Author: Torgomian Varazdat

GOVERNMENT TO WORK OUT COMPLEX PROGRAM ON TRANSPORT PROBLEMS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 21, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. Traffic problems in Yerevan make citizens
nervous and cause serious economic damage to the state, the prime
minister Tigran Sargsian said when responding to questions in the
parliament on May 21. According to him, the situation is worrying
and requires urgent solutions.

With this aim all the responsible departments were given instructions
to develop proposals, based on which a complex program will be worked
out. The government will receive the World Bank’s technical assistance
for traffic organization. As regards problems with organization
of police work, the prime minister said that the use of modern
technologies will allow to make traffic in Yerevan more transparent
and controllable.

In the words of T. Sargsian, one of the government’s priorities
is proportional territorial development. Despite the fact that one
third of the country’s population lives in Yerevan, 90% of the trade
turnover and two thirds of economic activity are concentrated in the
capital city. This excessive concentration has created problems both
for Armenia and Yerevan.

Numerous functions have been centralized in Yerevan, and part of
these functions should be transferred to marzes (provinces).

The prime minister said that the government will implement programs
in this direction as well. In particular, outgoing sessions of
the government will be held, during which measures on development
of marzes and "unloading" of Yerevan will be discussed with local
authorities. Adoption of a law on Yerevan and a legislative package
on improving the activities of local government bodies will also help
with solution of the indicated problems.

ARRESTED MPS DON’T RECEIVE THEIR SALARIES AS THEY DON’T GO TO WORK, A REPRESENTATIVE OF RPA FACTION THINKS

arminfo
2008-05-21 09:56:00

ArmInfo. Galoust Sahakyan, a representative of the parliamentary
faction of the Republican Party of Armenia, thinks that the
arrested MPs, particularly, Sasoun Mikayelyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan
and Hakob Hakobyan don’t receive their salaries as they don’t go to
work. Sahakyan expressed his opinion in a conversation with ArmInfo
correspondent.

"The one who led these people should have thought about this issue
as well.

Today Levon Ter-Petrosyan lives perfectly and could have solved this
problem", he stressed. At the same time, the MP noted that if the
authorities are asked to help in this matter, they are willing to
"display a relevant approach". To recall, the specified MPs were
arrested after the March 1 mass disorders in Yerevan.

DOCTOR LYNN JONES TO GIVE ILLUSTRATED TALK ON MEDIEVAL ARMENIAN KINGSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 16, 2008

BELMONT, MAY 16, AREMNIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Dr. Lynn Jones of
Florida State University will give an illustrated lecture entitled
"Between Islam and Byzantium: Aghtamar and the Visual Construction of
Medieval Armenian Kingship," on May 22 at the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center in Belmont. This
lecture is the second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian,
an architect and an active member and friend of NAASR.

CHAIRMAN OF GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT’S COMMISSION: "ARMENIA VOTED AGAINST THE RESOLUTION IN THE UN, AS IT IS CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH RUSSIA"

Azeri Press Agency
May 16 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva-APA. "I do not think that Armenia’s
voting against the resolution in the UN General Assembly will have
serious influence on our bilateral relations", Chairman of Georgian
Parliament’s Commission on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Gabashvili told
APA. He said that Russia had worked much for the voting to fail.

"You know that these countries are closely connected with each
other. That’s why Armenia voted against the resolution. Of course,
we regret this, but the main thing is that the document has been
adopted", he said.

Touching upon GUAM member state Moldova’s abstaining from the voting,
Konstantin Gabashvili said they understood this.

"Moldova also has special relations with Russia. Pressure was exerted
on this country’s ambassador", he said.

Konstantin Gabashvili expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for
supporting Georgia.

"I am grateful to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry and all Azerbaijani
People for supporting us in this hard work", he said.

SECOND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAREER FAIR HELD

Y EREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Second Annual IT Career Fair with the
participation of 30 information and communication technology (ICT)
companies of Armenia took place at the American University of Armenia
(AUA) on May 16. The fair was organized by the USAID-financed
Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project. The higher
educational institutions implementing IT educational programs – Yerevan
State University, State Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA),
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University, as well as the Union of IT
Enterprises of Armenia (UITE) were also invloved in the event’s
organization.

According to the CAPS director Hayley Alexander, the holding of an IT
career fair in 2007 allowed more than 20 students and graduates to find
jobs. Such fairs also pursue the goal of bringing together IT companies
and young specialists with great potential for development, which
allows to address the problem of supply and demand for qualified
employees.

The RA minister of labor and social affairs Artyom Asatrian said that
such events contribute to the strengthening of links between the
economy and the educational system, and the state also plays a
considerable role in this process.

Among companies – participants in the Second Career Fair were ArmenTel,
K-Telecom, Synopsys, Virage Logic, National Instruments, Epygy
Technologies, and Synergy.

VARDAN ADZEMIAN SIGNS CONTRACT WITH GALAXY FOOTBALL TEAM

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

GLENDALE, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Glendale Ararat
Chapter`s star soccer player, Vardan Adzemian just signed a one-year
contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy team. Adzemian also traveled
to Armenia last summer as part of the Pan Armenia games representing
the City of Glendale. Adzemian is currently on loan for a few months
to play for Oregon’s professional team, Portland Timbers. Adzemian
will be back in Los Angeles to play along world class soccer players,
David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Adzemian’s name is already listed
on the Los Angeles Galaxy roster.

UNESCO CAN’T TAKE ACTION FOR PROTECTION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.05.2008 15:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Protection of cultural monuments in Nagorno Karabakh
is an important issue, UNESCO Director-General said.

"Nagorno Karabakh is a political problem. No breakthrough has been
achieved for its solution so far and UNESCO can’t take action for
protection of historical monuments there," Koïchiro Matsuura said.

"UNESCO is not a political organization. We closely watch the
developments but we can’t interfere at the current stage of affairs."

Mr Matsuura informed that UNESCO is planning to dispatch a fact-finding
mission to the region but the terms have not been fixed yet. "It will
not be an easy mission," he said, the Azeri Press Agency reports.

–Boundary_(ID_xitvuGmwB62+vDDWL7hBng)–

MICROSOFT PRESENTS ‘WINDOWS SERVER 2008’, ‘VISUAL STUDIO 2008’, ‘SQL SERVER 2008’ IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-05-15 16:59:00

ArmInfo. Microsoft presented the latest MS developments – the software
"Windows Server 2008", "Visual Studio 2008", "SQL Server 2008" in
Armenia, Thursday. The presentation was held within the frames of
the IT Competitiveness and Innovation Conference in Armenia.

As Microsoft Armenian Country Manager Grigor Barseghyan told ArmInfo
correspondent, these products are presented to potential users of
system equipment. According to him, the advantage of the latest MS
developments is that the new and old versions of the products are
fully compatible. "So, today we issue licence not for old products,
but only for the latest versions, which, in its turn, gives clients
the right to use the previous ones as well", he stressed.

At the same time, Barseghyan noted that Microsoft has a number of
obligations to its clients. The company carries out its obligations by
supporting its clients through the phone and internet, making security
updates and drivers updates free of charge. "Microsoft is not engaged
in direct sales of its program products, but it specializes in the work
with users, the matter concerns only the users of licensed products",
he noted.

Barseghyan added that in Armenia MS cooperates with 30 partner
companies having licences, 5 or 6 of them are gold certified
partners. "MS ensures 95% of its business through the partners", he
specified. To note, in particular, the program products "Windows Server
2008", "Visual Studio 2008", "SQL Server 2008" give designers the full
set of tools to design and develop architecture and databases. To
recall, the Armenian office of Microsoft has been operating since
May 2006.

DEPRECIATION OF THE DOLLAR IS USEFUL FOR IMPORTERS ONLY

KarabakhOpen
15-05-2008 11:12:51

Along with the rise in the price of fuel and foodstuffs the rate of
the dollar is dropping in Karabakh, which sometimes creates major
obstacles for the implementation of government programs.

The depreciation of the dollar jeopardizes the projects of Armenia
Fund part of which are on the verge of failure.

The chair of the NKR National Assembly Committee of Finance and
Budget Benik Bakshiyan says "at first sight the depreciation of the
dollar should lead to dropping prices of food but in our country it
is the opposite."

He said in a talk with us that over the past 3 years the dollar has
depreciated by about 30 percent while the prices of food and fuel have
doubled. "It turns out that the depreciation of the dollar is useful
for importers only. Meanwhile, producers have a disadvantage now. I
am not the first person who brings up this issue but nobody acts,"
the member of parliament said.

Watertown Tab and Press
Watertown, MA
Watertown Town Council in 60 seconds
By Jillian Fennimore, Staff Writer
Wednesday April 23, 2008

WATERTOWN – Here’s a quick update of what went down during Tuesday’s meeting

· The Council honored this month’s Armenian Genocide commemoration by
presenting Newton resident David Boyajian with a
proclamation. Boyajian was instrumental in bringing the
Anti-Defamation League’s stance toward the Armenian Genocide to light
with a letter to the TAB & Press last year. Since then, many
communities have severed ties with the ADL and their `No Place for
Hate’ program.

· John Bartley and John Airasianwere re-appointed to the Traffic
Commission. Stuart Bailey was reappointed to the Zoning Board of
Appeals.

· Planning Director Greg Watson and representatives from the
Massachusetts Office of Business Development and Mass Development made
an informal presentation on planning for Pleasant Street, including an
`economic target area’ and an expedited permitting plan slated for the
redevelopment of Boston Scientific, which is currently vacant and up
for sale.

· Councilors accepted a proclamation recognizing Arbor Day.

· Reports were given to update the Council on work done with the
Personnel and Town Organization Committee, Public Safety Committee,
and Economic Development and Planning Committee.

· A resolution was voted on authorizing the acceptance and expenditure
of a cash settlement of at least $300 received by the Watertown Free
Public Library.

· Town Manager Michael Driscoll submitted the fiscal 2009 budget.

· Council President Clyde Younger announced the fiscal 2009 budget
hearing dates inside the Council Chamber at the Town Hall. The Council
will take a final vote of the budget on Tuesday, June 10.