Author: Jirair Kafian

Sunday Business Post, Ireland
Feb 22 2009

Arshak has plenty of reasons to smile

Sunday, February 22, 2009 By Carol Hayes

Addis Arshak was on a trip to America when he had his teeth whitened –
and had an idea for a new business venture.

Brite Smile, which he set up last year, offers professional
teeth-whitening services either in salons or in a client’s home.

“During a trip to America, I got my teeth whitened in a shopping mall
by a mobile whitening unit. I was a smoker and, in addition, was quite
partial to a few cups of coffee a day, which doesn’t do your teeth any
favours,’ said Arshak.

“While being solicited by the sales representative, I had the
opportunity to view the results on other customers, which – along with
the competitive price – convinced me to take the plunge myself. I came
away quite stunned and impressed.

The idea of the mobile unit started from this experience. However, I
think at Brite Smile, we have evolved the idea of the mobile unit into
a more comprehensive business model.’

Arshak’s family is Armenian, but he was born in England. H e moved to
Ireland when he was four and grew up in Limerick. He was educated in
both Ireland and Britain and has a degree in engineering design and an
award from the London New Designers Show under his belt.

“My parents are both university professionals and believe that hard
work and education will get you a long way in life. I think my drive
to succeed has been a direct consequence of my upbringing,’ said
Arshak.

He said the company had managed to keep overheads down by being an
outsourcing service to salons nationwide. “This also allows us to
target a larger demographic. With this in mind, we can manage to
undercut all our competitors and still be profitable.’ `In addition,
we are helping salons provide this service locally and to a higher
level of safety,’ he said.

Before founding Brite Smile, Arshak worked as a medical products
designer and as a product design manager for an Irish home ware
company, designing products for mass production.

This industry experience and the help of his family were invaluable
resources when setting up his own business.

APPOINTMENTS IN NKR GOVERNMENT STAFF

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
January 24, 2009

On January 23, the NKR Prime Minister signed a decree according to
which Hovik Jivanyan was dismissed of his post of the head of Control
Service of the NKR Government Head and appointed councilor of the
NKR Prime Minister.

According to another decree of the Prime Minister Karlen Petrosyan
was appointed head of the NKR Prime Minister’s Control Service.

TACOMA RESIDENT STRANDED IN GEORGIA
C.R. Roberts;[email protected]

TheNewsTri bune.com
August 12, 2008
WA

As Russian air and ground forces continued to press toward Tbilisi,
capital of Georgia, I was able to speak with Miriam Anderson, events
coordinator at the World Trade Center Tacoma.

She arrived in Tbilisi on July 19 with her husband, Todd, and their
9-month-old son, Zura. After nearly a month of visiting with family,
she had planned to return to Tacoma on Saturday.

Tbilisi’s airport was closed after being bombed by Russian aircraft.

It was 3 a.m. Tuesday when we spoke. Anderson was with her parents
at their home in a downtown residential neighborhood.

"There is a convoy leaving from the American embassy Wednesday at 1
o’clock," she said. The caravan will travel to the Armenian border,
some two hours away.

Anderson had rerouted her tickets on British Airways to depart from
Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, rather than from Tbilisi. Under
normal circumstances, the full drive to Yerevan takes four hours.

"There is not so much danger," Anderson said. "They are not
fighting. They are just trying to occupy Georgia city-by-city. The
Russians will come into power. The Russians will put in their own
parliament. The other concern is that there will be a curfew, where
we could not leave. We are hoping to get to the bus provided by
the embassy."

In the United States, Anderson has permanent residency.

"The mood is – we are staying hopeful. The overall idea is that Russia
will occupy the country. After that, they will go for Azerbaijan,
Ukraine. It’s all big politics. Overall, there is fear, like in
the early ’90s, when the country was without food, electricity
and water. My parents hope that it won’t be like that. People are
nervous. They are buying piles of food."

Troops had not yet entered the capital, she said.

"Not yet, but they are in other cities. In a couple of days
perhaps. There is nobody in the streets. People are not chaotic. There
are a few peaceful demonstrations in front of the Russian embassy,
but there is no screaming, no yelling."

She and her parents fear the occupation.

"The final point here – we think that the Russians just want to
occupy the entire country, not just Ossetia. Georgia is a door to oil
supplies, to energy. It is horrible. I am getting out because I have
an American husband and I have a child. If I didn’t have a child,
I wouldn’t leave."

It’s about power, she said. It’s not right, she added.

"That Russia can do something without acknowledging international
diplomatic rules. (Georgian president) Saakashvili was brave at the
beginning, hoping that the United States would step in and help them
to defend their territory. When it came down to reality, nobody is
going to fight against Russia. It would be World War III."

She expects Georgia to fall alone.

"People are disappointed. Everybody wants to have Georgia as a
significant partner, but nobody steps in to help. The population thinks
the West and the United States – they can talk, offer condolences,
but nobody takes action. Next Azerbaijan, next Ukraine.

"There is no action, there are just words. When everybody needs
Georgia, Georgia is there. But when Georgia needs help, nobody steps
in. There will be no barricades. It will be done in a quiet way. They
just occupy the city."

GIFT FROM STRANGER SENDING TEEN TO UC DAVIS

CBS 47
Aug 7 2008
CA

17-year-old Artur Mkoyan was almost deported to Armenia, but now he’s
going to UC Davis, thanks to the generosity of a total stranger.

For the family, the sudden change of fortune is hard to believe.

When Athur Mkoyan and his family first heard the news, they thought
it was a joke. A woman they had never met was offering to pay more
than $20,000 a year for college tuition.

Artur’s father, Ruben Mkoian, was recently re-united with his
17-year-old son. He spent more than two months in an immigration
detention center in Arizona.

The family fled the old Soviet Armenia 16 years ago for political
persecution. They came to the US on a legal visa and had been through
multiple appeals to stay in this country, but the appeals finally ran
out. Just as Artur was graduating from Bullard High, he was told he
would be deported back to Armenia.

A bill was introduced by Senator Diane Feinstein that says the Mkoyan’s
can stay, at least until next March. The family says senator Feinstein
promises to re-introduce the bill next year so they can remain in
the US.

Artur was accepted to U.C. Davis but his family said they could not
afford the tuition. That’s when Sherry Heacox stepped in. The bay
area mom recently watched her own daughter graduate from UC Santa
Barbara. She heard about Artur’s story and was moved by it. Heacox
is not wealthy but said, "I guess the question is, will we miss the
money? Yeah, the money will be missed. But I can’t think of a better
reason to miss it."

Artur Mkorian said, "It’s amazing. I mean, somebody’s offering to
pay over $80,000. That must mean something, you know?"

GOR BAGHDASARIAN: GOAL OF THE THIRD RIDER DOCUMENTARY IS TO PRESENT UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES OF INTOLERANCE

NOYAN TAPAN

JULY 18

It was probably the first case in the history of the Golden Apricot
(Vokse Tsiran) International Film Festival that the cinema hall was
full during the showing of an Armenian documentary. Moscow cinema’s
small 30-seat hall, on July 17, was not enough for the spectators
of young director Gor Baghdasarian’s film The Third Rider. The most
part of spectators remained standing near the hall doors, therefore
festival organizers fixed an additional showing day, July 18, already
in the 300-seat hall of H. Tumanian Puppet Theater. The film’s first
showing took place on July 16 at the hall of the Union of Theatrical
Figures of Armenia and also proceeded in a full hall.

According to Gor Baghdasarian, he takes part in the festival for the
second time: last year the Supper Time film received special prize of
jury. The Third Rider film is presented at festival’s extra-contest
program. It has been shot with the support of Golden Apricot’s
Cinematography Development Foundation and is aimed at liquidating a
vicious and negative phenomenon in Armenian reality, intolerance.

The script of this documentary lasting an hour and 10 minutes develops
through interviews held among people of various strata and age: the
subject of talks includes issues from sexual differences to locality,
political, and other issues, when a group does not tolerate another
one, for instance, Armenian students do not tolerate Persian students
studying at Armenian higher educational institutions and take their
places, a Gyumri dweller says about a Yerevan dweller that they live
better but they not.

The young director is convinced that the film is purposeful and makes
an attempt to show what unpredictable consequences intolerance and
hatred becoming equal to confrontation can have.

TURKISH COURT BEGINS FIRST OPEN HEARING OF ARMENIAN JOURNALIST’S MURDER CASE

Anatolia News Agency
July 7 2008
Turkey

A Turkish court in Istanbul began on Monday the first open hearing
of Turkish-Armenian journalist’s assassination case.

This is the sixth hearing at the Istanbul Criminal Court regarding
the case of assassination of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of
Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos.

Monday’s hearing is the first one to be open to the press and other
people who want to observe it. The former five sessions were closed
to the press since suspect O.S. was a juvenile.

Nineteen suspects, eight of whom are in prison, are tried in the case.

A member of European Parliament of Turkish origin said before the
hearing that those who were countering racism and discrimination were
standing beside each other today.

"The democratic, secular, bright and European Turkey case, backed by
Hrant, is not over yet," parliamentarian Cem Ozdemir said.

Ozdemir also said that those who killed Hrant Dink were those who
did not want such a Turkey.

Dink was shot dead outside the offices of his Agos newspaper in
Istanbul in January, 2007. Police arrested the gunman and a suspected
associate who was identified as Yasin Hayal.

The trial began in July 2007. Prosecutors have asked for a prison
term of 18 years up to 24 years for Dink’s assassin, and lifetime
sentences for two key suspects, Erhan Tuncel and Yasin Hayal, for
inciting to the murder.

NOT ONLY CONDEMN BUT ALSO HELP

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on June 20, 2008
Armenia

"There are certain accomplishments which are quite positive. No need
to go further in order to have Armenia’s reliability recognized not
only by the Armenians but also by the international structures and
first of all, the Council of Europe," Jorge Columbier, co-rapporteur
of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe said, touching upon his visit to Armenia and the
Armenian authorities’ compliance with Resolution # 1609.

Mr. Columbier also pointed out that Armenia anticipates encouragement
for continuing the activities it has undertaken after adopting
Resolution # 1609 on April 17. "I really want the Council of Europe
and the PACE to give the authorities specific recommendations,
so as they will continue pursuing the path of democracy. This is
extremely important. I am sure that the Armenian authorities will
follow the recommendations and comply with the requirements," the
co-rapporteur said.

Mr. Columbier also added that Armenia anticipates "not only
condemnation but also help."

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
June 5 2008

Karabakh warns Azerbaijan against resuming hostilities in Karabakh

Yerevan, 5 June: The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh republic
[NKR], Bako Sahakyan, said in an interview published in the RBK daily
today that "Azerbaijan’s militarization and military rhetoric are
having no psychological effect on us".

"The use of force will lead to a great number of casualties on both
sides, but will not settle the Karabakh problem. If necessary,
hostilities can be shifted deep inside Azerbaijan. We will surely act
in this way in case of aggression, as expanding the buffer zone will
be the only way to guarantee peace for our people," Sahakyan said.

The NKR president noted the necessity for [NKR capital] Stepanakert’s
[Xankandi] full-fledged participation in the negotiations process.

"We are not emphasizing the number of participants in the
negotiations. However, as long as Azerbaijan does not hold direct
negotiations with us, any other formats would be inefficient,"
Sahakyan said.

"At issue is whether Azerbaijan respects the right of Nagornyy
Karabakh to self-determination? So far, Azerbaijan has been making
regular threats against our state. It is irrelevant to use the very
concept of a compromise under the circumstances," the NKR president
said.

Asked about prospects for the return of Azerbaijani refugees, Sahakyan
said: "We do not rule out the return of Azerbaijani refugees to
Karabakh. However, we are sure that this just should not be done
before the issue is settled politically. We can lead these refuges to
new tragic consequences as a result of our ill-considered actions. The
issue of the Azerbaijani refugees should be also synchronized with the
issue of the Armenian refugees. However, this is being considered
unilaterally at present. Naturally, we are not content with this."

GAS PRICE RISE NOT TO AFFECT ARMENIA’S LOW-INCOME GROUPS

ARKA
April 30, 2008

YEREVAN, April 30. /ARKA/. The expected rise in gas prices must not
affect the low-income sections of Armenia’s population, stated RA
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

"Our resorting to unpopular steps does not mean that we do not thing
about low-income sections of the population. We will first of all
identify low-income sections of the population and organize selective
aid for them," Sargsyan told a press conference.

On May 1, 2008, the RA Government will stop subsidizing gas-supply,
which has been practised since April 2006, when the price for Russian
gas supplied to Armenia was raised from $56 to $110 for 1,000 cubic
meters. From May 1, 2008, 1,000 cubic meters of gas will cost 90,000
AMD (about $300) (VAT included), and $146.51 for consumers of over
10,000 cubic meters a month (VAT included).

The RA Premier said that the RA Government also plans redistribution of
budgetary funds to relieve the negative consequences of the price rise.

T. Sargsyan reported that the issue of gas prices will also be
discussed during a visit to be paid to Armenia by Gasprom Board
Chairman Alexey Miller in May.

"We will discuss the issue and inform you of the results of the talks,"
he said.

On April 6, 2006, Gasprom and the RA Government signed a 25-year
agreement setting strategic principles of cooperation in gas-energy
projects in Armenia. Under the agreement, Gasprom pledged not to
raise gas prices until 2009.

ARFD ARMENIAN SUPREME BODY PROPOSES CREATING PUBLIC COUNCIL CONSISTING OF FIGURES ENJOYING PEOPLE’S CONFIDENCE

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 19, the ARFD Armenian Supreme
Body made a statement, which read:

"The presidential elections obviously showed that a considerable part
of the people exactly needs implementation of serious reforms. However,
unfortunately, the destructive way of confrontation was chosen instead
of protecting and guiding moods of people by political means:

As a result:

– moral-psychological low spirits among the people, the feeling of
despair, bifurcation, mutual intolerance, distrust, vagueness of the
countty development prospect, violation of human rights and basic
freedoms has reached a dangerous extent,

– tendencies of dividing the political forces into foreign ones and
one’s own people, locality differentiations become prevailing in
political life, there are no normal relations and dialogue between
the authorities and the opposition, extremism and maximalism are
leading in political processes,

– the reputation and status of Armenia as a favorable investment
environment, having a developing economy and stable progress,
is endangered,

– an unprecedented growth of threats to RA and NKR security has been
recorded, new foreign challenges emerge.

The further worsening of the situation is fraught with
military-political threats to independence and security of the two
Armenian states.

In the formed situation the country is faced by the necessity to
reaffirm its national-state guideline, to deepen the process of
many-sided democratic reforms, to restore solidarity inside the nation,
to form an atmosphere of national consent.

Prevention of a new migration wave, neutralization of investment
risks, restoration and strengthening of an atmosphere favorable for
progressive development is the first and foremost task in the country.

Under the circumstances the only way out is unreserved subordination
of the faction-party interest for the sake of the fulfilment of the
national-state goals set before the homeland and the Armenians. The
best solution can be formation of a government of national consent
with involving all parliamentary forces.

The ARFD Armenian Supreme Body is ready to make part of the government
of consent aimed at fulfilment of these goals and calls the political
opposition for evaluating the seriousness of the situation, using the
given possibility, and with its participation making the process of
reforms in the country more complete and full-value.

The government of consent should consider its first and foremost
tasks the following things:

– exclusion of the intervention of the executive power into the
judicial system, securing of complete independence and impartiality
of that system,

– liquidation of impunity and arbitrariness, everybody’s equality
before the law, irrespective of the position they take,

– formation of a new, absolutely independent electoral system
guaranteeing public confidence to political processes, excluding
executive power’s intervention,

– establishment of a fair competition order by creation of an efficient
anti-monopoly legislative field excluding economic monopolies,

– full-value plurality, freedom of expression, guaranteeing of
unbiassed and transparent activity of Public TV and Radio Company,

– securing of guarantees of full-value activity in the political
system for the opposition,

– carrying out of social policy on the basis of taking account of
minimum living basket.

In order to lead the country to normal course of life, to successfully
solve the above mentioned problems, to quickly discharge the
post-electoral tension, the ARFD Armenian Supreme Body considers it
necessary to implement a program of urgent events. The creation of a
Public Council under the RA President, consisting of figures enjoying
people’s confidence, representatives of NGOs, extra-parliamentary
forces can contribute to the implementation of that program. The
Council is to promote creation of the atmosphere of confidence
and establishment of permanent contact between the authorities and
society."