On April 7, 2009, Mushegh Janvelyan, a resident of the village of Koti, Tavush Marz, was sentenced to two years conditional imprisonment for the crime of fraud. An investigation by the Department of Social Oversight at the RoA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, revealed that Mushegh Janvelyan, considered a benefits recipient, had concealed the true nature of the family income. »»»»»

When they started to build the Akhurian Reservoir along the Armenian border with Turkey, the residents of the village of Jrapi joked that they would soon become a seafaring community and might even raise a naval fleet.

These were mere fleeting fancies, but the decision to construct the reservoir was a major government project and a part of the overall Soviet policy to expand and strengthen the existing border regions with neighboring nations. »»»»»

Farkha Hakobyan – “I’ll never go back to Turkey”

Farkha Hakobyan was born in the village of Sinan, located in the Ottoman villayet of Diyarbekir, in 1908. She doesn’t remember how old she was when she lost her mother. She can’t even recall if her mother was murdered at the hands of the marauding Turks or simply passed away. She only remembers that it was her stepmom that raised her, her sister and brother.

 Farkha was fourteen when she married another Armenian from Turkey. She and her husband moved to Syria, leaving her brother back in Turkey. Along the way, the Turks plundered their belongings and they arrived empty-handed. They resided in Syria till 1966 and then repatriated to Armenia, settling in the Sasounik village in Aragatzotn Marz. She says that the village is mostly made up of people whose ancestors came from that part of western Armenia and that she wanted to resettle in such a community. »»»»»

This year the RoA Prime Minister visited your office, an individual who is at least cognizant of the issues you have raised regarding the flawed renovation of monuments and the lack of attention paid to their overall plight, etc. Did your meeting have any positive results?  Did you come to any understanding of what needs to be done? Can you call him up when necessary and say that this needs to be done or that certain changes need to be made?

I must confess that the Prime Minister’s visit on January 30 was a very much welcomed and encouraging sign for all of us. But many months have since passed. »»»»»

The white storks that have made the village of Apaga their summer home are now preparing for the arduous flight to warmer climes in anticipation of the coming winter. When a pair of storks leaves their massive nest, village residents will find their missing odds and ends, a missing shoe, a child’s toy or even a garden tool, in the maze of branches above. »»»»»

Armenians in the Ottoman Economy
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PROTOCOLS AND PRECONDITIONS

By Raffi K. Hovannisian

The history of the Armenian people has been an ordeal of suffering, tragedy, and genocide. In this millennial series of misfortunes, however, never has the nation invited destruction upon itself.

But today it stands at the brink, with a small group of improperly elected leaders apparently racing toward a forsaking of both identity and interest. »»»»»

Before leaving for Moscow, RoA President Serzh Sargsyan answered a few questions from reporters at Zvartnots Airport. The following was issued by the presidential press service.

Q – Mr. President, now that the protocols have been signed can it be concluded that your precondition that the border be opened before you travel to Turkey has been implemented?

A – We have never spoken about preconditions with anyone. On the contrary, we have always talked about normalizing relations without preconditions. What we have mentioned is that there must be positive steps or prerequisites, and I think we can say that these have been met. In addition, I have always placed great importance on the principle of reciprocity. Turkish President Gul accepted my invitation to come to Armenia and I see no serious obstacles why I shouldn’t respond in kind. If there are no shattering developments within the next two days I will go to Bursa and support our football team. »»»»»

On the heels on Saturday’s signing of the Armenian-Turkish protocols, members of the Turkish parliamentary opposition have expressed their displeasure over the document. Many in Turkey see it as a reversal for the country’s foreign policy, especially in terms of the Karabakh issue.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Onur Öymen told Today’s Zaman that the protocol signed in Zurich is evidence that Turkey has taken a step back in its fundamental foreign policy regarding Armenia for the past 17 years. »»»»»

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on Monday that he will attend Wednesday’s football match between Turkey and Armenia in Bursa, according to Reuters news agency.

Meanwhile, the Armenian national football team arrived in Bursa on Monday morning, the Anatolia news agency reported.