Author: Karagyozian Lena

RESEARCH ON THERMAL SCIENCE DESCRIBED BY SCIENTISTS AT YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Science Letter
February 3, 2009

According to recent research published in the Journal of Thermal
Stresses, "The modeling and study of the instability behavior of a
magnetically active ferromagnetic cylindrical shell exposed to thermal
and magnetic fields with a constant electric current is considered
in this paper. It is assumed that the internal surface area of the
shell is covered by the thin conductive cylindrical strip."

"The thickness of this metallic strip is small as compared to the
total thickness of the shell and therefore its contribution to the
elastic properties of the overall cylindrical shell can be considered
negligible. The thermal and magnetic fields of the undisturbed state
of the shell are determined assuming that the edges of the shell are
thermo-isolated. Undisturbed state coincides with the equilibrium which
was generated under the action of thermal field (in equilibrium the
forces of magnetic origin are equal to zero). It is also assumed that
the thermal exchanges shell-to-strip and shell-to-external media follow
Newton-Rickman’s law. Using the theory of thermo-magneto-elasticity of
undisturbed state in conjunction with the predetermined thermal and
magnetic fields the stresses of the undisturbed state are determined
under the assumption that the deflection along the generators of the
shell equals to zero. The solutions of the homogeneous boundary value
problems are carried out and the buckling analysis of the shell is
investigated," wrote G. Baghdasaryan and colleagues, Yerevan State
University (see also Thermal Science).

The researchers concluded: "In particular, a close-form solution for
the critical value of electric current for which the shell becomes
statically unstable is presented."

Baghdasaryan and colleagues published their study in the Journal of
Thermal Stresses (Thermomagnetoelastic Stability of Ferromagnetic
Cylindrical Shell Carrying Constant Electric Current. Journal of
Thermal Stresses, 2009;32(1-2):135-148).

For additional information, contact M. Mikilyan, Yerevan State
University, Dept. of Math Methods & Modeling, Faculty Applied Math,
Yerevan, Armenia.

The publisher’s contact information for the Journal of Thermal Stresses
is: Taylor & Francis Inc., 325 Chestnut St., Suite 800, Philadelphia,
PA 19106, USA.

PROSECUTOR DEMANDS FIVE YEARS FOR RUNAWAY ARMENIAN PRISONER

APA
Feb 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Hafiz Heydarov-APA. The trial on the case of Armenian prisoner
Edgar Sargsyan, who accused of runaway from detention place #11,
has today been held in Binagadi District Court, APA reports.

A lawyer of the defendant addressed the trial presided over by Natig
Abbasov. The lawyer Huseyn Hasanov said that the defendant pleaded
guilty and repented for his action. The lawyer added that he put up
resistance against nobody while escaping from the jail and asked to
close criminal case under the Article 315.1 (Application of violence,
resistance with application of violence concerning the representative
of authority in connection with performance of official duties by
him or application of the violence not dangerous to life or health
concerning his close relatives, as well as threat of application of
such violence). The Prosecutor demanded five years for Sargsyan under
the Articles 304.1 (Runaway from places of imprisonment, from place
of arrest or from place guard, committed by person who is serving time
or taking place in imprisonment pending trail) and 315.1 (Application
of violence, resistance with application of violence concerning the
representative of authority in connection with performance of official
duties by him or application of the violence not dangerous to life or
health concerning his close relatives, as well as threat of application
of such violence) of the Criminal Code. Trial was fixed on February 6.

Sargsyan, who beat and raped his sister and brother, was sentenced to
14-year imprisonment. Sargsyan was accused of runaway from detention
facility #11 on November 8, 2008. He was shot by soldiers on duty. He
was injured on leg.

TWO NEW GALLERY EXHIBITS TO BEGIN THE SPRING SEMESTER
Sam Kestenbaum

Wheaton Wire
rage/paper1134/news/2009/02/04/ArtsCulture/Two-New .Gallery.Exhibits.To.Begin.The.Spring.Semester-361 0939.shtml
Feb 4 2009
MA

On Sunday, Jan. 25, two art exhibits opened in the Beard and Weil
Galleries in the Watson Fine Arts’ building- "Recent Work," by Wheaton
Professors Tim Cunard and Patty Stone and "Exploring Modernism,"
a collection of work from the acclaimed American-Armenian Boston
artist Garabed Derhohannesian.

Professor Cunard’s most recent work is constructed out of concrete,
found steel, wax and iron. Many of these pieces grew out of a visit
to a nearby trash-heap. Cunard saw piles of abandoned "buckles,
catches, parachute rings, tool parts, and gun-sights"-and he was
inspired. Cunard incorporated some of these found industrial objects
into his own forms, creating sculptures which interestingly call to
mind delicate objects from the natural world: ferns, pods and flowers.

When working on these pieces Cunard set a number of rules
for himself: "enjoy the labor," limit his time working, do not
"over-intellectualize" the work, "trust his eye," and permit the work
to flow naturally.

Many Wheaton art students were in attendance on Sunday. Students who
typically interact with their professors only within the classroom
are now able to see another side to their teachers; they can see them
as artists.

"I see roads and rivers, but I also see other shapes, imaginary and
abstract," Kait Saaf ’09 reflected. Inspired by roadmaps, dreams,
memories, and GoogleEarth, Stone has crafted a body of mixed-media
paintings, a "meditation" on how we make sense of our "interconnected
world," Stone says. She has created her latest images which, in her
words, illuminate the "tension between real place… and the abstract
patterning of roads, cities and topography."

Garabed Derhohannesian (1908-1992) was one of Boston’s most acclaimed
artists. His "Exploring Modernism" is a collection of work spanning
60 years of his career from 1929 to 1989. Born in nearby Newton to
Armenian parents, Derhohannesian attended the Massachusetts School of
Art in Boston as an undergrad and taught at the Rhode Island School
of Design until 1973. His work is displayed in the Guggenheim Museum
in New York.

Though not as familiar to the student body, Derhohannesian’s "Exploring
Modernism" is a diverse body of work and well worth a visit. On Sunday
afternoon, students crowded around one of her paintings. "I’ve never
heard of Garabed before," Ross Culliton ’09 admitted. "But these are
really great."

"Exploring Modernism" and "Recent Work" are on display Jan. 25 to
Feb. 25 in Beard and Weil Galleries, Watson Fine Arts.

SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS CJSC ADOPTS NEW POLICY OF COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan

Feb 2, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving the newly-appointed CEO
of South Caucasus Railways CJSC Shevket Shaydullin on February 2,
the Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that in recent
period the concessioner of Armenian Railways has become a target of
many complaints by business circles and society. This problem was
discussed during high-level meetings: with the former head of South
Caucasus Railways Vladimir Yakunin, during the visit of the Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev to Armenia, later in Russia – with the
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

S. Shaydullin said that their company adopted a new policy of
cooperation, under which South Caucasus Railways CJSC is not only
an investment making company but also one forming the national
transport network and having projects of its integration with the
European transport network. In his words, the company must fulfil
the obligations it has assumed. He called the cooperation with the
RA Ministry of Transport and Communication efficient, underlining the
necessity to sign additional agreements to avoid technical problems.

According to a press release of the RA Government Information and
PR Department, T. Sargsyan said that the Armenian government will
provide the necessary assistance to ensure rapid construction of the
North-South railway.

‘TURKEY KEY PLAYER IN REALIZING OF NABUCCO’

Today’s Zaman
o?load=detay&link=165728&bolum=8
Feb 2 2009
Turkey

Interviews

Sinan Ogan, director of the Turkish Center for International Relations
and Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM), has said Turkey has a greater role
to play in the creation of the Nabucco pipeline project, which is
to bring gas from the Caspian region to gas-hungry EU countries via
Turkey and Georgia, in view of the fact that the problem of securing
gas sources for the pipeline has not been solved yet.

"The Nabucco pipeline can initially work with 8 billion cubic meters
of natural gas a year but, looking ahead, it will need around 30
billion cubic meters of natural gas.

Judging by current conditions, this is not that easy, and thus
natural gas supplies from Iran and Iraq are indispensable," Ogan said,
adding that Turkey’s strength in this project is its dialogue with
the various Turkic republics, Iran, Iraq and Egypt.

The Nabucco pipeline, about 3,300 kilometers in length, will start
at the eastern border of Turkey, running through Bulgaria, Romania
and Hungary to end in Baumgarten, close to Vienna. Construction
is supposed to start in 2011 and it is hoped to be operational in
2014. The estimated construction cost is around 7.9 billion euros.

Ogan said it is not realistic to expect that the foundations for this
project will be set by the first half of 2009. Even just the signing
of agreements for Nabucco this year will be an "enormous success"
considering that the Nabucco meeting in Hungary last week did not
draw as many heads of state as expected.

He recently shared his thoughts on this issue with Monday Talk.

In the wake of the tensions over natural gas that have threatened
relations between Russia and the Ukraine, as well as many European
countries and Turkey, there was a summit held on Jan. 27 in Hungary. Is
the only real factor driving the Nabucco project the threat to European
countries arising from their inability to come to an agreement with
Russia on the question of natural gas?

Sinan Ogan, expert on Eurasia and the Middle East

He is the director and founder of the Turkish Center for International
Relations and Strategic Analysis (TURKSAM) and expert on Eurasia and
the Middle East. He worked as a lecturer at Marmara University and as
a dean and economics lecturer at the University of Azerbaijan. He was
the coordinator for the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency
(TÄ°KA) in Azerbaijan. He has served as a researcher on energy and
foreign politics regarding Eurasia and the Middle East for several
institutions, including the Eurasian Strategic Research Center
(ASAM), where he was the head of the Caucasian, Russian and Ukrainian
department from 2001 to 2006.

Among his books are "Turuncu Devrimler" (Orange Revolutions, 2006),
"Rusya’da Politika ve OligarÅ~_i" (Politics and Oligarchy in Russia,
2003), and "Azerbaycan" (Azerbaijan, 1992).

No, this is not the only influential factor, though we could say that
this is currently at the forefront of other factors. In terms of the
mid and long term, the need for natural gas in the European Union will
increase dramatically. And as the EU’s own consumption levels rise,
its petrol and natural gas reserves are quickly being used up. If
the production and consumption trends continue along current lines,
all of the resources will be used up in less than 15 years from now,
and the EU will be much more dependent on Russia, the Middle East,
Algeria and Norway. In 2007 the EU imported 61.5 percent of the
natural gas it consumed and put into storage for itself.

What is the anticipated share of Russian natural gas in future
EU imports?

By the year 2030, the EU will be importing up to 80 percent of the
natural gas it uses from non-EU nations, and the share held by Russia
in this amount — which is currently 25 percent — will rise to 30
percent. So Russia is actually quite far from being able to fulfill
on its own all of the EU’s natural gas needs; even if it wanted to,
it couldn’t. Russia’s own consumption levels are rising and, in the
meantime, it is also looking to sell to China and Japan. These are
some of the other factors currently at work. In any case, the clashes
experienced between Russia and Ukraine over the past few years,
as well as the war that took place between Russia and Georgia and,
of course, the fact that Russia is generally using its natural gas
supplies as an effective vehicle for foreign policy, all of this is
working to push the EU to find alternative sources for energy.

The Nabucco project has been on the agenda since 2002, but as of
yet there hasn’t been any success in implementing it. What are the
factors keeping this project from starting up?

The first work in regard to the Nabucco project goes back to
February 2002, when Turkey’s BOTAÅ~^ [state-owned Turkish Pipeline
Corporation] had talks with Bulgargaz [Bulgaria], Transgaz [Romania]
and OMV Erdgas [Austria], which in turn led to the signing of the
Oct. 11, 2002 cooperation agreement. In February 2008, the German RWE
company joined up as the sixth equal partner in this endeavor. There
are many reasons that all this has not yet led to results. One of
these reasons is the lack of a clear and shared energy policy in the
EU. While the EU is saying that the Nabucco project should go ahead,
there are also many EU nations that have gotten in line to make all
sorts of contracts and agreements with Russia, which does not want
to see Nabucco happen. In fact, some EU nations even want to become
partners in the Nabucco project’s greatest competitor, the South
Stream project, which originates from the Russian Black Sea. So the
EU stance is in itself problematic.

Another problematic aspect of the Nabucco project is the securing of
natural gas, is it not?

There are long-term agreements that exist between Russia and
Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan –both of which could be important
resources for this project. The fact that the EU does not count
Uzbekistan, despite its rich natural gas resources, as a nation from
which it can procure natural gas, the status of the Caspian Sea and
attractive offers made by Russia to Azerbaijan all work to bring up
the important question of where we will get the natural gas that is
to run through this pipeline.

‘Turkey’s strength in this project is its dialogue with the various
Turkic republics, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, as well as its geographic
position. Turkey may well inspire these nations to participate in
the Nabucco project’

How crucial is the involvement of Iranian and Iraqi natural gas in
the project?

In order for the Nabucco project to be realized, first and foremost
there need to be investments made in the natural gas fields of
Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan by Turkey, EU
nations and the US. But these countries have also sold their ready
gas supplies through contracts with Russia, China and Iran. Following
Russia, the country with the next largest supply of natural gas is
Iran. For now, though, Iran is being kept from supplying its natural
gas to pipelines running to the west; however, with new US President
Barack Obama’s recent moves on the Iran front, and especially if a
reformist wins in the upcoming elections in Iran, we might just see
Iran-US relations at a point we might have never guessed at. Iranian
natural gas must, in any case, be a part of the Nabucco project. The
same goes for Iraqi natural gas. If stability finally comes to Iraq,
Iraqi natural gas should be fed into the Nabucco pipeline. The Nabucco
pipeline can work initially with 8 billion cubic meters of natural
gas a year but, looking ahead, it will need around 30 billion cubic
meters of natural gas each year. Judging by current conditions, this
is not that easy, and thus natural gas supplies from Iran and Iraq
are indispensable.

Turkey has made attempts to include Russia in the Nabucco project,
but do you think that’s really acceptable to the EU nations, which
want to reduce their reliance on Russia?

There is little doubt that Nabucco won’t have a great chance at success
without the participation of Russia and Iran. As it is, the Russian
ambassador to Ankara, Vladimir Ivanovsky, expressed this same thought
clearly at a panel entitled "Multi-dimensioned Relations in the Energy
Arena Between Russia and Turkey." The panel took place last Thursday
and was sponsored by TURKSAM. Nevertheless, Nabucco was imagined
as an alternative to Russia’s pipelines. I would like to reiterate
a proposal that has been made in the past by TURKSAM. Russia should
bring into action the second Blue Stream pipeline project that it had
worked on before and combine this pipeline with the Nabucco line to
send natural gas to Europe in a larger capacity pipeline. With this,
not only would it end the need for the South Stream line that Russia
was planning to build, but it would be bringing about cooperation
rather than competition. And since Russia’s simply being a part of
Nabucco wouldn’t mean that it would have final authority over the
project, this would still be good for Europe.

Ambassador Ivanovsky reportedly said at the panel that Russia would not
be a part of the Nabucco project. Were you expecting this announcement?

The stance taken by Russia on Nabucco thus far has been one of
"belittling" the project by implying that no matter how much pipeline
was laid, that it would be of no use if there was no natural gas to
fill it with. In fact, there have been several top-level statements
made along these lines. And despite the fact that the global financial
crisis has deeply affected Russia, Russia has still announced that
it is not going to give up on its South Stream project. Actually,
we had recently believed that there was a slight chance that Russia
could become a partner in Nabucco. But since the person who will
have the last word on this subject is Prime Minister Vladimir Putin,
I still think it is possible that Russia will alter its stance in
the coming days and Russia will once again bring the proposal for
the second Blue Stream to the agenda.

In the meantime, Georgia appears to believe that the Nabucco project
will strengthen its own ties to European countries, and thus wants
to see this project realized. Does this bother Russia?

We must not ignore the fact that Nabucco may well pass both through
Georgia and Armenia. In fact, if Turkey’s new moves on the Armenia
front are not derailed by the Obama administration’s recognition in
April of the events of 1915 as "genocide," there is actually quite
a high chance that this pipeline could run through Armenia. At this
stage, due to Russia’s general display of opposition to the project,
it is not really important whether this pipeline runs through Georgia
or Armenia.

You have argued that the subject of the deepening partnership between
OMV and Gazprom is something that needs to be examined. Why?

Austria, which has been appointed as a project coordinator for
Nabucco, and the Austrian company OMV have a passive stance on this
subject. There have been some serious attempts at partnership between
OMV and Gazprom. So one of the most unfortunate aspects of this project
was seeing Austria appointed coordinator for it rather than Turkey,
because neither Austria nor OMV are going to contribute to making it
a reality. In fact, the very partnership between OMV and Gazprom is
a signal of just how little initiative OMV is going to take in the
Nabucco project. Only a few weeks ago, OMV agreed with Gazprom in
terms of Gazprom buying a 50 percent share in the Central European
Gas Hub, and in terms of new distribution and stock facilities.

To what do you tie the fact that European nations only want to see
Turkey take its place as a transit country within the Nabucco project?

One of the biggest points of disagreement between Turkey and the EU
these days is the question of whether Turkey is to be only a transit
country, or whether it will have a say in this project. BOTAÅ~^
currently has an equal amount of shares — 16.67 percent — in Nabucco
Gas Pipeline International. The Nabucco project is one in which BOTAÅ~^
has played a leading role. In addition, Turkey wants to meet some of
its own natural gas needs with this pipeline and wants to purchase
this gas at more reasonable prices than will be charged once the gas
reaches Austrian borders.

The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has
said there should be no ties made between Turkey’s accession talks
and energy security. Does Turkey use natural gas as a trump card?

Actually, the Nabucco project is not economically to Turkey’s
advantage. In fact, Turkey could build another line altogether and
procure its own gas needs from Central Asian republics. But this line
has strategic importance. Many nations, led by Russia, of course,
are these days using natural gas as a foreign policy tool. In his
meetings with the EU, Erdogan has for this reason put stress on the
Nabucco project, indicating that this was a possibility for Turkey,
too. In fact, the Nabucco project represents one of the most important
trump cards held by Turkey in the face of the EU.

What can Turkey do in order to achieve what it wants regarding this
project?

Turkey’s strength in this project is its dialogue with the various
Turkic republics, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, as well as its geographic
position. Turkey may well inspire these nations to participate in the
Nabucco project. But not everything depends on Nabucco, and Turkey
always needs to keep alternative plans alive. Turkey also needs to look
at renewable energy sources and make investments in this area. You
see from Obama’s appointments for energy-related posts that the new
administration in the US is placing high importance on this factor,
too. This is true all over the world.

–Boundary_(ID_CqG+Z2LVLt+jh2oOoTYTZA)–

"EUROVISION 2009": ARMENIA TO PERFORM ON 12 MAY

Panorama.am
13:10 02/02/2009

Armenia will participate in "Eurovision 2009" song contest on May
12. It is also known that the following countries are going to perform
on May 12: Andorra, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia Herzegovina,
Israel, Island, Macedonia, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Turkey, Finland,
Chernogoria, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden. On May 14 Azerbaijan,
Greece, Cyprus and other countries will participate.

To remind, "Eurovision 2009" song contest will take place in Russia,
in 12-16 May. Armenia has not yet selected its singer to present in
the contest.

VISIT TO YERABLUR

mp;p=0&id=724&y=2009&m=02&d=02
28. 01.09

On January 28, 2009 the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia,
Mr. Seyran Ohanyan, the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, the Chairman of
National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan, and other high ranking officials
visited Yerablur to commemorate the memory of Artsakh war, put a
wreath on the tombs of Andranik Zoravar and Vazgen Sargsyan.

Later Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan answered to the questions of
MEDIA representatives.

Today all Armenian celebrate the day of Armenian Army. "The Army has
been founded and overcome the difficulties due to our unity. I wish
to congratulate our nation first of all, to express my gratitude for
everybody brought their efforts to establish the army," Mr. Ohanyan
said.

ANS TV, Azerbaijan
Jan 27 2009

Three Armenians reportedly killed in attack on Azeri army positions

ANS’s Karabakh bureau reports that at about 1700 [1300 gmt] on 26
January, Armenian troops attacked the positions of the Azerbaijani
army from their positions in Agdam District’s Cavahirli village and
the area called flower farm, which are under occupation. The
Armenians, who wanted to seize the positions of our national army,
suffered casualties and had to retreat.

According to preliminary information, the shooting lasted two
hours. Occasional shooting sounds were also heard at night. The
residents living in the area say that the bodies of three Armenian
soldiers remained in the area under Azerbaijan’s control. The head of
the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service, Eldar Sabiroglu, has
told ANS that the ministry had received no information about this yet.

STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN HOPES THAT ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL UNDERTAKE REAL STEPS IN RELEASING POLITICAL PRISONERS

Noyan Tapan

Jan 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Resolution N 1643 adopted by
PACE on January 27 is neither opposition’s failure nor authorities’
victory. Stepan Demirchian, the Chairman of the People’s Party of
Armenia, reported at the January 30 press conference adding that
the opposition did not wish Armenia’s delegation to be deprived of
the vote. According to him, with that resolution additional time
was given to the Armenian authorities for fulfilling the PACE
demands. S. Demirchian hopes that the Armenian authorities will
undertake real steps in this direction and the political prisoners will
be released by April. "The Armenian authorities have promised to solve
that issue by amending Criminal Code’s respective articles," he said.

Meanwhile the PPA Chairman did not exclude that the authorities will
not fulfill the PACE demands this time, either. According to him,
the Armenian authorities should realize that the issue has not been
solved and the crisis has not been overcome by RA delegation’s not
being deprived of the vote.

S. Demirchian said that the opposition using all legal means will
pursue solution of all issues raised by it, including releasing the
political prisoners, carrying out an objective investigation of the
March 1 events.

Touching upon the Yerevan Mayor’s coming elections, S. Demirchian
said that the opposition has not discussed that issue yet. However
he considers that the opposition should unite its forces and take
part in those elections.

ARMENIAN PREMIER INSTRUCTED ALL MINISTRIES NOT TO REALLOCATE EXPENSES

ARKA
Jan 30, 2009

YEREVAN, January 30. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
instructed all ministries not to reallocate expenses.

"We have problems with tax payment. Organizations receiving state
money for constructing and repairing buildings, guided by articles
1512 and 1513 of the Classification of Budget Expenses, reallocate
their expenses reducing wage payment and total profit", he said on
Friday while discussing ministries’ reports for 2008.

Sargsyan said that as a result, even minimal profitability is not
insured.

"We must tighten control over ministries to prevent reallocations,
which leaves the state budget without income", the premier said.

He stressed that everybody should understand that tax collection is
not only State Revenue Committee, but also all ministries’ concern.

Speaking about the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Sargsyan
said that natural losses, debt payment and revaluation of main means
dwindle tax inflow.

"Relevant divisions of the ministry need to conduct monitoring and
immediately report about problems, if any", the premier said.

Sargsyan also said that natural resources are a new area for the
ministry.

That is why the minister must give clear tasks to new divisions
being formed in the ministry and keep their activities under his
control constantly.

The state budget tax inflo w reached AMD 553.1 billion in Jan/Nov
2008 after growing 22.2% or by AMD 100.6 billion.

The Jan/Nov tax receipts ensured 90.6% of the annual program. ($1 =
AMD 304.78).