Author: Toneyan Mark

ARMENIAN VERSION OF "WINDOWS VISTA" IS READY, WHILE THAT OF "MICROSOFT OFFICE 2007" TO BE PREPARED IN FOUR MONTHS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 27 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Bi Line Armenian IT company has
completed the Armenian localization of Microsoft’s "Windows Vista"
operational system.

Now the Armnian version of Windows Vista is being tested, and by late
2007 it will be available to users in the Internet and on laser discs,
NT was informed by Grogor Barseghian, director of Microsoft RA company,
Microsoft’s Armenian office.

According to him, the work on Armenian localization of "Microsoft
Office 2007" software, during which a lot of terms have been
translated, is finishing. G. Barseghian expressed a hope that the
Armenian version of this software package will become available to
users in the first quarter of 2008. It is envisaged that "Microsoft
Office 2007" will include a program to check Armenian spelling.

He did not rule out that other software packages of Microsoft will
be localized in future, which will be preceded by studies of the
Armenian market.

DAWKINS PUBLISHER MAY BE TRIED FOR ATTACK ON ‘SACRED VALUES’

Associated Press
Guardian Unlimited
Wednesday November 28, 2007

‘Assaulting sacred values’ … Richard Dawkins

A Turkish prosecutor is considering whether to prosecute the Turkish
publisher of Richard Dawkins’ bestselling atheist polemic, The God
Delusion, on the grounds that it incites religious hatred.

The publisher, Erol Karaaslan, said today that he expected to be
questioned on Thursday by an Istanbul prosecutor as part of an
official investigation, and faces prosecution both as its publisher
and translator. The book has sold some 6,000 copies in Turkey since
it was published by his Kuzey publishing house in June. The inquiry
apparently began after one reader complained that passages in the
book were an assault on "sacred values".

The investigation comes in the wake of controversy over the issue
of freedom of speech in Turkey after Orhan Pamuk’s prosecution in
2005. The Nobel prize-winner was tried under Article 301 of the Turkish
criminal code for "insulting Turkishness" following comments he made
to a Swiss magazine to the effect that a million Armenians had died in
Turkey during the first world war – "and nobody but me dares to talk
about it". The charges were eventually dropped. The author Elif Shafak,
too, was last year acquitted of similar charges brought over remarks
made by a character in her latest novel, The Bastard of Istanbul.

Karaaslan could be required to stand trial if the prosecutor concludes
that Dawkins’ book incites religious hatred and insults religious
values, and would face up to one year in prison if found guilty,
according to the Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet.

The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, is pressing Ankara
to change laws that curb free expression and do not conform to the
Union’s standards of free speech.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL FAILS TO GET RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE

Mediamax Agency, Armenia
Nov 28 2007

Yerevan, 28 November: The New Times Party announced today that the
Visa and Passports Department of the Police had refused to provide
the leader of the party, Aram Karapetyan, with a certificate proving
his continuous residence in Armenia in the last 10 years.

Aram Karapetyan is going to appeal the decision in court and is
ready to submit to the Central Election Commission all the necessary
documents stating his right to be registered as a presidential
candidate, the party press service told Mediamax news agency.

Karapetyan participated in the 2003 presidential election and
the 2007 parliamentary election. He was refused registration as a
parliamentary candidate from the Justice opposition bloc during the
2003 parliamentary election on the basis that he had not continuously
lived in Armenia in the previous five years.

SCANDINAVIAN ARCHDIOCESE CONDEMNS KIDNAPPING OF ASSYRIAN PRIEST IN TURKEY
Edited by AINA

Assyrian International News Agency
EasternStar New Agency
Nov 29 2007

The Syriac-Orthodox archdiocese of Sweden and Scandinavia condemns
the kidnapping of Fr. Daniel Savci in Turkey, an member of the Syriac
Orthodox Church.

"I’m shocked, hurt and upset. The violence towards Christians in
Islamic countries has to come to an end," said Archbishop Julios
Abdulahad. "The world community has to open its eyes to the religious
and ethnic cleansing that’s going on in Iraq and other countries in
the Middle East."

More than half of the Assyrian population in Iraq has been forced to
exile. Priests are kidnapped, nuns are raped and killed and children
crucified. The state of Iraq or the American troops cannot seem to
stop the violence. The kidnapping of father Daniel Savci is not only
reminding people about the violence in Iraq, it is also terrifying
members of the Syriac-Orthodox church around the world.

Regarding the demonstrations that took place after the cartoons
of Muhammed were published in the magazine Jyllandsposten, the
Archbishop said "thousands of Muslims joined the demonstration in
Midyat, the Christian city in southeast of Turkey, which 20 years
ago was populated mainly by Christians. Today the remaining 3000 in
Midyat and the surrounding villages are very afraid because of the
murder of Hrant Dink, an Armenian journalist, the brutal murders of
the missionaries in Malatya and several more incidents of oppression
of Christians."

According to the Archbishop, the Turkish police and army are
infiltrated with radical Muslims and nationalists. When the young man
who killed Hrant Dink was apprehended policemen proudly took pictures
with him. The murderer was seen as a hero ought to be hailed.

The rule of law for Christians has to fulfill the same function as for
Muslims. In the nineties twelve Christian leaders, among them doctors,
were killed in Tur Abdin, southeast of Turkey. Nobody was arrested.

The kidnapping of father Daniel Savci is a Swedish concern as it is
a Turkish concern. The majority of the Syriac-Orthodox who escaped
Tur Abdin now live in Sweden. The Archbishop appealed to Sweden’s
minister of foreign affairs, Carl Bildt, to monitor the situation
in Tur Abdin. "Sweden should send a delegation to oversee the
investigation done by the police force in Tur Abdin."

Primate Galstanian will celebrate Divine Liturgy in Toronto

armradio.am
01.12.2007 11:50

On Sunday, December 2, 2007 His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will
celebrate Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Toronto.
Serpazan Hayr will offer the ordination of Dpirs ceremony for Michael
Sagseoz, Nareg Zargaryan, Sako Kaltakjian, Saro Khachadourian, Saro
Vanes, Karnig Icliates, Press Office of the Armenian Church of Canada
reports.

This year, Toronto Armenian Community-Parish celebrates the 79th
anniversary of the Church. On this occasion, a special requiem service
will be held for the repose of the souls of late pastors of the Church,
parish council members, Godfathers and Benefactors who dedicated their
lives to the growth and prosperity of Holy trinity Armenian
Church-Parish.

Following the Holy Badarak luncheon will be served at Magaros
Artinitian Hall of the Church. A detailed press communiqué will be
released next week.

SIRUSHO TO REPRESENT ARMENIA IN "EUROVISION – 2008" INTERNATIONAL CONTEST

Noyan Tapan
Nov 16, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia will be represented by
variety art singer Sirusho in the "Eurovision – 2008" international
contest. The candidature of the singer was affirmed by the art council
of the Public TV Company of Armenia. According to the information
provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Diana Mnatsakanian, the
Head of the Foreign Relations Department of "H1", the song of Sirusho
in the 2008 contest will be decided as a result of the ballot held
among television watchers. It is already the third time Armenia is
taking part in the "Eurovision" contest in 2008.

According to Diana Mnatsakanian, it is accepted in Europe that when
the singer and song are elected by television watchers, next year
the choice is made by the art council of the public television of the
country. The choice of the singer was for the first time made by "H1",
and by television watchers for the second time, choosing Hayko and his
song. This time the singer representing Armenia in "Eurovision – 2008"
has again been chosen by "H1", however, earlier than envisaged: yet a
few days ago Diana Mnatsakanian informed a Noyan Tapan correspondent
that the admission of applications of participation was to continue
until the end of December. Public hearings were to be held by "H1"
in February 2008 and the singer to represent Armenia in the contest
was to be decided on the basis of the SMS-es sent by television
watchers. However, not waiting for the admission of applications,
"H1" announced the name of the singer.

CEC DISMISSES SUPREME COUNCIL – DEPUTY CLUB’S APPLICATION ON HOLDING MONITORING MISSION

Noyan Tapan
Nov 16, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Central Electoral Commission,
at the November 16 sitting, dismissed the application on accreditation
of observers of the Supreme Council – Deputy Club NGO. According to
Abram Bakhchagulian, the CEC Secretary, the documents introduced
by the above mentioned organization did not correspond to the RA
legislation. In particular, it is stipulated in the RA law On NGOs
that the words "supreme council," "government," "court" should not
be included in the names of NGOs.

Besides, according to A. Bakhchagulian, NGOs should hold a meeting
every two years and bring their regulations in line with the
legislation in force, which the Supreme Council – Deputy Club has
not been doing for already six years.

It was also mentioned that the Erebuni Communal Development Center and
Institute of Open Society NGOs have received a permission to implement
a monitoring mission in the forthcoming presidential elections.

ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF SUSPENDING THE NEGOTIATIONS

armradio.am
15.11.2007 11:11

EU Special representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby said
that Armenia and Azerbaijan understand the danger of suspending the
negotiations.

"Despite all the disappointments, the negotiations continue, and this
is an encouraging fact. I think that both parties understand the danger
of suspending the talks. In the uncertain situation, in which we are
today, it will mean that all that has been achieved in the framework
of the Prague process has disappeared, and it will be very difficult
to resume the process regardless of the fact who is elected President
in Armenia and Azerbaijan," EU Special Representative said.

Mr. Semneby expressed regret for the fact that "months and years pass,
during which Armenians and Azeris live on the opposite sides of the
confrontation line and have no contact."

"We already have a whole generation which has no idea about the life
of the opposite party. The worst thing is that they are "treated"
hostile images, and the longer the situation sustains, the more
complex it will become to solve the conflict," Peter Semneby.

IT IS PROPOSED USING LEGISLATIVE MECHANISM OF CONTROLLING JUDGES’ ACTIVITY BY PARLIAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Nov 14, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Citizens’ rights and legal interests
are violated by various judicial instances. As Armen Danielian,
a member of the RPA faction and Standing Committee for Human Rights
and Public Affairs, stated on November 13 at the RA National Assembly,
the evidence of this are many complaints received from citizens.

He said that after the constitutional reforms the parliament has
received the right to send two lawyer-scientists to the Justice
Council on business, which was done by the NA of the previous
convocation. However, the parliament does not know what activity
they promoted.

A. Danielian said that he is going to come up with a legislative
initiative in the nearest future, according to which lawyer-scientists
sent to the Justice Council on business by NA should make annual
reports at the parliament. This will enable lawyer-scientists to
present conclusions on individual judges’ activity and to take into
consideration deputies’ opinions when making up lists of judges’
candidature and progress.

COVERAGE OF DISABILITIES ELIGIBLE FOR CONTEST IN ARMENIA

International Journalist’s Network
Nov 14 2007

Armenian journalists who have reported on the need for equal
opportunities for disabled people can enter a nationwide competition.

The contest is open to online, print, radio or TV stories published
or broadcast sometime from November 20, 2006, to November 20, 2007.

Stories should address equal opportunities for disabled people,
including children. The grand prize is a new computer or the
equivalent sum.

Armenian NGO Bridge of Hope is organizing the contest with support
from the Danish charity Mission East.