Author: Kanayan Tamar

ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA HOSTS ROBOTICS DAY EVENT

May 3, 2013 – 14:34 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On May 3, the Yerevan State Engineering University
of Armenia hosted Robotics Day event.

Students from AYB high school robotics group, who had won a special
prize at the robotics contest in the U.S., presented their firefighter,
line-tracking and minesweeper robots, as well as power electronics
scheme for managing a mining machine.

Students from Polytechnic basic college introduced the cake cutting
robot, bridge passing and mouse hunting robot.

Nairi educational consortium presented a 3D printer and a CNC.

ArtinVaroujan company presented arduino and the Armenian production
platforms ‘Nairi.

Symotec company demonstrated the educational robot set sponsored
by Cronimet charity foundation that will be provided to 50 Armenian
communities in the framework of the pilot project aiming at creating
robotics groups.

In the future it is planned to establish similar groups in all schools
of Armenia.

During the event, the registration for the Robots in Everyday Life
ideas competition, as well as Minesweeper Robot and Object-Collector
Robot contests was announced. This year the competition will be
implemented as part of ArmRobotics that aims at promoting the
establishment of relevant organizations in the field.

Everyone wishing to participate can register within two months,
introduce their ideas into engineering projects and submit to the
contest jury. The best 5 or 8 concepts will be provided with the
necessary spare parts in order to bring their projects into life and
design the robots.

ArmRobotics is organized by the Union of Information Technology
Enterprises (UITE). VivaCell-MTS is the general sponsor.

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“HRAPARAK”: OFFICIALS FROM ARMAVIR TRY TO INFLUENCE YEREVAN

03/05/2013 12:41:00
Oratert News

On the eve the editor of the newspaper “Hraparak” reported that the
Governor of Armavir region Ashot Kagramanyan and his assistant Nver
Petrosyan left the region and settled in Yerevan. In the center
of Yerevan they have opened an office where every day before the
elections of May 5, they freshen up lists of relatives of Armavir
residents living in Yerevan.

Officials from Armavir try to influence Yerevan with the help of
relatives living in the region. Depending on Armavir resident they
ask one, demand from the other and so on. In an interview with the
newspaper Nver Petrosyan said that does not make lists, does not know
if the Governor has lists, but he knows that he, as a Republican,
is involved in the campaign of Yerevan Council of Elders.

GAGIK TSARUKYAN URGES RESIDENTS OF YEREVAN “NOT TO YIELD TO PRESSURE AND TO VOTE FOR THE ONE THEY TRUST”

ARMINFO
Friday, May 3, 02:49

At today’s rally in Liberty Square, Leader of the Prosperous Armenia
Party (PAP), oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan urged the residents of Yerevan
to take an active part in the May 5 elections to the Elders’ Council
of Yerevan.

“Don’t be afraid of anybody, especially those trying to intimidate
you. Those people fear themselves to lose their posts as a result
of fair elections. Don’t yield to pressure and vote for the one you
trust. I have obligations to nobody, except you. To achieve success
on May 5, we need consolidation around the professional, honest,
active team of the Prosperous Armenia Party”, said Tsarukyan.

He believes that today Yerevan needs a highly responsible mayor and
municipality employees, who will respond to the applications and
requests of the citizens.

Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of the PAP Faction, said that the voters
should listen exclusively to their conscience when deciding for whom
to vote during the elections to the Elders’ Council of Yerevan. She
thinks that it is time to change the desperate situation in the
republic. By supporting the PAP on May 5, the citizens will launch
radical changes in the country.

The rally was followed by a procession to Republic Square.

To recall, 6 parties and 1 bloc will participate in the elections
to the Elders’ Council of Yerevan: Republican Party of Armenia,
Prosperous Armenia Party, Orinats Yerkir Party, Armenian National
Congress, Arakelutyun Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, and Barev
Yerevan Bloc. The elections will be held on 5 May 2013. Experts expect
a low turnout.

ZHOGHOVURD: FREE DEMOCRATS PARTY SUPPORTS ARFD

10:17 03/05/2013 ” DAILY PRESS

Zhoghovurd daily reports that Free Democrats party will back ARFD at
the May 5 municipal elections, and calls on its supporters to vote
for ARFD. Free Democrats member, MP Alexander Arzumanyan has given
such assurance to ARFD’s leadership, the paper says.

Source: Panorama.am

LA GEORGIE PROPOSE A L’AZERBAÏDJAN DE CONSTRUIRE ENSEMBLE DES AVIONS DE CHASSE DE TYPE SU-25

La Georgie a invite l’Azerbaïdjan a participer en commun a la
construction d’avions de combat. Selon l’agence de presse azerie
APA, Tblissi envisage de produire des avions de chasse de type Su-25
(Sukhoï-25) dans ses usines de TAM (Tbilissi Aerospace Manufacturing
Company). Tbilissi aurait officiellement demande la collaboration
de Bakou au montage des avions. La proposition comprend l’envoi de
nombres d’avions militaires sortis de l’usine vers l’Azerbaïdjan.

Selon les donnees officielles entre 2002 et 2003 l’Azerbaïdjan a achete
auprès de la Georgie 13 avions de chasse de type Su-25 renoves dans
les usines georgiennes de Tbilissi. Ces avions etant equipes par les
” Elbit Systems ” fournis par Israël. Après leur passage a l’usine
de Tbilissi, ces avions portent le nom de ” Scorpion “. Lors des 10
dernières annees la Georgie a vendu a l’Azerbaïdjan et au Congo des
avions de type Su-25. Jusqu’a aujourd’hui, 900 avions de chasse de
type Su-25 sont sortis de l’usine TAM.

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 3 mai 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL FILM FESTIVAL SHOWS INTEREST IN THE FILM ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

14:50 02.05.2013

Nubar Alexanian, 62, has spent the past 35 years working as a
photojournalist and filmmaker. He’s traveled to more than 40
countries shooting for magazines such as Life, Newsweek, Time,
National Geographic, Fortune and Geo.

He has published five books and rubbed elbows with some of the most
influential people throughout the musical world like Paul Simon,
Wynton Marsalis and Garth Brooks.

Alexanian’s daughter, Abby, 24, is a recent graduate of Vassar
College. Over the past decade, she has spent summers and vacations
working on her dad’s still photography and film sets.

Together, they are a father-daughter team uniquely positioned to make
a film that speaks to the challenges that Armenian families face today,
the Armenian Mirror-Spectator writes.

The Alexanians’ film is titled, “Journey to Armenia: Three Generations
from Genocide.” It is the story of how a young woman’s curiosity
propels her reluctant father to join her in finally confronting their
family’s dark past and discovering how the denial of the 1915 Armenian
Genocide affects them today.

The Alexanians explain that the film is different than other films of
a similar variety. “There are no others I have seen about the effects
of denial and the silence that has incurred over three generations,”
said Nubar Alexanian. “It’s a feature length documentary about the
scars of silence and how a staggering act of inhumanity has forever
changed what it means to be Armenian.”

The Alexanians have set a release date of December 2014. The film
will run 55-75 minutes and they have added Errol Morris to their
production team. Morris’ film, “The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from
the Life of Robert S. McNamara,” won the Academy Award in 2004 for
Best Documentary Feature.

The Alexanians toured historic Armenia last year, exploring the land
of their ancestors. Armen Aroyan served as their tour guide, along
with frequent visitors to Armenia, Steve and Angele Dulgarian. Dr.

Louis Najarian accompanied the group, playing clarinet throughout
the tour.

Nubar Alexanian hopes to share not only his own family’s perspective,
but also the shared experiences of those of Armenian heritage.

“The film tells a story that is deeply personal but also reflects
the intergenerational experiences of immigrant families in America,”
he said. “It explores larger questions about the devastating effects
of denial, the scars of silence and the healing power of curiosity. It
echoes the story of families all over the world who suffer tragedies,
flee, create new lives with old traditions and search for their place
and search for their place in a heritage they only half understand.”

Being a half-Armenian 20-something, Abby Alexanian has spent her life
wanting to feel more connected to her heritage, but at times says she
has felt removed. The issue of Genocide had never been discussed in
family confines.

“Her determination to uncover the truth finally forced me and my
parents to confront the trauma that had been avoided for decades,”
said Nubar Alexanian.

The film will include panoramic scenes of Eastern Turkey that will
be used to juxtapose the majesty of this ancient and fertile land
with stories of what happened there.

Nubar Alexanian spent much of his career traveling the world as
a documentary photographer, but never once traveled to Armenia or
Eastern Turkey where his family lived for centuries.

Although he was raised Armenian, he drifted from his roots, until one
day when Abby surprised him by asking if they could visit historic
Armenia together.

Unlike other documentaries, the Alexanians do not argue in the film
about whether a Genocide occurred or not. Their film assumes the
historical fact and begins there. Because of their treatment of the
Genocide as fact, the Alexanians have already received harsh criticism.

The Alexanians have big plans for the film and hope to show it in movie
theaters, film festivals, television and international broadcasts. The
International Istanbul Film Festival has already expressed an interest.

As the centennial approaches in 2015, Nubar Alexanian said he hopes
his documentary will address many issues on the international stage,
answer the “Armenian Question” once and for all and help work towards
justice for Armenians.

SERZH SARGSYAN NEEDS TSARUKYAN’S MONEY

The Prosperous Armenia Party has been unable to figure out its
political mission in the logic of internal and external developments
since 2006. When Vartan Oskanian joined the party in 2012, it seemed
that the godfather of the PAP, Robert Kocharyan and his party activists
were aware of this problem and were trying to resolve it.

Further developments showed, however, that the PAP is deprived of
a potential of political mission, and Vartan Oskanian alone will not
bring spring, especially that Oskanian willy-nilly set to establish the
political mission of the PAP, without first identifying his personal
political mission for himself.

Hence, it should be noted that the PAP holds out a political banner
but willy-nilly fulfils an economic mission.

When the Aravot asked Levon Zurabyan of the ANC what he thinks
about vote buying by PAP, Zurabyan said when a political force buys
votes, the government is to blame because the government and its law
enforcement agencies are supposed to prevent vote buying.

This answer which is strange from the civil and political point of
view is quite right from the technical point of view. If the government
is reluctant, the PAP or any other force will not be able to buy votes.

The question is why the government wants so if the PAP is not
government and is opposed to the RPA. The RPA has three important
reasons. First, by allowing the PAP to buy votes the RPA legitimizes
its vote buying activity. Second, by allowing the PAP to buy votes
the government gains another lever against this party because it can
prosecute the party for vote buying any time it wants. Note that
during the parliamentary election only one vote buyer of PAP was
arrested amid total vote buying.

Third, the PAP has an economic mission which is highly important to
the RPA. How much money does Gagik Tsarukyan spend on his political
activity? There is no such statistics but the bill is measured in
millions of dollars. The party’s spending is a peculiar investment.

The PAP is as big as the RPA, which costs a lot of money, especially
during elections. It is something usual in the entire world. Legality
of the money is another issue but money is essential to the activities
of almost all the influential parties in the world.

Besides, Gagik Tsarukyan spends a lot of money via Gagik Tsarukyan
Benevolent Foundation which he would not have done were there no need
to underpin his “political” ambitions.

I have done a lot and will do a lot more independent from everything,
Gagik Tsarukyan stated in the yard of his wine company during his
meeting with PAP members. Of course, he will do. Otherwise there
would be much less people not only in that meeting but also in the
PAP because a lot of people are attracted by the financial reward
they get for their work there rather than ideas or values of the PAP
which actually do not differ from the classical Armenian governmental
values and ideas.

If Tsarukyan did not do investments in politics, he would hardly
invest them in the Armenian economy because he obviously prefers to
invest in Eastern Europe, Belarus, the Baltic States.

Hence, politics is the reason why Gagik Tsarukyan spends millions in
Armenia which eventually relieve social tensions a bit.

Ostensibly, Serzh Sargsyan will not hinder the PAP to continue to
live with serious “political” ambitions. At least, until the vital
issue of redistribution of property comes, and sufficient sources of
medium-term solutions to social issues are are found.

Hakob Badalyan 15:08 02/05/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ON THE ELECTORAL PROCESS AND DEMOCRACY
By Christian Garbis

May 1, 2013

The Yerevan municipal elections are right around the corner, scheduled
for May 5. Many political parties that are in opposition to the
government or still on the fence are putting their faith in these
elections, hoping that democracy will work in their favor this time
around and system-wide reform will begin in Yerevan. Onlookers from
thousands of miles away will be eager to see the election results
and make their judgments about political successes and failures
accordingly. And that’s what is so daunting.

When studying the comments section of several articles written about
Armenian politics in the Weekly, it’s clear that readers fall into
two distinct camps-those who side with the opposition and thus the
importance of the role of democracy in the development of society, and
those who are staunchly, even suspiciously, loyal to the government and
choose to ignore or downplay legitimate criticisms. The latter group
seems to believe that the democratic system is equally transparent as
those of nations in the West, for instance the United States. While in
America the presidential vote is determined by the number of electoral
votes won, the popular vote is largely symbolic.

In many still-budding democracies, like Armenia, it is the popular
vote that counts.

Despite monitoring efforts by European structures like the OSCE and
the pretense of transparency, it has been very easy-not to mention
essential-to falsify the vote in order to retain power in nearly
every election. Not only are games played at the polling stations
(forging signatures on voter lists, ballot stuffing, bribing, carousel
voting, harassment), but numbers are undoubtedly being conjured behind
closed doors at the Central Election Commission (CEC). Naturally,
this cannot be proven for certain since the CEC ultimately reports
to the president, just as all state bodies do.

In other words, the conclusion that the candidate or party that
acquires the most votes is the real winner is a naive sentiment for
the simple fact that democracy and the rule of law are not allowed to
function properly so long as the president of Armenia does not value
that system of governance. And I don’t only mean Serge Sarkisian; -his
two predecessors also behaved essentially as dictators. The president
has complete control over all governmental agencies and institutions,
and ultimately has the final say as to how something will play out. If
governmental corruption, for instance, is to be stamped out, he must
have the will to do it-and not only the prime minister, who clearly
doesn’t or else is powerless to do so. The judiciary likewise reports
to the president; it can act independently in low-profile cases where
private interests are not at stake. When the president wishes for a
ruling to be made one way or another, the judge holding the verdict
is obliged to carry out his wishes, or be dismissed.

The CEC is no exception to the rule. The head of the commission also
caters to the whims, or rather the shrewd planning, of the president.

In other words, the “official results” of the elections cannot be
taken at face value as being legitimate and a just expression of
will by the people. The doctrine of legitimacy is prescribed by the
president of Armenia alone.

These authorities will do anything to retain power. The Yerevan
municipality, which is controlled by the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia, has been very busy with various community renovation
and landscaping projects, laying down fresh asphalt on streets and
courtyard driveways, replacing curbstones, and repairing sidewalks.

Although it is their responsibility to maintain the city’s streets,
they wait until the last minute before election day to accomplish
the work, thereby demonstrating a semblance of attentiveness while
earning votes. On election day, it’s safe to assume that the usual
methods of vote buying and intimidation will be deployed. After all,
it’s a normal practice.

Sunday’s vote will be falsified again simply because the authorities
can get away with it, as was made quite obvious in February’s
presidential elections, while managing to gain praise from Russia,
Europe and the United States in the aftermath.

And when communities in the diaspora continue to ignore violations
of democratic values by blindly embracing the outcome of the vote,
despite any blatant flaws that are revealed, the Armenian citizenry
is let down knowing that its compatriots based abroad are unsupportive
of its plight.

Until the Armenian nation fully embraces democracy, the same free and
fair elections that Western nations covet as the purest demonstration
of freedom cannot be held. The determination is necessary, along with
the much-needed collective consensus on the vote from the Armenian
Diaspora. This time around, it is vital for Armenian communities
worldwide, which have expressed their concern and support for
Armenia’s freedom, to meticulously track violations that will be
reported by the Armenian press throughout the day (notable news
sources with live updates include Hetq Online, A1+, and Civilnet)
before rushing to judgment on the outcome of the vote. Two hundred
observers from the diaspora are rumored to be monitoring the municipal
elections. Their crucial findings will need to be considered quite
carefully in determining whether democracy in Armenia can indeed
flourish, as it should.

HADJINIAN ELECTED VICE-CHAIR OF CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

Montebello City Councilman Jack Hadjinian

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY-Montebello Councilman Jack Hadjinian elected as
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alameda Corridor-East
Construction Authority. On the same day, El Monte Mayor Pro Tem Norma
Macias has been elected as the body’s Chair.

The $1.7 billion ACE program in the San Gabriel Valley calls for
constructing 22 rail-roadway grade separation projects, where the
road goes over or under the railroad, and safety improvements at
another 39 crossings.

“I appreciate the support of my colleagues in selecting me as Vice
Chair,” said Hadjinian. “I am confident that we can continue to make
significant progress in moving the remaining ACE grade separation
projects through the environmental, design and property acquisition
phases and into final construction.”

“I appreciate this vote of confidence as ACE enters into the busiest
period ever in its 15-year history,” said Macias, elected Chair at the
ACE Board meeting on April 22. “The ACE grade separations are needed
to eliminate congestion, emissions from idling vehicles and safety
hazards at crossings along the freight rail corridors through our
communities which accommodate about 60 percent of the goods arriving
in Southern California, the nation’s leading trade gateway.”

Hadjinian has been a member of the ACE Board of Directors since
March 2012. First elected to the Montebello City Council in 2011,
he currently serves as the City’s delegate to the Governing Boards of
the San Gabriel Valley and the Gateway Cities COGs and to the Housing,
Community & Economic Development Policy Committee of the League of
California Cities.

Macias has been a member of the ACE Board of Directors since
January 2012. First elected to the El Monte City Council in 2009,
she currently serves as the City’s delegate to the Governing Board
of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (COG) and to the
League of California Cities.

Elected officials from the cities of El Monte, Industry, Montebello,
San Gabriel, Pomona, the County of Los Angeles and the San Gabriel
Valley Council of Governments serve on the seven-member ACE Board.

The ACE program calls for constructing safety improvements at 39
crossings and 22 roadway-railroad grade crossing separations. The ACE
Project will relieve traffic congestion, improve safety and reduce
emissions and noise at rail crossings while helping ensure the San
Gabriel Valley’s continued economic vitality. For a copy of the ACE
Project DVD, please call (888) ACE-1426 or visit

REPRESENTATIVES OF ALIYEV SPEAK IN WASHINGTON ABOUT IRANIAN THREATS, AND ABOUT THREATS FROM THE U.S. IN TEHRAN

17:46 01/05/2013 ” REGION

The head of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev who was in
Iran declared Tehran as a strategic partner of Baku, in the meanwhile
Farhad Mammadov, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, hit
the alarm in the U.S. about the Iranian threats over Azerbaijan,
the Azerbaijani news agency Haqqin.az writes.

The article reads that a group of representatives of official Baku
headed by the leadership of the Center for Strategic Studies under the
President, along with the pro-governmental politicians and diplomats
arrived in Washington DC. They hold meetings these days to convey to
the Americans the “voice of the regional threat from Iran and other
neighboring countries.”

“Tehran wants to interfere into our foreign policy and it bothers us.

We want the US — our strategic partner — at least, to know about
these processes and support us,” Asim Mollazade, a member of the
delegation, told TURAN’s Washington DC correspondent.

The topic of CSIS discussion on Monday, April 29 was “Iran-Azerbaijan
relations and Strategic Competition in the Caucasus”. ” Yet, the
event failed to answer the question what kind of support the Azeri
government seeks from Washington and how serious do they sound with
the ongoing official campaign in Baku against the US-backed democratic
institutions, right a few month before the presidential election?” the
material stated.

Speaking at the event, the director of the Center for Strategic
Studies Farhad Mammadov said that the Iranian-Azerbaijani relations
are characterized by growing tensions. In recent years, Iran regards
Azerbaijani secularism and culture “as a threat.”

“Haqqin.az” notes that at the same time the head of the Azerbaijani
Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev while in Tehran, said:
“Strengthening and development of Azerbaijan in the last decade has
upset the West, so they have taken certain steps to disturb the peace
and stability in Azerbaijan. As an example, I would like to bring the
actions of NDI representative in Baku, who “gave one million dollars
to various entities and citizens in Azerbaijan to compromise the
security of the country. Ilham Aliyev supports the ruling regime in
Iran and President Ahmadinejad believes his friend and supporter. The
existence of a strong and stable Iran is beneficial for Azerbaijan.

Ahmadinejad’s name and actions are inscribed in golden letters in
the internal, regional and global policies, we can clearly see,
and that’s why you are so respected.”

In its turn, the Director of the Information Agency “Turan”
Mehman Aliyev commented in an interview given to “Haqqin.az” on the
contradicting statements of the official representatives of Azerbaijan,
made in Washington and Tehran. According to M. Aliyev, Farhad Mammadov
statements, which were made by him in Washington, were prepared in
advance, and perhaps he did not have time to coordinate his speech
with the statement of Ramiz Mehdiyev in Tehran.

Referring to the speech of Ramiz Mehdiyev in Tehran, M. Aliyev called
it a failure: “This once again confirms the defectiveness of Baku’s
foreign policy. However, perhaps in the statements of Ramiz Mehdiyev
lies hidden blackmail against the West, which may mean, if you do
not support us, we turn toward Iran. It is very unfortunate tactic
which will turn into a headache for Baku.”

According to Mehman Aliyev, head of Azerbaijani President
Administration should give an explanation of these statements. “The
West was once again became convinced in fact that the Azerbaijani
authorities are unreliable and unstable partners whom it is better
not to have any relations with”, said M. Aliyev.

Source: Panorama.am