Author: Emil Lazarian

12-YEAR EDUCATION IS TOO EXTENDED

Lragir.am
13 June 06

We need a learner-oriented policy in Armenia, stated Levon Mkrtichyan,
the minister of education and culture, June 13. According to him, it
is not right that a child studies longer than a certain period. “It
is not right to devote 20 years to professional education.” In other
words, if we make secondary education last for 12 years, we should
admit that the duration of the bachelor’s or master’s course has to
be made shorter. “We should not place additional load on children,
which would take them years. The world does not steal years. There
are standards in education.”

“I have an impression that we have extended the ten-year education
to make it last for 12 years. There are no principles, concepts for
the senior school.”

The same situation is with the introduction of the credit system in
higher education. According to Levon Mkrtichyan, instead of pledging
to adopt the credit system within a year the rectors “should have
submitted their resignations, saying they are in charge of a university
and we do not have the right to lead their university to such a risk.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FMS MEETING IN PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 17:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent round of talks between Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian and Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov started
in Paris June 13, Azeri Deputy FM, President’s Special Representative
for the Nagorno Karabakh settlement Araz Azimov said. The meeting
started with business lunch. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs are also
taking part in the talks. Azimov said it’s premature to make any
comments on the ongoing negotiations, reported Trend news agency.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA RANKS FIRST IN ARMAMENT RACE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 17:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia is the world leader in military expenditures,
says the annual report of the Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SPRI) engaged in the investigation of the armament
market. Tbilisi’s expenditures for armament increased 2.5 times during
a year and made $146 million.

Compared with the United States, China, Russia, European states and
Near East the amount is not much but Georgia left behind its neighbors
– Azerbaijan (with 51% growth) and Armenia (23% growth). The SPRI
specialists condition the sharp growth of expenditures with Georgia’s
wish to join the NATO. However they also mention Georgia’s aspiration
to re-subordinate Abkhazia and South Ossetia, reported the BBC News.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN INTELLIGENTSIA ADDRESSED PUTIN OVER KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2006 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The Armenian Foreign Ministry should expressed
concern over the killings of Armenians in Russia and urge an official
explanation from the Russian Ambassador to Armenia,” says the statement
adopted in Yerevan by the representatives of creative unions and
intelligentsia of Armenia.

The creative intelligentsia also urges the RA MFA to call
the Armenian Ambassador to Russia to Yerevan for conduction
of essential consultations. “He should be reminded that the
diplomatic representatives are called to provide security for their
citizens… The Armenian intelligentsia is concerned over the increase
of assaults and murders of ethnic Armenians,” the statement says.

“It’s characteristic that such incidents take place during the
year of Armenia of Russia, which actually is the year of “hunting”
of Armenians. The Russian law enforcers should find out whether
these crimes are a part of deliberate campaign that aims to stir up
hatred between the peoples and states,” the document says, reported
Novosti-Armenia.

It should be also noted that RA President’s Advisor Seyran Avagyan
will convey the statement by the Armenian intelligentsia to Russian
President Vladimir Putin.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IS IT THE TURN OF DEMOCRACY?

A1+
[06:25 pm] 13 June, 2006

RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan received the permanent representative
of the Currency International Fund to Armenia James Macque.

The two sides referred to the cooperation of the RA parliament and
CIF. Mr. Macque congratulated NA President on his new office and noted
that CIF-Parliament cooperation will henceforth enter a new stage. He
underlined the importance of the NA control function in all phases
of the Poverty combat military program as well as in all projects
implemented by joint efforts of CIF administration and Central Bank.

RA NA President Tigran Torosyan noted that the post Soviet
transformation is divided into two phases; the first phase focused on
economic issues whereas the second one – on democratic and political
issues.

Economic development has been more obvious in Armenia within the
recent 5 years than democratic processes; the establishment of
the civil society, the combat against corruption, polarization of
income. But only in case these two factors are combined full success
will be registered which will give Armenia an opportunity to have
its decent place in the international community. They also referred
to the rate of USD and other issues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE STOPPED UNTIL THE PROBLEM OF NORTH KARABAKH IS RESOLVED

Panorama.am
14:33 13/06/06

At the moment when talks for Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulations
have stepped into a new active phase and Minsk Group co-chairman
continuously propose new solutions, Edik Balayan, chairman of
Shahumyan-Getashen Union says that the talks should be temporarily
stopped. He supports his argument saying that the problem of North
Karabakh is not on the table of negotiations. “The political fate
of North Karabakh and the problems of refugees are not clear in the
negotiations. It is not fair to continue talks under such conditions,”
Balayan says.

About 15 years ago the Armenian resdients of Getashen were forcefully
dislocated from their residential areas and 14 years ago – from
Shahumyan. 18 Armenian villages went under the ocupation of Azerbaijan
and are under Azeri control now. Balayan says the co-chairman should
force Azerbiajan to stop the blockade and estimate the losses suffered
by Armenia and Artsakh due to the blockade and decide how they should
be compensated. Only after that it will be expedient to continue talks,
he says.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROPOSAL MADE TO GRANT AMNESTY ONLY TO PERSONS WHO COMMITTED CRIMES BEFORE JUNE 1 2006

Noyan Tapan
Jun 12 2006

YEREVAn, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular sitting of the working
group (headed by the RA Minsiter of Justice David Harutyunian),
which was set up on the decision of the Armenian President to carry
out preparatory work for declaring an amnesty on the occasion of
the 15th anniversary of declaration of the Republic of Armenia, was
held on June 12. The main approaches of the amnesty were discussed
at the sitting. According to spokesman for the Minister of Justice
Ara Saghatelian, a unanimous decision was made to propose granting
an amnesty only to persons who committed crimes before June 1, 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CHESS-PLAYERS – WINNERS OF CHESS WORLD OLYMPIAD AWARDED DIPLOMAS OF YEREVAN MAYOR AND 1000 USD EACH

Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 12, the members of the Armenian
men’s national team that won the gold medal and the olympic cup at
the 37th Chess World Olympiad were awarded diplomas of Yerevan Mayor,
as well as were given monetary prizes amounting to 450000 drams
(about 1000 USD) each. The members of the Armenian women’s national
team that took the 8th place at the Olympiad also received diplomas
and prizes of the Mayor.

As Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharian mentioned at the solemn ceremony
at Yerevan Mayor’s Office, the Armenian people has long waited for
this victory.

“This is a very important event for the Armenian people. We are proud
of our chess-players who defeated the national teams of such states
as the U.S., Russia, China, etc. I hope the Armenian chess-players
will have such victories in the future, as well,” the Mayor mentioned.

According to grand master Smbat Lputian, Vice-Chairman of the Armenian
Chess Federation, the Armenian people highly estimates this victory as
“this is not only our victory but the victory of all Armenians spread
all over the world.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN’S POSITION WITH RESPECT TO ITS NEIGHBORS BASED ON ITS INTEREST IN STABILITY AND PEACE, IRANIAN DIPLOMAT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 13 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “We see solution of
the Karabakh problem in a dialogue and holding negotiations, Iran
is ready to assist on the way of peaceful solution of the Karabakh
problem,” Ali Abgar Jouhar, the Deputy Ambassador of Iran to Armenia
stated at the June 13 press-conference.

He mentioned that relations between Armenia and Iran are very good
and provided by mutual interest. The most important in the Karabakh
problem is keeping the peace and continuation of negotiations on the
peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Iranian diplomat emphasized that Iran’s position with respect
to its neighbors is based on interest on stability and peace. He
mentioned that according to many politicians and observers, in the
geo-political sense Iran is considered an important part of the world,
correspondingly, safety of Iran has international meaning.

“Iran is the state which has not allowed during the recent
27 years that conflicts existing near us are spread in its
territory. Constructive role of Iran in problems of Afghanistan and
Caucasus do not cause anybody’s doubt,” Ali Abgar Jouhar stated.

As for the strained situation in the northern provinces of Iran,
where Azeris live, he mentioned that insult towards Azeris becomes
a reason for dissatisfaction. But different ethnic groups living in
Iran, considers it to be their problem as well: “Iranian communities
are floating of cultures, religions and traditions. Iranian identity
is based on traditions and has deep roots, it won in this issue.”

According to Ali Abgar Jouhar, there was no case in the structure
of the Armenian authorities that there was no Azeri there, besides,
the spiritual leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran is an Azeri.

“There are no dissatisfactions and separative moods in Iran, if
you come to Iran, you’ll become sure in it. Those ethnic groups has
thought themselves to be Iranians for centuries. Those visiting our
country at once change their opinion about it by 180 degree. This
false opinion about Iran is mostly provided by American propaganda,
and, successively, by information presenting wrongly. But they say
in Iran: “Sun never remains in clouds,” Ali Abgar Jouhar stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HEAD OF INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT OF RA ARMED FORCES GENERAL HEADQUARTERS MAJOR-GENERAL BASENTSI AZROYAN DIES

Noyan Tapan
Jun 13 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Head of the Intelligence Department of
RA Armed Forces General Headquarters Major-General Basentsi Azroyan
died on June 12, at the age of 59.

The ceremony of requiem will take place at 18:00, June 13, in
Yerznkian 4, apt 27, the ceremony of last farewell will take place
at 12:00-14:00 at the building of the G.Sundukian National Academic
Theater, the funeral at 14:00 the same day at the Yerablur pantheon.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress