Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

ARMTECH CONGRESS ’08 HIGHLIGHTS THE RISE OF ARMENIA’S HIGH TECH INDUSTRY

Science Letter
September 16, 2008

The Armenian Technology Congress announced that the annual high
tech industry conference, ArmTech Congress ’08, will be conducted on
October 4 and 5 in Yerevan under the auspices of the Prime Minister
of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Tigran Sargsyan, and supported by
the RA Ministry of Economy, leading high tech industry companies,
academia and international organizations. The conference will highlight
the rise of Armenia’s strategic high tech industry while promoting
international business linkages and investments for further growth
(see also Synopsys).

The Government of the Republic of Armenia (RA) stressed the importance
of the ArmTech Congress. According to Nerses Yeritsyan, the RA Minister
of Economy: "The ArmTech Congress serves as a means to provide the
platform to discuss, plan and execute policies and actions to keep
Armenia on the current path of excellent achievement, increasing
its global recognition as one of the fastest growing high tech
destinations in the world. Moreover the Government of the RA considers
the ArmTech Congress an unprecedented opportunity to obtain business
and professional information, and make key connections spanning the
global high tech industry. Directly involved will also be government
representatives from Armenia and the U.S., major players in the
financial and services sectors and leading academics."

"ArmTech is envisaged as a recurring annual global high tech industry
conference, alternating between Silicon Valley and Armenia. Its
historical and successful debut in 2007 in Silicon Valley, California
established a challenging benchmark for subsequent years," said Tony
Moroyan, the founder and co-chair of ArmTech Congress. "We are very
happy that the Armenian Government has adopted ArmTech Congress as
its Global High Tech Industry Conference by holding the second ArmTech
Congress in Yerevan in 2008."

The continuing growth of the technology sector in Armenia, together
with the expansion of the global Armenian technology community, has
created a need for a professional forum to improve communications and
cooperation among Armenian high-tech professionals and executives. The
ArmTech Congress is the response to this need. ArmTech delivers an
ideal mix of international business insights, advanced technology
content, and networking channels to leverage opportunities for
professionals and enterprises in the community. With its wide range
of technology and business sessions, ArmTech Congress offers the
opportunity to share information, identify new business opportunities,
make new contacts, and create valuable extended professional
networks. The program of ArmTech Congress ’08 has been designed to
directly address these objectives.

ArmTech Congress ’08 will be attended by high tech industry
successful leaders from the U.S.A., Russia and Europe. Armenia will be
represented by government officials, international organizations and
representatives from academia, as well as experienced professionals
from leading Armenian high tech companies.

"Armenia holds great potential, but we continue to be impacted by major
and unnecessary challenges that greatly reduce the attractiveness
of Armenia for Foreign Direct Investment. A progressive, forward
thinking government can go a long way toward making Armenia an
investment destination. ArmTech Congress offers a venue for a
gathering of business, government and academic thought leaders to
openly discuss the issues and challenges, and agree to actions that
will strengthen Armenia’s business and IT environment, making Armenia
truly competitive in the IT sphere," said Rich Goldman, vice president
of Corporate Marketing & Strategic Market Development at Synopsys,
and CEO of Synopsys Armenia. "Challenges exist in all three areas;
government, academia, and business, and we must work together to
resolve them and develop ideas that will lead to the accelerated
economic development of Armenia. ArmTech gives us this opportunity."

About Armenian Technology Congress

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the Armenian Technology Congress was
founded by technology and business professionals to foster professional
growth in the worldwide Armenian technology community, and to
promote the growth of Armenia’s rapidly rising technology sector. The
organization welcomes liaisons with other entities that are similarly
aligned and has no political affiliations. Building on the success of
ArmTech ’07, the development of repeatable international technology
and business conferences is the current focus of the organization. For
more information, please visit

ARA PAPYAN: TURKEY’S PRESENCE IN KARABAKH PROCESS IS INADMISSIBLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.09.2008 16:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "President Serzh Sargsyan describes Turkey’s
intention to join the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process
as contribution but, in my opinion, Turkey is aspired to become a
mediator," Ara Papyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

No good will come out of Turkish mediation, according to him.

"Just a couple of days ago President Gul said in Baku that Turks
are Azeris are one nation. A mediating country should have a neutral
position, but I can’t say much for Turkey. The same refers to Iran. I
am convinced that Armenia doesn’t need any change in the OSCE Minsk
Group format. Actually, instead of France, Russia and the U.S., we
risk having regional mediators, which will pursue their own ends. It
will be extremely offending for Armenia," he said.

Earlier, Turkish President Abdullah Gul announced his intention
to mediate between the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents. "The
OSCE Minsk Group failed to produce effect during 17 years of its
mediation. Turkey-Armenia and Azerbaijan-Armenia issues are not
only bilateral but also territorial. The situation in the region has
changed. Resolution of conflicts will lead to political and economic
stability," he said.

Today, Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also expressed Iran’s
readiness to mediate between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan over
the Karabakh issue.

CRASHES INVOLVING EX-SOVIET COUNTRIES’ AIRLINERS

The Associated Press
Sunday, September 14, 2008

Here are some of the more serious passenger plane crashes of the
past decade involving the airlines serving Russia and the former
Soviet Union.

Sept. 14, 2008: 88 people are killed when a Boeing 737-500 flying
from Moscow crashes as it prepares to land in the Russian city of Perm.

_Aug. 24, 2008: a Boeing 737-500 carrying 90 people, including a
Kyrgyz high-school sports team, crashes shortly after takeoff near
the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, killing 65.

Aug. 22, 2006: A Tupolev Tu-154 of Russia’s Pulkovo Airlines with
about 170 people aboard crashes in Ukraine en route from a Russian
resort to St. Petersburg. All on board are killed.

July 9, 2006: At least 124 people die when an Airbus A-310 of the
Russian company S7 skids off the runway in the Siberian city of
Irkutsk and bursts into flames.

May 3, 2006: An A-320 of the Armenian airline Armavia crashes into
the Black Sea while trying to land in the Russian resort city of
Sochi in rough weather, killing all 113 people aboard.

August 2004: 90 people die when two Russian airliners are blown up,
apparently by Chechen suicide bombers, within minutes of each other.

July 2002: A Bashkirian Airlines Tu-154 flying to Barcelona, Spain,
from Ufa, Russia, collides with a cargo plane over Germany, killing
71, including 52 children.

October 2001: A Tu-154 from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Novosibirsk, Russia,
explodes and plunges into the Black Sea, killing 78 people, most of
them Israeli citizens. It was later determined that the plane was
hit by a Ukrainian missile during military training exercises.

July 2001: A Tu-154 crashes in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing
all 143 on board.

December 1997: A Tajikistan Tu-154 crashes in the United Arab Emirates,
killing 85 passengers and crew.

March 1997: Fifty passengers and crew die when the tail of their An-24
charter plane from Stavropol, Russia, breaks off mid-flight while en
route to Trabzon, Turkey.

August 1996: A Tu-154 passenger plane carrying Russian and Ukrainian
miners and their families to work on Norway’s Arctic island of
Spitzbergen crashes into a mountain, killing all 143 on board.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 12 2008

RA PRESIDENT: ATTEMPTS TO TRANSFER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS TO
OTHER INSTANCES PREGNANT WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS

YEREVAN, 12.09.08. DE FACTO. On September 11 RA President Serge
Sargsian received Greek Foreign Minister’s Special Commissioner
Nicolaos Kalantzianos. Next year Greek will assume presidency in the
OSCE, the RA President’s Press Office reports. According to
N. Kalantzianos, his visit’s goal is to discuss Armenia’s expectations
from Greek presidency in the OSCE and to exchange views on recent
regional developments.

In the course of the meeting Serge Sargsian noted Armenia attached
importance to cooperation with the OSCE. Noting that the solution of
one of Armenia’s principal goals ` Karabakh conflict settlement ` was
realized within OSCE frames, Serge Sargsian underscored that the state
of neither peace nor war had been maintained for 14 years thanks to
the OSCE MG co-chairing countries. The Armenian party believes that
the OSCE MG has the potential to resolve the conflict, while attempts
to transfer the process to other instances are pregnant with serious
problems.

In the course of the meeting the parties also considered the issues
referring to bilateral relations between Armenia and Greece.

Catholic News Agency, CO
Sept 13 2008

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008

`If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give
much less than He does when he bestows suffering. By miracles you
would make yourself debtor to Him, while by suffering He may become
debtor to you. And even if sufferings had no other reward than being
able to bear something for that God who loves you, is not this a great
reward and a sufficient remuneration? Whoever loves, understands what
I say.’
-Saint John Chrysostom

Born in Antioch, c. 347; died at Commana in Pontus, 14 September, 407.

Saint John Chrysostom (Golden-mouthed) was perhaps the greatest
preacher in the history of the Church, thus the name given him, and
the most prominent Greek father of the Church.

He grew up in Antioch, received an excellent classical Greek
education, and upon meeting the holy bishop Meletus, he decided to
devote his time to the study of religious works and the Sacred
Scriptures. He received Baptism after three years of study and set out
for the desert to live the ascetic life of a hermit.

His extreme mortifications left him in fragile health, and he thus
returned to Antioch after 2 years to recover, and devote himself to
studying for the priesthood. He was ordained in 386 and served in the
cathdral of Antioch for 12 years winning widespread fame for his
sublime preaching.

In 398 he was forcefully appointed Patriarch of Constantinople and
fast became very popular with his flock through his example of
preaching and courage in front of the imperial power, whose corruption
and decadence he never shirked from criticizing in public.

This attitude naturally made an enemy of the empress, Eudoxia as well
as Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, who had him condemned on false
charges in 403. He was exiled to Armenia where he continued to be a
great presence in the Church of the East through his many letters. He
was exiled from Armenia to an isolated place along the Black Sea. He
died during the journey in 407, his ill health unable to endure its
rigours.

In 438 the Emperor Theodosius II of Constantinople had John’s body
returned to Constantinople and did penance for the sins of his mother
Eudoxia.

Chrysostom’s many writings, especially homilies and commentaries on
the Gospels are still extant and have exerted great influence over the
centuries.

`When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no
longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are
troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with
respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore,
when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration.’
– Saint John Chrysostom

ARARAT, BY FRANK WESTERMAN TRANS. SAM GARRETT
Reviewed by Peter Stanford

Independent.co.uk
Friday, 12 September 2008

Up the mystic mountain in a flight from faith

In their unceasing efforts to convince the rest of us that every single
line of the Good Book is literally true, Bible fundamentalists have
long been fond of undertaking treks to "prove" that some landmark
events of the Old Testament did take place. So Mount Ararat, in
present-day Turkey, has been trawled for signs that Noah’s Ark did
end up, as Genesis 8:4 claims, beached on its peak once the flood
receded. Fragments of old wood have been claimed as sections of the
rudder of the ark, and rock formations highlighted as evidence of
the skid marks where the prow of the zoo ship came to rest.

Frank Westerman touches briefly on several such escapades in Ararat,
but his approach to scaling this iconic mountain is altogether
different – and more intriguing. His climb is an assault on his own
loss of belief in God and an exploration of the current abyss that
exists between religion and science. As he circles the foothills of
Ararat, Westerman also travels back to his high school and university
teachers in search of ballast as the rational explanations of science
that seemed so watertight to him begin to spring leaks.

His questioning throws him back on childhood memories – not just
of being spoon-fed a tradi tional Christianity, but of a brush,
through his father’s involvement with the oil industry in his native
Netherlands, with the destruction of a drilling rig in Drenthe in
1965. Unexplained events ultimately caused the earth to erupt and
swallow the rig whole. Nature apparently defeated scientific progress.

Part memoir, part philosophical tome, part travelogue, Ararat is
an ambitious and attractive book. Its tone is learned, thoughtful
and usually intimate, for which part of the credit must go to the
translator, Sam Garrett.

Fundamentalists are fond of finding answers to every earthly
dilemma, but those expecting either trite platitudes or the dodgy
archaeological theories that make for headline-grabbing bestsellers
will be disappointed.

Westerman’s pilgrimage doesn’t have a happy or neat ending.

Once he has negotiated the politics that surround Ararat – standing
on disputed land between Armenia, Turkey and Iran – his climb becomes
an ordeal. Cold, sore and forced to make his ascent with less than
congenial Czech companions, he finds himself wondering if he has set
out with the wrong idea.

At one point he describes his whole project as "Job in reverse". Just
as Job is made to test his faith by Satan, acting as the chief
prosecutor in God’s heavenly court, Westerman is testing his own
unbelief. It is a finely balanced and well-told experiment that will
echo with many readers.

Peter Stanford’s latest book is ‘Teach Yourself Catholicism’

RA AUTHORITIES ALWAYS TRIED TO USE FOREIGN POLITICAL AND REGIONAL FACTORS AS DIVERSIONARY MANEUVRE: CHAIRMAN OF ANM BOARD

ArmInfo
2008-09-12 10:26:00

ArmInfo. ‘RA authorities have always tried to use the foreign political
and regional factors as a diversionary maneuver’, Chairman of Board
of the Armenian National Movement Ararat Zurabyan told ArmInfo.

He said that aggravation of the Georgian-Russian relations may be
a fresh example of that. ‘This circumstance turned out to be very
advantageous for the incumbent authorities of Armenia which tried
to derive maximum benefit from the developed circumstances: during
aggravation of the Georgian-Russian relations, the regime launched
power actions on the Northern Avenue – the people were banned to
hold events there. The initiative steps of the authorities in the
Armenian-Turkish relations may be considered in the same context’,
A. Zurabyan said.

Giving assessment to the last initiatives of RA president in
improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations, the oppositionist rated
them as an attempt display himself as a pro-western figure who wishes
to place the region development within the frames acceptable for the
world community. ‘Only the personal interest of Serzh Sargsyan as
a political figure was taken into account here, there was also an
aspiration to achieve creation of his seeming image being far from
the reality’, A. Zurabyan said.

Talking of change of the authorities’ position on settlement of the
Armenian-Turkish relations and the recent critics to the opposition
leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan for his statements on the necessity of
normalizing the relations with the neighbouring states, A. Zurabyan
emphasized: ‘The regime has never fought with the political views and
positions of L. Ter-Petrosyan or the political forces supporting
him. Realizing complete absence or weakness of arguments, the
authorities have always tried to find some way of discredit. The
attempt to represent Ter-Petrosyan as a pro-Turkish or pro-western
figure was made just in this context. Be sure, it is difficult to find
a more Armenian political figure than L. Ter-Petrosyan as him and his
political team are guided by one important principle – all our actions
must contribute to prosperity of the Armenian people and the state. We
cannot be pro-Turkish, pro-western or pro-Russian. We are Armenians
who wish to live in the own state which is developed, has a future
and belongs to the generations irrespective of their political views’.

ARMENIANS VOLUNTEER TO RETREAT

Sabah
6950545A1A6D851B9AC2B0BC3.html
Sept 11 2008
Turkey

On his return from Baku, President Gul stated; "The Armenians have
volunteered to retreat from Azerbaijani lands," pointing that Armenian
and Azerbaijani leaders are respectfully in good terms with each other.

President Gul, went to Baku yesterday and relayed the message to Haydar
Aliyev that Armenia has volunteered to retreat from Azerbaijan. While
Gul was giving a speech to journalists, he stated that Aliyev was
not disturbed by Gul’s visit to Erivan, as well. President Gul, who
went to Erivan last Saturday, made important statements to a group of
journalists with him both going and on his return from Baku, yesterday.

Gul reassured Azerbaijan by remarking that Turkey’s Karabagh policy
had not changed. The President stated, "Azerbaijanis should not
be susceptible. Turkey has supported the Azerbaijani case up until
now making sacrifices of our own benefits. We are all a part of the
Turkish Nation."

AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS SITUATION IN CAUCASUS

Trend News Agency
Sept 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 10 September/ TrendNews, corr R. Novruzov/ Foreign
ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey Elmar Mammadyarov and Ali Babacan
discussed situation in Caucasus over telephone conversation on 10
September.

Turkish foreign minister informed his Azerbaijani counterpart of
the recent visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan and of
his own talks with the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan,
reported TrendNews quoting Turkish media.

Babacan once again expressed Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan.

Turkish foreign minister said that talks on this issue will be
continued within the 63rd session of UN General Assembly to be held
in mid-September in New York.

Azerbaijani foreign minister approved initiative of holding meeting
of foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia in New York.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

GUL WELCOMED BY HEYDAR ALIYEV IN BAKU

Sept 10 2008
Turkey

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has arrived in Baku at 16:45 hours
(Turkish local time) in his private jet "ANA".

Turkish President Abdullah Gul has arrived in Baku at 16:45 hours
(Turkish local time) in his private jet "ANA".

Gul was welcomed to the Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport by
Turkey’s Ambassador in Baku Hulusi Kilic and other dignitaries.

Asked, during the flight to Baku, if his recent visit to Armenia
offended Azerbaijan, President Gul said that "Azerbaijan should not
have been offended. Such an act would be unfair. Turkey sacrificed
its interests and gave huge support to Azerbaijan. We are part of the
same nation (with Azerbaijan). I do not think that such a reality has
been weakened. Just as in Turkey, there could be different thinkers
in Azerbaijan. We have respect for all views."

Gul stressed that he received no "suggestion either from the United
States or the European Union on his recent visit to Armenia."

President Gul would return back to Turkey on Wednesday night after
holding talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev.