Author: Tigranian Ani

US Fed News
April 4, 2009 Saturday 3:30 PM EST

SONYA MKRYAN NAMED ‘WOMAN OF THE YEAR’ IN 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, March 24 — Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. (29th CD), issued
the following news release:

On Saturday at a reception in Pasadena, Representative Adam Schiff
honored Dr. Sonya Mkryan for her commitment and service to Altadena by
naming her a "Woman of the Year." "Sonya’s life story is a testament
to the tenacity and generosity of the human spirit, and her steadfast
dedication and selfless service are an invaluable addition to the
legacy of Women’s History Month," said Schiff. Sonya was born in
Sanjak, the French mandate of Syria, and emigrated at age ten to
Soviet Armenia with her parents and three siblings. By the time she
traveled from Armenia to the United States with her husband and three
children in 1979, she had obtained a PhD in Technical Studies and
worked for two decades as a scientist and researcher at the Armenian
Academy of Sciences. Her first job in America was as a mechanical
inspector for Robertshaw Industrial Products. As an educator and
geophysicist, Sonya has taught in the Pasadena Unified School District
was a professor of physics at Polytechnic Institute. For the past
twenty-three years she has contributed her knowledge and experience to
the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Social Services in
hopes of serving society for the better. A woman of multiple talents,
Sonya is also an artist and a writer. Over the last twenty years she
has held several solo shows and has actively participated in many
group exhibitions. Aside from scientific articles published in the
Russian, she has published six books of poetry and short stories: five
in Armenian and the sixth in English. She is a member of the Armenian
Writers Union of California and is an honorable member of the
International Society of Poets. Every March, during Women’s History
Month, Rep. Schiff honors one outstanding woman from each of the
communities in the 29th Congressional District. These women come from
all walks of life and represent the thousands of women who make a
positive impact in our region. While there are no specific criteria
for nomination, Rep. Schiff looks for women who – through their work
or volunteerism – have improved the quality of life for our
community. Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional
District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena,
Burbank, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South
Pasadena and Temple City.

ARMENIA, IRAN PLAN RAILWAY LINK: MINISTERS

Agence France Presse
April 3 2009
France

YEREVAN (AFP) — Armenia and Iran agreed Friday to build a railway
to link the two countries as part of a new transit route from Central
Asia to the Black Sea, officials said.

The 470-kilometre (292-mile) railway will take five years and cost
up to 1.2 billion dollars (892 million euros) to be financed by the
World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, Iranian Transport Minister
Hamid Behbahani said.

"The railway construction will amount to a restoration of the historic
Silk Road," Behbahani said at a press conference after signing a
memorandum with his Armenian counterpart, Gurgen Sargsian.

"The railway will ensure transport links from South and Central Asia,
the Far East, through Iran and Armenia’s territory towards Georgia’s
Black Sea ports," Sargsian said.

Landlocked Armenia is seeking closer ties with Iran because of an
economic blockade imposed by neighbours Azerbaijan and traditional
foe Turkey.

The United States has raised concerns about Armenia’s warming ties
with Iran, with the top US diplomat in Yerevan saying in June that
the country should join in international sanctions aimed at convincing
Iran to halt its nuclear programme.

SCR RECONSTRUCTS 450 M RAILROAD ON ARTENI-ARAGATS SECTION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 3, 2009

YEREVAN, April 3. /ARKA/. South Caucasus Railways (SCR) has
reconstructed 450m railroad on Arteni-Aragats section in Armenia,
the company’s press service reports.

The section underwent repairs more than 20 years ago and was in poor
condition, said Ashot Unusyan, head of SCR Track Maintenance Service.

The company is simultaneously repairing the 6th track of Masis station.

"On Monday, we will launch repairs on 1km Spitak-Archut section. On
the whole, 60km tracks will be repaired. Next week, we will launch
reconstruction of Spandaryan-Proshyan section," he added.

Aiming to carry out repairs and assembling operations, SCR has made a
decision to take a little break, temporarily suspending rail services.

As part of its repairs program, the company is to reconstruct the
45.0km major railroad by December 1, 2009.

On 1 June 2008, SCR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Russian Railways,
received property owned by Armenian Railways under the February 13,
2008 concession agreement the parties concluded for 30 years, with a
right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of
operation.

RUSSIAN INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA $880.1MLN LAST YEAR

ARKA
Apr 1, 2009

YEREVAN, April 1. /ARKA/. Russian investments in Armenia totaled
US $880,071,700, with direct investments totaling US $714,508,800 –
69.98% of the total foreign investments and 71.4% of direct investments
in Armenia.

The RA Statistical Service reports that Russian investments in Armenian
doubled in 2008 as compared with the previous year, with a 2.4-fold
increase in direct Russian investments registered.

In 2008, Russia proved to be the largest investor in Armenia.

Russian investors directed a total of US $476.3mln (54.1% of total
investments) in the generation and distribution of energy, gas, hot
water and steam, US $197.3mln (22.4%) in the communication sector,
US $136.3mln (15.5%) in surface transport and US $29.2mln (3.3%)
in metallurgy.

Russian funds were also invested in other services (US $18.6mln),
personal services (US $10.3mln), recreation and entertainment,
cultural and sporting activities (UIS $6.2mln), etc..

In 2007, Russian investments in Armenia totaled US $449.4mln, with
direct investments being $293.2mln.

Last year, foreign investments in the Armenian economy totaled
$1,257.6mln, with direct investments totaling US $1,000.9mln.

ARMENIAN FREESTYLE WRESTLERS COME 5TH IN TEAM EVENT AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2009 10:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian freestyle wrestlers won one silver and 2
bronze medals at the Graeco-Roman and freestyle wrestling European
Championship.

Armenian freestyle wrestler Ruslan Basiyev (120 kg) defeated Latvian,
Georgian and Ukrainian rivals but failed to defeat Azerbaijan’s Ali
Isayev in the final.

Zhirayr Hovhannisyan and Edgar Yenokyan won bronze

Puri steals the show for EstoniaWednesday 1 April 2009

Sharp saves
Under caretaker coach Vardan Minasyan, Armenia started the stronger of
the two sides with Edgar Manucharyan testing Sergei Pareiko from
distance, while Estonia defender Ragnar Klavan was also forced to head
a shot away from danger. Tarmo Kink twice let fly at Gevorg Kasparov’s
goal but to little effect, but the keeper later made sharp saves to
deny Kirsten Viikmae and Konstantin Vassiljev.

Useful deflection
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Pareiko
blocking Vahagn Minasyan’s early effort, while FC Karpaty Lvyv forward
Sergei Zenev passed up a decent chance at the other end. Artavazd
Karamyan then broke through, only to be denied by Pareiko, before
Puri’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected into the Armenian
net by Robert Arzumanyan. Armenia meet Bosnia-Herzegovina in their
next game on 5 September, with Estonia visiting Turkey on the same
day.

©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights

SIX ARMENIANS ELECTED TO ISTANBUL’S MUNICIPAL COUNCILS

2009/03 /31|12:58

Diaspora

The Istanbul-based Agos Armenian newspaper reports that six Armenians
have been voted into municipal councils in Istanbul.

In the Princes’ Islands district, Raffi Hermonn Araks has entered the
municipal council under elected mayor Mustafa Farsakoðlu from the
Republican People’s Party (CHP). On the islands, there was also an
Armenian mayoral candidate, Dr. Garabet Yayla. He received 68 votes,
0.8 percent.

Agop Sarýyan was second municipal councilor candidate for the CHP
on the islands; however, because one candidate each of the CHP and
the Justice and Development Party (AKP) were elected, Sarýyan has
not entered the council. Independent municipal councilor candidate
Avedis Hilkat also did not win.

In Bakýrkoy, a district on the European side of Istanbul, three
Turkish-Armenians have entered the municipal council with the CHP
mayor Ateþ Unal Erzen: Ohannes Karabeyan, who was sixth on the list,
Yervant Ozuzun, who was ninth, and Bedros Avedikyan, who had been a
reserve candidate.

Under the AKP Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan in Beyoðlu, central Istanbul,
Verkin Arýoba has entered the municipal council.

In Þiþli, Mayor Mustafa Sarýgul, for the Democratic Left Party
(DSP) has won again, and Vazken Barýn has entered the council in the
district. Harutyun Erguneþ, in sixth place on the CHP list, did not
get in.

CHP councilor candidate Antranik Yontan (13th on the list) in Fatih
did not get in, nor did Herman Balyan, 4th councilor candidate for
the AKP in Kadýkoy

10 MILLON DOLLAR CREDIT AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ARDSHININVESTBANK AND WORLDBUSINESS CAPITAL INC.

Noyan Tapan
March 27, 2009

WASHINGTON, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A 10 million-dollar credit
agreement was signed between Ardshininvestbank and WorldBusiness
Capital Inc. (the U.S.) at the Armenian embassy in Washington on March
26. The credit is guaranteed by OPIC agency of the U.S. government. It
is provided for a 10-year period for a joint program on financing
small and medium business.

Ardhsininvestbank will invest 2.5 million dollars in the program’s
implementation.

Commenting on the agreement, the Acting Chairman of Ardshininvestbank’s
Board Gurgen Harutyunian said: "The implementation of the program
will contribute to development of small and medium enterprises in
Armenia and help them overcome the difficulties caused by the global
financial crisis.

The bank will continue developing its international cooperation with
the aim of attracting financial resources into the Armenian market from
outside and assisting with stabilization of the country’s economy".

"HEALTH CARE AND PHARMACEUTICS. EXPO 2009" TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 10-13

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The 8th international exhibition
"Health Care and Pharmaceutics. Expo 2009" will be organized by Logos
Expo Center company with the assistance of the RA ministry of health
at the Moscow House cultural and business center in Yerevan on April
10-13. According to the press center of Logos Expo Center, the purpose
of the exhibition is to present goods and services and establish
new business relations. It will contribute to active development and
expansion of contacts among exhibition participants.

The main thematic sections of "Health Care and Pharmaceutics. Expo
2009" are "Preventive Medicine", "Clinical Medicine", "Stomatology",
"Pharmeceutics" , "Diagnostics", "Maternity and Childhood", "Medical
Equipment", "Hygiene", and "Healing Mineral Waters". Master classes,
video shows and round tables will be held during the exhibition.

ARMENIA MUST FOCUS ATTENTION ON COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES AMID CRISIS

ARKA
March 21, 2009

TSAKHKADZOR, March 21. /ARKA/. Amid the global crisis Armenia must
focus its attention on the sectors that are long-term competitive
advantages, Andre Antonyan, member of the Board of Directors, McKinsey
& Company consultancy, told reporters.

It is important to differentiate the sectors the country will have
long-term advantages in, Antonyan stated at a meeting of the National
Competitiveness Council in Tsakhkadzor.

He pointed out that the crisis affords opportunities for developing
particular sectors and for thinking of the most favorable correlation
between the Armenian economic sectors.

Among the important sectors are information technologies, tourism
and diamond cutting.

"Some industries are prerequisites for the general efficient economic
activities. They are the banking system, health care and education,"
Antonyan said.

He also said that RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan presented the
Government’s anti-ctisis program to the participants.

"We have a general idea of the program and arranged to thoroughly
study the document after the meeting," Antonyan said. He added that the
program provides for typical measures implemented by any Government.

The most important that is that the program be realized. Creative
approaches are well developed in Armenia, but must be transformed
into actions, Antonyan said.