Author: Jidarian Alex

MARIOS GAROYAN MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF GREECE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

ATHENS, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. "It takes two to tango,
and up to now Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has been dancing
alone," Cyprus House of Representatives president Marios Garoyian said
in Athens on May 12, speaking to reporters after being received by
President of the Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias. This information
was provided by Athens news agency.

The Cyprus parliament leader also said he had noted to Papoulias
that Christofias "has taken initiatives in the right direction,
which has been appreciated by the international community". However,
according to him, "there is also the factor of the standing Turkish
intransigence". "President Christofias has the political volition,
and is trying to overcome the impasse. But it takes two to tango,
and President Christofias is dancing alone," Garoyian stressed.

As regards Christofias’ upcoming new meeting with Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Garoyian said it had to do with the fact
that the "working groups have not produced tangible results", and
consequently "the two leaders will meet to see where this process
is stumbling".

During his stay in Athens, Parliament Speaker of Cyprus Marios Garoyian
met with a delegation of the Armenian National Committee of Greece
on May 11.

NATO WAR GAMES TO TAKE PLACE IN ARMENIA IN SEPT – MINISTRY

Interfax News Agency
May 14 2008
Russia

An official opening of a NATO military exercise will take place in
Armenia on September 15, 2008, deputy chief of the Armenian General
Staff Maj. Gen. Arshaluis Paitian told journalists on Wednesday.

A conference on planning this exercise began in Yerevan on
Wednesday. The conference brings together 110 servicemen, including
37 of them from NATO, while 63 of them are representatives of 21
countries that showed readiness to take part in the exercise.

"An exercise of such a scale will take place in our region for the
fist time. It is a great honor for us. We should prepare decently for
the exercise. It will consist of two stages, a command post exercise
with the participation of over 300 officers and a field exercise with
the participation of about 300 people," Paitian said.

Chief of the Armenian General Staff Col. Gen. Yury Khachaturov
is taking part in a meeting of chiefs of general staffs of NATO
members and NATO partners at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels
on Wednesday.

"Khachaturov will take part in a general meeting of the Euroatlantic
Partnership Council’s Military Council," spokesman for Armenian
Defense Ministry Seiran Shakhsuavarian told Interfax.

NEW PHONE SERVICE RULES TO BE CONSIDERED IN ARMENIA MAY 20

ARKA
May 14, 2008

YEREVAN, May 14. /ARKA/. RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
(PSRC) will consider the rules of providing and using telephone
services on March 20, said Gevorg Gevorgyan, Head of the Commission’s
Telecommunications Department.

The rules have been developed with consideration of all the possible
problematic situations peculiar to Armenian market, Gevorgyan said. New
rules suggest that a telephone user have access to his current account
and pay his bills via the Internet. Besides, customers will be allowed
to sign an additional contract limiting their accounts.

"We have studied the international practices to the rules competent
enough to rule out any possibility for the users of paying for
calls they have not made or any other error of the billing system,"
Gevorgyan said.

Armen Poghosyan, President of the Consumers’ Association of Armenia,
said the new rules should be adopted as soon as possible since
the current rules dating from 1999 do not meet the present-day
technological and legal requirements. Pogosyan said once the new
rules are adopted they will work to introduce an obligatory system
of signing individual contracts with each user.

However, Pogosyan said, some of the rules are alarming since they focus
on reducing the share of responsibility of provider and enhancing
the liabilities of customers. "Neither do the rules provide for any
compensation for system errors," Poghosyan stressed.

Once the new rules take effect, ArmenTel will be obliged to modify the
existing contracts with customers by July 1, 2009. Under the June 1,
2007 decision of PSRC, the approval of the new rules was prolonged
to December 30, 2007.

ArmenTel is the daughter company of VimpelCom (Beeline). The Russian
company acquired 100% shares in April 2007. ArmenTel provides
fixed-line telephone services to about 600,000 customers and mobile
services to over 450,000 customers.

NKR PRESIDENT HAS ACCEPTED THE DELEGATION OF VLADIMIR REGION

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on May 13, 2008
NKR Republic

On May 10th, NKR President Bako Sahakyan accepted the delegation of
Vladimir region of Russian Federation, by the head of the academician,
head of board of administration of Kolchugino region Viktor Katushev.
During the meeting a number of questions refering to perspectives
of realization of different investment programs, as well as
establishment of relations between Vladimir region and Nagorno-Karabakh
in economical, cultural and educational spheres were discussed.
The head of the country expressed satisfaction in conection with
contracts of collaboration signed between Stepanakert and Kolchugino
towns, as well as Vladimir and Artsakh State Universities.The NKR
Prime Minister, Ministers of Finances and Economical Development, the
mayor of Stepanakert assisted at the meeting.(Central administration
of information of the NKR President’s stuff reported).

MEDIATORS HOPE FOR A MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS

armradio.am
13.05.2008 15:15

"The meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers on May 6 in
Strasburg shows that the Minsk process is useful and moves forward,"
Matthew Bryza, OSCE Minsk Group US co-chair told APA.

Bryza said he had high hopes for the meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian Presidents. "We are hopeful that the meeting of leaders of
both countries will push the new round of vigorous activity and the
work on the basic principles will be completed in the next few months."

SPECIAL SERVICES OF ARMENIA PREVENT IMPORT OF DRUGS FROM IRAN

arminfo
2008-05-12 18:10:00

ArmInfo. National Security Service of Armenia press-center reports
that a lorry ‘KAMAZ’ was stopped on May 8 when entering Armenia from
Iran. The lorry belongs to Hovik Khalatyan, resident of Marneuli
region, Georgia (1962). The operatives exposed and confiscated 2 kg
and 330 g opium and 35 g hashish in the lorry. Hovik Khalatyan was
detained. Investigation is underway.

Panorama.am

14:50 10/05/2008

DINNER TO NALBANDIAN

Yesterday the chairman of Senate of France Christian
Ponsele received Foreign Minister of Armenia Edvard
Nalbandyan who is in France for working visit in
Luxemburg Palace. According to the press service of
the MFA the chairman of Senate congratulated
Nalbandian for his appointment as a minister and
highly evaluated his efforts directed to strengthen
the relationship between Armenia and France.

E. Nalbandian said that it was an honor for him to
present Armenia in France. The minister thanked the
chairman for his efforts to improve and strengthen the
relations with Armenia, particularly the affairs
including Southern Caucasus cooperation and stability.

The Minister also presented the main directions and
projects points of the political coalition created in
Armenia. The same day Mgr. Fortunato Baldelli invited
the Minister to the dinner party devoted to the
minister.

Source: Panorama.am

US Fed News
May 8, 2008 Thursday 12:13 AM EST

PETE PETERS TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATE

FRESNO, Calif.

California State University Fresno issued the following press release:

The California State University and California State University,
Fresno will confer an honorary doctoral degree – the CSU’s highest
commendation – on Fresno businessman and philanthropist Pete P. Peters
at Fresno State’s Commencement on May 17.

For his unwavering commitment to bettering the region, Peters will
receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

"Pete P. Peters is one of the great visionaries of Central
California," said Fresno State President John D. Welty, who nominated
Peters. "At Fresno State and elsewhere, Mr. Peters has helped our
region in many ways.

"He has provided guidance on a range of issues through active board
membership, donations for building programs that have inspired others
to give and scholarships in a number of disciplines that have launched
our graduates into careers of service in the region and elsewhere,"
Welty said.

The youngest son of Armenian immigrants, Peters longed to attend
college.

Instead, he and his brother, Leon S. Peters, worked hard and gained
reputations as honest businessmen who were generous community
benefactors.

Pete P. Peters joined Valley Foundry and Machine Works in 1939,
shortly after his brother bought the business, which manufactured wine
grape crushers. During World War II, however, the business made ship
winches and valves for the armed forces. The business returned to
winemaking equipment in peacetime.

Valley Foundry was sold to Ametek (NYSE: AME), where Peters continued
his career as vice president.

The Peters brothers decided to share the gains of their success with
the region through charitable foundations. The Pete P. Peters
Foundation is guided by the words of Peters’ father: "Give back to the
community." Leon S.

Peters was posthumously awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of
Humane Letters by the CSU and Fresno State in 1997.

Pete Peters believes quality education and health care are integral
components of a great community. The Peters families were major donors
to Fresno-based Community Medical Centers and to Fresno State.

Many other organizations have been touched by Peters’ generosity,
including the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, Valley
Public Television, the San Joaquin College of Law and the Boys and
Girls Club.

Since the early 1980s, the foundation has provided numerous gifts to
Fresno State through the Pete P. Peters Nursing, Business and
Viticulture scholarships and the Pete P. Peters Endowment in Armenian
Studies.

Peters also supports the President’s Fund, Ag One Foundation, the
Henry Madden Library, the Bulldog Foundation, the Leon S. Peters
Honors Scholars and the Business Associates Program.

After Leon Peters died, his brother continued the family’s giving
legacy. In 1999, the Leon S. Peters and Pete P. Peters foundations
provided the first private gift of $1.2 million to the Save Mart
Center capital campaign. This gift created the Leon S. and Pete
P. Peters Educational Center, a 300-seat classroom auditorium within
the Student Recreation Center adjacent to the Save Mart Center.

Cher inspired Turner to leave abusive husband
May 9th, 2008 – 1:52 pm ICT

London, May 9 (IANS) Singer Tina Turner reveals that it was singer-actress
Cher who inspired her to leave her abusive husband Ike because she looked very
happy as a single woman. Turner left Ike in 1976, which was after a year
Cher’s marriage to Sonny Bone ended. The two were very close fiends and Turner
was impressed the way Cher enjoyed being a single woman. Turner was speaking
on a TV show where she performed with Cher, contactmusic.com reports.
Turner said: `I just remember she was so free. I admired her freedom.’
But Turner confessed that initially she found it very difficult to cope with
the divorce.
She said: `I called it Tina’s Operation Oops, because I made so many oops,
but I slowly learned.’

PanARMENIAN.Net

Simultaneous resolution of Karabakh conflict and
normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations possible
08.05.2008 19:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ France’s position on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict is that the conflict refers not only
to Azerbaijan and Armenia but to all regions, said
Bernard Fassier, the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group.

`France treats both Armenia and Azerbaijan as friends
and its position is completely impartial. It would be
a factor of development if the borders were open not
only between Turkey and Armenia but also between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nobody is interested in
poverty and unlucky of its neighbor. Closed borders do
not impede air route of Armenians to Turkey and their
work in Turkey. It shows that relations between the
two countries are not disturbed completely. We hope
for a peaceful solution to all problems between the
countries. Normalization of relations between Turkey
and Armenia will help resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. Simultaneous resolution of these
two problems is possible,’ Amb. Fassier said, the
Azeri Press Agency reports.