Author: Vasilian Manouk

PROMISING RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN SYRIA
R. Raslan, R. Jazaeri

Zawya
AWYA20100503052933/Promising%20Renewable%20Energie s%20in%20Syria%20
May 2 2010
Damascus

Syria is working on investing and developing solar and wind energies
to meet the increasing demand on energy in light of the population
growth and the economic, industrial and agricultural expansion.

Syrian Ministry of Higher Education has launched many programs on
renewable energy to be studied at the faculties of electrical,
mechanic and technical engineering and in the institutes and
postgraduate programs.

Research and training energy centers have been established in Damascus,
Aleppo, Tishreen and al-Baath universities.

Syrian institutes and research centers have conducted many studies
on new types of renewable energies and the required infrastructure
to invest them.

In a statement to SANA, Head of the Higher Institute for Applied
Sciences and Technology Wael Khansa said "we conducted research on
producing biodiesel from consumed frying oil and the results were
good. Now we are studying the possibility of carrying out this
project."

The Institute worked on drawing a sunlight map in cooperation with
Armenia. The project aims at linking the sunlight map in Syria and
Armenia to invest solar power and use it in heating and cooling water,
Khansa said.

He added that an international conference on renewable energy would
be held regularly every two years to exchange scientific researches
and experiences.

Researchers who participated in the International Conference on New
and Renewable Energy said that Syria is rich in natural resources
that could be invested to generate new types of energy.

CHINESE COMPANIES INTERESTED IN ARMENIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND IT MARKET

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 3, 2010 – 12:38 AMT 07:38 GMT

Currently in China, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan met with
executive director of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd and President
of Zhong Xing Telecommunication Equipment Company Limited (ZTE)
to discuss prospects of cooperation in production of equipment,
e-governance and development of telecommunication systems.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed with Huawei, the presidential
press office reported.

Serge Sarkissian : l’Arménie n’a pas claqué la porte

ARMENIE

samedi1er mai 2010, par Stéphane/armenews

` Nous n’avons pas claqué la porte, mais nous n’allons pas prendre le
moindre nouveau pas ‘ a dit le Président Serge Sarkissian dans une
interview à l’agence RIA Novosti.

` Nous considérerons les occasions d’avancer seulement quand nous
verrons une atmosphère correspondante à Ankara et quand nous verrons
que les autorités Turques sont prêtes pour une normalisation des
relations. L’Arménie conservera sa signature sous les protocoles,
puisque nous voulons garder la possibilité d’une normalisation et
parce que nous voulons la paix. Nos objectifs politiques de normaliser
les relations avec la Turquie restent en application ‘ a ajouté le
Président Sarkissian.

` L’Arménie exclut la possibilité de discuter de n’importe quelles
conditions préalables avec Ankara en vue de dégeler le processus de
ratification des protocoles ‘ a tenu à préciser Serge Sarkissian.

` Le principe de pacta sunt servanda est une norme de base de la loi
internationale. Les protocoles arméno-turcs ont vu le jour suite aux
longues et dures négociations pendant lesquelles les parties ont
clairement exposé leurs positions et ont clarifié les limites du
possible et de l’impossible. Dans ce contexte la partie arménienne
exclut la possibilité de lier la ratification des protocoles à des
questions sans rapport ‘ a-t-il ajouté.

` La communauté internationale a aussi précisé que les protocoles ont
besoin d’être ratifiés sans conditions préalables et dans une période
raisonnable. La Turquie a en réalité échoué à accomplir le moindre
geste dans cette voie ‘ a exposé Serge Sarkissian.

` L’histoire de cet événement horrible [le Génocide arménien] a été si
profondément étudié et documenté qu’il n’y a aucune nécessité de
discuter des objectifs et des mécanismes de ce crime orchestré par la
Turquie Ottomane ‘ a dit le Président, rappelant qu’un des protocoles
prévoit l’établissement d’une commission intergouvernementale, dont
une des sous-commissions pourraient examiner ` les questions de
dimension historique. ‘

` Cependant, cela ne signifie pas de discussion du fait du Génocide.
Notez que c’est une sous-commission intergouvernementale qui doit être
créé après l’établissement de relations diplomatiques. Ce n’est pas
une commission d’experts qui détermine les perspectives d’une telle
relation ‘ a exposé Serge Sarkissian.

URBAN DISPUTE: PUBLIC COUNCIL ADVOCATES FOR PRESERVING MOSCOW SUMMER HALL
Gayane Abrahamyan

ArmeniaNow reporter
Arts and CultureArts and Culture | 29.04.10 | 16:13

Cultural dispute takes place over Moscow summer hall

Young Yerevantsi rally for open-air-cinema through popular social
network

"Rob Peter to pay Paul?": Senior architect opposes church
reconstruction at cinema’s expense

The Public Council of Armenia has announced its disapproval of plans
to build a church on the site of the outdoor Moscow cinema theater.

The Council made its decision after heated discussions (17 for, 6
against) and appealed to the Government to restore the Moscow Cinema
summer hall on the list of sites preserved for historic-cultural value.

According to the decree of the Government of Armenia (March 4), the
amphitheater was donated to the Armenian Apostolic Church, for the
purpose of demolishing the theater and building a church. St. Paul
and Peter (Poghos-Petros) Church stood on the location until the 1930s.

(By the same decision, the theater was removed from the list of
protected structures.)

Architects started a stormy fight against the decision to build
the church, organizing a signature-collection drive which garnered
23,000 signatures.

On March 17, Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan stated at the
National Assembly of Armenia, that Moscow Cinema has architectural
value, however, it is not a historic-cultural value and it is removed
from the list of historic-cultural values."

"The Government of Armenia respects the opinions of the owner of the
building and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin," Sargsyan said.

Architects, in their turn, appeal to respect opinions of thousands
of citizens.

Vazgen Manukyan, Chairman of the Public Council, first prime minister
of Armenia, says that "personally is against the demolition of the
summer hall."

"It is necessary to clarify that the problem here is not whether to
construct a church, but rather whether to demolish a building with
historic-cultural value," Manukyan says.

He also added that the previous day he had talked to His Holiness
for an hour and half.

"His concern is that the building does not serve its purpose. He is
going to meet architects and negotiate with them. His Holiness treats
this issue very carefully," Manukyan says.

Sevada Petrosyan, one of the organizers of the ‘Save Moscow Cinema
Summer Hall’ initiative, believes that the decision of the Public
Council "is very important."

"First, it is a very good example proving that the voice of the public
reaches higher instances; one of the main goals of the Public Council
is securing it. And I am glad that they responded," architect Petrosyan
told ArmeniaNow, hoping that the decision of the Public Council will
be taken into consideration.

RA POLITICAL FORCES CONSIDER NORMALIZATION STANDS TO CONTINUE

news.am
April 30 2010
Armenia

Official Yerevan should submit a note that Turkey is expelled from
OSCE Minsk Group, as its inconsistent statements and actions prevent
Karabakh conflict settlement, Head of "Heritage" party Stepan Safaryan
stated at the April 30 briefing.

According to him, Yerevan should make an official statement, saying
Armenia’s position on Kars Treaty. Speaking of Armenia-Turkey
reconciliation, the MP said Yerevan has to withdraw its signature
from the Protocols and launch a new process on the establishment
of diplomatic relations and border opening with Ankara. "If Ankara
speaks in the language of preconditions once again, Yerevan will have
to raise the issue of compensations and borders," he noted.

The Head of the Rule of Law Party (OYK) Heghine Bisharyan emphasized
Yerevan should continue "what it started, as had no such a beneficial
process since its independence". She expressed confidence that sooner
or later Turkey will recognize Armenian Genocide. Once Turkey stops
speaking with Armenia the language of preconditions, the dialogue
will be underway.

Besides, ARFD Secretary Artyusha Shahbazyan deems that RA Authorities’
decision on the suspension of Protocols’ ratification did not bring
about real changes in Ankara-Yerevan relations, as the documents may
be put on the parliamentary agenda and ratified any time.

Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Secretary Aram Safaryan reckons that by
this move Yerevan gave Ankara a chance to reconsider and establish
relations without preconditions. "If Ankara comes to senses and
ratifies the Protocols without preconditions, Yerevan will do the
same. In case Turkey continues to strenuously defend Azerbaijan’s
interests, Armenia will not ratify the documents," Safaryan stated.

Member of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Artak Zakaryan considers
positive the fact that normalization process pulled Armenia and
Diaspora together even more.

17.5% GROWTH RECORDED IN BRANDY PRODUCTION IN ARMENIA IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2010

PanARMENIAN.Net
April 30, 2010 – 18:16 AMT 13:16 GMT

2.75mln liters of brandy were produced in Armenia from January-March
2010 which is 17.5% higher as compared with the same period of last
year. 1.34mln liters of vodka were produced during the first quarter
of 2010 that is 49.4% lower as compared with the same period of last
year, the National Statistical Service reported.

Besides, 973.9 thous. liters of wine were produced from January-March
2010 against 803.1thous. liters during the same period of 2009
(21.3% growth).

>From January-March 2010, 1.85mln liters of beer were produced in
Armenia that is 58.9% higher as compared with the same period of
2009.Productionof sparkling winesincreased by 29.4%, making 54.1
thous.liters.

Production of soft drinks reduced by 11.7% during the first quarter
of 2010, reaching 6.6mln liters.

TURKISH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES ISSUES RELATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

armradio.am
30.04.2010 11:14

Turkish National Security Council convened on Thursday under the
chairmanship of Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

A statement was released at the end of the rmeeting of the council
at the Cankaya Presidential Palace that said domestic and foreign
developments regarding national security were taken up.

The statement said the meeting discussed "remarks made by certain
countries over the incidents of 1915 and Turkey’s initiatives on
this issue and it was stressed that the history Turkey and Armenia
shared can only be evaluated through an impartial and scientific
approach based on undisputable evidence and documents that are free
of prejudices".

The statement said the meeting also evaluated the results from a
recent nuclear summit in Washington.

NEW CENTER IN ARMENIA FOR PROMOTION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

Panorama.am
15:19 29/04/2010

Society

Works are being conducted in Armenian city of Gyumri to establish
a working rehabilitation center for the people with disabilities,
Armenian Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Jemma Bagdasaryan
said at the National Assembly today. According to her, the works
will be over in the upcoming two or three months and the center is
expected to open by the yearend.

Not only the disabled from Shirak, but those from country’s other
regions will be able to visit the center.

According to the Deputy Minister, the center aims at revealing the
abilities of the disabled and providing them with work.

The Government Activity Plan 2010 foresees to pass a law on "Rights
of the people with disabilities and their social integration", aiming
at improvement of the issues related to the social integration of
the handicapped and the protection of their rights and interests.

LEBANESE FM, PARLIAMENT SPEAKER INVITED TO ARMENIA

Panaroma.am
28/04/2010

Armenian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan met with Lebanese
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Ali Shami April 27 and
conveyed him his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian’s official
invitation to visit Armenia this year.

According to MFA, during the meeting they referred to the regional
issues, as well as the latest developments of the Armenian-Turkish
normalization process. Minister Ali Shami expressed conviction that
all disputable issues could be solved through demonstrated good will
and peaceful talks.

The same day Ambassador Kocharyan had a meeting with the Lebanese
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and handed him the Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s official letter-invitation to
visit Armenia.

The Ambassador expressed gratitude on behalf of the Armenian side
for hospitability and warm welcome displayed during the NA Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan’s Lebanon visit.

ARMENIA INTENDS TO OPEN REPRESENTATION FOR IT INDUSTRY PROMOTION IN PLUG AND PLAY TECH CENTER IN SILICON VALLEY

ArmInfo
2010-04-27 16:44:00

ArmInfo. Armenia is going to open a representation for IT industry
promotion in the Plug and Play Tech Center in Silicon Valley. Director
of the Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) Bagrat Yengibaryan told
ArmInfo correspondent that a tender has been announced for elaboration
of the representation model.

The selected specialist will hold relevant negotiations so that the
representation can launch its work in September 2010. "In late 2009
the Armenian prime minister visited Plug and Play, and the latter’s
director will visit Armenia in early May 2010. We consider the
financial state of Plug and Play to be one of the most beneficial
ones, therefore, the talks with them will be continued",- said
Yengibaryan. It is envisaged to ensure the financing of the center
at the expense of private sector and the World Bank funds.

The center will organize presentations of the Armenian companies’
opportunities, as well as provide an opportunity to representatives
of the Armenian companies to spend up to a month to attract investors
and look for partners. The representation will be based on the model
of similar representations in Canada and Austria. "The difference will
be in the profitable contracts’ proceeds in the center’s favor. This
will become an additional source of the center’s financing",- said
the EIF director. The annual expenditures on maintenance of the center
will supposedly make up about 200 thsd USD.

The Plug and Play Tech Center located in the State of California has
been operating for around 30 years. It has contributed to creation
of about 50 successful venture projects. The Center provides
venture financing services, including communication with large
venture companies and private investors, as well as large developers
(Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, etc.). At present there are
25 start-up companies in the Center. The Plug and Play Tech Center
cooperates with about 20 international organizations to develop
start-up projects.