Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP GRANT PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED FROM MAY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting May 1, a one-year
Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Grant Program (STEP)
will be implemented by the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF)
jointly with the US Civilian Research and Development Foundation
(CRDF). EIF Director Bagrat Engibarian stated this during the April
11 press conference. According to him, the grants will be provided to
those groups engaged in applied sciences that will submit the best
proposals for cooperation with US partners. Under the program, the
Armenian scientists will receive advisory assistance on development
of business programs, licensing of intellectual property objects,
and technology examination. Besides, the scientists will be provided
advice on how to enhance the capacities of establishing links with
enterprises in other sectors of the economy. EIF Director noted that in
case of availability of a contract on scientific developments between
a scientific group and an enterprise, the scientific group will be
allocated a grant in the amount of 50 thousand dollars. Scientific
groups or scientists will be allocated grants in the amount of 3-5
thousand dollars for realization of new development ideas. In the words
of B. Engibarian, it is envisaged that the grant component of STEP
will also be financed by some donor organizations in Armenia. He said
that the joint grant program of the EIF and the CRDF will be followed
by a venture conference, after which financing of the scientific
developments programs from a joint venture fund of the EIF and the
Cafesjian Family Foundation will start. The venture fund’s capital
makes 1 mln USD.

ARMENIAN YOUTH DOES NOT REFUSE TO PRESENT LAND DEMANDS TO TURKEY, TURKISH NEWSPAPER WRITES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 11 2006
ISTANBUL, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The most part
of young people of Armenia does not want to refuse to present land
demands to Turkey.
The Turkish “Milliet” daily informs about this, quoting results of
the sociological survey held in Armenia. According to the Istanbul
“Marmara” daily, “Milliet” wrote that in the opinion of the 90%
of young people participated in the sociological survey, Turkey’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide and that country’s returning
the captured Armenian lands is a condition for establishment of
normal relations between those two countries. Only the 4% of those
participating in the survey considered possible establishment
of relations between the two countries without implementation of
conditions. In the opinion of the 91% of those surveyed, establishment
of normal relations with Azerbaijan is not possible without solution
of the Karabakh issue.

CUT & PASTE: DON’T FORGET THAT JAPAN IS OUR BEST FRIEND IN ASIA
The Australian, Australia
April 11 2006
Former West Australian premier Geoff Gallop, in an address at
Murdoch University in Perth last week OUR growing links to China
and India [should be] put into the context of our long-term and
still developing partnerships with Japan. In all of our thinking
about Asian engagement we cannot ignore the strength of our links
to Japan. We share democratic values, face similar demographic and
social challenges, and have many interests in common in respect of
regional and international issues.
Let me take you back to the 1990s when Japan was in a protracted slump
and many questioned its ability to reform and revive. All through that
period Japan remained our major export market, with exports growing
by 44 per cent, and we worked together to ensure that the Asia-Pacific
[Economic] Co-operation [forum] was given a good start.
It has not just been a case of co-operation between the national
governments of Australia and Japan.
Each state of Australia has an active sister-state relationship
with a Japanese prefecture. There are 99 sister-city links and 369
partnerships involving higher education institutions. About 300,000
young Australians are learning Japanese today.
Add to that the 44 Japan-Australia societies in Japan and 15
counterpart associations in Australia, and you can begin to comprehend
the strength of the people-to-people links.
Deep beneath the surface of the high-level political relationships, a
level of trust and understanding has been built up and new directions
for the Australia-Japan partnership explored. This is an invaluable
asset and it is not surprising, then, that there has been an important
deepening and broadening of the trade and investment relationship…
All too often we hear Australia’s leaders using the distinction between
history (European) and geography (Asian) to describe our position in
the world. It is as if we are on the outside looking in, interested
but not really committed. This has led to mixed signals being sent
about our belief in regional participation and co-operation, and has
fed the assumptions of those who want to exclude Australia on the
basis of Asian values.
Japan is a country that supports Australian participation. In his
visionary speech delivered in Singapore in 2002, Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi outlined his conception of East Asia. He spoke
of an East Asian community, including Australia and New Zealand,
that sought harmony despite the diversity of historical, cultural
and ethnic traditions, and one that would not be exclusive but open
to those outside the region, most notably the US and India.
Australia was initially lukewarm about the idea but eventually came
to the party and the first East Asian summit was held in Kuala Lumpur
last December. Although incremental, this is a first move towards
consolidation within the Asian community … To be cynical and
half-hearted about genuine Asian engagement would be to let down our
people and take a risk with the future that we simply cannot afford.
William Pfaff, in the International Herald Tribune, on a welcome and
long-overdue debate about the Israel lobby:
THE note of panic in some of the attacks on distinguished US academics
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt [who discuss the Israeli lobby’s
effect on US foreign policy] contrasts with the fact that what they
say is no secret in American foreign policy circles. People have for
years taken for granted the informal censorship, or self-censorship,
exercised in the government and the press on this issue. It is a
fact of democratic life in the US that determined interest groups
annex their own spheres of federal policy. Energy policy is run by
the oil companies, and trade policy by manufacturers, exporters and
importers, with an input from Wall Street. US Cuba policy is decided
by the Cuban lobby in Florida and policy on Armenia by Americans
of Armenian descent. The Middle East, or at least its part of it,
belongs to Israel.
However, in the Israeli case, the lobbying effort is linked to a
foreign government, even if the lobbyists sometimes take a policy line
not that of the government. Moreover, the lobbying involves issues of
war and peace. US President George W. Bush said a few days ago that,
in connection with the supposed threat of Iran, his concern is to
protect Israel. Critics ask why Israel should not protect itself. The
same has been asked about Iraq.
In this respect, the controversy over the Israeli lobby is potentially
explosive. This is why denials, secrecy and efforts at intimidation
are dangerous. David Levy, a former adviser to [former Israeli prime
minister] Ehud Barak, is right when he says that Israel itself would
be served “if the open and critical debate that takes place over here
[in Israel] were exported over there”, meaning the US.

ALIYEV TO DISCUSS KARABAKH ISSUE IN US
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 00:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the
United States scheduled for 28 April has long been planned. During
the visit, bilateral issues between the two countries will be
discussed,” Ali Hasanov, head of the Presidential Administration
social and political department told journalists. Mr. Hasanov said
that President Aliyev will have talks with US President George Bush,
State Secretary Condoleezza Rice and OSCE MG American co-chair Steven
Mann. The Nagorno Karabakh issue and relations with Iran will be in
focus of the meetings, Hasanov said.
Hasanov also criticized the OSCE MG activities. “If Russia, France,
US shut their eyes on “Armenia’s aggression” the OSCE Minsk Group
is pointless institution then. It is natural that the United States
does not want the war to break out in the South Caucasus, neither
do we. We do not want our oil revenues to be spent on war. However,
for the sake of liberation of our territories we’ll mobilize not only
oil revenues but also family incomes. It is important to put pressure
on Armenia to prevent war,” Hasanov remarked.
The head of the department does not think that the Azerbaijan-US talks
will also focus on Iran issue. He said Iran and US will decide their
relations themselves. “This issue concerns these two countries.
We have relations with the US as well as with Iran.
Our citizens keep in touch with Iran,” he concluded, APA reports.

UN SYMBOLE DE L’AMITIE FRANCO-ARMENIENNE
par Charmot Francois
Paris-Normandie , France
10 avril 2006
Vendredi en fin d’après-midi, le depute-maire Jean-Louis Debre et
Edvard Nal Bandian, ambassadeur d’Armenie, ont plante un abricotier
dans le parc Francois-Mitterrand.
Entoures de nombreuses personnalites, parmi lesquelles le prefet et
le depute Jean-Pierre Nicolas, les deux hommes, qui ont aussi devoile
une plaque destinee a commemorer l’evenement, ont, l’un et l’autre,
rappele l’amitie qui unissait nos deux pays et nos deux peuples.
Une amitie qu’il convenait de materialiser de manière durable, en
cette annee de l’Armenie en France.
–Boundary_(ID_AU3NerCcEZQl3xQEyDnyww)–

THE DEPUTY DID NOT ORGANISE AN ENCROACHMENT
A1+
[03:27 pm] 11 April, 2006
Today the Armavir deputy Nahapet Gevorgyan who rarely appears
in the Parliament was present in the session after a long
absence. According to the data of the mass media the latter is
suspected in the organization of encroachment on the Chairman of
the “Erkrapah-Kamavor Alliance” (“Alliance of Volunteer-Defenders”)
of Armavir Rustam Gasparyan.
Let us remind you that Rustam Gasparyan was taken to hospital
with serious bodily injuries. There are certain versions on their
hostility; some sources say that they had business affairs with
each other and their conflict is connected with the so-called market
“Sadakhlu.” Others say that Rustam Gasparyan is going to the Parliament
but their territory already has a deputy – Nahapet Gevorgyan.
Today answering the question of the correspondent of “A1+” Nahapet
Gevorgyan refuted the accusations addressed to him and said, “I have no
connection with the encroachment, and all the accusations are false.”
Asked why he doesn’t sue the people spreading such rumors he answered,
“I am not inclined to such things.
Everything is aspersion; I have nothing in common with it.”
While answering the question of “Aravot” newspaper whether he ever
had any problems with Rustam Gasparyan the deputy said, “No, never.”

VELTI RAISING £10M FOR EXPANSION IN BALKANS AND TURKEY
By Maija Palmer,IT Correspondent
FT
April 10 2006 03:00
Velti, the Greek mobile phone technology company, will on Monday
announce plans to list on London’s Aim in a move expected to raise
£10m in new money and value the company at up to £35m.
The company, whose financial backers include Nicholas Negroponte, the
founder of the MIT Media Lab, is planning to use the funds to increase
its presence in the Balkan and Turkish telecommunications markets.
Velti provides software and services that allow mobile phone operators
– including Vodafone Greece – to track and manage the content that
their subscribers access. It also provides technology for media
companies wanting to offer content or run promotions over the mobile
phone network. Velti currently works with mobile phone operators
and content companies in Greece, Turkey, Armenia and Cyprus but is
planning to expand its business into Romania and Bulgaria as well as
deepening its penetration in Turkey.
Alexandros Moukas, chief executive, said it was an optimal time to
enter these markets.
Mobile phone penetration in the Balkans is still about 60 per cent,
lower than levels in the rest of Europe, but growing quickly.
Both Vodafone and OTE, the Greek mobile phone operator, have signalled
plans to expand in the region.
Velti, which was founded in 2000 and employs 90 people, has seen
recent strong growth. Revenue rose 31 per cent to â~B¬4.9m (£3.4m)
in 2005 while pre-tax profit jumped from â~B¬29,000 to â~B¬1.1m.
–Boundary_(ID_b9+Tt/Iu/Zf1W6ILC/vvNw)- –

Today, Azerbaijan
April 8 2006
Defense Ministry: “Rumors about order of mobilization in Azerbaijan
are not true”

08 April 2006 [08:01] – Today.Az

“Some TV channels and newspapers aim at generating public excitement
by having recently spread reports that mobilization has been ordered
in Azerbaijan, and military units in home front have been dislocated
to battle field,” Defense Ministry spokesman, major Ilgar Verdiyev,
stated.

As APA reports, he said that ratification of the bill on mobilization
by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief did not mean the start of
mobilization. This law existed in all countries worldwide, including
the former Soviet countries.
“However, some aims to cause public panic. Mobilization is ordered by
the Supreme Commander-in-Chief,” the Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Major Verdiyev also commented on dislocation of military units in
Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline and sending of soldiers drafted in April
to the battle field directly. He said that military units and
equipment could be dislocated in any place in the country and it’s a
regular process.

“As coming to send new draftees directly to the frontline, it is
possible only after 6 months of service. Majority of units of the
Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces are located near the front line. Do not
believe in hearsays that aim to make people worry,’ Verdiyev
stressed.

According to the bill on mobilization, not only citizens but also
conditions of various spheres of the country economy, cars owned by
civilians and other equipment and etc should be registered.

The mobilization in Azerbaijan is carried out by the same system
existed in the Soviet Army, and servicemen in reserve have not been
called to meetings since 1994.

URL:

Charente Libre
6 avril 2006
Trio Alpha: un ménage à trois qui pratique la musique de chambre
par Laurence GUYON
Trois jeunes musiciennes charentaises ont formé un trio avec violon,
violoncelle et piano. Le groupe fourmille de projets
Entre l’enseignement, l’orchestre et la musique de chambre, on est
comblées, sourit Cécile Mardikian, unanimement approuvée par Cécile
Boy-Riva et Rachel Maté. Les trois jeunes musiciennes ont en effet
décidé d’ajouter une corde à leur… archet en créant le Trio Alpha
(1). A l’école nationale de musique d’Angoulême, Cécile Mardikian
enseigne le violon, Cécile Boy-Riva le violoncelle, et la pianiste
Rachel Maté, le déchiffrage. Elles ont leur place au sein de
l’orchestre Poitou-Charentes et d’Opus 16, et Rachel Maté mène aussi
une carrière de soliste. Abondamment dotées de premiers prix de
toutes sortes, elles totalisent, depuis leur plus tendre enfance,
plus de 80 ans de pratique musicale à elles trois. Elles n’ont donc
plus à faire leurs preuves. Et pourtant…
Comme pianiste, on est souvent seul, confie Rachel Maté, venue de
Londres. Alors on a parfois besoin d’échanger avec d’autres. Monter
une formation en trio permet de trouver un équilibre. Cécile Boy-Riva
avait l’expérience du quatuor à cordes: Dans ce cas, le violoncelle
est principalement une basse. Avec le trio, je peux m’exprimer
totalement, mon instrument a toute sa place. Pour Cécile Mardikian,
ce trio avec piano, unique dans le département, permet de faire
entendre tout un répertoire aux Charentais… en nous faisant
plaisir.
Et puis il y a la nécessité d’avoir une activité artistique
complémentaire: Je ne conçois pas d’être prof sans jouer, commence
Cécile Boy-Riva. Ce serait comme un chirurgien qui donnerait des
cours sans opérer, poursuit Cécile Mardikian. Et puis, reprend la
violoncelliste, ça permet de se perfectionner pour la pratique
instrumentale, il y a un gros travail personnel sur chaque oeuvre. Et
puis il y a la recherche sur l’interprétation, qui les oblige à
s’interroger sur ce que le compositeur a voulu dire, et sur la
meilleure façon de rendre ce sentiment.
De la France à l’Arménie
Alors les trois amies ont franchi le pas, et ont fondé leur groupe il
y a maintenant deux ans. Si pour l’instant, elles se sont plutôt
cantonnées à des concerts à visées pédagogiques, les projets ne
manquent pas. Leur répertoire actuel va de Beethoven à Haydn, de
Schumann à Brahms, en passant par Ravel, Fauré ou Chostakovitch. Nous
avons aussi un projet axé sur la musique française, avec justement
Gabriel Fauré, et Thierry Escaich, un compositeur gé d’une
quarantaine d’années, expliquent-elles.
Elles veulent monter un concert dédié à la musique arménienne, pour
marquer à leur façon l’année de l’Arménie en France. Un autre concert
est en gestation, en hommage à Henri Dutilleux, compositeur français
qui fête cette année son 90e anniversaire. Et puis le trio a envie de
participer à des concours, à des masterclass, histoire de se frotter
à d’autres, de relever d’autres défis.
Au fait, pourquoi ce nom de Trio Alpha ? Rachel Maté éclate de rire:
On ne pouvait pas l’appeler “Trio Cécile”, parce que je ne m’appelle
pas Cécile. Non, c’est parce qu’on débute… Alpha, c’est la première
lettre de l’alphabet grec. C’est le début d’une longue histoire,
sourit Cécile Boy-Riva. Rachel Maté ajoute: C’est aussi une référence
à la musique contemporaine. Nous rêvons d’être les premières
interprètes d’une oeuvre qui aurait été écrite pour nous.
La musique contemporaine revient souvent dans leurs préoccupations.
Car si elles ont un solide répertoire classique ou romantique, elles
affirment: C’est important de jouer la musique de compositeurs
vivants. C’est notre rôle à nous de continuer ça.
(1) Concert-conférence, vendredi
7 avril à 12h30 au conservatoire
Gabriel-Fauré, autour de l’oeuvre
de Chostakovitch, avec le Trio Alpha. Entrée libre.

Czech News Agency
April 4, 2006 Tuesday
STETINA TO SUBMIT BILL ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Prague, April 4 (CTK) – Senator Jaromir Stetina (for the Green Party)
wants to submit a bill by which the Czech Republic would recognise
violence committed against Armenians in the Ottoman empire in 1915 as
genocide, he told an international conference on the Armenian
genocide that was held in the Senate today. Turkey has refused to
recognise the extermination of Armenians as genocide and some Czech
and foreign politicians view this as a possible obstacle to Turkeys
admission to the European Union. Armenians consider April 1915 when
the government of the Ottoman empire arrested more than 2,300
Armenian leaders as the beginning of the genocide in which up to 1.5
million Armenians were killed in the following months and years.
Turkey denies that the Armenian genocide happened and links these
events with the fight against Armenians who, it says, collaborated
with the Russian army. It says that the accusation of the genocide is
supposed to delay its entry to the EU. According to Turkey, some
300,000 to 500,000 Armenians were killed during these events. “This
is the denial of the genocide by the whole nation. Europe should put
certain obstacles to Turkeys entry to the EU. Europe is based on the
principles that would be threatened if such Turkey joined the EU,”
chairwoman of the European-Armenian federation Hilda Tchoboian from
France said at the conference. “No government in Europe, except for
France, has recognised the genocide. The parliaments of some
countries are an exception,” Vahakh Dadrian, an expert pn genocide
who cooperates with Harvard University in the USA, said. Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirasosyan said that Armenia had not
registered any real changes in the position on the genocide as
efforts to deny it continued. “This prevents us from settling our
relations with Turkey,” he said. Stetina said it was important for
Turkey that seeks to join the EU to come to terms with its past. He
said that the recent passage of a similar law in Slovakia inspired
his activities. Former Slovak prime minister Jan Carnogursky told the
conference about Slovakias experience. By passing such a law, the
Czech Republic would join some two dozen countries that have passed
such legislation, including France, Russia, Italy, Switzerland,
Canada and Slovakia. The European Parliament recognised the killings
of Armenians as genocide in 1987. vv/dr/ms