IN FIRST HALF OF 2004 REVENUES OF NKR STATE BUDGET INCREASE BY 46.8%
IN COMPARISON WITH SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR
STEPANAKERT, August 25 (Noyan Tapan). In the first half of this year
the revenues of the NKR state budget made 7892.3 mln drams, which
exceeds by 46.8% the index of same period of last year. Current
incomes made 83.8%, and incomes received from capital transactions
made 16.2%, in comparison with the same period of last year their
growth made 78.6% and 2.8-fold, respectively. Revenues to the state
budget on the line of profit tax made 211.2 mln drams, or increased by
over 17% in comparison with the same period of 2003. Revenues on the
line of income tax made 255.7 mln drams, or 14.4% of tax revenues of
the budget. In the first half of 2004, the expenditures of the state
budget made 5,839 mln drams, which increased by 27.4% as compared with
the same index of last year. Revenues of the communal budgets and
transfers made 343.7 mln drams, which increased by 31.8% in comparison
with the first half of 2003. According to the NKR National Statistical
Service, in the first half of 2004 the total revenues of the NKR state
pension fund made about 1997.5 mln drams, which is more by 37.4% in
comparison with the same period of last year.

Le Monde, France
mercredi 25 Août 2004
Les plus heureux ne sont pas ceux qu’on croit
La Suède est le meilleur pays du monde mais on est plus heureux au
Nigeria. Telles sont les conclusions de deux études menées
indépendamment et dont les résultats croisés sont pour le moins
surprenants.
La première enquête a été réalisée durant l’été par l’hebdomadaire
américain Newsweek qui titrait en couverture : “The best countries in
the world” (les meilleurs pays du monde). Selon des critères de
satisfaction tels que la prospérité, la démocratie, la compétitivité
économique, la coopération sociale, la conscience écologique ou
encore l’honnêteté, la palme revient indéniablement aux pays
nordiques européens. Mais d’autres critères ont également été pris en
compte – l’Etat, la vie sociale, les affaires, la science, les arts –
et les pays ont été classés selon l’élément qui leur est le plus
favorable. Ainsi le meilleur pays quand on est jeune serait la
Turquie, du fait des structures des grandes villes, de la moyenne
d’ge de la population (25 ans) et du mode de vie, tandis que le
meilleur pour exprimer sa fibre artistique serait l’Allemagne. Et
sans surprise, pour s’enrichir, il faut vivre aux Etats-Unis.
Si l’on est déprimé, il faut être Argentin, car cette population
compte la plus grande concentration de psychothérapeutes par
habitant. Ainsi, rien qu’à Buenos Aires, ils sont 15 000. En France,
il vaut mieux être musicien puisque les infrastructures permettent de
lancer une carrière plus rapidement qu’ailleurs selon l’hebdomadaire,
qui fait remarquer qu’en juillet, les albums du top 10 des meilleurs
ventes nationales étaient tous français. En conclusion, tous critères
confondus, le meilleur pays du monde est la Suède, suivie des
Etats-Unis et de la Norvège. La France est classée 7e.
Par ailleurs, le World Values Survey, une série d’études
interuniversitaires menée par un réseau international de sociologues,
a évalué “les pays où les habitants sont le plus heureux”. Cette
étude a été menée par entretien avec des personnes issues d’un
échantillon représentatif de la population de plus de 60 pays, entre
1999 et 2001. L’objet ici n’est pas la satisfaction mais bien l’état
de bonheur ou de joie (“happiness” en anglais, la langue d’étude),
évalué selon neuf critères :
– la tendance génétique à se sentir heureux,
– le mariage,
– le grand nombre d’amis,
– la limitation des attentes, des désirs ou des prétentions,
– faire du bien,
– la croyance,
– ne pas se comparer aux autres,
– mieux gagner sa vie,
– vieillir bien.
Les résultats, publiés par la prestigieuse revue scientifique
britannique New Scientist en juillet, montrent que les gens les plus
heureux n’habitent pas le meilleur pays du monde mais sont plutôt
dans l’hémisphère Sud. En tête, le Nigeria, suivi du Mexique, du
Venezuela, du Salvador et de Puerto Rico. Les moins heureux seraient
les Russes, les Arméniens et les Roumains. Les Etats-Unis sont
classés 16es et la Grande-Bretagne, 24e.
Cette conclusion ne fait malheureusement pas du Nigeria le nouvel
Eden, car ce pays reste l’un des plus pauvres de la planète. Mais
elle montre clairement qu’il n’y a pas de lien direct entre richesse
et bonheur puisque, selon cette même étude, la moyenne des personnes
se déclarant heureuses dans les pays industrialisés n’a pas évolué
depuis la seconde guerre mondiale, malgré une importante augmentation
des revenus. Ce qui a conduit les chercheurs à conclure que le désir
de biens matériels est un facteur inhibant du bonheur (“happiness
supressant”).
Les études du World Values Survey sont réalisées tous les quatre ans
et sont de plus en plus prises en compte par les gouvernements dans
leur politique intérieure. Les autorités britanniques ont même publié
en décembre des recommandations visant à augmenter le bonheur des
citoyens alors que le Bhoutan a déjà fait savoir que son “bonheur
intérieur brut” importait plus que son produit intérieur brut.
L’objectif ultime serait, bien sûr, que les gens les plus heureux
habitent le meilleur pays du monde…
Jean Fiawoumo

Police: Man’s Burning In Car Possibly Accidental
Authorities Identify Victim
Greg Ng, Staff Writer
POSTED: 6:28 pm EDT August 25, 2004
Baltimore County police have identified the man whose body was found
in a burning car Sunday.
The burned body of Vadim S. Movsesyan, 22, was found in Owings Mills
Sunday.
The chief medical examiner’s office has not yet ruled on the cause and
manner of death, but police said they believe it was accidental.
————————
Police Find Body In Burned Car In Owings Mills Remains Burned Beyond
Recognition
POSTED: 6:37 am EDT August 23, 2004
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore County police are investigating what
they are calling a suspicious death in Owings Mills.
Rescue crews responded to a car fire yesterday afternoon in a wooded
area in the 11000 block of Reisterstown Road. Human remains were found
inside the car. Police say they were burned beyond recognition.
An autopsy has been ordered. Meanwhile, police are investigating tire
tracks found near the fire scene.
Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and 11 News for the latest news updates.

ROLE OF ARMENIA AND KARABAKH TO GROW AFTER KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. The Karabakh conflict appears to be
the most complicated conflict in the post-Soviet area, says
international law expert David Babayan.
Any conflict is based on a dilemma of geo-political and ideological
motives. If one of the conflicting parties prevails in both
components the conflict can be settled quickly otherwise it drags on.
The peculiarity of the Karabakh conflict is that the conflicting
parties have absolutely different geo-political components. Azerbaijan
has a big geo-political advantage over Karabakh – it is a bridge
between Iran, Russia and Central Asia, it has oil and gas. As a
counterbalance Karabakh has ideological prevalence. First it is more
democratic than Azerbaijan. Elections in Karabakh are fairer and more
transparent which has been confirmed by international experts. One
example is the last local elections – in many communities winners were
independent candidates. In Azerbaijan this is impossible. So the
existence of a democratic state (even if it is not recognized
officially) is good for the whole democratic community.
The second important element of Karabakh ideological prevalence is the
historical peculiarity of the Armenian nation as a whole.
Most of the Armenians live outside their historical homelands (Armenia
and Karabakh). So being scarce – some 10 mln – they at the same time
constitute a multi-civilization nation. It is good for one to have
such an ally especially as most of the countries treat their local
Armenians as their own people.
So the Armenians appear to be a unique ideological element not only in
the South Caucasus but everywhere in the world. So the complementarity
policy appears to be quite a natural choice for Armenia. With Russia
Armenia enjoys centuries-old friendship, in the US it has a
multi-million diaspora. The US is building in Armenia its biggest
embassy in the world which shows that this country is valuable for the
West. Armenia has good terms with Iran, many Armenians live in Central
Asia and Middle East. None of the South Caucasian states have such a
vast ideological potential as Armenia does. Despite its complexity the
Karabakh conflict can be resolved – as soon as it is the role of
Karabakh and Armenia will grow.

EX-DIRECTOR OF YEREVAN CIRCUS “USED” TOUR MONEY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. For lack of funds, the Yerevan circus
will not take part in the 3rd international youth contest if circus
art in Moscow on September 2-7.
Talking to ARMINFO, Director of the Yerevan circus Sos Petrosyan
pointed out that the new temporary head of the circus Andreas Srapyan
ordered the profit received last season, 10mln. AMD, to be directed to
the repair of his cabinet, whereas the collective decided to use the
funds to cover the expenses for participation in the festivals of
circus art in Moscow and Monte Carlo, as well as for inviting circus
actors from China, Russia and Germany.
On May 14, the newly appointed Minister of Culture Hovik Hoveyan
relieved S. Petrosyan of his post and appointed A. Srapyan, a
representative of the “Law-Governed Country” party, one of the three
parties in power in Armenia. Petrosyan applied to court and defended
his interests for three months. On July 29, after getting acquainted
with the verdict of the Court of Cassation, Hoveyan restored Petrosyan
to his post, but has so far refused to receive him to discuss the
problems of the Yerevan State Circus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN NPP TO BE RESTARTED ON OCTOBER 4, 2004
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. The Armenian NPP, which is not operative
now, is to be connected to the energy system on October 4, 2004, RA
Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan told reporters.
The NPP was shut down for maintenance repairs and re-fueling on July
31. The Minister pointed out that the work has been done 45-50 per
cent, and monitoring shows that it will be completed within 64
days. He added that fuel has for the first time been supplied on time
since 1995. The reactor is being repaired on the NPP’s internal
funds. Specialists of the Czech “Skoda” company are now testing the
strength of the metal case of the reactor in conformity with
international standards and technical requirements of the IAEA. This
work is to be completed within 5-6 days. To enhance the safety,
specialists intend to install 37 electro-gas circuit breakers. A
computer system will also be installed to register all the parameters
of the reactor, which will be filed for post-accident analysis.
In 2003, the NPP generated a total of 1.9bln. kw/h of energy, 36% of
the total energy output in Armenia. Last September, the NPP was
transferred to the management of the “Inter RAO EES” CJSC, a
subsidiary of the RAO “EES Rossii.”

FIRST GEOTHERMAL STATION TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 25. ARMINFO. A program of using geothermal energy is
to be elaborated and approved in Armenia before the end of next year,
RA Minister of Energy Armen Movsisyan told reporters.
He reported that geophysical studies in the Syunik region of Armenia
have been completed and, according to preliminary data, the reserves
exceed the expected amount several times. The studies are being
carried out by the Gyumri Research Institute of Geophysics and
Engineering Seismology at the order of the RA Ministry of Energy.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 24, 2004
His Holiness Karekin II Departs for Pontifical Visit to the Ukraine
On the afternoon of August 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for Kharkov, Ukraine, for a
Pontifical Visit to the Armenian Diocese of the Ukraine.
During the trip, His Holiness will consecrate the newly built Church of the
Holy Resurrection in Kharkov, on Tuesday, August 24. (The foundation of the
church was blessed in July 2000.) The consecration date coincides with the
350th anniversary of the founding of the city of Kharkov. The Church of the
Holy Resurrection will be the first Armenian church in all of eastern
Ukraine.
Accompanying His Holiness during the visit are His Eminence Archbishop
Nerses Bozabalian from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Rev. Fr. Tiran
Petrosian as Staff-bearer to His Holiness.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 25, 2004
New Diocesan Council Elected in the Armenian Diocese of Damascus
The Armenian Diocese of Damascus (Syria) officially informed the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin that on August 15, a Diocesan Assembly was convened at
the St. Sarkis Armenian Cathedral of Damascus. During the meeting a new
Diocesan Council was elected. The elections were organized by the
initiative of the Parish Council of St. Sarkis and the (Armenian) national
representative assembly of Damascus, and were conducted according to the
rules of the National Constitution, under the supervision of the Election
Oversight Committee.
An election such as this, with the participation of all Armenian
organizations of Damascus, had not happened in the last thirty years within
this diocese.
The newly elected Diocesan Council is comprised of eleven lay members from
throughout the community and two clergymen from the Diocesan Religious
Council. In accord with the national constitution, the president of the
Diocesan Council is the primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, Very
Rev. Fr. Armash Vardapet Nalbandian.
The new diocesan council members, under the guidance of their diocesan
primate, will bring their efforts and devoted service to the progress and
prosperity of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus, for the glory of the
Armenian Apostolic Holy Church.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has conveyed his Pontifical Blessings and good wishes to the newly elected
members of the Diocesan Council of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
August 25, 2004
New Appointment in the Mother See
By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Vardapet Jamkotchian, a
member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, has been assigned as parish
priest of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan.
Father Anushavan, having recently completed his education in the Rheinische
Friedrich-Wilhelms University (Bonn, Germany), has returned to the Mother
See to continue his service to the Armenian Church. Father Anushavan is a
doctoral candidate in the field of religious rights.
* * *
Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Vardapet Jamkotchian
(baptismal name – Andranik)
Born in Vagharshapat, Armenia in 1971, he received his primary and secondary
education at Vahan Rshtuni School.
Studied in the Gevorkian Theological Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin from
1989-1994. Defended his thesis entitled “Movses Jughayetsi’s Collection of
Philology”, and graduated from the Seminary.
In 1993, he was ordained a deacon.
He was ordained a celibate priest in 1995 by His Grace Bishop Asoghik
Aristakesian.
>From 1994-1998, he attended classes at the Komitas State Conservatory in
Yerevan. Concurrently, he was an instructor of liturgical music at the
Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
>From 1998-2000 he studied church music in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, at Halle
Protestant College.
>From 2000-2001, Father Anushavan studied German at Martin Luther University.
In 2001, he returned to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and defended his
thesis entitled “Komitas and the Armenian Church” and was elevated to the
rank of Vardapet (Archimandrite).
Also in 2001, he studied in the School of Law of Martin Luther University in
Germany, concentrating on “Jurisprudence and the Rights of the Church”.
>From 2002 to 2004, Anushavan Vardapet studied “Church Canon Law” at the
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn, Germany.
In 2004, he defended his thesis entitled “The Basis of Rights of the
Armenian Church from the 4th through 20th Centuries”, and became a candidate
of doctoral sciences.