Month: September 2015

On September 8, Dr. Vaughan Turekian, formerly the Chief International Officer at The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), was named the 5th Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, according to the State Departament’s official website.

In this capacity, Dr. Turekian will advise the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment on international environment, science, technology, and health matters affecting the foreign policy of the United States. Dr. Turekian will draw upon his background in atmospheric chemistry and extensive policy experience to promote science, technology, and engineering as integral components of U.S. diplomacy.

A grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors, Turekian is the son of Karl K. Turekian, a pioneering Yale geochemist. Vaughan Turekian was also visiting professor at the American University of Armenia in 2000, Asbarez reports.

Dr. Turekian brings both technical expertise and 14 years of policy experience to the position. As former Chief International Officer for The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Director of AAAS’s Center for Science Diplomacy, Dr. Turekian worked to build bridges between nations based on shared scientific goals, placing special emphasis on regions where traditional political relationships are strained or do not exist. As Editor-in-Chief of Science & Diplomacy, an online quarterly publication, Dr. Turekian published original policy pieces that have served to inform international science policy recommendations.

Prior to his work at AAAS, Turekian worked at the State Department as Special Assistant and Adviser to the Under Secretary for Global Affairs on issues related to sustainable development, climate change, environment, energy, science, technology, and health and as a Program Director for the Committee on Global Change Research at the National Academy of Sciences where he was study director for a White House report on climate change science.

On September 11, 2015, the UN General Assembly, at the 103rd plenary meeting of its 69th session, adopted by consensus a resolution, initiated by Armenia and entitled “International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of This Crime”. This resolution follows up on another important resolution, initiated by Armenia and adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 27, 2015. In its operative paragraph 22, the UN Human Rights Council recommended to the UN General Assembly to proclaim such International Day. This resolution adds to the continued efforts of Armenia to promote consolidated international action against the crime of genocide.

Introducing the draft resolution on behalf of 84 co-sponsors from all regional groups, Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Zohrab Mnatsakanyan noted that “millions of human lives have been lost as a result of the most horrendous crime – the crime of genocide that humankind has to its shame demonstrated ability to commit”. “We believe the International Day will serve an important platform for prevention by way of commemoration”, continued the Armenian Permanent Representative.

9 December is the date when the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in 1948.

Reaffirming the significance of the 1948 Convention as an effective international instrument for the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, the UNGA resolution acknowledges that victims of this crime call for a form of memorialization, which plays an important role in the prevention of genocide. It also reiterates the responsibility of each State to protect its populations from genocide, including incitement to it, through appropriate and necessary means. It further states that fighting impunity for genocide is an important factor in its prevention.

In its operative paragraph, the resolution encourages states, international organizations, civil society and individuals to observe the International Day in order to raise awareness of the 1948 Convention and its role in combating and preventing the genocide, and to commemorate and honor its victims.

Armenia’s Ambassador remarked that the International Day would render dignity to the victims of past inaction, and that justice denied haunts generations of survivors, it undermines the fight against impunity, as much as genuine reconciliation. He also underlined the collective responsibility of Member States in putting together the building blocks of a rigid system to prevent and deny capacity to potential future perpetrators of the crime of genocide. “It would be the most appropriate way of paying tribute to the memories of its victims” – concluded Mr. Mnatsakanyan.

Apple has unveiled a larger iPad tablet, a TV box with its own app store and new iPhones that can detect how firmly their screens are being pressed, the BBC reports.

The firm suggested the iPad Pro was suited to work tasks, video games and both editing and watching movies.

Sales of the company’s earlier iPads had been on the decline.

Apple said the “3D touch” feature of its new phones “transformed” the experience of using them by making it easier to use and switch between apps.

Hungary’s army has begun exercises to prepare for a possible future role in guarding the southern border to try to stem the influx of migrants, the BBC reports.

Budapest plans to send soldiers to help police at the border where thousands of migrants arrive from Serbia every day.

A new razor-wire barrier is already being built along the frontier. MPs are expected to vote on stricter border controls later this month.

Authorities have been told to expect 40,000 more migrants by next week.

Many of them are fleeing conflicts in countries like Syria and Libya and are trying to travel through Hungary to Germany, Austria and Sweden – wealthier EU nations with more liberal asylum laws.

Within the framework of an official visit to the United Kingdom, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Philip Hammond, UK Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs. The avenues for the expansion of cooperation in different spheres were discussed.

The Ministers referred to Armenia-EU relations, the steps toward creating new legal framework for cooperation.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, the Syrian crisis and the ways of its resolution, the international community’s fight against terrorism and the agreements on Iran’s nuclear program.

Minister Nalbandian briefed his British counterpart on the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In this context the Armenian FM expressed gratitude to for co-authoring the Resolution on the Prevention of Genocide submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in March.

Minister Nalbandin had a working dinner with UK’s Minister for Europe David Lidington. The parties referred to Armenian-British relations, Armenia-EU cooperation, the Ukrainian crisis and the ways of its settlement, and a number of other issues on international agenda.

The interlocutors discussed the ways of solving the regional conflicts. Minister Nalbandian presented the joint efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs toward the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. David Lidington assured of his country’s commitment to the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Minister Nalbandian also gave an extended interview to the BBC.

The appointment of Armenia’s new Justice Minister has caught the attention of world media.

A Lebanon based website has posted the photos of newly appointed Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan and presented details from her biography and work experience.

The website describes her as “the youngest and most beautiful Minister of Justice in the world.”

The situation was tense in the Armenian-populated districts of Istanbul this night, reports quoting its sources in Turkey.

Turkish nationalist groups attacked Istanbul’s Sisli, Kurtuluş and Besiktas neighborhoods.

“We must turn these districts into Armenian and Kurdish cemeteries,” the nationalists were chanting.

According to the source, the violence is a consequence of the recent clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK).

Azerbaijan will sue France 2 TV for the program titled Cash Investigation aired September 7.

The report released Monday on France 2 described the country as ‘dictatorship’ and called its President a ‘despot.’

Unhappy with the program, Baku will file a defamation complaint against the channel and its host Elise Lucet, lawyer Olivier Pardo has said.