Author: Kalantarian Kevo

INCIDENT: AUSTRIAN A321 NEAR BUCHAREST ON AUG 4TH 2012, VALVE PROBLEM

The Aviation Herald

Aug 6 2012

By Simon Hradecky, created Monday, Aug 6th 2012 15:45Z, last updated
Monday, Aug 6th 2012 15:45Z

An Austrian Airlines Airbus A321-100, registration OE-LBA performing
flight OS-641 from Vienna (Austria) to Yerevan (Armenia) with 180
passengers, was enroute at FL330 about 60nm northeast of Bucharest
(Romania) when the crew decided to turn around and return to Vienna
after consultation with the airline’s dispatch and maintenance over
a faulty valve aboard. The aircraft landed safely on Vienna’s runway
11 about 110 minutes later.

A replacement A321-200 registration OE-LBF departed the following
morning and reached Yerevan with a delay of 12 hours.

The airline told Austrian Wings the crew decided to return after
consultation with maintenance and dispatch because there was no
maintenance personnel available in Yerevan who were licensed to
perform the necessary checks.

ARMENIAN AIRLINE RETURNS SUKHOI SUPERJET 100 DUE TO REPAIRS

MI News 26

Aug 6 2012
MI

POSTED August 6, 2012 BY BNO News 0 Comments

YEREVAN, ARMENIA (BNO NEWS) — Armenian airline Armavia has decided
to return its Sukhoi Superjet 100 because the new aircraft is below
the required standards, local media reported on Monday, in what is
a major blow for the Russian aircraft manufacturer which is still
working to overcome a deadly plane crash earlier this year.

Armavia was the launch customer for the Sukhoi Superjet 100, the first
civil aircraft to be built by a Russian aircraft manufacturer since
the fall of the Soviet Union. The airline received the aircraft in
April 2011 and used it for flights from Armenia to Ukraine and to
the Russian cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sochi.

An Armavia spokeswoman told the Arka and RIA Novosti news agencies on
Monday that the airline has decided to return the aircraft because it
was below the previously declared standards and also required repairs.

“We consider it inappropriate to purchase a plane which requires
repairs during its first year in service,” she said.

A source with knowledge about the situation told a Russian newspaper
earlier on Monday that Armavia is a relatively small airline and cannot
afford to make experiments. Armavia President Mikhail Baghdasarov
earlier also expressed discontent over the relationship with Sukhoi
and complained spare parts for the Superjet 100 are more expensive
than similar spare parts for Western aircraft.

Armavia was also scheduled to receive a second Superjet 100 last
year, but the process was dragged out until June of this year when
the airline said it will not buy the second aircraft and instead opt
to purchase a Western aircraft. Both planes are currently at a Sukhoi
flight test facility near Moscow, where the first Armavia aircraft
was undergoing regularly scheduled maintenance.

Armavia’s refusal of the medium-haul aircraft could prove to be a
major blow for Sukhoi, which delivered its tenth production aircraft
to Russian airline Aeroflot late last month. Aeroflot, which operates
all but one of the Superjet 100s currently in operation, previously
ordered a total of 30 Superjet 100 aircraft and intends to buy 10 more.

Sukhoi is still attempting to overcome a deadly crash in May, when a
Superjet 100 crashed into a cliff on Mount Salak near the Indonesian
capital of Jakarta, killing all 45 people on board. The aircraft
was participating in Sukhoi’s “Welcome Asia” roadshow to promote the
Superjet 100 to airlines in a number of Asian countries.

The cause of the accident in May remains unknown, but investigators are
focusing on pilot error and technical failure as two possibilities. If
Indonesian investigators determine the cause to be the latter, demand
for the Superjet 100 could be wiped out.

Sukhoi began the certification process in Indonesia last week, and the
decision by the country’s aviation authority will determine whether
the Superjet 100 will be allowed to operate in Indonesian airspace.

Indonesian airlines Sky Aviation and Kartika have already ordered
42 Superjet 100 aircraft, with the first delivery to Sky Aviation
expected later this year.

The Superjet 100 was also certified by the Aviation Authority of
Mexico in late April, allowing it to operate in the country without
limitations. Mexican airline Interjet signed a contract with Sukhoi
in January 2011 to purchase 15 Superjet 100 aircraft, and the delivery
of the first aircraft is scheduled for the end of this year.

EurasiaNet.org, NY
Aug 5 2012

Photos: Faces of Nagorno Karabakh

Residents in the Caucasus breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh voted
in elections for the de-facto president on July 20.

EurasiaNet.org contributing photojournalist Anahit Hayrapetyan, who
lives in Yerevan, is originally from a village in Nagorno Karabakh.
She returned to her native region to document the de-facto
presidential election. This is a collection of Polaroid portraits
taken of Nagorno Karabakh residents before and on election day.

Watch the photos at

Hurriyet, Turkey
Aug 6 2012

Camp to gather kids of different ethnic groups

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish Red Crescent set for a gathering which will bring the children
from different ethnic groups such as Turks, Kurds, Syriacs and
Armenians under a project called `Traces of Multicultural Life’ in
Heybeliada island.

According to the project the children would be instructed on various
subjects such as Red Crescent philosophy, tolerance and living
together during the camp. The children will teach their own customs
and traditions to each other. DAILY NEWS photo.

Vercihan ZiflioÄ[email protected]

A youth camp on Heybeliada island is preparing to host 80 children
between the ages of 12 and 15 for a unique gathering bringing together
many different ethnic groups under the auspices of the Turkish Red
Crescent.

Avedis Hilkat, who is the chief executive officer of the Red
Crescent’s branch on the Princes’ Islands, said he was extremely
excited to bring something new to Turkey.

`As the Red Crescent, we want all the colors of Turkey to get to know
each other from their childhood, including Turks, Kurds, Armenians,
Greeks, Syriacs, Jews, Chaldeans, and Circassians. We will try to show
that differences create this country’s wealth,’ Hilkat said.

The Heybeliada Youth Camp will host youth from Turkey as part of a
project called the `Traces of Multicultural Life.’ A unit of experts
consisting of 20 people will accompany the children during the camp.
`Adalar district [the islands’ jurisdiction] houses all the
differences in a peaceful and multicultural atmosphere, regardless of
distinctions such as Muslim vs. non-Muslim,’ Hilkat said, adding that
that they chose Heybeliada to host the camp for that reason. Hilkat
said their point of departure was the proverb `As the twig is bent, so
grows the tree.’ `We aim to teach our children solidarity, love and
friendship regardless of differences in religion, language, and race,
which is in accordance with the philosophy of the Red Crescent. Their
socializing with each other at that age will change their worldview
and bring them different perspectives. Not only Turkish children, but
also our children belonging to different cultures will realize that
each of them is an integral part of a whole,’ Hilkat said. The Red
Crescent official said the children would be instructed on various
subjects such as Red Crescent philosophy, tolerance and living
together during the camp. `Plays will be staged, pantomime shows will
be held, and the children will teach their own customs and traditions
to each other. Also they will get to know all the islands [in Adalar
district], starting with Heybeliada,’ Hilkat said. The camp will be
held between Aug. 9 and 18 this year and is expected to become a
yearly event.

Children from Adıyaman and Å?emdinli first guests
Hilkat said the camp land was bought by the Red Crescent last year and
had a 120-person capacity and added that it would host children from
Istanbul and Anatolia. The first guests from Anatolia will come from
the eastern localities of Adıyaman and Å?emdinli.

He also said they were holding negotiations with the governors of
different provinces, patriarchates and spiritual leaders for minority
communities. `We have received positive reactions from both official
channels and families for the project,’ Hilkat said.

August/06/2012

Fresno Bee , CA
Aug 5 2012

St. Paul Armenian Church holds ‘Blessing of the Grapes’

The Fresno Bee
Sunday, Aug. 05, 2012

The Reverend Father Arshen Aivazian of Saint Paul Armenian Church
blessed boxes of table grapes at the California Armenian Home during
the annual “Blessing of the Grapes” Sunday afternoon.

The “Blessing of the Grapes” is an annual event that is performed on
the Sunday closest to the 15th of August and signifies the feast for
the assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Armenians consider grapes to be the queen of all fruit since wine
comes from it and wine to Christians signifies the blood of Christ.

The event is one of two blessings, with a second by Holy Trinity
Armenian Apostolic Church at the same place a week later, on Aug. 12.

Saint Paul’s blessing took place after Divine Liturgy service and was
followed by a picnic on the California Armenian Home’s grounds.

Photo: JOHN WALKER/THE FRESNO BEE The Reverend Father Arshen Aivazian
of Saint Paul Armenian Church blesses boxes of table grapes at the
California Armenian Home, during the annual ÔBlessing of the Grapes,Õ
Sunday afternoon. The ‘Blessing of the Grapes’ is an annual event
which is performed on the Sunday closest to the 15th of August and
signifies the feast for the assumption of the Virgin Mary. Armenians
consider grapes to be the queen of all fruit since wine comes from it
and wine to Christians signifies the blood of Christ. The event is one
of two blessing with a second by Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic
Church at the same place a week later, on August 12. Saint PaulÕs
blessing took place after Divine Liturgy service and was followed by a
picnic on the California Armenian Home’s grounds

Greco-Roman wrestling: Roman Vlasov wins 74kg gold

Reigning world champion Roman Vlasov of Russia beat Armenia’s Arsen
Julfalakyan to take the men’s 74kg Greco-Roman wrestling gold.

Vlasov, 21, showed maturity beyond his years in spoiling and repelling
Julfalakyan’s assaults and scoring the minimum needed to win the
final.

A gut wrench took the first period for the Russian with a par terre
defence in the second securing the contest.

Former Commonwealth Games wrestler “Roman Vlasov showed his class. He
wasn’t interested in attacking at all – he took it to par terre and,
as he is so fit and agile, the world champion became the Olympic
champion. He’s a classy Russian.”
Julfalakyan, whose father won gold in Seoul in 1988, took the silver medal.

Vlasov beat the long-time world number one Selcuk Cebi in his rival’s
home town of Istanbul in 2011 to win the World Championship, and
followed it up this year with the European title in March.

Julfalakyan, meanwhile, had not lost a period en route to the final,
so both wrestlers entered ExCel Centre in good form.

But Vlasov dominated, his height advantage accompanied by better
balance and more finesse, while Julfalakyan’s bullying style only
achieved so much. After two periods the gold was very much the
Russian’s.

The two bronzes in the 74kg division were awarded to Aleksandr
Kazakevic of Lithuania and Emin Ahmadov of Azerbaijan.

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: “IT IS TOO EARLY TO SPEAK ABOUT ASAAD’S REPLACEMENT BY THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD”

Vestnik Kavkaza
Aug 3 2012
Russia

Interview by David Stepanyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK

The Head of the Oriental Studies Institute of the Armenian Academy
of Sciences, Professor Ruben Safrastyan, told VK about the reasons
for the Syrian crisis, the Iranian and Kurdish factors in further
developments in the Middle East and the fate of Syrian Armenians.

– Many Armenians have already left Syria. Do you see a threat of
elimination of the Armenian diaspora in Syria?

– According to reports coming from Syria, the situation around the
Armenian diaspora is difficult there. People are becoming victims
of the military operations taking place in the country. There is
information on the deaths of Armenians. It is no surprise that people
prefer to leave Armenia. According to official sources, more than 2
thousand people have already returned. The number of Armenians coming
from Syria will increase, but there are no reasons for a mass exodus
of Armenians from Syria. For decades the Armenian diaspora has been
living in Syria in peace and prosperity. Now Armenians are under
constant danger. And until this danger disappears, the Armenians who
have left won’t come back to Syria.

– After withdrawal of government troops, Syrian Kurds living in the
northern-west of the country took control of the border with Turkey
and several northern provinces of Syria. Considering the nervous
reaction of Ankara, the withdrawal of Syrian troops was deliberate…

– I think this was another tactical step by President Assad, who
opened the Syrian border with Iraq and Turkey to enable him to use
the Kurdish card in the struggle against Turkey. On the other hand,
the Kurdish organizations acting on the territory of Syria strive
for autonomy within Syria, but in the future they might strive for
independence. The number of Kurds is not so big, about 1.5 million,
i.e. less than 10% of the Syrian population. They have close relations
with Iraqi Kurdistan, headed by Barzani. As for the Turkish concerns
expressed by Premier Recep Erdogan, they are reasonable. A second
Kurdish autonomy is a serious threat to Turkey. At the same time,
militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party fighting Turkey are active
in Syria. The example of Iraqi Kurdistan, where bases of the PKK
are situated, proves that after withdrawal of Syrian troops from
the Turkish-Syrian border the militants of the PKK will have the
opportunity to penetrate Turkey from Syria without any obstacles.

– But the PKK was active on the territory of Alawi Syria before the
actual opening of the borders…

– It had bases in Syria before. But Turkey made a reckless step in
standing against Assad. Ankara’s policy doesn’t rely on any current
geopolitical or simply political realities. An attempt to boost its
regional influence at such a time is reckless. It led to an improvement
of the Kurdish factor.

– Why is the replacement of the predictable Assad by unpredictable
Islamists beneficial for the West?

– First of all, the anti-Assad position of the USA is based on
geopolitical aspects. An Alawi and Shia-dominated Syria provided an
independent policy based on cooperation with Shia Iran and Russia to
some extent. Therefore, overthrowing Assad will lead to a weakening
of Iran’s positions in the Middle East, as well as Russia’s positions.

This is one of the main aims of American foreign policy. At the
same time, the US is seriously trying to build relations with
the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Syria. But it is too early to
speak about the replacement of Assad by the Muslim Brotherhood. The
information war around Syria should be taken into consideration, as
many events are exaggerated artificially. Assad manages to maintain
the government structure and control over the army. It is obvious
that the West and some Arab countries won’t have a legitimate right to
interfere in Syrian affairs. The riots in Syria have internal economic
reasons of course. And if the regime of Assad falls, the political
structure of post-Assad Syria will include the Muslim Brotherhood
and representatives of the pro-Western Syrian intelligentsia living
in the West today.

– Do you think the US strives to overthrow Assad as part of a chain
leading to the overthrow of the Ayatollahs’ in Iran?

– The US supports the rebels in destabilizing the situation in Syria
because they strive to eliminate the Ayatollah’s power in Iran. Today
the US, Israel, and some Arab countries are providing a policy of
isolating Iran. Meanwhile, the intelligence services of Israel and
the US have no evidence that Iran is enriching uranium for military
purposes. Overthrowing the Syrian government will play a big role in
isolating Iran.

NO ‘SAFE HAVEN’ FOR SYRIA’S CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: MANCHESTER LECTURER ANALYSES DILEMMA OF ALEPPO’S REFUGEES
By Mihaela Ivantcheva

Mancunian Matters

Aug 3 2012
UK

No neighbouring country can offer Syria’s Christian refugees a ‘safe
haven’, a Manchester University lecturer is claiming, as fighting
rages on in the northern city of Aleppo.

Neither Turkey nor Lebanon can offer secure refuge to Aleppo’s
Christian population and the prospects of Syria’s division between
Sunni and Shi’ite threatens Syrian Christian’s freedom, analyses Dr
Emma Loosley, Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester.

Dr Loosley, an archaeologist and historian, who lived in a monastic
community in Syria for three years, said: “It it is inconceivable
that any neighbouring nation – especially Turkey – can offer a safe
haven for Christian refugees.”

She said that most Christians were descended from twentieth-century
refugees from what is now Turkey, fleeing from the Armenian Genocide
of 1915 and its aftermath. According to her, Aleppo has now Syria’s
largest Christian population.

“Many of Aleppo’s Christians remember their parents and grandparents
recounting stories of what happened. The Syrian Orthodox population
who spoke an Armenian dialect in Edessa and inter-married with their
Armenian neighbours, lost hundreds of thousands in the massacres,”
she said.

“More recent immigrants have fled, almost to the present day, to avoid
the cultural genocide of their people as the Turkish government have
forbidden them to teach their children in their own language, Turoyo,
a modern Syriac dialect, and have done everything they can to obstruct
Christian worship.

“So there is no over-estimating the trauma inflicted by the Ottoman
Empire and early Turkish Republic on the Christians of Syria. It is
misguided to expect Syrian Christians to see Turkey as a place of
refuge from the current civil war.”

Dr Loosley’s analysis goes on to say that Lebanon remained ‘an
unpalatable choice’ for Syrian Christians due to anti-Syrian feelings
among many sectors of Lebanese society.

“While the West seeks to draw Turkey ever closer into military
alliances and the EU dangles the carrot of European Union membership
in front of the Turkish government, the periodic insistence of the
French Government in asking for recognition of the Armenian Genocide
is pushed under the carpet by other nations,” she said.

Dr Loosley thinks that the passivity of the Christian community is
caused by ‘fear and psychological trauma’.

“Some believe that Syria will be ultimately divided into Sunni and
Shi’ite ‘spheres of influence’. This is terrifying for Christians,
who believe the resulting Saudi, Iranian and Turkish influences would
end their freedom to worship and full citizenship of Syrian society,”
she added.

Latest news from the embattled city of Aleppo says that intense
explosions have erupted along Syria’s border with Turkey as fighting
between rebels and the Assad regime continues to rage.

ANNAN’S RESIGNATION OPENS DOOR TO SYRIA MILITARY INTERVENTION – RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
August 3, 2012 – 13:04 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The resignation of UN and Arab League envoy to Syria
Kofi Annan “opens the gates” for backers of a military intervention
into the Arab state to force out the ruling authorities, Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday, August 3,
RIA Novosti said.

Annan, who assumed his post in February and authored a six-point peace
plan aimed at ending the Syrian conflict, announced on Thursday that
he would quit by the end of the month citing the deadlock at the UN
Security Council over ways to resolve the current political crisis
in the country.

“Annan’s decision against extending his mandate as the UN envoy to
Syria raises loads of questions regarding the future of this country.

He is an honest international mediator but someone wants to push
him out of the game to open the gates for forceful actions. This is
obvious,” Gatilov wrote in his Twitter account.

Since March 2011, the Syrian conflict has claimed 14,000-20,000 lives,
according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups. The West
is pushing for President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, while Russia and
China are trying to prevent outside interference in Syria saying the
Assad regime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed.

ROCK FANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BEAUTIFUL PROJECT VIDEO SHOOTINGS

ARMENPRESS
AUGUST 3, 2012
YEREVAN

Yerevan, August 3, ARMENPRESS: The Beautiful Project Armenian
rock band video shootings will be held at the American University
of Armenia-related distribution on August 3. In the interview with
“Armenpress” the band founder Andre Simonyan noted that such a project
with the participation of fans has not been implemented in Armenia yet.

“The first part of Bleak music video was shot in Los Angeles, in the
second part of filming, we decided to include the Armenian rock fans”,
mentioned Simonyan. To his word the project has an original meaning,
as it will depict the real life with real rockers’ participation.

Everyone who wants can feel free to participate in the video shooting.

The Beautiful Project rock band was founded in 2005: it is one of
the most popular Armenian rock bands, the videos of which were first
shown on MTV British versions.