Month: October 2008

RAILWAY BETWEEN TBILISI AND YEREVAN TO BE STUDIED

A1+
[06:34 pm] 24 October, 2008

The European Union is launching an important project aimed at
performing a feasibility study of the operating railway between
Tbilisi and Yerevan in the frame of TRACECA Programme (Transport
Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia).

EU Tacis – TRACECA is aimed at supporting the political and economic
development in Black Sea Region, Caucasus and Central Asia by means
of improvement of the international transport infrastructures. Today
the TRACECA programme encompasses thirteen countries: five countries
in Europe, three Caucasian states and five countries in Central Asia.

The main Tbilisi – Yerevan railway link, which has been inaugurated
in 1899 and electrified in 1967 suffers from a severe backlog of
maintenance and modernisation, and thereby cannot cover actual and
future transport needs in an effective and competitive way.

In the scope of the programme the alternative Yerevan- Tbilisi railway
link via Azerbaijan will also be studied. It has been inaugurated
and electrified in 1984, nevertheless, only the section Yerevan –
Dilijan is in operation since several years.

During the coming year the consultants will assess the current state
and will develop a detailed proposal for the rehabilitation of the
railway.

The realization of this project will be implemented by an
Italian – Ukrainian consortium, composed by: Lattanzio e Associati
S.p.A. (Italy), Khardiprotrans OJSC (Ukraine), International Consulting
& Service Group s.r.l. (Italy), International Railway Technology &
Service s.r.l. (Italy).

PACE CO-RAPPORTEURS WELCOME CREATION OF FACT-FINDING GROUP IN ARMENIA

A1+
[10:16 pm] 24 October, 2008

The co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Armenia of the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), John Prescott (United Kingdom,
SOC) and Georges Colombier (France, EPP/CD), today welcomed the
Presidential Decree establishing an expert fact-finding group to look
into the events in Armenia on 1 and 2 March 2008 and the circumstances
that led to them.

"This is as an important step towards meeting the Assembly’s demands
that an independent, transparent and credible inquiry into these
events be conducted," said the two parliamentarians.

However, they also stressed that the manner in which this group
conducts its work, as well as the access it has to the relevant state
institutions at all levels, will ultimately decide if the inquiry will
be seen as credible in the eyes of the Armenian public. "All parties
should nominate their representatives as quickly as possible. It is
now time to deliver results," they said.

The co-rapporteurs expressed their hope that the establishment of
the expert fact-finding group would soon be followed by similarly
positive steps regarding the fate of the persons deprived of their
liberty in relation to the events of 1 and 2 March, which continues
to be an issue of great concern to the Assembly.

"We would like to be able to report to the Monitoring Committee, when
it meets on 17 December, that there has been tangible and irreversible
progress with regard to the independent and credible inquiry, as well
as the issue of persons deprived of their liberty in relation to the
events on 1 and 2 March," the co-rapporteurs stressed

MORE PEOPLE TAKEN TO VANADZOR INFECTION HOSPITAL

Panorama.am
16:20 24/10/2008

At 12:00 the public relations department of the Ministry of Healthcare
informed Panorama.am that currently 55 sick people are being cured with
the same intestinal infection symptoms in Vanadzor hospital. This is
the third day people suffer from the current sickness, anyway the
chief epidemiologist of the state Ara Asoyan refuses to make any
previsions insisting that they are "in the preliminary stage".

"Those who try to find preliminary previsions are mistaken as it
reminds guessing over coffee cup. We, the doctors, we can not say
for sure what the matter is," said A. Asoyan, and promised to give
information as soon as something is revealed.

NEW REVEALED ORIGINAL PHOTO OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Panorama.am
16:21 24/10/2008

Recently, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute’s efforts towards
collection of new data on the Armenian genocide have experienced
great success with the enrichment of AGMI’s collection of documentary
photographs. The most recent discovery is a photo testifying of the
Armenian Genocide and in particular the massacres of the Armenian
population in the region of Mush.

The photograph has been acquired by the AGMI and was captured by
Russian soldiers on the Caucasus front in 1915. It portrays the
remains of the Armenian villagers who were burnt alive during the
massacres of Mush.

This photograph is one of a kind. It is one of the well preserved
photos discovered in an album called, "Album of refugees" published
in Tiflis (1917). The album is consisted from 62 unique photos that
demonstrate the events of the Armenian Genocide. However, only a few of
the original 62 have survived and most of them are in dire conditions.

Nonetheless, the authenticity of the "Album of refugees" is
demonstrated through the validity and great condition of this unique
photo. On the back of this picture is a quote in Russian stating;
"Armenians burnt alive in Sheykhalan by Turkish soldiers". Furthermore,
the photo is marked with the number 74, which indicates the existence
of a larger collection of photographs captured by Russian soldiers
during WWI.

Hence, the AGMI is adamant in locating the remaining photos of this
collection which will sturdily assist the Institute’s efforts to
demonstrate the complete picture of the first genocide of the 20th
century.

"EXPERT DATA-GATHERING GROUP NEW IMPULSE FOR PARLIAMENTARIAN COMMITTEE"

Panorama.am
16:44 24/10/2008

"We are keeping the position of law, we are guided by law and we greet
activities proceeding from law," announced Sergey Kapinos the head of
OSCE Office in Yerevan. According to him if the authorities prohibit
conducting meetings and demonstrations it does not correspond to the
law. Hence court instances are established to appeal the decision of
the Municipality which does not authorize this or that meeting. "I know
that recently the court invalidated the decision of the Municipality,"
said OSCE representative.

Sergey Kapinos greeted the decision of the President of Armenia to
from an expert data-gathering group. "It is an important element that
the members of that group are from opposition and Ombudsman Office. I
guess that group will serve as a new impulse for the Parliamentarian
committee and will increase its efficiency," said S. Kapinos.

UNITED NATIONS DAY

Panorama.am
17:39 24/10/2008

Today the world celebrates the United Nations Day. In the morning
the UN Flag has been waving on the top of the building United Nations
Office Armenia, and Consuello Vidal, the UN Resident Coordinator in
Armenia, presented the message of the Secretary-General of the UN
Ban Ki-moon to the guests.

"This is a crucial year in the life of our United Nations. We have
just passed the midpoint in the struggle to reach the Millennium
Development Goals – our common vision for building a better world
in the 21st century. We can see more clearly than ever that the
threats of the 21st century spare no one. Climate change, the spread
of disease and deadly weapons, and the scourge of terrorism all cross
borders. If we want to advance the global common good, we must secure
global public goods," says the message of Secretary-General.

The Un Resident Coordinator said that since 1992 UN various agencies
support the Government of Armenia to meet poverty, corruption,
contribute to the development of healthcare, education, HIV-AIDS, etc.

"UN family supports Armenia to build prosperous society, to meet
today’s challenges," said Consuello Vidal.

GEORGIAN ENCROACHMENT TOWARDS "SAINT NORASHEN" CHURCH

Panorama.am
20:04 23/10/2008

"Saint Norashen" church in Tbilisi is newly encroached. Armenian
Apostolic Church Georgian diocese and 400 000 Georgian Armenians
express their concerns over those encroachments towards Armenian
Church, reports Georgian Armenian diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church.

According to the church Georgian priest Tariel Sikinchlashvili
continues the illegal fencing of the church. Georgian Armenian diocese
informed the state authorities of Georgia but they did not take any
measures to meet the problem.

AIRSPAN WIMAX NETWORK PRESENTED TO RUSSIAN AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS
[email protected], [email protected]

MarketWatch
9:08 a.m. EDT Oct. 24, 2008

Presidents Medvedev and Sarkisyan Witness Capabilities of Comstar’s
Country-Wide WiMAX Network

BOCA RATON, FL, Oct 24, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — Airspan
Networks, Inc. (AIRN:airspan networks inc com a leading provider of
WiMAX-based broadband wireless access networks announced that earlier
this week, an official ceremony was held in Yerevan, the capital
of Armenia, to launch Comstar’s nation-wide, WiMAX communications
network powered by Airspan equipment. At the ceremony, Comstar’s CEO
presented Airspan’s award-winning MiMAX Q-Series USB devices to Russian
President, Dmitry Medvedev and President of Armenia, Serge Sarkisyan.

Comstar, the largest integrated telecommunications provider in
Russia and CIS, has deployed Airspan’s WiMAX equipment to create
a combined fixed and mobile network. The network, which currently
comprises 24 base stations, covers Yerevan and 18 additional cities,
offering Armenian residents and businesses high-speed Internet, VoIP,
video conferencing and mobile services.

During the ceremony, the Presidents of both States participated
in a real-time two-way video conference with a medical diagnostics
center and were briefed on a pilot deployment for mobile WiMAX in the
city of Armavir. Both the video link and the mobile deployment are
enabled via Mobile WiMAX links supported by Airspan’s EasyST indoor
subscriber stations.

Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Comstar UTS, commented: "This national WiMAX network is a unique
project for Armenia, and one of the first projects of its kind
worldwide. Airspan was able to supply us with a superior solution to
meet our requirements, enabling us to deliver modern communications
services that help improve quality of life as well as bring telephony
services and broadband internet access to some homes for the first
time ever."

"We are very proud to partner with Comstar in such a revolutionary
project," stated Anders Rendahl, Airspan’s Senior Vice President &
General Manager EMEA. "The attendance of the Presidents of Russia
and Armenia to this ceremony only highlights the importance of the
life-changing effects a network such as this can have on a country
like Armenia. We look forward to further expansion of the Comstar
network in 2009 and to continuing to help revolutionize fixed and
mobile communications in this important and growing economy."

About Comstar Comstar-United TeleSystems JSC is the leading fixed-line
telecommunications company in Moscow. Comstar provides voice, data,
television and other value-added services to residential and corporate
subscribers and operators, using its extensive backbone network and
exclusive last mile access to 97% of Moscow households. The Company
also offers communications services in five Russian regions, Armenia
and Ukraine. Comstar had 3.6 million residential subscribers and 783
thousand residential broadband internet subscribers in Moscow, as
well as 49 thousand residential regional and international broadband
internet subscribers at the end of June 2008. Comstar generated US$
834.2 million of revenues and a 39.5% OIBDA margin for the six months
ended June 30, 2008. Comstar’s Global Depositary Receipts are listed
on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: CMST). For details, please visit:

About Airspan Networks Inc.

Airspan is the industry’s leading WiMAX pure player, ranked #1 for
IEEE802.16-2004 WiMAX revenue in 2007 and has now been selected for
some of the world’s largest mobile WiMAX deployments. With direct
sales offices throughout Asia, EMEA and the Americas, a worldwide
network of resellers and agents, and partnership alliances with
major OEMs, Airspan boasts over 100 commercial WiMAX deployments
worldwide.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our
strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues,
projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, may
be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans,"
"projects," "will," "would" and similar expressions or negative
variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking
statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain
these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans,
intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements
and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking
statements. There are a number of important factors that could
cause actual results or events to differ materially from the plans,
intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking
statements we make. Investors and others are therefore cautioned
that a variety of factors, including certain risks, may affect our
business and cause actual results to differ materially from those
set forth in the forward-looking statements. The Company is subject
to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and in the Company’s
2008 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. You should read those factors as
being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever
they appear in this press release. We do not assume any obligation
to update any forward-looking statements.

Image Available: 0908
For Investor Relations and Media Inquiries, contact: David Brant
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Airspan Networks Inc.

Tel: +1 561 893-8650 Fax: +1 561 893-8681 Email: [email protected]

Charlotte Laurent-Ottoman Investor Relations Tel. +561 395 4581 Email:
[email protected]

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: MASS WEDDING HOPES TO SPARK BABY BOOM IN SEPARATIST TERRITORY

EurasiaNet
Saturday, October 25, 2008
NY

A EurasiaNet Photo Essay by Anahit Hayrapetyan

The Moonies have done it; the United Arab Emirates have done it. And,
now, in a bid to boost its population, so has the separatist territory
of Nagorno-Karabakh, with the wedding of 700 couples on October 16.

Russian-Armenian businessman Levon Hairapetian, a native of the
Karabakh village of Vank, financed the ceremonies. Each couple received
a payment of $2,000; newlyweds living in villages received a cow. That
financial support will continue with each child born: couples will
receive $2,000 for their first child, $3,000 for a second child,
and increasing sums up to $100,000 for a seventh child.

The ultimate aim of the event was to stimulate a baby boom in the
territory. A 2005 census put Karabakh’s predominantly ethnic Armenian
population at just over 145,000.

In this remote, mountainous territory where jobs run scarce, the
marriage offer struck many as too good to pass up. Virtually all
of the Karabakh residents interviewed had a relative, neighbor or
friend who was part of the mass wedding ceremony. On October 15,
the day before the event, beauty salons in the capital, Stepanakert,
were packed. "We had so many clients that we were working the whole
night," said one salon owner.

Starting in the early morning, buses transported couples from all
over Karabakh to Vank village and to Shushi, or Shusha as it is still
called in Azerbaijan, a semi-ruined city not far from Stepanakert
that saw some of the fiercest fighting in the 1988-1994 war between
Azerbaijan and Armenia over the territory.

Five hundred and sixty couples ended up being married either at
St. Ghazanchetsots church or the 13th century Gandzasar monastery,
not far from Vank.

Then it was off to Stepanakert’s Republic Stadium for toasts, wedding
certificates and visits by pop stars from Yerevan, and a greeting
from de facto Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan. With the stadium full
of brides in white, the celebration continued late into the night,
topped off by a fireworks display.

Among the event participants was Eric Dravyan, a 25-year-old man from
Stepanakert who married Karine Hayrapetyan, 20. The couple said that
they were happy to be part of the ceremonies, but added that they
intend to hold another ceremony at a later date, to which only family
and close friends will be invited.

Another participant, Vladimir Hakobjanyan, a 24-year-old from
Askeran, said he was happy to finally get married. "Three month ago,
I [kidnapped] my wife [Noyem Hakobjanyan, 19] as her parents would
not give their consent. … We did not have a wedding at that time;
today is our wedding and we are very delighted and thankful."

Editor’s Note: Anahit Hayrapetyan is a freelance photographer based
in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FROM DASHNAKTSITUN PARTY: "IF WE CEDE AT LEAST A CENTIMETER IN THE KARABAKH CONFLICT RESOLUTION, WE WILL LOSE EVERYTHING"

Today.Az
s/politics/48496.html
24 October 2008 [18:03]
Azerbaijan

"The trilateral meeting of the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Russia in Moscow may become a new stimulus for the process of talks
on the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict", said member of the
parliamentary faction Dashnaktsutun Ara Nranyan.

"Russia’s initiative of holding a trilateral meeting does not go
beyond the limits of the OSCE Minsk group for Russia is one of the
group co-chairs. Similar meetings were held both in the United States
and in France at different times. In this aspect the Moscow meeting
does not reject the OSCE Minsk Group, but supplies the format and
may become a new stimulus for the negotiation process", noted he.

Nranyan said that special attention should be paid to the preparation
of the public opinion for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict,
as the presidents will not be able to sign a document, which will
not be accepted by the country’s public.

The parliamentarian noted that the talks and publications in the
press regarding readiness to return the controlled lands of Nagorno
Karabakh have become frequent.

"It is inadmissible. If we cede at least a centimeter in the resolution
process, we will lose everything. Let’s recall Serbia, which returned
all the lands, settled by Serbians and then Kosovo, without attaining
anything. If we do the same, we will lose everything and we will not
be able to attain peace by making concessions", said Nranyan.

In turn, secretary of the faction Artyusha Shahbazyan noted that
certain rivalry is observed among the co-chairing states in the
negotiation process on the resolution of the conflict.

He noted that the closer the resolution is, the most important is the
issue, who of the co-chairs will gain more during the resolution of
the confrontation.

"Another issue to be settled: how to build relations with the
countries, for unless the Karabakh issue is settled, Armenia and
Azerbaijan will depend on the super states in their external policy
and especially Azerbaijan", informed Shahbazyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress