Month: May 2008

REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL IDENTITY OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE US, RELATIONS WITH TURKEY ON GENOCIDE ISSUE WILL NOT CHANGE: TURKISH EXPERT

arminfo
2008-05-19 16:22:00

ArmInfo. "Regardless of the political identity of the government in
the US, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, their political
relations with a country do not show significant changes," Ugur
Terzioglu, Chairman of Turkish-Armenian Business Association (TABA)
stated in an interview with Zaman.

He provided the different phases of the Armenian case as an example
of the strength of Turkey’s relations with its US allies. "The
Armenian genocide case was brought to the Senate’s agenda during
former Democratic President Bill Clinton’s term. Clinton went to the
Senate taking the Pentagon’s head with him and reminded the Senate
members of the US’s ‘high national interests.’ The senate withdrew
the case and didn’t utter even a word on it.

Years passed and this time Democrats under Nancy Pelosi’s initiative
brought the Armenian claims of genocide to the Senate’s agenda. With
the president’s order, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sent
a letter to the Senate in April 2007 saying that the motion was
totally against the national interests of the US and that they had
to postpone it.

Terzioglu complained about the lack of an efficient Turkish lobby
working for Turkish interests in the US. The Armenian diaspora is
intensively working in for Armenian interests by spending billions of
dollars every year, he noted, adding that Turks have finally started
to do something about this issue.

To him, the level of cultural, political and military relations is
determined by the level of economic relations and Turkey’s commercial
ties with the US are far from meeting their real potential.

ZHIRAYR SEFILYAN’S SUPPORTERS FEAR THAT AFTER DISCHARGE HE WILL BE EXPELLED OUTSIDE OF ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-05-19 16:18:00

ArmInfo. The Committee of assistance to Zhirayr Sefilyan expresses
apprehension that just after discharge he will be expelled outside of
Armenia. The statement of the Committee of assistance to Z. Sefilyan,
received by ArmInfo today, says the term of imprisonment of the head
of the public-political organization "In protection of the liberated
territories", convicted for 1,5 years by the Article "Illegal storage
of arms", expires on June 9. The statement authors think that there
are signs of the fact "that after discharge, Sefilyan will be expelled
by RA authorities outside of Armenia. "Such a step, besides the moral
crime, is not only a criminal offence. It will also violate a number
of provisions of RA legislation and will become the ext expression
of a criminal prosecution, to which Z. Sefilyan is subject to by the
authorities", the statement says.

‘HERITAGE’ PARTY PRESENTS ITS PROPOSALS FOR FULFILLMENT OF PACE RESOLUTION ON ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-05-19 13:09:00

ArmInfo. ‘Heritage’ party presented its proposals and initiatives for
fulfillment of PACE Resolution 1609 from April 17, 2008, by Armenia
and concerning Armenia.

According to the "Heritage" information, spread today, the party
offers to form election committees for the power and the opposition
to have equal number of representatives in the election committees,
the ballot-papers to be printed in one of EU countries, the election
to pass by the principle "one voter-one vote" and the voters’ fingers
to be marked by special ink.

Moreover, "Heritage" party offers to form a National TV and Radio
Commission for the power and the opposition be represented in the
Commission by equal number of participants, the candidacy of the
head of the Public TV and Radio Company Council to be agreed with the
opposition without fail, the authorities to fulfill their liabilities
concerning the previous PACE resolution on Armenia and give an air to
"A1+" and "Noyan Tapan" TV companies, the parliamentary opposition
to get 1 hour of TV and Radio air per week during the most popular
time for watching by TV audience.

"Heritage" party also offers to "stop any attempts of carrying out
a telephone justice", initiating of a constitutional reform aimed
at granting a right to the opposition to nominate its candidacy
of a prosecutor of special importance, introduction of fundamental
amendments to the law on operative investigation, implementation of
reforms of the judicial-legal system, with consent of the opposition.

"Heritage" party also offers to present a draft Law On opposition to
the Parliament, reform the Law On regulation of the Parliament’s work,
entitle the opposition to hold a post of one of the vice speakers,
the posts of the heads of 4 out of 9 permanent commissions and deputy
heads of five permanent commissions, as well as the post of the head
of the Audit Commission and the post of the human rights defender
("ombudsman"). The oppositional factions in the parliament should
be provided with the following rights: assurance of the opposition’s
representatives in all the parliamentary delegations, the right for
convocation of an extraordinary session or RA parliament session,
drawing-up of the agenda of sessions of the second four-day sitting
of each session, the right to appeal to RA Constitutional Court, as
well as an urgent convocation of parliamentary hearings dedicated
to the changes to the law on political parties and the parliament
regulations, as well as discussion of the draft law on the opposition.

"Heritage" party offers to create a "Democratic Center on development
of initiatives concerning implementation of democratic reforms". The
Center will be formed from well-known public figures, human rights
defenders, representatives of non- governmental organizations and
business circles , experts and ordinary citizens. The Center should be
aimed at forming a dialogue and partnership among the governmental
structures and the civil society and its activity should cover
development of proposals concerning the problems of the municipal
power, youth, education and science, health care, priority of the law,
gender equality and other spheres.

MICROSOFT PRESENTED ITS PLANS FOR THE NEXT DECADE

arminfo
2008-05-17 18:23:00

ArmInfo. About 30 journalists from 20 countries of Central and
Eastern Europe took part in the conference "Business innovations"
of the biggest programme producer of Microsoft corporation, held on
7-8 May at general headquarters of the corporation in Campus, not far
from Seattle. At the conference top managers of Microsoft submitted
programmes of the corporation on preserving the leading position in
the world over the next decade. For this reason the corporation will
draw attention not only at drawing out of innovation technologies,
but it is also going to draw out new innovation business-models and
new ways of inclusion of bigger number of people, opening new segments
of community and extending geography of its presence.

Software plus Services for the Consumer Brad Brooks, Corporate
Vice President, Windows Consumer Product Marketing presented the
specifics of Microsoft’s offerings in consumer software as a service
by exploring some of the trends for how people consume content online
and the power of hosted services.

The Future is Mobile Todd Peters, Corporate Vice President, Mobile
Communications Business Having looked at the way that technology will
be consumed in the future through hosted services, this session will
explore Microsoft’s vision for "one Windows Mobile phone for life"
or the way in which the mobile phone is uniquely placed to bridge
the gap between the home and the enterprise. It is the one piece of
technology that we carry around at all times and it is permanently
switched on, offering a unique window into our lives. Microsoft sees
a great opportunity to extend the capabilities of the phone to offer
people more services.

Vice-president of Microsoft on information production management Chris
Capossela said that over the past ten years, the PC era has given
way to an era in which the web is at the centre of our experiences –
experiences delivered not just through the browser but also through
many different devices including PCs, phones, media players, game
consoles, set-top boxes and televisions, cars, and more. Microsoft’s
mission in this new era is to create compelling, seamless experiences
that combine the power of the internet, with the magic of software,
across a world of devices.

For his part, David Foster, General Manager, Product Development,
Unlimited Potential Group and Bohdan Raciborski, Lead Developer,
Ultra-Low Cost PC, Unlimited Potential Group Are all these
technological advances only going to be made available to the world’s
richest people so that they reap all the benefits while those in
segments of society are left underserved by technology? Microsoft
believes that it is everyone’s right to have access to technology to
help education, employability and competitiveness. This cannot just
be achieved by providing technology for a low-cost laptop but comes
through creative ideas to make technology more affordable, relevant
and accessible to all people. This session will outline the various
products and product delivery mechanisms Microsoft is exploring to
help more people access the technology they need to take advantage
of economic opportunity.

He also added that within the frames of the frames of Unlimited
Potential project over 5 years Microsoft will direct $235 mln to its
partners in its educational programmes so that to create opportunities
for raising "the computer literacy".

On 8 May initiators of the conference organized excursion the
ultra-modern and technically equipped information centre of Microsoft.

To note, Microsoft net profit over 9 months of 2007-2008 financial
year which ended on 31 March, amounted to $13,38 bln. This sum exceeds
similar index by 21%. The company income over the three quarters
of the financial year has grown by 18% and amounted to $44,58 bln
against $37,75 bln in 2006-2007 financial year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE IS A NEED OF PARTIES’ UNIFICATION, POLITICAL SPHERE’S CLARIFICATION IN ARMENIA, ALBERT BAZEYAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The political system in Armenia
is incomplete and having more than 70 parties is too much for a
state, as there cannot be so many ideologies and state development
models. Political figure Albert Bazeyan expressed such an opinion at
the May 19 press conference adding that there is a need of political
parties’ unification, political field’s enlargement and clarification
in the country.

He said that the National Revival (Bazeyan was its Chairman), Dashink
(Alliance) parties and the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia have
been de facto united today. According to A. Bazeyan, this process will
be permanent: discussions and consultation meetings with individual
parties, individual political figures acting in the same ideological
sphere are organized. "Its goal is to create an influential political
force enjoying confidence of certain strata of society, which will be
able to take part in our country’s political processes, elections,"
he said.

A. Bazeyan said that all legal problems of parties’ unification process
have been solved, only some organization problems remain. According
to him, preliminary conferences of local structures will take place
in autumn, which will be followed by the "enlarged" party’s congress.

RA NA REGULAR FOUR-DAY SESSION STARTS

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The work of the RA National Assembly
regular four-day plenary session started on May 19. More than 40 issues
and 5 international agreements submitted for the ratification of the
RA President are on the agenda. The agreement On Permanent Mission of
the Asian Development Bank signed on January 23, 2008 in Manila and
on January 30, 2008 in Yerevan between the RA government and the Asian
Development Bank was ratified. The prevailing part of the adopted bills
envisage amendments and addenda to a number of laws in force. The bill
On Firm Names and the legislative package On Inventions, Useful Models,
and Industrial Samples adopted in the second reading are an exception.

After the voting the parliament started discussing the bill On Making
Amendments to the RA law On Holding Gatherings, Meetings, and Marches.

According to the author of the latter, NA Speaker Tigran Torosian,
it has been worked out as a result of the discussions held in April
in Yerevan jointly with the experts of Council of Europe Venice
Commission and OSCE/ODIHR. The experts’ conclusion is positive,
but it is mentioned that "the quality of any law depends on the
circumstances of both its planning and use."

HRAYR KARAPETIAN’S CANDIDATURE TO BE NOMINATED FOR NA VICE-SPEAKER’S POST

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Changes have been made in the leading
staff of the Orinats Yerkir and ARFD National Assembly factions. NA
Speaker Tigran Torosian stated at the May 19 NA sitting.

According to the decision made during the Orinats Yerkir faction’s
sitting, Heghine Bisharian, faction’s former Secretary, has been
elected faction head and Khachik Haroutiunian, who has joined the
faction lately, has been elected faction Secretary. The above mentioned
change is conditioned by appointment of former faction head, party
Chairman Artur Baghdasarian Secretary of the Security Council and
according to it, stopping his deputy powers ahead of the schedule.

By the ARFD faction’s decision, Vahan Hovhannisian, the former NA
Vice-Speaker, has been elected faction head. He will replace Hrayr
Karapetian on the faction head’s post. Hrayr Karapetian’s candidature
will be nominated for the NA Vice-Speaker’s vacant post. According
to T. Torosian, political discussions with coalition parties have
finished and it will be right to solve the issue of NA Vice-Speaker’s
election during the current four-day session.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DOCTOR EXAMINING ARAM KARAPETIAN RESTORED TO HIS JOB

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Armen Gasparian, the doctor-cardiologist
examining Aram Karapetian, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner (New
Times) party, has been restored to his former job. Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by doctor A. Gasparian.

It should be mentioned that the cardiologist of the Erebuni Medical
Center had examined A. Karapetian and expressed concern over his
health condition at the May 15 press conference, stating that he
should be immediately taken to a specialized medical center. The
next day A. Karapetian was moved to the Erebuni Medical Center and
the same day the center administration informed A. Gasparian that he
is dimissed from his job.

A. Gasparian also said that Aram Karapetian’s condition remains bad,
his blood pressure is still high, and, according to the diagnosis,
he needs a long treatment.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND GAZPROM CHAIRMAN AGREE TO CHANGE GAS TARIFF UNTIL 2011 IN COORDINATED WAY

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "Gazprom is a stable and long-term
partner of Armenia," the RA president Serge Sargsian stated during
the May 19 meeting with the chairman of Gazprom company Alexei Miller.

According to a press release submitted by the RA president’s press
service, the sides noted with satisfaction that in recent years
ArmRusgazprom has operated quite efficiently, and the gas consumption
has grown in Armenia, which bears evidence of stable development
of both this company and the Armenian economy. The increase in
gas consumption by the population in recent years was pointed out
as an important achievement. According to the president, thanks to
large-scale work on gas network installation, Armenia has become one
of the countries with the highest indices of gas network installation.

During a discussion on the gas tariff and the price formation,
A. Miller said that Gazprom envisages ensuring equal profitability
for gas supplied both to Russia and abroad. The sides agreed to
coordinate any change in the gas tariff step by step until 2011,
taking into account Gazprom’s 72% stake in ArmRusgazprom company,
as well as to ensure predictability and accessibility for entities
of the Republic of Armenia.

The sides also spoke about negotiations on construction of an oil
refinery and discussed the implementation of other investment program
of Gazprom in Armenia’s energy sector.

MIKA-CEMENT SIGNS AGREEMENT ON SUPPLY OF 200 THOUSAND TONS OF CEMENT TO SOCHI

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian company Mika-Cement has signed
an agreement on supply of 200 thousand tons of M-400 and M-500 cement
for the construction of Olympic facilities for the 2014 Olympic
Games in Sochi. The supply will be done based on bids of construction
organizations, NT correspondent was informed by the director general
of Mika-Cement Naira Martirosian.

According to her, the supply will not be limited to the indicated
amount as it is envisaged building a large number of facilities
in Sochi, in particular, an Olympic district, with thousands of
organizations to be involved in their construction and the supply of
building materials, particularly, cement.

N. Martirosian considered it possible that orders for other types of
cement will be placed by Sochi, adding that Mika-Cement is ready to
perform these orders. "The company has launched an investment program
on operation of a second technological line, and orders for part of
the necessary materials have already been placed," she said, finding it
difficult to tell the time of the program’s completion. N. Martirosian
explained that considerable investments are needed for the investment
program of a second new modern line. Besides, it will be necessary
to involve a lot of contractors, especially organizations operating
mines of raw materials. In her words, Mika-Cements will have the
opportunity to produce 800 thousand tons of cement annually instead
of the current 400 thousand tons after the second technological line
is put into operation.

She said that about 30% of the plant’s production is exported to
Russia, Georgia and Iran. Clinker, a half-finished product of cement,
is also exported to Georgia. Mika-Cement currently employs 935 people
and the number of employees will not considerably grow after the second
technological line’s operation as the current groups of workers will
service the second line as well.