Author: Felekian Ara

"ALPHA-SPHERE" TEAM ANNOUNCED WINNER OF "IMAGINE CUP" COMPETITION HELD
BY MICROSOFT FOR FIRST TIME IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 6, MOYAN TAPAN. "Alpha-Sphere" team of programmers was
announced the winner of the first-ever Armenian stage of "Imagine Cup"
competition held by Microsoft for the 6th time. This was announced at
the award giving ceremony of the Armenian stage which took place in
Yerevan on May 5.

The theme of the competition was "Imagine a World where Technology
Enables to Maintain Sustainable Environment". "Alpha-Sphere" presented
"Global Electronic Garbage Market" system, whose introduction may allow
organizations to search and obtain garbage material for processing. The
winning team received the right to participate in the worldwide final
in Paris in July 2008, while the team members were rewarded with cash
prizes of 450 thousand drams each.

The RA minister of economy Nerses Yeritsian congratulated the winners
and participants of the competition. According to him, the Armenian
government will always assist with implementation of ideas which aim at
"forming a globally thinking and entrerprising youth that looks ahead".

In the words of Bagrat Yengibarian, director of Enterprise Incubator
Founadtion – co-organizer of the competition, 5 out of numerous teams,
which took part in the competition announced in late December 2007,
have managed to pass successfully the path of realization of the
competition’s ideas and to present software solutions that have
exceeded expectations.

Director of Microsoft RA company – Microsoft’s Armenian subsidiary
Grigor Barseghian said that Imagine Cup competition was initiated in
some Baltic countries as well but it did not take place due to the
absence of technological solutions.

Artak Ghazarian, director of USAID-financed Competitive Armenian
Private Sector (CAPS) Project – another co-organizer of the Armenian
competition, expressed a hope that the winning team will successfully
present its work in Paris, which will open an opportunity to improve
reputation of Armenia as a country of information technologies. He
expressed an opinion that the works to have won first places are
interesting, adding that steps on their application will be taken.

The teams in 2nd and 3rd place also received cash prizes and diplomas,
while those in 4th and 5th place were given encouraging cash prizes.

To recap, more than 100 thousand students from over 100 countries
participated in "Imagine Cup 2007" on the use of information
technologies in education, while the number of participants in the
finals in Seoul made over 200 from 57 countries. "Imagine Cup 2008" is
held in the following categories: software development, software
algorithms, software interfaces, computer game creation, photos, short
videofilms, creation of IT infrastructures, "Save Professor" game
contest (students must help Professor Khoshimi to overcome difficulties
by creating small software packages), and creation of portable devices.
The competition in all categories, except for software development, is
held online. The prize fund of "Imagine Cup" finals is 200 thousand
dollars.

The Armenian stage of the 2008 competition is held under the patronage
of the Union of IT Enterprises of Armenia, and Bi Line, Unicomp and
Synopsys companies.

CANDIDACY OF NEW MEMBER OF "PAP" FACTION NOT CLARIFIED YET

Noyan Tapan
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The issue of a replacement of Vahe
Hovhannisian, non-party member of the RA National Assembly "Rposperous
Armenia Party" (PAP) faction, will be clarified after the NA deputy’s
resignation officially takes effect, the faction member Naira Zohrabian
announced at the May 4 briefing.

V. Hovhannisian was elected a deputy by the proporional election
system so his mandate will be given to the candidate next on the PAP
list. According to N. Zohrabian, two next candidates on the list –
PAP members: the head mistress of school after Daniel Varuzhan Ofelia
Petrosian and the dean of the agronomics department of Agricultural
Universirty Gagik Santosian have submitted applications rejecting
their nomination. The next candiadte on the list is PAP member Ruben
Harutyunian, head of the polyclinic of the city of Abovian.

85 ENTERPRISES WITH FOREIGN CAPITAL REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN JAN-MAR 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Eighty-five enterprises with foreign capital
were registered in Armenia in January-March 2008.

The RA Statistical Service reports that investments in the companies
totaled 6,906.93mln AMD, with 104.48mln AMD invested in 38 enterprises
co-founded by both local and foreign individuals and/or legal
entities. The rest 47 enterprises were registered with 100% foreign
capital, with a total of 6,802.45mln AMD invested in them.

In January-March 2008, 872 legal entities with investments totaling
7,814mln AMD were registered in Armenia.

CHRISTIAN PARTIES MAY REALIGN AHEAD OF 2009 VOTE
Mona Alami

The Daily Star, Lebanon
May 1 2008

Murr’s rift with Aoun could usher in power shift in upcoming
parliamentary elections

BEIRUT: The ongoing political crisis gripping Lebanon has chipped away
at what has been viewed by most since the 2005 parliamentary elections
as an unlikely alignment of two political heavyweights. The recent
falling out between Michel Aoun, head of the Christian Free Patriotic
Movement (FPM) and Michel Murr, the Greek Orthodox former vice Prime
Minister, heralds a change that will undoubtedly affect the 2009
electoral landscape in the predominantly Christian region of the Metn.

Inexplicable alliances have long been a tradition of Lebanese politics,
defined by short-sighted tactical partnerships rooted in the intense
rivalry of opposing parties, communities and political families. Such
alliances have played a key role in the struggle for power among the
various Christian factions.

The Christian Phalange Party and the Lebanese Forces – led by former
President Amine Gemayel and Samir Geagea respectively – joined forces
in the 2005 elections with the largely Sunni Future Movement (headed
by Saad Hariri, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri)
and the Progressive Socialist Party headed by Druze leader Walid
Jumblatt. To strengthen their position at the ballot box, these four
parties, along with other smaller factions, joined forces with two
political heavyweights, the predominantly Shiite groups Hizbullah
(headed by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah) and Amal (headed by Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri). The coalition, known as the Quadripartite
alliance, ran on the same electoral list during the 2005 vote, and
triumphed at the polls. The alliance later unravelled.

What now remains of the electoral coalition is a loose alliance diverse
parties known as the March 14 Movement. The March 14 alliance currently
holds a majority in Parliament, with 67 out 128 seats.

After resigning from the government in November of 2006, Hizbullah
and Amal joined the opposition, which includes the FPM. Since the
ministers’ resignation, the two sides have failed to reach a compromise
on the balance of power in government. The power struggle intensified
in November of 2007, when President Emile Lahoud stepped down at the
end of his term. The presidential seat, traditionally occupied by a
Maronite Christian, has remained empty since then.

In fact, the postponement of presidential elections 19 times thus
far has incited Murr to warn Christian MPs who abstained from voting
that they might not be re-elected. "Christians should not be lied to;
under the false pretence of defending the rights of their community,
presidential elections are being blocked," he said.

"Murr believes presidential elections should take place as soon as
possible, while the FPM links elections to a basket of measures, such
as agreement on the future cabinet composition and the replacement
of the inequitable 2001 parliamentary law," said Armenian MP Hagop
Pakradounian.

So, what does the growing rift between Murr and Aoun over the
appointment of a president mean for the 2009 elections? The battle
for power in the Metn pits the Phalange party and LF against the FPM,
which is joined by a few independents, including Murr. The impact of
Murr’s defection from the opposition can be measured by his political
weight in the area, which affects the outcome of eight parliamentary
seats: four Maronite positions, two Greek Orthodox, one Catholic and
one Armenian.

Research shows that participation of voters has been customarily low
in the area, as is the case with the rest of the country. According
to statistician Kamal Feghali, 51.2 percent of registered voters
participated in the 2005 elections, in which Murr gained 20,000
votes. In the 2007 by-elections (prompted by the assassination of
Phalange MP Pierre Gemayel), 47.2 percent of voters participated,
with 15,600 votes for Murr.

"There are currently four independent members of Parliament, of
which three are allied with the FPM – Pakradounian, Selim Salhab
and Ghassan Moukheiber – while the fourth is Michel Murr. Four other
seats are occupied by FPM deputies," explained Alain Aoun from the
opposition FPM.

According to Alain Aoun, Murr’s new position will be restricted to
the Metn and will not affect national elections. "It is too early
to measure the exact repercussions of this new realignment on the
political landscape. The disagreement between Mr. Murr and the FPM
might dissipate before the 2009 elections, as long as the political
discourse remains toned down," he pointed out, adding that the
political context in 2009 will ultimately define the outcome of the
next parliamentary elections.

Another factor that could disrupt the balance of power in the Metn is
the Armenian vote. "Armenian voters represent some 12,000 votes in the
Metn, of which our party, Tashnag, traditionally garners 80 percent,"
explained Pakradounian.

"Murr’s recent change of heart does guarantee his realignment with the
majority," said Pakradounian. "I think his main objective is to exert
enough pressure to resolve the deadlock and accelerate presidential
elections. My belief is that he is still trying to find a common
denominator between the opposition and majority.

"We maintain excellent relations with both Gen. Aoun and President
Murr, who are our allies, and their disagreement may be short-lived,"
he added.

While Tashnag’s alliance with Michel Murr is more than 44 years old,
Pakradounian said that General Aoun has also frequently proven his
loyalty to the Armenian party by refusing to participate in the
cabinet in the absence of the Tashnag. – with The Daily Star

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN’S RESIGNATION TO BE ACCEPETED IN MID-MAY

ARKA
April 29, 2008

YEREVAN, April 29. /ARKA/. The resignation of Vahe Hovhannisyan,
a Parliament member from the Prosperous Armenia Party, is to be
accepted within 15 days.

Vahe Hovhannisyan has sent in his resignation. If he does not withdraw
his resignation within 15 days, it will be accepted, said Parliament
Speaker Tigran Torosyan.

The reason for Hovhannisyan’s resignation is his business activities.

Under the RA Constitution, Parliament member has no right to run
business, hold government posts, work for any commercial organizations
or carry out any activities except for research, educational and
creative work.

Speaker Torosyan expressed hope that the Prosperous Armenia Party will
be represented in Parliament by a member as worthy as Hovhannisyan.-0–

ARMENIAN "COMMANDOS" ARRESTED IN AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 28 2008

Baku, 28 April: An attempt by a group of commandos of Armenian armed
forces to stage a sabotage operation in Azerbaijan has been thwarted.

During a counter-operation the entire group comprising four people
was rounded up, APA has learnt from its sources at law-enforcement
agencies.

An investigation has been initiated into the incident.

ARAM ISABEKIAN APPROVED AS RECTOR OF YEREVAN STATE ACADEMY OF ARTS

ARKA
April 28, 2008

YEREVAN, April 28. /ARKA/. Armenian Government approved the election
of Aram Isabekian as rector of the Yerevan State Academy of Arts.

Isabekian ahs been elected as rector of the Academy unanimously,
Armenian Minister of Science and Education Levon Mkrtchian said at
the government sitting.

SENATOR MENENDEZ WARNS TO BLOCK BUSH’S NEW PICK FOR AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2008 16:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who two years
ago blocked the nomination of Richard Hoagland for U.S. ambassador
to Armenia, said he will do the same if President George W. Bush’s
new ambassadorial nominee also fails to use proper wording for the
Armenian Genocide

The United States has not been not represented in the Armenian capital
at the ambassadorial level since May 2006 when Bush fired John Evans,
who used the term ‘genocide,’ to describe the massacre of Armenians
at the hands of Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923.

In March, Bush nominated Marie L. Yovanovitch, another career diplomat,
for Yerevan, Turkish Daily News reports.

Senator Menendez made it clear that he believes the U.S. ambassador
to Yerevan should characterize the killings as Genocide.

"I intend to ask the same tough questions to the designate as her
confirmation process reaches the Senate," Menendez said. "I hope
Ms. Yovanovitch would respond to the questions in a satisfactory
way. If not, I will not hesitate to place a hold."

Meanwhile, the Turkish newspaper mentions that still "if Yovanovitch
by any chance says ‘genocide,’ then Washington will get into deep
trouble with Turkey."

ARMENIANS MARK 93rd GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY

ARMENPRESS
April 24, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: Hundreds of thousands of Armenians
from Armenia proper and its vast Diaspora went uphill today to the
Genocide Memorial in Yerevan to remember 1.5 million of their ancestors
killed brutally at the orders of the government of the Ottoman Turkey
from 1915-1923.

President Serzh Sarkisian, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian, Parliament
Chairman Tigran Torosian, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II,
parliament and government members and other top government officials,
senior clergy and top army brass were the first to remember the
victims by visiting the Memorial and laying flowers to it. The heads
of foreign diplomatic missions in Yerevan were the next to lay wreathes
at the Memorial.

Armenia’s leadership, the senior clergy, guests paid their tribute
to the genocide victims by observing a minute of silence and laying
flowers at the Memorial. Catholicos Karekin II conducted a special
church service for the repose of the victims’ souls.

"There is no family in Armenia that would not mourn today with us,
there is no family that was not affected by this great tragedy-directly
or indirectly.

Therefore we have to learn a lesson from the history.

May God give us wisdom to do so, so that such tragedies never
happen again. I think we have to be as wise as to realize that the
only guarantee to avoid such crimes in future is to be strong and
united. May God give us intelligence to understand this simple truth,"
prime minister Tigran Sarkisian said to journalists after paying
tribute to Genocide victims.

Wreaths were laid at the Genocide Memorial on behalf of government
ministries and agencies, political parties, student unions and civic
society organizations.

Liturgies and special ceremonies of repose of souls of the victims
were held in Armenian churches across the globe.

Countries officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide include
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy,
Lebanon, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela.

Although part of the United Kingdom, Wales also officially recognized
the Armenian Genocide. The Parliament of the State of New South Wales,
Australia passed a resolution acknowledging and condemning the Armenian
Genocide in 1997.

International bodies that recognize the Armenian genocide include
the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the United Nations
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities, the International Center for Transitional Justice, the
International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, the World Council of Churches and the Permanent
Peoples’ Tribunal.

The Armenian genocide was recognized by about 40 states of the USA
and a U.S. House of Representatives Committee of Foreign Affairs. An
Armenian resolution was motioned by an Israeli parliament committee
earlier this year.

PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN’S ADDRESS ON THE DAY OF COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS

armradio.am
24.04.2008 12:42

Dear compatriots,

Today we commemorate the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. As
a result of the genocide planned and perpetrated on the state level in
the Ottoman Empire, a huge part of the Armenian nation was annihilated
in its homeland. A number of cultural and material values the Armenian
nation had created over millennia were destroyed and continue being
destroyed today.

The issue of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian
Genocide is a regular and inevitable component of Armenia’s foreign
policy agenda. Armenia, which is home to all Armenians, should make
doubled efforts for restoring the historical justice. The negation in
the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide has no future, especially
today, when many countries of the world have joined their voices to
the voice of truth.

The recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is not
a narrow national issue of the Armenian people. The crime against
humanity is of universal nature; therefore, it must receive a universal
reaction. Keeping bright the holy memory of the innocent victims,
we are ready to establish normal relations with Turkey without any
preconditions.

Dear compatriots,

Much has been said and written about the reasons and prehistory
of the Armenian Genocide. Many new facts and analyses are waiting
to be published, but one thing was clear from the very beginning:
perpetration of such a crime is possible only under the conditions
of absence of Armenian statehood.

Today, on April 24, we have to realize the exceptional importance of
the Armenian statehood. All Armenians should develop and strengthen
together with their state, which is the security guarantee of our
people.