Author: Tumanian Talar

2 tree trimmers held in beheading on the Alley

By Juan Ortega and Sallie James
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
August 21, 2007 12:00 AM

Her head was found with a grocery bag, pulled from an Everglades canal
nearly four months ago.

Now she has a name ? Lorraine Hatzakorzian, 41, of Long Island.

Broward County sheriff’s detectives have in custody two suspects, Paul
Bryan Trucchio, 33, and Robert Mackey, 39, of Port Orange. The two tree
trimmers are charged with felony first-degree murder.

Detectives from three agencies, two in Florida and one in New York,
weaved together the case against Trucchio and Mackey using DNA, a
missing persons report, witness accounts and the suspects’ own boasts,
officials said.

"The family was devastated to learn what happened, and they’re hopefully
going to have some type of psychological closure," said Lt. Bob O’Neil
with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. "We’re very happy that it was
resolved."

Hatzakorzian lived with her mother in Mastic, N.Y., and the mother
reported her disappearance April 21, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The head was discovered a week later, on April 28, in a canal near Mile
Marker 35.7 along the Alligator Alley section of Interstate 75.

GAZPROM TO RESTORE GAS SUPPLIES TO GEORGIA, ARMENIA SOON

Interfax, Russia
Aug 20 2007

MOSCOW. Aug 20 (Interfax) – Russian gas concern Gazprom (RTS: GAZP)
is to restore gas supplies to Georgia and Armenia soon, which were
temporarily halted on Monday morning due to scheduled repairs,
a source in the company told Interfax.

"Due to scheduled repairs in preparation for the fall-winter period
of operations on the Georgian section of the North Caucasus – Trans-
Caucasus gas pipeline, gas supplies to Armenia and Georgia have been
temporarily halted from 10:00 Moscow time on August 20," Gazprom said.

"In line with a letter from the Georgian gas transport company,
gas supplies to Armenia should be restarted in full (3 million cubic
meters per day) from 20:00 on August 20, 2007," the statement said.

An ArmRosGazprom representative said earlier that supplies would be
halted not for a day, but for a week. rd

LET’S LISTEN TO THE RADIO LISTENERS
by Sofia Babaian

Azat Artsakh Tert
Aug 18 2007
Nagorno Karabakh Rep.

In one of the previous numbers of the newspaper "Azat Artsakh" the
elucidated article "Let’s try to favour the improvement of new "
had its response. Some people have expressed position about radio,
radio broadcasts, radio announcers. For finding out how the people
in reality have to do with our young waves, we met with some people,
who represented their opinions in the following way: Ashkhen Asrian
(operator) – On these hot summer days I listen to the radio often,
especially when I am on holiday. I prefer russian radiowaves more,
because I like either the music or the announcers. But our radiowaves
are not so bad, especially "Pace". I want the announcers be clever and
understand music. I think the talk of the announcer must be laconic
and understandable. I am bored with the advertisements. Liana Sargsian
(the specialist of foreign language) – I like to listen to the radio
much. I prefer "New Wave", but my husband – "Pace", It concerns with
the circumstance that the "Pace" cheerful armenian songs sounded,
and the other wave – more romantic. Sergey Asrian (economist) –
Returning home after the work I switch on the radio. I can’t say
what wave I prefer, merely I like to listen good music: rock, rep,
pop, classic. I’d like our announcers to copy from the russian
announcers. Evgenia Sargsian (lecturer) – I must confess, that I
don’t listen to the radio often. I don’t like the announcers.

only I like the announcer of "New Wave" – Nanar . And what about
the music, I can’t speak about it badly. It’s chosen by the radio
listeners. Seyran Ilyazian (the serviceman of NKR Defence Army) – I
like "Pace" radiowave, as armenian songs find big palces there. What
about the announcers they bored much. Svetlana Mkrtchian (nurse) – I
always listen to the radio, I like "Pace" very much. I have only one
protest, that the announcers don’t let the anonymous radiolisteners
broadcast, and if it is possible to broadcast classical music. Arzik
Mkhitarian(professor of Artsakh State University) – I welcome any
innovation in our reality, especially if they favour the development
of our youth. The announcer who speaks armenian is in respect for us.

Mass-media and also radiwaves must be purposeful. Time after time it is
necessary to present people with classical music, of course not only
armenian, but – world. Concluding with a word of an intellectual,
we say, that the responses are too much, and it’s impossible to
present wholly. All sent their best wishes to our radiowaves. Joining
them, we’ll add only that all is done not for criticism, but to
express energy and healthy competition. We leave the comments to
the readers….

"MIKA" COULD SCORE A BIGGER VICTORY

Hayots Ashkharh Daily Newspaper
Aug 17 2007
Armenia

"Mika"’s 2:1 victory at the second stage of UEFA cup tournament over
Slovakian "Artmedia", which only three years back participated in
the tournament of the Champion’s league, doesn’t convey the minimum
result. The score could have been bigger. However this score is a
good ground for the meeting in Bratislava on August 30.

"Mika" is going to face a really hard-hitting test in the capital
of Slovakia, especially if we take into consideration the fact that
the best two bombardier of "Artmedia" didn’t take part in the game in
Yerevan. However, no matter what results our players will show during
the forthcoming game, we can definitely say that Armenian football
clubs have really started to display spectacular games.

GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS
By Shakeh Avoyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 16 2007

The Armenian government on Thursday introduced changes in its previous
decision regarding the order of control over the quality of food and
meat products, which it says will bring food quality in Armenia closer
to European standards.

Grigor Baghian, Head of the State Food Safety and Veterinary Inspection
at the Ministry of Agriculture, said the measures approved by the
government will, in particular, ensure that only high quality food
products meeting European requirements are imported to Armenia and
exported from here to other countries.

"The order will allow us to provide our consumers only with quality
products in the future," Baghian told reporters after the government
meeting.

At the same time, Baghian admitted that the situation on the market
of organic food in Armenia still remains far from European standards.

In particular, he mentioned the butcher’s shops at one of Yerevan’s
biggest markets where a recent inspection revealed multiple violations
of the sanitary regime.

"Armenia now does not have large meat factories that used to operate
in the Soviet times. Cattle are usually slaughtered in domestic
conditions, which explains the current inadmissible situation on the
market," Baghian said.

Even so, Baghian said corresponding bodies are doing everything to
control the situation.

"Our controls of food products, especially those of organic origin,
are exercised in the village, on the roads, and on the market,"
Baghian said. "When we have big slaughter-houses, it will be easier
to exercise control there as all data pertaining to the product will
be immediately included in the package."

All products of organic origin must be examined by veterinarians
before appearing on the market and then tested by experts once they
reach the sales outlets.

Baghian said two cases of cattle disease have already been revealed
in Armenia during the month of August. In both cases, one of which
was anthrax, meat was not allowed to enter the market.

The ministry’s specialist dispelled all concerns about possible foot
and mouth disease cases in Armenia, saying that the situation is stable
and under control. At the same time, he did not exclude possible cases
of African swine fever in Armenia as its neighbor Georgia is known to
have been hit by an outbreak of this animal disease lately. However,
Baghian says, corresponding agencies are taking all measures to
contain the possible spread of this disease into Armenia.

FORMER PRESIDENT NOT TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION – ARMENIAN MP

Arminfo, Yerevan
15 Aug 07

The head of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Republican Party
of Armenia (RPA), MP Galust Sahakyan, does not believe that the
former Armenian president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, will run for the
presidency in the forthcoming elections, the Armenian news agency
Arminfo has reported.

If Ter-Petrosyan decides to run for the presidency, the RPA will change
its strategy, but this will not affect the results of the election,
the agency quoted Sahakyan as saying.

Sahakyan also expressed his confidence that the Prosperous Armenia
Party and a number of public organizations, as well as "small but
powerful parties" will support a candidate nominated by the RPA,
Arminfo said.

AZERBAIJAN ALLOCATES FIRST TRANCHE TO BUILD RAILWAY IN GEORGIA

Kavkas-Press, Tbilisi
14 Aug 07

Baku, 14 August: The International Bank of Azerbaijan has allocated
the first tranche to the tune of 40m dollars for the construction
of the Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway, the Azerbaijani Transport Ministry
has reported.

The first tranche will be spent on the construction in Georgia of a
29-kilometre section running to the Turkish border.

A 221-kilometre section of the railway on Georgian territory requires
reconstruction. A 29-kilometre section from Akhalkalaki to the Turkish
border is to be built anew and the [remaining] 192-kilometre requires
repairs.

Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan signed the railway agreement in
Tbilisi on 7 February. Besides, Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a
credit agreement on the allocation of a 25-year loan to the tune of
200m dollars for the reconstruction of the regional railway. Georgia
intends to cover the credit from the profits it will receive after
the railway becomes operational.

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project aims to connect the European and Asian
railway corridors.

SERZH SARGSYAN’S CANDIDACY STILL "HANGING FROM AIR"

Panorama.am
17:18 16/08/2007

Speaking about the presidential elections at Friday Club today,
Chairman of People’s Way Party (JUK) Manuk Gasparyan said: "I want free
elections in Armenia without calling in an oligarchic and a criminal
force, ", also saying he is ready to congratulate any winner whoever
wins in case of free elections "even if that is Serzh Sargsyan."

Replying to the question who the candidate from authorities in power
will be, he mentioned: "Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy is still "hanging
from the air" because Robert Kocharyan needs that and HHK assembly
failed mainly by the assignment of Kocharyan."

JUK chairman explained his this opinion saying Serzh Sargsyan has
not given answer to President Kocharyan’s question what he will do
in case Sargsyan becomes a president – "will Robert Kocharyan become
a prime minister or not?"

In Manuk Gasparyan’s opinion, if no answer is given to Robert
Kocharyan’s question on becoming a prime minister, Serzh Sargsyan’s
candidacy "may even not be proposed." Asked who may be the candidate
from the authorities in power, Manuk Gasparyan said according to his
subjective opinion that may be either Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
or President Staff Head Armen Gevorgyan.

Speaking about the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, JUK chairman
expressed his assurance that eventually they will not propose their
candidate and will support Serzh Sargsyan’s candidacy in case Kocharyan
"approves" that.

Chicago Sun-Times, IL
Aug 10 2007

Catholicos likely to draw crowds here

KAREKIN II | ‘None of the Armenian churches can hold the number of
people expected’ for Oct. visit

August 10, 2007

BY SUSAN HOGAN/ALBACH Religion Reporter/[email protected]
Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
will visit Chicago for the first time during an October pontifical
trip to the United States, church officials told the Sun-Times on
Thursday.

Karekin is the spiritual leader, chief shepherd and pontiff to the
world’s 7 million Armenian Apostolic Christians. He’s twice visited
the U.S. on private trips, but this is his first pontifical tour of
America since being elected in 1999.

To meet with Cardinal George
"This is quite a historic trip," said the Rev. Aren Jebejian, pastor
of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, 6700 W. Diversey.
Karekin will be in Chicago 1½ days, Oct. 24-25, as part of a 15-city
tour of the Diocese of Armenian Church of America (Eastern), church
officials said.

On Oct. 24, he’ll meet with Cardinal Francis George of the
Archdiocese of Chicago as well as the Council of Religious Leaders,
which includes representatives of the region’s Christian, Muslim and
Jewish communities.

Karekin also will lead a worship service of adoration. The time and
site of the service are still being determined, but Jebejian said he
hoped to use either the city’s Catholic or Episcopal cathedral.

"None of the Armenian churches can hold the number of people
expected," he said.

‘Resurgence in spirituality’
Karekin’s predecessor, Karekin I, visited Chicago in 1996 and spoke
to a packed house at Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago on
Michigan Avenue. He died from throat cancer in 1999.
Karekin II was then elected the 132nd Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos, which means "universal leader." He occupies the throne of
St. Gregory in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, which is in
Armenia.

Karekin will be in the U.S. from Oct. 6 to Nov. 2. In addition to
Chicago, he’ll make stopovers in New York City; Boston; Washington,
D.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Boca Raton, Fla.; New
Orleans; Baton Rouge, La.; Dallas; Houston; Cleveland; Racine, Wis.;
Minneapolis, and Detroit.

"This is an opportunity for Armenian American Christians to get to
know their catholicos," said Michael O’Hurley-Pitts, spokesman for
the pontifical tour. "There’s a resurgence in spirituality among
Armenians."

The diocese has parishes in five Illinois cities: Chicago, Evanston,
Palos Heights, Waukegan and Downstate Belleville. Three other
Illinois parishes belong to a smaller, second branch of the church
based in Lebanon and now led by Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House
of Cilicia.

Church officials say 1 million members live in the U.S. — including
thousands in the Chicago area — and 3 million in Armenia. There are
also large pockets in Lebanon, Iran and Syria.

During Karekin’s meeting at the Vatican in 2000, Pope John Paul II
turned over the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator, whom Armenians
recognize as their first catholicos.

Bridge between East and West
Armenia, which embraced Christianity in 301, identifies itself as the
world’s oldest Christian nation.
"Armenia became a Christian nation more than a decade before the
Roman Empire was Christianized under the Emperor Constantine," said
O’Hurley-Pitts.

The Armenian Church is often wrongly considered an Eastern Orthodox
church, he said. The Armenian Church broke away from Christendom in
451 because it disagreed with the Council of Chalcedon’s declaration
that Christ had two natures, human and divine.

"We’re not an Orthodox church, we’re an Oriental church, which has
been a bridge between the Christian East and West," O’Hurley-Pitts
said.

The Armenian community has thrived despite numerous incidents of
religious oppression over the years that led many members to flee
their country to survive.

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NUMBER OF FREE EDUCATIONAL PLACES ALLOCATED FOR MIDDLE AND INITIAL PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT 1000

Noyan Tapan
Aug 10 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of free educational places,
in general, has increased by about 1000 this year for the purpose of
giving the children from socially unprovided families an opportunity
to receive a middle professional and initial professional education:
this number in middle and initial professional educational instituitons
makes, correspondingly, 2568 and 2565. This information was provided
to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Samvel Pipoyan, the Head of the
Department on Craftsmanship and Medium Specialized Education of the
RA Ministry of Education and Science.

He mentioned that the number of entrants in middle and initial
professional educational institutions is gradually decreasing year
after year: it has decreased by about 3000 during the past seven
years and made 7000 in 2006.

According to him, the number of entrants in musical and art educational
institutions, in particular, has decreased. There are also such
institutions, where free places are still vacant. In the words of
Samvel Pipoyan, there are a lot of entrants, who have chosen medical,
economical, accounting professions.

At present, 80 middle state, 25 non-state, and 27 state initial
professional educational institutions operate in Armenia. Entrance
examinations, which have started since the half of July, will continue
until the end of August in these institutions.