Author: Emil Lazarian

ArmeniaNow.com, Armenia
Lessons in Change: `Exceptional’ school year starts with confusion for
parents of first graders

By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow reporter

When the new school year started two weeks ago in
Armenia, the opening bell rung sour notes for some
parents confused by republic-wide changes in the
education structure.
Beginning this year, Armenia converts from a 10-year,
to a 12-year program (see
;AID=1577&lng=eng&IID=1087).
Unaware of the new reforms in education, disbelieving their children
are ready for school life, or taking into account the unhygienic
conditions in some schools, many parents have kept children at home
who should be enrolling for the first time.
As the situation became apparent, the Minister of Education and
Science, Yerevan Municipality officials and other representatives of
the education discuss to how they can overcome this `exceptional year’
and the difficulties and problems that the new educational system has
created.
(To accommodate the conversion, this year should see two kinds of
`first graders’ – junior and senior – 5.8-6.5 year olds, and 6.5-7
year olds.)
`We have schools this year that have no first grade pupils or have
just a few, which causes problems. This is unprecedented,’ says Narine
Hovhannisyan, the Head of the General Education Department at the
Ministry of Education and Science.
Since Soviet times and until this year, children began school at 7. A
World Bank credit program has provided for the systemic changes,
however the mental shift has not yet penetrated.
The 12-year education is a requirement for all the countries that have
joint the Bologna Treaty. Armenia has joined the Treaty in 2005. The
purpose of the Bologna process in Europe is to create a joint
educational system. Armenia is the last among the CIS countries to
join the 12-year education system.
`This is based on international experience,’ says Nurijan Manukyan,
head of the General Education Supervision Department at the RA
Ministry of Education and Science. `The 10-year education system is
still operative in the African and Asian countries. And we are
committed to striding evenly with the world, we are committed to
advancement and every failed year will keep Armenia back from world
developments.’
Many Armenian parents, however, have chosen to be out of stride,
believing that six year olds should be concerned with toys instead of
books.
According to the data of the Ministry of Education and Science, the
number of first graders this year should have grown from about 40,000
pupils registered last year to at least 52,000 as the schooling was to
include also children aged 5.8 and older.
However, unlike the estimations of the experts who supposed to have
nearly 15,000 children of 5.8 and older, the preliminary surveys have
shown the number of children under 6 going to school so far, at nearly
10 times less.
`Many parents believe if they don’t take their children to school this
year but take them the next year the children will learn 11 years
instead of the 12,’ says the education department’s Hovhannisyan.
`Besides, many parents who were aware of the changes took their
children to school earlier, which also caused problems.’
Narine Hovhannisyan says there have been schools even in the central
part of the capital that have had just one or two applications for
admission to the first grade.
In Yerevan and particularly in the Kentron community, 10 of the 36
schools did not have a single `junior’ first class pupil on September
1.
`The law provides opening first grade even if there is just one pupil
registered, but in practice it is more suitable to encourage parents
to take their children to other schools if there are only 2 or 3
applications,’ says Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan.
School principals disagree. They believe having no first grade and
sending children to other schools discredits their schools.
The experts at the Ministry of Education assert they need to take
measures to overcome the situation, adding that they have anticipated
problems that must be worked out over the coming years.
`If the school lacks first grade this year, it will not have graduates
either. If it does not have applications next year, it will lead to
its self-liquidation,’ says Manukyan. `The principals and the teachers
should care for attracting pupils to their schools.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
FM OF AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES USA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ON
EURASIA AFFAIRS
[September 16, 2006, 10:52:59]
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan on 15 September received the USA Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense on Eurasia Affairs Mr. Jim MacDougall.
The guest highly assessed the reforms conducted in Azerbaijan in
military sphere, noting that the country comes closer to NATO
standards. Emphasizing that NATO is not only a military organization
and it also unites political elements.
Minister Mammadyarov noted that there is decisive move in the defense
sphere.
Highly estimating development in Azerbaijan, J. MacDougall pushed to
forward the importance of equal partner relations in the defense
field, took interest in the talks aimed at settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Informing the guest on major elements of these negotiations,
E. Mammadyarov, first of all, noted necessity of withdrawal of the
Armenian armed forces form the occupied Azerbaijani territories, and
then, return of refugees and IDPs to native lands and maintenance of
their safety, restoration of infrastructure and communications.
Noting significance of the ecological investigations to be conducted
by the international experts in the field o prevention of arsons,
committed by Armenians at the occupied areas, the Minister also stated
that would be sent experts of OSCE, UN and other structures.
Informing on the large-scale projects being implemented in the
Republic, including realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline, completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas main, realization
of intensive works connected to Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway,
the Minister brought to notice that because of aggressive policy,
Armenia remained out of this projects.
In meeting, also discussed were a range of issues representing mutual
interest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
BUSINESSMAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FREE TO CHOOSE THE WAY
TO CONTEST 2007 ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: Mekhak
Mekhitarian, the secretary of a parliamentary group
which is made of defectors from former parliament
chairman Arthur Baghdasarian’s Orinats Yerkir faction,
said today the ten members of the group called
Businessman are free to join a political force or an
alliance to contest the 2007 parliamentary election.
He said some may choose to run from single-mandate
constituencies, while some others are very likely to
be placed on some party’s slates.
He said the time will show what format 10 members
of the group, five of whom were elected form
single-mandate constituencies and the other five on
party lists, will eventually choose. Mekhitarian said
members of the group maintain ‘normal, human
relationships with Orinats Yerkir.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kommersant, Russia
United Nations Gets Involved in Conflicts in the CIS
Sep. 16, 2006Print | E-mail | Home United Nations
Gets Involved in Conflicts in the CIS
// Against Moscow’s Will
At its 61st session in New York, the UN General
Assembly resolved to discuss frozen conflicts in the
former USSR. The initiative was put forth by the GUAM
association of countries (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, and Moldova), which managed to get the
question included in the session’s agency despite
vigorous opposition from Russia. The fact that the
General Assembly agreed to discuss the question
amounts to an admission by the international community
that the activities of Russian peacekeepers in the
conflict zones are ineffective.
The resolution was adopted on Thursday by the General
Assembly after a fierce struggle in which 16 countries
sided with the GUAM countries and 15 opposed the
motion, with 65 abstaining. The request of the GUAM
countries to include the matter in the General
Assembly’s agenda was originally turned down two days
ago by the UN general committee, but with the help of
the US and Great Britain, among others, the motion was
passed in a second attempt.
A spokesman from the Azerbaijani government blamed
Armenia and, especially, Russia for trying to hush up
the problem of frozen conflicts in regions of the
former USSR. Armenia and Azerbaijan are still locked
in a dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region that
lies between them and is claimed by both countries.
Russia’s influence in the region’s frozen conflicts is
felt most keenly in Moldova and Georgia, however,
where the breakaway regions of Transdniestr in Moldova
and South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia are seen as
being courted by Moscow. Georgia’s Foreign Ministry
likewise took aim at Russia for its unwillingness to
see the problem of such conflicts discussed in the
General Assembly.
Diplomats from the GUAM countries did not hide their
satisfaction at the adoption of the motion, calling it
testimony to the rising political clout of their union
and a show of interest by the UN in conflicts in the
territory of the former USSR. The Russian Foreign
Ministry, however, noted dryly in response that the
fact that only 16 countries were for the motion, while
80 either opposed it or abstained from voting, does
not point to any particular interest in the matter on
the part of the UN.
Although the resolutions adopted by the UN General
Assembly, unlike those of the Security Council, have
no legal force, the beginning of a broad discussion in
the international community of the problem of frozen
conflicts is still widely seen as an unexpected
success for the GUAM countries and as a diplomatic
defeat for Moscow. Though it is too early to talk
about what the General Assembly’s final words on the
matter will be, it is possible that the discussion
could lead to success for the GUAM countries in
replacing Russian peacekeepers in the regions with an
international peacekeeping contingent.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Seoul Declaration was included
clause supporting territorial integrity of countries and condemning aggression

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

15.09.2006
The Seoul Declaration adopted at the fourth Assembly General of the
International Conference of Political Parties of Asian Countries held
in Seoul from 7 to 10 September was included a clause supporting the
territorial integrity of the countries and condemning the aggression,
the Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), MP
Ali Ahmadov told a press-conference on September 15 held in
headquarter of NAP, Trend reports.

He noted that generally the conference was dedicated to the peace and
development in Asia. The conference brought together the
representatives of the ruling parties from 36 countries. Ahmadov also
emphasized that during the meeting discussions were held on the
problems with the peace and development in Asian countries, conflicts
and their prevention.
The representative of NAP emphasized that two months earlier before
the beginning of the conference in the Assembly General, a letter had
been sent with the information regarding the results of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and aggressive policy of Armenia. `Our goal
is that the Seoul Deceleration reflects the results of annexationist
policy of Armenia. But taking into consideration a large number of
conflicts in Asia, this clause took a common character,’ Ahmadov
added.
In addition, Ahmadov stressed that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was
discussed during the meetings at the conference with the
representatives of ruling parties of Asian countries. `Such
conferences assumes a great importance for us in delivering the
realities about Azerbaijan to the world public,’ he underlined.
The conference is held every two years. The last conference had been
held in Peking. Yet it is not clear where the next conference will be
held.
The deputy executive secretary of NAP Siyavush Novruzov also
participated at the conference.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
GUL MEETS WITH FRANCE’S CHIRAC, DOUSTE-BLAZY
In meetings during Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Paris, French President Jacques Chirac and
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy stated that
they were extremely pleased about Turkey’s decision to
send troops to Lebanon. French officials also
continued to warn Turkey about fulfilling its
commitments emerging from the Customs Union, but they
also gave signals that this won’t turn into a crisis
between the European Union and Turkey. Gul’s meeting
with his French counterpart Douste-Blazy gave him the
opportunity to state Ankara’s diplomatic views,
especially on the Armenian and Cyprus issues.
`Instability in the Eastern Mediterranean wouldn’t
only be to the detriment of Turkey, as both regional
stability and the world’s balance would be affected by
this,’ said Gul. He also told Douste-Blazy of Ankara’s
uneasiness about the French Parliament’s move to
criminalize denial of the so-called Armenian genocide
claims. /Milliyet-Star/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Discussion of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict at UN General
Assembly is success of Azerbaijan – Azeri Senior State
Official

Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismayilova

15.09.2006

Novruz Mammadov, the head of the Foreign Relations Department of the
Azerbaijan President’s Apparat said the injection of an issue on
Nagorno-Karabakh into an agenda of the session of the UN General
Assembly to be held in New York late this September, Trend reports.
`We used the authority and support of our partners in this issue,’ he
noted, recalling the assistance by the United States, UK, and other
countries, particularly GUAM [Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and
Moldova] members-states.
`However, several countries came out against the injection of the
issue into the agenda, and unfortunately some Islamic countries are
among them. Russia together with Armenia hold an opposition stance in
respect to Azerbaijan.
Mammadov reminded that the Azerbaijani President raised an issue on
suspended conflicts in a summit of the heads of GUAM member-states in
May and proposed to resolve the problem namely on this level.
Touching upon Armenian’s statements reportedly Azerbaijan brings the
talks out of the frames of OSCE, the state officer stressed that such
statement actually hurt the negotiation process.
Armenian can not blackmail Azerbaijan with such statements. After all
this country realizes that it must liberate the Azerbaijani territory,
he stressed.
Mammadov underlined the results of talks between the Azerbaijani and
Armenian Foreign Ministers will determine the next round of a meeting
between the Presidents of the conflict countries.
Anyhow, Azerbaijan is eager to see the conflict to move
forward. Azerbaijan desires to rehabilitate its territorial integrity
through talks and peace in order to enable the internally displaced
people to return their areas.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #177, 16/09/2006
Diaspora
RAS-EL-AIN ON THE ROAD OF EXILE
Ras-el-Ain is a Syrian town located by the Turkish border on the slope
of Armenian Taurus Mountains. The town was founded nearby full-flowing
springs and received a name that means “spring”. This town has direct
relation with the fate of a part of the Armenian people. In late-May
hot days of 1915 a dense caravan of Armenians was displaced from
Tigranakert and Derik regions and was forced into flat Ras-el-Ain and
its surrounding villages. Tortured and tired of the long road, people
quenched their thirst in the Arabian springs and took some
rest. Leaving part of the displaced to the mercy of fate, Turkish
askyars (soldiers) forced others into deserts of Der-el-Zor…
The Armenian that stayed in Ras-el-Ain faced violence from the hands
of Turks, Kurds, Chechens and Turkmens inhabiting this area. Before
Der-el-Zor a big massacre of Armenians happened there. Every inch of
earth here is blood-soaked. People were being killed to snatch their
jewelry and gold or for pleasure as moving targets. Despite great
difficulties 200 Armenian families Ras-el-Ain managed to
survive. Getting rid of Turkish yoke Armenians together Syrian
breathed freely. Armenians earned their living working as craftsmen
and farmers. They peacefully co-existed with the Arab people enjoying
their respect.
French armenologist Dulorie wrote: “Wherever Armenians go, they first
of all found their school, church and newspaper.” It has been 70 years
that an Armenian school functions in Ras-el-Ain, an Apostolic church
was founded earlier. Though there are very few Armenians in Ras-el-Ain
today, they have a school with 16 pupils, a restored church and a
memorial to the victims of Armenian Genocide where remnants of the
perished are kept. Local Armenians have applied to the head of
Armenian diocese in Aleppo asking to grant Ras-el-Ain status of a
pilgrimage site as it is with Der-el-Zor. But the proposal remains
unanswered so far.
Native of Ras-el-Ain, Mr. Vrezh, told me once a sad story. His father
told him that in the caves near Ras-el-Ain’s springs many Armenians
were tortured to death. The caves were long ago filled with stones and
got buried. Mr. Vrezh is fearful that one day the authorities will
take this area to build something thus the graves will be profaned. He
has turned to Syria’s Armenian community and party leaders with a
suggestion to build a memorial on this site. This plea also remains
unanswered but he is still hopeful that his voice will be heard one
day.
The small Armenian community of Ras-el-Ain has many problems. The
church has no priest as this position is poorly paid. A priest arrives
here from Kamishli town 160 km away only for major religious
celebrations. People here perform patriotic songs very beautifully.
Headmistress of the school, Ani Sargsian, who is also a graduate of
the school, spares no effort to educate the children with Armenian
spirit. Parents and benefactors help the school. She dreams of
visiting Armenian and participating in retraining courses for
teachers. Perhaps the Ministry of Education of Armenia can help her
achieve her dream.
There are major problems hamper the survival of this small
community. There is less work for the Armenian craftsmen as the other
nationalities have learned their crafts and now they provide their
services to a vaster clientele. Armenian children leave for Aleppo,
Damask, Lebanon or other countries to continue their education or to
find a job. If it goes like this there will soon be no Armenian in
Ras-el-Ain. Only those will remain who are married with Christian
Arabs or Assyrians.
Currently, there are 50.000 Armenians in Syria. They live in
good-neighborly relations with the Syrian people but still cherish a
dream of returning to their ancestors’ land.
By Derenik Movsisian in Ras-el-Ain

A1+
THE ANTI-CRIMINALISTS WILL TELL NAMES LATER
[07:23 pm] 15 September, 2006
About 18 oppositional and pro-governmental parties and organizations
which are included in the `Anti-criminal movement’ were gathered today
to create a document which would decide their future activity.
All the RA parties are involved in the movement except the Republican
party which wasn’t even invited as according Aram Karapetyan, the
leader of the New Times Party, they protect criminalists, `When we
announced that we are going to start an anti-criminal movement, the
Republicans revolted saying that we want to fight against them. After
that the only thing we can do is to let them know about our
activity’. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation was not present
today, but Aram Karapetyan claimed that next time they will be
present.
The next meeting will probably take place on September 25. At the
suggestion of the participants of the meeting next Wednesday the New
Times party will make a draft document. The draft will be distributed
to all the parties and will be voted during the September 25 meeting
after which it will be signed.
At the suggestion of the National Unity the document will mention
names of people in order to know whom they will fight against.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
TOROSYAN MET BOZHKO
[07:37 pm] 15 September, 2006
Today RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan received the Ukrainian Ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.
The Ambassador passed on to the NA Speaker the congratulating message
of Alexander Moroz, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Supreme Rada, in
connection with the 15th anniversary of the RA independence.
Thanking for the message, the NA Speaker found the activization of the
cooperation between the two countries and especially between the
Parliaments, as it can be effective for both former Soviet countries.
The NA President also referred to several statements made by the
Ukrainian President in Baku about the ways of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. He mentioned that they do not contribute to the
settlement of the conflict and contradict the OSCE principles.
Mr. Bozhko promised to pass on to the authorities of his country the
concerns of the NA Speaker.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress