Author: Hakobian Adrine

AGREEMENTS OF OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS SIGNED ANNUALLY WITH MEDIATION OF ARMENIAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR’S CANADIAN AND EUROPEAN REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES

Noyan Tapan
Aug 23, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Canadian (Toronto-based) and
European (Vienna-based) Representative Offices of the Armenian IT
sector ensure the signing of agreements of a total of over a million
dollars a year between Armenian IT companies and those in regions of
their location, the director of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation
(EIF) Bagrat Yengibarian said during a talk with NT correspondent.

In his words, each representative office acted as a mediator in the
sale of 3-5 Armenian enterprises’ high-value production, as well as
in the signing of agreements on fulfilment of software orders a year
on average.

B. Yengibarian reminded that the Canadian representative office has
been operating for about two years, while the European office – for
nearly a year. According to him, these representative offices will
take at least another two years to fully cover their expenditures at
the expense of intermediary payments received from sale of Armenian IT
enterprises’ production. The annual sum paid to each of these offices
currently makes 50 thousand dollars. "The work of these representative
offices is not self-financed so that the heavy burden of large
intermediary payments will be taken off the local comapnies. Today
the matter concerns 3-5%, whereas in international IT practice,
the mediator receives 25-30% from each sale," B. Yengibarian noted.

He said that the issue of extending the network of Armenian IT
sector’s representative offices will be solved after the approval
of the Armenian government’s strategy on development of the IT
sector. B. Yengibarian attached special importance to foundation of
such offices in Silicon Valley (California) and Southeast Asia.

FUNERAL OF PEOPLE’S ARTIST EDUARD ISABEKIAN TO BE HELD AT PANTHEON AFTER KOMITAS

AZG Armenian Daily #149
21/08/2007

Social, Culture

On August 19 People’s Artists Eduard Isabekian died in Ashtarak. The
funeral of the famous artist will be held at the Pantheon after
Komitas in yerevan on August 22. They informed at the Artists’ Union of
Armenia that Isabekian’s wake is enviaged to be held in his apratment
in Sayat Nova Street on August 21.

The lovers of Isabekian’s art will have the opportunity to bade the
last farewell to him at the Comitas Cahmber Music Hall on August 21.

"FROZEN" CONFLICTS TO BE DEBATED IN GERMAN BUNDESTAG

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 20 2007
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received German
Bundestag members, Foreign Ministry press service told the APA.

Head of delegation, member of Bundestag Foreign Policy Committee,
chairman of European Commission Monitoring Committee, Eduard Lintner
stressing that Azerbaijan is important partner of Germany approved
Baku’s being model of free policy in the region and choosing priority
establishing strategic partnership relations with the US and Europe.

He stated that "frozen" conflicts in the Black Sea region will be
debated in German Bundestag, and Germany’s position in the solution
of the conflicts will be clear in negotiations.

Mr. Lintner said that they support peaceful solution to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Mr. Mammadyarov brought the visitors’ attention to the negotiations
carried out in the framework of the Prague process in the solution
of the conflict in stages.

The Minister said that Germany’s role in maintaining stability in the
South Caucasus can be convincing Germany and international community
in the unacceptability of Armenia’s aggressive policy.

They exchanged views on bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and
Germany, regional policy of the European Union.

Yerevan through in Vienna
Wednesday 15 August 2007

FC Politekhnik Yerevan are through to the UEFA Futsal
Cup Main round after a 4-2 win against Preliminary
round Group D hosts Stella Rossa Vienna.

Decisive game
The meeting of Yerevan and Stella Rossa at the
Hollgasse Hall in the Austrian capital was the
decisive game of the four-team mini-tournament after
both sides won their opening two matches. Shamrock
Rovers FC, the Republic of Ireland’s inaugural
entrants in this competition, pickedup their first
points and confirmed third place with a 6-3 defeat of
Scottish rivals Fair City Santos in the day’s early
game. Politekhnik now go on to Main round Group 1 in
September to meet 2003/04 runners-up SL Benfica,
Ukrainian champions SK Energia and Bulgarian hosts MFC
Varna.

Thursday games
On Thursday, Group A concludes as Israeli home side
Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion need only a draw against
FCK De Hommel to qualify at the expense of their Dutch
opponents. Two of the three mini-tournaments yet to
commence also begin tomorrow, with Slovenia’s KMN
Puntar playing London White Bear FC in the three-team
Group F, and AGBU Ararat Nicosia FC meeting
Montenegrin debutants KMF Municipium Casino Pljevlja
and Albania’s KS Ali Demi up against French hosts Issy
Futsal in Group B.

©uefa.com

ANM Leader rules out nomination of single-whole candidate for
president either by opposition or by power

arminfo
2007-08-18 09:45:00

No nomination of a single-whole candidate is possible either by
opposition or by the regime. Only formation of a real opposition
"center gravity" is possible in order to unite the protesting
electorate, Ararat Zurabyan, Chairman of the Board of Armenian National
Movement party, said a the Discussion Club Pastark, Friday.

It is explained both by the desire of leaders of many small parties to
remind people of their existence and by the wide application of
election technologies resulting in nomination of false opposition
candidates by the authorities. Just these technologies will try to
slander real oppositionists like Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first
president of Armenia. "I am sure Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan will not
be able to say anything to Levon Ter-Petrosyan tete-a-tete. False
opposition parties will assume this mission," A. Zurabyan said.

BOXING: KING ARTHUR’S AMERICAN MISSION

Agence France Presse — English
August 15, 2007 Wednesday 9:18 PM GMT

IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham is set to launch his America
mission if he wins Saturday’s defence against mandatory challenger
Khoren Gevor, it was announced on Wednesday.

"Arthur is the best middleweight in the world and we’re planning
to bring him to the States," manager Wilfried Sauerland said at
Wednesday’s press conference in Berlin.

"There has already been a lot of interest in him and I’m sure he
would be a huge hit."

With 23 wins from 23 fights and 18 knock-outs, Abraham tends to have
more problems from airport x-ray machines than some of his recent
opponents.

With two titanium plates and 22 screws in his jaw, he usually sends
the alarms at the security checks ringing.

"King Arthur" broke his jaw in two places during his victory over
Edison Miranda in 2006, the injury gives him no problems now and three
months ago he put aside Canadian Sebastien Demers inside three rounds.

Next up for the Armenian with German citizenship is the meeting with
countryman Gevor and Abraham is highly motivated.

"I am in great shape and I will prove that in the ring on Saturday
night," the champion stated.

The 27-year-old also revealed how he plays mind games before a fight.

"I tell myself that I’m weaker than my opponent. As a consequence,
I will train much harder and beat him in the ring."

But Gevor is confident of an upset.

"I have good chances to win the fight," he stated. "I’ve had a great
preparation and very good sparring partners.

"The IBF belt will be a present for my wife Nenel, who is pregnant."

And coach Fritz Sdunek added: "I can understand that many people
consider Abraham the favourite.

"But it would not be the first time for a favourite to lose. I expect
the fight to go the full distance, with Khoren benefiting of his good
physical condition towards the end."

The meeting will just be the second time that German coaching legends
Sdunek and Ulli Wegner come face-to-face in professional boxing.

"There will be a lot at stake. It is a question of honour," Wegner
said. "But I am confident we will win."

NUMBER OF SALE AND PURCHASE OF DETACHED HOUSES INCREASES BY 13.3% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-JUNE 2007 ON SAME MONTHS OF LAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. 3,831 transactions on alienation of
residential houses (detached houses) were conducted in Armenia in
January-June 2007, including 774 transactions in Yerevan. The number
of sale and purchase of detached houses grew by 13.3% as compared
with the same period of last year.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, out of the total
number of transactions on alienation of detached houses, 2,964 ones
were sales and purchases, 845 were donations, and 22 transactions
were exchanges.

The average market proce of a square meter of detached houses
in Yerevan made 245.8 thousand drams (about 700 US dollars) in
January-June 2007. The highest index of market prices of a square
meter of detached houses in Armenian marzes (regions) was registered
in the city of Abovian (Kotayk region) – 138.7 thousand drams, while
the lowest index was registered in the city of Shamlugh (Lori region)
– 5,100 thousand drams.

"HRANT DINK" INTERNATIONAL FUND ESTABLISHED IN ISTANBUL
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
15/08/2007

On August 10, "Sahab" Turkish newspaper informed about the foundation
of "Hrant Dink" International Fund in Istanbul. According to the
inforation, the fund is established by the widow of the perished
journalist Rakel Dink, by his son Arat Dink, by his daughter Delal
Dink, as well as by relatives Zabel, Haykanoush, Khosrov and Yervand
Dinks. The property of the fund is evaluated to 100 thousand of Turkish
lyres. The foundation is aimed to shaping of a secure, healthy and
cultural atmosphere, as well as tolerance to the ethnical and cultural
differences in the Turkish society.

Armenian National Committee of Australia Inc.
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068 ~ PO Box 768, Willoughby NSW
2068
Tel: (02) 9419 8264 ~ Fax: (02) 9411 8898
Email: [email protected]

15 August, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

MEMBER FOR PROSPECT JOINS ARMENIA-AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP
GROUP

CANBERRA: Chris Bowen (ALP), the Federal Member for Prospect and the
Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Revenue & Competition Policy, has agreed
to join the Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group following
a recent meeting with the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of
Australia.

ANC Australia President, Mr. Varant Meguerditchian, commented: `We
welcome Mr. Bowen to the Armenia-Australia Parliamentary Friendship
Group and look forward to working closely with the Federal member in
addressing and advocating the concerns of the Armenian community in
Australia, and in particular Sydney’s Western Region.’

Bowen is a lifelong resident of the Prospect electorate. He was
educated at Smithfield Public School, St. Johns Park High School and
the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of
Economics degree. Bowen was elected to Fairfield City Council in 1995
and was Mayor of Fairfield in 1998 and 1999. He was elected President
of the Western Sydney Councils (WSROC) in 1999 and served as President
until 2001.

[end]

Contact: Haig Kayserian
Communications Officer
0403 317 903
[email protected]

The Armenian National Committee of Australia is the peak public
affairs body of the Armenian-Australian community. ANC Australia
advances the concerns of the Armenian-Australian community.

The Grand Rapids Press, MI
Aug 11 2007

Habitat team helps rebuild crumbled Armenian city

Saturday, August 11, 2007
By Paul R. Kopenkoskey
The Grand Rapids Press

WYOMING — Almost 19 years ago, an earthquake reduced all the
buildings in an area around Spitak, Armenia, to rubble.

But the rebuilding efforts tapered off when the Soviet bloc nation
lost Russia’s financial support when it declared its independence in
1991.

Humanitarian aid, including a Habitat for Humanity Global Village
team that recently journeyed to the village of Shatin, continues to
pick up the slack.

In the 14 days the team was there in July, stones were stuffed
underneath a metal roof of one home for insulation and another
received a new poured cement floor, said Susan Bosovich, leader of
the 11-member Habitat team. Bosovich made her second trip to Armenia
with her 22-year-old daughter, Alicia.

More work still needs to be done, said Susan Bosovich, of Wyoming.

"But we’ve cut down that time frame and, labor-wise, that will help
them live in their homes sooner," she said.

Bosovich said the Habitat team needed to clear some cultural hurdles.
Armenians usually want to work at a more leisurely pace, which meant
that the task-oriented Habitat team had to limit their workdays to an
average of five-and-a-half hours.

"The point was not to show our superiority, but to learn their way
and learn it as efficiently as possible," said Bosovich, 46, an
educational paraprofessional in the Kentwood school district and for
Wedgwood Christian Services.

Bosovich said Shatin is akin to a ghost town.

Many homes remain empty shells, forcing some to live in metal
shipping containers that become iceboxes in the winter and furnaces
in the summer. Water and electricity are limited, and sewer lines are
inoperable.

"It’s amazing to see these huge cranes that haven’t been touched in
years," Bosovich said.

But despite the hardships, the Armenians expressed their appreciation
for the team’s help with fresh mulberries, apricots, cherries
cucumbers and tomatoes during mealtime, she said.

Working in a Third World nation can open Americans’ eyes to the
reality of how blessed they are, said Bosovich.

"I’m hoping we’ll return next year," she said. "I’ve made friends in
Armenia. I want to go back and see them again."