Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

ARMENIAN ADC COMPANY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR FREE WIDEBAND INTERNET CONNECTION

ARKA
April 4, 2008

YEREVAN, April 4. /ARKA/. The Armenian Datacom Company (ADC) has
launched a campaign for free connection of wideband high-speed
fiber-optic internet connection.

>From April 5 to May 5, ADC gives companies an opportunity to get
connected wideband internet for free.

Established in 2006, the Armenian-Norwegian ADC Joint Venture Company
is set up to provide telecommunications services in and around the
city of Yerevan with focus on the latest available services for
commercial data communication and Internet access for an unlimited
amount of users.

ADC provides fiber-optic internet services and Video-over-IP,
Voice-over-IP supported by 24/7/365 operations control securing
optimal connection.

ADC services do not demand additional costs. The company’s objective
is to satisfy the demand of their customers by providing high-speed
internet services.

The company plans to provide services to economic entities, thus
becoming leader in the local telecommunications market.

At present, the Armenian telecommunications companies are getting
adapted to modern internet technologies, according to ADC. The company
executives believe many multimedia technologies, developed long ago,
are practicable both for rich corporations and ordinary users. Local
internet users now have an access to Video-over-IP, Voice-over-IP
services, the company’s press service reports.

16 PEOPLE ON HUNGER STRIKE IN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTIONS, 14 STOP HUNGER STRIKE

Noyan Tapan
April 3, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. As of April 3, 14:00, 16 people are
on hunger strike in the penitentiary institutions of the RA Ministry
of Justice. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Arsen
Babayan, the Spokesperson of the Penitentiary Department of the RA
Ministry of Justice. Suren Sureniants, a member of the Hanrapetutiun
(Republic) party’s Political Board, was the first to go on hunger
strike. He went on hunger strike on March 24. Marzpetuni Ayvazian,
Vladimir Arakelian, Sayat Hovhannisian, Petros Makeyan went on hunger
strike on April 1. Avetik Nersisian, Samvel Haroutiunian, Khachik
Gasparian, Raja Petrosian, Tigran Baghdasarian, Aram Bareghamian,
Smbat Ayvazian, Isahak Malkhasian, Artur Shahnazarian, Sasun Mikayelian
joined them on April 2, and Ashot Zakarian on April 3.

According to the same source, as of April 3, 14 people have stopped
hunger strike they had announced before: Alexan Vardanian and Ashot
Ananian (from April 2), and Armen Grigorian, Vardges Gasparian, Aghasi
Mkrtchian, Yurik Ghukasian, Alexander Arzumanian, Gagik Hovhannisian,
Gurgen Yeghiazarian, Myasnik Malkhasian, Karapet Rubinian, Ararat
Zurabian, Khachatur Simonian, Grigor Voskerchian from April 3.

WHITEFISH POPULATION IN ARMENIA’S SEVAN REDUCES 40% IN 2007

ARKA
April 3, 2008

YEREVAN, April 3. /ARKA/. Whitefish (sig) population totaled 600 tons
in Armenia’s Sevan Lake by the end of 2007, which is a 40% reduction
as compared with 2006, the Chief of Department for biological resources
of Armenian Environmental Ministry Karen Chenterechian said.

In 2006, whitefish population was 1,000 tons, whereas in 1998 it was
1,800 tons, he reported. The greatest population of whitefish was
recorded in 1970-1990ies – about 2,000 tons. Chenterechian also said
that the population reduced due to decreasing volume of plankton,
wrong fishing management and improper fishing instruments.

Sevan holds over 90% of the fish reserves of Armenia and particular
importance should be attached to maintain stable quantity of the
population in the lake, he said. Koghak, crucian carp, ishkhan
also inhabit in Sevan, yet the Ministry has not provided any exact
monitoring data on the quantity.

Armenian Church welcomes dialogue with Islam

ARTICLE: Apr. 02 (CWNews.com) – The Armenian Apostolic Church has
responded warmly to an invitation from Muslim leaders for
inter-religious dialogue, saying that all religious leaders should
unite to condemn hatred and terrorism.

In a reply to the 138 Muslim leaders who signed the "Common Word"
initiative last late year, Archbishop Yeznik Petrosian, the chief
ecumenical officer for the Armenian Apostolic Church, remarked: "We
therefore deem it imperative to begin a true dialogue among the
monotheistic religions, the aim of which should be the strengthening
of eternal and common human values, the reinforcement of relationships
between different faiths, and the protection of all that God has
created."

Archbishop Petrosian addressed his message to Prince Ghazi bin Talal,
director of the Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in
Jordan. The Jordanian leader has been the focal point of the Common
Word initiative, previously arranging for in-depth talks with Vatican
officials, which have been scheduled for November 2008.

Archbishop Petrosian’s letter mentioned the long history of relations
between Armenian Christians and their Muslim neighbors. He recalled
that in the early 20th century many Islamic countries sheltered the
survivors of the Armenian genocide. That show of compassion, he said,
"can serve today as the best example of how Christians and Muslims can
live together in harmony, support one another in times of hardship,
and enjoy the God-given benefits of a peaceful and creative life."

The history of Christian-Muslim relations has also been marked by
violence and tragedy, the Armenian prelate acknowledged. He said that
Church leaders today would join to "deny and renounce violence and
enmity." The archbishop concluded his message with an appeal for peace
"in the Caucasus and Middle East-` the origin of life, the cradle of
ancient civilizations and the birthplace of the world’s largest
monotheistic religions."

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MOSSING: SEVAN CHANGES ITS PROFILE

Panorama.am
20:42 03/04/2008

In the recent five years more than 1 million bay fish were poured
into the Lake Sevan, said Karen Tchenteredjyan of the Ministry of
Environmental Affairs.

According to him in the years of the active fish industry exploitation
80-84 million baby fish was poured into the lake annually. The number
of baby fish is cut. It is planned to pour 16 thousands trout and 50
thousands gegharkuni baby fish. "Now we work on the quality not on
the quantity," he said.

According to the results of monitoring the number of crabs and crucian
increased which proves the mossing process of the lake. But the state
official mentioned that the increase of crabs is not bad as last year
500 tones of crabs were exported from the country.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS MAKE A STATEMENT

Azeri Press Agency
April 3 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. The Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group have
released the following statement today, OSCE Office told APA.

On the margins of the NATO summit in Bucharest on April 2-4, 2008, the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Yuri Merzlyakov (Russian
Federation), Ambassador Bernard Fassier (France), and Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State Matthew Bryza (United States), and the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Office, Ambassador Andrzej
Kasprzyk, met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian
Prime Minister and President-elect Serge Sargsian, together with their
Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov and Vartan Oskanyan.

"The two leaders and the Co-Chairs exchanged views on ways to reduce
differences between the sides and forge consensus on the Basic
Principles for the Peaceful Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK)
Conflict. The Co-Chairs reiterated their support for the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and reaffirmed their longstanding view that
a peaceful resolution of the conflict would require a negotiated
political compromise on the final status of NK, pending the future
approval of its population," the statement records. The statement
says that the two leaders and the Co-Chairs agreed to continue
the negotiations on the existing basis, further clarify the current
proposal on the table, and pursue additional steps to advance the peace
process. For that purpose, the mediators underscored the utility of
meetings at the highest level between the sides as soon as possible.

"THE WAY WE WERE" MUSICAL ENSEMBLE TO INTRODUCE ARMENIAN SONGS TO AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR A MONTH

Noyan Tapan
April 3

"THE WAY WE WERE" musical ensemble will tour with the popular show
"Hello Ellis Island" between April 6 and May 6. The ensemble will have
different performances, it will be accompanied by a band of musicians
playing old country Armenian instruments. Hourig Papazian-Sahagian,
the author, producer and director of the play, has revived a neglected
repertoire of traditional song and dance as well as the classic
art-song of Komidas Vartabed. She’s assembled a troupe of U.S.-born
Armenian actors from families of genocide survivors.

For over a decade, the ensemble named "The Way We Were" has performed
musical-theater productions all along the East Coast of the USA.

SERGEY LAVROV: THE DOCUMENT ON BASIS PRINCIPLES IS A GOOD BASIS FOR CONTINUING THE TALKS

armradio.am
02.04.2008 15:38

Speaking at a State Duma sitting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov declared that the document on the basic principles of the
Karabakh conflict resolution adopted by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
in November "will serve as a good basis for continuing the negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

Lavrov underlined that "the negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh have
never stopped and will continue."

ASHOT GULYAN: DE FACTO INDEPENDENCE OF NKR CANNOT BE A MATTER OF COMPROMISE

armradio.am
28.03.2008 15:56

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Ashot Gulyan said Azerbaijani President’s comments and "comprehension
of the perspectives of conflict resolution" do not correspond to
reality.

Ashot Gulyan said this, asked by Mediamax to comment on the latest
statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, according to whom
"the question of Nagorno Karabakh’s secession from Azerbaijan does
not exist and will not exist in either, 5, 10 or 100 years"

According to the NKR Parliament Speaker, the de facto independence,
which Nagorno Karabakh acquired on the basis of equal rights with
Azerbaijan, cannot be a matter of concession.

"We demonstrate consciousness towards issues Azerbaijan is concerned
about and demand a similar attitude from them," Ashot Gulyan
underlined.

"We objectively assess the situation and think that the recognition
of NR independence corresponds to the state and national interests
of Azerbaijan itself," Ashot Gulyan declared.

The Speaker expressed hope that the "the recent pre-election euphoria
apparent in Ilham Aliyev’s statements will very soon give way to
reasonableness, especially considering that as recent developments
show, the non-realistic manner of Baku does not receive practical
support."

GENOCIDE PREVENTION ARTICLE ACCEPTED

Panorama.am
18:13 28/03/2008

Today in Geneva the UN Human Rights Council accepted the law on
prevention the Genocide by the initiative of Armenia. According to
the Foreign Affairs Ministry it is the first article on preventing
the Genocide accepted by the UN.

The significance of the current article is symbolic as the
60 anniversary of Genocide convention is to be celebrated this
year. By the initiative of Armenia a range of ceremonies will be
held commemorating the convention and condemning genocide as criminal
activity.

According to the same source the current article was co-authored by
the EU member countries, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, Brazil,
Canada, Mexico, Norway and other countries.

Note that the UN Human Rights Council was established in 2006. This is
the principle branch of the UN dealing with the human rights affairs.