Author: Andres-Papazian

NUMBER OF CRIMES INCREASES IN GEGHARKUNIK

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
GAVAR

GAVAR, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: The number of crimes registered during the
six months of the running year in the Armenian province of Gegharkunik
has increased by 39 cases or 12% as compared with the same span of
the past year.

An official from the Gegharkunik province police department told
Armenpress that the efficiency of revealing the crimes has increased
by 5.8% as compared with the past year.

The number of crimes accounted in the percentage of the revealed
crimes increased by 15.4%, including the grave crimes by 7 or 100%.

The efficiency of revealing grave crimes has also increased as compared
with the past year.

From: A. Papazian

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA MARIE YOVANOVITCH VISITS GEGHARKUNIK PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
GAVAR

GAVAR, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: U.S. Ambassador to Armenia MarieYovanovitch
paid today a working and familiarizing visit to Gegharkunik
province. She visited different regions of the province – Sevan,
Gavar, Martuni, talked to the citizens, and then visited Noratus
village, where she got acquainted with the fencing process of the
local historical graveyard being implemented with the support of the
US Embassy.

Marie Yovanovitch was received by Gegharkunik Governor Nver Poghosyan.

The governor thoroughly presented the province, the economic
opportunities and current social-economic issues.

Marie Yovanovitch said in a conversation with the governor that she
has been to some places of the province, has got interested in every
day life and lifestyle of the residents and wishes to have information
on a number of issues, particularly, on creating of working places,
on unemployment reduction and on issues on Lake Sevan.

Answering to the ambassador’s questions, Nver Poghosyan noted that
the revenue of some part of the population is thanks to the outgoing
work, and the unemployment is mainly conditioned by the closing of the
industrial giants after the collapse of the USSR. At the moment the
small and medium-sized enterprises are mainly in a developing stage.

Among the prospective directions the governor singled out the
agriculture and the tourism.

The governor expressed his readiness to cooperate with the US Embassy
in Armenia in all the issues. The ambassador offered her cooperation
especially in providing visas of departure from Armenia to the USA,
in student exchange and in providing information on the order of the
small grant programs of the democratic commission.

From: A. Papazian

80% OF CHILDREN HOMED AT CHILDREN’S SUPPORT CENTER USUALLY RETURN TO FAMILIES

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: About 85 children found asylum in the
Children’s Support Center. Director of the center Ramona Ktakyan told
Armenpress that these are children who for some reasons were left
into oblivion, abandoned by parents, subjected to violence in their
families. According to the regulation of the center, children from
3 to 18 years old found asylum in the center with averagely 30-day
period, though there are exceptions as well. During this period they
get medical, social-pedagogical, psychological assistance, care,
food, clothes.

“There are cases when we keep children even for 60 days as they do not
have place to go. In such case the specialists are actively working
with the parent of the child to guide in finding work,” Ktakyan said.

The 80% of children usually return to families. Ktakyan said that
it supposes special work not only with children but with families as
well. The rest if they do not have families or people who will take
care of them are being placed in children’s houses and those who have
issues connected with their behavior are sent to the centers intended
for them.

“Neighbors, relatives, police officers, common people concerned with
the fate of the homeless children call us via hot line. I must say
that during the recent period the cases when mothers abandon their
children reasoning the bad social conditions, absence of work have
increased,” Ramona Ktakyan said. In that case the specialists carry
out special work with the parents.

The mission of the center is to protect beggar, strolling, homeless
children left without care. The 0800016111 hot line is free both for
residents of Yerevan and the provinces. During the running year about
100 calls have been received through the hot line. During the year
the center helped about 200 children from Yerevan and provinces.

From: A. Papazian

SWANS AGAIN WILL SWIM IN THE SWAN LAKE

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: The mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan
tasked to move two swans from the Yerevan Zoo to the Swan Lake. An
official from the municipality told Armenpress that special place has
been separated for the couple of swans so that they will be able to
hide from the sun and to rest from swimming. Specialists of the Zoo
will take care of the swans. They call on the visitors to restrain
from the temptation of feeding the birds.

From: A. Papazian

AHARON ADIBEKYAN: NO FORCE CAN MAKE PEOPLE OF KARABAKH LIVE AS PART OF AZERBAIJAN

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: “No force can make people of Karabakh
live as part of Azerbaijan,” sociologist Aharon Adibekyan said today
at a news conference. According to him, they have conducted polls in
Nagorno Karabakh, according to which the 85% of the population sees
Karabakh as an independent state and will not accept any alternative,
and 15% finds that the solution to the issue must be found through
mutual concessions.

“85% is a huge number in sociology – an absolute majority which does
not see its future as part of Azerbaijan,” Adibekyan said.

According to the sociologist, the ruling of the International Court
of Justice connected with Kosovo, essentially, confirm the political
decision of the West according to which it must not have been allowed
to form big Slavonic state in Balkans, that is the reason why the
NK authorities do not want to inspire false hopes to the people
saying that it is unequivocally a precedent for the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. Nevertheless, he said it is a positive signal by
the international community.

From: A. Papazian

HENCE THE PUBLIC COUNCIL MAY FORWARD QUESTIONS TO THE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: Hence the Public Council may forward
questions to the Armenian government and participate in their
discussions like the other government-affiliated bodies. In connection
with it at its today’s session the Armenian government approved the
draft decree of the Armenian President on making additions at his
July 18 2007 decree.

The necessity of adopting the project is agreed with the development
of democratic system, increase of the level of public involvement in
the state governance as well as implementation of public oversight.

The goal of the bill is to make effective the presentation of interests
of citizens, public units.

From: A. Papazian

AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SPHERES TO BE SIGNED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF SERBIA AND ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: Agreement on cooperation in economic,
scientific and technical spheres will be signed between the governments
of Serbia and Armenia.

First deputy economy minister Karine Minasyan said today at the
session of the government, the signing of corresponding documents
for regulation of relations between the two countries in this sphere
is a necessity. According to her, it will promote the mutually
beneficial cooperation between the two countries and development of
economic ties. K. Minasyan said the agreement intends also creation of
Armenian-Serbian inter-governmental commission on economic, scientific
and technical cooperation.

From: A. Papazian

SWITZERLAND PLANS TO OPEN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian vice prime minister,
territorial administration minister Armen Gevorgyan received today
Swiss ambassador to Armenia Lorenzo Amberg on the occasion of ending
his tenure in Armenia. Press service of the ministry told Armenpress
that the vice premier wished the ambassador success in his further
activity and thanked for the direct participation of the ambassador
in the implementation of a number of projects with the assistance of
the Swiss government in technical, economic and humanitarian spheres.

They particularly singled out the idea of the social house which
has been brought to life in Goris in an example of which such houses
opened in Massis, Kasakh with the assistance of UNHCR. The Armenian
government intends to continue such programs. The Swiss experience
is also taken into consideration in the implementation of tourism
development programs.

The ambassador on his part expressed gratitude for effective
partnership, noting that friendly relations have resulted in fruitful
partnership. He said Switzerland is planning to open diplomatic
representation in Armenia and the decision over it has already been
made. The vice premier expressed assurance that the existence of
diplomatic representation will give new impetus to the development
of bilateral relations.

From: A. Papazian

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES 2010-2014 PROGRAM OF DEVELOPMENT OF SEED-GROWING AND SEED-PRODUCING

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JULY 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Government approved at its
today’s session 2010-2014 program of development of seed-growing and
seed-producing. Minister of Agriculture Gerasim Alaverdyan said today
at a news conference followed after the session that it is expected
to import over thousand tons of high-quality elite type seeds from
Russian province of Astrakhan.

“During the recent 10 years high-quality seeds were not imported to
Armenia. Our wheat fields as compared with the 2005 have notably
reduced: instead of former 127 000 ha, the 82 000 are being
cultivated,” Gerasim Alaverdyan said.

The major part of the 650-670 thousand hectares of wheat used annually
in Armenia is being imported. The minister said the implementation
of the program will give an opportunity to increase the territory of
wheat fields up to 120 000 ha and the gross harvest product to 450
000 tons. Gerasim Alaverdyan said this will allow to bring the level
of self-satisfaction from 37% to 55. The government will allocate
558 million AMD for the implementation of the program.

“It is a serious program, for the first time with the assistance
of the state the seed-growing issue will be solved which intends
cooperation with the private sector. We must be able to produce 30
000 tons of high-quality seeds in Armenia,” the prime minister said,
adding that there is an issue to reveal such farms where it is possible
to develop seed-growing.

From: A. Papazian

COOPERATION AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF ARMENIA AND RUSSIA ON BUILDING NEW NUCLEAR UNITS IN ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
JULY 29, 2010
YEREVAN

Cooperation agreement will be signed between the governments of
Armenia and Russia on building new nuclear units in Armenia. Energy and
Natural Resources Minister Armen Movsisyan said today at the session
of the government that with the agreement it is intended to create new
nuclear units and infrastructures necessary for the implementation
of the project, train the staff. It is intended to import Russian
fresh nuclear fuel, technical assistance will also be displayed.

From: A. Papazian