Author: Tamamian Anna

PRESS RELEASE
United Nations Development Programme / Armenia
14 Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010
Contact: Mr. Hovhannes Sarajyan, Communications Associate
Tel: +37410 566 073
E-mail: [email protected]<mailto:hovhannes.sa [email protected]>
Web site:

UNDP Focuses on Regional Needs through Cultural Lens

On 21 April 2009 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
Armenia, within the framework of UNDP project "Music and Public
Outreach in the Regions: Highlighting the Needs of the Regions through
a Cultural Lens," organized a concert and a public awareness campaign
in the city of Gyumri dedicated to human rights and tolerance issues
in Shirak region. The performance was given by the National Chamber
Orchestra of Armenia (NCOA), led by maestro Aram Gharabekian.

The main objective of the project is to support the revival of
cultural life in the regions, break the cultural isolation and raise
public awareness on the needs of communities using culture and,
particularly, music as vehicle for this purpose.

The project has established an important partnership with "Shoghakat"
TV Company, which is in a process of producing documentary films
highlighting the needs in regions where concerts took place. Subjects
of those films include issues related to poverty, unemployment,
environmental challenges, vulnerability to disasters, gender,
tolerance and human rights issues. These films will be broadcasted on
one of the main countrywide TV channels. It is anticipated that these
films will broaden the public awareness throughout Armenia on
development challenges in the country and will ensure that the
commitments by national decision-makers to address regional issues
remain as priorities on the public and political agenda, even during
the crisis times UNDP, together with its partners, will officially
launch these films after the completion of concerts.

The promotion and protection of human rights and tolerance constitute
a basis of the UN value system. The UNDP in Armenia is committed to
work with the Government of Armenia and the civil society on practical
measures to improve human rights standards and support the development
of its institutional infrastructure across the country.

The event in Gyumri was the sixth in the series. The last event is
scheduled to be held in the city of Dilijan on 5 May to address
environmental issues in Tavush region.

EARTH DAY TO BE MARKED IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
20.04.2009 17:26

At the joint initiative of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the
Ministry of Nature Protection, Yerevan State University and the
Aarhus Centres to mark the Earth Day, government representatives,
professors, representatives of NGOs and students will get together
in the Resource Centre on Environmental Rights in the framework of
a lecture on environmental issues and a tree planting civil initiative.

Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan will
present a lecture on the OSCE Environmental activities. The Minister
of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan and the Rector of the Yerevan
State University Aram Simonyan will make opening remarks at the event.

PanArmenian, Armenia
April 18 2009

`Adana: Past and Present’ exhibition to launch in Netherlands

18.04.2009 16:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Lectures by Dr. Ton Zwaan, researcher at the Centre
for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and professor at the University of
Amsterdam will be held on Apr. 19 in Amsterdam, Federation of Armenian
Organizations in The Netherlands (FAON) told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The lecture program will also feature Mr. Harry van Bommel, member of
Socialist Party faction in the Dutch Parliament, Prof. Dr. Mihran
Dabag, director of the Institute for Diaspora and Genocide Studies at
Ruhr University in Bochum in Germany, Mr. Recep Marasli, writer and
poet, Mr. Osman Koker, publicist, Mr Viguen Tchitetchian, Ambassador
of Armenia to Belgium and Mr Ronny Naftaniel, director of Centre for
Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI).

`Adana: Past and Present’ exhibition will be held in commemoration of
the 100th anniversary of Adana massacre by Ottoman Turks. The Adana
massacre occurred in the city and province of Adana in April 1909 and
resulted in 20,000 to 30,000 Armenian victims of violent Turkish
anti-Armenian pogroms.

VIVACELL-MTS ANNOUNCES THE COMMERCIAL LAUNCH OF 3G NETWORK IN ARMENIA, PROVIDING STATE OF THE ART MOBILE BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY

ArmInfo
2009-04-17 20:03:00

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS" –
NYSE: MBT), announces the commercial launch of its state of the art
3G network.

The press service of VivaCell-MTS reports that first 3G network
segments are already deployed in Yerevan, capital of Armenia, Guymri
and Vanadzor cities, with the intention of expanding the coverage
further during this year.

VivaCell-MTS 3G network is Armenia’s first 3G rollout based on
UMTS/HSPA (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System / High Speed
Packet Access) technology and a defining moment for the Armenian
population. This will open up new opportunities for the business and
everyday life in the country.

In the 3G network, VivaCell-MTS subscribers will be able to use all
services currently available in VivaCell-MTS 2.5 G network, as well
as benefit from such innovative services as Videocall and high-speed
mobile internet. In Armenia converged 2G/3.5G network was built using
existing sites for mobile masts without termination or significant
reconfiguration of GSM, a 2nd generation network.

"We are proud to be the first to launch a 3G network in Armenia based
on UMTS/HSPA. Our new 3G services are launched in three largest cities
of the country. Given the insufficient penetration level of Internet in
Armenia, VivaCell-MTS views its 3G network as an ideal vehicle to meet
the growing broadband Internet needs of its subscribers. In the future,
we plan further development of our 3G network, with the intention of
expanding the 3G coverage, increasing the functionality of existing
products and services as well as bringing the most innovative mobile
products and services to our subscribers," said VivaCell-MTS General
Manager Ralph Yirikian."

"Today the launch of 3G marks a new era in the sphere of mobile
communications of Armenia. Subscribers of MTS in Russia and Uzbekistan
already enjoy all the benefits offered by 3G, and now the advanced
solutions enabled by the innovative 3G network are also made available
to subscribers of VivaCell-MTS. We are sure that the new technologies
will provide an additional stimulus to the further development of
mobile communication in Armenia, and will result in more convenience
and value of services for mobile communication," – noted the Vise
President of OJSC MTS Oleg Raspopov.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch
on 1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed
to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.

VivaCell-MTS drives the development and offering of innovative mobile
communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile
communications market. For more information, visit

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator
in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 91.77 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as
well as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in
which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide
GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since
June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).

IRANIAN COMPANIES WILL TAKE UP MEGHRI HYDROPOWER STATION CONSTRUCTION

PanArmenian
April 17 2009
Armenia

Iranian companies will take up Meghri Hydropower Station construction,
RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsesyan told a
news conference. According to him, the investments will be reimbursed
by energy produced. In accordance with agreement signed in Iran,
construction staff will include numerous Armenian professionals.

In March 2007 Hydropower Station Construction agreement was signed
between Armenia and Iran. The agreement stipulates for construction
of two stations on Araks river. Meghri Hydropower Station construction
expenditures will comprise $ 240 million.

ARMENIAN, IRANIAN LEADERS DISCUSS PRESSING REGIONAL ISSUES

AzerNews Weekly
April 15 2009
Azerbaijan

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian visiting Iran on Monday discussed
with his counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and the process of normalizing his
country`s strained relations with Turkey.

Sarkisian thanked Tehran for its balanced policy on the Garabagh
settlement, Armenian media reported. Both presidents positively
assessed ongoing peace talks and progress observed in negotiations
aiming to forge political dialog between Yerevan and Ankara. The two
leaders stressed the importance of solving all outstanding problems
in peace, terming cooperation and stability as key factors for the
well-being and development of the regional nations.

Ahmadinejad and Sarkisian stated that their countries share views
on issues of both regional and global scale. They emphasized that
Iran-Armenia cooperation was pivotal in the backdrop of the changes
taking place around the world, saying peace and friendship in the
turbulent region could prevail only with joint efforts of all states
involved.

The Armenian leader extended his gratitude to Iran, calling it a
reliable neighbor and "a friend through tough times." Sarkisian said
Iran has provided great assistance to the development of Armenia
since the republic gained independence. He recalled the country`s
help when the South Caucasus republic faced blockade during the
Georgian-Ossetian military conflict in August 2008.

"The relations between Yerevan and Tehran should be expanded and the
level of our cooperation increased," Sarkisian said.

Ahmadinejad, for his part, said Armenia`s development would be
advantageous for the region. "Armenia`s prosperity, development and
stability benefit the entire region."

Further, the Iranian president called for broadening the two countries`
relations in a variety of fields, in particular, trade, transport and
the energy sector. "Developing relations with Armenia is a priority
direction in Iran`s foreign policy."

Another issue that topped the agenda of the presidential talks was
construction of a railway line to link Iran and Armenia. The sides
signed a final memorandum on implementing the project in conclusion
of Sarkisian`s visit on Tuesday.

Iran and Armenia signed a preliminary MoU on the railway line
in Yerevan on April 3, confirming their interest in creating a
direct rail link between the two countries. The route will allow
Armenia to transport energy resources and other commodities to other
countries. The railway line will be 470 km long, of which 60 km will
lie in Iran and 410 km in Armenia. Under the $1 billion project,
the rail line is expected to take up to five years to build.

Armenia remains sidelined from regional projects due to its policy of
aggression against Azerbaijan and has a railway link only with Georgia.

Transport Minister Gurgen Sarkisian, who accompanied the Armenian
president during his visit, told Iranian media that Russia has stated
its readiness to participate in various stages of the project.

MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY: NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON DOLE EXCEEDS BUDGETARY INDEX BY 20%

ArmInfo
2009-04-14 19:29:00

ArmInfo. In Apr 2008 as compared with Jan 2008 the number of people on
dole in Armenia grew by 19% to 17,600, Minister of Labor and Social
Security of Armenia Arsen Hambartsumyan said during a conference on
impacts on the global crisis on the social sector of Armenia.

He said that the real number of people on dole exceeded the level
envisaged by the budget by 20% and was growing.

The average unemployment benefit in Armenia is 18,000 AMD or 60%
of the minimum salary against 15,000 AMD in 2008.

There are 78,700 registered unemployed people in Armenia (72% of them
are women, 18.9% are young people).

SERGE SARGSYAN MET WITH THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT

LRAGIR.AM
12:56:57 – 14/04/2009

On April 13, Serge Sargsyan left for Iran on a 2-fay official visit
at the invitation of the president of the Islamic republic of Iran
Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

Serge Sargsyan held a private conversation with his Iranian
counterpart, after which the negotiations continued within a larger
circle.

Questions on the future deepening of the bilateral trade-economic
cooperation, increasing the trade circulation, construction of the
Iran-Armenia railway, construction of a joint hydroelectric station,
as well as regional questions and the recent developments of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue were discussed.

In the frameworks of his visit, Serge Sargsyan will meet with the
religious leader of Iran Ayatolla Sejed Khameni and the head of the
supreme council of the national security Said Jalili; the press office
of the president reports.

DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY COULD HURT ARMENIA, SAYS MANOYAN

427_4/13/2009_1
Monday, April 13, 2009

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The dialogue with Turkey could hurt
Armenia, said Armenian Revolutionary Federation Political Director
Giro Manoyan Monday during a press conference.

Manoyan emphasized that any agreement on the border opening must
accompany relevant documents on the establishing of diplomatic
relations between the two countries, saying that opening of the
borders would be meaningless with such an agreement.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, President Serzh Sarkisian said
Armenia would "emerge from this process stronger" in any case because
the international community will have no doubts about its commitment
to an unconditional normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.

"In a sense, we share the president’s opinion," said Manoyan, "But it
all depends on how long those negotiations will continue and whether
or not we will lose something else in the process."

Manoyan said that Armenia, up to now, has successfully avoided the
inclusion of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process in its discussions
with Turkey. However, he said, the recent vocal opposition to any
agreement between Armenia and Turkey by Azerbaijan could compel Turkey
to take a second look.

In the event that Turkey yields to Azeri demands, Manoyan said,
the talks will crumble.

Manoyan explained that Turkey has entered this process because of
its regional interests and the talks of an impending agreement were
strategically positioned to ward off any possible recognition of the
Genocide by President Barack Obama, who made a campaign pledge to
properly characterize the events of 1915 as genocide.

"One of the reasons why Turkey began the negotiations is to
prevent Obama from uttering the word genocide on April 24," he told
journalists. "And if the Turks succeed in doing that, I think we will
not quite emerge stronger whatever the outcome of the negotiations."

Obama avoided using the term during his visit to Turkey last week,
citing the need not to undermine the Turkish-Armenian talks. He said
those talks "could bear fruit very quickly, very soon."

However, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has since twice
stated that his country will not establish diplomatic relations with
Armenia and open the Turkish-Armenian border before a resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "We will not sign a final deal with
Armenia unless there is agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia on
Nagorno-Karabakh," Erdogan said on Friday, according to the Anatolia
news agency.

Manoyan reiterated that any agreement between Armenian and Turkey
should not call into question the veracity of the Armenian Genocide. He
also said that the ARF would publish its assessment of the political
and economic implications on Armenia of an Armenian-Turkey agreement
in the near future.

ARMENIAN PM: OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF STATE BUDGET NECESSARY TO BETTER RESPOND TO GLOBAL CRISIS AFTERMATHS

ArmInfo
2009-04-14 14:26:00

ArmInfo. Operative management of state budget is necessary for more
efficient response to global crisis aftermaths, Prime Minister of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said at a conference on aftermaths of the
global financial and economic crisis in Armenia.

The premier explained that part of the budgetary expenditure for the
first quarter has been transferred to the final quarter. He said that
despite the economic processes, social expenses should be priority
for the government.

‘I mean not only those who receive social benefits or pensions,
but also the whole population involved in the social programs’,
the prime minister said.

Since the crisis is especially dangerous for the unsecured sections of
the population, the government will further focus on employment and
other social problems. Tigran Sargsyan highlighted the importance
of impartial evaluation of the crisis-affected situation. ‘Many
political figures makes groundless statements to raise their rating’,
the premier said. The state budget for 2009 envisages 252 billion
drams for social protection programs.