AZG Armenian Daily #181, 23/09/2006
IT
DEVELOPMENT OF IT SPHERE DEPENDS ON OUR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM
Armenia’s big capacity in IT sphere may decrease
instead of increasing year after year, if the state
and the private sector doesn’t allocate enough sources
for its development. Garegin Chukaszian, head of the
IT Fund, mentioned that in the course of the press
conferences only one of 15-20 journalists works with a
laptop, while the rest are deprived of that
opportunity. “We need serious changes in our
educational sphere and without passing to a mass
computer system one can forget about the development
of this sphere,” he said.
Hovhannes Mousaelian, head of Synopsis Armenia,
Garegin Chukaszian, head of IT Fund, and Karen
Vardanian, head of Union of IT Companies, touched upon
the current issues and the prospects for the
development of the sphere in the course of the press
conference in “Armenpress” hall.
The press conference was initiated on the occasion of
the IT month organized by RA PM Andranik Margarian.
Mr. Mousaelian stated that the educational sphere is
the most important one for achieving obvious success
in the IT sphere. He brought the example of the
educational model of “Synopsis,” thanks to which the
company has 220 university students that will continue
their further education in Moscow.
Karen Vardanian emphasized the importance of
increasing the awareness of our society about the
information security. He said this may be achieved by
only educational programs.
It is envisaged that in the course of the IT month
there will be held open competition for programmers.
Besides, on September 26 RA President Robert Kocharian
will give awards to the best students of the sphere.
The specialists stated that three international
congresses to be held in October will also be of great
importance. The first one will be entitled
“Opportunities for IT Development in Developing Land
Countries” (October 3-6), “The Human Rights in the
Information society, Assistance to Children and Youth
” (October 5-6) and Internet world congress dedicated
to cultural diversity (October 6-7).
Besides, a specialized IT exhibition will be held,
where various companies will represent their
telecommunication and IT technologies. The month will
be completed by two competitions on October 8.
By Ruzan Poghosian

“DEPUTY HEAD OF THE STATE TAX COMMITTEE IS AN OBSTACLE IN THE INVESTMENT FIELD”
A1+
[05:22 pm] 22 September, 2006
Honorary President of “Sil” group, NA deputy Khachatour Suqiasyan
spoke about the state system in “Mirror” club today. Speaking about
the possibilities of Armenian businessmen and the investments of
the Armenians of the Diaspora he said that Gagik Khachatryan, the
deputy head of the State Tax Committee, is an obvious obstacle in
the investment field.
According to Khachatour Suqiasyan, Gagik Khachatryan has 11 business
organizations. And if the deputy head of the State Tax Committee
has more than ten organizations, moreover, he imports good, he can’t
but hinder other importers. In this case, according to the deputy,
we must not accept increase of foreign investments.
“Everyone knows that this or that official imports certain goods
himself and owns certain shops. If someone wants to import the same
goods, it’s clear that his business is doomed to failure”, Khachatour
Suqiasyan said.

ANOTHER “EXPO”
A1+
[06:44 pm] 22 September, 2006
Today “Panarmenian expo 2006” panarmenian exhibition was launched in
the sport-cultural center after Karen Demirchyan. It was organized
within the framework of the celebration of the 15th anniversary
of the RA Independence and of the second economic conference
“Armenia-Diaspora”. The organizers of the exhibition are the RA
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and company “Expocent”.
“Panarmenian expo 2006” was opened by RA President Robert Kocharyan who
cut the red ribbon without saying a word. Accompanied by a number of
officials he went through the stands stopping occasionally near some
of them, and then left the hall without speaking to the journalists.
250 organizations are participating in the exhibition.
Almost all the branches of the economy of Armenia are represented.
The aim of the exhibition is to give a chance to the Armenian and
foreign businessmen to represent their production to the consumers
and to create business links between Armenia and foreign countries,
as well as to sum up the achievements of the past 15 years.
The exhibition will be open until September 24.

PACE RAPPORTEURS ARE COMING TO YEREVAN
A1+
[07:26 pm] 22 September, 2006
In the PACE 2007 January session a report will be represented about
honoring of obligations and commitments by the Republic of Armenia.
On September 25-29 rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee
Mikko Elo, George Columbier and Secretary Despina Chatsivasilu will
be in Yerevan.
The members of the PACE Monitoring Committee will meet the Ambassadors
of the CoE countries and representatives of NGOs, high RA officials
including the Defense Minister, the Public Prosecutor, and the
Foreign Minister.
On September 28 the members of the Committee will have meetings in
the National Assembly. They will meet the NA Speaker, the members
of the NA delegation to the PACE, heads of NA standing committees,
and heads of NA oppositional parties. The same day the Committee
members will be received by RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and
RA President Robert Kocharyan.

“ARMENTEL” DENIES
A1+
[07:49 pm] 22 September, 2006
“ArmenTel” claims that he does not “invent” bills of imaginary
phone calls. The company has made a statement in answer to suchlike
accusations saying, “We would like to inform the society in general
and our subscribers in particular that no imaginary phone calls are
ever registered in their bills. The calls are registered not only in
the billing system of “ArmenTel” but also in the international station
and finally in the phone system of the country where you have phoned”.
The Company claims that the issues published in the press do not
correspond to the reality.
“There were cases when subscribers visited the service centers of
“ArmenTel” claiming that they did not make the calls registered in
their bills. Nevertheless, it turned out that they really made those
calls. Even if there are misunderstandings, we solve them in favor
of the subscribers.
DEAR SUBSCRIBERS,
“ArmenTel” is one of the largest companies of the country which
makes great investments for the development of the telecommunication
infrastructures.
And the statements of some newspapers that “ArmenTel” which makes
investments of 30 billion USD annually can add the bills of the
subscribers for a few thousand drams is at least strange”.

WILL OSKANYAN BE PRESIDENT?
A1+
[08:07 pm] 22 September, 2006
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan did not exclude the possibility
of his participation in the 2008 Presidential elections.
Answering the questions about his possible participation in the 2008
Presidential elections by magazine “Nouvelles d’Armenie” which is
published in France, the Foreign Minister said, “It is still too
early to speak about it”.
“I know that I still have much to do in this country, and I would
like to continue my work. As for how, time will show”, Oskanyan said.
The Armenian press has supposed many times that Oskanyan can be
the possible successor of Kocharyan and be supported by “Prosperous
Armenia” created by Gagik Tsaroukyan.
According to the legislation, Vardan Oskanyan who left California
for Armenia in 1992 and got citizenship in 1998 will have the right
to participate in the 2008 Presidential elections, Radio station
“Azatutyun” reports.

THE LIBERATION OF ARTSAKH WAS THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
A1+
[08:17 pm] 22 September, 2006
15 years is not a short period for the development of a country. On
September 21 the 15th anniversary of the RA Independence was
celebrated. The RA authorities spared no words to praise the progress
of the country. What do the people think about it? According to 47%
of the readers of the website A1+, the greatest achievement of the
independent Armenia was the liberation of Artsakh.
14% considered the greatest achievement the creation of the
army. Democracy, freedom of speech and free economy gathered 3%
each. 30% of the 426 participants of the poll think that there have
been no achievements.
This week the poll question is “How do you assess the level of
development of the Informational and Telecommunication Technologies
which is considered the major branch of the RA economy?”
As usual, we expect your active participation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HAIK BABUKHANYAN INTERVIEWED ON RESIGNATION OF CRU CHAIRMAN
Panorama.am
15:25 22/09/06
After the resignation of Hrant Khachatryan, Constitutional Right
Union (CRU) chairman, everybody is interested in what’s going on in
the party. Today Panorama.am interviewed the acting chairman of CRU,
Haik Babukhanyan.
– Mr. Babukhanyan, what is the situation in CRU after Hrant
Khachatryan’s resignation? Everybody is working.
We have held sessions of chairmanship and executive board. All services
and committee are working in their normal realm. The regional and
community units are also working as normal.
– Some mass media outlets made an impression that with the resignation
of Hrant Khachatryan your dream has come true. Have you ever dreamt
that Hrant Khachatryan resigns? I have never dreamt of leading the
party. On the contrary, I had a wish that Hrant Khachatryan stays
as the head of the party. I have told the conference and will repeat
that he is the honorable chairman of the party. But every person has
the right to choose what to be busy with. Taking up the leadership
is an extra burden and responsibility for me.
– In fact do you take up the post of the party’s head?
According to the charter and our conference decision, yes, in case
the head of the party resigns, I take up his responsibilities.
– Mr. Babukhanyan, before his departure Hrant Khachatryan said he
has several demands. What is your reaction to them and will they be
called to life? I accept them as normal. His wishes are our wishes. We
have never had arguments in this regard. There will be no problems
in that sense.
-How did you depart with ex-chairman of CRU, as friends or…?
– Not only we are partners, we are political friends.
In my case, I consider Mr. Khachatryan as my friend.
– What are your reactions to Hrant Khachatryan’s supporters who blame
you in financial misappropriations?
– I myself am part of Mr. Khachatryan’s team.
– I mean after disagreements and disputes.
Both before the dispute and after it I am against that there will be
such a notion as “Mr. Khachatryan’s supporters” because I am personally
his supporter.
When our conference elected him as a chairman, it means all the
delegates supported him. We think people should be free and decline
from using words like “supporters, people of the same team.”
As far as some party members are concerned who have used libel
through statements and newspapers (Babukhanyan is speaking about
Karen Vardanyan who said Babukhanyan has misappropriated funds),
they have performed the order of the state in order to create
disagreements within the party. An application is forwarded to
the supervision committee to check what they say. So, it will be
checked how truthful these statement are. If they meet the reality,
corresponding conclusions will be drawn. If they don’t, the libelers
will give an answer according to our charter.
/Panorama.am/

MANUKYAN SAYS THIS WAS 4TH ARMENIA-DIASPORA MEETING
Panorama.am
16:07 22/09/06
NA deputy Vazgen Manukyan said everybody forget that in fact the first
Armenia-Diaspora meeting was held in 1991 when business community
from Diaspora was invited to Armenia while Manukyan served as a
prime minister.
Manukyan said they had plans to open an Armenian bank in Paris with
5% of starting capital from the Armenian government and 95% from the
Diaspora. This bank never opened, Manukyan said.
Manukyan has no high hopes with the poverty alleviation program in
rural communities because he says no clear-cut programs are proposed
and supervision mechanisms are not in place. “First of all the state
must not be corrupt so that people make financial assistance,” he said.
Deputy of National Assembly, Khachatur Sukiasyan, also agreed with
Vazgen Manukyan. He said Armenia should become attractive for the
Diaspora. /Panorama.am/

SECOND ARMAGROFORUM KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN
Panorama.am
16:09 22/09/06
“I am sure the forum will create opportunities for international
cooperation in the agricultural sector,” Davit Lokyan, minister of
agriculture, addressed the forum, which kicked off today in Yerevan
as part of III “Armenia-Diaspora” Conference. Lokyan said it aims to
step up mutually beneficial relations between the local and foreign
entrepreneurs.
Minister Lokyan read out the address of President Robert Kocharyan
which says, “Serious achievements have been made since the first
Armagroforum.”
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan also made a speech at
the opening ceremony. In his words, the government attaches great
significance to the rural sector of the republic. “Privatization of
land has created a number of problems in line with positive results,”
he said. He said government support is needed to address part of the
problems, including, development of irrigation system, food safety,
plant protection, credits to rural communities and sale of agricultural
products.
The Armenian government and Yerevan offices of USAID, AMCOR and
a number of other international organizations support the second
international Armagroforum. Representatives from 35 countries,
international organizations, educational establishments within Newly
Independent State, state sector of Armenia and the diplomatic corps
take part in the event. /Panorama.am/