Author: Tamamian Anna

TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT FINE IMPOSED ON ARMENIAN MP SAMVEL ALEXANYAN’S COMPANY

Tert
Nov 5 2009
Armenia

The Republic of Armenia State Commission for the Protection of
Economic Competition held their regular meeting today. The commission
commenced legal proceedings on Alex Grig LLC for unfair competition
based on an application submitted by Manukyan and Partners Ltd., which
represents the interests of several Russian companies in Armenia who
produce vodka.

The Commission maintained that trademark infringement had taken
place: Alex Grig used a trademark which was practically identical or
confusingly similar to a trademark owned by another party in relation
to the sale of products which are identical or similar to products
sold by the other company (in this case, the product is vodka and
the other company is Manukyan and Partners Ltd.).

The trademark covers such names as Parliament, Russian Brilliant,
Slavyanskaya: Russian companies that have registered their brands
in Armenia.

Characterizing the company’s actions as being not in good faith,
the Commission imposed a fine of 500,000 AMD for each case (1,500,000
AMD in total), which must be paid within ten days. In addition, the
company must stop producing these products and within a month it must
remove them from the marketplace.

Alex Grig LLC is one of Armenia’s major producers of vodka and is
owned by notable Armenian oligarch, MP Samvel Aleksanyan.

ARMEN SARGSYAN VS SERZH SARGSYAN: CALLS FOR CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY
By Hamid Hamidov

Today
7162.html
Nov 3 2009
Azerbaijan

The hysteria fed by understandings that aggressive ambitions will
soon perish, actually, strikes Armenian separatists’ brains more and
more day by day.

Consequently, statements heard from opposite side of the frontline
do not tally with the notion of "a sober mind."

The statement of the kind last came from the "Head" of "parliamentary
faction" of "ARF-Movement-88" of "National Assembly" of the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" (NKR) Armen Sargsyan while he unexpectedly
called on "the NKR authorities" to file criminal charges against
those who call into question the territorial integrity of "the NKR"
on Oct. 28.

"The people of "NKR" through "nation-wide referendum" adopted
the "NKR’s Constitution", which clearly specifies our borders and
territorial integrity. I appeal to "NKR’s law enforcement agencies"
and suggest bringing to justice all the citizens who cast doubt on our
territorial integrity in the context of compromise or other options,"
Armen Sargsyan said in a statement.

I think well-informed people will confirm that when a man realizes that
the situation is desperate, he in a frantic and nervous manner invents
ways out of the situation that seem faithful to him whilst even more
revealing all the hopelessness. Armen Sargsyan understands very well
that he will soon say good-buy to his "MP" title in the so-called
"NKR". He is most likely concerned on his fate. The understanding
that he is needlessness in Armenia leads him undoubtedly to a true
depression.

The point is that he even does not realize that by making such
statements he is calling for arrest of the Armenian president, his
namesake Serzh Sargsyan, and the entire government of this country.

Why?

Things are so simple. Many politicians and political experts in
Armenia and "NKR" prefer not to remember that a while ago the Armenian
president undersigned, as one of the conflicting sides, an agreement
on commitment to a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

So, Armenia will not recognize the independence of "NKR" after such
a step. It is unreasonable at least.

Nevertheless, another Sargsyan, but this time Armen, persistently calls
on to imprison all who reject the territorial integrity of so-called
"NKR."

Now it is difficult to decide what to offer to Mr. Sargsyan. Maybe,
he’d better to be more abrupt in his attempts to deal with his
opponents.

To be serious, I would advise Armen Sargsyan to go to church more often
to ask forgiveness from God and from those whom he and politicians
like him deprived of life, left without their native land, shelter
and quiet sleep.

Pray, Mr. Sargsyan. Believe me, that’s what you have to do today.

Everything will change very soon. More precisely, all will fall into
its place …

SSJ-100 DELIVERY TO ARMAVIA DELAYED – COMPANY

Interfax
Nov 2 2009
Russia

The delivery of Russian Sukhoi Superjet-100 aircraft to the Armenian
airline Armavia has been postponed, Armavia owner Mikhail Bagdasarov
said while presenting the airline’s new route to Bahrain.

"We have purchased two SSJ-100 jets. The delivery is delayed for
certification reasons," he said.

It was planned initially to bring the jets to Armenia in December 2009.

Certification tests will be complete by the end of this year, and
the deliveries will start. The first planes will be sent to Armavia
and Aeroflot (RTS: AFLT).

An experimental SSJ-100 has completed certification flights in the
Armenian highlands.

ARMENIANS REJECT ESTABLISHING TIES WITH TURKEY

Angus Reid Global Monitor
/armenians_reject_establishing_ties_with_turkey
No v 2 2009
Canada

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in Armenia think their
country should not establish ties with neighbouring Turkey, according
to a poll by the Armenian Sociological Association. 52 per cent of
respondents oppose relations with Turkey, while 39 per cent support
them.

The recent history of Turkey’s neighbour is deeply marked by the deaths
of thousands of Armenians in 1915 following an order by the government
of the Ottoman Empire–formed by members of the Turkish nationalist
Committee of Union and Progress (ITC)–urging thousands of Armenians
to relocate from the Caucasus to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia.

The state-sponsored deportation campaign led to a high number of
fatalities, estimated at anywhere from 200,000 to 1.8 million. While
some scholars believe the campaign was a deliberate attempt to
exterminate Armenians, Turkey has never formally accepted the use of
the term "genocide" to describe the event. Relations between the two
countries remain tense to this day because of it.

Currently, many adults in Armenia believe their border with Turkey
should not be reopened unless there is an official acknowledgement
of the genocide.

On Oct. 10, Armenian foreign minister Edouard Nalbandian and his
Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, signed an agreement in Zurich,
Switzerland, calling for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian
relations.

The legislatures of both countries have to ratify the pact–which
includes opening the border and establishing diplomatic
relations–before it can be implemented. The agreement also calls
for setting up an independent commission of historians to examine
the genocide issue.

Just before the signing ceremony on Oct. 10, Armenian president
Serge Sarkisian declared: "Any relations with Turkey cannot call into
question that genocide was committed against the Armenian people. This
should be recognized and condemned by humankind."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose a deal to establish ties with Turkey?

Support 39%

Oppose 52%

Source: Armenian Sociological Association Methodology: Interviews
with 1,000 Armenian adults, conducted from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25,
2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

THREE DEFENSE- RELATED DRAFT LAWS SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT LOGICALLY CONNECTED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.11.2009 15:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At today’s news conference in Yerevan, Head of RA
parliamentary committee for defense, national security and internal
affairs, Hrayr Karapetyan briefed the journalists on defense-related
draft laws discussed at RA NA. " Comments were already voiced on
3 draft laws submitted: "On additions to military service law"," On
usage of transportation for defense purposes" and "On local autonomous
bodies’ mobilization for defense purposes". We have to understand
these 3 draft laws are logically connected," Hrayr Karapetyan said.

"According to draft law, RA MFA, jointly with diplomatic
representations of Armenia, have to work towards getting those Armenian
citizens, residing abroad who’ve not been on military service, to
serve in RA armed forces." He also reported that the age of contract
soldiers is extended till 45. "This will help to replenish Armenian
Armed Forces with contract soldiers, and improve Armenian Army’s
professionalism," Hrayr Karapetyan noted, adding that there’s still
no draft law stipulating for 1-year military service extension.

ARMENIA, JAPAN DEVELOPING ECONOMIC, CULTURAL COOPERATION

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.11.2009 17:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met
Monday with Japan’s newly appointed Ambassador to Masaharu Kohno
(residence in Moscow).

Welcoming the guest, Minister Nalbandian said Armenia attaches
importance to development of relations with Japan and voiced hope
that the new Ambassador to contribute to cooperation between the
two countries.

The two men also referred to the process of normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations and Nagorno Karabakh conflict resolution,
RA MFA press office reported.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA AWARDS WELL-KNOWN POLISH COMPOSER THE ORDER OF HONOR

ArmInfo
2009-10-29 17:55:00

ArmInfo. Today President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan awarded well-known
Polish composer Krzystof Penderecki the Order of Honor, reports the
press service of the President.

"It is always a great honor for us to welcome you in Armenia. Our
people love you art and highly estimate your devotion and Armenian
roots," Sargsyan said.

Penderecki thanked Sargsyan for the order. He said that it was a
great honor for him to receive such an award and he was grateful to
his Armenian grandmother. "I am happy that there were lots of young
people in the audience. It means that my art is in the hands of the
future," Penderecki said.

ARMENIA-TURKEY NORMALIZATION OF BENEFIT TO WHOLE REGION: PRIMAKOV

news.am
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

The normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will be of benefit
to all, Yevgeny Primakov, President of the RF Chamber of Commerce and
Industry stated in his interview with the Rosiyskaya Gazeta (Russian
Newspaper), official publication of the RF Government.

Azerbaijan will also benefit if Armenia and Turkey establish
diplomatic relations and open the border, which is stipulated by
the Armenia-Turkey Protocols signed Oct. 10 in Zurich. "I do not
rule out that it will indirectly facilitate the improvement of
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations," he said.

HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: "NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS READY TO COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH THE BRITISH COUNCIL"

National Assembly
Oct 29 2009
Armenia

On October 28, President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan
received Mr. Michael Bird, Regional Director of the Southeast British
Council.

Greeting the guest, the president of the parliament stressed that RA NA
is ready to cooperate closely with the British Council. He particularly
highlighted the women’s participation in the political life of Armenia
and the realization of projects favoring our country’s European
Integration. Afterwards, the interlocutors set about the discussion
of the projects carried out in Armenia by the British Council.

RA NA Vice President Ms. Arevik Petrosyan also took part in the
meeting.

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION WITH PETER SEMNEBI

Tert
Oct 28 2009
Armenia

On October 28, Armenian Deputy Foreign Ministers Karine Ghazinyan
and Arman Kirakosyan welcomed Special Representative of the European
Union to the Southern Caucasus Peter Semnebi.

Presenting the steps undertaken by Armenia towards the implementation
of the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan, Ghazinyan stated
that the effective implementation of the Action Plan is a priority
in Armenia-EU cooperation and Yerevan will officially continue to
undertake active steps for strengthening relations even more.

Ghazinyan attached importance to the activity of EU Advisory Group
assisting the reforms process defining it as a success example of
effective ccoperation.

The sides also expressed ideas on the Eastern Partnership placing
importance on the full use of the project’s potential, development
of the agreement of association, conclusion of a Deepened and
Comprehensive Agreement on Free Trade, and simplification of providing
entrace visas.

At the request of the European side, Deputy Minister Kirakosyan
presented the Nagorno-Karabakh negotiation process, as well as
latest developments in the establishment process of Armenian-Turkish
relations.