Author: Toneyan Mark

Education: Groundbreaking project [of the Caucasus’ geological setting]

Toneyan Mark
Boston College Chronicle



Courtesy of a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, newly minted Boston College graduate Natasha Bednarz will spend the next year in Armenia working on the most comprehensive exploration ever undertaken of the Caucasus’ geological setting.

As a researcher at the National Institute of Geological Sciences, Bednarz will participate in the groundbreaking Transect project, which, in addition to its important scientific potential, is also pioneering as a historic collaboration.

Natasha Bednarz

Prior to this initiative, “political tensions have prevented coordinated collection of seismic data, thwarting a robust analysis of the region’s shared seismic hazards,” she explains. “The Transect project has secured the cooperation of each major Caucasus country—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia and Turkey.”

As the first significant scientific alliance among the countries of the Caucasus, the Transect project could set a precedent for continued and deepened partnerships, she notes. “The implications go beyond science: for countries with relationships as complex as Armenia and Azerbaijan, fruitful collaboration of any sort sends a powerful message of peace and reconciliation.”

Bednarz will assist in analyzing data from more than 100 new seismic monitoring stations installed across the region. Her role in the Transect project is in part a continuation of her senior thesis research, for which she spent a year investigating earthquakes in the Caucasus region using cellular seismology—an analytic process conceived by her mentor, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Alan Kafka, in which seismologists systematically investigate the relationship between locations of past and future earthquakes in a given region. She worked with Kafka on the thesis, and had conducted independent research with him during her junior year.

In the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program, Bednarz majored in geological sciences and minored in physics. She is a member of the Sigma Pi Sigma honor society, which recognizes outstanding scholarship in physics, and the Omicron Chapter of Massachusetts Phi Beta Kappa. In 2014, she was awarded an Advanced Study Grant for a project titled “A Stride Towards Geothermal Development.” 

Her research in Armenia, made possible by the Fulbright award, is “an opportunity to dedicate my passion for geophysics to a project that tangibly serves the people of Armenia. My work will contribute to improved seismic hazard assessments, which save lives and protect infrastructure by demarcating zones of seismic danger.”

Another perk, according to the avid hiker, is the chance to explore the region. “Much of my study of our planet takes place indoors, through digital interfaces, so I treasure the chances I have to explore on foot. I will seek out locals who share this hobby, and engage with the Amenian hiking community while I discover the nation’s trails and mountains.”

Bednarz says her Fulbright project ties together important experiences from her undergraduate years. “In addition to my academic coursework in geology and physics, I spent the past three summers interning with diverse earth science institutions in New Mexico, Guatemala City, and Yerevan, experiencing firsthand the intimate intersection of human communities and their environmental surroundings.”

Her time on the Heights was distinguished not only by academic accomplishments, but by a host of extracurricular activities. Among them, Bednarz worked as a reporter at The Heights, volunteered as a science mentor for girls in the Boston Public Schools, held leadership positions—including a term as president—in the Boston College Geology Association, performed with both the Boston College Symphony Orchestra and Middle Eastern Ensemble and competed on several intramural sports teams.

When she returns to the U.S. after her year in Armenia, Bednarz hopes to publish her research and go on to pursue a graduate degree in geophysics. With that advanced degree, she plans to work as a geophysical researcher, with a focus on earthquakes in international contexts. The Yardley, Pennsylvania native says her long-term goal “is to serve as a liaison between the seismological communities of the U.S. and other nations, continuously exploring the intersection between geology and culture.”

-University Communications


Chinese company intends to implement large-scale investments in Armenia`s construction sector and energy sector

Toneyan Mark 
ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
July 13, 2017 Thursday


Chinese company intends to implement large-scale investments in
Armenia`s construction sector and energy sector

 Yerevan July 13

Alexander Avanesov. China Machinery Engineering Corporation intends to
implement large-scale investments in Armenia in the construction
sector and energy. The representative of the company James Dong said
on July 13 during a meeting with the Minister of Economic Development
and Investments Suren Karayan.

According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Economic
Development, during the meeting, the guest presented to the minister
the main activities of the company specializing in the construction
and energy sectors. In particular, the company carries out the
construction of power plants, thermal blocks, erects buildings and
builds roads.

Suren Karayan presented the prospects for investment in road
construction and energy. In particular, the minister presented the
program of construction of the transport corridor "North-South". He
also spoke about the advantages of the free economic zone being built
in the Syunik border with Iran.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached that the Director of the
Development Fund of Armenia Armen Avagyan will present the details of
major investment projects to the Chinese company and will be in
constant contact with investors.

To note, the Chinese machine-building engineering corporation
('&Oelig; ') functions since 1978. The Corporation is a group of
companies, the main activity of which is design and construction,
including international trade and research work. As a well-known
international contractor, CMEC ranked 3rd among the top 50 Chinese
enterprises listed by the Ministry of Commerce of China in 2008. For
several years, CMEC has been included in the list of the world's
largest 225 contractors by the well-known US journal Engineering
News-Record. The scope of the company covers about 120 countries on 5
continents.

Turkey will place Russian S-400s on the border with Armenia and Greece

Toneyan Mark
ArmInfo, Armenia

July 14 2017

ArmInfo. Despite the incompatibility of Russian S-400 systems with 

NATO armaments, Turkey will be able to deploy them in regions where  restrictions imposed by the NATO leadership apply. In particular, on  the border with Armenia, Greece and the Aegean coast, – Bloomberg  reports with reference to an anonymous source in Turkey.  According  to the information of a high-ranking Turkish official, Ankara is  ready to pay $ 2.5 billion for the delivery of Russian S-400 systems.  Two batteries of complexes will be delivered to Turkey in 2018. The  same number of complexes are planned to be built later in Turkey  itself.  Rosoboronexport refrained from commenting.

Turkey was ready to purchase  Russian S-300 SAMs in the past year,  but the deal did not take place because of NATO's position. Ankara  was also forced to abandon plans to purchase such systems from China  under pressure from Washington. 

Russian anti-aircraft missile system of large and medium range, S-400  surface-to-air missile system, codified by the US Defense Ministry  and NATO – SA-21 Growler, is designed to destroy all modern and  promising air and space attack weapons. 

CPJ: Turkish media in exile? Think again

Toneyan Mark
Committee to Protect Journalists
July 14 2017

By Can Dündar, co-founder, editor-in-chief, Özgürüz on July 14, 2017 10:09 AM ET

Freedom is like air or water: something you appreciate only when it's gone. Freedom for Turkish journalists was never as abundant as air or water–but nor was it ever as scarce as it has become in the last year.

Last July 15, a dangerous coup attempt occurred, unexpected and unsupported by the democrats in Turkey… But the democrats suffered as much as the putschists, since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seized the opportunity to put this failed attempt–which he called a "blessing from God"–to use as justification to pursue a witch hunt against all his opponents and to change the constitution, seizing all power.

Since July 15, 2016, some 150,000 people have faced criminal investigation, 50,000 have been arrested, and 70,000 civil servants have been dismissed. Nearly all opposition newspapers have been closed. Several have been placed under the state's administration. More than 150 journalists and media workers have been arrested, in a campaign that has made Turkey the world's largest prison for journalists. When the Committee to Protect Journalists last did its global census of journalists imprisoned around the world, Turkey held at least 81 in prison, more than any other country in any other year since CPJ began keeping records in 1992.

The result is silence, not only for those imprisoned but also for the rest who are still free. The climate of fear created by these arrests might have failed to silence some brave colleagues, but it has intimidated the majority of the media. It is now impossible to write, say, or ask anything that challenges the government. What we have witnessed is not only the obliteration of individual media outlets, one by one, but the obliteration of an entire profession.

Just as someone locked up in a cell tries to breathe through the tiniest gap, we too have sought alternative ways of telling the truth in this repressive environment. Some of us turned to social media, whereas others ventured to create media outlets in exile.

A skein of troubles

As luck would have it, I happened to be abroad on July 15, 2016. Taking my lawyers' advice, I stayed in Germany, deciding to continue my work in journalism–something that was becoming increasingly impossible in Turkey. Hundreds of my colleagues were unemployed; I would join them to reach out to our viewers and readers in Turkey. Boldly would we give them the news that they could not receive otherwise.

Experience would teach me that this was no easy feat.

We encountered countless troubles that had never occurred to us: How would be finance it, first and foremost? With foreign funding? That would have been an enormous handicap for someone accused of espionage. Through subscription? How would willing supporters send their contributions? By risking finding their ways into police files?

And what about staff? It was hard to find professional Turkish journalists in Germany. Contributing to an opposition media outlet from Turkey was extremely risky. What if contributors used pen names? Would our correspondence be monitored? At any rate, we wanted to broadcast. Would staff wear masks? How many of my colleagues had to put the phone down sadly, saying they wished I had never called in the first place?

Let's say we overcame all this. How would we reach our viewers or readers?

#Özgürüz (#WeAreFree)

Against all odds, with little support and just a handful of journalists, we founded a website, and named it #Özgürüz. We are free to say and write whatever we wish!

But the Turkish government has given itself a free hand to censor us. We were due to go live on the January 24. The government banned us on January 23. They never saw a word of what we had to say. No matter: They did it anyway. Thus did we gain the honor of being perhaps the first website to be banned before its launch.

And so it continued. Sources were hard to find. People were afraid to talk to an opposition media outlet that broadcast from abroad. Government censorship was an epidemic that silenced everyone.

Then, of course, there was the matter of security. It didn't take long for a pro-government TV channel to do perhaps its first piece of investigative reporting in tracking down our office. One day, out of the blue, a crew broadcast from outside our door, or "the den of treason," as they called it. They showed the building, down to the window of our office, and announced the address and our arrival and departure times on air. We are sitting ducks now.

Against all odds

We've had too many troubles to count; yet it is possible–nay, it is essential–to insist on telling the truth.

The first rule is to never give up. This resolve finds a way to overcome all troubles, since courage is as infectious as fear.

When we set off, brave supporters joined in. Our readers invested modest amounts. Crowdfunding paved our way. We placed a counter at the entrance to the office; it trilled with the joyful news of new contributions every day. This is how we found brave reporters and writers.

Access to our website was blocked in Turkey but Turkish readers were well versed in bypassing those blocks; they managed to read our articles. When the website was blocked, we pressed on through other internet channels: YouTube, Periscope, Facebook, Twitter… If one was blocked, we aired through another: the higher the wall, the easier to drill a hole.

It was hard to reach sources willing to appear on a live broadcast but news still came to us–news that no one in Turkey was brave enough to broadcast. Asking for contributions from well-known columnists was hard, but this was also an opportunity to train new ones.

In time, we grew ever bolder under the constant threat of attack.

Now we had brave reporters in the field, and more: citizen journalism lent a hand. We gave our Periscope password to all who wanted to be heard, so they could broadcast via #Özgürüz . This allowed us to reach 100,000 followers in a short period.

'I'm glad I'm a journalist'

"Media in exile" is one of the most powerful channels that can confront repressive governments, an oasis that offers the freedom you long for, like air or water, new proof that a true journalist never gives up, a new era of experience that makes us say, "I'm glad I'm a journalist."

Translated from the Turkish.

Can Dündar is editor-in-chief of Özgürüz ("We are free"), which he co-founded after going into exile in 2016. As editor-in-chief of the Turkish opposition daily newspaper Cumhuriyet, he spent 92 days in pretrial detention on charges related to the newspaper's publication in 2015 of an article alleging Turkey's intelligence agency was arming Syrian rebels under cover of humanitarian aid. He still faces multiple criminal charges in Turkey for his journalistic work. The Committee to Protect Journalists honored him with its International Press Freedom Award in November 2016.