Author: Andres-Papazian

IRAN HONORS FIRST FEMALE ASTRONOMER ALENOUSH TERIAN

Armenian Weekly
Mon, Dec 20 2010

TEHRAN, Iran (PressTV)~WMore than 100 people gathered in Tehran to
celebrate the 90th birthday of Iran~Rs first female astronomer and
physics professor, Alenoush Terian.

Mother of Iranian astronomy Alenoush Terian blows out candles on her
90th birthday.

The Iranian-Armenian scientist was honored during a ceremony in the
Iranian capital city on Nov. 9.

Members of the Iranian Parliament and more than 100 Armenians paid
tribute to the Iranian scientist.

~SShe always said she had a daughter named sun and a son named moon,~T
said lawmaker Hassan Ghafourifard, Terian~Rs former student at Tehran
University.

A statement from the Primate of Armenian Diocese of Tehran Archbishop
Sebouh Sarkissian marking Terian~Rs birthday was also read out at
the ceremony.

Born in an Armenian family in 1920 in Tehran, Terian graduated in
physics from the University of Tehran in 1947. She began working in
physics laboratories of the same university upon graduation and was
elected as the chief of laboratory operations in the same year.

She continued her studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris,
graduating with a degree in atmospheric physics in 1956. She returned
to Iran to work as an assistant professor in thermodynamics at the
University of Tehran.

Terian got a scholarship to study solar physics for four months in
Germany, after which she became Iran~Rs first female physics professor
in 1964.

In 1966, Terian became a member of the geophysics committee of Tehran
University and was elected as the chief of the solar physics studies
three years later.

She was one of the founders of the solar observatory of the Institute
of Geophysics at the University of Tehran, where she also worked
until her retirement in 1979.

From: A. Papazian

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN RECEIVES EP RAPPORTEUR

AZG DAILY #235
21-12-2010

President Serzh Sargsyan yesterday received Member of the European
Parliament, standing rapporteur on issues of Armenia Tomasz PorÄ~Yba.

Presidentâ~@~Ys press office reported that President Sargsyan
welcomed the MEPâ~@~Ys visit to Yerevan and Stepanakert during the
preparation of the report on Armenia, which, according to him, is
very important for assessing the situation on the site, and getting
necessary information.

“Every assessment, every approach is finally targeted at supporting
the given country and region, solving the existing problems and
contributing to the implementation of reforms,” President Sargsyan
said.

Tomasz PorÄ~Yba noted that it would be impossible to compile an
unbiased and all-inclusive report without visiting the country. He
attached importance to the visit to Nagorno Karabakh, since the latter
plays an essential role in the region, Armenpress reports.

“I got useful information and had a chance to assess the situation on
the ground. Besides including all this in the report, Iâ~@~Ym going to
share my impressions with my colleagues in the European Parliament,”
Tomasz PorÄ~Yba said.

From: A. Papazian

VIVACELL-MTS LAUNCHES THE FIRST IN ARMENIA 4G/LTE COMMERCIAL TEST NETWORK WITH A LIVE DEMO CONDUCTED IN YEREVAN

AZG DAILY #235
21-12-2010

VivaCell-MTS announces the first in Armenia pilot commercial test
launch of 4G LTE network. The launch of the Long-term Evolution (LTE)
test network in Yerevan (the center and Komitas Avenue neighborhoods)
is the first step of Armenia’s leading mobile operator VivaCell-MTS
on its way to the full-scale rollout of 4G/LTE network in the country.

VivaCell-MTS will provide its subscribers the opportunity to test
the 4G network prior to its full-scale nationwide roll-out.

At the official ceremony of launching the 4G network, attended
by the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, the Minister of
Transport and Communication Manuk Vardanyan, the Head of the PSRC
Robert Nazaryan, a member of the PSRC Samvel Arabajyan, as well as
other high-ranked officials, live testing demonstration with uploading
and downloading streams were conducted in real-time conditions using
LTE modems. The network theoretical capacity showcased via the speed
test 150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload. In addition, during the
event, bilateral 4G roaming agreement between VivaCell-MTS and MTS
Uzbekistan was announced. VivaCell-MTS and MTS-Uzbekistan are the
first in the world to have the LTE data roaming.

The end-to-end solution for 4G network roll-out in Yerevan was done
with the support of Ericsson and Huawei, two of the world leaders in
telecommunications technology, who helped enabling VivaCell-MTS to
launch their networks on the totally commercial hardware.

“VivaCell-MTS’ LTE roll-out positions Armenia to be one of the
selected global leaders in 4G deployment. In addition, the launch
of 4G is expected to present Armenia as a country with attractive
communication infrastructure,” commented VivaCell-MTS General Manager
Ralph Yirikian. “As the innovations leader in the telecom market,
VivaCell-MTS dedicates this achievement to each and every Armenian
all around the world. We are extremely proud that, as a dedicated
team, we once again deliver our promise and present a totally new
technology in the world, with intent to provide the population of
Armenia with a new level of convenience and unsurpassed experience
of mobile broadband access.”

LTE, the new generation mobile communication technology, enables the
provisioning of new mobile applications with higher bandwidth demand.

It is the most efficient and cost-effective method of high-speed data
transfer with the best utilization of the frequency spectrum. With
an increased data rate and reduced latency, subscribers are able to
use advanced online services, including internet surfing, online
gaming, video streaming and HD video on a brand new level without
any dependence on the fixed network.

“As an innovative company VivaCell-MTS cooperates only with the best
in class global suppliers of technology and solutions. Ericsson’s and
Huawei’s global experience and their track history, in addition to
their substantial contribution to LTE development, were the decisive
reasons for us to choose them as key partners for 4G network roll-out
in Armenia. Thanks to the close cooperation between our companies,
we have built and launched the first LTE network for test operation
in the region within the shortest possible terms, and far ahead of
the deadlines set by the regulator,” VivaCell-MTS General Manager
Ralph Yirikian added.

Earlier this year, on November 10th, the PSRC of the Republic of
Armenia satisfied the application of VivaCell-MTS for building mobile
network through LTE technology and gave respective permission to use
sections of radio frequencies in the range of 40 MHz, till November 4,
2019. According to the PSRC decision, VivaCell-MTS must have launched
the LTE network as a commercial service before March 1, 2011.

From: A. Papazian

“SUMGAIT” SECTION OF THE WEB-SITE OF THE RA GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE STARTED

AZG DAILY #235
21-12-2010

Karabakh conflict Update: 2010-12-21 00:16:14 (GMT +04:00)

“Sumgait” section of the web-site of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office
() was started where you can get acquainted with
the materials of the criminal cases initiated on the mass killings
against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabagh in the Soviet Azerbaijan at
the end of 1980s and at the beginning of 1990s, the official website
of the General Prosecutor’s office informs.

In particular, the testimonies of the eye-witnesses, victims, their
relatives and successors, exhibit photos and documents, list of the
killed, kidnapped and missing people were placed in the site as well as
the lists of the people including the employees of the law enforcement
bodies of Azerbaijan who are accused of participating in the policy
of Armenians’ mass killings in Armenian villages and implementing
the vandalism against the Armenians and are being searched now.

The information of the section was regulated due to the subheadings
taking into consideration the types of the crimes against the humanity
and the geography. The section “Sumgait” has four divisions with
its subdivisions according to the types of the committed crimes and
administrative districts. In particular, in the section “Sumgait”
the testimonies of the eye-witnesses, victims, their relatives and
successors on the murder, rape, violence and capture against the
Armenians are included, in the section “Documents” the deciphered
documents summarizing the materials of the criminal case are included,
in the section “Nagorno Karabagh” the materials of the criminal cases
are put according to the administrative and territorial units and
in the section “Getashen” there are the testimonies of the victims
and witnesses.

This structure would make the process of getting information easier.

The works of creating an electronic archive of the materials of the
criminal cases initiated on the mass killings against the Armenians
of Nagorno Karabagh in the Soviet Azerbaijan at the end of 1980s and
at the beginning of 1990s started about a year ago in September 2009
and include several thousand documents.

The archive was developed together with the NGO “Xenophobia Prevention
Initiative” and a number of volunteers, and the web-site was created
by programmer Aram Mkhitaryan.

The web-site will be supplemented with the materials of the criminal
cases, documents as well as new sections. In particular, “Baku”
section will be added in the near future including the application
and testimonies of Armenian refugees from Baku about the ferocities
against the Armenians in the capital of Azerbaijan Baku.

It is necessary to mention that the testimonies are partially shortened
as according to the materials of the criminal cases the mass killings
against the Armenians were organized by the law enforcement bodies of
Azerbaijan as well who warned the population not to shelter and hide
their Armenian neighbors by threatening to revenge, and taking into
consideration the fact that in separate cases the Armenians managed
to survive with the support and help of their Azerbaijani and Russian
neighbors, the exact addresses of the Armenians and the names of the
Azerbaijanis who helped them are not publicized for their security.

These materials will be useful for both the historians, politicians
and the population in general so that everybody could understand and
evaluate the historical events properly.

From: A. Papazian

SPAIN’S BALEARIC ISLANDS RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

AZG DAILY #235
21-12-2010

The Armenian National Committee of Spain (Consejo Nacional Armenio
de España) informed that on December 14th, 2010, the Human Rights
Committee of the Balearic Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution
considering “the fate suffered by the Armenian people between 1915
and 1921 as a Genocide”, in accordance with the UN Convention on the
prevention, and the Punishment of the crime of genocide, adopted in
December 1948.

“I consider the recognition of Genocides, and in particular that of
the Armenians, as being a just cause and inevitable for a historical
justice; it is necessary in order to prevent other genocides”,
declared the deputy Miquel Àngel Llauger, member of the Bloc Per
Mallorca (Coalition of the Left, Ecologist and Nationalist Groups)
and initiator of the resolution.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy expressed
its satisfaction to the initiators of this historical resolution
and is keen on giving its support to the Members of the Human Rights
Committee of the Balearic Parliament for this courageous act.

“It is a big step in the fight against genocides and denials”, declared
Hilda Tchoboian, President of the European Armenian Federation. “We
invite all the political forces of the Parliament to join the Bloc
Per Mallorca and vote in favour of this resolution when put on the
Parliament’s agenda according to the predefined calendar”.

The Federation recalls that the Balearic Islands thus follow the
example in Spain of the Basque Country (April 2007) and Catalonia
(March 2010) Parliaments, which, based on the Resolution “For a
political solution of the Armenian question” adopted by the European
Parliament in 1987, formally recognized the Armenian Genocide, and
call on the Spanish government to do the same. The Federation also
considers that the final recognition by the Balearic Parliament will
contribute to the necessary recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
the Spanish Parliament.

“These successive recognitions in Europe aim to Turkey to involve
itself in a process of justice with respect to the Armenian people”,
affirmed Hilda Tchoboian.

“The members of the Balearic Parliament understood the lesson from
History: at the time when Europe is concerned with security issues,
the recognition of the genocide is an additional guarantee against
the dangers of the denial and the emergence of totalitarianisms which
threaten the European societies. It is a significant contribution
to the construction of values for a Europe of citizens”, concluded
Hilda Tchoboian.

From: A. Papazian

“A SELF-CRITICISM” BY MONTE MELKONIAN

AZG DAILY #235
21-12-2010

Monte Melkonian became a famous military commander in the
Nagorno-Karabakh war in the 1990s, where he was killed in action
in 1993. However, in the 1970s and 1980s he was involved in Armenian
issues in a different way, defending Armenian civilians in the Lebanese
Civil War and later as a member of the Armenian Secret Army for the
Liberation of Armenia (ASALA).

As a member of the latter organisation, Melkonian was involved in
the assassination of several Turkish diplomats. He was arrested and
imprisoned in France for possession of falsified papers and carrying
an illegal handgun. On his release from prison (1989) he travelled
to Armenia and participated in the defence of Armenians against
Azerbaijanis over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In “A Self-Criticism” Melkonian reflects on his earlier years in the
1970s and 1980s, starting from the defence of Armenian lines during
the Lebanese civil war. Sometimes falling into ideological jargon, his
comments are forthright and he gives invaluable insights into one of
the most secretive terrorist organisations of the 1970s. Melkonian~Rs
own integrity comes to the fore in these accounts and he allows us
to unravel some of the myths and realities of the so-called Armenian
armed struggles of the 1970s, especially ASALA. One can see that the
number of participants in the latter organisation was smaller than
one might have expected, and the rank-and-file much more ideologically
driven and dedicated to broader struggles against western imperialism.

Melkonian~Rs work suggests that ASALA was a rigid organisation,
even a dysfunctional one.

One does not have to endorse or oppose Melkonian~Rs words, but there is
value in reading his views. A Self-Criticism is the sort of key text
that history is made up of and, as such, it is bound to lead to much
debate and controversy. The highly anticipated A Self Criticism will
be followed up by Melkonian~Rs Reality, which is due in the New Year.

Monte Melkonian, A Self-Criticism, translated by Seta Melkonian,
edited by Gregory Topalian, London: Gomidas Institute, 2010. 66 pp.,
ISBN 9781903656266, UK£10.00 / US$ 14.00.

For more details please contact [email protected] or visit

From: A. Papazian

GENOCIDE RECOGNITION VOTE: PELOSI URGED TO RALLY HR252 DESPITE STATE DEPARTMENT OBJECTIONS
By Aris Ghazinyan

ArmeniaNow reporter
20.12.10 | 16:27

Genocide

US House of Representatives poised to take a vote on HR252

The US House of Representatives might be voting on House Resolution
252 condemning the Armenian Genocide as the Democrats yield the House
majority to the Republicans beginning next month.

In early December the Armenian National Committee of Armenia (ANCA)
called upon Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to put to full House
vote the Bill on Recognition of the Armenian Genocide (HR252) before
the current Congress’s term of office expires.

HR252 drafted by Adam Schiff and other pro-Armenian congressmen was
approved in April by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, however
was not put on the agenda for a full House vote, as the White House
administration feared harming relations with Turkey.

The resolution calls on the US President to “make sure that the United
States’ foreign policy reflects the true perception of human rights,
ethnic purges and genocide recorded in the protocols of the United
States in relation to the Armenian Genocide”, and during his annual
address on April 24 (the Commemoration Day of the Armenian Genocide
victims) to “characterize precisely the systematic and deliberate
annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians as a genocide”.

The ANCA office as well as show-business stars of Armenian descent
have made an appeal to Nancy Pelosi to hold a full House vote this
week before the lame-duck session ends this week.

Turkish Hurriyet Daily News reports that the Armenian, Jewish,
Kurdish and Syrian lobbies of the United States might join hands
against Turkey.

Along with the worsening of Turkish-Jewish relations, the newspaper
takes into account also the Erdogan administration’s anti-American
policy on Iran and Syria, as well as the attempt to make friends with
such radical groups as Hamas and Hezbollah.

In that highlight the newspaper points out that Turkey cannot rely
on the Republicans in the US Congress as before, because of their
absolute support to Israel.

“The feverish haste of the Armenian lobby in the US demonstrates their
hope to have the Genocide Resolution approved by the US Congress
this time around. They, most probably, have a big advantage,” the
newspaper writes.

However, as Hurriet Daily believes, a likely force-majeure aimed at
preventing the HR252 approval for “global strategic reasons” will
prevail despite the anti-Turkish sentiments in the USA.

It is known that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu had a
telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
asking her to halt the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
at the US Congress.

Earlier Ankara was threatening to shut down the strategically
important airbase in Incirlik if the US Congress recognized the
Armenian Genocide.

In response, Los-Angeles-based descendants of Armenians who lost
their property during the Genocide, brought an action against the
Turkish government and two banks demanding monetary compensation of
$63 million.

According to three claimants their ancestors in Ottoman Turkey
possessed a 122 hectare premise, where the Incirlik airbase is
currently located.

Chapman University Professor, lawyer Michael Bazyler says the grounded
chance to bring an action came up last week, when the Ninth District
Court of Los-Angeles reconsidered its verdict and ruled that the
descendants of those Armenians who were killed in Ottoman Turkey can
count on compensation from insurance companies.

One way or another, as reported by Anadolu Turkish news agency,
Secretary of State Clinton assured Davutoglu that the US position on
the issue did not change and that all means would be taken to block
the bill.

Deputy Secretary of State Philip Crowley openly stated on December
17 that the State Department is categorically against the potential
congressional voting on the Genocide bill.

From: A. Papazian

ARTS OF ANCIENT MIDEAST SPOTLIGHTED IN DETROIT
By DAVID N. GOODMAN

Associated Press
6:39 p.m. CST, December 19, 2010

DETROIT – The ancient Middle East is coming alive at the Detroit
Institute of Arts this week, with the re-opening of a long-closed
gallery that will present ceramic, glass, silver and stonework from
thousands of years ago.

The gallery that opens Wednesday focuses on the cultural heritage
from what is now Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Yemen and Armenia.

The items include a serpent-dragon panel from the Ishtar gate of
Babylon that was off display since before the project.

“We are happy to have Marduk’s serpent back on view, along with a
selection of our most important objects in the Ancient Middle East
collection,” museum director Graham W. J. Beal said in an announcement
of the opening.

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The gallery includes some of the museum’s oldest objects, including
a 7,000-year-old collar-necked jar from Turkey that is painted with
a geometric design and two Iranian ceramics — a conical dish with
cheetahs and a footed cup painted with stags — that are about 5,000
years old.

The gallery is in a basilica-like space that was subdivided during
the past 30 years. The gallery’s first phase received support from
the National Endowment for the Arts and Ernest and the Rosemarie
Kanzler Foundation Fund.

The museum is seeking more money to complete what curator Heather Ecker
said is a “pretty interim project.” While the museum has reopened
space that had been closed for three years, it has much work ahead
to update the way the ancient artworks are presented and to add the
detailed explanatory materials to accompany them, she said.

Detroit’s 1927 Beaux Arts-style museum of the arts underwent a
$158-million, six-year overhaul that was completed three years ago.

Despite the extensive work, a few areas remained to be updated. That
includes the space now holding the Middle Eastern collection.

“It was built like a cathedral,” said Ecker, the museum’s Islamic
art curator who also worked on the Middle Eastern gallery. “It’s a
magnificent space. It has a lot of ornamental detail.”

The space also had an outdated utility system, with electrical lines
running up its columns, dim lighting and other outdated features.

Now, the gallery has been turned into a bright, inviting space.

“It feels like daylight, whereas before, it felt like a nightmare,”
Ecker said.

The items on display are from the museum’s collection and were obtained
through gifts and purchases, Ecker said. She said the gallery is
“geographical and chronological” in its presentation, with a focus
on the sometimes light-hearted nature of ancient artworks.

A bas-relief from the palace of Nimrud, Iraq, for example, shows
the Assyrian emperor Tiglath-Pileser III receiving homage. He is
surrounded by fawning eunuchs, one with a large pot belly.

“There’s a sense of humor,” she said. “It’s definitely a scene of
fluffing up.”

From: A. Papazian

TURKEY’S LEADER ASKS OBAMA TO THWART GENOCIDE VOTE

The Associated Press
December 20, 2010 Monday 04:49 PM GMT

Turkey’s prime minister asked President Barack Obama on Monday to
prevent a possible House vote on a resolution declaring the World
War I-era killings of Armenians a genocide.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told parliament that Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan had sent Obama a letter asking he prevent the
vote, saying it could damage ties between the two allies.

“We cannot allow the resolution to hang over Turkish-U.S. ties like
a Sword of Damocles,” Davutoglu said.

A vote could take place before Democrats hand over leadership of the
House to Republicans next month.

Government spokesman and State Minister Cemil Cicek said Turkey is
bothered that the issue has not disappeared from the agenda for good.
He stressed, however, that good relations with the U.S. were important,
despite some ups and downs.

“We are disturbed that this issue comes to the agenda every year,”
Cicek said. “We don’t find it right that this is used as a torture
tool over us.”

Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey denies the deaths
constituted genocide.

From: A. Papazian

TURKISH PM ASKS OBAMA TO PREVENT HOUSE VOTE ON ARMENIAN KILLINGS

The White House Bulletin
December 20, 2010 Monday

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told his parliament today that
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a letter to President
Obama asking him to prevent a House vote declaring World War I-era
killings of Armenians a genocide. Davutoglu warned that a vote would
endanger US-Turkish relations, saying, “We cannot allow the resolution
to hang over Turkish-US ties like a Sword of Damocles.”

From: A. Papazian