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JUNE 7 DECLARED AS DAY OF PAINTING IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.06.2009 17:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ June 7 is declared as Day of Painting in Armenia. The
initiative aims at drawing public attention to environmental problems.

1000 children from different regions of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
will participate in the event to be organized in Yerevan. The
children will paint pictures on tables, depicting the nature of their
dreams. The tables will then be returned to schools and kindergartens,
to remind children about the beauty of nature and the importance of
conserving it.

The function was organized RA Wildlife and Cultural Heritage
Preservation Fund in cooperation with Viva-Cell MTS.

RUSSIAN FEDERAL ANTIMONOPOLY SERVICE IS AT LAW WITH MICROSOFT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.06.2009 13:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 4th June 2009, the Federal Antimonopoly Service
(FAS Russia) initiated a case against Microsoft for violating
Clauses 4 and 6 Par 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection
of Competition".

FAS Russia suspects that Microsoft violated the antimonopoly law by
economically and technologically unjustified termination of production
and supplies of "Microsoft Windows" operational systems (OS) for
PC, box versions – distributives of "Windows XP" OS, to the Russian
Federation, and reducing supplies of the pre-set OS for new computers,
as well as fixing different prices for "Windows XP" operational system.

To prevent and suppress antimonopoly violations of the Russian
Federation in information technology, FAS Russia investigated the
situation on the software market, Federal Antimonopoly Service press
office reports.

Having analyzed the market of proprietary operational systems for PC
(bound software products when the rights holder reserves the monopoly
for their use, copying and modification, and the source code of
software products is protected by copyright), FAS Russia established
that Microsoft has dominant position on the market in question.

Being the only rights holder for the "box" and ÎÅÌ-version of "Windows
XP" OS, Microsoft confirmed in an official letter its decision to
stop retail sales of those products from 30th June 2008.

Analysis of availability of various OS shows that transition to a new
OS – Windows Vista occurs under continuing demand for the previous OS –
Windows XP.

Demand for the "box" and pre-set versions of Windows XP is also
confirmed by retail sellers and the number of orders in state
procurement.

"There is no license version of XP in sale, but if expensive Windows
Vista – Ultimate or Business is purchased, then it is possible to use
"pass to previous version" service", Vladimir Kudryavtsev, head of
IT department of FAS told to "Kommersant".

Microsoft also informed that this version of OS was offered to the
users by providing downgrade rights; another letter of Microsoft
indirectly confirmed the conclusion about the existing demand
for Windows XP: "Downgrade rights will be provided to all buyers
purchasing PC with pre-set Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista
Ultimate operational systems".

According to the information given by "Microsoft Rus" Ltd., operation
systems of the same version have different prices (OS distributed
through PC manufacturers (OEM)). This contains elements of antimonopoly
violations, in terms of economically, technologically and otherwise
unjustified fixing of different prices (rates) for the same goods.

Head of Microsoft in Russia Nicolay Pryanishnikov "is surprised by
such developments". "We stop selling old products as soon as the new
versions appear. This is normal. Simultaneousely we continue providing
technical support to users of older versions", Pryanishnikov said. If
FAS regards this as violation of law, then Microsoft is ready to
considers their opinion, he said.

Lawyers think, this time Microsoft will not be able to escape a
fine, which can reach up to 2 per cent of the total proceeds of the
corporation in Russia. Players in the market estimate the amount of
fine as approximately USD 1 billion. The case against Microsoft will
be heard on 24th July 2009.

CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA PRODUCTS PIPE LINE MAY START THIS YEAR

/ARKA/
June 4, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, June 4. /ARKA/. RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Armen Movsisyan hopes that the construction of an Iran-Armenia products
pipe line will be started this year.

The pipe line will allow Armenia to import gasoline and diesel fuel
from Iran.

"Active work to start the construction this year is under way,"
Movsisyan told reporters.

He said that an Iranian work group is soon to visit Armenia to agree
on technical issues, which will allow the sides to launch the project.

The Minister also reported that Armenia and Iran signed a joint-stock
agreement on equal shares in the products pipe line.

"Considering Armenia’s limited resources, the Iranian side agreed
to make the necessary investments in the pipeline provided that the
Armenian side returned the funds," Movsisyan said. The construction of
the pipeline and a terminal in Armenia is estimated at US $240-250mln.

An oil refinery may be a component of the complex. The terminal is
expected to be constructed in Yeraskh, Armenia. Gasoline and diesel
fuel from the oil refinery in Tabriz, Iran, will be piped to the
Yeraskh terminal for further distribution in Armenia.

WE ARE WILLING TO NORMALIZE TIES WITH ARMENIA: TURKISH FM

Today.Az
61.html
June 4 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu said a press conference in
Washington that he wants Turkey-Armenia relations to be normalized,
Cihan reported.

"We are willing to normalize ties with neighbor countries including
Armenia as a part of the bilateral cooperation in an effort to ensure
peace and stability," Davudoglu said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

Armenian-Turkish ties have been severed since 1993 due to Armenia’s
claims of an alleged genocide, and the country’s occupation of 20
percent of Azerbaijani lands.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul visited Yerevan on Sept. 6, 2008 upon
the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to watch
an Armenia-Turkey football match.

Efforts have been made to normalize ties between the two countries
ever since.

Different circles in Turkish public claim that Turkey will re-open
borders with Armenia. However, Turkish Prime Minister said during
his visit to Baku on May 12-13 that Turkey will not cooperate with
Armenia until Azerbaijan’s occupied lands are liberated.

Davudoglu added that problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be
eliminated to ensure lasting pace in the South Caucasus. "Everyone
must do utmost to ensure peace in the Caucasus," he said.

The foreign minister did not comment on opening of Turkey-Armenia
border.

CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS HOLD THEIR REGULAR SESSION IN CRIMEA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
04.06.2009 16:40 GMT+04:00

On June 4, Council of CIS Interior Ministers began its regular session
in Crimea. The discussion was opened by Ukrainian Interior Minister
Yuriy Lutsenko who delegated the authority of Council Chairman to
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev.

"At this meeting," he said, "parties will discuss issues concerning
situation and perspectives of cooperation in the sphere of information
technologies and fight against illegal drug circulation and human
trafficking." The session will be attended by delegations from Ukraine,
Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. CIS Interior Ministers will
today have several meetings in bilateral and multilateral formats to
discuss methods of combating crimes. At the end of the discussion,
parties will sign a document summarizing the outcomes of the summit,
Rosblat reports.

ALIYEV-SARGSYAN REGULAR MEETING

LRAGIR.AM
19:23:23 – 04/06/2009

On June 4, in St. Petersburg, the meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents took place, the details of which were not
published. The meeting took place with the partecipation of the OSCE
Minsk group Co-Chairs. The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents are
expected to hold meetings with the Russian president Dmitri Medvedev.

HAYASTAN ALL ARMENIAN FUND CONGRATULATES VAHAKN DADRIAN AND WOLFGANG GUST, AMONG WINNERS OF PRESIDENT PRIZE

Noyan Tapan
June 1, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Hayastan All
Armenian Fund congratulates all winners of the 2008 President Prize,
including intellectuals Vahakn Dadrian and Wolfgang Gust, who were
awarded the prestigious prize for their valuable contributions to
the study of Mets Yeghern as well as efforts to secure worldwide
recognition for the first genocide of the 20th century. It was
mentioned in the Fund’s report.

Gust received the President Prize for his groundbreaking research of
German state archives pertaining to the 1915 Genocide. His landmark
2005 study, The Armenian Genocide During the First World War: Documents
from German State Archives, reveals the deep-rooted relations between
imperial Germany and the Ottoman Empire during the first part of the
20th century, particularly as documented in the secret correspondence
of the German consul and ambassador in Istanbul with the Turkish
government.

Gust’s 675-page volume includes 218 secret and top-secret telegrams,
letters, and communiques, most of which have never been published
previously.

A renowned journalist and scholar, Gust has long been dedicated to
the study of the Genocide. An Armenian translation of his first work
related to the subject, 1993’s The Armenian Genocide: The Tragedy of
the Oldest Christian Nation, was published in Armenia in 20 02. In
recognition of Gust’s achievement, His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos
of All Armenians, bestowed on him the St. Sahak and St. Mashtots
medal in 2001.

Professor Vahakn Dadrian, who has devoted his entire career to the
study of the Genocide, received the President Prize not only for his
past achievements but ongoing research within his field. Currently
serving as Director of Genocide Research at the Zoryan Institute in
Arlington, Massachusetts, Dadrian is the author of numerous pioneering
studies on the Genocide, German complicity, Turkish denial, parallels
between the Genocide and the Holocaust, and related topics.

The President Prize’s special category, Valuable Contribution to
the Recognition of the Genocide, was instituted in 2005. The prize
for the category includes a certificate of achievement, a medal, and
a monetary award in the amount of ,000. To date, nine scholars and
public figures, including four Armenians, have received the President
Prize in this category.

Established in 2000 by the Boghossian Foundation, the President
Prize promotes excellence in the Armenian arts, sciences, and
Genocide-recognition efforts. It also includes the President Youth
Prize, which awards young talents in various fields. Administered by
the Hayastan All Armenian Fund, the juried annual prize is bestowed
on recipients by the President of the Republic of Armenia, during
a rewards ceremony held at the presidential residence. T his year
the prize was awarded to 21 individuals, for achievements in one of
nine categories.

JIVAN GASPARYAN’S JOINT CONCERT WITH JIVAN JUNIOR IN MOSCOW

Panorama.am
12:53 01/06/2009

Famous Armenian musician Jivan Gasparyan gives a concert today in
Moscow Music International House, Russian media reports. The famous
duduk player is going to have his first joint concert with his grand
son Jivan junior.

"This is the first joint concert of the grandfather and grand
son. They will perform several new pieces and well known old ones too,"
"RSP-concert" company representative said.

It is said that the concert program is not prepared till its end as
the musician likes to make surprises and perform whatever he wants.

TWO NKR DEFENSE ARMY SOLDIERS DESERTED THEIR POSTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 15:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 31, 2:10 p.m., conscripts Hovan Haroutyunyan
and Gevorg Tovmasyan quit their posts from NKR Defense Army’s military
unit situated in the north. After deserting the unit, the soldiers
found themselves on Azerbaijani territory, NKR Defense Army’s Press
Service reported to a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent.

The servicemen were enlisted to army on May 19, 2009. The case is
currently under investigation.

RANDOM CHECK-UPS AT THE ELECTORS’ ADDRESSES WILL GIVE NO RESULTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.06.2009 19:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At today’s news conference organized by "Transparency
International Armenia" and "Armenian Committee of Helsinki Civil
Assembly" Vanadzor Office, organizations’ leaders made statements
on numerous violations during yesterday’s elections into the Council
of Elders.

"Never in their lives did our observers feel so ashamed," "Armenian
Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly" Vanadzor Office Coordinator
Arthur Sakunts spoke of the elections.

Bakunts expressed his readiness to visit voters at their apartments
to clarify whether they participated in the elections, using the help
of police and public prosecutor’s office representatives.

Yet Amaliya Kostanyan, "Transparency International Armenia" Chairman,
voiced her doubts about effectiveness of check up, noting that "people
are scared, and the check up will give no results". She also stated
that she sees no opportunity to collaborate with state authorities,
believing such attempts to be futile.