Month: November 2009

RESULTS OF GRENSHAN 2009 FONT CONTEST SUMMED UP

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 16:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Grenshan 2009" international font contest was
held this year for the second time. Armenia participated in contest
in 6 nominations – "Armenian Typewriter", "Armenian Textbook Font",
"Latin Typewriter", "Cyrillic Typewriter" and "Freestyle Font". Prize
winner in contest was Edik Gabuzyan, Head of the Font Development
and Maintenance Department at National Book Chamber.

Contest is aimed at developing Armenian electronic fonts and achieving
their recognition on international level.

This year’s contest attracted 54 applications from 12 countries,
including Armenia, Great Britain, Germany, United States, Mexico,
Equator etc. All works, except those submitted for "Freestyle Font"
nomination, conformed to the standards established by RA Government.

"It’s very appreciable for us that Rowan Casto from Equator and Iko
Miller from Germany submitted Armenian alphabet fonts. That testifies
not only to interest in our alphabet and language but also increasing
international recognition of ‘Granshan’ contest," Edik Gabuzyan said.

"Arial, Times and other fonts used currently cannot be considered
Armenian as they are based upon the Latin alphabet. The contest marked
the start of using the huge reserve of purely Armenian fonts," said
one of contest winners Ara Baghdasaryan, Head of Graphic Art Chair
at RA Academy of Arts.

To use Armenian fonts on the Internet, it is necessary to obtain
consent from several international companies, with Microsoft being
the first. Armenia is currently negotiating with the company, Edik
Gabuzyan said.

ARMENIA AND TURKEY ADOPT WAIT-AND-SEE POLICY

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 17:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Current stage of developments contains key elements
for both the region and Armenian-Turkish ties. There is a conflict
of views in Armenian-Turkish relations. Both sides have adopted
wait-and-see policy, following one another’s steps, Stepan Grigoryan,
Head of Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation
(ACGRC), told journalists in Yerevan. "What we currently see in
Armenian-Azeri relations is an open information warfare. Parties make
tough statements, disseminating disinformation," expert noted.

With regard to regional processes, Grigoryan dwelled on changes in
Turkey’s foreign policy. "We are currently witnessing such changes –
warmer relations with Iran, Turkish side’s positive statements on
Iranian nuclear program and relationship with Middle East countries,"
expert said.

Focusing on Russia’s role in the region, he noted that Moscow has
found relevant political tools. "Russia proposes public initiatives for
Armenia and Azerbaijan and touches on regional security issues," Stepan
Grigoryan said, adding that Armenia should consider the factors above.

NEW ARMENIAN FONTS AS A RESULT OF 2009 GRANSHAN INTERNATIONAL TYPE DESIGN COMPETITION

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

>From October 15-19, the 2009 Granshan International Type Design
Competition jury reviewed entries submitted to the competition,
which was held for the second time.

The aims of the competition are the development of electronic type
design and further international recognition. According to the
competition’s website, 54 works were submitted from 12 countries in
such categories as Armenian text fonts, Armenian school textbook and
children’s book fonts, and Armenian traditional text fonts, to name
a few.

Head of the Department for Creating and Keeping Armenian Fonts of
the National Book Chamber Edik Ghabuzyan was among the five prize
winners out of 6 nominations.

"The fonts we used before the start of Granshan competition, Arial,
Times and others, were the Armenian variants of the Latin fonts with
the same names, but they couldn’t be considered Armenian fonts. With
this competition, we began [to compile] a large stock of pure
Armenian fonts," said one of the winners of the 2009 competition,
Head of Chair of Graphics of the State Academy of Art Ara Baghdasaryan.

IRAN-ARMENIA RAILWAY FEASIBILITY STUDY: 2010

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

Armenia is negotiating with Iran, as well as with financing
organizations, on the construction of the Iran-Armenia railway,
said Republic of Armenia Minister of Transport and Communications
Gurgen Sargsyan at a press conference today, adding that funding is
already foreseen by the Asian Development Bank program to carry out a
feasibility study of the railway, only after which the other measures
connected with the railway construction will be taken.

The minister expressed hope that the funding from the Asian Development
Bank will come next year. Besides, Sargsyan stated that the Iranian
side expressed readiness to make an investment of 400 million USD
in the construction work taking place in Armenia if the railway
is constructed.

‘AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH WILL DISCUSS FUTURE STATUS OF REGION’: AZERBAIJANI FM

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

Based on the results of the meeting to take place at the end of
November between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, the two
countries’ foreign ministries will continue consultations from December
1-2 in Athens, which is hosting the OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists today,
as reported by Azerbaijani news agency News.Az.

Mammadyarov told journalists in Baku today that Azerbaijan "sees
three stages in the Karabakh conflict settlement".

"The first stage is the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Karabakh
with subsequent mine clearance. The second stage is the restoration of
infrastructure, the resolution of socio-economic problems and the third
— the return of all refugees to their native lands. Only after that
will it be possible to speak about the status of Nagorno-Karabakh,"
Mammadyarov said.

As reported by News.Az, during the three stages, the Azerbaijani
and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh will discuss the future
status of this region together.

"I would like to repeat that the issue of status can be settled only
within the framework of territorial integrity," concluded Mammadyarov.

LULL IN ARMENIA-TURKEY DIALOGUE: PREPARATION FOR INTENSE EVENTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 17:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The process of normalization of Armenia-Turkey
relations quietened down, but this calm is a preparation for intensive
events, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute,
political scientist told a press conference in Yerevan today.

He presented several options of ratification of the initialed
Protocols on normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations in the Turkish
Parliament. "Protocols can be ratified in January, the second, this
probably will happen by April 24 (Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide victims). Third and less probable option is ratification
behind the closed doors, and the fourth option – "suspension",
delaying the ratification," the political scientist said.

Alexander Iskandaryan mentioned that he often hears from Turkish
colleagues, that "if the Turkish political elite wants, it can smuggle
through Parliament anything".

"To do this, Ankara needs appropriate sticks and carrots. There is
already sticks, what would be the carrot, we will see ", Alexander
Iskandaryan said.

KOMITAS’S 140TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED IN GEORGIA

news.am
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

An event devoted to the 140th anniversary of Armenian composer Komitas
will be held at the Centre for Cultural Relations of Georgia Caucasus
House today, as reported by Georgian news agency GHN. The event will
be held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
and the Armenian Church in Georgia.

Komitas’s music, naturally, will be heard at the event, as well
as some historical information on the time when Komitas lived and
composed music will be provided.

Within the frames of the evening, painter Nino Pirkhelaishvili’s
works, based on Franz Werfel’s Forty Days of Musa Mountain, will also
be presented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HINDU LANGUAGE TO BE TAUGHT IN STATE LINGUISTIC UNIVERSITY BEGINNING NEXT ACADEMIC TERM

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 17:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Indian Ambassador to Armenia Achal Malhotra and
Rector of Yerevan State Linguistic University (YSLU) Suren Zolyan
have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on opening Chair of
Indian Culture in University.

"Armenia’s cooperation with India has many years’ history. Teaching
Hindu in our university has become an imperative. Beginning next
academic term, the language will be taught by a visiting professor.

Very soon, we’ll see students speaking Hindu," YSLU rector said during
the ceremony.

Indian Ambassador noted in turn that "Anyone knowing Hindu language
can communicate with 1/6 of world’s population. Hindu is the most
widespread language in India, spoken by 1 million people. I am sure
that spreading the language in Armenia will create stronger bridges
of cooperation, broadening communication sphere between two nations."

ARMENIA AND SWITZERLAND SIGN AGREEMENTS

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

On November 10, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian left
Budapest for Switzerland for a short-term visit.

Upon his arrival in Bern, Nalbandian met Head of Swiss Federal
Department of Foreign Affairs Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Placing importance on the effective cooperation established between
their respective ministries, Nalbandian and Calmy-Rey arranged to
hold regular consultations between the two foreign ministries and also
discussed the possibility of broadening cooperation within the context
of international organizations. On the topic of Switzerland’s upcoming
EU chairmanship, the ministers exchanged ideas on the organization’s
agenda issues as well as issues related to its activities.

The parties agreed to take measures to promote trade-economic
relations, placing importance on the initiatives of businesses in
that sector.

Referring to the process of establishing Armenia-Turkey relations,
Nalbandian thanked Calmy-Rey for Switzerland’s mediation efforts.

According to the Armenian foreign minister, Switzerland undertook
a mission that required steadfastness and restraint, imagination,
caution and patience at the same time and the mediating state fulfilled
its mission with honour.

Nalbandian and Calmy-Rey referred to issues and developments related
to the South Caucasus region.

During the visit, Nalbandian and Calmy-Rey signed an Agreement on
Regular Air Communication between the Government of the Republic
of Armenia and the Swiss Federal Council, as well as an Agreement
on Cancelling the Entrance Permit Requirement for People Having
Diplomatic Passports between the Government of the Republic of Armenia
and the Swiss Federal Council, as announced by the Republic of Armenia
Foreign Ministry.

ISRAEL MUST REMIND TURKEY OF MONSTROUS DEEDS AGAINST ARMENIANS, SAYS ISRAELI POLITICIAN

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

Last week saw the start of the debate on the UN Goldstone Report,
which concluded that both Israel and Hamas committed serious war
crimes, and possibly, crimes against humanity, during the conflict
in December 2008 and January 2009.

Israel, however, slammed the UN Human Rights Council’s adoption of
an "unjust" report on the Gaza war, warning that it damaged Middle
East peace efforts and encouraged "terrorist organisations" around
the world.

The resolution in the report calls for the prosecution of senior
Israeli officials in the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The
Hague should Tel Aviv fail to launch its own investigations into the
Gaza war under international scrutiny within six months.

If the decision is passed by the ICC, then Israeli officials may face
charges of having committed war crimes, reports the Epoch Times.

According to Professor of International Communication at Bar-Ilan
University Eytan Gilboa, Israel doesn’t have enough influence to
officially oppose these countries, but unofficially, Israel may make
efforts to change the public’s opinion in its favour.

"The State of Israel must act by other methods: bring an action
against those countries and asking for the creation of a commission to
investigate Russia’s actions in Chechnya and China’s actions against
its own people, as well as to initiate proceedings against the US
and NATO, which, too, committed crimes against humanity. Israel has
no problem in bringing up examples of more serious crimes committed
against humanity than those it has allegedly committed."

Continuing, Gilboa stated, "Accusing Turkey in massacres against
Armenians isn’t a problem, but Israel must not act as a state in this
matter. All that which is connected with human rights must be raised
by non-governmental organizations."

For his part, Moshe Feiglin, a renowned critic in Israel’s foreign
policy and leader of Likud Party faction, stated that Israel must act
also proceeding from Jewish morality and justice, and not solely from
a practical perspective.

"The state and people of Israel must show the whole world where
morality can be found, what is good and what is evil. And we are
hiding from our mission and transforming into monstrous perpetrators.

The Israeli state must show both China and Turkey their monstrous
deeds. But we probably aren’t doing that: [we are] acting in our own
interests and losing our reputation. Thus, Israel departs from issues
of morality and justice concerning China, issues related to Armenians,
as well as from itself," Feiglin said.
From: Baghdasarian