Month: May 2008

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DEVELOPS PROGRAM ON AVAILABILITY OF COMPUTER IN
EACH HOUSEHOLD OF COUNTRY

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government is developing a
program aimed at ensuring the availability of a computer in each
household of the country. It is possible that agreements will be
reached with big computer-producing companies on the sale of computers
of various prices to the population. It is also envisaged to use some
credit mechanisms to implement such agreements. The RA minister of
economy Nerses Yeritsian stated this at the press conference held
during the "without tie" meeting of the IT sector’s heads in
Tsakhkadzor on May 1-3.

In accordance with the draft concept on development of Armenia’s IT
sector, the level of the population’s physical, financial and content
access to the Internet shall be increased from 5% in 2006 to 90% in
1918. From the viewpoint of achieving this goal, the minister attached
special importance to the availability of e-content of the education,
health care, agriculture and other sectors in the Internet, which will
create demand for solution of physical (telecommunication) access
problems and investment attraction.

It is also planned to ensure Internet access by setting up 100
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) access centers
throughout Armenia in 2008-2013. Local government bodies, 900 postal
offices, bank branches, about 1,500 schools, and 51 centers of the
Social Security Service may become such centers. The draft concept
envisages the availability of at least 250 ICT centers, which,
according to N. Yeritsian, may play a great role in dissemination of
electronic literacy and stimulate demand for computers.

He said that the IT sector cannot develop without creation of IT
product necessary for the formation of electronic society. The draft
concept envisages increasing the annual production of IT sector to a
billion dollars in 2018. In the minister’s opinion, this is realistic
if in the IT sector Armenia proceeds along the path passed by developed
countries and uses their experience.

He added that 10 main programs will be developed after the concept’s
approval by the government. 5 programs will be related to information
society, another 5 – to development of the IT sector.

Panorama.am

16:20 06/05/2008

PRESIDENT IN `KAROT’ FESTIVAL

In 13-19 May `Festival’ will take place in Moscow,
which is devoted to the people living far from their
motherlands. The festival is organized within Armenian
Culture Days in Moscow.

High ranking officials from Armenia and Moscow are
invited to be present at the festival. It is supposed
that the president of Armenia and Russia Serzh
Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, president-elect Dmitry
Medvedev, the mayors of Yerevan and Moscow Ervand
Zakharyan and Yuri Luzhkov, the ministers of culture
of the RA and RF Hasmik Petrosyan and Alexander
Sokolov will be present in the festival. A.
Djigarkhanyan, L. Durov, A. Bitov, Dj, Guatyan, T.
Gvarcetelin are also invited to the festival. Guests
from Armenia, France, USA, Canada, Bulgaria, Iran,
Georgia and Ukraine are expected.

The organizer of the festival Development Agency of
Armenian Culture planned the festival to differ in its
genre and character. Hence plays, concerts, book
presentation are to be presented in the festival.

Source: Panorama.am

NEARLY ONE THOUSAND ARTISTS TAKE PART IN VAHAN TEKEYAN ANNUAL
COMPETITION OF TEKEYAN CULTURAL UNION OF ARMENIA IN LAST 5 YEARS

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Tekeyan Cultural Union of Armenia is
going to hold Vahan Tekeyan annual competition for works created in
2007. As Ruben Mirzakhanian, the Chairman of the Tekeyan Cultural Union
of Armenia, said at the May 5 press conference, the competition will be
held in the nominations of Fiction, Music, Painting, Sculpture,
Theater, Radio and Television, as well as prizes will be given for the
best publication in the Azg daily, social-political satire, creations
written for schoolchildren and children.

Creators from both Armenia and the Diaspora can take part in the
competition. Monetary prizes of 1000 thousand USD will be given to each
winner.

R. Mirzakhanian said that the Vahan Tekeyan competition has been held
since the 1990-s. It has a more organized nature in the last 5 years.
"Nearly 1000 artists have taken part in the competition in the last 5
years. The prizes of the Tekeyan Cultural Union of Armenia are given to
those who make a contribution in the issue of development and spreading
of Armenian culture," R. Mirzakhanian emphasized.

It was also mentioned that the deadline of acception of applications is
from May 8 to December 8.

Panorama.am

16:20 06/05/2008

DEPUTY: `DEMOCRATIC VALUES IN ARMENIA HAVE NO
ALTERNATIVE’

`Implementation of problems covered by the coalition
project, Government’s new project and PACE article
1609 will guarantee success and developments,’ said
Edward Sharmazanov, Republican member and deputy.
According to him irrespective of Europeans admonishes
Armenia has two ways to follow: degradation and
democracy. `Hence, we should think of democratic steps
as democratic values have no alternative in Armenia,’
he said.

The deputy notified that democracy is a developing
process and it is impossible to get the expected so
soon. `We should get those successes till June
session,’ he said. He said that coalition members are
taking measures to solve the problems but the society
itself has much to do.

To the question that Raffi Hovhannisyan is not
included in the PACE Armenian delegation and that
Stepan Safaryan’s request was declined, he answered
that Raffi Hovhannisyan himself refused to be included
in the delegation group and besides the group could
cover only those who have been included in it before.

Source: Panorama.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Single center for passport printing activated at Armenian Police

2008-05-07 14:36:00

ArmInfo. A single center for passport printing has been activated at
the Armenian Police. Head of the Armenian Police Office of Visas and
Registration (OVIR), Colonel Alvina Zakaryan said at a press conference
that earlier the idea of establishing a single center was realized to
print passports for children. To avoid long lines to the OVIR and the
demand for all the documents, now citizens are required just to submit
documents to the local Office wherefrom the documents are sent to the
Center via special communication. The special communication is
available daily in Yerevan and weekly in regions, A. Zakaryan said.
‘Now database contains not only the passport data of citizens but also
their photos that are no longer attached to the documents but printed’,
she explained.

She also touched upon the new passport (biometric) system which Armenia
intends to change over to in 2010. A. Zakaryan said the present models
of passports will be issued till 2010 and the issued passports will be
valid till their expiry date. Foreign passports will be valid
simultaneously. Chips of biometric passports will contain photos and
fingerprints. A. Zakaryan did not rule out the future addition of other
biometric data. Passports are issued in Armenia for 10 years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KHACHKAR MOVED FROM ARMENIA TO NEW YORK TO BE DISPLAYED AT
METROLPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

NEW YORK, MAY 5, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The State History
Museum of Armenia sent a 909-kg khachkar to New York for a long-term
display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is the only khachkar
currently on display in the U.S.

The installation of the khachkar once created in Lori marz was
organized and supervized by Helen Evans, while the Hagop Kevorkian Fund
provided financial support for its transportation and installation. H.
Evans together with Jack Sultanian, Jr. from the Metrapolitan Museum
had visited Armenia to choose a khachkar under the supervision of the
ministry of education and the History Museum and in consultation with
the RA president’s office.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ex-member of Armenian Parliament Tatul Manaseryan: Armenia lacks
constructive, rhythmic and serious opposition

2008-05-07 14:25:00

ArmInfo. Armenia lacks constructive, rhythmic and serious opposition,
the ex-member of the Armenian Parliament Doctor of Economy Tatul
Manaseryan said at Pastark Debate Club Wednesday.

He mentioned that he has always harshly criticized the authorities. He
was elected to the parliament by the Justice opposition bloc party
ticket. However, idleness and unbridled criticism have always been
the key problem of the opposition. ‘I am for both criticism and
everyday work, which I do by making assessments and consulting on the
most urgent issues of the country’, Manaseryan said. The ex-MP has no
expectations from the currently formed Armenian National Congress
headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan for ‘revanchists cannot become reformers
and artificial unions are not durable and the fate of Justice bloc is
an evidence of it’, he said. As regards the new government, T.
Manaseryan said unlike the previous governments it comprises
professionals like Finance Minister and Energy Minister.
‘Although political distribution of portfolios is inevitable in
conditions of the coalition, but the government program contains real
points and the government comprises real professionals, which inspires
with hope for reforms. It will be possible to assess the activity of
the new government already in 100 days’, T. Manaseryan said.

CHAIRMAN OF MONTEVIDEO ARMENIAN NATIONAL CENTER AWARDED LAS PALMAS ORDER

MONTEVIDEO, MAY 5, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Karlos Ketsoyan, the
Chairman of Montevideo Armenian National Center, by the decision of
the Ministry of Education of France, was awarded LAS PALMAS special
academic order for his contribution to relations between Uruguay and
France and his important studies in the sphere of neurology.

As Radio Arax reports, the solemn award-giving ceremony took place at
the Embassy of France in Uruguay on April 19. Ambassador Jean Moyret,
University Rector Federico Arosena, leader of Armenian church
Archbishop Hakob Gellentchian, members of community were present at
the festivity.

RA Prosecutor General’s Office denies statement of RA first president
Levon Ter- Petrosyan

2008-05-07 10:08:00

ArmInfo. Today, Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia denied RA first
President Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s May 2 statement.

As the press service of RA Prosecutor General’s Office told ArmInfo,
Ter-Petrosyan claimed on May 2 that during the hearings in RA
Constitutional Court regarding the claim about the final results of the
presidential election, he was allowed to attend the court session
according to the relevant decree of the Constitutional Court after a
written confirmation of deputy Prosecutor General Aram Tamazyan.

According to the message, this statement of Ter-Petrosyan gave rise to
all kinds of speculations disorienting the society. Emphasizing the
significance of the public right for receipt of an objective and proved
information, the Prosecutor General’s Office publishes its appeal to RA
CC from March 4, reading the following: "Following the decision of
Armenia’s Constitutional Court from March 4, we inform that RA
presidential contender Levon Ter-Petrosyan is not under arrest, he is
not restricted in his movements, the institute of house arrest is not
envisaged by RA CC and he is free to attend the Constitutional Court.
As for assurance of his participation in the court sessions, this is
not within authorities of the Prosecutor General’s Office".

Alpha Sphere team to represent Armenia in international finals of
Imagine Cup

2008-05-05 20:11:00

ArmInfo. The Alpha Sphere team will represent Armenia in the finals of
the international students’ competition Imagine Cup 2008, which will
take place in Paris in June 2008. Armenian Economy Minister Nerses
Yeritsyan handed a certificate to this team consisting of 5 young
specialists who passed the third stage of the contest and worked out a
project on recovery of waste by means of innovations.

Grigor Barseghyan, Microsoft RA Country Manager, expressed content with
the work of all the teams and noted that Imagine Cup is a wonderful
chance for Armenia to present its serious potential in IT sphere. "This
is a good opportunity for young people to present their ideas, projects
to large international companies", he stressed. Barseghyan promised
that from now on Armenia will annually participate in Imagine Cup.
"Though it is a new aspect of life for Armenia, we’ll exert every type
of effort to turn our participation in the competition into a pleasant
tradition, annually involving more and more young people", he said.

The director of the Enterprises Incubator Foundation Bagrat Yengibaryan
said that the main selection criteria were innovativeness and technical
potential. "All the works were excellent and deserved victory. We were
amazed that the guys had managed to prepare so serious products in just
six months," Yengibaryan said. Besides the trip to Paris, the winners
have been granted 450,000 AMD. The second and third place winners have
got certificates and 450,000 AMD each. To recall, the subject of the
competition is "Imagine a world where technologies help improve the
environment". The local contests were held in Armenia in three stages,
starting from December 20, 2007. At that time a total of 9 teams were
formed, with four members in each of them.

To note, this project is implemented in Armenia with the support of Bi
Line, Synopsis Armenia, Unicomp and the Union of Informational
Technology Enterprises. The competition Imagine CUP supported and
organized in Armenia by the Competitive Armenian Private Sector Project
(CAPS) is a large international technology competition for students. It
gives them a chance to present their ideas and works in IT sphere. The
project demonstrates the capabilities of the software in settlement of
real problems.