Author: Nahapetian Lilit

RALPH YIRIKIAN URGES HIS BUSINESS COLLEAGUES TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IN RA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
08.07.2009 21:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian
participated and spoke at the session "Astronomy and Society" in
the framework of the 8th Annual Meeting of the Armenian Astronomical
Society (ArAS) organized in connection with the International Year
of Astronomy declared by UNESCO and dedicated to the 10th anniversary
of ArAs.

Ralph Yirikian urged his business colleagues to promote development
of science in RA.

Byurakan Observatory is the most important center of Armenian
astrophysics where for decades scholarly research have been conducted
by Armenian astronomers, and among them was also the outstanding
scientist Viktor Hambardzumyan. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory
(BAO) was founded in 1946 on the initiative of academician Victor
Hambartsumian, who became the first director of the observatory. Since
1998, the Byurakan Observatory bears the name of V.A. Hambartsumian.

In the course 2007, VivaCell-MTS provided 23.3 million drams
contribution for upgrading and renovation of Byurakan Observatory
telescopes’ management system. The 2.6 meters long telescope
of the famous Byurakan Observatory was in a very bad working
condition. Because of the lack of means to cover the maintenance
costs the telescope has become non-operational.

VivaCell-MTS’ contribution also extended to the 1 meter long Schmidt
telescope. Possession of such a telescope in 1961 was considered so
important that the opening of the telescope was also attended by the
leader of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev. Thanks to VivaCell-MTS’ support
the electronic system was also be renovated. In particular, a CCD
matrix was created and the management system was put into operation.

Owing to VivaCell-MTS’ support these two large telescopes again were
made available to the employees of the observatory and our scientists,
VivaCell-MTS website reported.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN VISITS THE US EMBASSY IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
07.07.2009 16:52

President Serzh Sargsyan visited the Embassy of the United States in
Armenia on the occasion of the US Independence Day to congratulate
the employees of the Embassy on the occasion of the 233rd anniversary
of independence.

"I wish further strengthening to the United States and prosperity
to its people. We are really interested in further development
of relations with the United States. We view the US not only as a
powerful country, as a country that provides the largest humanitarian
assistance to Armenia, but also a country that extended a helping hand
to our people at the hardest moment of our history by hosting a great
number of our compatriots and providing them with an opportunity
to contribute to the strengthening of the US, at the same time
maintaining their national identity," President Sargsyan noted in
his congratulatory speech.

President Serzh Sargsyan and US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch emphasized
the desire and willingness to further the Armenian-American relations
in different spheres. Ambassador Yovanovitch presented her impressions
from the recent meetings with representatives of the American Armenian
community.

President Sargsyan and Ambassador Yovanovitch underlined that the
existence of a powerful American Armenian community, the activity of
different American Armenian organizations are a real bridge between
the Republic of Armenia and the United States.

During the meting reference was made to the Armenian-Turkish political
dialogue.

KHACHATUR SUKIASYAN NOT AFRAID TO FACE TRIAL

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
06.07.2009 21:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Khachatur Sukiasyan , Member of the National
Assembly of Armenia, who is wanted by police since the spring of 2008,
distributed a statement today. In his statement he briefly outlined
the events of March last year, touched upon the prosecution of citizens
for their political views and the amnesty recently granted.

Khachatur Sukiasyan emphasized that he is not afraid of the prospect
to face a trial because he had not committed a crime. However, he
emphasized in the statement that "Attorney General after changing
accusations was obliged to obtain the consent of the National Assembly,
according to Article 66 of the RA Constitution.

This agreement was necessary also to solve the problem of my arrest
and continued detention of other MPs that had not been obtained, and,
in fact, I have now prosecuted being not deprived of parliamentary
immunity." Sukiasyan believes that today he has a right to walk freely
in the city, and no police officer has a right to limit his freedom.

Armenian MP, who has gone underground, notes that the authorities
ignoring the requirements of the latest PACE resolution 1677, will seek
to arrest him, and "with the help of judges who are their instruments,
get stamps under their false and fabricated accusations".

"I am not particularly worried about all that. I am ready to fight
for my rights and freedoms, rights and freedoms of my people, and
I’m confident that justice will triumph in the end," RA MP Khachatur
Sukiasian concluded.

SERZH SARGSYAN: IF YOU ARE EAGER TO LEARN THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOREIGN AND ARMENIAN UNIVERSITIES

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.07.2009 18:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After the award-giving ceremony of the "Kangaroo"
international competition in mathematics Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, answering the questions of the participants, stressed that
if a student is eager to learn there is no difference in which foreign
or Armenian universities he studies.

"I believe the education program implemented by the Government
of Armenia and establishment of the " Luys " foundation, aimed at
providing financial aid to Armenians admitted by foreign institutions
of higher education, prove the position of the country’s leadership,"
Serge Sargsyan said.

Answering a question of high school student, the president said:
"I believe that every young Armenian is obliged to serve in the army,
contributing their own strength to protect the Fatherland. This is
our sacred duty. We are a small country, which must have a large and
a strong army. But it does not mean that we are ready to adopt a law
on call-up from 18 years, irrespectively of the fact of studying. "
As an option, the President mentioned about the possibility of changes
in the system of state orders.

Serzh Sargsyan also stressed the urgency of development of Armenian
regions.

ACCORDING TO KAREN BEKARIAN, NOT EVERYTHING IS SO CLOUDLESS IN ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS AS IT IS PRESENTED

Noyan Tapan
July 1, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. According to Adviser to Georgian
President Van Bayburt, Mikheil Saakashvili’s June 24-25 visit to
Armenia was a visit of a friendly country’s head to a friendly
country. It was a success irrespective of some commentaries
in press. V. Bayburt expressed such an opinion at the July 1
Yerevan-Tbilisi video bridge on the subject Results of Georgian
President’s Visit to Armenia: Prospects of Bilateral Relations.

In the affirmation of another representative of the Georgian side,
political scientist Gia Nodia, there are no problems between the two
countries that can damage the bilateral good-neighborly relations. In
his words, a positive tendency has been always observed in the issue
of solving the problems between the two countries, irrespective of
the fact who headed the two countries at that moment.

Karen Bekarian, the head of the European Integration NGO, a member of
the Public Council of Armenia, opposed to these optimistic views. In
his opinion, not everything is so cloudless in the bilateral relations
as it is presented. He also gave assurance that it will be difficult
to expect real development of the two countries’ relations as long
as the Armenian and Georgian political figures have contacts rather
"at the level of toasts." In K. Bekarian’s words, this discussion
also confirms that the Georgian side is not able to overcome the
stereotype that it is Armenia that is more interested in the two
countries’ good relations, as well as in relaunching of the Verin
Lars Russian-Georgian border check-point.

K. Bekarian called his Georgian colleagues for not conditioning the
Armenian-Georgian relations by Georgia’s relations with a third side,
Russia when discussing the Armenian-Georgian relations, but being
realistic and trying to find out who and why, for instance, prohibited
Armenian NA deputy Shirak Torosian’s entrance to Georgia. And
Sergey Minasian, the Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute,
inquired how much the prohibition to have retraining in Armenia to
teachers teaching Armenian in Georgia contributed to development of
the Armenian-Georgian relations.

In response V. Bayburt stated that Armenian deputy’s entrance was
prohibited for his "Russian rhetoric."

ARMENIA UNDER PACE’S REGULAR MONITORING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 16:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I don’t agree to public assessments as to PACE
resolution’s being the country’s defeat or victory. As a matter of
fact, this and all other PACE resolutions supplement one another,
and we welcome such kind of objective assessments," Republican MP
David Harutyunyan, Head of Armenian delegation in PACE, told a news
conference. The Resolution, according to him, reflects Armenia’s
progress with regard to a number of problems indicated in pervious
documents.

The speaker also said that PACE intends to follow the situation
with individuals arrested after March 1 developments and not granted
amnesty. Besides, the report contains a recommendation on not arresting
individuals under search in case they voluntarily present themselves
to law enforcement agencies.

Armenia is currently under PACE’s regular monitoring, Harutyunyan
said. "PACE will not discuss Armenia’s issue during its fall session,
unless the country experiences unexpected changes," he noted.

ISRAEL REARMS AZERBAIJANI ARMY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
30.06.2009 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Israeli defense company Elta Systems
Ltd will cooperate with Azerbaijan in the field of satellite
systems. Recently, the company announced about creatoin of the TecSAR
satellite. Such radar can operate in a very broad waveband, as well as
an interferometer, which, in turn, enables to determine the quality
of the Earth’s surface with high precision. According to them, the
total weight of the satellite will reach 300 kilograms, including a
weight of a block SAR which will reach approximately 100 kilograms.

The equipment can operate in several modes. In a "band mode" an
electron beam of the apparatus will go "in a straight line" on the
surface of the Earth, in "a spot mode", respectively, it will focus on
a predetermined point, finally, in a "mosaic mode" SAR explores space,
"photographing" squares.

After the launch TecSAR can go over certain points on the Earth every
90 minutes, but its effectiveness will be higher than that of other
systems – due to peculiarities of the SAR technology, it will not
depend on weather conditions and day time.

According to Azerbaijani military experts, this is an indispensable
system for military operations in a mountainous terrain. Given the
landscape of Nagorno Karabakh, the system is simply indispensable.

Israel and Azerbaijan negotiate on the production of BMP. The cost of
a fully equipped modern BMP "Namer" is estimated at $ 2 million. Namer
is equipped with a new armored set, including armored door, as well as
armored roof welded to the body of the car. The lower part of the BMP
is also enhanced with armor that can increase the level of protection
against land mines. Special folding seats are design for the troops,
which reduces the possibility of destruction by personal mines.

As in the Merkava tank, the engine is installed in front of
BMP Namer. This provides additional protection against antitank
weapons. The car can carry 12 people, including a commander, gunner
and driver. BMP is equipped with 12.7-mm machine gun, 7.62-mm machine
gun or 40-mm MK19 automatic grenade launcher.

Israel and Azerbaijan plan to cooperate in other areas of defense
industry, in particular, an agreement is reached over the construction
of the factory of intelligence and combat drones.

HOPES FOR PEACE TO BLOOM WITH FEST

Hurriyet
Monday, June 29, 2009 13:49

ISTANBUL – As part of an Armenian peace initiative, an Azerbaijani
prisoner of war is set to meet with an Azerbaijani committee visiting
the country for the Flower Festival. Besides Azerbaijan, Turkey,
Israel, Palestine, Russia, Georgia and also Iran will attend the
festival this year.

Flowers for peace are the inspiration for next month’s Flower Festival,
an Armenian initiative to end regional conflict. As an opening move
by Armenia, an Azerbaijani prisoner of war, who was taken during the
Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, will meet with
an Azerbaijani committee visiting the country for the Flower Festival.

Aºod Cobanian, president of Interflora Armenia and the owner of
the country’s biggest flower firm, Brabion (peace flowers), has
visited Turkey in recent weeks for official meetings and to invite
Recep Gedik, president of Interflora Turkey, to Armenia. Cobanian,
also the organizer and financer of the festival, spoke to Hurriyet
Daily News & Economic Review about the festival and its goals. The
festival will be held from dusk to dawn on July 6.

Positive responses Cobanian said the official talks for the
Azerbaijani committee to meet the war prisoner were being carried
out by the festival committee and added that he was happy to receive
positive responses from authorities. "This was the biggest wish of
the Azerbaijani clergy. I wanted to do everything I could in the name
of friendship and peace. I hope this turns out to be a first step and
that we will get the chance to meet with the six Armenian prisoners
of war that Azerbaijan is holding, too." The Flower Festival has been
organized and financed by Brabion since 1994 and is likely one of the
most prized festivals in the world as it brings countries in conflict
together. Besides Turkey and Azerbaijan, Israel, Palestine, Russia,
Georgia and Iran will attend the festival this year. The festival
board has announced to the Turkish press: "We are ready to host you
all. We expect all of you to come to Yerevan with flowers of peace."

This year’s surprise guest to the festival is Turkey. Interflora
Turkey has not attended the festival despite being invited for five
years. Gedik said they would attend this year for the first time
with a committee of 20 and the diplomacy traffic between the two
countries in recent months has been a factor in their decision. "As
the Turkish committee, we will be holding flowers representing love,
peace and friendship during our visit to Armenia." The committees
of the attending countries will each include an ambassador, an army
officer, a clergy and an artist. Only the Turkish and Azerbaijani
committees will not feature as the two countries do not have diplomatic
relations with Armenia. The festival of this year, like in previous
years, will hold many surprises.

The most interesting of them is soldiers who were assigned to pick a
thousand flowers from the mountains. With the special permission of
the Armenian army, 60 soldiers will head to the mountains at dusk and
pick a thousand flowers to dress up a 2 meter high tank and bring it
to the festival area. The festival will be held in the Opera Square at
the center of Yerevan. Countries at war will sit side by side at long
tables. There will be a giant baby stroller at the square alongside six
deep cauldrons for the attending countries to put flowers in. The last
country will the shape flowers in the cauldron and six giant bouquets
will be prepared to be sent to the first ladies of the countries. The
bouquets for the Turkish and Azeri first ladies will be sent through
the embassies at Russia.

"I wanted to make countries at war fight with flowers, not with
guns" said Cobanian, indicating that war does not benefit the
winner or the loser. "Look at Armenia. We have won the war but we
are surrounded by four sides. Only peace would eliminate borders,"
said Cobanian. Cobanian’s original name is "Arºalyus," meaning
dusk. Arºalyus is a woman’s name, but Cobanian uses many names,
including Aºod. The identity of Cobaian is one of the most speculated
issues in Armenia as nobody there knows whether the organizer is a
man or woman. Cobanian has never been photographed by the press. "It
does not matter who I am," said Cobanian, adding: "I enjoy living as
if I am a character from a fairy tale and struggle for peace."

FRENCH EMBASSY IN ARMENIA DOES NOT CONFIRM INFORMATION ABOUT VISIT OF NICOLAS SARKOZY

ArmInfo
2009-06-26 14:49:00

ArmInfo. French Embassy in Armenia does not confirm the information
about the visit of President of France Nicolas Sarkozy to Yerevan.

‘The Embassy does not confirm this information’, the French Embassy
told ArmInfo. To note, the supposed visit of N. Sarkozy to South
Caucasus region has caused the media boom. According to some
conflicting data of the Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian press,
Sarkozy’s visit had to start today. To also recall, the official
sources earlier confirmed the information about the French president’s
visit to South Caucasus region scheduled for June.

PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK "PEACE TO KARABAGH" TAKEN PLACE IN STEPANAKERT

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2009-06-25 15:19
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Presentation of the book "Peace to Karabagh" by Deputy Chairman of
the Association of Russian Diplomats, RF Special Representative on
Nagorno Karabagh in 1992-1996, and former Russian Co-Chairman of the
OSCE MG on the Karabagh conflict settlement Vladimir Kazimirov took
place June 24 in Stepanakert.

1500 copies of the book were issued in Moscow. It offers the history
of the conflict, detailed coverage of Russia’s mediation activity,
and the role of Russia’s mission in the achievement of cease-fire in
the conflict zone. The appendix to the book comprises corresponding
documents on the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement.

Vladimir Kazimirov noted at the presentation that his writing of the
book had been prompted by the 15-year cease-fire in the Karabagh
conflict zone, the wish to remove the confusion in interpreting
different aspects of the conflict settlement process, and the lack
of real progress in the negotiation process.