His Holiness, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, held a meeting today with members of the Armenian Genocide Commemoration central organizing committee, comprised of representatives of the three Armenian communities and political parties in Lebanon.

Catholicos Aram I specifically directed the members to underline the need for national unity in their activities to mark the 95th  anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, as well as Turkey’s continued policy of denial. His Holiness declared that international recognition of the events of 1915 as “genocide” is more vital than ever.

Catholicos Aram I has announced that while in Abu Dhabi, the political authorities of the country had offered a 3,000 square meter plot of land for the construction of an Armenian church and community center. This would be the first Armenian church in the Gulf nation.

Catholicos Aram I was recently in the Gulf after his ecumenical visit to India.

Yesterday, the Georgian Human Rights Collective staged a demonstration outside the Euronews office in Lyon, France.

The group called for the Georgian government to respect the rights of reporters and to safeguard the freedom of the press. The protestors also called on the European Union to demand a free and fair hearing for Vahagn Chakhalyan, a Javakh-Armenian activist now in jail.

A gathering of various Armenian organizations in Italy was held for the first time in Rome on February 27.

Community representatives met with the RoA Ambassador to Italy, Ruben Karapetyan, to discuss ways of improving bilateral relations between the two countries, supporting the drive to obtain Italian recognition of the NKR and upcoming plans to commemorate the 95 anniversary of the 1915 Genocide.

It’s the people of the RoA who suffer from “strained relations”

There’s a conference taking place in Washington D.C. these days on the state of Diaspora-Armenia relations during the past twenty years since independence. Now that’s a pretty big bite to chew off and digest in a few days, but I wish them success. »»»»»

A demonstration in defense of Vahagn Chakhalyan and to protest the plight of Armenian churches in Georgia will be held in Lyon, France, on Wednesday, March 3, at 5pm.

Organized by the Collective for Human Rights in Georgia, the demonstration will take place outside the offices of Euronews at 60 Chemin des Mouilles, Ecully. ( Contact: cprdhg.djavakhk@free.fr)

2,000 people have signed an online petition to change a street name in Istanbul after “Hrant Dink”, in honour of the slain Armenian editor of Agos, but the city has twice rejected the request.

The petition (www.hrantdinkcaddesi.org) seeks to change the name of the street from Ergenekon Avenue in Istanbul’s Kurtulus neighbourhood to Hrant Dink Avenue. The name change has symbolic meaning since Ergenekon is the name that has been given to case surrounding an alleged military coup d’état. »»»»»

By Harut Sassounian

Armenians are great believers in national unity. Actually, they are obsessed with it.

Yet, despite all the talk about unifying the Armenian people, writing fiery poems and singing patriotic songs about the benefits of unity, this most cherished dream remains elusive. Examples of failed attempts at unity are aplenty. Even in perilous times, Armenians have remained at odds and marched to the beat of different drummers.   »»»»»

To provide an opportunity for academics, policy practitioners, and the public to discuss perspectives on, and approaches to, the present-day challenges facing the Armenian nation, Policy Forum Armenia will hold its 2nd Annual Forum in Washington, DC on February 28-March 2, 2010.

Raffi Hovannisian, the RoA’s First Foreign Minister, is scheduled to deliver the keynote luncheon address.

For a detailed agenda and visitor info: Policy Forum Armenia

“Gakavig” is a new children’s magazine that aims to fill the gap between American-born Armenians and their heritage. The brainchild of Juliette Davtian, the magazine is written in Armenian’s western and eastern dialects and is said to be the first of its kind.

“What prompted me to start this was that something like this does not exist in the Armenian community,” Davtian said. “It’s a much-needed venture.” Stories, riddles, poems and songs complement the publication. The first issue is a promotional issue, at 12 pages. Subsequent issues are expected to publish at 16 pages. »»»»»

On 24th February 2010, eight youngsters arrived in Kolkata, India, from Armenia to join Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy which is under the aegis of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. These students will receive education in the Armenian tradition, gain knowledge and become worthy descendants to their ancestors. »»»»»

On February 23, Catholicos Aram I of Cilicia will depart on a five day trip to India at the invitation of His Holiness Baselios Thoma Didymos, Catholicos of the Indian Orthodox Church, one of the six Oriental Orthodox churches.

Catholicos Aram I will also visit the United Arab Emirates and members of the Armenian community living in the Gulf states, especially Sharja, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He will be accompanied by Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Tehran.

Armenians have a colourful track record in the art of jewellery making. And nowhere is it as discernible as at the outlet of the Yeprem Jewellery at the imposing Alfardan Pavilion of the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition at the Doha Exhibition Centre.

The Beirut-based jeweller is displaying a rich array of well-chiselled diamond pieces, which no visitor is likely to miss even though the outlet is located at one end of the huge pavilion. »»»»»

Hayasa Properties Ltd, along with its sister company, Hayasa Productions, has paid Eur 18.25 million, the highest price ever, for a piece of downtown Nicosia real estate.

Hayasa Productions is a music and digital media company owned by French and Cypriot Armenians, according to a piece in yesterday’s Financial Mirror.com. A company official says that the 2,000 square meter purchase will be developed into a multi-storey venture that will include a modern boutique hotel, commercial and residential space and the capability to rise up to 18 floors with five underground levels.

On February 9, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was scheduled to meet with several American-Armenian organizations in Washington, DC. The meeting intended to provide a forum for raising issues of concern to the community; especially related to recent developments in Turkish-Armenian relations.

A massive snow fall in Washington, DC postponed the meeting but not before disagreements as to who was and was not invited, and why, broke out at the community level. The debate seems to have pitted the Armenian Assembly and the AGBU, on the one side, against the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the ARF on the other. The former have charged the latter with “sowing the seeds of provocation”. The anti-Protocol forces, in turn, have accused the Assembly for being “exclusive” and wanting to dominate the talks. Traditional community bickering or something more sinister? What follows is one man’s opinion. (Editor)

“A Reply to the “Complaint” of the ANCA”

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) statement of Feb 12, 2010 calling itself an “open and inclusive” organization or otherwise describing its activities as a “unifying” force in the community would be laughable if it were not so disingenuous, self-serving and tragic. »»»»»