Scientist: Samsung interested in Armenia-produced solar panels

June 8, 2014 By administrator

June 06, 2014 | 13:32

YEREVAN. – World famous Samsung company is showing interest in Armenia-produced solar panels for new washing machines, Armenian researcher said.

Vahan Hamazaspyan, the author of Armenia’s geliofication program, said the talks with the company continue. Meanwhile, on July 22 a group of researchers plan to open a pilot solar station not far from Yerevan.

“The new power plant should be built as soon as possible for the national interests. If we use the entire solar potential, it is sufficient for several nuclear power plants,” Hamazaspyan said.

He claims the cost of solar energy taking into account new technologies may reach 0.3 dram kilowatt hour, which will lead to boosting competition, industry and agriculture. In particular, 10 – 25 percent of the cost of production of dried fruit – or about $1 per kilo – is spent on electricity and gas.

“A solar station requires only one-time costs. I think it is very important for our farmers,” he said.

Turkish factor contributed to Nakichevan incident – debate in Yerevan

June 7, 2014 By administrator

The recent fatal incident on the Nakichevan border was evidently a Turkish-Azerbaijani attempt to escalate tension in the run-up to the Genocide centennial, says Vardan Devrikyan, an Armenian literary critic and a veteran the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

“The closer we are to the Genocide centennial, the more Turkey will use Azerbaijan as a second front to distract attention,” he told reporters on Saturday, calling for a higher degree of attention to the Turkish factor.

Devrikyan said he doesn’t think that the choice of location was accidental given that the situation on the Armenia-Nakichevan Contact Line has always been relatively calm.

“Armenia thus experienced the breath of war, as the shootings were closer to Yerevan,” he said, noting that the Nakichevan Line of Contact is not limited to an Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
Larisa Alaverdyan, a former ombudsman also attending the news conference, said the periodic shootings against the border villages of Tavush have come to be perceived as something ordinary in Armenia, with the repeated violations of ceasefire on the Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan Contact Line not catching any attention at all.

“The government bodies’ behavior forces the defense and security agencies to shoulder the entire burden. But the question has to be included into international organizations’ agenda,” she said.

Alaverdyan added that Armenia’s failure to respond to the statements by James Warlick, the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, put the country in a position of a guilty side that appears unable to resort to any resistance.

“We too, have the right to speak about the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the language of international law. We must never have our heads down whenever an ignorant politician addresses a letter which is later read out by another politician who is equally illterate,” said the former ombudsman, referring to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s letter which president Norsultan Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan read out at the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council’s recent summit in Astana (in the letter, the Azerbaijani leader said Armenia has to make reference to internationally recognized borders when acceding to the Eurasian Economic Union – Ed).

Alaverdyan added that Azerbaijan seems to be taking advantage of the situation in Ukraine and Syria where, she said, violence against civilians has gone unpunished. “Azerbaijan seems to be getting a carte-blanche, seeing those countries’ example,” she said.

An Encounter with Djemal Pasha

June 7, 2014 By administrator

By Jennifer Manoukian

Special for the Armenian Weekly

By Missak Vassilian
Translated by Jennifer Manoukian

The following is the account of a 16-year-old Armenian boy’s unexpected encounter with Djemal Pasha, a member of the the Ittihadist triumvirate of WWI, in December 1917. It was given to me by his son, Asbed Vassilian, who sees in this brief exchange a larger story about the resilience and perseverance of the Armenian people.

In 1915, the benevolent Turkish government, in its monstrous plan, did not spare the faculty and students at the Kelegian orphanage in Chork-Marzban (Dortyol), but instead deported them under the guise of a brief excursion. I think a Turkish unit from Adana came specifically to organize the deportation. A handful of students were reunited with their parents, and some of the older students were sent to the Dar-el-Eytem Turkish orphanage in Adana. According to the information we received, barely a few months after arriving at the orphanage, those boys were sent to the deserts of Meskiné and Der-Zor. Finally, around 20 boys, including myself, were transferred to a German orphanage in the village of Harni. After about two years of studying German, Turkish, and other subjects, the German orphanage suffered a severe financial crisis; they used to give us bread made with barley flour that had not been sifted, and even this was difficult for them to secure. During this period of financial crisis, a couple of German officers came to the orphanage and met with the administration. A few days after the officers left, around 20 students who had been studying German for 2 years were assigned to work as translators at the German military’s station in Ayran. The purpose of that military facility was to oversee the train traffic on the narrow rail lines (around 60 centimeters wide) that ran from the station in Ayran to a station called Incirlik, where two wider rail lines converged.

Around this time, some friends and I went for a stroll around the market dressed in our school uniforms. That day, two Turkish policemen arrested us and brought us to their guardhouse. One of my friends fled and informed the Germans of our arrest. A low-ranking officer and a German soldier soon arrived at the guardhouse. The Turkish policemen who had arrested us fled without saying a word. The officer then asked us why we did not say that we worked for the German military. We said that we had told them, but that they had ignored it and brought us to the guardhouse anyway.

After this incident, they fitted us for German soldiers’ uniforms and turned us into military personnel, so that a similar event would not happen again. After the wide rail lines between the Ayran and Incirlik stations were joined, we moved with the entire military corps to a station called Kelebek. There was work to be done to complete the joining of the rail lines between Kelebek and Belemedik. At the station in Kelebek, they housed us in a wooden room in what they called the barracks. It was one of the nicer Turkish barracks.

Although it was still winter, that day at the end of 1917 was as sunny as a spring day. Barely a few steps away from where we lived, nearly all the Turkish officers at that station were lined up. Djemal Pasha had come from Damascus to meet the officers on his way back to Constantinople. Curious to see him, some friends and I sat down in front of the barracks, swinging our feet as we waited. Barely 15 minutes had passed before they announced that he had arrived. He got out of his special car, dressed in a short coat and flanked by two bodyguards, and joined the officers a few steps away from us. After the major met Djemal Pasha, he began to introduce the officers. He had barely introduced the first officer when the pasha, pointing at us, asked him who the kids were who were swinging their feet. The major replied angrily:

“Paşa hazretleri, bunlar Alman askiar elbisesi giymiş Ermeni çocuklardır. Almanlar bunları tohumluk saklıyorlar.” [“Your Excellency, those are Armenian kids dressed as German soldiers. The Germans are keeping them as seeds for the future.”]

The pasha immediately asked him to bring one of the boys over. Since I was the closest, the major called me over. I approached the pasha and greeted him. The pasha asked if I was a soldier. I said that all of us were, as if he could not have guessed from our uniforms. He asked what kind of soldiers we were, and I said that we were German soldiers. Then, he asked how we became soldiers. I said that we were transferred to the German orphanage in Harni from the Kelegian orphanage in Chork-Marzban (Dortyol), and that after studying Turkish and German for two years, they assigned us to be translators for the German military. After listening to what I had said, the pasha shook his head slowly, and said:

“Acayip! Demek ki Dörtyol Kelegian mektebinden sürgün oldunuz. İki sene Almanca öğrendiniz ve Alman ordusunda askiar tercümen oldunuz. Hey Türklük, bu milleti mahvedemezsiniz ve bu millet mahvolmaz. Yürü, kuzum.” [How strange! This means that you were all deported from the Kelegian orphanage in Dortyol, studied German for two years and became translators in the German army. Oh Turkish people, you cannot destroy this nation and this nation will not be annihilated. Go on, my son, go.”]

And I went on my way.

Source: http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/04/16/encounter-djemal-pasha/

About Jennifer Manoukian
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Jennifer Manoukian is a recent graduate of Rutgers University, where she majored in French literature and Middle Eastern studies. She also studied Armenian language and literature and wrote her senior thesis on the early work of Zabel Yessayan. In the fall, Manoukian will be starting her graduate work in Armenian literature at Columbia University.

Vatican: Pope receives President of Iraqi Kurdistan Barzani

June 7, 2014 By administrator

Pope Francis received Friday Massoud Barzani, president of the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan province where there is a very ancient Christian community that has grown with the influx of refugees from the rest of Iraq and Syria, said the Vatican .

While violence peaked in Iraq, more than 4,000 died in violence since the beginning of the year, this autonomous region, after having long been an area of conflict at the time of Saddam Hussein, has become an area safer in a particularly difficult environment.

This is the first time that the Pope received Barzani who is the head of the autonomous region since 2005.

The province of Kurdistan is home to over 200,000 Syrian refugees, including many Kurds but also Christians.

These would be more in the region of 30,000. Among them also Christians who have left Baghdad and other cities further south to find a security, tolerance and greater freedom.

According to Bishop Rabban Al Qas, bishop of Amadiyah-Zahko interviewed by Vatican Radio, he breathes an air of “freedom” in the region, even if it “is not a paradise,” this freedom attracting private entrepreneurs and allowing some economic development.

Football: Germany wins against Armenia (6-1). Armenians who had equalized in the 69th minute have cracked late in the game

June 7, 2014 By administrator

Armenia has withstood a half against Germany, world class number two. In a friendly match in Mainz (Mainz) on Friday night, Armenia, dominated held firm for more than 50 minutes against the onslaught Germans largely dominating the Armenian selection. Germany opened the scoring by Andre Schürrle (52). But in the 69th minute, one of the few attacks Armenia, Gevorg Ghazarian was fouled in the area of German reparation. Henrikh Mkhitaryan equalized from the penalty (69). Less than 20 minutes after the game, the score was tied between Germany and Armenia. Armenia held a feat. But logic had run its course and the “German Machine” unfold relentlessly.

Lukas Podolski restored the advantage to Germany (72). Benedikt Höwedes and (73), Miroslav Klose (77) and Mario Götze (83, 89) carried the score to 6-1 in favor of the German selection. A selection nevertheless a blow with the injury to his left ankle Marco Reus left the field. After this victory river, Germany reassured and confident will fly to Brazil, where she will face Portugal (June 16) for his first match at the World Cup. Armenia has withstood before cracking, will coach Bernard Challandes around rethink organize his back line very excited. Note that hundreds of supporters Armenians were present at Coface Arena Mainz with dozens of Armenian tricolor widely visible for a live broadcast by many television channels match.

Armenia back to the 38th World position in FIFA rankings … is ahead of Turkey

Armenia is in the 38th position in the ranking of the best teams in the world by FIFA published June 5 Armenian selection was ranked 33rd last month, and plunges 5 postions. Result of his victory in a friendly match against the United Arab Emirates (4-3) and especially his defeat (1-3) against Algeria. Armenia faced yesterday that Germany ranked World No. 2. It was Spain who leads the FIFA rankings ahead of Germany and Brazil. France is 17th, Turkey 39th, the 96th and 83rd Azerbaijan Georgia.

According to “Commandos” Armenia must give an appropriate response to Azerbaijani aggression

June 7, 2014 By administrator

After the death on June 5 of two soldiers Armenians Armenian-Azeri border on the border line between Armenia and Nakhichevan, the reactions are many in Armenia and Diaspora. According to General Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan called “Commandos”, the hero of the war of liberation of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), Armenia must give a strong and appropriate response to Azerbaijan. “This is the first Once they fired from that direction. If we do not give a strong response, Azeri continue their shots (…) our military response will be the only answer to give, “he said. “Commandos” is convinced that the enemy is not ready for war, and that the Azerbaijani people do not want war. But Baku conducts ad effects. “Everybody know that we have a better trained army, which means that the Azeri provocations will not affect us,” says Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan.

Saturday, June 7, 2014,
Krikor Amirzayan © armenews.com

Glendale: Invitation to Armenian Genocide and the Armenian Woman – Saturday, June 7, 2014

June 6, 2014 By administrator

You are cordially invited to a special function on Saturday, June 7, 2014, to a tribute to Armenian Woman, “Armenian Genocide and the Armenian Woman,” who played a significant role to secure the Armenian Nation’s survival and future progress during and after the Genocide in 1915.

This very special program is organized by the United Armenian Council for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide-Los Angeles. Sponsoring organizations are Armenian Relief Society (ARS-Western Region), Armenian General Benevolent Union ( AGBU-Western Region)- Hye Geen, Van-Vasburagan Compatriotic Union and Ararat Foundation.

Special guest panelists are Dr. Rubina Peroomian-Historian, Dr. Garabet Moumdjian-Historian, Dr. Vrej Hayrapetian-Psychologist and Mr. Bared Maronian-Film Producer, who will speak on the subject matter. In the cultural program, Mrs. Tagouhi Arzoumanyan will recite and Garineh Avagyan will perform. Mr. Garo B. Ghazarian, Esq. will be the Master of the Ceremony.

The event will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2014 between 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m., at Armenian Society of Los Angeles, 117 South Louise St., Glendale, CA 91205. Lunch will be served at break time.

The admission is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcomed to attend. Please circulate the news and be present at this very special function.

United Armenian Council-Los Angeles
Organizing Committee

Source: USA Armenian Life

Source: USA Armenian Life.

Ukraine Moves to Repair Relations with Armenia

June 6, 2014 By administrator

KIEV (RFE/RL)—Armenia’s leaders have been invited to attend the inauguration of Ukraine’s newly elected President Petro Poroshenko in what a senior Ukrainian diplomat portrayed on Thursday as proof of Kiev’s readiness to repair relations with Yerevan.

Ivan Kukhta, the Ukrainian ambassador to Armenia, indicated that President Serzh Sarkisian’s decision to recognize Poroshenko’s victory in the May 25 presidential election paved the way for the normalization of bilateral ties. He said Sarkisian’s move was the main reason why he returned to Yerevan more than two months after being recalled by the Ukrainian government in protest against a positive Armenian reaction to an internationally condemned referendum in Crimea.

“Relations between Ukraine and Armenia have always been, are and will be good,” Kukhta told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am). “After two-month consultations [in Kiev] I want to point out that Armenia was one of the first countries to recognize the May 25 presidential election in Ukraine. President Sarkisian congratulated Ukraine’s President-elect Poroshenko, thereby indicating that Armenia recognizes the election result.”

“This was a very friendly diplomatic step,” stressed the ambassador.

Kukhta said that he met with Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on his return to Yerevan on Sunday and that they both reaffirmed their governments’ commitment to deepening bilateral ties. In that regard, he said, the Ukrainian government has invited Armenian leaders to attend Poroshenko’s inauguration slated for Saturday.

“To my knowledge, the Armenian side is ready to send a representative,” added the diplomat.

The Armenian president angered the interim government in Kiev in March when he welcomed the referendum in Crimea that led to the Ukrainian region’s annexation by Russia. Armenia went on to vote against a pro-Ukrainian resolution on Crimea that was overwhelmingly adopted by the UN General Assembly.

“Armenia explained its position in this way: the principle of peoples’ self-determination is its main foreign policy tenet and Yerevan was therefore guided by that principle,” said Kukhta. “Armenia said it has nothing against Ukraine and is simply in favor of peoples’ self-determination.”

Thermal power plant explosion in Kosovo

June 6, 2014 By administrator

06/06/2014

Near Kosovo’s capital Pristina, Kosovo A thermal power plant explosion occurred.

Severe explosion was heard in many parts of Pristina. Kosovo Electricity Corporation (KEK) spokesman My brawl with the explosion of CuK a short description came. Cukor, Kosovo A thermal power plant boiler explosion occurred in one of the at least three people were killed and injured dozens of people, he said. Patal Standards kesinleşmezk yet what caused the first aid teams and police at the scene said the work took.

EU: Negative interest rates – the ECB’s new ‘big bazooka’

June 6, 2014 By administrator

Be prepare and be aware soon the Banks will charge you for parking your money at the bank instead of giving you interest. (Emphasis mine)

Two ghosts are haunting the eurozone: low inflation and a strong euro. The European Central Bank (ECB) has taken aim at both by punishing banks that park money with the ECB.

“We’re very aware of the fact that an extensive period of low inflation carries risks,” ECB president Mario Draghi told international central bankers at a meeting in Portugal last week. He is referring to the risk of deflation, the vicious circle of declining prices, yielding company profits, reduced investment, higher unemployment and ultimately an intensified recession. Once caught in this vicious circle it is hard to find the exit – the example of Japan serves as a warning to all.

Draghi does not see any risk of broad-scale deflation for the time being – an assessment backed by the improving economies in crisis-ridden southern Europe. But the strong euro is threatening to neutralize the enhanced competitiveness gained by the wage cuts in these quarters. Experts say the common currency is overvalued by about ten percent. This is mainly due to “the significant capital inflows that want to profit from an end of the crisis,” says Martin Huefner, Chief Economist at Assenagon in his weekly commentary.

Interest rate reduction already priced in

It was an open secret that the interest rates are set to fall,” says Jens-Oliver Niklasch, Chief Economist with Baden-Wuerttemberg’s state bank LBBW. Rates were cut for the eurozone from 0.25 percent to 0.15 or 0.10 percent. As a rule such interest rate cuts trigger a devaluation of the currency. In this case the effect will probably be limited. What difference does 0.1 percent make after all? And secondly: “An interest rate reduction is already priced in,” Niklasch told Deutsche Welle.

But the ECB has done more. The European monetary watchdogs are going to try out a new tool: the negative interest rate. This means that a commercial bank is obliged to pay a penalty rate if they park money with the ECB. The ECB is hoping to achieve two targets with this measure, says LBBW analyst Niklasch: “The first is rather simple: that the euro is weakened on currency markets; the second is that the vast liquidity offered by the ECB finally reaches the private sector.”

More loans for businesses

In other words: The banks should finally dish out more loans to companies. This would generate more investment, more growth and ultimately higher inflation rates. If the euro softens at the same time, the ECB have killed two birds with one stone. Experts are skeptical as to whether this plan will work. “The granting of loans by commercial banks actually hinges more on demand than supply,” says Jens-Oliver Niklasch.

This means: The debt crisis and recession dampened demand for loans, especially in southern Europe. The ECB can not force banks to provide loans to the private sector. Banks will probably look for alternatives to avoid the penalty rates, such as government bonds of debtor countries in the eurozone. These still have good returns and are guaranteed by the ECB. However, this means more money will go to southern Europe and it defeats the object of devaluing the euro.

Sowing the seed for the next crisis?

So what needs to be done? Nothing, says Roland Vaubel, economist at the University of Mannheim: “The recession is practically over. We have positive growth for the entire eurozone. We have solid monetary growth.” So he sees no need to soften monetary policy.

But what about low inflation? Is he not worried at all about that? No, says Vaubel: “Because this is the result of the monetary policy dating back two to three years. This is a lagging indicator. The ECB is making a mistake if they’re looking at the current inflation rate.”

They should keep their eyes on monetary growth and demand, both of which were positive thanks to the improving business climate. He says further relaxation of the monetary policy does not make sense and would prepare the ground for the next crisis: “We’re running the risk that we fail to drop this hyper-expansive monetary policy fast enough when the economy makes a significant leap and inflation rates soar. I fear that this so-called exit won’t work then.”

Source: DW.DE

About Jennifer Manoukian (More Articles)

About Jennifer Manoukian
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