Author: Kanayan Tamar

RA GOVERNMENT TO RENDER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON

Yerevan, July 26. ArmInfo. RA Government has made a decision at today’s
special session on rendering a humanitarian assistance to Lebanon,
suffered from military actions.

As ArmInfo was told in the Government’s press-office, it was
resolved to send medicaments, tents and preparations to Lebanon as a
humanitarian assistance. It was also decided to send a humanitarian
cargo on July 27 evening by Yerevan- Allelo charter route.

As Gagik Yeganyan, the Head of the Migration Agency, informed, 550
people from Lebanon and 54 people from Israel have arrived to Armenia
during these days. He also said that 120 people more will arrive to
Armenia from Allelo July 27 by a charter route. The majority of the
evacuated people, as to Yeganyan, are citizens of Armenia. However,
he noted, there are citizens of other countries among them: 49 Lebanese
and 2 Israeli. It was noted at the session that the number of evacuated
people is growing day by day. Meanwhile, many of them have no relatives
in Armenia. In view of this, the Government has discussed the issue
of rendering a necessary assistance to these persons.

ARARAT GOLD RECOVERY COMPANY MAY LOSE LICENSE

Lragir.am
26 July 06

The minister of trade and economic development Karen Chshmarityan
told July 26 that Ararat Gold Recovery Company is looking for a
site to build a new factory outside the basin of Lake Sevan. The
government of Armenia had turned down the offer of the company to
build a factory 30 km from Lake Sevan for environmental reasons.
Afterwards the company had suggested that the government offer a site
to avoid more expenses on bills of quantities.

Besides, Karen Chshmarityan informed that the company is facing
problems with the Armenian legislation, it extended its problems to
the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and "as far as I know,
AGRC admitted they are having problems." Karen Chshmarityan says
it is possible that the company will end up losing their license,
"Never say never."

Week of Armenian films to be held in Sao Paolo

ArmRadio.am
26.07.2006 12:00

In the framework of celebration of the 15th anniversary of the
independence of the Republic of Armenia September 19-24 a week of
Armenian films will be held in the largest cultural complex of Brazil –
the Sao Paolo Cultural Center.

Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs told
" ArmInfo" that 11 films of Sergey Parajanov, Harutyun Khachatryan,
Vigen Chaldranyan, Albert Lazarian Ruben Kochar, Hnri Vernoy and
Robert Keshishyan will be screened.

At the suggestion of the Brazilians, "My Sardarapat" musical film
will be shown as well. The event is being organized by joint efforts
of the Chief Consulate of Armenia in Brazil, RA Ministry of Culture
and Youth Affairs and the San Paolo Secretariat of Culture.

AVERAGE MONTHLY WAGE IN ARMENIA IN JAN-JUNE 2006 TOTALS AMD 59,618
($110.00 a month)

YEREVAN, July 20. /ARKA/. The average monthly nominal wage in Armenia in
January-June 2006 totals 59,618, 21.6% increase compared to January-June
2005, the Armenian National Statistics Service reports.
At the same time, the wage in the state budget sector totaled 41,844, 21.9%
higher than the level of January-June 2005, and compared to May, 3.5%
increase was recorded in June 2006. In the private sector the average
monthly wage totaled AMD 73,040 (20.7% higher than the level of January-June
2005 and 1.2% lower than the level of the previous month). 0.1% increase in
the general level of the average monthly wage was recorded in June 2006
compared to May.
The total money incomes of the Armenian population in January-June 2006 made
AMD 684,486.4mln, 17.4% increase compared to January-June 2005, the expenses
totaled AMD 685,371.8mln, 19.2% increase compared to January-June 2005.
At the same time, the amount of money incomes increased by 5.8% in June
compared to the level of the previous month, and the growth of money
expenses – by 0.7%. ($1 – AMD 417.46).

Refusal to accept responsibility

The Toronto Star
July 21, 2006 Friday

A mother’s hope turns to anguish
July 20.

Lately, we have been inundated with stories about the Lebanese
evacuations, and in particular, complaints from evacuees. Your latest
story about Lara Tcholakian fit this pattern.

Tcholakian and her husband work for U.S.-based firms and live
year-round in Armenia. They went to Beirut to visit her husband’s
family at a time when the U.S. and Canada were warning its citizens
not to travel there. Suddenly, having put themselves in harm’s way,
Tcholakian discovers her Canadian roots and demands immediate service
from the Canadian government (not the Armenian government, nor the
U.S. government).

Her mother is blaming the government and Stephen Harper for her
daughter’s dilemma. It seems that if anything goes wrong with any
Canadian citizen, the government and, by extension, the Prime Minister
are responsible.

What has happened to our society, where we complain about and make
demands of our government whenever we get ourselves into trouble? We
have turned into a bunch of crybabies, refusing to take responsibility
for our own welfare.

Sigmund Roseth, Mississauga

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT FORCED TO MISS INFORMAL CIS SUMMIT IN MOSCOW

Yerevan, July 21. ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is
forced to miss the informal CIS summit to be held in Moscow July 21.

The presidential press service reports Kocharyan to have acute
infectious respiratory disease.

To remind, during the summit Kocharyan was to meet with Russian
President Vladimir Putin. Azeri media reported that Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev will also take part in the summit while the head of the
international relations department of Aliyev’s executive staff Novruz
Mamedov told Space TV company that Kocharyan and Aliyev might meet
during the summit.

Fresh apricots there for the picking

Mail Tribune, OR
July 19 2006

By REBECCA WOOD

For those who have dallied amid apricot trees bearing ripe fruit,
it makes perfect sense that nectar was the drink of the gods.

Though my Oxford English Dictionary does not associate the apricot
with nectar, common usage does, and it’s an association that I have
never doubted.

These aromatic, sensuous, buttery fruits originated in Armenia and
were purportedly brought to the West by Alexander the Great. The word
apricot is from the Latin, praecoquum, and means "early ripe."

The best apricots are plump, juicy and soft. Their malic and citric
acid content give a lemony, plum-like flavor to this otherwise sweet
fruit. It’s a cousin to peaches, plums, almonds and cherries.

For an apricot to have a good flavor, it must be fully ripe when
picked; it then keeps no more than a few days. This explains why
most of the commercial crop are canned, preserved or dried and only
8 percent are available fresh.

Advertisement

We’re fortunate to have a local and organic U-Pick orchard – Valley
View Orchards in Ashland. They provide the buckets, and you can
harvest your own or purchase already-picked apricots.

Call 488-2840 for directions and hours. Valley View Orchards kindly
provides shady picnic tables for customers. So indulge yourself
for an afternoon of pleasure. Should you miss the apricot season,
the nectarine and peach season are close at hand.

Look for apricots during early summer and purchase those that yield
to a light touch and are golden all over with a rosy blush. Avoid
firm apricots with traces of green – they’ll remain sour.

Also avoid those that are overly soft, bruised, wilted or shriveled,
as they quickly decay. Handle apricots tenderly, as they bruise easily
and bruising causes rapid spoiling.

Apricots are delicious both raw and cooked. Raw, enjoy them out of
hand or add them to chutney, salsa, fresh fruit soup, smoothies,
sorbet, ice cream, salad or yogurt dishes or use as a garnish.

Cooked apricots enhance pies, cakes, crumbles and quick breads and can
be canned, candied or stewed. Their sweet-but-tart flavor compliments
meat – traditionally pork, veal and poultry. Substitute apricots
freely for peaches, mangos, papaya or nectarines.

Unlike the skin of apples or peaches, apricot skins are so tender
that they don’t require peeling. Once pitted, a squeeze of lemon
juice prevents the flesh from darkening.

Refrigerate apricots to prevent over-ripening and plan to use them
as quickly as possible. To heighten their flavor, however, serve at
room temperature.

Apricots have laxative properties. As their bright orange color
indicates, they’re an excellent source of beta carotene an antioxidant
that may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Apricots are an excellent source of copper, cobalt and iron. These
minerals make them medicinal for blood-related disorders such as
anemia, acne, toxemia and tuberculosis.

Apricot kernels are a good source of amygdaline. This controversial
compound is thought to prevent cancer. It’s also known as vitamin
B-17 and laetrile.

In excess, however, the kernels may
be poisonous, so use with caution. See
ries/02life.htm.

MUM HEARS FROM KIDS AFTER LEBANON ESCAPE

Bulletin Wire
July 19, 2006 Wednesday

A Sydney mother has had an emotional telephone reunion with her
teenage son and daughter, members of an Armenian dance troupe who
have escaped war-torn Lebanon.

Rosemary Arabian, 16, and her brother Sion, 15, are members of the
Sydney-based Sevan Dance Group. The troupe’s 45 young performers, with
36 parents and supervisors are now safe in the Jordanian capital Amman.

The federal government organised three buses to pick up the group
and other Australian citizens from their Beirut hotel.

The convoy drove to the Syria capital Damascus early on Monday night
(AEST), before heading to Jordan.

Tatiana Arabian had her first conversation with her children since
they fled Lebanon on the Nine Network’s Today program this morning.

"Everything’s really fine. We’re all fine. There’s nothing to worry
about," Rosemary told her mother by telephone from Amman.

"I’m good, Mum. We’re all fine."

Ms Arabian told Sion she was anxious for the pair to return to Sydney.

"I miss you so much," he said.

With tears in her eyes, Ms Arabian replied: "You can’t believe how
much I miss you, both of you. We all miss you".

"I love you heaps. I love you heaps. You and Rose. I just want you to
come home and we can’t wait for that plane, you know, and we’ll come
to the airport first thing in the morning, whenever you are coming."

Ms Arabian then urged Sion and Rosemary to stay together.

"You just take care, okay? And you just stick together. And don’t
misbehave," she said.

"I love you, okay?"

Sion replied: "I love you too".

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee
Eastern Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Contact: Sharistan Ardhaldjian
Tel: 917 428 1918
Fax: 718 651 3637
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

COURT DATE SET FOR MASSACHUSETTS LAWSUIT
SEEKING TO BLOCK TEACHING OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

BOSTON, MA – A hearing date on whether or not to consider an Assembly of
Turkish American Associations (ATAA) backed lawsuit to compel the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts to include denialist material in their
Armenian Genocide curriculum resource materials has been set for September
18th, reported the Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts.

U.S. District Chief Judge Mark Wolf scheduled a hearing for oral arguments
on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts motion to dismiss the lawsuit, filed by
the ATAA, two teachers and a student.

"We welcome the scheduling of a hearing date and look forward to the court
taking this opportunity to dismiss this clearly unfounded and deeply flawed
lawsuit," said ANC of Eastern Massachusetts Chair Sharistan Ardaljian. "The
authors of this suit – in acting as effective surrogates for Armenian
Genocide deniers in Ankara – have committed a grave disservice to the truth,
to the cause of tolerance, and the growing worldwide movement to prevent
genocide."

The ATAA lawsuit calls for the inclusion of their website in a list of
educational sources for teachers, as part of a teacher’s guide on genocide
education provided by the State. The ATAA lawsuit also calls for the
addition of other websites, including that of the Embassy of the Republic of
Turkey, which the ATAA had lobbied to include in the guide, but were
disqualified because they denied the Armenian Genocide, in direct
contravention of the Massachusetts statute requiring the teaching of the
Armenian Genocide.

Soon after the lawsuit was introduced, the Massachusetts District Attorney’s
office had filed a motion to dismiss the case. The Armenian Bar Association
joined with the Armenian National Committee of America, Jewish Alliance for
Law and Social Action, the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP), and Irish Immigration Center, in filing a friend of
the court brief in March 2006, in support of the dismissal, arguing that
inclusion of Genocide denial materials in the curriculum would fly in the
face of repeated Massachusetts proclamations and State Resolutions properly
characterizing the Armenian Genocide as ‘genocide.’ The collective brief
may be read at: ae.pdf

#####

WHY THEY REMEMBER SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CARE WHEN THEY SAY CORRUPTION

Lragir.am
19 July 06

Agmak NGO (National Center for Monitoring of Liberalization) monitored
four directions of activities of the City Hall of Yerevan on a grant
provided by the state budget of Armenia. Agmak monitored auction
of land, the one window principle, education and the quality of
medicaid. The results of the monitoring were summed up on July 19.
The results are not reassuring.

The monitoring of three schools in each community in Yerevan showed
that the school councils do not work properly. Though in accordance
with the law a school council elects a director, there is a school in
Yerevan where the director changed the members of the school council.
Generally, as the chair of Agmak Lusineh Margaryan said, "in fact,
elections of school councils are not held at all". With regard to
raising money at schools on one occasion or another 36.8 percent
said this phenomenon is growing dangerously. "60 percent think the
school is corrupt." 60 percent think in senior school attendance is
unsatisfactory because schools fail to guarantee the level required
for universities. Only 4-5 percent pointed to the lack of adequate
control as the cause of low attendance.

The major complaint from medicaid is "if you do not pay, they are
not conscientious and are rude". 11.7 percent said medicaid does not
work and in polyclinics they demand that people pay. 41 percent always
or regularly pay doctors in polyclinics, 36.5 percent announced that
they pay to get normal medical service, 31.8 percent pay because they
are made to pay and only 19 percent pay because they want to pay.

57.4 percent of our citizens know about the one window principle in
the City Hall, 30 percent are satisfied. As 6 percent said they pay
doctors because it is a custom, 46.9 percent prefer direct meeting
with officials to the one window principle. 75 percent say after the
introduction of the one window principle the activities of the City
Hall declined or did not change.

Agmak monitored 40 decisions on sale and rent of land in 2005 and in
the first quarter of 2006. 40 decisions decided the fate of 360 plots
of land. 69 plots were sold for the same price. "It is true that
neighboring plots of land can be sold for a similar price but not
for the same price," says Lusine Margaryan, the chair of Agmak. In
most cases the price of auction was lower than the market price by
25 percent. "It means immense sums did not go to the state budget."

Agmak announced the results of the monitoring for the public. Now it
is not clear if the relevant bodies will use these results. Meanwhile
Agmak reports that the City Hall has a lot of work to do.