Author: Kanayan Tamar

“VOVA, COME DOWN, WE BROUGHT COLD SHOWER”: ACTION – PHOTOS

14:13 | October 21,2014 | Politics

The march of Preparliament in support of Alek Yenigomshyan starts
from the Freedom Square.

We remind that on October 19 at about 12:00, in the territory of
the RA regions near Yerevan, during “The 100th anniversary without
regime” auto march organized by Preparliament, a citizen, who had no
connection with the auto march, provoked an incident with auto march
participant Vahram Gabrielyan.

Vahram Gabrielyan was in his own car. Preparliament Secretariat member
Alek Yenigomshyan was also in the car.

Later a group of workers of Police Criminal Investigation opened
the car’s door and rudely pulled Alek Yenigomshyan out of the car
and left on the busy part of the street, and Vahram Gabrielyan was
taken into Police together with his car.

“Such attitude toward a blind person, who dedicated whole his life to
the liberation of the homeland, is simply the peak of immorality and
obscenity,”- in the conversation with A1+ said action participant,
Preparliament member Gagik Sarukhanyan.

Below- photos

LA TURQUIE AIDE LES COMBATTANTS KURDES D’IRAK POUR REJOINDRE KOBANE (MINISTRE TURC)

TURQUIE

La Turquie a annonce lundi une première mesure concrète pour aider
les combattants kurdes qui defendent la ville syrienne de Kobane en
revelant qu’elle autorisait les “peshmergas” irakiens a rejoindre la
ville assiegee via son territoire.

“Nous aidons les forces des +peshmergas kurdes+ a franchir la
frontière pour aller a Kobane”, a declare le ministre turc des Affaires
etrangères Mevlut Cavusoglu.

“Nous n’avons jamais voulu que Kobane tombe. La Turquie a mene
differentes initiatives pour l’empecher”, a explique M. Cavusoglu
lors d’une conference de presse a Ankara avec son homologue tunisien
Mongi Hamdi.

Malgre les pressions de ses allies, Etats-Unis en tete, le gouvernement
islamo-conservateur d’Ankara a jusque-la toujours refuse d’intervenir
militairement pour venir en aide aux combattants kurdes syriens qui
resistent depuis plus d’un mois aux forces du groupe Etat islamique.

Ce revirement turc intervient alors que les Etats-Unis, qui ont
multiplie a la tete de la Coalition internationale antijihadiste les
frappes contre les cibles de l’EI sur Kobane, ont procede tôt lundi
matin sur Kobane a un premier largage aerien d’armes et de munitions
destinees aux forces kurdes qui defendent la ville.

Le chef de la diplomatie turque n’a pas directement commente cette
initiative americaine.

“Nous cooperons pleinement avec la coalition”, s’est contente
d’indiquer M. Cavusoglu. “Nous voulons nous debarrasser de toutes les
menaces qui pèsent sur la region. Nous evaluons l’aide militaire et
medicale larguee a cette fin”, a-t-il ajoute.

“Organisation terroriste” –

Dimanche encore, le president Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait rejete
categoriquement tous les appels lances a son pays pour qu’il fournisse
directement des armes aux combattants des Unites de protection du
peuple (YPG), la branche armee du Parti de l’union democratique (PYD)
qu’il a accuse d’etre une “organisation terroriste”.

“On aurait tort de s’attendre a ce que nous disions ouvertement +oui+
a notre allie americain de l’Otan pour donner ce genre de soutien”,
avait-il declare.

La Turquie considère le PYD comme le pendant syrien du Parti des
travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), un mouvement qui mène depuis 1984
en Turquie une guerilla qui a fait quelque 40.000 morts.

Ankara a engage il y a deux ans des pourparlers avec le chef du PKK
pour mettre un terme a ce conflit mais ils sont aujourd’hui menaces
par le refus turc d’intervenir pour Kobane, qui a provoque la colère
des Kurdes de Turquie.

La Turquie de M. Erdogan entretient par contre de bonnes relations
avec la region autonome kurde d’Irak, dont les combattants “peshmergas”
sont a la pointe du combat contre l’EI dans le nord de l’Irak.

Selon l’agence kurde Rudaw, le president de la region autonome
irakienne du Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, a lui-meme demande aux
autorites turques de faciliter le passage de ses “peshmergas” vers
la ville syrienne assiegee.

La semaine dernière, le president francais Francois Hollande avait
estime que la Turquie devait “absolument ouvrir” sa frontière avec
la Syrie pour permettre de renforcer les combattants kurdes qui
la defendent.

Membre de l’Otan, la Turquie a jusque-la egalement refuse d’autoriser
l’armee de l’air americaine a utiliser sa base aerienne d’Incirlik,
situee dans le sud de la Turquie a 300 km a peine de Kobane, pour
mener des frappes contre les positions jihadistes.

Des negociations a ce sujet sont toujours en cours.

mardi 21 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

NE PAS AIDER LES KURDES COMBATTANT L’EI A KOBANE SERAIT IRRESPONSABLE (KERRY)

SYRIE

Le secretaire d’Etat americain, John Kerry, a estime lundi qu’il serait
“irresponsable” de ne pas aider les Kurdes syriens qui combattent
l’organisation Etat islamique (EI) a Kobane, ville frontalière de la
Turquie, après le largage d’armes par les Etats-Unis.

“Il serait irresponsable pour nous, et en meme temps moralement très
difficile de tourner le dos a une communaute combattant l’EIIL (autre
appellation de l’EI, ndlr)”, a declare M. Kerry lors d’une visite a
Jakarta, en Indonesie

“C’est un moment de crise, une urgence”, a souligne M. Kerry lors
d’une rencontre avec son homologue philippin, Albert del Rosario,
insistant sur le fait qu’il ne s’agissait “pas d’un changement de
politique” de la part des Etats-Unis.

Il a observe que Washington comprenait les defis de la Turquie face
aux rebelles du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK), organisation
illegale pour Ankara.

L’armee americaine avait annonce dimanche avoir largue pour la première
fois des armes aux combattants kurdes qui defendent la ville syrienne
de Kobane, assiegee par le groupe Etat islamique (EI).

Ces armes ont ete larguee par avion car la Turquie a refuse de livrer
des armes aux combattants kurdes syriens defendant Kobane, au motif
qu’ils ont des liens avec le PKK.

“Mais nous avons entrepris des efforts pour affaiblir et detruire
l’EIIL”, a souligne M. Kerry, ajoutant que l’organisation des
jihadistes etait representee “en grande nombre” a Kobane.

“Nous ne voulons vraiment pas voir Kobane devenir un horrible
exemple de refus de la part de gens qui sont capables d’aider ceux
qui combattent l’EIIL”, a encore dit M. Kerry.

mardi 21 octobre 2014, Stephane (c)armenews.com

I’M LIKE THOSE WATCHDOGS

Siranuysh Papyan, Interviewer
Interview – 19 October 2014, 22:42

On October 10 your fellow veterans joined the rally of the three. What
is your position and where do you see yourself.

Whether on October 10 or some other day, I respect people when
they express their opinion. Being a military person, I do not want
to do politics. There is a fable about a shepherd who sees that
some dogs fight with one another while other dogs are lying and
looking in the direction from where wolves may come and kill the
sheep. I am like the watchdogs; I don’t care about the dogs that
are fighting with one another. I care for what is happening in the
enemy’s country. Russia, for example, is going to sell weapons of 5
billion dollars to Azerbaijan, I care what weapons it gets, with whom
it cooperates. And the domestic scramble will always be there. There
is a government and an opposition, and they will always fight with
each other. I cannot criticize any of them. Besides, the government
and the opposition in our country are in the same team and often
replace each other. I was in Artsakh in August and I saw opposition
guys there who had picked up guns, ready to defend the borders of
Armenia. When needed, we stand nip and tuck against the enemy.

Armenia signed the treaty on membership to the Eurasian Economic
Union. Do you see risks for Karabakh?

This treaty does not concern Karabakh because it was signed by Armenia
and Karabakh is a different state that remains independent.

And do you see a risk that BCPs will be set up between Armenia and
Karabakh?

I am not acquainted with that treaty, I don’t know what BCPs should
be there. They may set up those to record movement of goods. But this
treaty has not been published yet, at least I have not read it and
I don’t know what is written in it. For example, in the Soviet years
we were brought together and forced to speak against Solzhenitsyn’s
writing that we have not read. I also signed that paper because I was
a Communist but I had not read it. Now, I haven’t read the treaty
on membership to the Eurasian Economic Union and I cannot say much
about it. I only know that I am for joining the Eurasian economy,
we do not have another way out.

There is an opinion that the escalation in early August, as well as
its alleviation was guided by Russia. Do you share this opinion?

Russia had nothing to do with it, simply Aliyev wanted to score. He
trained special troops in NATO and ordered to trespass the border in
several places. Our private soldiers and officers stood up against
those special troops and pushed them back. They wanted to cross
the border to ravage here, and later Aliyev would tell Sargsyan
“look what we can do, we’ll do more”. But he was hit hard and was
upset. I don’t think that Russia has anything to do with this. How
do you imagine that Russia can cause tension at our border?

Russia was said likely to force Serzh Sargsyan to make concessions.

Now Russia is not doing well, the United States and the EU are imposing
sanctions, and in this situation Russia cannot be for or against any of
the sides to the Karabakh conflict. Russia wants to have good relations
with both Armenia and Azerbaijan out of its national interests. Armenia
is a CSTO member where it is stated that CSTO must protect us in case
of aggression against Armenia. But there is no a word on Karabakh.

What is your opinion on Surik Khachatryan’s reappointment as governor
of Syunik?

If one searches the web, one will see what opinions are expressed
about him. Like everyone, I have a negative opinion on this.

What contribution did Surik Khachatryan have during the years of the
war? Do you remember anything related to him?

I don’t want to speak about it. 20 years have passed, why would
I remember?

IRAN TO BUILD HYDROPOWER PLANT IN ARMENIA – VICE PRESIDENT

15:52 20/10/2014 >> SOCIETY

Iran has plan to build a hydropower plant in Armenia in a bid to
execute previous bilateral agreements, First Vice President Eshaq
Jahangiri said on Monday, IRNA reported.

He made the announcement in a joint press conference with the visiting
Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.

The two neighboring countries aim to establish a joint commission to
facilitate promotion of bilateral ties, Jahangiri added.

He referred to the current 300 million dollars volume of trade exchange
between Tehran and Yerevan and called for it increase.

Iran is keen to use Armenia’s soil as a transit route for export of
goods to Russia, the official said.

Armenian Prime Minister arrived in Tehran on Monday morning to
discuss latest regional and international developments with Iran’s
high ranking officials.

Bilateral topics, especially energy issues are slated to be discussed
during the two-day visit of the Armenian premier.

Iran and Armenia have taken major strides towards widening and
deepening of their relations in recent years, particularly in the
economic sector.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIANS IN ALEPPO REGARD TURKEY AS ‘FIRST ENEMY’ –

October 20, 2014

Maria Karjian threw back her head and laughed.

“We used to call this Midan St but now we call it Tora Bora,” she said.

How did a street in the Armenian district of Aleppo come to be
nicknamed after the caves where the Taliban fought in Afghanistan? It
lies on the frontline between Syrian government-held west Aleppo and
the rebel controlled east.

Rubble is strewn across the road and the front half of an orange car
has taken a direct hit, probably from a rocket. Maria pointed up to
the second storey apartment. Part of the wall was missing.

“My mother was inside when the bomb hit,” she said.

Syria’s Armenian community are staunch supporters of President Bashar
al-Assad whose picture adorns almost every shop window. As Christians,
one of Syria’s minorities, they see him as their protector against
Islamism and the old enemy, the Turks.

In the complexity of the current conflict, it’s easy to forget the
strong grip of the past. The Armenians, victims of genocide by Turkish
forces in 1915, at the end of WW1, fear history repeating itself.

President Erdogan has been clear that he wants to see the overthrow
of President Assad. Turkey has not only backed the opposition groups
that control the streets just east of Midan but also allowed foreign
fighters to cross its border to fight for the Islamic State and the
Al-Qaeda linked group Jabat al-Nusra.

The old enemy

“Turkey is the first enemy,” said Pierre Bedrossian, a local
businessman who showed me around. “They know Armenians live here.

Everyone knows.”

It’s unlikely that the Armenians were uppermost in President Erdogan’s
mind when he decided to back the Syrian rebels. He is a Sunni, with
ideological roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, while Assad is an Alawite,
from the Baath Party and linked to Shi’a Iran. They are sectarian,
political and regional rivals.

Still, the visit to Midan got me thinking about how Turkey’s struggles
are entwined in this war. The Turks are still refusing to allow
weapons across the border for the Kurdish forces fighting Islamic
State militants in Kobani. Why? One Turkish minister said he saw it as
“a battle between two terrorist groups”.

The Syrian Kurds are linked to the PKK, the Kurdish group which has
been fighting the government within Turkey for decades. The Turkish
state still sees the Kurds as more of a threat than the jihadis.

In a half destroyed health centre, Pierre and his friends showed me
a small library.

“This is our culture,” they said. “We fear it will be destroyed.”

At least half of Aleppo’s Armenians have left the country, most for
Lebanon. Once again, their community is divided and endangered. And
once again, they regard Turkey as the chief cause of their problems.

By Lindsey Hilsum

Channel 4

AGRICULTURE FORUM OPENS AT ARMPROD EXPO 2014 IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, October 20./ARKA/. An agricultural forum opened in Yerevan
on Saturday as part of the XIII ArmProd EXPO international specialized
exhibition.

The forum will discuss developments in agriculture and processing
and is organized by the ministry of agriculture of Armenia.

Agriculture has always played a special role throughout Armenia’s
history, premier Hovik Abrahamyan said at his welcoming speech. The
head of the government has also visited the ArmProd EXPO 2014 and
awarded medals to some representatives of the rural industry.

The agricultural forum held on the Day of Farmworker has been a
good opportunity to assess achievements, discuss problems and plan
further steps in the sector, said Sergo Karapetyan, the minister
of agriculture.

New mechanisms of rural development have been created over the last
years, the minister said.

Andranik Khachatryan, the minister of agriculture of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, in his turn, stressed the importance of cooperation in
agriculture between the two countries. Agriculture is intensely
developing in Karabakh, and further efforts will be made, he said.

Certificates and medals were awarded to rural industry representatives
and reporters covering the ministry’s activities.

As of the end of the second quarter, agriculture, forestry and fishery
account for the highest percentage in overall Armenian GDP – 12.2%.

Agricultural output amounted to 219.4 billion drams over the first
half of the year, an increase of 1.4% compared to the same period of
2013. -0–

LE PARTI HERITAGE CONDAMNE L’ADHESION DE L’ARMENIE A L’UEE

COOPERATION ECONOMIQUE

Le parti d”opposition Zharangutyun, dirige par Raffi Hovannisian, a
officiellement condamne vendredi l’adhesion de l’Armenie a l’Union
economique eurasienne (UEE), qui a ete officialisee par Serge
Sarkissian le 10 octobre.

Le Zharangutyun a affirme que l’adhesion dans le bloc russe entraînera
une “plus grande menace” pour l’independance de l’Armenie et mettra en
danger le maintien du contrôle armenien du Haut-Karabagh. Il a ajoute
que Sarkissian n’avait aucun mandat pour signer un traite d’adhesion
“inconstitutionnelle” avec ses homologues russe, kazakh et bielorusses
lors du sommet de l’UEE a Minsk.

“Les efforts deplorables du regime pour contraindre l’adhesion de
l’Armenie a l’UEE visent simplement a manoeuvrer et a perpetuer son
pouvoir personnel illegitime obtenu par la falsification des elections
passees”,a charge le parti dans une declaration. “Il est clair que
Sarkissian, qui a usurpe le pouvoir par des elections injustes,
n’est pas autorise a signer n’importe quel accord au nom du peuple
de l’Armenie.”

lundi 20 octobre 2014, Claire (c)armenews.com

Tasnim News Agency, Iran
Oct 19 2014

Iran, Armenia Seeking to Boost Gas, Electricity Trade

October 18, 2014 – 16:20

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Armenian energy minister plans to hold talks with
his Iranian counterpart today as part of the two neighboring
countries’ efforts to boost electricity for gas trade, based on which
Iran supplies gas to Armenia and receives electricity.

Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and his Armenian counterpart
Armen Movsisyan are scheduled to meet in Tehran and explore ways for
boosting the amount of gas and electricity trade.

In May 2009, Iran and Armenia started trading gas and electricity.
According to a contract previously signed between the two countries,
Iran was planned to supply gas to Armenia until 2029 with or without
exchanging electricity with the country.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Iran’s Deputy Energy Minister
Houshang Falahatian said that the amount of gas that has been exported
to Armenia and an amount of electricity imported from the country did
not match the agreed amount based on the contract between the two
sides.

“Recently, we held meetings with Armenian officials and based on
agreements, we are constructing new power transmission lines (from
Armenia to Iran),” he noted, adding that the financial resources for
the new transmission line have been supplied by Export Development
Bank of Iran.

He noted that the new lines will prepare the ground for growth in
energy trade between the two neighboring countries.

Alameda Sun, CA
Sept 25 2014

Alameda Author Pens Haunting Tale of Genocide

Fernanda Castro
Thursday, September 25, 2014

When the word “genocide” is said or heard, the first event to appear
in the minds of most people is the Holocaust. Upon first learning
about it, many have come to know it as the first genocide of the 20th
century. For many, it may have been a highlighted topic in grade
school history class. However, few people know of the Armenian
Genocide. From 1915-1923, Armenian Christians of the Ottoman Empire
were victims of mass killings, violence and deportations from
present-day Turkey. This was, in fact, the first genocide of the 20th
century. It is a piece of global history seldom told that has touched
the lives of many among us.

Ellen Sarkisian Chesnut, an Alameda resident since 2006, is one of
those many deeply affected by the Armenian Genocide. In her newly
published book, Deli Sarkis: The Scars He Carried, A Daughter
Confronts the Armenian Genocide and Tells Her Father’s Story, Chesnut
chronicles the experiences of her father as a survivor of the Armenian
genocide, which took the lives of one and a half million Armenians.
She tells the story of where life took him after he and many other
Armenians were removed from their villages in the Ottoman Empire and
deported to the Syrian and Mesopotamian deserts. His journeys
afterwards led him to places like Bulgaria and Iraq, Chesnut’s
birthplace. “Years ago, I made a promise to my father that I would
tell his story. With the publication of this book, I have kept my
promise to him.” Chesnut began writing her book in 2011, though she
began her journey to fulfill her promise in 1988, researching the
Armenian genocide with her father and translating Armenian writing on
the backs of photographs with a language professor at UC Berkeley. Her
book, designed by Alameda-based graphic designer Valerie Turpen,
features clusters of photographs that help tell the story and the
struggles of the Armenian people.

The book launch of Deli Sarkis: The Scars He Carried, was held Tuesday
at the Alameda Museum. The museum holds a special place in Chesnut’s
heart; joining the Alameda Museum was one of the first things she did
upon moving to town. Through her powerful connection with her Armenian
heritage and the story of her father, Chesnut will bring to light the
significant piece of global history that is the Armenian genocide. The
Scars He Carried brings readers a step closer to coming to terms with
it.

Fernanda Castro is an Alameda Sun intern.