Month: September 2013

VMWARE SOFTWARE COMPANY TO INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA

16:28 27.09.2013

Sona Hakobyan
Public Radio of Armenia

The American VMware software company, which has an annual income of
$4.61 billion, plans to expand its activity in Armenia and increase
the number of employees.

One of the top three innovative companies in the world, the VMware
launched its activity in Armenia in 2010. There are currently 60
programmers working at the Armenian office.

The Armenian team participates in the elaboration of the software
package management systems.

According to Executive Vice President of Cloud Infrastructure and
Management Company Ragu Raguram, the Armenia-produced products are
used by hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide.

Vice President of Cloud Infrastructure Adrian Tudor assured they will
gradually increase the investments in the Armenian economy. He said
Armenia is attractive, because there are many skilled engineers here
and hailed the activity of the Armenian team.

“95% of our employees hold scientific degrees in Computer Science and
Engineering. Therefore, we’re satisfied with the work of our team,”
he said.

Although the Armenian market is not that big, the Vice President
hopes it will expand in the coming years. “We are working within
global economy, and we can say with confidence the goods produced
here are sold all over the world,” Ragu Raguram said.

EX-PRIME MINISTER ARMEN SARKISSIAN APPOINTED AMBASSADOR TO UK

Friday, September 27th, 2013

Armen Sarkissian (left) speaking at the World Economic Forum on Europe
and Central Asia in 2008

YEREVAN (Armenpress)-Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has appointed
Armen Sarkissian as the next ambassador of Armenia to the United
Kingdom, the President’s press office has announced.

Dr. Armen Sarkissian was the Prime Minister of Armenia from November 4,
1996 to March 20, 1997. From 1976 to 1984 he was professor of physics
at Yerevan State University and, subsequently, Head of the Department
of Computer Modeling of Complex Systems. In 1984 he became a visiting
research fellow and later professor at the University of Cambridge. In
October 1991, Dr. Sarkissian was invited by the President of Armenia
to establish in London what would be the first Armenian Embassy in
the West. He went on to become Senior Ambassador of the Republic
of Armenia to Europe (Deputy Foreign Minister) and concurrently
represented Armenia as Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and The Vatican. In 1995-96 he was Head
of the Mission of the Republic of Armenia to Europe.

Dr. Sarkissian became Prime Minister of Armenia from 1996 to 1997. He
was reappointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1998. He also
served as Special Advisor to the President of the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and as a Governor of the
EBRD from 1999-2000. In 2000 Dr. Sarkissian established the Eurasia
Research Program at the Judge Institute of Management, University
of Cambridge. He is founding President and Chairman of Eurasia
House International in London, which fosters critical dialogue and
cooperation among political and business leaders and is involved
in bridge-building between the West and the vast geographic space
extending from Eastern Europe to Russia, to CIS and China. Dr.

Sarkissian is Senior Executive Advisor to the Board of Directors and
Chairman of Alcatel, the French telecom giant. He is Senior Advisor
to the Chairman of BP.

He is also Senior Advisor to the CEO and the Board of Directors of
Bekaert (Belgium), one of the largest steel companies in the world;
member of the Board of Brazil Invest, a large investment group in
Central America; Chairman of Cambridge Pharmaceuticals, a UK-based
medical and health systems company; and is a Board member of Rosy
Blue (Belgium). He holds honorary and executive positions in numerous
international organizations, including Member of the Board of Directors
of East West Institute; Advisory Board Member of the Kennedy School of
Government, Harvard University; IREX, Editorial Board Member of Russia
in Global Politics (a foreign affairs journal); and Honorary Senior
Research Fellow at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary &
Westfield College, London University. Dr. Sarkissian is a faculty
member of the World Economic Forum.

MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI’S “LAST SQUEAL”

September 27 2013

The response of Armenian MPs to the President of Georgia Although the
ruling RPA party representatives claim that while making the decision
to join the Customs Union, no pressure was exerted to the President
of Armenia, and with various references they are trying to create the
impression that the decision to join the Customs Union is the result
of numerous meetings and discussions, on the eve of the UN General
Assembly session, in his speech, speaking about the Eastern European
countries that strive to become part of the European family, Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili announced that they are subjected to
pressure. “Armenia is driven to the corner and was forced to sign the
document on the Customs Union, which is not to the best interests of
the nation and the region. Moldova is exposed to blockade, Ukraine
is under attack, Azerbaijan is under great pressure, and Georgia
is occupied,”- said the President of Georgia. To the observation of
“Aravot”, in fact, the pressure on Armenia was so evident that is was
noticed not only by Armenians, but also others, MP of “Prosperous
Armenia” parliamentary faction, PAP Spokesman Tigran Urikhanyan
opposed, “I would ask the President representing political minority of
a country of introducing our neighbor, friend, very dear and respected
people to remember that the Republic of Armenia is a sovereign,
independent state, and makes its decisions based on its own interest.”

As to how the decision to join the Customs Union is based on the
interests of RA citizens, is still difficult for the PAP MP to
say due to obvious reasons. “Because we ourselves are waiting for
justifications, but, in general, I gave the answer to the words of
the President representing the political minority of our neighboring
country.” Representative of the ruling Republican Party, secretary
of RPA parliamentary fraction Hovhannes Sahakyan in reverse to our
observation said,- “I do not think that the obviousness of the pressure
on RA should be seen from Mikheil Saakashvili’s statements.

Saakashvili at least to this moment and still is leading the Republic
of Georgia, as President, and is free to express his opinion or views
based on specific problems of his country, positions, prospects and
other factors. I do not think that Saakashvili’s statement should be a
basis for anyone, especially Armenia, allegedly obviousness of executed
pressure. We have repeatedly said that there was no pressure and could
not be.” Our interlocutors view the speech of the neighboring country’s
President from the perspective of upcoming end of his term. Continuing,
Mikheil Saakashvili noted that the RF does not have the benefit
of having steady states around it. In this context, the President
of Georgia interpreted the Karabakh-Azerbaijan issues as follows:
“No, they do not want anyone to get an advantage of the conflict,
because it keeps the two nations dependent and blocks the desire to
be integrated into the European territory.” To our question to this
respect, PPA MP said,- “I would like to see that the politicians of
our neighbor and friend countries, including opposition politicians,
in particular, as it is President Saakashvili in this case, not to
articulate the shade of their relations with the figures of other
countries on the relations of RA with other countries.” The reaction
of the ruling party’s representative was as follows: “Some things
from Mikheil Saakashvili’s statements can be definitely perceived in
political sciences. For example, under the pretext of establishing a
democracy, a number of western countries enter this or that country,
trying to solve some problems, or conduct processes.

There are countries that on the excuse of settling unresolved conflicts
are trying to be introduced to the region. In this particular case,
RF is introduced in the format of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict
settlement, and not only in Armenia, but, also in the region. But,
since there is a Georgian-Russian problem, the opinion expressed in
this light, cannot be a concern for me or unbiased. It should just
be a little attentive as to when, where and why Mr. Saakashvili makes
those statements.”

Nelly GRIGORYAN

Read more at:

ARMENIAN CHURCH TO CANONISE VICTIMS OF 1915 GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE

ITAR-TASS, Russia
September 27, 2013 Friday 05:07 PM GMT+4

HOLY ETCHMIADZIN Armenia, September 27

– Bishops’ Council of the Armenian Apostolic Church has reached
a decision to canonise 1.5 million people of Armenian ethnicity
annihilated in amassed ethnic purges in the Ottoman Empire in 1915
during a campaign that has become widely known as the Armenian
Genocide.

The Armenian bishops assembled in full force for the first time
since 1651.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan sent a message of greetings to the
Council participants where he emphasized the paramount importance of
the initiative of the Armenian Church to canonise the genocide victims.

“On the eve of the centenary anniversary since the Armenian Genocide
in the Ottoman Empire, all the Armenians say ‘no’ to the crimes
against humanity,” the president said. “It is our obligation to our
ancestors, to the innocent victims and to the whole mankind in a bid
to do everything in our power to avert new genocides in the future.”

Unlike most other denominations of Eastern Christianity or the Roman
Catholic Church, the Armenian Church has not done any beatifications
or canonisations since the 17th century.

Besides, the Bishops’ Council unified the rite of the sacrament of
Baptism in all the Armenian churches, since dioceses practiced the
Baptism rites differently in their churches.

The Ottoman government systematically exterminated its minority
Armenian subjects in some provinces of their historic homeland located
in the territory, which is incorporated in the present-day Republic
of Turkey.

Mass purges took place during and after World War I and were
implemented by two separate methods — a sweeping destrruction of
the able-bodied male population through massacre and forced labor,
and the deportation of women, children and the elderly on death
marches to the Syrian Desert.

Various estimates suggest that the resultant loss of lives in the
Armenian nation stood at around 1.5 million.

JIHADISTS TORCHES STATUES, CROSSES IN SYRIA CHURCHES: NGO

Agence France Presse
September 26, 2013 Thursday 5:24 PM GMT

BEIRUT, Sept 26 2013

Jihadist fighters linked to Al-Qaeda set fire to statues and crosses
inside churches in northern Syria on Thursday and destroyed a cross
on a church clock tower, a watchdog said.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters entered the
Greek Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in the northern
city of Raqa and torched the religious furnishings inside, the Syria
Observatory for Human Rights said.

They did the same at the Armenian Catholic Church of the Martyrs,
and also destroyed a cross atop its clock tower, replacing it with
the ISIL flag, the Observatory said.

Most of Raqa, located on the banks of the Euphrates River and capital
of the province of the same name, fell to anti-regime fighters
in March.

Where the ISIL dominates in the city, it imposes a strict version of
sharia (Islamic law) on the populace.

The London-based Observatory denounced these attacks “against the
freedom of religion, which are an assault on the Syrian revolution.”

Not only have there been attacks on Christian places of worship in
Syria, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country wracked by more than two
years of civil war, but also on Shiite Muslim mosques.

Additionally, Christians clerics have been kidnapped, and some brutally
murdered, by jihadists.

In January, the Middle East director of Human Rights Watch, Sarah
Leah Whitson, said: “The destruction of religious sites is furthering
sectarian fears and compounding the tragedies of the country.

“Syria will lose its rich cultural and religious diversity if armed
groups do not respect places of worship.”

The New York-based group said that “while some opposition leaders
have pledged to protect all Syrians, in practice the opposition has
failed to properly address the unjustified attacks against minority
places of worship.”

At the outset of the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad,
rebels welcomed the support of jihadist groups, largely made up of
foreign fighters.

But the jihadists, where they have reached a position of dominance
in specific parts of the country, are increasingly alienating the
native population.

On Thursday, an ISIL commander from the United Arab Emirates was killed
in fighting with Kurds in the north of Syria, the Observatory said.

JIHADIST FIGHTERS LINKED TO AL-QAEDA SET FIRE TO STATUES AND CROSSES INSIDE CHURCHES IN NORTHERN SYRIA AND DESTROYED A CROSS ATOP CLOCK TOWER OF ONE OF THEM, A WATCHDOG SAID

The Namibia Press Agency, (NAMPA)
September 26, 2013 Thursday

Jihadist fighters linked to Al-Qaeda set fire to statues and crosses
inside churches in northern Syria yesterday and destroyed a cross
atop the clock tower of one of them, a watchdog said.

Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) entered
the Greek Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation in the
northern city of Raqa and torched the religious furnishings inside,
the Syria Observatory for Human Rights said.

They did the same thing at the Armenian Catholic Church of the Martyrs,
and also destroyed a cross atop its clock tower, replacing it with
the ISIL flag, the Observatory said.

Most of Raqa, located on the banks of the Euphrates River and capital
of the province of the same name, fell to rebels in March. Where
it dominates in the city, ISIL imposes a strict version of sharia
(Islamic law) on the populace.

The London-based Observatory denounced these attacks ‘against the
freedom of religion, which are an assault on the Syrian revolution.’

THE SERENDEPITIOUS HISTORIAN WRITER

New Indian Express, India
September 26, 2013 Thursday

CHENNAI

CHENNAI, Sept. 26 — When you meet Bengaluru-based author
Vikram Sampath and hear him speak, you may wonder why he doesn’t
take the career of a classical singer more seriously. However,
the writer-historian who finds joy in poring through history and
newspaper clippings for his books, shrugs off the question with an
air of humility and a warm smile, saying he is not keen on performing.

The writer, who was in the city on Sunday to receive the Vedavalli
Memorial Award for his contribution towards South India’s heritage,
delivered a lecture demo at the TAG Centre on the Life and Times of
Mysore Vasudevacharya.

Perhaps the insightful lecture demo that offered a detailed account
of the contribution and works of the legendary classical singer,
specifically illustrates writer’s keen interest in history and
classical arts.

However, he says he never planned to become an author and found
history too boring as a student. “Today most people plan a career as
a writer, but that was not the case with me. Neither did I plan it
nor was I ever interested in history as a subject. I was the student
who would be punished for not doing history assignments and would
doze off during lessons,” he says with a laugh.

His first book Splendours of Royal Mysore The Untold Story of the
Wodeyars that dealt with the 600-year history of the Wodeyar Dynasty
was serendipity too. He says, “I remember as a child watching the TV
series ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’ that showed the Mysore Maharaja in
a poor light. They were rulers, who had the longest regime in the
State, close to six centuries and the rulers were in contrast with
the portrayal of the laid back emperor who danced with court girls.”

Similarly, the next My Name is Gauhar Jaan! The Life and Times of a
Musician the story of the first Indian voice to be recorded, was a
fascinating account of the eminent Hindustani singer who exemplified
resurgent women musicians of the 20th century.

“The lack of records made me travel to all the places that Gauhar
Jaan who was born as Eileen Angelina Yeoward, an Armenian Christian
who later converted to Islam, travelled to during her lifetime. These
included visits to Kolkata, Benaras, Madras, Delhi and Darbhanga,”
he says.

A music student of Jayanthi Kumaresh, Vikram has always been intrigued
by her references to the geniuses of the veena maestro S Balachander
and his remarkable contribution to music. That eventually resulted
in his next Voice of the Veena S Balachander A Biography.

“Jayanthi akka always used to talk about him and he as a person,
was interesting too. He stood for honesty and in that process made
a lot of enemies in the circle, and his courage for upholding values
made him an outcast.” he adds.

Vikram rues the lack of well-maintained records and says the scene
has pretty much been the same for the last 10 years. As the founder
of Archive of Indian Music, he aims to preserve old recordings as
well as vintage photographs and gramophone records.

He says, “Currently there are close to 12,000 records and with
awareness, people are coming forward to donate them. Sadly, most
of these treasures are found in trash bins. Our aim is to create a
world-class archive of Indian music that is technologically on a par
with world standards,” he adds.

Also as the founder of the Bangalore Literature Festival, he is looking
forward to the upcoming edition that will be held between September
27 and 29, when over 125 authors will meet to take part in the event
that will be a confluence of all the official Indian languages.

RUSSIA TO HELP GUARD SYRIAN WEAPONS DESTRUCTION

Politico.com
September 26, 2013 Thursday 6:53 AM EST

MOSCOW — Russia says it is ready to help ensure security for the
destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons.

Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov
confirming that Russia would help guard the facilities where the
weapons are being destroyed.

Ryabkov, speaking Thursday during an arms exhibition in Nizhny Tagil,
said he hoped that other members of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization would also participate. The organization includes Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

U.N. inspectors returned to Syria on Wednesday to continue
investigating three incidents of suspected chemical weapons use
this year.

The U.S. and its allies accuse the Syrian government of carrying out
an attack near Damascus on Aug. 21 that killed hundreds of people.

Syria and Russia blame the rebels for the attack.

IRAN MP SAYS KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE SETTLED THROUGH REGIONAL CAPACITY

Islamic Republic News Agency IRNA , Iran
Sept 25 2013

Baku, 25 September: Member of Majlis Foreign Policy and National
Security Commission Javad Jahangirzadeh, who is in Baku heading a
parliamentary delegation, in an interview with reporters underlined
necessity of settlement of Karabakh conflict by using regional
capacity.

Referring to his meetings with Azerbaijan Republic speaker of
parliament, members of parliamentary friendship group and executive
secretary of New Azerbaijan Party, Jahangirzadeh said an important
axis of negotiations had been Karabakh conflict.

He added that conflict in Karabakh is a sensitive issue for Iran
and that Iran has always condemned foreign interference in domestic
affairs of other countries and believes that borders of all countries
should be respected by neighbours.

He expressed Iran’s readiness to help settling Karabakh conflict
in direction of providing security and tranquillity in the region,
adding that since forming the Minsk Group, Iran has declared that the
group does not have a suitable structure to solve Karabakh conflict
between the two countries of Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia.

Referring to Iran’s act in letting Azerbaijan Republic citizens travel
to Iran without getting a visa, the MP expressed hope that the Azeri
side would do the same, since it will help expansion of trade and
tourism relations between the two countries.

He also noted Tehran and Baku common views on Syrian problem, adding
that fate of Syria should be determined merely by its own people and
aliens have no right to take decision for Syrian people by sending
money, weapons and terrorists there.

Iran’s parliamentary delegation went to Baku on Monday.

From: Baghdasarian

GETTING READY TO FACE THE CONSEQUENCES

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 25, 2013 Wednesday

by Yegor Sozayev-Guriev
Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), September 24, 2013, p. 2

CIS CSTO LEADERS BACKED VLADIMIR PUTIN’S INITIATIVE CONCERNING
RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA; CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization supported the Russian initiative concerning the Syrian
crisis resolution and promised Tajikistan aid with reinforcement of
the Tajik-Afghani border.

Summit of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization (CIS CSTO)
took place in Sochi, Russia. Leaders of the member-states resolved
to concentrate on development of the military component of the
alliance… on account of the growing threats and the possibility
that extremists currently fighting in Syria might make it to the CIS
CSTO zone of responsibility. Three joint military exercises will take
place later this year – Cooperation’2013 in Belarus, Thunder’2013 in
Kyrgyzstan, and Imperishable Brotherhood’2013 in Russia.

“All my colleagues agree that the Syrian conflict ought to be resolved
by peaceful means alone. Any external aggression will destabilize
the Middle East and have a thoroughly negative effect on CIS CSTO
member-states,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Belarus
(the countries that comprise the CIS CSTO together with Russia)
supported Moscow’s initiatives concerning Syria.

“Armenia has a massive diaspora in Syria… so that the Syrian crisis
is something we have firsthand knowledge of. Yes, we stand for the
resolution in Syria. We welcome the Russian-American agreements on
that score,” said Armenian President Serj Sargsjan.

Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko added, “As far as Syria is
concerned, we support our ally Russia.” (Lukashenko had several brief
tete-a-tete conversations with Putin. Putin’s Press Secretary Dmitry
Peskov said later that the two leaders had touched upon the subject
of the Russian-Belarussian quarrel over Uralkaly.)

“Syrian authorities’ decision to let go of their chemical weapons…

made resolution of the conflict possible. We owe it to Russia and
its efforts,” said Serik Akhmedov, Kazakh prime minister who replaced
President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the summit.

CIS CSTO leaders decided to aid Tajikistan with fortification of the
Tajik-Afghani border.

“We intend to build 40 outposts… but aviation of the border guards
in Tajikistan is represented by only two MI-8 helicopters,” complained
President Emomali Rakhmon.

Considering that the Tajik-Afghani border was about to become the
outer frontier of the alliance as such, CIS CSTO leaders decided to
pool efforts and launch an international program of border protection
modernization funding. It was agreed to be a must since the United
States meant to withdraw its contingent from Afghanistan in 2014.

CIS CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said, “We will deliver
whatever is necessary for adequate border protection… The Tajiks
themselves will man the border, they have enough men for that. What
they lack is equipment.”

Bordyuzha added that Russia might help Tajikistan with weapons and
Belarus with military optics.

Putin suggested the use of CIS CSTO military forces in peacekeeping
capacity. This idea had first originated in 2010 when the lack of
legal mechanisms prevented the CIS CSTO from coming to Kyrgyzstan’s
aid during ethnic conflicts in this country.

From: Baghdasarian