Author: Chakrian Hovsep

EXPERT: FOOD SUPPLY AND SOCIAL SECURITY URGENT ISSUES IN ARMENIA

ARKA
Aug 25, 2009

YEREVAN, August 24. /ARKA/. Food supply security of Armenia is one
of most urgent issues to be addressed by the government, Advisor to
Armenian Parliament Speaker Tatul Manaseryan said while commenting
the impact of the world economic crisis on Armenia.

About 5-6 international programs on food security are implemented or
are still under implementation in Armenia, Manaseryan said. But the
loan government funds are aimlessly spent due to lack of coordination,
he said.

For more efficient implementation coordinated cooperation needs to
be established between the government agencies, the ministries of
economy, health and agriculture in particular, Manaseryan said.

According to the economist, social security is another topical issue
in the country as labor market needs to be seriously reviewed and
professional capital lacks coordination.

Employment problem is the first among other numerous social risks in
Armenia, Manaseryan said.

"Human resource in Armenia is one of the most valuable and important,
yet little-studied resources," the expert said. A higher education
diploma hardly guarantees a job in the specialization area, Manaseryan
said.

"As a professor I deliver lectures to the unemployed in future,"
the expert said.

Manaseryan stressed the necessity of government-paid vacancies in the
country’s higher schools to avoid aimless use of government funds and
further unemployment. The statistical information about actual demand
for a particular field should be taken into account for this, he said.

According to the official information of the State Employment Service,
total number of people seeking jobs was 101,100 in Armenia as of August
as compared with 92,100 jobless in the same period of the year before.

The unemployed constituted 83.8% (84,700) of overall number of job
seekers, a 10.8% increase against the same period of last year and
11.8% increase as compared with the beginning of the year.

ARMENIA SEEKS ANTI-CRISIS FUNDS FROM RUSSIA-LED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Mediamax
Aug 24 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 24 August. Armenia intends to attract means from EurAsEc
[Russia-led economic cooperation organization] anti-crisis fund to
fund industry, infrastructures and information technologies.

Deputy Minister of Finance of Armenia Vardan Aramyan, who heads
the workgroup on attracting funding from EurAsEc anti-crisis fund,
informed Mediamax on this.

According to Vardan Aramyan, the workgroup carries out works with all
sectoral departments and ministries of Armenia aiming at elaborating
detailed programs, which will be presented to the fund this fall.

The volume of EurAsEc anti-crisis fund will make about 10bn
dollars. The deputy minister of finance did not specify what exact
volume of funding Armenia intends to attract.

Mediamax reminds that on July 2, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan informed that the government had already submitted two
applications to the fund, related to the spheres of energy and
chemistry, at that noting the necessity to elaborate new programs
aiming at attracting funding for spheres of importance for Armenia.

EXPERT SAYS DISAGREEMENTS RULE IN TURKISH STATE ADMINISTRATION

Panorama.am
17:50 24/08/2009

"Any element, having close connection with the settlement of
Armenian-Turkish ties, is of great significance.

Problems related to Turkey are being much discussed in Armenia and
Armenian issues in Turkey," political expert Alexander Iskandaryan
told at news conference.

People in Armenia, some political forces, parties are against
the opening of Armenian-Turkish border, but some are pro, expert
said. "Similar situation rules in Turkey, with a single difference that
politicians in state administration are also against that process,"
expert said.

Everybody in Armenian state administration is pro to the opening
of the border. That kind of disagreements make Turkey’s deal even
more difficult.

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE INSURANCE CLAIMS LAW
by Lou Ann Matossian

08-21-federal-appeals-court-strikes-down-armenian- genocide-insurance-claims-law
Friday August 21, 2009

Minneapolis – On August 20, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals struck down a California law that allowed the descendants
of Armenian Genocide victims to sue in state courts for unpaid
insurance benefits. The federal court ruled that the California law
was unconstitutional because it conflicts with what it characterized
as U.S. foreign policy not to recognize the Armenian Genocide as such.

"The federal government has made a conscious decision not to apply
the politically charged label of ‘genocide’ to the deaths of these
Armenians during World War I," wrote Judge David Thompson for the
majority of the three-judge panel. "Whether or not California agrees
with this decision, it may not contradict it."

In dissent, Judge Harry Pregerson said that although the federal
government declines to use the term "Armenian Genocide," he could
find no evidence that the states were barred from doing so.

"There is no express federal policy forbidding California from
using the term ‘Armenian Genocide’ in the course of exercising its
traditional authority to regulate the insurance industry," Judge
Pregerson wrote.

"I think the decision is outrageous," said plaintiffs’ attorney Brian
Kabateck, who vowed to appeal for a rehearing. "If taken to its logical
extension, what this decision means is that all 40 states that have
recognized the Armenian Genocide have to set aside that recognition,"
he told the Los Angeles Times.

Hollywood to host 12th Annual Arpa International Film Festival
22.08.2009 11:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Arpa foundation will be hosting the 12th annual Arpa
International Film Festival Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25,
at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The festival program includes
the U.S. premier of Haik Gazarian’s Venezzia, starring two of Latin
America’s great stars, Alfonso Herrera and Ruddy Rodriguez.
More than 50 feature films, shorts, documentaries, music videos, and
animations will be screened during the festival, including films from
Armenia, Turkey, France, Iran, Spain, Lebanon, England, Israel,
Palestine, and Germany. Festival attendants will also have the
opportunity to watch Alex Web’s `Hove’, starring Olympia Dukakis.

Frank Pallone: U.S. should recognize Nagorno Karabakh
22.08.2009 15:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ I believe personally that the United States should
recognize Nagorno Karabakh, Frank Pallone Jr., the New Jersey Democrat
who is a founding co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, said. `I certainly would be willing to do whatever I can to
have that happen,’ he said
However, according to him, it will be difficult, because a lot of
members of Congress are not that familiar with the subject. `I assume
that the State Department would be against it, and I am not sure how
much Armenia itself would be pushing for it. So it would probably be
hard to do,’ Frank Pallone said.
`And while I support recognition of NKR, I do not know if the Armenian
community wants to prioritize that. The community has to prioritize
the issues and spend their time on things that are more likely (to be
successfully accomplished)]. And since this issue would be difficult,
I would not recommend that they prioritize it, `congressman saidin an
interview to Armenian reporter.

THE SECOND APPEARING OF THE CHRIST OR NORMAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT?

Aysor.am
21.08.2009, 13:14

There is no alternative in reducing the number of mini buses and
substituting them with small or mid-size buses, according to the
social and economic development program of Yerevan for 2009.

All this just written…

According to the same program "for this purpose, in 2009, 250 buses,
modified for towns, are to be acquired and exploited on the means
of private investors, comprising 3000 million drams. A new route,
for improving the situation of public transport in Yerevan, has been
worked out and soon will be approved, which includes the reduction
of the number of mini buses from 2600 to 650, and the number of the
buses will increase by 2010".

Harutyun Melkumyan, the head of traffic regulation at the Yerevan
municipality’s transport department, informed Aysor.am, that since the
end of 2005, when the import of buses launched, 384 buses belonging
to different brands have been imported, mostly "Bogdan", "Paz",
"Zonda", and "Nema". Daily more than 250 buses are used. According
to him, now the import of buses is realized by private companies,
not by the government, and whether "they will go on with importing
of the buses is doubtable".

It should be mentioned that as to the 2009 program 250 buses were
supposed to be imported. By the beginning of the year only 12 buses
were imported, and no more buses are expected during this year.

To the question how the government is going to make the private
companies import buses, H. Melkumyan said: "There are issues based on
contracts according to which the private companies are due to import
buses, but today there are difficulties and they cannot realize
the import".

The ratio of mini-buses should comprise 19.2 %. To improve the quality
and level of transportation more than 500-600 buses are needed. The
deadline for the reduction of mini buses is by 2012.

There are 2750 mini buses in Yerevan now. In 2005-2006 there were 3300,
and by 2010 only 650mini buses should be in use.

"Parallel with the import of the buses, the number of mini buses is
reduced. This is a long process and it is not possible to realize it
at once",- said H. Melkumyan.

He said that the route of Yerevan is to be revised and only after it
the number oh buses and mini buses will be fixed.

"The result of so many mini buses is pollution, traffic jams,
inconveniency and the danger for life. During last year we had 408
victims in traffic accidents. In peace time having 408 victims is
terrible. If we compare the quantity of our cars and the number of
our victims with any other European county, we will find that it
is 6-7 times more. If 408 people died it means that more than 1000
were damaged",-said Armen Poghosyan, the Chairman of Armenian Union
of Consumers.

Armen Poghosyan mentioned that while getting started the engine of the
capacity of the car is 17 times more, than while driving and hence
the same number of exhaustion. The stations for mini buses are more
than those for buses, so more are the exhaustions.

The president of the union talked about European countries, mentioning
Dublin. When the electric transport became prominent the number
of exhaustions reduced for 28 thousand tons. As to him the social
investigation held in London proved that 70 % of population prefers
buses.

According to the results of the investigation on the last three years,
the number of mini buses is 90-91 % and the tempo of the reduction
shows that the result of 19.2 % will be reached at "Christ’s second
appearing".

"The purpose of mini buses is to travel without stopping from one
point to another".

"The former ambassador of Italy imported 15 buses. But where are
they now?"

The head of traffic regulation at the Yerevan municipality’s transport
department was unaware of this.

"Our country leads a disgraceful economic policy. Instead of
importing oil, petrol, we want to improve the state of electric
transportation. And the trolley-buses are in terrible state", –
said A. Poghosyan.

H. Melkumyan said that there are 100 trolley-buses in Yerevan,
2 of which are technical support. During the last 2 years 18 new
trolley-buses were imported each year. By 2011 up to 20 trolley-buses
are planned to be imported each year. And the import of trolley-buses
is realized with the support of the government.

Now we have 7 trolley-buses roads instead of the 25 functioning during
the Soviet times.

JCSER: "ISRAEL IS FORCING PALESTINIANS IN JERUSALEM TO DEMOLISH THEIR OWN HOMES"
by Saed Bannoura

International Middle East Media Center

Thursday August 20, 2009 01:05

The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economical Rights (JSCER) issued
a press release stating that the Israeli authorities in Jerusalem
are forcing Jerusalemite Palestinians to demolish their own homes.

The JCSER said that the Israeli authorities forced 18 Palestinians
families to demolish their homes since last July rendering 136,
mainly women and children, homeless.

The residents are forced to do so because if the Jerusalem municipality
demolishes their homes using its equipment and workers it sends them
the bill. Usually the bill mounts to dozens of thousands of Israeli
Shekels.

In July, 10 Palestinians were forced to demolish their own homes and
70 Palestinians became homeless.

The center added that the areas that are the focus home demolitions
in the Old City, Jabal Al Mukabber, Silwan and At Tour.

It further said that there are dozens of pending demolition orders
in Jerusalem, in addition to hundreds of orders targeting additions
to existing homes.

The Research and Documentation Department at the JCSER said that two
families (16 persons) had to demolish their homes in the Old City of
Jerusalem and Jabal Al Mukabber in May.

In April, the Israeli authorities removed a mobile home inhibited by
a family living in Al Tour; eight family members became homeless.

The mobile home belongs to Ali Hasan Al Ja’ba, he and his family had
to use a mobile home as the Israeli authorities demolished his home
two years ago.

Also in April, the Israeli authorities demolished a commercial
building located in Nablus Street, in Jerusalem. The building belongs
to Mahmoud Al Shweiky, and was licensed by the Jerusalem municipality
more than 20 years ago.

In March, the Israeli authorities forced one resident, identified as
Mahammad Attoun, from Sur Baher, south of the Old City, to demolish
his home. The home in question, 100 square-meters, was inhibited by
8 family members.

The JCSER added that such orders also targeted Jerusalemite
Palestinians living in homes rented from the Greek Orthodox and the
Armenian churches.

Some of the homes are even located inside ministries. Six families
received the demolition orders, the JCSER reported.

NEW STRIKEFORCE CHAMP GEGARD MOUSASI STAYING AT 205 POUNDS FOR "TWO OR THREE YEARS"
by Dann Stupp

MMAjunkie.com
Aug 16, 2009 at 3:05 pm ET

Don’t expect Gegard Mousasi to waste too much time before making his
first Strikeforce title defense.

While current champs Alistair Overeem (heavyweight), Cung Le
(middleweight) and Josh Thomson (lightweight) have each gone more
than a year since last defending their Strikeforce belts, Mousasi,
who delivered former champ Renato "Babalu" Sobral a brutal 60-second
knockout on Saturday to claim the 205-pound title, is ready to pounce
on his new weight class.

Mousasi, who recently vacated his DREAM middleweight belt to fight
at the higher weight classes, will compete in the Japanese-based
organization’s open-weight "Super Hulk" semifinals in October before
returning to the light-heavyweight division for the foreseeable future.

The 24-year-old Mousasi, who owns a staggering 13-fight win streak,
beat Mark Hunt back in May in the eight-man "Super Hulk" opening
round. On Oct. 6 at DREAM.11, he takes on PRIDE and UFC vet Rameau
Thierry Sokoudjou in the semifinals. A victory would put him in
the finals later that night against the Hong Man Choi vs. Ikuhisa
Minowa winner.

While the novelty fights have kept the Dutch fighter entertained,
he’s ready to make a run at 205 pounds.

"I’m planning to fight (at) 205 for two or three years, get a little
bit older, put on some muscle," Mousasi said.

Eventually, though, the Red Devil Sport Club fighter wants to move
up yet again.

"Eventually, I will go to heavyweight but not right now," he said. "But
the ‘Super Hulk’ tournament, I have to fight heavyweight. Heavyweights
are also good, but being also very big, the disadvantage is I feel
with speed and explosiveness, (but) I can beat also the heavier guys.

"I see myself also fighting at heavyweight in the future."

Strikeforce CEO and co-founder Scott Coker isn’t sure whom Mousasi
will fight in his next Strikeforce bout. Despite the first-round
drubbing, Sobral remains very much in the title picture, Coker said,
but an immediate rematch doesn’t sound likely.

"We’ll do the matchmaking process in the next couple of weeks," Coker
said. "But we’re going to let [Mousasi] get through the DREAM event
in October, and then we’ll start putting something together."

Mousasi literally didn’t break a sweat in the Sobral fight, which
took the co-main-event slot on the "Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg"
Showtime broadcast. After taking down the Brazilian fighter early in
the round, Mousasi stood over his opponent and rained down a dozen
punches, each of which landed. One shot that connected mid-barrage
knocked Sobral out cold, though a subsequent blow jolted him back
awake before the referee halted the action.

Mousasi wasn’t too surprised by the quick finish.

"I wanted to keep the fight standing up, but I knew if I could take
Sobral down, I would take him down," he said. "I know he’s a great
jiu-jitsu guy, but this is not jiu-jitsu. This is MMA, and I knew
I could have the advantage of top position. I was expecting a tough
fight. He’s experienced, and he’s a very tough opponent. But sometimes
fights end quickly."

For complete coverage of "Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg," including
the night’s official results, check out the MMA Events section of
MMAjunkie.com.

TURKISH VILLAGERS CAUGHT ALLAH’S FISH

News.am
17:41 / 08/14/2009

Turkish villagers caught a fish with tattoo "Allah" in Tekman,
Erzurum province, "Aktifhaber" website reports.

The young men were shocked to see the tattoo in Arabic letters on
the fish back.

The men took the fish to the city, where all witnesses were totally
amazed.