Month: November 2006

COAF DONATES COWS TO 20 UNSECURED FAMILIES OF SHENIK COMMUNITY OF ARMENIAN PROVINCE OF ARMAVIR
Armenpress
Nov 13 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
in cooperation with the Armenian office of “Heifer International”
organization donated cows to 20 unsecured families of the Shenik
community of the Armenian province of Armavir.
The goal of the program is to support the increase of incomes of
beneficiary families. An official from COAF told Armenpress that
about 54 families of the community applied for the participation
in the program and 20 of them have been selected. The official said
that while making the choice, the number of family members, degree
of insecurity, existence of relevant conditions for taking care of
the cows have been taken into consideration.
For improving the cattle-sheds of several families COAF has provided
relevant assistance. It is expected that after the three years the
families will give one cow to another unsecured family and thus the
number of beneficiary families will increase.
The COAF and “Heifer International” organization will control the
pace of the implementation of the program. The fund is also planning
a number of other initiatives directed towards the development
of economy of the communities included in the “Grouping of Model
Villages” program.

ANOTHER SHIFT OF ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO GO TO KOSOVO
Armenpress
Nov 13 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Thirty-four Armenian peacekeepers
are flying November 14 to Kosovo to replace their colleagues who have
served six months there. This will be the sixth shift of Armenian
peacekeepers in the volatile Yugoslav region.
Seyran Shahsuvarian, a spokesman for Armenian defense ministry, said
the Armenian platoon is stationed near Pristina under the command of
the Greek peace-keeping battalion. Some 170 Armenian servicemen have
already served in Kosovo as peacekeepers. The sixth shift will raise
their number to 204.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MILITARY OFFICER WOUNDED IN IRAQ
Armenpress
Nov 13 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian military officer with
a contingent of troops serving in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq
was wounded on Friday, Armenian defense minister Serzh Sarkisian
said Saturday.
The minister said Lt. Gevorg Nalbandian was wounded while on a mission
to defuse mines. Nalbandian had his foot amputated after the incident,
Sarkisian said on a visit to the military conscription office in the
Armenian capital. The minister said the Armenian servicemen will be
transported to an American military hospital in Germany for further
treatment. The Armenian troops have been deployed to Iraq since
January 2004, and early this year Armenia rotated its troops in Iraq
for the fourth time, sending 46 servicemen, who are truck drivers,
medics and sappers.
Polish PAP news agency said one Polish and one Slovak soldier were
killed by a roadside bomb in south-central Iraq late on Friday. The
bomb exploded near the town of Al Kut in Wasit province as a
multinational convoy was returning to base. Another Polish soldier and
Gevork Nalbandian were wounded in the attack and rushed to hospital
by helicopter.
In a press release disseminated to Armenian media the Embassy of the
United States of America in Yerevan expressed its deepest concern
for the Armenian soldier who was seriously injured in Iraq, as well
as its condolences for the Polish and Salvadorian soldiers who were
killed during the incident.
“Armenia’s contingent in Iraq is carrying out the extremely important
but dangerous work of bringing peace and democracy to the country. The
injured Armenian solider is receiving the best medical care available,
and we would like to thank him and his Armenian colleagues for their
vital role in the international coalition fighting the global war on
terror,” the statement read.

SEVEN CHILDREN TRANSFERRED TO FOSTER FAMILIES
Armenpress
Nov 14 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Seven children have been removed
from children houses and transferred to foster families as a foster
family program ended in Gegharkunik and Lori provinces. The program
was designed and implemented by Armenian labor and social affairs
ministry in cooperation with UNICEF Armenia Office.
Lena Harutunian, an official of the ministry in charge of a department
dealing with children issues, said the children were transferred to
‘the best families of both provinces,’ which were selected based on a
set of tough requirements, such as housing safety, space and equipment,
good physical and emotional health, clearance by the department of
police, and ability to meet basic expenses.
The children will be under these families’ care until they become
of full legal age. This program comprised two stages. In the second
stage a team of experts trained by British specialists held special
training courses for the selected children and families. This program
is to be implemented in other regions of Armenia as well.

COMMON ENDEAVOR EXERCISE LAUNCHES IN ARMENIA
Armenpress
Nov 14 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Some 270 representatives from 38
countries, as well as from NATO and a brigade implementing peacekeeping
mission in the southeastern Europe, have come to Armenia to participate
in an annual Combined Endeavor exercise sponsored by the US European
Command (USEUCOM).
The exercise held in the spirit of Partnership for Peace (PfP)
integration and interoperability consists of four planning conferences
and a multi-side workshop. Colonel Samvel Atoyan, a senior military
officer of the Armenian armed forces’ department for communications
and automated systems, said the ultimate goal of the exercise is to
have a document setting clearly out interoperability principles.
He said the Common Endeavor military exercise, scheduled for
April 26 to May 13 of 2007 is planned to be held in Germany and
Armenia. Armenian troops have been participating in this exercise
since 2002. The exercise will run through November 17. Azerbaijan
and Turkey were expected originally to send their representatives to
Armenia, but later they refused.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KARABAKH PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CONGRATULATES NANCY PELOSI
Armenpress
Nov 14 2006
STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian sent a congratulatory note Monday
to US House of Representatives Speaker designate Congresswoman
Nancy Pelosi.
On behalf of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s legislature, Ghulian
congratulates Pelosi and the Democratic party for their decisive
victory during last week’s elections, saying that the US plays a
critical role in providing assistance and support for to the republic’s
democratic movement.
“We are confident that the US Congress will continue to remain a
steadfast protector of freedom and democracy and hope for future
assistance for the straightening and development of Nagorno-Karabakh,”
Ghulian said in his letter.

KARABAKH LEADER NOT TO SEEK A THIRD TERM IN OFFICE
Armenpress
Nov 14 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: A former foreign minister of
Nagorno-Karabakh said its incumbent president Arkady Ghukasian would
not seek a third consecutive term in office.
Arman Melikian, who served for a brief time as foreign minister
of Nagorno-Karabakh, now he is an aide to Ghukasian, told a news
conference in Yerevan that Ghukasian’s decision not to run for
presidency stems from his perception that that would jeopardize
Nagorno-Karabakh image.
Some analysts argue that a constitutional referendum in Karabakh,
set for December 10, will count down Ghukasian’s two previous
terms in office to allow him to again seek the highest post of the
self-proclaimed republic.
Arman Melikian said even though there is no an equal to Ghukasian
in the republic, new people should be given a chance to contest the
presidency and make their input to advancing it.
Melikian said also Nagorno-Karabakh authorities do not seek an
international approval of the referendum results, as the people of
Karabakh needs it first of all.

SERGE SARGSIAN IN IRAQ
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
On November 13, Serge Sargsian, secretary of the National Security
Council affiliated to the RA president, RA defense minister, left
for Iraq to get acquainted with living conditions of the Armenian
soldiers and to meet his Iraqi counterpart and the leadership of the
multinational forces. The minister said he had applied to the National
Assembly with a request to prolong the service term of the Armenian
detachment in Iraq as Armenia cannot be only be a “safety consumer”
but also has to have its modest but stable contribution in world
security process.
P.S. The 6th shift of Armenian peacekeepers left for Kosovo yesterday.

ARMENIAN SOLDIER WOUNDED IN IRAQ
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
A soldier of the Armenian peacekeeping detachment in Iraq was
wounded in a terrorist act that claimed lives of a Polish and
a Slovak soldier. According to defense minister Serge Sargsian,
senior lieutenant Georgi Nalbandian of the Armenian regiment was
wounded on November 11 terrorist act and was transported to Germany
for treatment. His life is not in danger. As a result of a blast,
the 25-year-old soldier lost his right leg.
The US Embassy to Yerevan has thanked the wounded soldier and his
Armenian fellow soldiers for their role in the international fight
against terror.

ARKADY GHUKASIAN: AZERBAIJAN’S MILITANT THREATS WON’T SCARE THE PEOPLE OF ARTSAKH
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
15/11/2006
At a meeting with US congressman Joe Knollenberg, president of Nagorno
Karabakh, Arkady Ghukasian, discussed issues connected with regulation
of Nagorno Karabakh issue and the region’s socio-economic state.
Ghukasian congratulated the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues on being reelected to the Congress, and the latter
told NK leader that he is ready to engage in Karabakh issue as well.
NK president’s press center informs that Arkady Ghukasian also met the
Armenian community of Detroit and urged them to support in developing
infrastructures of Karabakh’s economy stressing the need of creating
necessary conditions for living in border regions.
“Azerbaijan’s militant threats won’t scare the people of Artsakh,”
Ghukasian stated adding that the Army of Defense and the Artsakhi
people are ready to repulse any attempt on Karabakh’s freedom and
independence.
Earlier, on November 11, Arkady Ghukasian visited Boston and met with
Armenian benefactors. NK leader also met Board of Trustees President
of the Armenian Assembly of America, Carolyn Mugar, and talked about
the prospects of implementing humanitarian and investment projects
in Artsakh. President Ghukasian called on the Armenian community
representatives to get actively involved in the November 23 US telethon
for Artsakh’s revival.
Arkady Ghukasian’s next destination is Los Angeles.