Oleg Gabrielyan: Crimean-Armenians urge authorities to consider their claims for Surb Khach monastery's status.December 8, 2009 - 17:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - After reconstruction and consecration Surb Khach ceased functioning as a monastery, according to Head of Crimean-Armenian Community Oleg Gabrielyan. "If the monastery had monks, we could have avoided such situation," he finds. In a letter addressed to Supreme Rada Speaker Anatoly Gratsenko, the Armenians of Crimea voice their community's position on the impermissibility of authorities' taking any measures without the previous consent of the AAC Ukrainian eparchy. Earlier Gratsenko announced that beginning December 1, 2009, Surb Khach Monastery would become a department of Crimea's ethnographic center. A monument of state importance, Surb Khach (Holy Cross) was for centuries a place of worship and pilgrimage for Armenians. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. |