Author: Varosian Antranik

STEPSTONE IS NUMBER ONE PROVIDER OF CHOICE IN THE TELCO SECTOR DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG, TELEFONICA, S.A AND MTS SELECT STEPSTONE AS THEIR PREFERRED TALENT MANAGEMENT PROVIDER

MarketWatch

Aug. 13, 2008

LONDON, Aug 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — StepStone (OSE:STP), the
leading global provider of Total Talent solutions, today announced
three major new contracts in the telecommunications sector.

Deutsche Telekom AG, one of the world’s leading innovators in the
IT and telecoms sector, Telefonica, S.A., the world’s number three
telecoms provider, and MTS, the biggest mobile telecommunications
provider in Russia and the CIS, have selected StepStone’s total talent
solutions to help them manage recruitment and talent at a global level.

The new customers join a growing number of high-profile
telecommunication providers who manage their talent resources with
StepStone’s Total Talent Solutions, including Vodafone, O2, Mobistar,
Base, AT&T, Cable & Wireless, T-Mobile NL and Versatel.

Deutsche Telekom has 242,000 employees and operations in some 50
countries. It has selected StepStone to manage its talent globally,
making it the latest DAX 30 listed company to implement StepStone’s
talent management solution.

Telefonica has over 240,000 employees, revenues of EUR 57bn and serves
over 230 million customers in 24 countries. Telefonica has purchased
the full integrated StepStone Talent Suite, and is running a pilot
of the solution with 600 employees.

MTS boasts over 83 million subscribers throughout Russia, Armenia,
Belarus, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, where it is licensed to
provide GSM services, have a total population of more than 230 million.

Colin Tenwick, CEO of StepStone commented: "StepStone has a long
established presence in the aviation, automotive and utilities sectors;
and it is very encouraging to see our capabilities so enthusiastically
adopted by some of the world’s leading telcos. Our portfolio of
software-as-a-service solutions, managed services, and our commitment
to exceeding our customers’ needs are among the many reasons that
StepStone has built such a strong presence in this demanding sector.

About StepStone StepStone was founded in Norway in 1996 and
pioneered the development of online recruitment. Today, StepStone
is a leading global provider of Total Talent Solutions, ranging
from careers websites to on-demand software for e-recruitment and
talent management. StepStone’s portfolio of Total Talent Solutions
ranges from recruitment through on-boarding, training, career and
succession planning, performance management and more. In addition,
StepStone is Europe’s number two operator of careers websites (based
on ComScore data). Covering 13 European countries, its portfolio of
online properties allows recruiters to source candidates quickly and
effectively through individually focused campaigns.

Thousands of organisations, including Amey, Aviva, AXA BMW, British
Airways, Fiat, Royal Bank of Scotland and Xerox use StepStone’s
products and services to help them find, recruit, retain and develop
qualified staff globally. StepStone is the only European-headquartered
vendor to be recognised as a ‘leader’ by Gartner, Inc’s "Magic Quadrant
for E-Recruitment Software, 2008" report and has also been awarded
the highest rating for Employee Performance Software by Bersin and
Associates.

GEORGIA TEAM’S UEFA CUP QUALIFIER CANCELLED AMID HOSTILITIES

The Canadian Press
August 12, 2008
Switzerland

NYON, Switzerland — The soccer qualifying match between Georgian
club WIT and Austria Vienna was cancelled Tuesday because of safety
concerns following recent air and land attacks by Russia.

UEFA said the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in the capital city of Tbilisi
was too dangerous for Thursday’s UEFA Cup qualifying match amid
hostilities between Russia and Georgia.

The two-match qualifying event will be shortened to one and played
in Vienna on Aug. 28.

Earlier Tuesday, UEFA had said the match would be moved to Rize,
Turkey. But that plan fell through when the Georgian Football
Federation – also speaking on behalf of WIT – announced the squad
could not travel due to security concerns.

"(WIT is) not in a position to organize a safe and secure venue in
Georgia, nor to play at an alternative venue," European soccer’s
governing body said in a statement.

The decision ends two days of international soccer diplomacy to
find a way for WIT Georiga to play. It failed in efforts to play in
neighbouring Armenia or Azerbaijan.

UEFA did not say how it would deal with a draw, which normally is
decided by the away-goal tiebreaker.

"UEFA will contact the clubs and national associations concerned in
due time to communicate the rules applicable to this single match,"
it said.

WIT is the last club from Georgia remaining in UEFA-organized
competitions this season. Champion Dinamo Tbilisi was knocked out of
the Champions League last week by Greek side Panathinaikos.

Dinamo’s German coach Rainer Zobel and six foreign players left
Georgia earlier this week to seek safety in Germany.

RECONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN THEATRE: IS IT POSSIBLE?

Panorama.am
18:13 11/08/2008

Just a few days ago, I watched a new performance with my friends. It
was in genre of comedy, but we nearly cried at the end. It was a
humorous representation of our state system and every-day life. In
a word, I really advise you to go and watch it. Believe me, it won’t
be a waste of time.

Actually, this very performance made me look through several forums
seeking new ideas and comments on our theatre. But the results really
left me hopeless. It turned out, that people simply are not interested
in the theatre. Younger generation prefers discos, usually of bad
taste, while the elder simply don’t have enough money to go to the
theatre, even if they had great desire.

That is why the television has large audience in spite of its’
programmes of law quality and bad taste. This is probably the reason
why in the Puppet theatre there are not only child’s plays, but also
performances of different genres; this is another way of attracting
people.

Almost all theatres of the country are in Yerevan, 7 of them work
regularly, but the performances are too old, usually belonging
to classical authors. Many temporary authors and actors think
that our theatre needs fresh air; it must get rid of old, stiff
stereotypes. "The theatre should be a place where you can forget
about everything and talk to yourself. But the theatre mustn’t be a
journey to past", says actor Michael Poghosyan.

Hakob Ghazanchyan, art-director of one of Yerevan theatres, also
emphasizes the need of freedom for the theatre. "As for me, I can
successfully work in foreign countries, rather than here, because
the audience is free and easy there. Here it’s very hard to start
something new without breaking hundreds of old, useless standards.

The lack of money is another problem for our theatre. Art-director of
Theatre of Drama Armen Khandikyan is simply embarrassed to tell how
much money his actors are now paid. The government does not support the
theatres in proper way; the buildings are in poor state, the salaries
of actors are too law. If we add to this the absence of interest,
no way out may seem for this situation. Hence, great efforts should
be made to rescue the theatre.

There should be a solution; we can find new, interesting plays. We can
learn to work in a new way, in order to be understood and accepted
not only in foreign countries, but here as well. Then people will
attend our theatres with much more enthusiasm.

NO VICTIMS AMONG CITIZENS OF ARMENIA REGISTERED IN GEORGIA AS OF 6:00PM ON AUGUST 10

arminfo
2008-08-11 10:02:00

ArmInfo. No victims among citizens of Armenia were registered in
Georgia as of 6:00pm on August 10.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service reports Armenia keeps
assisting departure of foreign citizens from Georgia to Armenia. As
of 6:00pm on 10 August 130 citizens of USA, 180 citizens of Poland,
hundreds of citizens of other states were delivered to Armenia. Free
visas will be provided to the foreign citizens arriving from
Georgia. Moreover, at Zvartnots airport they will be exempted from
‘air tax’.

Armenian Foreign Ministry sent two diplomats to Consulate General in
Batumi for better coordination of the process of return of Armenians
citizens.

Their contacts are as follows: +995.95330454 and +995.99282324. As
of 10 August about 3500 citizens returned to Armenia from Georgia
with support of the Consulate General. About 850 foreign citizens
including diplomats and their families in Georgia arrived in Yerevan.

Hot line at the Armenian Foreign Ministry: 562543 and 544041
(internal 202).

DARCHINYAN DETHRONES KIRILOV WITH 5TH ROUND KO
By Dong Secuya

PhilBoxing.com
story-18196.html
Aug 3 2008
Philippines

The ‘Raging Bull’ Vic Darchinyan of Australia has captured the IBF
superfly crown by dethroning Dimitri Kirilov of Russia with a 5th
round knockout at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington today.

The power-punching, wild-swinging Armenian born Darchinyan dominated
the defending champion from Russia who put up little resistance
throughout the contest. A flurry from Darchinyan sends Kirilov to the
canvas for the first time in the the first 30 seconds of the fifth
round and a big left a bit later finishes off Kirilov as he failed
to beat the referee’s count.

The 32-year-old Darchinyan is now 30-1-1 with 25 KOs while Kirilov
absorbed his fourth loss for a 29-4-1 (9 KOs) record. Darchinyan’s
only loss came at the hands of current Filipino flyweight champ Nonito
Donaire, Jr. after Donaire dethroned Darchinyan with a spectacular
knockout on July 7, 2007 in Bridgeport, Connecticut for the IBF
flyweight title fight.

Darchinyan last fought Z Gorres of the Philippines to a draw at
the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City in February this year in a title
eliminator for Kirilov’s crown. With Darchinyan ranked higher than
Gorres and because Gorres was cut and needed some time to heal,
Darchinyan got the title shot against Kirilov.

The Darchinyan camp had earlier promised Gorres a title shot and a
rematch if he wins against Kirilov today but other lucrative fights are
also on the horizon for Darchinyan including a rematch with Donaire
or a unification fight with WBO superfly king Fernando Montiel or
WBA/WBC titlist Cristian Mijares.

Top photo: Promoter Gary Shaw (L) and Referee Earl Brown (R) raise the
hands of Vic Darchinyan of Australia after Darchinyan beat defending
champ Dimitri Kirilov of Russia with a fifth round knockout at the
Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington Aug. 2.

RELIGIOUS MINORITIES LEADING NORMAL LIVES IN IRAN: CHRISTIAN MP

Tehran Times
Aug 3 2008
Iran

TEHRAN — MP Yonatan Bet Kolia, the representative of the Assyrian and
Chaldean Christian communities in the Majlis, said on Saturday that
religious minorities live in peace in Iran and are free to perform
their religious ceremonies.

The MP also said the Iranian officials are committed to an equal
treatment of minorities in the country.

The Christian lawmaker went on to say that religious minorities are
ready to defend their country in the face of any foreign threat.

"They (minorities) are prepared to defend the country against any
external attacks as they did so during the (1980-1988) Sacred Defense,"
Kolia said in the opening ceremony of the eighth Tamuz Festival in
Uremia, northwest Iran.

200 athletes from Armenia, Georgia, Iraq and Syria have participated
in the festival. The festival is scheduled to last for ten days

KEVORKIAN SAYS HE WANTS TO EDUCATE PUBLIC
By Kathleen Gray

Detroit Free Press
Aug 1 20008
MI

"OK, so what do you want to know?" Jack Kevorkian asked an audience
of about three dozen people tonight in Birmingham.

As he started a town hall meeting, he had no explanation for running
for a congressional seat that covers a wide swath of Oakland County.

Someone asked about the loss of freedoms. Another asked about a
scientist who believes that four countries control the equipment
that controls weather and climate. Another asked about the government
bailout of mortgage industry giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

"What bailout," he barked. "You’re kind of sheep-like. You’ve all
been conditioned to think and act like sheep."

Kevorkian, 80, who served more than eight years in prison after being
found guilty of second-degree murder for one of the 130 assisted
suicides he participated in during the 1990s, is waging a low-budget
campaign for Congress, running as an Independent and hoping to beat
U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township, and Democrat Gary
Peters, a former state senator and lottery commissioner.

He has almost no money for his race and won’t take any
contributions. His organization is almost nonexistent. His quest is
philosophical and he liberally quotes Alexis de Tocqueville, Thomas
Jefferson and Friedrich Nietzsche.

It’s not that he wants to move to Washington, he told the people
attending his town hall meeting at the Birmingham Community House.

"I don’t want to be a congressman," he said. "I only want to serve
two years. I’m here to educate and inform the public."

His primary issue is pushing the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution,
the little known amendment that protects rights not explicitly
specified elsewhere in the Constitution.

Kevorkian said that means that people have the right to do anything
that doesn’t harm others, such as killing themselves with the help
of someone else.

"You are enslaved, but you don’t know it. You don’t want to admit it
because you’re walking around free, eating good dinners," Kevorkian
said. "As long as you’re comfortable, you’re controllable."

NEW TRAFFIC TUNNEL OPENS IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
August 1, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS: President Serzh Sargsyan attended
today the inauguration of another transport junction in Yerevan that
will drastically ease traffic flows in central parts of Armenia’s
capital city.

Construction of the underground traffic tunnel began 13 months ago
and continued even throughout winter months. Builders had to replace
all communications lines of the area, including drinking, waste water
removal and natural gas pipes.

A WRONG KURDISH WAGER IN KIRKUK

Mideast Mirror
July 30, 2008 Wednesday

The Kurds hard-line position on Kirkuk can only mean more trouble
ahead, says today’s Emirates’ al-Bayan

The Kurds insistence on rejecting the provincial elections law is
motivated by their desire to annex the city of Kirkuk, claims a UAE
daily. However, they need to remember that the city has historically
been a melting pot for all of Iraq’s constituent communities, and
that this fact cannot be eliminated by a political decision.

WIDE GAP: "The fate of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk has recently returned
to the forefront of events, threatening to detonate a major crisis
between Kurds, Arabs, and Turcoman, as well as other Iraqi groups
living in the city," writes the editorial in Wednesday’s UAE daily
al-Bayan.

The Iraqi Parliament’s vote on the provincial elections law –
boycotted by the Kurdish bloc, ratified by the MPs, and then rejected
by [Kurdish] President Jalal Talabani – has exposed the extent of the
gap that still separates the people of Iraq from a united vision of
the country’s future.

Although Iraq has been living in a vortex of continuous violence
since 2003, what has taken place in Kirkuk is extremely dangerous,
given the city’s rich ethnic and sectarian mix. This is a time bomb
that could explode at any minute. Monday’s events in which 27 people
fell victim to a suicide attack amidst a Kurdish demonstration are
no more than a prelude to this great explosion.

The city has some one million inhabitants, a mixture of Turcoman,
Kurds, and Arabs, with an Assyrian, Chaldean, and Armenian minority.

The warnings issued by tens of international organizations regarding
this oil-rich city have not prevented the situation from taking a turn
for the worse. More is likely in the coming days. This is because of
the Kurds’ insistence on annexing the city to Kurdistan Province, which
enjoys a broad degree of independence from the central government.

The problem of Kirkuk cannot be viewed outside the context of Kurdish
aspirations. Since 1991, these aspirations have centred on creating
a political entity that enjoys maximum independence from the central
government. A large part of these aspirations has been achieved since
the fall of the former Iraqi regime in 2003.

However, the current moment of weakness that Iraq is suffering from
does not mean that it is in the Kurds’ – or others’- interest to decide
the fate of one of Mesopotamia’s oldest cities, where the various
ethnic and sectarian groups have mixed for over 5000 years. History
cannot be struck out by a political decision.

One would have supposed that the Kurds would be more aware of this
historical fact than others. They are the one ethnic group that
has suffered more than any other from attempts to disregard it as
a result of the failure to recognize its identity when the region’s
maps were drawn.

The current historical moment may be appropriate for violating the
land of Mesopotamia at the hands of its own people, even before its
enemies violate it. But historical reality must not be absent from
anyone’s mind.

"It would be wrong for one of the Iraqi people’s constituents to wager
on a separate future away from the other constituents, especially
given everyone’s need for solidarity and unity behind the slogan of
reconstructing and rebuilding the new Iraq," concludes the daily.

The Ottawa Sun, Canada
July 27, 2008 Sunday
FINAL EDITION

Festival tangos back from tangles

BY DENIS ARMSTRONG

Bloodied but unbowed, the 15th annual Chamber Music Festival got down
to the business of making music Friday night with a dramatic opening
night performance by Canadian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and Tango
Notturno.

It was the kind of informal but spectacular music-making that the
festival’s new programmers — The Gryphon Trio’s Roman Borys, Jamie
Parker and Annalee Patipatanakoon — promised when they took over the
festival’s musical reins last year.

A classical singer with strong pop-culture appeal, Bayrakdarian is the
kind of new-generation opera singer who also has fans outside
classical circles. The 34-year-old Armenian Canadian, who made her
Carnegie Hall debut last spring, sang in the films Ararat and The Lord
of the Rings: The Two Towers, and has won the Best Classical Album of
the Year Juno three years in a row.

It’s not surprising then, that many of the 800 fans who attended
Friday night’s performance started lining up in front of
Dominion-Chalmers United Church two hours before the doors opened.

The concert with Tango Notturno — violinist Marie Berard, cellist
Roman Borys, bass fiddler Roberto Occhipinti, clarinetist Shalom Bard,
bandoneon player Fabian Carbone and pianist Serouj Kradjian — was an
all-tango affair, and as we know with tango — as with all things hot
and spicy — less is more.

Not, however, for Bayrakdarian. She and her excellent ensemble played
16 short pieces, alternating vocals and instrumentals in the first
half by Carlos Gardel and Rodriguez’s familiar La Cumparsita and
Gade’s Jalousie — two well-known tango classics that had the fans
tapping their toes. But it was Bayrakdarian’s superb acting skills
that made Weill’s Youkali soar to dizzying heights.

I don’t know if Bayrakdarian was feeling spent by a rather passionate
performance in the first hour because her song selection clammed up
tight after the intermission. She talked about the history of the
tango and its universal appeal while performing a tango in German and
another in Arabic, as well as familiar pieces by tango master Astor
Piazzolla, leaving it to Tango Notturno to provide the fireworks in
the second half. They didn’t disappoint.

While her coloratura voice didn’t blow me away, it did grow on me. In
the end, Bayrakdarian was brilliant, if a little uneven.

Also worth mentioning was the easy-going and festive atmosphere at
Dominion-Chalmers all night. Everyone from the concert emcees to the
performers seemed to be in a friendly mood. And why not, after waiting
two years for the Chamber Music Society to clean up all the bad blood
that was shed after the festival’s founder, Julian Armour, resigned
last year.

Now, finally, the Chamber Music Society seems to have settled much of
the civil unrest it had been tangled up in.

—

Isabel Bayrakdarian and Tango Notturno
Chamber Music Festival
Sun Rating: 4 out of 5