Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

FAST NEWS: LANE COVE GREENS COUNCILLOR STANDS FOR SENATE

North Shore Times

May 30 2012
Australia

Leader retires

VARANT Meguerditchian has retired as executive director of the Armenian
National Committee of Australia. Davidson MP Jonathan O’Dea thanked
Mr Meguerditchian for his 12 years with the committee and being an
advocate on matters relating to the Armenian community. Mr O’Dea is
the chair of the Armenian-Australian Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Mcilroy in running

LANE Cove councillor Keith Mcilroy has been pre-selected as a NSW
Greens party candidate for the federal Senate election. There are
nine other candidates who are hoping to win one of two positions. The
earliest possible date for a Senate election is in August next year.

From: Baghdasarian

DR. ALBERT MELIK GHASSEMIAN DONATES $234,000 TO AEF

Asbarez
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Dr. Melik Ghassemian at the newly renovated dormitory with Artsakh
University President, AEF Board member Neshan Peroomian and Artsakh
Minister of Education

GLENDALE-The Armenian Educational foundation announced that Dr. Albert
Melik Ghassemian of Boston donated $34,000 to fund the renovation
of two Artsakh village schools and $200,000 toward the renovation of
the Artsakh State University dormitory.

Artsakh State University students and faculty celebrated the opening
of the renovated dormitory building on May 10. In attendance were
Artsakh government officials, AEF board members, and the generous
benefactor of the project, Dr. Ghassemian.

Dr. Ghassemian’s contribution allowed AEF to renovate four floors
of the dormitory. The renovation of the fourth and fifth floors
were completed and presented during the opening celebration. The
renovation of the second and third floors will be finished this
summer. In addition to funding the renovation of the dormitory,
Dr. Ghassemian also helped provide the furnishings for each room,
plus two kitchenettes on each floor.

Dr. Melik Ghassemian with university students

During the opening celebrations, the University President and Minister
of Education presented Dr. Ghassemian with an honorary doctorate degree
from Artsakh State University. Dr. Ghassemian, a renowned cardiologist
and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at Boston University School
of Medicine, offered philanthropic support for future projects at
Artsakh State University. Dr. Ghassemian also took the time to answer
questions from students and inquired about their daily life at the
university and their involvement in its educational programs.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Dr. Ghassemian stated that
the renovation project was dear to his heart because his grandparents
were born in Artsakh, and that the experience brought him closer to
his Armenian heritage.

The dormitory renovation project was led by AEF Board Member, Neshan
Peroomian, who for the past ten years has personally interviewed
and selected contractors and overseen each renovation project. This
renovation project raises the total number of renovated schools in
Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk by the Armenian Educational Foundation
to over 177 schools.

AEF, as always, spends 100 percent of the funds received by its
donors towards the project the donors are sponsoring. “We are very
grateful to Dr. Ghassemian for his very generous donation,” stated
AEF President Hermineh Pakhanians. “It is because of the generosity
of individuals like Dr. Ghassemian that AEF has for over 61 years
been able to provide financial assistance to Armenian students and
educational institutions.” In 2011, AEF allocated more than $445,000
for numerous educational projects including: renovation of schools,
scholarships, computers and school supplies to village schools in
Armenia and Artsakh.

For more information or donation, please contact the AEF office at
(818) 242-4154 or email [email protected].

From: Baghdasarian

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA RECEIVES EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CRISIS IN GEORGIA

ARMENPRESS
31 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
received EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Crisis
in Georgia Philip Lefort.

The interlocutors pointed out the considerable progress registered
in the recent years in Armenia-EU relations with gratification,
president’s press service told Armenpress. The parties highlighted
Armenia-European Union high-level political dialogue and high-ranking
mutual visits. From that viewpoint importance was attached to the
upcoming visit of Chairman of the Council of Europe Herman Van Rompuy
to Armenia.

President Serzh Sargsyan and EU Special Representative also dwelled on
the reforms implemented in Armenia with the support of the European
Union.

Philip Lefort took the chance of the meeting to congratulate President
Serzh Sargsyan on May 6 successful elections and wished successes to
the work of the new legislative body.

He noted that EU is highly interested in Armenia and in developments
taking place in South Caucasus Region in general and has a wish
to promote strengthening of mutual trust between the countries of
the region.

From: Baghdasarian

POLITICIAN: “ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT OF THE 5TH CONVOCATION WILL BECOME A WEAPON IN THE HANDS OF RPA”

arminfo
Thursday, May 31, 20:10

“Armenian Parliament of the 5th convocation will not differ from the
previous one and will remain a powerful weapon in the hands of the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia,” Arshak Sadoyan, Leader of the
National Democrats Party, told media, Thursday.

“The authorities use all means to reproduce their power and the
National Assembly will become one of those methods by passing the
laws justifying illegal actions of the authorities. The parliamentary
elections became the first illegal action of the authorities that
gained a majority in the new parliament due to their ‘delicate jewelry
work’,” Sadoyan said.

Republican Party of Armenia received 69 mandates, including 40
proportional and 29 single-mandate seats, Prosperous Armenia 28
proportional and 9 single-mandate seats, ANC 7 mandates. The following
oppositional parties have overcome the 5% threshold: Heritage, ARFD
and Orinats Yerkir. All the three parties received by 5 seats in the
parliament. Another 41 people were elected to the parliament by the
single-mandate constituencies.

Sadoyan said that victory of the Republican Party in the elections was
more than predictable given its administrative resource. But Prosperous
Armenia’s refusal to join a coalition with the Republicans was a real
surprise, he said. However, Sadoyan does not see Prosperous Armenia
Party in the opposition, for “there can be no oppositional oligarch
in the political field of Armenia.”

“Obviously, the coalition was not formed because of financial
problems. Probably, pressure on the Prosperous Armenia will grow after
the elections. However, it is difficult to say if Prosperous Armenia
will join the coalition of the Republican and Orinats Yerkir parties.

Nevertheless, Gagik Tsarukyan cannot be an oppositionist. Neither
can its party,” he said.

Sadoyan said that Tsarukyan’s position will change only if his
financial demands are satisfied. Given the upcoming presidential
election, Serzh Sargsyan will satisfy Tsarukyan’s financial demands
to enlist his support.

To recall, Prosperous Armenia coalition party took an oppositional
stance on the threshold of elections. Afterwards, Tsarukyan refused
to participate in formation of the coalitional government.

Representatives of the party left their ministerial posts.

From: Baghdasarian

PRINCESS SUMAYA UNIVERSITY FOR TECHNOLOGY RECEIVES CHARLES BABBAGE GRANT FROM SYNOPSYS

Sacramento Bee

May 30 2012
CA

First in MENA Region to Establish New Full- and Semi-custom IC Design
Laboratories

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 30, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Synopsys, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design,
verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems,
today announced that Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT)
in Amman, Jordan is the first university in the Middle East and
North Africa (MENA) region to receive the Charles Babbage Grant from
Synopsys. Through the grant, PSUT receives licenses for Synopsys’
comprehensive, industry-leading electronic design automation (EDA)
software, along with curriculum support and professor training. The
grant also provides new computer hardware, printers and educational
equipment, enabling PSUT to create two new laboratories for full-
and semi-custom integrated circuit (IC) design for 20 students.

Lack of access to commercial-grade design tools for advanced research
and microelectronic design is a common issue facing universities
today. Synopsys helps solve this challenge through initiatives like
the Charles Babbage Grant and its Worldwide University Program, which
provide select universities with design software for modern electronic
design flows and leading commercial IC fabrication processes. Previous
grant recipients outside of United States include the Chinese Academy
of Sciences, University of Southampton, Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur, Moscow Institute of Electronic Technology (MIET), Yerevan
State University and the State Engineering University of Armenia.

“PSUT is very grateful for this grant,” said Professor Issa Batarseh,
PSUT president. “It will provide our engineering students with
access to world-leading software and tools and allow us to enhance
our curricula.”

“We always welcome industry collaboration and support,” Dr. Wejdan
Abu Elhaija, the Dean of King Abdullah II School for Electrical
Engineering, added. “We’re pleased to strengthen our relationship
with Synopsys.”

“Supporting programs that enable semiconductor design through academia
continues to be an important priority for Synopsys,” said Anwar Awad,
vice president of engineering of the IP/Solutions group at Synopsys.

“Working with PSUT, we have been able to create an educational program
that will cultivate advanced IC design skills in Jordan and prepare
graduates to establish local industry.” Awad formally opened the lab
in a ceremony attended by PSUT students and faculty on May 28.

Synopsys and the Department of Electronics Engineering at the
King Abdullah II School of Electrical Engineering at PSUT began
collaborating in 2010 by establishing a microelectronics education
program through a VLSI course integrated into the Electronics
Engineering curriculum in IC design. In addition to EDA software
and computer resources, Synopsys provides PSUT with support,
advisors, faculty training and facilitates student and faculty
exchanges. In 2011, Jordanian students participated in internships
and joined Student Working Groups at the Synopsys Armenia Educational
Department and R&D center. The students also successfully competed
in the International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia, an annual
competition that recognizes and inspires young talented engineers
involved in microelectronics. PSUT and Synopsys are continuing to
strengthen their cooperation in research and education. Again this
year, PSUT students will intern at Synopsys Armenia and participate
in the Seventh International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia.

About the Charles Babbage Grant The Charles Babbage Grant provides
select universities worldwide with state-of-the-art EDA tools,
training, support and technology. It enables institutions of higher
education to enhance their expertise in microelectronics circuits
and system design. Use of the Synopsys tools on modern, powerful
computers from the grant helps universities to better prepare their
graduates for the future by providing hands-on experience with
current industry practices, modern design techniques and actual
design tools and computer hardware. This enhances the students’
understanding of how learning applies to the real world of IC
design. The grant is named after British mathematician and inventor
Charles Babbage, who designed and built mechanical computing
machines on principles that anticipated the modern electronic
computers of today over 150 years ago. For more information
about the Synopsys Worldwide University Program, visit us at

About Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) Founded in
1991, Princess Sumaya University for Technology is a not-for-profit,
top-ranked private university offering bachelors and masters
degrees in business, IT and engineering. Its location within the
El-Hassan Science City and the Royal Scientific Society has granted
the university a special status within the scientific matrix of
Al-Jubeiha, Amman, which includes the Ministry of Higher Education &
Scientific Research, the Higher Council for Science and Technology
and the Royal Geographic Center. For more information, please visit
the PSUT website at

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic
design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market
with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used
in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys’
comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification,
IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions
helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers
face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon
verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions
help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best
products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk.

Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has
approximately 70 offices located throughout North America,
Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at

Editorial Contacts:

Monica Marmie Synopsys, Inc.

650-584-2890 [email protected]

From: Baghdasarian

MARGAR OHANYAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON

05:15 pm | Today | Social

A court in Yerevan today sent Margar Ohanyan, ex-chief of Armenia’s
Road Police, to six years in prison for the damage inflicted to
the country.

Ohanyan was charged with misappropriation of state property, causing
the state a damage of 160 million drams. Before the start of the trial,
Ohanyan had paid part of the money to the state.

Three other defendants in this case, Road Police representatives Ara
Levonyan, Samvel Makhmuryan, and ex-commander Stepan Karakhanyan,
were put on probation for a period of four years.

From: Baghdasarian

SICHERHEIT UND MILITAREXPERTE: DRASTISCH ERHOHTE PACHT FUR RADAR GABALA IN ASERBAIDSCHAN FUR MOSKAU UNANNEHMBAR
Michael Mainville

RIA Novosti
30/05/2012

Russland kann laut dem Direktor des russischen Institutes fur
GUS-Lander, Konstantin Satulin, auf die Nutzung der Radaranlage Gabala
in Aserbaidschan verzichten, wenn die Pacht dafur drastisch erhoht
wird, meldet die Agentur Novosti-Armenia.

Wenn die aserbaidschanische Seite den Pachttarif fur die Radarstation
um ein Vielfaches erhohen wurde, ~Dwird Russland auf die Nutzung der
Radaranlage Gabala verzichten mussen”, sagte der Experte am Mittwoch
in Jerewan in einer Pressekonferenz.

Laut Medienberichten von Anfang Marz will Aserbaidschan die Pacht
fur die genannte Radarstation von sieben Millionen auf 300 Millionen
US-Dollar im Jahr anheben.

Die Radaranlage war zur Sowjetzeit einer der Hauptteile des
Raketenabwehrsystems der UdSSR. Auch nach der Erlangung der
Unabhangigkeit durch Aserbaidschan und der Uberfuhrung der Radarstation
in sein Eigentum steht die Anlage der russischen Seite zur Verfugung.

Das im Jahr 2002 geschlossene Abkommen uber die Pacht der Radarstation
durch Russland lauft am 24. Dezember 2012 ab. Inzwischen hat das
russische Verteidigungsministerium uber Verhandlungen mit Aserbaidschan
uber die Pachtverlangerung bis zum Jahr 2025 informiert, denn ein neues
Abkommen muss spatestens sechs Monate vor dem Ablauf des geltenden
Vertrages geschlossen werden.

Laut Satulin konnte Russland dank seinen heutigen Moglichkeiten
auch ohne die Radaranlage Gabala auskommen. Russland habe bereits vor
mehreren Jahren auf die Nutzung eines Radars in der Ukraine verzichtet,
so der Experte.

From: Baghdasarian

PERSPECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA-LAS COOPERATION DISCUSSED IN EGYPT

armradio.am
31.05.2012 14:40

Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Armen Melkonyan had a meeting with the
Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Nabil al-Araby.

The perspectives of cooperation between Armenia and the League
of Arab Nations were discussed. Reference was made to the current
level of relations between Armenia and the Arab countries and the
opportunities of their development, as well as a number of regional
issues of reciprocal interest.

The Armenian Ambassador briefed the Secretary General on the latest
developments in the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
issue.

Nabil al-Araby emphasized the great contribution of Armenians to the
public life of different Arab countries.

From: Baghdasarian

IRINA ALEGROVA WILL HAVE FAREWELL CONCERT IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
31 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: in the framework of farewell tour of
honored artist of Russia Irina Alegrova concert in Yerevan will take
place on November 21 in the in the Sport and Concert complex after
Karen Demirchyan. Armenpress was informed from the complex that the
tickets are already being sold and the cost of them is between 5000 –
100 000 AMD. The tour of the singer will include Russia, Post Soviet,
European and American countries. The farewell tour of Alegrova started
in Moscow on March 7 with a concert during which the most famous hits
of the singer were sounded.

From: Baghdasarian

COALITION MINUS ONE: ABSENT PAP, RPA, ORINATS YERKIR RENEW DEAL AROUND JOINT PRESIDENTIAL BID
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan

ArmeniaNow
31.05.12 | 09:52

Photo:

Armenia’s ruling Republican Party (RPA) and its four-year-long ally
Orinats Yerkir signed a new coalition deal late on Wednesday pledging
to back the joint candidate at next year’s presidential election.

The new deal leaves out the two parties’ partner in the previous
coalition, Prosperous Armenia (PAP), which refused to join the
coalition government this time around and is vague on whether it will
support President Serzh Sargsyan’s reelection bid in February 2013.

The PAP decided not to enter the new government after polling the
second largest number of votes in the May 6 parliamentary elections,
but still not enough to challenge the supremacy of the RPA that
scored a landslide and now controls an absolute majority of seats
(69) in the 131-member National Assembly. Orinats Yerkir, in contrast,
has only six members in the new legislature.

In their joint statement the RPA and Orinats Yerkir (who signed
the memorandum on the level of their leaders Sargsyan and National
Security Council Secretary Artur Baghdasaryan) said that the two
parties also assume the responsibility for “the political, economic
and social development of the country.”

“The political coalition reaffirms that at the upcoming presidential
elections it will field a single candidate, represented by President
Serzh Sargsyan, thereby expressing its political will and determination
to assume the political responsibility for the further sustainable
development, progress and security of the country, strengthening of
the international prestige of the Republic of Armenia. The current
agreement is effective for the duration of the powers of the National
Assembly of the fifth convocation,” the new coalition agreement reads.

The RPA has always stressed that the forces making up the coalition
should agree around backing the common candidate at the presidential
election. The PAP’s refusal to cut another power-sharing deal with
the RPA and Orinats Yerkir leads many experts to conclude that the
force believed to be the brainchild of ex-president Robert Kocharyan,
may field its own candidate in the presidential race.

Meanwhile, at the end of the RPA executive body’s meeting Wednesday
night the party’s spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov said that ex-parliament
speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, who officially managed the RPA election
campaign, would again be nominated to become head of the National
Assembly. His two deputies, he said, would also be RPA nominees
– himself and Hermine Naghdalyan. (Under the National Assembly
regulations, other factions may nominate their own candidates,
but given the overwhelming presence of the RPA in the parliament,
the installment of their nominees appears a foregone conclusion. The
first session of the National Assembly is due today, May 31).

Sharmazanov was vaguer on possible changes in the executive. He
said the party will discuss the composition of the new government
at its next meeting. Still, Sharmazanov said no essential changes
should be expected in the government, apparently hinting at the fact
that Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan will continue to serve as the
head of the Cabinet. The RPA representative also said that Orinats
Yerkir would keep its three portfolios in the new government as a
coalition member (agriculture, emergency situations and transport &
communication ministers).

From: Baghdasarian