Author: Navasardian Karapet

NEW ARMENIAN PRESIDENT APPOINTS CENTRAL BANK CHIEF AS PM

Agence France Presse
April 9 2008

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian appointed the the country’s
central bank chief as his prime minister on Wednesday following his
own inauguration, the president’s press office said.

Tigran Sarkisian, who has headed the central bank of the former Soviet
republic since 1998 — and is not related to the new president —
was nominated by the ruling Republican Party on Tuesday.

Sarkisian signed a decree naming him prime minister and another
dissolving the government, an official in the press office told AFP.

Under the constitution, Tigran Sarkisian will have 20 days to form
a new government.

Serzh Sarkisian was elected on February 19 in a disputed vote that
sparked violent clashes that left eight people dead.

AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES FROM ARMENIA, GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO CARRY OUT A JOINT PROGRAM

ARMENPRESS
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN , APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: Agricultural universities from Armenia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan will carry out a joint program on management of
agricultural-ecological and water systems in the South Caucasus. This
program is funded by NATO.

Gurgen Yeghiazarian, head of a department at Agrogitaspyur agency,
dealing with related issues, told Armenpress the program’s goal is
to find sustainable solutions to water resources-relates problems in
the region.

He said it also aims at strengthening and improving social-economic,
geographic, ecological and political security of the region’s
countries.

He said the program is part of a broader NATO-funded program to help
eliminate ethnic conflicts and advance ideas of peaceful coexistence.

PROVIDER OFFERS INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDIES IN ATHENS TO ARMENIAN CANDIDATES

Panorama.am
14:03 11/04/2008

Armenia, April xx, 2008 – INTRACOM Armenia LLC, a subsidiary of
INTRACOM TELECOM, a leading telecommunication solutions provider,
headquartered in Athens, Greece, announced today the awarding of
three Full Scholarships to Armenian candidates for Master’s programs
at Athens Information Technology (AIT), an International Center of
Excellence for Research and Graduate Education. AIT collaborates with
the world-renowned Carnegie Mellon University based in the U.S.

The scholarships for the AIT Master’s programs will cover tuition,
accommodation, insurance and travel to Greece offering talented
Armenian candidates a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and
hands on experience in cutting-edge technology to face the ever
changing ICT industry. The candidates will be selected based on their
academic performance, English language proficiency, references and
a motivational essay.

INTRACOM TELECOM has always operated as a socially responsible company,
aimed at improving the quality of life of both its employees and
society as a whole, actively disseminating this concept throughout
its internationally based subsidiaries.

234 Ford House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-6460
Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman
Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Co-Chairman

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Lale Mamaux
202.225.1901

April 11, 2008

U.S. HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING ON ARMENIA

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of
the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki
Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will
hold a hearing entitled, `Armenia after the Election,’ on Thursday,
April 17 at 2:00 p.m. in room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office
Building.

Since the February 19 presidential election, Armenia has experienced
its most serious political crisis in over a decade. The March 1
confrontation between the authorities and supporters of the opposition
resulted in at least eight fatalities and the imposition of a state of
emergency, causing serious damage to Armenia’s reputation. Although
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkissian has been elected President, some
opposition leaders refuse to recognize the outcome and government
opposition relations remain tense. The state of emergency has been
lifted but restrictions on freedom of assembly continue in effect.

The hearing will focus on the ramifications of these developments for
Armenia and the United States, especially the ongoing Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) negotiations on
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia s qualifications for assistance from the
Millennium Challenge Account.

Testifying before the Commission will be:

Mr. Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs

Mr. Vigen Sargsian, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Armenia

Mr. Arman Grigorian, Spokesman for former President Levon Ter-Petrossian

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as
the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors
progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki
Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United
States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member
each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.

# # #

tRecords.ViewDetail&ContentRecord_id=654&C ontentType=P&ContentRecordType=P

THE ARMENIA FUND ACCOMPLISHES A NUMBER OF SCHOOL FURNISHING PROJECTS

armradio.am
10.04.2008 17:11

The Armenia Fund accomplished several furnishing projects during
the month of March including the Parakar Art school, school N10 in
Abovian, Kotaik region, schools N 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Artik, Shirak
region, secondary school in Kndzoresk, Siunik region and School N78 in
Yerevan. All these projects have been initiated and financed through
contributions from the Armenia Fund’s French Affiliate.

The Art School after Hovik Edgaryan located in the village of Parakar
with a population of 7000 was renovated in 2007 with funds from the
Armenia Fund French Affiliate. The furnishing project at a total
cost of 13,758,549 AMD includes items such as chairs, tables, sofas,
hangers, mirrors, drawers, desks, two looms, an oven and a shaping
machine for producing ceramic items and a computer. The project is
named in memory of the late Loussintac and Sahak Tchopourian.

Around 200 students from Parakar and nearby villages of Tairov,
Merdzavan, Ajgek, Baghramyan, Norakert, Ptghunk, Arevashat, Musaler
attend different classes at the school. Piano, brass band, dancing,
painting, tapestry, pottery and carpet-making classes have classrooms
of their own. With facilities for ceramics and carpet-making classes
available now, the school administration has started registering
pupils who want to enroll on it.

The instructor of the painting class Liparit Shahinyan said they
now have 26 children attending the class instead of the 12 they had
earlier this year, as they now have 12 easels instead of 6 and more
tables and chairs in the classroom. "There was always much interest in
painting and pottery classes, but we did not have enough facilities
for all those who wanted to join us. We are grateful to the Armenia
Fund and our donors for their timely assistance and the stimulus
the new environment provides. It is not only pupils who enjoy the new
painting tools, it is us, the teachers, who are inspired to do better,"
said the instructor. Anahit and Anush have been attending the painting
classes for 2.5 years now. They said they always enjoyed them but with
the new furnished room and tables of their own they enjoy the classes
better. Anahit, 13, is quite certain about her future profession and
is seriously planning to become a fashion designer.

Two years ago a class for brass band opened at school. Today it has 10
students and a nice display of a dozen instruments – trumpet, clarinet,
trombone, baritone, and viola -on the wall in the classroom. The
instruments lay idle in the Parakar secondary school where they
belonged in and were passed over to the art school so that the brass
band class could use it. With the support of the local municipality
they were repaired and now make an impressive collection of Soviet
era brass instruments.

Principal of the school Almast Svajyan was greatly excited when showing
around the school that was no longer just a nicely renovated and an
orderly place which could do with new and more pieces of furniture
earlier this year.

Appropriate maintenance is felt in every corner of the
building. Although the school was renovated only seven months ago,
it is not without the efforts of Ms. Svajyan and her team that the
building is kept in good repair; a lot is currently being considered
and done to add to it. The curtains obtained by the school management
for the concert hall are a perfect match with the chairs. "We are all
so pleased with the new interior; it’s an incredible change. We really
appreciate the efficiency with which acquisition of the furniture
was organized. And we know that not every school in Armenia enjoys
the conditions we do today. Many thanks to the Armenia Fund and our
friends in France for the school we have," said Ms Svajyan.

Fittings such as pictures, small rugs and other decorations are part
of the principal’s plans. According to her due to the Armenia Fund
renovation and furnishing projects the school has now four job openings
– one for an administrative assistant and three for support staff. On
April 6 the school hosted the festival of sport dances in which groups
from Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Sisian and Echmiadsin participated.

Within the Armenia Fund upcoming project banisters will be built along
the stairs and a fence put up around the building so as to provide
safety for school children and prevent the flowers and grass from
being trampled.

Similarly eight classrooms for a donation of 3,688,300 AMD drams were
furnished in N10 School in Abovian city. The school received tables,
chairs, blackboards and hangers. The classrooms were sponsored
through the French-Armenian Association for Friendship, Normandy
Association for Armenian Solidarity and in memory of late Mihran,
Nvart Hatsagortsian.and their son Jirair.

The municipality of Vaulx en Velin in France with a total cost of
5,510,000 AMD drams funded five classrooms in schools number 3, 4, 5,
6, and 7 in Artik, Shirak region. It is planned that the municipality
will go ahead with the full furnishing of these schools.

School 78 located in the center of Yerevan received new furniture
with a total cost of 4,283,200 AMD drams. It includes desks, chairs,
tables, bookshelves, blackboards, as well as hangers.

The secondary school in Kndzoresk, another beneficiary of the Armenia
Fund project, received sport facilities with donation from Michel
Tchaloyan. The project was implemented in memory of Melik and Jirair
Melik Mardirossian.

The Armenia Fund Executive Director Vahe Aghabegians welcomed the
successful accomplishment of the projects. "By giving our young
generation modern schools with appropriately furnished classrooms we
make yet another step towards a better life for them. We want them to
choose to stay and study in their home communities and truly enjoy
their learning. The Armenia Fund is doing its best to support the
government in its attempts to provide schools to the standard and thus
solve the most basic problem existent in the country’s educational
system today," says Mr. Aghabegians.

VTB GROUP RECORDS HIGHER NET PROFIT ON IAS

ARKA
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, April 10. /ARKA/. According to an unaudited statement in
conformity with the International Accounting Standards (IAS), the
VTB Group, Russia’s largest banking group, brought its net profit up
to $1.514bln in 2007 – a 28.4% increase. The group’s assets reached
$92.609bln – a 76.7% increase.

RIA Novosti reports that the increase in the group’s net profit is
mainly attributed to a considerable increase in crediting.

The credit portfolio of clients less depreciation reserve reached
$58.549bln – a 2-fold increase. The same portfolio before the
depreciation reserve were deduced reached $7.682bln – a 3-fold
increase.

The return on one ordinary share of the VTB Bank reached $0.482 (a
10.6% increase) per one Global Depositary Receipt (GDR), which is
equal to 2,000 ordinary shares.

"These are our first annual results, which we are presenting as a
public company. We are happy that they reflect our solid financial
position," stated VTB Board Chairman Andrey Kostin.

The reporting year showed the company’s ability to ensure efficiency
of investments in retail and corporate banking services in Russia,
he said.

"We also started establishing investment-banking business to develop
our leadership in the banking sector both in Russia and the other
countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. At this hard
time for the financial sector we are laying the foundations for
long-lasting development," Kostin said.

The VTB Bank, as well as its branch banks, form a leading Russian
banking group rendering services in Russia, some of the CIS
member-countries, as well as in West Europe, Asia and Africa.

The VTB Bank is Russia’s second largest bank. Last May, the bank
organized initial public offering among Russian and international
investors.

It issued 22.5% of its shares.

The RF Government is principal stockholder of VTB, its share being
77.5% P.T.

THE CEREMONY OF INAUGURATION, NEW PRIME-MINITER AND 40 DAYS FROM THE EVENTS OF MARCH 1

KarabakhOpen
09-04-2008 20:40:24

The newly elected President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan delivered an
inaugural address on April 9, Wednesday.

‘Assuming the office I swear to fulfill all the requirements of the
Constitution, respect the rights and freedoms of every human being
and citizen without reservations, ensure the country’s independence,
territorial integrity and security for the welfare of Republic of
Armenia and the Armenian people’, Serzh Sargsyan says.

President-elect Serzh Sarkisian officially confirmed on Tuesday his
intention to appoint the longtime chairman of the Armenian Central Bank
(CBA) as the country’s new prime minister.

Mr Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for common foreign and
security policy, congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on assuming the office
of President of Armenia.

The congratulatory message says, in part, "Dear Mr President, Let me
congratulate you on assuming the office of President of Armenia. The
European Union has been closely watching the post-election developments
in Armenia. We are aware of the problems that emerged after you won
the presidential election but we do welcome your proposal for dialogue.

The European Union is willing to assist Armenia in resisting these
challenges and hopes for developemnt of relations with the Republic
of Armenia."

Today is 40 days from the events of March 1 which took lives of people.

People are coming to the statue of Miasnikyan, who bring flowers
and burning candles in memory of the victims. There are a number of
policemen around the statue who ask people to leave the place after
laying the flowers. People move to the adjacent park.

KIRO MANOYAN BELIEVES THAT ARMENIA IS TO TAKE MORE STRICT STEPS WITH REGARD TO KARABAKH ISSUE

Noyan Tapan
April 8, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. "Azerbaijan" in his striving for taking
the negotiations out of the OSCE frameworks "has passed all bounds,"
Kiro Manoyan, the Director of the ARFD Bureau office for Hay Dat and
Political Affairs, stated at the press conference, which was held
on April 8 and added that the step on the recognition of Nagorno
Karabakh and conclusion of a military agreement with it should be
taken just now.

In his words, Armenia has practically recognized Nagorno Karabakh. It
is not the first year that intergovernmental agreements are being
concluded and operate and that Armenia gives credit to Karabakh, to
name but a few. He mentioned that "it is time to show to Azerbaijan"
that in case of the continuation of its activities, which are directed
at taking the negotiation process on the regulation of the Karabakh
conflict out of the frameworks of the OSCE Minsk Group, Armenia can
take more strict steps and then Azerbaijan will be obliged to conduct
negotiations directly with Nagorno Karabakh.

He expressed confidence that under the presidency of Serge Sargsian
Armenia will not withdraw from its positions with regard to the issue
on the regulation of the Karabakh conflict.

With regard to the opportunity for including on the agenda of the
U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 106 on the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, Kiro Manoyan said that this issue has always
been on the agenda and the lobbyists are just waiting for a suitable
moment to put the resolution to the vote. In his words, taking into
consideration the position of principle of the presidential candidates
from the Democratic Party of the United States of America with regard
to recognizing the Armenian Genocide, perhaps congressmen will return
to the discussion of the document in the near future.

Kiro Manoyan highly appreciated the position of the MPs of Ksennet,
where the discussion of the issue on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide is envisaged in one of the commissions. According to him,
there is a positive opinion in the society of Israel with regard to
the recognition of that fact.

HASMIK PAPIAN AND AVO HUYUMJIAN TO HAVE CONCERT IN VIBIANA

Noyan Tapan
April 7, 2008

On April 27 internationally celebrated soprano Hasmig Papian will
be performing at the Vibiana Cathedral for an exclusive, one night
only, solo recital. She will be accompanied by acclaimed pianist
Avo Kuyumjian.

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Ms. Papian has graced the venerated stages
of the operatic world such as: The Metropolitan Opera in New York,
Paris Opera (La Bastille) and La Scala in Milan.

Avo Kuyumjian began his studies at the University of Music and
Performing Arts in Vienna. He has won first prize at the Sixth
International Beethoven Piano Competition in 1981. Since then he has
become the delight of concert halls in Europe, the United States,
Canada and Japan.

Both Hasmik Papian and Avo Kuyumjian reside in Vienna with their
families.

PRESS RELEASE
Institute of Armenian Studies
University of Southern California
Taper Hall of Humanities, Suite 252
Los Angeles, California 90089-4015
Tel: 213-821-3943
Email: [email protected]

USC Institute of Armenian Studies

USC Institute Gala Banquet Salutes 50 Years of
Progress by California’s Armenian Community

Los Angeles — An unprecedented gathering of distinguished community
leaders will celebrate the Third Anniversary of the USC Institute of
Armenian Studies, by saluting the achievements of California’s Armenian
community during the last half-century.

On this auspicious occasion, the Institute will be honoring Californians
who have achieved distinction in serving the United States and the
Armenian community — actor Mike Connors, Gov. George Deukmejian, former
Asst. Defense Secretary Paul Ignatius, coach Jerry Tarkanian, and
business leader Ronald Tutor.

At the gala banquet, USC will be represented by incoming Chairman of the
Board of Trustees Edward Roski Jr., College Dean Howard Gillman and
other notables.

The achievements of California Armenians will be depicted in a special
documentary based on the newly digitized archives of The California
Courier, America’s oldest independent English-language Armenian weekly.
The Gala banquet will conclude with a tribute to The Lincy Foundation
for its generous philanthropy in Armenia and the Diaspora, and
acknowledging the founders of The California Courier on its 50th
anniversary.

We call upon the Armenian community of California and its friends to
join in this memorable celebration to be held at the Hilton Universal
City Hotel, on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at 5:30 pm.

For more information about the Third Anniversary Gala Banquet and all of
Institute’s programs, contact 213-821-3943 or [email protected].