ARF STOPS ITS REPRESENTATIVE’S ACTIVITY AT INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMISSION WORKING OUT DRAFT “ON RA ANTHEM”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The principal
defined by the new constitutional amendments on fixing the RA State
Anthem by the law is baselessly interpreted by some circles as a
constitutional demand to change the functioning anthem.” It is said in
the August 28 statement made public by the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Supreme
Body of Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Service of
the ARF Armenia Supreme Body, authors of the statement mention that the
interdepartmental commission implementing the function of working out
the draft law “On RA Anthem” “for incomprehensible reasons, considered
its task to unequivocally reject the functioning “Mer Hayrenik”
(“Our Fatherland”) anthem and changing it with a new anthem.” “The
unbridled anti-propaganda of “Mer Hayrenik” was especially obvious. A
country’s anthem is born and established during a time, only in the
case if the logic of historic development makes it an indivisible part
of the people’s fate and biography,” is said in the statement. The
ARF Armenia Supreme Body, considering inadmissible creation of a
incoherent atmosphere about one of the RA most important symbols,
the anthem, the line of actions of the intergovernmental commission
and moods arisen by it, states about stopping its representative’s
activity at the commission and presenting a legislative initiative at
the National Assembly on re-affirming “Mer Hayrenik” as the RA anthem.

RECONSTRUCTION OF AKHALKALAK-ASPINDZA ROAD TO FINISH IN OCTOBER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Reconstruction
of the Aspindza-Akhalkalak road is envisaged to finish till late
October. According to builders repairing the road, if bad weather does
not hamper, they will finish works within the envisaged term. According
to the “A-Info” agency, works started still from this May has been
done by now by the envisaged schedule and without destructions. To
recap, the road construction is implemented by the Georgian branch
of the Russian “Tekhnokomspetsstroy” company, the German “Witgan”
company as well participates in the construction works To recap, the
Government of Georgia allocated 11.300.000 laris (about 7 mln dollars)
for reconstruction of the road.

REPRESENTATIVE OF CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS PARTICIPATES IN “RELIGIONS FOR PEACE” 8TH ASSEMBLY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
KYOTO, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Apostolic Church
participates for the first time in the “Religions for Peace” three-day
8th World Assembly which started on August 26 in the Japanese city
of Kyoto. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, by blessing of Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Archbishop Aghan
Baliozian, the primate of the Armenian diocese of Australia and New
Zealand participates in the assembly. He will send the address of His
Holiness to those present. More than 500 representatives, religious
primates, public figures and politicians, participate, in general,
in the assembly. The theme of the assembly is “Religions for Peace,
Confronting Violence and Advancing Shared Security.” The “Religions for
Peace” organization is a cooperation of interreligious councils and
groups the goal of which is to stimulate cooperation among religious
communities of all over the world as well as to assist liquidation
of existing conflicts of the world to strengthen peace and secure
stable development. The first assembly of the organization took place
in Kyoto 35 years ago.

8 WRESTLERS TO PROTECT SPORTING HONOUR OF ARMENIA IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Youth Championships of Greco-Roman
and free-style wrestling will be held successively in Guatemala from
late August to early September. Greco-Roman wrestlers will be on the
floor on August 29-30. Representatives of Armenia Khosrov Melikian
(60 kg) and Hrachia Hovhannisian (66 kg) from Gyumri, Arsen Julfalakian
(74 kg) from Yerevan and Artur Tovmasian (84 kg) from Etchmiadzin are
among them. Free-style wrestlers will start the struggle for prizes
from September 1. Representatives from Yerevan Artur Arakelian (60 kg),
Suren Adyan (60 kg), Edgar Yenokian (84 kg) and Khachik Amroyan from
Martuni (74 kg) will protect honour of the sporting flag of Armenia.

133 GIRLS AND WOMEN CHRISTENED ON OCCASION OF FOUNDATION OF TATEV MONASTERY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
GORIS, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. 133 girls and women whose name is Tatev
were christened in the Tatev monastery on August 25 on the occasion
of its foundation. Initiators of the event were the Syunik Regional
Governor’s Office and the Syunyats diocese primacy. In Syunik Regional
Governor Surik Khachatrian’s words, the initiative was at the same
time aimed to show that sectarian structures have no place in Syunik,
and the only belief is Christianity and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TOURNAMENT OF TENNIS HELD UNDER PATRONAGE OF EUROPEAN UNION STARTS IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The international youth tournament of
tennis started on August 28 in tennis courts of the Hrazdan sports
complex of Yerevan. 45 sportsmen from Armenia, Russia, Georgia,
Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Nigeria are involved
in 2 age groups (14 and 16). The Yerevan tournament under the aegis
of EU finishes on September 2.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY IS IN KEEPING WITH REFORMS PROGRAM IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
LJUBLJANA, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vartan Oskanian,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia made a speech on August 29
at the “Caspian Oulook – 2008” forum jointly organized by the Foreign
Ministry of Slovenia and the Ljubljana Institute for Strategic
Studies. Participating in the discussions concerning the EU New
Neighborhood Policy, Minister Oskanian spoke in his speech about
cooperation of the EU and Armenia within the framework of the New
Neighborhood Policy of the European Union. The RA Foreign Minister
particularly emphasized the importance of implementation of the Europe
neighborhood policy in the region for establishing peace, stability,
development. In the Minister’s words, the New Neighborhood Policy is
keeping with the programs of reforms in Armenia: it clearly directs
and plans the process of reforms to be implemented in Armenia in the
economic and political spheres in coming years. The Foreign Minister
of Armenia expressed a hope that simultaneous implementation of the
European Neighborhood Policy by the three states of South Caucasus
will help promotion of regional cooperation as well, at the same
time making public processes and ways of settling conflicts more
democratic and transparent. Touching upon the present state of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Minister Oskanian considered
Azerbaijan’s policy of giving a possible military solution to the issue
or its postponing as one laying obstacles. In the Minister’s words,
the negotiations are on the critical point today, and the international
community must do everything to bring Azerbaijan back to a realistic
and constructive field to seriously discuss those principles which are
on the negotiation table today. EU Commissioner for External Relations
Benita Ferrero Waldner, State Minister of Georgia Georgi Baramidze,
EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Semneby, Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov and Foreign Minister of Lithuania Petras
Vaitiekunas also touched upon, in their speeches, issues relating to
relations of the European Union and South Caucasus. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
within the framework of the forum, Minister Oskanian met with OSCE
Minsk Group American Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza and Pierre Chevalier,
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
Minister Oskanian will return Armenia on August 30.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAGIK AVETIAN DISPROVES RUMOURS ABOUT HIS INTENTION TO LEAVE “ORINATS YERKIR” PARTY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Gagik Avetian, a RA National
Assembly Deputy, made a statement in which he disproved the rumours
of the recent times about his intention to leave the “Orinats Yerkir”
(Country of Law) party. The “Orinats Yerkir” party belongs both to many
others and to me, and I do not sell my believes which coincide with
the party ideology, all the more, I do not sell myself as some mass
media talk rot,” the deputy states. At the same time, Gagik Avetian
considers positive that there may be contradictions and disagreements
relating to his viewpoints, future steps and programs of the party, as
“clashes of viewpoints bring to positive and praiseworthy consequences
in any healthy atmosphere.” The deputy states that being a member
of the “Orinats Yerkir” party for 6 years, as well as a member of
the “Orinats Yerkir” parliamentary faction, he has done his best
“not against, but for the sake” and will continue working with the
same spirit.

HRAYR KARAPETIAN PREDICTS HOT POLITICAL SEASON
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. “A hot season, in the political
sense, expects us: all the political forces prepare for the coming
parliamentary elections. So, the nearest months will pass just under
that flag,” Hrayr Karapetian, the ARF faction head of the RA National
Assembly stated at the August 29 press conference. As for the ARF plans
of the nearest future, he stated that the regular General Assembly
of the party will take place on September 7 where most important
political issues will be solved, among them issues relating to the
coming parliamentary elections will be discussed and checked. Hrayr
Karapetian reminded that by now, the ARF has participated in the
elections apart of any alliances and unions, however, he mentioned
that cooperation with other parties is inevitable in elections. As
for development of mutual relations between the Republican Party
of Armenia and the “Bargavach Hayastan” (Prosperous Armenia) party,
Hrayr Karapetian mentioned that talks about serious conflicts between
them are baseless. He also emphasized that the two parties, taking
into account the administrative and financial factor, are serious
pretenders to places of the National Assembly. “We think that the
elections must pass in a civilized atmosphere and not come out of
borders of moral norms,” Hrayr Karapetian stated.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR AJAPNYAK DISTRICT HEAD TO START FROM SEPTEMBER 29
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Elections of local self-government
bodies are scheduled for September in four rural communities of the
marzes of Geghrakunik, Kotayk, Syunik . As Tsovinar Khachatrian, the
RA Central Electoral Commission Press Secretary informed the Noyan
Tapan correspondent, councillor’s elections will be held on September
3 in the village of Sevaberd, the marz of Kotayk, on September 10,
community head’s elections will be held in Kotayk of the same marz
and councillor’s elections in the village of Chapni, the marz of
Syunik, community head’s elections will be held on September 17 in the
community of Nerkin Getashen of the marz of Gegharkunik. Nomination
of candidates for the head of the Ajapniak community of Yerevan will
start from September 29. Artsrun Khachatrian, the acting district head,
a member of the “Nig-Aparan” compatriotic union, and Arman Sahakian,
the Chairman of the Ajapniak regional organization of the Republican
Party of Armenia, the son of NA “RPA” faction head Galust Sahakian,
expressed intention beforehand to be nominated for elections. For
that purpose, Arman Sahakian was, according to his application,
discharged the post of the Deputy Mayor of Yerevan in early August.
A.Khachatrian and A.Sahakian also competed in the elections taken
place in the same community three years ago.