Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN AND ARTO TUNJBOYAJYAN WILL APPEAR TOGETHER

Aysor
April 28 2010
Armenia

The famous musicians John McLaughlin together with Arto Tunjboyajyan
will appear on the stage with an exclusive concert in Yerevan.

As the organizers of the concert told to Aysor.am from the
"Vibrographus" company, the initiation of organizing such kind of
concert was theirs, and the musicians didn’t refuse.

The concert will take place in the state academic theatre after
A. Spendarian.

The Englishman jazz guitarist John McLaughlin will play with the group
"The 4th Dimension".
From: Baghdasarian

LEBANESE SPEAKER, FOREIGN MINISTER INVITED TO ARMENIA

Aysor
April 28 2010
Armenia

Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharian met Tuesday with
Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Shami, a spokesperson to Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry said.

Parties discussed a range of regional issues, including process of
normalisation of relations with Turkey. Ali Shami said that all
the disputed issues should be resolved on the basis of goodwill
and through negotiations. On behalf of Armenia’s Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian, Ashot Kocharian invited Lebanese Foreign Minister
to Armenia.

Ambassador Ashot Kocharian also met with Speaker of the Lebanese
Parliament and on behalf of his Armenian counterpart Hovik Abrahamian
invited to pay a visit to Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian

UKRAINE WILL RECOGNIZE KARABAKH

Lragir.am
28/04/10

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich called for the establishment
of international criteria granting independence to "territories of
frozen conflicts", including Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "It’s time
to consider the criteria for granting independence to the territories
of the frozen conflicts and approaches to their solutions" according
to Russian journalists, said the Ukrainian leader in PACE.

Last month, Yanukovich refused to officially recognize the independence
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, although in August 2008, he insisted
that the independence of the two Caucasian republics should be
recognized by Ukraine.

On Wednesday, April 28 PACE again hold a debate on the events of
August 2008 in South Ossetia. The Assembly has repeatedly adopted
resolutions on this issue, which demanded that Moscow withdraws its
recognition of the independence of both republics.

Yanukovich could easily recognize Karabakh, given his good relations
with Gagik Tsarukyan. Recently Tsarukyan’s spokesman said that
Yanukovich’s election would be for the benefit of Armenia.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN-TURKISH TRADE WILL NOT GET A BOOST UNLESS BUSINESSMEN GET FULL INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OTHER: EXPERT

/ARKA/
April 28, 2010
YEREVAN

A prominent Armenian businessman said today Armenian-Turkish trade
will not get a boost unless businessmen on both sides of the border
get as full information about one another as possible.

Speaking at a news conference Arsen Ghazarian, chairman of the Union of
Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen, said Armenian businessmen have
little idea about what Turkish economy really is. He suggested that
they seek to establish joint ventures with peers across the border.

Arsen Ghazarian then said a major goal of the organization he chairs
is to conduct regular studies of the Turkish market to find out what
types of Armenia-made produces have a demand there.

The Union of Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen and three
non-governmental organizations-namely, the Eurasia-Cooperation
Fund, the Yerevan Pres Club and the International Center for Human
Development, signed April 26 a joint memorandum urging normalization
of Armenian-Turkish relations.

He said one of these organizations will conduct a thorough
investigation to find out the real amount of damages sustained by
Armenia as a result of the closed border.

According to Armenian National Statistical Committee, Armenian-Turkish
trade in 2010 January grew by 28.7% year-on-year to about $8 million.

Armenian exports totaled $7,800, the rest were imports of Turkish
goods.
From: Baghdasarian

TURKEY INSISTENTLY CONTINUES LINKING KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROBLEM TO ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2010-04-28 11:33:00

Arminfo. Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu made a speech in
the Turkish parliament yesterday sharing his views on normalization
of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

As Turkish mass media reported, touching on the regional problems
Davutoglu said Turkey does not want the status quo to go on. Turkey
aims not to allow discussion or judgment of Turkey-Armenia relations
in third countries, Davutoglu said. "Medvedev will come to Turkey in
the coming month and the top issue on the agenda will be Azerbaijan’s
occupied territory. We assume it as our own issue and continue to keep
it on the agenda on all grounds," he said. "Nothing can deal a blow on
friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan," Davutoglu said. "Everybody
must know it very well." Davutoglu gave information to lawmakers also
about government’s goals for the future. "Turkey-Armenia relations
will become normalized," he said. "Parallel to this, occupation of
Azeri lands will end and the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia
will be resolved. The border between Azerbaijan and Armenia and also
the border between Turkey and Armenia will open. It means a corridor
from Erzurum [a province in the east of Turkey] will open through
the Central Asia," he said. Davutoglu said Turkey would not allow
this issue to cast shadow on Turkey’s relations with other countries
anymore, especially on relations with the United States. He said Turks
and Armenians will learn to share pain and common history, adding,
"they will live together." "This is our perspective on peace,"
Davutoglu said.
From: Baghdasarian

NFSAT NEWSLETTER No9, April 2010.

The NFSAT Newsletter serves the Armenian scientific community and
its friends and supporters worldwide by providing updates of NFSAT
activities and programs in the field of science and technology
development in Armenia.

The National Foundation of Science and Advanced Technologies is an
independent, non-governmental and non-profit organization established
in 1997. NFSAT’s mission is to accelerate the development of the
scientific and technological potential of Armenia through competitive
grants

—————————— ————————————————–

In This Issue

1. Armenian Young Researchers Receive $188,000 in Grants from the
"Early Career Support Program".

2. Achievements under NFSAT’s University Research Programs.

If you have any questions, please contact us anytime by e-mailing
[email protected]

Dear colleagues,

Please find below our Newsletter N9, April 2010

Best regards, The NFSAT team

1. Armenian Young Researchers Receive $188,000 in Grants

ECSP – the 2009 Early Career Support Program is an innovative program,
originally suggested by NFSAT. The main goal of this initiative is to
support the most promising young researchers to stay in Armenia and
establish careers in research that will contribute to the development
of Armenias knowledge-based economy. The NFSAT initiative supported
by the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) and the
State Committee of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science
of the Republic of Armenia (SCS MES RA). As a result of the national
merit based competition a total of nineteen grants have been awarded
to early-career researchers in Armenia. Eleven one-year grants of
$4,000 have been awarded in the framework of Category A competition
to support Armenian full-time graduate students, as well as eight
two-year grants of $18,000 have been awarded in the framework of
Category B competition to support recent Ph.D. recipients.

For the 2009 ECSP program, NFSAT received funds from CRDF, which
equally cost shared with SCS MES RA. CRDF funds were made available
via funding from the U.S. Department of State.

The complete list of grantees can be found in our website:

——————– ————————————————– ———-

2. Achievements under NFSAT’s University Research Programs

Closely adhering to the policy on a competitive basis to support future
science and technology in Armenia, NFSAT initiated two multipurpose
university programs: "BRAU" (Basic Research in Armenian Universities)
and "UCEP" (University Centers of Excellence Program).

Along with the main goal to develop the research capabilities of
Armenian State Universities, these programs also include educational
and integration components. By this programs NFSAT intends to
create unique environment, namely, Research and Education Centers
(REC), where young researchers and promising students will have
a chance to take advanced courses and carry research works using
modern equipments in close contact with senior researchers of the
international level competitive science fields and aggressively
integrated in the International Scientific Community.

2.1. Basic Research in Armenian Universities (BRAU) The three year
award "Polymer Synthesis and Investigations" with the budget of
300,000USD has been completed. For the BRAU program, NFSAT combined
$150,000 resources provided by CRDF, $60,000 supported by the host
University (State Engineering University of Armenia) and $90,000
supported by the Ministry of Science and Education of Armenia.

The various modern equipments, chemicals and laboratory inventory, as
well as computers and accessories, totaling more than $150,000, have
been purchased in the framework of this program, and, in fact, created
a modern research and education center (REC). In the framework of joint
research works Yerevan State University, Tbilisi State University, RAS
Institute of Chemical Physics has also used the REC facilities equipped
by BRAU program. During the project period more than 50 scientific
publications have been published, including publications in referred
International journals and abstracts of the International Conferences.

The annual International Conferences, organized in the framework of the
project, allowed to develop scientific contacts with leading scientists
from Russia, Germany, USA and to carry out joint researches. As a rule,
Young Scientific Section was also organized by the young researchers
and students of REC.

By the financial support of BRAU program REC members traveled to other
countries for project-related purposes and for scientific collaboration
(Moscow, Chernogolovka) and presented REC research results at the
International conferences (Tbilisi, Georgia, Goslar-Hahnenklee,
Germany).

During the award period a large group of participants has been
involved in the REC’s activities: 15 members of research and
teaching staff and 15 young researchers and students (graduate
and undergraduate). A series of lectures on the advanced topics
related to the project field has been organized for the SEUA (State
Engineering University of Armenia) and YSU (Yerevan State University)
graduate, undergraduate, Master and PhD students. On the basis of
special research and educational courses prepared in the framework
of BRAU program three books have been published, which are intended
for Master and PhD students of University education and wide range
of scientific researchers:

S.P.Davtyan, A.O.Tonoyan, "High temperature superconductors.

Superconducting polymer-ceramic nanocomposites".

S.B. Antonyan, S.P. Davtyan, "Colloid Chemistry. Nanoparticle
obtainment methods".

S.P. Davtyan, A.O. Tonoyan, "Hybrid and intercalated nanocomposites
and their properties".

To improve skills in English language by the financial support of
BRAU project English language courses were organized for the students
involved in REC.

During the project period 4 Ph.D. theses and 8 Master theses have
been defended.

2.2. University Center of Excellence Program (UCEP) The main goal of
the UCEP activities was the establishment of the three modern Centers
in Yerevan State University (YSU) in a competitive basis. For the UCEP
activities, NFSAT combined $150,000 resources provided by CRDF and
$150,000 supported by the host University – YSU. Three merit-based
projects (out of10) have been awarded by $100,000 for each for a
two-year period:

Superconductivity & Scientific Instrumentation, Project Director: Dr.
Samvel Gevorkyan.

Algebraic and geometric studies for condensed matter physics, Project
Director: Dr. Tigran Hakobyan, Quantum information technologies &
new nonlinear materials, Project Director: Dr. Gagik Kryuchkyan.

a) The Center of "Superconductivity & Scientific Instrumentation"
The research and educational team of 9 persons includes 6 young
researchers and students, two of which got their Ph.D. theses on
the basis of the award results. Regular weekly seminars for young
researchers and students have been organized within the framework of
the award. More than 30 papers in total have been published and talks
have been delivered at the International Conferences and Workshops
during the award execution period. Two students could attend the
Advanced International Schools in Europe.

Fig. 1. Dr. Samvel Gevorkyan (right) with young researcher Bilor
Kurghinyan in "Superconductivity & Scientific Instrumentation"
Research&Educational Center created in framework of UCEP.

Along with a basic research, the goal of the Center was focused also
on the commercialization of obtained results. An Armenian start-up
company, i.e. "Precision Sensors / Instrumentation Inc." ("PSI"),
was established in 2008, which was recognized as the best in Asia
(the winner Prize is shown in Fig. 2 (right), and one of the top
six finalists of the world level "Global Security Challenge’s" 2008
years competition in London (see the gained Cup in Fig.2 – left). The
competition was based on the advanced technologies offered to support
world global security problems. "PSI" was also among the top three
finalists of the 2009 years European "GSC" Final competition in
Athens (the gained Prize is shown in Fig. 3). Unprecedented for the
Republic of Armenia such International recognition of the Armenian
technology enabled the Center to sign Teeming Agreements with the
"Singapore Technologies Dynamics", as well as with the U.S. "United
Detection Technologies" ? to move ahead to the c! ommercialization of
the group’s fine SFCO Platform Technology. The Armenian Ministry of
Defense has also shown its interest in this unique technology, and
the related long-term, large-scale contract discussion is currently
in progress. "Geological Survey" of the Norway has also expressed
interest in this technology, particularly in using the Center’s
Center’s new principle of operation seismic detector for the strong
earthquakes prediction.

Fig. 2. The Prize and Cup gained by the YSU "Superconductivity &
Scientific Instrumentation" Center at the 2008 years "Global Security
Challenge" competition () in Singapore
(right) and London (left).

Fig. 3. The Prize gained by the YSU "Superconductivity and Scientific
Instrumentation" Center at the 2009 years "Global Security Challenge"
competition in Athens.

b) The Center of "Algebraic and geometric studies for condensed
matter physics" The UCEP project "Algebraic and geometric studies
for condensed matter physics" has been devoted to the application of
advanced mathematical tools to the condensed matter problems. Awarded
REC team involved 4 senior and 4 young researchers and students.

Fig. 4. Dr. Tigran Hakobyan (left) and Dr. Armen Nersisyan (left-back)
with young researchers of "Algebraic and geometric studies for
condensed matter physics" Research and Educational Center created in
framework of UCEP.

A computer cluster based on HP blade architecture with total capacity
of 512 Gflops (billions floating point operations per second) has been
purchased, installed, and prepared for numerical simulations in the
frames of this award. In summary, 35 papers have been prepared. Among
them 25 have been published in well known international referred
journals. The students have been participated in a significant
number of papers. The team members had, in summary, 22 talks at 9
international conferences and 12 seminar talks abroad. Many papers
have been prepared in collaborations with the scientists from the
foreign institutions, such as JINR (Dubna), CBPF (Rio de Janeiro),
INFN (Frascati, Italy), Hannover, Gettingen, Kaiserslautern, and
Wuppertal Universities (Germany). There were 14 research visits abroad
(4 by students) for establishing or continuing collaborations.

c) The Center of "Quantum information technologies and new nonlinear
materials" The main goal of this project was to organize the Center
of quantum information technologies and new nonlinear materials at
Yerevan State University. The REC team of 8 persons includes 5 young
researchers and students.

Fig. 5. Dr. Gagik Kryuchkyan (right) with young researchers of
"Quantum information technologies and new nonlinear materials"
Research and Educational Center created in framework of UCEP.

By the financial support of the award it the Cluster (YSU-2) at 32
nodes with Grid environment was created in the Physical Department of
YSU, which was used for the computer modeling and high performance
calculations on the problems of the project. The universal software
package for parallel numerical simulation on the Cluster in areas of
applied quantum information and laser physics has been elaborated. The
other software package in the field of crystal growth is in the
stage of development. The research results have been published in 22
research articles mainly in high rated international referred journals,
as well as 11 abstracts of the International Conferences.

The International Workshop on "Modern Problems in Optics and Photonics"
(August 27-September 2, 2009, Yerevan, Armenia) has been organized
by members of the team. During the project period one of the young
researchers’ Ph.D. theses has been defended.

NFSAT: 26, Azatutyan Ave., Yerevan, 0014, Armenia. Tel: (374-10)
288-192; Fax – (374-10) 281-380;
From: Baghdasarian

WORLD’S ATTENTION TO NUCLEAR SECURITY ISSUE HAS INCREASED

Aysor
April 27 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan met Tuesday with Chairman of
the Presidential Atomic Energy Security Council, Adolf Birkhofer,
a spokesperson for State Administration said.

Serzh Sargsyan said he appreciates efforts by Adolf Birkhofer, aimed
at the improving the security at the Armenia’s Nuclear Power Plant
(ANPP). He pointed out that the attention, which is being paid to
the issues of the nuclear security, had increased, and the recent
nuclear summit in Washington makes in clear.

Adolf Birkhofer, in his part, appreciates steps by the state
administration, aimed at the providing the ANPP with security.

Parties discussed a range of issues, including items of construction
and operation of a new energy block.
From: Baghdasarian

MOVSISYAN AGAIN HITTING DOUBLE

Tert.am
11:28 27.04.10

Danish football team Randers defeated Danish Midtjylland on its own
turf in the 29th tour of the Danish championship at a 2:0 score.

An Armenian player in Randers, Yura Movsisyan, opened the score at
the 16th minute and kicked another goal at the 28th minute.

Movsisyan was replaced at the 71st minute, and Randers celebrated
its win.

Earlier Movsisyan had made two other goals during the
Randers-Silkerborg visiting match (3:1).
From: Baghdasarian

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA AND RUSSIA’S RELIGIOUS LEADERS SIGN DECLARATION AS A RESULT OF MEETING

Trend
April 26 2010
Azerbaijan

Religious leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia signed a
declaration on the basis of a trilateral meeting in Baku.

"I think that it is correct and timely initiative of the trilateral
meeting, which was held and crowned with success of signing of a
joint declaration," Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said
to journalists after signing ceremony.

According to him, religious leaders have no political power and
can not "guide the troops". "But they have a special opportunity to
appeal to those values that are very close to believers. And the fact
that representatives of different religions met and agreed on many
important issues is an important signal to all believers"- Kirill said.

The Patriarch expressed the hope that these signals will contribute
to reconciliation, reduce tension in the region and create a good
atmosphere for political leaders in order to come to an agreed
outcome taking full responsibility for the political settlement of
the conflict.

Head of the Caucasus Moslems Clerical Office Sheikulislam Haji
Allahshukur Pashazade, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II and
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill met within participation
in the World Summit of world religious leaders, which is underway in
these days in Baku.

"Today we consider following spiritual guidelines of cooperation
especially important to overcome the estrangement between our nations.

The potential of religion, calling for goodness, peace, compassion,
patience must be a reconciling force," the declaration says.

"We believe that our joint efforts will help to overcome international
hostility. We hope we will be able to support the people’s hopes
to overcome the current divisions, barriers and hostility with
peacekeeping efforts, because the war will have no end".

The document says that the religious leaders of the three countries
support international efforts to resolve the conflict and stress the
need for expansion of communication in order to strengthen confidence
to achieve peace and good neighborliness.

"Supporting the efforts of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents, we
intend to contribute to their aspirations; therefore we consider
it important to continue the dialogue between religious leaders
in order to help resolve the conflict, which will enable people to
return to the places, from where they were expelled. We welcome the
acts of goodwill of the sides – the release of prisoners, and call
on both political and religious leaders to intensify their efforts
in this noble and humane process, we condemn the acts of vandalism
and consider it important to preserve religious monuments and sacred
places of our peoples," the document says.

"The path to peace is not easy, but we have a fervent hope of success,
and, uniting our efforts, we hope to overcome the estrangement and
prejudice. Let the blessed land of the Caucasus has a lasting and
just peace, and our people will inherit the welfare and prosperity,"
said in the document.
From: Baghdasarian

NO TO GENOCIDE: PUPILS IN US PROTEST AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Panorama.am
19:07 26/04/2010

Society

The Armenian pupils of Eldorado school, Colorado, US, have made a
poster reading: "No to Genocide". The school has two Armenian pupils –
Hamazasp and Samvel Ghushchyan brothers.

On the poster they have stuck photos featuring the Armenian Genocide
carried out by the Ottoman Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century,
as well as information about the terrible atrocities.

"They should stop genocides, they shouldn’t kill innocent people,"
Hamazasp explains the mission of his initiative.

Foreign and mostly US pupils have written ‘NO’ on three-color papers
(red, blue, orange), noting their names below, thus, protesting against
the Genocide. "In this way pupils get information about the Armenian
Genocide and pay tribute to the memories of the innocent victims,"
Hamazasp said.
From: Baghdasarian