STUDENTS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMENIAN ARMY PROTESTING AGAINST THE ACADEMIC PROGRESSION SYSTEM
Yerevan, September 6. ArmInfo. Students who have served in the
military forces of the Republic of Armenia are protesting against the
newly adopted system of academic progression. Tomorrow, September 7,
more than 220 students of the Armenian state universities will hold a
protest action. According to the new system students included in the
chargeless education system can be charged in case of low progress
in studies.
In a conversation with ArmInfo correspondent a second year student
of the Yerevan State Medical University, Sergey Abgarian, said that
the protest is only about those students who have served in the
army and were included in the chargeless education system due to
certain governmental facilities. The administration of the Medical
University has promised the protesting students that they will not
be affected by the academic rating system. Nevertheless on September
1 it was stated that the students will be charged for low education
progress in any case, irrespective of their status. The former army
servicemen are afraid that their study progress will be underrated
by the professors so as to free vacancies in the chargeless system
for their relations and criminals. The students are also aware that
the new system is full of corruption risk. The administrations of
the universities refused to give any response to the protests and
the students decided to address to the Defense Ministry of Armenia
and Minister Serge Sarkisian himself. They are intended to organize
a protest demonstration also in front of the RA President’s residence.
They demand more respect and attention to those who has fulfilled
his duty to their Homeland.

EDITOR OF THE IRAVUNK WAS ATTACKED ON HIS WAY TO WORK
Lragir.am
06 Sept 06
Hovanes Galajyan, Editor-in-Chief of the Iravunk newspaper, who was
attacked on Wednesday morning, provided the details of the incident
to the Lragir. Hovanes Galajyan says he was attacked early in the
morning on leaving his house, in the yard. He was attacked by two
men, both skinheads. They attacked the journalist from the back,
caused him fall on the ground and started hitting him, mostly on
the head, Hovanes Galajyan says. The journalist says he could defend
himself from strong blows with his arms. When people appeared from
the neighboring houses, the skinheads ran away. Hovanes Galajyan has
already gone to the Police. On September 7 he will pass a forensic
examination. Hovanes Galajyan says the attack is connected with his
professional activities and the newspaper where he works.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE SOCIETY AND THE STATE
Lragir.am
06 Sept 06
On September 6 the head of the bureau of the Heritage Party Vardan
Khachatryan and the founder of the political party Raffi Hovannisian
gave their evaluation of the assassination of a senior official of
the Tax Agency and the attack on the journalist on the same day.
“This reflects the sickness of our society, our government, our
state. We can speak about the phenomena, the necessity to change
the system, argue about national transformation, for weeks on,
for months on, at every news conference, argue about choosing the
right way, evolution or revolution. However, as long as the arrows of
responsibility are not pointed in any direction, as long as the law
is not applied equally, from the president to the ordinary citizen,
as long as there is an army of the privileged, and as long as the
privileged are connected with this government, as long as force,
weapon and money are with one circle and they use the law to keep
this force and money, it will go on like this. But this is not the
way it should be. I think, on the eve of the 15th anniversary of
independence of the Republic of Armenia this reveals the immense work
that our generation needs to carry out to maintain the rule of law
in Armenia,” thinks Raffi Hovannisian.
The head of the bureau of the Heritage Party Vardan Khachatryan thinks
that the violence we witness is extremely harmful for the country and
the society because the opinion is gradually becoming established in
the public consciousness that problems are settled by killings. “This
is a dangerous phenomenon and may lead to unpredictable consequences,”
Vardan Khachatryan says. He says that most of his students witnessed
the explosion of the car of Shahen Hovasapyan, the head of the
Department of Investigations of the Tax Agency, and were so shocked
that they could hardly tell what they had seen.

OVERALL SOLUTION IN OPPOSITION
Lragir.am
06 Sept 06
In the election years of 2007 and 2008, for the first time since 1991,
people in Armenia will discover again that they belong to Armenia
and the free and lawful election, stated Raffi Hovannisian, leader
of the Heritage Party September 6 at the Pastark Club.
“I believe that people will cast their vote, although they will
encounter money and weapon and other attributes of power. If the
opposition settles its internal affairs, the opposition will win the
upcoming election,” says Raffi Hovannisian.
The Heritage Party declines to tell for the time being how it will be
running for parliament. The head of the bureau of the political party
says the format of running in the election is under consideration.
“We state that a process is underway which will enable finding out
later and taking the right orientation in the functional sphere.
In other words, those who are able, or if no alliance is going to form,
the possibilities of the political party separately will be assessed
after certain developments,” says Vardan Khachatryan.
According to him, the standpoint of the political party should be
running in the election, but first of all, Vardan Khachatryan thinks,
the roots of electoral fraud need to be eliminated, which reoccurred
for years on.
Raffi Hovannisian believes that none of the opposition parties can
prevent and battle electoral fraud alone. “The society itself should
decide in the period of elections in 2007 and 2008 who Armenia belongs
to. I’ve been for an overall solution for a long time now. Because
local, localized, bilateral solutions, despite the wisdom and abilities
of the participants, won’t be determined and effective, I think. The
contacts, consultations intended to start a non-partisan civil movement
continue. Today I will meet with Vazgen Manukyan, though I meet with
different representatives of the political sphere, but the problem
is that this is not a movement involving two political parties or two
persons. This one, this social revival, this feeling of identity, this
new civil movement, if it is going to be continuous, and is not going
to die out soon, should be based on political activity. Two leaders,
two political parties separately cannot solve this problem,” says
Raffi Hovannisian in connection with the civil movement they initiated
with Vazgen Manukyan. He says for this reason they sustain active
relations with their colleagues, but they underline the importance
of activity of the citizens, which is essential to success.
The leader of the Heritage Party announces that the political party
is ready to cooperate with both the old and new representatives
of the opposition. “I think it is possible that soon processes may
start in the pro-government sphere, belated processes, which will
allow cooperating with certain representatives of the pro-government
sphere,” says Raffi Hovannisian.

OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL WON’T LEAVE THEM ALONE
Lragir.am
06 Sept 06
Real struggle has set out inside the government of Armenia for the
Office of the Attorney General. The flagman of the struggle is the
Republican Party the leadership of which is trying to attract the
Attorney General into their camp. We have learned that the recent
statement of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun in the press fits into the
framework of this struggle. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun announced that
they are not related to this statement released in the name of the
political party. We have learned that the statement came from the
Republican sets likely to exercise pressure on the Attorney General.
The Republican Party avoids acting in its own name to force the
Attorney General to seek his only protection with the Republican
Party. And this intention of the Republican Party is determined by
the fact that the organization led by Aghvan Hovsepyan possesses a
considerable amount of files which may have a considerable role in
the internal political struggle.

PRESS RELEASE
August 28, 2006
Americans for Artsakh
1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite #1000
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 327-5491
Fax: (202) 327-5499
Contact: Hrant Jamgochian
[email protected] .americansforartsakh.org/
AFA Conducts Food Market Survey in Nagorno Karabakh
Washington, DC – The Americans for Artsakh (AFA) organization today
invites potential investors and interested organizations to benefit
from market survey data compiled over the past sixteen months in
Artsakh. AFA will also use the data as it develops a model farm
project in Artsakh.
The AFA Liaison Office in Stepanakert began the survey in March 2005,
studying availability, prices and origin of nearly 200 agricultural
products sold at three major markets of Stepanakert, as well as in
Askeran, Hadrut, Mardakert, Martuni and Shushi. The survey aims to
gather information about Artsakh’s food markets, helping identify
products that could be produced locally both for domestic consumption
and export.
Director of the AFA’s Stepanakert Office Elvina Azarian, who
spearheaded the project’s implementation, said that the survey results,
in combination with the Nagorno Karabakh government statistics, would
serve as a major reference both for local and outside businessmen
and organizations interested in Artsakh’s agricultural sector.
“The study results also reflect the rising cost of living in Nagorno
Karabakh over the past year and a half,” Azarian said. “As such,
the survey data together with available statistics on incomes would
help determine the trends in food security in Karabakh.”
“AFA will continue the surveys and intends to use the data as we
launch a model farm project in Artsakh,” said the AFA President Zaven
Khanjian. “The model farm will involve roughly one hectare patches
of land in two to three locations in Artsakh. AFA would help farmers
identify marketable high-value crops and provide necessary seeds,
management consulting and technology.
Upon successful completion, the model would be available to other
Artsakh farmers to replicate. We also invite those interested in
Artsakh’s agricultural sector to make use of the market survey
results.”
Americans For Artsakh is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
established to preserve freedom, strengthen democracy, foster economic
development, protect the cultural identity and promote the heritage
of the people of Artsakh. The founding Board of Directors include:
Zaven Khanjian, President; Dr. Hratch Abrahamian, Vice President; Savey
Tufenkian, Treasurer; Rita Balian, Secretary; and Edward Chobanian.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA ALLOCATES 250,000 US DOLLARS
OF THE KHATCHIG BABIKIAN FUND TO ARMENIAN SCHOOLS
The “Khatchig Babikian” Fund, operating under the sponsorship of
the Catholicosate of Cilicia, will donate 250,000 US Dollars to the
Armenian national schools of Lebanon, announced His Holiness Aram I
during a special interview with the Catholicosate’s Communications
Office.
“As we had previously announced through the media, the yearly income
of this fund will be channeled for use in educational, cultural,
social and publishing projects. However, considering the hardships
created in Lebanon as a consequence of the recent war, we decided to
exceptionally grant the largest part of the fund’s allocation this
time to our schools. We believe this was a wise decision considering
the importance of the Armenian school in the life of the community,”
said His Holiness Aram I during the interview.
“The Catholicosate of Cilicia and We, personally, will continue to
consider the Armenian school as one of the most important aspects of
our mission,” Aram I added.
The decision was taken on September 1 to make the grant for the
academic year 2006-2007. The Khatchig Babikian Fund was established
recently at the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia. It is run by a special committee under the direct supervision
of the Catholicos.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Sunday, September 03, 2006
********************************************
In Voltaire’s play MAHOMET OU LE FANATISME, the Prophet says, “Whoever dares to think for himself is not born to believe in me. Silent obedience shall be your only path to glory.” One of Voltaire’s many biographers points out that MAHOMET is not a Christian’s attack on a false religion, but an attack on all organized religions, which “are an imposture in the service of political oppression.” See Roger Pearson, VOLTAIRE ALMIGHTY: A LIFE IN PURSUIT OF FREEDOM (New York, 2005).
*
Napoleon didn’t like men who could think for themselves either. He once said, “A man with an idea is my enemy.”
*
Most of my so-called critics attack not my ideas but my freedom to express them, that is, my fundamental human right of free speech. But like all born and bred fascists, they are not aware of this.
*
Nothing enhances wisdom or the appearance of it than silence. But fools being fools are driven by an inner compulsion to confess who and what they are.
*
I am not afraid of being wrong. Why should I be? Am I not human? I leave infallibility to imams, commissars, and my critics. What I am afraid of is turning into a fool. Because, according to Nietzsche, that’s what happens to people who make it their business to deal with fools.
*
I have been a source of disappointment to many people, beginning with myself. If I knew how to pray I would go down on my knees and say, “O Lord, give me the strength to say ‘A plague on all your houses!’ and fall silent.”
*
Samuel Beckett once said that his ambition in life was “to sit on my ass and do nothing but fart.” A line and an ambition worthy of a Zen master.
#
Monday, September 04, 2006
**********************************************
Since everything is connected with everything else, no one is equipped to know and understand everything about anything. Only god (if he exists) may know and understand everything. We miserable mortals are condemned to know and understand only a fraction of reality.
*
All conflicts and disagreements are results of partial understanding and knowledge. Religions are popular because to believe in god means to follow the guidance of one who knows everything and is never wrong. But since “of the gods we know nothing” (Socrates), all assertions made in the name of god are based on total ignorance.
*
Perhaps the most useful kind of knowledge is that which reveals to us the depths and breadth of our ignorance.
*
Voltaire and Tolstoy saw no merit in Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky loathed Brahms, and Nabokov didn’t much care about “Faulknermann” and “Tolstoevsky.” Great men are poor judges of other great men. So are gods of other gods. And when gods disagree, massacre is sure to follow. Hence the dictum: “Since it was a religious war, there were no survivors” (Voltaire).
*
A wise man once said, “I am willing to worship a man who is searching for the truth, but I would gladly kill him if he said he found it.”
#
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
********************************************
Speaking of the mindset of drunk drivers caught on the scene of an accident, a policeman is quoted as having said in today’s paper, they begin with a “sense of invincibility” and end by trying to “blame it on somebody else.” Overconfidence followed by the blame game: it explains so much about human nature, or life as we experience it, reality as we perceive it, and history as we write it.
*
You want to learn from history? Examine your own heart.
*
There are those who see nothing questionable in being subservient to an imbecile with more money. There are others who find the prospect unspeakably degrading and unbearably repellent.
*
Unmasking a lie does not necessarily mean the destruction of the lie. That’s because what motivates most men is not love of truth but loyalty to self-interest. Where self-interest enters, black lies and white truths turn into shades of gray.
*
The crimes of capitalism are many – no doubt about that. But so are the crimes of Christianity, Islam, and Communism. Where power enters, abuse of power is sure to follow.
#
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
**********************************************
Armenian literature is a riskier racket than the mafia, and the only way the survive it is by dying young. Organized crime has two enemies: the police and rival families. Armenian literature has many more, among them tuberculosis (in the 19th century), Talaat and Stalin (in the 20th), and (in the 21st) censorship, audience apathy on the part of the majority, verbal abuse on the part of a faceless and anonymous minority, and last but far from least, the doubletalk of bosses, bishops, and benefactors, and their flunkies, who publicly deliver speeches in support of literature but the moment the sun sets they get their shovels out and start digging.
*
I remember one of our bosses once delivering a speech in which he said, “Writers and poets have more influence in shaping the minds and souls of people than anyone else in the community.” Stalin once delivered a similar speech in which he called writers “engineers of the soul.” What happened next we know.
*
I remember another one of our bosses saying in another speech, “My fondest ambition is to retire on a distant island and spend the rest of my life in solitude reading…” That one committed suicide, some say he was assassinated by members of a rival family.
#

IN CASE OF FAILURE OF THE PEACE TALKS BAKU WILL SEARCH FOR OTHER WAYS OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 15:19
Azerbaijan is not willing to restart the war against
Armenia. Nevertheless, in case of failure of the talks on the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict, it will have to discuss other ways
of “resolving the issue of occupation of Azerbaijani territories,”
said Ramiz Mehtiev, Head of Staff of the Office to the President of
Azerbaijan, Day. Az reports.
Mehtiev noted also that Azerbaijan continues undertaking consistent
measures for the reinforcement of the militant capacity of the
armed forces, and one of the steps in this direction was the recent
establishment of the Ministry of Military Industry.
“Creation of the Ministry was necessary in the light of the fact that
20 percent of the country’s area is occupied,” Mehtiev said.

US GOVERNMENT COMPLETES $30,000 OF RENOVATIONS TO THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL CINEMATHEQUE
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 15:42
The US Embassy announces the completion of $30,000 worth of renovations
to the National Cinematheque of Armenia. This project has allowed
the Cinematheque to create a climate-controlled space to preserve
its collection of over 270,000 Armenian films, audio recordings,
and photos. The Cinematheque is the only existing collection of
Armenia’s film heritage, and houses the first Armenian silent film,
rare musical recordings, and historically significant Armenian photos.
The US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, through which
the US Government provided the funding, works worldwide to assist
countries in preserving museum collections, ancient and historic
sites and traditional forms of expression. This program strives to
help preserve the cultural heritage of countries throughout the world
by providing small grants to support heritage preservation. Since
its creation in 2001, this program has supported almost 300 projects
worldwide, totaling $6.7 million.