Month: August 2008

AGBU A. KALPAKIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATED COMPLETION OF SCHOOL YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Ju ly 31, 2008

ATHENS, JULY 31, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian General
Benevolant Union Artaki Kalpakian School of Athens completed another
successful year, fulfilling its national educational mission of
providing its pupils with Armenian education and upbringing. Graduation
ceremonies took place in the Greek school’s Louis and Hrant Fenerjian
Auditorium. The combined year-end event of the kindergarten and
primary grades featured songs, recitations and dances.

THE XVIII AGBU WORLD GAMES TOOK PLACE IN MONTEVIDEO

Noyan Tapan

Ju ly 31, 2008

MONTEVIDEO, JULY 31, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The XVIII AGBU
World Games took place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from July 7 to 13, 2008.

Approximately 1,000 individuals participated in this biennial event
aimed at providing a platform for the organization’s athletic groups
to engage in friendly competitions and bringing together Armenian
youth on a global level.

GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA FACILITATES PROCEDURE OF ISSUING PASSPORTS TO MINORS

arminfo
2008-07-31 15:20:00

ArmInfo. Government of Armenia has facilitated procedure of issuing
passports to minors.

Head of the Armenian Police Alik Sargsyan said at a press conference
that the minors whose passport validity was expiring within a year
have faced problems with getting exit visas. Consular services of
embassies demanded new passports to provide exit visas, which was
rather problematic in conditions of the effective legislation. The
governmental decision dated 1998 did not provide prolongation of
passports for minors under 16. Thursday on July 31 the Government
amended the given decision and liquidated all the red tape restrictions
and now minors can easily change their passports on the basis of an
application by one of their parents or a responsible person.

Thus, the government has recovered the constitutional right of minors
to free movement, the head of the Police said.

FIRST TIME IN ARMENIA – PASSENGERS OF ARMAVIA FLIGHTS ARE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE VOUCHERS FOR VIVACELL PREPAID CARDS

arminfo
2008-07-31 15:14:00

ArmInfo. VivaCell, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (NYSE: MBT),
announces that for the first time in Armenia, effective July 3 all
passengers on Armavia flights can receive VivaCell prepaid cards free
of charge, VivaCell pres-service reports. In the framework of a joint
innovative promotional action of Armenia’s leading mobile operator
VivaCell and Armavia air company, henceforth, special vouchers will
be distributed to all passengers on Armavia flights to Armenia, during
the flights. These can be redeemed against VivaCell ALO prepaid cards,
either with Menk or Barbar tariff plan, at one of VivaCell Service
Centers, at anytime.

Persons aged 18 or above can receive the card upon presenting their
passport. As for all other coming flights, passengers can get an
Alo prepaid card free of charge, from the Airport free zone arrival
VivaCell Service Center.

VivaCell (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch
on 1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell has managed to
build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell
drives the development and offering of innovative mobile communications
products, services and features in the Armenian mobile communications
market. For more information, visit Mobile TeleSystems
OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and
the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company services over
86.94 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as well as Armenia,
Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in which MTS and its
associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide GSM services,
have a total population of more than 230 million. Since June 2000,
MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(ticker symbol MBT).

PROCEDURE SET FOR SCPEC OFFICIALS TO RECEIVE CITIZENS

ARKA
July 31, 2008

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. Under the decision of the Chairman of
Armenia’s State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition
(SCPEC) Ashot Shakhnazarian a procedure is set for the commission’s
officials to receive citizens, the Press Service of the Commission
reported.

According to the procedure, the Chairman of the Commission and
other officials receive citizens upon oral request within the time
mentioned by citizens themselves. If there is no time limit mentioned,
the reception is held within reasonable time.

The Commission Chairman’s admission hours are from 11:00 to 13:00
every Monday; the Vice-Chairman receives visitors every Friday from
15:00 to 18:00.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT SIMPLIFIES PROCEDURE OF ISSUING PASSPORTS TO UNDER-AGE CITIZENS

ARKA
July 31, 2008

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. Armenian government has changed the order
of issuing passports to under-age citizens for trips abroad. Chief
of Armenian Police Alik Sargsyan told reporters the amendments have
been made as part of a general passport system reform.

"The system had many legislative and normative drawbacks and omissions
resulting in a number of obstacles and bureaucratic barriers," he said.

Sargsyan said the results of the reform can already be felt now.

Under the previous order, children under 16 were issued passports at
the age of one, three, seven, twelve and sixteen.

"Foreign diplomatic missions often refused to issue visas to the
children whose passport validity would expire in half or one year. On
the other side, passport departments refused to issue new passports
before the validity period expired," he said.

Now children have the right to be issued passports with a validity
period of three years any time they want. Passports are issued at
the request of parents or their authorized person.

No restrictions or additional financial costs have been
introduced.

ARMAVIA PASSENGERS GET FREE VOUCHERS FOR VIVACELL PRE-PAID CARDS ON BOARD

ARKA
July 31, 2008

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. VivaCell pre-paid cards are distributed
among all the passengers of Armavia flights for free, Armavia press
service reported.

Special vouchers are provided to all Armavia passengers arriving
in Armenia.

Vouchers can be changed for "Alo" pre-paid cards, either "Menk"
or "Barbar" tariff plan, at any time and at any service centre of
VivaCell. Passengers over 18 years may get their cards on producing
their passports.

Passengers using other companies’ flights may get their free "Alo"
pre-paid cards at VivaCell service center in the airport. Any passenger
irrespective of his citizenship may get a free pre-paid mobile phone
card.

CBA APPROVES PROCEDURE FOR INFORMING BANK ABOUT VIOLATIONS BY STOCK MARKET PARTICIPANTS

ARKA
July 31, 2008

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) approved
the regulations 5/05 on controlled market operator’s reporting to
the Central Bank on violations committed by accountable issuers and
participants of controlled market.

The Central Bank also amended the procedure for Armenia’s commercial
banks to form and use reserve for possible losses on investments in
securities and the Regulations 3/09 on the procedure for classification
of assets of insurance companies, formation and use of reserves for
possible losses.

LIQUIDATION OF RUSSIAN ENERGY HOLDING RAO EES NOT TO HAVE IMPACT ON ACTIVITIES OF "ELECTRIC NETWORKS OF ARMENIA"

ARKA
July 31, 2008

YEREVAN, July 31. /ARKA/. Liquidation of the Russian energy holding
RAO EES Russia will not have impact on the activities of "Electric
Networks of Armenia" closed joint stock company, the General Director
of the Armenian company Yevgeniy Gladunchik told journalists.

The liquidation of the Russian company was not an unexpected event:
it was planned and was being implemented during several years,
Gladunchik said. He added that the Russian INTER RAO EES, who was
the daughter company of RAO EES Russia and Rosenergoatom concern,
remains the full owner of "Electric Networks of Armenia"

The full package of the shares of INTER RAO EES was transferred to
the balance of the state corporation "Rosatom" under the decree of
the Russian President in April, Gladunchik said.

Russian INTER RAO EES holds 100% of the shares of "Electric Networks
of Armenia" CJSC. Distribution and sale of electricity is the main
activity of the company. The company provides services to approximately
913,000 consumers.

SHOOTER NORAYR BAKHTAMIAN, JUDOISTS HOVANES DAVTIAN AND ARMEN NAZARIAN ARE FIRST TO LEAVE FOR BEIJING

ARMENPRESS
July 31, 2008

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS: Shooter Norayr Bakhtamian, judoists
Hovanes Davtian, 66 kg, and Armen Nazarian, 66 kg, are the first
Armenian athletes to leave for Beijing, the capital of Olympic
Games. They are leaving on August 1 together with the team of doctors.

Lyova Vardanian, secretary general of the Armenian Wrestling
federation, told Armenpress that wrestlers had an extensive practice
in Belarus and Georgia and are in good shape.

He said free-style wrestler Martin Berberian, 66 kg, is in an excellent
shape and is a hopeful for gold medal.

According to Norayr Bakhtamian, the Beijing Games will not be different
from previous ones and in order to win one has to have strong nerves.