Month: May 2008

=11333140&fsrc=RSS

A free ride
May 14th 2008
>From The Economist print edition
The $48 billion annual cost of software piracy

MANY PC users have saved a bit of cash by running a pirated version of a
must-have software program at some point. Such piracy cost technology firms
$48 billion last year, up by $8 billion from 2006, according to an annual
study published on Wednesday May 14th by the Business Software Alliance, a
trade body. Users in rich countries have become a bit more honest (or more
scared) in recent years, with rates falling slightly. But this is offset by
a big rise in a few poor countries with weaker regulations. In Armenia, the
worst offender of the 108 countries surveyed, 93% of software is reckoned to
be illegal. America has the lowest piracy rate, at 20%.

PRIME MINISTER TIGRAN SARKISIAN CONGRATULATES PROMINENT COMPOSER EDWARD MIRZOYAN ON HIS BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY

ARMENPRESS
May 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Prime minister Tigran Sarkisian sent a
congratulatory message today to a prominent contemporary Armenian
composer, Edward Mirzoyan, on the occasion of the latter’s 87-th
birthday anniversary.

The government press office said the message runs as follows.

"Dear Maestro Edward Mirzoyan. I congratulate you from the bottom of
my heart on the occasion of your 87-th birthday anniversary.

Being one of the most prominent representatives of the Armenian school
of composers, you have composed works of classical music which have
brought you and our country a universal recognition and honor. These
works occupy a deserved place not only in the treasury of Armenian
but also of world music.

Your huge creative legacy has been assessed and awarded both during
the Soviet times and in independent Armenia. By leaving an indelible
trace in Armenian national musical history you have contributed to
maximum to our society’s moral and artistic education.

Dear Maestro, I congratulate you once more on this occasion. I wish you
good health, fruitful work for the sake of our culture’s development
and prosperity."

IRANIAN-ARMENIAN TRADE IN FIVE YEARS MAKES $700 MILLION

ARMENPRESS
May 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: A business forum was held today in Yerevan
at the initiative of Cavendish University of Iran and the Armenian
Development Agency (ADA). The goal was to look into opportunities for
establishment of a very favorable business and investment environment.

The focus in today’s discussions was on stepping up cooperation
between small and medium-sized companies of both countries, which
were said could cooperate successively in such areas as cattle
growing, production of building materials and veterinary medications,
introduction of automated systems and so on.

Another array of issues related to production of soap, ice-cream,
export and import of equipment for prospecting and production of oil
and natural gas was also discussed.

Valery Shabanov, an ADA director for foreign investments, described
Iranian-Armenian economic ties as ‘quite strong,’ saying also that
Iran is a good partner for Armenia. He said expectations are big that
Iranian businessmen will increase the volume of their investments
in Armenia. He said active dialogue between the two governments is
a serious support for it.

According to Valery Shabanov, Iranian-Armenian trade in the last
five years amounted to about $700 million, of which $111 million were
Armenian exports to Iran. Direct investments in the last three years
were $550,000.

"Both sides believe that there is the appropriate potential to
seriously increase the volume of bilateral economic cooperation," he
said, adding that Armenia is the world leader in terms of vehicles
with converted engines working on liquified gas. He said in this
sense the ADA suggests Armenia and Iran join to build a plant for
production of gas cylinders.

He also said both countries can seriously increase cooperation volumes
in such areas as chemical and food production and tourism. In this
sense he stressed the significance of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and
construction of a hydro power plant on the river of Arax.

Hussein Tajbash, director of Cavendish University of Iran and head of
the Iranian delegation, thanked the ADA for providing consultations
to Iranian businessmen wishing to cooperate with Armenian counterparts.

He told the 20-member Iranian delegation that they can turn to the ADA
any time and the result will be successful cooperation with Armenian
businessmen. He also expressed hope that such gatherings of Armenian
and Iranian businessmen will be more coordinated.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA MEETS WITH TWO MINISTERS

ARMENPRESS
May 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian ambassador to Syria, Arshak
Poladian, met on May 12 with Syrian Tourism Minister Saadala Agha
al-Kalali.

The press division of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Armenpress
that during their meeting the two men discussed prospects for tourism
development between their countries.

Particularly, they referred to the necessity of signing a tourism
cooperation agreement for 2008-2011.

The ministry said a draft cooperation program is under discussion.

Minister Agha al-Kalali noted that Damascus will host in October Silk
Road Tourism Festival and an invitation will be sent to Armenia to
take part.

The ministry said on the same day ambassador Poladian met with Syrian
Education Minister Ali Saadi to discuss Armenian-Syrian cooperation in
education and the details of the planned visit by Armenian education
and science minister to Syria.

Minister Saadi was said to underscore the necessity of a meeting with
his Armenian counterpart citing close education cooperation between
the two countries.

He said Syria would like to expand it further.

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II ENDS VISIT TO VATICAN

ARMENPRESS
May 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, ARMENPRESS: His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, concluded his one week fraternal
visit to the Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Catholic Church, His
Holiness Benedict XVI and is back home.

Accompanying His Holiness throughout the duration of the visit were
His Eminence Archbishop Nourhan Manoogian, Grand Sacristan of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem; His Grace Bishop Aram Ateshian,
Grand Sacristan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople; and
approximately 20 additional archbishops and bishops of the Armenian
Church – primates of Armenian Dioceses in North and South America,
Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

On Tuesday, May 6, the Pontiff of All Armenians and his delegation
arrived in Rome. This was His Holiness’ third visit to the Vatican
since his election as Catholicos of All Armenians in 1999.

The visit to Italy was composed of three parts: a four-day visit to
the Vatican, a one-day visit to the Armenian community of Milan and
a two-day visit to the Mekhitarian Congregation on the Island of San
Lazzaro in Venice.

On Wednesday morning, His Holiness Karekin II and the Armenian bishops
visited the tomb of Pope John Paul II of blessed memory, in the crypt
below Saint Peter’s Basilica, and offered a solemn prayer for the
repose of his soul.

The Catholicos and the Armenian delegation also visited the newly
named St. Gregory the Illuminator plaza inside St. Peter’s courtyard
and viewed the statue of the patron saint of the Armenian Church,
placed there during the pontificate of John Paul II.

Immediately afterwards, the Armenian delegation of clergy and laity
participated in the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, jointly
held by Pope Benedict XVI and Catholicos Karekin II. The two church
heads exchanged messages of greeting, a fraternal embrace and kiss of
peace on the platform in front of the mother cathedral of the Roman
Catholic Church, before a crowd of more than 35,000 faithful.

That same afternoon, His Holiness Karekin II was presented with
an Honoris Causa doctorate degree from the Pontifical Salesian
University recognizing his fruitful work in Christian Education and
Youth Instruction.

On Thursday, May 8, His Holiness Karekin II and his delegation visited
the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, and conveyed his blessings
and warm greetings to the participants of a symposium dedicated to
the study of the Armenian Divine Liturgy.

Friday morning, May 9, the delegation of 100 Armenian bishops and
faithful went to the Apostolic Palace of the Holy See, for a private
audience under the joint presidency of His Holiness Karekin II and His
Holiness Benedict XVI. The two pontiffs again exchanged warm messages
of greeting and brotherly love, embraced with a solemn kiss of peace
and spoke of the strong ties and increasing collaboration between
the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

A short prayer service was held under the presidency of both church
heads, following which, the faithful approached the Catholicos and the
Pope to kiss their right hands and receive their blessings. At the
conclusion of the audience, Catholicos Karekin II and Pope Benedict
XVI met privately during lunch to discuss issues of importance to
both Churches.

In the afternoon, His Holiness Karekin II, met with His Grace
Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Vatican
Guest House for a private meeting. The head of the Church of England
and the Anglican Communion was coincidentally also in the Holy See
this week, and the two fondly recalled the Archbishop’s fraternal
visit to Holy Etchmiadzin in September 2007, as well as discussed
the upcoming Lambeth Conference for the Anglican Communion and the
current state of relations with sister Churches.

The final event at the Vatican was an Ecumenical Prayer Service,
offered at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where the
grave of St. Paul the Apostle is located. His Holiness Karekin II
presided during the service, which included the participation of
Roman Catholic and Armenian Church bishops and clergy.

In addition to the official events throughout the course of the
week, His Holiness and the church hierarchs also visited a number
of Armenian and Catholic churches and shrines. His Holiness and the
high-ranking clergymen departed Rome for Milan on Saturday morning,
where he met chaired an event dedicated to the 50-th anniversary of
foundation of the local Armenian church.

On May 11-12 His Holiness was the guest of the Mkhetarist Armenian
Catholic Congregation on the island of san Lazzaro.

MEMBERS OF "HIMA" MOVEMENT IN AZATUTYAN SQUARE

A1+
[08:45 pm] 13 May, 2008

Today members of the "Hima" youth movement spent over an hour in
Mashtots-Sayat-Nova crossroads teaching people to cross the street
only under the green light.

It was a little strange for the passers-by and rather unpleasant for
the drivers.

"We want our citizens to finally learn the rules of crossing the
street and make drivers respect their rights. Though it was rather
dangerous we even stopped some of the cars that were trying to pass
under the red light breaking the traffic rules. At first sight it is
a trifle but it is a big step towards creating a democratic country",
a "Hima" member said.

The "Hima" members are determined to have such "lessons" every day
on different streets of Yerevan.

Z. POSTANJYAN INFORMED BY PRIME MINISTER

Panorama.am
19:17 13/05/2008

Zaruhi Postanjyan, NA deputy and the member of the permanent committee
on the state-legal affairs has sent a written request to the Government
and the Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan for getting in formation
about Teghut mining exploitation, said Postanjyan who took part in
"SOS Teghut" bicycle campaign in 9-11 May.

"There we have presented information about the loss of natural
resources in the case of the mining exploitation, as well as about
the destruction and pollution of ecological system," said the deputy.

According to her they have sent ten questions to the Government on what
steps the RA Government takes to examine the resources of molybdenum
and other unique metals, how much the revenues to the state budget
will form, who the 81% owner of Teghut mining is regarding that
Russian citizen Valeri Mejlumyan owns only 19%.

Postanjyan considers it quite possible that 81% belongs to an Armenian
official.

According to Zaruhi Postanjyan the state budget will not have much
profit from that business as only foreign investors will get use of
it. "If we not stop Teghut exploitation, in the future we just can’t
live in Armenia," she said and added that if the exploitation starts
we’ll become an old mannered country where the workers get 40.000
drams for working in According to Postanjyan the Prime Minister also
said that "we should work through legal aspect to act against the
implementation of it."

AZERBAIJAN NOT GOING TO JOIN NATO

Interfax News Agency
May 12 2008
Russia

Azerbaijan actively cooperates with NATO, but thinks that it is
too early to join the alliance, Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev
said."It is too early to speak about this [joining the alliance]. Time
will show," Abiyev said in an interview with Azerbaijan’s ANS TV
company.

There is no unity among CIS member countries, while strengthening
military cooperation between Russia and Armenia forces Baku to react,
Abiyev said.

"Today, one can say that there is no unity among CIS member states,"
Abiyev said.

"That is right, the main country that forms the policy in the CIS
space is Russia. You know well what relations Russian has with Armenia.

This undoubtedly forces us to make certain measures as to this tandem,"
the minister said.

The Azeri Armed Forces cooperate with 50 countries of the world,
primarily Turkey, the United States, Pakistan, the United Kingdom,
and Germany, while bilateral military cooperation agreements, which
provide for mutual assistance on a number of issues, have been signed
with 24 countries of the world," Abiyev said.

Abiyev doubts that peacekeeping forces could soon be established within
the framework of GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova).

"We [GUAM] have established very active ties, which are developing
day by day; however, the talks have been underway, and one cannot
say that today all GUAM members are ready to create any armed or
peacekeeping forces," Abiyev said in an interview.

The minister, however, said that that a possible entry of some GUAM
members to NATO will not hinder the creation of a GUAM peacekeeping
contingent. "GUAM is not going to cease operating after Ukraine and
Georgia join NATO," Abiyev said.

The recent withdrawal of Azeri peacekeepers from Kosovo after some
countries recognized the independence for the region did not have a
negative impact on Azerbaijan’s relations with NATO.

"NATO members understand well why Azerbaijan withdrew its peacekeepers
[from Kosovo], and they say this openly to us. There are no and there
can be no problems here. We are an independent state, and this was
our decision. This means that Azerbaijan can voice its opinion without
fearing anyone," Abiyev said.

AZERI, ARMENIA LEADERS COULD MEET IN JUNE – BAKU

Interfax News Agency
May 12 2008
Russia

Another round of talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement between
Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is
likely to take place in June, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
told journalists.

This will be the first meeting between Aliyev and Sargsyan.

Speaking about a recent meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian in Strasbourg, Mamedyarov said that this was a meeting at
which the ministers got acquainted with each other, because Nalbandian
has been appointed to the office recently.

This was a meeting at which we got acquainted with each other. We
decide that one needs to continue the talks. We also agreed that a
meeting at the level of presidents should take place, Mamedyarov said.

This agreement was immediately reported to Aliyev, he said. It is
likely that the meeting at the level of presidents will take place in
June. There is a new president in Armenia, and it will become known
at a meeting with new authorities whether they are ready for peace,
Mamedyarov said.

The Azeri minister noted that he once again confirmed Baku’s position
that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved solely within
the framework of Azeri territorial integrity at a meeting with his
Armenian counterpart.

ARMENIAN SHEPHERD WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE FROM AZERI SIDE – ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

Interfax News Agency
May 12 2008
Russia

An Armenian shepherd has been wounded by gunfire coming from the Azeri
side, the Armenian Defense Ministry’s press secretary Colonel Seiran
Shakhsuvaryan told Interfax on Monday.

"On Monday morning, at 11:00 a.m. local time, Azeri army units opened
fire on Armenian troops stationed near the village of Baganis in the
Tavush region," he said.

One villager, shepherd Lorik Avagyan, born in 1957, was wounded.

Armenian soldiers carried him away from the scene of the shooting,
Shakhsuvaryan said.

The shepherd has undergone surgery. Doctors assess his condition
as serious.