Author: Andres-Papazian

SYRIAN ARMY CONDUCTS MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF MOUNT CHALMA OF KESSAB

16:37, 14 April, 2014

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. On April 14 a couple of rockets
fell nearJablaregion of Latakia. Fortunately, the damages are only
material. Besides, several rockets fell on Kardaha region without
causing damage.

As reports “Armenpress” referring to “Latakia Information Network”
Facebook page, clashes continue in Kessab region, particularly
in the territory stretching from the 45th height to Kharba Sulas,
near the regions of Mshkiyta and Bahlulia. Today and yesterday the
operations of the Syrian army were focused in the direction of the
peak ofSalidrin, which opens the way to the Chalma peak, as well as
toNabiin and Samra regions.

“Al Mayadin” website reports, that in the region of Nabiin, southwest
of town Kessab of Latakia region, dozens of militants have been killed.

The armed incursion began on Friday, March 21, with rebels associated
with Al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front, Sham al-Islam and Ansar al-Sham
crossing the Turkish border and attacking the Armenian civilian
population of Kessab. The attackers immediately seized two guard posts
overlooking Kessab, including a strategic hill known as Observatory
45 and later took over the border crossing point with Turkey. Snipers
targeted the civilian population and launched mortar attacks on the
town and the surrounding villages.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers crossed the Turkish
border with Syria openly passing through Turkish military barracks.

According to Turkish media reports, the attackers carried their
injured back to Turkey for treatment in the town of Yayladagi.

Some 670 Armenian families, the majority of the population of Kessab,
were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer
areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia. Ten to fifteen families with
relations too elderly to move were either unable to leave or chose
to stay in their homes.

On Saturday, March 22, Syrian troops launched a counteroffensive in an
attempt to regain the border crossing point, eye-witnesses and state
media reported. However, on Sunday, March 23, the extremist groups once
again entered the town of Kessab, took the remaining Armenian families
hostage, desecrated the town’s three Armenian churches, pillaging
local residences and occupying the town and surrounding villages.

Located in the northwestern corner of Syria, near the border with
Turkey, Kessab had, until very recently, evaded major battles in
the Syrian conflict. The local Armenian population had increased in
recent years with the city serving as safe-haven for those fleeing
from the war-torn cities of Yacubiye, Rakka and Aleppo.

From: A. Papazian

“PARAJANOV” FILM AWARDED WITH JURY SPECIAL PRIZE AT BUCHAREST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

20:15, 14 April, 2014

BUCHAREST, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS. Bucharest held Cinepolitica
international prestigious 3rd film festival on April 8-13. Within the
frames of the contest program of the festival “Parajanov” artistic
film by Serge Avedikian and Olena Fetisova was also represented which
was awarded with the Special Prize of the Jury.

Armenpress reports that the co-authors of “Parajanov” film Serge
Avedikian and Olena Fetisova were the honored guests at Cinepolitica
2014 International Film Festival and with their participation the
Romanian premiere of the film was held in a crowded hall on April
10. It won the warm reaction of the Romanian audience and after
watching it the participants had a chance to talk with the authors of
the film around issues related to Parajanov’s mysterious and unique
man-artist, his outlook, and, in general, issues regarding the film.

At the course of the summary of the contest program “Parajanov” film
was awarded with the Jury Special Prize for introducing the policy
deepness artistically in the best way and screening it tastily, as
well as for the embodiment of the exemplary and symbolic character,
which despite all the prosecutions of the autocratic era created
masterpieces of world cinema showing that it is possible to overcome
systemic pressures through art.

From: A. Papazian

POLITICAL ANALYST: ARMENIA IS GOVERNED BY FAMILY CLANS

14:48 | April 14,2014 | Politics

Political analyst Levon Shirinyan does not think that Armenia’s new
prime minister [Hovik Abrahamyan] will take any measures to put an
end to monopolies in the economy.

“If his predecessor [Tigran Sargsyan] said he ‘would fight the
phenomenon,’ but he could not, this man [Hovik Abrahamyan] does not
say such a thing. So, shall we hope that he will do it? I have no
reasons to be pessimistic or optimistic in the issue. The country has
reached a deadlock, and they should take drastic measures to save the
situation. It is always easy to criticize someone from the very start.

He [Hovik Abrahamyan] may realize the complexity of the situation,”
said Mr Shirinyan.

Among the priority issues that need to be tackled the analyst
singled out the problems of demography, migration, mine plundering
and corruption.

“If the government does not present a program of radical changes,
these problems cannot be handled,” he stressed.

“Of course Armenia is governed by family clans. This is unacceptable
and is not specific to the East,” he said.

The political analyst says Tigran Sargsyan resigned under the pressure
of a civil movement which is supported by non-coalition forces.

From: A. Papazian

Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA, Iran
April11 2014

President Aliyev hails Tehran stance on Karabakh

Tehran

Visiting President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan here on Wednesday
praised TehranË?s fair stance on Karabakh issue.

Speaking in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart
Hassan Rouhani, the Azeri president said Baku attaches great
importance to TehranË?s support for the issue of Karabakh.

Karabakh is a geographic region in southwestern Azerbaijan
internationally recognized as part of that country. Since the end of
the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994, representatives of the governments
of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been holding peace talks mediated by
the OSCE Minsk Group on the regionË?s disputed status.

President Alyev who arrived here this morning at the invitation of
President rouhani, stressed the need to maintain AzerbaijanË?s
territorial integrity.

The Nagorno-Karabakh dispute flared up in 1988, when the region’s
predominantly ethnic Armenian population began large-scale protests
against Azerbaijani rule, seeking first to become part of Armenia and
later declaring independence. A war ensued in the early 1990s, ending
in 1994 with a shaky ceasefire that failed to resolve the conflict.

Azerbaijan insists on control over Nagorno-Karabakh to maintain its
territorial integrity.

President Aliyev said that TehranË?s approach towards the Karabakh
issue was fair and well-founded.

Earlier in the day, President Rouhani voiced TehranË?s readiness to
help solve regional problems including that of the Karabakh region
within the frameworks of international laws and justice.

From: A. Papazian

States News Service
April 11, 2014 Friday

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL 11 APRIL 2014

NEW YORK

The following information was released by the United Nations

[Parts omitted]

Question: Next year could be the centennial of genocide against the
Armenians, which took place during World War I. Is the United Nations
planning to do something anniversary for the centennial?

Spokesman: I have no information on that. Evelyn?

From: A. Papazian

US Official News
April 11, 2014 Friday

Washington: HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI OF ILLINOIS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, April 10, 2014

Washington

The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 99th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, also known as the Meds Yeghern
or “Great Crime,” to those of Armenian descent.

In the wake of World War I, the Ottoman Empire launched a campaign of
terror against Ottoman Armenians. From 1915 to 1923, forced
deportations displaced 2 million Armenians. Unarmed men were separated
from their families and were either forced into concentration camps or
taken away to be executed. Innocent women and children were
systematically stripped of their possessions and driven into what is
now the Syrian Desert. During these “Death Marches” they were
subjected to starvation, sickness, and abuse amid brutal conditions. In the end, nearly 1.5 million Armenians had lost their lives in what
became the first genocide of the 20th century.

Although these atrocities occurred almost a century ago, it is
imperative to remember the suffering that was endured as a result of
unrestrained human malice. To acknowledge this truth is necessary, not
just out of respect for our fellow citizens of Armenian descent, but
also in hope that we can prevent such heinous crimes from occurring in
the future. Very few survivors of the genocide are alive today, which
makes preserving the memory and history of this crime even more
important.

Today, I call on my colleagues to join me in somber remembrance of the
1.5 million Armenians who perished during this dark period of history,
and to honor the strength and resolve of the Armenian community still
working to deal with this tragedy.

For more information please visit:

From: A. Papazian

Reforms to IMF hit serious deadlock – G20 official

14:38 * 13.04.14

Reforms to the International Monetary Fund have hit a deadlock despite
a declaration from global financial chiefs that they would move
forward without the United States if it fails to ratify the changes by
year-end, Reuters reports quoting a G20 official as saying on Sunday.

The inability to proceed with giving emerging markets a more powerful
voice at the IMF and shoring up the lender’s resources appeared the
most contentious issue for officials from the Group of 20 leading
economies and the representatives for all IMF member nations who met
over the weekend.

In a final communique, G20 finance ministers and central bankers said
they were “deeply disappointed” with the U.S. delay.

“Some said that we need to give the U.S. more space,” the official,
who participated in the G20 talks and spoke on conditions of
anonymity, said. “I say we are at a dead end.”

Any attempt to break the package of reforms, proposed by the G20 in
2010, would be disastrous not only for the United States, but for the
whole group, he said, because most countries have already gone through
the ratification procedures.

“If you pull the 2010 package apart, you will have to start anew,” the
official said. “And this factor cannot be overcome. How to overcome
it? Nobody wants to go again through this process for the second
time.”

Other officials were not immediately available for comment.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: A. Papazian

Kessab
La déchirure

Le journaliste et poète d’AGOS, Karin Karakasli, a visité le village
arménien de Vakifli en Turquie, où les Arméniens déplacés de Kessab se
sont réfugiés.

Le photographe Berge Arabian a pris des cliché de la vie quotidienne
de ces 21 personnes gées entre 65 et 92 ans, restés à Kessab, après
que les rebelles syriens eurent attaqué la ville arménienne de Syrie
du Nord.

Les habitants de Vakifli, un village du Musaler historique (Musa
Dagh), parlent un dialecte semblable au dialecte arménien de Kessab.

Les habitants des deux dernières villes arméniennes de l’Empire
ottoman, l’une à l’intérieur des frontières turques et l’autre à
celles des frontières syriennes, vivent ensemble, ne sachant pas pour
combien de temps encore. Dix autres, jeunes et vieux, n’ont pas
rejoints la population de Lattaquié ou celle de Vakifli. Ils sont
toujours portés disparus.

dimanche 13 avril 2014,
Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIE-TURQUIE
Le reportage réalisé par la chaine turque TRT sur l’Arménie connait un
engouement sur Youtube

Le reportage réalisé en Arménie

From: A. Papazian

FOOTBALL-CHAMPIONNAT D’ALLEMAGNE
Borussia Dortmund s’impose 3-0 face au Bayern Munich. Henrikh
Mkhitaryan ouvre le score et inscrit son 7e but en Bundesliga

Hier soir lors de la 30e journée du championnat d’Allemagne, à
l’Allianz Arena de Munich, le Borussia Dortmund s’est imposé sur le
leader Bayern de Munich sur le score de 3-0. C’est l’international
arménien Henrikh Mkhitaryan (25 ans), qui a ouvert le score à la 20e
minute sur une passe de Marco Reus. Un superbe but qui est le 7e but
de l’arménien en Bundesliga. Un but qui fera oublier les trois
occasions non réalisés d’Henrikh Mkhitaryan face au Real Madrid
mercredi, en quart de finale de la Champion’s League. Mkhitaryan est
également largement impliqué dans le deuxième but de Borussia
lorsqu’il remonte tout le terrain et transmet la balle à Aubameyang
qui sert à son tour Marco Reus qui marque (49e). Henrikh Mkhitaryan
fut l’un des meilleurs joueurs de la rencontre. Crédité par le site
officiel du Borussia Dortmund de la notre de 8/10. Avec cette victoire
importante, le Borussia Dortmund conforte sa place de 2ème au
classement du championnat d’Allemagne. Le vice-champion en titre se
dirige ainsi une nouvelle fois vers le même titre puisque le Bayern de
Munich est déjà champion.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 13 avril 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: A. Papazian