Author: Hambardsumian Paul

Science Letter
March 10, 2009

SENSOR RESEARCH;
New data from Yerevan State University illuminate research in sensor research

According to recent research published in the IEEE Sensors Journal,
"Hydrogen sensor working at room and 40 degrees C temperatures made of
porous silicon covered by the TiO (2-x) or ZnO < Al > thin Him was
realized. Porous silicon layer was formed by electrochemical
anodization on a p- and n-type Si surface."

"Thereafter, n-type TiO2-x, and ZnO < Al > thin films were deposited
onto the porous silicon surface by electron-beam evaporation and
magnetron sputtering, respectively. Platinum catalytic layer and An
electric contacts were for further measurements deposited onto
obtained structures by ion-beam sputtering. The sensitivity of
manufactured structures to 1000-5000 ppm of hydrogen, propane-butane
mixture, and humidity wits studied. Sensitivity or obtained structures
was determined as ratio of the resistivity of structures in the
presence of investigated gas to that in air. Results of sensitivity
measurements showed that it is possible to realize a hydrogen
nanosensor, resistivity of which can be decreased up to 2.5 times at
room temperature and four times at 40 degrees C for the Pt/TiO2-x/PS
structure, as well as two times for the Pt/ZnO < Al >/PS structure at
40 degrees C at 5000 ppm hydrogen concentration, respectively," wrote
V. Aroutiounian and colleagues, Yerevan State University (see also
Sensor Research).

The researchers concluded: "Both structures have the recovery and
response time of approximately 20 s and rather high durability and
selectivity to hydrogen gas."

Aroutiounian and colleagues published their study in IEEE Sensors
Journal (Hydrogen Sensor Made of Porous Silicon and Covered by TiO2-x
or ZnO <Al> Thin Film. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2009;9(1-2):9-12).

For additional information, contact V. Aroutiounian, Yerevan State
University, Dept. of Physics Semicond & Microelect, Yerevan 0025,
Armenia.

The publisher’s contact information for the IEEE Sensors Journal is:
IEEE-Institute Electrical Electronics Engineers Inc., 445 Hoes Lane,
Piscataway, NJ 08855, USA.

Opinions of international experts about amendments to RA Criminal Code
received

944

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. During the March 10 sitting, the
parliamentary working group set up to make amendments to Articles 225
and 300 of the RA Criminal Code discussed the amendmed version of the
bill to be presented in second reading.

The head of the working group David Harutyunian presented the amended
articles, saying that they also reflect the proposals and approaches of
deputy Artsvik Minasian, the minister of justice, the prosecutor
general, and the staff of the parliament. The conclusions of experts of
the Venice Commission, the U.S. resident legal advisor and German
experts of constitutional law about the bill passsed in first reading
were also received. Taking into account these proposals and comments,
the group decided on the following formulation: "Mass disorders are
group actions expressed in violence, pogroms, arsons, destruction or
damage of property, use of fire-arms, explosive substances or devices
or offering armed resistance to a representative of authorities, as a
result of which public security in the given place is endangered".

For such actions, 3-8 years’ imprisonment (4-10 years’ imprisonment for
an organizer of mass disorder) is envisaged. By the bill, inciting or
assisting the commitment of mass disorder is a punishable action: a
fine, arrest or imprisonment have been envisaged in these cases.

The point stipulating responsibility of a person, who has participated
in mass disorder but has not committed acts of violence, has been
restored in the amended bill. In the article on power usurpation and
territorial integrity, only calls for violent overthrowing of
constitutional order have been considered as subject to criminal
responsibility. In Article 301 on compelling the president of the
country, the National Assembly, the government, the Constitutional
Court, differentiated penaties have been envisaged, with severest
punishment being envisaged for crimes with most serious consequences.

Some other amendments, including editorial ones, have been made as well.

Armenian government’s resignation may shock country, union of merchants states

YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. The Armenian Government’s resignation is
undesirable and may prove to be a serious stress for the country,
Tsolvard Gevorgyan, Chairwoman of the Union of Merchants of Armenia
(UMA) told reporters.

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and a few Government members were
recently reported to have sent in their resignations as a result of the
economic problems, particularly of the exchange fluctuations and the
impact of the global economic and financial crisis on Armenia.

`I do not think that the current economic situation in Armenia will
result in the Government’s resignation,’ Gevorgyan said.

`The Government’s resignation will not facilitate the solution to the
problems. Moreover, the policy of reforms adopted by the new Government
has not yet been accomplished and may even be endangered,’ Gevorgyan
said.

The Armenian press reports that the opposition mass media received an
order to discredit the Armenian
Prime Minister with the purpose of discrediting the Government and
splitting the government ranks. `0–

TURKEY WILL HARM ITSELF IF IT ATTEMPTS TO USE NABUCCO AS LEVERAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.03.2009 12:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey will shoot itself in the foot if it has
any intention to use the Nabucco pipeline project as leverage in
negotiations with the European Union, an analyst said.

"It would not be wise for Turkey to move unilaterally and use
the Nabucco project as a bargaining chip linked to its accession
negotiations with the EU," Katinka Barysch, deputy director of the
London-based Center for European Reform.

While on a rare visit to Brussels in January, Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan warned Turkey would review its support for the Nabucco
project if the EU insisted on blocking entry talks with Ankara on
the energy chapter.

Aimed at carrying Caspian or Middle Eastern natural gas to Europe via
the Turkish territory, the Nabucco pipeline is seen as one of Europe’s
best hopes for reducing its dependence on Russian gas supplies.

"As a politician and as a leader Mr. Erdogan will do what he thinks
is right to defend the interests of his country, but if Turkey wants
to become an energy hub, it needs not only a strategic location but
also the agreement between the producing and consuming countries,"
Barysch said.

Turkey has good relations with producing countries, including Russia,
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan and on the other side is trying to keep
options open with Iran, she said. "But it also needs to have good
relations with the consuming countries. Otherwise, the gas will not
flow on the other end, so obviously Mr. Erdogan has no interest in
taking Nabucco off the table entirely," said Barysch.

"The EU has already made it clear that it wants to pursue the
diversification agenda to reduce overdependence on Russian gas
regardless of Turkey. The bloc is no longer talking just about Nabucco,
but also about the southern gas corridor, to indicate that there
are other options that can potentially be resorted to," she said,
Hurriyet Daily News reports.

ARMENIAN COMMERCIAL BANKS INCREASE CAPITAL

ARKA
March 5, 2009

YEREVAN, March 5. /ARKA/. The Armenian commercial banks have increased
their capital by US $120mln over the last few months, RA Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan stated in his interview to the RA Public Television.

This means that bank owners have invested US $120mln in their banks
to secure depositors’ funds by means of their own funds.

The commercial banks also managed to attract US $250mln to ensure
their own stability.

"At present the commercial banks have US $700mln cash at their
disposal, which enables them to serve their clients and economy. That
is, the commercial banks are well prepared for serving the entire
economic system, which was a necessity," T. Sargsyan said.

According to him, the preparation for a floating rate meant enhancing
the commercial banks’ potential.

CBA Board took into account the gradually worsening trade conditions
amid the present global economic and financial crisis, as well as
lower capital flow rates, and decided to restrict its interventions
in the currency market thereby reverting to its floating exchange
rate policy. CBA experts believe that the USD average exchange rate
will be 360-380 AMD/$1 this year.

"Over the last few months the Central Bank has repeatedly stated that
our countries never abandoned the floating rate policy, but had just
gave temporary preference to financial stability," T. Sargsyan said.

According to him, this preference was expressed in stability on
financial markets.

The Premier explained that the stable exchange rate allowed the CBA
to ensure stability of the financial system and gradually bring the
economy to a floating rate regime.

"During a certain period the national currency showed steady
revaluation against the US dollar. However, influenced by the
global economic crisis, our economy found itself in a situation when
devaluation was and transition were required," the Premier said.

T. Sargsyan said that the economy is like a living organism, which
must be prepared for temperature changes.

"The Central Bank has been making statements and explaining its policy,
which actually means preparations for this period. First of all,
this means that the commercial banks were to enhance their potential,
which was done," the Premier said.

HAMLET HARUTYUNYAN SEES NO PRECONDITIONS FOR A REVOLUTION IN ARMENIA
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
04.03.2009 15:20

MP Hamlet Harutyunyan did not see any extraordinary novelty in the
opposition rally of March 1. During today’s press conference the
Deputy analyzed the domestic political situation, saying that the
opposition should understand that color revolutions are impossible
in Armenia. Mr. Harutyunyan sees absolutely no preconditions for a
revolution. Asked whether the public protest could serve as a basis
for a revolution, he said it’s one of the preconditions.

"Do you want strong criticizing speeches to be necessarily accompanied
by disorders? Do you know how faster our country would develop if we
had a health opposition? If we have a strong opposition, we will be
watchful, the authorities are always afraid of strong opposition,"
he said.

Today’s stance of the opposition is more acceptable to Hamlet
Harutyunyan. However, speaking about healthy opposition is too
early. The Deputy opposes the methodology of the opposition’s
activity. As for public protests, the Deputy assures his family also
felt the influence of the crisis.

TURKISH NAVY PLANNING TO OPEN NEW BASE ON BLACK SEA SHORE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.03.2009 18:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish Naval Forces are planning to establish a
new military base in the country’s Black Sea province of Trabzon,
Hurriyet daily reported on Wednesday.

The planned military base will be the second on the country’s Black
Sea coast.

Hurriyet said the Turkish military confirmed that works are underway in
Trabzon for the planning of a logistics base. The construction of the
base will start with routine appointments in summer, the report added.

The story came weeks after media reports suggested that the U.S. may
look at setting up a military base in Trabzon as an alternative to
the Manas base in Kyrgyzstan which is due to close later this year.

The Turkish army said last month that the U.S. has not knocked on
the country’s door regarding the establishment of a base on the Black
Sea coast after the closure decision of the Kyrgyzstan base that is
key for Afghanistan operations.

RAPA PROPOSES ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES RATIFYING UN INTERNATIONAL COURT’S SUPREMACY

Noyan Tapan

M arch 4, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia should continue to be guided
by international norms and move the possibility of solving problems
emerging with neighbor states to the international law plane. Haroutiun
Arakelian, the Chairman of the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party of Armenia
(RAPA), stated at the March 4 press conference.

According to him, Kosovo achieved independence thanks to challenging
its problem at international courts. "We should also achieve solution
of the Armenian Cause at the international court," H. Arakelian said
adding that for that purpose RAPA proposes the authorities recognizing
and ratifying the UN International Court’s supremacy. According to
him, in that case Armenia will have a possibility to apply to the
international court with the facts of the genocides committed against
the Armenians both in 1915-23 in Ottoman Turkey and in 1988-1994
in Azerbaijan.

H. Arakelian said that we should also present to the world the real
picture of the events in Khojalu and prove that the very Azeris
organized the slaughter and blamed the Armenians for it. "Otherwise
in the eyes of international community Armenia has moved from the
status of victim to the status of aggressor," RAPA leader said.

VIVACELL-MTS CONTRIBUTES TO DEVELOPMENT OF OLYMPIC SPORTS

Panorama.am
March 3, 2009

VivaCell-MTS and National Olympic Committee of Armenia sign a bilateral
contract according to which VivaCel-MTS provides 100 million AMD to
the Olympic Committee in 2009 for the development of Olympic sports
in Armenia.

The General Director of VivaCell-MTS Ralf Yirikyan and the President of
National Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan told about their cooperation
projects in 2009.

"VivaCell-MTS makes a significant investment in the development of
sport and healthy way of living in Armenia. This cooperation with the
Olympic Committee is intended to develop different sports in Armenia,"
said the President of the Committee Gagik Tsarukyan.

"We believe in our sportsmen and their abilities. We will feel happy to
see our sportsmen competing in different international competitions,
and this is stimulus not only for VivaCell-MTS but for the Armenians
also," said the General Director of VivaCell-MTS Ralf Yirikyan.