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Pashinyan sends Canada Day message to Trudeau

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Pashinyan sends Canada Day message

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia has addressed a congratulatory message to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the occasion of Canada Day.

The message, released by the prime minister’s official website, reads in part:

“Armenia and Canada have forged strong and multifaceted partnership ties, based on mutual respect and trust. I am convinced that Armenia’s democratic developments have created more favorable conditions for the further strengthening and deepening of our friendly relations. I am hopeful that in the near future they will be reflected in the political dialogue and economic cooperation between our two countries.

A special role in our relations is reserved to the Armenian community in Canada, which is can set an example to the entire Armenian Diaspora by virtue of those sustained efforts aimed at building new bridges between the two countries.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Armenia. I am confident that your visit will go a long way toward raising the level of bilateral cooperation.”

Pope’s Christmas Message Urges Peace, Comforts Victims Of Terrorism

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Pope Francis has urged peace in the Middle East and offered comfort to those who lost loved ones to terrorism.

Delivering his traditional Christmas address on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on December 25, the pope called for guns to fall silent in Syria, saying “far too much blood has been spilled” in the nearly six-year conflict.

Citing those suffering in the Syrian war — especially during the “most awful battles” in Aleppo — he pressed the international community for a peaceful solution.

Pope Francis also urged Israelis and Palestinians to abandon hate and revenge.

In the speech that comes less than a week after a deadly terrorist attack in Berlin, the pope said he hoped for “peace to those who have lost a person dear to them as a result of brutal acts of terrorism.” The December 19 truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market left twelve people dead and injured dozens of others.

The pontiff also made reference to those who “continue to suffer from the consequences of the conflict in eastern Ukraine,” where a cease-fire has been officially in place since December 24 although both sides have accused each other of violations. Francis said that “a common resolve is urgently needed to bring relief to the population and to implement the commitments that have been made.”

The pope also called for an end to “fundamentalist terrorism” in Nigeria that he said “exploits even children,” a reference to child suicide-bombers.

Speaking in more general terms, Francis urged everyone to help the less fortunate, including migrants, refugees, and those swept up by social and economic upheavals.

There was a heavy police presence around St. Peter’s Square, where some 40,000 gathered for the pope’s annual message.

The entrance to the square has been protected by concrete barriers since the Berlin attack.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters

Pope delivers Easter message of hope after grim week of terror

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pp.thumbPope Francis preached an Easter message of hope after a grim week in Europe, calling on Christians not to let fear and pessimism “imprison” them, the BBC reports.

Speaking amid tight security at the Vatican, the Pope said: “Let us not allow darkness and fear to distract us and control our hearts.”

His message followed a condemnation on Friday of the Brussels terror attacks.

Islamist violence is expected to be a prominent theme of his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message.

Many pilgrims cancelled their planned trips to Rome in the wake of the violence in Brussels, but St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican was packed when Pope Francis celebrated mass on Saturday evening.

The Pontiff entered a darkened basilica with just a single candle guiding him. As he reached the altar, the basilica’s floodlights came on to symbolise the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Delivering his homily, Francis said: “Today is the celebration of our hope. It is so necessary today.”

The lengthy vigil service also included a papal baptism for 12 adults hailing from China, South Korea and other countries around the world.

On Sunday morning, Francis will preside over Easter Mass and offer his annual Easter blessing.

On Friday, he denounced the “terrorist acts committed by followers of some religions which profane the name of God and which use the holy name to justify their unprecedented violence”.

Meanwhile, Vatican officials distributed sleeping bags to 100 homeless people.

The police presence in the streets around the Vatican has been stepped up this year, as more pilgrims than usual are expected after Francis declared a jubilee year for the Catholic Church, calling it a “Holy Year of Mercy”

VIDEO: Armenian president’s New Year message

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“Dear compatriots,

I congratulate you on the occasion of New Year and Christmas.

Throughout the past year, we have continued our progress, have continued to build, reconstruct and develop as a society and as a state. Let us confess that it all has been done in a complex geopolitical situation.

2014 was marked by turbulent events happening in various corners of the world. Unfortunately, those storms have not calmed down yet. Just one year ago perhaps few people could imagine such a rapid escalation of events and their negative outcomes.

The primary task of Armenian authorities has been to keep our people and our country away from those storms, maintain peace in Armenia and Artsakh and ensure their security and stability. Rarely have we managed to fully guard ourselves against aggravation of various negative trends because we constitute one part of the world. No matter how small we consider our country to be, we are a part of the world.

Dear compatriots,

The last year was characterized by an unprecedented exacerbation of tensions on our borders. This is the reality we live in. Our army carries out all its tasks creditably and with a high level of professionalism. I have no doubt that today, upon gathering around the New Year table, we will definitely raise our glasses in a toast to our soldiers and officers, wishing them “Good service.”

We are entering the year 2015. The year, of course, is symbolic. We are going to properly organize the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Mets Eghern. Together we will do it with dignity. We will mark the victory of life over death, emphasizing the heroic and glorious path of our people. We will emphasize our people’s will and effort to survive, revive and to be liberated. We will also stress the rich harvest Armenian genius has yielded for the world throughout the past centenary.

Dear compatriots,

External circumstances may turn out differently; really important and decisive is what we are going to do for our families and our country. We can do better and we do it step by step. We will develop our economy under new conditions, by making use of the opportunities that will open up in the near future. We will continue along the path toward a free, safe and prosperous Armenia. With God’s blessing, we will continue to triumph through living and creating.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!”