Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Mediamax, Armenia
Sept 19 2012

Armen Ashotyan: Corruption in education sphere is reducing yet at low rates

Yerevan/Mediamax/. The latest polls show that the corruption risks in
schools and universities of Armenia are reducing yet at low rates.

Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan stated today
presenting the performance of anti-corruption program for 2010-2012,
Mediamax reports.

“We think decrease in corruption risks is not enough and we’re going
to take up more decisive steps”, said the Minister adding that a new
program for combating corruption in education sphere in 2013-2014 will
be worked out.

The Minister said that over the 9 months of 2012, 48 people were
subjected to administrative liability, 42 people were rebuked and 1
was fired as a result of inspections in the education sphere.

At the same time, Armen Ashotyan noted that Armenia improved its
positions by 8 points in the education sphere in the Global
Competitiveness Report, and this year’s results were the best of the
past 6 years.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
September 18, 2012 Tuesday 09:06 PM GMT+4

Azerbaijan protests to Russia over right-wing politician’s statement

BAKU September 18

– Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has sent a note of protest to Russia in
connection with a statement that the leader of the Liberal Democratic
Party, Vladimir Zhirinovsky made at a rally of the Armenian ethnic
community in Moscow September 14.

A press release issued by the ministry said Russian Ambassador in
Baku, Vladimir Dorokhin was summoned to the Foreign Ministry Tuesday
to meet with Deputy Minister Halaf Halafov.

“During the meeting, Mr. Halafov expressed a protest to the Ambassador
over the statement that Vladimir Zhirinovsky made September 14 in the
course of an action organized in Moscow by the Russian Armenian
Association in connection with the pardoning of the Azerbaijani
officer, Ramil Safarov,” the press release said.

Zhirinovsky called for terror against the Azerbaijanis and made a
number of other provocative statements.

According to Halafov, “irresponsible appeals of this kind cast shadow
over the Azerbaijani-Russia cooperation and friendly relations.”

These statements also do damage of Russia’s mission as a co-chairman
of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe /OSCE/ for peace settlement in Nagorny Karabakh, Halafov said.

He expressed the hope that the Russian authorities “will give a due
assessment to Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s unaccountable statements.”

Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov killed the Armenian serviceman
Gurgen Markarian in 2004 when both of them were taking a
NATO-sponsored upgrade course in Budapest. According to Safarov,
Markarian had allegedly outraged on Azerbaijan’s national flag.

A court in Budapest sentenced Safarov to a life term in 2006. However,
he was extradited to Azerbaijan at the end of last month and pardoned
by President Ilham Aliyev.

Top Resa 2012: Armenia and Artsakh booth placed under heightened security
after suffering damage 18:23 19/09/2012 » Society

During the period of September 17th and the night of September 18th, the
Armenia and Artsakh booth at the Top Resa 2012 International
TravelMarket
suffered damage which was especially targeted at NKR posters, the
National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia said in a news release.

Upon learning of the occurrence, the representatives of the Armenian
Embassy in France along with the NCFA delegation brought it to the
attention of the governing authorities of the exhibition and the incident
was recorded.

The organizers of the exhibition reported that they had received complaints
from Azerbaijani embassy in France regarding the participation of Artsakh
at Top Resa.

As per the request of the Armenian representatives, a heightened security
detail was enforced at the Armenia and Artsakh booth.
The booth is entirely restored to its previous condition and all the
information on Artsakh is now widely accessible.

At this moment, the exhibition is going forward according to the initial
organizational intent, and the Armenian booth is receiving high-level
attention from attendees and participants.

The National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia, along with
representatives from the Nagorno Karabagh Republic and in cooperation with
Armenian travel
agencies,
represent Armenia and Artaskh at `Top Resa 2012′ annual International
Travel Market in Paris from 18th until the 21st of September.

It is worthwhile mentioning that this is the first year in the history of
participation in international tourism exhibitions that Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh are represented in one booth.

Furthermore, Armenia’s and Artsakh’s rich cultural, historical, and
Christian heritages are presented in newly developed and fully redesigned
travel guides and maps.

*Source:* Panorama.am

Corruption still problems in Armenia’s education system – minister

tert.am
16:27 – 19.09.12

Armenia’s Minister of Education Armen Ashotyan admits that corruption
has not been eliminated in Armenia’s higher schools.

The reason is that some students make use of it, the minister told
journalists on Wednesday.

Entrance examinations are not any longer practiced at specialized
secondary education institutions, and students are admitted on the
basis of average marks in their school-leaving certificates.

One more aspect of progress is consistent reforms in the examination
system. `This year’s examinations were transparent, and we registered
tangible results,’ Minister Ashotyan said.

He reported a number of serious reforms to reduce corruption risks in
Armenia’s higher school. `Students can appeal the finals, and the
sound record was a basis for the appeal,’ Ashotyan said.

He pointed out high corruption risk in employing school teachers. The
new procedure was enforced two years ago, but `old thinking’ still
remains a problem. Relevant work is in progress, the minister said.

He noted that 94% of schools report to regional administrations so it
is wrong to accuse the Ministry of Education of all the problems.

Ashotyan hopes that a central school administration system will be
introduced in Armenia, with the Ministry of Education to be the only
government body in charge.

`We believe we are implementing the right policy, but we also need a
number of new measures. With this end in view, we are working out a
new corruption control program,’ Minister Ashotyan said.

“Hungary is not Armenia: Levon Shirinyan

19:51 | 2012-09-19 | Opinions | Armenia Opinions |

Doctor of Political Science, Professor Levon Shirinyan referring to
the Armenian-Hungarian relations and the recent cases, said that
history repeats itself. Shirinyan said that we have unreliable allies.
“The Germans, Hungarians and Turks are together, the coordinates have
not changed much. We need to define the sources of information,
because unverified information is playing an important role for
intelligence forces, “said Shirinyan, considering 3 billion dollar
given to Hungary for Safarov`s extradition.
According to him, we are emotional people, our cultural “code” and our
value system is known too, and the centers that rule the management of
small states very quickly and easily plan Armenia’s activities.
Shirinyan also says that we have no precise information on
Azerbaijan-Hungary business, but we have logic. “The case goes to the
block of Persia and Russia, where Armenia is observed as their ally,
which shows that we do not have another choice. I do not believe that
Hungary would do such a thing for 3 billion. Hungary is a classic
country unlike Armenia, where the FM has a holiday in the Philippines
while a national security issue is being solved. As for the adopted
resolution of the European Parliament, I think it is the ordinal false
tears. ”

Armenian Church profaned in Beirut

19:09, 19 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Surb Khack Church which
belongs to Lebanese Armenian community in Beirut has been profaned by
criminals who invaded the sanctuary and destroyed everything. This was
reported to Armenpress by the editor of Lebanese “Azdak” newspaper
Shahan Kandaharian. Shahan also added that they could not say for sure
whether it were Muslims who had organized the attack because police
did not make any announcements.

“It is quite possible that the reason is the visit of Pope Benedict
XVI. However, the motive of the deed is still unknown. But one is for
sure the aim was to profane the church, what they did, all the icons,
gospel of Church and the icon of Holy Virgin had been destroyed’
editor of “Azdak” added.

Pope Benedict XVI visited Lebanon on September 14-16, had a meeting
with Lebanese Armenian Catholics and anointed the monument dedicated
to the 500th anniversary of Armenian typography.

President received David Lidington, Minister of State at the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom

18.09.2012

Discussed were issues of the Armenian-British agenda and prospects of
bilateral relations. The President of Armenia underscored that Armenia
attaches great importance to the multifaceted relations with the
United Kingdom and in that context invigoration of the high level
political dialogue. Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that visit of
Minister David Lidington will become a serious impetus for the
strengthening of relations and deepening of cooperation. The parties
stressed the importance of developing in particular trade and economic
relations and encouragement of investments.

President Sargsyan and Minister Lidington highlighted the importance
of cooperation between Armenia and Great Britain also in the framework
of the relations with the European Union. The President of Armenia
noted with satisfaction the considerable advancement of our country’s
negotiations with EU in the areas of Association Agreement, Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Zone creation, facilitation of people’s
movement and in a number of other areas.

The parties spoke about regional developments, NK peace process, and
existing concerns. In relation with the case of the Azeri murderer
Ramil Safarov, the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office of the United Kingdom noted that his country concurs with the
OSCE Minsk Group, EU and European Parliament that any step towards the
glorification of the murderer is unacceptable and inexcusable.

The Armenia and Artsakh Booth Suffered Damage

hetq
17:53, September 19, 2012

During the period of September 17th and the night of September 18th,
the Armenia and Artsakh booth at the Top Resa 2012 International
Travel Market suffered damage which was especially targeted at NKR
posters.

Upon learning of the occurrence, the representatives of the Armenian
Embassy in France along with the NCFA delegation brought it to the
attention of the governing authorities of the exhibition and the
incident was recorded.

The organizers of the exhibition reported that they had received
complaints from Azerbaijani embassy in France regarding the
participation of Artsakh at Top Resa.

As per the request of the Armenian representatives, a heightened
security detail was enforced at the Armenia and Artsakh booth.

The booth is entirely restored to its previous condition and all the
information on Artsakh is now widely accessible.

At this moment, the exhibition is going forward according to the
initial organizational intent, and the Armenian booth is receiving
high-level attention from attendees and participants.

Public Relations Office

National Competitiveness Foundation of Armenia

Armenia-made drones operated during CSTO military drills

NEWS.AM
September 19, 2012 | 14:14

YEREVAN.- Armenia-made drones were for the first time used during the
CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) drills held in Armenia.

Unmanned aerial vehicle called `Krunk’ is equipped with several
reconnaissance devices.

`Krunk 25′ was accepted by the Armenian Armed Forces in 2011. It is
intended for close reconnaissance, transmitting real-time video or
taking higher resolution still images.

The final phase of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
Collective Rapid Reaction Force’s (CSTO CRRF) `Cooperation 2012′ joint
multinational military exercises was held on Wednesday. About 2,000
troops from Armenia and other CSTO states participated in the
maneuvers.

100,000th passenger of Tatev Wings ropeway gets sanatorium voucher to Jermuk

TERT.AM
13:27 – 19.09.12

The 100,000th passenger of Tatev Wings ropeway 54-year-old Anahit
Mayilyan from Armenia’s Shinuhayr village received a sanatorium
voucher to Jermuk.

According to a press release, it will be Mayilyan’s first visit to
Jermuk. `The rope way functions for already two years, but I have not
dared to enjoy it as I am afraid of height,’ she said. `Seeing Vorotan
gorge from height was a new discovery for me,’ she said.

`I am glad that the 100,000 passenger was from our community. We rate
the community’s role in the development of Tatev tourism zone,’
manager of the rope way Tigran Ghazaryan said.

As compared with the September 2011, the number of passengers in the
same span of 2012 increased by 1,000.