Month: March 2007

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS VISITS ARMENIAN PHILANTHROPIC ACADEMY OF CALCUTTA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 06 2007

CALCUTTA, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Within the framework
of the visit paid to India, His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All
Armenians visited the Armenian Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta on
February 27, accompanied by the patriarchal retinue and RA Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ashot Kocharian. A ceremony was held
at the college head, in honour of His Holiness. The event started with
the Lord’s Prayer and anthems of India and Armenia. On behalf of the
Academy administration and students, Administrative Director Deacon
Tigran Baghumian and Director James Dayas welcame the Catholicos of
All Armenians. During the event the students presented recitation,
singing and national and Indian dancing performances.

A theatrical performance was also staged with the students’ efforts. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services of the Mother See
of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Holiness Patriarch answered all the questions
the students were interested in and passed his commandments to them. On
the occasion of visiting the Armenian Philanthropic Academy, His
Holiness gave presents to the academy library, director, teachers and
students. Then the Patriarchal retinue visited the Davidian School
for girls, got acquainted with the school conditions and met with
the school staff.

2006 SCHOOL LEAVERS TO TAKE FINAL AND HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS’ ENTRANCE EXAMS ON "ARMENIAN LANGUAGE, LITERATURE" SUBJECT BY JOINT SYSTEM

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. School leavers of secondary schools of
Armenia (irrespective of organization-legal type) will take this year
state final and higher educational institutions’ entrance exams on
the "Armenian Language, Literature" subject by new, joint system. As
Vanya Barseghian, the Director of the Estimation and Testing Center
of the RA Ministry of Education and Science stated at the March 5
press conference, school leavers will choose final state or joint
exam by their will, filling in the application-appeals just at their
educational institutions. V.Barseghian mentioned that final and joint
exams are separated according to the presented demands: in the case
of joint exam the participants will answer 75 testing questions (15
are questions on literature), and in the case of final exam they will
answer 50 questions. Every correct answer will be estimated 1 point,
and wrong answer will be estimated 0 point. The Center Director also
stated that tasks of the final exam will be of minimum and middle
difficulty (A level) defined by school subject program. And tasks
of the joint examination will be of minimum, middle and above middle
difficulty (A and B levels). Tasks of the A level of the joint exam
will be completely adequate to tasks of the final exam. Besides,
school leavers will take the final exam at their schools, and the
joint one at examination points. At present the center is engaged in
choosing buildings for examination points. In V.Barseghian’s words,
immediately after the end of final exams examination works will be sent
to the Estimation and Testing Center. The estimation will be carried
out by a computer program, with usage of technological equipment,
bringing the factor of subjectivity to minimum. School leavers will be
given certificates based on results of the joint exam. Marks fixed in
the certificate will be fixed in the school leaving certificate. Vanya
Barseghian also mentioned that a separate joint exam will be organized
for entrants got demobolized from the army in the spring of 2007.

THREE ARMENIANS TO BE REPRESENTED IN THE ABKHAZIAN PARLIAMENT

armradio.am
06.03.2007 17:10

Three Armenians will be represented in the newly elected Parliament of
Abkhazia. "Yerkramas" newspaper of Russian Armenians informs that two
Armenian Deputies – Valeri Mayromyan and Sergey Matosyan – were elected
in the parliamentary elections held on March 4. Another Armenian Deputy
will be elected from the precinct #20, where Albert Hovsepyan and
Farhad Mikhayelyan will compete in the second round on March 28. Thus,
the number of Armenians in the Abkhazian Parliament will not change:
three Armenians were represented also in the previous Parliament.

‘ZERKALO’: IN PRINCIPLE, BAKU IS READY TO TURN TO NATO FOR MEMBERSHIP

Yerkir
06.03.2007 16:32

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – In principle, Azerbaijan is ready officially to turn
to Brussels for NATO membership, Azeri newspaper "Zerkalo" reports
quoting its informed diplomatic sources. "However, alongside the
source informed that official Baku does not hurry in this direction,
which has serious causes.

The matter is that after official request if during the NATO
next summit a positive decision is made, the sides must pass to
an intensive regime of dialog. This period lasts from 3 up to 5
years. The problem is that during the intensive dialog stage NATO does
not offer candidates to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization security
guarantees. And actually, this factor will create serous problems for
Azerbaijan. After all, to put it mildly, Azerbaijan is surrounded by
unfriendly countries-Russia, Armenia, Iran," "Zerkalo" writes.

That’s why, the newspaper reports, "almost for sure we can say that in
case of official request to Brussels by Baku for NATO membership Russia
and Iran will function their additional mechanisms of pressure on
Azerbaijan." " In such cases the problem of providing security to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization candidates is being settled through
bilateral agreements with NATO member states on military-political
cooperation, as a rule, with the United States. "However, in this
case with Azerbaijan US’s opportunities are limited…

The whole problem is in the so-called 907th amendment to the Liberty
Support Act, which does allow breaking the parity for military
assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Today the U.S. has opportunities
to provide Azerbaijan military assistance indirectly, that is to say,
through various NATO programs. First, Washington continues to hope
that it will be possible to reach some agreements during the first
half of 2007 on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. In this
case the White House will be totally free to act. But the solution
of the conflict is hardly to happen in near future.

Second, some agreements may be signed, which will allow, say,
to temporary deploy "a limited contingent of foreign troops in
Azerbaijan", first of all American, in case if "any threat occurs to
the oil pipeline and wells." But this variant too is not considered
fully trustworthy.

Third, functions of providing security guarantee to Azerbaijan can take
another NATO member-state with Washington’s consent-Turkey. The source
underlined that active negotiations are being held in this direction.

However, this variant too has its negative sides.

The source also noted Brussels is nervous not only for delay of
official request by Baku, but also with the fact that unlike Armenia
Azerbaijan even has not fulfilled the half of commitments in the
framework of Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO. But
recently, as they say, it seems things are moving, the source
underscored," "Zerkalo" reports.

OSKANIAN AND RICE DISCUSSED U.S. INITIATIVES ON NORMALIZATION OF TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS

Yerkir
06.03.2007 16:33

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian currently
in the United States with a working visit, the day before met with U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice , the RA MFA Press Office reports.

At the meeting the sides discussed issues concerning bilateral
relations.

The officials stressed the great importance of "Millenium Challenges"
program in the framework of realization of such programs, which will
allow to decrease level of poverty in rural areas of Armenia.

In this regard V. Oskanian presented preparation works, which were
done up till now for realization of the program. The two officials
also discussed coming parliamentary elections in Armenia, stressing
the importance to conduct them in accordance with the international
standards.

Alongside Vartan Oskanian and Condoleezza Rice discussed regional
issues, situation in Armenian-Turkish relations and mediatorial
initiatives of the United States for their normalization. The sides
exchanged views concerning the process and perspectives of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DATA TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE DISABLED

armradio.am
06.03.2007 17:43

For the first time data form Armenia will be placed next EU member
states in the report on the state of the disabled people. President
of the "Unison" NGO Armen Alaverdyan said at a press conference today
that separate studies carried out in the sphere and official data
will be presented in the report.

Similar reports have been issued by the International Union for the
Rights of the Disabled in the US, Africa and Asia.

HAYASTAN BRAZIL CHAPTER RENOVATES THE BOILER HOUSE OF THE NORK-MARASH HOSPITAL

armradio.am
06.03.2007 17:55

In association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Brazil chapter, with a personal
contribution from the Brazilian Ambassador to Armenia, constructed
the boiler house of the Nork-Marash Infection Hospital.

On March 2, 2007 UNDP resident coordinator in Armenian Ms. Consuel
Vidal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Mrs. Renate
Stille and Hayastan All- Armenia Fund executive director Ms. Naira
Melkumian inaugurated the boiler house of the Nork-Marash Infection
Hospital. The boiler house serves the hospital’s reanimation ward.

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Brazil chapter has been committed to
renovating the Nork-Marash infection hospital since 2004. Further
renovation and reconstruction works are underway.

WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS YEREVAN OFFICE MOVES TO NEW BUILDING

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The active cooperation
of the World Armenian Congress (WAC) Armenian Office will assist
development of Armenia and the Armenian people’s unification round the
"one nation, one ideology" slogan. Ara Abrahamian, the Chairman of the
WAC and Union of Armenians of Russia made such a statement on March
3, during the official ceremony dedicated to moving of the Congress
and Union Yerevan office to a new building. The office was moved to
a newly built building in the center of Yerevan. In A.Abrahamian’s
words, the Congress plans to have 9 representations in the marzes of
Armenia and two representations in the cities of Washington and Los
Angeles, the United States of America, in the nearest future. For
building of the Yerevan office, A.Abrahamian expressed gratitude to
benefactor Samvel Karapetian, the Chairman of the Union of Armenians in
Kaluga. In A. Abrahamian’s words, the role of Diaspora is irreplaceable
at present in the sense of social-economic development of Armenia,
investment issues, charity actions as well as just solution of the
Nagorno Karabakh problem and Armenian Genocide recognition. Levon
Ananian, the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, a founder
member of the World Armenian Congress mentioned that he attached
importance not only to the symbol of opening the office but also to
continuation of previous works of the Congress. "Those values are
not yet appraised at its true worth in the atmosphere of today’s
disagreement, the future must still say the word of its estimation,
but one who has an eye, sees, one who has ear, listens, who has
ability of estimating, value," L.Ananian said. Atom Mkhitarian,
the Chairman of the Association of Youth Organizations of the World
Armenian Congress expressed confidence that the newly opened office
will become a place of implementation of national goals.

CASES OF ILLEGAL FELLINGS OF TREES INCREASE PARALLEL WITH RISE OF TEMPERATURE

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. A number of violations of nature
protection legislation were found during checkings carried out
by employees of Nature Protection Inspection of RA Ministry of
Nature Protection on March 2-3. As Marzpet Kamalian, Deputy Head of
Inspection, reported at the March 6 press conference, eight cars
illegally transporting firewood were found in the forest areas of
Ijevan. It was also mentioned that inspectors found a case of illegal
deforestation in the same forest area, at which the area’s forester
was present. In M. Kamalian’s words, those breaking the law managed
to fell 120 c/m firewood and 80 c/m timber. Besides, inspectors found
a car loaded with firewood on Yerevan-Vanadzor highway. "Though they
had documents given by Noyemberian forest economy, nevertheless,
that forest economy has no permission to fell trees, so the firewood
is illegal," the Deputy Head of Inspection said. It was mentioned
that valuable high-quality trees – beech tree, hornbeam, oak tree
were mainly cut down. The respective materials are being prepared for
the last two breaches of law for instroducing them to law enforcement
bodies. Hrayr Antonian, Head of Forests Control Department, declared
that checkings will be held more frequently henceforth, parallel with
rise of temperature. It was also mentioned that 37 criminal cases
were instituted during checkings implemented in 2006.

SINGER SHUSHAN PETROSIAN’S CONCERT TO BE HELD ON MARCH 17 IN WASHINGTON

Noyan Tapan
Mar 06 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Singer Shushan Petrosian will have
a solo concert on March 17 in Washington at the invitation of the
Embassy of Armenia in U.S. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the singer,
the concert will be dedicated to the 15th anniversary of foundation
of Armenian National Army. S. Petrosian also said that she will be
in Washington for the first time and it is a great honor for her
to receive that invitation from RA Embassy. "I am glad to perform
before the Armenian community of Washington and I am convinced that
they will give me a hearty welcome," the singer said.