Author: Vardanian Garo

THREE SCIENTIFIC CENTERS OF CHEMISTRY SECTOR DEMAND REVIEWING GOVERNMENTAL DECOSION ON CREATION OF SECTORAL SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER

Noyan Tapan
Mar 22 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Directors of three institutes
subordinate to the RA National Academy of Sciences – the Institute
of Fine Organic Chemistry (IFOC), the Institute of Organic Chemistry
(IOC), and the Molecular Structure Research Institute (MSRI) – have
sent letters to the president and the prime minister of Armenia
with the request to review the October 12 governmental decision on
establishment of the Scientific Technological Center of Organic and
Pharmaceutical Chemistry. This was stated at the March 21 press
conference convened at the IFOC by the management of the above
mentioned scientific centers. According to Vigen Topuzian, acting
director of IFOC, the governmental decision was made without taking
into account the opinion of the staff of these institutes. He said
that after the decision, some well-founded proposals on review of
the decision have been sent to the government. It was noted that
formation of the center through unification of three scientific
centers is artificial: the fact these three institutes represent
different scientific directions was not taken into account. MSRI
director Harutyun Karapetian said that the creation of the center is
an initiative of the Presidency of the RA National Academy of Sciences
(NAS), which, however, is only an imitation of reforms in science. In
his words, during the March 13 extended sitting of the natural sciences
department of the RA NAS it became clear that the heads and members
of this department have no idea about the scientific directions and
administrative-economic structure of the new center, as well as about
criteria that a candidate for the post of the center director must
meet. According to the letter, taking all this into consideration,
at the joint sitting of scientific councils of the three institutes
a decision was made to recall the candidates nomunaited for the post
of director of the Scientific Technological Center of Organic and
Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

KEY HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON THE DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 10:25

On Capitol Hill, a key House Subcommittee held a hearing on the Darfur
Accountability and Divestment Act (H. R. 180). The bill, spearheaded by
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), prohibits US government contracts
with companies that conduct business operations in Sudan, with the
purpose of exerting economic pressure against the government of the
Republic of Sudan for its human rights abuses and participation in
the crime of genocide.

The Armenian Assembly of America submitted testimony for the record
in support of current efforts to bring legitimate pressure on
the government, to affect change in its domestic and international
conduct, toward addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Darfur,
and preventing future violence in that region.

The Assembly’s testimony said in part, "Armenian-Americans, as
descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, cannot remain
indifferent to the suffering of the people of Darfur. Inaction is
not an acceptable course of action."

PETER SEMNEBY: ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MUST WORK WITH THE SOCIETIES

ArmRadio.am
20.03.2007 13:35

Today Azerbaijan and Armenia must work with their societies more
actively for signing a peace agreement, EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told "Trend." According to him,
"both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides can do much more in the
settlement of the Karabakh issue."

"It’s time for the parties to seriously address the issue of signing
an agreement. We hope that in compliance with the principles we issued
at the end of the past year and based on the results of the meeting
between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan and
Ilham Aliyev, it is possible to reach an agreement," the EU Special
Representative added.

SME DNC AND OSCE YEREVAN OFFICE SIGN MEMORANDUM ON COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia’s Small and Medium
Entrepreneurship Development National Center" (SME DNC) Fund and the
OSCE Yerevan Office will implement a joint program of assistance
to SME subjects in Armenia. The sides on March 20 signed a mutual
understanding and cooperation memorandum on this. The document was
signed by the SME DNC Director Ishkhan Karapetian and the OSCE Yerevan
Office Head, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin.

Within the framework of the memorandum, the OSCE Yerevan Office
will assist the SME DNC and other structures related to the sector’s
development in participation in European initiatives on SME support,
integration into organizations and information networks, developement
of expert resources.

After signing the document, I. Karapetian and V. Pryakhin underlined
that in recent years the structures headed by them have cooperated
within the framework of various projects on SME assistance.

V. Pryakhin said that the 5th anniversary of the SME DNC was celebrated
on March 19. He pointed out that the SME sector of Armenia is
undergoing a "certain and definite development" with the assistance
of civil society and international structures. One evidence is
the growth of SME share in GDP – it increased from 20% to 40% from
2002 to 2006. According to the ambassador, the experience of SME
development in Armenia can be used in other countries, particularly
in CIS countries. In his opinion, financing of SME subjects remains an
important problem in Armenia. V. Pryakhin attached special importance
to introduction of European standards of SME development from the
viewpoint of solution of this and other problems.

He and I. Karapetian noted that assistance to SME development in
Armenia is now viewed within the framework of the European Neighborhood
Policy. In the words of I. Karapetian, in 2006, SME subjects accounted
for 17% of Armenia’s export, while their tax revenues – for 28%
of the total amount of tax revenues.

Counter culture: Mirabelle tempts with every course
Allen Pierleoni, The Sacramento Bee – California – KRTBN
Published: Mar 16, 2007

So what’s wrong with having a heaping plate of high-end pastries for
lunch? Where is it written that you can’t do that? Other than in "The
Book of Common Sense"? Which is in dire need of revision, anyway.

In the end, though, we were conscientious diners. Instead of eating a
heaping plate of fancy pastries for lunch, we had a more traditional
lunch before we ate the heaping plate of fancy pastries. It made sense
to us at the time, and we left feeling quite virtuous. And as stuffed
as Thanksgiving turkeys.

But let’s back up: Lunch pals Sally, Mary and Ann-Michele and I had
met at a fairly remote outpost in Fair Oaks called Mirabelle European
Pastry Cafe. It’s situated near residential neighborhoods, but
word-of-mouth is spreading. I was the only guy in the place. The
tables were occupied by women who kept rolling their eyes in
appreciation of the delicacies set before them.

We looked at the lengthy lunch menu posted on a wall. Well, we looked
at it after we cruised the cold case filled with various bakery
delights, all handcrafted on site: cream puffs in the shape of swans,
fragile baked meringues topped with glazed fresh strawberries, creamy
tiramisu and crAme brAlee, eclairs and napoleons, baklava and fruit
tarts, moist cakes topped with nuts, pies oozing fruit, cookies and
croissants, pierogis and artisan breads. We nearly swooned. And look
at that — life-size chocolate mice with little eyes and ears. The
fudgelike cake beneath the chocolate coating was so rich that all I
could manage to eat was part of a head.

Back to the menu board: There’s a nice selection of salads (eight of
them), "small bites" (hot wings, shrimp with avocado, calamari),
sandwiches (six of them, plus burgers), soups and entrees (quiche,
lamb chops, ravioli, fish, chicken). Pastry prices range from 75 cents
to $2.50 per piece; lunch-dinner plates are $4.50 to $19.50.

We ordered a bowl of extraordinary chicken vegetable soup, expertly
seasoned and chunky with pieces of tender breast meat and al dente
veggies. "I like it because it’s not salty," Sally said. I liked it
because it was probably the best I’ve ever tasted.

The big wedge of ham quiche was moist and creamy, so overflowing with
flavor and texture that each bite was a revelation. "I’ve never had
better quiche," said Mary, a world traveler and no stranger to the
table.

The burger was a handful — two meaty patties with melted imported
cheese and fresh condiments on a fresh bun, with OK fries on the side.

The salmon salad was heaped on a plate that could have been roomier,
given all the ingredients: grilled dill-glazed salmon (a bit
overcooked), feta cheese, yellow bell pepper, tomato, crunchy pickle
slices, fresh cucumber and bright field greens, dampened with tangy
vinaigrette dressing.

Ann-Michele is a vegetarian, so she got a mix of egg salad and al
dente potato salad on house-baked bread. The bread was the real deal
— dark, thick and substantial, with actual flavor. "I like the
egg-potato salad because it’s not squishy," she said.

We also sampled a scoop of remarkable chicken salad — cold and
crunchy and chunky. Next time, I’ll get a pint to go.

On the phone a few days later, co-owner (with her brother and parents)
Leana Aivazian said that her family came from Armenia about 16 years
ago, where they were involved in similarly themed restaurant-bakeries.

"My philosophy is I want to make sure everything is perfect," she
said. "These are all family recipes. I wrote the recipes for the
(breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes), my parents wrote the recipes for
the pastries and desserts, and the bread recipes are from my uncle."

One last thing: "Mirabelle" is the French word for a type of plum used
to make a unique brandy in Alsace, a grape-growing region in
northeastern France.

But in this case, explained Aivazian, a mirabelle is the house
specialty pastry, constructed of white spongecake, fresh fruit,
custard cream and whipped cream. Uh, we saved those for later.

Mirabelle European Pastry Cafe

WHERE: 7318 Winding Way, Fair Oaks.

One way to get there: Take I-80 east to the Madison Avenue exit and
turn right at the light. Take Madison to Manzanita and turn
right. Take Manzanita to Winding Way and turn left. Look for the
restaurant on the right. If you dead-end into San Juan Avenue, you’ve
passed it.

HOURS: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays Fridays; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekends

FOOD: 4 stars

AMBIENCE: 4 stars

HOW MUCH: $-$$

INFORMATION: (916) 535-0100

Clubcall, UK
March 16 2007

Ajax striker signs new deal
20070316 16:13

Armenian international striker Edgar Manucharyan has agreed a new
deal at Ajax to stay in Amsterdam until the summer of 2011.
The 20-year-old’s original contract was due to expire on 30 June
2008, but the former FC Pyunik trainee has signed fresh terms on a
four-year deal running from July 2007.

Manucharyan, who has eleven caps for Armenia, made his debut for Ajax
at AZ Alkmaar 18 months ago, but has not figured a great deal this
season.
He scored his first goal in a Ajax’s UEFA Cup win against Austria
Vienna earlier this season.

Provisional status is not favorable for Karabakh

17-03-2007 13:54:10 – KarabakhOpen

A provisional status is dangerous for all the countries of the region.
Anything that stopped halfway may reproduce, said Major-General Vitaly
Balasanyan, former NKR deputy minister of defense.

After the meeting in Geneva the Russian co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group Merzlyakov stated that two main issues are under consideration:
pullout of Armenian force from the liberated territories and a
provisional status of Karabakh.

Balasanyan said the status of Karabakh should be the central issue of
the talks. `Armenia and Azerbaijan must sign a peace agreement. We
cannot pretend there was no war. On the contrary, there must be a
clear evaluation who started the war, who won, who lost, who is
responsible for human lives and damage, and how it should be
contributed.

I do not think there is point in discussing the return of territories.
Why is Karabakh viewed within the borders of the former
Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region? These borders were drawn in the
soviet period. Do we want to bring back those times? If yes, let us
rebuild Berlin wall,’ said the general.

He warned that imposing a status on the people of Karabakh may produce
unexpected consequences. `We are for a peace settlement and we follow
attentively the ongoing processes. But if they try to impose a status
on us like in 1990, which will break our right to live, people will
emerge who will rise for armed struggle,’ Balasanyan said.

ATACAL CALLS ON ALL TURKS TO ATTEND PROTESTS AGAINST ALLEGATIONS OF SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Turkish Press
March 16 2007

NEW YORK – Ulker Aksu, chairperson of the Association of Turkish
American Contend with Armenian Lies (ATACAL), has called on all
Turkish people living in the United States to attend demonstrations
to be held in New York and Washington D.C. to protest the allegations
on so-called Armenian genocide.

Holding a news conference, Aksu said that the first one of protests
would take place in New York`s Times Square on April 21st, and the
second one in Washington D.C. on April 22nd.

"We also want to erect a monument in New Jersey out of respect to
Turkish diplomats who were slain by Armenian terrorists. We held talks
with Turkish Consul General in New York Mehmet Samsar," Ulker added.

Meanwhile, Hayati Tekin, mayor of Kutlukent town of the northern
Turkish city of Samsun from the delegation of Turkish mayors visiting
New York, said in his part, "Armenian allegations are nothing but
lies. They unfoundedly accuse the Ottomans which embraced all nations."

"The monument to be erected in New Jersey for the memory of Turkish
diplomats will cost about 300 thousand USD. We, as the Union of
Turkish Municipalities (TBB), will be pleased to pay it," Tekin added.

ARMENIAN SPEAKER DECLINES TO PLEDGE CLEAN VOTE
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
March 15 2007

Parliament speaker Tigran Torosian said on Thursday that the May
parliamentary elections will be vital for Armenia’s future but
pointedly stopped short of promising that they will be free and fair.

Torosian made the point that the significance of the proper conduct
of the vote goes far beyond hundreds of millions in additional Western
assistance to Armenia, notably a $235 million aid package promised by
the United States under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) program.

Visiting Yerevan last week, a senior official from a U.S. government
agency handling the scheme reiterated that the release of the funds is
contingent on "significant improvement over past [Armenian] elections."

Torosian said the official, John Hewko, told him that "unless there
are good elections, the program could be terminated." "During our
conversation I said that any assistance is certainly important for
Armenia," he said. "But these elections are even more significant
for Armenia’s future than tens of millions of dollars in aid."

The Armenian authorities have assured both the U.S. and the European
Union that the polls slated for May 12 will be more democratic than
the ones held until now.

But Torosian, who is a leading member of the governing Republican
Party (HHK), made no such forecasts on Thursday. "I can predict with
certitude only those things that depend only on myself," he told a
news conference.

Asked whether be is confident that the HHK will not resort to vote
rigging, Torosian replied, "Who do you mean by the Republicans? The
Republican Party has tens of thousands of members. Can anybody pledge
to control the actions of each of those tens of thousands of members?

I don’t think so."

"I can’t exclude that something [bad] involving a member of the
Republican Party might happen," the Armenian speaker added. He
claimed at the same time that the HHK leaders are committed to free
and fair elections

Two of those leaders, Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian and Minister
for Local Government Hovik Abrahamian, have played keys roles in
the conduct of the previous Armenian elections marred by serious
irregularities. Earlier this month, Abrahamian was appointed as HHK
campaign manager.

The ruling party, which makes no secret of its intention to again
get the largest number of seats in parliament, is already facing
opposition accusations of foul play. Reports in the Armenian press
have likewise alleged that the Republicans are illegally using their
grip on most central and local governments for that purpose. Party
officials deny the allegations.

IN WORDS OF CEC CHAIRMAN, TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF PREPARING AND HOLDING MAY 12 ELECTIONS TO MAKE NEARLY 875.5 MLN DRAMS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 14 sitting RA CEC made
changes in a number of decisions made earlier, as well as invalidated
some decisions.

In particular, due to amendments made to the Electoral Code, the
points of the schedule of main events of preparation and holding
RA elections regarding formation of district centers and holding of
votings at RA diplomatic or consular representations were recognized
as invalid. This is conditioned by the circumstance that according
to the amendments made to the Electoral Code, henceforth votings will
be held only in RA territory.

The Commission unanimously established the order of assisting citizens
not able to fill in the ballot-paper on their own in connection with
their poor eyesight. According to that order, another citizen can
help such citizens at their request, but he must not be CEC member or
empowered body. For the first time is is planned to give electoral
commissions a cardboard patterns corresponding to the ballot-paper
with holes instead of the tetragon intended for marking. A voter can
do another actions connected with voting on his own or with the help
of a commission member or citizen accompanying him.

CEC also approved the estimate of expenditures connected with
preparation and holding of 2007 parliamentary elections. According
to the estimate, over 678.4 mln drams (nearly 1.9 mln USD) will be
allocated from the state budget for this purpose. In the words of
CEC Chairman Garegin Azarian, in consideration of the expenditures
of making ballot-boxes and training commission members, in total,
the expenditures will make 875.5 mln drams, which is 1.04 USD per
one voter. 255.4 mln drams or 0.19 USD per one voter was spent in 2003.