Author: nina hovnanian

ELECTRONIC GOVERNANCE PROGRAM UNDERWAY IN ARMENIA

Xinhua General News Service
December 3, 2012 Monday 10:10 AM EST
China

The Electronic Governance Program has been underway in Armenia,
a press release from the government said Monday.

The project aims to introduce tools of electronic management, assist
the digitization process of the State Registrar of Civil Status and
provide citizens with new means of communication with the government.

Chief of Staff of the Government Davit Sargsyan said in two years the
government will introduce seven new systems of electronic governance,
namely digitization of archives, electronic mail for each citizen,
electronic system for registering civil status acts, electronic
statistical reporting, electronic health system, electronic system
of issuing construction permits and electronic consular services.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF URGES U.S. TO CUT SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO AZERBAIJAN

December 4, 2012 – 21:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter
to Senators Patrick Leahy and Lindsey Graham, and Representatives
Kay Granger and Nita Lowey – the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the
State and Foreign Operations Subcommittees in the House and Senate
– calling on them to cut all security assistance to Azerbaijan,
including Azerbaijan’s International Military Education and Training
Account (IMET) funding. This latest request comes after the egregious
repatriation and release of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army
captain who had confessed to the savage 2004 axe murder of Armenian
army lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan during a NATO Partnership for Peace
Program.

“Azerbaijan has committed the most terrible subversion of justice –
making a hero of a cold-blooded killer,” said Rep. Schiff. “Plainly the
investment we have made in training Azeri forces has been worse than
wasted. The United States must not tolerate any acts of aggression
against Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh, and this hateful action by
President Aliyev undermines all international efforts to bring about
a peaceful solution in the region,” Rep. Schiff said.

“Azerbaijan must pay a high price for its actions. Baku treasures
the security assistance that it receives from Washington, not because
it needs the money (it does not), but because it signifies a certain
closeness in the bilateral relationship. By cutting off military aid to
Azerbaijan, the United States would signal its disgust with the Safarov
affair, while also reminding Aliyev that the United States will not
tolerate any acts of aggression against Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh,”
the letter concluded.

U.S. EMBASSY IN ARMENIA: BILL ON CANCELLATION OF ANNUAL GREEN CARD LOTTERY IS STILL PENDING

arminfo
Tuesday, December 4, 16:33

The U.S. Embassy in Armenia has seen reports that the House of
Representatives voted on Friday to eliminate the Diversity Visa (DV)
Lottery. This legislation is still pending, Spokesperson of the U.S.

Embassy in Armenia Taguhi Jahukyan told ArmInfo.

She recalled that Armenians have been able to apply for the DV Lottery
since 1995. Every year, approximately 1,000 Armenians receive immigrant
visas through the DV Lottery.

On Nov 30 the House of Representatives voted for elimination of Green
Card lottery. The authors of the Bill, the Republicans, believe the
lottery as a source of fraud and a threat to the national security
of the USA. The House of Representatives voted to approve the STEM
Jobs Act, which would set aside 55,000 green cards for foreign-born
graduates of American universities who’ve earned advanced degrees in
science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

The Republican-backed bill aims to keep foreign-born technology
students in the United States after graduation. It would also grant
temporary visas for the families of those immigrants.

SERGE SARKISSIAN CRITIQUE CERTAINS ” ETATS REGIONAUX ” A PROPOS DE LA SYRIE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 3 decembre 2012

Le president Serge Sarkissian a accuse certains ” etats regionaux
” sans les mentionner de mettre le feu aux poudres dans le conflit
sanglant en Syrie pendant une visite officielle au Liban qui a pris
fin mercredi.

” Nous sommes profondement concernes par le destin du peuple syrien ”
a dit mardi Serge Sarkissian au president du Parlement libanais Nabih
Berri et d’autres deputes. ” Des heurts armes continus et les actes
terroristes sont simplement inacceptables. On ne peut pas observer
sans douleur le carnage en cours et observer ce pays etre detruit
jour après jour “.

” Je suis convaincu que la situation existante est aussi le resultat du
fait que quelques etats regionaux ne sont pas opposes a la resolution
de leurs questions avec le sang du peuple syrien. L’Armenie a toujours
preconise une fin au carnage et une resolution paisible du conflit
par les Syriens eux-memes ” a-t-il dit dans un discours.

Bien que Serge Sarkissian n’ait pas nomme de pays, ses remarques vont
probablement etre interpretees comme une attaque verbale envers la
Turquie, qui a ouvertement pris part pour les groupes d’opposition en
Syrie qui se se battent contre le regime du President Bashar Al-Assad.

Ce dernier a accuse Ankara de contribuer au carnage en fournissant
un appui logistique aux rebelles syriens.

Serge Sarkissian avait averti au debut du mois de novembre que ”
l’interference externe ” dans la guerre civile syrienne pourraient
etre ” contreproductive “. ” Les recettes qui ont marche dans d’autres
circonstances pourraient causer des consequences tragiques en Syrie
” a-t-il dit au quotidien francais Le Figaro dans des remarques qui
sont apparus etre aussi adressees aux puissances occidentales et aux
etats arabes en desaccord avec le regime syrien.

Serge Sarkissian a mentionne la situation critique de la communaute
armenienne dans le discours, disant que les armeniens de Syrie
” passent maintenant des temps difficiles “. ” Nous recommandons
vivement a nos frères armeniens en Syrie de lutter pour le prompt
retablissement de la paix en Syrie – leur deuxième patrie qui les
avait recu avec son coeur ouvert ” a-t-il dit.

Selon le service de presse presidentiel, Serge Sarkissian a discute
de la situation en Syrie lors des ses pourparlers a Beyrouth avec
le President libanais Michel Suleiman et le Premier ministre Najib
Mikati. Il a aussi pointe la question lors d’une reunion avec les
representants de la communaute armenienne du Liban.

mardi 4 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

NADEGE NAVASSARTIAN, CHAMPIONNE DU MONDE
Laetitia

armenews.com
lundi 3 decembre 2012

Première participation et deja couronnee Championne du monde. Lors
du Mondial della pizza qui s’est deroule les 4 et 5 novembre dernier
a Disneyland Paris, Nadège Navassartian a remporte le Trophee ”
Innovation “, devenant ainsi Championne du Monde 2012 dans cette
categorie. Deja detentrice du titre de Vice-championne de France
categorie ” Qualite “, cette nouvelle distinction vient recompenser
plusieurs annees d’efforts et de perseverance. Formee a l’origine
aux arts graphiques a l’Ecole des Beaux Arts de Valence, ce titre est
doublement significatif. S’il est d’abord le signe de la reconnaissance
de ses pairs et de ses maîtres – un milieu d’hommes pour l’essentiel –
il est egalement le symbole d’une reconversion professionnelle reussie.

Le Mondial della pizza etait organise pour la première fois en France
et etait orchestre par l’Institut Mondial de la Pizza, la Federation
des Pizzaïolos de France avec la collaboration de l’association des
Pizzerias francaises.

Retrouvez Nadège Navassartian dans son camion-pizza, stationne :

a Malakoff, le mercredi soir, 31 Ter rue Vedrines

a Vanves, le jeudi et le samedi soir, rue Larmeroux

a Fontenay-aux-Roses, le mardi soir, Centre commercial Scarron et le
vendredi soir, Place du General de Gaulle

mardi 4 decembre 2012, Laetitia ©armenews

“EU-ARMENIA” PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TOUCHES ON THE OPERATION OF STEPANAKERT AIRPORT

Mediamax
Dec 3 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. European Union -Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee expressed its regret over the lack of progress in the Nagorno
Karabakh peace process and condemned the Azerbaijani President’s
decision on Ramil Safarov’s pardon.

The final statement made as a result of the 13th session of the
EU-Armenian Parliamentary Cooperation Committee held in Brussels
reads this, Mediamax reports.

“The Committee points out the importance of creating favorable
conditions to define the final status of Nagorno Karabakh through the
expression of goodwill having mandatory legal effect”, the conclusive
statement reads.

The Committee urges the conflicting sides to create a mechanism
of independent investigation for prevention of precedents and the
ceasefire violations along the contact line.

The Committee also touched upon the operation of the Stepanakert
airport in the statement.

“We recall that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs received new
confirmations from all the sides regarding the scheduled opening of
the airport according to which they refuse any attempt to use force
of threats against civil aircrafts under the international law and
will abstain from politicization of this issue”, the statement notes.

Co-Chair of EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Samvel
Farmanyan said during his meeting with journalists that the Armenian
side attaches importance to the definitions mentioned in the statement.

According to him, they indicate that the approaches of Armenia and
international community to NK peace process coincide.

ARMENIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY WINS BY-ELECTIONS

Vestnik Kavkaza
Dec 3 2012
Russia

The Republican Party of Armenia won the recent by-elections. Robert
Sarkisyan won the elections in Yerevan with 18805 votes.

His opponents Stepan Safaryan, Secretary General of the Heritage Party,
got 3680 votes. Murad Grigoryan of the Armenian National Movement
got 3237 votes in Gyumri. Arman Saakyan got 13337 votes.

A parliamentary seat became vacant when President of the Armenian
Football Federation Ruben Ayrapetyan resigned due to the scandal
around his beating military doctors at his Arsnakar Restaurant.

Another seat became vacant when Samvel Balasanyan of Prosperous
Armenia became the Gyumri Mayor.

LOVE STORY BETWEEN KEMAL ATATURK AND ARMENIAN WOMAN BECOMES SUBJECT OF DISPUTE BETWEEN TURKISH HISTORIANS

Panorama.am
19:10 03/12/2012

Nehir Roggendorf Eyuboglu, the author of the book titled ‘The Sad Love
Story of the Hero,’ which tells about an alleged love story between
founder of Turkish Republic Kemal Ataturk and an Armenian woman,
revealed some details of the story in an interview with Turkish
newspaper Hurriyet.

Eyuboglu told Hurriyet that he personally had known the heroine of
his novel, Hermine, who had told him this story 17 years ago.

Hermine told him that she had got acquainted with Ataturk during
a party in 1929. Ataturk fell in love with her at first sight and
invited Hermine to his residence, Dolmabahce Palace. According to
the author, Hermine also got attracted by him and they began dating.

But they failed to marry for two reasons. Firstly, there was a big age
gap between them. Secondly, Ataturk said that he had not been fit for
marriage because he had totally devoted himself to the Turkish people.

According to Eyuboglu, Ataturk said to Hermine one day, “It doesn’t
matter for me whether you are Armenian, Greek or Russian. I saw you
and understood at first sight that you were not Turkish. You are a
flower that still has to grow. I loved you very much.”

The author says that one day when Ataturk called Hermine to Dolmabahce
Palace, Prime Minister Ismet Inonu hindered the date. And Hermine
never got a chance to see Ataturk again since then.

Although the writer claims that what the book says is true, renowned
journalist Taha Akol, Oguz Akay who wrote many books about Ataturk,
and Sinan Meydan stated that they did not have such information and
the story was not proven.

Writer Necdet Sakaoglu, who studied this topic, said that there were
such rumors but they were unchecked. Historian Derya Tulga also thinks
that it is impossible to prove this story is true.

ARMENIAN UNIVERSITIES PROVIDED WITH MULTI-FUNCTIONAL COMPUTER LABS

15:14 04/12/2012 ” EDUCATION

VivaCell-MTS announces about the continuation of the project aimed at
equipping the universities of Armenia with multi-functional computer
labs and Internet access.

The efficiency of learning dramatically depends on the learning tools
offered to students. VivaCell-MTS’ technical support to universities
is based on the understanding that Internet has a crucial importance
in a fast growing information society we live in.

With the support of Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, the
Linguistic University after V. Brusov now has an auditorium equipped
with nine computers. The Company also provided the university with
other equipment necessary to properly organize the learning process,
including a “Home-Zone Turbo” package-based 3G router, switchers,
as well as smart-boards with projectors.

To mention, the three-year-long survey by British researchers
revealed that the use of multifunctional computer equipment, and
the smart-boards in particular, tangibly improved the mathematical
thinking in humans.

“The learning tools offered to students are crucial to succeed
professionally. A modern lab and an opportunity to use modern
equipment will let the students reveal easily their intellectual
potential. That’s important especially when it comes to maintaining
properly the competitive equity of our country in exact sciences,”
says VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian.

To increase the efficiency of instruction and to provide smooth
communication between instructors and students, VivaCell-MTS provided
two smart-boards with projectors to the French University in Armenia,
company’s press service reported.

Source: Panorama.am

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RUSSIA TO BUILD NUCLEAR PLANT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ARARAT
Naira Hayrumyan

Story from Lragir.am News:

14:49 04/12/2012

Russia agreed with Turkey on the provision of USD 20 billion for
the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. Vladimir Putin
announced about this in Turkey after his meeting with Erdogan.

“I would like to stress that the investment is very big – USD 20
billion – it is totally assumed by the Russian party, we will fund the
project fully”, said Putin. He noted that more than hundred Turkish
students are trained in relevant specialties in this field in Russia.

It is noteworthy that Russia actually blocked the construction of
the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant apparently upon the request of Turkey.

Officially, Russia, of course, agreed to fund the 25% /USD 5 billion/
of the total sum required for the construction of the Armenian NPP,
but Moscow insists that the reactor of the Plant is Russian, while
the Western investors affirm the reactor can’t be Russia and the rest,
say, French. At the same time, Russia does not reject participation,
actually, blocking the construction.

Now, it will build the Nuclear Plant in Turkey, after the Bushehr
Nuclear Power Plant in Iran. Experts discussed more than once why
Turkey or many other developed countries don’t have the NPP, why the
West does not finance nuclear energy and creates obstacles for Russia
to build the NPP in Iran. Apparently, there is an unvoiced agreement
not to build NPPs in countries considered unreliable, where there is
the threat of Islamic radicalism. Turkey is among these countries.

Now sure, the nuclear weapon of NATO is in Turkey, but Turks don’t
have access to it, just like to the NATO intelligence. The NPP will
allow Turkey make part of the nuclear super powers. If they manage
to torpedo the Armenian NPP, Russia can be proud of having made a
fraternal service to Turkey.