Author: Babajanian Karo

TURKEY DEPRECATES ARMENIAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR’S REMARKS ON TURKEY-ARMENIA BORDER

TV Radio, Turkey
July 15 2013

Ankara

Turkish Government has issued the following press release:

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Levent Gumrukcu said “It must be
known that nobody can dare to claim territory from Turkey.”

Gumrukcu said ” the remarks of the Chief Prosecutor’s reflected the
problematic mentality prevailing in Armenia on Turkish-Armenian
relations and its neighbor Turkey’s territorial integrity. The
statement also contradicted the obligations of Armenia to the
international organizations it is affiliated such as the United Nations
and Organization for Security and Coordination in Europe. It must be
known that nobody can dare to claim territory from Turkey.”

FREEDOM HOUSE: SAFAROV’S GLORIFICATION HALTED THE PEACE TALKS

Mediamax, Armenia
July 16 2013

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The “democracy gap” between Azerbaijan and its
Caucasian neighbors continued to grow in 2012.

Freedom House’s “Nations in Transit 2013” report reads this. “Nations
in Transit” is Freedom House’s comprehensive, comparative study of
democratic development in 29 countries from Central Europe to Eurasia,
Mediamax reports.

This edition covers the period from January 1 through December 31.

“While neighboring Azerbaijan aggressively stifled political
opposition, Georgia and Armenia conducted parliamentary elections under
new electoral laws that emphasized equal access to campaign resources
and media coverage. Some abuse of administrative resources and
polling-day violations persisted, but overall competitiveness improved,
and both votes yielded more representative legislatures. For the first
time, the Armenian National Congress, which had formerly denounced
all government institutions, won seats in Armenia’s National Assembly
and began participating in parliamentary politics”, the report notes.

The report reads that the “democracy gap” between Azerbaijan and its
Caucasian neighbors continued to grow in 2012.

“The peaceful and more inclusive elections in Georgia and Armenia
contrasted sharply with the brutal suppression of public gatherings in
the run-up to the Eurovision song contest in Baku, and the introduction
of huge fines for anyone participating in unauthorized rallies in the
country. Meanwhile, investigative reports by foreign media exposed
the enormous personal assets of President Ilham Aliyev’s family,
prompting legal amendments that protect the secrecy of corporate
ownership structures and further limit journalists’ ability to uncover
corruption”, the report reads.

The report also mentions the extradition and Azerbaijan’s glorification
of Azerbaijani Ramil Safarov who brutally killed Armenian officer
Gurgen Margaryan in Hungary.

“The government in Baku gave him a hero’s welcome and immediately set
him free, thereby halting any progress in Azerbaijan’s negotiations
with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh”, the
report notes.

ARS ELECTS NEW REGIONAL EXECUTIVE

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

Delegates, Guests, and Observers of the Armenian Relief Society of
Western USA 93rd Annual Regional Convention

MONTEBELLO-Upon the conclusion of the Armenian Relief Society of
the Western USA’s 93rd Annual Regional Convention, a new Regional
Executive board held an election of officers. The convention, hosted
by the Montebello Nairy Chapter and held at the Armenian Center in
Montebello, California, ran from July 12 through 14.

The convention, attended by delegates from 24 chapters from Arizona,
California and Nevada, elected Dr. Nyree Derderian and Arousyak
Melkonian as convention co-chairpersons, and Nazik Arisian, Sossie
Djabrayan, Maral Matossian and Meganoush Melkonian as convention
secretaries.

The ARS-WUSA Regional Executive board members Judy Jingirian, Zharmen
Mirzakhanyan, Angele Ohannessian, Liza Santikian and Armenouhi
Tomassian had completed their two-year term. Judy Jingirian was
re-elected and Araxy Aykanian, Nanik Kupelian, Maral Matossian and
Adrine Postoyan were newly elected to the board for a two-year terms.

Following the adjournment of the convention and a subsequent meeting
held with the ARS Central Executive representative Annie Kechichian,
convention officers, and board members, the 2013-2014 Regional
Executive board elected officers as follows:

Chairperson: Lena Bozoyan Vice-Chairperson: Carmen Libaridian
Secretary: Karine Barikian-Setian Treasurer: Christina Khanjian
Advisors: Araxy Aykanian, Judy Jingirian, Nanik Kupelian, Maral
Matossian and Adrine Postoyan.

The new board is in charge of implementing the ongoing programs of
the ARS and the newly adopted resolutions and balanced budget of the
93rd Regional Convention.

ARMENIA’S AGRO-INDUSTRY NEEDS A NEW DEVELOPMENT MODEL WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND SERIOUS CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
by Tigran Khachatryan

ARMINFO
Tuesday, July 16, 20:24

Introduction of new technologies and inflow of serious capital
investments will increase the productivity in the agrarian sector and
enhance the competitiveness of Armenian commodities in the foreign
markets.

When presenting the New Research on Food Processing Industry in Armenia
and the Region, Tigran Jrbashyan, Development Director of Ameria
CJSC, said on July 16 that a new segment – industrial agriculture –
is being formed in Armenia. He explained that the matter concerns
large greenhouse facilities, horticulture and fish breeding.

Given the country’s small economy, development of the food processing
industry mostly depends on the export potential for agricultural
products, Ameria experts say.

Jrbashyan said that out of the 40 countries of the CIS and Eastern
Europe researched by Ameria, Armenia is in the lead with its
agriculture share in GDP (about 19-21%) but lags far behind with its
productivity. He pointed out that over the past 2-3 years big funds
have been invested in ensuring high productivity in agriculture. “The
state support to agriculture development should be replaced with
the support to productivity. Favorable conditions should be created
for that, because the world experiences transformation of the social
factor of agriculture into an income-producing sector with a potential
for export and productivity. This trend should be considered and
researched not only by the state, and a new model should be worked
out on this basis”, Jrbashyan stressed.

The National Statistical Service of Armenia says that over Jan-May
2013 the gross agricultural output (including the fish breeding output)
totaled 152.7 bln AMD (up almost 3% versus Jan-May 2012).

According to the research results, there are some 900 greenhouse
facilities in Armenia with a total area of 130 ha (the biggest
greenhouse facility of Armenia occupies an area of 5 ha). 60% of
the greenhouse facilities in Armenia grow only vegetables, while
the other 40% grow flowers and ornamental plants. Ameria experts
forecast moderate development of the greenhouse facilities in Armenia
for the next 5 years mainly due to big facilities. In the meantime,
the experts say, the small and medium-sized greenhouse facilities in
Armenia are not promising.

The research revealed upward trends in horticulture and viticulture
in Armenia. 2/3 of the total horticultural lands in Armenia is
concentrated in 4 regions: Armavir, Ararat, Aragatsotn, and Kotayk.

The share of Ararat and Armavir in total was the largest: in 2012
these two regions ensured 50% of the total production. According to
the research, climate conditions are the main risk for development of
the given segment. The research showed that the average annual growth
of fish farms for the last 10 years totaled 28.5%, with the actual
volume of the fish exports growing over 4.7- fold. Ameria experts
forecast moderate growth of fish industry for the next 5 years. They
say the given segment is promising enough, but there are two major
tasks in the regulatory framework that need solution.

Ameria Group is the majority shareholder of Ameriabank with 99.99%.

Ameria Group comprises Ameriabank, America Management Advisory, Ameria
Equity Partners, Property Development Company, Ameria Invest. Ameria
CJSC is one of the leading companies in the Armenian market of
advisory services, offers a comprehensive set of professional services
embracing three key areas: management advisory, financial advisory
and legal advisory.

IS MOCKING AT ARMENIAN CITIZEN NEW RUSSIAN MEDIA POLICY?

By Sargus Aghakhanyan

July 16, 2013 | 15:11

YEREVAN. – Russian state media is mocking at the Armenian citizen
accused of a tragic car crash in Moscow region. This conclusion can be
drawn after watching the reports of the state channels and information
agencies about yesterday’s court hearings in Moscow.

Obviously, in order to create “the most convincing video” the most
mocking report was prepared by the government-owned All-Russia State
Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK) and the correspondent
of “Vesti” news program Olga Skabeyeva, one of the favorite reporters
of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“A man in a multicolored flannel robe and sneakers without socks is
Hrachya Harutyunyan. Three injuries received during a fall on the
pavement, scratches on the hand, cheek and leg. You can see a bandage
under his robe which is not a danger to a healthy 46-year-old Armenian
citizen. After re-examination driver was taken to the Tver Court of
Moscow. Harutyunyan never raised his eyes. His bellow (as witnesses
say) and refusal to testify is not related to the state of health,
it is a performance,” the report said.

The Russian state television reporter is not only violating the basic
norms of journalism ethics, but also showing obvious incompetence in
the field of human rights protection. At the very least, the author
of this report is not concerned over the presumption of innocence
and the fact that Harutyunyan is only a defendant.

Skabeyeva “forgets” that the man is brought to court in a robe,
which is a flagrant violation of basic human rights, a mockery of
the citizen of a state which is a military and strategic ally.

But in the end the people in favor of a strong Russian-Armenian
military-strategic and economic union have to remember not the victims
of terrible tragedy but think about the consequences of the Russian
state-run media policies, encouraging the growth of anti-Caucasian
sentiments in Russia and anti-Russian – in the Caucasus, especially in
Armenia. Isn’t it time for relevant government agencies of Armenia to
reflect on what is going on? At least invite Russian ambassador to the
Foreign Ministry and ask him for explanations regarding government-run
media’s information policy.

TURKEY COMPETES WITH ARMENIA IN APRICOT BUSINESS – RESEARCH

July 16, 2013 | 15:17

YEREVAN. – Turkey and Iran export dozens of times more apricots than
Armenia, stated consulting service analyst Artashes Shaboyan, during
a press conference on Tuesday.

He presented the results of a research entitled: “The Development
Trends for Industrial Agriculture in Armenia.”

In addition, as per Shaboyan, the apricot harvest in Armenia is
substantially lower than the harvest in Turkey.

Shaboyan informed that horticulture has the greatest potential for
development in Armenia’s agriculture, as an average annual growth of 20
percent was recorded in the past ten years. Specifically, the vineyards
and the fruit and berry plantations are increasing in the country.

Armenia registered an increase in apricot, cherry, peach, and Cornus
mas exports. A total of 12,000 tons of fruit were exported from
Armenia in 2012, against the 8,000 tons in 2008.

Also, the grape harvest is relatively high in Armenia, with 15.9 tons
per hectare, as compared to the other countries in the region.

WAR IN SYRIA AND ARAB NATIONALISM

If the Islamic movements were universal in terms of the national
liberation war in the Arab world, all the ambitious issues would have
resolved a long time ago.

In any Arab world Islamism is only part of the social movement
but the destiny of countries and people determines the potential of
nationalism. So was at all the stages of the Arab national liberation
movement, so is now. Islamism is just a secondary instrument of
politics in Arab countries.

The inter-confessional army in Syria soon transformed to a geopolitical
confrontation, as well as a fight among several Arab nations because
the notion “Arab people” or “Arab nations” is an adequate notion.

Of course, the ambitions of Islamism and nationalism fit into the
same dramatic context but now Syria is sympathized by large and
different layers of Arab countries because besides Saudi Arabia Syria
is threatened by Israel and Turkey, which is a more important factor
of mobilization of Arab nationalism.

Bashar Assad is becoming a leader not only in Syria but also a certain
cluster of Arab nationalism which is closer and safer to the Western
community. In other word, a practically de-ideological state of Arab
nationalism is meant.

If Assad’s Syria collapsed in a few months after foreign aggression,
there would be other generalizations and theory but Syria held on
and one needs to figure out why.

Considering the main factor, this is Syrian nationalism which did
not want to commit the country to profanation by foreign aggressors
and invaders. Arabs cannot help sympathizing Syrians, and now Arab
elites in different countries are deliberating on how relations with
Syria, Arab states and the West will be built after the resolution
is in place.

At the same time, significant changes have taken place inside the
Arab Islamic movement. The Muslim brothers demonstrated considerable
stratification and diversity in a single country. One of the leaders
of Muslim Brothers said: “Authentic Sharia is possible in a strong
and legal state which is able to protect itself from foreign enemies.”

Here is a controversial but logical pronouncement. “Beating determines
consciousness,” the saying is.

In Syria the Muslim Brothers are gradually but steadily taking to
Bashar Assad’s side and actively participating in the defense of
the country. The politicians of this association are still trying to
determine their place in future Syria but no doubt they do not link
their status to the fall of the ruling regime.

As to foreign policy, one can state with confidence that the Syrian
politicians were not only able to preserve and receive support from
their traditional partners but also persuade the West that even after
such a bloody scenario and lasting slaughter and mutual accusations
one can maintain quite credible relations with Damask.

Unfortunately, this time the West did not find a reasonable mediator
or partner with the help of which Syria succeeded in implementing
relevant contacts more efficiently but this is a matter of time.

Presently, there are expectations relating to the beginning of more
serious contacts between Syria and the Western states.

In the Arab world everything will depend on the relations of Syria with
three states, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The first two states will
soon review their doubts about Syria and will set to build relations
with Syria anew. With Saudi it will be more complicated but Arabs
are easily appeased, especially towards each other.

Currently, in strategic terms, three countries of the Near East have
lost – Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Most probably, there will
be a different geopolitical layout but it is understood that this
“anti-Russian” troika will hardly be able to offer anything real in
joining their efforts or establishment of an alliance.

Syrian events will lead to rapprochement of Iraq with Syria and Iran,
as well as the growth of the role of Lebanon in the Near East. Most
probably, Jordan and Qatar, UAE and Kuwait will be more reserved in
their relation to Syria. The Shiite “belt” held on and is trying to
conduct a policy of a more or less understandable dialogue with the
United States and Europe rather than confrontation.

Russia’s foothold on the Near East will be stronger but will not become
more significant. The role of China will certainly grow like elsewhere
in the world. Saudi Arabia and its close partners in the Arab world
will have nothing else to do but to strengthen their relations with
the United States.

In most general terms it could be suggested that after the defeat of
the Salafite groups and states a period of crisis of not only this
ideology but also radical Sunni Islam will start in Syria. The Arab
states have mostly chosen the way to a legal society on the basis of
post-modern political Islam.

Igor Muradyan 15:03 16/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

EU SETTLEMENT DIRECTIVE ANGERS ISRAEL

Laborers work at a housing construction site in the Israeli settlement
of Har Homa in al-Quds on February 27, 2013.

Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:2AM GMT

The Tel Aviv regime has increased its illegal settlement expansion
following an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the UN to a non-member
observer state on November 29, 2012.”

Related Viewpoints: EU enables Netanyahu’s colonial policies The
Israeli regime is angered by the European Union’s new directive
that bans the EU’s dealing with Israeli settlements built beyond
1967 borders.

Israel’s deputy foreign minister Zeev Elkin said on Tuesday that the
EU decision was “very significant and worrying.”

The new measure demands Israeli authorities to guarantee that all EU
funding and cooperation projects are not in al-Quds (east Jerusalem),
the West Bank or Golan Heights, as the territories were captured by
the Tel Aviv regime during 1967 war.

The directive is expected to take effect as of 2014.

Elkin said the decision would undermine attempts by US Secretary
of State John Kerry to begin peace talks between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority.

Reports say that the new directive was drawn up as a result of the
decision by European foreign ministers last December, which stated
that all agreements between the EU and Israel “must unequivocally and
explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied
by Israel in 1967.”

The Tel Aviv regime has increased its illegal settlement expansion
following an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the UN to a non-member
observer state on November 29, 2012.

More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built
since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.

Much of the international community considers the settlements illegal.

Last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel’s plan
to build more than 1,000 new illegal units in the occupied West Bank.

SAB/HN

ARMENIAN EMBASSY KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH LAWYERS OF THE DETAINED ARMENIAN DRIVER

14:07 16.07.2013

The Armenian Embassy in Moscow keeps in touch with Hrachya
Harutyunyan’s advocates, and will provide every assistance, if
necessary, Press and Information Department of the Armenian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs reports.

“Hrachya Harutyunyan is currently in hospital,” the Ministry said,
adding that it will continue to provide information on further
developments.

Eighteen people, including one child, were killed in a traffic accident
on the outskirts of Moscow, as a lorry hit a passenger bus on July
13. Hrachya Harutyunyan was the driver of the “Kamaz” that ripped
the bus in two.

ARMENIAN INVENTORS – DID YOU KNOW?

The self-wringing sponge named Quickie was invented by PETER
VOSBIKIAN…

LUTHER SIMJIAN invented the ATM, military flight simulator, and the
postage meter…

ALBERT KAPIKIAN invented the Rotravirus vaccine injector…

ROGER ALTOUNIAN invented the pressured inhaler and sodium therapy…

PETER TER-POGOSSIAN was one of the fathers of positron emission
tomography (PET) scanner, It was the first functional brain imaging
technique…

RAYMOND DAMADIAN invented the MRI machine…

JIRAYR TEZEL invented the hair transplantation device…

VARAZTAD KAZANJIAN is the father of plastic surgery…

HAMPAR KELIKIAN invented the limb restoration surgical technique…

ARA and BARON DARZI co-invented the minimally invasive robot-assisted
surgery…

Cybernetic communication expert HAIG KAFAFIAN designed aircraft
control and missile guidance systems…

EMIK AVAKYAN invented the text to speech to microfilm…

ALEX MANOOGIAN is responsible for the single-faucet design (Delta)…

ARDASHES AYKANIAN invented the bendy and spoon straw, the firm form
of Tupperware, the blue strip on car windshields…

RUEN ESKERJIAN invented an anti-aircraft gun during WWII…

SEMYON KIRLIAN is the inventor of high-voltage photography…

HARRY TOROSSIAN invented the ice cream cone and the Melba toast…

HARRY K. DAGHLIAN Jr. was part of the Manhattan Project during WWII.

OSCAR H. BANKER (ASADOOR SARAFIAN) of Chicago is one of the most
prolific American inventors. He invented helicopter controls
for Sikorsky helicopters and the first practical car automatic
transmission. His design is now the standard worldwide…

Armenian MELIK TANGIEV of the Soviet Union designed the first oil
platform in open sea (the Caspian)…

In 1916 STEPHAN STEPANIAN of the US designed the first ready-mix
concrete trucks…

ED ISKENDERIAN invented (1963) the hydraulic racing camshaft…

BORIS BABAYAN is the father of the Soviet superconductor…

ARTHUR H. BULBULIAN invented the oxygen mask (A-14) for the US Air
Force in 1914…

ARDEM MIKOYAN, the younger brother of Soviet politician ANASTAS
MIKOYAN, is the co-inventor of the MiG fighter…

Mathematician LEONID KHACHIYAN invented the system which solved linear
programming problems-considered intractable until then.

Armenia-based astronomer VICTOR HAMPARTSOUMIAN was one of the founders
of theoretical astrophysics. He did most of his work at the Pyuragan
Observatory in Armenia…

GIACOMO LUIGI CIAMICIAN, an Armenian-Italian scientist who was
nominated nine times for the Nobel Prize, is the father of the solar
panel and a number of solar energy applications…

In 1954 Dr. EDWARD KEONJIAN, microelectronics guru, designed the
first solar-powered, pocket-sized radio transmitter…

AVEDIS TEVANIAN was the chief software technology officer and senior
VP of software engineering at Apple Computers. He was a pioneer in
creating cross platform development environments used worldwide…

ALEXANDER KEMURDZIAN, founder of space transport engineering, designed
the first Moon and Mars Rovers. In the 1940 he also designed the
first remote vehicle.

CHRISTOPHER DER-SEROPIAN was given the first claim patent for the
color of the US dollar in 1954…

In 1949 RICHARD DONCHIAN developed the trend-timing method of futures
investing and introduced the mutual fund concept in money management…

HOVHANNES APKAR ADAMIAN made significant improvements to the principles
of B/W and color TV broadcasting…

The world’s first and most-sophisticated radio-optical telescope
was built by Paris Herouni in 1960. It was named the Herouni Mirror
Radio Telescope…

GREGOR GURZADIAN of Armenia was a pioneer in the construction and use
of small space telescopes-20 years before the Hubble. He made UV and
X-Ray observations on the sun through his space telescope…

Dr. ARA MIRZOYAN, formerly of the Pyuragan Observatory in Armenia
and now director of the Galaxy Company there, led a team of Armenian
scientists in 2012 to make the largest Cherenkov telescope in the
world. The 560-tonne HESSE II (High Energy Cosmic Gamma Ray Astronomy)
telescope has 875 mirrors and every one of them has the word ARMENIA
written on it. The telescope has an area of 600 square metres. The
observatory was located in Namibia because atmospheric conditions
are most advantageous in that region of South Africa.