Ethiopia Selected Among Top 10 Best Tourist Destination For 2015

ETHIOPIA SELECTED AMONG TOP 10 BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2015

All Africa
Feb 9 2015

One of the leading publishers of travel guidebook, Rough Guides,
recently held an online vote allowing its readers to select their
top international destination choices for 2015.

According to the results, Ethiopia ranks number seven on the People’s
Choice list that also includes the UK, Iceland, Japan, Chile, Turkey
and the US. This makes Ethiopia the only African country that made
it to the list.

“From the dramatic Great Rift Valley to the lush highlands, the
diversity of Ethiopia’s landscapes might surprise you,” Rough Guides
wrote in its announcement. “This is one of the most beautiful countries
in Africa, and visitors find themselves entranced by the stunning
lakes, sprawling national parks and delicious national cuisine.” The
publication adds: “We recommended Ethiopia in 2014, and this year
you’ve done the same.”

Rough Guides said it is releasing a new e-book on Ethiopia this
Spring. Addis Ababa was also featured on The New York Times ’52 Places
to Go in 2014′ list.

Ten-year after exile Nebiat opens art exhibition at Alliance
Ethio-Franciase

Nebiat Abebe, former graduate of the School of Fine Arts and Design,
Addis Ababa University is opening her art exhibition at Alliance
Ethio-Franciase on Monday.

Nebiat, who was born in Addis Ababa in the mid 1980’s had lived and
worked in Antwerp, Belgium for the last ten years. Since her return
from exile in Europe she has been working as a full-time artist
expressing her life experiences in paintings and drawings.

She has showcased her art exhibitions both here and abroad for the
last ten years. While many of her exhibitions are augmented by her
childhood memories of her country the rest profoundly falls on her
youth which she spent in exile.

Nebiat, who graduated from the only Art and Design School of Addis
Ababa University in 1999 had further educations and exposure in Europe
to embellish her career as an artist. The exhibition will be opened
at 6:30 on Monday February 9 and will stay open for a week.

Fanfare of the Negus conference to be held:

Alliance Ethio-Francaise will hold a conference entitled “Fanfare of
the Negus” on Thursday February 12 at 6:00 pm.

In 1924, the first Ethiopian royal brass band was formed with
forty-children who were once deprived of their most earnest childhood
memories due to genocide and dispossession. Armenian director of the
band wrote the first Ethiopian national anthem.

Starting from this symbolic and political episode, Boris Adjemian
retraces the unique path of the diaspora Armenian community in
Ethiopia. According to many Ethiopian musicians of the time the
modern Ethiopian music of these days is believed to be shaped and
orchestrated by the Armenian-Ethiopian Nerses Nalbandian.

According to the organizer, the conference will raise those historical
accounts and faded memories of the foundation of the current Ethiopian
music. Narses is also known to be the composer and writer of the
first African Unity anthem heard at the first OAU summit held in
Addis Ababa in 1963. The conference will be channeled in English.

Hope with Art and Music of 2015 exhibition to commence tomorrow

The third art exhibition by ART Joy and Love is scheduled to be held
on Sunday February 8 at the Addis Ababa University Alle School of
Fine Arts and Design.

ART pieces was created by children from AHOPE, Artist for Charity
and Sele Enat Mahiber after having participated in the art workshop
mentored by Mihret Kebede, Director and founding member of the Netsa
Art Village, and her friends. Musical performance of the children
will be conducted by Elad Neeman and Monica Manaker.

The Israeli musicians have been mentoring the children to play
their wonderful music and choreography at the event. The previous
two exhibitions were also organized by the Embassy of Israel, Dany
Engelhard (Prof), from Hadassah University Hospital in Israel as well
as the Netsa Art Village group to present success stories for orphaned
children. The embassy has been involved in this project since 2005
in order to help children grasp hope to their future through music
and art.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://allafrica.com/stories/201502090452.html

Swiss Leaks/His Holiness Karekin II

The Swiss Leaks project is based on a trove of almost 60,000 leaked files
that provide details on over 100,000 HSBC clients and their bank accounts.
Explore the data to see how different countries compare, and find out more
about some of the clients of the bank:

His Holiness Karekin II

Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

Born Ktrij Nersessian, he was enthroned in 1999 as the 132nd Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos (meaning “universal leader”) of Echmiadzin, the
holy seat of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. He has traveled the
world visiting the Armenian diaspora and promoting inter-faith dialogue. His
travels have taken him to places including Vatican City, the United States,
India and Turkey, milestones of his pontifical visits.

File details

HSBC internal files first listed Karekin II among its clients in 2000. He
was connected to an account named “His Holiness Karekin II Nersis” that
listed one bank account and held as much as $1.1 million in 2006/2007. The
leaked files do not specify the exact role that Karekin II had in relation
to the account.

Comment

A spokesman told ICIJ that the account in question was opened by His
Holiness Karekin II’s precedessor “for the benefit of the Church and its
charities. This account was transferred to His Holiness Karekin II
Nersissian upon the death of his predecessor to be used for the same
purposes. The Catholicosate -the area of responsibility of the Catholicos-
of the Armenian church is a national religious institution and is not
subject to any taxes” and that His Holiness “has immunity from any taxes.”

http://www.icij.org/project/swiss-leaks/explore-swiss-leaks-data

HAAF: Indoor swimming pool built at Children’s Home in Gyumri

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Building 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel:? +(3741) 56 01 06? ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Yerevan, February 9, 2015

Indoor swimming pool built at Children’s Home in Gyumri

– The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund has built an indoor therapy pool and
related amenities at the Children’s Home of Gyumri, which shelters and
provides care to children with physical and mental disabilities. The project
was sponsored by the fund’s Swiss affiliate.

The 30-square-meter, 70-centimeter-deep pool is complemented by a dressing
room, a shower room with a separate section for massage therapy, and
restrooms. Featuring a heating and ventilation system for year-round
operation, the pool is designed to provide access to children with physical
disabilities through a ramp as well as a mechanical crane for wheelchairs.

“The pool is a great help in developing motor skills and strengthening
muscles through aquatic exercises. The medical staff will receive thorough
training in hydrotherapy,” said Children’s Home director Ruzanna Avagyan in
a phone interview. “The pool is also open, free of charge, to children with
limited abilities who live with local families.”

Close to 130 children under six years of age live and receive professional
care at the Children’s Home. When they reach age six, they’re placed in
similar specialized facilities.

In 2011-2012, the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund implemented a complete
renovation of the two buildings of the Children’s Home. The project was
sponsored by the fund’s German affiliate. Following the development, the
Fund reconstructed and furnished the playground, as well as provided the
orphanage with additional furniture and equipment.

http://www.himnadram.org/

Can I Get Paid? Grammy Nominated Artist Reveals His Royalty Statemen

CAN I GET PAID? GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTIST REVEALS HIS ROYALTY STATEMENT-SAND IT’S NOT PRETTY

Madame Noire
Feb 9 2015

February 9, 2015 â~@~P
By Ann Brown

Most people think musicians and Grammy nominated artists are rolling
in the dough. But fact is, the majority of artists have to work hard
for their money and lots of times have to fight for income such as
royalty rights.

Mega successful Taylor Swift engaged in an epic battle with streaming
music service Spotify over her royalties. In fact, so upset that she
didn’t receive the royalties she claimed was due to her, Swift last
year removed her entire back catalog from Spotify.

Just recently Grammy nominated composer, keyboardist, and recording
artist Armen Chakmakian graphically illustrated just how little artists
make on royalties by releasing his royalty statements to the public.

The Armenian-American musician revealed that out of 14,227 performances
of music (almost every track 100 percent owned by Chakmakian, played
everywhere from streaming services like Pandora to over speakers at
events) he only generated $4.20 in royalty earnings.

There are striking differences on the amount of royalties earned
on different outlets. One performance of his songs “Ceremonies” or
“Distant Lands” on a streaming radio show like Hearts of Space earned
him 26 cents for the full writer’s share compared to when his song
“Gypsy Rain” was play a whopping 2,088 times on Spotify and brought
in just a measly 60 cents.

“Someone’s making money, and in true fashion with the music industry,
it’s not the artists. Business practices like this are one of the
reasons I jumped ship and only write for television now,” writes
Chakmakian in Digital Music News.

He also shows his artist’s statement from SoundExchange (an independent
digital performance rights organization) from the same period showing
Chakmakian was paid $11.50 in royalties. “I received a total of $30.89
from them – $11.50 for the artist; $19.39 for the label (I’m the label,
TruArt Records),” he confirms.

It’s no secret that the music industry is changing. Forbes listed some
of the major shifts; even as people are listening to more music than
ever, they’re purchasing fewer downloads in favor of streaming. So
money is being made more often through touring and partnerships
with brands. Companies spent $1.3 billion last year to partner with
musicians, which is why you see so many artists turning up in ads
these days.

http://madamenoire.com/509914/can-get-paid-grammy-nominated-artist-reveals-royalty-statement-not-pretty/

Watch: Tigran Hamasyan Unveils Animated Video For "Mockroot" Song "K

WATCH: TIGRAN HAMASYAN UNVEILS ANIMATED VIDEO FOR “MOCKROOT” SONG “KARS 2 (WOUNDS OF THE CENTURIES)”

NoneSuch
Feb 9 2015

Tigran Hamasyan, whose Nonesuch Records debut album, Mockroot,
is out now in Europe and due February 17 in the United States, has
unveiled an animated video of the album track “Kars 2 (Wounds of the
Centuries).” The video, which premiered on Les Inrocks, was created
by his sister, Melanya Hamasyan. You can watch it below.

The song was written about the town of Kars, the ancestral home of
Hamasyan’s maternal grandparents, a place that became part of Turkey
in the years that followed the Ottoman genocide of Armenians during
the First World War.

“They call Armenia a country of stone, because there are so many huge
mountains made up of crazily shaped and oddly coloured stones,” says
Hamasyan. “Every time I see these mountains, they tell me something.

They have a story. And, even though the town of Kars is no longer part
of Armenia, and even though the Armenian culture in that environment
doesn’t exist anymore, it has been preserved in those cliffs and those
rocks. That’s what I’m trying to capture in this simple, eight-bar
phrase that goes with a poem.”

To order Mockroot now in Europe and pre-order in the US, head to
iTunes or Amazon. To pre-order in the US, you can also head to the
Nonesuch Store, where CD orders include a download of the complete
album starting February 17.

From: Baghdasarian

http://www.nonesuch.com/journal/watch-tigran-hamasyan-animated-video-mockroot-kars-2-wounds-centuries-2015-02-09

ANKARA: Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Shouldn’t Be Considered Insolvable

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULDN’T BE CONSIDERED INSOLVABLE – FRENCH AMBASSADOR

Cihan News Agency (CNA), Turkey
February 9, 2015 Monday

BAKU (CİHAN)- It is important not to consider the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh as something that will last forever, French Ambassador
to Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier told Trend.

“What is important is not to consider the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
as something that will last forever and something we can not deal
with,” he said.

The ambassador talked about the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“There is a saying in French: ‘you don’t need the reason of hope to
be active’,” he said. “My impression and the will of our government
are not linking these two.”

“If there is a conflict in Ukraine it doesn’t mean we have to be
completely inactive in Nagorno-Karabakh,” said French ambassador.

He added that as soon the date is agreed with the parties, the
co-chairs will come to the region. “There is a willingness to help
and to maintain the dialog between the parties.”

Mediation is neither a tribunal and nor a court, it is a way to
use all the techniques available for the diplomats and experts in
confident building in conflict resolution in post – crisis management,
according to the diplomat.

He added that the co-chairs can not decide for the presidents in
terms of what is acceptable for them, for the people of the region.

“Last year President Francois Hollande offered a meeting for Presidents
Aliyev and Sargsyan in Paris, what was after the meeting is not
what we expected to see,” said Monnier. “We urge, by all means,
both presidents, both countries to start a dialog and to avoid any
measures which can harm this dialog.”

Armenia is unlikely happy with the status-quo, according to the
French ambassador.

“As we know, Armenia is occupying a lot of territories, 7 territories,
and also controlling Nagorno-Karabakh,” said the ambassador. “If we
look at the economic situation of Armenia, we don’t have an impression
that Armenia is getting a lot from the situation.”

“I think Armenia would get more if peace was there,” Monnier said,
adding that the work of co-chairs is to find a way that both presidents
would be happy with.

“We know that there are three major principles of resolution:
non-use of force, territorial integrity and self – determination,”
said the ambassador, adding that territorial integrity and self –
determination sometimes are contradictory.

“If you don’t believe in any progress you are not active,” he said.

“2015 is a very important year. Of course 2015 could appear more
complicated to EU because of commemoration, because of Ukraine and
ISIS, but it is not reason to be inactive, we will continue to be
active.” Regarding the inclusion of Germany in the list of OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairing countries, Monnier said that Germany as a
government is supporting the Minsk Group co-chairs, as does all the
European Union.

Earlier, the deputy chairman of the OSCE PA’s committee on political
affairs and security, the Azerbaijani MP, Azay Guliyev said he plans to
raise the issue of increasing the number of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
from three countries – the US, Russia and France – to five, including
Germany and Turkey.

Guliyev said he will raise the issue at the winter session of the
OSCE PA, to be held in Vienna.

Monnier believes the co-chairing group is the right body to find the
peaceful, lasting solution to the conflict.

“I don’t think that there is debate is Europe on this subject,”
he said.

“At the same time what I think is that any concrete support of any
member states is welcomed that means that the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is something of concern for all the
nations because it violates the stability in the region and it also
prevents economic integration of the region,” he said,” adding that
it is a negative impact on everybody.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in
1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a
result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently
holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.

UN Meaningfulworld 19 March 10:30am, Transforming Trauma of Politica

United Nations
Commission For Status of Women
Parallel Symposium

Transforming trauma of political violence: Lessons from Africa,
Middle East & Caribbean

transforming violence through Mind=Body=Eco=Spirit

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, 19 March 2015
10:30 AM – 12 Noon

United Nations, Church Center Chapel

1st Ave, at corner of 44th street, NYC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Musical Performance:
Perspectives Ensemble
Sato Moughalian on Flute
Panelists:

The Rev. James Kowalski, Dean, Cathedral St. John the Divine
“Empowering Conscientious Leaders”

Ms. Eugenie Mukeshimana, Genocide Survivors Support Network, Rwanda
“Empowering Survivors from Rwanda”

Dr. Ani Kalayjian, TC, Columbia University.”Mind-Body-Eco-Spirit:
Empowering people in the Middle East, Africa, EU, & Caribbean”

Prof. Svetlana Aslanya, Inst of Linguistics, National Academy of
Sciences of Armenia “Empowerment in Armenia”

Mr. Lorne Schussel, PhD Candidate, Teachers College, Columbia
University “Co-creating Our Best Self” Meditation

Chairpersons:

Dr. Ani Kalayjian,UN Rep for ATOP Meaningfulworld

Dr. Tara Pir,UN Rep for Institute for Multicultural Counseling and
Educational Services

Closing Ceremony:

Collective Healing & Heart- to-Heart Circle of Love and Gratitude.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RSVP by 8 March, Suyeon
[email protected]

In observance of
International Day for Women
8 March

Cosponsors: Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention (ATOP) of
Meaningfulworld, Voices for Freedom, Armenian Constitutional Rights
Protective Centre, and Armenian American Society for Studies on Stress
& Genocide, Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Educational
Services, and World Wide network for Gender Empowerment of Fielding
Graduate University.

Our Motto:
When one helps another,
BOTH become stronger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Founded in 1990

ATOP has achieved National and International Recognition as a leader
in training humanitarian outreach professionals, responding to global
& local disasters, empowering, educating, leading, transforming
trauma into lessons and spreading peace

Meaningfulworld is dedicated to fostering a meaningful, peaceful, and
just world in which every individual enjoys physical, mental, social,
economic, and spiritual health.

Conference Goals

+ To present perspectives of political violence from vulnerable
groups, including: children, women, older women, and refugees; * + To
identify and list the most pressing issues faced by survivors in
Africa, the Middle East, & the Caribbean;

+ To develop remedies and solutions focusing on the collective as well
as the individual needs;

+ To reinforce the value of integrative, mind-body-eco-spirit health
for empowerment, unity, and peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you feel our work is meaningful kindly visit our website to learn
more. If you are interested in volunteering or interning please email
us. If you are able to make a monetary contribution to our
organization kindly mail your check to our address provided below or
donate via Paypal on our website. All Donations are tax deductible.

ATOP Meaningfulworld | | [email protected] |
NY 185 E 85 Street, Mez #4, New York, NY 10028
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Turkish PM: Ruling party will not give in to "Jewish lobby"

Turkish PM: Ruling party will not give in to “Jewish lobby”
JPOST.com Staff
Feb. 9, 2015

[Summary:Davutoglu says government will not succumb to the Jewish
lobby, the Armenian lobby or the lobby of the Turkish-Greek minority.]

Erdogan holds that Fethullah Gulen, a one-time ally of the Turkish
president who has become his chief rival is behind the plot to
overthrow him. Gulen now lives in self-imposed exile in the United
States.

Erdogan has long said that foreign governments are behind the
conspirators, which he blames for inventing a corruption scandal
against his government in 2013 and wiretapping members of his
government, leaking sensitive information to the press and on YouTube.

The Turkish president has consolidated power, after weakening the
country’s army, which had long been a watchdog against the principles
of the state being compromised.

Two weeks ago, Erdogan said that the Mossad was connected to the
Gulenists, followed by Davutoglu’s comments on Sunday contributing the
alleged plot against the AKP to Jews and other minorities.

In a speech to local lawmakers Sunday, Davotuglu said, “I announce it
from here: We have not and will not succumb to the Jewish lobby, the
Armenian lobby or the Turkish-Greek minority’s lobbies,” the Turkish
daily Hurriyet reported.

“I call out to the parallel lobby that sent them a message: We will
stand before you with dignity no matter where you are; you will be
despicable for the treason you have done to this nation,” Hurriyet
quoted Davutoglu as saying.

Erdogan last month came under fire for his claim that allies of his
arch-foe, Gulen, are linked to Israel’s Mossad.

He had charged that, “The sincere people backing this parallel
structure should see with whom this structure is cooperating
with…shame on them if they still cannot see that this structure is
cooperating with the Mossad.”

“If this is not treason then what is it?”

On Sunday, a Turkish court ordered the arrest of 21 police officers as
part of the investigation into the illegal wiretapping of politicians,
civil servants and businessmen, according to the Dogan News Agency.

Raids began in several cities as prosecutors enforced the court order,
part of Erdogan’s campaign against supporters of Gulen.

Last month, a Turkish court issued an arrest warrant against Gulen on
suspicion of heading up a criminal organization.

Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in the US, denies any
involvement in plots against the government.

From: A. Papazian

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Turkish-PM-Ruling-party-will-not-give-in-to-Jewish-lobby-390459

ANKARA: Parliament To Counter Pro-Gulen Congressmen’s Letter To Kerr

PARLIAMENT TO COUNTER PRO-GULEN CONGRESSMEN’S LETTER TO KERRY

Daily Sabah, Turkey
Feb 9 2015

ERDAL Ã…~^AFAK

President Erdogan said Turkish parliamentarians would be sending a
letter to U.S. Secretary of State Kerry countering arguments made by
Gulen-funded U.S. congressmen about Turkey and the government

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking on his way to Colombia –
the first leg of his Latin America tour that will also include visits
to Mexico and Cuba – said Turkish parliamentarians are mobilizing
to counter the propaganda campaign waged by the Gulen Movement
in the U.S. Responding to a question about the letter sent by 88
congressmen to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, claiming that
the Turkish media was under government pressure, Erdogan said that
the members of the Turkish-American Friendship Group in Parliament
were penning a letter to Kerry. An investigative report by Daily
Sabah’s Ragıp Soylu, published on Feb. 9 showed that 43 of the
88 congressmen who signed the letter, which was originally sent to
them by Gulen Movement-affiliated groups in the U.S., had received
campaign donations from the movement as well as free trips to Turkey,
also organized by the group. The rest of the signatories are said to
have been influenced by Armenian and pro-Israel lobbies. Erdogan noted
that in addition to an article by Fethullah Gulen published in The New
York Times, there was information on efforts by the group to recruit
American politicians to damage ties between the U.S. and Turkey.

The Gulen Movement, led by U.S.-based Fethullah Gulen, and its
operatives within the state are accused of waging an indiscriminate
campaign of intimidation against opponents and trying to topple
the government.

Erdogan said he would not be surprised if information about the
criminal practices of the group is released in books and documentaries
in the future.

He also cited yesterday’s arrest of 21 police officers for illegally
wiretapping him when he was the prime minister and all his ministers,
apart from former Interior Minister İdris Naim Å~^ahin, who is known
to have links to the shadowy movement. Erdogan said such illegal
activities were ordered by Fethullah Gulen.

He said that as criminal investigations uncovered new information,
the true extent of the illegal activities of the group would come
to light. “The provincial heads of the movement were identified
and suddenly all of them fled. In the future, we may come to know
the country leaders of the movement. I talked to the president of
Mali about this matter. He, without any hesitation, said that anyone
acting against Turkey would be acting against them and that he would
take the necessary measures.”

Erdogan said he was faced with threats to his own safety and that of
his family. “You trust those who guard you, but suddenly it comes
to light that some belong to them,” he said, adding that they only
found out about the security risk posed by these infiltrators when
the fight against the Gulen Movement started.

Erdogan said Latin America may be far from Turkey, but his trip was
aimed at bridging the physical, economic and political distance.

“Investors are accompanying me. We know there is a lot we can cooperate
on, including infrastructure, mining and energy.”

He said that he would soon undertake another tour of Latin America,
which will include visits to Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia.

One key reason behind the visit to Colombia was counterterrorism,
said Erdogan. “We will discuss the progress they have made on ending
terrorism.”

http://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2015/02/09/parliament-to-counter-progulen-congressmens-letter-to-kerry

ANKARA: Historic Cannonball Stolen From Southern Castle

HISTORIC CANNONBALL STOLEN FROM SOUTHERN CASTLE

Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Feb 9 2015

MERSİN – Dogan News Agency

The cannonball in the entrance of the 1,500-year-old Mamure Castle
in the southern province of Mersin has been stolen. The castle was
listed on the UNESCO Temporary World Heritage List in 2012.

Officials, seeing that the cannonball, which had been there for
centuries, was not in its place informed the gendarmerie and the
museum directorate. The gendarmerie has launched an investigation
into the event.

The Anamur District Museum Director Murat Kalas told the gendarmerie
the stolen cannonball had not been registered in the inventory list
of the museum. Scrap dealers and illegal antique dealers are being
investigated.

Mamure Castle

The Mamure Castle is one of the most well-preserved medieval castles
in the Mediterranean. It was built by the rulers of the Armenian
Kingdom of Cilicia on the foundations of a fourth-century Roman
castle. The castle has a unique medieval fortification with the
characteristics of various armies, including the Romans, Byzantines,
Seljuks, Karamanogulları and Ottomans. Covering an area of 3,500
square meters, the castle is one of the largest castles in Turkey.

The castle has a magnificent location for defense, overlooking
the sea around the region. In 1469, the castle was annexed by the
Ottoman Empire. It was subsequently repaired in the 15th, 16th and
18th centuries and a part of the castle was used as a caravanserai
(a resting place for travelers).

The western courtyard contains a small complex with a single-minaret
mosque and a ruined Turkish bath. The southern courtyard has the
remains of a lighthouse.

February/09/2015

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/historic-cannonball-stolen-from-southern-castle-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78104&NewsCatID=375