Author: Kajoyan Gevork

98 SPORTSMEN TO TAKE PART IN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP OF GRECO-ROMAN STYLE
WRESTLING OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The youth championship of the
Greco-Roman style wrestling of Armenia will be held on February 17-18,
at the "Ashkhatank" training ground of Yerevan. 98 sportsmen from
different marzes and cities of the republic will take part in the
championship. The marzes of Gegharkunik, Vayorts Dzor, Syunik and
Kotayk which have not placed orders will not take part in the the
championship. After the championship, the youth team of Armenia will
prepare for the international tournament to start in Bulgaria on March
9.

RESULTS OF FIRST STAGE OF MONITORING OF A NUMBER OF ARMENIAN
ELECTRONIC MEDIA PUBLISHED

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The methodology of monitoring of
media being held from February 5 by Council of Europe jointly with
Caucasian Media Institute is based on calculation of time given by a
number of TV and radio companies of Armenia for covering activity of
this or that party or politician. David Ward, international expert,
project’s consultant, declared this at the February 16 press
conference dedicated to summing up the results of the first stage of
monitoring. He stated that content and tone of broadcasts are also
examined.

Nina Iskandarian, head of the project, reported that according to the
results of 11 days of TV broadcasts monitoring, the Public Television
of Armenia gave more than 70% time to parties making part of the
ruling coalition. The Yerkir-media and Shant TV companies paid more
attention (60%) to parties not making part of the ruling coalition. It
was mentioned that though ALM allocated more than 70% time to parties
not making part of the coalition, nevertheless, the activity of
People’s Party, the leader of which is ALM’s owner, was in the center
of attention.

Both radio companies being studied – the Public Radio and Radio
Liberty, in their broadcasts gave more time to parties not making part
of the ruling coalition, here the ratio made 60% to approximately 40%.

N. Iskandarian reported that at the second stage of monitoring, which
will start two weeks before the elections scheduled for May 12,
besides four TV companies studied currently, another two TV companies
– Armenia and Kentron, will be also studied. In her words, time and
tone of broadcasts dedicated to each party running for the elections
will be studied this time.

COURT AGAIN POSTPONES EXAMINATION OF PETITION TO CHANGE RESTRAINT MEASURE CONCERNING ROYAL ARMENIA’S MANAGEMENT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 14 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. At the February 14 sitting,
the court of first instance of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities again postponed the examination of the defence lawyers
Ashot Sargsian’s petition to change the measure of restraint concerning
former director of Royal Armenia LLC Aram Ghazarian and the company’s
shareholder Gagik Hakobian. To recap, G. Hakobian and A. Ghazarian are
charged by Articles 178, 325, 215, 190 and 205 of the RA Criminal Code
– fraud, document forgery, smuggling, legalization of illegal incomes
and tax evasion respectively. The defence lawyer said that during
the 20-month arrest, the health conditions of the two defendants
have worsened: particulry, medical examinations revealed that
G. Hakobian needs a heart operation immediately. Prosecutor Lusine
Sahakian insisted that the defendants committed grave or especially
grave crimes, and their release will prevent the examination of the
case. In her words, "it can be proven by presenting simple documents
that G. Hakobian and A. Ghazarian inflicted a 1.5 mln dollar loss
to the US company Federal Investment Group (FIG) LLC, which supplied
large quantities of coffee to Royal Armenia in 1999-2004. The court
satisfied the defence’s petition to demand the following documents
of FIG LLC: its registration certificate, regulations, invoices in
1999-2004, annual reports, annual balance and seal and attach these
documents to the criminal case.

EXPECTING GOOD THINGS
Anahit Gabrielian

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
15 Feb 07

The director of Women Resource Center of Yerevan L. Aharonian and a
group of members of the Center visited Shushi a few days ago to open
a branch of the NGO there, study the problems of women in Artsakh
and help them. At Narekatsi Arts Center the members of the NGO
met with a group of women of the town, and told about the projects
they will be implementing in Shushi. The meeting began with short
films about the violation of women’s rights. After each film the
participants expressed their opinion and compared what they saw with
their reality and suggested ways how to overcome the problem. Most
participants endorsed equality and men and women but almost everyone
underlined the advantages of our customs. The center will open a
library in Shushi to help women who choose self-education to acquire
professional skills. Free Internet will help get information about
modern science and technology and connect with every part of the
world. Women will also get doctor’s advice and prescribed medicine free
of charge. Trainings on human rights, healthy reproduction, women’s
health, and women’s problems will be held. During the seminars the
opinion of Artsakh women on different phenomena will become known, as
well as their problems and the ways of solving them. The psychologist
of the center will help women and children who went through the
war. Every month the members of the center will visit Shushi for three
days. During these visits a doctor, a psychologist and a dietician
will consult for free. The members of the youth club will meet with
high-school and university students and deliver lectures on sexual
health, family problems, discrimination in family and at work. Today
the reconstruction of Shushi is more than urgent, and every initiative
is precious, independent from the size of the contribution.

Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:

February 15, 2007

ACNIS Examines International Views on Upcoming Parliamentary Elections

Yerevan–The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS)
today commenced its 2007 seminar series with a policy roundtable entitled
"Armenia’s Parliamentary Elections and the Statements of the International
Community." The meeting brought together members of Armenia’s political
establishment, leading analysts, policy specialists, political scientists,
and media representatives.

ACNIS senior analyst Hovsep Khurshudian greeted the audience with opening
remarks. "The international press has been paying considerable attention to
Armenia in the recent months," he said. "It behooves us to evaluate its
message in light of domestic political developments."

In his address, ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian reflected on this
message. He noted that the international community, having resolved to
settle various geopolitical matters, would pay special attention to Armenia’s
pre-election processes. After reading out some of the international
community’s pronouncements to the Armenian political arena, Safarian
proceeded to separate them into three categories: those relating to the
Karabagh conflict, those relating to Armenia-Turkey relations, and those
relating to Armenia-NATO relations. In his view, these messages are
addressed primarily to the authorities of Armenia with the goal of
soliciting their positions and gauging Armenia’s policy on the eve of
republic-wide elections. "The purpose of the message, delivered
internationally in the form of diplomatic announcements and publications by
influential news media, is to bridge the gap between the international
community and those who are preparing to form a government in Armenia,"
Safarian argued.

Boris Navasardian, chairman of the Yerevan Press Club, spoke next, focusing
on the projected reactions of international bodies to the forthcoming
elections. It is highly unlikely, he asserted, that the West and its many
institutions will intervene in a potentially fraudulent election process in
Armenia. According to Navasardian, the world’s four major power
centers–regional intergovernmental organizations, the European Union, the
United States, and international NGOs–are disposed neither to interfere in
the electoral processes in the country nor to prevent or condemn election
fraud. "Placing our hopes on the outside world, therefore, is pointless,"
Navasardian said. "Instead, we ought to dig deep into our internal
resources." He added that beyond its hope for a stable and predictable
Armenia, Europe is unconcerned with the nation’s politics.

Participants in the ensuing discussion included Felix Khachatrian of the
Central Election Commission; Yerevan State University lecturer Sasun
Saribekian; political analyst Gevorg Altunian of the Armenia Television
Company; analyst Vakhtang Siradeghian of the Center for Regional
Development; Edward Antinian, deputy chairman of the Liberal Progressive
Party; ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian; analyst Marine
Karapetian of the Concord Center for Legal and Political Studies; and Zhanna
Aleksanian of Human Rights Watch.

Founded in 1994 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2007, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, democratic development, conflict resolution,
and applied research on critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the
state and the nation.

For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit

MEETINGS AT ARAGATSOTN SCHOOLS
By S. Hakobian

Yerkir.am
February 09, 2007

Member of ARF’s Supreme Body, Minister of Science and Education Levon
Mkrtchian made a working visit to Aragatsotn marz on February 7 where
he met teachers of secondary schools in Kosh and Aroch villages.

900 million drams was allocated to schools in Aragatsotn in 2006. 1.3
billion drams will be allocated in 2007 which will help the schools
solve many problems they are facing.

"We have already started discussing issues connected with education
reforms on the marz level. I think secondary education is very
important since it plays a crucial role in education reform," Mkrtchian
stated. The Minister believes we have to ensure quality education on
all levels, and the reforms should start with secondary education.

At the meeting in the school in Kosh, which is 100 years old, the
Minister noted that if several years ago the main concern regarding
the school in Kosh was preservation of the existing facilities, now the
concern is improving the school’s facilities, solution of the teachers’
social problems and improving their professional qualifications. The
schools are facing a number of problems – lack of heating, buildings
and facilities, furniture, laboratory equipment, libraries.

Most of the schools in the country have been included in the
large-scale school renovation program. 22 schools were renovated in
Aragatsotn marz in 2006.

1800 units of furniture will be provided to the schools in
Aragatsotn. The main problem Kosh community is experiencing is
gasification. Once the community gets access to natural gas the issue
of local heating system for the school will also be settled.

The Minister noted that the school also lacks laboratory equipment
and library. The World Bank has provided 250 thousand dollars for
books for school libraries.

The issue of laboratory equipment will be solved once the high schools
are established. The Minister noted it is necessary to catch up with
progress in the sphere of education so that our school diplomas are
recognized and accepted internationally. Mkrtchian stated we should
be able to bring up citizens who would be able to represent their
country worldwide. The sphere of education requires continuous work
and great attention.

The Minister believes there are problems with high school
education because there is a gap between secondary and university
education. Those who can afford private tutors go to take private
classes while those who cannot afford them do not continue their
education.

Stressing the importance of a unified examination system the Minister
noted that the entrance exams should not be decisive for the university
applicants.

By merging the high school graduation and university entrance exams
equal conditions will be created for students from all social segments.

Commenting on re-training of teachers Mkrtchian noted that 17 thousand
out of 40 thousand teachers have already been trained. We will be
able to speak about improving the quality of education only once all
the teachers are retrained.

Most of the schools have computer classes, therefore, teachers
should also be trained on computer literacy. Teachers will have to
pass attestation. The Minister informed that a special committee has
been established to examine the quality of teaching foreign languages
at schools.

The teachers addressed a number of requests to the Minister including
provision of a training gun for civil defense course, provision of
sports equipment. The Minister promised to follow up on their requests.

The Ministry of Education has tried to get the government’s approval
for all programs in education sphere up to 2010 ensuring that these
programs get necessary funding through international donors including
the World Bank and the European Union.

These programs inspire hope for improvement of the education
sphere. "As a representative of a political party who has been in
charge of this sphere several times, I believe these programs will be
implemented. Continuity is a must in education policies. We cannot
destroy the old system and then build a new one, we should create
the new system building on the old one," the Minister concluded.

CIS AIR DEFENSE COORDINATION COMMITTEE TO MEET IN YEREVAN, DETERMINE MISSIONS FOR 2007

Interfax News Agency
Central Asia General Newswire
February 12, 2007 Monday 4:19 PM MSK

A meeting of the CIS Air Defense Coordination Committee and a training
and methodical session of CIS air force and air defense commanders
will take place in Yerevan from Wednesday to Friday, Lieutenant
General Aitech Bizhev, Russian Air Force deputy commander-in-chief,
told Interfax-AVN.

"The meeting will address over 10 various issues aimed at strengthening
aerial borders of CIS countries," Bizhev said.

The meeting will be chaired by Army General Vladimir Mikhailov,
Russian Air Force commander-in-chief, who presides over the CIS Air
Defense Coordination Committee. It will determine missions for 2007.

The meeting and session will take place at military facilities of the
Armenian Defense Ministry and at the Russian Air Force base in Yerevan.

The participants in the session will visit the Armenian Air Defense
Central Command Post, the Russian airbase, an Armenian airbase, as
well as the Marshal Khanferanz Military Institute, where they will
be briefed on the training of Armenian air force and air defense
specialists.

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
February 9, 2007 Friday 6:38 PM MSK

Kosovo settlement should not be seen as precedent for Karabakh –
Lennmarker

The Kosovo settlement can not be applied to the Karabakh conflict,
said Goran Lennmarker, the president of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly (OSCE PA).

Speaking at a Friday meeting with representatives of Azerbaijan’s
Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society in Baku, Lennmarker
said that the Kosovo issue, regardless of its outcome, is not a
precedent for the Karabakh problem. Each conflict is an individual
case, and just as the Kosovo conflict is being settled taking into
account its background factors, the Nagorno-Karabakh problem should
be resolved in its context. The processes occurring in any country in
the world should not affect the settlement of the Karabakh conflict,
he said.

Lennmarker, who is also OSCE PA Acting Rapporteur on the Karabakh
problem, said that the OSCE Minsk Group had done a good job working
towards the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

Lennmarker also said that it would be a mistake to say that the Group
had done nothing in the 14 years of its existence. Its task consists
in creating the required conditions for negotiations, he said.

AZG Armenian Daily #025, 10/02/2007

The Armenian Genocide

ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL WASHINGTON, THE 301-ST ARTICLE IMPEDES THE CAMPAIGN
AGAINST THE RESOLUTION ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

The 301-st Article Impedes the Campaign Against the Resolution on the
Armenian Genocide, said Councilor to USA President on National Security
Steven Hadley to the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, reported
yesterday milliet. According to information received, an American anonymous
official told the Milliet reporter that the Article 301 of the Criminal Code
was one of eh main topics of Hadley-Gul meeting.

According to the same source, in response to Abdullah Gul’s request for
assistance against the Resolution on the Armenian Genocide Steven Hadley
said, "First of all you must aid yourselves. Although I consider the
Resolution useless, we cannot tell the Congress that Turkey has started
openly revising its history and normalizing its relations with Armenia, as
long as criminal cases are being roused against Turkish intellectuals who
are freely expressing their opinions on history."

It is remarkable, that alterations to Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal
Code were required also by certain Jewish organizations of the USA. The
Foreign Ministry of Turkey expressed a thought hat such demands made in
public can only hamper the process of revising the 301-st article. It is
alleged that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has already taken some measures
for that.

By H. Chaqrian

SERGE SARGSIAN: WE ARE READY TO DEVELOP ARMENIAN-ITALIAN MILITARY COOPERATION

Noyan Tapan
Feb 08 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The necessity of widening the
Armenian-Italian military cooperation, reforms being implemented
in the armed forces and in the country within the framework of the
Individual Partnership Actions Plan were discussed at the February 7
meeting of Serge Sargsian, the Secretary of the RA National Security
Council attached to President, Defence Minister, and Marco Clemente,
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to the
RA. Expressing gratitude to the Ambassador completing his diplomatic
mission in Armenia for the effective activity promoted during his
officiating, Minister Serge Sargsian wished him new successes in
future activity. "I would like to again stress the role of Rome,
Italy in our history. I again make myself sure that the Armenian
culture develops in Italy today as well. We are obliged to develop
against this positive background the military cooperation as well. I
think that we shall probably have success," S.Sargsian mentioned.