Author: Dabaghian Diana

ARMENIAN HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL CENTER: TEMPERATURE IN YEREVAN NOT TO EXCEED +40C
PanARMENIAN.Net
09.08.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00
The temperature in Yerevan and throughout Armenia will not
change within next 3 days, senior specialist of the Armenian
Hydrometeorological Center Gagik Surenyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In his words, the temperature will not exceed +40C in
Yerevan and the Ararat valley. In Surenyan’s words, there is no
broadcast received for the second half of August.

WHO IS MR. EVANS?
Lragir.am
9 Aug 06
The Lragir has learned that certain NGOs and political forces in
Armenia seek for revealing the foreign connections of the criminal
elite of the government. In particular, the problem of revealing
the real attitude of great powers is put forward. The authors of the
initiative are especially interested in the standpoint of the United
States. Namely, the United States keeps on talking about democracy,
rule of law, fair governance, whereas in reality it supports part
of the government that denies all these things. Considering this,
the initiators of investigation on the criminal-outer world relation
are going to study the activities of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans to find out his relations with some public officials of
the Armenian government, and whether these relations proceed from
the U.S. policies.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 9, 2006
___________________
ACYOA’S SERVICE TRIP TO ARMENIA BRINGS CLERGY CLOSER TO PEOPLE
With the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, and the cooperation of Fr. Torkom Tonikyan of
the Arakatzotn Diocese of Armenia, 25 young Armenians from the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) recently traveled to Armenia to
serve the community there by bringing the parish priests closer to the
people.
The youngsters were part of the Armenia Service Program (ASP), a trip
organized by the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America (ACYOA).
This year they traveled to Armenia to work with Habitat for Humanity. They
worked on parish homes for two priests in the villages of Oshagan and
Edesia.
“This will bring the clergy to the people, because they are in the villages
and will stay among the people,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). “I’m happy our
young people not only served the community through the Armenia Service
Program, but glad to know they worked alongside youth from the local diocese
in Armenia, building bonds between the two groups.”
The ASP trip was underwritten by four generous benefactors whose gifts
allowed ASP participants to travel at minimal expense. They were Mr. and
Mrs. Vartkess and Rita Balian, James Kalustian, Dr. Sarkis Kechejian, and
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory and Christine Parseghian.
“These supporters of our youth know the importance of service to the
Armenian community,” the Primate said. “And they stood forward and acted as
mentors, through their generous gifts. They showed the young ASP
participants that the community values the service they gave to their
brothers and sisters in Armenia by building new homes for priests to bring
them into the communities they will serve.”
TRIP MOVES SOME TO STAY LONGER
It was supposed to be a three-week trip to help build homes for needy
Armenian families. But for two young Armenians it turned into a much longer
commitment to help the people of Armenia.
But for two of the 25 ASP participants, the trip was extended when they
decided to stay longer to continue helping the people of Armenia. Another
two members spoke to clergy in Armenia about returning next year to teach
English.
“A lot of people want to come back next year. Almost everyone wanted to
stay right then, but had to get back to school,” said Sarine Zenian, one of
two assistant leaders who helped ASP group leader Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan.
“It was a wonderful, powerful way to truly see Armenia.”
EXTENDED SERVICE
Two of the ASP participants — Gena Dirani and Aram Mushegian — decided to
stay on for a longer “tour of duty” in Armenia after listening to local
leaders and clergy who spoke about the importance of disaporan support.
One leader the group met with was Tom Samuelian, the American-born dean of
the law school at the American University of Armenia. He told the young
Armenians to take advantage of the opportunities they have now, and not let
the chance to help Armenia slip away.
“One important aspect of the Armenia Service Program is not just serving the
community through Habitat for Humanity, but also meeting the political and
community leaders, hearing about the future of Armenia from them,” said
Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA executive secretary. “Someone like Tom, who has been
a longtime friend of the ACYOA, can convey to the ASP participants a true
sense of what it means to be a Christian steward and a community servant.
He gave up all he had in the U.S. to pursue something more vital: a strong,
stable Armenian homeland.”
After ASP, Dirani began a three-week internship at the Armenian Department
of Foreign Affairs. Mushegian decided to stay through December, landing a
volunteer position through the Armenian Volunteer Corps.
BUILDING HOMES
The ASP participants teamed with Habitat for Humanity this summer to build
parish homes in Oshagan and Edesia. They also worked on an apartment
complex in Gavar. They did roofing, plastering, painting, and finishing
floors and walls.
At each site, they teamed with other volunteers as well as residents and
young Armenians from the local community.
“It was so great working with the locals and getting to know them,” Zenian
said. “I had been to Armenia before, but this was a way to see Armenia
through a new set of eyes. We really got to know the Armenian people we
worked alongside.”
The work done by ASP participants helps the thousands of Armenians displaced
by the 1988 earthquake, who live in metal “domiks,” temporary iron shacks.
The domiks act like refrigerators in the winter, and boilers in the summer.
Habitat for Humanity Armenia has been active since 2000, and so far has
provided homes for more than 1,000 people.
The Armenian Church and Habitat for Humanity are preparing for an ambitious
project to build 37 homes for families in need through the “Catholicos
Karekin II Work Project,” which will run from September 5 to 9, 2006.
For information on how to become a supporter of this project, visit the
Habitat for Humanity website:
— 8/9/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, leader of the ASP trip to
Armenia, left, works with volunteers and local Armenians on a construction
project through Habitat for Humanity.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Mark Berberian, right, and Christian Ohanian work on a
roof during the 2006 ASP trip to Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): ASP participant Harutyun Gyurjyan shovels debris along
side local Armenians as part of a Habitat for Humanity build during the 2006
ASP trip to Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, leader of the ASP trip to
Armenia, with the ASP participants and their new friends made through
working on Habitat for Humanity sites in Armenia.

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS DELEGATION OF BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIA FUND
Stepanakert, August 7. ArmInfo. President of NKR Arkady Ghoukassyan
received the youth of Diaspora, delegates of Birthright Armenia Fund
on 5 August. The delegates are on a fact-finding visit to NKR.
The NKR Presidential press-service reports the president as informing
the young representatives of Armenian communities of USA, Canada,
France and Great Britain of the way Nagorny Karabakh has passed.
President Ghoukassyan stressed the role of Diaspora in solution
of everyday problems in NKR. He said the country will continue the
social-economic development and will always be ready to counteract
any attempt on the independence of NKR and security of NKR people.

NEW CLEANING STATION TO BE BUILT IN METSAMOR
ARMAVIR, AUGUST 8, NOYAN TAPAN. 2 mln euros has been earmarked for
the construction of a new cleaning station in Metsamor under the
credit program of KfW Bank (Germany). Norik Gevorgian, Director of
Nor Akunk CJSC, told NT correspondent that the Armenian government
made a decision to allocate an area of 100 ha for the station’s
construction. A tender for preparation of design estimates has already
been announced. According to N. Gevorgian, based on the design –
winner of the tender, a tender for a consruction organization will
be held. This process will be completed by November 30, while the
new cleaning station will be built starting from mid March 2007. It
is envisaged to finish the construction work within a month.

ALREADY TO GOVERN BY A CONCEPT
Lragir.am
03 Aug 06
The government of Armenia adopted the concept of management of
state property during the meeting on August 3. It means that further
management, including privatization of the state property will be
carried out in accordance with this long-term concept. “It provides
for the principles, goals and objectives of management of the state
property,” says Ashot Markosyan, the assistant head of the Department
of State Property Management.
It is notable that the government of Armenia has privatized 80
percent of the state property and has just remembered the necessity
of a concept for the remaining 20 percent and adopted it. Perhaps
the remaining 20 percent is of special value for the government and
it should be sold in a special way, in accordance with a concept.
Besides, it is more fashionable, not to allow accusing of not having
a concept. In the meantime, there was not a concept when it was
needed, but when there is almost no state property, the concept of
its management is adopted.
Ashot Markosyan says the concept concerns not only privatization but
also the enterprises which have already been privatized. According
to Ashot Markosyan, one of the underlying questions of the concept
is the question of the authorized representatives of the state to
companies partly shared by the state.
“The problem is that presently there are problems with their functions,
rights and duties. For instance, on what basis does the authorized
representative of the state make one decision or another or endorse one
decision of another? The next problem is their salary. Today, in fact,
this question is in the air. The concept sets the objective to approach
it from the point of view of public interest,” says Ashot Markosyan.
On the whole, the concept of management of state property has a single
goal: the government needs to manage state property effectively,
and if it is going to privatize it, the public interest should be
taken into account. This lofty goal of the concept suggests that so
far the government has not managed the state property effectively and
did not privatize it in favor of the public interest. Simply now
they are thinking about tomorrow. After all, noting is eternal,
including power, and perhaps in preparing to leave the executive
decided to adopt a concept to make the next government also to manage
the state property effectively and privatize it in favor of the public
interests. We can only appreciate the farsightedness of the government
and even forgive some short-sighted steps of the conceptless times.

ADB identifies 3 priorities for beginning operations in Armenia
People’s Daily Online, China
Aug 4, 2006
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) identified three broad priorities for
beginning operations in Armenia as accelerating rural development,
promoting the private sector and enhancing regional cooperation,
an ADB report said on Thursday.
Armenia, which joined ADB in September 2005, has made substantial
progress in several key areas of economic development. However,
significant challenges remain if the country’s high level of poverty 39
percent of the population in 2004 are to be lowered, the report said.
“ADB’s Interim Operational Strategy is designed to be responsive to
the development challenges faced by Armenia. It will guide prospective
assistance to areas that have been identified as having the highest
potential development impact,” said Shikha Jha, an ADB’s Country
Programs Specialist.
For improving living standards in rural areas and creating livelihood
opportunities, ADB will concentrate on water supply systems and waste
management, rehabilitation of rural roads and developing alternative
sources of energy, according to the report.
To strengthen enabling environment for private sector development,
ADB will explore potential assistance to improve regulatory oversight
and economic governance.
To augment Armenia’s regional cooperation and integration initiatives,
ADB will consider assistance to rehabilitate its existing regional
transport infrastructure to reduce costs of trade and transport,
and to upgrade regional energy transmission networks.
Source: Xinhua

ANIMALS FLOWED FROM AZERBAIJAN’S OCCUPIED TERRITORIES HAVE NO DANGEROUS ILLNESSES
TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
The State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of
Azerbaijan announced the final results of the laboratory examinations
held on base on the specimens taken from the territories of Tartar,
Agdam and Beylagan to define the danger level of animals flowing from
Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenians in result of fires.
The investigations didn’t show any dangerous illnesses, Trend reports
with reference to the State Service.
The specimens were taken by the specialists of the state service.
Besides, during the observations, the epidemic and epizootic
situation of the territories located on border with Armenia was also
investigated. The specialists of the Health Ministry also participated
in the taken measures.

18 ARMENIAN BANKS LISTED AMONG 1,000 LARGEST TAX-PAYERS IN 1ST HALF OF 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/ Eighteen out of 21 Armenian banks were
listed among the largest tax payers in the 1st half of 2006. The RA
Taxation Service reports that direct taxes totaled AMD 3.62bln or
94.24% of all direct taxes paid by Armenia’s banks.
The banks in question paid 2.81% of the taxes paid by the 1,000
largest tax-payers of Armenia.
The first hundred of Armenia’s largest tax payers includes
Ardshininvestbank (AMD 672.3mln), HSBC Bank Armenia (640.5mln),
Conversebank (404.7mln), Armeconombank (370.8ln), ACBA (351.9mln),
Armsavingsbank (AMD 336.4mln), and Bank Anelik (240.9mln).
Among the 1,000 largest tax payers are also Inecobank, Unibank,
Areximbank, Bank Prometey, Mellat Bank, Armimpexbank, International
Investment Bank, ITB, ArmSwissbank, Armenian Development Bank and
Cascade Bank.
The list published by the State Taxation Service also includes three
credit institutions: ACBA Leasing – AMD 154.5mln, Izmirlyan Eurasia –
AMD 36.6mln, “SEF International” – 15.1mln, as well as the national
payment system “Armenian Card” CJSC (AMD 38.5mln), and Armenian Stock
Exchange (ARMEX) (AMD 23.5mln).
The 1,000 largest thousand AMD-payers of Armenia paid a total of AMD
136.7bln to the state budget in the 1st half of 2006. P.T. -0–

ARMAN SAHAKIAN RELEIVED OF POST OF YEREVAN DEPUTY
MAYOR AND INTENDS TO RUN FOR HEAD OF AJAPNIAK COMMUNITY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, NOYAN TAPAN. By the decision of the Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian, Arman Sahakian was releived of his post of
deputy mayor of Yerevan according to his application, NT was informed
from the RA Gover nment Information and PR Department. A. Sahakian
told Radio Liberty that his resignation was due to his intention to
run for the post of head of Ajapniak comunity in October. During
the last elections, he lost to the current community head Artsrun
Khachatrian. “I do not think that I was defeated that time when rigging
was committed. This time I want to test my strength again and I think
that I’ll win without fail,” A. Sahakian said. A. Sahakian is the son
of Galust Sahakian, leader of the RA National Assembly’s Republican
Party faction.