Author: Tambiyan Samvel

ROBERT KOCHARYAN REBUKES VARDAN OSKANYAN FOR ABUSE OF POWER
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30. ARMINFO. Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan
rebuked Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan for both abuse of power
and giving the ministerial car to his son Ara Oskanyan committing an
automobile-pedestrian accident, Oskanyan himself informed journalists
today.
He stressed that the health of the victim (who get better) is the
most important thing now. Oskanyan noted that he takes the blame for
the occurrence upon himself assuring the presents that he will not
act such hastily in future.

CEASEFIRE BREACHES BY ARMENIA PERSIST
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 1 2005
Baku, August 31, AssA-Irada
The monitoring by OSCE and other international organizations on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline aimed at preventing ceasefire violations
have turned out fruitless. Armenians have stepped up activity in
their positions close to the frontline over the past several months
and continue breaching ceasefire in different areas. In August alone,
one Azeri warrant officer was taken captive by Armenia, another one
died on the frontline, and 2 military men stepped on a landmine,
with one dying on the spot and the other receiving serious injuries.
Armenian armed forces have violated ceasefire over 20 times over the
past month.
They shot at the Azerbaijani positions 8 times in the occupied
Aghdam district, 11 times in Terter, once in Fuzuli and three times
in Khojavand district. The villages located close to the frontline
were repeatedly subjected to shooting as well.
Armenian forces also opened fire from cannons and armored vehicles
in Aghdam. Armenian military men have started large-scale military
training in the district, Azeri experts say.*

TO STUDY FOR THE SAKE OF THE REPUBLIC
A1+
| 18:48:14 | 31-08-2005 | Official |
The RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan congratulated the pupils,
students, teachers and parents on the beginning of the new school
year and the Knowledge day.
It is mentioned in the message that “this day obliges us to get as much
knowledge as possible and to enrich our physical and mental abilities
in order to contribute to the future development of our country”.
The Prime Minister also voiced hope that “As a result of the
educational reforms realized in our country and the efforts of the
teachers and professors the success will be more than real”.

CATHOLICOS KAREKIN II NOT TO VISIT JAVAKHK
YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Priest Vahram
Melikian, the head of the Press Service of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin disproved the news about a visit to be paid to Javakhk by
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians. He mentioned that nothing
like that is envisaged. To recap, the presvios day, the “A-Info”
agency spread news, according to which His Holiness would visit
Javakhk on October 1.

Pravda, Russia
Aug 24 2005
Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijanian foreign ministers’ meeting for
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict discussion
10:51 2005-08-24
The foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan were slated
to meet in Moscow on Wednesday for discussions of the conflict over
the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave and a planned meeting this week between
the two Caucasus nations’ presidents, the Interfax news agency
reported.
“Negotiations have intensified noticeably over the past six months,”
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov was quoted as saying
Tuesday, referring to talks on Nagorno-Karabakh that have been
mediated by Russia, the United States and France, AP reports.
The bloodshed began after the legislature of the ethnic
Armenian-dominated enclave in Azerbaijan called in 1988 for the
region to be incorporated into Armenia, which like Azerbaijan was
then still a Soviet republic. Full-scale military offensives broke
out in 1991; thousands were killed and a million displaced.
A tense cease-fire has held since 1994 but efforts to finally resolve
Nagorno-Karabakh’s status have repeatedly failed.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart
Ilham Aliev are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of a summit of the
Commonwealth of Independent States in Russia’s Volga River city of
Kazan on Friday, Interfax said.

Armenpress
STRONG WINDS AFFECT ALSO SHIRAK PROVINCE
GYUMRI, AUGUST 23, ARMENPRESS: A strong wind that caused serious damages
to Armenian province of Aragatsotn on August 21, has affected also another
province of Shirak in the north-west of the country destroying crops in
several rural communities.
The wind bursts with a speed of 20 meters per second have ripped away
roofing of houses, causing also damages to high-voltage power lines blacking
out the town of Artik and several villages and disrupting also telephone
communication.
The biggest damage is said to have been sustained by those rural
communities which have not yet gathered crops, which was destroyed almost
completely in some areas. Shirak governor has set up two commissions to
assess the overall amount of damages and submit its findings to the
government

Armenian National Committee
of Eastern Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown MA 02452
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
August 22, 2005
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTED TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Continues To Enhance Armenian language Program
WATERTOWN, MA–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 (ANC) 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 over 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. Principal 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 Principal 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,’ stated 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,’ added Ardhaldjian.
The Armenian National Committee (ANC) 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.
####
Note to editor: Photo attached.
Photo caption: John Avedissian, Watertown Superintendent of Schools Steven
Hiersche, Sharistan Ardhaldjian

THE REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IS OF CRUCIAL SIGNIFICANCE
TO ARMENIA, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the RA Presidential
press service, issues related to honoring Armenia’s commitments towards
the Council of Europe, particularly the process of the constitutional
reforms, were discussed at the August 19 meeting between the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian and the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) President Rene van der Linden who is on a
visit to Yerevan. R. Kocharian emphasized that the Constitutional
reform is being implemented with confidence that first of all it is
necessary for us. Noting that the amendments made should be in line
with European standards, he appreciated the assistance provided by
the Venice Commision. According to R. Kocharian, the referendum
on constitutional reforms to be held in November is of crucial
significance to Armenia and the authorities will be consistent in
order to succeed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POISONING CASES INCREASE IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. 543 cases of poisoning were fixed
in Armenia during the first half of 2005, as a result of what 9
people died and 592 were injured. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed by the RA Department for Emergency Situations (DES),
this year the number of cases of poisoning inreased by 140, compared
with the same period of 2004. According to the DES, poisoning increase
was fixed in January-February. If during the first quarter, cases
of gas-poisoning increase, during the second and third quarters,
food and alcohol poisoning increases. As it was in the past, the
most part of cases of poisoning took place as a result of usage of
alcoholic drinkings of bad quality. 75 cases of poisoning beause of
smag and natural gaz leakage were fixed during thw first half of the
month. 7 people died because of carbon monoxideas, and 84 people,
icluding 6 children were injured. 14 people, including 1 child were
injured because of gas leakage.

Political Analyst Expects No Results from Azeri, Armenian Presidents’ Meeting
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 19 2005
A political scholar sees no grounds for expecting positive results
from the upcoming meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in
Kazan, Russia.
“The meeting will not be any more important than the previous ones,”
analyst Rasim Musabayov told AssA-Irada.
Musabayov said the previous meeting of the two presidents held in
Key West, USA yielded no results despite its high level.
“I believe the chances for results at Kazan meeting are 50-50. It
may be fruitful or fruitless. The previous experience shows that the
sides tend to take final steps backward instead of forward when they
reach the decisive point. Therefore, I can’t say ahead of time that
the meeting will be beneficial,” he said.
Musabayov said the current positions of the conflicting sides are
contradictory, as Azerbaijan calls for withdrawal of Armenian forces
from the occupied territories, while Armenia – determination of the
Nagorno Karabakh status.
“From this viewpoint, the positions of the sides are not getting any
closer. If a compromise alternative is found, the issue can be moved
forward from the current deadlock,” Musabayov said.
As for the liberation of seven occupied districts around Karabakh,
the analyst said freeing them simultaneously will be difficult.
“Liberation of the occupied regions based on the ‘5+1+1’ formula
seems real,” he said.
The formula envisions freeing five Azeri regions from under Armenian
occupation first, followed by signing of a peace accord and liberation
of the other two regions.
Musabayov went on to say that the general situation with the Karabakh
conflict has changed in favor of Azerbaijan over the recent period.
Russia’s positions in the South Caucasus are weakening, this
country’s military bases are being withdrawn from Georgia, while
Armenia is losing communication links with Russia, which is in favor
of Azerbaijan, he said. Armenia is concerned over this, said Musabayov.
“Russia, which is the eternal ally of Armenia, understands too that
it will lose its positions in the Caucasus by prolonging the conflict
resolution.”
Musabayov said that another factor stipulating Azerbaijan’s prevalent
position is that the country’s financial potential is increasing.
Whereas military spending of Armenia makes up $200 million per year,
the figure is $300 million in Azerbaijan.
The political analyst pointed out that Azerbaijan’s potential will
allow spending $500 million for the military in 2006 and bringing
the figure to $1 billion in two years.
Armenia would have to commit its entire budget for defense in order
to withstand competition, which is impossible, he said.
“Armenians therefore think they should take a step today rather than
be forced to accept peace in a few years. These are the factors giving
a positive impetus to peace. But it is difficult to say whether this
will be enough for Armenia to give up its persistence,” he added.