Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIA AND PUTIN’S “VICTORY”

The Russian president will hold his next big press conference in the
second half of December. His press secretary Peskov has informed about
this. Peskov said Putin will hold a news conference after his annual
speech at the Russian Federal Duma.

Putin’s press conference in December will arouse interest in the
context of another event. On November 29 the EU and Ukraine are
expected to sign the Association Agreement in Vilnius. The EU is
also expected to initial the Association Agreement with Georgia
and Moldova. These events are highly important to Russia. Moscow
is trying to hold back the post-Soviet states, especially Ukraine
because its signing will be a great geopolitical loss for Armenia,
and it is not an exaggeration.

Currently, Moscow is doing everything it can to keep Kiev back. It does
not even refrain from bloodshed, given the recent mysterious incident
at the Russian-Ukrainian border when a suicide bomber illegally went
through the Russian border crossing point, and as he was stopped at
the Ukrainian BCP, he let the bomb go off and killed himself and the
border guards.

Ukraine is something like the last battle for Russia. Losing it will
be a psychological brunt to Moscow.

So far the Baltic States have escaped from Moscow’s orbit in the
post-soviet space, which was not psychologically difficult for Russia
because they have never been part of the Soviet Russian psychological
orbit.

Georgia has also partly escaped but Moscow tried to present it as
the consequence of Saakashvili’s mental state.

Ukraine is altogether different. Ukraine will thus aspire to leadership
in the post-soviet space. In other words, Ukraine is on the way to
becoming a state which chooses another path and claims to the role
of the locomotive for the other countries of the post-soviet space.

In fact, it will mark the end of the empire that Putin is still trying
to reconstruct.

Hence, it is interesting to wait to find out in what capacity Putin
will hold his press conference, as the restorer and emperor of the
USSR or as the commander who has lost the battle and whose biography
includes only one victory – the victory over Armenia.

In addition, this victory is also highly relative, like the one in
the Russian-Georgian war when Russia conquered by weapon what it had,
in fact, conquered earlier in the course of time, Abkhazia and Ossetia.

11:44 09/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

VAZGEN SAFARIAN DEFEND L’ADHESION DE L’ARMENIE DANS L’UNION DOUANIERE

ARMENIE

Le President de l’Union des producteurs domestiques armeniens Vazgen
Safarian a defendu la decision du President Sarkissian de faire de
l’Armenie un membre de l’union douanière dirigee par la Russie en
disant que cela va avoir un impact positif sur l’economie.

” L’adhesion a l’Union douanière va devenir un stimulant direct pour
le developpement de l’economie armenienne. Dans le passe recent,
nous avons partage avec la Russie un espace economique, culturel,
industriel et economique commun, nos usines ont travaille en utilisant
une technologie similaire ” a declare Vazgen Safarian.

Vazgen Safarian a ecarte les craintes infondees qu’en rejoignant
l’Union douanière l’Armenie perdra son independance politique.

” Aucun pays dans le monde, des Etats-Unis au Mozambique,
est absolument independant. Tous les pays sont dans une certaine
dependance economique, politique et militaro-strategique avec les
autres ” a-t-il dit.

Vazgen Safarian a dit que l’Armenie peut proposer a ses futurs
partenaires des produits agricoles, des produits industriels et des
produits textiles.

Il a ajoute que l’adhesion a l’Union douanière ne signifie pas que
l’Armenie devrait reduire ses liens avec l’Europe. ” Ceux qui sont
engages dans le commerce avec les pays de l’UE devraient continuer,
parce que l’Europe a besoin des biens que nous exportons, en
particulier du minerai et des matières premières ” a-t-il dit.

mercredi 9 octobre 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

JEUNE, ARMENIEN ET VACHEMENT DOUE

Jazz

Si l’on en croit la legende, vous chantiez deja du Led Zep en vous
accompagnant au piano… dès l’âge de 3 ans !

” Oui, c’est vrai. Mon père etait un grand fan de rock, et j’adorais
les disques de Led Zeppelin et Black Sabbath qu’il ecoutait a longueur
de journee ! ” Mais a l’epoque, vous viviez encore dans une petite
ville armenienne, en URSS… Comment s’etait-il procure les vinyles ?

” Ca, c’est une autre histoire ! J’imagine que sa collection lui
a coûte une fortune. ” Pourquoi le piano, et pas la guitare, si
votre première passion etait le rock ? ” Je grattouillais aussi un
peu de guitare… mais le piano me paraissait plus facile. Ensuite,
mes parents m’ont fait prendre des cours, et c’est parti. ”

Et a l’âge de 10 ans, vous aviez deja abandonne Deep Purple pour
Thelonious Monk… ” Ca, je le dois a mon premier prof de jazz ! Au
bout de huit mois, il a commence a me faire ecouter tous ces trucs
be-bop, et grâce a lui, j’ai compris très tôt ce qu’etait vraiment
le jazz. Ce prof etait un vrai genie ! ”

Vous avez perce sur le Vieux Continent, mais vivez desormais aux
Etats-Unis. Où vous sentez-vous le mieux, si tant est que cette
question se pose vraiment ?

lire la suite, voir lien plus bas

mercredi 9 octobre 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY NOW OPEN TO THE DIASPORA

Tuesday, October 8th, 2013

Distance Learning at Yerevan State University

Comprehensive distance learning program launched in Armenian Studies

YEREVAN-The Distance Learning Laboratory at Yerevan State University
(YSU) announced today the launch of DistanceLearning.am-a pioneering
program of English-language courses, which can be taken by anyone
with access to a computer.

“For too long our language, culture, and history have been kept in
select universities of the world,” said Dr. Artashes Khurshudyan,
director of the virtual program. “But now we must deliver to the demand
of the 21st century. Contemporary education itself must be democratized
and become as accessible as possible. This distance learning program
will also contribute to the dissemination of Armenian issues across
the world.”

For years the Distance Learning Laboratory, which is housed in the
Department of Sociology, has been developing this program-which is
the University’s first diaspora-oriented initiative. Now Armenians
everywhere are invited to take YSU-certified courses in the various
eras of Armenian History, Genocide, Comparative Genocide, and the
Armenian Diaspora. These have been developed by leading experts,
scholars, and professors from all over the world.

“DistanceLearning.am is a virtual university in itself,” Khurshudyan
added, “a virtual university where courses in Armenian Studies are
being taught 24 hours a day. At any moment anybody in the world can
walk into our university and begin or continue his education.”

WHY THE ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES NEED AN AMNESTY

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Oct 8 2013

8 October 2013 – 8:17am

Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

The Armenian parliament approved the presidential proposal on amnesty
devoted to the 22nd anniversary of Armenia’s Independence Day. The
speaker Ovik Abramyan stressed that amnesty is “an act of humanity,
which will contribute to the improvement of an atmosphere of tolerance
and consolidation in the society.” The amnesty will affect 1200
prisoners, 500 of whom will be released almost immediately.

Development of the draft took little time. On September 30th President
Serge Sargsyan presented the proposal for a discussion, and on October
1st the parliamentary commission on state legal affairs adopted it.

The next day a discussion took place at a plenary session, and on
October 3rd MPs voted for the draft. The haste can be explained by
an attempt to create a positive background for Sargsyan’s visit to
France – he met Francois Hollande and the chairman of the Senate and
spoke at the PACE session.

However, this is only the surface. In five years it is the third
amnesty in Armenia. Just like amnesties of 2009 and 2011, the amnesty
is aimed at reduction of internal political tension which appeared
due to presence of political prisoners.

As the result of previous amnesties under pressure of local social
activists and international organizations many representatives of
the opposition were released. They were accused of prevention of the
presidential elections of 2008, organization of riots on March 1st,
2008. During trials all accusations were disapproved, because in most
cases they were based on testimonial evidence of policemen.

The acutest question in the current amnesty is whether it will touch
on four activists of the opposition party the Armenian National
Congress, who are accused of street crime; four of them are released
on their own recognizance, and the fourth, Tigran Arakelyan (he is
also accused of obstructing an officer) is serving 6-year sentence
in prison. Arakelyan and his lawyers have many times stated that his
case is a frame-up and is based on testimonial evidence of policemen.

The ANC presented a statement which is based on the Resolution 1900
of the PACE on criteria of defining political prisoners that the whole
situation with Arakelyan enables calling him a political prisoner.

The trial over the ANC activists became well-known due to intensive
activity of ANC representatives in the Council of Europe and Armenia.

Every week protests demanding the release of Arakelyan take place near
the building of the Genral Prosecution. Last month MPs from Prosperous
Armenia, Heritage, Dashnaktsutyun, and the ANC stated on their demand
to release the political prisoner. The opposition organized collecting
signatures in Arakelyan’s support. 110 representatives of intelligent
society, including writers, film directors, musicians, journalists,
and social activists signed the statement.

Despite numerous reforms in the justice system, the main problem
hasn’t been solved. Armenian courts are still a tool in hands of the
executive power. According to human rights activists, the justice
system continues implementing political orders of the power.

Likely the current amnesty, like two previous ones, will be not only
an effective measure to shut down questions on political prisoners,
but also an attempt to save the face of the justice system, as few
people believe in it.

VIKTOR SADOVNICHY: “SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS UNIVERSITIES”

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Oct 8 2013

8 October 2013 – 10:27am
Interview by Vestnik Kavkaza

On October 11-13 Moscow will host the 8th Festival of Science. The
president of Moscow State University (MSU), Viktor Sanovnichiy,
invited pupils, students, scientists, and everybody who finds science
interesting to it. The main platform, the intellectual center is
the Fundamental library of MSU. Viktor Sadonvnichiy told journalists
about the festival and science in general.

– What do you think will be the most interesting thing at the Festival
of Science?

– I wish I could listen to the lectures of leading scientists. They
will speak about the latest innovations, discoveries in the
modern science. I think I will have an opportunity to watch all
expositions. It is always a pleasure. I watch them before the opening
ceremony. It is too little time to see everything. I am interested in
projects by young scientists and in projects which can be touched –
a vehicle or a virtual experiment, a virtual room; I am also interested
in serious abstract lectures.

You should come to the Festival of Science because you will learn
a lot there. Science is your future. Think about your future, come
to the Festival of Science, enjoy the science, be a scientist or a
person who appreciates and supports science.

– Why should science be promoted?

– It should be promoted to make it live and develop. When we speak
about promotion, we try to attract young people to understanding of
certain scientific events, discoveries. If the youth come to science,
science will have the future. Moreover, promotion of science is needed
for the society to understand that science should be supported, that
state resources which are spent on science are used effectively. It
is very important as well. The society should understand that it
supports its future by paying taxes.

– Please tell us about the most interesting experiment in your
childhood.

– I had postwar childhood, and we dreamt about photo cameras.

I heard about the camera FED and decided to made my own camera, to
copy FED. I made a frame, found a lens from a binocular, there were
a lot of them after the war, made a mechanism of rolling a film stock
from sewing spools and bought a photo film. Our group went hiking. And
our supervisor told me to shoot the most interesting moments of the
hike. It was 1953 or 1954, you can imagine how we lived then. I made
some pictures, but when I processed the film, all pictures were out of
focus. When our supervisor I asked me to give him the photos as a gift,
I was shy and didn’t want to do this because the photos were out of
focus. Finally I agreed and gave away the photos. But our supervisor
was a very good teacher and he said: “The photos are lovely!” It was
my first serious invention – a handmade camera.

– How does science develop in the Caucasus?

– There are several wonderful universities in the Caucasus. I
would like to mention the one I know the best – Kabardino-Balkaria
University; it has a nice president Barasbi Karamurzov. I have visited
the university and its innovative expositions. There are many good
discoveries, good exhibitions and results. We are connected with the
university in the sphere of studying mountains. There is a station on
Elbrus where we are working together, geographers and physicians. It
is about studying particles. There are other strong universities
in Dagestan, North Ossetia. At the same time, due to some reasons
development of universities in regions should be supported. It concerns
not only a university. It is more than a university. It is a cultural
center, a bond in the region, a bond which unites Russian regions. We
need a special program and pay special attention to development of
the North Caucasus universities. A lot is being done, but we need more.

– Are there any joint scientific projects with countries of the
South Caucasus?

– We have very nice relations with Abkhazia, we have signed a treaty
with Sukhumi University, we have a powerful base there. In Azerbaijan
we have a branch of Moscow State University in Baku, one of the
strongest branches of MSU. I will fly to Baku soon. We will open a
branch in Yerevan, it will be another point. We are ready to build
relations with other countries, including Georgia.

– What are the most striking scientific discoveries of recent years
for you?

– For sure, they are in the science of life. A great breakthrough
in genetics, understanding of life materials and life organisms has
been achieved. The fact that we are close to understanding how life
appeared and why human being appeared in its form is an achievement
of our scientists. I think the biggest breakthroughs will be connected
with biology, genetics, cognitive sciences. And of course microphysics
achieved great results. The most striking is discovery of black holes;
science explains appearance of the universe.

IRANIAN, LEBANESE MPS CONFER ON LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN SYRIA

FARS News Agency, Iran
October 7, 2013 Monday

TEHRAN (FNA)- Senior Iranian and Lebanese lawmakers, in a meeting
in Tehran, discussed the latest developments in Syria, and stressed
the need for the peaceful settlement of the ongoing bloodshed in the
Muslim country as soon as possible.

Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign
Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi Sunday conferred with Hagop
Pakradounian, an Armenian deputy in Lebanon’s parliament, on the
necessity of finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Syria.

Boroujerdi said that Iran and Lebanon share a common stance on
developments in Syria. “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s approach is
based on promoting sustainable peace and security in the region and
across the world,” the Iranian lawmaker added. The Lebanese MP, for
his part, said that his country supports Iran’s efforts to promote
regional peace and security and believes that Tehran has played a
very constructive role in averting war in the crisis-stricken country.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized
attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border
guards being reported across the country. Hundreds of people, including
members of the security forces, have been killed, when some protest
rallies turned into armed clashes. The government blames outlaws,
saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups for the deaths, stressing that
the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad. Tel Aviv, Washington
and some Arab capitals have been staging various plots to topple
President Bashar al-Assad, who is well known in the world for his
anti-Israeli stances. Â Â Â

TURKS IRKED AS ARMENIAN CHURCH PLANS TO CANONIZE VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Jihad Watch
Oct 7 2013

Islamic supremacists never, ever take responsibility for their own
actions. The Turks are enraged because the Armenians are daring to
tell the truth about what the Turks continue to deny. “Armenian Church
to canonize martyrs of genocide. Ankara unhappy,” by NAT da Polis
for Asia News, October 7, spelling and grammar as in the original
(thanks to C. Cantoni):

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – In a move that has surprised Turkey , the
Armenian Church is going to proceed with the canonization of the
victims of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish State in
1915, using Kurdish laborers for the massacres. The scientifically
perpetrated genocide by, is described by the Turkish historian Taner
Akcam as “A shameful act ” (the title of his book ) . But the Ankara
government has never recognized it and rejects the definition of
” genocide.”

Sources quoted by Turkish newspapers say the canonization will take
place in 2015, the centenary of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians
killed in Asia Minor.

The main source of this news is ASAM, The research center of Turkey’s
Eurasian strategy , according to which the great synod of the Armenian
Church was summoned to Yerevan the capital of ‘ Armenia. There is one
important fact: for the first time after 400 years – that is, after
1651 – bishops who came from all over the world attended this synod:
a real novelty in the history of the Armenian Church.

The synod – held at the end of September – was attended by the
Archbishop of Etsmiatzin , (considered the most sacred city for
Armenians ), the Armenian Archbishop of Lebanon, where there is also
a large community, which escaped the genocide ; the bishops of the
United States, Jerusalem , South America, France and the places where
there are Armenian communities of the Diaspora.

During the gathering the decision was made to canonize all the victims
of ‘ horrific genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans first and then the
Turks of Kemal Ataturk . The canonization will follow the formula of
the tradition of the Eastern Churches, which is the proclaiming of
the saints , stating the name of the place of martyrdom and not the
names of the individuals.

The decision of the Armenian synod has shaken Turkey. The President of
ASAM , Omer Ozkaya , says the decision has political motivations and he
points out that all the bishops of the Armenian Church gathered for the
first time after 400 years in order to give maximum visibility to the
“alleged” (according to the Turkish ) Armenian Genocide , proceeding to
the canonization of victims of genocide. Omer Ozkaya noted, however,
that in this way , the Armenians , give another religious , dimension
to the dispute between Diaspora communities and Turkey.

Another fact that has not escaped notice is that the synod was
convened in religious heart of Armenia, Etsimiatzin , which is the
great religious reference point for Armenians .

ARMENIAN CHURCH TO CANONIZE MARTYRS OF GENOCIDE. ANKARA UNHAPPY

AsiaNews, Italy
Oct 7 2013

by NAT da Polis
The ceremony should take place in 2015 , the centenary of the genocide
of 1.5 million Armenians. Armenian bishops from around the world
at the synod which decided the canonization. The tensions between
Armenia and Turkey take on “religious” character.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) – In a move that has surprised Turkey , the
Armenian Church is going to proceed with the canonization of the
victims of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish State in
1915, using Kurdish laborers for the massacres. The scientifically
perpetrated genocide by, is described by the Turkish historian Taner
Akcam as “A shameful act ” (the title of his book ) . But the Ankara
government has never recognized it and rejects the definition of
” genocide.”

Sources quoted by Turkish newspapers say the canonization will take
place in 2015, the centenary of the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians
killed in Asia Minor.

The main source of this news is ASAM, The research center of Turkey’s
Eurasian strategy , according to which the great synod of the Armenian
Church was summoned to Yerevan the capital of ‘ Armenia. There is one
important fact: for the first time after 400 years – that is, after
1651 – bishops who came from all over the world attended this synod:
a real novelty in the history of the Armenian Church.

The synod – held at the end of September – was attended by the
Archbishop of Etsmiatzin , (considered the most sacred city for
Armenians ), the Armenian Archbishop of Lebanon, where there is also
a large community, which escaped the genocide ; the bishops of the
United States, Jerusalem , South America, France and the places where
there are Armenian communities of the Diaspora.

During the gathering the decision was made to canonize all the victims
of ‘ horrific genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans first and then the
Turks of Kemal Ataturk . The canonization will follow the formula of
the tradition of the Eastern Churches, which is the proclaiming of
the saints , stating the name of the place of martyrdom and not the
names of the individuals.

The decision of the Armenian synod has shaken Turkey. The President of
ASAM , Omer Ozkaya , says the decision has political motivations and he
points out that all the bishops of the Armenian Church gathered for the
first time after 400 years in order to give maximum visibility to the
“alleged” (according to the Turkish ) Armenian Genocide , proceeding to
the canonization of victims of genocide. Omer Ozkaya noted, however,
that in this way , the Armenians , give another religious , dimension
to the dispute between Diaspora communities and Turkey.

Another fact that has not escaped notice is that the synod was
convened in religious heart of Armenia, Etsimiatzin , which is the
great religious reference point for Armenians .

LEVON ARONYAN PLAYED DRAW IN GRAND SLAM 1ST ROUND

00:33, 8 October, 2013

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: The leader of the Armenian National
Chess Men team, the triple Olympic Chess Champion, the Grand Master
Levon Aronyan shared his point in the first round of the Grand Slam
6th tournament (Chess Masters Final) taking place on October 7-13
2013 in Bilbao, Spain. As reported by Armenpress, the opponent of
Levon Aronyan was Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. On the 43rd move the chess
players shared points.

The tournament will have six rounds.

In the FIDE October rankings Levon Aronyan was on the third
horizontal. The Armenian Grand Master had 2795 points.

Earlier Armenpress reported that the game “Chess with Levon Aronyan”,
developed by the Armenian programmers, is ready. The game is based
on the moves of Levon Aronyan’s games, which make the game closer
to the Grand Master’s style. The player selects the age of Aronyan
to play with. According to the programmers, the game presents Levon
Aronyan at the age from 10 to 31. During the game the participant is
provided with the opportunity to select one of the six chess boards
and the color of the figures – black or white. The game “Chess with
Levon Aronyan” has been designed for iPhones and iPods.

Aronyan won the Chess World Cup 2005. He led the Armenian national
team to the Gold medals in the 2006 (Turin), 2008 (Dresden) and 2012
(Istanbul) Chess Olympics and at the World Team Chess Championship
in Ningbo 2011. He won the FIDE Grand Prix 2008-2010, qualifying
him for the Candidates tournament for the World Chess Championship
2012, where he was knocked out in the first round. He was also World
Chess960 Champion in 2006 and 2007, World Rapid Chess Champion in 2009,
and World Blitz Chess Champion in 2010.

Aronyan was declared the best sportsman of Armenia in 2005 and was
awarded the title of “Honored Master of Sport of the Republic of
Armenia” in 2009.

Aronyan was born on 6 October 1982 in Yerevan, Armenia. He was taught
to play chess by his sister Lilit at the age of nine. His first coach
was the Grand Master Melikset Khachiyan. An early sign of his ability
came when he won the 1994 World Youth Chess Championship (under-12)
in Szeged with 8/9, ahead of future luminaries Etienne Bacrot, Ruslan
Ponomariov, Francisco Vallejo Pons, and Alexander Grischuk.

Aronyan holds a diploma from the Armenian State Institute of Physical
Culture.

Aronyan played for Armenia in the Chess Olympiads of 1996, 2004,
2006, 2008, and 2010. He took team bronze medal in 2004 and team
gold medal in 2006, 2008 and 2012. In the 2010 Chess Olympiad he won
the silver medal for his individual performance on board one. He was
a member of the gold-medal winning Armenian team at the World Team
Chess Championship in 2011.

© 2009 ARMENPRESS.am