Author: Mamian George

IT IS ENVISAGED TO USE STRICTER PUNITIVE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES FOR UNFAIR COMPETITION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 7, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. A bill envisaging amendments in
the Law on Protection of Economic Competition was put into official
circulation in the RA National Assembly. Gagik Minasian, the chairman
of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Financial, Credit and
Budgetary Issues, a PRA member, said at the December 7 briefing that
the purpose of this legislative initiative of the RPA faction is to
use stricter punitive administrative measures for unfair competition.

Under the legislation on economic competition, a dominating position
of an economic entity in the commodity market is not considered a
violation of the legislation. Administrative responsibility is imposed
on companies, concerning which the RA State Commission on Protection
of Economic Competition makes decisions about abusing their dominating
position and manifesting unfair competition. In such cases the company
is fined in the amount of 2% of the previous year’s turnover.

According to G. Minasian, the proposed amendments particularly envisage
that in addition to paying the indicated fine, the economic entity
will have to transfer the additional profit received as a result of
unfair competition actions to the state budget.

In all likelihood the bill will be discussed at the NA special session
to be convened soon.

AZG Armenian Daily #225, 06/12/2007

Karabakh Issue

CONFLICTS ARE DIFFERENT IN THEIR ESSENCE

In the interview of Russian newspaper "Komersant" Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian announced that though the precedents have
their influence, we don’t follow the precedents in Nagorno Karabakh
issue.

According to Oskanian, each conflict is specific and each has its
peculiar form of resolution.

The Foreign Minister mentioned that negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh
issue are being conducted in the framework of self-determination right

Translated by L.H

Trend Information, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2007

Estonian Vice President Hopes for Peaceable Resolution of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
05.12.07 16:58

Kristiina Ojuland, the Vice Speaker of the Estonian Parliament,
voiced her hope that the resistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan
around Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has lasted since 1990s, will
be solved in a peaceable and constructive way.

Ojuland had a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Varian Oskanian
in Tallinn.

Ojuland said that this issue should be solved ensuing stability and
prospect of the development of the region.

The vice speaker said that both Armenia and Azerbaijan should put
more intensive effort for search of ways out of the conflict.

Armenian National Committee of America
Western Region
104 N. Belmont, Suite 208, Glendale, CA 91206 * Tel. (818) 500-1918
Fax. (818) 246-7353 * [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE ~ 2007-12-04
Contact: Haig Hovsepian ~ Tel: (818) 500-1918

PCC Intern Assists ANC-WR in Community Outreach

— Program Participant Assists ANC in Grassroots Efforts

Los Angeles, CA – Marie Ghanime has had her hands on a little bit of
everything while working as an intern with the Armenian National
Committee-Western Region (ANC) these past couple of months. An
Administration and Development Intern for the 2007 Autumn Session of
the ANC-WR’s Internship-Externship Program (ANC-WR IEP), Ghanime has
done everything from helping database articles about the Armenian
Genocide resolution to helping with the event logistics for the
ANC-WR’s annual banquet, one of the organization’s largest events of
the year.

A graduate of Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School in Hollywood,
Ghanime is also a longtime member of the Glendale AYF. She is very
proud of her Armenian roots and feels very passionately about the need
for the Armenian American community to increase their civic
engagement, particularly by getting involved in government and
politics. She is currently a student at PCC where she is studying
Political Science.

"By taking part in this program, I learned a great deal about what it
takes to run a nonprofit organization such as the ANC," said Ghanime.
"From the outsider’s view, the ANC does accomplish a lot for the
community, but it was really interesting learning about how the
regional organization helps support grassroots efforts across the
western United States," she added.

Her main internship project was the development of a blog space for
her fellow interns. The blog space, set to launch for the 2008 Spring
Session of the ANC-WR IEP, will feature blogs by current interns and
provide a forum through which they can share their internship
experience as well as discuss their thoughts on Armenian American
issues.

Established in June 2006, the ANC-WR IEP is a selective and intensive
program that provides student leaders and activists with an
opportunity to participate in an intensive internship designed to
provide an in-depth introduction to Armenian American issues as well
as advocacy efforts on the federal, state and local level. The program
hosts spring, summer and autumn sessions. You can find more
information about the IEP by visiting
iew.php.

The Armenian National Committee – Western Region is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy organization in
the Western United States. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the Western United States
and affiliated organizations around the country, the ANC-WR advances
the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

November 12, 2007
For immediate release
Anahid Yeremian
P.O. Box 655, Menlo Park, CA 94026
[email protected]
650 ­ 926 ­ 4444

AESA MICHIGAN CHAPTER CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
By George Mouradian

The Armenian Engineering and Scientists of America-Michigan Section
(AESA-MI) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a sold out banquet in the
beautiful renovated hall of St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI on
October 27 and hosted a reception on October 28 after church. Over 260
people attended the banquet chaired by Ned Apigian and over 50 people were
present at the reception at St. John. All four Armenian Churches in the
Greater Detroit area were well represented and supported the banquet. The
keynote speakers at both events were Prof. Ashot Chilingarian, head of the
Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) of the Alikhanyan Physics Institute in Armenia,
and Mr. Ashot Kirakosyan, director of the Armenian Social Investment Fund
(ASIF).

The objective of the AESA Michigan Section is to encourage technical and
social interaction among Armenian architects, scientists and engineers in
the State of Michigan, and to foster the dissemination of knowledge in
science and engineering. Its important missions include generating and
supporting worthwhile technical projects for the economical well-being of
the Armenian homeland, to keep technical people in Armenia, and to encourage
all technically oriented Armenians to join the AESA in this purpose.

At the Anniversary banquet and at the reception after church service on
Sunday, Prof. Chilingarian as well as Mr. Kirakosyan gave a short updates
about their projects in Armenia and expressed deep gratitude to the AESA
Michigan Section members and patrons for their partnership and
corroboration. Mr. George Mouradian, president of the AESA Michigan
section, presented plaques to Prof. Chilingarian and to Mr. Kirakosyan
recognizing their achievements for Armenia and for the world. Prof.
Chilingarian presented a 10th anniversary congratulatory plaque to the
president of AESA Michigan Section.

Prof. Chilingarian explained the vital importance of the strong Diaspora and
CRD partnership that makes the internationally-recognized achievements of
the CRD possible. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Diaspora for
recognizing that science is a vital part of Armenia’s development, and that
brain drain from Armenia is a very serious issue that we must tackle
together. Hayastantsis and Diasporans have to work in partnership. At the
Sunday afternoon session, Prof. Chilingarian answered many questions from
the attendees who were very enthusiastic about the CRD achievements. Ms.
Anahid Yeremian, Stanford University Accelerator Physicist, discussed the
vital importance and undertakings of CRD. If you would like to join the
strong global team that makes it possible for the Cosmic Ray Division of
Alikhanyan Physics Institute to make a positive impact on the world from
Armenia, or if you would like to make a contribution of your finances, time,
or talent to support the CRD projects, please contact Anahid Yeremian, head
of the AESA-CRD project, at [email protected] . Also visit
for additional information.

Mr. Kirakosyan explained the importance of improving the quality of life in
the Armenian villages so that families will choose to stay there. He
invited the Diaspora visitors to venture out of Yerevan, go to the small
communities, and to explore Armenian life everywhere in the country. The
villages are the heart of Armenia, and a little goes a long way there.
Particularly effective is the World Bank’s Armenian Social Investment Fund
which builds or repairs schools, hospitals and community centers in the
villages in partnership with the community. Depending on the project, the
World Bank increases donations up to ten fold for the construction and
repair of village facilities. As an example, a donation of $10,000.00 would
be increased to $100,000.00 by the World Bank to finance the work that has
to be accomplished. Mr. Kirakosyan expressed his deep gratitude for the AESA
Michigan Section’s support to help the villagers meet their portion of the
financial obligation. For more information on the ASIF program or to
support its worthy cause with your contributions, please contact Mr. Osep
Sarafian, head of the AESA-ASIF project, at [email protected] .

The 10th anniversary celebration also included a display of the "Future
City" model which the students of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
Alex and Marie Manoogian School had built with mentorship from the AESA
Michigan section members. The Future City team won many awards for its
display in competitions with other Michigan schools. Many of the attendees
enjoyed the student presentation.

It was a weekend to remember!

–Boundary_(ID_erenBNFJnP83Sye1dM8eHQ)- –

"BSA" ORGANIZATION ON SOFTWARE COPYRIGHTS PROTECTION START TO OPERATE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Nov 28 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Business Software Alliance (BSA)
organization started to operate in Armenia in 2007. BSA respresentative
in Armenia Narine Mkrtchian said at the Novemer 28 press conference
that BSA will work in Armenia in three main directions: providing
information about protection of software-related copyrights,
involvement of state structures in the activities on protection of
these copyrights, and protection of BSA members’ interests in Armenia.

Reminding that BSA was founded in 1988 and protects the interests
of software companies, she said that today the major task of BSA in
Armenia is to carry out work on information provision. In her words,
5 big companies – BSA members, including Microsoft and Synopsys,
operate in Armenia. She added that some Armenian companies have
expressed an intention to join BSA.

N. Mkrtchian also reminded that by the results of a monitoring
conducted by their organization, the level of software piracy made
95% in Armenia. She expressed an opinion that in case of considerable
violation of copyrights, the legislation on civil and administrative
infractions, particularly, provisions on damage compensation
mechanisms, rather than the criminal legislation should be applied.

OSCE MG TO VISIT KARABAKH CONFLICT REGION NEXT JANUARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.11.2007 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ To learn the reaction of the sides the OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chairs will pay a visit to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
region, French Co-chair Bernard Fassier said.

The mediators intend to accomplish the stage of base talks on
uncoordinated issues as soon as possible, according to him.

"Today we advise the sides to complete formation of the basic
principles and proceed to details. We have covered a long path. Let’s
not wait for 50 more years," he said, APA reports.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE 9TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
MIDDLE EAST COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched its 9th General Assembly
in Paphos, Cyprus on November 27.

His Holiness Aram I delegated five representatives to participate in the
assembly on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia: Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkisian (Primate of the Diocese of Tehran), Bishop Kegham Khatcherian
(Primate of the Diocese of Lebanon), Bishop Nareg Alemezian (Ecumenical
Officer), Dr. Nora Bayrakdarian-Kabakian (Chairwoman of the Ecumenical
Committee) and Dr. Jean Salmanian (a member of the Ecumenical Committee).

Miss Carla Khijoyian (World Council of Churches) and Mrs. Seta Khedeshian
(director of MECC’s Life and Service Unit) also participate in the Assembly.

The Assembly was launched by morning prayers in the Saint Georges Church.
Four sessions were held on the first day of the Assembly.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by the religious and diplomatic
representatives. The participants then ratified the agenda of the meeting,
following which MECC General Secretary Dr. Gerges Saleh read a report on the
organization’s activities for the last four years. After a detailed
discussion of the report, the participants highly praised the work that had
been done with utmost dedication.

The participants then elected the committees of the Assembly. Bishop Kegham
was elected as a member of the Electoral Committee, Dr. Nora as a member of
the Administrative Committee and Dr. Jean as a member of the Reporting
Committee.

MECC was founded in 1974 and groups the families of Eastern Orthodox,
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. The Catholicosate of
Cilicia is a founding member of the MECC. The organization’s assemblies are
convened once every four years.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

ARMENIAN UNDER 19 SOCCER TEAM TO ALSO FACE TURKISH PEERS

ARMENPRESS
Dec 3, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s under -19 football team
will have to face peers from Turkey, Spain and Ukraine in a series
of qualification games for European championship next year.

Incidentally, Armenia and Turkey were drawn in the same qualifying
group for the 2010 World Cup together with Spain, Belgium, Bosnia
and Estonia.

Armen Gulbudaghian, head coach of Armenian under-19 team, said the
qualifying games will be held throughout March and May. The final
will be held in July 14-26 in the Czech republic and only winning
teams in each group will be allowed to fight along with the home team.

LAST RUSSIAN MILITARY TRAIN FROM GEORGIA ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Interfax
Nov 16 2007
Russia

MOSCOW. Nov 16 (Interfax-AVN) – The last train carrying the property of
the Russian troops withdrawn from Georgia has arrived at the 102nd
Russian military base in the Armenian town of Gyumri, spokesman
for the Russian Ground Forces commander Col. Igor Konashenkov told
Interfax-AVN on Friday.

"The train brought some 200 tonnes of military and technical equipment
from the closed-down 12th military based that stationed in Batumi,"
Konashenkov said.

There are no more Russian troops in Georgia, the spokesman said.

"There are only Russian peacekeepers who serve in Abkhazia under the
CIS mandate and who serve in the trilateral mixed peacekeeping forces
in South Ossetia," the spokesman said.