RAN INTO CANDIDATE’S CAR
A!+
[04:15 pm] 29 August, 2008
A car ran into a service car of Ashot Mnatsakanian near Nor-Nork on
August 29. The driver took to flight. Ashot Mnatsakanian’s car was
damaged, press secretary of the Armenian Progressive Party Arsen
Mkrtchian informed A1+.
The party thinks the incident is connected with the upcoming
election. The police haven’t made a statement yet.
Note, Ashot Mnatsakanian runs in the election to district head of
Arabkir commune.
H. KARAPETYAN: THE COURT HAS CONSIDERED THE MATTER
Panorama.am
17:19 29/08/2008
Any event taking place in the region has its own influence on
Armenia. As for economic influence, Armenian has felt it largely
depends on regional stable environment, the vice-president of RA
Parliament, member of ARF council Hrayr Karapetyan has announced.
He aslo suggested that serious measures should be taken to avoid
critical developments in our economy.
Karapetyan aslo spoke about geopolitical changes, the creation
of new bi-polar world and its general influence on international
realations. Armenia’s position towards these changes should be regarded
from the angle of its’ state interests.
On 1 and 2 September the ARF party is holding a peaceful manifestation
dedicated to independence of Nagorno Karabakh. While commenting
on the coming demonstration, Karapetyan emphasized that Yerevan
municipality’s rejection on it had no grounds, as the authorities
should always support any arrangements concerning NKR independence.
According to Karapetyan, the court which made a decision on the
legal basis of the demonstation, had considered the matter and said
no manifestations concerning first school day should take place on 1
and 2 September after 18:00. "We don’t want to compare our peaceful
manifestation with other demonstrations, as we don’t want to raise a
wave of defiance. However, it’s high time Armenian people once again
show their support to NKR," Karapetyan added.
Note that, in Karapetyan’s words, many Armenians from different parts
of the world may join the manifestation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
"REPUBLIC" PARTY WILL SUPPORT SERZH SARGSYAN
Panorama.am
17:21 29/08/2008
"Armenia must maintain its fine impartial view on Russia-Georgia
conflict," the member of "The Republic" party Suren Surenyantz says.
In his words, it would be ridiculous if Armenia recognizes independence
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia right now, just like it would be
improvident to do the same with NKR.
Surenyantz also emphasized the "Republic" party will support President
Serzh Sargsyan’s consistent policy concerning Armenia-Turkey relations.
According to Surenyantz, Armenia should do its best to improve its
relations with Turkey. This, in its turn can stabilize the country’s
economic situation which is really vulnerable now.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
PRESS CENTER FOR ARMENIA-TURKEY FOOTBALL MATCH
Panorama.am
17:53 29/08/2008
The Press center for Armenia-Turkey World Cup qualifier match will
work from 3-6 September in "Armenia Mariott" hotel.
According to AFF the main goal of the press center is to ensure
easy work of international mass media and of different journalists
informing about the coming match.
ARMENIAN JAZZ CELEBRATES 70-TH ANNIVERSARY
Panorama.am
19:36 29/08/2008
September is going to be a real cultural illumination period. Armenian
Jazz is 70.
It was in 1938 when the first official Armenian Jazz-band was
found. Many things have changed since those times, but our passionate
love for jazz is neverending.
Armenian jazzmen have acquired worldwide recognition and fame and now
in Yerevan some interesting arrangements are going to take place in
the light of jazz 70-th anniversary.
Nino Katamadze famous singer from Georgia will have a concert in Opera
house with her "Insight" band. Yerevan jazz-fans have exceptional
chance to listen to the unique performance of this talented singer
who makes interesting mixture of jazz and ethnic folks and gives you
unforgettable feelings.
On September 29 in Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra concert hall the
exclusive concert of legendary Jazz singer Tatevik Hovhannisyan will
take place. She is so talented, that they used to call her "Ella from
Yerevan". In early 80-s Hovhannisyan appeared in the USA; she still
sings her favorite jazz there.
The "queen" of Soviet jazz-vocal has proved she’s real world jazz
star and made a successful career not only in America but in Europe
as well. By the way, she has a new contract with "Sony Classical"
music-company for the record of her 5 coming albums.
There are many jazz-clubs playing only live music in Yerevan now:
we have interesting international jazz festivals, different programs
and even "Radio Jazz" station dedicated only to this legendary music
direction.
PRICE REDUCTION AND INTERNET SERVICE BANDWIDTH UPGRADE IN ADC
Panorama.am
15:27 29/08/2008
There is currently a large number of Internet Providers in
Armenia. Providers concentrate on effective distribution and
installation as well as new and more flexible pricing options to make
the market grow.
Starting from September 1st, 2008 Armenian Datacom Company CJSC (ADC)
announces price reductions to business subscribers for "Internet
Office" and "Data Pro DPRS" services. ADC is Armenian -Norwegian joint
venture that provides high capacity Fiber Optic Broadband Internet
and Data Communication services.
The new price changes are also applicable for ADC customers who have
signed contracts with ADC for these services before September 1st,
2008.
Starting from September 1st, 2008 bandwidth is automatically upgraded
at no extra cost to the subscribers for "Internet Office 250",
"Internet Office 500" and "Internet Office 1000" in the following
order:
ï~A¬ "Internet Office 250" (256/64 Kbps) service will be upgraded to
"Internet Office 500" (512/128 Kbps), ï~A¬ "Internet Office 500"
(512/128 Kbps) service will be upgraded to "Internet Office 1000"
(1024/256 Kbps), ï~A¬ "Internet Office 1000" (1024/256 Kbps) service
will be upgraded to "Internet Office 1500" (1536/384 Kbps).
These changes result in service price reduction for all Internet
Office speeds, and asymmetric "Internet Office 250", is phased out
by these changes.
–Boundary_(ID_l0uA0hUmLy1wRpRd/1Ncvg)–
BPC BEGINS SMARTVISTA IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT FOR ARMENIAN CARD
Computer Business Review
uid=4F66C7D5-968E-48D2-A61E-63C7285174D5
Aug 30 2008
UK
BPC, a provider of e-payment solutions, has announced the beginning of
a new SmartVista implementation project for Armenian Card, a payment
card processor. The deployed solution will provide monitoring and
management of the self-service network of the processor including
ATMs and currency exchange terminals.
Having faced the problem of lack of performance and poor integrity
of the switching solution used by the company, Armenian Card
(ArCa) management decided to implement a modern technology and
high performance front-end solution to support its extended ATM and
self-service network. ArCa valued the functionality and reliability
of BPC’s SmartVista Front-End solution and chose it to modernize its
transaction switching system.
According to BPC, the broad functionality and high performance of
SmartVista, its scalability and ability to support all the modern
payment and banking services available via self-service terminals
will allow ArCa to ensure undisturbed operation of its self-service
network and high availability of all the services provided by the
company and to significantly expand the range of the self-service
options in the future.
Besides, SmartVista Front-End offers a spectrum of interfaces for
online interaction with ATMs, POS devices, self-service terminals,
payment schemes and other delivery channels and IT solutions making
IT infrastructure built on it universal and allowing the customer
to use any self-service devices regardless of their configuration
and manufacturer.
RUSSIAN ATTACK PRAISED IN MIDEAST
By Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington Post
Aug 30 2008
DC
CAIRO — For some in the Middle East, the images of Russian tanks
rolling into Georgia in defiance of U.S. opposition have revived warm
memories of the Cold War.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew last week to Moscow, where
he endorsed Russia’s offensive in Georgia and, according to Russian
officials, sought additional Russian weapon systems.
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi’s influential son,
echoed the delight expressed in much of the Arab news media. "What
happened in Georgia is a good sign, one that means America is no
longer the sole world power setting the rules of the game," the younger
Gaddafi was quoted as telling the Russian daily Kommersant. "There is
a balance in the world now. Russia is resurging, which is good for us,
for the entire Middle East."
In Turkey, an American and European ally that obtains more than
two-thirds of its natural gas from Russia, the reaction was more
complex. Turks watched as the United States, NATO and a divided
European Union hesitated in the face of Russian military assertiveness,
leaving them more doubtful than they already were about depending on
the West to secure U.S.-backed alternative oil and gas supply lines.
"This Russian invasion of Georgia is a turning point in the relations
of the Atlantic community with Russia, including, of course,
Turkey," Ozden Sanberk, a former Turkish ambassador to Britain,
said by telephone from Turkey. "There is a change in the paradigm,
a change in assessment."
Since Aug. 8, when Russia sent troops and tanks across its southern
border in a confrontation with Georgia’s pro-Western government,
many Turkish newspapers have urged the Turkish government to improve
relations with Russia, in pragmatic acceptance of the possibility
that Russia could directly or indirectly control most oil and gas
supplies from Central Asia to Europe.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the past two weeks
has sought to persuade leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and
Russia to put their political differences aside in the interest of
keeping oil and gas flowing.
Russian leaders, angry at Turkish military aid to Georgia, repeatedly
refused to take Erdogan’s calls, Turkish news media reported.
Russia has been paying closer attention to the needs of the United
States’ least favorite Middle East countries, Syria and Iran.
Russia’s ambassador in Tehran, Alexander Sadovnikov, told Iranian news
media this week that Russia was committed to helping Iran finish work
on its Bushehr nuclear plant as soon as possible. At the same time,
Iran’s oil minister declared his country’s eagerness to do more
business with Russia’s main energy company, Gazprom.
The United States has tried to discourage European countries and
Turkey from turning to Iran for oil and gas. With Russia demonstrating
its ability to control supplies through Georgia and the rest of
the Caucasus, Iran’s supplies are going to look more attractive to
U.S. allies in Europe, analysts noted.
And with the United States and Russia at odds, Iran also can expect
more help from Russia in blocking U.S. efforts in the U.N. Security
Council and other international bodies to sanction Iran over its
nuclear program, said Flynt Leverett, a former Bush administration
Middle East policy director and now a senior fellow at the New America
Foundation in Washington.
Especially with Assad’s visit to Moscow, Russians are signaling that
there is more they can do to undermine U.S. policies, Leverett said.
Syrian officials this week denied reports in Russian news media that
Assad had sought Russian ballistic missiles on his visit to Moscow
and had offered to host a Russian naval post again, as Syria did in
the Cold War to ward off any attack by Israel.
Iranian officials, mindful of a possible U.S. or Israeli strike, also
have voiced hopes of obtaining Russia’s most advanced antiaircraft
missile systems.
In Israel and the United States, there is "definitely rising concern
Russia may go ahead and deliver those systems as a way of further
indicating how unhappy it is with U.S. policy," Leverett said.
Russia, however, also has been building relations and trade with
Israel, and has denied selling its most advanced systems to Syria or
Iran. Syria itself is in indirect peace talks with Israel. Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said last week that Russia was ready
to sell Syria arms of a "defensive character that do not violate the
strategic balance of power in the Middle East."
Israel said Prime Minister Ehud Olmert planned to travel to Russia
to discuss any Syria-Russia arms deals, amid statements from Israeli
officials that the arms could be used to bolster Syrian ally Hezbollah.
Middle East governments have experience with Russian-made weapons,
which haven’t worked so well, said Abdel-Moneim Said, director of the
al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. Egyptians
still blame their defeats in wars against Israel partly on their
Russian-supplied weapons.
Many Arab analysts initially cheered Russia’s flexing of its military
muscles. An opinion piece in the United Arab Emirates-based Gulf
News called it "long overdue." Editorials in some Arab news media
this week and last expressed second thoughts, questioning whether
Russia has the stability, surety of purpose or strength to be a leader
among countries.
"All that ended up to be a kind of nostalgia, or looking for a new
kind of Cold War, when there was not only one, single power dominating
the world, the United States, and its ally, Israel," Said said.
Now, "there’s a realization that Russia has a lot of interests with
the West. Also that Russia is still a limited power," he said. "It’s
no match. There is no new Cold War coming."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
NAGORNO-KARABAKH CALLS FOR DRAWING CONCLUSIONS FROM RUSSIA’S RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA
Interfax
Aug 28 2008
Russia
Self-proclaimed Nagorno- Karabakh has applauded Russia’s recognition
of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"This fully meets the principle of the self-determination of nations
and fundamental norms of international law recorded in founding
documents and legal acts of the United Nations, OSCE and other
international organizations," says a Wednesday statement of the
Foreign Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh.
It says Stepanakert has warned many times that "the threat of force,
an excessive military buildup and determination to settle issues
for one’s own benefit with the help of arms are fraught with a
humanitarian catastrophe."
The ministry statement voices hope that all sides interested in
establishing peace in the region will draw the right conclusions
from the latest developments in the South Caucasus and take practical
steps to resolve existing problems and restore regional stability by
peaceful means alone.
ARMENIA IN QUANDARY ABOUT S. OSSETIA, ABKHAZIA – PARTY LEADER
Interfax
Aug 28 2008
Russia
The leader of one of the parties in Armenia’s ruling coalition said
Armenia is in a quandary about what position to take on South Ossetia
and Abkhazia now that Russia has recognized the independence of the
two breakaway Georgian regions.
"We are in a difficult situation now," the press service of the
Dashnaktsutiun Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun) told Interfax
in quoting its leader, Armen Rustamian.
"We respect the right to self-determination, and we have defended and
will defend the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to choose their
future on the basis of their own will. Russia, a country that is the
co-chairman of the Minsk Group of the OSCE [Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe] for the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh
conflict and is our strategic partner, has recognized the independence
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, while the other two countries that
are the [Minsk Group] co-chairmen [the United States and France]
have recognized the independence of Kosovo," Rustamian said.
"On the other hand, it is an issue that affects our neighbor Georgia,
with which it is in our interest to have normal relations," he said.
Rustamian said Armenia should not hurry with stating its line on
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"Armenia has not even recognized the independence of Nagorno- Karabakh
because it believes that the resources of the international community
for achieving a negotiated solution to the problem are not exhausted,"
he said.
"Nor are the resources for the settlement of relations between Russia
and Georgia," Rustamian said. "We think that this is a path that can
and must be taken."