Author: Virabian Jhanna

WHICH COUNTRY EXPERIENCED THE GREATEST GROWTH IN MOBILE WEB USAGE LAST YEAR?

The Financial
March 25 2009
Georgia

The FINANCIAL — In January 2009, consumer Opera Mini use jumped
12.1% over the previous month to 20 million unique users. Monthly
page views increased even more, jumping 18% to 7.6 billion Web pages
in the same time period.

Data transfers were also up 18% from December 2008 as Opera Mini
generated more than 122 million MB of data for operators worldwide.

Data in Opera Mini is compressed 90% on average. If this data were
uncompressed, Opera Mini users would have viewed more than 1.1 billion
MB of data. This is the first month that Opera Mini servers have
processed more than 1 petabyte of data for consumer Opera Mini users.

Armenia led all countries in Opera Mini growth from January 2008 to
January 2009, with usage jumping more than 2800%. Nigeria was second,
with 1854%. Other notable countries include: Egypt (1391%), Philippines
(570%) and Kazakhstan (419%).

Armenia also led all of the top 35 countries in page views per
user. Armenia users viewed on average 669 pages in January 2009.

The top 10 countries using Opera Mini in the Middle East are: Iran,
Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Oman,
Kuwait, Lebanon and Yemen.

Report findings

The month’s report highlights the top 35 countries, ranked by number
of Opera Mini users. The top countries varied widely in growth rates,
with Indonesia surging to second place with a 312% Year-on-Year
(YoY) growth.

Ukraine narrowly edged out Indonesia with users viewing, on average,
530 pages per month.

The top 10 countries for Opera Mini usage (ranked by # of unique
users):

Rank Country YoY growth Page views/user (January 2009)

1 Russia 156.9% 416 2 Indonesia 312.1% 507 3 Ukraine 124.2% 530 4
China 11.2% 216 5 India 166.7% 354 6 South Africa 93.5% 264 7 United
States 73.0% 222 8 United Kingdom 63.4% 245 9 Poland 147.2% 178 10
Germany 51.8% 113

Even in the countries that began the year in the top 10, growth rates
were still notable, particularly in developed countries such as the
United States, the United Kingdom and Germany. Only China had less
than 50% YoY growth.

The State of the Mobile Web report also examines the Middle East. In
many of the countries, Facebook brought people and friends together. It
was one of the top 10 sites in 9 of the top 10 countries in the Middle
East: Iran (#9), Israel (#1), Saudia Arabia (#10), Syria (#3), Jordan
(#3), United Arab Emirates (#3), Oman (#9), Kuwait (#4) and Lebanon
(#1). The report also contains data on top handsets and a complete
list of top sites for the top 10 countries, ranked by the number of
unique Opera Mini users.

About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones
and other networked devices. Opera’s cross-platform Web browser
technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance
and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic
online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway,
with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo
Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA.

GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA PROVIDE $48MLN TO ARMENIA

ARKA
March 25, 2009

YEREVAN, March 25. /ARKA/. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria provided a total of 48mln dollars to Armenia, Fund
Portfolio Manager for Armenia and Azerbaijan Sandra Irbe said.

The Fund allocated 20mln Euros to Armenia for anti-tuberculosis
measures only, she said. These funds will be used to buy drugs against
persistent tuberculosis.

The Global Fund is a unique private sector – government partnership
established in 2002 for attraction and distribution of additional
funds to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Fund
works in close cooperation with bilateral and lateral organizations.

Since its establishment the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria has been the main source of financing of programs to
fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Over 550 programs for a total of 14.4bln USD have been approved in 140
countries so far. The fund is providing one fourth of the international
financing to fight AIDS, two thirds of the funds for anti-tuberculosis
measures and three fourths of the money to fight malaria.

GYUMRI AUSTRIAN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TO BE RENAMED – AUSTRIAN HOSPITAL OF MOTHER AND CHILD

ARMENPRESS
March 24, 2009

GYUMRI, MARCH 24, ARMENPRESS: The Gyumri Austrian children’s hospital
is being renamed an Austrian hospital of mother and child having
an obstetrician-gynecologic departments. The initiative is being
implemented according to the agreement signed between Armenian Health
Ministry and the council of support to the mentioned Gyumri hospital.

The number of beds of the hospital is intended to be increased by 30,
and the complex, holistic changes will be implemented in 2010. Before
that certain investments will be made by the Austrian side within
the frameworks of which upgrading of the institution with medical
equipments and training of specialists will be conducted.

Head of the Health and Social security department of Shirak governor’s
office Samvel Ghazarian told Armenpress that a new bearing house will
also be established which will be furnished with equipments and will
function with the support of the Austrian side.

"A healthy competition will also be created between it and other
bearing houses, and only the population will win of that",-
S. Ghazarian noted.

Interfax, Russia
March 20 2009

Armenian genocide not on agenda of talks with Ankara – ministry

YEREVAN March 20

The 1915 Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire was not discussed at
the Armenian-Turkish talks, Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard
Nalbandian said.

"I would not like to believe that the Turkish foreign minister could
make such a statement because the Armenian genocide was not a subject
of discussion with Turkey," he said, commenting on several media
allegations that Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that
Armenia and Turkey are already discussing "the massacres of 1915," the
Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax on Thursday.

On September 6, 2008m the Turkish president made the first historical
visit to Armenia. Abdullah Gul arrived in Yerevan at the invitation of
his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsian to attend a football match
between the two countries’ national football teams during the
selective tournament of the 2010 world championship.

In October 2009 Armenian President Serzh Sargsian will visit
Turkey. He will attend the return match between the two countries’
national football teams.

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IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO COST ABOUT $240 MLN

ArmInfo
2009-03-20 14:32:00

ArmInfo. Iran-Armenia pipeline construction project will cost about
$240 mln. The construction has been already started, Armenian Energy
and Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan told journalists today.

He also added construction of the new oil terminal in Armenia is also
envisaged within the frames of the project. The building works will
start in 2009 – preparation of building sites and laying of pipes. It
is supposed that a joint stock company will be set up when fulfilling
the project. The Iranian party will give the funds which will be
later returned to it. The minister said the projects documents will
be ready in two months, and the parties will start the building works.

It is envisaged within the frames of the project that the ready oil
products, petroleum and fuel oil, will flow via the pipeline from
the oil refinery in Iranian Tabriz to Armenia. ‘Construction of
the Tabriz-Eraskh oil pipeline is first of all called to satisfy
local oil needs of Armenia’, – the minister said and added that
Armenia needs about 450-500 thsd tons of fuel every year. He also
said that fuel delivery via the pipeline will make it possible to
reduce much the transport expenditure and to form ‘the competitive
prices at the local market’. The project is also important as it will
create an alternative way of the oil products delivery to Armenia,
which will make it possible to raise energy security of Armenia,
the minister said.

EXPORT OF ELECTRICITY FROM ARMENIA TO TURKEY POSSIBLY TO START IN APRIL

ARMENPRESS
March 20, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: Export of electricity from Armenia
to Turkey will possibly start in April. Armenian Energy and Natural
Recourses Minister Armen Movsisian told today journalists that the
agreement on it has already been signed and works are conducted in
accordance with its points to start the export of electricity as soon
as possible.

A. Movsisian informed that the export of electricity will start when
the necessary technical works are finished. They are possible to be
brought to an end already in April if there are no weather problems
any more.

Referring to the issue that Turkey denies news on the electricity
agreement, A. Movsisian stressed that "in any case after the solution
of the technical issues the agreement will be brought to life".

According to the Minister the April 1 changes in the price of gas
which is imported to Armenia will affect on the prices of electricity
which is exported to Turkey.

PARIS HERUNI’S SON TO COMPLETE "AREV" PROGRAM
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
19.03.2009 18:12

Paris Heruni’s project of constructing solar power plants was left
uncompleted because of the death of the outstanding scholar, but
during his lifetime he managed to inspire many scientists, with his
programs. His son, Vahagn Heruni, has assumed the responsibility to
accomplish the "Arev" (Sun) program after his father’s death.

Vahagn Heruni told a press conference today that the program has
been 70% completed, but government assistance is needed to fully
accomplish it.

Speaking about the perspectives of implementation of solar physics in
Armenia, Doctor of Technical Sciences Vahan Hamazaspyan assured that
the utilization of solar energy has become a necessity especially
under the conditions of the global crisis.

ARMENIA, IRAN TO BUILD MOST POWERFUL HYDRO POWER PLANTS IN REGION AT ARAKS RIVER

ARKA
March 18, 2009

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. Armenia and Iran are to build the most
powerful hydro power plants in the South Caucasus on Araks boundary
river, Armenian Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ara
Simonyan said at a parliament session Tuesday.

One of them is to be constructed in Meghri of Armenia, the other in
Karachilar of Iran, he said.

Each of the two plants is expected to generate 800mln kilowatt-hour
electricity every year.

For comparison purposes the Deputy Minister said that today the most
powerful Armenian hydro power plant is Sevan-Hrazdan cascade that
produces an annual of 500-600mln kilowatt-hours.

Simonyan also pointed out that for implementation of the project,
each side needs to establish certain area, ensure its security and
arrange a simplified procedure for workers, engineers to cross the
border, as well as for easy transportation of construction materials.

The practical stage of the project is to start soon and the agreement
needs to be ratified to allow starting the construction, Simonyan said.

The protocol to ease the crossing of the Armenian-Iranian border
during the construction of the hydro power plants was signed twice –
on June 25 2008 in Yerevan and on July 19 2008 in Tehran.

GRANT THORNTON INTERNATIONAL: WOMEN HOLD 29% OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 18, 2009

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. New research from Grant Thornton
International reveals that in Armenia 29% of senior positions are held
by women, being the 9th country in the league, Grant Thornton Amyot
(GTA) reports.

Lilit Arabajyan, partner in Grant Thornton Amyot, the Armenian
member of Grant Thornton International, says, "During the past
decade we have seen a significant increase in women’s role in
various organizations. Today many women occupy managerial positions
in businesses. The results of this survey only show that there has
been an increase of 7% in women’s managerial share in 2009 in Armenia,
as compared to 22% of the year 2007.

As an audit partner in the leading audit and advisory company in
Armenia, I work with many large enterprises every year and have
hardly met a management team composed of only men. In our firm, 51%
of staff are women, among whom 11 persons occupy managerial positions".

The report says women still hold less than a quarter of senior
management positions in privately held businesses globally. 24% of
senior management positions are currently held by women – a figure
identical to 2007 and only a marginal improvement from 2004 when only
19% of senior level positions were held by women. 34% of privately
held businesses globally have no women in senior management.

" The greatest percentage of women in senior management is in the
Philippines where women hold 47% of senior positions. They are followed
by Russia (42%) and Thailand (38%).

The lowest percentage continues to be in Japan (only 7%). Also
appearing low down the league table are Denmark (13%) and Belgium
(12%)."

Women have become most successful in increasing their share of senior
management roles in Turkey (up from 17% in 2007 to 29% in 2009)
and Mexico (20% in 2007 to 31%). The biggest falls were in Brazil,
where the figure fell from 42% in 2007 to 29% in 2009, and Hong Kong
(falling from 35% in 2007 to 28% in 2009).

ARMENIAN CEMETERY RESTORED IN NICOSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.03.2009 11:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The newly restored Armenian Cemetery in Nicosia
will be open for members of the Armenian community of Cyprus for the
first time in 46 years for a religious ceremony that will take place
this Sunday, 22 March at 11:00 am.

During the service, the remains exhumed previously will be laid to
rest in accordance with the rites of the Armenian Church.

As of next year at Merelots, there will be a memorial every year,
in the Sourp Boghos chapel within the cemetery premises, Gibrahayer
weekly reports