Author: Kanayan Tamar

OSCE HELPS ARMENIA ELIMINATE TOXIC FUEL

ARMENPRESS
Sep 7, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: Nearly 900 tons of highly explosive
missile fuel have been neutralized and turned into fertilizer with
the support of the OSCE, it was announced at a ceremony marking the
completion of the project September 6.

"Ensuring people’s security and environmental safety is part of
what the OSCE is about," said Colonel Jesus Anson Soro, a Senior
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, who participated in
the ceremony.

"This project is a remarkable example of co-operation between the
OSCE and Armenia to improve and protect the environmental well-being
and security of the Armenian population."

The project to eliminate the dangerous rocket fuel stocks, commonly
known as "melange", was implemented by the Ministry of Defense with
technical and financial assistance from the OSCE.

"Armenia could not make such a project on her own, as it requires
not only substantial financial resources but also the use of
environmentally friendly technologies", said General Lieutenant
Gourgen Melkonyan, Deputy Minister of Defense, " I can assure that
Armenia is eager to continue to support the peacekeeping efforts of the
international community for the benefit of the security in the region."

Ambassador Rudolf Perina, US Charge d’Affaires, speaking on behalf
of the donor community, underlined the contribution of the OSCE,
and the Office in Yerevan in particular, for achieving such an
impressive result.

"Most importantly, Armenian people at all levels participated in
the project’s successful implementation for the benefit of Armenia,"
he said.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan initiated the project in 2005 on request
from Armenia’s Defense Ministry. The recycling process of the
Soviet-era melange, stored at the Kaltakhchi military base in the
north of Armenia, began in May 2006 following a needs assessment and
other preparations, including the installation of specially designed
recycling equipment. In total, 872 tons of the highly toxic and
volatile substance were recycled into 4,972 tons of fertilizer and
sprayed on 1,243 hectares of land in co-ordination with the Ministry
of Nature Protection and local farmers.

The project was financed by Canada, Finland, Germany and the United
States.

A group of local and international experts from donor countries as
well as from Georgia and Russia closely monitored the whole process
to ensure its professional execution and environmental safety.

WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP IN BAKU: YEREVAN SENDS REQUEST, BAKU DOES NOT RECEIVE IT

Panorama.am
14:56 06/09/2007

The Armenian combined team of free-style and Greco-Roman style
wrestling will leave for Baku on September 17 to take part in world
accredited championship in the Azerbaijani capital, Armenian Wrestling
Federation Press Secretary Yura Alexanyan told Panorama.am.

Concurrently, Azerbaijani media outlets have spread information
today saying "Armenian combined wrestling team will possible not
take part in the championship since Armenia has submitted no request
for participation."

Armenian Wrestling Federation told Panorama.am that a respective
request has been sent to FILA and the latter was supposed to forward
it to the organizational committee of the contest. "We have sent the
request. We will call FILA today to find out why it did not reach
its destination," the federation stated.

TWO MORE PLAYGROUNDS PUT INTO OPERATION IN KARABAGH

DeFacto Agency
Sept 5 2007
Armenia

Two more playgrounds built at the expense of Karabakh Telecom TV
Communication Company within the frames of A Joyful Kid marathon
have been put into operation in Stepanakert and the regional centre
of Martuni.

Speaking at the playground’s opening ceremony Stepanakert Mayor Eduard
Aghabekian stated A Joyful Kid marathon announced by the Stepanakert
city hall over a year ago had become a consecutive process, which
should be welcomed, Novosti-Armenia agency reports.

"On the one hand the construction of children’s playgrounds contributes
to younger generation’s upbringing, on the other hand it becomes
a peculiar token of the capital city’s cleanness and improvement",
Aghabekian noted.

In his turn the Executive Director of Karabakh Telecom CJSC Ralph
Yirikian assured the process would be continued. "The works are being
implemented in the Republic regions as well. Playgrounds in the towns
of Shoushi, Martakert, Askeran and Kashatag (Lachin) have already been
put into operation. In the near future the playgrounds in Hadrut will
be turned over for operation", Yirikian said.

In May, 2006 the Stepanakert city hall announced the beginning of
A Joyful Kid TV marathon targeted at playgrounds’ construction in
connection with the International Day of Children’s protection.

Currently there are about 20 playgrounds on the Nagorno-Karabagh’s
whole territory.

FRENCH SOCIALIST PARTY FIRST SECRETARY ARRIVING IN ARMENIA SEPTEMBER 7

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.09.2007 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ By invitation of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, First
Secretary of the French Socialist Party Francois Hollande will be
tomorrow in Yerevan within the framework of an official visit up to
September 7. He will be accompanied by the French MPs Rene Rouquet
and Bruno Leroux, senator Bernard Piras and several representatives
of the Armenian press of France, independent French journalist Jean
Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

In addition to discussions with the leaders of the FRA Dashnaktsutyun,
Francois Hollande will meet the Foreign Minister of the Republic of
Armenia, the Ministers for Agriculture, National Education and Health.

The delegation will be also received to the Armenian National Assembly
where a meeting is envisaged with the parliamentary groups. Lastly,
Francois Hollande and the delegation of the Socialist Party will
attend Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex to commemorate victims of
the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION ISSUE NOT INCLUDED IN EU REPORT ON TURKEY

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.09.2007 16:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Armenian Genocide issue is not reflected in
the European Union report on Turkey’s progress," European Armenian
Federation chairperson Hilda Tchoboian said.

"The report specifically mentions the blockade of Cyprus by Turkey. The
European Armenian Federation will continue to work towards including
the Armenian issue norms in the report."

She said the organization members have planned meetings with European
Parliament members, and with Dutch Christian Democrat Oimen Guiten Gia,
the author of the report. The report is due in October, Yerkir reports.

ARMENIAN JUNIOR WEIGHTLIFTER WINS GOLD MEDAL AT EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

ARMENPRESS
Sep 3, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian weightlifter, Ruben
Alexanian (90 kg), has won the gold medal of the Europe’s Junior
Weightlifting Championship in Italy’s Pavia.

Two other Armenian weightlifters- Smbat Margarian (50 kg) and
Ms. Heghine Yepremian (58 kg) have earlier won silver medals.

The Denver Post, CO
August 30, 2007 Thursday
FINAL EDITION

Tsolak Yeghishyan survived a deadly earthquake in his home country of
Armenia, wrestled in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and became a father
four months ago. The only thing Yeghishyan says he hasn’t
accomplished is becoming an American citizen.

by Felisa Cardona, Denver Post Staff Writer

Tsolak Yeghishyan

survived a deadly earthquake

in his home country of Armenia,

wrestled in the 1996 Olympics

in Atlanta and became a father

four months ago. The only thing

Yeghishyan says he hasn’t accomplished is

becoming an American citizen.

Now, the backlog of security and background checks for people who
want to become naturalized could ruin Yeshisyan’s last chance to
qualify for the U.S. National Wrestling Team and compete in the 2008
Olympics in Beijing.

"I appreciate national security," Yeghishyan said in an interview
Tuesday. "I am glad that they are doing their job, but I feel like I
am a suspect."

Yeghishyan, 36, who lives in Colorado Springs, last week filed a
lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Denver asking a judge to expedite
his naturalization process.

Yeghishyan’s burly, tough exterior begins to soften when he describes
the most important reason he has to become a citizen – his wife,
Lilit, and their newborn daughter, Helena, are in Armenia.

Yeghishyan can’t bring them to the U.S. until he becomes a citizen
because the process for bringing spouses to this country is years
longer for people who are only legal residents with a green card.

"This is not about me and my wife anymore," he said, holding back
tears. "The baby has to hear my words every single day. I cannot be
away from them. Everything I do is about her now."

Yeghishyan came to America in 1996 and became a legal resident in
1999.

He calls himself the "best cabdriver in the solar system" and says
many of his fares have offered to write letters in support.

He applied for naturalization in April 2004.

The FBI must conduct a background and security check on Yeghishyan
before he can become a citizen, but it has not been completed.

He said there is nothing criminal or suspicious in his background
that should prevent him from being naturalized. "I have a
perfect-plus record," he said.

Yeghishyan passed all the civics testing required of him, and he
taught himself English by watching television and reading books.

The athlete is used to beating the odds. He lost a thumb while
rebuilding his family’s home after the earthquake and still managed
to wrestle.

Yeghishyan knows he’s getting too old to qualify for the Olympics,
but he’s convinced he can make the team. The team trials take place
in June.

Maria Elena Garcia-Upson, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and
Citizenship Services, said she could not comment on Yeghishyan’s
case.

Garcia-Upson said delays happen when an applicant has a questionable
background or someone with a similar name has a background that is
holding up the process.

Only 1 percent of cases have years-long delays. Most applications
take six to eight months, Garcia-Upson said.

"Ninety-nine percent of the cases go through without a problem," she
said. "We are in talks with the highest level at the FBI and Homeland
Security to see what we can do to process all of these applications."

Yeghishyan said he can’t try out for the U.S. wrestling team if he is
not an American – and he is running out of time.

"He would like to compete one more time, if that’s possible," said
his attorney, Beverly Oserow. "It might be his last chance, given his
age."

Yeghishyan placed ninth at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, when he was
on the Armenian wrestling team.

"He trained with us at the training center, and he was a good
training partner," said Steve Fraser, national Greco-Roman coach of
the U.S. wrestling team. "He’s a good-quality, tough guy."

Fraser said he doesn’t know whether Yeghishyan would qualify for the
team now, but when Yeghishyan competed in Atlanta, he was considered
one of the top 10 wrestlers in the world.

"In his prime, he was very, very good," Fraser said. "He did not win
a medal, but he was good."

Yeghishyan is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Sept. 21
for a status hearing on his case.

"The only option we had was to file an action in federal court,"
Oserow said. "He did it with great reluctance. I think he just wants
to comply with the system and follow the rules and do it the right
way."

Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-954-1219 or
[email protected]

IT IS ENVISAGED TO IMPLEMENT SECOND GRANT PROGRAM OF CRDF

Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The introduction of developments
of 6 scientific groups – winners of the grant tender announced by
the US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and the
Enterprise Incubator Founadtion (EIF) has begun, the EIF director
Bagrat Yengibarian told NT correspondent.

The tender was held within the framework of the CRDF Science and
Technology Entrepreneur Program (STEP), while its winners were
announced during the venture conference held in Yerevan in October
2006. The following scientific groups: the group that designed and
created a prototype of a new piston pump, the scientific group that
developed a new cost-effective photovoltaic solar energy concentrator
system, the group that designed and marketed photovoltaic systems
based on silicon vertical multi-junction solar cells, the scientific
group that developed a new integrated biometallurgical process
for gold production, the group that worked out intensification of
probiotics production by means of burdock’s raw inulin, and the group
that developed TPS technology used in elite seed-potato production –
received grants of 5 thousand dollars each for the introduction of
their scientific developments in cooperation with their partners –
Armenian enterprises.

It was mentioned that the CRDF STEP has been completed in
Armenia. According to B. Yengibarian, negotiations are being conducted
with CRDF about launching the second grant program of CRDF. Scientific
groups financed by other donors, as well as agricultural organizations
willing to introduce new technologies of meat and milk production
have expressed their intention to participate in this program.

B. Yengibarian said that the issue of increasing the amounts of grants
during the second program or receiving co-financing from other donors
is also being discussed with CRDF because despite being small, the
sums of the first program were taxed.

STEP was implemented in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova. In the words
of B. Yengibarian, monitoring of the program implemented in Armenia
is scheduled for November. B. Yengibarian noted that according to the
current reports, the Armenian program was implemented more successfully
than those in the three other countries.

NUMBER OF THOSE PERISHED AS RESULT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS HAS INCREASED BY 44 IN SEVEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR IN COMPARISON WITH SAME PERIOD OF PREVIOUS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. 1118 traffic accidents were registered
in Armenia in January-July, 2007, as a result of which 215 people
died and 1712 received body injuries. This information was provided
by Colonel Hayk Sargsian, the Head of the Analytical Department of
the RA Traffic Police, during his meeting with journalists, which was
held on August 30. Hayk Sargsian also mentioned that the number of
car accidents has increased by 264, that of those perished by 44, and
the number of those, who received body injuries by 443 in comparison
with the same period of the previous year.

It was also mentioned that 33 traffic police collaborators have been
subjected to disciplinary punishments for neglecting in their duties
in the first seven months of this year. Nine out of these 33 police
collaborators have been dismissed from work. Hayk Sargsian stressed
that neither of these traffic police collaborators has to do with
corruption.

On the occasion of the new school year, a ten-day of safe traffic
will be held in all the school-adjacent areas of the republic between
September 1 to 10. According to Hayk Sargsian, the experience of
previous years speaks about the fact that this measure gives a positive
result: traffic accidents with the participation of school-children
are almost excluded. In particular, last year no such accident was
registered during the ten-day.

"We hope that we will preserve this index this year as well,"
H. Sargsian said.

EXPENDITURE OF PHYSICAL PERSONS FOR TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION IS HIGHER IN ARMENIA THAN IN THE USA AND MOSCOW

arminfo
2007-08-30 13:08:00

Arminfo. Expenditure of physical persons for telephone communication
is higher in Armenia than in the USA, Moscow and Azerbaijan, web
administrator and web-designer of the Armenian Centre for Strategic and
National Research [ACFSANR] Ashot Turjan said when making a report
at the seminar-discussion on the topic "Effectiveness of modern
communication system in Armenia".

He also added that stemming from the data of the open Internet
sources and mass media information, one can suppose that payment for
the monthly fixed telephone communication is 19,5% or $38,4 from the
monthly salary of an average Armenian citizens that amounts to $197,
whereas in Moscow, where the monthly salary is $500, they pay 4%
($20) for the fixed telephone communication; and in the USA – 0,7%
($23) out of $3120 monthly salary. At the same time in the neighbouring
Georgia they pay 22% ($25,3) out of the average monthly salary $115,
and in Azerbaijan – 8,9% ($17,4) out of $196.

Economist Tatul Manaseryan said in connection with it, that if, for
instance, local calls are free in the USA, there is no principle
difference between the external and local telephone calls in
Armenia. ‘One can say in this context that in Armenia they don’t take
into account the paying capacity of citizens, whereas this factor is
important in other states.

Moreover, in the USA the socially vulnerable groups are given
privileges in the matter of paying for the telephone calls’, –
he emphasized.