Author: Vanyan Gary

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF AMERICA – EASTERN REGION TAKES PART IN EVENT DEDICATED TO ANNIVERSARY OF PONTIAN GENOCIDE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

NEW YORK, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee of America – Eastern Region took
part in an event dedicated to the 89th anniversary of the Pontian
Genocide, which took place in New York.

The event was organized by the Hellenic Societies of the Greater New
York and in the Pan-Pontian Federation of the United States of America
and Canada. Dimitris Milohides, the Secretary of the Pan-Pontian
Federation of the United States of America and Canada, turned to
those present calling to take decisive steps in the direction of the
recognition of the Pontian Genocide.

Karine Birazian as well addressed the crowd on behalf of the Armenian
National Committee of America. "The tragic sufferings of Armenians,
Assyrians and Greeks will never be forgotten. The Turkish government
is trying to silence us but we will not keep silent and together will
we reach the recognition of this great crime," she said.

The Potian Genocide has officially been recognized by Greece, Cyprus,
and in the United States of America by New York, New Jersey, Florida,
South California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Illinois states.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO WILLIAM SAROYAN’S 100th ANNIVERSARY TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 21, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. An international conference dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of great writer William Saroyan is envisaged to
be organized on October 6-10 in Armenia on the initiative of the RA
Ministry of Culture, Yerevan B. Brusov State Linguistic University,
and the Union of Writers of Armenia.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the Public Relations
Department of the RA Ministry of Culture, the conference’s goal
is to cover different aspects of W. Saroyan’s creative heritage,
considering it as a cultural value.

Specialists from the RA National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan State
University, K. Abovian State Pedagogical University, V. Brusov State
Linguistic University, writers, specialists in Saroyan studies,
art critics will take part in the conference. Reports are planned
on a number of subjects: Saroyan’s Aestheticism, Armenia’s Fate in
Saroyan’s Creations, Saroyan and the American Literature of His Time,
Saroyan’s Language and Style, Saroyan’s Plays, Saroyan and Cinema.

Attaching importance to W. Saroyan’s literary heritage’s world
significance, the organizers wish to invite specialists from the
United States, Europe, CIS countries. The conference will proceed
both in Yerevan and in Tsakhkadzor, and the conference’s materials
will be published in an individual brochure.

ROSGOSSTRAKH COMES TO ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-05-21 09:36:00

ArmInfo. The Council of the Central Bank of Armenia registered a new
insurance company – CJSC Rosgosstrakh-Armenia at the May 20 sitting. As
the CBA press-service told ArmInfo, the company obtained licence
for non-life insurance, particularly, insurance of cargo carriages,
ground transportation vehicles, property, car holder’s liability,
general liability, accident insurance, as well as insurance of fires
and disasters.

To note, Rosgosstrakh-Armenia is included in the largest insurance
group of Russia – Rosgosstrakh, 75% – 1 share of which belong to
Chairman of the group’s Board Daniil Khachaturov and his brother
Sergey Khachaturov after privatization in 2003; 25% + 1 share belong
to Russia. The Rosgosstrakh Group consists of OJSC Rosgosstrakh,
3 regional and 7 inter-regional insurance companies, RGS-Medicine
LLC, which makes surgical operations by compulsory health insurance,
as well as RGS-Life LLC, which is engaged in life-insurance and
non-governmental retirement insurance. The Rosgosstrakh Group was
awarded Ð~B++ rating (high reliability with positive outlook) by the
Expert RA Rating Agency in 2004, this rating was confirmed in 2006
as well.

At the moment, the number of insurance companies of Armenia is 11,
Rosgosstrakh- Armenia inclusive.

–Boundary_(ID_of4zvuVQ4ERYc5DQdfnmTw) —

TURKISH SCIENTISTS AND POLITICIANS FEAR TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.05.2008 15:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ According to the Cypriot Constitution, the
Armenian community of Cyprus is a national minority empowered to have
representatives in the parliament and government.

"Election of Marios Garoyian the Parliament Speaker of Cyprus has
cemented the positions of the Armenian community as a full-fledged
participant in the country’s political processes," head of the Hai
Dat Office Cyprus Hakob Manoogian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"We are proud that the Speaker represents the Armenian community. I’d
like to mention that Garoyan doesn’t conceal his Armenian origin. But
we all are citizens of Cyprus and work for its glory," he said.

Mr Manoogian also informed that the Hai Dat Cypriot Office serves
on the European Armenian Federation (EFAJD). "We coordinate our
moves with the EFAJD leadership. As you know, Cyprus recognizes the
Armenian Genocide. More and more Turkish Cypriots admit that Turkey
really perpetrated the Genocide.

However, Turkish scientists and politicians fear to publicly
acknowledge this historical fact," he emphasized.

EXAMS OF YEREVAN COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 2-20

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 20, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The exams of Yerevan comprehensive
schools will be held on June 2-20. As Onik Vatian, the Head of the
Education Department of Yerevan Mayor’s Office, said at the May 19
press conference, the pupils of the 4th, 9th, and 11th forms will take
exams. According to him, the process of preparation of organization
of state final joint exams for the 11th form has finished. This year
besides the Armenian Language and Literature subjects, the leavers
will take united final exams in Mathematics and Foreign Language.

O. Vatian assured that proper and equal conditions for holding of exams
have been created for all leavers. He said that application-bids
filled by leavers had been collected earlier and presented to
the Knowledge and Testing Center of the RA Ministry of Education
and Science. According to O. Vatian, examination tests have been
already brought from England. They will be given to schools just on
the examination day. The united exams will be held in examination
centers. 19 such centers have been already created in Yerevan. Video
cameras will be installed in the centers.

It was also mentioned that the number of leavers of comprehensive
educational institutions within the jurisdiction of the Mayor’s Office
is 11 592 this year.

The FINANCIAL, Georgia
May 18 2008

EBRD buys equity stake in Armenian meat producer

18/05/2008 17:32

The FINANCIAL — Kiev . The EBRD is acquiring a 28.3 percent-stake in
the Armenian meat producer NatFood CJSC for $4 million. The funds will
be used for expanding business by building new production facilities
with state-of-the-art equipment in compliance with international
quality standards.

The Armenian market for processed meat is growing rapidly and the
company’s strategy is to become a leading player. The emergence of a
middle class who can afford and ask for products of better and safer
quality is seen as a special opportunity. The company’s products, sold
under the `Biella’ brand name, already enjoy high reputation on the
local market.

NatFood was established as a spin-off of the meat processing business
of Valletta LLC. Valletta was founded in 1999 as a trading group by
the local entrepreneur Henrik Zakharyants, who was previously the sole
owner. It has since grown into a wide-ranging business group,
including wholesale, retail and food processing.

EBRD First Vice President Varel Freeman said the Bank’s acquisition of
an equity stake showed `our confidence in our new partner. We have
been very impressed by the strong performance of the company over the
past years and we will now support its further development and
strengthening.’

Armen Khudinyan, CEO of NatFood, added: `Having the EBRD on board – in
the truest sense of the word – is a massive boost for our
enterprise. It does not only strengthen us financially but we will
also benefit from the Bank’s expertise and know-how in our country and
region.’

To-date, the EBRD has invested more than ?¬170 million in 50
projects in all sectors of the Armenian economy. The strong growth in
recent years has also resulted in higher demand for EBRD finance.

DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY SECTOR WILL NOT REDUCE ELECTRICITY BILLS

KarabakhOpen
15-05-2008 11:13:46

As a result of the development programs of the energy sector Karabakh
which now imports electricity will start to export it. The prime
minister and the heads of the relevant agencies assert this.

During the news conference two days ago Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan
said with regard to the rise in price of gas that in a few years the
demand of gas will not be so high because houses can be heated with
electricity which will be cheaper.

In answer to the question if the electricity bills will be reduced
after the development of the energy sector, the prime minister
said the tariffs will not change but electricity will be cheaper in
Karabakh (in Karabakh 1 kW costs 20 drams compared with 25 drams in
Armenia). "We must also think about businesses which must generate
profit," Ara Harutiunyan said.

As to the rise in price of gas, the prime minister said the government
is not going to subsidize gas but a social aid program for the
vulnerable category of people will be worked out. "In the social aid
programs of the state budget 2009 we will take into consideration
not only the rise in the price of gas but also foodstuffs," Ara
Harutiunyan said.

ARMENIA IS READY TO SUPPORT CHINA IN ABOLITION OF EARTHQUAKE CONSEQUENCES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the destructive
earthquake, which took place in the Sichuan province of China, Serge
Sargsian, the President of the Republic of Armenia, has sent a message
of condolence to Hu Jintao, the President of the People’s Republic
of China. "We share the deep sorrow of the families and relatives
of those killed in the earthquake and wish a guick recovery to those
injured," is sais in the message.

Taking into consideration the experience of Armenia in abolition of
earthquake consequences, Serge Sargsian stated about the readiness
of Armenia in showing necessary assistance.

GEORGIA NOTIFIES CIS OF WITHDRAWAL FROM AIR DEFENSE AGREEMENT

RIA Novosti
18:12 | 14/ 05/ 2008

TBILISI, May 14 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia’s Foreign Ministry has
announced its withdrawal from a 1995 CIS unified air defense agreement
signed by a number of former Soviet republics, including Russia.

Tbilisi officially notified the Foreign Ministry of Belarus, as the
depository of the document, of its decision on Wednesday. Georgia will
cease to comply with the agreement 12 months after Belarus receives
the notification.

The CIS is an alliance of former Soviet republics and the unified
air defense system includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

The Georgian ministry officially notified Russia on May 5 that it
would withdraw from a bilateral air defense agreement of April 19,
1995. A Georgian deputy defense minister said earlier his country
saw no practical benefit from the treaty with Moscow.

The move came amid rising military tensions between Russia and
Georgia over the breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. Russia has said that Georgia is planning a military
operation in the republics, while the international community has
expressed concern over Russia’s buildup of peacekeeping troops in
the disputed areas.

Georgia had previously withdrawn from the CIS Defense Ministers
Council, although it formally remained in the CIS unified air defense
system.

According to Russian military experts, Georgia’s withdrawal will not
disrupt the operation of the unified air defense system, as Georgia
is not a key chain in the missile defense security system.

Political analysts however noted a political element to Tbilisi’s
withdrawal from the agreement as Georgia continues its efforts to
move closer to NATO and away from the CIS.

2007 BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS FOR PRESIDENTIAL STAFF COMPLETELY USED

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 13, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. 2.8 billion drams was envisaged by the
2007 state budget for the RA president’s staff, and this sum was almost
completely used, the RA chief treasurer Atom Janjughazian said at the
May 13 sitting of the RA National Assembly standing committees. Out of
the indicated sum, 2.53 billion drams was envisaged for maintenance
expenditures and about 450 million drams – for major repairs of some
administrative facilities. However, during 2007, a necessity arose to
make redistribution and increase the expenditures on major repairs of
the administrative facilities by reducing the current expenditures,
and 726 million drams envisaged by the corrected program for this
purpose was completely used.

Besides, the president’s staff allocated 112.8 million drams to the
Institute of Political Studies, 100 million drams – to the anti-smoking
program and 100 million drams – to the program of state assistance
to NGOs.