan, while the other two are found to be residents of Kotayk  and Lori regions.

The number of child beggars and street children has sharply declined to compare with the findings of previous years, when 13 such children were registered in Armenia in 2016 and 8 children – in 2015.