Author: nina hovnanian

Christian Today
June 15 2014

Islamist takeover may be ‘death knell’ for Iraq’s Christians

Published 15 June 2014 | Cath Martin

The swift and chilling takeover of parts of Iraq and Syria by Islamist
militants is leaving already vulnerable Christians “even more
endangered”, the head of Barnabas Fund has warned.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, writing in a comment on the organisation’s
website, said the expansion of the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant (ISIS) in the two countries was a “threat to the stability of
the entire region”.

He said the takeover of Raqqa in Syria had already painted a
“terrifying picture” of what the arrival of ISIS will mean for
non-Muslims.

Earlier this year, Christians in Raqqa were threatened with death
unless they converted to Islam and paid the jizya tax for non-Muslims,
which effectively renders them second class citizens.

“The militants are imposing strict sharia rules and carrying out
brutal penalties, including beheadings and crucifixions,” said Dr
Sookhdeo.

In addition to imposing heavy restrictions on their freedoms, ISIS
confiscated houses and land belonging to Christians in Raqqa, forcing
the owners to leave the area.

The Armenian church there has been taken over and turned into an
office for Islamic affairs and the promotion of sharia, Dr Sookhdeo
said.

Prior to the takeover of Mosul this past week, Iraqi Christians
already had a bitter taste of ISIS when it killed 58 Christians in the
siege of a Baghdad church in 2010.

It was one of the worst attacks on Christians in Iraq in the past
decade, prompting more to join the already hundreds of thousands who
had left the country following the 2003 US-led invasion.

Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh Plain had until now been one of the
few areas of Iraq where Christians felt a degree of safety, but with
the onslaught of ISIS, that has all changed and they are fleeing the
region along with thousands of other Iraqis, while churches are looted
and torched.

Dr Sookhdeo concluded: “It is feared that this latest exodus could be
the final death knell for the Christians of Iraq.

“Having previously sought refuge in Syria, this is no longer an option
and as ISIS violence threatens the stability of the wider region,
Christians have very few places of safety to which to run.”

Barnabas Fund is now providing aid to Christians who have fled Mosul.

“People left everything behind, they had no chance to collect their
important things from their houses and shops,” said one Barnabas Fund
partner.

Barnabas Fund is asking Christians to pray that:

Pray that the Iraqi security forces will be able to regain control of
Mosul and other territory threatened by ISIS.
Thank God that He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble” (Psalm 46:1) and pray that this will comfort Iraqi Christians
at this distressing time.

To donate to Barnabas Fund’s appeal to provide food aid to Iraqi
Christians click click here

ARMENIE
Des douzaines de manifestants brièvement détenus

Une douzaine de militants ont été emmenés au poste de police durant la
nuit suite à leurs actions lors d’une manifestation près d’une maison
historique à Erevan vouée à la démolition.

Selon les rapports des médias, les manifestants avaient apporté avec
eux des outils afin de démanteler la clôture autour de ce qui est
connu comme la Maison Afrikyan rue Teryan.

Le btiment richement décoré avait été désigné comme une zone de
réaménagement en vertu des dispositions juridiques d’> et doit être démoli suite à la décision des autorités de la ville.

Les partisans de la conservation des monuments architecturaux de la
capitale arménienne considèrent qu’il est inacceptable de démolir la
maison qui est le patrimoine historique des Afrikyans, une famille de
marchands et de fabricants qui possédaient un magasin de tissu, une
usine de coton, de vin et de brandy avant l’arrivée des bolcheviques
en Arménie au début du siècle dernier.

À la fin de la protestation des militants n’ont pas obéit aux ordres
des policiers d’arrêter leurs activités et ont été emmenés à un poste
de police après une dispute. Maintenant, ils peuvent faire face à des
accusations pour

TURQUIE
Le gouvernement turc accusé d’avoir soutenu les jihadistes

L’enlèvement, en Irak, de 80 Turcs par les combattants du groupe
radical sunnite de l’Etat islamique en Irak et au Levant (EIIL), a
réveillé la polémique sur les liens présumés de la Turquie avec
certains groupes rebelles jihadistes.

L’enlèvement des chauffeurs turcs et du personnel du consulat de
Turquie, à Mossoul (environ 80 citoyens turcs), a provoqué un malaise
à Ankara, aussi bien au sein du gouvernement que de l’opposition, qui
dénonce les liens entretenus par l’Etat turc avec les factions
jihadistes et islamistes en Syrie et en Irak.

Le régime du Premier ministre islamo-conservateur turc Recep Tayyip
Erdogan a toujours nié avoir mis en place par le biais de ses très
loyaux services de renseignements (MIT) une alliance tacite avec ces
extrémistes à l’ennemi commun : Le régime du président syrien Bechar
al-Assad.

Aujourd’hui cette alliance sunnite s’est retournée contre la Turquie,
membre de l’Otan, menaçant sa sécurité.

“Nous avons tous vu les photos dans la presse d’hommes barbus portant
des armes, traités dans des hôpitaux du sud de la Turquie depuis le
début du conflit en Syrie. Mais le gouvernement est toujours resté
muet sur ses relations avec les groupes islamistes”, souligne Serkan
Demirtas, chef de bureau du journal Hürriyet Daily News.

“La Turquie paye le prix de sa collaboration avec des terroristes et
sans doute d’une erreur d’appréciation de la situation”, estime
l’éditorialiste.

Un confrère du quotidien libéral Radikal, est du même avis, à savoir
qu’il s’agit d’une “grosse erreur de jugement politique”. “Après le
retour du personnel diplomatique il faudrait évidemment analyser les
lacunes en matière de renseignement et du politique” suivi par Ankara
en Irak et Syrie, estime Özgür Mumcu.

L’armée a pour sa part démenti samedi une information parue vendredi
dans la presse d’opposition affirmant que des officiers turcs avaient
entraîné les rebelles ce l’EIIL en Irak.

“Cette information est dénuée de tout fondement”, souligne un
communiqué de l’état-major.

La presse turque a dans la foulée fait état d’une circulaire diffusée
l’an dernier dans laquelle le ministre de l’Intérieur de l’époque,
Muammer Güler, recommanderait d’offrir hébergement et assistance aux
jihadistes du Front al Nousra en Turquie.

La justice turque s’est saisie de cette affaire et a lancé une enquête
judiciaire sur l’authenticité de ce document qui pourrait faire des
remous dans la classe politique.

Sous la pression internationale, et probablement conscient de la
menace que ces organisations représentaient pour sa propre sécurité,
Ankara a finalement inscrit début juin l’EIIL et le Front al Nousra
sur la liste des organisations terroristes. Ont immédiatement suivi
les prises d’otages à Mossoul, surprenant le gouvernement d’Erdogan
pris au dépourvu et faisant fuser des questions dans la tête des
commentateurs : Est-ce une mesure de rétorsion ?

Davutoglu cible de l’opposition –

Le gouvernement, qui a privilégié la voie des négociations à l’option
militaire, est critiqué depuis avec véhémence par l’opposition
parlementaire qui réclame en premier la tête du chef de la diplomatie
Ahmet Davutoglu. Celui-ci est l’architecte d’une politique étrangère
active dans les Balkans, en Méditerranée orientale ou dans le monde
arabe, souvent perçue comme “néo-ottomane”.

“C’est le peuple qui décidera” a rétorqué le ministre à des
journalistes qui l’interrogeaient jeudi à l’issue d’une rencontre avec
la direction du principal parti d’opposition social-démocrate (CHP,
parti républicain du peuple) qui lui a vertement demandé de
démissionner.

“Si la démocratie existe dans ce pays, Erdogan ou son ministre
Davutoglu doivent immédiatement démissionner et payer la facture de ce
fiasco”, a indiqué à l’AFP un député de cette formation, Mahmut Tanal.

Le ministre aurait exclu toute démission, affirmant qu’il ne
quitterait pas le navire, tant que les otages et tous ses
ressortissants, auxquels Ankara a recommandé de quitter le territoire
irakien, rentrent sains et sauf en Turquie, ont rapporté samedi les
médias.

Son ministère a souligné samedi dans un communiqué que la Turkish
Airlines qui a cessé de desservir Mossoul organisera des vols
supplémentaires pour rapatrier les Turcs d’Irak.

“Notre Etat a tout mis en oeuvre pour obtenir le retour en Turquie de
ses citoyens retenus en Irak”, ajoute le texte, sans préciser si les
tractations menées avec divers groupes irakiens ont permis un
déblocage de la situation.

Le Premier ministre, qui doit annoncer bientôt sa candidature à
l’élection présidentielle du 10 août, a contre-attaqué face aux
critiques de ses adversaires.

“L’opposition a perdu la tête. Nous faisons tous nos efforts pour
ramener nos ressortissants à la maison sains et saufs de Mossoul, et
eux ne pensent qu’à utiliser cette situation”, a-t-il déploré
vendredi.

AFP

dimanche 15 juin 2014,
Stéphane (c)armenews.com

NOUVEL OBSERBATEUR
Orhan Pamuk commente les condoléances d’Erdogan

Dans une interview accordée dans le Nouvel obs de cette semaine, le
prix Nobel de littérature commente les positions d’Erdogan sur le
génocide arménien. Extraits.

En 2005, vous avez été inculpé d’insulte à la nation pour avoir
reconnu le génocide arménien et le massacre des Kurdes. Ces poursuites
ont été abandonnées, mais vous avez reçu des menaces de mort, et la
presse de droite a maintenu sa campagne de dénigrement contre vous.
Vous sentez-vous encore menacé ?

Orhan Pamuk : Je vais vous donner une réponse statistique : je n’ai
plus qu’un garde du corps au lieu de trois… Ma situation s’est donc
améliorée ! Et je suis très ami avec mon garde du corps. Mais il ne
faut pas comparer mon sort avec ce qu’a enduré Salman Rushdie.

Le 23 avril dernier, pour la première fois dans l’histoire de la
Turquie, Erdogan a adressé ses condoléances aux descendants des
Arméniens massacrés en 1915. Ce fut un véritable événement politique.
Pourtant, quelques jours plus tard, il a de nouveau nié le caractère
génocidaire de ce massacre. S’agit-il donc vraiment d’un premier pas
vers une reconnaissance du génocide ?

Orhan Pamuk : Cette question ne sera résolue que lorsque la liberté
d’expression existera enfin en Turquie. Or on peut encore être
emprisonné pour avoir affirmé la réalité de ce génocide – même si à
titre personnel ma notoriété me confère une certaine immunité. Cela
dit, cette déclaration, même timide et suivie d’un démenti, constitue
un premier pas, car les procureurs vont désormais être moins enclins à
poursuivre en justice les personnes qui parlent de génocide.

Il est crucial que les Turcs sachent enfin la vérité sur les
événements de 1915, et que les historiens turcs objectifs et courageux
puissent enfin faire entendre leur voix, alors qu’ils sont
actuellement marginalisés et censurés par les médias. L’accès à la
liberté d’expression est crucial pour que le pays puisse procéder à
cet examen de conscience historique, tout comme il a contribué à
désamorcer le problème kurde. La déclaration d’Erdogan est timide et
tardive, mais elle constitue un point de départ décisif. Même s’il
n’est mû que par un calcul diplomatique, il a au moins cela à son
actif.

La suite sur le lien plus bas

dimanche 15 juin 2014,
Ara (c)armenews.com

D´autres informations disponibles : Nouvel observateur

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
June 13 2014

Turkish speaker says Crimean annexation unacceptable

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) – Turkey reaffirms its support to Azerbaijan in
the struggle with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
and aims to find a peaceful resolution to the 20-year conflict,
Turkey’s Parliament Speaker said at meeting with Azerbaijani President
on Friday.

Cemil Cicek, Turkey’s Parliament Speaker spoke at a Parliamentary
Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA) Five Plenary Session,
hosted by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan in Baku.

“In TURKPA, we never refrain from supporting the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and in support of concerted action against the Armenian
occupation,” said Cicek, adding that Turkey continues to struggle to
find a peaceful solution to solve the dispute in Azerbaijan.

Efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which lasted
20 years, have so far failed and the two countries remain without
diplomatic relations. Azerbaijan and Armenia, two former Soviet
republics, fought a war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh
in the 1990s.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that countries that have
common roots, need to form close ties with each other, and ultimately
the major aim of all Turkic republics is the unity of the Turkic
world.

Aliyev said, “There is no other country, except Turkey and Azerbaijan,
struggling for the unity of the Turkic world,” and added “We are one
nation, two states.”

Cicek spoke on the plight of the Crimean Tatars, “We will not
recognize the de facto annexation attempt of Crimea. We will give
importance to the security of Crimean Tatars.”

Russia annexed Crimea on 21 March. Many Tatars felt insecure after the
annexation, which stirred memories of their mass deportation in 1944
under Soviet leader Josef Stalin. The deportation in which around
250,000 Crimean Tatars -including women and children -were taken from
their homes and forced to migrate to areas thousands of kilometres
away from Crimea facing hunger and thirst on their way.

Aliyev also received committees from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan separately.

TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN STRUGGLING FOR UNITY OF TURKIC WORLD

World Bulletin, Turkey
June 13 2014

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that countries that have
common roots, need to form close ties with each other

World Bulletin/News Desk

Turkey reaffirms its support to Azerbaijan in the struggle with
Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region and aims to find
a peaceful resolution to the 20-year conflict, Turkey’s Parliament
Speaker said at meeting with Azerbaijani President on Friday.

Cemil Cicek, Turkey’s Parliament Speaker spoke at a Parliamentary
Assembly of Turkic Speaking Countries (TURKPA) Five Plenary Session,
hosted by the National Assembly of Azerbaijan in Baku.

“In TURKPA, we never refrain from supporting the territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan and in support of concerted action against the Armenian
occupation,” said Cicek, adding that Turkey continues to struggle to
find a peaceful solution to solve the dispute in Azerbaijan.

Efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which lasted
20 years, have so far failed and the two countries remain without
diplomatic relations. Azerbaijan and Armenia, two former Soviet
republics, fought a war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh
in the 1990s.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that countries that have
common roots, need to form close ties with each other, and ultimately
the major aim of all Turkic republics is the unity of the Turkic world.

Aliyev said, “There is no other country, except Turkey and Azerbaijan,
struggling for the unity of the Turkic world,” and added “We are one
nation, two states.”

Cicek spoke on the plight of the Crimean Tatars, “We will not recognize
the de facto annexation attempt of Crimea. We will give importance
to the security of Crimean Tatars.”

Russia annexed Crimea on 21 March. Many Tatars felt insecure after
the annexation, which stirred memories of their mass deportation
in 1944 under Soviet leader Josef Stalin. The deportation in which
around 250,000 Crimean Tatars – including women and children – were
taken from their homes and forced to migrate to areas thousands of
kilometers away from Crimea facing hunger and thirst on their way.

Aliyev also received committees from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
separately.

DIASPORA STRUGGLING TO RECOVER ARMENIAN ECONOMY

The Messenger, Georgia
June 13 2014

Friday, June 13

The Armenian diaspora has decided not to deprive the Armenian
authorities of aid, as it is in deep need for financial support.

Armenia’s economy regresses every year, as the country lacks the
necessary funds to implement its large economic projects. The financial
support for Armenia is vitally important for the post-Soviet country,
where an economic crisis keeps deepening. The Armenian authorities,
which are in desperate search for financial sources abroad, are trying
to convince the diaspora not to leave their homeland alone.

The Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe decided after lengthy
discussions to support the Armenian government by giving it 5-year
and 10-year loans.

“Armenia needs new loans as a human needs oxygen,” President of the
Forum Ashot Grigoryan told local media.

He said the new government does not meet the Forum’s expectations,
as it is continuing the previous government’s policies. “All the
ministers of the new government were corrupt,” Grigoryan said.

He was not optimistic about the future saying it is unlikely that
the Armenian ambassadors abroad will be able to attract investments.

Prime Minister Ovik Abramyan recently instructed the Armenian embassies
to turn into investment promotion agencies. But later it turned out
that there is still no investment project that Armenian ambassadors
can present to the potential foreign investors.

Grigoryan said the Armenian ambassadors are fully involved in their
own business. “They do not engage themselves in diplomacy, they are
half businessmen,” he added.

Armenia is not an attractive state in terms of investment. The presence
of the “shadow” economy makes Armenia unattractive for investors.

In such a situation, Armenia can only rely on the financial aid of the
diaspora, which continues to remain an economic and political power
for the country. With its loans, the diaspora tries to resuscitate
the Armenian economy, which is in a deep coma.

LAVROV WILL GO TO ARMENIA

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
June 13 2014

13 June 2014 – 11:51am

The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, is to make an official
two-day visit to Armenia. The trip is planned for June 22-23.

The head of the Russian foreign policy department will be accepted
by the head of state Serzh Sargsyan, negotiations between the foreign
ministers of the two countries will take place.

On the agenda the discussion of the process of implementation of
the agreements reached during the visit of the Russian President in
December 2013, the allied relations between two countries, deepening
of military cooperation and the process of membership of Armenia in
the EurAsian Union.

Questions of expansion of trade and economic ties, as well as
decentralized cooperation will be discussed.

The parties will also discuss the efforts of the Minsk OSCE
group directed at advancing negotiations on a settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Trend reports.

SARF DELIVERS ANOTHER $100K FOR SYRIAN ARMENIANS

Friday, June 13th, 2014

Syrian Armenian Relief Fund

GLENDALE–As the war rages on in Syria, the calls for help are reaching
donors, whose contributions raised another $100,000 for the Syrian
Armenian Relief Fund (SARF). With the latest transfer, the total SARF
contributions for Syrian Armenians reached one million dollars.

“Thanks to the caring, compassionate and highly responsible spirit
of our donor public, we have reached this milestone,” said Zaven
Khanjian, SARF Executive Committee Chairperson. He added, “As we cannot
reach each individual donor personally, we take this opportunity to
salute every one of them around the nation who contributed from $5
to $25,000.”

The latest donations included two $10,000 donations. One was from
the European-based family of the late Dr. Iskandar Kassis of Aleppo;
the other was from Dr. Noubar Ouzounian, and ENT-otolaryngologist in
Anaheim, Calif.

Even before we can comprehend the full impact of the losses in Kessab,
and as the Nor Kyough neighborhood of Aleppo braces for more bombs,
the Armenians of Mosul in Iraq had to run for their lives and the
cycle of violence continues echoing the struggles of those who survived
the Armenian Genocide.

It is unbearable for all to watch the demise of the Mother Diasporan
community at the onset of the Genocide Centennial. As a community
far away from the delivery of help to those affected by the crisis,
it lifts our spirits, when we hear the stories of courage and optimism
that emanate from evacuation centers. Our community members need to
do their part to get involved to support solutions to the crisis,
because financial assistance is only a stop-gap measure to sustain
the effected communities.

Thank you for all your contributions. Please continue to give and to
share your blessings. Send your check to SARF: P.O. Box 1948, Glendale,
CA 91209-1948; or donate on-line at

The following churches, charities and organizations came together
to form the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund in August 2012: Armenian
Catholic Eparchy in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union of North
America; Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of
the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General Benevolent
Union; Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian Relief
Society of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party; Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat Hunchakian
Party-Western U.S.A.

SEVENTY FILMS TO FEATURE AT 11TH GOLDEN APRICOT FILM FESTIVAL

18:18 13.06.2014

Golden Apricot Film Festival

Golden Apricot Yerevan 11th International Film Festival presented
its competition film programme at a press conference today.

The competition will traditionally be held in four main categories:
International Feature, International Documentary, Armenian Panorama
and e Apricot Stone short film competition.

This year about 70 films have been selected out of more than 1,500
submissions from 95 countries. More precisely, 10 will be presented
in the international feature, 12- in the international documentary,
18 – in the Armenian Panorama (7 feature fiction, 5 documentaries,
and 6 shorts) and around 30 short films in Apricot Stone competition
programmes.