Author: Bedik Zaminian

British Standards Institution (BSI) has given Zvartnots Terminal, located in Yerevan, Armenia Energy Management System ISO 50001 certification emphasizing the company’s firm commitment to continuous improvements in energy efficiency.

The program was launched in 2015 and is intended to provide the energy team with a recognized framework for integrating energy performance into their management practices. It specifies requirements applicable to energy use, measurement, documentation and reporting, design and procurement practices for equipment, systems, that contribute to energy performance. Full commitment from all levels and functions of the organization assured the successful implementation and timely results.

Marcelo Wende, General Manager of AIA said: “We are committed to minimize our energy consumption by maximizing energy efficiency in a continual improvement cycle and to provide a safe and comfortable environment to our passengers and employees”.

“We cannot control energy prices, but we can control how we manage energy. Since the launch of the program we reduced waste, increased efficiency and more importantly were able to develop the culture of continuous improvement within the organization at all levels. I hope that similar efforts are initiated by other organization not only in Armenia but in the region.”

Asbarez – The Armenian American Museum unveiled its conceptual design at the Glendale City Council meeting on Tuesday. The Project Development Committee presented the developments of the first phase of the master planning process and shared concept design for the new museum.

“The concept for the museum is rooted in creating a place of inspiration and hope for the community” stated the Museum Project Development Committee Chairman Berdj Karapetian. “We have submitted all of the requirements to the City of Glendale in our exclusive negotiating agreement and are now ready to proceed to securing the ground lease agreement, further developing our master plan, and organizing fundraising initiatives that will enable us to bring this project into fruition.”

The Armenian American Museum concept designed by Alajajian Marcoosi Architects will include exhibitions space, resource center, a performing arts theater, and classrooms. The museum building will be surrounded by an outdoor plaza and peace garden on the City owned property next to the Glendale Civic Auditorium. The 1.7 acre property on the corner of Verdugo Road and Mountain Street will also serve as the location for a memorial to the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The Museum’s vision is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity while speaking out against prejudice.

Glendale City Mayor Ara Najarian applauded the work of the museum team following the design presentation by stating, “Just one year ago this was a dream for our community and I feel very excited to see things come to this level. I know there will be some milestones ahead but I have no doubt that you will work diligently to create a wonderful design plan that will put Glendale on the map nationwide.”

Councilwoman Paula Devine relayed her support by highlighting the cross-cultural and education component of the museum and invited selected architects Aram Alajajian and Sako Marcoosi to share their inspiration for the design.

“The inspiration lays within the museum itself to serve the Glendale community at large and create a place for visitors to learn about Armenian culture through the permanent exhibit while also hosting diverse traveling exhibits.”

Councilmen Vartan Gharpetian and Zareh Sinanyan further noted the multi-functionality of the museum by echoing the education opportunities it will bring to the community and the significance of building it adjacent to the Glendale Community College campus.

The overarching support of the Glendale City Council was emphasized by Councilwoman Laura Freidman in stating, “You have a very supportive Council and a great sense of passion from the community to make this happen. I am happy to learn that you have hired a local entity to bring this bold vision to Glendale.”

The next stage for the Museum project will be to secure a Ground Lease Agreement with the City of Glendale and commission a master plan that will provide operational direction on programming, business strategy, facility development, and governance.

The Museum will launch a wide-range of outreach programs in the coming months with City of Glendale government, businesses, homeowner associations, and community members to ensure collaboration, feedback, and community-driven opportunities to raise awareness about Armenian American Museum.

The mission of the Armenian American Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experiences.

The Armenian American Museum is a developing project in Glendale, CA, with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. When completed, it will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

The governing board of the Armenian American Museum consists of representatives from the following nine regional Armenian American institutions and organizations: Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

PACE report on Sarsang Reservoir is only a grist for the mill of Azerbaijan’s propaganda machine, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan has said.

“Quite recently we witnessed the response of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs on the report of the British parliamentarian R. Walter presented to the PACE Committee on Political Affairs. The statement of the Co-Chairs, in particular, outlined that considering the sensitivity of the negotiations, attempts to create parallel mechanisms can disrupt the negotiation process and impede progress towards a settlement. Indeed, after this clear warning, presenting a draft of another report, which distorts the issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, this time, at the PACE Committee for Social Affairs is openly aimed at failing the efforts undertaken by the Co-Chairs in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,” Kocharyan said in comments to News.am.

The draft report is only a grist for the mill of Azerbaijan’s propaganda machine and is in line with the logistics of Baku’s policy of undermining the negotiation process, unceasing efforts aimed at escalating the situation along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on the Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh, shifting the discussions on the issue into other formats and constantly voicing criticism addressed at the Co-Chairs. Worrisome is the fact that some PACE parliamentarians intentionally or unintentionally are becoming tools of the Azerbaijani propaganda, and, by their vote distorting the reality, they first of all are discrediting themselves and trying to shadow the PACE authority.

It is noteworthy that the rapporteur, who has already visited Azerbaijan twice, even did not consider to visit Nagorno-Karabakh, where she would have an opportunity to get acquainted with the situation of the main subject of her report – the Sarsang Reservoir. It is obvious, that the rapporteur pursued other goals. Otherwise, she would not ignore the fact, that on November 18, the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities answered positively to the written suggestion to arrange her visit, received two days before. Otherwise, the letters of the Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE on the readiness to receive the rapporteur in Armenia will not be left without notice. As a result, the rapporteur presented a report on the reservoir that she has not even seen; instead, she filled the report with falsified arguments.

Moreover, the hustle that accompanies the presentation of the report a few days before the completion of her mandate reveals the fact that the envy for “glory and honor” that Walter received in Baku has been haunting her.

AP Photo/ Michel Euler

 

A Paris suicide bomber named Ahmed Almohammad, who blew himself up near the Stade de France stadium, arrived in France via Turkey as a refugee from Syria, local media reported Friday citing law enforcement sources in Turkey, reports.

According to Haberturk TV, Turkish intelligence learned that the terrorist, traveling with an alleged forged Syrian passport, had lived in the Syrian city of Mari, controlled by ISIL.

Almohammad crossed the Turkish border in the province of Kilis in south-central Turkey disguised as a refugee, traveling through Gaziantep and arriving in the western city of Izmir where he resided on October 2-4 in a hotel.

He reached Greece by crossing the Aegean Sea, later moving through Macedonia and Serbia to Croatia, where, on October 7 he was registered as a refugee. Following these movements Almohammad traveled via Hungary and Austria and finally arrived in France.

On November 13, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out across Paris, killing 129 people and injuring over 350. One of the attacks took place outside of the Stade de France stadium, where a friendly match was underway between France and Germany.

Photo: Getty Images

 

South Korea has confirmed it has accepted an offer from North Korea to hold talks next week, the BBC reports.

The talks, to be held at the Panmunjom truce village, will set the stage for high-level meetings which were agreed in principle in August.

That deal followed a stand-off in August that began with landmine explosions on the border and involved an exchange of artillery fire.

Seoul said it had sent requests for meetings before but had no response.

Photo by Maxim Grigoriev/TASS

 

The UK has handed over to Moscow certain data on the Russian plane crash over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, TASS reports.

“Naturally, we hope for cooperation with all countries, which may assist in the investigation of this tragedy,” he said

“We can confirm that certain data has been handed over by the British side,” Peskov noted. The Kremlin spokesman declined to provide details on what particular data he referred to, adding that so far he had no such information. For the same reason he did not answer the question whether these data had affected Russia’s decision to suspend flights to Egypt. According to Peskov, it was up to investigators to confirm a particular version.

Answering a question whether Russia sees any progress in the investigation of the Russian plane crash, he said “it was premature to talk about this, there have been no official statements yet about even some preliminary results from the investigators.”

He refused to comment on the fact that the Egyptian investigators are considering a terrorist attack to be the major cause of the crash. “At the moment I can say nothing,” Peskov said.

An A321 passenger jet of Russia’s Kogalymavia air carrier (flight 9268) bound to St. Petersburg crashed on October 31 some 30 minutes after the takeoff from Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh.

It fell down 100 kilometers south of the administrative center of North Sinai Governorate, the city of Al-Arish. The plane was carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members. None of them survived.

In an interview with , Paraguayan Senator Desiree Masi, who presented the project of the Armenian Genocide recognition in the Congress of Paraguay, declared that “this statement of the Paraguayan Parliament will lead to greater recognition and a rescue of the historical memory.”

“There was pressure, particularly for the term ‘genocide’,” said Masi. According to Senator of the Democratic Progressive Party, “that term seems not only right, but just. It claims for all what meant the extermination of the Armenian people and the recognition of crimes against humanity, which means that at some point there must be some kind of reparation.”

“That is what we are interested also: not only recognition, which is very important, but subsequently the possibility of some kind of compensation,” added the Senator. “It is important to remember not to repeat history again. Recognizing who was the victim and who was the culprit makes you know the history.”

“The two most important parties of Paraguay were involved in the public recognition,” she added, concluding that the resolution was supported by all blocks and voted unanimously. Finally, she said that the resolution will be a recommendation for the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry, where they generally “act from a joint perspective.”

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges of evading bank rules about large cash transactions after reaching a deal with prosecutors in a hush-money case stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct, reports.

Federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of zero to six months in prison for Hastert, but the judge said he could potentially sentence him to up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced in February.

The plea to one count of “structuring” – taking money out of the bank in amounts below $10,000 to evade bank reporting rules on large cash movements – marks a dramatic downfall for someone who once ranked among the country’s most powerful politicians.

Hastert, 73, told District Judge Thomas Durkin that he knew that what he was doing was wrong in a hearing that lasted a little over 20 minutes.

“I didn’t want them to know how I intended to spend the money,” he said in a one-sentence statement.

In the plea agreement he admitted to paying $1.7 million in cash to an individual he had known for decades, in order to buy that person’s silence regarding past misconduct and to compensate for the misconduct.

The indictment and the plea do not mention sexual misconduct, but unnamed law enforcement officials have told media that the past misconduct was sexual and involved someone Hastert knew when he was a teacher and coach in Yorkville, Illinois.

A separate charge of lying to the FBI was dismissed in the case.

Lusine Avanesyan
Public Radio of Armenia
Stepanakert

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs participated in an OSCE monitoring and crossed the line of contact from Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan today. Before that they had a meeting with NKR President Bako Sahakyan to discuss issues related to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Popov told reporters after the meeting they discussed the opportunities of organizing a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. But the main issue on the agenda was the situation at the line of contact and the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

“The escalation of tensions and the use of heavy weapons are unacceptable. We’ll meet with army representatives to hold serious discussions on the issue,” Popov said.

“We are worried about the ceasefire violations, especially when heavy weapons are used,” US Co-Chairs James Warlick said during the OSCE monitoring.

“We intend to raise the issue during our meetings on the opposite side and hope to achieve progress,” Warlick said.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs successfully crossed the line of contact accompanied by Andrzey Kasprzyk, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office. However, the Azerbaijani side opened fire from machine guns at the end of the monitoring.

Melik Ohanian (born in 1969, in Lyon), a French artist of Armenian heritage, was award the 15th annual Marcel Duchamp Prize this weekend during the Fiac art fair, reports.

While many expected the winner to be the emerging artist Neïl Beloufa, who has received a lot of international attention in recent years, the jury asserted its independence. “We wished to celebrate the coherence of the aim of the artist who, for 20 years, has developed a personal oeuvre based on a particular attention to the relationships between science, astrophysics and visual arts,” said Bernard Blistène, the director of the Centre Pompidou who led the jury.

Ohanian’s body of work does not hesitate to capture the great evils of the world. His film DAYS, I See what I Saw and what I will See, which is about immigrant workers in the United Arab Emirates, was originally commissioned for—but withdrawn from—the 2011 Sharjah Biennial. His work is also included in the group show for that country’s pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale.

At Fiac, where he was represented by Paris’s Galerie Chantal Crousel, Ohanian presented a series of seven photographs animated and mounted in light boxes, which show the one-second change in state from solid to liquid of the element Cesium 133, stretched over one minute.