Month: November 2009

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR FACES PELTED EGGS

news.am
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

Turkish police detained about 20 students on Wednesday after they
pelted Israeli Ambassador with eggs to protest the Jewish state’s
treatment of Palestinians, forcing him to cancel a university visit,
Mathaba e-source informs referring to AFP.

The protest took place outside the university in the Black Sea port
of Trabzon as Israel’s Ambassador Gabby Levy arrived in his car,
Anatolia news agency reported.

"Israel is a murderer," Turkish television footage showed the students
shouting.

According to Iha e-source, Levy was met chilly in Rize, where local
mayor Halil Bakirci condemned Israel’s "policies of expansion and
occupation" and said that self-defense should not involve "killing
children."

As NEWS.am has already said, accusing Israel of committing crimes in
Palestine, Rize Mayor forgot to mention Turks’ ability to perpetrate
the massacre of a whole nation while "defending themselves". In any
case, raving about the murdered Palestinian children, the Turkish
official withheld how Turks slaughtered Armenian children during the
Genocide in 1915.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO ARRIVE IN BAKU TODAY

Today
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan

Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov of Russia,
Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the U.S. and personal
representative of OSCE chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk will arrive
in Baku on Nov. 5..

The mediators will start their visit to the region from Azerbaijan.

The co-chairs will meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Later, they will leave for Yerevan to have talks with the Armenian
leadership.

The mediators will discuss the preparation for the new meeting of
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.

UK REMAINS COMMITTED TO WORKING TOWARDS A PEACEFUL AND LASTING SOLUTION TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: BRITISH AMBASSADOR

Today
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan

The UK ambassador to Azerbaijan Dr. Carolyn Browne spoke in an
exclusive interview with the European Desk of Trend News Agency.

Trend News: You visited the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic last week.

What are your impressions after this trip? What areas of potential
cooperation between the United Kingdom and the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic have been set as the priority directions?

Carolyn Browne: Although I’ve been visiting Azerbaijan since 1988, this
was my first visit to Nakhchivan. I’d heard a great deal about it. But
I wanted to see things for myself. So I spent three days talking to as
many different people in Nakhchivan as I could – Parliamentary Chairman
Mr. Vasif Talibov, members of the Nakhchivan department of the MFA,
representatives from all the main political parties – Umid, YAP,
Musavat, Popular Front and Civic Development parties – the Chairman
of the Central Election Commission, the Rector of Nakhchivan State
University, representatives of four NGOs, and foreign and international
representatives who live in Nakhchivan. I had a lively question and
answer session with a group of young students at Nakhchivan State
University – I told them that the key to learning was never to stop
asking asking questions. I also gave a press conference on my visit. I
traveled to the customs post at Julfa on the border with Iran and into
the mountains near the border with Armenia. And I talked to everyone
I met – in shops, on the streets, at the Ashabi Kahf complex, with
the students at the University and so on.

One of the main reasons for my visiting Nakhchivan was to see a
project, which is funded by my Government as part of our support for
the Azerbaijani Government’s strategic choice to develop this country’s
partnership with Europe. We welcome and respect that choice – which
is why UK taxpayers’ money is spent on such projects. This particular
project is run by the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety,
and concerns the monitoring of freedom of expression and other human
rights issues.

As for potential areas of co-operation, Chairman Mr. Vasif Talibov
requested me to explore ways of developing links in the cultural and
educational fields. This was something I discussed at greater length
with the Rector of Nakhchivan State University, who has already made
contact with UK universities in Preston and elsewhere. I look forward
to finding ways to develop those links further.

One issue which was not however raised during my visit was the
potential for trade between the UK and Nakhchivan.

Q: What is your estimation of the level of cooperation between
Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom? What steps should be taken to
expand the bilateral cooperation?

A: In one word? I’d say "dynamic". It’s a relationship which is
both deepening in areas of existing co-operation – like trade in
non-hydrocarbon goods and services. Another example would be our
armed forces working side by side in Afghanistan as part of the same
international coalition. But our bilateral co-operation is also
broadening out into entirely new areas. Take for example the very
positive co-operation which is developing between UK and Azerbaijani
law enforcement bodies in respect of crimes which cross international
borders. We had an excellent example of that recently – the UK law
enforcement officials involved told me that it was one of the most
positive experiences they have had in working with a non-EU member
state anywhere in the world on such matters.

You can judge the nature of the bilateral relationship for yourself by
looking at the number of areas referred to in the Joint Communiqué
issued by my Prime Minister and President Aliyev during the latter’s
official visit to London earlier this year.

Of course, as in any relationship, there are things we don’t agree
on as well as things we do agree on. Take, for example, the BBC
World Service’s role in Azerbaijan. Following agreement in the Joint
Communique to continue to discuss this issue, I had a meeting recently
with Dr Ali Hasanov of the Presidential Apparat, during which he
invited BBC World Service representatives to visit Baku to continue
their discussions.

Q: Currently, Azerbaijan sees active development of its non-oil sector,
though British investments in the person of BP are mainly directed
at oil industry in the country. What spheres of Azerbaijan’s non-oil
sector would be of British businessmen’s interest?

A: Your country has been outstandingly successful in creating the
conditions which have attracted and retained international investment
in the hydrocarbons field. That’s an achievement which many other
countries – including some of your neighbors – have yet to match. The
next challenge is for those conditions to be extended to all other
sectors of your country’s economy.

British businessmen – and women, too – are quick to explore
opportunities where they think the commercial potential exists. In
the two years I’ve been living in Baku, I’ve seen an increasing range
of UK businesses operating outside the extractive industries sector
look hard at doing business with Azerbaijan. One area in which there
is particular interest is developing financial services in Azerbaijan.

Following the visit of the Lord Mayor of the City of London to Baku
in July, the extent of bilateral contacts in this area has increased
significantly. And for the first time that includes the prospect
of Azerbaijani investment in the UK, as well as British investment
in Azerbaijan. Another positive development was the decision a few
months ago by private sector interests to launch a new organization –
the British-Azerbaijani Business Council – in order to develop the
trade and investment links further.

Q: How do you view the UK’s role as a mediator in the negotiations
over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

A: My Government remains committed to working towards a peaceful and
lasting solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in accordance with
the universally recognised principles and norms of international law.

In practical terms, we therefore support the OSCE Minsk Group in their
efforts to assist both sides identify such a solution. Our support
is both political and practical. For example, we make available UK
personnel and expertise to help the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen carry out
their mandate. We also fund various projects to encourage and develop
direct links between Azeri and Armenian civil society, since those
links will be crucial to the successful implementation of a peace
settlement, once that has been reached.

Q: Do you believe that restoration of the Turkish-Armenian
relations could be a positive milestone in finding a solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute?

A: Yes, we do. We see the commitment by Turkey and Armenia to establish
diplomatic and bilateral ties as an important step towards normalizing
relations, and we encourage all concerned to keep up momentum in this
process to ensure that it has a positive impact for the whole region.

Q: What way do you believe to be the most appropriate for Azerbaijan
to integrate into the European Union?

A: I think your question on "how" this happens is one which only
the Government of Azerbaijan can answer. Look at the different
ways in which other countries have developed their relations with
the European Union. There are many ways in which it can happen;
for example, the reasons which motivated my country to develop its
relationship with what was then called the European Community are,
I suspect, rather different to the reasons which motivated countries
such as Estonia, Portugal, Cyprus or Ukraine to do so. But the key is
that the relationship (however it happens) does indeed develop. That
is why my Government strongly supports the new "Eastern Partnership"
between the EU on the one hand and six countries formerly part of
the Soviet Union on the other hand. How to deepen that relationship,
based on the mutually shared principles and standards of the EU,
was the subject of recent discussions last month in Luxembourg at
Foreign Minister level between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

My own preference would be for Azerbaijan, as a first step, to join
the World Trade Organization. That would automatically open up new
avenues of cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan which, in time,
would greatly develop links across a broad range of sectors. Of course
joining the WTO first requires concluding the existing negotiations
on membership. But with sustained commitment to sorting out the areas
of debate, I’m confident that could be achieved.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN-TURKISH PROTOCOLS ARE ONLY A STAGE OF RESOLVING SITUATION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS: RUSSIAN POLITICIAN

Trend
Nov 5 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian-Turkish protocols are only one of the stages of resolving
the situation in the South Caucasus, the General Director of the
Information Analytical Center of Moscow State University, Professor
of post-Soviet foreign countries department Alexey Vlasov said.

"There is more multifaceted aspect of this process, where the protocols
play an important, but not a single role, Vlasov told Trend News
by telephone from Moscow. Speaking of protocols, we must understand
that this affects only two countries, but the whole context, which
is linked with it still includes the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh and
the broader aspect of the problem of security in South Caucasus."

Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Ahmet Davutoglu and Edward
Nalbandian signed the protocols Ankara-Yerevan in Zurich on October
10. Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey have been broken
due to Armenia’s claims of an alleged genocide, and its occupation of
Azerbaijani lands. The border between them has been broken since 1993.

According to Vlasov, for the month since the meeting of the Presidents
of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev and Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan in Chisinau,
all the key players in the region – Russia, the U.S. and the EU
clearly indicated their position.

The latest meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents on the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was held on Oct.

9 in Chisinau within the CIS summit.

The first moment, denoted by Russia, the U.S. and the EU, is that
the ongoing process of the Armenian-Turkish settlement is a positive
tendency, which should be supported, the expert said.

On the other hand, it does not remove the question of the main
destabilizing factor in the region – the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh,
Vlasov said.

"It seems to me that lately under the influence of the consolidated
position of the outside players, the Armenian government chooses more
restrained rhetoric. Maybe it does not correspond to their actual
view of things, but in the media space the sharp statements by the
Armenian side are becoming less and less," he said.

According to the expert, this indicates that the outside forces,
including the OSCE Minsk Group, understood the tendency that the
establishment of the Armenian-Turkish relations should by followed
by the progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement.

In addition, now Serzh Sargsyan must more consider the interests
of the Armenian population, which unlike the diasporas, occupies a
position "to maintain dialogue with all countries of the region,"
the expert said.

"I think that now Armenia should continue its way. Starting
negotiations with Turkey, it should make some consensus on
Nagorno-Karabakh as well," said Vlasov.

According to him, for a long time the Turkish officials have assured
Azerbaijan that they will not do anything contrary to its interests.

"Now it is time when signing protocols between Turkey and Armenia
should lead to advancements in the process of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement, or the Turkish political elite does not fulfill
the promises made", – he said.

According to Vlasov, one of the means of moving forward is to release
five Armenian-occupied districts of Azerbaijan.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan
lost all of Nagorno-Karabakh except for Shusha and Khojali in December
1991. In 1992-93, Armenian armed forces occupied Shusha, Khojali and 7
districts surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed
a ceasefire in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia,
France, and the U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

REPORT: UK DOESN’T RECOGNIZE ‘GENOCIDE’ FOR ‘PRACTICAL’ REASONS

Today’s Zaman
Nov 5 2009
Turkey

Britain was accused of "genocide denial" on Tuesday after the
disclosure of Foreign Office documents revealing the government’s
refusal to recognize the killings of Anatolian Armenians during World
War I, a leading UK daily reported.

The documents, dating back over the last 15 years, say Anglo-Turkish
relations are too important to be jeopardized by the issue because
"Turkey is neuralgic and defensive about the charge of genocide,"
the Guardian newspaper said.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were systematically
killed between 1915 and 1917 when Turkey’s predecessor, the Ottoman
Empire, was in decline. Turkey rejects the genocide label and argues
that between 300,000 and 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks
died in civil strife when Armenians took up arms against their Ottoman
rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.

According to the Guardian report, one Foreign Office briefing for
ministers conceded that the British government "is open to criticism in
terms of the ethical dimension." Yet, the same briefing in 1999 went
on to say: "The current line is the only feasible option" owing to
"the importance of our relations (political, strategic and commercial)
with Turkey." The briefing said: "Recognizing the genocide would
provide no practical benefit to the UK."

The daily cited remarks by Geoffrey Robertson, the queen’s counsel
who served as an appeal judge at the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Robertson said Britain’s stance, stretching back over Labor and Tory
administrations, was a cynical "genocide denial."

Robertson, who was commissioned by Armenian expatriate groups in London
to review the Foreign Office files, published a report on Tuesday.

"Parliament has been routinely misinformed by ministers who have
recited FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] briefs without
questioning their accuracy," the report said. "There is no doubt
that in 1915 the Ottoman government ordered the deportation of
up to 2 million Armenians … hundreds of thousands died en route
from starvation, disease, and armed attack," it said. The fact that
Britain is key supporter of Turkey’s accession to the European Union
is the main reason behind the UK administration’s stance vis-a-vis the
Armenian killings, the Guardian report indicated, but "the Armenian
question has become a touchstone for critics, who argue that Turkey
should not be allowed into the EU until it admits the truth about
its past."

Back in March 2006, the UK Foreign Office, in a letter sent to the
Committee for the Protection of Turkish Rights (CPTR) fighting against
the claims of the Armenian genocide with the participation of various
nongovernmental organizations, had clearly stated that the incidents
of World War I do not fit the category of genocide. London at the
time refuted the claims in the Blue Book, chosen by Armenians to prove
their claims of genocide. Turkey argues that Armenian allegations in
the book, formally titled "The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman
Empire, 1915-1916," are not factually supported and that the book as
a whole was wartime propaganda by the British.

Robertson, meanwhile, also told the Guardian that Britain’s official
policy has merely been "to evade truthful answers, because the truth
would discomfort the Turkish government."
From: Baghdasarian

U.S. $4 FOR EACH ORPHAN IN ARMENIA

news.am
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

Armenia’s orphanages receive financing not only from the state budget,
but also from donators, Armine Tanashyan of the RA Ministry of Labor
and Social Security, told NEWS.am.

She reported that eight state-run and four privately-owned orphanages
are currently operating in Armenia, with 950 and 250 children
respectively being in their charge.

Tanashyan pointed out that the RA Government allocates 1,500 AMD a
day for each child.

Asked about the orphans’ future after they leave the orphanages,
Tanashyan said that special housing and employment programs are
implemented in Armenia for this social group.

UK’S MILIBAND HAILS ‘MOMENT OF TRUTH’

Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 5 2009
Turkey

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says Turkey must take ‘brave’
steps toward the EU, regardless of what’s happening to its East-West
orientation, which has been a subject of heated international debate in
recent days. ‘This is a moment of truth, it is a moment for leadership,
it is a moment for commitment,’ Miliband says

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. AFP photo

Read a full transcript of the interview between British Foreign
Secretary David Miliband and journalist Sedat Ergin.

Despite the international debate about whether Turkey is turning
its back on the West to face the East, the Turkish government should
take brave steps toward the European community, according to British
Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

"[The deadlock] gets broken by brave decisions on both sides, but also
by both sides fulfilling their commitments. Europe has pledged to a
fair accession process for Turkey and it must deliver. I think there is
more commitment to that today than there was six months ago in Europe,"
Miliband said in an interview with the daily Hurriyet at the Swissotel
the day before his crucial meeting with Turkish officials in Ankara.

Miliband held talks with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, to discuss issues ranging
from Turkey’s negotiations with the European Union and the ongoing
Cyprus talks to the contentious Iranian nuclear row.

"I am here for discussions because there are big issues that are
going to be decided in the next few months on Cyprus, on the Middle
East, on Iraq, where Turkey has a great role to play," said Miliband,
explaining the motives for his visit.

The British Foreign Secretary’s visit comes just a month before the EU
is set to decide on the fate of the full membership negotiations with
Turkey and at a moment when Turkish and Greek Cypriots are continuing
intense talks to reach a comprehensive settlement.

Admitting that the membership negotiations were slower than either
Turkey or the United Kingdom would like, the visiting foreign secretary
said Britain "is committed to an open process with Turkey and the
process has been kept open."

The EU recently criticized Turkey for slowing down the reform process.

Turkey has only been able to open 11 negotiation chapters so far and
only one has been provisionally closed. In 2006, the EU suspended the
opening of eight chapters due to Turkey’s refusal to implement the
Ankara Protocol that would open Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

"The Ankara Protocol is important, it is part of the [Cyprus] story
and there is an important decision to be taken in December… but
we should not make a crisis out of a drama," Miliband said, without
elaborating further on the issue.

Instead, he elected to deliver clear messages to the Turkish and
Greek Cypriot parties for the solution of the decades-old conflict.

"This is a moment of truth, it is a moment for leadership, it
is a moment for commitment, because it is a once-in-a-generation
opportunity to resolve the Cyprus issue on a bi-zonal, bi-communal
basis," Miliband said.

Describing both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders, Mehmet Ali
Talat and Dimitris Christofias, as serious people with real commitment,
Miliband reaffirmed that Europe would support them when they have to
make difficult decisions in the months ahead.

"I think it is essential; it will take great decisions on both sides,"
he said.

No change in vocation

When asked whether he was following the ongoing global debate over
whether Turkey has shifted its destiny toward the Middle East,
Miliband said he was aware of the discussions.

"There is quite a lot of blame being attached to the European Union
and there is blame being placed upon Turkey as well. I think it is
very, very important that Turkey is true to its own identity, which
is to recognize its own roots but also recognize that its commitments
to Europe are part of its vocation and that these don’t involve a
rejection of other parts of the world – it involves a fulfillment of
its identity," he said.

The foreign secretary rejected the idea that Turkey has changed its
calling, saying "the majority of Turks want to join the EU."

"I think that Turkey is clearly serious about its vocation to join
Europe."

Erdogan, Miliband discuss Iranian issue

Iran’s controversial nuclear program and its refusal to fully cooperate
with the United Nations were among the top issues Miliband and Erdogan
discussed Thursday. In an interview with British daily The Guardian,
Erdogan described Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a "friend"
and Western countries’ concerns over Tehran’s ambition to produce
nuclear weapons as "gossip."

"My own view is that the Iranian leadership has lost the confidence
of the international community for very clear reasons. It had secret
nuclear programs that were not declared as they should," Miliband
said. Underlining that he had no objection to a civilian nuclear
program as long as Iran fulfills its responsibility to ensure there
is no nuclear-weapons proliferation, Miliband said: "Turkey would know
better than many of the dangers of an Iranian nuclear-weapons program.

You are neighbors with Iran. You would not want Iran to be a
nuclear-armed state."

At Thursday’s meeting between Erdogan and Miliband, the discussion
focused on ways in which Turkey and Britain could work together in
the pursuit of a shared goal to ensure that there are no nuclear
weapons in Iran.

Support for Kurdish, Armenian moves

Miliband did not shy away from praising the government’s recent
efforts to address the Kurdish issue and reconcile with Armenia.

"We are strongly supportive of [the Kurdish move]. One of the big
issues that I have discussed for the last two years here is Kurdish
rights, equal rights for all citizens of Turkey and I think it is very
much to the credit of the government that they made this opening,"
he said.

Rejecting suggestions that the process has come to a standstill,
Miliband said: "Well, these things go, stop and stand but I don’t
think they are going to reverse."

Partner of the 21st century

When asked about Turkey’s role in the 21st century, Miliband summarized
it with just a sentence: "Like many countries, [Turkey’s role] is to
be a good partner."

"I call [this role] responsible sovereignty. Which means being
responsible to your own citizens but also responsible for the decisions
and implications beyond your borders. It is what I want Britain to be,
a good global citizen… and that is not a bad test for any country,
economically, socially, environmentally. We all have to be good
global citizens."

OSCE CO-CHAIRS DISCUSSED NKR ISSUE WITH MAMMADYAROV

news.am
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Bernard Fassier
(France), Robert Bradtke (U.S.) and the personal representative of the
Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andzrej Kasprzyk are on a visit to Baku.

The Co-Chairs held meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and discussed the issues on Karabakh conflict settlement,
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry press secretary Elhan Polukhov reports.

The mediators will also be hosted by Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev. Further, November 6 the Co-Chairs will arrive in Yerevan.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani APA news agency spread information that U.S.

Co-chair Robert Bradtke has been in Azerbaijan for three days. It
is hard to say whether it is a regular misinformation of Azerbaijani
mass media or it is a preplanned. However, if the information is true,
the matter is what was the purpose of the visit and why none of local
media covered it.

Last time mediators visited the region this October, on the threshold
of Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents’ meeting in Chisinau, where
the agreement to go ahead was reached. Thus mediators visit South
Caucasus again.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REDEVELOPMENT OF SEVAN-MARTUNI-GETAP HIGHWAY

Aysor
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

Paying a visit to Armenian region of Gegharkunik, Armenia’s
President Serzh Sargsyan also attended Lchashen village where watched
Sevan-Martuni-Getap highway construction works of a 2.5 kilometers
long-length.

The 2009 budget directed 1.4 billion dram towards road redevelopment
spending, said Armenia’s Minister of Transport and Communications
Gurgen Sarkisyan. According to minister, the most planned highway
construction works are over and adjoining to Lchashen village roads
will be completely restored to 2010 spring time. 378 million dram has
already been spent on construction works, and 592 million dram more
is expected to spend, stated Gurgen Sarkisyan and added that spending
on restoring roads in area of Sevan Lake stand by 4.4 billion dram
in total.

ADVISORY/ARMTECH CONGRESS ’09 FEATURES ARMENIAN AND U.S. LEADERS FROM NOVEMBER 5 TO 8

Reuters
ease/idUS167681+05-Nov-2009+PRN20091105
Nov 5 2009

Event links Armenian professionals from around the world to focus on
high technology and business development

SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ — The global Armenian
high-tech industry and strategic business forum and conference, ArmTech
Congress, will kick off its 2009 event this evening at 6:30 p.m. with
a welcome reception and panel. The event, which features a keynote
from His Excellency Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of the Republic
of Armenia, will take place through November 8 at the Fairmont Hotel
in San Jose, California. This is the third annual ArmTech Congress
conceived under the theme of "learning from the past and inventing
the future."

WHO: ArmTech Congress is recommended for representatives from business,
government and academia who want to learn and share ideas about high
technology and business development opportunities in Armenia.

This year’s powerful lineup of presenters includes: — His Excellency
Tigran Sargsyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia — The
Honorable Nerses Yeritsyan, Minister of Economy of the Republic of
Armenia — Mr. Vahram Nercissiantz, Chief Economic Advisor of the
President of the Republic of Armenia — The Honorable Joe Simitian,
California State Senator — Dr. Chi-Foon Chan, President and Chief
Operating Officer of Synopsys, Inc.

— Mr. Daniel M. Mahoney, President and CEO of Renesas Technology
America, Inc.

— Mr. Gregory K. Hinckley, President of Mentor Graphics, Inc.

— Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director, Office of Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger — Mr. Andre Andonian, Director, McKinsey & Company,
Inc.

— Mr. Arpit Joshipura, Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and
Communications, Ericsson Silicon Valley.

WHAT: ArmTech Congress ’09 will showcase the global high-tech industry
capabilities of the Republic of Armenia (RA) by bringing together
professionals interested in engaging the global Armenian community and
the rapidly rising high tech sector in Armenia. Through an intensive
program, ArmTech Congress provides a venue for participants to discuss
the Armenian high tech economy and develop a platform for its further
development. By using a ‘town hall meeting’ format to conclude the
conference, the Congress reaches consensus on a platform that defines
the direction of Armenia’s high-tech economy for 2010 and beyond.

The three-day program addresses critical high-tech industry topics
by featuring parallel track sessions in the following areas: —
Software Industry and Services — Telecommunications and Internet —
Renewable and Green Energy — Microelectronics Design and Test —
Investment Projects — Higher Education and Research — Digital
Media — Biotechnologies — Engineering/Instrumentation Design —
Advanced Materials

— Professional Networking

WHEN: The event kicks off Thursday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. and runs
through 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2009. Registration opens
November 5 at 3:00 p.m. The opening plenary session begins Friday,
November 6 at 8:30 a.m.

For more information, including a full agenda and registration details,
please visit The event is open to anyone
from the public, government, press or business community who wishes
to attend.

WHERE: The Fairmont Hotel, Regency Ballroom 170 South Market Street,
San Jose, CA

About ArmTech Congress Headquartered in Silicon Valley, ArmTech
Congress, a global high-tech industry strategic business forum,
platform and conference, was founded by industry and business
professionals to foster professional growth in the worldwide Armenian
high-tech community, and to promote the growth of Armenia’s rapidly
rising high-tech industry. The organization welcomes liaisons with
other entities that are similarly aligned and has no political
affiliations. Building on the success of ArmTech ’07 and ArmTech
’08, the development of recurring international conferences is
the current focus of the organization. ArmTech’s goals include:
providing networking and community resources for Armenian high-tech
professionals worldwide; showcasing the global contributions of
Armenian professionals in high-tech and allied fields; attracting
global participation by individuals and entities that can benefit
from involvement with the Armenian high-tech community; promoting
opportunities to do business, recruit and invest in Armenian high-tech;
highlighting the rise of Armenia’s strategic high-tech industry;
and promoting international interactions and investments for further
growth. For more information, please visit
From: Baghdasarian