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POPE'S VISIT TO ARMENIA ALL-IMPORTANT EVENT IN COUNTRY'S SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL LIFE 
SEPTEMBER 25. . The Pope John Paul II's visit to
Armenia is an all-important event in the country's spiritual,
cultural and political life, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said
today in his interview to the Italian Catholic newspaper "Avvenire,"
the president's press-service told ARMINFO.
He said that the official Yerevan appreciates Vatican's role as a
spiritual center and defendant of human rights and moral standards,
as a fighter for peace and stability in the world. "Head of the
Catholic Church arrives in Armenia for the first time, and we are
warmly and gladly expecting this historical event," the president
said.
Kocharyan also pointed out that Pope's visit acquires particular
importance in the light of Armenia's celebrating the 1700th
Anniversary of Proclamation of Christianity. "We, Armenians, are
proud of having been the first to adopt and approve of the ideas of
Christian humanism at a state level," the president said. The
adoption of Christianity in Armenia inaugurated spiritual and
cultural awakening: wonderful works of written language and
literature, architecture, historiography and philosophy were created,
which enriched the Christian treasury, the Armenian president
said.
POPE'S RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN
OTTOMAN TURKEY IN 1915 EVIDENCE OF VATICAN'S ABSOLUTE DEVOTION TO
PANHUMAN VALUES, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS
SEPTEMBER 25.Pope John Paul II's recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Turkey in 1915 is an
evidence of Vatican's absolute devotion to the panhuman values.
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan made this statement in his
interview to the Italian Catholic newspaper "Avvenire," the Armenian
president's press-service told ARMINFO.
Robert Kocharyan said that Armenia welcomes a joint communique
on Genocide adopted by John Paul II and Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II last year. He also pointed out that "without
restoring the historical truth, it is impossible to heal the wounds
of the past, and Vatican made a very important step in this
direction."
Pointing out that over the last few years parliaments of many
countries, as well as many cities, regions and states adopted
resolutions condemning the Genocide, Robert Kocharyan said that this
problem concerns not only the Armenian people, but also the whole
civilized humanity. "I think that Pope John Paul II's visit to the
Memorial of Genocide in Yerevan will once more draw the attention of
the civilized world to this crime of last century, to prevent
such crimes in the future," the president said.
At the same time he pointed out that over the past millennia Armenia
has never considered itself a stronghold of the Western civilization
against the advancement of Islam. "We have never confused the wild
displays of the Islamic extremism in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 with
real values of Islam, next to which we have already lived for
centuries," the president said. He also added that Armenia is in warm
relations with many Islamic countries, the numerous Armenian
communities maintaining their religious and national identity in Iran
and in the countries of the Middle East.
MUSEUM OF FAllEN SOLDIERS TO BE OPENED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH IN NEAR
FUTURE
SEPTEMBER 25. A museum of fallen soldiers is
expected to be open in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) in the near
future.
Chairwoman of the "Union of relatives of the NKR soldiers missing in
action" Galina Arustamyan said that the Karabakh government has
already allocated a necessary sum for the implementation of the
project. The Union chairwoman said that information about the killed
soldiers was collected in a special card catalogue, which will be
placed in the museum together with photos.
The Union launched its activities in 1994, rendering financial aid
and moral support to the fallen soldiers' families, as well as to
disabled soldiers in solving their social problems. The Organization
is supported by the NKR government, different humanitarian
organizations and philanthropists of Karabakh, Armenia and the
Armenian Diaspora.
SPEECH BY H.E. ROBERT KOCHARIAN AT THE WELCOMING CEREMONY OF HIS
HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II
HEAD OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, POPE JOHN PAUL II'S FIRST VISIT TO
ARMENIA STARTED TODAY
PEACE CAN BE ESTABLISHED ONLY ON BASIS OF MUTUAL RESPECT OF NATIONS
AND GENEROSITY DISPLAYED ON PART OF THOSE HOLDING POWER
SEPTEMBER 25.Peace can be established only on the
basis of mutual respect of nations and generosity displayed on the
part of those holding power, Rome Pope John Paul II said greeting the
Armenian nation at the Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan today.
The Pope said the 10th anniversary of Armenia's independence as well
as its membership in the Council of Europe are serious steps towards
creating a fair and harmonic society. He said Armenia is firmly
resolved to implement democratic reforms necessary for protecting
human rights. He said despite the hard times every man must sacrifice
himself for the sake of the country's prosperity.
The Pope said he is thrilled to remember the glorious history of
Christianity in Armenia, the first country to embrace the Evangelist
Truth of Jesus Christ. The Armenian Catholic Church shares the joy
about the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity as state religion in
Armenia. Vatican is friendly to all Armenians in the world, the Pope
said in his greeting.
CEREMONIAL LITURGY WAS HELD IN HOLY SEE OF ECHMIADZIN IN HONOR OF
ROMAN POPE
ESTONIA AGAINST ELECTIONS IN KARABAKH
SEPTEMBER 25. The Azerbaijanian Foreign Ministry
received on September 24 an official letter of Estonian Foreign
Minister Toomas Ilves concerning the elections to "local
self-governments" held on the Azeri territory recently
occupied by the Karabakh armed forces.
Toomas Ilves pointed out that, in accordance with the Baku
newspaper "Echo," Estonia has always recognized a principle of
territorial integrity referring to Azerbaijan. Then the newspaper
says that Estonia is at one with the CE's statement made on September
12 about "illegality of the elections in Karabakh, the occupied part
of Azerbaijan."
AZERBAIJAN RECOGNIZED KARABAKH'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
SEPTEMBER 25.Azerbaijan recognized Karabakh's
right for self-determination in the Council of Europe. As the
press-office of Armenia's foreign ministry told ARMINFO today, the
session of representatives of CE Committee of ministers recently
adopted unanimously the document on right of nations to the
self-determination.
This document was adopted as request to the demand of one of members
of the Azeri delegation in PACE to CE Committee of ministers. The
Azeri side demanded to recognize the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan.
By adoption of this document the representatives of CE Committee of
ministers not only did not satisfied the demand of the Azeri side,
but also recognized the equality of the principle of the right to the
self-determination with the principle of the territorial integrity of
states, the press-office of Armenia's foreign ministry.
DEPUTIES OF CLU DEMAND TO DISMISS MILITARY PROSECUTOR OF ARMENIA FROM
HIS POST
SEPTEMBER 25. The deputies from the Constitutional
Law Union (CLU) started in the National Assembly the process of
collection of signatures for appealing to the president of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan to dismiss the military prosecutor of the republic
Gagik Jhangiryan from his post. The deputy of the parliament, the
leader of the CLU Hrant Khachatryan stated during today's sitting of
Armenia's National Assembly.
According to him, the appeal of parents of servicemen, subjected to
tortures, served as an occasion for such an initiative. The parents
demand to raise the question on dismissing the military prosecutor
Gagik Jhangiryan from his post. According to the parents, who
appealed to the CLU, the successful work of the special commission,
created by the Prosecutor General's Office, which is now examining
the activity of the military prosecutor's office, is impossible until
Gagik Jhangiryan in this post. The parents demand as minimum to reach
stopping the activity of Jhangiryan in the period of the check-ups in
the military prosecutor's office, carried out by the commission.
Khachatryan noted that military prosecutor Gagik Jangiryan and his
office can entangle any crime committed in the army already at the
preliminary stage. As a result relatives and victims equally complain
of the military prosecutor's office.
ARMENIAN ACTOR VLADIMIR MSRYAN, WHO PLAYED ROLE OF OLD CLOWN IN FILM
"PIERLEKINO, OR LIGHTER THAN AIR" DECLARED BEST ACTOR IN
"MOVIE-SHOCK" FESTIVAL IN ANAPA
SEPTEMBER 25. The Armenian actor Vladimir Msryan
was given a prize for the best male role at the Festival of the
CIS and Baltic countries held in Anapa. Msryan performed a role
of an old clown in the film "Pierlekino, or Lighter than air" of
"Yerevan" studio, the director of the film Tigran Khzmalyan told
ARMINFO.
The "Pierlekino" was shoot in 2000. It is a film about Yerevan in
60-90s and the Armenian clowns. The first night was held in the same
year in the Yerevan Cinema House and in the "Moscow" Cinema. Next
demonstration of the film took place at the "Movie-shock"
The video cassettes with this film are not likely to appear soon,
because of numerous financial and technical problems. Khzmalyan said
that the "Yerevan" studio's British colleagues proposed them to
organize a demonstration of the film in Europe. "I do not know,
whether this project will come true, in any case, I'd like to
believe in it," the director pointed out.
ARMENIA AND UKRAINE EXCHANGE SERGEY PARAJANOV'S FILMS
SEPTEMBER 25. Armenia and Ukraine have exchanged
Sergey Parajanov's films.
The Ukrainian film director of Armenian descent, the Maestro's
disciple Roman Balayan handed to the Parajanov Museum the pictures
"A flower on the stone" and "Ukrainian Rhapsody", "The Best Guy", and
several short films. In its turn, from its fund the Museum presented
the film director with the films "The color of pomegranate" and
"Hakob Hovnatanian", which were shot in Kiev.
The action was held under an agreement signed between the Armenian
and Ukrainian ministries of culture and was dedicated to the 10th
anniversary of the opening of the Sergey Parajanov house-museum in
Yerevan.
The Armenian film director is known to have lived in Kiev for long.
Many of his films he shot in Ukraine. The most famous of them is the
film "The shadows of forgotten ancestors".
EDITOR OF CATHOLIC WEEKLY SAYS ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC AND ROMAN
CATHOLICOS CHURCHES MAY UNITE
SEPTEMBER 25. Editor of Vatican's The Tablet weekly
Christofer Gerden said, commenting on the Rome Pope's visit to
Armenia, he does not exclude the possibility that the Roman Catholic
and Armenian Apostolic Churches will sooner or later set about
considering their unification.
As the RFE/RL reports, Gerden said the Rome Pope and the Armenian
Catholics seek to unite the two churches. He said "if the Orthodox
Church witnesses the unification of the Armenian Apostolic and Roman
Catholic Churches that will encourage the unification of Christians
worldwide."
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS: ROMAN POPE'S PRESENT VISIT WILL,
UNDOUBTEDLY, ASSIST CONSOLIDATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN
APOSTOLIC AND ROMAN-CATHOLIC CHURCHES
NAVIGATOR STUDIO ANSWERS QUESTIONS IN GALLERY OF ARMENIAN CENTER OF
CONTEMPORARY ART (ACCA)
SEPTEMBER 25."State-family: state-fortress" this
is the title of the exhibition of the Navigator studio organized in
the gallery ACCA. Photo chronicle of recent years of war, documentary
films dedicated to the keen problems of today's Armenia, even the
models of fighting equipment - everything is dedicated to 10th
anniversary of republic's independence.
Near the entrance of the gallery a military cross-country vehicle and
a fighting aircraft are exposed. Besides, the aircraft is note a real
one. It is a model designed by the constructor of Navigator.
According to the director of the studio Karen Gevorgyan, there is
nothing strange in it.
Navigator is not just a simple studio, it is also an ideology. Our
activities aim to raise the spirit of our countrymen, we want to help
its revival. So, why not to design a fighting aircraft, Karen
Gevorgyan said.
A photo exhibition dedicated to the Karabakh war is exposed in the
gallery. Soldiers-liberators, refugees, children from demolished
villages, funerals of fallen soldiers - all faces on pictures are
remarkably calm and sure of themselves.
The show of documentary films will last till 29 Oct. Their
titles "Widow's bread", "Ambassadors - outstanding sight", "Welcome:
hell" talk about themselves. These are films about the Armenian
realities in their beauty and ugliness.
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SEPTEMBER 25. The ARMINFO news agency herewith
presents the text of the Armenian President Robert Kocharian's speech
at the welcoming ceremony of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,
provided to our agency by Kocharian's press-office.
Your Holiness, Your Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians, Honoured
Clergy, Dear Guests, We are greatly honoured and happy to welcome The
Holy Father, Pope John Paul II onto Armenian soil. The visit of the
Roman Pope is an important event in the life of every country. But
this indeed is an historic occasion for us - the first visit ever in
the history of the Holy See of the Head of the Roman Catholic Church
to Armenia.
The history of Christianity, which is so closely related to the
achievements of human civilisation, is our common bond. Having been
amply tested throughout seventeen centuries, our shared faith and
values now provide strong foundations for the warmth of our
relations. This is why we are confident, that this visit is of an
historical nature in terms of expanding and deepening still further
the relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Vatican.
Your Holiness, You have been at the heart of the momentous processes
of change that have been taking place in the countries of Eastern
Europe. They signal the beginning of a new era for human and national
freedoms. The universal nature of your work, your efforts to preserve
peace and stability in the world are an inspiration to us.
The rich tradition of these ties has already been impressively
displayed. I remember the enormous response provoked by the
SEPTEMBER 25. The first visit of Head of the Roman
Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II to Armenia started today.
The Pontiff's airplane of the "Kazakh Airlines" Company arrived in
"Zvartnots" International Airport at 1:00 p.m. local time.
Welcoming the Pope at the airport were Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan, Cathoilicos of All Armenians Garegin II and other
officials.
The visit's official part will began on September 26. This day John
Paul II will hold a meeting with the Armenian president and will
visit Tsitsernakaberd, the Memorial for remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915, as well as a new Cathedral of
Saint Grigor the Illuminator in Yerevan consecrated on September 23.
On September 27 the Pontiff will visit the Mother See of Holy
Echmiadzin, where in he will held his open sermon in front of the
Cathedral. It is expected that 5,000-10,000 people will take part
in it. Then John Paul II will make a visit to the Khor-Virap
cloister complex, the history of which is closely connected with the
adoption of Christianity in Armenia.
SEPTEMBER 25. A ceremonial liturgy in honor of the
arrival of Roman-Catholic Church Roman Pope John Paul II in Armenia
was held today in the Holy See of Echmiadzin.
Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan, the Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan, the speaker of Armenian parliament Armen Khachatryan, as
well as representatives of the government and heads of foreign
diplomatic missions in Armenia. After the liturgy John Paul II paid
tribute of respect to graves of Armenian Catholicoses.
Tomorrow in the framework of his visit to Armenia the Roman Pope will
meet with the President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, will visit the
Memorial complex of victims of Armenians' genocide in the Ottoman
Turkey in 1915, the Tsitsernakaberd, as well as the new Cathedral of
St.Grigor Lusavorich in Yerevan.
On Sept 27, the Roman Pope will visit the Holy See of Echmiadzin,
where his open sermon will take place before the Cathedral. It is
expected that from 5,000 to 10,000 people will take part in it. Then
the head of the Roman-Catholic Church will visit the monastery
complex Khor-Virap, the history of which is closely connected with
the proclamation of Christianity in Armenia.
