Author: Toneyan Mark

ARMENPRESS

CIS UNOFFICIAL SUMMIT OPENS IN ST. PETERSBURG

SAINT PETERSBURG, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS: The
unofficial summit of the heads of the CIS countries
kicks off in Saint Petersburg. Aide to Russian
president Segey Prikhodko said that besides the
general session which will take place on the second
half of the day a number of bilateral meetings of the
heads of states are planned.
S. Prikhodko said that the arrangement of
conduction of the summit has been made during the
meeting of the presidents in spring in Moscow.
-The agenda of the unofficial meeting is
traditionally not strictly outlined which gives the
participants an opportunity to refer to different
issues, forward new ideas and initiatives,- Prikhodko
said. -The Summit is a good opportunity for frank
discussion of all the urgent issues,- he said.

Panorama.am

17:23 06/06/2008

SYNOPSYS AND MOSCOW INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY (MIET) GRADUATE
FIRST CLASS OF JOINT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Synopsys, Inc., a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor
design and manufacturing, today announced that 20 Master students of
Synopsys and MIET joint educational program successfully completed the
Synopsys’ Educational program and now stand ready to begin their
professional engineering careers.

In 2006, with Synopsys’ assistance, MIET established a modern Masters
program providing advanced education in microelectronics, based on the
Synopsys tool suite and curriculum. The program’s goal is to train
highly qualified specialists in the field of very large scale
integration (VLSI) design through the use of Synopsys EDA tools. After
two years of hard study, today’s graduates are well equipped to meet
the highest international engineering standards.

During the commencement ceremony, Dr. Rich Goldman, vice president of
Corporate Marketing & Strategic Market Development at Synopsys,
conferred Synopsys Certificates of Achievement and MIET Rector Yuri A.
Chaplygin, associate member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of
Engineering Science, professor, conferred MIET Diplomas to the
graduates.

The Master program is conducted by a customized Synopsys Armenia CJSC
Educational Department curriculum for VLSI design. Study is carried
out in the Synopsys-MIET Educational Center where each student has
access to the latest EDA software tools. MIET received 20 software
licenses for Synopsys’ comprehensive, industry-leading electronic
design automation (EDA) University Tools Packages. Teaching is
completed jointly with leading Synopsys professionals and MIET
professors.

-Today marks an important milestone in Russia’s developing IC design
industry. Together with our strong partner MIET, we are proud to
graduate these 20 students, the first of many to come in future years.
These graduates are poised to help lead Russia into the next stage of
technology development,- said Rich Goldman.

-We implement a wide range of preparation programs in our university
in the sphere of electronics and IT. The first graduation of the
Synopsys-MIET Masters program is the result of the great joint work of
an international team. We each received a valuable experience and I
hope is happy with the results,- said Yuri A. Chaplygin. -Our joint
education activity is important not only for the development of high
technology industry in Russia but also for strengthening partner
relationships and alliances between our countries.-

Synopsys established its presence in Armenia in 2004, shortly after
Armenia’s declaration of information technology (IT) as a priority
business for the country. Since then, Synopsys Armenia closed joint
stock company (CJSC), has become one of the largest Synopsys sites
outside of the US, providing R&D and product support in EDA, design
for manufacturing (DFM) and the development of semiconductor
intellectual property (IP). Currently, the company employs several
hundred qualified Armenian engineers, and is one of largest IT
employers in Armenia.

Source: Panorama.am

"GOLDEN APRICOT"

Panorama.am
20:15 03/06/2008

"Golden Apricot" Yerevan fifth international festival will start
on 13 July and will last till 20 July, said Michael Stambolcyan the
coordinator of the projects of the festival. "Famous people of cinema
world will not only have an occasion to meet and get acquainted with
the news of the sphere but to discuss further goals," he said.

According to the organizers the festival scheduled for this year
is rich with films than ever, they received 395 applications for
participation from 65 countries.

A part of the festival consists of competition for documentary film,
pleasure film and Directors without borders. But the festival is
consisted of premiers, exhibitions, and parties too. An evening will
be devoted to 100 anniversary of William Saroyan.

Note that the films are available in Moscow and Nairi cinemas.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Russian-Armenian strategic partnership will develop
31.05.2008 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 30, Armenia’s Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian met with his Russian
counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow to discuss the
Armenian-Russian cooperation, joint activities within
the CIS and CSTO and coordination of positions in
international organizations, the RA MFA press office
reported.

Expressing satisfaction with the level of bilateral
relations between Armenia and Russia, the Ministers
pointed out to successful political, economic and
cultural cooperation.

-Strategic partnership between our states will
develop,- Minister Nalbandian said.

The officials also referred to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement and security issues in South
Caucasus.

Eastern bath for Shushi

30-05-2008 12:49:38 – KarabakhOpen

Soon the reconstruction of the nine-storey hotel of Shushi will be
launched. Many years ago the building was repaired but work stopped
because of problems with privatization. Privatization is over and
repair is starting soon.

The Azat Artsakh writes that the building is managed by the Gardman
Organization which also manages the Eastern Bath and the Marketplace.
The project and budget of the Marketplace are ready. Repair will start
in June and finish in 2009. It is foreseen to build a modern trade
center and preserve the appearance of the ancient eastern bazaar.

The reconstruction of the marketplace costs 20 million 750 thousand
drams. According to the director of the company which reconstructs the
bath Artavazd Sargsyan, the bath will be operated by the end of the
year.

On Duman Street a playground, a place of entertainment, a museum of
killed soldiers are under construction. 6.7 million drams has been
allocated for this project.

Besides investments, Gardman also implements charity programs. On
Christmas 780 gifts were given to children in Karabakh.

MARGAROV TO TRAIN "KILIKIA"

A1+
[01:52 pm] 29 May, 2008

Former forward of "Ararat" Eduard Margarov is to train "Kilikia" that
concludes the fixture list in the current championship. Margarov is
to substitute Yervand Krbashian who resigned the other day.

The 62-year-old new coach used to be one of the best-known forwards
in 1970s. In 1973 Margarov became a USSR champion in "Ararat", at the
same time winning the USSR Cup. The celebrated footballer was also
a USSR national team player, who thrice won a standing among the 33
best players.

Margarov began his professional practice in "Ararat" and 1986-1991 was
the coach of the USSR juvenile national team. 1992-1994 he trained
the Armenian national team and twice won the Armenian Cup in the
position of the coach of "Mika" in 2000.

PRESIDENTIAL MEETING: NOT ACHIEVEMENT, BUT PROGRESS

armradio.am
27.05.2008 16:39

"I don’t think that the meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents scheduled for June 7 can be assessed as an achievement,
but it can be viewed as progress," President of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakyan said, commenting on the importance
of the meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev in view
of continuousness of the negotiation process on the Karabakh
settlement. According to Bako Sahakyan, the negotiations are already
progress.

Asked about the situation at the contact line, the NKR President noted
that there have always been shots, but everything is being done to
reduce them.

"The NKR Defense Army and the authorities of the country are always
taking joint measures in this direction," the President assured.

WELCOME SPEECH OF NKR PRESIDENT BAKO SAHAKYAN TO PARTICIPANTS OF…

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on May 26, 2008
NKR Republic

Dear participants of the conference "Karabakh movement: realities
and prospects", I heartly congratulate you on the beginning of your
work. The conference uniting the representatives of state authority
bodies, scientific expert circles, mass-media, is of course important
and appreciable event in public-political life of Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic.It is significant, that it is spent to a year of the 20
anniversary of the Karabakh movement, which has predetermined further
ways of development of our society. It is necessary to note the special
importance and urgency of the problems mentioned by you connected
with today’s process and prospects of settlement both Karabakh and
other ethnopolitical conflicts of the post Soviet space. Discussion
of these problems in present unusual geopolitic conditions should
assume analysis of the situation in the process of Karabakh
conflict settlement. I consider, that the conference should work
out the concrete type of Karabakh conflict settlement and practical
assignments, taking into account arisen realities and historical-legal
basis of creation of independent statehood of NKR, present tendencies
of development of international law. I think, the conference will
draw attention of the inetrnational community to the questions which
excite today NKR citizens.I hope, that discussions within the limits
of the conference will pass in a favourable atmosphere, and during a
constructive exchange of opinions its participants, using creative and
mental potential, will offer interesting ideas and initiatives, which
will give a postive impulse to the process of search of optimum ways
to the peace and consent.It is very important, that the work of the
conference finds the continuation in the activity of representatives
of corresponding state structures, scientific and expert community,
all those who are sincerely interested in the sanction of Karabakh
conflict and establishment of stable and strong peace in our region. I
wish the conference successful fruitful work, and its participants –
strong health, well-being and all the best!

ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN PRIME MINISTERS DISCUSS RELATIONSHIPS

ARMENPRESS
May 23, 2008

MINSK, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian who
arrived in Minsk, Belarus, on May 22 afternoon to attend a recurrent
CIS summit of heads of governments, met today morning, before the
launch of the summit, with his Georgian counterpart Lado Gurgenidze.

The government press office said Tigran Sarkisian first congratulated
his Georgian counterpart on the occasion of the May 21 parliamentary
elections expressing hope that their results will become a serious
step towards democracy strengthening and resolution of the country’s
urgent problems.

The Georgian prime minister cited the assessments of international
observers who said the polls were held successfully. At the request
of Gurgenidze Tigran Sarkisian spoke about new Armenian government
and its priorities.

During their conversation both prime ministers stated the significance
of the bilateral inter-governmental cooperation commission from the
perspective of closer relationships between the two countries. They
agreed to continue steering the work of the commission and convene
its next meeting in July, which they said will give a new push to
strengthening of relations between Armenia and Georgia.

Tigran Sarkisian and Lado Gurgenidze also spoke about ongoing projects
and existing problems. Citing cooperation in energy as successful
they said they should enhance partnership in banking, financing and
other areas.

Taking advantage the Armenian prime minister spoke about some issues of
concern for the Armenian side requesting Gurgenidze’s intervention for
their solution. Particularly, Sarkisian spoke about high transit fees
imposed by the government of Georgia on Armenia-bound and vice-verse
goods. He said the Armenian government would like to learn the
rationale of how these fees are calculated.

He then drew his counterpart’s attention to the status of the Georgian
Diocese of the Armenian Church and encroachments of Georgian clergy
and laymen on Armenian churches in Georgia, which according to the
Armenian prime minister, cause extra tensions among the society.

In this sense he mentioned developments around the Armenian Surb
Nshan church in Tbilisi which is being fenced off illegally by a
Georgian Orthodox Church priest, who claims that it belongs to the
Georgian Church.

The Georgian prime minister condemned all manifestations of extremism
and provocative actions premising to learn more about this incident
and intervene.

MINING IS A DOMINANT BRANCH OF INDUSTRY

KarabakhOpen
23-05-2008 13:49:55

In January-March 2008 the total value of production was 4969.3 million
drams, the volume of sales was 5141.1 drams, of which 2406.8 million
in the CIS, 123.3 million in other countries.

According to the head of the NKR National Statistics Service Manushak
Minasyan, the dominating industry is mining, 38.8 percent, 31.9
percent is the energy sector, 29.3 percent is processing industries.

"51.2 percent of industries are in Stepanakert, 39.2 percent are in
Martakert, the copper factory of Drmbon," said Manushak Minasyan. She
added that 93 percent of industries are small businesses but they
produce 17.9 percent of production.