Author: Emil Lazarian

SECOND STAGE OF RETRAINING COURSES FOR TEACHERS STARTS IN KAPAN

KAPAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. 95 teachers teaching the "Armenian
Language and Literature," "Mathematics" and "Informatics" subjects at
comprehensive schools as well as primary school form masters underwent
retraining at the Kapan branch of the National Institute of
Education. The second retraining course has started at the branch from
August 7. 172 teachers of the same subjects participate in it. As
Magda Gevorgian, the branch director informed the Noyan Tapan
correspondent, teachers having undergone retraining will hold lessons
using new methods starting from the new academic year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXPERT OF YOUTH PARTY OF ARMENIA TO APPLY TO COURT AGAINST "LIBERTY"
CORRESPONDENT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Edgar Hakobiab, an expert of the
Youth Party of Armenia intends to present a claim to the court against
Narek Galstian, the reponsible for the "Maxliberty" program of Radio
Liberty. The expert informed about it at the August 11
press-conference, accusing the journalist of slander. E.Hakobian
disproved the news stated by the radio station that, as if, he is a
police agent with the nickname "Gayl" (Wolf), and led the pursuits
carried out by the Kentron police towards Narek Malian, the Chairman
of the "Nor Zhamanakner" (New Times) party. According to E.Hakobian’s
word, Radio Liberty "that has always been known for its impartiality,
now became a mean for expressing its journalist Narek Galstian’s
personal sympathy and antipathy." According to E.Hakobian’s word, the
reason of false roumors circulated during the last 2-3 months is the
fact that he stated about the pro-government orientation of the
"Miasin" (Together) public initiative founded by him and expressed
readiness to assist the RA authorities in the issue of settlement of
the NKR problem.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEETING DEDICATED TO PAINTER GEORGI PETROSIAN’S ART TAKES PLACE IN KRASNODAR

KRASNODAR, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Meeting dedicated
to art of Georgi Petrosian, a famous painter of Krasnodar took place
on August 6 at the Krasnodar Regional Museum after Kovalenko. The
event was organized on the occasion of the painter’s 75th birthday
anniversary. According to the "Yerkramas" (country) newspaper of
Armenians of Russia, the exposition of the Armenian painter’s
exhibition "Park of My Soul" involves a monographic block, dedicated
to art of that original painter. The Ararat value has been a constant
theme of Georgi Petrosian’s art since 1976. The painter is interested
in the ancient and modern history of Armenia as well, which is
reflected in portraits of its great people: Mesrop Mashtots, Grigor
Narekatsi, Komitas. Georgi Petrosian’s works are kept in collections
of museums and in private collections of Krasnodar, Moscow, Jerusalem,
Marseilles, Yerevan.

FAMILIES HAVING THREE AND MORE SCHOOLCHILDREN TO GETT ASSISTANCE THIS
YEAR AS WELL

YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, NOYAN TAPAN. It is already the 5th year that the
RA Ministry of Labour and Social Issues implements the program
entitled "When September Comes." As Martin Mkhitarian, the Chief of
the Charity Programs Coordingating Department of the Ministry’s staff
informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the goal of the program is to
assist families having three and more children by giving stationary
and schools accessories to every child. According to his words, this
year it’s envisaged within the framework of the program to give
stationary and school accessories of 5000 drams (about 12.5 U.S.
dollars) to every child of school age. M.Mkhitarian mentioned that the
program has already been implemented in the marzes of Lori, Tavush and
Vayots Dzor. About 28 thousand children will get assistance in the
mentioned marzes. It’s envisaged to implement the program till
September 1 in other marzes as well.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

68 Small Entities Established In Agricultural Spere

ArmRadio.am
11.08.2006 17:14

In 2005-2006, 68 small entities, which need serious financial and
legislative support, were established in the agricultural sphere of
Armenia, RA Minister of Agriculture David Lokya informed during a
working talk with the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

Press service of the president reported that pointing out importance
of this aspect, Kocharyan said that a long-term program should be
worked out and the reprocessing branch must become the main driving
force of agriculture’s development, ARKA reported.

During the meeting sides pointed out that starting from January 1,
2009, VAT will be imposed on agricultural goods in
Armenia. Particularly there is an agreement on exemption from VAT
those rural economies, turnover of which does not exceed AMD 8
mln. For others VAT rate will be set at 8-12% level, which can have
serious influence on their activities.

Kocharyan inquired about the present situation in the sphere of
agriculture of the republic, problems of villagers, as well as
governmental support to this sphere.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Nation, Kenya
Aug. 12, 2006

Armenians were criminals: State

Story by MUGUMO MUNENE
Publication Date: 8/12/2006

The "Artur brothers" were international criminals who came to Kenya
to clean up illegal money, an inquiry heard yesterday.

Commissioner Horace Etemesi receives a document from Mr Simon
Wasilwa, a commission official, during yesterday’s sitting. Photos by
Joseph mathenge
They hid their trail by engaging only in cash transactions to
disguise the suspect sources of their money and with the intention of
clouding out possible investigations into their activities, the
Kiruki Commission was told.

"We should not downplay the issues that have come out of the inquiry.
Tax evasion is a serious crime that is highly penalised in many
countries around the world. I can see a perfect case of money
laundering and the avoidance of immigration laws. I can see a perfect
example of organised transnational crime," Ms Dorcas Oduor, one of
the counsel assisting the commission, said yesterday.

Money laundering – the art of taking money acquired through crime and
turning it into clean money by disguising its illegal origin – is
regarded as a serious crime in many countries around the world but
Kenyan laws do not treat it as such.

Ms Oduor submitted that it was clear from the evidence that "there
was something in the offing" as she rounded up the conclusions handed
in by lawyers on the final day of the inquiry at Kenyatta
International Conference Centre in Nairobi yesterday.

She urged the commission to recommend that the police and the
National Security Intelligence Service be equipped with modern
technology to increase their efficiency in keeping up with
international criminals, "who keep on skipping countries".

The commission, chaired by former police commissioner Shedrach
Kiruki, sat for 28 days and received evidence, which was described by
vice-chairman Horace Etemesi in his final prayers at the last minutes
of the inquiry as "worrying".

So gross were the revelations about the Armenians that even Ms Winnie
Wangui, the Kenyan woman seen publicly with the taller bearded Artur
– Margaryan – had changed her mind about the banished "brothers".

And commissioner Etemesi, an Anglican bishop, prayed: "Help us, oh
Lord, to fear you as we make our decision fully aware that you are
watching and listening and that you care even for the small people in
our society."

In his submissions, lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria, representing Ms
Wangui, said that her association with the Armenian was "similar to
any other association a person enters only to later ask himself or
herself how did I end up with that man or that girl".

Through the inquiry, the Armenians were described as dubious
international criminals, undesirable characters and their series of
shocking criminal activities during their nine-month stay in Kenya
exposed.

Stolen motor vehicles, fake numbers plates, fake passports, shadowy
identity, fake police identities, illicit firearms and ammunition,
forgeries, fraud, outlandish and arrogant behaviour described the
character and lifestyle of the Armenians, the commission heard.

At one time, they had even masqueraded as children of royalty,
claiming that they were from the monarchy in Armenia, a country which
has not been ruled by a queen or king for 1,500 years.

And yesterday, Ms Oduor wound up submissions to the commissioners
saying: "They had infiltrated many places including the police and
our security institutions. We should all condemn their activities and
not be party to them."

"A criminal mind is not a logical mind. A criminal is not a normal
person and will always try to be ahead of the law enforcement
agencies and make it difficult to be investigated. Our police tried
hard and did a good job," she said.

And Mr Alois Omita – named earlier in evidence as a co-director of
Kensington Holdings along with the Armenians, Mr Julius Maina and Ms
Wangui – denied any wrongdoing.

Also submitting her innocence through lawyer Ashitiva Mandale was
suspended Kenya Airports Authority deputy managing director Naomi
Cidi, who was accused of assisting the Armenians and their associates
to get security passes.

The commission closed the public inquiry without taking evidence from
certain business and social associates of the Armenians and police
some of the officers who had investigated the matter since March.

Commissioners Kiruki, Etemesi and Issack Hassan will now retire to
write a report, which must be handed over to President Kibaki by the
end of this month.

Police commissioner Maj General Hussein Ali who ordered
investigations into the Artur brothers ways back in March did not
testify and neither did suspended CID boss Joseph Kamau. Nairobi CID
boss Isaiah Osugo, the senior detective detailed by Maj Gen Ali to
investigate the brothers in March did not turn up.

Also missing from the appearances at the witness stand was Ms
Shirfana Alarakiya, the Kenyan lady arrested at the home of the Artur
brothers in Runda the night before they were spirited out of the
country.

Ms Wangui only regretted her association with the brothers through
her lawyer, protested her innocence and urged the commission to
recommend that she be reinstated but did not testify in person.

Ms Oduor explained that although the commission had served every
person mentioned in negative light with notices asking them to appear
before the commission, some chose not to.

The Commissions of Inquiry Act grant a commissioners powers
equivalent to that of the High Court powers to summon witnesses and
ask for records, documents or information they may deem necessary in
addressing their terms of reference.

Ms Oduor explained that the power to summon witnesses is however
limited by the constitutional provision that an individual testifying
in a court may not incriminate himself or herself.

She further explained that public officials who comes across
information touching on the matters in questions in the course of
duty can be compelled to give evidence, raising questions as to why
the police officers who investigated the Arturs or handled their file
were not required to attend.

The three commissioners – Mr Kiruki, Bishop Etemesi and Mr Issack
Hassan – will now retire to write a report which must be handed over
to President Kibaki by the end of the month.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 11, 2006

Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia to Establish Caucasian
Mountain Villages Alliance

Source: Trend
Author: M. Karimova

11.08.2006

In the mountain village of Chiora of the On District of Georgia the
representatives of municipalities and district administrations of
eight pilot Caucasian villages of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and
Russia have adopted the Memorandum on Intention of Establishment of
the Alliance of Mountain Villages (Communities) of the Caucasus.

The meeting was held within the Project of Steady Development of
Mountain Regions of the Caucasus; the Local Agenda for the XXI
Century of the Regional Ecological Centre of the Caucasus, Trend`
reporter reports.

According to the initiators of this process – the Director of the
Regional Ecological Centre of the Caucasus Nato Kirvalidze and the
representative of the Ministry of Environment and Radiation
Protection of Germany Silvia Reppe who is a donor of the Centre`s
projects, the Alliance of Mountain Villages of the Caucasus that was
established on the example of the Alliance of Villages of the Alps
could further the development of mountain villages, the solving of
many problems of the villagers, and the join working out of efficient
methods of self-governing. Experts point out that today the
population of mountain villages of the Caucasus lives a separate life
apart the World and the government of a country they live in, and
sometimes they cannot cope with problems they face with in the
mountains.

The population of mountain villages often lives without elementary
life conditions such as electricity, infrastructure of roads, medical
care, telecommunications, etc. All the above-mentioned was told
during the meeting by the representatives of the regional
administration of the four countries.

The leaders of the Centre of all the four countries told their own
vision of the Alliance, and determined the fields the Alliance should
act first. Speaking about the mechanism of launching of such an
alliance, the participants` attention was focused on the proposal of
the coordinator of the mentioned mountain project in Azerbaijan Azer
Garayev, who suggest starting works on the 8+4 principle, i. e. the
eight pilot villages start working on the establishment of the
Alliance by the support of the four villages of the Alps Alliance
which has existed for nearly 50 years, and unites 150 villages of the
mountains. The experience of this alliance could help to establish
the same alliance in the Caucasus faster.

It should be noted that in 2003 the Alliance of Mountain Communities
of Central, to which 37 villages have already entered was
established.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 11, 2006

Armenians violate ceasefire regime in contact line

Source: Trend
Author: E.Javadova

11.08.2006

On 11 August the units of the Armenian armed forces dislocated in 4km
northwest of Chayli village of Terter District fired with guns and
gun-machines from 01:25am to 02:00pm the positions of the Azerbaijan
National Army in the opposite, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told
Trend.

On the same day the Armenian troops fired from 01:40 to 02:00 from
their position in 4km east of Tapgaragoyunlu village of Goranboy the
Azerbaijani positions located in Borsunlu village.

No causalities were reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Express, UK
August 11, 2006 Friday
U.K. 1st Edition

Inexcusable absence of likeability;
Weekend BOOKS

PETER BURTON

INEXCUSABLE By Chris Lynch Bloomsbury, GBP 6.99

WHEN JD Salinger’s The Catcher In The Rye was first published some 55
years ago, it launched on the world a character who was to become a
literary archetype.

Holden Caulfield was one of the earliest fictional characters to
express their teenage angst in a pacy, colloquial first person
narrative. Keir "Killer" Sarafian in Chris Lynch’s Inexcusable is a
direct descendant. However, it needs to be made clear that there is
one major difference between them. Salinger’s hero is an intelligent
and articulate youth; Lynch’s protagonist is none too bright or
articulate.

If the latter had at least some of the attributes of the former,
Inexcusable might be a more compelling book.

Keir’s rambling monologue is essentially a confession in which his
dark secret isn’t exposed until the concluding pages of the novel.
Not that it’s hard to work out what he’s done and even the dimmest of
the teenaged readers at whom the book is aimed will quickly guess
what is coming.

After too many drugs and too much alcohol on the night of his high
school graduation, Keir has raped his date, Gigi Boudakian, who, like
him, is of Armenian extraction.

For most of his confession, Keir meanders on about his life with his
alcoholic father and his own responses to the repercussions to the
football incident which has earned him his macho nickname.

Perhaps understandably, Keir doesn’t have a lot to say about the rape
that isn’t simple self-justification. What the reader has to decide
is just what has happened between Keir and Gigi and to come to their
own conclusions about Keir’s guilt – or otherwise.

After all, did Gigi lead him on?

Unfortunately, Lynch has rather thrown his novel by building it
around a character who is one-dimensional and rather unlikeable.
Thus, however much Keir rehearses the events that have led up to his
dilemma – awaiting retribution from Gigi’s father and her long-term
boyfriend – it is almost impossible to sympathise and wish him
anything but ill.

Inexcusable is a flat book which serves to remind British readers
that American culture is utterly alien. Here’s an important theme
that’s almost entirely wasted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
August 9, 2006 Wednesday

AZERBAIJAN TO OPEN EMBASSY IN SWEDEN SOON

The embassy of Azerbaijan will open in Sweden by the year-end,
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said in a meeting with his Swedish
counterpart Jan Eliasson on Tuesday. Eliasson, who is also the
president of UN’s General Assembly, voiced concerns over the terrible
arsons committed by Armenians across the occupied Azerbaijani
territories. He vowed to continue closely following the developments.
The two discussed the world communitys efforts to settle the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, prospects for
Azeri-Swedish cooperation, the two countries relations within the
European Union and the EU New Neighborhood Policy, and issues
relating to Azerbaijans role in the region and its relations with
neighboring states. Also on the agenda were reforms in the United
Nations, the developments ongoing in the region, as well as the
Middle East crisis and the Israel-Lebanon stand-off. The ministers
also mulled ways of increasing the role of international
organizations, in particular, the UN, OSCE and the EU in reaching a
solution on Garabagh. Mammadyarov said his country is interested in
establishing legal framework to develop bilateral economic relations,
attracting Swedish investment and businesspeople to Azerbaijan,
conducting joint business forums and setting up an inter-governmental
economic commission. Minister Mammadyarov started his official visit
to Sweden on Monday.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress