WORK ON RE-EQUIPMENT OF ALAVERDI-2 SUBSTATION COMPLETED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The work on re-equipping the
Alaverdi-2 high-voltage substaion has been completed. The work
was done by the company Areva, the winner of an international
tender. Sahak Abrahamian, Director of the company High-Voltage
Electric Networks, told NT correspondent that KfW Bank (Germany) has
allocated 7.35 mln euros for the implementation of the Regional System
of Electricity Transmission between Armenia and Georgia (Alaverdi-2)
Program. According to S. Abrahamian, the German bank also promised to
allocate sums for re-eqipment of two high-voltage substaions in Gyumri.

IRANIAN COMPANY SANIR TO CONSTRUCT NEW IRAN-ARMENIA HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION LINE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The new Iran-Armenia high-voltage
electricity transmission line will be constructed by the Sanir company
(Iran). Sahak Abrahamian, Director of the company High-Voltage
Electric Networks, informed NT correspondent that the contract of
the new line’s design is already raedy. He said that the line will
be 3,200 km long in Armenia and 100 km long in Iran. The capacity
of the new two-link line will be equal to the sum of capacities of
the first and second lines currently in operation. About 64 mln euros
will be provided for the construction of the line’s Armenian section,
15% of which will be co-financed by the Armenian government and the
remaining sum will be allocated by the External Development Bank
(Iran). It was noted that the design work of the construction of the
Georgia-Armenia high-voltage line is continuing.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAS SUPPLY FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA PARTLY RESTORED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 18, at 9.30 am the
gas supply resumed from Georgia to Armenia through the reserve line –
50 thousand cubic meters per hour. The gas of the Abovian underground
gas depot is also beig used now. To recap, on December 17 at 11.20
pm the gas supply of Armenia was cut off because of an accident of
the gas pipeline in the territory of Georgia.

It is expected that the gas supply will be restored in full volume
by the end of the day.

ARMENIAN DOCTORS SUPPORT LEONID ROSHAL’S CANDIDATURE OFFERED FOR NOBEL PRIZE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. "I help children irrespective
of their religion and nationality." Well-known pediatrician Leonid
Roshal, Chairman of RF Public Chamber’s Commission on Healthcare
Issues, who arrived in Armenia at the invitation of the Medical
Chamber NGO on December 16, said at the press conference held the
same day. In his words, all social and medical problems should be
first of all solved for children, including disabled ones. L.Roshal
provided medical aid to children who appeared in emergency situations,
suffered from natural calamities and terrorist acts throughout the
world. He was in Armenia after the 1988 earthquake and in the years of
Karabakh war he provided assistance to both Armenian and Azerbaijani
children. At several countries’ suggestion L.Roshal’s candidature was
offered to Nobel Prize. As RA NAS Academician Emil Gabrielian said
at the press conference held the same day, the Armenian doctors also
support L.Roshal’s candidature and will come up with the respective
mediation. "He deserves this great prize for such large-sale, huge
work in medicine and for his humanism," E.Gabrielian said. Within the
framework of the visit L.Roshal also visited Yerevan Brandy Company
and Nairi medical center.

BOOK "SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHK-TREGHK IN THE CONTEXT OF ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS" PUBLISHED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Today it is rather difficult to
write objective scientific works about Armenian-Georgian relations,
particularly on the theme of Javakhk, because Javakhk is in the
center of the clashes of powerful geopolitical forces – on one hand,
Georgia-Russia and on the other hand – Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey. Ashot
Melkonian, Director of the Institute of History of the RA National
Academy of Sciences, expressed this opinion at the December 18
presentation of the book "Samtskhe-Javakhk-Treghk in the Context
of Armenian-Georgian Relations" by Vahe Sargsian, student for the
master’s degree of the Department of History of Armenia’s Neighboring
Countries of Yerevan State University. In his words, the young
researcher succeeded in obtaining unique materials, comparing all
the facts and creating a monography acceptable to everyone, even to
political forces with the opposite opinion. V. Sargsian said that his
monography presents the developments of the last 15 years of the 20th
century in Samthskhe, Jvakhk and Treghk in the context of Georgia’s
home political situation and Armenian-Georgian interstate relations.

RESULTS OF BRIDGE OF HOPE ANNUAL COMPETITION SUMMED UP

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Results of the 4th competition
of the best publication on the disability theme entitled "Equal
Possibilities" stated by the "Bridge of Hope" and "Mission East"
organizations were summed up on December 15. As Susanna Tadevosian,
the "Bridge of Hope" Chairwoman mentioned, the goal of holding the
competition is propaganda of security of equal possibilities of invalid
children and young people. In the best TV material nomination, Gohar
Manukian (Public Television "Haylur" (Armenian news) information
program) was awarded the first prize, Kristine Karslian (H2) was
awarded the second prize, Nelli Danielian ("Yerkir Media" (Country
Media) was awarded the third prize. Marianna Grigorian’s "Inclusive
Education" article ("ArmeniaNow" internet weekly) was recognized
the best article of the printed and electronic media. The second
and third prizes, were given, correspondingly, to Gayane Sargsian
("Vanadzorian Khchankar" (Vanadzor Mosaic) and Susanna Margarian
("Azg" (Nation). Hasmik Smbatian (Liberty) was recognized the author
of the best radio publication. Anahit Tsaturian ("Gortsarar Tiezerk"
(Business Space) newspaper) was awarded the encouraging prize, and
Arzuman Haroutiunian ("Art Site" studio) was given a special prize.

CHILDREN’S DISABILITY MAKES 0.9% IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Currently children’s disability
makes 0.9% in Armenia. Disability of 70% out of 8000 registered
disabled children is conditioned by moving, neuropsychological and
hearing disorders. 66% of disabled children are teenagers aged
10-17. Karine Saribekian, Head of Mother’s and Child’s Health
Protection Department of RA Ministry of Health, said this at the
roundtable dedicated to problems of disabled children in Armenia. She
said that starting 1995 the number of disabled children has been
increasing in the country. However, in K.Saribekian’s words, "this
is rather conditioned by change of criteria of children’s disability
made in 1995: the list was enlarged, which resulted in double growth
of the number of disabled children."

K.Saribekian said that formerly issues of disability were treated
only from medical point of view, while today by a united system –
healthcare, social, psychological, urban development, etc. She reminded
that Armenia has laws "On Social Protection of Disabled" and provisions
on ensuring a favorable environment for the disabled are included
in RA law "On Urban Development." Besides, strategy of protection
of mother’s and child’s health, conception of early revelation and
early treatment of children having disorders of development were
approved. Jemma Baghdasarian, Head of the Problems of Disabled and Old
People of RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, said that order of
providing favorable conditions for the disabled was adopted in 2006,
according to which the national criteria will be established by the
end of the year or at the beginning of the year. J.Baghdasarian also
said that necessary conditions are formed for disabled children at
schools repaired in Yerevan with funds of the Lincy foundation.

RA NAS CHAIRMAN MEETS IN EGYPT WITH CAIRO UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

CAIRO, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Possibilities of development of the
Armenian-Egyptian scientific ties as well as the process of works
done in 2007 in the direction of foundation of the Armenology Chair
of the Philological Department of the Cairo University were discussed
on December 1-8 meeting of RA NAS Chairman Radik Martirosian, who
is in Egypt, and the Cairo University administration. The Egyptian
side re-affirmed its readiness in the issue of development of the
many-sided cooperation with Armenia and of showing assistance to the
Armenian side’s initiative in the direction of founding Armenology
studies. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s
Press and Information Department, during the visit, Mr.Martirosian
participated in works of the interacademic international round table
organized in the city of Alexandria.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STEPAN GHAZARIAN HEADS FIRST COURSE OF GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING IN MOTHER LAND

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The technical trainers’ courses of
Greco-Roman wrestling starting in Yerevan on December 16, under the
patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), within the
framework of the "Olympic Solidarity" program, on the initiative of
the National Olympic Committee of Armenia (NOCA). Stepan Ghazarian,
the Deputy Chairman of the European Wrestling Federation, trainer
of international highest category, RA Physical Education and Sports
honourary figure and trainer, heads the course. He has conducted and
headed similar courses in different countries of the world continuously
for 27 years. He for the first time teaches compatriot specialists
in the mother land. The courses will be conducted till December 27.

PETER SEMNEBY AND VARTAN OSKANIAN EXCHANGE ESTIMATIONS ON LAST DEVELOPMENTS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 18 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 18, RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian received EU Special Representative to South Caucasus
Peter Semneby who had arrived in Armenia within the framework of the
regional visit.

During the meeting, the sides discussed EU-Armenia relations touching
upon the fulfilment of the Actions Plan signed within the framework
of the European Neighborhood Policy. The interlocutors also touched
upon the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia attaching
importance to their holding in correspondence with the international
standards. The Minister reaffirmed the position of RA authorities on
inviting international observers in the future. During the meeting,
they exchanged thoughts about Armenia’s relations with neighboring
countries in the light of Minister Oskanian’s visit to Iran on
December 17.

Touching upon Armenian-Turkish relations, P.Semneby mentioned EU’s
position citing the European Commission’s report on Turkey’s progress
on its way to membership to European Union in November 2006, which,
in particular, touches upon the necessity to open borders with
Armenia. The EU Special Representative spoke about his meeting with
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian held the day before, then V.Oskanian
and P.Semneby exchanged estimations about the last developments in
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. Heike Peitsch, Ambassador
of Germany assuming EU chairmanship starting 2007 January 1 also took
part in the meeting.