Author: Kharatian Ani

ESTONIA 1-0 ARMENIA: PURI LEAVES IT LATE FOR HOSTS

ESPN
;campaign=rss&source=soccernet&&cc=471 6
April 1 2009

Sander Puri scored a late goal to give Estonia a 1-0 home win over
Armenia in their World Cup qualifying clash in Tallinn.

The midfielder pounced on a loose ball in the area seven minutes
from time and converted with a shot to the middle of the net despite
defender Robert Arzumanyan’s efforts to block his attempt.

The goal by the FC Levadia Tallinn 20-year-old edged a close-fought
encounter at the A.Le Coq Arena with home goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko
kept busy throughout by a threatening Armenia attack.

It means Estonia have taken four points from their double header
against the Armenians after the first game between the pair on Saturday
ended 2-2.

It could, however, have been even better for Estonia as it took a
late goal four minutes from time by Gevorg Ghazaryan to deny them a
2-1 victory in that match after a double by Konstantin Vassiljev had
put them in sight of their first win in Group Five.

Estonia have now gone three games unbeaten after their impressive
0-0 draw with Turkey which preceded the Armenia double header.

However, their first three games all ended in defeat and their bid
to make the World Cup finals for the first time is all but over,
with European Champions Spain dominating the group.

Their next game sees them take on Turkey in September followed by
a visit Spain before they finish off their campaign when they host
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium.

Armenia are firmly rooted to the bottom of the group with just one
point and five defeats from their six games.

PRESS RELEASE
UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association
c/o Armenian Graduate Students Association
Kerckhoff Hall, Room 316
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: 310-206-8512
Email: [email protected]
Web:

The Graduate Professional Networking Forum is tomorrow Thursday April
2nd at 6:30pm. We’d love to see you all there!

*2nd Annual Graduate Professional Networking Forum*

Thursday, April 2nd 6:30pm

Kerckhoff Hall, Charles E. Young Grand Salon

The AGSA at UCLA Second Annual Graduate-Professional Networking Forum will
create the opportunity for students to meet with young Armenian-American
professionals from MAJOR COMPANIES AND FIRMS from across different sectors,
including: business, law, medicine, entertainment, media, investment
banking, PR, engineering, biotechnology, financing, marketing, sales, online
advertising, and others!

This event bears no admission.
Wine and a variety of hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Attire: Business Casual

So far we have confirmations from young Armenian-American professionals from
companies including:

The Aerospace Corporation
Astor Phillips, A Professional Law Corporation
Axiom Microdevices
Boeing Company
Bremer, Whyte, Brown & O’Meara LLP
Buchalter Nemer Law Corporation
CBS Television Network
Deloitte Consulting LLP
Disney ABC Television Group
Fox Interactive Media
The History Channel
International Lease Finance Corporation
Ivory Capital
Jefferies & Company, Inc.
Latham & Watkins LLP
MTV Networks
MyDamn Channel
MySpace Online Advertising/Product Management
NMA Entertainment and Marketing
Northrop Grumman
O’Melveny & Myers Law Firm
Pepsi Bottling Group
Reed Smith LLP
Sun Capital Partners, Inc.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital
UCLA Medical Center Residents and Fellows
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department
Warner Bros.
Walt Disney Company
And more professionals confirming every day!!

*Organizations:*
The Forum will also provide the opportunity for students to learn more about
Armenian-American professional organizations that they can get involved with
post-graduation.

Armenian American Medical Society of California
Armenian Bar Association
Armenian Engineers & Scientists of America
Armenian General Benevolent Union – Young Professionals
Armenian National Committee – Professional Network
Armenian Professional Society

Sponsored by The UCLA GSA and The ASUCLA Waiver Pool

*UCLA affiliation is not necessary to attend this event
*Disclaimer: The Forum’s main purpose is to create the opportunity for
students to network with young Armenian-American professionals and stimulate
a question/answer discussion. The Forum is not a job fair.

NETANYAHU SWEARS AS ISRAEL’S PRIME MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2009 10:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in late
Tuesday to lead Israel’s 32nd government, after cobbling together a
coalition amid rising tensions within his own Likud party and with
other leading political figures.

Lawmakers voted 69 to 45 with five abstentions in favor of Netanyahu’s
right-wing government after a six-hour debate, making Netanyahu Prime
Minister for the second time in 10 years.

The new coalition will comprise 30 ministers and seven deputy
ministers. In addition to serving as premier, Netanyahu has also
created a position for himself as financial strategy minister and
appointed Yuval Steinitz (Likud) to serve as Finance Minister,
Haaretz reported.

HOVHANNES IGITIAN: PROBLEMS OF POLITICAL PRISONERS, HOLDING RALLIES, MEDIA FREEDOM, AND DISCLOSURE OF MARCH 1 EVENTS REMAIN UNSOLVED

Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2009

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The report of David Haroutiunian,
the head of the Armenian delegation in PACE, on restating Articles
225 and 300, RA Criminal Code at the PACE Monitoring Committee March
30 meeting was perceived as progress by the Europeans. Hovhannes
Igitian, a Board member of the Armenian National Movement (ANM) party,
expressed such an opinion at the March 31 press conference saying that
the European officials formed an idea about that imaginary progress
thanks to RA Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian, NA Speaker Hovik
Abrahamian, and D. Haroutiunian. "When PACE Co-rapporteurs came to
A. Hovsepian, he complained of the above mentioned articles and said
that they do not give a possibility to bring normal accusations,"
H. Igitian said. After that, according to him, the Co-rapporteurs
visited H. Abrahamian, as a result of which NA changed the Criminal
Code articles with the help of D. Haroutiunian.

H. Igitian said that the answer to the question of whether progress
was recorded in the direction of establishment of democracy in Armenia
after all should be given by Armenian society. And society, as the
ANM representative emphasized it, knows very well what took place
on March 1, who killed the ten citizens, by whose order, who were in
former RA President Robert Kocharian’s office on February 29, 2008,
during discussions on dispersing the peaceful demonstrants. However,
he did not render it more clear, who were in R. Kocharian’s office.

H. Igitian stated that the four main problems existing in Armenia
remain unsolved: the political prisoners have not been released,
rallies are not permitted, media are not free, those guilty of the
March 1 events have not been officiall disclosed and punished.

RUSSIA SUPPORTS OSCE’S NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS: RUSSIAN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UN

TREND
March 30 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia supports the OSCE’s Nagorno-Karabakh negotiations, Russian
Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaliy Churkin said.

"We support the OSCE negotiation process," Churkin told Trend News
on March 30.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. – are currently
holding the peace negotiations.

"There is a definite format for the negotiations. We believe the only
means to reach an agreement is to act vigorously according to this
format," Churkin said.

Russia supports resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he added.

STAR SUPERMARKET NETWORK TO BE CLOSED?

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2009 16:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Star supermarket chain is on the verge of closure
because of unpaid debts to product vendors, well-informed circles
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. According to information provided,
system of financial management and work with the vendors was designed
for high product turnover, which couldn’t be reached in current crisis
situation, despite new pricing policy.

This circumstance lead to major debts to vendors most of whom intend
to stop supplying goods to Star. Moreover, stringent contractual terms
stipulated by Star complicate acquisition of new vendors. Risks are
high for Star to remain without vendors, PanARMENIAN.Net was told.

Star did not deny the information about debts to vendors, yet called it
much too exaggerated. "The debts will be paid off within 10-15 days,
and there’s no question about the closure of any of our departments,"
Star Supermarket Chain Executive Director Vahan Kerobyan said.

"The debt refund was 38-40 days late, but the fact won’t affect the
company’s profitability. In western countries outstanding indebtedness
of up to 90 days is regarded as common occurrence. Our debts are
proportional our purchases."

Negotiations are held with the European Bank of Reconstruction and
local banks for provision of factoring services to allow immediate
debt refund to vendors at certain discounts.

ARMENTEL COOPERATES WITH THE AGRARIAN FARMER’S UNION OF ARMENIA

LRAGIR.AM
14:25:49 – 30/03/2009

On March 30, the director general of the "ArmenTel" LTD Neicho
Velichkov and the president of the Armenian Agrarian Farmer’s Union
Hrachya Berberyan signed a memorandum on strategic cooperation,
which provides for bilateral technological, service and social
cooperation. In this phase, in the framework of the cooperation of
"ArmenTel" and the Armenian Agrarian Farmer’s Union, it is scheduled
to provide the farmers with telecommunicational services, foster the
links within the farmer’s community through meetings of the members
of the company in all the regions of Armenia

ARTASHES SHAHBAZYAN: NEW COALITION COULD BE FORMED AFTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Lena Badeyan

"Radiolur"
31.03.2009 14:29

Secretary of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction Artashes Shahbazyan told
a press conference today he does not rule out the possibility that a
new political coalition could be formed after the municipal elections,
which will include the opposition headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

"I consider it more probable that a new coalition could be formed,
and I don’t want to say it will be formed by the same forces. It’s not
excluded that today’s opposition will also be included. It might give
way to astonishment today, but why not? At last, there is a political
reality, which we all take account of," Artashes Shahbazyan said.

According to him, it is less probable for the coalition forces to unite
around one candidate on the last days of the campaign. "The candidate
and the list of Dashaktsutyun are very competitive," the Secretary
of the ARF faction declared. He informed also that the election
headquarters will be headed by Armen Rustamyan, representative of
the ARF Supreme Body.

Dashnaktsutyun has not yet finally determined the ARF program, the
slogans and the strategy.

ACA ADDRESSES ISSUES TO SECRETARY CLINTON

10:57:19 – 27/03/2009
LRAGIR.AM

On March 23, the Armenian Council of America (ACA) sent U.S. Secretary
of State Hillary Rodham Clinton a letter. In the letter, the ACA
addressed several issues of concern regarding U.S.- Armenia and
U.S.-Turkey relations.

Recently, Secretary Clinton visited the Republic of Turkey, and
President Barack Obama has an upcoming trip scheduled for April
5th. The letter stated, "President Obama’s upcoming visit to Turkey,
especially in the month of April, is a unique opportunity for
the United States to encourage the Republic of Turkey to rectify
its historical past in order to develop a strong Armenian-Turkish
relationship and for the future of Turkish nation itself." Secretary
Clinton spoke on the telephone as well with Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian regarding current affairs. This April will mark the
commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and an
anticipated annual statement is expected from the White House. "The
Armenian Council of America appreciates the administration’s
engagement on these issues and looks forward to positive statements
and fulfillment of their pledges reaffirming the American record on
the Armenian Genocide," stated ACA Board Member Peter Darakjian.

The Armenian Council of America is a grassroots organization dedicated
to work with both Democratic and Republican political leaders, offering
Armenian related news, analysis and resources for policymakers,
media, students and activists, advocating issues important to Armenian
Americans. The Armenian Council of America aims to strengthen U.S. –
Armenia and U.S. – Nagorno Karabakh ties, the development of programs
promoting sustainable economic growth and good governance in Armenia,
while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship.

LESS MONEY BEING SENT HOME BY ARMENIAN EMIGRANTS

The Messenger
March 24 2009
Georgia

Head of the migration service of Armenia Gagik Eganian has stated that
due to the economic crisis money transfers from abroad have decreased.

At present 85 % of money transfers into Armenia come from Russia,
4% from the USA and 2% from European countries. Eganian stated that
a huge number of Armenians, mainly men, had emigrated to Russia in
search of a better income and the crisis in Russia has had a negative
effect for these people as well. Many have returned to Armenia as
most were engaged in the construction business which has been badly
hit by the crisis.

OSCE research shows that every spring 60-80,000 Armenian seasonal
workers migrated to Russia. In 2009 the number of people doing this
has declined dramatically.