Author: Kalantarian Kevo

SCHIFF CONDEMNS ‘AL QAEDA AFFILIATED’ ATTACKS ON KESSAB

Thursday, March 27th, 2014

Rep. Adam Schiff

WASHINGTON–Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Thursday released
a statement on the attacks by Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists against
Kessab Armenians and Christians.

“The vicious attacks by al Qaeda affiliated terrorists against
Armenians and other Christians in the Syrian town of Kessab in
northern Syria are beyond appalling. These attacks, which reportedly
originated in Turkey, reflect the depth of the depravity to which
the conflict in Syria has fallen. I have been in touch with the State
Department and have been assured that we are working with Armenian,
Syrian and Turkish officials to determine exactly what happened and
how to prevent further acts of such barbarity,” said Schiff.

“The Syrian civil war has been a disaster for all of Syria’s people,
but especially vulnerable minority populations. I have been working on
multiple fronts to help Syrian Christians, including working to secure
humanitarian parole for Syrians with approved immigrant petitions and
to ensure that humanitarian relief is distributed to all of Syria’s
citizens,” concluded Schiff’s statement.

SYRIA’S ASSAD RECEIVES ARMENIAN LAWMAKERS

16:27 27.03.2014

Armenia, Kessab, Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad cautioned, during a meeting Thursday
with an Armenian parliamentary delegation, that terrorism poses
a threat of fragmenting the region, that has been historically
characterized by cultural and social diversity, SANA agency reported.

The delegation, headed by MP Samvel Farmanyan, conveyed to President
al-Assad a message from President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia in which
the latter expressed on his behalf and on behalf of his people
condemnation of the terrorist groups fighting in Kassab city in
Lattakia countryside with the backing of Turkey.

The Armenian President offered in the message his thanks to the Syrian
state for the efforts it is exerting to protect all of its citizens.

President al-Assad voiced his appreciation of the objective position
of President Sargsyan that is supportive of Syria’s stability,
highlighting the role parliamentarians could play in revealing the
threats of terrorism and extremism at the international forums and
unifying efforts to face these threats.

The Armenian parliamentarians, in turn, affirmed their full support
for what the Syrian state is doing to restore security and stability
in the country and its efforts to secure the return of the people
who have been displaced from Kassab and other areas to their houses
and home villages.

They also voiced their confidence that Syria will remain a model of
co-existence and national unity.

VARDAN PETROSYAN THE COMEDIAN IS ARBITRARILY DETAINED IN ARMENIA

Le Figaro

Involved in a car accident in Yerevan, Armenian actor, who himself
nearly died Friday, March 28 is considered to “have led to the death
of two people without intention to kill.” His beautiful sister,
Elizabeth Hamel, denounces “a miscarriage of justice.”

In three days, the trial of Vardan Petrosyan (55) will be held in
Yerevan.Actor and comedian renowned in Armenia, it is one of five of
the most beloved people in the country figures. France also known
for working with Robert Hossein, he always fought corruption and
violations of human rights perpetrated by the Armenian diet. The
country is often condemned by the European Court of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms in violation of fundamental rights protected,
and this time it is Vardan Petrosyan who pays the price. The artist’s
family sent a statement to the press, trying to react the French
opinion on its contents and unjustified detention because she fears
a miscarriage of justice.

His beautiful sister, Elisabeth Hamel says. “It’s October 20, 2013
in it all begins. Vardan was on the highway when a vehicle is not
allowed to run and which housed six people was hit. The vehicle was
mistaken output and conducting a reverse. Of course, the driver denies
the facts. That could not be avoided, the shock caused the death of
two teenagers. Vardan was seriously injured. He stayed three days in
a coma and has undergone numerous operations. Today it still suffers
from injuries and bloodless, he lost fifteen pounds. ”

Read more see link below

Thursday, March 27, 2014, Jean Eckian © armenews.com

Other information available: Le Figaro.fr

LATAKIA NOT A SAFE PLACE – KESSAB ARMENIANS ON EVACUATION, LOOTING AND RAPES

16:31 * 27.03.14

Syria’s Armenian-populated town of Kessab continues facing fierce
battles between government forces and the Islamist militants.

Though the Armenians have been evacuated to Latakia, the town is not
thought to be safe enough for the community. Speaking to Tert.am,
Avetis Manjikyan, a 49-year old restaurant owner from Kessab, shared
his concerns in this connection.

He referred to a soldier’s recount of rapes against elderly women. “A
soldier who returned from Kessab today tells me that an elderly
[woman], aged probably 70-80, was stripped naked and raped. The
situation is very bad. They weren’t able to repeat the 1915 massacre;
only looted and raped the elderly,” he said.

Ninety-nine percent of Kessab’s population was evacuated to Latakia
after the town came under three-pronged armed attacks on Friday. They
have found shelter in the city’s Armenian church and the adjacent
buildings.

Though they feel protected in Latakia, the place isn’t safe for them,
Manjikyan said.

“Three to four missiles fall down each day. Latakia is not a safe
place. Our people left only with the clothes they had on. Many were
without passports. Our Armenian youth of Kessab fought for three or
four hours to help us free the people,” he added.

Manjikyan said they hear that the rebel groups from Turkey are now
stealing their property. He said he has reports that his restaurant
too, has been looted.

Asked whether they want to settle in Armenia, Manjikyan answered
that Kessab is a small Armenia for them. “Our Armenia is here. We
didn’t know what the Turks were plotting against us. We thought the
Turks might have changed. We are part of Armenia, the last part of
the Cilician Armenia. Even our mayor here is an Armenian,” he added.

Manjikyan said they are thankful to the Armenian authorities for the
attention to the community.

“We are very thankful to the president, so if they send a plane to
offer relief, it will be very good for us. The situation is not good
here,” he said, noting that hundreds of people now live together in
a small church hall.

ARMENIA MPS MEET WITH SYRIA PRESIDENT AND PARLIAMENT LEADER

March 27, 2014 | 14:17

DAMASCUS. – The Armenian National Assembly (NA) delegation, which
has traveled to Syria, on Thursday met with Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, to discuss the problems of Syrian Armenians and the future
of Syria’s predominantly Armenian-populated town of Kessab.

NA deputy and ruling Republican NA Faction member Levon Martirosyan,
who is in Syria at present, told the aforesaid to Armenian
News-NEWS.am.

He noted that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

“Now, we are much better informed about the events unrolling in
and around Syria. We exchanged views with the president. We reached
an agreement that we will exchange the information we received to
the Armenian body politic and, if possible, to the international
community, too.

“The Syrian government is determined to establish peace and to fight
against those groups which have intruded [into Syria] from foreign
countries, including Turkey.

“The Syrian government does not differentiate between its citizens.

Also, it will help the Armenian community return to Kessab. There
is a very positive attitude [in Syria] toward the Armenians,”
Martirosyan informed.

The Armenian MPs had a warm meeting also with Speaker Mohammad Jihad
al-Laham of the People’s Council [parliament] of Syria.

Martirosyan noted that they exchanged views on the regional
developments. As per the Armenian MP, the head of the Syrian parliament
noted that there are citizens of three countries, including Turkey
and Azerbaijan, among the mercenaries who have infiltrated into Syria.

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, from four directions. Two large groups of terrorists
had launched the attack from Turkey. About 600 Kessab-Armenian
families are currently sheltered in Latakia city. On March 23, Turkish
fighter planes downed a Syrian military aircraft that was conducting a
mission against the Islamic terrorists in Kessab. On Monday, a group
of Armenia parliament members headed to Syria to assess the situation
in the country.

COMMEMORATION DU MASSACRE DE SUMGAIT A ANTELIAS

LIBAN

Dimanche 23 fevrier 2014, Sa Saintete Aram Ier a preside la Sainte
Liturgie et a offert des prières pour les victimes du massacre de
Soumgaït (1988).

Dans son sermon, le pretre qui a celebre la liturgie a parle de la vie
du Catholicos Karekine I et son engagement au service de la communaute
armenienne, un engagement vivant aujourd’hui dans la fraternite et
qui se manifeste a travers la direction de Sa Saintete Aram I.

A la fin de la sainte liturgie, le clerge, les seminaristes et
les fidèles ont continue la ceremonie commemorative au Mausolee du
Catholicos a côte de la cathedrale.

jeudi 27 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN FELICITE LA COMMUNAUTE KURDE A L’OCCASION DU NAVROZ

ARMENIE

Le president armenien Serge Sarkissian a adresse un message de
felicitations a la communaute kurde d’Armenie a l’occasion du Navroz
(Nouvel An), qui est celebree le 21 Mars.

> a declare le president Sarkissian.

LE POUVOIR DE L’IGNORANCE EN TURQUIE

Mediapart

Par Defne Gursoy –

A une semaine des elections municipales du 30 mars, un calme trompeur
règne sur la Turquie. Les differents camps, surtout les opposants de
l’AKP, parti au pouvoir, font appel a la vigilance de leurs militants
et sympathisants pour retenir leur elan. Mais les violences peuvent
reprendre a tout moment. Cette fois-ci, nous serons loin de la revolte
emouvante de la jeunesse de juin dernier, car des provocateurs et
des casseurs sont aussi presents.

Erdogan, le premier ministre, lui, n’a aucune retenue. Il vient
d’interdire il y a deux jours, Twitter, en soulignant qu’il allait
>, qu’il considère provenant d’un complot
outre-frontières. Cette interdiction ridicule, placant le pays dans
la courte liste avec la Chine et l’Iran, sera-t-elle assez repulsive
pour que l’opposition puisse prendre les grandes villes, notamment
Istanbul ? Difficile d’etre optimiste…

L’arret de ce reseau social, comme toutes les repressions qui
l’ont precedee est-elle seulement le resultat d’un coup de colère
ou d’un coup de folie d’un parti islamiste en danger ? Non, les
racines de cette violence sont plus profondes. C’est l’expression
d’un nationalisme fascisant diachronique sur lequel s’est rajoute
un aspect religieux, devenant un >. Et il
semble impossible d’esperer un changement radical dans ce pays où
le nationalisme, tout comme la corruption, sera toujours gagnant,
quelle que soit la mouvance politique.

Comprendre la Turquie d’aujourd’hui demande une certaine connaissance
de son passe. C’est ce nationalisme qui, depuis toujours, alimente
l’outil principal des politiques de tous camps : l’obscurantisme et
la violence, tous deux nourris par l’ignorance.

lire la suite voir lien plus bas

jeudi 27 mars 2014, Jean Eckian (c)armenews.com

LES MAISONS ARMENIENNES DE KESSAB OCCUPEES

SYRIE

Une delegation de pretres du Catholicossat de Cilicie qui etaient en
visite a Lattaquie pour evaluer les besoins des Armeniens de Kessab et
exprimer la solidarite de la communaute est revenu a Antelias après
la messe de dimanche. Selon la delegation, la communaute locale
armenienne, la Croix-Rouge international et le Croissant-Rouge
apportent une aide a ceux qui ont cherche refuge dans la ville. On
estime a 2000 le nombre d’Armeniens de Kessab presents a Lattaquie.

Khatchig Mouradian. . Elle raccrocha car les
combattants ont continue de proferer des menaces. Un autre resident
de Kessab deplace, Paren Hovsepian, a appele chez lui et des intrus
ont decroche en disant en turc qu’il avait de beaux meubles.

D’autres temoins ont rapporte des enlèvements et des pillages.

Dikranoohi Manjikian, une personne âgee, femme malade, qui en raison
de ses problèmes de sante et incapacite de se deplacer etait l’une des
très rares a ne pas evacuee, a dit que des hommes armes ont penetre
dans son appartement et l’ont harcelee verbalement et physiquement,
exigeant de l’or et d’autres objets de valeur. Après avoir plaide avec
eux qu’elle n’avait pas de tels objets de valeur, les hommes armes
ont fouille l’appartement et ont pris tout ce qu’ils ont pu. Elle a
fait ce recit suite a un appel telephonique.

Steve Shekhookian etait sur sa moto fuyant la zone de combats près de
Duzaghaj (Al-Shajara) a Kessab quand il a ete arrete par des hommes
armes et a ete force de laisser sa moto. Il a dit que l’homme qui l’a
arrete etait barbu et ne parlait pas arabe. Quand il a demande a etre
libere et leur a dit qu’il est armenien, l’homme a brandi un grand
couteau et a menace de l’egorger. Shekhookian a ensuite ete menotte
a un cadre en metal sur la fenetre d’un immeuble voisin. En entendant
que les combats s’intensifiaient, les hommes armes ont fui ou se sont
caches et l’ont laisse. Il a ete capable de briser ses menottes et a
pris la fuite dans des buissons a proximite et a fait son chemin de
retour hors des routes dans des zones plus sûres où les autres ont
ete evacues.

jeudi 27 mars 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

ARMENIAN OUDIST RICHARD HAGOPIAN TO PERFORM IN NEW YORK

19:03 26.03.2014

Featuring an array of sounds and stories from the Black Sea region
of Europe, World Music Institute concludes its intimate Global Salon
series this season with Armenian oudist Richard Hagopian on Sunday,
April 13, and Strings of the Black Sea on Wednesday, May 7, the
Broadway World reports.

National Heritage Award Winner, Armenian oudist Richard Hagopian is a
widely renowned interpreter of traditional Armenian dance music, where
it is not unusual for hundreds of dancers to participate in the music.

Hagopian has collected â?” and, in turn, passed down â?” these
traditional songs by way of oral tradition. In much the same way,
he will relate stories from his multifaceted career throughout this
concert, from performing in Hollywood, to the Las Vegas Cleopatra
Revue and traditional Armenian dances where he is called to play
Armenian folk dances.

Paying tribute to two of his long-time friends and colleagues,
oudists Chick Ganimian and George Mgrditchian, Hagopain discusses
their unique contributions to the New York Middle Eastern music scene
and will perform some of the songs they made popular.

Hagopian’s World Music Institute appearance is a chance to hear a
large-stage artist in the ambience of an intimate, acoustic concert
space, with a question and answer period for audience members to take
part in discussion.