Author: Andres-Papazian

Chemical & Chemistry
October 29, 2010

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING;
New chemical engineering study results reported from Yerevan State University

“In this work combustion and phase formation laws for mechanically and
thermally activated Cr-Si-C system were studied. For thermal
stimulation in the combustion reaction Mg-(-C2F4-) high caloric
mixture was used,” researchers in Yerevan, Armenia report.

“It was shown that in the system understudy, combustion takes place by
two sequential stages. The first stage is interaction between Si and
(C2F4-) or Mg with (C2F4-) (temperature can rise up to 1200 degrees
C), which are responsible for combustion front propagation. In the
first stage, formation of small amount of CrSi2 takes place. The
second stage is Si + C reaction which is responsible for
high-temperature combustion. In the second stage, formation of CrSi2
completes. The influence of mechanical treatment on combustion laws
for (Cr-Si) + (Si-C)+(Mg-(C2F4)) system was investigated,” wrote A.A.
Hambardzumyan and colleagues, Yerevan State University.

The researchers concluded: “It was shown that mechanical activation
(MA) is effective for systems where amount of chromium is high, while
for systems where Si-C part is appreciable MA does not have any
affect.”

Hambardzumyan and colleagues published their study in Chemical
Engineering Journal (Combined effect of thermal and mechanical
activation on the combustion and phase formation laws in the Cr-Si-C
system. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2010;162(3):1075-1081).

For additional information, contact H.L. Khachatryan, Yerevan State
University, Dept. of Inorgan Chemical, A Manukyan 1, Yerevan 0025,
Armenia.

Publisher contact information for the Chemical Engineering Journal is:
Elsevier Science SA, PO Box 564, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland.

From: A. Papazian

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 29, 2010 Friday

NAGORNO-KARABAKH DUEL IN ASTRAKHAN

by Sokhbet Mamedov
[translated from Russian]

NAGORNO-KARABAKH REGULATION: AZERBAIJAN WELCOMES THE PEACEFUL
NEGOTIATIONS IN WORDS BUT GETS READY FOR WAR IN DEEDS; Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia will discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in
Astrakhan. They will arrive there according to invitation of the
Russian President.

On October 27 presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia will arrive to
Astrakhan according to invitation of the Russian leader. The press
service of the Kremlin reported this. The press service said, “In the
course of the trilateral meeting it is planned to discuss the issues
related to regulation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

It remains a mystery which proposals exactly will be submitted by
participants of the meeting. It is only known that leaders of
Azerbaijan and Armenia evaluate the initiative of the Russian
President regarding meetings in the trilateral format positively
because he will help the leaders of the conflicting parties to look
for the paths of the soonest resolving of the drawn out conflict.

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov voiced the stance of
Azerbaijan about this issue in Baku recently.

At a symposium of specialists dedicated to international relations and
entitled “South Caucasus in the changing world” the minister said, “I
am convinced that the plan of resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict proposed by the Minsk OSCE group will lead to liberation of
our territories and just resolving of the conflict.”

According to him, in 2009 co-chairs of the group of intermediaries of
the OSCE presented the renovated Madrid principles for resolving of
the conflict in Athens and Azerbaijan agreed with them. The document
makes provisions for return of the occupied territories, opening of
communications, return of the refugees to the places of their former
residence and provision of security of residents of Nagorno-Karabakh
by international peacekeeping forces. However, the problem is that
Armenia has not made up its mind about evaluation of this document
yet.

Officials Baku does not give up the negotiation process but reserves
the right to liberate its territories from occupation and to restore
control over Nagorno-Karabakh by the military way. Seriousness of such
intentions is confirmed by the defense expenses increased annually.
For example, for 2011 the overall expenses on military needs are
planned at 2.511 billion manats or 1.187 billion manats or 89.7%
bigger than in 2010. Of this amount Azerbaijan will allocate 1.325
billion manats for financing of the defense potential of the country.
Azerbaijan also plans to allocate 1.087 billion manats in addition to
this amount for upgrade of the Azerbaijani armed forces to the
contemporary requirements and purchase of modern armament and military
hardware.

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, October 27, 2010, p. 7

From: A. Papazian

Global Insight
October 29, 2010

Armenian Economic Recovery Slackens Further in September

BYLINE: Ralf Wiegert

According to the Armenian National Statistical Service, Armenian GDP
in January-September edged up by 2.8% year-on-year (y/y), marking yet
another deceleration following growth of 3.1% y/y in January-August.
These cumulative, year-to-date figures signal that Armenia’s economy
has been slowing during the third quarter and possibly even shrank in
September in annual comparison. Indeed, GDP still advanced by 6.7% on
the year in the first half of 2010, being supported by base effects
which are wearing off in the second half of the year.

Although no further details have been provided by the Armenian
Statistical Office, it is quite plausible that agriculture was among
the prime factors behind the weak performance in the third quarter.
Indeed, with the influence of agriculture on GDP weakening again in
the final quarter, the Armenian central bank maintains that annual GDP
growth within the range of 2.4-2.7% is possible. However, goods
exports have remained another weak spot of the Armenian economy.
Statistics Armenia noted that although exports surged by 43.9% in
January-September, and imports rose by 19.2% at the same time, the
trade balance widened further. It hit almost US$2 billion in the year
to date, with exports covering slightly more than a quarter of total
goods imports.

Significance:The slowdown of annual growth rates in the third quarter
is partly due to base effects, but also reflects the weakness of the
Armenian recovery in general. Given the narrow export base, and the
high dependence of remittances and other transfers from abroad,
Armenia is barely able to get back on its feet on its own after the
savage recession in 2009. Modest growth is possible, but the level of
economic activity remains far below the pre-crisis period.

From: A. Papazian

Global Insight
October 29, 2010

Comstar Launches Armenian WiMAX Pilot Zone

BYLINE: Michael Lacquiere

Comstar has announced that its Armenian unit, Cornet-AM, has launched
a pilot WiMAX network in Tsakhkadzor. The network uses an OmnisMAX
solution, which facilitates both stationary and mobile broadband,
operating in the 2.5-2.7 and 3.4-3.8 GHz frequencies. The pilot
network in Tshakhkadzor adds to WiMAX networks established by Cornet
in 20 of the largest cities in Armenia, including the capital,
Yerevan.

Significance:With broadband development still at an extremely basic
stage and subscriber penetration of 0.2% at end-2009, there is plenty
of room for continued subscriber growth, and Comstar is banking on the
wireless technology of WiMAX to give it a platform in this nascent
sector. Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC)
recently indicated that it does not envisage the development of the
alternative, more progressive mobile broadband technology LTE in
Armenia in the near future due to a lack of available frequencies
(seeArmenia: 27 October 2010:). It therefore appears that in the short
term at least, WiMAX will be the primary mode of mobile broadband
development in the country.

From: A. Papazian

Global Insight
October 29, 2010

Government Considers Plans to Create Industrial Economic Zone in
Southern Armenia

BYLINE: Lilit Gevorgyan

Armenian PM Tigran Sarkisian, attending an Armenian-Iranian business
forum in Syunik province, southern Armenia, unveiled his government’s
plans to develop an industrial zone in the region. Sarkisian expressed
his hope that the new drive will help to diversify the Armenian
economy and also capitalise on co-operation with neighbouring Iran.
The Armenian government is expecting to improve the railroads and
attract investment with the launch of the industrial zone. Speaking at
the meeting, which was attended by Iranian officials and business
representatives, Sarkisian highlighted that the two countries are well
set to increase their trade volumes especially after the completion of
the railroad set to link Armenia and Iran.

Significance:Sarkisian’s plans are likely to materialise, given due
that southern Armenia hosts a number of metal and mining companies
established mostly during the Soviet period, although some of them
date back to the late 19th century. The region also benefits from its
close proximity to Iran which is one of Armenia’s largest trade
partners. There have been ongoing talks about simplifying customs
controls and even creating a free-trade zone, an idea more seriously
backed by Iran than Armenia. The latter is keen to develop the region
also due to its strategic importance–wedged between Azerbaijan proper
and Nakhichevan, an Azeri enclave, Syunik region is practically a
lifeline for Armenia which is still under blockade from Azerbaijan and
Turkey over the status of Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh. There
is a high likelihood that the Armenian government’s plan will
materialise in the coming years. Despite severe fiscal shortages, the
government has built 26 km of highway linking the region to the
capital Yerevan and recently launched the longest cable car line in a
bid to develop tourism in the southern region, which hosts one of the
oldest universities–Tatev, which dates back to the 14th century. The
project is set to boost the region’s tourism business and generally
increase its attractiveness for foreign investors.

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Oct 29 2010

Turkish opposition figure testifies at Armenian National Security Service

Tuna Beklevic, head of the Turkish opposition party Strong Turkey, has
been summoned to the Armenian National Security Service to testify
about how he crossed the Turkish-Armenian border, Interfax was told on
Friday.

A service spokesman said more details would be released later.

At the beginning of October members of Strong Turkey announced they
had succeeded in crossing the Turkish -Armenian border guarded by
Russian troops. Later this statement was refuted by representatives of
the border department of Russia’s the Federal Security Service in
Armenia.

At a Friday press conference in Yerevan, Beklevic showed photos that
he claimed had been taken on Armenian territory.

Beklevic favors the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Earlier the Armenian Foreign Ministry refused to receive members of
Strong Turkey who had come to Yerevan.

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From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Oct 29 2010

Turkish opposition figure detained in Yerevan – source

Tuna Beklevic, head of the Turkish opposition party Strong Turkey, has
been detained in Armenia, sources there told Interfax on Friday.

Beklevic held a press conference in Yerevan on Friday at which he said
that members of Strong Turkey had succeeded in crossing the
Turkish-Armenian border guarded by Russian troops at the beginning of
October. Later, this statement was refuted by representatives of the
border department of Russia’s Federal Security Service in Armenia.

At the press conference Beklevic showed photos that he claimed had
been taken on Armenian territory.

He favors the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Earlier the Armenian Foreign Ministry refused to receive members of
Strong Turkey who had come to Yerevan.

From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Oct 29 2010

Ex-presidential official denies business relations between Kocharian, Luzhkov

Viktor Sogomonian, who served as chief of staff under former Armenian
president Robert Kocharian, has dismissed allegations by Armenian
media outlets about joint business projects between Kocharian and
ex-mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov.

“I am repeating once again for slow thinkers. The relations between
Kocharian and Luzhkov were merely official. They have not had any
joint business projects,” Sogomonian told journalists on Friday.

An Armenian opposition newspaper cited sources earleir, who said that
Kocharian received $650 million from Luzhkov for construction of
premium class buildings in downtown Yerevan, which he is due to repay
upon completion of the project.

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From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Oct 29 2010

Armenian Foreign Ministry refuses to meet with Turkish opposition

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has declined to hold a meeting with
visiting members of the opposition Strong Turkey Party.

Turkey’s political forces supporting the normalization of relations
with Armenia should communicate with the Turkish authorities, the
Armenian Foreign Ministry said.

Strong Turkey leader Tuna Beklevic said at a news conference in
Yerevan on Friday that he was saddened by the ministry’s refusal.

“We are frustrated with such a response. We have not been sent to
Armenia by the Turkish government. The government of Armenia has not
invited us, either. This is an example of popular diplomacy. A meeting
with the Foreign Ministry of Armenia would have opened a new page in
Armenian-Turkish relations,” Beklevic said.

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From: A. Papazian

Interfax, Russia
Oct 29 2010

Moscow to continue aiding Baku-Yerevan dialogue on Karabakh – Kremlin source

MOSCOW. Oct 29

Moscow to continue aiding Baku-Yerevan dialogue on Karabakh – Kremlin source
Russia will certainly continue helping Armenia and Azerbaijan look for
a solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, and it is ready to
arrange more trilateral meetings addressing the issue, a Kremlin
source told Interfax.

“This work is very gratifying and very important. We are encouraging
this direct dialogue between the two presidents [Armenian and Azeri],
each of whom is acting in quite a challenging situation. We will
certainly continue this work even if we have to hold more meetings,”
the source said, commenting on Wednesday’s meeting between the
Russian, Azeri and Armenian presidents in Astrakhan, which was the
seventh such meeting.

The price of the issue is “stability in the Caucasus, peace and the
return of these two closest neighbors to a normal life,” he said.

“For President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, it is not a
PR campaign at all,” the source said, adding that this work would not
bring any political dividends to Moscow.

“Words of cautious optimism expressed this time seem to be justified,” he said.

However, there is no point in expecting any such meeting to produce
results, but Moscow attaches importance to the reaction offered both
by Azerbaijan, Armenia and all of other partners in the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, the source said.

Representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe Minsk Group were eagerly awaiting the results of the trilateral
meeting, the source said.

“We inform them about all details, and they give us credit both for
the patience and time the president of the Russian Federation has
devoted to this topic, as well as for our reserve,” he said.

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From: A. Papazian