The truth about Syria

[Arpa]

The background music played in the above video is known as Mawrini-My Homeland.

It is a well known patriotic song, sometimes better known than one’s own respective national anthems. In fact at one time during transitional periods it was used as a national anthem by many.. It is said that now it IS the anthem of Iraq.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawtini

Given that the poet was a Palestinian....

We would be fortunate if Armenia had an anthem with words and music similar to it.

 

The word is the possessive of “watan” meaning fatherland and in that form it means “my homelnd/Իմ Հայրենիք:

Did Abovian write the following “Vatan” with them in mind?

========

Վաթան

 

Ա՜խ վաթան, վաթան՝ քո հողին ղուրբան,

Քո ծխին ղուրբան, քո ջրին ղուրբան,

Է՞ս փառքն ունէիր, է՞ս պատիւն առաջ,

Որ հիմիկ աւրւել, մնացել ես անջան։

 

Ե՞րբ միտք կանէի՝ թէ էս հողերը,

Էս դաշտն ու սարերն, էս սուրբ ձորերը,

Էնպէս մեծութիւն, էնպէս լաւ օրեր

Քաշել են, մնացել, ա՜խ հիմիկ անտէր։

 

Հող ունենք՝ խլած, կեանք ունենք՝ մեռած,

Ա՜խ, ջրի, կրակի մենք եսիր դառած,

Ոչ երկինքն տեսնի մեր սուգն ու լացը,

Ոչ երկիրը պատռւի մեզ տանի ցածը։

 

Ա՜խ, մեր սիրտն էնպէս ընչի՞ հովացել,

Արինը ցամքել, մեր կուռը թուլացել,

Եարաբ, կը տեսնե՞մ, ա՜խ, ես մէկ օր էլ

Մեր սուրբ երկիրը թշնամուց ազատել։

 

Էն ի՞նչ շունչ կըլի, որ էս նոր հոգին

Փըչի վեր կացնի քնից մեր ազգին.

Էն ի՞նչ ձեռք կըլի, որ մեր աշխարքին

Էլ ետ սիրտ տայ ու կանգնեցի կրկին։

 

Խաչատուր Աբովեան

====

The above music as patriotic as can be the following Marche Funebre by Chopin would be more fitting the scenery.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Arpa

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN CHRISTIANS TORN IN SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR

 

The Daily Star

Oct 1 2012

Lebanon

 

By Martin Armstrong, Lauren Williams

 

BEIRUT: Armenian Christians in Aleppo are being dragged in to the

increasingly sectarian civil war in the country, straining the

leadership's policy of neutrality. Government shelling and fighting

between the forces loyal to President Bashar Assad and the opposition

fighters has reached the predominantly Christian neighborhoods of

Al-Midan, Suleimaniyah and Azizieh in the center of the city.

 

On Sept. 11, four Syrian Armenians were killed and 13 wounded when

the bus they were traveling on from the airport came under fire.

 

Initial reports suggested rebels with the Free Syrian Army shot at

the bus. Free Syrian Army leadership have denied responsibility and

blame government forces for the attack. It remains unclear who was

responsible, but the incident has served to highlight growing tensions

in the community.

 

Persistent reports from Armenian Christian residents and media

activists in Aleppo say some Christian groups are arming in the city.

 

Several sources told The Daily Star the Armenian leadership turned

down a government offer to arm the Armenian Christian community,

but say some Armenians are accepting weapons from the regime to join

pro-government militia groups known as the "popular committees."

 

"They paid around 15,000 Syrian Pounds ($22) to every guy who wanted

to join the popular committees," explained activist George, who asked

that his surname not be used, adding that around 400 men had taken

up the offer.

 

"The regime tells them: These terrorists are backed by Turkey and

this is your chance for revenge on Turkey.

 

"In this way they exploit the Christians' loyalty, but I think it's

failed."

 

The Armenian community in Aleppo, numbering some 80,000 and whose

roots extend as far back as the first century B.C., has enjoyed broad

cultural autonomy and benevolent ties with the Alawite regime - a

relationship often cited as part of the government's policy of courting

the country's ethnic and religious minorities to counter-balance the

Sunni majority.

 

As they moved into central Aleppo, the majority Sunni Free Syrian

Army issued repeated assurances that minorities will not be harmed and

has called on Christians to join their fight against the government.

 

However, recent accounts from residents in the city say Islamist

fighters are increasingly targeting Christians for their perceived

support of the regime.

 

"They demanded the Armenian community give up those who were joining

the shabbiha," said one man, using a pseudonym of Firas.

 

On Sept. 14, the leaders of the three Armenian churches in Aleppo -

Armenian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, and Armenian Evangelical - issued

a joint statement aimed at clarifying the position of the community:

 

"As the bloodshed continues unabated in our dear country ... what

adds to our anguish are the unsuccessful attempts of presenting the

Syrian Armenians as taking part in the armed battles of the current

Syrian crisis or trying to actually drag them into such a conflict,"

the statement said.

 

"We reiterate today, that the peaceful co-existence that the Syrian

Armenians have cultivated throughout the decades continues ... and

it will definitely stay against all kinds of violence and armed

collisions."

 

Speaking via telephone from Aleppo, spokesman for the Armenian

Prelacy of Aleppo Jirayr Reyisian told The Daily Star churches as

well as mosques, schools and residential buildings had been damaged

by government shelling and in clashes between groups, insisting he

did not believe Christians were being targeted.

 

He outlined the prelacy's work in providing humanitarian aid and

shelter to all victims of the fighting.

 

"Bombs don't differentiate between sects," he said.

 

On the question of arms in the community, he said "some armed groups

are supporting the army and there are some Armenians among them. We

have nothing to do with that."

 

"We are not worried. We fear the situation for the whole country, for

all the people in Syria. But we are not taking sides in this crisis."

 

That sentiment was echoed by members of the Lebanese Armenian

community, who adopted a policy of neutrality during the Lebanese

Civil War.

 

Hagop Pakradounian, Tashnag party MP for the Metn, notes that as the

conflict in Syria has escalated traditional positions of loyalty toward

the Syrian state among the Armenian community have been compromised.

 

"Wherever Armenians have been they have supported the country,

the state, but with the mutual killing in Syria now we have seen the

abolition of the concept of the Syrian nation as it has descended into

civil war," says Pakradounian. "The idea of Syria has disappeared ...

 

If someone attacks their [an Armenian] family, home or business then

they are obliged to defend themselves, not for the government nor

the opposition."

 

Reverend Paul Haidostian, President of the Haigazian University in

Beirut, estimates that approximately 25 percent of Syria's Armenian

population has been displaced by the conflict. While the majority has

relocated to areas within Syria less affected by the conflict he says

around 2,000 have fled to Armenia and a similar number to Lebanon.

 

Since the majority stay with relatives in the Bourj Hammoud and

Ashrafieh areas of Beirut and the town of Anjar in the Bekaa they do

not register with the UNHCR or ICRC, making precise numbers difficult

to verify.

 

However, Haidostian is quick to point out the official position of

neutrality adopted by the Armenian community in Aleppo, but he fears

that the continued escalation of conflict in Aleppo could result in

the permanent displacement of the Armenian community:

 

"I don't think that the Armenian community is any more vulnerable

than other communities," states Haidostian.

 

"What worries us in Aleppo, is what has worried us in Iraq and

elsewhere, that some displacement trends may be irreversible if the

conflict becomes more violent. Minorities often pay a higher price

in terms of quantity and quality of existence."

 

At the social club of the Armenian Tashnag party in Bourj Hammoud,

Ogsen, 56, [an alias] struggled to contain his emotions. He fled

to Beirut from Al-Midan just over a week ago, along with his mother

and nephew. His brother, paralyzed from the waist down, remains in

Syria's second city.

 

"We couldn't take him," Ogsen says with a shake of his head, recalling

his 14-hour journey to Beirut and his fear approaching checkpoints,

unsure whether they were controlled by Assad forces or the opposition.

 

"When a checkpoint was controlled by the army, then I felt relaxed,"

says Ogsen, "but if it was an opposition checkpoint I was terrified."

 

"I love my country, I love my president but I had to leave," Ogsen

says almost apologetically. "Everyone was leaving. I saw a young

girl die in front of my house, a soldier shot her through the head

by a sniper. So many people ...," he tails off, his dark curly hair

drooping over his brow as he bows his head toward the floor.

 

"They call themselves the Army of Freedom but they are terrorists,"

he says - the buzzword a constant in his referrals to the opposition

to the Syrian president.

 

Amin, 26, from the Suleimaniyah district of Aleppo similarly uses

the word "terrorist" when referring to the Syrian opposition.

 

Amin arrived in Beirut two months ago after the car factory in which

he worked shut down and he was unable to find work.

 

"I left [Aleppo] because I wasn't going to wait and die but now I am

running out of money. I don't know if I can stay but I don't want to

go back."

 

"Maybe I would return to sell my house but then I would leave. I

wouldn't live there."

 

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2012/Oct-01/189725-armenian-christians-torn-in-syrias-civil-war.ashx#axzz280W5C161

[Johannes]

ARMENIAN CHRISTIANS TORN IN SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR

BEIRUT: Armenian Christians in Aleppo are being dragged in to the

increasingly sectarian civil war in the country

 

Armenians are not dragged & the war is "not sectarian civil war".

Edited October 3, 2012 by Johannes

[MosJan]

Syrian Conflict Taking Toll on Turkey’s Last Armenian Village

 

 

http://hetq.am/static/news/b/2012/10/19135.jpg 16:59, October 3, 2012

 

By Hasan Kanbolat

I am in Vakifli village, the last Armenian village in Turkey’s Hatay province, Samandag township, near the Syrian border.

Vakifli is on the slopes of the Musa Mountain. Over time this village became a neighborhood of Samandag. We climb up to reach Vakifli village, which is a couple of kilometers away from [samandag] town center. We are surrounded by reed beds, olive, mulberry and pomegranate trees, while walking up the Musa.

The Gabris coffeehouse, under the shadow of gigantic pines, serves orange, lemon, mandarin and mulberry syrups. The cool breeze coming from the Mediterranean adds pleasure to our chat.

Bogos Silahli, a retired philosophy teacher from Istanbul, is occupied with his preparations for the Philosophy Days festival, which will celebrate its fourth anniversary in 2013. He already decided the topic: “The Ethics of Food and Human Rights.”

I asked whether Silahli considers organizing Philosophy Days on the Middle East or the Syrian issue. He calmly said he doesn't want to get involved in politics.

Despite its decreasing population, Vakifli is becoming more and more important since it is the only Armenian village in Turkey. It is undergoing restoration, while preserving its old architecture. Its population has dropped down to 135 Armenians.

There are 35 households in Vakifli. During the 1940s, it used to be the biggest village in the area, yet its population decreased to 320 by 1964. Its youth immigrated to big cities or abroad to either work or study. The average age in the village is now about 60-70. With the decrease in the number of children, the village school was shut down.

You come across old people in the streets and gardens of Vakifli, while the roads are filled with luxury cars with foreign plates owned by youngsters. During the holidays, those who live abroad or in big cities visit their native village; in summer the population of Vakifli goes up to 2,000.

The family of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of Armenia, is originally from Vakifli. The family first migrated to Syria from Vakifli, and then to Armenia from Syria.

With the opening of the nearby Hatay airport, Antakya’s increasing prospects of becoming a touristic city, development of relations between Turkey and the Middle East, and the lifting of visas between Turkey and Syria, as well as Lebanon, Vakifli started to enjoy many visitors. Accordingly, some small hotels and social facilities were constructed in the village.

However, the civil war in Syria and the worsening relations between Turkey and Syria had an adverse impact on the village. The tourist flow from abroad and Turkey to the village has decreased.

Villagers are worried about the hardships faced by Armenians in Syria and the beginning of their emigration to Armenia. They are hesitant to talk about the Syrian issue. In general, they hold the opinion that it is the imperialist powers that stirred up the crises in Syria. They also think that the fall of [syrian President Bashar] al-Assad is inevitable, yet that peace won't come to Syria after his fall.

The church in Vakifli serves as a unifying factor. The building was constructed for silk farming in 1890. It was converted to a church in 1924 and reconstructed in 1996. It is a beautiful architectural monument with stone masonry.

The two bell towers of the church distinguish it from other examples. Every year, Surp Asdvadzadzin (Annunciation Day) is celebrated on the second Sunday of August, which is also the harvest time, in this church.

Herise (a special food eaten during this occasion) is cooked in seven boilers in the garden of the church. There is a symbolic meaning of this number. Each boiler represents the seven other Armenian villages that used to be located in the region (the contemporary names of these villages can be listed as: (Yoğgunoluk, Bityas, Kebusiye, Hidirbey, Hacihabipli, Azir and Vakifli).

Vakifli hosts its guests coming from other regions of Turkey, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, the United States and other countries during the Christian festivals. Despite the clashes in Syria, this year this festival was celebrated in peace in Vakifli.

(Originally published September 17, 2012 by ORSAM (Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies), located in Ankara. It was translated by Ceren Kenar and apperas in today’s edition of AL-MONITOR)

[Arpa]

Finally those murderers north of the Syrian border get their excuse to do what they have been itching to do all along, ironically the name of that village Akcakale (agchakaleh)*** means white castle while the city in Syria Tal Abyad means white hill.

It is curious that in every similar incidents women and children die.

-----

See the full article here.

http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-renews-artillery-strikes-syria-083328600.html

AKCAKALE, Turkey (AP) — Turkey fired on Syrian targets for a second day Thursday but said it has no intention of declaring war, despite tensions after deadly shelling from Syria killed five civilians in a Turkish border town. The border violence has added a dangerous new dimension to a conflict that is pulling Syria's neighbors deeper into what already resembles a proxy war.

Turkey's Parliament began an emergency ….

http://www.adiyamanli.org/MapofTurkey/d7.htm

http://www.newstrackindia.com/information/locations/Syria/2247455-city-tell-abyad.htm

 

***Besides “kaleh” is an Arabic word.” qala'a:

[Arpa]

Al Qaeda - curse or blessing?\

Go to cemeteries in the US and the Veterans’ Hospitals to see their masterworks.

Depends which way one is looking down to Syria or up to furkey.

How is it that Al Qaeda that has been a curse word, a nemesis of NATO etc. all these years , who have killed thousands of American and other western military and civilian personnel all the way from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq , Yemen and further, all of a sudden becomes the west’s sweetheart in Syria????

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda

----

Regardless of the loose translation above to mean “base” al Qaeda means leader/guide on the one hand and registered/enrolled otherwise. They must have taken it from a furkish dictionary.

---

http://security.blog...bings-in-syria/

Pro Al Qaeda Group Steps Up Suicide Bombings in Syria

By Nic Robertson and Paul Cruickshank

In scenes reminiscent of Iraq, a wave of blasts targeting government forces devastated the center of Aleppo, Syria’s most populous city Wednesday. And a hardline jihadist group, Jabhat al Nusra – quickly claimed responsibility for the attacks – posting photographs and martyrs' messages online.

Syrian state media reported three suicide bombers detonated explosives packed into cars – killing dozens within a kilometer of the city’s ancient citadel.

suggests it is becoming more accomplished at the sort of attacks that the Iraqi group has launched wAnalysts who follow the group tell CNN that Al Nusra has been preparing to intensify its campaign of suicide bombings for weeks. believe the group has close links with al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq. is comlexattack ith such devastating effect….

====

Remember that in 1979 the US and NATO armed and financed the Al Qaeda Mujaheddin in Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion

Edited October 4, 2012 by Arpa

[MosJan]

Հալեպում օդուժի մասնակցությամբ բախումները շարունակվում են. դրանք ընթանում են հայկական թաղամասերի մոտ

 

17:33 • 04.10.12

 

 

Սիրիայի տնտեսական մայրաքաղաք Հալեպում ողջ գիշեր չդադարած բախումները շարունակվում են նաև այժմ։

 

Կառավարական զորքերի և զինյալ ընդդիմության միջև ընթացող ռազմական գործողություններն ընթանում են հայկական թաղամասերին չափազանց մոտ։

 

 

 

Tert.am-ի հետ զրույցում Բերիո թեմի ազգային առաջնորդարանի բանբեր Ժիրայր Ռեյիսյանը պարբերաբար ուշադրություն էր հրավիրում պայթյունների և հրետակոծությունների ձայների վրա, որոնք լսելի էին անգամ հեռախոսով։

 

 

 

Ռազմական ինքնաթիռներն ու տանկերը երևում են նաև հայաշատ շրջաններում, իսկ հրետակոծության ձայներն արդեն սովորական են դարձել։

 

 

Շարունակում է լարված մնալ հատկապես Բոսթան Փաշա թաղամասը, որտեղ գտնվում է հայկական ծերանոցը, պայթյուններ են տեղի ունեցել նաև Նոր Գյուղի ծայրամասային հատվածներում։

 

 

«Շրջաններ կան, որ տակավին օդուժի օգնությամբ զորքը կփորձե ընդդիմադիրները ուղղակիորեն զարնել։ Ինչ կվերաբերի մեր վնասներին՝ որպես գաղութ, մասնավոր նոր դեպքեր չունինք»,-ասաց Ժիրայր Ռեյիսյանը։

 

 

Նա պատմեց, որ վերջին մեկ օրվա ընթացքում Նոր գյուղում բռնկված հրդեհը մարելու համար բնակիչներին օգնության են հասել շտապ օգնության հայ տղաները։ Բարեբախտաբար, մարդկային կորուստներ չեն եղել։

 

 

Նյութական վնասների մասին համայնքում ավելորդ են համարում խոսելը։ Ժիրայր Ռեյիսյանի խոսքով՝ իրենց համար առաջնայինը մարդկային կորուստն է, սակայն անհերքելի է, որ պարբերաբար պայթող ռումբերն էական նյութական վնասներ են հասցրել։

 

 

Լուրեր Հայաստանից - Թերթ.am

[Johannes]

How is it that Al Qaeda that has been a curse word, a nemesis of NATO etc. all these years , who have killed thousands of American and other western military and civilian personnel all the way from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq , Yemen and further, all of a sudden becomes the west sweetheart in Syria?

.

Al Qaeda was west's sweetheart, during soviet occupation of Afghanistan. USA founded it.

[MosJan]

Syrian warplanes pounding Homs

 

http://media.pn.am/media/issue/126/243/photo/126243.jpg

October 5, 2012 - 19:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian warplanes and artillery have pounded the central city of Homs, subjecting the former rebel stronghold to its worst bombardment in months, activists said, according to Belfast Telegraph.

The reported bombardment by tanks and mortars as well as aircraft comes alongside a push by government forces on another front, the embattled northern city of Aleppo.

The stepped-up pace of government attacks on Syrian cities suggests that the Damascus regime's forces have not been distracted by escalating tensions with its northern neighbour, Turkey. Ankara's parliament on Thursday, October 4 authorised cross-border military operations after a Syrian shell killed five civilians on Turkish territory the day before.

Turkey on Friday deployed troops along the border with Syria. An Associated Press reporter saw Turkish soldiers patrolling the area on foot and in armoured personnel vehicles.

Homs has been one of the flashpoints of the 18-month-old uprising against president Bashar Assad's regime. The focus of fighting has shifted to other areas in recent months, including Aleppo, since a government offensive against rebel strongholds in Homs ended in April.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday's attack is the worst the city has seen in five months. The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said tanks and mortars as well as aircraft had bombarded the city's Khaldiya neighbourhood.

"Around dawn, the regime went crazy and started shelling hysterically," a Homs-based activist known as Abu Rami told the Associated Press. "An average of five rockets a minute are falling." Abu Rami was speaking from the central rebel-held old quarter known as Old Homs.

He said the government forces are mainly firing rockets and heavy mortars at the rebel-held neighbourhoods of Old Homs, Khaldiya, Qusour and Jouret el-Shayah. Abu Rami also said the regime forces have been shelling villages around Homs and the rebel-held town of Rastan, just north of the city.

He said there were no immediate reports of casualties, adding that most residents who still live in rebel-held areas around the city are hiding in shelters.

Activists say most government forces near Homs are stationed outside the town - a common pattern in rebel strongholds.

[MosJan]

.

Al Qaeda was west's sweetheart, during soviet occupation of Afghanistan. USA founded it.

 

JOhannes jan du inchpes es, @entaniqt Apahov e ?

[MosJan]

Syrian rebels capture air defense base outside Damascus

 

http://media.pn.am/media/issue/126/204/photo/126204.jpg

October 5, 2012 - 17:00 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syrian rebels said they had captured an air defense base with a cache of missiles outside Damascus, a rare advance on the city after a series of opposition setbacks in the capital.

Rebel forces overran the base in the Eastern Gouta area, a few miles east of Damascus, on Thursday, Oct 4, according to video posted on YouTube, Reuters reported.

The video of the assault on the airbase showed dozens of rebels dressed in army fatigues celebrating as black smoke rose from a military installation behind them.

Across the country about 180 people were killed in violence on Thursday, including 48 government soldiers, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

In New York, the UN Security Council condemned a cross-border mortar attack by Syrian forces that hit a Turkish village and demanded that such violations of international law stop immediately.

Turkish artillery bombarded Syrian positions on Wednesday and Thursday in retaliation but the border area appeared to be quiet on Friday.

[Johannes]

 

 

JOhannes jan du inchpes es, @entaniqt Apahov e ?

Syriayum abahov mart chka

[Yervant1]

SYRIAN-TURKISH BORDER INCIDENT PROVOKED BY MILITANTS - RUSSIAN EXPERT

 

news.am

October 05, 2012 | 02:44

 

MOSCOW. - Syrian-Turkish border incident was a provocation, which is

useful only for so-called 'Free Syrian Army' and only for the NATO

Armed Forces to interfere the conflict, Russian expert Anatoliy

Tsyganok told Armenian News-NEWS.am. However, the expert believes

that NATO at the moment does not consider it reasonable to launch

military actions in Syria.

 

Earlier Turkish media reported referring to the government statement

that five people were killed in allegedly Syrian attack in Akcakale

province of Turkey. Later Turkish armed forces attacked the objects

inside Syria.

 

In a statement Pentagon said it is closely following the situation.

[Yervant1]

CLASHES IN SYRIA'S ALEPPO OCCUR NEAR ARMENIAN DISTRICTS

 

tert.am

04.10.12

 

The clashes in Syria's Aleppo continued all night long and now as well.

 

The military clashes between rebels and government forces are taking

place very close to Armenian districts.

 

Speaking to Tert.am, Zhirair Reisyan, leader of the Armenian diocese in

Beirut, said the situation is very tensed near Bostan ***** district,

where Armenian old people's house is. Explosions occurred in suburbs

of Nor Gyugh as well.

 

Reyisyan said the community has not suffered human losses during

these days.

 

He said Armenian guys working on ambulance helped the population

during the fire in Nor Gyugh, luckily no human losses were registered.

 

He said they consider it unnecessary to speak of material losses,

saying they first of all rate human lives, though the exploding bombs

have caused essential material losses.

[Johannes]

CLASHES IN SYRIA'S ALEPPO OCCUR NEAR ARMENIAN DISTRICTS

 

tert.am

04.10.12he clashes in Syria's Aleppo continued all night long and now as well.

 

Zhirair Reisyan, leader of the Armenian diocese in

Beirut

He is the speaker of armenian diocese in Aleppo.

[Yervant1]

He is the speaker of armenian diocese in Aleppo.

I think the interview was done in Beirut, because it says speaking to.

[Arpa]

No, the interview was done by phone.

Mr. Reisian is the press liaison of the Prelacy of Aleppo

[MosJan]

Russian aircraft takes off to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria

 

http://media.pn.am/media/issue/126/284/photo/126284.jpg

October 6, 2012 - 10:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft took off on Saturday, Oct 6, deliver a regular batch of humanitarian aid to Syria, the ministry said.

“An Il-76 plane, bound for Damascus, took off from Moscow Region Ramenskoye airport at 06.00 am Moscow Time [02.00 GMT],” the ministry said, adding that there is some 25 metric tons of humanitarian cargo on board.

In September, the ministry delivered to Syria some 80 metric tons of humanitarian assistance, including canned food, sugar, infant food, blankets and tents, RIA Novosti reported.

The Syrian conflict has claimed up to 20,000 lives according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups. The UN estimates the death toll at over 18,000 people. The Syrian authorities say 8,000 were killed.

[MosJan]

Turkish F16s intercept Syrian civilian flight from Moscow to Damascus

 

 

A Turkish Air Force F16 jet fighter (Reuters/Umit Bektas)

Turkish F16 fighter jets forced a Syrian airline passenger plane to land in Ankara over suspicions it was carrying "non-civilian" cargo, says the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The Damascus-bound plane, which had departed from Moscow, is being inspected.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Ankara received intelligence that the Syrian plane was carrying "certain equipment in breach of civil aviation rules", but refused to comment on the presumed content.

Earlier, Turkish media speculated that the plane was diverted on suspicions that it might be transporting heavy weapons.

The plane was forced to land in Ankara’s international airport at 5:15 pm local time. The Airbus A-320 was carrying 35 passengers.

The Airbus was intercepted on its way from Moscow by F-16 jets as it entered Turkish airspace. A Turkish Foreign Ministry official confirmed that a Syrian plane was forced to land at the capital's Esenboga Airport, and that authorities were "inspecting the plane'', but would not provide further information.

Turkey is determined to stop any transfer of weapons to Syrian administration through its airspace, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The Ministry is reportedly prepared to continue investigating Syrian civilian planes using the country's airspace.

Ankara has also banned own passenger planes to fly across Syria.

"All civilian flights in Syrian airspace have been stopped since it is no longer safe," the ministry also added in a statement, as quoted by the Hurriyet Daily News.

Syrian or Russia authorities have not yet commented on the reports.

Tensions between Turkey and Syria have escalated since a Syrian shell killed five civilians in the border town of Akcakale last week.

[MosJan]

Misfire: NATO mortar ‘gift’ from Turkey to Syrian rebels – newspaper

 

 

People gather on October 4, 2012, in front of the house where five people were killed after a mortar fired from Syria crashed inside the Turkish border town of Akcakale on October 3, killing five civilians, including a mother and her three children.(AFP Photo / Miguel Medina)

 

The mortar used to attack the Turkish town of Akcakale is a design specific to NATO and was given to Syrian rebels by Ankara, according to Turkey’s Yurt newspaper. The mortar killed one adult and four children from the same family on Wednesday.

An article by the paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Merdan Yanardag, states that the newspaper received information from a reliable source, which claimed that Turkey itself sent the mortars to rebels in the so-called "free army."

“Turkey is a longtime member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and they’re going to act in conjunction with other NATO powers, so it’s unsurprising that this has happened,” editor of the Pan-African news wire, Abayomi Azikiwe, told RT.

NATO has so far shunned any military involvement in the conflict, but Azikiwe says the alliance is deeply involved in every decision that Turkey makes.

“Ankara isn’t taking any military actions or contemplating any type of military strategy without being in full cooperation with NATO forces,” he said.

Turkey retaliated at Syria for a sixth consecutive day on Monday, after a mortar from Syria landed in Turkey’s Hatay province.

And as Turkey fights to defend its border towns, the country’s president says the country’s military will take any action necessary.

"The worst-case scenarios are taking place right now in Syria … Our government is in constant consultation with the Turkish military. Whatever is needed is being done immediately as you see, and it will continue to be done," President Abdullah Gul said in a statement on Monday.

But it’s not only leaders within Turkey that are stating their opinions on the conflict.

Earlier on Monday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned of the consequences that the conflict could bring to the region.

“The escalation of the conflict along the Syrian-Turkish border and the impact of the crisis on Lebanon are extremely dangerous,” Ban said at the opening of the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, France.

The exchange of fire began last Wednesday, when Syrian mortar shells killed a woman and four children from the same family in Akcakale.

Many fear the situation will lead to regional conflict, with political analyst Dan Glazebrook, saying that Ankara aims to drag NATO into a war with Syria.

“On the one hand the [Turks] are trying to give cover to the rebels to continue their fight, as they know that the rebels are getting defeated on the ground so they are bombarding Syria as a way to help the rebels not lose too many of their positions,” Glazebrook told RT. “But I think also they may be hoping that they can somehow nudge, provoke NATO into taking action as well, into prompting a kind of blitzkrieg that is actually the only thing really that would enable the rebels to win now at this state.” +7 (7 votes)

[Johannes]

Turkey lied to Syria responsible for the deaths of civilians

October 6, 2012 | 9:43 GMT 193 AFP / ADEM ALTAN

 

 

Turkey lied to Syria cir apologized and accepted responsibility for the deadly attack the Turkish people that has put both nations to the brink of war, reveals the site Infowars.com. The Syrian representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, said he expressed condolences, but no apology for the death of five civilians on Turkish soil because of a projectile from Syrian territory on Wednesday. "Those were not apologetic, but an expression of solidarity with the civilians," the diplomat told reporters. Al Jaafari stressed that his government continues to investigate the attack and needs to pay attention to the Syrian insurgents armed groups operating in the border area, which often cross the border to take refuge from the advancing government troops. The Syrian representative and denied the statement widely Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Besir Atalay, who said Thursday, a day after the attack, Syria admitted responsibility for the bombing that left five civilians dead and officially apologized for the incident. "We have recognized this and have promised that will not happen again," said Atalay told reporters moments after Parliament approved a motion authorizing the government to send troops abroad.

 

Infowars.com According to the site, get the guilt Syria for the attack in the eyes of the international community, which strongly condemned the regime of Bashar al Assad, despite the lack of evidence, was key to Turkey, considering that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to the U.S. immediately demanded the introduction of a zone fly in Syria. The website also refers to a recording that allegedly shows Syrian insurgents in the area of the attack and in possession of mortars and equal to those that hit the Turkish people. Following the death of 3 civilians October, Turkey responded with artillery fire against Syrian targets near the border on Wednesday and Thursday. NATO and the UN condemned the attack from Syrian territory, but refrained from commenting on the Turkish response. Moreover, several media Friday reported that Turkish Armed Forces opened fire on Syria again, then another mortar shell allegedly fired from Syria fell into Turkish border territory. Like other members of NATO, Turkey supports insurgents fighting government forces in Syria in the conflict, which lasted since March 2011.

[Arpa]

This is AIR PIRACY at its worst. Hello Somalia.

Next Russia should escort their civilian planes with a dozen Migs, engage those dogs in dogfights, chase them out of furkish airspace and shoot all those dogs into smitherines.

=====

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9600178/Turkey-forces-Syrian-plane-to-land-in-Ankara.html

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/10/11/1349941785643/dfefeafb-8454-4828-aa67-6a4eeab0585d-620.jpeg

　

A Syrian passenger plane is seen after it was forced to land at Ankara airport, Turkey Photo: Cem Oksuz/EPA By Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent, Barney Henderson and Ruth Sherlock

7:22PM BST 10 Oct 2012

The plane was on a flight from Moscow before F16 fighter jets were scrambled to force it to land at Ankara airport, amid continuing tensions between Turkey and Syria.

A “thorough search” of the aircraft was carried out and NTV reported that cargo believed to be missile parts were seized. Other reports stated that military communications devices were seized. The plane was awaiting Ankara’s approval to take off again with its 35 passengers.

“We received information that the plane’s cargo did not comply with rules of civil aviation,” said Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister.

There was information that it might be carrying “certain equipment in breach of civil aviation rules”, Mr Davutoglu, said.

The only plane scheduled to leave Moscow for Syria on Wednesday was a Syrian Arab Airlines flight, RB442, to Aleppo, which is being bitterly contested by regime and rebel troops.

[Arpa]

Those rabid dingoes in ankakara are taking too many liberties hiding under the aegis of the NATO.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingo

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Dingo_walking.jpg

This is gradually but surely turning into a war between the west and Russia, using those dogs as proxies since they are too cowardly to engage Moscow directly. As we speak Russia is growing and prospering by leaps and bounds while the west is being politically and economically enslaved by China.

[Arpa]

Grey wolf

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Scandinavian_grey_wolf_Canis_lupus_%28cropped%29.jpg

Edited October 11, 2012 by Arpa

[Yervant1]

ANOTHER ARMENIAN MAN KILLED IN ALEPPO

 

ARMENPRESS

10 October, 2012

YEREVAN

 

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Young Armenian man was killed by

sniper in Arkub district of Aleppo on October 10. Armenpress was

informed from the press secretary of Primacy of Aleppo Jirayr Raisian,

who added that the murdered is Armenian Minas Sazian.

 

Raisian also added that the friend of the Armenian was also killed.

 

The Arkub district of Aleppo is not a residential district and

is famous for its working areas and many institutions of Armenian

property. And what is about the overall situation in Aleppo, Raisian

informed that everything is relatively calm. Recently the snipers

have killed a great number of people and many Armenians among them.

 

George Topalakian was killed on September 13 in a result of clashes

in Aleppo Nor Gyux district.

 

Some 294,000 refugees have already left Syria, and the UNHCR is

appealing for $490m to deal with the crisis.

 

Most of the refugees are housed in camps in Armenia, Lebanon and

Jordan. The UNHCR said between 2,000 and 3,000 refugees were fleeing

the violence into neighboring countries every day. Many refugees

are arriving with only the clothes on their backs. Some have been

displaced many times before leaving Syria. They need humanitarian

assistance from day one.