Author: Vardanian Garo

OBAMA: SQUARING THE CIRCLE ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Huffpost
May 8, 2009

April 24th, 2009, President Barack Obama issued a statement
commemorating Armenian Remembrance Day–the day when Armenians
worldwide recall the genocidal assault on their community that
ultimately took the lives of 1.5 million in the post-WWI era.

In the weeks leading up to the 24th, both Turks and Armenians held
their breath in anticipation, or dread, of the language the President
would use in describing the Armenian tragedy.

During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Obama had been forceful,
not only in declaring that the events of 1915 were genocide, but
in criticizing those who would not do so. In a statement issued on
January 19, 2008, Obama said:

"As a U.S. Senator, I have stood with the Armenian American community
in calling for Turkey’s acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide…the
Armenian Genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a
point of view, but rather a widely documented fact…An official
policy that calls on diplomats to distort the historical facts is an
untenable policy…as President I will recognize Armenian Genocide."

During his April 2009 visit to Turkey, President Obama carefully raised
this sensitive issue during his address to the Turkish Parliament. By
beginning with a lesson learned from US history, he sought to prod
his hosts into dealing with their past:

"The Untied States is still working through some of our own darker
periods in our own history…our country still struggles with the
legacies of slavery and segregation, the past treatment of Native
Americans…History is often tragic, but unresolved, it can be a heavy
weight. Each country must work through its past. And reckoning with the
past can help us seize a better future. I know there’s strong views
in this chamber about the terrible events of 1915. And while there’s
been a good deal of commentary about my views, it’s really about how
the Turkish and Armenian people deal with the past. And the best way
forward for the Turkish and Armenian people is a process that works
through the past in a way that is honest, open and constructive."

The stage was set for the 24th, with a great deal of speculation,
but without anyone knowing for certain exactly how the new President
would reconcile: his personal beliefs and his commitment to Armenian
Americans; the importance he places on the US-Turkish relationship;
and his desire to see a stable Turkish and Armenian future.

Then, two days before Remembrance Day, the Turkish and Armenian
governments announced that they had agreed to a "road map" for
normalizing relations.

Concerned that he not disrupt this process, Obama’s statement on the
24th reflected this development. In part, his statement read:

"Ninety four years ago, one of the great atrocities of the 20th century
began. Each year, we pause to remember the 1.5 million Armenians who
were subsequently massacred or marched to their death in the final days
of the Ottoman Empire. The Meds Yeghern must live on in our memories,
just as it lives on in the hearts of the Armenian people…I have
consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view
of that history has not changed. My interest remains the achievement
of a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts…The best
way to advance that goal right now is for the Armenian and Turkish
people to address the facts of the past as a part of their efforts to
move forward… To that end, there has been courageous and important
dialogue among Armenians and Turks, and within Turkey itself. I also
strongly support the efforts by Turkey and Armenia to normalize
their bilateral relations… the two governments have agreed on a
framework and road map for normalization. I commend this progress,
and urge them to fulfill its promise."

Some Armenian American organizations were outraged, others
disappointed.

Said one, "President Obama’s refusal to push Turkey to recognize
its genocide against Armenians–or even to use the ‘g word’–fell
far short of the clear promise he made as a candidate that he would,
as President, fully and unequivocally recognize this crime against
humanity."

One Armenian American publication, however, did note with satisfaction,
that while Obama did not repeat the word genocide, he made clear that
his position had not changed and he did use the Armenian term Meds
Yeghern to describe the horrors of 1915.

For their part Turks were also displeased, with commentators from
left to right agreeing with this editorial in Milliyet, "Obama made
the harshest statement that has ever been uttered by a US President
since Ronald Reagan.

Yes, he did not use the word genocide, but his statement was harsh,
unilateral, and accusing."

Faced with difficult choices, what Obama did was "square
the circle." As another Turkish writer noted, "Obama made a
statement…which annoyed both Ankara and the Armenians…it can be
claimed that Obama, who annoyed everybody in an equal way, successfully
attained his purpose."

As the White House now turns its attention, in May, to address the
equally sensitive and complex challenges of the Middle East, there
are lessons in the President’s handling of this Turkish-Armenian
conundrum for all to learn.

MATTHEW BRYZA’S MISTAKE "SAMOOPREDELENIE": DELIBERATE OR UNDELIBERATE? – ANALYSIS

APA
May 8 2009
Azerbaijan

Prague talks showed that Turkey-Armenia rapprochement had more negative
influence on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict

Baku. Vugar Masimoglu – APA. The presidents’ Prague meeting that
had been expected to play the decisive role in the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict did not give the expected results. The most
interesting is that for the first time the statements on the outcomes
of the meeting differed from one another distinctly.

-The co-chairing country confirms the Prague meeting took place in
an uneasy manner

Both the statements of the co-chairs at the press conference after
the meeting, and American co-chair Matthew Bryza’s interview to Radio
Liberty showed that the talks were held in constructive manner,
the sides agreed on the ideas of the basic principles. But these
optimistic statements contradict the information given by diplomatic
sources. According to the source, the talks took place in an uneasy
manner, Armenia again tried to put into discussion a formula it had
proposed two years ago. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner’s
assessment of the meeting also confirmed the information given by
the diplomatic source. Mr. Kouchner said in his interview to Ekho
Moskvi radio station that the meeting was held in an uneasy manner,
there were still many divergences between the sides. Contradictions
in the assessments confirm that the Prague meeting did not produce
expected results.

-Why Armenia puts into discussion the proposals made two years ago?

Armenia’s attempts to put into discussion the proposals debated
before the Madrid process, mean that the views that agreement will
be reached soon on the basic principles of the settlement are not
convincing. Actually, official Yerevan’s attempts to change the
direction of the dialogue have objective reasons. Putting into
discussion the proposals made before the Madrid process means that
Armenia deviates from the settlement proposal that is on the table
(though while coordinating the presidents’ meeting, the issues to be
discussed are also coordinated accurately between the sides). There
had been such an assumption before the Prague meeting, Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said after meeting with the
U.S. Secretary of State "Armenia still has hesitations over the
settlement of the conflict and it will be known in the Prague meeting
whether the process, which began with great hopes, will produce
results or not." Prague meeting indeed showed that official Yerevan
was not ready for the process of settlement and had hesitations,
there is no other explanation to President Serzh Sargsyan’s refusing
the settlement formula on the table and putting into discussion the
proposals debated and not coordinated two years.

Three objective reasons of Yerevan’s hesitations Armenia’s hesitations
have objective reasons. Firstly, putting into discussion the old
proposals means that the process of settlement is delayed and Armenia
gains extra time. Secondly, after the start of the six-party political
dialogue on the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Armenian
Diaspora increased pressures on official Yerevan. It is proved by the
fact that the leaders of the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) refused to meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
during his visit to the United States. This demonstrative refusal means
that Armenian Diaspora is dissatisfied with the plan of solution that
is on the table. Armenia, which agreed to the process of settlement
at the urgent request of the co-chairing countries of Minsk Group,
faced pressures of Armenian Diaspora. The only way out for Sargsyan
government to balance the pressures exerted from both sides is to
delay the process of settlement and gain time. The best way is to
put the old proposals on the table again, and this was what Serzh
Sargsyan did in Prague.

-Turkey-Armenia rapprochement struck the first blow on Nagorno
Karabakh conflict!

The third objective reason is the notable improvement in Armenia-Turkey
relations. From the very beginning official Yerevan claimed that the
reopening of the borders with Turkey had no links to the settlement
of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At first similar colours were observed
in Turkey’s position, but later it was stated on various levels
that the reopening of borders was parallel to the settlement of
the conflict. Though American co-chair Matthew Bryza said in his
interview to the Radio Liberty that the process took place in
parallel, he underlined that they did not depend on each other:
"Nagorno Karabakh and improvement of Turkey-Armenia relations are two
separate processes. They are moving in parallel, but with different
speed. And an improvement in one has positive influence on the
other." In his statement the co-chair confirmed that improvement of
Turkey-Armenia relations was more ahead of the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. This is one of the factors making Armenia change
the agenda easily. Taking into account that the relations with Turkey
moved forward enough, became an irresistible process, Turkey will not
stop the process, even if there is no improvement in the settlement
of the conflict, Yerevan wanted to put Azerbaijan before facts.

Most likely Yerevan thinks that Turkey will not keep its promise
"the borders with Armenia will be not opened until the solution of
Nagorno Karabakh problem" under the foreign pressure. It will be clear
soon how it will be justified, but the fact remains: "Turkey-Armenia
rapprochement strengthened the political position of Yerevan and
contrary to the expectations this process negatively effected on
the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict". The Yerevan’s policy
"first open the borders and then we will see the settlement of
the conflict" probably is supported by the United States, one of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. The answer to an enigma of Matthew
Bryza, who valued the Prague meeting, "that progress of one of the
processes will have a positive impact on the other" is following:
"The opening of Turkey-Armenia borders should take place before the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh problem and this process will promote
the settlement of the conflict". With these ideas, the US co-chair
supported the Armenia’s tactic "first open the borders and then we
will see the settlement of the conflict" in Prague.

– "Samoopredelenie"(self-determination) or
"samoupravlenie"(self-administration) ?

There is one more interesting point in the Matthew Bryza’s evaluation
of the meeting. The US co-chair said that in his interview two
weeks ago the Azerbaijani president told that he respected the
self-determination right of Nagorno Karabakh Armenians and Bryza
considered it as a preparation of Azerbaijani population to agree
with one of the basic principles. "President Aliyev spoke about the
Lachin corridor and its role in the security, self-administration and
self-determination (added in Russian "samoopredelenie") of Karabakh
population. With this statement, he made a significant step toward
the preparation of Azerbaijani population to the agreement on basic
principles". He referred to the interview of Azerbaijani President
to Vesti and ITAR-TASS agency on April 18 during his working visit
to Moscow, but there are no such ideas in the part of interview
Matthew Bryza referred. "Our proposal contains the security of the
people living in Nagorno Karabakh and the people to live there in
future; local self-administration of Nagorno Karabakh; restoration
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The decision on the status
of Nagorno Karabakh can be delayed for uncertain time. We support the
proposals of Minsk Group co-chairs at present. Results of the conflict
should be eliminated and Armenia must withdraw its occupant forces
from the territories outside the administrative borders of Nagorno
Karabakh as well. We understand that above-ground corridor between
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh is important for the Armenian side and
we don’t see a problem in this issue. The issues related to Lachin
corridor can be resolved so usefully that the people living in Nagorno
Karabakh today and the Azerbaijanis returned there after the solution
to the conflict will not concern over the communication blockade.

We approach this issue so that it can be possible to be resolved. The
restoration of territorial integrity, guarantee for security, return
of all refugees and displaced persons to their historic homelands in
Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding territories and making decision in
future on the status of Nagorno Karabakh acceptable for both sides are
coordinated in both our and OSCE Minsk Group proposals. There is can’t
be unilateral decision on the status of Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan
will never participate in the processes considered the mechanisms
of legal separation of Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan. This is our
univocal position.

At the same time, we understand that the people living there should
feel themselves secure, have self-administration opportunities and
spend their lives for the solution to the conflict. From this point
of view we have no domination or interference into their lives. In my
opinion all theses factors can lead to the progress in the solution
to the conflict".

Matthew Bryza’s incomprehensible (?) happiness

The head of state spoke about the local self-administration right of
Armenians, but not about the self-determination. Most likely Bryza
mixed up the words "samoupravlenie" and "samoopredelenie". The first
notion is about the forming of self-administration bodies, the second
one is about the right of any nation to establish its state. The
President said "the people living there should feel themselves
secure, have self-administration opportunities for the solution to
the conflict". The Matthew Bryza’s mistake put forward one of the
main targets of the OSCE Minsk Group – the recognition of Nagorno
Karabakh self-determination right by Azerbaijan and they follows
this goal in long-year negotiations. Otherwise Matthew Bryza, who
mixed up "samoupravlenie" and "samoopredelenie", wouldn’t say that
"significant step was made toward the preparation of Azerbaijani
population to the agreement on basic principles". Unfortunately!

GENERAL DALIBALTAYAN: "WE LIBERATED THAT WHICH BELONGED TO OUR PEOPLE AND NOT TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE ENEMY."

an/
2009/05/08 | 14:29

Important society

These were the sentiments of Gourgen Dalibaltayan, a Major General
in the Soviet Army who was one of the co-authors of the "Hrazdan"
military operation that lead to the liberation of Shushi, when asked
about the possible return of the seven liberated territories in
Artsakh. "You will not find one soldier that supports the idea of
handing over one iota of land to Azerbaijan," he noted.

Major-General Dalibaltayan, also an advisor to the RoA Defense
Minister, noted that the liberation of Shushi in 1992 was carried out
by the Armenian people who steadfastly stood behind the armed forces
that carried out the assault. At the time, Mr. Dalibaltayan was the
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

I am proud and happy that I had a chance to participate in those
events. We were liberating our city. The other side was occupying
it. Thus, there was no need to explain to our soldiers what was
at stake. Each one went into battle knowing full well what their
responsibilities were," stated Mr. Dalibaltayan.

The General noted that there was one more assignment that the Armenian
forces had to achieve in addition to the liberation of Shushi but
which they didn’t. "The Azeris shouldn’t threaten us and try to
intimidate us. If they suddenly decide to start military actions, it
will afford us the opportunity to carry out our last operation. Then,
we will be satisfied, the people will enjoy security."

General Dalibaltayan is convinced that Armenia is ready to strike a
counter blow against any form of Azeri aggression.

He stated that if Turkey ever decided to wage war against Armenia that
Yerevan is capable of offering stiff resistance but that offensive
operations would be difficult since the enemy is quite powerful.

FESTIVE ACTIVITIES DEDICATED TO A TRIPLE HOLIDAY START IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2009-05-09 14:14:00

ArmInfo. Festive activities on the occasion of Victory in the Great
Patriotic War, creation of the NKR Army, and liberation of the town
of Shoushi have started in Nagorno-Karabakh.

As ArmInfo own correspondent in Stepanakert reports, a governmental
commission headed by NKR Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Movses
Hakobyan has been set up to organize and hold the events.

The festive activities are being held in all populated areas, military
units and educational establishments of the republic.

Wreaths and flowers will be laid at the monument to the killed soldiers
at the Memorial Complex in Stepanakert, as well as at the monument
to statesman and commander Vazgen Sargsyan.

An official delegation from Armenia headed by Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan takes part in the festive activities.

RA Ministry of Diaspora
Department of Press and PR
Email: [email protected]

DIASPORA ARMENIAN ARCHITECTS IN ARMENIA

Since its creation, one of the goals set by the Ministry of Diaspora of the
Republic of Armenia has been to consolidate the intellectual potential of
Armenians around the world for the development of the Homeland and it is
with that purpose that the Ministry has set out to organize and hold a
number of pan-Armenian professional forums.

The forum "Armenian Architecture and the 21st Century" was aimed at
contributing to the development of the Armenia-Diaspora partnership,
consolidating the architectural potential of Armenians for the development
of architecture in Armenia, creating preconditions for preserving Armenian
architectural heritage and establishing a Pan-Armenian Architects’
Association. The professional forums that gather Armenian experts from the
Homeland and the Diaspora provide the opportunity to organize more
comprehensive discussions on the issues raised through use of know-how and
experience of fellow Armenians from the Diaspora.

"Today we are laying the foundations for a new format of relations between
Armenia and the Diaspora. We are trying to bring Armenians around the world
together through one profession. We are trying to use your intellectual
potential, knowledge and experience for the development of the Homeland and
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic," stated Minister of Diaspora of the Republic
of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan during the opening ceremony of the Pan-Armenian
Forum of Architects.

The forum entitled "Armenian Architecture and the 21st Century" was the
first forum and was implemented through the combined efforts of Minister of
Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan and ministry staff in the course of two months.
More than 100 Diaspora Armenian architects from 18 countries (USA, the
Russian Federation, France, Germany, Canada, etc.) participated in the
forum. Among participants were local Armenian architects as well.

On April 20, an official reception took place at the Ministry of Diaspora of
the Republic of Armenia for participants of the pan-Armenian forum of
architects. Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan welcomed the Armenian
architects, presented the Ministry’s programs, issues and objectives and
attached importance to the need to organize professional forums.

On the same day, an exhibition of works by architects from Armenia and the
Diaspora entitled ""Armenian Architecture and the 21st Century" took place
at the Government Guest House. The exhibition showcased the sketches, plans
and drawings related to different spheres of architecture.

The teleconference with Armenian architects of California, which was held at
the Government Guest House, provided Diaspora Armenians who had come to the
Homeland with the opportunity to establish contacts with their compatriots
in the Diaspora. The teleconference was moderated by RA Chief Architect
Narek Sargsyan, President of the Union of Architects of Armenia Mkrtich
Minasyan, scholar Yuri Safaryan, Vice-president of the U.S. branch of the
Union of Architects of Armenia Ashot Duryan and President of the TM
associate organization Misak Tebelekyan. Participants of the pan-Armenian
forum of architects expressed willingness to support the solution to issues
of national importance that were raised during the forum by participating in
the development of Armenian architecture and preservation of
historical/cultural heritage.

On April 23, Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan and participants of the
forum visited the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin where they were greeted by
His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. "You must leave a
lasting impression of Armenian architecture in the countries where you
reside and create. Your identity is completely Armenian," said the
Patriarch.

Then, participants of the forum visited the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide
Memorial and the Genocide Museum-Institute. Many participants shed tears and
relived the genocide perpetrated by the Turks in 1915 as they took a tour
around the exhibition halls.

The participants said the Lord’s Prayer beneath the columns of the Genocide
Memorial. Despite the rainy weather, Hranush Hakobyan urged not to postpone
the "Diaspora Garden" tree-planting ceremony and personally planted the
first tree along with the participants.

Summing up the work done during the pan-Armenian architecture forum during a
press conference, Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan stated that this forum
was a great moral and spiritual leap for the Armenia-Diaspora partnership.

On April 24, participants of the Pan-Armenian Forum of Architects lay
flowers at the memorial in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide of
1915. Then, they left for Gyumri to spend the day in Armenia’s second
capital and get acquainted with the architectural issues facing
earthquake-stricken Gyumri. The architects were greeted by Deputy Mayor of
Gyumri Rudik Hovhannisyan, chief architect of Gyumri Norik Manukyan and
other officials.

Deputy Mayor of Gyumri Rudik Hovhannisyan thanked the guests for visiting
Gyumri and remarked that the honorable citizens of Gyumri always remember
all the people and architects who helped the city come out of the ashes
after the earthquake. U.S.-based architect Hovsep Sarafyan addressed
citizens of Gyumri with his impressions and gratitude.

"Citizens of Gyumri are proud of their city. There is life and soul in the
architecture of Gyumri. Citizens of Gyumri preserve the antiquities and I
would like to see that continue in the future as well. We have come here to
provide our knowledge and experience and we will do it with great pleasure."

On the way back to their countries of residence, participants of the forum
took the words of Minister of Diaspora as a precept:

"We must take advantage of our diversity and strengthen relations between
Armenia and the Diaspora. It is time for us to present ourselves to the
world with the voices and actions of 10 million Armenians."

Leading expert of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia

Lilit Damiryan
04.28.2009

Translated by Tadevos Paskevichyan

CBA HEAD TO TAKE PART IN RA-GERMAN FUND OBSERVER GROUP MEETING

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 16:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CBA Head will participate in German-Armenian Fund
Observer Group meeting due on May 7-8 in Germany, CBA Press Service
reported.

The meeting will focus on crediting programs, small and medium-sized
business promotion and stabilization of market development.

Negotiations with KfW German bank on attraction of funds are also
sheduled.

German-Armenian Fund was founded in 1998 by RA and German Governments
on the basis of agreement on financial collaboration and small business
support in Armenia.

DASHNAKTSUTYUN QUITS NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.05.2009 13:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Armenian parliamentary committee
on external relations, member of ARF Dashnaktsutyun supreme body,
Armen Rustamyan has put in an application to stop membership in the
Armenian National Security Council.

On May 6, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan satisfied the application.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "SPECULATION OF THE TRAGEDY OF THE DISPLACED PERSONS FOR REACHING SOME POLITICAL GOALS IS UNACCEPTABLE"

National Assembly of RA
May 6 2009
Armenia

On May 5 President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received the Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population,
MP of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Mr. John Greenway.

During the discussion Mr. John Greenway presented the aim of his visit
to South Caucasus to the President of the Armenian Parliament, within
the framework of which he studies the situation for his report in the
PACE relevant committee on the theme Protecting the Human Rights of
Long Term Displaced People in Europe.

Mr. Abrahamyan stressed that the Armenian authorities consider
unacceptable the speculation of the tragedy of the displaced persons
for some political reasons. He submitted to PACE Rapporteur the steps
taken by the Armenian authorities for finding solutions to the concerns
and needs of the hundred thousands of refugees, who settled in Armenia.

During the meeting the interlocutors agreed that it is prior to solve
the problem of the refugees’ permanent dwellings, creating dignified
conditions and substructure for them, to which the international
community can seriously assist.

During the discussion the sides also touched upon the wide circle of
issues of inner policy and security and stability of the region.

Mr. Davit Harutyunyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on State
and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly, head of the Armenian
delegation in PACE, also participated in the meeting.

VIVACELL-MTS PRESENTS A NEW CORPORATE PACKAGE ‘BUSINESS PRESTIGE’

ArmInfo
2009-05-06 11:52:00

Subscribers of VivaCell-MTS have a new opportunity for small business
owners and professionals to talk more at lower tariffs.

VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC, presents a
new corporate package "Business Prestige". It offers 5 programs,
especially designed to suit the needs of small business owners
and professionals. With "Business Prestige" you can select among
5 tailored programs; benefit from our no-monthly fee options; talk
on-net for as low as 15 AMD/minute and get free on-net minutes and SMS.

While using "Business Prestige", you can also define how your
communication costs will be bound choosing when to suspend your
outgoing services: when the cost of services you have used during a
month reaches your Commitment amount, or when it reaches the set by
VivaCell-MTS. In both cases if you reach the limit you can make some
payment and continue using mobile services. If the cost of services
for a month exceeds your Commitment, at the end of the month you pay
the actual cost of services used. Otherwise case you pay exactly your
Commitment amount.

In order to become "Business Prestige" subscriber a legal entity
status is required. One legal entity can obtain one or more "Business
Prestige" numbers (which can have different tariff plans). Each number
is registered under the name of a certain person, who is making
the payment based on the invoice sent to him. Within the "Business
Prestige" package subscribers can anytime switch from one tariff plan
to another. In case the Commitment amount is not spent during the
month, the remainder is not transferred to the next month. In case
the subscriber does not consume the free minutes or SMS for the month,
they are not transferred to the next month.

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is the leading Armenian mobile operator,
providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch
on 1st July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed
to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base.

VivaCell-MTS drives the development and offering of innovative mobile
communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile
communications market.

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS") is the largest mobile phone operator
in Russia and the CIS. Together with its subsidiaries, the Company
services over 92.19 million subscribers. The regions of Russia, as
well as Armenia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, in
which MTS and its associates and subsidiaries are licensed to provide
GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million. Since
June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol MBT).

CHARLES AZNAVOUR APPOINTED ARMENIA’S AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND

armradio.am
06.05.2009 16:28

The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on appointing
Charles Aznavour Armenia’s Permanent Representative at the UN Office
in Geneva and other international organizations (seat in Geneva).

According to another presidential decree, Armenia’s Permanent
Representative at the UN Office in Geneva and other international
organizations, Charles Aznavour, was appointed Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the
Swiss Confederation.