Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN STRATEGIC COOPERATION IS NOT A TEMPORARY POLITICAL STATE OF AFFAIRS, BUT REFLECTION OF NATURAL SITUATION IN THE TWO COUNTRIES’ RELATIONS

ArmInfo
2009-11-11 18:50:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the
ribbon-cutting ceremony of Armenian Cultura Center in Kaliningrad
region of Russia.

ArmInfo correspondent reports from Kaliningrad that Governor of
Kaliningrad region Georgy Boos, Armenian Diaspora Minister Hranush
Hakobyan, Armenian Agriculture Minister Gerasim Alaverdyan and Mayor
of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Armenian president made a speech before the Armenian Diaspora
representatives. "I am glad to be in Kaliningrad, especially taking
into account such an important event as the opening of the Armenian
Cultural Center. Creation of such a center shows that strategic
cooperation between Armenia and Russia is not a temporary political
state of affairs and not a mercantile intention, but reflection of
the natural situation in the mutual relations between our states
and two peoples",- Sargsyan stressed and added that only by means
of direct communication it is possible to make everyone understand
the extremely important postulate repeated during the meetings with
Armenian Diaspora for many times: "If you want to be a good Armenian,
be a worthy citizen of the country you live in".

S.Sargsyan thanked the Russian leadership in the person of President
Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for the support in
implementation of such undertakings as creation of Armenian cultural
spiritual centers in Russia. Sargsyan thanked Governor of Kaliningrad
region Georgy Boos for the consistency in his actions and development
of ties between Armenia and Kaliningrad region. The president expressed
hope that Boos will shortly visit Armenia, and they will sum up the
results of the work done in 2009 and outline the new plans.

The president also thanked Honorary Consul of Armenia to Kaliningrad
region, Director General of "Lukoil", Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Regional National Cultural Autonomy Yuri
Khojoyan. "Not everyone can build a church – a spiritual cultural
center. This is not a matter of money, a lot of people have huge
resources but don’t do that",- Sargsyan said.

To note, the president brought for the new center collected books
and art albums published in Armenia over the past two years. Serzh
Sargsyan instructed the Armenian ministers of Culture and Diaspora
to take this center under their patronage.

To recall, this is the president’s third visit to the regions of
Russia. Earlier Sargsyan visited Orenburg and Rostov.

To note, today Serzh Sargsyan laid wreaths at the Armenian khachkar
(cross-stone). On behalf of Governor of Kaliningrad region Georgy Boos,
an official dinner party will be given in the Armenian president’s
honor. Nov 11 evening the Armenian delegation headed by Serzh Sargsyan
will return to Yerevan.

LUKASHENKO: THE KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE SOLVED BY THE PRESIDENTS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

armradio.am
11.11.2009 14:05

The Nagorno Karabakh issue should be solved by the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenoko
said in an exclusive interview with Trend News. "I have always told the
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia that this problem should be solved
by the two Presidents. One should not rely on any intermediaries,
although there is the OSCE Minsk Group. If Minsk as the center of this
group can contribute to resolution of the conflict, we will be happy
to do it. But only the two presidents can solve this issue," he said.

According to the President of Belarus, the involvement of
intermediaries may be good, but it binds the opinions of the third,
fourth and fifth parties. "Everyone will try to build a policy for
itself. If I reason correctly and you agree with this, then you must
agree upon the fact that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
can solve this problem. How to solve? First of all, it should take
place based on interests of people residing there. They cannot live
in such situation and conditions. Smart people will always find a
way to resolve it, or at least, they must find."

"Therefore, we support the process in the direction that this issue
should be resolved by the two countries, two presidents and two
peoples. Sit down, be determined and resolve. And people will always
be grateful for it," Lukashenko said.

RESULTS OF GRENSHAN 2009 FONT CONTEST SUMMED UP

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.11.2009 16:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Grenshan 2009" international font contest was
held this year for the second time. Armenia participated in contest
in 6 nominations – "Armenian Typewriter", "Armenian Textbook Font",
"Latin Typewriter", "Cyrillic Typewriter" and "Freestyle Font". Prize
winner in contest was Edik Gabuzyan, Head of the Font Development
and Maintenance Department at National Book Chamber.

Contest is aimed at developing Armenian electronic fonts and achieving
their recognition on international level.

This year’s contest attracted 54 applications from 12 countries,
including Armenia, Great Britain, Germany, United States, Mexico,
Equator etc. All works, except those submitted for "Freestyle Font"
nomination, conformed to the standards established by RA Government.

"It’s very appreciable for us that Rowan Casto from Equator and Iko
Miller from Germany submitted Armenian alphabet fonts. That testifies
not only to interest in our alphabet and language but also increasing
international recognition of ‘Granshan’ contest," Edik Gabuzyan said.

"Arial, Times and other fonts used currently cannot be considered
Armenian as they are based upon the Latin alphabet. The contest marked
the start of using the huge reserve of purely Armenian fonts," said
one of contest winners Ara Baghdasaryan, Head of Graphic Art Chair
at RA Academy of Arts.

To use Armenian fonts on the Internet, it is necessary to obtain
consent from several international companies, with Microsoft being
the first. Armenia is currently negotiating with the company, Edik
Gabuzyan said.

IPHONE VS. BLACKBERRY: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN ARMENIA’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET

Tert
Nov 11 2009
Armenia

The competition between telecommunications operators in Armenia in
providing mobile and internet services might expand into the cell
phone product market beginning as early as next year.

The level of permeability in Armenia’s mobile communications market
is 80%, forcing telecommunications operators to come up with new
solutions in retaining and attracting customers.

For instance, Armenia’s newest telecommunications operator, Orange
Armenia, announced that it will be the official supplier of the iPhone
in Armenia. This means that after some time, those phones will become
available for customers for a cheaper price in the marketplace,
of course on the condition that those individuals buying the phone
become their customer by signing onto their plans.

Already Orange Armenia has begun to sell mobile phones that are cheaper
than the market price to its customers. The company, it turns out,
has exclusive contracts with a number of mobile phone manufacturers.

It’s no surprise then that iPhone’s competitor, Blackberry, will be
represented by VivaCell-MTS in the Armenian market. MTS has already
begun to sell these smartphones to individual customers in the
Russian marketplace.

In Russia, for instance, MTS sells the Blackberry Curve 8520 smartphone
for around $440 USD — about $100 USD cheaper than the price offered by
(other) retailers. Customers who purchase the Blackberry Curve 8520
receive other free services provided by MTS.

Russia’s VimpelCom (ArmenTel’s sole proprietor) sells Blackberry
phones in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and it’s not entirely unlikely
that those will be offered in Armenia as well.

Thus, the competition in the telecommunications market in Armenia
could, quite soon, move to the retail sector. As for what effect this
will have on importers of these products, only time will tell.

V. KHACHATRYAN: "NO MOTIVATIONS FOUND"

Aysor
Nov 10 2009
Armenia

The Armenian authorities present a non existing budget, today said
the ANC representative former Mayor of Yerevan Vahagn Khachatryan,
on the press conference.

"You can call it whatever you want but not a budget", – the speaker
said adding that many important motivations are absent from the
budget project.

"For example there are no explanations how they are going to make
Armenia tourism center, Dilijan financial center, and Gyumri a
techno-park", – mentioned he.

According to the speaker there is a basis only for the two projects
the future of which he finds unrealistic too. It is Armenia – Iran
railway and the North – South highway.

"Unfortunately the Armenian – Iranian railway project can not come true
because of the political and economic reasons. I have doubts concerning
the North – South highway as I think it will also not come true,
as the geographical conditions will not allow making contributions
in the project to make it come true", – mentioned Vahagn Khachatryan
mentioned and added that the economy of Armenia can find the solution
being in the middle of these two programs.

EQUIPMENT DELIVERY TO HRAZDAN-5 TO FINISH BY YEAR END

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the frameworks of Hrazdan-5 project, energy bloc
under reconstruction is being supplied with technological equipment,
including GT13E2 Alstom equipment set (total weight: about 1350 tons)
for gas turbine and 4 equipment settings for main power transformers,
ArmRosgazprom CJSC’s press service reports.

Equipment delivery is to finish early in December. Delivery of 400
Mwt power transformer (260 tons) and 5.3 Mwt gas turbine transformer
is expected between November 25 and 29, 2009, and the second stage
of delivery of gas turbine supplies is to finish by December 10.

Shipping is carried out by SCR CJSC and its specialized subcontractor
Rail Gas Service on competitive bases. Supplies are delivered to Batumi
port (Georgia) by special sea vessels and then moved to Hrazdan-5
construction site by railway transportation means and automobiles.

Work on creation of a School of Restoration in Armenia to start in 2010

2009-11-07 16:14:00

ArmInfo. The work on creation of a School of Restoration in Armenia
will start in 2010.

Armenian Culture Minister Hasmik Poghosyan said at today’s
press-conference that Italy has already officially confirmed its
willingness to provide its support in this matter. France is expected
to join this project in 2010.

Poghosyan said that today it is necessary to pay much attention to
training of a new generation of specialists who will not yield to
their foreign colleagues in this respect. The best pupils of the
School will receive an opportunity to be retrained in Italy. The
project on creation of the School of Restoration will be implemented
within 2 years.

INCIDENT IN NOUBARASHEN SCHOOL TO BE REFLECTED IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE REPORT

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2009 21:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The group of volunteers will today address to
General Prosecutor a letter indicating the illegitimacy and partiality
of inquest body’s operations against Green Movement activist Mariam
Sukhudyan," activist’s lawyer Nona Galstyan told a news conference
in Yerevan.

On November 13, 2008 Armenian Public Television prepared a broadcast
in which a female inmate from Noubarashen boarding school No. 11
complained about being sexually harassed by one of pedagogues. Authors
of broadcast used video materials submitted by S.O.S. Teghut activists
who also engage themselves in the protection of vulnerable groups’
rights. As a result of subsequent inquest operations launched by
Erebuni Police Investigative Department, Mariam Sukhudyan was found
criminally liable under Section 1, Article 135 of RA Criminal Code
(libel). Case against her was filed on February 11, 2009.

2010 BUDGET IN AGRICULTURAL SPHERE TO COMPRISE OVER AMD 9 BILLION

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2009 15:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s 2010 Budget in agricultural sphere will
comprise AMD 9 billion 3 million and 956 thousand which is an AMD 4
billion 810 million decrease compared to 2009, Agriculture Minister
Gerasim Alaverdyan said.

To ensure stable anti-epidemic situation in the country, it is planned
to launch a cattle vaccination program which will cost AMD 1 billion.

It is also planned to launch an AMD 1 billion and 100 million land
subsidy program for 315 thousand 425 communities of highland regions.

The 2010 cattle development program (which costs AMD 344 million)
will be implemented in conjunction with Japanese Government.

IN CASE OF ELECTION FAILURE, ARMENIA’S FIRST MARXIST INTENDS TO LEAVE COUNTRY

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.11.2009 17:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "At the next elections into RA NA, I’m without a
rival among N10 Yerevan’s electoral station candidates," Armenia’s
Marxist Party Leader David Hakobyan stated.

David Hakobyan intends to fight till the final victory. "This will be
my last struggle for parliamentary mandate, and I have no intention
to give up," Armenia’s first Marxist emphasized, adding that he’ll
leave RA in case of election failure.

He expressed confidence of his future victory as, in his opinion,
he’s supported by Armenian people. "As a parliamentarian, I intend to
introduce ideological reforms both in society and political elite,"
David Hakobyan concluded.