Author: Emil Lazarian

KAREL DE GUCHT SAYS BELGIAN CHAIRMANSHIP, MINSK GROUP TO CONTINUE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REGISTER PROGRESS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT REGULATION PROCESS
Armenpress
Aug 22 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De
Gucht told in an interview to Armenpress news agency that the Belgian
Chairmanship, in co-operation with the co-chairmen of the Minsk group,
will continue doing everything possible to move the Karabakh conflict
regulation process forward.
“There seemed to be a window of opportunity earlier this year for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, the meetings of the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris and Bucharest failed to confirm
that opportunity. It will take time and a lot of wisdom and courage
on the parts of both presidents to overcome them,” Karel De Gucht said.
Speaking about the military regulation of the conflict OSCE
Chairman-in-Office said “The international community, the OSCE and
the co-chairs of the Minsk group, all want a peaceful settlement of
the issue. Statements that go against this line and call for military
solutions are not helpful. I hope parties realize that a military
scenario would be a disaster not only for the parties, but for the
population and especially for the region as a whole. The international
community will judge severely the party that resorts to violence,”
the Chairman-in-Office said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NFSAT AND CRDF ANNOUNCE AWARDS UNDER “GRADUATE RESEARCH SUPPORT PROGRAM” COMPETITION
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
The National Foundation of Science and Advanced Technologies (NFSAT)
and the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
are pleased to announce the results of the “Graduate Research Support
Program” (GRSP) competition.
The goal of this program is to provide early-career Armenian
investigators (aspirants) involved in full-time research the following:
1. the ability to concentrate solely on full-time graduate study
2. funds to perform high-quality research in the field of basic science
3. the opportunity to become more integrated in the international
scientific community by participating in international conferences,
workshops and meetings.
NFSAT and CRDF received 57 eligible proposals for this competition.
According to the international independent peer-reviewed assessments
of each project 26 post-graduate students (aspirants) will receive
grants under this competition up to $5,000 each.: maximum $2,000
for individual financial support and minimum $3,000 for research
related expenses.
The NFSAT and the CRDF will provide 12 months of support to
post-graduate students (aspirants) in the Republic of Armenia who
received awards under this competition.
LIST of GRANTEES
Ani Tshantshapanyan, Institute of Applied Problems of Physics of NAS,
supervisor – E. Ghazaryan
Hayk Poghosyan, Institute of Mechanics of NAS, supervisor -L.Aghalovyan
Gegham Zakharyan, Yerevan State University, supervisor -R. Hakobyan
Smbat Tonoyan, Institute of Informatics and Automation Problems of NAS,
supervisor -M.Harutyunyan
Simon Zhamkochyan, Yerevan Physics Institute, supervisor -A.Margaryan
Babken Avchiyan, Yerevan State University, supervisor -H.Avetissyan
Levon Ananikyan, Yerevan Physics Institute, supervisor – N.Ivanov
Vardan Dallakyan, State Engineering University of Armenia, supervisor
-R.Vardanyan
Rafayel Barkhudaryan, Institute of Mathematics of NAS, supervisor
-A.Nersesyan
Karo Khachatryan, Yerevan State University, supervisor -Y.Avetisyan
Gevorg Vardanyan, Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics of NAS,
supervisor -A.Yeremyan
Levon Manukyan, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, supervisor
-A. Boyajyan
Aren Khoyetsyan, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, supervisor
-A. Boyajyan
Emil Gazazyan, Institute of Physical research of NAS, supervisor
-A.Papoyan
Artak Tovmasyan, Yerevan State Medical University, supervisor
-R.Ghazaryan
Vardan Gevorgyan, International Scientific-Educational Centre of NAS,
supervisor -A. Sargsyan
Narek Sisakyan, Institute of Physical research of NAS, supervisor
-Y.Malakyan
Hovik Hayrapetyan UNESCO Chair-Life Sciences International Postgraduate
Educational Centre, sup. – S.Ayrapetyan
Artur Reymers, Yerevan Physics Institute, supervisor -A.Chilingarian
David Mheryan, Institute of Mechanics of NAS, supervisor -M.Belubekyan
Eva Grigoryan, Institute of Chemical Physics of NAS, supervisor
-S.Kharatyan
Mihran Yamukyan, Yerevan State University, supervisor – S.Kharatyan
Gevorg Harutyunyan, Institute of Applied Problems of Physics of NAS,
supervisor – A.Aramyan
Levon Matevosyan, Molecule Structure Research Centre of NAS, supervisor
– R.Tamazyan
Gurgen Khachaturyan, Institute of Applied Problems of Physics of NAS,
supervisor – A.Lazarian
Ruzan Sokhoyan, Engineering Center “Mashtots” of NAS, supervisor –
A.Ishkhanyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SYNOPSYS ARMENIA TO BE LOCATED AT VIASPHERE TECHNOPARK
Noyan Tapan
Aug 21 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The company Synopsys Armenia, a branch
of Synopsys (US) – international leader in chip design and production
of chip design programming tools, will be located in the area of
Viasphere Technopark in the autumn 2006. The technopark’s director
general Aram Vardanian told NT correspondent about it. According ti
A. Vardanian, Viasphere got the right to locate Synopsys Armenia in
its area, after the latter won a tender. Synopsys Armenia was offered
the best conditions in terms of using the technopark’s territory and
infrastructures, and will occupy a production area of 9 thousand square
meters out of the total area of 25 thousand sq.m currently occupied
by 18 companies. A. Vardanian pointed out that this step of Synopsys
Armenia shows that Synopsys continues to expand its activities in
Armenia. The company started its operation in Armenia by purcashing
Monterey Arset, Leda Systems and HPL Armenia companies in 2004-2005,
as a result of which Synopsys Armenia became the biggest company not
only in chip design and chip design programming tools production but
also in the whole IT sector. In December 2005, Synopsys employed about
300 people. To recap, in late 2005, the management of Synopsys and
Synopsys Armenia announced their intention to increase sharply the
number of their empoyees in Armenia in the next few years, for which
purpose they started cooperating with Yerevan State University and
the State Engineering University of Armenia by opening chip design
departments and laboratories there.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANS SET FIRE TO FOREST BELTS IN OCCUPIED AZERBAIJANI REGION
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 21, 2006
Armenian Armed Forces began to set fire to forest belts in the
occupied mountain ranges of the Azerbaijani region of Agdam from
yesterday evening.
APA’s Garabagh bureau reports the arsons were observed from the
dwelling places along the front.
Internally displaced persons from these areas said the enemy is
damaging the rare trees realizing that it cannot cut and use them.
Armenians committed arson in the occupied Khojavend region of
Azerbaijan last day too.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN PRESIDENT BRINGS INTRIGUING POSSIBILITIES TO TBILISI
The Messenger, Georgia
Aug. 21, 2006
On August 14-15, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, Mehdi Safari,
visited Georgia. In a development labeled by some as ‘sensational’,
the visit concluded with President Saakashvili inviting Iranian
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad himself to Tbilisi. Unsurprisingly, this
made waves given the somewhat tense (to put it mildly) relationship
between Iran and Georgia’s key ally, the USA.
The Russian media immediately painted this step as a rebellious
anti-American move; indeed, some Georgians as well aired concern
that this could have a negative influence on all-crucial Georgian-US
relations. For certain experts, however, Saakashvili’s invitation
resounds with a far more subtle tone than that.
These experts presume that any diplomatic overtures to Tehran
from Tbilisi have the tacit approval of the White House. Georgian
analysts, in a perhaps overly generous estimation of Saakashvili’s
cachet as a statesman, suggest that Tbilisi could be stepping into
the role of mediator between Washington and Tehran, a position
hitherto tenuously played by Moscow. Georgian experts speculate that
Tbilisi would be a more trustworthy substitution for the Kremlin in
discussions between Iran and the West, as Russian intervention is of
questionable helpfulness. Political analyst Soso Tsintsadze, speaking
with Rezonansi, argued that after Putin and Ahmadinejad met, Iranian
leadership, far from making concessions, became even more radical.
Whether or not Saakashvili is on deck to take over as a mediator,
it is too soon to tell, but a meeting of the Georgian and
Iranian presidents should take no unintended toll on relations
between Georgia and the West. Georgian pundits point to the Iranian
president’s trip to Azerbaijan, which befell no ill on US-Azerbaijani
relations. Additionally, Armenia and Central Asian post-Soviet states
are becoming more open to interactions with Tehran, and don’t seem
to fear any diplomatic reprisal from Washington.
The Russian media reports that Iranian diplomatic circles, meanwhile,
are not pinning any outsized expectations on the possible visit.
Still, it’s a promising opening for Tbilisi, as there are serious
shared economic interests between Iran and Georgia which could make
their way to the table. Iran wants to pipe its natural gas northwest
for sale, and Georgia has a vital need to find an alternative
to Russian natural gas supplies. There is already a history of
cooperation-when faced with a severe energy crisis last winter as
gas failed to make its way south, Iran immediately came to Georgia’s
assistance by supplying the country with natural gas.
Despite a plurality of nearby nations with significant natural gas
reserves, Georgia is not spoilt for choice in meeting its energy
needs. Kazakhstan natural gas is transported through Gazprom-owned
pipelines. Azerbaijan, until recently, was not extracting adequate
gas for domestic consumption and had to lean on a Russian supply. As
the vast Shah Deniz field comes online, Azerbaijan will finally enjoy
a surplus, exporting what it doesn’t use through Georgia to Erzerum
(Turkey). Georgia will be able to dip into a share of the gas,
but it won’t be enough to replace the natural gas lifeline Russia
dangles south.
A deal between Tehran and Tbilisi, although beset by myriad political
and logistical concerns, would have the potential to bear some valuable
fruit for each country. Iran could gain a foothold in a market which
a steppingstone to Europe, and Georgia could finally wean itself off
of Russian natural gas. A meeting between Saakashvili and Ahmadinejad,
then, would surely be intensely watched by eyes from around the map.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARONIAN’S NEW ACHIEVEMENT
AZG Armenian Daily
22/08/2006
The match between Levon Aronian and Peter Svidler to decide the world
champion in Chess960 (Fischer Random) came to its end in Hilton Hotel
in Mainz, Germany.
Levon Aronian took this honorable title from Peter Svidler of Russia
defeating him with the score 5:3.
Opening the match with two victories, Aronian succumbed the other day
allowing the Russian to equalize. In the game five playing black pieces
Aronian suffered another defeat thus giving Svidler the lead. But in
the last three games of the match Aronian overcame his rival making
the score 5:3.
Next year Levon Aronian will defend his title in a match against
Frenchman Etienne Bacrot.
In the Random Chess tournament held simultaneously in Mainz Vishvanatan
Anand of India overcame Azerbaijani Teimur Radjabov with the score 5:3.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“NKR IS FORMATED AND ANNNOUNCED AS AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC ON ITS LAND, WHICH HAS NOTHING COMMON WITH AZERBAIJAN”
ArmRadio.am
21.08.2006 09:49
“It is a fact that NKR is an independent and self-governmental republic
with state institutions and civic society. The Azerbaijanian government
can not accept this fact. The Azerbaijanian people have accepted this
fact long ago.
The government does not accept the NKR indepedance as in order to
stay in the government they have to look for external enimies and
have to load people with “all-national” problems. This is a strategy
which unfortunatly has justified itself. In reality I have not noticed
that the Azerbaijanian authorities have the wish to find the rational
solution of the problem”, said Arman Melikian, the counsellor of
foreign policy issues of the NKR President, to “Radionews” .
“I am more than confident: in order to solve the problem the NKR
participation is nessecary and there are also some other problems
which need to be disscused”, Melikian added.
“It is not new that Azerbaijan announces Nagorny Karabagh as a part
of Azerbaijan, but this is not the reality” told the former minister
of Foreign Affairs, now the counsellor of foreign policy issues of
the NKR President Arman Melikyan, evaluating the ordinary document
that Azerbaijan is spreading within UN.
The other day the minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Araz
Azimov announced that in September new proposals are awaited from
the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group and that this time “they will here
constructive suggestions”.
According to the words of the counsellor of foreign policy issues of
the NKR President it is good that Azimov has such an opinion but it
would be better if we could hear such words from the Co-chairs . “I
do not know maybe Azimov is the confidential person for them and he
has the “right of the first news” and he may announce the news to
the world”, said Arman Melikyan in sarcastic tone.
“Let the Co-chairs give their suggestions and we will see if it will
be in September or in January, the time and circumstances will show”,
he added.
Arman Melikyan also spoke about the caracterization of the suggestions
of the Co-chairs by Azimov as “constructive”, saying “As long as
I have noticed these past years the suggestions of the Co-chairs
have always been refused by Azerbaijan and I want to mention that
“constructiveness” is different for Azerbaijan than it is in our
imagination. We mix the reality with the desired”.
“I can agree that Azerbaijan does not want the existance of a second
or third Armenian State on their land. But NKR has been formed and
announced about itself on their land that has nothing common with
Azerbaijan,” mentioned the counsellor of the NKR President.
Speaking about the current status of the peace process, Arman Melikyan
expressed the opinion that there is nothing strange that Azerbaijan
and Kharabagh were against the suggestions of the Co-chairs, but
Armenia was not against with some abstemiousness.
“We have to take into account that the status of Armenia in this
negotiations is as much mediatory as the status of the Co-chairs
is. Armenia is interested in the protection of its national interests,
and on the other hand Armenia is interested in the quickening of the
peace process. In that sense the position of Armenia is milder.
Conerning some other problems, Arman Melikyan thinks that they can
be solved in the framework of Azerbaijan-NKR negotiations. There are
such problems where Armenia does not have the opportunity to tell
its opinion.
“For example, in the solving of the problem of the Armenian refugees of
Azerbaijan. This is a problem that NKR has to arise and to solve. Or
the problems concerning the territories under the control of NKR,
or the problems concerning the Azerbaijani internal displaced
persons. There is a package of Kharabagh-Azerbaijan bilateral
negotiations, formulated the counsellor of foreign policy issues of
the NKR President.
According to his considerations, superpowers and other interested big
centers have their strategy and as they tell it is easier to solve the
problem in the framework of bilateral that in trilateral negotiations,
but “I think that time will show that the negotiations have to be
continued in other framework and have to include other problems that
do not exist in the agenda now. I am more than sure that in order to
overcome the dead lock the participation of Kharabagh and disscusion
and solving of some other problems is mandatory “.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COUPLE ARRESTED FOR STEALING GOLD CHAINS FROM SHOP; EGYPTIAN GIRL FOILS MOLESTATION BID
Arab Times, Kuwait
Aug. 20, 2006
KUWAIT CITY: Police have arrested an Armenian couple for stealing gold
chains worth KD 1,400 from a jewelry shop in Fahaheel in addition
to 210 grams of gold from another shop, reports Al-Rai Al-Aam
daily. Acting on a complaint securitymen disguised as women set a
trap for the suspects and arrested them. During interrogation the
couple admitted to committing the crime and guided police to their
accomplices. However, the Al-Anba daily said one of the arrested
persons is a transvestite who distracted the salesman by pretending
to flirt with him while the other stole the gold.
The daily also said the suspects were caught red-handed when they
tried to play the same game with another gold shop in the area. The
salesman was suspicious of the couple and without their knowledge
called police. Meanwhile, police are looking for an unidentified
person for attempting to molest an Egyptian girl, reports Al-Rai
Al-Aam daily. In his complaint to police the girl’s father said
his daughter was on her way home from a club in Salmiya, when an
unidentified person laying in wait in a deserted area surprised her
and ordered her to remove her clothes. The girl screamed for help
and the panicked attacker escaped from the scene.
3 sought for shooting in air: Sulaibiya police are looking for three
unidentified persons for shooting in the air, reports Al-Rai Al-Aam
daily. The daily quoting eyewitness reports said the men were seen
driving in a black 4×4 vehicle. After receiving information about the
incident the Interior Ministry pressed a helicopter into service but
failed to nab the men. The daily quoting unidentified police source
said one of the suspects is wanted by law for a criminal offence
and the men allegedly fired in the air when they approached a police
checkpoint.
Meanwhile, another source said the three men might have been either
hunting for birds, trading in alcohol or even attempting to smuggle
weapons out of the country.
In other news, as police patrols searched for the ‘black’ vehicle, they
arrested two Lebanese men for photographing sensitive establishments
in the area and referred them to the State Security Department,
reports Al-Watan daily.
Maid missing in Egypt: A Kuwaiti woman has filed a missing persons
report on her Sri Lankan maid with the police in Alexandria, Egypt,
reports Al-Rai Al-Aam daily. The daily quoting the woman said the
family was vacationing in Egypt and the maid allegedly escaped from
‘home’ after picking up a quarrel with one of the members of the
family.
GTD prepares violators list: The General Traffic Department is
preparing a list of names of employees in governmental departments
who had earlier been fined for committing traffic violations,
reports Al-Watan daily. Traffic sources said letters have been sent
to employees requesting them to pay the fines before Sept 15, or they
will be referred to the Traffic Court. The sources added the GTD will
not entertain any transactions unless the fines are paid.
Woman foils kidnap bid: A Kuwaiti woman, in her 30s, recently field
a complaint with the Khaitan Police Station accusing an Iraqi man of
assaulting her following a vain attempt to kidnap her, reports Al-Rai
Al-Aam daily. The complainant told police the suspect, identified
only as K.S., forced her into his car and drove off to South Surra.
When she discovered his plans she resisted him and jumped from the
car. A Kuwaiti motorist drove her to the police station.
Cash, jewellery stolen: Police are looking for an unidentified
person for breaking into the home of a Kuwaiti man in Taima, Jahra
and stealing KD 5,800; 31 million Iraqi dinars, jewelry, a mobile
telephone and two Saudi passports, reports Al-Rai Al-Aam daily. The
victim said the suspect climbed the fence and entered his home.
Syrian boy drowns: A 14-year-old Syrian boy drowned off a beach in
Abu Halifa, reports Al-Rai Al-Aam daily. The daily quoting eyewitness
reports said the victim was swimming with two other compatriots and
when he cried for help they tried in vain to save him. Several men
enjoying an evening out on the beach rushed to the rescue of the two
other youths and pulled them to safety. The boys have been admitted
to the Adan Hospital. The Coast Guard patrol boats and Sea Rescue men
searched the area and found the corpse of the victim among the rocks
on the beach. It has been reported the victim was pulled under water
by strong currents.
Army man rescued: A first lieutenant in the Kuwait swimming off
a beach in Julaiya suddenly felt weak and could not swim himself
to the shore. He cried for help and his friends pulled him ashore,
reports Al-Watan daily. The daily without going into details said the
army man was rushed to a hospital for medical checkup. In a similar,
unrelated incident, a five-year-old Iranian boy was rescued by an
unidentified person while swimming in the sea off Blajat Street. The
boy was unconscious and was surprisingly floating on water, reports
Al-Anba daily. It has been reported the victim was with the family
enjoying an evening out when suddenly went missing and the family
raised an alarm. The boy has been referred to the Amiri Hospital.
Sponsor’s house set on fire: An unidentified Asian man has been
detained for interrogation for allegedly setting fire to his sponsor’s
house in Al-Rabiya, reports Al-Qabas daily. The daily quoting a
security source said the male servant had an argument with his boss –
the daily did not give details about the argument – and in revenge
set the house on fire. The Fire Service Directorate after receiving
news of the fire dispatched fire engines, moved the occupants of the
house to safety and put out the fire.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kucharian visits wind power plants built by Iran in Armenia
Mehr News Agency, Iran
Aug. 18, 2006
TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (MNA) – Robert Kocharian President of the Republic
of Armenia visited the wind power plants built by Iran in Armenia,
the Persian service of Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported
here on Friday.
The four power plants built by Iran have generated over 500,000
kilowatt/hours of electricity during the first half of the current
year, noted the Armenian president during his visit to the power
stations located in the Pushkin region of the Transcaucasian republic.
He pointed to another power plant also under construction by Iran in
Kurtan – one of the 107 villages of the Lori region in the northern
part of Armenia – and explained that the facility consisted of five
wind turbines with an annual capacity of 19.5 million kilowatts
of electricity.
There are 40 power plants currently operational in the republic,
he also commented adding that 30 more are expected to be added to
the figure.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. Not Take Notice Of Armenian Lobby’s Letter On Lebanon
Anatolian Times, Turkey
Aug. 18, 2006
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Department of State has not taken notice of
the letter of Armenian lobby –addressed to U.S. President George W.
Bush– requesting that Turkey should not participate in UN Peace
Force in Lebanon.
Replying to a question on the letter sent by Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian to U.S. President
Bush, State Department’s Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey said he did not
read the letter.
Stating that talks regarding peace force in Lebanon are under way at
the UN in New York, Casey noted that the U.S. administration wished
that countries which are eager to contribute to this force would be
included in negotiations, as well as Turkey.
ANCA’s letter claimed that Ottoman Empire ruled the Middle East
violently for centuries, asserting that Turkey’s participation in
peace force in Lebanon did not comply with national interests of the
United States.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress