New Era (Windhoek)- Namibia
Sept 29 2004

A New Look At the Stars

Wezi Tjaronda
Windhoek

SCORES of scholars, researchers and scientists descended on Farm
Goellschau for the inauguration of the HESS telescope observatory,
which will provide answers to how the most violent of things happen
in the universe.

With the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) telescopes erected
two years ago, scientists have observed the gamma rays from a binary
system, in this case a Be star. The observations performed between
February and May this year are the first discovery of a binary system
emitting energetic gamma rays. It also observed a mysterious source
of gamma rays as the first unidentified TeV source discovered by the
HESS experiment.

The universe contains a large cluster of galaxies with very high
energy sources that emit gamma radiation.

“Gamma rays have highest energy in the spectrum of cosmic emissions.
High energy processes cause the radiation,” said the chairman of the
HESS Collaboration Board, Professor Heinrich Völk yesterday.

During observations with the antennae , a second hot spot had been
discovered which was a new, as yet unknown, source of high-energy
gamma rays.

“Detailed investigations of the emission characteristics of the hot
spot have shown that the according to scientists.

The system can also observe the explosion of stars by means of the
gamma rays and a lot of other cosmic objects that are invisible to
the naked eye or a normal telescope.

Other discoveries have also been made but have not yet been made
public.

HESS detects sources 100 times faster than previous experiments and
opens a new window on the high-energy universe.

“These are the best results worldwide,” said Prof Völk.

The project is one of four gamma ray observatories in the world with
the other three in Australia, the Canary Islands and the United
States of America.

The Gamsberg area is said to be a excellent site for the project
because it has clear skies and dark nights, thus making it one of the
best astronomical sites in the world.

It was set up to discover more about the very early universe and was
from the beginning planned to be the biggest gamma ray stereoscopic
system in the world.

One of its objectives is to provide a better understanding of the
properties of particles that challenge science and the understanding
of the laws of physics.

It will allow scientists to observe the most violent events in the
universe such as exploding stars, black holes and jets of matter
which move at incredible speeds.

The HESS equipment was inaugurated by Prime Minister Theo Ben Gurirab
yesterday, and he pointed out that astronomy was one of the
pioneering and instrumental sciences in helping the human race to
understand the solar system.

“The HESS instruments that we see here today will help to open up new
vistas for astronomy and will no doubt make Namibia one of the few
leading centres in the world, along with South Africa, Chile, Hawaii
and some others,” he said.

Gurirab said that through the collaboration of several countries in
the project – Namibia, Germany, France, South Africa, the United
Kingdom, Ireland, Armenia and the Czech Republic amongst others –
Namibian scientists would one day echo Isaac Newton’s words that ” if
I have been able to see further, it was because I stood on the
shoulders of giants.”

He said the project should serve as a centre of discovery and
excellence to Namibians to enhance the country’s quest for research
and knowledge in astronomy.

Scientists from France, Germany and South Africa hailed the project
and highlighted the importance of astronomical discoveries like the
ones from the HESS project on African soil.

Dr Khotso Mokhele, President of the National Research Foundation,
noted that astronomy was the key to all things contrary to the belief
that it was just the study of the blue sky with no use for the human
race.

For Professor Enos Kiremire, acting Dean of the Science Faculty at
the University of Namibia, yesterday was a day of victory for
science. And since Namibia and Africa were hungry for knowledge it
could now be obtained from the HESS project.

Namibia could now not be ignored anymore according to German
Ambassador Dr Wolfgang Massing since the project had put the country
on the world map.

The event was attended by the former president of the Max Planck
Society, Professor Reimer Lüst, and representatives of the French
Embassy, ministries of education and research in France and the
director of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics and Particle
Physics in France, Dr Michel Spiro.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reuters
Sept 29 2004

Search and rescue ‘listings’ planned to save lives
29 Sep 2004

Source: AlertNet
By Nick Cater

German rescuers search with their dogs through the rubble of Bam.
File photo by WOLFGANG RATTAY
LONDON (AlertNet) – When a devastating earthquake hit the Iranian
city of Bam last December, some 1,600 would-be rescuers and relief
staff from 46 countries swarmed to the scene. But most arrived long
after survivors had been pulled from the rubble by relatives,
neighbours or local emergency teams.

Ten months on, disaster experts are suggesting a novel way to improve
the effectiveness of initial international disaster response –
classify search and rescue teams by equipment and skills to help get
the right teams in the right places when disaster strikes.

The idea was proposed at a late-September meeting in Singapore of
senior experts from the inter-governmental International Search and
Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), the first global conference on the
issue of search and rescue (SAR) since the Bam earthquake killed
31,000 people.

While some experts suggest Bam was exceptional, with many Western
countries wanting to be seen to send assistance to politically
sensitive Iran, a review of the disaster by the Pan American Health
Organisation noted that Bam was a reminder that the majority of
international SAR teams are unable to reach the scene fast enough to
make a major difference.

The classification proposal would divide international SAR teams into
three listings based on their level of equipment, skills, experience
and thus suitability for various types and intensity of disaster,
from a single building’s collapse to an earthquake in a modern city
with many trapped alive.

Founded in 1991 in the wake of the Armenian earthquake, INSARAG
operates under the United Nations umbrella to foster information
exchange, higher standards, cooperation and coordination, with its
secretariat provided by the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

As head of the OCHA Emergency Services Branch’s Field Coordination
Support Section, Arjun Katoch leads the secretariat. He said
classification would help vital decision-making and get work started
faster.

LIGHT, MEDIUM, HEAVY

“We aim to classify teams by their capacity – light, medium or heavy
– so after a disaster, the country affected and any experts on the
ground can assess the situation and say what resources are needed so
only the right teams with the required skills and equipment turn up,”
he told AlertNet.

But with the World Conference on Disaster Reduction planned for
January 2005 in the Japanese city of Kobe and a preparatory session
in Geneva in October, SAR teams also face calls for far greater
priority to be given to preparedness, such as extra resources for
national emergency networks and training for local volunteers in
crisis-prone countries.

There are different tasks to be tackled, said Katoch.

“International and local teams are completely different. At no point
does any international team think that it can be a substitute for
local people, who clearly do most of the work, especially in the
first 24 hours. Because of their equipment and skills, international
teams would always focus on more difficult and specialist tasks, such
as those trapped deep under rubble.

“Training of local teams to enhance capacity is already underway
through regional INSARAG meetings and training exercises. We’ve had
recent training in Bogata and Manila. The next events will be in
Kathmandu and Australia. But not all countries can afford the teams
or the training they would like.”

With topics as diverse as satellite imagery, use of dogs and
confined-space medicine, the Singapore conference agenda emphasized
how SAR operations draw on a range of skills and equipment.

One example is the use of the Internet to create a virtual on-site
operations centre, through which all those involved in a disaster –
including governments, local authorities and rescue teams – can share
information and plan their response together.

The INSARAG chairman for its Africa-Europe region, Kjell Larsson,
head of the Swedish Rescue Services Agency’s International
Department, said it was very important that international teams were
complementary to existing efforts, avoided duplication and helped
develop local skills.

“International teams do have a valuable role because they can come
with the kind of specialist equipment and skills not needed every day
but vital in particular situations,” he said.

“Search and rescue teams are interested in training but donors are
rarely willing to sponsor this until after a disaster. There were
lots of initiatives in Turkey after its series of earthquakes. Now
the country has nine main search and rescue groups, each trained by a
different international team.”

And he warned: “Chaos is possible if groups that are not part of
INSARAG deploy even before being asked, and are not coordinated with
the rest of the operation.”

Larsson described classification as a “useful move, as it could allow
those most needed to get priority at arriving airports, for example.
The classification will help specify what is required from among the
elements available, such as search, rescue, medical, management and
communications.”

Bendukidze’s politics commendably uncomplicated

The Messenger, Georgia
messenger.com.ge
Sept 29 2004

There is increased concern in the Georgian media that the government
is planning to ‘sell the Georgian economy to the Russians.’ This
refers to government plans to privatize what are considered strategic
state assets, including gas pipelines, energy assets and ports.

A Gazprom delegation was in Tbilisi last week to observe the
investment climate here, and there is speculation that the Russian
energy giant wishes to buy Georgia’s main gas pipeline, which would
allow the company to transport gas from Iran’s gas fields to Russia.

During an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Minister
of Defense Giorgi Baramidze stated that Russian state companies would
be able to buy Georgian state assets. “I have in mind the main gas
pipeline, which connects Russia with Armenia via Georgia, as well as
the electricity transmission system and Georgian ports.”

What is surprising about all this is that before the Rose Revolution
the main accusation against Shevardnadze from the former opposition,
which is now in the government, was the fact that he was opposed to a
Western orientation, evidence of which was his government’s decision
to hand over parts of the Georgian energy sector (such as Telasi) to
Russia.

At the time it was suggested that the main Georgian gas pipeline
might be sold to Gazprom, but this was vehemently opposed by the then
opposition, which saw it as a ‘stab in the back’ for the Western
Shah-Deniz project. Not only would such a move negatively affect the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan gas pipeline, they said, it
would mean losing the chance to gain freedom from Russia in terms of
energy.

Today, however, the architect of the government’s new economic
policy, Minister of Economy Kakha Bendukidze, has placed the
privatization of state objects at the center of his policy, and he is
unconcerned who buys particular objects. What is important for him is
not whether they are Russian or of any other nationality, but that
they invest in the country and boost the economy.

While Bendukidze states that this is nothing more than good economics
and that the government does not take part in the privatization
process, which should remain transparent and apolitical, some
analysts argue that selling Georgia’s main gas pipeline to Gazprom,
which is part owned by the Russian government, cannot but have
political ramifications.

This has led the Georgian media to speculate that the invitation to
Russia to buy Georgia’s state assets must be politically-motivated,
at least in part. Russia will get its pipeline, the argument runs,
but must speed up its withdrawal of Russian military bases in Georgia
and change its position towards the separatist regions of South
Ossetia, no longer impeding Georgia’s efforts to restore the
country’s territorial integrity.

Many critics are concerned that if this is indeed the case, then the
Georgian administration is playing a dangerous game; and the
country’s strategic state assets may end up in Russian hands, but
without any change of stance regarding Georgia’s conflict zones, nor
any prospect of an early closure of Russian bases. In the meantime,
Georgia’s administration could seriously damage its relations with
the West.

Such a view is put forward by the newspaper Rezonansi: “The endless
arguments connected with Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, unclear talks
about gas exports from Iran, with which we damage Shah-Deniz gas
export project, the discrimination of TRACECA corridor, the
discussion of the issue to give gas pipeline to Russia – these are
mistakes that are useful only for one side and this is the country
which has exploited us for more then 200 years.”

However, Minister Bendukidze argues that it is a mistake to think in
terms of pro-West or pro-Russia when it comes to making economic
decisions about Georgia. Newspaper Akhali Taoba quotes him as
stating, “Our business is to take care of ourselves. It is necessary
to lead pro-Georgian politics and the pipeline privatization to be in
expected norms for the country.”

“Because of a pro-western position we denied Gazprom permission to
transport gas to Turkey, but Gazprom built a pipeline at the bottom
of the Black Sea and exported gas to Turkey anyway, and Georgia lost
the transit income. Now, if the Shah-Deniz group does not buy the gas
pipeline, the government will sell it to Gazprom,” he adds.

Bendukidze’s politics are commendably uncomplicated. His policies are
motivated not by seeking to play the big global game, but simply by
seeking to develop the Georgian economy, and hence to create jobs and
increase the quality of life of Georgians. If Gazprom appears as the
only potential buyer of Georgia’s pipeline, the minister says, and
the privatization will help boost the economy, then the government
should not hesitate in allowing it to do so.

Although Bendukidze has come in for a great deal of criticism in the
Georgian media recently, his policies are designed to improve the
lives of ordinary Georgians and should be welcomed.

Sunday, September 26, 2004
**********************************
INFORMATION AND WISDOM.
LITTLE BOYS AND BIG BOYS.
ON THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE.
ON LOSING AN ARGUMENT.
ON FICTION.
****************************************
There is a natural tendency in all of us to overestimate the wisdom of someone who knows something we don’t know, or to confuse information with wisdom.
*
Everyone knows something no one knows, even if what he knows is about himself and his experiences.
*
Little boys brag about things they haven’t done or cannot do. Big boys brag about things they neither know nor understand, all the while hoping no one can tell if they are bragging.
*
In life, the crucified do not always rise on the third day.
*
A bishop will never lose an argument if losing it would mean defrocking himself. Neither will a born-again lose an argument if losing it would mean being dead again.
*
Reality or life is a succession of false starts, vicious circles, and dead-ends. Faith or a belief system allows us to think otherwise by reducing life to a one-dimensional operation in which all questions have answers, the end is predictable, and man is subject to rigid laws. In other words, a belief system is a program and a believer is one who constantly programs himself in order to eliminate the uncertain, the irrational, and the incomprehensible by means of prayer and ritual, also known as incantation and mumbo jumbo.
*
There is a visible as well as an invisible universe. Great many questions about the visible universe remain unanswered. As for the invisible: we know nothing about it. We don’t even know if it is an extension of the visible. To believe means to reduce the mystery of reality by assuming that since we know the Creator, we need all we need to know about His creation. I am somewhat simplifying things, but not as much as a man of faith simplifies reality.
*
Every novel has a central theme or thesis, which can be expressed in a single sentence or brief paragraph. I speak only of themes because I have a horror of boring my readers with imaginary characters, landscapes and dialogue. When I was a child, words like “Once upon a time,” were pure magic. But I am no longer a child, and dark forests, castles, palaces and beautiful princesses no longer exercise the same spell on me. And it is beyond me why anyone would be interested to read such an opening sentence as “The bell rang and I went to the front and opened the door,” or “It was on my wanderings that I first met my beloved.”
*
Fine sentiments and thoughts should be expressed either in a fine style or with the utmost simplicity, because even a hint of pretentiousness may expose the writer as a counterfeit.
*
It has been observed that even when our words have wings they may fly in unpredictable directions.
#

Monday, September 27, 2004
*************************************
WHEN BELIEF SYSTEMS CLASH.
PREACHING TO THE CONVERTED.
HOW TO JUDGE A NEW IDEA.
REALITY AND PROPAGANDA.
EXPLOITING DUPES.
******************************************
It is a mistake to judge a belief system on its own terms. It is only when it clashes with other belief systems that it arouses the irrational and the crocodilian in man.
*
If I had a choice between a hundred readers who don’t agree with me and ten readers who do, I would choose the hundred for the very simple reason that there is no merit in preaching to the converted.
*
One of the worst mistakes we can make is to approach a new idea with the question: “Is it for us or against us?” We should ask instead: Does it make sense? Does it appeal to our reason or to our emotions? Is it consistent with established facts?
*
Whenever a reader writes that he enjoys reading me, I cannot help reflecting that I must be doing something wrong. I don’t write for anyone’s enjoyment.
*
The best way to see the discrepancy between reality and propaganda is to study history and compare what happened with what was said by politicians on both sides of the conflict.
*
The astonishing ease with which most people believe their side of the story and the ruthless cynicism with which leaders on both sides exploit this human weakness.
*
Islam says, “If the enemy is an infidel, he deserves to be slaughtered.” Christianity says, “If Almighty God is on our side, we can’t lose.” The clash of these two belief systems resulted in the senseless slaughter of nearly two million Armenians. I am not saying religion was the main cause of our genocide, but I hope no one will disagree with me if I say it was a contributing factor.
#
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
**********************************
ON THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER.
A MONUMENT TO HUMAN DEGRADATION.
THE AIM OF CRITICISM.
***********************************************
As a child I was brought up to believe all prayers are eventually answered. If we assume that to be true, we must also assume that the millions of innocent civilians who were senselessly slaughtered during two world wars did not pray hard enough; and they did not pray hard enough probably because their faith in God was not of sufficient strength to meet God’s standards. Which also means that in some minimal way, they contributed to their own demise. This type of thinking is another proof of the fact that organized religions, and men of faith in general, are first and foremost in the business of dehumanizing not only their fellow men but also diminishing God. Because, if you think about it, what kind of God would allow children to be slaughtered simply because He was disappointed in the quantity and quality of their prayers? But then, what kind of God would ask a decent father to butcher his own son (see GENESIS) to test his loyalty? Can God be so insecure as to be in need of a poor mortal’s loyalty? And if He knows everything, shouldn’t he already know the answers to His own questions?
*
The most underdeveloped countries are also the most religious. Two cases in point: Mexico and India. Where religion plays a central role, there will also be poverty, disease, corruption, prejudice, ignorance, and overpopulation. Are we to assume Mexican and Indian children deserve their fate because their parents did not pray hard enough?
*
If Armenians were slaughtered because they more or less deserved it, does that mean the Turks did what they did with God’s consent? Or perhaps Sultan Abdulhamid II and Talaat were His messengers?
*
I read in today’s paper that Taj Mahal (described as “a monumental love nest” and “India’s most famous monument”) was built 350 years ago. When I think of Taj Mahal I do not consider its beauty but the degradation of poor anonymous laborers who worked on its constructions to memorialize the love of two individuals who should have been hanged from the nearest tree for their arrogance and greed for immortality.
*
Only the abysmally ignorant view criticism as an expression of hostility rather than concern.
#
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
************************************
FATHERS AND CHILDREN.
MUD IS MUD.
IN PRAISE OF MODERATION.
**************************************
As children we trust our elders and accept their simple answers to our questions. As adults we continue to behave like children when we are told patriotism or nationalism is good only when it is ours; or the word “homeland” is sacred only when it refers to our own homeland; or again, our mud is better than someone else’s.
*
Silence contains the worst lies as well as the best truths.
*
The difference between a fanatic and a moderate is that a moderate suspects there are two sides to every question and if he is honest and objective he may have a better chance to understand reality.
*
If a writer cannot change our perception of reality, he might as well identify himself as an entertainer.
*
Never insult an Armenian writer: being one is insult enough.
#

Azeri speaker vows diaspora support for Ukrainian premier in presidential polls

ANS TV, Baku
27 Sep 04

[Presenter] The Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov
is already in Ukraine. At today’s meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister
Viktor Yanukovych, the sides mainly discussed relations between Baku
and Kiev, the economy, trade and relations between the Azerbaijani
and Ukrainian parliaments, as well as the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.

[Correspondent over archive footage] During his visit to Ukraine,
Alasgarov had talks with Yanukovych and discussed topics of mutual
interest. Alasgarov told Yanukovych that the Azeri diaspora in Ukraine
will support him in the upcoming presidential elections.

Alasgarov said that he managed to meet representatives of the
diaspora during his visit to Ukraine and they assured him that the
500,000-strong Azeri diaspora has already decided to vote for the
Ukrainian prime minister.

In turn, Yanukovych said that he supports the development of economic
ties between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and Kiev is interested in doubling
trade with Azerbaijan. He said that bilateral trade grew by 50 per
cent in 2004 and the bilateral economic commission believes that
there is potential for further growth. He said that the decision
of the Azerbaijani government to jointly produce An-148 planes is a
vivid example of the two countries’ interest in expanding economic
cooperation.

nk13c

“In 2015, the South Caucasus will remain in flux because of
unresolved local conflicts, weak economic fundamentals, and continued
Russian meddling. Georgia probably will have achieved a measure of
political and economic stability, fueled in part by energy transit
revenues, but it will remain the focus of Russian attention in the
region. Armenia will remain largely isolated and is likely to remain
a Russian–or possibly Iranian–client and, therefore, a regional
wild card. Azerbaijan’s success in developing its energy sector is
unlikely to bring widespread prosperity: Baku will be a one-sector
economy with pervasive corruption at all levels of society.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN METALLURGICAL PLANTS REPORT MAJOR OUTPUT GROWTH

ArmenPress
Sept 28 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: The output of 26 ore mining
enterprises in the first eight months of this year, monitored by
a trade and development ministry department, amounted, in terms
of money, to 90 billion Armenians Drams, virtually as much as in
the first eight months of last year. The department head, Arthur
Ashughian, said last year’s figure included also the 11 billion AMD
output of Armenal foil manufacturing plant.. Armenal is not operative
now because of undergoing a sweeping process of equipment upgrading.

This year’s increase was due to efficient operation of an ore mining
plant in Agarak, in southern Armenia, whose production capacity has
gone up by 25 percent after it was privatized by a foreign company. The
plant has doubled its production growth rate against last year. Another
ore mining plant in Kapan, also in southern Armenia, has also doubled
its output after implementation of a development plan of Shahumian
mines.

The leading Armenian metallurgical company, the Armenian Copper
Program, has designed developments plans for both Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh, reporting also a 20 percent output increase. According to
Ashughian, if Armenian metallurgical plants maintain this dynamic,
their overall output may amount to $280 million by the end of the
year against $170 million in 2003.

He said a total of $8 million were invested in Agarak and Kapan plants,
more than committed by their new owners.

The gold extracting plant in Ararat has produced this year 10.5
billion worth gold, 30 percent less than last year. According to
Arthur Ashughian, the decrease had been planned after the Zod mines
began exploring new mines. He said the current capacities of the mine
could be exploited for another 6-7 years, as it has been exploited
for decades. He said there are other gold mines in Armenia, but added
that they do not contain much gold.

JIRAYR SEFILYAN PREFERRING STRATEGIC RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

A1 Plus | 15:21:03 | 29-09-2004 | Politics |

“Presence of West in Armenia must be prevented in all way possible as
long as America and NATO are the allies of Turkey”, Jirayr Sefilyan
answered our question regarding the relations of NATO-Armenia and
Russia-Armenia.

He said that Armenia’s relations with Russia are more preferable than
with America since it is the ally of Turkey.

“The task of America is to now convince Armenian society not to be
afraid of the Turks. As soon as majority of Armenian people treats
the Turks as brothers, Russian troops will withdraw from Armenia. But
Turks remain Turks. The brutal murder of Gurgen Margaryan proves it”,
Sefilyan said.

Mr. Sefilyan is against sending an Armenian military group to Iraq
because it means to spoil the relations with the Arabian world. It
is intolerable since there are great Armenian communes in the states
of Middle East.

Sefilyan announced entrance of the Armenian group to Iraq must be
hindered even if Parliament ratifies the agreement.

120 FAMILIES INHABITED IN KARABAKH

Azg/am
29 Sept 04

120 families, overall 623 people, inhabited in Nagorno Karabakh since January
to August of 2004, Serzh Amirghanian, head of the Administration for
Migration, Refugees and Resettlement, informed Azat Artsakh (free Artsakh)
newspaper.

According to a state project, the number of resettled should reach 70 thousand
by 2010.

“It won’t be easy to carry out only by means of the state budget. It
will cost $110 million. Whereas we receive only 440 million AMD
annually. By this money we will reach that number only in 120 years”,
Amirghanian said. He also noted that Diaspora’s active involvement
is needed to resettle 68 thousand people by 2010.

“We often say that we will have a winning card in the social and economic
field of Karabakh if its population reaches 300 thousand. The world community
should see that we really have 500 thousand refugees from Azerbaijan”, Serzh
Amirghanian said.

AZERBAIJAN FOCUSED ON ANTI-ARMENIAN PROPAGANDA

PanArmenian News
Sept 28 2004

28.09.2004 19:23

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan not only avoids any contact with Nagorno
Karabakh but also focuses on anti-Armenian propaganda, thus making
difficult the process of rapprochement between the conflicting parties,
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Ashot Gulian stated at the
meeting with Jonathan Cohen, the Director of the Caucasian Program of
the Resources for Reconciliation British NGO. According to Arminfo
news agency, Mr. Cohen noted that by means of mass media, the Recourses
for Reconciliation is carrying out projects directed to the creation
of trust between the nations involved in conflicts. He also expressed
hope that the realization of projects to help to alleviate tension
between the parties of the Karabakh conflict.