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.

4,297 CITIZENS STILL NOT PROVIDED WITH APARTMENTS IN GYUMRI
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
GYUMRI, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In the last 6-7 years, 8.5 thousand
families have been provided with apartments in Gyumri. However,
4,297 citizens still do not have their own apartments, so housing
consruction programs are underway in the city. Mayor of Gyumri Vardan
Ghukasian told reporters about it. He said that the mayor’s office
supervises the construction organizations’ compliance with the rules
of seismic resistance of the houses under construction.
Particularly, it is forbidden to do house construction work in those
parts of the city, which, according to the seismic map of Gyumri,
are located on the breaking lines of lithosphere. According to
V. Ghukasian, the new districts of Gyumri have municipal and other
communication infrastuctures. Gymri mayor noted that proper control
was kept over the quality the houses built under international
programs. At the same time, it was mentioned that there have been
some quality-related complaints from residents of the buildings
constructed within the framework of the World Bank programs. Roofs
of 30-50 buildings in new districts of Gyumri are repaired each year
with financial resources of the mayor’s office.

ARMENIA MAY BE OF STRATEGICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR FRENCH INVESTORS, FRENCH AMBASSADOR SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Air France’s entry into Armenia
bears evidence of the strengthening of political relations between
the two countries.
During April 10 press conference, the French Ambassador to Armenia
Henri Cuny noted that the political will be crowned with success
only if it is based on economic logic. According to the ambassador,
the operation of three flights a week by the French airline is
consistent with the approach that other French enterprises have
taken in Armenia in the last two years. In his words, it all shows
that Armenia’s economic development continues, and the country may be
of strategical significance for French investors, while operation of
flights is indicative of trust in the Armenian economy and tourism. The
representative of Air France Central Europe Office noted that an
increase in the number of passengers of Paris-Yerevan-Paris flight has
been observed over two weeks. It is noteworthy that the world-famous
singer Charles Aznavour, who arrived in Armenia by Air France’s new
flight, has attended the press conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT WELCOMES AIR FRANCE ENTRY INTO ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Welcoming the entry of Air France
into Armenia, the Armenian President expressed a hope that it was
an efficient step and a business success. Robert Kocharian stated it
on April 10 when receiving the delegation of the French airline. He
attached importance to the operation of regular flights by Air
France also in terms of tourism development, noting that tourism
is an economic priority in Armenia. According to the RA President’s
press service, R. Kocharian stated with satisfaction that a number
of big French companies have started operating in Armenia over the
past two years.

BILL ENVISAGING TO ERECT MONUMENT TO ENVER-PASHA IN BAKU SQUARE SUBMITTED TO AZERBAIJANI PARLIAMENT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 11 2006
ISTANBUL, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Kudret
Hasankuliyev, one of the leaders of the People’s Front opposition
party of Azerbaijan, submitted a bill to the country’s parliament
demanding that a monument to one of the chief organizers of the
Armenian Genocide, Enver-pasha be erected in Baku square. According
to the “Marmara” daily of Istanbul, the Azeri parliamentary deputy
“motivated” his proposal saying that it was Enver-pasha who saved
the Azeri people “from the genocide committed by the Armenians”. The
Azerbaijani parliamentarian demanded that the country’s government
remove the monuments to Lenin and other Soviet leaders in Baku and
erect a monument to Dede Korkut in their place. Oktay Asadov, Speaker
of the Azerbaijani parliament, submitted the proposals for discussion
to the respective parliamentary commission.

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.

A STATE PROGRAM SHOULD BE WORKED OUT AND IMPLEMENTED FOR RESTORING OLD GYUMRI
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. After the Spitak earthquake no
serious work has been implemented for the purpose of restoring
the architectural monuments of Gyumri “Kumayri” reserve-museum,
the Old Gyumri, many of which are currently being used as temporary
dwellings. According to Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasian, a state program
should be worked out and implemented for the purpose of restoring the
Old City. The Gyumri Mayor’s Office obliges the residents who initiate
restoration of the old houses in the territory of Gyumri to preserve
their former look. It was mentioned that there are also problems
connected with restoration of the Old City’s communications. The Mayor
said that it is envisaged to finish restoration of Gyumri All Saviour
Church within 3 years. 50 mln drams was allocated by the Mayor’s Office
for these works, the Nor Gyumri fund also initiated a fund-raising for
this purpose. Besides, the Mayor’s Office has planned to restore the
old theater building built 130-140 years ago. According to V.Ghukasian,
monuments to Mher Mkrtchian and Hovhannes Shiraz were erected in front
of Gyumri Dramatic Theater building in the recent two years. It was
mentioned that it is envisaged to erect a monument to gousan Sheram,
as well as Russian tsar Nikolay I in the city. Gyumri, the third
city of Transcaucasia of that time after Tiflis and Baku, was renamed
Alexandrapol after Nikolay I’s wife, Alexandra, in 1873. Gyumri began
to rapidly develop after the programs implemented by Nikolay I in
this region, in particular, after the constrution of a railway.

VIVACELL HOLDS CHARITY ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH MONTH OF WOMEN’S HOLIDAYS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. During the month of women’s holidays,
from March 8 to April 7, the VivaCell company organized a charity
action. 1185 Alo cards were given to mothers that gave birth to a
child on those days at Yerevan maternity hospitals. As Noyan Tapan
was informed from VivaCell Press Coordinator Mihran Sahakian, 51
mobile phones were given on March 8 and 87 mobile phones on April 7
by the company.

GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT TO BE BUILT IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the the
process of energy sources diversification and gaining independence
from imported power-bearing substances, on the instructions of the
World Bank, Ameria CJSC has made a comprehensive analysis of the
program on construction of Jermaghbyur geothermal power plant in
Syunik marz. According to the company, such factors as renewability
of sources, independence from imported power-bearing substances,
and the low impact on environment set this geothermal power plant
(which will be put into operation in 2008-2009) from all other means
of electricity generation. Based on 6 pits up to 2.5 km in depth, the
plant may have a capacity of up to 25 megawatt and allow to generate
up to 195 mln kwh of electricity annually. Similar plants with a
heat supply capacity of 12,000 megawatts and an overall electricity
production capacity of 8,000 megawatts are currently operating in more
than 30 countries. Geothermal energy accounts for 0.4% of the global
capacities. Ameria is a group of companies providing comprehensive
expert services. It is operating in 4 main spheres of expert services
– business and audit advice, accounting and tax advice, legal advice
and investment and banking advice.

BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA PAYS A VISIT TO VANADZOR
Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006
VANADZOR, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 11, Bulgarian Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Stefan Dimitrov paid a
visit to Vanadzor.
As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed from the Press Service
of Vanadzor Mayor’s Office, the Ambassador’s visit had a cognitive
character, it pursued the purpose of possible establishment of friendly
contacts between Vanadzor and Bulgarian city of Varna. Accompanied
by Vanadzor Mayor Samvel Darbinian, the Ambassador walked about the
city, visited the chemical plant, the “Gloria” sewing factory, city’s
cultural centers – the Museum of Painting and the Aesthetic Center.