Author: Jidarian Alex

CELEBRATIONS MARKING 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARTSAKH DIOCESE PLANNED FOR SEPTEMBER
Anahit Danielyan

2009/08/2 0 | 12:13

Nagorno Karabakh society

The 20th anniversary of the reopening of the Artsakh Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church will be officially marked on September 27
and 28 and will coincide with the holiday of the Varaga Holy Cross.

On September 27, a Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Gantzasar
Monastery and the following day Armenian Church Supreme Patriarch
Garegin II will meet with teachers and students at Artsakh State
University. Later on a book reception will take place for the
publications "Diocese of Artsakh" and "Gantzasar" issued by the
diocese.

Later on that evening, celebrations will take place at the Stepanakert
Culture and Youth Palace, followed by a concert of spiritual music.

ROAD SAFETY NATIONAL COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.08.2009 17:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Armenian government has developed a National
Strategy for Road Safety, which will be financed by the World Bank,"
Hrant Beglaryan , First Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications
said a press conference today.

According to him, USD 10 million will be invested in the program.

Hrant Beglaryan familiarized with information on road traffic
accidents: 2202 road accidents have been recorded in 2008, killed 407
people and 3000 people got wounded. In every 5th accident children,
elderly people and disabled suffered.

Over the last 5 years the annual number of accidents increased by 10
per cent and to develop. The deputy minister stressed that the new
strategy is aimed to reduce the number of accidents over the next 5
years by the same 10 per cent.

Mr. Beglaryan also said that a National Road Safety Council will
be established in Armenia, gathering heads of all relevant public
and private stakeholders and non-governmental organizations, and
particularly the RA prime minister.

SARGSYAN-CLINTON TALK

cs&pid=14967
13:01:24 – 21/08/2009

In the evening of August 20 Serge Sargsyan had a telephone talk with
the U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton on Clinton’s initiative. They
discussed the US-Armenian relations and regional issues, namely the
policy dialogue between Armenia and Turkey.

NOT ONLY CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT

country&pid=14960
17:46:59 – 19/08/2009

"The governments of Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan, are not viewed as
governments which reflect the public opinion and are legitimate. At
least the part of the State Secretary report on Armenia states that
the president of Armenia was elected in a disputable election," said
Hovanes Igityan, member of the board of the All-Armenian National
Movement. In answer to the question what the opposition should do
besides demanding the resignation of the president to tackle the
threat to the settlement, Igityan said that early elections should
be conducted. "The change of government is not the problem. It is
necessary to promote democracy. And the promotion of democracy is not
only change of government. Armenia needs the following steps: free
press, no political prisoners, a normal judicial system. But all these
should be the preconditions for a free and fair election. Election
of Serge Sargsyan in such an election would be an attainment for
Armenia. Anyone who were elected like the present mayor, were it
Sarcozy, Obama, Ter-Petrosyan would be considered as a dictator,"
he said, adding that at some point in future the government will have
to resign, under the pressure of either the people or the outside.

TWO THOUSAND COPY-BOOKS FOR CHILDREN WITH BAD EYESIGHT PROVIDED TO SPECIAL SCHOOL N14

ARMENPRESS
Aug 19, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENPRESS: About 2,000 copy-books intended for
children with bad eyesight will be provided to the N14 special school
of the Education and Science Ministry. The director of the school
Alexan Aharonyan told Armenpress that the number of the provided
special copy-books as compared with the past years has increased. "The
school does not feel lack of the copy-books but we lack special books
intended for the children with bad eyesight, the number of books is
considerably small," Aharonyan said, adding that they do not have
books for 12-year-old education.

For publishing special books Armenian Education and Science Ministry
has released funds for printing books in 2007 and 2008. According
to the established rules, a tender was announced but it did not take
place as no applications have been received.

The 2009 budget does not intend funds for publication of special books
and now, Aharonyan said, the ministry is conducting discussions with
the "Union of Blind People" for clarifying certain issues, printing
books in 2010.

The only school for children with bad eyesight has 87 pupils, the
number of new ones is being specifies.

TURKS AND ARMENIANS BOOST GEORGIAN TOURISM

News.am
21:20 / 08/17/2009

Armenians and Turks are among the tourists visiting Ajaria since
early June this year. Over 215 thousand tourists came to the region
during the summer season, Chair of Tourism Ministry Temur Diasamidze
said. He pointed out that tourist inflow will reach 400 thousand by
late September. Hotels are 95 percent occupied, and bungalows are
overcrowded in Ajaria where units are let on lease at 7 lari (about
U.S. $3.5). "If compared to early 2009, the tourist inflow is beyond
expectation," Diasamidze declared, GHN reports.

REFORMS IN THE ARMENIAN PENSION SYSTEM TO BE PROLONGED FOR A YEAR

ARMENPRESS
Aug 14, 2009

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS: Reforms in the Armenian pension system
will be prolonged. Since June 1 of 2010 the Armenian Republic must have
passed to multi-grade pension system, which suggests a new component,
particularly – an accumulating system.

Head of the State Service of Social Insurance of the Armenian Ministry
of Labor and Social Affairs Vazgen Khachikyan said today that the
reforms are purposeful to delay with a year connected with global
economic crisis.

Currently discussions are being conducted on that issue, in near
future the visit of international experts is expected, who will
examine the influence of the crisis on the Armenian pension system and
specify the purposeful time of carrying out reforms. The international
experts should present the results of their researches to the Armenian
government. By the initial data, they will arrive in Armenia at the
end of August or at the beginning of September.

Reforms to be carried out in the pension system will consist of 2 parts
– obligatory accumulating and voluntary systems. In the obligatory
case the people born in 1970 and hence, in the volunteer case –
a citizen of any age born till 1970 must be involved. The citizens
may invest the part of their salary in the stocks determined by the
government. A personal account should be opened for each citizen,
where the money will be accumulated.

U.S. AND EU ENCOURAGE RUSSIA TO RESPECT GEORGIA’S BORDERS

Panorama.am
12:40 14/08/2009

The United States and European Union encourage Russia to respect
Georgia’s borders recognized by international society. Note that
Russian PM Vladimir Putin traveled to Abkhazia days ago and promised
to support the country providing 10.9 billion rubles in two years.

"The principle thing we are concerned about is the territorial
integrity of Georgia. We think Russian and regional countries should
respect the Georgia’s borders which have been recognized by the world,"
American MFA press spokesman said.

It is said that Russia took the responsibility to keep ceasefire when
signing the correspondent document. "We hope that Russia will respect
that responsibility," Washington representative said.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES BILL ON MAKING ADDITIONS IN LAW "ON TAXES"

ARMENPRESS
Aug 13, 2009
Yerevan

YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: Government of Armenia approved at its
today’s session the bill on making additions in the Armenian law "on
Taxes". Reporter of the issue Armenian Finance Minister Tigran Davtyan
noted that by the suggested additions in case of delay of returning
the overpayments during the time established by the law – in 90 days
– for delay of each day a fine will be paid to the tax payer. "This
is a principle decision by which we establish a special procedure of
paying fines in case of delay of overpayments. By the adoption of this
decision we apply new culture and make the return of the overpayments
obligatory for the state which will promote the development of economy
and creation of more favorable conditions for export," Davtyan said.

The initial bill suggests entering the law into force in 2011 but
the finance minister suggested that it be applied from 2010.

"With the adoption of this bill we increase the responsibility of
the state toward business. If the state for some reasons fails to
return the overpayment of value added tax on time it must pay fine
to the private sector and in general it will improve the business
environment. This is really an important innovation," Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsyan said, assessing the bill.

KOURTNEY ‘HUSH HUSH’ ABOUT OFFSPRING FATHER

Thaindian.com
August 13th, 2009

Aug 13 (IBNS) First child of the oldest of the curvaceous Kardashian
Sisters is in the pipeline to earth!

Kourtney Kardashian (30), who parted ways with her boyfriend Scott
Disick earlier this year, is pregnant, it was learnt Wednesday.

However, the star of reality hits like Keeping Up With The Kardashians
and Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami is yet to disclose the identity of
the father or when she is expected to give birth.

Sources said: She is keeping quiet about the details of her pregnancy,
even to the online arm of the network where her show airs. She’s not
revealing who the father is or when she’s due.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that Kourtney told a close aide: "Why is
everyone interested in the name of my baby…it is mine and I don’t
bother about its father’s identity."

Kourtney Mary Kardashian (born April 18, 1979) is an American
celebutante, socialite, model, businesswoman and television
personality. She is best known for her appearances on the reality
show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Kourtney Kardashian was born in Los Angeles, California of Armenian
(father) and Dutch-Scottish American (mother) descent,to attorney
Robert Kardashian and Kris Jenner (nee Houghton). She is their eldest
child. Robert Kardashian, best known for being O. J. Simpson’s lawyer
during his murder trial, died on September 30, 2003.

Her mother divorced Robert Kardashian in 1989 and married former
Olympian Bruce Jenner in 1991. As seen on Keeping Up with the
Kardashians, Kardashian co-owns and operates DASH, a clothing boutique
in Los Angeles, with sisters Kim and Khloe. She and her mother co-own
the upscale Los Angeles children’s boutique, Smooch.