Author: Karakhanian Suren

Dutch do their job
by Khachik Chakhoyan
Saturday, 3 September 2005
©uefa.com 1998-2005.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar scored twice and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie added another
goal as the Netherlands kept up their good position in UEFA European
Under-21 Championship qualifying Group 1 in Armenia.
Huntelaar double
The visitors were in control for most of the 90 minutes, but it was
not their fine passing game that yielded the first goal. Huntelaar
showed a moment of personal brilliance on 29 minutes when he received
a pass and sent the ball into the top corner of Armenian goal from
25 metres. With 12 minutes to go before the break, the Dutch doubled
their lead. Artur Stepanyan fouled Dwight Tiendalli in Armenia’s
penalty area, and Huntelaar was on hand to convert the penalty.
Victory sealed
However, after the break the first dangerous attack by Armenia resulted
in a goal. Vahe Tadevosyan’s corner came to Tigran Karabagtsyan,
who rose over the Dutch defence to power a header into the net. But
the Netherlands quickly replied, as their main playmaker Daniel De
Ridder spotted substitute Owusu-Abeyie on 76 minutes, and the striker
calmly finished. De Ridder and Eldridge Royer also hit the woodwork
in the first and second halves respectively.
October deciders
The Netherlands’ main challengers, Romania and the Czech Republic,
meet later. Whatever the result, victory for the Dutch in the Czech
Republic on 7 October and at home to F.Y.R. Macedonia four days
later would take them through to the play-offs. Armenia, in fifth,
end their fixtures on Tuesday in the Czech Republic.
–Boundary_(ID_/Z4em0G+kf5Iwi0NuQBNjA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA ISSUE CAN CHANGE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ATTITUDE TOWARD TURKEY
Pan Armenian News
03.09.2005 04:16
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “If Turkish authorities continue their attacks
of famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk due to his recognition of
the Armenian Genocide of 1915, many of us – those, who support
Turkey – will have to change their attitude toward that country,”
stated European Parliament member, British Laborite Denis MacShane,
reported RFE/RL referring to the Independent (UK). The other day
Turkish prosecution brought a charge against Pamuk, who stated a
few months before that Turks in their time had killed a million of
Armenians. In Denis MacShane’s words, “it is a painful strike for
the UK and all politicians, who support Turkey.”

OPPOSITION FULFILLED ITS MISSION IN THE PARLIAMENT
A1+
| 20:02:27 | 31-08-2005 | Politics |
“The authorities were beaten during the discussions as they were
not able to bring any counter-arguments to those brought about by
the opposition”, announced the leader of the National Unity Artashes
Geghamyan today in the Parliament.
He turned to the voters mentioning, “Saying “No” to the Referendum
will mean to say “No” to the organizers of the October 27 events,
to those who forged the Presidential elections of 1998 and 2003,
and the organizers of the April 12 events”.
Leader of the United Labor Party Gourgen Arsenyan said that they will
say “Yes” to the Constitution, but on the condition of holding free
and transparent voting.
Leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Levon Lazarian
reminded about the historical past of our country when we lost our
statehood failing each other. According to him, now we are facing
the same danger.
He called the deputies not to follow their personal or party
interests but those of the state which demands to say “Yes” to the
Constitutional amendments. BY the way, Both Levon Lazarian and
Tigran Torosyan repeated several times that the referendum cannot
be held with forgeries and that Armenia has not right to allow more
forgeries during any elections.
Leader of the Justice bloc Stepan Demirchyan announced in his speech
that the acting constitution too requires to hold fair and transparent
elections, but the present authorities have taken to steps to create
and atmosphere of trust and to punish the organizers of forgeries. The
TV Company “A1+” continues to be deprived of air, and the decision
of the Constitutional court to organize a confidence referendum has
not been realized. At the end of his speech Stepan Demirchyan called
the voters to say “No” to the Constitutional amendments.
After his speech the whole opposition, including the “National Unity”
left the Parliament hall. Neither will they participate in the
voting tomorrow. So, the opposition fulfilled its mission in the
Parliament. And tomorrow the coalition will do the same voting for
the draft Constitution which will be sent to Robert Kocharyan. The
third reading will most probably be on September 12.

DAY OF THE UNACCOUNTED-FOR MARKED
AZG Armenian Daily #154, 31/08/2005
Event
Vanadzor office of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly informs that at 12.00
o’clock August 30 an arrangement dedicated to unaccounted-for people
was held at business center of American University of Armenia. As
part of the event “Hope Dies Last” film shoot by Ecumenical
Peace Council of Netherlands was shown. Head of the office Artur
Saqunts represented issues concerning unaccounted-for people in the
conflict zones. Armenian lawmakers and representatives of local and
international NGOs and mass media took part in the discussions during
the event.

DISCUSSING THE CONSTITUTION
A1+
| 20:46:47 | 29-08-2005 | Politics |
Today the National Assembly discussed the Draft Constitution in a
special session. During the discussion one of the most disputable
issues was the immunity of the President. According to the draft,
“The President of Armenia cannot be persecuted either in the period
of governing or after it for actions proceeding from his status”. But
the President of Armenia can be impeached because of high treason or
another grave crime.
Aram Sargsyan, deputy of the Justice bloc mentioned that all the
actions of the President are represented as “proceeding from his
status”, that is many decisions not favorable for the nation can be
made for which no one can call the President to responsibility.
Manouk Gasparyan announced that if his two demands are accepted, he
will act as defender of the draft Constitution. One of the demands
was about the article of the President’s immunity, and the other was
about the indirect election of the Yerevan mayor.
“If the Yerevan mayor must be elected by the Yerevan alderman, it is
better for the President to appoint him”, said Manouk Gasparyan.
Tigran Torosyan mentioned that the coalition does not want the Yerevan
mayor to be appointed.
All the issues which were not cleared up by the Constitution were
explained by Tigran Torosyan that “Not everything must be regulated
with documents; there is the concept of political culture, within
the framework of which these issues must be solved”.

WATERTOWN HIGH CONTINUES TO ENHANCE ARMENIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Watertown TAB & Press, MA
Aug 26 2005
After meeting with representatives of the local Armenian-American
community this past summer, the superintendent of schools and principal
of Watertown Public High School have agreed that maintaining two
Armenian-language courses in the high school would better accommodate
the educational needs of the student population, reported the Armenian
National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts.
While students were off enjoying their summer vacation, local
ANC activists learned that the Watertown Public High School was
considering combining three levels of Armenian-language students into
one class with one teacher for the upcoming school year.
After investigating the issue, the ANC learned from parents and
students that there were more than 20 students of at least three levels
of Armenian language skills enrolled in the Armenian language classes,
which would have resulted in an inferior learning environment if the
classes were combined.
Since this was understandably a major concern for parents and
students, the ANC of Eastern Massachusetts raised the issue at a School
Committee meeting in June, and the Watertown TAB ran a front-page
story on the issue the following week, citing the concern of parents
with children enrolled in the classes.
The ANC met with Principal Michael Noftsker of Watertown High
School, a strong advocate of enriching programs which enhance
Watertown’s ethnic diversity. Noftsker shared the community’s concerns,
but was not sure a solution would be reached by the 2005-2006 school
year.
In a subsequent meeting with Watertown Superintendent of Schools
Steven Hiersche last month, ANC representatives again outlined the
issue and asked that the matter be reconsidered. The superintendent
assured the ANC that the decision to make the change was not related
to budget restrictions nor intended to diminish the Armenian language
program, agreeing that combining three language levels did not offer
an ideal learning environment for Watertown students, and he pledged
to work with Noftsker toward a solution.
The ANC of Eastern Massachusetts was pleased to learn soon after
that meeting that the Armenian-language courses would continue to be
taught as originally intended with at least two separate classes in
September 2005 addressing the different levels of students.
“We would like to thank Superintendent Hiersche and Principal
Noftsker for their commitment to the diverse educational needs of
Watertown students and for their deep understanding as we presented
the concerns of parents and students,” said Sharistan Ardhaldjian of
the ANC.
“We are proud that Watertown students are learning in the hands
of such committed leaders. We applaud the town of Watertown and
particularly the school system. Watertown High School is the only
area school that offers Armenian as one of its language courses,
in recognition of the diversity of local cultures, and we are glad
that students of all nationalities will continue to be able to learn
Armenian in the best possible environment in the public school system,”
said Ardhaldjian.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian-American
grassroots political organization in Massachusetts and nationwide.
The ANC actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the
Armenian-American community.

EGYPT’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY INVESTS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily #151, 26/08/2005
Healthcare
A new department opened at Mari Nupar Ophthalmologic Clinic of the
Yerevan State Medical University yesterday. The first and second
stages of the clinic re-equipment project in 2004/05 years was carried
out thanks to the funds of national gymnasium of Egypt’s Armenian
community and individual donors in Egypt. One of the first healthcare
institutions of Armenia built in 1928-29 has been functioning as
ophthalmologic clinic ever since.
The clinic receives 5.000-7.000 patients, mostly children, each year.
“Disabled people suffering from ophthalmologic diseases form the second
large group after cardiologic ones in our country”, head of the clinic,
chief ophthalmologist of Armenia Armen Shakarian said. He noted that
90 percent of these diseases usually come about in early years, and
this makes it more important to find the symptoms of the illness soon
and to offer corresponding treatment. After the opening ceremony,
the guests and friends of the clinic walked through the operation
room and wards. “I am very satisfied and will continue my work. Why
should not I donate?”, Egyptian-Armenian Martin Kirakosian said.
Around $200.000 was invested for obtaining equipment and repair. Donors
point out enthusiastically that the number of benefactor rose from
3 to 36 in the second stage. The head of the clinic said that thanks
to the new equipment the quality and level of diagnose has improved.

EUROPEAN OFFICIAL CALLS AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA FOR PEACEFUL KARABAKH SOLUTION
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
23 Aug 05
[Presenter] The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe [PACE], Rene van der Linden, has ended his visit
to Azerbaijan. At a news conference he gave on the results of his
meetings, the PACE president said that Baku and Yerevan should resolve
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem peacefully if they wanted to continue
the course of integration into Europe.
[Linden at news conference, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over]
As newly-elected president of PACE, I visited countries which have
recently become members of the body [as heard]. I discussed the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The conflict
might be solved only in a peaceful manner. If Azerbaijan wants to
join the European Union, then it must solve the conflict, but only
peacefully. I am convinced that this is important to the region’s
future. Only in this way the region will become a stable part of Europe
in the future. I am very pleased at the fact the presidents of the two
countries base their positions on this principle alone. Moreover,
a peaceful solution to the conflict is important to Armenia as
well. Because it is currently in isolation in the region. It should
have economic cooperation with neighbouring countries.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Linden] There are difficult times ahead for the two countries. A
referendum and a parliamentary election will be held in Armenia and
Azerbaijan respectively. I think that the two countries have to carry
out these events as transparently as possible which will give a then
a good chance of showing the development of democracy.

Azeri opposition leader testifies in alleged Armenian spy’s criminal case
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
24 Aug 05

Baku, 24 August: The chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party (reformists) was summoned to the department for investigation
into grave crimes of the Prosecutor-General’s Office yesterday.
He was questioned as a witness in the criminal case against the leader
of Yeni Fikir youth movement, Ruslan Basirli [who was arrested for
alleged collaboration with Armenian special services].
Karimli told journalists that he had answered many questions about
this burning issue. Karimli said he could not specify what kind of
questions he had been asked. “I testified as a witness and have no
right to disclose the questions so as not to undermine the course of
the investigation.” Karimli said that the department was respectful
to him.

International Water Power and Dam Construction, UK
Aug 24 2005
EBRD funding for Armenian project
24 August 2005
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is
lending US$1.3M to set up a small hydro plant on the Yeghegis river
in Armenia.
Bazenc CJSC will use the loan to install a second turbine at the
Yeghegis plant which, while only working for three summer months,
will increase the company’s total electricity production by 23%. The
electricity will be sold to the Armenian government, under guarantees
lasting until 2016, at prices negotiated once a year.
Energy supply has been a critical issue for Armenia since
independence in 1991. The EBRD is also supporting Bazenc in acquiring
a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) status for its mini-hydro
projects under the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and limiting global warming.
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