Russia’s Comstar To Build WiMAX Network In Armenia

RUSSIA’S COMSTAR TO BUILD WIMAX NETWORK IN ARMENIA
by Maria Kiselyova

Reuters
Jan 31 2008

powered by SphereMOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian fixed-line operator Comstar
UTS (CMSTq.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday it had started
to build a mobile broadband network using WiMAX technology in Armenia.

"We intend to launch the network this year and, therefore, become the
first and the largest wireless broadband Internet operator in Armenia,"
Comstar’s president, Sergei Pridantsev, said in a statement.

The company said it had chosen Airspan Networks Inc (AIRN.O: Quote,
Profile, Research) to provide equipment for the base stations. It
did not disclose the value of the deal.

Mobile WiMax is an emerging high-speed wireless standard which is
expected to support access to large amounts of data, such as movies
and multi-media content.

The company expects to launch commercial service in the second half of
this year. The network will cover 75 percent of Armenia’s population,
a Comstar spokeswoman said.

She declined to say how much Comstar would invest in the network
deployment. Last year Comstar announced plans to invest "10s of
millions of dollars" to build a WiMAX network in Moscow.

Comstar, part of Russian services conglomerate Sistema (SSAq.L:
Quote, Profile, Research), provides voice, data, Internet, pay-TV
and other services.

13.7% Economic Growth Recorded In Armenia In 2007

13.7% ECONOMIC GROWTH RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN 2007

ARKA News Agency
Jan 31 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, January 31. /ARKA/. A 13.7% economic growth was recorded in
Armenia in 2007 against 2006.

The volume of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 3,139,353.9mln Drams
(in current prices) in the period under review, Armenia’s National
Statistical Service reported. GDP produced in December 2007 was 35.8%
higher that the level in the previous month.

GDP deflator index was 103.9% by the end of January-December 2007.

According to the statistical data, 11.7% growth of gross added value
provided a 10.7 pct increase in the actual volume of GDP (12.3pct in
January-December 2006). 36.6% growth of taxes, the subsidies exclusive,
provided 3pct of the actual growth of GDP (1pct in January-December
2006).

In the period, 18.4% construction growth increased the GDP by 4.5pct
(against 7.6pct in 2006). Industry (including energy sector) provided
0.6pct of economic growth (growth in industry 3.2%).

9.6% growth of agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing provided
1.7pct of the economic growth.

The 12.4% increase recorded in the services field provided 4pct
increase in the GDP (4.7pct 2006). The sphere of trade and public
catering contributed 2.1cpt to the GDP growth, with increase in the
sphere making 11.8% in January-December 2007.

The share of added value was 90.2% in the GDP structure against 91.8%
in January-December 2006.

The share of industrial production was 15.7% against 17.9% in January-
December 2006. The share of agriculture reduced by 0.6pct down to 17.5%
and the share of construction increased 1.1pct up to 25.6%. Trade,
public catering, transport and communication provided 17.3%, the
services sector – 32.5%.

Taxes, the subsidies exclusive, constituted 9.8% of the GDP. GDP per
capita was 973,021Drams or $2,844 (2,080EUR) by the end of 2007.

13.3% economic growth was recorded in 2006.

Under the state budget, 11% growth of GDP was expected in Armenia in
2007. ($1=306.62Drams).

Comstar-UTS Moves Into Armenia

COMSTAR-UTS MOVES INTO ARMENIA

Broadband TV News
January 31, 2008 Thursday

Russia’s Comstar-UTS says that it has started to build a WiMAX
network in Armenia. Working through the ISP Cornet, which is part of
the Comstar group, the Sistema-backed company will be able to offer
high-speed Internet access, multimedia content delivery, VoIP, data
transmission and the capability of creating virtual private networks
(VPNs). Earlier this week Comstar-UTS also announced that it has
signed an agreement with Skylinkm a mobile broadband Internet and
voice services provider present throughout Russia.

6th Shift Of Armenian Peacekeepers Returns From Iraq

6TH SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS RETURNS FROM IRAQ

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.01.2008 15:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On January 30, the 6th shift of Armenian peacekeepers
returned from Iraq, RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman, Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Armenian peacekeepers joined the peaceful mission in Iraq in January
2005. The contingent includes two staff officers, three medical
officers, 10 field engineers and 31 drivers.

"Only One Official From Karabakh"

"ONLY ONE OFFICIAL FROM KARABAKH"

A1+
31 January, 2008

Before the presidential candidate Serge Sargsyan arrived, the central
part of Achapnyak community was already crowded. People have come to
hear the famous singers, whose performances were interrupted by Serge
Sargsyan’s speech. "I have come to ask for your votes. I have been
a state employee for many years. I have been engaged in the solution
of the nation’s problems for 20 years. During this period I have
acquired experience, knowledge, I have overcome many difficulties and
I am aware of all the problems in the country and how they should be
solved. Thus, I ask for your support", began Serge Sargsyan his speech.

The presidential candidate convinced the citizens that they could
improve the situation in Armenia together and together they should
continue the reforms and build a more prosperous Armenia. He ensured
that we had much to prove to the world and occupy our worthy place
in the European family. "We will choose the path of a more developed
country".

"We do not defame others, we do not show preference to others",
pointed out Serge Sargsyan. He noted that one of the candidates said
that in case Serge Sargsyan became the President, we would a Prime
Minister from Karabakh, but Mr Sargsyan denied this. "Only one of
12 officials is from Karabakh in the Government. I ensure that we
will live in another country in 4-5 years and life will change for
better. So, go ahead Armenia to the fair Armenia, to the Armenia we
have always dreamed of", concluded Serge Sargsyan.

Azeri Press Renames Lviv "With Help" Of Armenians

AZERI PRESS RENAMES LVIV "WITH HELP" OF ARMENIANS

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.01.2008 14:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Lviv, Ukraine, has
never had an intention to rename the city into Aryuts (lion in
Armenian). The information spread by the Azeri media is absurd,
said Vartkez Arzumanyan, member of the Lviv city council, who was
allegedly quoted by the Azeri Press.

"Neither I nor any other representative of the Armenian community
uttered a single word about renaming. We never dealt with employees of
the news agencies which circulated the information," Arzumanyan said,
ProUA reports.

Azeri new agencies of doubtful reputation as well as some Russian
agencies could be the original source of this false information,
according to him.

Azeri Press news agency was first to report that the 6-thousand
Armenian community of Lviv is going to initiate renaming of the
city into Aryuts (lion in Armenian). With a reference to Vartkez
Arzumanyan, the agency reported that the head of the Ukrainian Diocese
of the Armenian Apostolic Church and RA Ambassador to Ukraine Armen
Khachatryan were informed of the initiative and approved it.

Reproduction Of The Regime Is Excluded

REPRODUCTION OF THE REGIME IS EXCLUDED
by Grigor Voskanyan

Hayots Ashkharh
Jan 23 2008
Armenia

[Ellipsis as published]… in fact, [Armenian Deputy Prime Minister]
Hovik Abrahamyan, [Yerevan mayor] Yervand Zakharyan and others are
unbearable for society, but the most unbearable is [Armenian Prime
Minister and candidate in the 19 February presidential election]
Serzh Sargsyan himself.

Any regime which strives for the power tries to have its "komsomol"
[youth organization of the Communist Party] and via it to become more
or less acceptable for society. If you remember, during the first
months of his time in office [Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan
decided to create a new image for himself – he went everywhere in
the company of a Diaspora Armenian girl Kassia – he as if evaluated
the youth, who received western education.

It is true that after 27 October 1999 [the date of terrorist attack
in the Armenian parliament] this "staff member" left Armenia forever-
as if she was never there, but soon another youth staff member- Armen
Gevorgyan [the current head of the presidential staff] – replaced
her. It was him who began to coordinate the activities of "komsomol" –
the Sharm company, Baze movement and so on. In the course of time this
"komsomol" generation has, naturally, devaluated and could no more
impart "a new image" for the next representative of the next regime.

And so Serzh Sargsyan decided to freshen the "komsomol". Naturally,
in the first turn at the expense of the United Liberal National Party
. The interesting thing is that there is almost no difference with
regard to human types and even with regard to concrete origin. And
Serzh Sargsyan’s son-in-law and [one of the pioneers of Sharm company’s
activities] Garik Martirosyan’s brother [Levon Martirosyan, the
leader of the United Liberal National Party] are from the "komsomol"
environment.

But the issue is not these good-looking youth with more or less
normal education. The issue is that Serzh Sargsyan, striving to
change his image, has set a wrong goal before him. Most likely his
surrounding has just cheated him – as if "You have no problem with
becoming a president, the people accept you, there are reservations
just regarding your surrounding. Everyone says – and with whom is
Serzh? With Hovik Abrahamyan, Yervand Zakharyan, [Armenian Minister
of Transport and Communications] Andranik Manukyan, [head of the
Armenian Customs Service] Armen Avetisyan? And then they advised to
pretend that he is coming with a new team.

And why this question is wrong? Because really Hovik Abrahamyan,
Yervand Zakharyan and others are unbearable for society, but the
most unbearable is Serzh Sargsyan himself. Thus the question "with
whose help Serzh Sargsyan wants to come" is not appropriate. It is
not essential, with whose help he wants to come, as it is him who
society rejects. One needs not go far for proofs. One just should
observe Serzh Sargsyan’s visits to [Armenia’s] regions and it will
become clear that people are being brought to those meetings by force
literally – with lists, conducting attendance checks and trustees
(so that they do not run away in the middle). And the most important
thing is that it is not possible to ensure "quantity of people"
at Serzh Sargsyan meetings even via such methods.

Now – about Serzh Sargsyan’s surrounding – the most pitiable image of
this "team" is undoubtedly Serzh Sargsyan himself. His surrounding,
of course, is not comprised of angels, but the issue is that even
the most unsuccessful people have one or two positive traits. The
issue is which human characteristics does the boss "encourage"? The
previous ten years showed that Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan encouraged
only the most hideous traits of their subjects (speaking in economic
terms – have considered a "priority branch", for example, servility,
sitomania, deception and others). [Passage omitted]

But we are sure this time it will not be a success. In any case normal
people are definitely a majority.

Dimitrij Rupel: Karabakh Settlement Important

DIMITRIJ RUPEL: KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IMPORTANT

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.01.2008 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very
important, EU President, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said
in his address to the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs.

"The EU supports endeavors of the OSCE Minsk Group and welcomes
extension of the European Neighborhood Policy. The EU Troika will
continue visits to Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkmenistan and
other republics," he said.

Besides, Mr Rupel touched on climate changes, energy security,
intercultural dialogue, accession talks with Turkey and Croatia, the
situation in Gaza and Lebanon, Iran’s nuclear program, developments
in Iraq, Pakistan, Myanmar, Kenya and Chad.

Paradjanov Art In Ukrain

PARADJANOV ART IN UKRAINE

Panorama.am
19:06 30/01/2008

Today an exhibition opened in National Museum of Ukraine. The
exhibition is devoted to Armenian famous producer Sergey
Paradjanov. More that 55 works are presented in the museum: films,
collages, dolls, hats and reproductions. All the works presented give
clear image of Paradjanov’s art.

"The exhibition is a good one, as various works are shown there,"
said Zaven Sargsyan, the director of Paradjanov’s museum.

The exhibition last till March.

ARS: Availability of Applications for 2008 ARS Eremian Scholarships

ARMENIAN RELIEF SOCIETY, INC. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESS RELEASE NO. 29

Armenian Relief Society, Inc.
Telephone: 617-926-5892

Central Office
Fax: 617-926-4855

80 Bigelow Avenue
e-mail: [email protected]

Watertown, MA 02472
Website:

Date: January 28, 2008
Contact person: Hamesd Beugekian

ARS, Inc. Announces Availability of Applications for
2008 ARS Eremian Scholarship Awards

The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. announces the availability
of applications for its 2008 Eremian Scholarship awards. Both graduate
and undergraduate students, who have completed a year of college, are
eligible to apply for the scholarship.

In 2007, the Society distributed nearly $20,000 in financial
assistance to worthy Armenian students living and studying in 10
countries. The annual grants are allocated from the Society’s Eremian
Scholarship Fund.

The ARS Inc. awards the Eremian Scholarship to worthy
students who demonstrate merit, financial need, and Armenian community
involvement. Applicants must submit their applications to their local
ARS regional board or chapter-at-large to be endorsed and sent to the
Eremian Scholarship Committee. Other application requirements are
specified in the scholarship application package.

"Part of the mission of the ARS is to support the education
of our future generations, and the ARS Eremian Scholarship is one of the
ways the ARS accomplishes that goal," said ARS Central Executive Board
Chairwoman Hasmig Derderian.

Applications for the 2008 Eremian Scholarship must be
received by the ARS Inc. office by May 31, 2008 from the local ARS
regional board or chapter-at-large. For more information, or an
application, call (617) 926-5892, e-mail [email protected], or visit
the ARS Inc.’s website at Applicants should also
contact their local ARS entity for information regarding local
application endorsement deadlines. Contact information of local entities
can be found on the ARS Inc.’s website.

www.ars1910.org
www.ars1910.org.