Author: Badalian Vardan

MEMO ON ARMENIA’S JOINING CU SIGNED IN YEREVAN

November 6, 2013 – 18:05 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – A memorandum on deepening cooperation with the
Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and the Republic of Armenia was
signed in Yerevan on Wednesday, Nov 6.

The document to serve as a basis for Armenia’s joining the Customs
Union was signed by EEC chairman Viktor Khristenko and Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

“The memorandum ensures involvement of all Armenian institutions in
the activity of the Customs Union,” Mr. Khristenko told a briefing
after the signing ceremony.

According to him, the document will offer Armenia access to
information, decisions being discussed and taken within the Union
and the Common Economic Space, as well as appointment of Armenia’s
permanent representative to the Union.

For his part, PM Sargsyan said that a great deal of work has been done
for Armenia’s joining the Russia-led Union. “We should also assess
the activity to be done for Armenia to become the full-fledges member
of the Union,” he said.

ARMENIA TO OPEN CONSULATE IN MARSEILLE

November 06, 2013 | 17:23

YEREVAN. – Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian will travel
to Paris on Thursday.

In the French capital city, Nalbandian will participate in the
ministerial conference of the International Organization of La
Francophonie, informs the Armenian MFA press service.

On Friday, the delegation led by Nalbandian will head to Marseille,
where it will be on hand at the official opening of the Consulate
General of Armenia.

PEOPLE FROM TRIBUNES WERE CALLING ALEXANDER SAMEDOV “SAMEDYAN” DURING RUSSIA – AZERBAIJAN FOOTBALL MATCH IN BAKU

19:56 06/11/2013 ” SPORT

Journalist of “Sport-Express” Boris Levin told Eurosport portal
about his impressions of the football match held between Russian and
Azerbaijani teams in Baku. According to him, Alexander Samedov had the
worst experience, whom the fans from tribunes were shouting “Samedyan.”

“This is Samedov’s surname, distorted in Armenian. For the
Azerbaijanis, alas, the Armenians are implacable enemies,” Levin said.

He says that the rest of the Russian team players supported Samedov
not only in the moment when he left the field. “When our players
came out to the playground Igor Akinfeev hugged Samedov, and hit
on his hands. Kerzh told him something then. But during the first
minutes Sasha was obviously wound up. This is understandable: the
whole stadium is against you only. One needs steel nerves not to
respond to such things. But he did well. He managed to calm down and
presented a great match,” says Levine.

According to Levine, this kind of attitude of Azerbaijan towards
Samedov was related to his pre-match interview: “It was, by the
way, rather politically correct one. But you have to know the local
mentality: because of one wrong word “to punish” a whole story was
inflated in Baku. However, they see in it a slightly different,
much more offensive meaning than our football player. ”

Halfback of Russian team Alexander Samedov in the “Sport Express”
newspaper shared his views on the upcoming match to be held
against Azerbaijan. To the question that Vogts wards show better
overseas samples of self-PR Samedov answered: “Really? Well, God
with them, no problem. And we will try to punish them for their
self-confidence.” On the question whom his father will support for
who was born in Azerbaijan, he said, “that my father will support
the team, where his son plays. The answer is obvious: for Russian,
of course!”. He also said that he was tired of the eternal questions
about his Azerbaijani roots.

During the match, which was held in Baku on October 15, the audience
in the stadium booed the Russian national team halfback Alexander
Samedov, they threw at him coins and lighters. After the game,
the representatives of the Association of Football Federations of
Azerbaijan apologized to Russian players for the unpleasant incidents
during the football World Cup qualifier match – in 2014 held between
Azerbaijan and Russia.

Source: Panorama.am

LEVON SARYAN ENCOUNTERS SHOOTER AT LAX

By Tom Vartabedian // November 6, 2013 in Featured, Headline, News

GREENFIELD, Wisc.-What started out as a routine flight home turned
into a nightmare for Dr. Levon A. Saryan.

The Armenian activist was returning home from Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX) over the weekend after visiting his mom when he came
face-to-face with a terrorist pointing an assault rifle in his face.

Shirley and Levon Saryan with Fr. Yeghishe Joulian and Fr. Krikor
Mikaelian in the water taxi to San Lazzaro (File photo)

“You TSA?” barked the shooter.

A petrified Saryan shook his head no, and his life was spared.

As bullets whizzed by him as he ran for cover, the prominent Armenian
numismatic collector and deacon of the church felt debris falling on
his shoulder. He thought for a moment as if he had dodged a bullet.

“You can call it divine intervention or whatever, but I want to
believe it was the hand of God which led me to safety,” he said. “I
was a sitting duck. It was not the way I would have wanted to part
with my coins but life is more precious. I was worried that I might
part from my loved ones without having had a chance to say goodbye.

The guy had his finger on the trigger. Why didn’t he pull it?”

Saryan’s 92-year-old mom Armine was resting comfortably inside her home
at Thousand Oaks, Calif., totally unaware of what transpired, even now.

“So far she seems to not realize anything went wrong that day,”
Saryan said. “We hope to keep it that way.”

Moments after the ordeal, Saryan notified his family in Racine. His
son, Armen, who had just changed jobs as a radio producer, wasn’t
aware of the news and got the exclusive back home for his station.

At the Milwaukee airport, Saryan was met by a bevy of TV stations and
a media onslaught. The sight of his wife Shirley and family turned
into an emotional homecoming. The embrace was long and tearful.

Daughter Ani works as a family practice physician in Racine, while
Shirley is a special education diagnostic teacher and city alderwoman
in Greenfield. The Saryans have been married 32 years. Both children
were active AYF members and held executive roles over their time.

Aside from being considered the world’s top numismatist of Armenian
coins, Saryan is an ordained deacon of the church and former NRA
representative; a Gomideh member for 40 years; a member of the Armenian
Relief Society (ARS); and vice-president of the church trustees.

“You TSA?” barked the shooter. A petrified Saryan shook his head no,
and his life was spared.

Few may know about his 50 publications in MR imaging and biochemistry,
along with lead and cancer research. What they also might find
fascinating are his 100 publications covering all facets of Armenian
coins.

After retiring as a toxicologist of 30 years, he is now a commissioner
of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer System.

In 2009, he was inducted into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences
in Yerevan. Thanks to his research findings, a ban on leaded gasoline
was introduced, which likely reduced the blood lead levels in Yerevan
children considerably.

His resume aside, the harrowing encounter has brought Saryan
unprecedented acclaim as every leading newspaper and TV network
throughout the land has been at his disposal.

ABC called from New York. So did Anderson Cooper. Australian radio
interviewed him. Good Morning America did not, only because he turned
them down.

“They were willing to fly me out, put me in a hotel, just to get an
exclusive,” Saryan confirmed. “I’m not giving any of those shows an
exclusive. I’m not in this for a nickel. Why should I love them more
than Fox?”

Saryan admitted he had a “soft spot” in his heart for the Armenian
Weekly, being a lifelong subscriber and contributor. He’s also written
articles for the Armenian Review, whether it’s on the subject of
coinage or the Mekhitarist Fathers. His vast knowledge of Armenian
history and linguistics has made him a wealth of information throughout
the community.

Word quickly spread throughout the Armenian land about Saryan’s
ordeal. Phone calls by the drove, e-mails that battered his computer.

People stopping him in his tracks waiting for a personal account.

In everyone’s mind, he’s “the man who cheated death.”

The shooting occurred just after noon on Friday, killing a TSA employee
and wounding seven others in an attack that frightened passengers and
disrupted flights nationwide. The suspect identified as Paul Anthony
Ciancia is now in custody.

Saryan speculates that the bullet that found a TSA agent might have
been meant for him while he was running for safety. The weapon was
identified as a .223-caliber semi-automatic assault-style rifle.

“The shooter was spraying bullets down the corridor before he caught
up with me,” Saryan described. “He had his gun ready to shoot. I was
at his mercy and there wasn’t anything I could do about it. I just
prayed to God. That’s all I did. I prayed.”

Saryan had just passed through the security check and was picking
up his belongings when the boom was lowered. He still had his shoes
and belt discarded when the shooter came through with a rifle that
immediately found a target.

Saryan said the gunman approached the security line firing his weapon,
hitting the TSA agent who had been helping him.

According to Saryan, the gunman fired three or four shots before
powering through the security line, scattering the crowd.

“There were more shots with glass shattering,” he noted. “With his
rifle in hand, he was ready to shoot anyone he wanted to, anyone he
didn’t like.”

Saryan escaped to another terminal while the airport remained on
lockdown. He called his wife at work and said he almost got shot and
had been hiding.

When the shooting subsided, Saryan ran to the TSA agent who had been
shot. He found the man bleeding and offered to help.

Safely back home, Saryan is hoping to put the past behind him,
provided he can. It’s the type of notoriety he can do without.

“I’m back to work, back to a normal lifestyle, looking for ways to
distract my thoughts in a positive way,” he says. “It’s too early to
tell how this will change my life. I won’t be haunted by it.”

SERZH SARGSYAN PARTICIPATES IN NUCLEAR ENERGY SAFETY COUNCIL SESSION

18:01 06/11/2013 ” SOCIETY

Today, at the Government Reception House, President Serzh Sargsyan met
with Chairman of the RA Presidential Nuclear Energy Safety Council
Adolf Birkhofer, who has arrived in Armenia to participate in a
regular session of the Nuclear Energy Safety Council (NESC).

The President of Armenia and Chairman of NESC spoke about planned
works aimed at the enhancement of the security level of the Armenian
Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) and the current state of the Plant. With
this regard, the parties stated that the ANPP has the necessary
projected level of seismic stability. Serzh Sargsyan and Adolf
Birkhofer also spoke about the issues related to the future operations
of the ANPP and construction of a new energy unit, cooperation with
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including the results
of the OSART mission.

After the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan and Chairman of NESC Adolf
Birkhofer at the Reception House participated in the session of the
NESC Council and made opening remarks. The President saluted members
of the Council – an independent advisory body comprising scientists,
experts of international repute and all participants of the meeting.

At the outset, Serzh Sargsyan informed the participants and expressed
profound regrets of passing away in January of the NESC member,
renowned scientist, Academician of the RA Academy of Sciences Hamlet
Vardapetian, who contributed significantly to the establishment and
development of theoretical and practical experiments in the area of
nuclear physics. The President suggested that the attendees observe a
minute of silence in tribute to his memory. Afterwards, he presented a
new member of the Council, Academician of the RA Academy of Sciences,
Doctor of Physics and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Robert Avagian
and wished him successful and productive tenure.

The President underscored that it would be difficult to overestimate
the importance of cooperation in the Council format, considering a
special role the nuclear energy is playing in ensuring energy security
of our country.

He hailed the activities of the Council since the very moment of its
establishment and noted that in this period of time, a great amount
of work has already been accomplished. He thanked the members of the
Council for their invaluable assistance in the enhancement of the
nuclear and radiation safety level of the Armenian Nuclear Energy
Power Plant. Serzh Sargsyan also thanked the IAEA, governments of the
Russian Federation, US, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Italy as well
as the European Commission for their assistance.

“The Republic of Armenia has been constantly improving its domestic
legislation and has been fulfilling in good faith her international
obligations. In May 2013, the Parliament of Armenia ratified the
law on “Amendments to the Convention on Physical Protection of
Nuclear Substances” of 2005 and made amendments to the “Law on Safe
Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes” which are related to
the registration and safeguarding of nuclear substances. Soon, the
Governments of the Republic of Armenia and Russian Federation will
sign an agreement on cooperation in the area of nuclear safety. It
will allow to:

~U develop the RA infrastructure for nuclear safety in the context
of preparing for the construction of new energy units based on
the Russian designs, ~U train, re-train and upgrade specialists of
nuclear safety, taking into consideration the IAEA recommendations,
~U expand the framework of cooperation in the area of nuclear energy.

In October 2012, the Governments of the Republic of Armenia and the
United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding pertinent to the
energy, including nuclear energy area. The document allows our two
countries to cooperate more closely in the area of peaceful use of
nuclear energy. Two successful projects have already been implemented
in the framework of the above-mentioned Memorandum.

Huge work has been done with the assistance of the IAEA and
international experts aimed at the enhancement of the seismic
stability of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP). In 2012,
during the routine-preventive renovations installed were supporting
constructions to enhance the seismic stability of the main structures
and components which are pivotal from the safety point of view.

It concluded the second, final phase of works of the Program on the
Reassessment of the ANPP second unit seismic stability which was
carried out in compliance with the IAEA technical requirements. Thus,
the ANPP has acquired the required level of seismic stability.

The plan on the upgrading of the ANPP operational safety was reviewed
based on the recommendations of the OSTAR mission conducted in 2011.

At the moment, the ANPP has implemented the main recommendations and
instructions of the mission. In 2013, the IAEA OSART sent another
mission which has registered sufficient progress in the conducted
works but also has raised contentious issues related, particularly,
to the management of radioactive waste.

The experts have already started to develop a strategy on safe
management of the radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel with the
technical assistance of the European Union.

I would also like to inform you that this year the Republic of
Armenia has ratified the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel
Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

With the assistance of the European Union, the Armenian side has
completed stress works on the operational energy block. The report
is presented for discussions to the RA Nuclear Safety Regulation
Committee. Along with the expert opinion of the Committee, by the
end of this year it will be presented to the relevant bodies of the
European Union.

Currently, works on the assessment of the monitoring of the current
state of the ANPP main systems, structures and components and
evaluation of the residual stock are underway. The program of the
extension of the designed operational term of the second unit of the
ANPP has been sent to the Government of Armenia.

In September, the Russian organizations started works on the extension
of the operational term of the second energy unit of the Metsamor
nuclear power plant. For us, it is really very important.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to suggest the members of
the Russian delegation that they also intensely engage specialized
organizations from Armenia in the works aimed at the extension of
the work-term of the ANPP second energy unit.

Armenia reiterates her intention to develop nuclear energy which has
a special place in the energy development program. Only existence of
the ANPP in the system of basic electric power production will allow
us to maintain the proper level of the country’s energy security and
independence,” President Sargsyan stressed in his remarks.

Noting that the Nuclear Safety Management State Committee along
with the ANPP, HayAtom Institute, and Ministry of Energy and Natural
Resources has accomplished considerable amount of works, the President
of Armenia underscored that from now on, the RA Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources has to enforce greater control over the timely and
due implementation by the leadership of the ANPP of the directions
issued by the Nuclear Energy Security Council and IAEA missions. In
particular, it is essential to expeditiously carry out works to provide
the corresponding amount of the medium active waste and improve the
conditions for its storage, as well as to take steps towards upgrading
the level of the thermal volume density.

The President also spoke about the training of the ANPP operational
staff and importance of creating necessary conditions for their
full retraining, noting that works in that direction have already
commenced. To bring them to conclusion, Serzh Sargsyan instructed the
leadership of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant with the assistance of
the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to ensure the engagement
of all necessary means.

The President of Armenia called the attention of the ANPP leadership
to the fact that it is necessary together with the organizations
working in the area of nuclear energy to organize works in a fashion
which will allow to maintain and develop the existing infrastructure.

After the President’s opening remarks, the Director of the ANPP and the
Head of the RA Nuclear Safety Management Committee provided detailed
information to the members of the Council on the implementation of
the assignments issued during the previous session.

The participants of the meeting also received reports on the activities
of the RA Nuclear Safety Management Committee and Armenian Nuclear
Power Plant.

Source: Panorama.am

VIKTOR KHRISTENKO: ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO CUSTOMS UNION MAY ACCELERATE KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

by Arthur Yernjakyan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, November 6, 18:22

Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union may accelerate the Karabakh
peace process, Viktor Khristenko, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic
Commission Board, said in Yerevan on Wednesday.

He said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has a long history and
has nothing to do with the Eurasian integration. The settlement of
this problem has its own formats. However, the economic development
within the frames of Armenia’s integration into the Customs Union
may contribute to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, he said.

On November 6 Viktor Khristenko and Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan signed a memorandum on promotion of cooperation between the
Eurasian Economic Commission and Armenia.

To note, on Sept 3 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced
Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union and participate in
formation of the Eurasian economic union.

To recall, when replying to ArmInfo’s question during the Oct 21
meeting with the heads of the CIS news agencies, President of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko did not rule out provision of a special status to
the so- called unrecognized or partially recognized state formations
within the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space, which is
under formation. He stressed that the idea had not been discussed and
he was not ready to give any reply himself. “But this topic may be
considered”, said Lukashenko. He shared the opinion that the economies
of these unrecognized formations (Karabakh, Transnistria, Abkhazia,
South Ossetia) are fully integrated into the Customs Union countries’
economies, as well as into the economies of the countries that are
going to join the Customs Union (Armenia – editor’s note). He also
agreed that it would be wrong to pose economic obstacles in the way
of these formations, especially given the tragic moments in their
histories.

EU PROJECT LAUNCHES WEBSITE ABOUT NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
November 2, 2013 Saturday

The European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh ( ) has launched a website,
which comprises sections about project activities and work research,
analysis, training, capacity building and other activities. The EPNK
is a unique initiative, funded by the European Union, that seeks to
positively impact the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process.

The main aim of website is to share information about EPNK with
anyone interested to learn more about peace building work in the South
Caucasus for building mutual understanding of and confidence in the
settlement process – essential ingredients for any sustainable and
peaceful resolution of the conflict.

EPNK is run by a consortium of five European NGOs (Conciliation
Resources, Crisis Management Initiative, International Alert,
Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and LINKS) that closely works with
multiple local partners across the region of the South Caucasus for
implementation of projects in confidence building.

The project strives to bridge differences by encouraging dialogue
between societies across the conflict divide. Those taking part
in the dialogue include a broad range of Armenian and Azerbaijani
policymakers, media and civil society – including those in and from
Nagorno-Karabakh. -02D-

BAKU DEMANDS THAT RUSSIAN BASE COMMANDER’S WORDS BE EXPLAINED

Interfax, Russia
Nov 4 2013

BAKU. Nov 4

The statement of the commander of the Russian military base in Armenia
concerning the possibility of the base’s involvement in the Karabakh
conflict needs to be explained, Azeri Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov
told the international mediators of the Karabakh peace process.

“The defense minister conveyed the known statement of the commander
of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia to the intermediaries
and stressed the importance of an official response. In turn, OSCE
Minsk Group Russian Cochairman Igor Popov said there might have been
some misunderstanding and promised to look into the issue,” the Azeri
Defense Ministry press service said.

Commander of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia Andrei
Ruzinsky said in an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry’s
edition Krasnaya Zvezda that the Russian base might get involved in
the conflict in line with its CSTO commitments if Azerbaijan started
military operations with the purpose of restoring its jurisdiction
over Karabakh.

Te

168 ZHAM: ARMENIAN TEACHERS WARNED OF SALARY CUTS

11:07 ~U 05.11.13

Several teachers of Armenians secondary schools have contacted the
paper, voicing concerns over expected salary cuts.

They have told the paper that school principals now convene meetings
with pedagogues to warn them of a decision expect to affect their
monthly wages.

While the responsibility for checking written papers and supervising a
class used to be considered an additional workload implying a higher
pay, it is no so under the new decision, says the paper, adding that
the move is expected to lead to a decrease of teachers’ salaries by
10,000-15,000 Drams ($24-$37).

“Hence the long-breathed greetings and high-flown texts addressed to
pedagogues every year on September 1 says nothing about the importance
of their work. The state equalizes their wages to the minimum salary
threshold. That means their role is considered to be the least
important in the society. Next summer, teachers’ salary will increase
by 40%, of course, but that will equal to the salary they get today.

Hence the teachers will gain no benefits of the promised rise. On the
contrary, they will grow socially worse off given the inflation rate,”
the paper

TURKISH MINISTER OFFERS ARMENIA INVESTMENT PROJECTS IN EXCHANGE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH

by Marianna Lazarian

Tuesday, November 5, 17:25

“As our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters are still suffering from
the Armenian aggression, Turkey won’t establish any relations with
Armenia,” said Turkish Minister for European Union Affairs Egemen
Bagis.

“As the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev stated, we are
indeed “one nation in two states. At present, Azerbaijan is one the
most important investors of Turkey,” Bagis said.

‘APA quotes him as saying that the close energy cooperation between the
two countries (Baku-Supsa, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum,
TANAP and TAP projects) would play an important role in solution of
Europe’s energy problems within several decades.

The minister noted that over the last 10 years, Azerbaijan has highly
developed: “Today, for its pace of development, Azerbaijan and Baku
are able to compete with the world’s major countries and cities. But
in the last decade, the number of Armenian population dropped to
2 million from 4 million. People are leaving the country due to
poverty and economic difficulties and the main reason of exodus is
the Armenian government’s unwillingness to solve the problems with its
neighbours. Unfortunately, 20 percent of the Azerbaijani territories
are still under the occupation of Armenia and the country still has
about a million refugees and internally displaced persons. Armenia
should put an end to its aggressive policy. As our Azerbaijani brothers
and sisters are still suffering from the Armenian aggression, we
won’t establish any relations with Armenia. Yerevan should pass right
decisions that meet the interests of its citizens. A right decision is
the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, establishment of good
relations with Azerbaijan and relevantly with Turkey and Georgia. The
Armenians can take advantage of some regional investment projects in
favor of them by this way. However, right decisions should be passed
to achieve it.”