Author: Badalian Vardan

ARMENIAN NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY LAUNCHED AT STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA

15:51 10/09/2013 ” SOCIETY

On September 10, 2013, USAID, the Office of the President of Armenia,
the State Engineering University of Armenia and local partners marked
the official opening of the newly established Armenian National
Engineering Laboratory (ANEL) at the university campus. The goal of
the project is to help address Armenia’s shortage of and demand for
qualified specialists trained in up-to-date technologies. ANEL will
also strengthen the educational capacity and enhance the research
potential of the State Engineering University by upgrading and
expanding its laboratory facilities and teaching skills.

The launch ceremony follows the official signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding by the Ministry of Education and Science of
Armenia, USAID/Armenia, and the State Engineering University
(SEUA) of Armenia in May 2012. Through this partnership effort,
state-of-the-art educational and research laboratories equipped
with modern engineering equipment and software tools from prominent
companies have been created.

ANEL occupies four floors in the SEUA Yerevan campus building #10. The
area of each floor is 500 square meters, with the total of 1,600 square
meters. The facility includes educational and research laboratories
in thirty specializations covering the six major directions of SEUA:
Cybernetics, Radio Engineering and Communication Systems, Power Energy,
Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Machine Building Engineering,
and Transport Applications.

ANEL will provide students with a combination of technical training
and research opportunities, including qualified trainers and modern
curricula, to prepare them for careers in engineering. These resources
will be available to all interested parties, such as research
institutions, other universities, and the private sector.

As part of this public-private partnership, USAID contributed
equipment, software, and technical assistance, and the Ministry
supported the renovations of the laboratory space at SEUA. National
Instruments, the Enterprise Incubator Foundation, and SEUA are the
primary partners for the three-year program’s implementation, including
initial setup, management and supervision, co-funding and training.

Source: Panorama.am

AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO UNDERSTATE LOSSES OF THEIR ARMED FORCES IN KARABAKH WAR

16:44 10/09/2013 ” REGION

List of soldiers killed in the course of military operations in
Karabakh is being formed in Azerbaijan, reports Azerbaijani news agency
“APA” referring to some “military sources.”

The article states that there are some “facts” allegedly proving that
“the Azerbaijani side suffered less casualties in the Karabakh war
than it was previously stated.”

Currently, the Azerbaijani State Service for Mobilization and
Conscription conducted refining works are being carried out. The lists
are being recompiled. The new list will involve the names of those
killed in the front fighting and those killed during the ceasefire.

The Azerbaijani State Service for Mobilization and Conscription learnt
during the investigation that there are “a lot of random people”
in the list of dead. “This list includes names of people killed in
armed conflicts which are away from the front line, names of soldiers
killed in car accidents, civilians not involved in combat operations,”
the statement said.

It is reported that the final list will be posted on the official
website of the Azerbaijani State Service for Mobilization and
Conscription.

Azerbaijani officials often present different figures of casualties of
armed forces suffered during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in order
to understate the number of losses. For example, if the previous
President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in June 1994 spoke of 21,000
deaths, than Ilham Aliyev in an interview to “Al Jazeera” (October
2011) stated about 13-15 thousand dead and missing Azerbaijanis. It
is noteworthy that in February of 2007 a group of 9 Azerbaijani NGOs
and 3 experts released their data, according to which in the course of
hostilities in Karabakh 24,000 Azerbaijani soldiers have been killed,
and another 4.5 thousand are missing.

Azerbaijani officials also present different numbers of disabled
during the Karabakh war – from 10 to 50 thousand.

Source: Panorama.am

JAMES WARLICK: TO SOLVE KARABAKH CONFLICT ONE SHOULD OPERATE BASED ON REALISM AND LOOK INTO THE FUTURE

18:52 10/09/2013 ” IN THE WORLD

“The 20th anniversary of the ceasefire is nearing. I consider that it
is necessary to find the way of peace and development in the region,”
said U.S. co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick in Azerbaijan,
APA reports.

“I am looking forward to contributing to the peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is high time to put an end to the
sufferings and hatred lasting for more than twenty years,” he said.

According to him, it is high time for OSCE Minsk Group and its
co-chairs to work together with Azerbaijan, Armenia and other countries
of the region and to take necessary steps towards the resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “It’s time for both sides to demonstrate
political will and take courageous steps for the resolution of the
conflict,” he said.

Noting that he is looking forward to working with his Russian and
French colleagues, Warlick stressed that his work will be “based on
realism and pragmatism so that both parties can find the solution.”

“This conflict has been going on for more than 20 years, many people
have tried to help solve the problem. I hope that all parties realize
that the achievement of lasting peace is within their interests,”
added Warlick.

Asked whether he recognizes the fact of the occupation of Azerbaijan’s
territories the diplomat said: “I’m here to listen to all the sides
and understand the situation better. I’m not here because of the past,
I’m here to look forward and resolve the conflict.”

Warlick said that he would meet with the OSCE Secretary General in
Vienna soon and hold meetings with his French and Russian colleagues
within the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

This is the first visit of James Warlick to Azerbaijan and the region
in capacity of the U.S. co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group. U.S. co-chair
of OSCE Minsk Group will visit Yerevan and Nagorno Karabakh afterwards.

Source: Panorama.am

N. ZOHRABIAN: WE DIDN’T RECEIVE ANSWERS AT MEETING WITH NALBANDIAN

Tuesday,
September
10

“I didn’t receive the answer to my question about what benefits Armenia
will derive from the replacement of one economic regime by another,”
the secretary of Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) parliamentary faction
Ms. Naira Zohrabian said during a briefing with journalists today,
when speaking about the results of parliamentary factions’ meeting
with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

“At the meeting with the minister in the parliament, we failed to
hear answers to questions of interest to us,” she stated.

Deputy of Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction Nikol Pashinian also
expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations that Edward Nalbandian
provided in the parliament. In this connection Pashinian tweeted:

“About the outcome of the meeting with foreign minister: Nalbandian
has no answers. Only a group of words that have nothing to do with
the questions asked”.

Let us remind you that on the initiative of several parliamentary
factions, discussions on Armenia’s entry into the Customs Union were
held in the RA National Assembly today. The discussions with the
participation of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian took
place behind closed doors.

TODAY, 17:32

Aysor.am

PASADENA COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL IN MEMORIAL PARK

14:12 10.09.2013

Armenian Genocide, Pasadena

In front of dozens of supporters from the local Armenian community,
the City Council Monday unanimously approved a proposal for a memorial
dedicated to the 1915 Armenian genocide, which will be erected in
Memorial Park, the Pasadena Star-News reports.

Thirty-six people submitted comment cards to speak before the council
Monday night, the majority of whom spoke in favor of the project, which
would be completed by April 24, 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of
the slaying of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. In addition,
93 others in attendance signed a petition of support submitted to the
council. More than 1,000 other community members signed an earlier
petition in support of the project submitted to the city.

Former Pasadena police chief Barney Melekian, who is also on the
Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee, said the monument is
an important commemoration of an event in Armenian history that many,
including the U.S. government, do not recognize as a genocide.

“Most people have no idea of the significance of April 24, part of
this is because the Turkish government continues to deny that this
event ever happened,” Melekian said. “This memorial should not only
be a memorial to the past but it should serve as a beacon for future
generations to ensure they do not forget not just the Armenians but
all victims of injustice.”

The city has officially recognized and commemorated the anniversary
of the Armenian genocide for 30 years. In May 2012, a group of local
Armenian leaders came together to form the Pasadena Armenian Genocide
Memorial Committee (PASAGMC) and submitted an application for the
memorial in May 2012. The final design, by Pasadena Art Center
Environmental Design student Catherine Menard, was chosen from 17
proposals submitted in a design competition held in the fall of 2012.

The memorial design consists of a sculptural tripod from which a drop
of water would fall every 21 seconds into a basin beneath it.

Approximately 1.5 million drops will fall over the course of a year.

The tripod would be surrounded by stone paving, benches and a formal
hedge in a circular pattern. It would be 28 feet in diameter and 16
feet in height.

INTL EXPERTS HAVE STRONG PROOF IMAGES OF CHEMICAL VICTIMS FABRICATED – MOSCOW

Published time: September 10, 2013 08:09

Edited time: September 10, 2013 09:10

Syrian opposition’s Shaam News Network shows people inspecting bodies
of children and adults laying on the ground as Syrian rebels claim
they were killed in a toxic gas attack by pro-government forces in
eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21, 2013.(AFP
Photo / Shaam News Network)

Footage and photos of the alleged chemical attack in Syria, which the
US cites as the reason for a planned military intervention, had been
fabricated in advance, speakers told a UN human rights conference
in Geneva.

Follow RT’s Live Updates

Members of the conference were presented accounts of international
experts, Syrian public figures and Russian news reporters covering
the Syrian conflict, which back Russia’s opposition to the US plans,
the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The speakers argued that the suspected sarin gas attack near Damascus
on August 21 was likely a provocation of the rebel forces and that
a military action against the President Bashar Assad government will
likely result in civilian casualties and a humanitarian catastrophe
affecting the entire region.

The possible attack by US military without a UN Security Council
mandate would violate international law and should be prevented by
the United Nations, some of the speakers said.

Evidence for the Russian case, including numerous eyewitness reports
and results of investigations of the chemical weapon incident by
activists, was handed over to a UN commission of experts probing the
Syrian crisis, the ministry said.

The Obama administration voiced an intention to use military force in
Syria after reports of mass deaths in Eastern Houla, a neighborhood
of Damascus, which killed more than 1,400 people according to US
estimates. Washington says the deaths was due to a chemical weapons
attack of the Syrian army on rebel forces and says it plans to use
force to prevent such incidents in the future.

A view shows bodies of people activists say were killed by nerve gas in
Damascus’ suburbs of Zamalka August 21, 2013.(Reuters / Hadi Almonajed)

Russia is convinced that the chemical incident was a provocation by
rebel forces, which staged a false flag attack to drag the US into
the conflict and capitalize on the damage that the Syrian army is
likely to sustain in the American intervention.

An increasing number of reports is backing Russia’s position, with
local witnesses, US and British formerintelligence professionals and
Europeans recently released from rebel captivity all speaking for a
provocation scenario.

In the latest development this week a possible way to de-escalate the
tension was voiced, which would involve the Assad government handing
over control of his chemical arsenal to the international community.

The plan was backed by Russia and China, while Syria said it will
review it.

Mixed signals over the plan came from the US. The US State Department
initially said Secretary of State John Kerry, who initially voiced a
possible disarmament, saw it as a rhetorical move and didn’t expect
Bashar Assad to actually disarm. But later President Obama said such
a move from Damascus would make him put the military action plan
on pause.

Meanwhile RT learned that Syrian rebels might be planning a chemical
weapons attack in Israel from. The possible attack would be carried
out from the territory supposedly controlled by the Syrian government
and would trigger another round of escalation, leaving little hope
of defusing the tension.

ABOUT DOMESTIC PARTNERS

September 10 2013

You can not hurt and pour ridicule on Putin, Russia and the Russian
people. You can not do the same in the case of any other country
or nation. Even on Erdogan or Aliyev, because even though we have
problems with their countries, but these people are the leaders of
these countries and the possible partners, with which problems should
be solved. The state approach should be as such, which should be
displayed by any political force, even the opposition, and thus this
approach differs from dissident displays when you may say everything.

If we love this or that country or its culture, it does not mean
that the rest should be hated. The antonym of love is not hatred
but not love. With this exhortations the first president, ANC leader
Levon Ter-Petrosyan referred to his party members on Saturday. These
judgments are 100% correct. I’m also sure that not only the parties but
also all our citizens, especially those who have the opportunity to
make a public speech, should have restrained and respectful attitude
toward all countries and all nations. Otherwise, it sometimes happens
when the publicists or politicians “peck”, let’s say, at Erdogan, as
if he is their personal enemy. It is clear that the policy of Turkey
and its Prime Minister, in many cases, is directed against Armenia
and Armenians. But it must be talked about purely politically, and
not by the vocabulary of “Iskra” or “Pravda”. It is sad, however,
that the first President did not extend his exhortation to the
domestic life. The logic here may be as follows: if it is true that
the leaders of other countries are potential partners of our state
(the authorities and responsible opposition), with which we have to
solve the problems of foreign relations, it is equally true that all
political parties and all citizens of Armenia are partners for solving
domestic problems. In our country, I think, there is no party that
believes that these problems should be solved by war, and violence,
on the contrary, all are supporters of a dialogue format. Even if it
is said a “revolution”, it means the peaceful transfer of the power as
it were, for example, in Poland. Jaruzelski and Polish Communists were
again partners in this respect. Perhaps, the situation of potential
partnership must also be taken into account in the domestic life.

Following the words of some parties and what was written, we can
state that so far it is not so. ARAM ABRAHAMYAN

Read more at:

ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH ARMENIA OFF THE TABLE – CARL BILDT

September 10, 2013 | 12:27

Initialing of Association Agreement with Armenia is off the table,
Swedish FM Carl Bildt said on hisTwitter.

The Minister said Slovakian Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Miroslav Lajcak has agreed with him on the issue.

“Agreed with Miroslav Lajcak that Association Agreement with Armenia
is now off the table. We work with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia,”
Bildt tweeted.

Last week President Serzh Sargsyan declared Armenia’s readiness
to join the Customs Union and participate in the formation of the
Eurasian Economic Union.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

NUMEROUS QUESTIONS REMAINED UNANSWERED DURING TALK WITH ARMENIA’S FM – OPPOSITION MP

September 10, 2013 | 12:45

YEREVAN. – Numerous questions, which were raised during the talk with
Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian, remained unanswered.

Opposition MP and Free Democrats Party Chairman Khachatur Kokobelyan
stated the aforesaid during a press conference on Tuesday.

“Specifically, I would have liked for a discussion on the US
President’s famous letter in connection with Karabakh. I would have
liked to hear the answers to many questions. But the matters to my
interest were not raised, whereas I did not have the chance to raise
those that I wanted to,” Kokobelyan stressed.

He expressed a hope, however, that he will receive the written answers
to his questions.

Commenting on the talk with Nalbandian, opposition MP and former FM
Alexander Arzumanyan in turn stated that, “It was not an informative
meeting; [it was] just to secure the presence.”

To note, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian on Tuesday offered the National
Assembly clarifications on the authorities’ decision to become a
member in the Customs Union. The meeting was held behind closed doors.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

DEPUTIES GRIGORIAN AND SAROYAN HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS

Tuesday,
September
10

Generals Manvel Grigorian and Sedrak Saroyan were absent from the
first sitting of the Armenian parliament’s fourth session yesterday,
‘Hraparak’ writes. Both deputies are usually accompanied by a retinue
when they enter the session hall of the National Assembly.

As is well known, Manvel Grigorian has serious health problems. In
the summer, he underwent two surgeries in Paris. After the second
operation, the general was prescribed bed rest, but Grigorian
disregarded advice of his doctors. He left the hospital ahead of
time in order to return to Yerevan and lead an annual pilgrimage of
Yerkrapah Volunteer Union members to Artsakh.

According to the daily, Manvel Grigorian’s health condition
deteriorated aboard the flight to Armenia and he was hospitalized on
arrival in Yerevan. “Although M. Grigorian will be discharged from the
hospital today or tomorrow, in all likelihood he will not participate
in four-day sittings of the parliament. His ‘Siamese twin’ in the
parliament – Seyran (Sedrak) Saroyan also has health problems. He is
currently receiving treatment in Germany,” the paper says.

TODAY, 13:33

Aysor.am