Author: Tavakalian Edgar

ORPHANAGES WILL BE LICENSED

Lragir.am
13 June 06

After the adoption of amendments to the law on licensing on June 13
licensing of orphanages is obligatory in Armenia. Aghvan Vardanyan,
the minister of work and social security, said there are 8 state and
6 private orphanages.

The ministry is entitled to control on maintaining the required
conditions in orphanages and record of homeless children. According
to the minister, the number of private orphanages is growing, and
the changes made to the law will enable more effective control on
orphanages as well as on the procedure of adopting.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 9 2006

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR FOCUSED ON UNIVERSITIES STABLE DEVELOPMENT TO
BE HELD FRIDAY IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. International seminar focused on
universities stable development is to be held Friday in Yerevan.
Armenian State Engineering University’s press service says that the
seminar is organized as part of TEMPUS-TACIS JEP project.
The aim of the project is to discuss and amend the University’s
strategic scheme for training its administration members and that for
running its branches in provinces.
Representatives of French, Italian, Maltese and the U.S. universities
are expected to come to Armenia for the seminar.
Representatives of TEMPUS Office in Armenia and Italian and French
embassies in Yerevan will attend the event as well. M.V. -0–

More Russian military hardware pulled out of Georgian base, en route to
Armenia

AP Worldstream; Jun 08, 2006

A convoy of Russian military trucks and other hardware left a Soviet-era
base in Georgia en route to Armenia on Thursday, in the latest pullout of
Russian military equipment from the Caucasus Mountain nation.
After months of contentious negotiations, Georgia and Russia reached
agreement last year on pulling Russian forces out of two bases.
Thursday’s convoy of 40 vehicles and other material from the Black Sea port
of Batumi was headed to the Russian base at Gyumri, Armenia, said Col.
Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy commander of the Russian troops in the southern
Caucasus.
Another 15 vehicles from another base at Akhalkalaki will join the convoy en
route, he said.
Both bases are scheduled to be fully closed by the end of 2008, with much of
the equipment to be sent to Gyumri.
The agreement to withdraw Russian forces from Georgia was a victory for
pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has sought to reduce Russian
influence.

RA AND NKR CONTROL CHAMBERS SIGNED COOPERATION AGREEMENT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
June 8 2006

June 7 Nagorno Karabakh Republic /NKR/ National Assembly Chair Ashot
Gulyan received RA Control Chamber delegation headed by the Chair Gagik
Voskanyan that had arrived in Stepanakert on a two-day working visit.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the NKR NA Press
Service, in the course of the meeting the parties had discussed the
issues referring to further development and raising efficiency of
cooperation between the two Republics’ Parliaments.

Welcoming development of cooperation between both Parliaments’ Control
Chambers, Ashot Gulyan underscored the importance of intention to lay
legal groundwork for the partnership. In his words, the cooperation
agreement will enable to raise the process to a higher level and
consecutively develop the document’s principles.

According to the NKR Parliament Speaker, conclusion of the agreement
actually marks a qualitatively new phase in the sphere of cooperation.

In his turn, RA NA Control Chamber Chair Gagik Voskanyan noted
although great work had been implemented, there was still a lot to be
done. In his opinion, both Chambers’ cooperation needs expansion and
intensification, as well as raising efficiency. He stressed unlike past
years there was a task to cooperate on the legal basis, so the parties
had reached accommodation to sign an interstate document between both
Parliaments’ Control Chambers. Gagik Voskanyan said the juridical
document provided a number of provisions, according to which the
sides pledge some engagements aimed at mutual visits’ organization,
exchange of experience, training and further training of staff,
conduct of researches and resolution of a number of other issues.

In conclusion of the meeting chairs of RA and NKR Parliaments’ Control
Chambers Gagik Voskanyan and Eduard Barseghyan signed an agreement
on cooperation between the Chambers.

RUSSIA WITHDRAWING FROM GEORGIA ACCORDING TO PLAN – COMMANDER -1

RIA Novosti, Russia
June 08, 2006

TBILISI, June 6 (RIA Novosti) – Another train with Russian military
hardware from a Soviet-era military base in Georgia departed from the
former Soviet republic according to plan, a senior Russian military
officer said Thursday.

Major-General Andrei Popov, in command of the Russian troops in the
South Caucasus, said the train had departed from the Black Sea base
of Batumi. He added that the remaining equipment at the base could be
removed by three trains, whereas 15 trains would be needed to withdraw
the remaining hardware from a base in Akhalkalaki in southern Georgia.

“The equipment is being removed according to schedule and without
any problems,” Popov said.

Under an agreement Russia and Georgia signed March 31, Russian
troops and hardware are to leave Georgia’s two Soviet-era bases in
Akhalkalaki and Batumi by 2008. The pullout from Akhalkalaki, about
30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border with Turkey, a NATO member,
is to be completed by December 2006.

Trains carrying equipment from the Akhalkalaki base depart once a
week from a railway station in Tsalka, 100 kilometers (62 miles)
east of the base, Popov said.

The withdrawal is being monitored by a joint Georgian-Russian
commission set up under the March agreement.

The bulk of Russia’s weapons will return to Russia and the rest of
it will be delivered to a Russia military base in Armenia.

“NAGORNO KARABAKH HAS NEVER BEEN PART OF AZERBAIJAN”

A1+
[04:42 pm] 09 June, 2006

Today in club “Mirror” leader of the Democratic Liberal Union of
Armenia Seyran Avagyan and political scientist Alexander Manasyan tried
to find ways of settling the Karabakh conflict favorable for Armenia
and to comment the results of the last two meetings of Kocharyan
and Aliev.

According to Seyran Avagyan, Armenia tries to bring about peace in
the region, whereas Azerbaijan tries to delay the settlement of the
conflict which was especially obvious during the last meeting. The
international community is well aware of the approaches of the two
countries. “The delay has nothing to do with diplomacy. It is just a
way to hide their inability”, said Seyran Avagyan and added that the
coming generations must not be charged with the task of settling the
conflict as that would not be moral.

Alexander Manasyan thinks that there have been changes in the
negotiation field and in the policy of Azerbaijan. For example,
during the last meeting the two Presidents were offered documents
to sign which testifies to the fact that the mediators have adopted
a new strategy. “We must underline that historically, legally and
factually Nagorno Karabakh has never been part of Azerbaijan “,
the political scientist claims.

As for the delay of the settlement, Mr. Manasyan is not worried about
it. “If we can change the overall impression of the conflict in favor
of us, there will be no other problems”, he mentions.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE-CHAIRMAN TREATS TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP TO EU WITH SOME RESERVATION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 07 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. It is planned to hold a
conference with participation of parliamentarians of 25 country-members
of EU, European Parliament, parliamentarians of countries included
in the New Neighborhood program in late 2006 in Brussels to discuss
the prospects of development of parliaments’ cooperation under lack
of the European Constitution.

European Parliament Vice-Chairman Edward Macmillan-Scott informed
about it on June 7, when meeting with the Coordinating Group of the
Business and Parliament International Association led by RA National
Assembly Vice-Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian.

MPs from RA National Assembly groups and factions are included in
the group.

The European Parliament Vice-Chairman coordinates cooperation among
parliaments of EU member-states, countries included in the New
Neighborhood program and countries of Mediterranean Sea basin.

According to Edward Macmillan-Scott, the European Parliament tries
to increase the involvement of national parliaments in cooperation,
in particular, in the issue of bringing the national legislation
in correspondence with the European one. According to him, the
role of the national parliaments should be raised in the issue of
harmonization of the legislation. The European guest mentioned that a
general-united approach should be shown, while only separate issues
are solved today. As the prevailing majority of the laws adopted
at the European Parliament is connected with economic activity and
business environment, the outlined cooperation will be just in the
sphere of harmonization of the economic legislation.

RA NA Vice-Speaker considers this a new possibility: only the sphere
of human rights, the reforms of the Constitution and the criminal
legislation have been mainly involved in the European integration
process up to this day. He mentioned that among CIS countries Armenia
distinguishes itself by its liberal economic legislation, but it has
problems in practice. NA Vice-Speaker said that Armenia, in difference
to EU, should implement the harmonization of the legislation in
conditions of closed borders. Vahan Hovhannisian considers useful
the experience of the European Parliament. He also mentioned that the
European Parliament managed to move the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
to a new stage: a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides
has been twice organized in Brussels, within the framework of the
OSCE Minsk Group. The third meeting is to be held in Belgium during
the coming month.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from NA Public Relations Department,
Coordinating Group member Grigor Ghonjeyan, who is also a member
of the EU-Armenia Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission, noted
that Armenia is not presented as a possible member of EU in any
document adopted at the commission, even as a member in the distant
future. In thess conditions he prognoses some difficulties in the
process of bringing the economic legislation in correspondence with
the European one.

E.Macmillan-Scott mentioned that two models are in circulation at
EU today.

The French-German model envisages rather a large area of EU extension.

Meanwhile, a decision was adopted in January, according to which the
Ukraine is considered a country on the way of membership to EU. In
this case why not Armenia, Georgia or Azerbaijan?, Scott emphasized. He
treats Turkey’s membership to EU with some reservation.

The Armenian parliamentarians also spoke about the Actions Plan
envisaged by the New Neighborhood policy. It was mentioned that the
three regional countries with their resources and achievements are
artifically equalized. They expressed an opinion that an individual
program should be implemented for each country.

The European Parliament Vice-Chairman wishes to apply equal principles
of cooperation and to provide exchange of experience among parliaments.

PRIMATE OF EASTERN DIOCESE OF AMERICA CONSECRATES SURB KARAPET CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Tapan
Jun 07 2006

NEW YORK, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. May 13 and 14 were
historic days for Armenian believers of the city of Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, U.S. and its surroundings: Surb Karapet Church opened its
doors in front of them.

Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian, the primate of the Eastern Diocese
of America of the Armenian Apostolic Church, accompanied by senior
priest Nerses Jebejian, the spiritual pastor of the church, monk
Aren Jebejian, the spiritual pastor of the Chicago Saint Gregory the
Illuminator Church and Supreme Archimandrite Ararat Galtakchian from
Canada fulfilled the opening ceremony of the Surb Karapet church and
entered the church with the official procession. Then His Holliness
primate implemented consecrating of the christening font. A reception
took place after the ceremony in the hall near the church.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Services of the Eastern
Diocese Primacy, on the same day, May 14, His Holiness Khazhak
consectrated the Surb Karapet church, celebrated the Surb Liturgy
and preached. Monks of the church sang during the ceremonies,
choir-master Khoren Meikhanejian was specially invited from New York
on that occasion.

60 Armenian families live particularly in the state of Louisiana who
are mainly from Syria and Lebanon. The community parish was founded
in 1980. The parish was formed during years by efforts and untiring
work of parishioners.

The main benefactor, godfather and parish council head of the church
is Vazgen Galtakchian.

THE POWER OF DISCIPLINE
Aram Abrahamian

Aravot.am
06 June 06

The victory of our combined team in the 37th World Olympiad of
Chess comes to prove that Armenia, which has less than 3 millions of
population, can compete with the most developed and rich countries
and win them in some spheres. I think the main reason of it is that
our nation is gifted by talented persons.

But sometimes the plenty of those individuals is “compensated”
by bad discipline, lack of diligence, martial spirit and not strong
nerves. When those gifted persons are being succeeded in discipline,
Armenians can work wonders.

My words have no connection with what the RA President calls
“disciplined state”. When there are some hundreds persons who
depend on the “king” and whose the latter can say “guys go there,
guys come here”, it is very pleasant for the ”king” but is too far
from discipline and is too close to the Asian ”bedlam”. Fredric
Engels who is out of mode nowadays but isn’t fool at all cites with
pleasure in one of his books Napoleon’s judgment about that two
mamluks /soldiers of the Egypt sultan/ will win three Frenchmen,
the strength of 100 mamluks is equal to 100 Frenchmen, 300 Frenchmen
will win 300 mamluks and finally 1500 mamluks will be won by 1000
Frenchmen. That means as far we go from personal level as important
the degree of civilization and discipline is.

Our problem is to be a Frenchman” and not “mamluk”.

The victory of our chess combined team was of course combined. Our
guys were personally strong but there were stronger together for four
times. But the times have been changed; when Yerevan “Ararat” won the
Cup of the Soviet Union in 1973 the citizens were rejoicing together
in the streets. But today such sincere rejoicing is impossible. But
it doesn’t mean we weren’t support our team.

Speaking about the victory of the Armenian chess players it wouldn’t
be fair not to mention the merit of the chairman of Chess Federation
Serge Sargsian temporary putting aside his political activities. But
on the other hand being the best in the world in this game is also
a policy. Policy with a good meaning of that word.

–Boundary_(ID_tpLgA4mFtEhQHVYeASlZeA)–

ROUNDTABLE ON NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 17:57

Roundtable on “National Strategy and National Plan of Action to Combat
Trafficking in Armenia” will be held on 8 June 2006 in Yerevan.

The event is organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan in close
co-operation with the Armenian Inter-Agency Commission with the US
State Department support.

The roundtable aims to discuss the implementation of the current
National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (NPA)
and the development of a new one. International experts–Hana Snajdrova
from the Czech Ministry of Interior and Liliana Sorrentino from the
OSCE Anti-Trafficking Assistance Unit will share their experience in
this field.

The event will be opened by Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head
of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Mr. Valery Mkrtoumian, Chairman of
the Inter-Agency Commission on Anti-Trafficking Issues and Head of
the International Organizations Department of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry and Ms. Blanka Hancilova, Democratization Officer at the
OSCE Office in Yerevan.