Al Jazeera: Authorities are seeking to quell criticism in Internet as presidential elections in Azerbaijan approach

August 27, 2013 By administrator

Critical journalists, bloggers and activists are facing growing pressure from the Azerbaijani government, the British Human rights activist Rebbeca Vincent writes in the article published on the Al Jazeera site.

“With Azerbaijan’s October 9 presidential elections rapidly approaching, critical journalists, bloggers and activists are facing growing pressure from a government that is becoming increasingly hostile to criticism and dissent that is expressed online.
The Azerbaijani authorities have long been working to punish and silence critical voices in the country, resulting in a broadcast media environment completely dominated by the state, and a print media climate where the few remaining critical publications are struggling for survival,” the author of the article writes.

Now, as the human rights defender notes, with the ruling elite seeking to further consolidate power as incumbent President Ilham Aliyev seeks a third term in office, authorities are increasingly turning their focus towards silencing online criticism .

Among the most alarming developments in recent months there was an extension of criminal defamation provisions to the internet. He noted that the criminal defamation provisions to online content that took effect on July 30 were condemned by the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The courts wasted no time in applying the new legislation. On August 14, a regional court convicted Mikail Talibov of defamation and sentenced him to one year of hard labor. His crime was in using Facebook to criticize his former employer.

The human rights’ activist touches upon the imprisonment of journalists and activists in connection with their online postings and notes that “it is not a new phenomenon in Azerbaijan.” According to her before the adoption of the new legislation, online postings had already played a role in a number of arrests. Journalist Faramaz Novruzoglu is serving a four-and-a-half-year jail term, in part for allegedly posting calls for riots on Facebook.

“The adoption of the internet defamation legislation is only one part of a wider campaign to silence online criticism and dissent in the run-up to the election. In July, prominent investigative journalist and correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Khadija Ismayilova faced a serious violation of her right to privacy. A sex video of Ismayilova [SFW], secretly filmed by a camera hidden in her home, was posted to a pro-government website, along with a fake interview attributed to her friend and colleague, dissident writer and activist Emin Milli,” the article said.

The author also touches another problem, the cyber attacks. In recent weeks, two organizations have reported a series of cyber attacks against their websites.

“Azadliq, one of the most critical newspapers with one of the highest circulations in the country, reported that its website had been experiencing DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks since August 13. Ali Rza, Azadliq’s web editor, believes the hacks may have been triggered by the publication of an announcement about an opposition demonstration on August 18, calling for fair and free elections, and for the release of political prisoners in the country,” the author rights.

According to the article media rights watchdog the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has also reported that its website has been experiencing DDoS attacks during the same period.

Summing up the human rights defender stresses that the internet has become a dangerous place for government critics in Azerbaijan. “The authorities seem determined to keep employing new tactics and finding new means of pressure to silence criticism and dissent, and in the absence of serious pressure from international bodies such as the European Union and the Council of Europe, this crackdown seems destined to continue,” Rebecca Vincent writes.

Hysteria around chemical attack suits those who want military intervention in Syria – Russia FM Lavrov (VIDEO)

August 26, 2013 By administrator

Following last week’s chemical attack, the West has engineered a media campaign to facilitate a military incursion, says Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The minister also cast doubts on the veracity of US and European claims about the incident.

“Official Washington, London and Paris say they have incontrovertible evidence that the Syrian government is behind the chemical attack in Damascus, but they have not yet presented this evidence. Yet, they keep saying that the ‘red line’ has been crossed,” Lavrov said during an emergency press conference in Moscow.

“Now, we are hearing calls for a military campaign against Bashar Assad.”

Lavrov said that the US, Britain and other countries have assembled a “powerful force” and are “readying their ships and planes” for a possible invasion.

The minister said that the development set the world on a “perilous path” and warned that “repeating the Iraqi and Lybyan scenario” and bringing in outside forces, would be a “terrible mistake that will lead to more blood being spilt”.

The minister reserved particular outrage for the newly-mooted possibility of NATO staging a strike on chemical storage facilities without a United Nations mandate.

Asked if Russia was going to join in the potential conflict on either side, Lavrov said “We have no plans to go to war, but we hope that others think of long-term interests.”

Last Wednesday, footage began to emerge of civilians in a Damascus suburb suffering from what appeared to be the effects of a neurotoxic gas.

Previously, Barack Obama stated that use of chemical weapons would be a ‘red line’ in the conflict, which would have “enormous consequences” for the Syrian regime, though the US president appeared more cautious about possible intervention in interviews over the past few days.

Medical aid group, Doctors without Borders, have reported that at least 355 people have died as a result of the incident.

The Syrian opposition, which has been involved in the 30-month conflict with the government of Bashar Assad, said state forces had been behind the attack. The Syrian government has denied the claims, saying that the use of chemical weapons after repeated warnings from the international community would be “illogical”.

In his conference, Lavrov questioned the rebel version of events.

“There is information that videos were posted on the internet hours before the purported attack, and other reasons to doubt the rebel narrative.”

“Those involved with the incident wanted to sabotage the upcoming Geneva peace talks. Maybe that was the motivation of those who created this story. The opposition obviously does not want to negotiate peacefully.”

“Those involved with the incident wanted to sabotage the upcoming Geneva peace talks. Maybe that was the motivation of those who created this story. The opposition obviously does not want to negotiate peacefully.”

Lavrov also said that the UN expert team that is currently in Damascus, investigating the attack, “does not have the mandate” to produce an official ruling on who was responsible for the chemical release.

“The experts in Syria have the mandate to determine if chemical weapons were used, and if so, which ones, but not who unleashed this attack” Lavrov told the gathered media.

“The UN security council will make the final decision about the perpetrator based on this evidence and all the analytical and factual materials available on the internet and in other media.”

While Lavrov said that he is continuing to work on the Geneva peace conference with his US counterpart John Kerry, he stated that it was now unlikely that the long-postponed talks would take place in September.

He also explained the reasons he believes the opposition has been unwilling to participate.

“Why go to a conference if you believe that the regime’s infrastructure will all be destroyed anyway by allies, and then you can just march into Damascus unopposed, and take control?”

Syria: intervention unthinkable without UN, says Italy’s FM Emma Bonino

August 26, 2013 By administrator

Exile or incriminate Assad; war could have grave repercussions

(ANSAmed) – ROME, AUGUST 26 – ”Military intervention in Syria without UN Security Council approval is not feasible,” Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino told Radio Radicale on Monday.
Italy’s FM Emma Bonino
”We should try to avoid making an international drama into a global one,” she added, urging listeners to consider the possible reactions of Russia and Iran. ”Even a limited intervention runs the risk of becoming unlimited. We must think it over a thousand times,” because ”the repercussions could be dramatic”. With a ”unanimous” Security Council vote ”we could take other roads, not necessarily military ones” in Syria, such as ”deferring” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ”to the International Criminal Court” or campaigning for his exile.

This would ”avoid military intervention” and further bloodshed, said Bonino.

A long-time member of the Italian Radical Party, Emma Bonino in the past campaigned for sending late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein into exile as an alternative to war.

The minister hoped allies ”will share their information” on Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons, which ”has such far-reaching implications that we hope not to return to dubious positions taken in the past”.

The July 21 use of chemical weapons is ”largely established”, Bonino said.

However UN inspectors may only be able to collect ”indirect proof, because nothing is more volatile than gas” and because a subsequent government air raid that ”caused 700 deaths” might have tainted the evidence. Whatever country ”says it has certain proof” of Assad’s use of such weapons should share that information in ”the proper setting for sharing and analysis, such as the UN Security Council”, Bonino said in reference to ”peremptory declarations” made by ”Great Britain, France, some in the US, and Israel”.

It is no secret, the minister remarked, that the Pentagon is the most reluctant to intervene within the US administration.

This is for ideological reasons but because of ”the complexity on the ground and in the region that they would be facing”, Bonino said. Bonino will discuss Syria with Premier Enrico Letta and Defense Minister Mario Mauro after a cabinet meeting tonight, she said. (ANSAmed).

Bako Sahakyan opens memorial complex to Karabakh war martyrs

August 26, 2013 By administrator

August 26, 2013 | 10:56

STEPANAKERT. – President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan visited the Tonashen village of Martakert region and participated in a solemn ceremony of opening a memorial complex commemorating the martyrs of the Artsakh Liberation and the Great Patriotic Wars.

President Sahakyan expressed his gratitude to all those who participated in the construction process, underscoring the importance of having such memorials for patriotic upbringing of the younger generation.

Syrian warmongering turning Obama into Bush’s ‘clone’ – Russian MP

August 26, 2013 By administrator

US president Barack Obama is repeating the pattern of actions of his predecessor, George W. Bush, in his push for a military solution in Syria, Foreign Affairs Committee chairman of the Russian Duma, Aleksey Pushkov said.

“Obama is fiercely moving towards war in Syria, just like Bush moved towards war in Iraq. Just like in Iraq, this war won’t be legit and Obama will become Bush’s clone,” Pushkov wrote on his Twitter page on Sunday.

Obama and UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, agreed in a phone conversation on Saturday that last week’s alleged chemical weapon attack near Damascus was “almost certainly” carried out by Bashar Assad’s Syrian government.

The two leaders reiterated that “significant use of chemical weapons would merit a serious response from the international community,” the Guardian newspaper reported.

The US and Britain suggested the Syrian government was reluctant to give a UN investigative team access to the site of the reported attack because it “has something to hide” and wants to give the evidence time to degrade.

On Sunday, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel stressed that the US military is ready to expedite a military plan in Syria if the order comes from the country’s president.

“President Obama has asked the Defense Department to prepare options for all contingencies. We have done that and we are prepared to exercise whatever option – if he decides to employ one of those options,” Hagel said.

A high-ranking source within the Israeli military told the Haaretz paper that Tel-Aviv is expecting a US attack on Syria any moment.
The Syrian authorities warned Washington against military intervention. The country’s information minister, Omran Zoabi, told the SANA news agency that the move “will create very serious fallout and a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East.”

His words were echoed by Syrian allies from Iran, with the Islamic Republic’s deputy chief of staff, Massoud Jazayeri, threatening “severe consequences for the White House” if the intervention begins.

Russia has stated that there can be no military solution to the Syrian conflict, urging the Western states pushing for a military intervention to “be reasonable and avoid tragic mistakes”

“The policies regarding the various crises must be built on the basis of international law and the verifiable facts, but not assumptions and conjectures, fitting unilateral geopolitical projects,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Aleksandr Lukashevich, is cited as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency.

The new escalation of tension around Syria began after the Western-backed rebels fighting to oust Assad accused the government forces of using toxic gas against civilians in the Damascus suburbs on August 21.

The opposition claimed that over a thousand people died in the attack, with the government saying the accusations were fabricated in order to cover up the Islamist’s battle losses.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also called reports of chemical weapon use “a provocation,” adding that, according to its data, the materials accusing the government of the atrocity were prepared ahead of the alleged incident actually taking place.

On Sunday, the Syrian government gave the “green light” for UN experts to visit the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb, with reports suggesting the investigation may start as early as Monday.

Since last year, president Obama has been warning that the US would take action in Syria if the country crosses a ‘red line’ by using chemical weapons.

DOS Hacks, Wake Up (Turkish nationalists, constitute the Turanian homeland Grey wolf)

August 25, 2013 By administrator

BY GAREN YEGPARIAN

A visual depicting territories that, to some Turkish nationalists, constitute the Turanian homeland

The Department of State (DOS) of the U.S. of A. is a huge establishment, with lots of resources, brains, and other talent. Yet, somehow, the “experts” it has providing advice about Turkey and Azerbaijan leave much to be desired. They seem to be really oblivious to the threat of pan-Turkism, or pan-Turanism. This demented ideology provided the undergirding for the Armenian Genocide, is alive and well today, and, judging by some of the activities and infrastructure-building undertaken by the culprits, will be a destabilizing factor in the Middle East and Central Asia in the not-too-distant future. The experts seem to be all-in for a policy of “support Turkey no matter what.”

Take a look at the accompanying picture (see legend here). It is the opening visual of a YouTube video titled “2013 Turanian Army established!”

The video shows footage and photos, mostly of what appear to be Turkey’s air force and other armed services. It is posted by “Turanian Asker (soldier)”, whose symbol is a grey wolf— presumably the one which mothered all Turks according to that mythology. The Grey Wolves, in Turkey, are/were a bunch of murderous chauvinistic thugs who caused much mayhem in recent decades. I’m writing all this to provide the context that our DOS experts seem to avoid examining.

The maps and flag-colors/motifs you see in the accompanying picture are those of the territories that in some deranged minds constitute the Turanian homeland that must be “united”. Looking at the legend, you’ll notice that much of this territory is in Russia (RF), with China (you might recall in “Turk vs. Turk” I referred to the Uyghurs from China who were receiving training in Turkey, then fighting in Syria, before returning home) and Ukraine also being targets of Turkish/Azerbaijani expansionism— which is really what all this comes down to. The Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (CCTS) (explore it yourself here), founded in 2005, consists of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey. Interestingly, something called the “Turanian Army” or “Turanian National Front” was also formed that year, though something is unclear to me and the “Army” may just be an extremist’s representation of the CCTS.

The CCTS is the formal, international, legal/political face of this movement. Accompanying it is the “International Organization of Turkic Culture” whose membership, according to its website, is comprised of the following: Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic Of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Altai Republic (RF), Republic of Bashkortostan (RF), Gagauzia (Moldova), Republic of Khakassia (RF), Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Republic of Sakha(Yakutia) (RF), Republic of Tatarstan (RF), Tyva Republic (RF).

Notice the overlap between the list above and the list in the legend. Then consider that CCTS lists, as its “related institutions”— Academy of Turkic World, Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking States – Turkpa, International Organization of Turkic Culture – Turksoy, and Business Council of Turkic Speaking States. The “take it slowly” approach is obvious (“Asbarez” has been reporting on their actions as they occur) with Turkey and Azerbaijan developing relations with the other regions, networking, waiting for the opportunity to pounce.

None of this seems to concern the DOS experts, since they must surely be aware of it. Perhaps they should follow the activities of this “Turanian Army” group, which, if it exists, is probably the grass-roots arm of the effort to realize the Turks’ pipe-dreams. They should read Zarevand’s “United & Independent Tourania” for the Armenian perspective, or go straight to the horse’s mouth and read Zia Gokalp’s “Principles of Turkism,” to cure their cluelessness.

Unchecked, the Turks will pursue this ridiculous ideology. Eventually, it will lead to bloodshed when those who disagree with the Turks’ designs resist, or when the Turks decide those people are “in the way” just as the Armenians were…

Why not make it your project? Find the names of the staffers at the Turkey and Azerbaijan desks at the DOS, and send them relevant books as gifts… Christmas is just around the corner!

What Kurdish KRG President Massoud Barzani make per month $400,000 is equivalent to total what president Obama make all year $400,000.

August 24, 2013 By administrator

Barzani Father and Son INC.

ERBIL-Hewlêr, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— Deputy of the Ministry of Finance in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) revealed on Thursday the salary received by the region’s president, his prime minister and parliament, criticizing the “injustice” in the payroll system in force in Kurdistan region .

Rashid Taher said in a televised interview with Rudaw Kurdish satellite channel close to the Barzani’s KDP party and Kurdistan PM Nechirvan Barzani, on the decision to increase the salaries of employees by the Iraqi government as an official letter must be received by KRG, then we will abide by its implementation”.

Taher revealed how much special grades earn of monthly salaries, explaining that it begins from the third-class that include manager assistants, supervisors and advisors, then the second grade which includes managers and finally the first class that include experts , executives and legal advisors.

He noted that the special grades include two categories (a) and (b) that include general managers, consultants, vice-heads of universities, vice-governors and ministers.

Taher revealed also amount of monthly salary received by the region’s president, Massoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani as well as the Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament,www.ekurd.net Arsalan Bayiz and stressed that the prime minister and the speaker of parliament are classified within the category A as their salaries begin from 2.412 million dinars for up to three million and the difference is in allocations not in the original salary.

Taher confirmed that the original salary of the President of Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani is slightly more than 3 million, indicating that the difference between the amount received by the Prime Minister with the wages of his cabinet ministers is a million and a half million dinars.

On his salary Taher said that he received when he was first appointed as a deputy for the Minister of Finance, 2.414 million dinars that increases annually.

In answer to a question about the existence of justice in the difference between the salaries of lower grades and special grades, Taher stressed that “the payroll system is not fair”.

He pointed out to a simple comparison between the amount of the wages of those with special grades with in tenth grade in nominal salary that shows the first group receiving 17 times more than wages of the second and if the comparison included allocations , the difference will be 60 times.

The Council of Ministers in the federal government has announced on Tuesday, increasing the salaries of employees by (114%) for the tenth grade down to the percentage (4%) of five grade, explaining that the increase will be applied from the start of next year, and decided to unify allocations for jobs with descriptive nature for the employees of all ministries, it confirmed that it has canceled the privileges granted to workers in the Green Zone and the three presidencies.

According to information obtained by the Kurdish magazine (Levin) in 2010, remuneration and the monthly salary of Massoud Barzani, president of the autonomous region of Kurdistan in Iraq’s north is $400,000 dollars per month.

This amount is equivalent to the salary and allowances of Barack Obama President of the USA for a full year,t because Obama is the salary ($ 33,333) dollars and only equal to ($400,000) dollars a year. The Kurdistan region budget not to exceed 8 billion dollars a year in return that the annual budget for the United States is ($14,264) trillion dollars.

While Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki salary is up to 3 million$ per year, Kurdistan president earns 4.8 million$ per year.

According to observers and analysts, the incomes of Barzanis are much higher than the officially declared, they control the oil of Kurdistan, and allegedly have huge income from the oil sector.

Massoud Barzani and his relatives control a large number of commercial enterprises in Kurdistan-Iraq, with a gross value of several billion US dollars. The family is routinely accused of corruption and nepotism by Kurdish media as well as international observers.

Iraq’s Kurdish regional government has near total autonomy and is funded by a share of the country’s oil revenue. The two parties that share power each command former guerrilla militias that have been given the status of regional security forces.

Source: Ekurd

Syrian rebels use toxic chemicals against govt troops near Damascus – state media

August 24, 2013 By administrator

Syrian rebels have used chemical weapons against regime forces in the Damascus suburb of Jobar, where soldiers discovered stockpiles of toxic poisoning antidotes, state media reports.

According to SANA citing “an official source” suffocation cases among army soldiers have been reported.

The source told the agency that army unit pushed into the area, where soldiers were attacked, and seized a warehouse containing material labeled ‘Made in KSA’ as well as a large number of protective masks.

In addition, the army discovered a stockpile of chemical poisoning antidotes with ‘The Qatari-German Company for Pharmaceutical Industries’ label on them.

Clashes have been reported between rebels and regime forces in Jobar.

Rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Assad accuse government forces of attacking people in the Damascus suburbs with toxic gas on Wednesday.

The ruling regime has dismissed the accusations. Read More

However, some Western powers suspect Assad’s forces to be behind the attack that the opposition claims killed anywhere between ‘dozens’ to ‘1,300’.

France says all indications show that Syrian army troops are responsible for what it called a “chemical massacre”.

“All the information at our disposal converges to indicate that there was a chemical massacre near Damascus and that the Bashar regime is responsible,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Saturday.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has suggested that “the Assad regime has something to hide” as the UN team, which is “20 minutes away” from the site of the recent attack, “have not been able to” go there and investigate.

“Why else have they not allowed the UN team to go there?” Hague said.

The US and European security sources have made a preliminary assessment that the Syrian government used chemical weapon, but still said they are seeking conclusive proof, which could take days, weeks or longer to gather.

The White House said on Saturday that a ‘range of options’ is available on Syria if it’s proven that Assad’s forces used chemical weapons.

“We have a range of options available, and we are going to act very deliberately so that we’re making decisions consistent with our national interest, as well as our assessment of what can advance our objectives in Syria,” the White House official said. “Once we ascertain the facts, the President will make an informed decision about how to respond,” the official added.

President Obama is set to meet with his national security team later on in the day to discuss possible options.
In response, Iran has warned the US against possible military intervention in Syria, saying it will fuel tension across the region.

“Iran has announced several times that there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis, these provocative measures and moves make regional issues more complicated and fuel tensions,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi said.

“The Syrian problem could be resolved only through a peaceful solution and there is no international permit for military meddling in Syria,” he added.

FM said there is evidence showing that terrorist groups and rebels have been using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane arrived in Syria to try to get access for the team of international inspectors to work at the site in the Damascus suburbs.

The UN investigative team entered the country last Sunday to examine and investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in three different locations, as it was agreed with President Bashar Assad’s government.

Following Wednesday attack, UN inspectors requested access to the site “without delays”.

The Syrian government said that it was ready to engage in “maximum” cooperation with UN experts, according to Russia’s foreign ministry.

On Friday the Syrian opposition said they will ensure the safety of UN chemical weapons experts as they pass through rebel-controlled areas, adding that their successful arrival at the site of an alleged gas attack near Damascus within 48 hours was “critical.”

On Saturday the Syrian opposition denied that they that rebel forces had employed chemical weapons, making allegations that the government was employing diversionary tactics.

“The National Coalition totally rejects the lies from the [President Bashar] Assad regime and considers them a desperate bid to divert attention from its repeated crimes and methods against Syrian civilians,” said a statement released by the main opposition bloc.

The “international community knows full well that the Assad regime is the only party in Syria which possesses the means to produce, use and stock chemical weapons,” the statement said.

Source: RT

Turkey: TAF turns out to churches and monasteries

August 24, 2013 By administrator

By: Agos EMRE ERTANİ

Study carried out by the Ministry of National Defense and military fields moved out of the city on the agenda. If the application life in big cities ‘green last bastion’ barracks will be in danger of the concrete building. If life is unknown, but the project assessed how these green spaces dozens of churches and monasteries ‘arise’ because almost all of Anatolia in the church or monasteries around the existing barracks

Sille Konya Bywater neighborhood, church, inside a courtyard surrounded by walls. First, the Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother 327′de Eleni (Helena) by Mikhail Archangel (Archangel Mikhail) is believed to have been built in the name of. The extant structure is built from the ground in 1833, the dome was added in 1880, is understood inscriptions.

I. and II. During World War II is now open for worship is known to many non-church used for military purposes. In 1927, the Armenian community had been returned to the Church of the Holy Nigoğayos example Topkapi. Hagios Dimitrios Kanabu Ayvansaray’daki Hagia Paraskevi Greek Church Greek Church and the Beykoz II. After being used as a military depot during World War II battle then again, given the Greek society.

Until recently, Ani, Turkey-Armenia border military zone was considered to be located where you had to get permission to take pictures and even for visiting. Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Ani in 2004 lifted the ban on photography and filming. This was the beginning of a new era for Ani. Sanctuaries are waiting for visitors, such as a sudden some of the story is as follows:

Panagia Kamariotissa MONASTERY

Used since the Greek Cypriots in Heybeliada and Byzantine churches and monasteries, confiscated by the Navy in 1942 edilince closed for worship. A term used in baths and warehouse functions is said, however, impossible to see the military to be located in the region in 2012, standing in a photograph published in the journal understandable.

Used largely preserving the original structure of the Byzantine period until 1942, the Church of Panagia Kamariotisa to the east, there is the Church of Hagios Ioannes Prodromos. The monastery was founded in 1831 in the Greek Business School building, after 1923, as the Greek Orphanage for Girls, now used as the Naval High School Preparatory School.

NATIVITY CHURCH’S SONG
District, located in Izmir-Menemen Esatpaşa. 19th Surp Sarkis Armenian Church believed to be the century structure was abandoned after being used as a military depot. The building was built of cut stone, rectangular, and today has reached a solid case. Is not currently open for worship.

GREEK CHURCH MİLAS

The information contained in the website of the Municipality of Milas, and the tomb of Saint Osia Kseni’nin spread of Christianity around Milas Milas told that. Even 19 Milas century Greeks had built a church in the name of the saints. Muğla-Milas used as a casing at the door of the church, the Greek military is currently located in an inscription.

Constantinos and Eleni Church of Hagios HAGIA

Among the people, also known as the Great Church, Smith Sille Konya neighborhood churches, walled in courtyard. First, the Roman Emperor Constantine’s mother 327′de Eleni (Helena) by Mikhail Archangel (Archangel Mikhail) is believed to have been built in the name of. The extant structure is built from the ground in 1833, the dome was added in 1880, is understood inscriptions.

Abraham Rights Konya, the structure I. Military depot during World War II, after the exchange is used as an arsenal, visited the church in 1944 when he found empty and abandoned explains. In 2008, the Seljuk governor of Konya in 1998 and 2002 the building was restored by the Municipality had been restored by the municipality transferred.

Hariton Hagios MONASTERY (Akmanastır)

Of the Akyokuş Sille Konya, capped slopes of a valley at the foot of the mountain where the Monastery of Hagios Hariton; Akmanastır, Plato, and the Apostle Paul’s Monastery, also known as the Cave. Operating until exchanged monasteries, protected by the military presence in the region and in good condition, has reached today.

Abraham Rights Konya, water nymphs Akmanastır’ın Phrygians first is a temple built in the name of the Sirens, suggests that it originated from the name of Sille. Plato among the people called Monastery monks founded the monastery is thought to have escaped from the pressures of the first 274′te Pagan Romans.

Surp Garabed Monastery

Aiming Kayseri Garden (Efkere) Quarter opposite slope. Today only the ruins of the monastery reached the wall, and they do not have the opportunity to see the military is within the boundaries of the region.

In the past, among the people ‘Efkere Great Monastery, known as’ Surp Garabed Armenian Monastery in the 20th until the beginning of century, the religious center of Kayseri Armenians and the Armenians of Anatolia was one of the most important pilgrimage centers. Abbot of the monastery, but also bore the title of Metropolitan of Kayseri. 20th at the beginning of the century convent school, teacher housing, dining hall, dormitory, a rich library of 200 manuscripts and 20 thousand books and caravanserai were like 93-bedroom guest house. In particular, these rooms were welcomed pilgrims who visited the monastery of time Vartavar Feast.

NATIVITY AND MONASTERY OF ENGAGEMENT

Located in the region of Sivas military Temeltepe’de, which was demolished in 1974 or 1975, the Holy Monastery of engagement, the most important Armenian manastırıydı Sivas. While there was nothing left of the monastery, 250 kg. Barracks fire alarm is used for weighing poultry çanınınsa Shukri said.

1020 King of the founder of the monastery Senekerim Vaspurakan known to leave the territory of the Byzantine Empire. 80 thousand people come to Sivas with the people settled in the vicinity of Van Senekerim, or had it repaired founded monastery of Surp Shooter.

Near the old monastery of Surp Hagop Armenian Church in the village’s Tavra’da. First, built between 1636-1638, and the external appearance of the building is quite good and Armenian inscriptions on the walls there are pictures. Tavra’da while there was nothing left of the village, Surp Hagop Armenian Church, the military is in the region has reached a solid present. In fact, the church on the hill, ending the borders of the military, a soldier in the plain where the church still continues to keep guard, unless permission is not able to see the church.

Syriac Catholic Mor Efrem MONASTERY

Diyarbakırkapı neighborhood monastery in Mardin, a large courtyard surrounded by walls. Armenian Orthodox monastery was built in the Middle Ages is known to be a structure. Then, the Armenian Catholics in the past, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Mardin Nazaryan Melkon given by the Syrian Catholic community. In 1933 the monastery was built in 1884 and re-abandoned military hospital after serving as a term is used today as a residence.

SARBEL CHURCHES AND MOR MOR Barsavmo

There are many Assyrian Church of the area known as Old Midyat. The period of 1926-1948 was used as a military depot Purple Barsavmo them known to the Church. Building 1949 was used as a church again. Purple is known as the church was built in the last SARBEL Midyat Syriac Orthodox Church, Monastery Mor SARBEL confiscated, and in 1955 received permission to build thick in the military zone was opened for worship.

Turkish Armenians are beginning to celebrate—and commemorate—their past

August 24, 2013 By administrator

A DAINTY silver slipper, a hand-engraved copper bowl. Silva Ozyerli, an ethnic Armenian, runs a loving finger over these and other family treasures strewn across her dinner table in Istanbul. They are due to go on display at a new museum of Armenian culture in Ms Ozyerli’s native city of Diyarbakir at the end of 2013.

The Armenian museum, the first of its kind in Anatolia, will be part of the newly restored Surp Giragos church complex (pictured). Its aim is to chronicle Armenian life in Diyarbakir, in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish south-east, before 1915. That was the year when Ottoman troops and their Kurdish accomplices began slaughtering over 1m Armenians and other Christians across the country during what many historians say was the first genocide of the 20th century.

Turkey denies that mass killings took place, insisting that the Armenians had perished from hunger and disease during their forced march to the deserts of Syria. (The Ottoman government deported the Armenians, notionally for their safety, as the empire collapsed. Yet thousands were massacred as they marched, and countless others were killed before they set off.) Local school textbooks perpetuate this myth.

Granting permission to restore Surp Giragos is seen as part of a larger government campaign to placate diaspora Armenians, who have been lobbying governments around the world to recognise the genocide. When Surp Giragos reopened in 2011, after lying in ruins for more than 20 years, it became Turkey’s first church to be revived as a permanent place of worship.

“The museum is a way of showing that thousands of Armenians contributed to the city’s wealth and culture,” explains Ergun Ayik of the Surp Giragos Foundation, which runs the church. “People will look at the photographs, the objects, and wonder where did all these people go?”

Around 2m Armenians are believed to have lived in Turkey before the genocide. Now there are about 70,000. Survivors are scattered across the Middle East, Europe, America and Australia. Many more converted to Islam to carry on, but their numbers remain unknown. Osman Koker, a Turkish historian, reckons that more than half of Diyarbakir’s population used to be non-Muslim, mainly Armenian Orthodox, but also Catholic, Syrian Orthodox and Jewish. “Now”, says Mr Koker, “there is practically none.”

Yet a growing number of Turkish Armenians are reclaiming their heritage. In 2010 hundreds flocked to the island of Akdamar in the eastern province of Van to attend an inaugural mass at the newly restored Church of the Holy Cross. (The church is now a museum, but holds mass on religious holidays.) Turkey’s culture ministry has obliged with a list of other ancient churches that it plans to restore, says Osman Kavala, a Turkish philanthropist who is helping to promote Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. And Armenian-language lessons, available since last year in Diyarbakir’s historic Sur district, are increasingly popular among Turkey’s so-called “invisible Armenians” who had abandoned their culture in order to survive. Abdullah Demirbas, the district’s mayor, argues that the Kurds must also make amends for their complicity in the genocide.

Armenians applaud these efforts, even as they note a persistent strain of Turkish nationalism that perceives non-Muslim minorities as suspect. The government’s conversion of several Greek Orthodox churches into mosques, together with its recent espousal of unabashedly Islamist rhetoric, heightens some concerns that efforts to appease Armenians are cynical and short-sighted.

But such worries were pleasantly absent during a recent afternoon in Surp Giragos, as tourists gazed at the church’s repaired altars and onion-domed belfry (which had been destroyed by the Ottomans in 1916 because it dwarfed surrounding minarets). The church is drawing hundreds of people every day. “Many of them are Islamised Armenians like me,” laughs Gafur Turkay of the Surp Giragos Foundation. “The truth about 1915 cannot be concealed,” says Mr Ayik’s daughter Pelin. “But as a young Armenian I don’t want to be pitied as a victim. I am the proud torchbearer of a rich civilisation that not only has survived but continues to thrive.”

Source: The Economist