Category: News

By Hannah Lucinda Smith

The caretaker of the ancient Armenian church of Surp Giragos listened helplessly as, on the other side of the barricades, an explosion blew out the windows of his building and echoed through the narrow streets.”There were clashes around the church, but they had stopped in the past few days,” Gaffur Turkay told The Times.

Surp Giragos, which was closed during the Armenian genocide of 1915 and reopened in 2011, is caught in the middle of an urban war, here in the historic city of Diyarbakir, the de facto capital of the Kurdish-majority southeast of Turkey. The security forces are trying to quash an uprising led by fighters linked to the PKK, a Kurdish separatist militia.

Most of Sur, the neighbourhood within the Unesco-listed city walls,has been under lockdown for the past month. Surp Giragos is behind the blockades, as are dozens of mosques, ancient bath houses and coaching inns. Extensive damage has already been wreaked on many of the oldbuildings.

Mr Turkay has been unable to reach the church to check the damage since the curfew began. Today, he and the two dozen others who make up Diyarbakir’s tiny Armenian Christian community will have to begin Orthodox Christmas celebrations in their homes, rather than under the splendour of Surp Giragos’s arches. “People will visit each other,give presents, but we can’t do anything about this situation,” Mr Turkay said.

The Armenians in southeast Turkey are descendants of survivors of the 1915 genocide, in which 1.5 million Christians were massacred and displaced as the Ottoman Empire crumbled. It is a chapter that continues to traumatise and divide the country. Most of the killings were carried out by Kurdish soldiers on the orders of Ottoman generals, although many Armenian children were sheltered by sympathetic Kurdish families, and then raised as Muslims. The Kurdish southeast has made efforts to integrate and support the Armenian revival, but many Turks still deny that the genocide happened.

In recent years, as the grandchildren of those converts have rediscovered their roots, some have chosen to return to Christianity.

Armen Demircian is another who was brought up as a Muslim, and converted to Christianity when he discovered that his father was a genocide survivor. “My grandfather and three uncles were massacred,but a Kurdish family saved my father, who was four years old,” he said. “They hid him in their house, raised him, and treated him like a son. Until a certain age I felt Kurdish, but after I found out, I wanted to live as an Armenian.”

In southeastern Turkey, the Armenians are once again trapped in the middle. “If this war extends and gets worse, it will destroy the Kurds and the Armenians,” Mr Demircian said.
“For now we are stepping back and watching.”

Photo:  Vadim Zhernov/ITAR-TASS  

A new batch of domestically-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has arrived for the Russian military base in Armenia, the press office of Russia’s Southern Military District said on Monday, TASS reports.

“Modern domestically-made drones Takhion have entered service in the UAV unit of the Southern Military District’s military base located in the Republic of Armenia,” the press office said in a statement.

The Russian military personnel will learn to operate new drones within a month at the Kamkhud and Alagyaz high-mountainous training ranges.

The Takhion UAV is designed for army reconnaissance day and night at a distance of up to 40 km. The drone can mount a video, photo or infrared camera. The UAV has a liftoff weight of about 25 kg and flight duration of up to 6 hours. Takhion drones are produced at the Urals-based Izhmash-UAV enterprise.

NKR President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on awarding posthumously private of NKR Defense Army’s N division Aramayis Voskanyan with the “For Service in Battle” medal for bravery shown during the defense of the NKR state border.

Aramayis Voskanyan, born in 1996, was killed in Azeri firing in one of the military units located in the eastern direction of the line of contact on January 9.

The book, titled “Bir Ermeni Subayın Çanakkale ve Doğu Cephesi Günlüğü 1914-1918” (The Journal of an Armenian Military Officer at the Çanakkale and Eastern Front, 1914-1918), which includes Dr. Avedis Cebeciyan’s memories of the war, has been translated into Turkish, reports.The book was originally written in Armenian and published in Beirut in 1986.

The book reveals another perspective of the war and contains some of Cebeciyan’s insights. Some moments of the battle, bombardments by Allied countries and tents set up for those injured in the war are among the moments covered in the book by the Armenian doctor.

Cebeciyan states in the book that the Deportation Law, which was enacted on May 27, 1915, came as another tragic incident Ottoman Armenians suffered during the war. Cebeciyan describes the situation of those who suffered due to the deportation policy, as his family members, including his pregnant wife, were deported to Syria in 1915.

In a journal entry dated Aug. 13, 1915, Cebeciyan wrote: “An enemy aircraft bombed us three times today. One of the bombs landed four meters away from my tent. I wasn’t in the tent and the bomb didn’t explode. It just got stuck in the ground and we dug it out. There are many injured people here. It’s painful to witness the sufferings of thousands of people and not being able to do anything for them but transfer them [to hospitals]. We have transferred 11,000 wounded in the last three days and there isn’t enough space on the ships for all of them. I have spent most nights without any sleep carrying out the transfers.”

“The bombardment has finally ended. However, a ship has caught on fire. I stood up on a steep mountain, and called to the soldiers, saying: ‘Come on, this is a day to serve the country. Come to [extinguish] the fire!” Cebeciyan wrote in another entry dated Sept. 3, 1915.

Cebeciyan attended the American University of Beirut with the encouragement of his father, Hovhannes Cebeciyan — one of the Armenian gentry in Gaziantep province, and graduated as a doctor. After serving in Şanlıurfa for a while, he continued to work at the Sev Gaziantep American Hospital. He also served in Germany and Switzerland to gain more experience and specialize in his profession. The Adana massacre of 1909, which resulted in the death of 20,000-30,000 Armenians and 1,300 Arameans (Syriacs), broke out when his wife was pregnant with their first child. Cebeciyan decided to return to Gaziantep, his hometown, because things were becoming unbearable for him after his father-in-law was killed on his way to Osmaniye.

Cebeciyan heard that many of his relatives had been killed while he was treating those who were injured during World War I. His brother, Kirkor, had been banished to Syria and was able to come back only after the war. He returned to Syria’s Aleppo Governorate after the Armistice of Mudros was signed on Oct. 30, 1918. He earned a living by establishing a clinic with his brother-in-law, Filip Hovnanyan, who was also a doctor. He treated those who were injured during the 1915 Armenian massacres and worked at the clinic until 1952, two years before his death.

If people of different nations know each other, there would be no misunderstanding and gradually they will love each other, says the archbishop of Armenian community and the primate of the diocese of Tehran.

“The new year is, willingly or unwillingly, a new chapter for all people of the world. So, I greet 2016,” Sebouh Sarkissian said, wishing a year full of peace and friendship all over the world.

“We should know each other. That means you have to acknowledge and know your neighbor. Knowledge generates love. That is the key for a better life,” Sarkissian told the .

He said he believed that differences between nations should be narrowed, so that they can develop mutual respect and understanding. This leads to the birth of love in heart and minds of people, Sarkissian noted.

“The problem is that countries do not have trust in each other. So they try to protect themselves and attack others. This issue causes problems and difficulty and enmity.”

“People go away from world of God. No religion in the world encourages killing, war and harming human being. We are all creatures of God. Killing somebody is killing God. Unfortunately, people are not conscious about this fact,” he lamented.

He added human beings are “essentially and existentially religious creatures but nowadays people in different parts of the world suffer from inhumanity caused by politics and worldly interest.”

He called “trust and mutual understanding” the most important things within societies.

Celebrating New Year in Armenian style

“Historically speaking, until the 4th AD, all Christians celebrated the birth of Christ on January 6. After Rome accepted Christianity as the state religion, some Christians began to celebrate December 25 as the birth of Sun-God. However, Armenian churches kept the old tradition and celebrated January 6 as the revelation of God,” he stated.

“In Tehran, Christians gather on the eve of January to celebrate Mass, however, we don’t have such religious rituals and rites related to the New Year,” he explained.

“Before the Armenian genocide [in 1915], we had some traditions to celebrate the New Year in our country. At that time, people lived in their own lands, cities, and villages and they celebrated traditions that came down to them,” he said.

Sarkissian said today Armenians have some traditions and rituals, which depend on the place they live in to celebrate the New Year. For example, he added, in some villages people go to rivers and at 00:00 of January 1 enter the water to clean themselves symbolically for the New Year.

“Actually, such traditions have nothing to do with religion. Most of them are national traditions,” he explained.

He went on to say that in Iran and some Arab countries like Syria and Lebanon, Christians celebrate their New Year freely.

“Our Muslim brothers accompany us during the celebration. However it is not the case in all countries. For example, in Saudi Arabia there is no such thing.

“When I served in Kuwait, I was responsible for the Persian Gulf area, including Saudi Arabia, but I never went there because they don’t allow any religious person enter any Christian region. So, you can imagine how life would be for Christians in that country. They don’t have churches, they don’t have any clergymen. They have to move around and go somewhere else to have their religious rituals,” he lamented.

Iranian Muslims and Armenians are long time neighbors

“I served in Iraq in the beginning of 1970s for four years. I have been in Syria for three and a half years. I was in Lebanon and Kuwait and I have been here since 1999.

“Shia Muslims have always been open-minded toward others and toward Christianity and Iran, especially, has always been the land of coexistence for people of different religions,” Sarkissian boasted.

All Armenians around the world consider Iran as a part of their identity because of the same root, being long time neighbors, and sharing common culture, he pointed out.

“Depending on broad-mindedness and narrow-mindedness of rulers in Iran, the Iranian-Armenian relationship has changed during history, but most of the time they were in peace with each other.

“Our relationship is not new. The good relationship between Persians and Armenians dates back to before the birth of Christ and some of our countrymen moved to Iran during the Safavid era,” he explained.

“Nowadays, Armenians have over 3,000 churches in Iran, including Qareh Kelisa and St. Stephanus, which are part of Iran’s cultural heritage and are supported by the government,” the archbishop noted.

Inter-religious trust and respect

Iranian Muslims and Armenians have a good understanding of each other’s beliefs and rituals. On the last days of December, shops in Armenian neighborhoods in Tehran are decorated with Christmas tree and ornaments.

“Armenians respect their Muslim neighbors during mourning season of Muharram for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions by good willing gestures.

“I am respecting you because you are keeping firmly to religious tradition. I understand Islam because I studied about Islam and my master thesis is about event of Karbala and martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS),” he remarked.

He was right. We were old good neighbors who were with each other during hard days of Iran’s history. When I was leaving the church, I was imbued with good feelings of respect and friendship and I think that is all it should be!

Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player for the fifth time, the BBC reports.

The 28-year-old beat club-mate Neymar of Brazil and Real Madrid’s Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Either Messi or Ronaldo, who became a three-time winner last year, have won the past eight awards.

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, won the women’s award.

England coach Mark Sampson was beaten to the women’s football coach of the year award by United States boss Jill Ellis.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique won the world coach of the year award after leading his side to five of the six trophies on offer in 2015, including the Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

He beat Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola, who was second, and Chile’s Copa America-winning coach Jorge Sampaoli to the award.

Atletico Goianiense’s Wendell Lira won the goal of the year award for a spectacular overhead kick in Brazil’s Goiano state league game against Goianesia.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s run from halfway and finish in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao finished second, with Roma full-back Alessandro Florenzi’s 55-yard goal against Barca third.

Former Leeds and South Africa captain Lucas Radebe announced the winner of this year’s fair play award – all football clubs and organisations supporting refugees.

There was no shortlist for this award.

Yura Movsisyan’s return to Salt Lake City appears to be imminent, according to a report from reliable reporter Chris Kamrani of the

The Tribune learned through league sources Sunday that terms have been agreed upon to bring the 28-year-old Spartak Moscow striker back to Major League Soccer and RSL after spending the last six seasons professionally both in Denmark and Russia.

Movsisyan’s agent, Patrick McCabe, told The Tribune on Saturday night that discussions between RSL and Spartak were ongoing, adding, “But not anything final.”

Movsisyan originally left RSL to pursue a career in Europe in Jan. 2010, but RSL extended a contract offer despite the expiration of Movsisyan’s previous contract, which allowed RSL to retain his MLS rights if he ever chose to return to the league down the road.

Six years later, he looks to be headed back.

Spain’s Princess Cristina has become the first member of the country’s royal family to be put on trial, the BBC reports.

She is charged with being an accomplice in an alleged embezzlement scam involving her husband and 16 other defendants, who all deny the charges.

Princess Cristina, 50, faces eight years in jail if found guilty by a three-member panel of judges.

The trial in Palma, Majorca, is seen as an embarrassment for the royal family.

Princess Cristina arrived at the court in Palma on Monday with her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who is accused of embezzlement and money laundering.

They made no statement to reporters. A small group of anti-monarchists protested outside.

HayPost, the national postal operator of the Republic of Armenia, and Ria Money Transfer (“Ria”), the third largest money transfer company in the world, have announced a partnership to provide inbound and outbound money transfer services throughout Armenia.

The new agreement will allow HayPost customers to receive cash remittances in euro (EUR) and US dollars (USD) at any of HayPost’s 600+ onlinepost offices in Armenia. In addition to providing a secure and economical service, Ria’s rapid transfer system enables HayPost customers to receive transfers from family and friends abroad within minutes. HayPost customers can also send money through Ria’s global network which spans 147 countries and 287,000 locations.

HayPost has made strategic moves in the United States recently, where on July 21, 2015 the company opened its first international branch in Glendale, California. As well as providing courier and shipping services, HayPost recently launched “ShopInAmerica” which grants Armenian residents open and easy access to goods from the US market.

The new location, which serves as a bridge between Armenia and the USA, now also offers HayPost’s US-based customers the ability to send cash to their loved ones in Armenia using Ria Money Transfer. Customers can also send money online at with payout at any authorised HayPost post office in Armenia.

General Director of “HayPost Trust Management” BV Juan Pablo Gechidjian said, “The cooperation between HayPost and Ria Money Transfer is a great opportunity, enabling customers to send and receive cash remittances to and from different parts of the world. One of our missions is to provide quality, fast and affordable services to our customers. We are confident that our partnership with Ria Money Transfer fits within this mission and are hopeful our work together will yield tangible results in the near future.”

Ria’s President and CEO, Juan Bianchi added, “The launch of our new money transfer service with HayPost is especially timely given their recent expansion to the United States and we’re delighted to partner with Armenia’s National Postal Operator. Part of Ria’s global vision is to provide greater access to affordable remittances worldwide and post offices are an excellent channel to facilitate these flows. HayPost also has many strategically located branches in remote locations and we’re looking forward to better serving Armenians living abroad by giving them a secure and affordable alternative for sending money home to their families.”

In 2014, the World Bank estimated that Armenia received $2.2 billion in remittances and that remittances accounted for 21% of the country’s GDP in 2013. This data places Armenia in the top 10 countries most dependent on remittances globally.

Asa Kent Jennings was an American hero who saved 250,000 people during the Armenian Genocide.

Despite his awe-inspiring life-saving deeds, his story has not been properly recognized, not only around the world, but also in the USA and in Armenia.

The Board of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation has resolved to pay tribute to his legacy in a series of activities that will be made public soon.

Jennings was a small-town handicapped Minister originally from upstate New York. At the beginning of the 20th century he worked in the affluent city of Smyrna in Turkey, as a YMCA employee.

In September 1922, the Turkish nationalist army entered the city with the intent of slaughtering all its Christian residents, mostly Armenians and Greek. A huge blaze erupted through the city on September 13, trapping scores of refugees in a narrow strip by the sea. Hundreds of thousands were doome to die on the city s waterfront. Many of them were succumbing to plagues, hunger and thirst, under the Turkish siege.

Aware of their plight, Jennings had set-up a first-aid station for pregnant women in an empty home on the waterfront. He then organized a fleet of ships with the help of the US Navy in an audacious and imaginative rescue plan.

The Jennings evacuation removed 250,000 refugess from Smyrna and relocated them to the Greek Islands and the cities of Thessaloniki and Piraeus.

This blitz operation took only 7 days, to meet a Turkish city amidst threats of deportation. His courage and shrewdness saved the lives of a quarter million innocent human beings from a terrible death.

Asa Kent Jennings is a great American rescuer who went out of his way to save scores of Armenians and Greeks and his legacy needs to be divulged for the world to know that people like him were not indifferent to the plight of other human beings.

His spirit of solidarity should be a beacon of hope and should teach us that one man can make a difference.

The IRWF decision to commemorate the feats of Asa Jennings are in the framework of the NGO s research efforts aimed at discovering the brave women and men who reached-out to the Armenians in their suffering