SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMS BEING IMPLEMENTED ON ACCOUNT OF STATE BUDGET FINISH IN MARZES OF LORI, TAVUSH AND GEGHARKUNIK
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The school building programs being
implemented on the account of the state budget finish in the marzes
of Lori, Tavush and Gegharkunik. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
Press Service of the RA Ministry of Urban Development, the marzes
of Tavush and Gegharkunik were allocated from the state budget 80
mln drams each for school building. 346.2 mln drams (about 865.5
thousand U.S. dollars) were allocated from the 2006 state budget for
implementation of construction works in schools of Lori. The money
was spent for finishing construction works of Spitak No4 school (50.2
mln drams), Alaverdi sports school (106 mln drams), secondary school
of the village of Shnogh (100 mln drams). The works are at the final
stage in Vanadzor No5 school.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN WORDS OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY HEAD OF SLOVAKIA, ANTI-TURKISH MOODS IN THAT COUNTRY STRENGTHEN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
BRATISLAVA, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Only a month has
passed since the day of formation of the new government in Slovakia,
and it already becomes clear that anti-Turkish moods in this country
strengthen. Ashot Grigorian, the head of the Armenian community
of Slovakia, Chairman of the Armenian Organizations of Europe
Representation stated about it in the interview to the Noyan Tapan
correspondent. As a fact proving his words, he mentioned at once two
articles with titles “Turks captured Slovakia, but was not able to
suppress our Castle” and “Adoption of the Armenian Genocide to open
way to the European Union for Turkey” published on August 24 in the
“Sme” daily with a high print run, having a fame of a very serious
periodical. The first of the articles is about ferocities of Turks,
conquered Bratislava after capturing Vienna in 1529 and captured
Slovakia during next 160 years, the year of 1683 is mentioned here
with satisfaction when under crushing blows of the Austrian army,
Turks were thrown out from the Middle European region. The other
article tells about the resolutions of the National Assembly of
Slovakia and other parliaments, recognizing the Armenian Genocide,
and it seriously condemns pursuits towards those speaking about
the Armenian Genocide in today’s Turkey, particularly, ill-famed
Article 301 of the Criminal Code of that country. As recognition of
the Armenian Genocide is pointed out in the resolution of the Slovak
Parliament as a necessary condition for Turkey’s membership to the
European Union, then, as it is said in the article, Slovakia waits
for Turkey’s meeting this proposal.

CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS OF EUROPE REPRESENTATION INTENDS TO CREATE ARMENIAN-JEWISH UNION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
BRATISLAVA, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ashot Grigorian,
the head of the Armenian community of Slovakia, Chairman of the
Armenian Organizations of Europe Representation received a message from
scientists of the Ben Gurion State University of Israel who felt sorry
for the authorities of Israel hide in their country the reality of the
Armenian genocide and form by this among Armenians a false picture
about the Jewish people. A poster of a great event organized in the
university on August 21 was sent attached to the letter. At the event
which was dedicated to presentation of facts of the Armenian Genocide,
famous Professors from Israel and U.S., particularly, Fred Lazin
(Israel), Gunter Levine (U.S.) made speeches, and University Rector,
Professor Jimmy Weinblatt made the opening speech. As Ashot Grigorian
informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, the Jewish scientists’ group
addressed to him, as a famous lobbyist in Europe, with a proposal
to work jointly, to contradict the policy led by the authorities of
Israel as it does not express the Jewish people’s opinion. The Slovak
Armenian community head prepares to create in Europe an Armenian-Jewish
union which will arise in Europe and in the whole world the issue of
all-embracing recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“SONG OF YEAR OF ARMENIA” FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE IN SOCHI
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
SOCHI, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Song of Year of
Armenia” traditional music festval took place in the health resort-city
of Sochi the last week-end. According to the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia, besides young participants of the
competition, recognized grands of the Armenian pop music Nune Yesayan,
Ashot Ghazarian and Andre, the participants of the “Eurovision 2006”
festival, participated in the festival. Money, gathered as a result of
selling the tickets will be given to the fund of assistance to families
of the people died as a result of the crash of the plane fulfilling
the May 3 Yerevan-Sochi flight. The festival of Armenian song is held
in Moscow since 2003, but in 2006 it was decided to hold it in Sochi.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GRAIN CROP YIELD DECLINES BY 60% IN LOW-LYING REGIONS OF KOTAYK MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
HRAZDAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The harvest of grain has completed
on 10 thousand hectares in low-lying regions of Kotayk marz. Mher
Eghiazarian, head of the agriculture department of the Kotayk regional
administration, told NT correspondent that this year the crop yield
declined by 60%, mainly due to unfavorable climatic conditions. The
average crop yield in low-lying regions made 8 centners against 19
centners last year. The grain harvest is underway in mountainous
regions of the marz where areas under crops cover about 4 thousand
ha. Haymaking was completed: over 30 thousand tons of grass and
2 thousand tons of straw was cut, which is by 50% less than last
year. The harvest of fruit and vegetables was completed by 30% and
will continue until November.
According to the latest information, as of August 25, about 4 thousand
tons of vegetables, 3 thousand tons of fruit and 900 tons of potato
was harvested. Out of 700 ha of areas under sown with potato, harvest
was finished only on 60 ha.

ISSUES REALTED TO KARABAKH PROBLEM SOLUTION DISCUSSED AT MEETING OF CHAIRMAN OF BELGIAN SENATE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND T. TOROSIAN
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Speaker of the RA National
Assembly Tigran Torosian on August 29 received the Chairman of the
Belgian Senate’s Foreign Relations and Defence Commission Francois
Roelants du Vivier. According to the RA National Assembly PR
Department, during the meeting, the sides discussed issues related
to Armenia’s Eurointegration and relations with its neighbors, the
solution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem and other issues. Mr. Vivier
conveyed greetings of the Belgian Senate’s Chairwoman Ms. Anne-Marie
Lizin to Tigran Torosian, noting that he will strive for the
adoption of the draft law on denial, which is related to recognition
of the Armenian Genocide and was submitted to the Senate in early
2006. F. Vivier reminded that out of 25 EU member states, Belgium is
the only one in favor of resuming negotiations with Turkey concerning
its joining the EU. The Senate sdopted a decision with a report
containing a number of preconditions for Turkey: after the issue
of Cyprus, the second one is the Armenian Genocide’s recognition,
as any country intending to join the European family must accept
European values. Mr. Vivier presented this approach in Ankara as well,
namely in the Turkish parliament and to some high-ranking officials,
and met with their objection, although he had an impression that they
are inclined to listen. F. Vivier will also go to Nagorno Karabakh as
part of his visit to Armenia. Speaking abouit the Karabakh problem,
he noted that he does not subscribe to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’
opinion that negotiations should be discontinued at the pre-election
stage. He expressed concern over the fact of doubling Azerbaijan’s
military budget, adding that not taking the propaganda aspect into
account, the international community’s attention should be drawn
to this fact. In his opinion, the problem’s solution would take
into consideration the respect for the right of self-determination
published after the Rambouillet negotiations, which is a version, in
which there are neither winners nor losers. As regards the Karabakh
problem’s solution, the RA NA Speaker expressed an opinion that the
negotiations should not be linked with the pre-election stage and
the work time should not be restricted, since a good solution to
this problem may have a positive effect on the elections, while
a bad solution is always unacceptable. T. Torosian considered it
important that since 2005, the right of self-determination has
been recorded in several international documents as a principle
for conflict resolution, and after the Rambouillet negotiations it
became clear what principles should form the solution’s basis, and a
consistent use of this principle is especially important. T. Torosian
expressed concern that the Azerbaijani mass media have intensified
their propaganda of hostility towards and war against Armenia and
the Armenians. According to him, in 1991, a referendum was held in
Nagorno Karabakh under the Soviet laws, but another referendum may be
held in case of necessity. He said that over the past 12 years after
the ceasefire, the territories adjacent to the NKR, which are under
control of the NKR army, ensure the NKR population’s security and it
is obvious that it is just unacceptable to discuss any issue related
to these territories without the issue of the NKR’s status. The sides
underlined the importance of Eurointegration of the regional countries,
which will help with settlement of the conflicts and promote their
political and economic development. Mr. Vivier said that EU member
states are showing more and more positive approach to the issue
of Armenia’s joining the EU. T. Torosian attached importance to
consistency of steps taken and to be taken in this direction, which
will give guarantees of success.

CHAIRMAN OF BELGIAN SENATE’S FOREIGN RELATIONS AND DEFENCE COMMISSION AND ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DISCUSS SECURITY PROBLEMS OF NKR AND REGION
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Secretary of the National
Security Council under the RA President, RA Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian on August 29 received the Chairman of the Belgian Senate’s
Commission of Foreign Relations and Defence Senator Francois Roelant
du Vivier. According to Spokesman for the RA Defence Minister Colonel
Seyran Shahsuvarian, at the beginning of the meeting, the sides noted
that the Armenian-Belgian relations are developing and entering a new
qualitative stage. Speaking about the necessity to expand diplomatic
relations, the senator stated the Belgian authorities’ intention
to open an embassy in the South Caucasus. As regards the regional
countries’ obligations for joining the European family, the senator
underlined the importance of Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, and considered the destruction of Armenian khachkars in Hin
Jugha (Nakhichevan) by Azerbaijan as unacceptable. Speaking about the
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, Roelant du Vivier expressed concern
at an increase in Azerbaijan’s military budget, and said that it
is not always that an army’s fighting efficiency is measured by its
budget. The sides also discussed the current stage of the Karabakh
conflict settlement, problems of regional security and other issues
of mutual interest.

VAHAN’S ENTHUSIASM IS NOT THE SAME
James Hakobyan
Lragir.am
30 Aug 06
The time when the water of the homeland was as sweet as the pomegranate
wine is over. Now the water of the homeland is not only as sweet as
the pomegranate wine but also more profitable than the pomegranate
wine. The public may not buy and drink wine but they cannot do without
water. The ruling elite of Armenia has realized this and turned the
water supply system into a golden stream. French Armenian Artashes
Barseghyan told several days ago in surprise what is happening to
water of the Homeland. The public remained silent and became worried
by his words. But they worried about this poor man who worried so
much rather than the sphere of water supply. Meanwhile, in Armenia
almost everyone knows this and for a long time now. There was even a
monitoring. And the surveyor was the deputy speaker of the National
Assembly Vahan Hovanisyan. The restless Dashnak found out that the
water board spent the loan inefficiently. However, this discovery
remained a mere discovery because Vahan is not as enthusiastic as
he used to be. After the survey of his commission, the head of the
water board Gagik Martirosyan was dismissed but appointed adviser
to the prime minister. In this sense, Vahan Hovanisyan, in fact,
discovered the wisdom and abilities of Martirosyan for the prime
minister, and they decided that it was a pity to waste the talent.
In other words, only the prime minister benefited from the monitoring,
who acquired a new adviser. There was no more news, especially with
regard to the situation. And the situation in the sphere is the
same, whereas Vahan’s enthusiasm is not the same, especially with
the new relatives he has. However, Vahan with his enthusiasm is not
as important for the country as the state of water supply. The point
is that enthusiasm cannot quench thirst or it quenches only Vahan
Hovanisyan’s thirst. And most probably the deputy speaker of the
parliament quenched his thirst and bid farewell to enthusiasm. How
about the others? And the others are still waiting. It is pointless
to expect that they will entitle the citizens in turn to monitoring
of water supply at least to enable them quench their thirst in
turn. Though their turn would come earlier at the fountain of the
central square. Although the monitoring and the fountain quench thirst
differently. Thirst and water are a wide concept, consequently so
is satisfaction.
And in this ambiguous situation a lot of water flows to the pockets
of a number of people. And there is nowhere else to flow. In order to
flow somewhere else it needs pipes. And the pipes leak. If they fix
the holes, the water will flow to apartments and the pockets will
remain empty. Therefore, nobody would like to forget about their
pockets and fix the hole in the public pipe. Especially if this hole
guarantees millions of foreign loans. There is only one way out –
entrust the hole in the pipe to people who do not have pockets.
And there is no need to strip these people. Even there is no need
to replace the people who are presently in charge of the pipelines
and the sphere of water supply in general. Simply they should be
given pocketless uniforms with long stripes resembling pipes. Let
them go on to attend to this sphere in this uniform. The pipes will
be replaced on time and the water will flow where it should.

NON-WISE AND NON-BRAVE PRESIDENTS
Lragir.am
30 Aug 06
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan need to be wise and brave
for the settlement of the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh, said the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel de Gucht in an interview with the Noviye
Izvestia newspaper.
He said this year a window for settlement opened but the meetings
of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris and Bucharest
were not successful. Karel de Gucht says the major hindrances remain,
and the two presidents need wisdom and braveness to overcome them.
It appears that if the problem cannot be solved, the presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan are neither wise nor brave. At least for the
time being, as long as the issue has not been settled.

RUSSIA IS AN ADVERSARIAL REGIME
Lragir.am
30 Aug 06
The chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on External Relations Richard
Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, listed Russia among Iran and
Venezuela as an “adversarial regime”. Addressing the opening of the
International Energy Security Summit In Indiana on August 29, the
senator said, “adversarial regimes from Venezuela, to Iran, to Russia
are using energy supplies as leverage against their neighbors.” “We
are used to thinking in terms of conventional warfare between nations,
but energy is becoming a weapon of choice for those who possess it,”
said the senator in his report, warning about the threat of energy
capacities in international relations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress