Author: Karapetian Hovik

HALT IN OMX SPARKS MARKET BID SPECULATIONS

The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
May 24 2007

STOCKHOLM, Sweden: A trading halt in Nordic bourse operator OMX AB
on Thursday spurred market rumors that the Stockholm-based company
could be involved in a merger.

In a brief statement, the Stockholm stock exchange said the suspension
had been made at the company’s request and that a news announcement
was expected before market opening on Friday.

OMX spokesman Niclas Lilja declined to comment on the reasons for the
trading halt, saying only the news would be unveiled in tomorrow’s
statement.

The Stockholm-based company – the largest bourse in the Nordic region
and the result of seven merged Nordic stock exchanges in the past three
years – has repeatedly said it is continously eyeing the stepped-up
consolidation climate in the sector, and that it will continue to
evaluate its strategic opportunities.

It has kept relatively quiet on specifying those opportunities, but
in December it launched a [email protected] million (US$5.65 million) bid for
the Ljubljana Stock Exchange in Slovenia, and in April it agreed to
buy the Armenian bourse and the Central Depositary of Armenia.

Sweden’s new center-right government, which holds 6.75 percent in OMX,
has also put it on its up-for-sale assets list as it wants to reduce
state ownership in Swedish companies.

Shares in OMX rose 3.2 percent before the suspension.

In mid-April, shares in the company soared after a news report said
OMX had received a 23 billion kronor ([email protected] billion; US$3.36 billion)
offer from Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. in the U.S., but both bourses
denied an offer had been made.

At the same time, OMX said it was in "exploratory discussions with
several exchanges and other market venues regarding possible forms
of cooperation," but did not issue any further details.

A Stockholm-based analyst, who requested anonymity, said the trading
halt was most likely due to takeover news.

"There was a rumor yesterday that OMX would be taken over. My guess
is that that this is about M&A activity," he said.

The London Stock Exchange has also been rumored to be interested in
the Nordic bourse operator.

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
Adrin Nazarian, Chief of Staff
620 N. Brand Blvd. Suite 403
Glendale, CA 91203
(818) 240-6330
(818) 240-4632 fax

[email protected]
Contact: Adrin Nazarian

May 22, 2007
(818) 240-6330

STATE ASSEMBLY LAUNCHES SELECT COMMITTEE ON PRESERVING CALIFORNIA’S
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

SACRAMENTO, CA- Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez today announced the
formation of the Select Committee on Preservation of California’s
Entertainment Industry, which will be chaired by Assemblymember Paul
Krekorian. Krekorian represents the heart of the nation’s entertainment
industry — his district includes the areas of Burbank, Glendale, North
Hollywood and Los Feliz/Silver Lake, and encompasses most of the major
motion picture and television studios and countless other entertainment
businesses. Before his election to the Legislature, Krekorian, a
Democrat, represented entertainment industry clients as a lawyer
specializing in intellectual property and First Amendment matters.

"California’s entertainment industry is a treasured part of California’s
heritage, and it is also an invaluable foundation for our economic
future," said Assemblymember Krekorian. "So many other states and
countries are working overtime to lure this industry away from us
because they know it produces tremendous economic benefits and revenues
with good middle class jobs. Let me make clear — we are going to fight
hard to keep those jobs here, keep California competitive and make sure
the state is a great partner for this industry. I’m grateful to the
Speaker for entrusting me with this responsibility, which is of enormous
importance to working people throughout the state."

Besides Krekorian, the members of the Select Committee are Assembly
Majority Leader Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee
(R-San Luis Obispo), Assemblymember Mike Davis (D – Los Angeles),
Assemblymember Kevin de Leon (D – Los Angeles), Assemblymember Betty
Karnette (D – Long Beach), Assemblymember Mark Leno (D – San Francisco),
Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D – Pasadena), and Assemblymember
Cameron Smyth (R – Santa Clarita).

Krekorian stated that the committee will hold hearings throughout the
state to study the economic impact of the loss of entertainment industry
jobs, and will develop a range of policy options to address the problem.
The Select Committee will focus on a variety of issues important to the
industry, including:

* Runaway production due to incentives outside
California;

* Piracy, counterfeiting and other intellectual
property crimes;

* Work force development and investment in arts and
career/tech education;

* Tax policy that encourages development of jobs and
infrastructure in California;

* Promoting California locations and reducing
impediments to production in the State.

Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) represents the cities of
Burbank and Glendale, and the Los Angeles communities of Atwater
Village, Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley
Glen, Valley Village and Van Nuys.

# # #

Armenian Relief Society, Inc. Telephone: 617-926-5892
Central Office Fax: 617-926-4855
80 Bigelow Avenue e-mail: [email protected]
Watertown, MA 02472 Website:
Date: May 21,2007 Contact person: Hamesd Beugekian

ARS Inc. Honors Baroness Cox with "Ararat" Award of Excellence

The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. recently awarded Baroness
Caroline Cox with its highest honor, the "Ararat" Award of Excellence.
The award was presented to Baroness Cox on April 29 in Los Angeles at
the ARS Western USA’s Centennial Gala Celebration before a crowd of over
500 ARS supporters.

ARS Inc. Vice-Chairperson Georgi-Ann Oshagan presented Baroness Cox with
the award, which was established in 2003 "in the spirit of those voices
that will not be silenced and those lovers of freedom who will not be
deterred."

"It is an award that the ARS does not give every year, on any particular
schedule," added Oshagan in her introductory remarks, "because, quite
frankly, the award is reserved for a special few."

The ARS presented the first ARS "Ararat" Award of Excellence in 2003 to
Canadian-Armenian film director Atom Egoyan, whose movie, "Ararat," told
an intricate story-within-a-story of genocide, denial, denial’s impact
on future generations, and the power of truth.

In the 2007 "Ararat" Award presentation to Baroness Cox, Oshagan
reminded the audience, "This second ARS ‘Ararat’ Award of Excellence
goes to a woman who is no stranger to us in this room and to Armenians
around the world."

Baroness Cox has been a member of the United Kingdom Parliament’s House
of Lords since 1983. In Parliament, she served as Deputy Speaker for
nearly 20 years and since 2002, has chaired the Parliament’s Armenia
Group.

Deeply involved and supportive of the Artsakh movement for
self-determination, Baroness Cox first learned of Artsakh at a May 1991
Andrei Sakharov Memorial Congress in Moscow. During that conference,
Baroness Cox heard of the Azerbaijan government’s on-going human rights
violations against the Armenian people that were occurring in the region
with little outcry from any of the major powers. She immediately
volunteered to head a fact-finding mission to Artsakh which resulted in
a comprehensive report, "Nagorno Karabagh: Forgotten People in a
Forgotten War."

Baroness Cox has traveled to Artsakh and Armenia over 60 times, "telling
all who will listen about the atrocities that she has seen, and
advocating for the immediate self-determination of the Armenians of
Artsakh on their historic lands," said Oshagan.

"This Baroness is a human rights activist who has championed the right
of self-determination for the people of Artsakh from the very earliest
days of that struggle," Oshagan added as she presented the award to
Baroness Cox who received a standing ovation. "For your brave voice,
your tenacity, and your unshakable sense of justice and fairness, on
behalf of the ARS and our 18,000 members around the world, I am proud to
present you with the ARS ‘Ararat’ Award of Excellence."

The ARS was established in 1910 and is the oldest international women’s
organization in the world. For more information about the ARS, Inc.,
visit the ARS, Inc. website at ; telephone ARS, Inc.
headquarters at (617) 926-5892; or e-mail [email protected]

May 22, 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

WESTERN PRELACY 35TH REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
ASSEMBLY HIGHLY COMMENDS ACTIVITIES OF
PRELATE AND COUNCILS

– REVISED SCHOOLS’ BY-LAWS RATIFIED
– CHAPLAIN RAFFI GARABEDIAN HONORED

On the afternoon of Friday, May 18, the 35th Prelacy National
Representative Assembly convened presided over by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, and with the participation of Central Executive
Council member Mr. Khajag Dikijian, Religious and Executive Council members,
members of Boards of Trustees and parish councils, Board of Regents,
principals and directors. The Assembly took place at the "Dikran and
Zarouhie Der Ghazarian" Hall of the Prelacy.

The Assembly officially opened with a prayer and a hymn led by
the Prelate, followed by remarks. The first remark was the taped message of
H.H. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. His Holiness
commended the completion of the new Prelacy headquarters as well as the
efforts and devotion of the Prelate, council members, and supporters of the
Prelacy then focused on two vital topics, education and spiritual guidance
of youth. His Holiness urged for special care to be given to our schools
and for new schools to open because our schools and churches collaboratively
are the institutions that offer spiritual nourishment for the new
generation. He also noted that special attention must be given to the youth
and real efforts have to be made to draw them closer to our national
institutions. His Holiness concluded by offering his blessings to the
Assembly.

Chairman of the Executive Council Dr. Garo Agopian then welcomed
the delegates and in speaking of their duties reminded them that their
mission is not limited to this meeting but rather is an ongoing process that
they should be carrying out throughout the course of the year. He concluded
by thanking the Board of Trustees of Forty Martyrs Church for hosting the
Assembly.

In his remarks the Prelate firstly also thanked the host church
and commended the Prelacy staff for their hard work especially in the
preceding few months. He then greeted the newly elected delegates from the
Crescenta Valley parish who were participating in the Assembly for the first
time. The Prelate expressed his thanks and gratitude to His Holiness for
his message and guardianship and continued by briefly referencing the
fundamental activities that are the framework of the Prelacy’s mission. He
concluded by wishing success to the proceedings of the Assembly.

The next speaker was Central Executive Council representative
Mr. Khajag Dikijian who urged the delegates to spare no resources in drawing
our people closer to our church, and to not be satisfied with the status quo
but rather to continually work to establish new parishes and schools in
service to our people and to meet the needs of the new generation.

On behalf of the host church Mr. Hrair Jermakian greeted the
delegates and wished them a productive meeting. At the conclusion of
remarks and the election of the Resolutions Committee, representatives from
each parish gave their annual activities reports followed by the
presentation of the financial report by Executive Council Treasurer Mr.
Vahan Bezdikian and the report by Auditing Committee member Mr. Zareh
Markarian.

Before proceeding to the items on the agenda, the Prelate
reminded the delegates that for the past few years, it has become a
tradition for the Assembly to honor individuals who serve our church and
people. This year, Chaplain Raffi Garabedian was honored and was presented
with a memento by the Prelate for his decades-long service and commitment to
the Armenian Church and more specifically for the spiritual guidance he
offers to Armenian inmates in our area.

The reports continued with Board of Regents Chairman Mr. Avo
Kechichian addressing the current state of our schools, with regards to both
quality of education and financial situation. In speaking of Armenian
subject instruction, he assured the delegates that the Board of Regents is
in the process of drafting programs for the enhancement of this field.
Supplementary reports were given by Religious Council Chair Very Rev. Fr.
Muron Aznikian and Executive Council Secretary Mr. Boghos Sassounian
followed by a question and answer session.

At the end of the reports and discussion, the Resolutions
Committee deliberated and issued the following statement: "After hearing the
reports of the Prelate, Religious and Executive Councils and supplementary
reports, the financial and auditing reports, as well as the questions and
comments of the delegates and responses, the committee finds the activities
of the Prelate, Executive Council, Religious Council, Board of Regents, and
Christian Education Department highly commendable."

The resolution was adopted unanimously and the session was
closed at 9:00 p.m.

The second day of the Assembly was officially opened on Saturday
morning with prayer. The first item on the agenda was the analysis of the
revised schools’ by-laws. Dr. Garo Agopian gave a brief account of the
revision process and thanked the contributors for their input. After close
assessment, the Assembly voted to adopt the revised by-laws. The Assembly
then proceeded to draft a yearly agenda and welcomed suggestions brought
forth by the Religious Council parish representatives and delegates.
Following the approval of the budget for the next fiscal year, the election
of a new auditing committee, and a discussion of unforeseen matters,
concluding remarks were delivered by Dr. Agopian and the Prelate commending
all the servants of our church for their hard work and urged them to
continue their service with loyalty and commitment.

Prior to the official close of the Assembly with prayer, the
Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s Church expressed their readiness to host the
next Assembly.

ART LOVING SOCIETY GIVES LAST FAREWELL TO "NIGHTINGALE OF ARMENIA" GOHAR GASPARIAN

Noyan Tapan
May 21 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The art-loving society gave the last
farewell on May 19 to USSR People’s Artist, Socialist Labour Hero,
Mesrop Mashtots order-bearer, Yerevan Conservatory Professor,
"nightingale of Armenia" Gohar Gasparian. RA President Robert
Kocharian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, NA Speaker Tigran Torosian,
RA Government members were present at the ceremony of the last
farewell.

In actor Artur Utmazian’s words, G. Gasparian was a world greatness,
powerful individuality with her activity and life. "Every great artist
is irreplaceable, and we shall always feel Gohar Gasparian’s loss on
the Armenian opare stage. In his words, it is a pity, many of our great
people leave with pain as the greatest artists are not appraised at
their true worth during the last 15-16 years. "We do not appreciate
our great people during their life. And those words of Paruyr Sevak,
that after being cut down, we understand the thickness and greatness
of the tree, are not in vain," the actor emphasized.

In words of Eduard Tadevosian, the artistic head of the Komitas String
Quartet, G. Gasparian was already a legend during her life. According
to his characterization, the singer was a clear, kind and willing
person who, knowing well her value and prize, was very simple in her
life. "She was a goddess on the stage, and similar great figures
are born not once in a hundred of years but once in a thousand
of years. We must understand that G. Gasparian was a jewel in our
culture," E. Tadevosian mentioned.

"Not only the Armenian singing art but also the Armenian culture had
a great loss, as owing to G. Gasparian, the borders of the Armenian
culture were widened, reaching world ones. But she always remain the
most national, most Armenian singer," Karine Khodikian, the RA Deputy
Minister of Culture and Youth Issues mentioned.

In words of Aghvan Vardanian, the RA Minister of Labour and Social
Issues, G. Gasparian was one of those artists who symbolize with
their life and work a whole era.

G. Gasparian’s funeral was in the Yerevan Komitas Park Pantheon.

LAVROV IN BAKU FOR TALKS WITH AZERBAIJANI LEADERS

Interfax Russia
May 21 2007

BAKU. May 21 (Interfax) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on
Monday arrived in Baku for a two-day visit.

He plans to discuss bilateral relations and the most pressing
international problems with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mamedyarov.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is expected to receive him.

Earlier Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said that Russia
wants to expand energy cooperation with Azerbaijan.

"We believe there are quite promising prospects for expanding bilateral
cooperation not only in the fuel and energy sector, which is natural
for Russia and Azerbaijan, but also in spheres unrelated to oil,"
he said in an interview ahead of Lavrov’s visit.

Kamynin said Lavrov will also discuss the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in Baku.

Son of Gyumri mayor concerned in another shootout

ArmInfo
2007-05-21 10:31:00

Spartak Ghukasyan, the son of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasdyan, and
Rustam Sargsyan, the son of Artashes Sargsyan, the former head of
Shirak Regional Administration Department for Town Planning,
participated in a shootout in the town of Gyumri at 8:15pm on
Sunday. A. Sargsyan was responsible for Prosperous Armenia party in
the 34th single-mandate district.

RFE/RL regional correspondent reports that the incident took place in
10-15 metres from the store belonging to the Sargsyans. Law enforcers
surrounded the area at 9:00pm. The number of bullets found on the spot
exceeded 20. No one of the witnesses agreed to register for giving
testimonies as they feared for their safety. The Hummer belonging to
the son of Gyumri Mayor and another car were hounding Rustam
Sargsyan’s Jeep and the cross fire started. A young man at the age of
29 was wounded in leg. His name is not made public in the interests of
investigation. The wounded underwent operation at 11:00pm. It is not
known if he was just a passerby or a participant in the
incident. Shirak Regional Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a criminal
case. The cars disappeared from the place of the incident. A Hummer
was found in the area of the city bus station at 10:30pm without
numberplate and damaged with bullets, the source reports.

According to preliminary information, a few days ago, Spartak
Ghukasyan and Rustam Sargsyan had a conflict that could be for both
personal and political reasons. Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan heads
Shirak Regional Department of the Republican Party of Armenia, while
Rustam Sargsyan’s father is in the head of the regional office of the
pro-government Prosperous Armenia party. There is information that
Rustam Sargsyan was also wounded. However, this information has not
been official confirmed so far.

Armenian opposition to "fight hard" against election outcome – agency

Arminfo
18 May 07

Yerevan, 18 May: An opposition rally has ended in Yerevan. The rally
participants are now marching to the Republic Square.
Speaking at the rally, Aram Sargsyan, leader of the [opposition]
Republic party, promised to fight hard in the Constitutional Court to
have the parliamentary election results voided. He also said he did
not expect the Constitutional Court to render a positive ruling
"because if the Constitutional Court was able to pass such decisions,
I would not be an opposition figure".
Addressing the rally, New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan said that
[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan and [Prime Minister] Serzh
Sargsyan have already lost because the sprit of freedom is flying over
the Liberty Square. He said that a process is under way in the
republic to "form an army of proxies, who will be ready to fight
illegal actions, and since such armies are being formed, the end of
the Karabakh clan is close".

International conference dedicated to information technologies will
take place in Yerevan

ArmInfo
2007-05-19 10:22:00

On 21-23 May international conference "Information technologies in
education system in XXI century" dedicated to information technologies
will take place in Yerevan.

As organizers of the event informed ArmInfo, the following topics will
be discussed over the conference: "Digital library", , . Specialists
from the Great Britain, Germany, Italy, the Baltic states, Ukraine,
Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Mongolia will take part in the
conference. The organizers of the event issued Tempus Programme of the
European Union, Open Society Institute, British Council and USAID.

Greenpeace Builds Replica of Noah’s Ark

New York Times
May 16, 2007

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Environmental activists are building a replica of
Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat — where the biblical vessel is said to have
landed after the great flood — in an appeal for action on global warming,
Greenpeace said Wednesday.

Turkish and German volunteer carpenters are making the wooden ship on the
mountain in eastern Turkey, bordering Iran. The ark will be revealed in a
ceremony on May 31, a day after Greenpeace activists climb the mountain and
call on world leaders to take action to tackle climate change, Greenpeace
said.

”Climate change is real, it’s happening now and unless world leaders take
urgent, decisive and far-reaching action, the next decades will see human
misery on a scale not experienced in modern times,” said Greenpeace
activist Hilal Atici. ”Those leaders have a mandate from the people … to
massively cut greenhouse gas emissions and to do it now.”

Many countries are struggling to address global and national standards for
carbon emissions. U.N. delegates are meeting this week in Germany to prepare
for December negotiations on a new set of international rules for
controlling emissions. The new accord would succeed the Kyoto Protocol,
which ends in 2012.

Climate change will also be on the agenda when the Group of Eight major
industrialized countries — the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Japan,
Italy, Canada and Russia — meet in Germany in June.

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