Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Dark narrow streaks, called “recurring slope lineae,” emanate from the walls of Garni Crater on Mars, in this view constructed from observations by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.  originating from a village in Armenia was  approved on April 24, 2015.

New findings from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) provide the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars, according to NASA’s official website.

Using an imaging spectrometer on MRO, researchers detected signatures of hydrated minerals on slopes where mysterious streaks are seen on the Red Planet. These darkish streaks appear to ebb and flow over time. They darken and appear to flow down steep slopes during warm seasons, and then fade in cooler seasons. They appear in several locations on Mars when temperatures are above minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 Celsius), and disappear at colder times.

These downhill flows, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), often have been described as possibly related to liquid water. The new findings of hydrated salts on the slopes point to what that relationship may be to these dark features. The hydrated salts would lower the freezing point of a liquid brine, just as salt on roads here on Earth causes ice and snow to melt more rapidly. Scientists say it’s likely a shallow subsurface flow, with enough water wicking to the surface to explain the darkening.

The spectrometer observations show signatures of hydrated salts at multiple RSL locations, but only when the dark features were relatively wide. When the researchers looked at the same locations and RSL weren’t as extensive, they detected no hydrated salt.

Perchlorates have previously been seen on Mars. NASA’s Phoenix lander and Curiosity rover both found them in the planet’s soil, and some scientists believe that the Viking missions in the 1970s measured signatures of these salts. However, this study of RSL detected perchlorates, now in hydrated form, in different areas than those explored by the landers. This also is the first time perchlorates have been identified from orbit.

MRO has been examining Mars since 2006 with its six science instruments.

“The ability of MRO to observe for multiple Mars years with a payload able to see the fine detail of these features has enabled findings such as these: first identifying the puzzling seasonal streaks and now making a big step towards explaining what they are,” said Rich Zurek, MRO project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

For Ojha, the new findings are more proof that the mysterious lines he first saw darkening Martian slopes five years ago are, indeed, present-day water.

“When most people talk about water on Mars, they’re usually talking about ancient water or frozen water,” he said. “Now we know there’s more to the story. This is the first spectral detection that unambiguously supports our liquid water-formation hypotheses for RSL.”

The discovery is the latest of many breakthroughs by NASA’s Mars missions.

Hripsime Arakelyan
Public Radio of Armenia
Cyprus

Apologize, if you’re wrong. Begging pardon is not an easy thing, especially when it comes to thorny historical issues, crimes against humanity and genocides. Are the modern governments ready to apologize for crimes committed against humanity? The issue was raised during a conference at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) organized by Arman Sarvarian, Lecturer in Law at the University of Surrey, UK. The event brought together genocide scholars, historians, lawyers from countries that faced atrocities in the past.

The shared opinion about the Armenian Genocide was that it’s necessary to find mechanisms to make the Turkish government apologize for the greatest crime at the turn of the 20^th century.

Will Turkey ever apologize for the Armenian Genocide? What can be the consequences of that apology? According to Arman Sarvarian, the challenge is that there is no common position among different Armenian communities, no united body, which Turkey will negotiate with.

“We need a common strategy and a general understanding of what we demand and what we expect,” he said.

Expert of Turkish studies Ruben Safrastyan said the so-called apology, which Turkey tried to present as recognition was a dishonor not only for the Turkish leaders, but also for the Turkish state. “We have to do our best for larger sectors of the Turkish society to understand and condemn the essence of this heavy crime.”

“We must use all available levers provided by international law to reach reimbursement. An official apology should be the first step on that route,” Safrastyan said.

“International relations are not about now, they are about contemporary events, but those events are located in the past,” said Professor John Strawson from the University of East London.

“Apologies for the past injustice cannot be cheap,” the Professor said. As for the Armenian Genocide, he said “the fact that the international community did not deal with the issue means that it remains a burning sore in relations with partners within the region. History is something we have to be very careful with. It can come back and bite you, when you think it’s over.”

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation headed by Don Grantham, the Microsoft Corporation’s Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe.

The Prime Minister hailed the continuous cooperation with the Microsoft Corporation and noted that the Armenian Government is willing to further develop and deepen the bilateral cooperation.

Hovik Abrahamyan emphasized the effective activity of the IT companies in Armenian and noted that they make the country competitive on the most developed markets in the world. The Prime Minister highly appreciated Microsoft’s assistance through its Innovation Center and other initiatives and attached importance to the  implementation of new joint initiatives.

Don Grantham, in turn, hailed the progress reached in the effective cooperation with the Armenian Government and praised the steps Armenia takes towards the development of the IT sphere.

The interlocutors discussed the implementation of new joint projects, the protection of intellectual property, and the fight against cybercrime.

In this context, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of the active cooperation between the Microsoft and the Armenian Defense Ministry with a view of improving the country’s defense system.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has dismissed the reports on the occupation of the Armenian-populated regions of Damascus.

“According to the data of the Armenian Embassy in Syria, the reports that terrorists have captured the Armenian-populated regions of Damascus do not correspond to reality,” Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tigran Balayan said in a Twitter post.

The exhibition “Armin T. Wegner: eyewitness of the Armenian Genocide” was opened at the Armémuseum of Stockholm on August 25. The expo showcases around thirty photos taken by Wegner with author’s notes and explanations.

The exhibition was organized by joint efforts of the Embassy of Armenia in Sweden, the Armémuseum, and armenica.org organization as part of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration events in Sweden.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mr. Björn Söder, Parliamentary Group Leader of Christian Democrats Mr. Andreas Carlson, other MPs, Ambassadors accredited to Sweden, social, political and cultural figures, journalists, representatives of the Armenian community. Opening remarks were offered by the Director of Armémuseum Mrs. Eva-Sofie Ernstelle and historian Vahagn Avedian.

The exhibition will be open for three months.

The Armémuseum is one of the leading cultural institutions of Stockholm and is included in compulsory educational programs.

A criminal case has been launched against Russian millionaire German Sterligov for his visit to Nagorno Karabakh, said a joint statement from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and Prosecutor General’s Office on July 22, Azeri media report.

German Sterligov is accused of making “public anti-state calls” and “illegally crossing the Azerbaijani border.”

Baku also blames the Russian businessman for supporting the independence of Nagorno Karabakh through his posts on social network VKontakte. “He was engaged in illegal business activities and involved his family members,” the statement said.

The Yezidi community in Armenia plans to build a new temple which is supposed to also serve as a new cultural center, Yezidi Press reports.

The Yezidi businessman Mirza Sloyan who had already borne the costs amounting to one million euros for the local pilgrimage site, consented to undertake the finance again. The large project will be built in Analish village and is supposed to bear the name “Quba mêrê divanê”.

The Religious Council of the Yezidis approved of the temple´s construction and issued its blessing during the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in April of this year.

The famous Armenian architect Artak Ghula was commissioned to design the temple and presented a proposal shortly afterwards, which Yezidi representatives, however, rejected. A new design is therefore currently being worked on.

It is the third Yezidi temple to be built in the post-Soviet area. Only a few weeks ago, the Yezidi community in Georgia´s capital Tbilisi inaugurated the temple “Quba Siltan Êzîd“ togehter with international guests. 40,000 Yezidis live in Armenia according to the census of 2011. By constituting around 1.3 per cent of the population, Yezidis make up Armenia´s largest ethnic minority. In 2012, the Armenian government officially recognized the Yezidis´ ethno-religious identity.

Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received today Sergey Sidorsky, member of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Minister of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The Prime Minister hailed the effective cooperation established between the Armenian Government and the Eurasian Economic Commission and attached importance to the intensification and expansion of cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, innovation and others.

Sergey Sidorsky, in turn, stressed the necessity of further development and reinforcement of cooperation between Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Union. He stressed the importance of implementation of joint programs in different branches of economy, which will contribute to the deepening and expansion of ties between EAEU member states.

In this context the interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to the deepening cooperation with Armenia. The parties discussed issues related to the elimination of restrictions for the expansion of the volume of commodity turnover, which will lead to increased competition on the market.

Nominations are now open for the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, a new annual international humanitarian award to be given to a person or a group of people who put themselves at risk to enable others to survive. From July to October, a designated portal on will allow individuals to submit nominations for candidates they believe have overcome great personal challenges to make an exceptional impact on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes.

To evaluate the submitted nominations, the Aurora Prize has gathered together an acclaimed group of people to serve on its Selection Committee, including Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias, Shirin Ebadi and Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; human rights activist Hina Jilani; former Australian Foreign Minister and President and CEO of the International Crisis Group Gareth Evans; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York Vartan Gregorian; and Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney. All of them are accomplished in a diverse range of fields, but are united in their commitment to the principles of humanitarianism.

“We are calling for nominations of lesser known yet inspirational stories of courage and intervention,” said Aurora Prize Co-Founder, Ruben Vardanyan. “We want to honor those who risk their own safety because of a heightened sense of humanity and responsibility and support life-saving causes in a tangible way.”

The Aurora Prize is the philanthropic vision of Vartan Gregorian, Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan, the co-founders of 100 LIVES, an initiative expressing gratitude to the individuals and institutions whose heroic actions saved Armenian lives during the Genocide 100 years ago. 100 LIVES seeks to share remarkable stories of saviors and survivors and celebrate the strength of the human spirit. Together they are seeking to build a humanitarian movement by drawing attention to the issues faced by the world’s most vulnerable and reward individuals and organizations that work to address those issues in a  substantial and consequential manner.

“Sadly, tragic issues and events continue to plague the world’s populations,” said Aurora Prize Co-Chair George Clooney. “This Prize seeks to draw the world’s attention to some of the remarkable efforts being undertaken to help save the world’s most vulnerable from humanitarian crises happening around the globe.”

The winner will be honored with a US$100,000 award, as well as a US$1,000,000 grant to be donated to a charitable organization that inspired their work. This is consistent with the spirit of the Prize and allows the recipient to continue the cycle of giving. Nominations may span a broad range of sectors in the non-profit field, including economic development, public health, law, government and education.

“The Aurora Prize is designed to make a real difference to the causes that motivate people to risk their health, liberty, reputation, or livelihood to help others to survive and thrive,” said Aurora Prize Co-Chair Elie Wiesel. ”What distinguishes this Prize from others is the legacy this award will create through investing in the organizations that inspire acts of humanity.”

Mr. Clooney will present the inaugural Aurora Prize to the winning recipient during a ceremony to be held April 24, 2016 in Yerevan, Armenia.