Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ANCA DEMANDS WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO STOP ATTACKS ON KESSAB

Monday, March 24th, 2014 | Posted by Contributor

The Missakian Armenian Cultural Center in Kessab

WASHINGTON–The Armenian National Committee of America has called
on President Obama and Congress to press Turkey to stop facilitating
the attacks by extremist foreign fighters on the northwestern Syrian
town of Kessab, whose predominantly civilian Armenian population was
forced to evacuate to avoid slaughter earlier this weekend.

In a strongly worded letter issued this morning, ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian called on President Obama to direct his Secretary of State,
the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, and his Ambassador to the United Nations
to demand that Turkey halt the cross-border attacks on Kessab that
have forced the immediate civilian evacuation of the area and led to
the looting of properties and the desecration of churches.

Separately, the ANCA has been in communication with members of the
House Committee on Intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee
and Senate Foreign Relations Committee over the weekend to urge that
Congress use its influence to immediately end Turkey’s role in the
destruction of Kessab.

“The attacks on the predominantly Armenian populated village of
Kessab over the weekend represent an attack on all Armenians,”
remarked ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “The Armenian American community
stands united in seeking to reverse the events of the last several
days, which has seen militant extremists stream into Kessab from
Turkey. We are strongly urging our government, led by President Obama
and Congressional leaders, to send a firm message to Ankara that the
safe haven and safe passage being offered to these militant groups
intent on destroying Kessab must end.” Hachikian added.

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
recently years with the city serving as safe-haven for those fleeing
from the war-torn cities of Yacubiye, Rakka and Aleppo. On the morning
of March 21st, extremist foreign fighters launched a vicious attack on
Kessab civilians, forcing them to flee neighboring Latakia and Bassit.

The ANCA will be working with a vast network of supporters across the
United States this week to effectively address the ongoing crisis in
Kessab, Syria.

Following is the text of Hachikian’s letter to President Obama.

March 24, 2014

President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to urgently request your leadership in pressing our
NATO ally, Turkey, to stop facilitating ongoing attacks by Al-Qaeda
affiliated foreign fighters against the civilian population of the
predominantly Armenian region of Kessab, Syria.

Over the weekend, the ANCA has received urgent appeals from Americans
in cities across the United States gravely concerned about family
members and friends in Kessab, a historically Christian Armenian
region in Syria, which borders Turkey. The area had been relatively
peaceful until March 21st, when Turkey reportedly allowed hundreds of
radical foreign fighters to cross its border and attack the civilian
population. ABC and CBS news are reporting that the extremists are
part of the al-Nusra Front, which is a wing of al-Qaeda, a United
States designated terrorist group.

Within days of the onslaught launched from Turkey, nearly the entire
population of Christian Armenians has fled to neighboring Latakia
and Bassit to avoid slaughter. Civilians, who were not able to flee,
have reportedly been taken hostage, while churches and homes are being
systematically desecrated and looted. Further, there are reports that
injured extremists are returning to Turkey for medical treatment.

Turkey’s facilitation of al-Qaeda affiliated foreign fighters and
their attacks on innocent civilians in Syria undermines ongoing U.S.

and international efforts to bring peace to a country ravaged by
violence for far too long. For Armenians in the region and around
the world, Turkey’s actions are a horrifying and bitter reminder
of the genocide committed against the Armenian, Pontian and Syriac
communities by Ottoman Turkish authorities from 1915-1923.

The United States has the power to stop Turkey’s provocations and
assistance to these radical groups and send a clear message that
targeted military strikes against innocent civilians is unacceptable
under any circumstances and a clear violation of international law. We
call on you to direct Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Ambassador
to the Republic of Turkey Francis Ricciardone, and U.S. Ambassador to
the United Nations Samantha Power to immediately press Turkey to stop
facilitating attacks on civilians in Kessab and investigate Turkey’s
reported assistance to foreign fighters associated with U.S.-designated
terrorist groups. We, furthermore, ask your assistance in directing
need-based humanitarian aid to the victims of the onslaught on Kessab
as soon as possible.

Given the urgent nature of the situation facing the civilian population
in Kessab, we look forward to engaging with senior officials of your
administration without delay to address this matter.

Thank you for your prompt attention to the serious human rights crisis
of critical concern to Americans of Armenian descent and their family
members in Kessab, Syria.

Sincerely, Ken Hachikian Chairman

From: Baghdasarian

670 KESSAB ARMENIAN FAMILIES FIND REFUGE IN SYRIA’S LATAKIA

March 24, 2014 | 16:24

ALEPPO. – A total of 670 Armenian families from Syria’s predominantly
Armenian-populated town of Kessab have found shelter in the school
and the church in Latakia city.

Press service of the Diocese of Aleppo of the Armenian Apostolic
Church informed the aforementioned.

The source added that these Armenians also include those who earlier
had moved to Kessab from Aleppo and several other Armenian-populated
cities in Syria.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the Armenian Relief Cross of Syria,
and the organization of the Greek Orthodox Church are lending a
helping hand to the Armenians who have escaped the terrorist attacks.

In the early morning on March 21, armed militants from the Jabhat
al-Nusra Islamic terrorist group infiltrated into northern Syria’s
Latakia Governorate, which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians and
Alawites. Two large groups of terrorists had launched the attack from
Turkey. Numerous displaced Kessab Armenians are currently sheltered
in Latakia city. On Sunday, Turkish fighter planes downed in Kessab
a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a mission against
the Islamic terrorists. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised
Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian
Apostolic Church to do everything possible to protect the Armenians
in Kessab.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

From: Baghdasarian

SYRIE : COMBATS FEROCES AUTOUR D’UN POINT DE PASSAGE AVEC LA TURQUIE

SYRIE

Au moins sept combattants pro-regime et 17 rebelles ont ete tues
vendredi lors d’une attaque menee par trois groupes islamistes, dont
le Front al-Nosra, pour conquerir un point de passage avec la Turquie,
a indique une ONG et l’agence Sana.

Le Front al-Nosra, branche syrienne d’al-Qaïda, Sham al-Islam et Ansar
al-Sham se battent ferocement autour du point de passage de Kassab,
tenu par le regime entre la Syrie et la Turquie, dans la province de
Lattaquie, a dit a l’AFP le directeur de l’Observatoire syrien des
droits de l’Homme (OSDH), Rami Abdel Rahmane.

Ils ont pris des postes de surveillance et quelques immeubles autour
du point de passage, mais ne le contrôlent pas encore, a-t-il precise.

Ils se sont aussi empares d’une colline voisine et ont tire au mortier
sur Kassab et un village alaouite proche, Karsana, causant la mort
de cinq personnes dont un enfant.

La television d’Etat syrienne a mentionne ces combats, affirmant que
l’armee luttait contre des terroristes qui tentent de s’infiltrer
depuis la Turquie et d’attaquer des points de passage dans la province
de Lattaquie, dans le nord-ouest du pays. Selon l’agence officielle
Sana, 17 rebelles ont ete tues dont l’emir (chef) d’al-Nosra dans la
province de Lattaquie.

Le regime designe par le terme de terroristes l’ensemble des rebelles.

Ces combats interviennent après le lancement par ces trois groupes
islamistes d’une campagne baptisee Anfal dans la province de Lattaquie,
jusqu’alors relativement epargnee par les combats qui ravagent
la Syrie.

Consideree comme l’un des bastions du regime –elle abrite le village
du president Bachar al-Assad–, cette province est majoritairement
alaouite, la confession de la famille Assad.

Par ailleurs a Qoudsaya, ville de la proche banlieue de Damas où
avait ete signee une treve entre regime et rebelles, un raid aerien
a tue trois femmes, deux enfants et un homme, selon l’OSDH.

En trois ans, le conflit syrien, ne d’une revolte pacifique qui s’est
transformee en guerre civile, a fait plus de 146.000 morts et plusieurs
millions de deplaces.

lundi 24 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

. Il a poursuivi : > .

Après la Sainte Liturgie le clerge et les fidèles ont procede a une
celebration culturelle avec des hymnes spirituels et de la poesie
par les seminaristes .

lundi 24 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

DE L’UKRAINE A L’ARMENIE : LA DECISION DE LA CRIMEE DISCUTEE

ARMENIE

Les discussions au sujet du referendum en Crimee ont atteint egalement
l’Armenie.

Dimanche, la Crimee a organise un referendum, par lequel 96,8 pour
cent des participants ont vote pour etre annexee a la Russie.

Toutefois, le directeur de l’Institut Caucasus l’analyste politique
Sergey Minasyan a dit a la presse que techniquement, d’un point
de vue juridique, ce n’etait pas un referendum, mais une tentative
politique de Moscou pour legitimer les frontières, qui existait avant
l’effondrement de l’Union sovietique.

Expert auprès du Centre armenien pour des Etudes Nationales et
internationales Ruben Mehrabyan partage cette opinion que ce qui s’est
passe en Crimee >.

>a-t-il dit.

> a dit Babayan, ajoutant que les temps sont
devenus dangereux pour l’Armenie, aussi, et que la republique doit
etre en mesure de bien orienter sa politique.

Chanteur, compositeur du groupe Ardzagank Artavazd Bayatyan a dit
que le principe classique du > est en cours
d’adoption, et plus les morceaux seront faciles a conquerir.

>
a dit le chanteur populaire.

Par Gohar Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow

lundi 24 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

SARKISSIAN LANCE UN APPEL FRATERNEL AUX UKRAINIENS

Crise ukrainienne

Serge Sarkissian a decrit les Ukrainiens comme des > de
l’Armenie vendredi, alors qu’il cherchait a minimiser les retombees
de sa decision controversee de reconnaître la secession de la Crimee
de l’Ukraine.

” Pendant des siècles, nous nous sommes battus au coude a coude
contre les agresseurs. Nous avons des milliers de pages glorieuses
de l’histoire en commun. Cela a ete le cas et ce sera encore le cas
“, a t-il declare lors d’une ceremonie de remise des prix qui s’est
tenue au palais presidentiel a Erevan.

” Il se trouve que, dans la chaleur du temps et des evenements,
differents phenomènes sont percus de differentes facons >>, a
poursuivi Sarkissian. ” Mais ce qu’il faut savoir au sujet du temps,
c’est qu’il efface les malentendus et les desaccords, et tout reviens
a la normale. Je tiens a repeter que les Ukrainiens sont nos frères “.

Sarkissian a parle après la remise des recompenses a des dizaines
d’artistes, ecrivains et scientifiques. Parmi eux devait etre present
Olena Fetisova, le scenariste ukrainien, producteur et co-directeur
d’un nouveau film sur la fin de Sergey Paradjanov, un cineaste
sovietique de renom d’origine armenienne.

Fetisova a decide a la dernière minute de ne pas accepter le prix et
la recompense de 5 millions de drams en signe de protestation contre
la decision de Sarkissian d’accepter les resultats du referendum en
Crimee, condamne internationalement. “Je voudrais vous demander de
bien vouloir transmettre ma part de la remuneration du Prix d’Etat
de l’Armenie aux orphelins armeniens “, a-t-il ecrit dans une lettre
ouverte a Sarkissian. ” Je suis sûr que Sergey Paradjanov aurait fait
la meme chose. ”

Fetisova a defendu sa rebuffade dans un entretien telephonique avec le
service armenien de RFE / RL, en disant que la position de Sarkissian
equivaut a une approbation de l'” agression” russe contre son pays. ”
Il a soutenu la legitimite d’un referendum illegal”.

” Je vais donner le prix de l’Etat a ses collègues et, conformement
a son souhait, nous allons utiliser sa recompense financière a des
fins de bienfaisance “, a declare Sarkissian lors de la ceremonie. ”
Je comprends les motifs de Mme Fetisova mais je veux faire appel a
la grande dame et le peuple ukrainien en disant que nous sommes des
peuples frères. ”

lundi 24 mars 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

azerbaidjan
Akram Aylisli proposé pour le prix Nobel de la paix

Selon l’agence de presse azérie APA un certain nombre de personnalités
publiques internationales ont proposé de désigner l’écrivain
azerbaïdjanais Akram Aylisli comme candidat pour le Prix Nobel de la
Paix en 2014. Ils ont envoyé un appel au Comité Nobel norvégien, dans
le cadre de la nomination de l’écrivain azerbaïdjanais, par le prix
Nobel de cette année > selon l’appel.

L’appel a été signé par :

Sergey Abashin – Professeur d’anthropologie et d’études sociales,
Université européenne à Saint-Pétersbourg

Andrei Bitov – président du PEN-Club russe, professeur honoraire de
l’Université d’Etat d’Erevan

Craig Calhoun – professeur de sciences sociales, Directeur de l’Ecole
d’économie et de sciences politiques de Londres

Georgi Derluguian – professeur d’études sociales et de la politique
publique sociale, Université New York à Abu Dhabi

Alexander Dobrokhotov – professeur de philosophie, Ecole supérieure
d’économie de Moscou

Gasan Guseinov – professeur de philosophie et philologie classique,
l’Université d’Etat de Moscou, Ecole supérieure d’économie de Moscou,
Université de Ble (Suisse)

Kevan Harris – chercheur du Département d’études sur le Proche-Orient
de l’Université de Princeton

Rouslan Khestanov – professeur de philosophie et d’études culturelles,
Ecole supérieure d’économie de Moscou, Directeur de l’Institut de
Programmes sociaux et culturels de Moscou

Michail Maiatsky – professeur des études culturelles, Ecole supérieure
d’économie de Moscou, Université de Fribourg (Suisse)

Vladimir Malakhov – professeur d’études sociales, président de
Académie russe de l’Economie nationale et de l’administration publique

Nikolaj Plotnikov – professeur de philosophie, Centre de recherche de
Philosophie russe et d’histoire intellectuelle, Université de la Ruhr
à Bochum

Teodor Shanin – professeur de sociologie à l’Université de Manchester

Immanuel Wallerstein – professeur de sociologie de l’Université Yale

Gasan Guseinov (Hassan Husseynov) est le fils de Tchingiz Husseynov,
membre de l’Union des Ecrivains d’Azerbaïdjan, docteur en philologie,
professeur, artiste émérite de l’Azerbaïdjan.

En décembre 2012, Akram Aylisli a publié son roman >. Selon l’écrivain, le roman a été écrit en 2006. Après avoir
publié le roman, Aylisli a été privé de titre >et
la pension personnelle.

dimanche 23 mars 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

EUROVISION 2014
La chanson d’Aram MP3, le représentant de l’Arménie à l’Eurovision
2014 visionnée à plus d’un million de reprises sur Youtube

La chanson > qui sera présenté à l’Eurovision 2014 par le
représentant de l’Arménie AramMP3 (Aram Sarkissian) a dépassé la barre
d’un million de visiteurs sur Youtube. Succès unique dans l’histoire
de la chanson de variété arménienne. Une note de bonne augure pour
l’Arménie pour le concours de l’Eurovision 2014 dont la finale se
déroulera à Copenhague (Danemark) le 6 mai prochain. Rappelons que le
représentant de l’Arménie est donné par le célèbre établissement des
paris (bookmakers) William Hill, en tête des favoris pour l’Eurovision
2014.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 23 mars 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan (c)armenews.com

From: Baghdasarian

Greater Threat To Moscow Than Sanctions

Igor Muradyan, Political Analyst
Comments – Saturday, 22 March 2014, 15:40

Sanctions are a key instrument in international politics, and in some
cases they may act as an effective political lever. However, modern
history does not account for a case when sanctions forced a country to
give up on its genuine national interests.

Sanctions that are used by certain states against a discriminated
state are mostly (or always) levers not only on the given state but
also many other processes in international politics. Sanctions in the
hands of countries with developed economies and high technologies are
not a means of pressure but an opportunity for corrections in new
markets, trigger of progress in the geo-economic situation and
eventually generating profit or rather super profit.

Hence, in the majority of cases sanctions are levers for changing the
balance of forces in the world and in the regions. The policy of
sanctions has allowed working out the necessary methods and approaches
to the activities of banks, manufacturers and trading companies,
bringing positions of governments in line, guiding propaganda. The
sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and its partners
allowed forming several subsequent approaches to policy on the Near
East and other regions, block the activities of entire branches and
banking grounds in different countries, which was quite effective in
some cases. The process of gradual lifting of sanctions is no less
effective.

There is not a single state which does not undergo economic and legal
sanctions, even such a state as Russia with its resources and market.
Non-accession of Russia to the World Trade Organization was a
sanction. So were the restrictions applied for the law on emigration
of Jews. Lifting of one restriction or another did not result in the
success of the Russian economy because its national management was not
able to use it appropriately but on the whole Russia felt uneasy in
the global economics.

At the same time, some states easily bypass economic sanctions, having
universal natural resources, which was demonstrated by Iran. Iran’s
consent to normalize relations with the West was not determined by
sanctions. The economy of Iran is facing complications due to
tendencies in global economy, not only sanctions. Iran has completed
the main part of its programs of scientific and technical
modernization, created modern branches of manufacturing, defense
industries, scientific trends, and has now stepped on the world arena
with new positions, becoming a regional mini power at least.

Iran’s integration in global political processes would slow or limit
its scientific and technical development, especially the military
industries. Now it is time to overcome the international blockade when
the situation in the Near East determined rapprochement and close
cooperation between the United States and Iran. It should be noted
that all through the three decades of blockade the scientific and
technological modernization of Iran was based on American and European
machines and R&D achievements.

More or less serious investments are made with different risks which
depend not only on the internal situation and threats but also the
positions and interests of the governments of the countries which make
investments. If a country is recognized as a not so reliable political
partner, if the sources of investments are not able to exercise
control on the country, the projects are threatened. It is something
elementary. In Russia corruption is flourishing, conflicts and
problems occur on its borders, there are social problems. However,
transnational companies are used to working in such conditions
provided that Russia and the other state have a binding relationship.
In other words, if it is not marginal, it diminishes risk.

Russia is in a different situation and has greater ambitions in
international politics, imagining itself to be one of the world
powers. The West will never make a decision that will not be in line
with its or its partners’ interests, and it is not facing any damage
from sanctions against Russia. Russia will remain a supplier of energy
resources and consumer of products of Western states.

In this case, however, imposing “sanctions” on Russia means something
else, which is a challenge. The masters of world politics and
economics – let’s call G7 so – are interested in participation in
making elite decisions on economy which allow generating super profit.
Not only the “classic trade” countries of the West but also “classic
industrial” states are highly interested in this. Generating super
profit allows states to resolve the defense and security issues
successfully, make internal investments of strategic importance,
foster R&D.

Aside from different financial tricks, generation of super profit
supposes dividing spheres of influence, particularly the most
profitable industries, as well as some regions. Participation in
decision making and the presence of elite states supposes the image of
political leaders and exclusion of any forms of foreign geopolitical
and economic blockade. Moscow undertook the international battle for
the sake of Russia’s and Putin’s position. This politics is an
achievement for the West, especially for certain political circles in
Washington.

As to sanctions on Russia, they had been applied earlier, before the
developments in Ukraine. The purpose of sanctions was geopolitical
blockade, and Moscow understood that lack of development is due to
this blockade. Sanctions are meant to not only limit economic
development of Russia but also make it marginal. This policy is
considered not for several years but for decades because the West has
understood that it is possible and it is necessary.

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian

UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY THREATENS WORSENING RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 21. / ARKA /. Armenia’s recognition of Moscow’s
annexation of the Crimea will have negative consequences for the
Ukrainian-Armenian relations, deputy foreign minister Daniel Lubkivskyy
said in Kiev, UNIAN news agency reports.

In a telephone conversation on March 19, Armenian and Russian
presidents, Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, said the referendum
in Crimea in which about 96 percent of eligible citizens voted
to split from Ukraine, was another example of people’s rights to
self-determination through free expression of will.

Lubkivskyy said Armenian ambassador to Ukraine was twice invited to
the ministry of foreign affairs to be conveyed Ukraine’s concerns. He
said appropriate instructions were given also to Ukrainian embassy
in Armenia.

He said a note of protest was handed to the Armenian ambassador in
which Kiev demands clarification on Yerevan’s official position. He
said official Kiev would ask Armenia to “inform officially and publicly
that it does not recognize the annexation of the Crimea.”

He said if Armenia’s response is interpreted as unfriendly, it would
have negative consequences for bilateral relations.

In response to a question whether Kiev may break off diplomatic
relations with Armenia Lubkivskyy said: “Negative consequences have a
wide range that will be applied after we receive the official position
of the Armenian side.”-0-

– See more at:

From: Baghdasarian