Author: Kajoyan Gevork

ARMENIAN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS NEED TO BE DEMONOPOLIZED – EXPERT

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. The irrigation system should be
demonopolized in Armenia, head of the agrarian-peasant union of
Armenia Hrach Berberyan said.

The field was monopolized when the association of water users replaced
the ministry of agriculture in dealing with irrigation systems in 2012,
Berberyan told a press conference Wednesday.

According to the expert, the monopoly leads to restrictions for
local farmers and makes them depend on the association. Alternative
organizations empowered to sign agreements with rural communities
on supply of irrigation water should be created in the country,
Berberyan said. These organizations will then have an opportunity
to settle irrigation water tariffs and create conditions for their
reduction, he added.

Irrigation water costs 11 drams per cubic meter today, as compared
to 8 drams in 2010. Irrigated area totals about 130,000 hectares in
Armenia, compared to 270,000 hectares in Soviet times. -0–

– See more at:

Kultura.Az Writes About Armenian Philosopher Who Helped To Reform Azerbaijani Alphabet

18:30 26/03/2014 >> SOCIETY

Azerbaijani website Kultura.az referred to the personality of
philosopher and diplomat Mirza Melik, who was an Armenian friend
of Azerbaijani writer and educator Mirza Fatali Akhundov. It is
noteworthy that the Azerbaijani website emphasizes the fact that
in the late 19th century the Armenian helped Akhundov to reform the
alphabet for the Muslim population of nowadays Azerbaijan.

“Save all my letters addressed to you in a separate place. Our
letters after our death will become a rare historical document for
our offspring,” Akhundov wrote to his Armenian friend.

Mirza Melkum khan’s biography is quite an interesting one. His
father Hakob was born to an Armenian family in Julfa. He spent his
youth in Europe studying French and Russian languages. Later he was
islamicized; however certain information about the circumstances of
his islamization is not available. Melkum khan was born in 1833 and
in the age of 10 was sent to France to stay with relatives. There he
studied in an Armenian school, after which at Polytechnic University.

After Melkum khan returned to Iran, he started to work as a diplomat.

In 1864, while living in Istanbul he got married with the daughter of
wealthy local Armenian Arakel Topchubashi, Henrieta. It is noteworthy
that the wedding took place in a local Armenian church.

In 1872 Melkum khan was appointed ambassador of Iran to Great Britain.

The fact made Akhundov displeased, “He was the only writer-philosopher
in Iran and unfortunately, not realizing his value they walled him
up in London,” Ahkundov complained in his letters addressed to the
father of Melkum khan.

In the course of the reform of Arabic alphabet for the Muslim
population of Azerbaijan, Akhundov frequently consulted the Armenian
philosopher, “We, together, by promoting the change of alphabet, have
completed our duty before the mankind as well as cultural development.

Our name will live forever in the history and the coming generations
will refer to us with pride and respect,” Akhundov wrote to Melkum.

Note that Melkum khan wrote two important works in Persian touching
on the problem of alphabet: “Sheikh and vezir” and “Beginning of
development”. In Baku both books were published in Turkish in 1905
and 1907, but the alphabet used was Arabic one.

Another Azerbaijani writer educator of the time Jalil Mammadguluzadeh
in one of his works paraphrased the words of Melkum khan: “I say
a word to those, who are humans” and interpreted them as follows:
“I say a word to those, who have ears.”

EUROVISION 2014: DANISH FILM CREW SHOOTS ARMENIA VIDEO POSTCARD (PHOTOS)

MARCH 26, 14:15

By Meline TonoyanYEREVAN. – The two semifinals of the Eurovision 2014
Song Contest, which will be held in Danish capital city Copenhagen,
will take place on May 6 and 8, and the final will be held on May 10.

Famous Armenian showman, comedian and singer Aram MP3 (Aram Sargsyan),
who will represent Armenia at the event with his song “Not Alone”
which immediately became the worldwide favorite, will compete in the
first semifinal, and he will be the first performer of the evening.

The video postcards of the countries competing in the Eurovision
Song Contest are presented right before the performances of their
representatives.

A film crew from Denmark arrived in Armenia two days ago to shoot
Armenia’s respective video postcard. On Tuesday, the film crew,
along with Aram MP3 and the Armenian delegation to the Eurovision
Song Contest, shot Armenia’s video postcard in downtown capital
city Yerevan.

This year the Armenian delegation has prepared a surprise for all
Armenians and the Europeans, but this surprise will be revealed on
May 7.

You may also watch “Not Alone” in Aram MP3’s official website pages,
with these links:

Facebook.com Official

Twitter.com Official Page

Instagram.com Official Page

NEWS.am STYLE

ARMENIAN MPS MEET KESSAB ARMENIANS IN LATAKIA

21:19 26.03.2014

Armenians, Kessab, Syria

Most of Kessab Armenians have found refuge in the St. Astvatsatsin
Church in latakia and the nearby school, MP Samvel Farmanyan told
Tert.am. Farmanyan left for Syria on March 24 with a group of
lawmakers.

Today the Armenian MPs met with Kessab Armenians. “I should say
the impression was shocking. The situation was like the one we have
read about in textbooks and literature about the Armenian Genocide,
in the memories of Genocide survivors,” Samvel Farmanyan said.

The Governor, the Mayor and other high-ranking officials in Latakia
have assured the Armenian delegation that the Syrian government is
taking all possible measures to ensure the return of Kessab Armenians
to their native lands.

Farmanyan said Kessab Armenins were encouraged by the visit of the
Armenian delegation. “We conveyed a very important message to them:
this is a problem of the whole Armenian nation, not a separate sector
of it,” he added.

“These are tragic events, which cannot but bring forward obvious
parallels with the events of 100 years ago – the Armenian Genocide,”
the MP said.

Upon their return to Armenia, the lawmakers will present their
proposals to the National Assembly and the Government; after which
the future steps will be determined and the mechanisms of possible
aid will be worked out.

Today the Armenian delegation will return from Latakia to Damascus.

AN APPEAL TO ALL ARMENIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FROM THE ARMENIANS IN KESSAB

THIS LETTER HAS BEEN WRITTEN BY KESSABTSIS BEING GIVEN REFUGE BY THE ARMENIAN CHURCH IN LATTAKIA.

25.3.14

On Mother’s Day, March 21, 2014, our beautiful town was brutally
attacked by Al-Qaeda extremists and Al-Nusra front that is linked to
Al Qaeda, with the blessings and full military and logistical support
of the Turkish government.

Before sunrise, we woke up to the horror of a shower of missiles
and rockets falling on our town. Thousands of extremists crossed
the borders towards our town. Missiles were fired from Turkey to
destroy beautiful Kessab and to celebrate the approach of the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Kesabtsi heroes defended the
town with their simple hunting weapons until more forces from the
Syrian government came to fight back the horrific attack on our town.

If Kessabtsis were not informed to leave their houses by those heroes,
the world would have silently witnessed yet another genocide and
stood by, while the media gave them yet another version of lies.

Kessab has always been home to thousands of Armenians for centuries.

The first agonizing tragedy in Kesab happened in April 1909, when
a rabble of thousands of Turkish men attacked Kessab, robbing and
burning houses. 161 Armenians were killed in this brutal attack. In
1915, during the Armenian genocide, Turkish troops came into Kessab
and started deporting Armenians and killed almost 5000 Armenian people
from Kessab. The Armenian genocide at the hands of the Turks in 1915
took the lives of one and a half million Armenians. More Armenians are
getting killed and will get killed in Syria if nothing is done. The
Arabs in Syria took us in then, took care of us, helped us back on our
feet, and helped us survive through that horrible memory of death and
destruction and we will be eternally grateful to them. Since then we
lived in peace and harmony with other sects, like a huge family in
a home called Syria.

Today, we need help once again, because, sadly, the Turkish government
dared to attack Armenians one more time ignoring the Armenian case.

With this act, Turkey has refused, yet again, to recognize the
Armenian genocide at the hands of the Turks and is assisting in
the murder of more Armenians in Syria. We have nothing against the
Turkish people. We have lived as neighbors with them and want to
continue to live as neighbors with them. It is the Turkish government,
supporting and facilitating the murder of Kessabtsis by terrorists,
that we plea against. We just want our town back, or what’s remained
of it. Because there is a lot of videos on Youtube that show how
those extremists are destroying and burning our beautiful town. All
Syria knows that, wherever those extremists get in, only death and
destruction is left behind.

Our homes have been taken from us, centuries of our heritage have
been destroyed.

This is a call to all Armenians. This is a call to humanity. The world
needs to hear the truth. Erdogan and his government are war criminals.

We need your help. We need you to take action. Our lives hang in the
chance that you will do something to make sure we too don’t die. We
were forced out of our homes and our town with nothing but the clothes
we wear. If we stayed to gather even the bare necessities, we would
have definitely died. Most of us cannot even escape because we don’t
have our passports or documents of identification. Please, invoke the
intervention of your governments, of the UN, of any other authority
that you believe can help us. All we want to do is to live. If you
ignore this, we all will die a horrible death at the hands of these
terrorists, by being butchered in cold blood like many other Armenians
in Aleppo, Yacoubiyeh, Ghenemiyeh, and around Syria.

Those who you call rebels are extremists who came to Syria for jihad
with many nationalities in it like Afghans, Chechen, Saudis etc.

Kessabtsis and all of Syria saw them and were attacked and killed by
them. The media can’t hide the truth forever. You can’t manipulate
the lives of people forever. Those whom you call rebels were targeting
and attacking civilians. Wake up, please.

Don’t you think enough innocent blood has been spilled? Don’t you
think enough destruction has been done? We all lived peacefully and
happily just three years ago. This is not a revolution, this is war.

And the Syrian army is now in Kessab fighting to make sure Armenians
will go back to their homes safely.

P.S.: This letter has been written by Kessabtsis being given refuge
by the Armenian Church in Lattakia.

SA SAINTETE ARAM I SUIT DE PRES LES DEVELOPPEMENTS DANS LA REGION DE KESSAB

LIBAN

Vendredi 21 mars , tôt le matin , Sa Saintete Aram Ier a ete informe
de l’agression et des bombardements des forces rebelles radicales
en provenance de la Turquie sur Kessab , la region armenienne près
de la frontière turque . Après consultation avec le clerge armenien
et les dirigeants communautaires a Lattaquie , Alep , Damas et au
Liban , le Catholicos a exige que les autorites syriennes protègent
la population armenienne de la region .

Samedi soir , l’ambassadeur de Syrie au Liban a rendu visite au
Catholicos , accompagne par Hagop Pakradouni , membre du Parlement ,
et Hagop Khatcherian , membre du Bureau du Parti Dachnak .

L’ambassadeur a assure le Catholicos que l’Etat fera tout son possible
pour retablir la securite dans Kessab . L’ambassadeur a egalement
informe le Catholicos que l’armee avait deplace la population de
Kessab en securite vers Lattaquie , parce que les rebelles , qui
avaient ete armes par les autorites turques , avaient deja tente de
penetrer a Kessab .

Dimanche , lors de la Sainte Liturgie , Sa Saintete a invite les
fidèles a prier pour la population armenienne de Kessab , qui 100
ans après le genocide etait redevenu des refugies par une action
intentee par la Turquie . Il a ensuite envoye une delegation composee
de pretres pour evaluer les besoins des refugies.

mercredi 26 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LE CRIF ET STEPHANE LE FOLL EXIGENT LE RETRAIT DE GARO HOVSEPIAN A MARSEILLE

Municipales 2014

Lundi, dans un communique, le Conseil representatif des institutions
juives de France Marseille Provence (CRIF) a très officiellement
demande a Garo Hovsepian (PS) “d’aller au bout de ses convictions en
retirant sa liste au profit du candidat arrive en seconde position”,
Richard Miron (UMP-UDI) avec 27,83%, des voix. Garo Hovsepian, arrive
troisième au premier tour avec 21,66% des suffrages, a decide de
se maintenir.

Dans son communique, le Crif demandait au candidat a la Mairie de
Marseille, > Le Crif justifie cette demande en raison du risque de victoire de
Stephane Ravier, candidat FN qui a obtenu 32,88% au premier tour dans
le 7ème secteur de Marseille (13e-14e arrondissements)

Mardi, c’est le ministre de l’agriculture, Stephane Le Foll, qui,
repondait a la question de Jean-Jacques Bourdin sur BFMTV-RMC,”Garo
Hovespian devrait-il se retirer de la competition ? La reponse a ete
sans ambiguite :

L’ARMENIE RECONNAÎT LE DROIT A L’AUTODETERMINATION, ET NON L’ANNEXION DE LA CRIMEE

Crise ukrainienne

Les autorites d’Erevan ont informe l’ambassadeur d’Allemagne que
dans sa conversation telephonique avec son homologue russe au debut
du mois le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a reconnu le droit de
la population a l’autodetermination, mais n’a pas reconnu directement
l’annexion de la Crimee par la Russie.

Hier, l’ambassadeur Reiner Morell lui-meme l’a confirme.

Sarkissian a parle au telephone avec Vladimir Poutine le 19 mars,
le lendemain du referendum conteste pour le rattachement de la Crimee
a la Russie.

Le service de presse de Sarkissian a declare que, lors de la
conversation, les deux dirigeants ont egalement ” parler de la crise
en Ukraine en general, et des moyens de sortir de cette situation. ”

Deux jours plus tard, l’Ukraine a rappele officiellement son
ambassadeur base a Erevan, avertissant d’effets graves pour les
relations bilaterales et exigeant une explication officielle concernant
l’acceptation du referendum conteste en Crimee par le gouvernement
armenien. Plus tôt dans la journee, l’ambassadeur americain en Armenie
John Heffern avait exprime sa deception de Washington de cette decision
du gouvernement armenien de reconnaître effectivement l’annexion par
la Russie de la Crimee, fermement condamnee par l’Occident.

L’ambassadeur Morell a dit que, suite a une conversation avec
le gouvernement armenien, l’ambassade d’Allemagne a compris que
” le president Sarkissian voulait juste souligner le droit a
l’autodetermination des peuples, a cause de la situation au
Haut-Karabagh. Mais cela ne veut pas dire que le pays reconnait
l’annexion de la Crimee.”

Interroge pour savoir s’il s’agissait juste de son interpretation ou si
le gouvernement armenien avait clairement non-reconnu cette annexion,
l’ambassadeur allemand a declare : ” ce sont des informations qui
nous sommes arrivees ici. ”

mercredi 26 mars 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

KESSAB ARMENIAN CHURCH VIDEO PUBLISHED

Tuesday 25 March 2014 09:12

Yerevan/Mediamax/. A video appeared on the web shot in an Armenian
Church in Syrian city of Kessab, which appeared under the control of
anti-governmental forces over the past days.

Kessab is where Armenians predominantly live and the majority of
these Armenians left the city after the attack, and settled in Latakia.

To all appearances, the video was shot by one of the anti-governmental
groupings. The video shows an armed person guarding the entry to the
Armenian Church in Kessab.

Along with the “presenter” of the video they enter the church and
show that it’s in a safe and sound state.

The comments of the video authors particularly read: “We are all
brothers on the Syrian, land and it’s our duty to protect everyone”.

Meanwhile, many Armenian houses were reportedly looted for already
several days.

LE PRESIDENT TURC ABDULLAH GUL CONTREDIT ERDOGAN

TURQUIE

Le president turc Abdullah Gul a rejete la thèse defendue par
le Premier ministre Recep Tayyip Erdogan selon laquelle la vaste
affaire de corruption revelee en decembre dernier, qui a ebranle le
gouvernement, est le fruit d’un complot ourdi a l’etranger.

“Je n’accepte pas les allegations visant des puissances etrangères
et je ne pense pas qu’elles soient justifiees (…) Je ne crois pas
a ces theories complotistes selon lesquelles des gens chercheraient
a detruire la Turquie”, a dit le chef de l’Etat a des journalistes
lors d’une visite au Danemark, rapporte le journal Hurriyet.

“Bien sûr, la Turquie a depuis longtemps des adversaires dans le
monde. Certains groupes ont salue nos realisations depuis dix ans
(…) Maintenant qu’ils nous critiquent, quel est le problème ? Ce
genre de declarations, c’est bon pour les pays du tiers monde”,
a ajoute Abdullah Gul.

“L’atmosphère politique actuelle n’est satisfaisante pour personne.

Elle ne me rejouit pas. Je suis a la fois afflige et trouble par ce
que nous traversons.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuse son ancien allie Fethullah Gulen, un
predicateur exile aux Etats-Unis et devenu un rival, d’avoir mis
en place grâce a ses reseaux dans la justice et la police un “Etat
parallèle” en Turquie afin de le renverser, notamment en fabriquant
des accusations de corruption

mardi 25 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com