RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE TO HOLD EVENTS DEDICATED TO 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Education and
Science envisages holding of a number of events dedicated to the 15th
anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. As Narine
Hovhannisian, the Chief of the Comprehensive Education Department
of the Ministry mentioned at the August 15 press conference, the
first event of that series will be the 2nd All-Armenian Educational
Conference to take place in Tsaghkadzor on August 17-20. 150
representatives of Armenia and Diaspora will participate in it. She
mentioned that a competition of compositions on the theme “My Free
Fatherland” will be held in secondary schools of the republic from
August 20 to September 30.
The best works will be published in the “Krtutyun” (Education) and
“Kanch” (call) periodicals, will be placed in the internet site of
the Ministry.
N.Hovhannisian mentioned that the Day of Knowledge, September 1, will
also be dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Independence. Meetings
with statesmen and politicians and participants of the Artsakh war
will be held in schools in these days as well as demonstrative lessons
dedicated to the theme will be held.
Besides, in schools, Artsakh war heroes’, Armenian Generals’ halls
of glory will be founded, albums will be formed, stands will be
prepared, wall papers will be published, photo-exhibitions will
be opened. N.Hovhannisian mentioned that a republican festival of
recitation entitled “You my Old and New Armenia” will be organized
jointly with the Writers’ Union of Armenia. Its results will be
summed up in October. A competition-review of works of fine arts
entitled “My Republic is 15” will also be held. The best works will be
exhibited at the State National Gallery. And a gala concert entitled
“My Marvellous Armenia” will take place in October, with school
teachers’ participation.
Scientific conferences, seminars, lectures, students’ and lecturers’
scientific sessions are also envisaged.

STATUE TO CHRIST SCULPTURED BY HRAYR AVETIAN OPENED IN LATVIAN TOWN OF AGLONE
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
AGLON, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. A many-metres statue to Jesus Christ
has appeared recently in the Latvian town of Aglone. The author
of the sculpture in Hrayr Avetian, a graduate of the Art Academy
of Latvia. As the editorial office of the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia informed, the sculpture has for six
years carved it from the Ukrainian granite. Hrayr Avetian’s sculpture
will become a deserving decoration of annual celebrations, being held
in Aglone from August 12 to 15, in honour of the Ascention of Saint
Mary the Virgin. By a formed tradition, thousands of believers from
all over the world come here on these days.

POET GEVORG GILANTS’ BILINGUAL COLLECTION PUBLISHED IN MOSCOW
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 15 2006
MOSCOW, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative
of the “Mitk” Armenian Youth Union of Moscow and with the assistance
of the “Russian-Armenian Concord” Moscow regional organization,
the presentation of the “Fly, My Beast” collection of poems of poet
Gevorg Gilants, graduating student of the Higher Literature Courses
of the Literature Institute after M.Gorky, took place on August 11
at the Brusov House-Museum (museum of “silver century”).
As they stated at the editorial office of the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia, Svetlana Vasilenko, the Board
Chairwoman of the Union of Russian Poets, and prose-writer, scenario
writer Armen Zurabov made speeches at the presentation. Gilants’
book puts side by side not only Armenian and Russian lines, it’s
a bilingual book, a book of poems and translations, standing side
by side. Gilants is an emphasized Armenian poet, traditions of the
Armenian culture and innovation characters of this poetry, everything
is indissolubly connected with Armenia. The following is written in
the postface to the collection: “Armenian poet Gilants does not sing
of Armenia. He has another nature of gift. He is ill of Armenia, he
suffers from it, he lives with it every minute. He strives to show
and shows it to Armenians, especially to those who does not know the
Armenian language, and says: “this is our riches, this is our poverty.”

ONE-MONTH COURSES FOR DIASPORAN ARMENIANS TEACHERS’ TRAINING FINISH
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The closing ceremony of the
one-month courses for Diasporan Armenian teachers’ training held at
the Mother See took place on August 14, in the hall of the Gevorgian
Spiritual Academy of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. After the
Lord’s Prayer, monk T.Ghukas Zakarian, the Director of the Center for
Christian Education of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin presented
achievements of the one-month training. T.Zalinian, an employee of the
Department on Ties with Diaspora of the RA Ministry of Education and
Science presented in his report the program of teachers’ qualification
and giving them certificates. Seda Unjian (Lebanon) expressed gratitude
on behalf of the Diasporan Armenian teachers. She touched upon the
problem of keeping the Armenian identity in Diaspora. Then A.Ghukasian,
the Rector of the Kh.Abovian State Pedagogical University gave final
certificates to teachers.
According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the
Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, at the
end of the ceremony, Archbishop T.Paren Avetikian, monk of the Mother
See passed the blessings and best wishes of Karekin II Catholicos of
All Armenians to those present.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO PAY WORKING VISIT TO SOCHI
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian President Robert
Kocharian is going on a working visit to Sochi on August 15 where
a regular summit of the Eurasian Economic Community’s (EurAsEC)
Interstate Council will be held on August 15-17. According to the
RA President’s press service, Armenia has the status of observer at
the EurAsEC.

WITHIN PROGRAM OF CERTIFICATE FOR BUYING FLATS, 775 MLN DRAMS TO BE ALLOCATED THIS YEAR TO REFUGEE FAMILIES TAKEN SHELTER IN KOTAYK MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The sitting of the commission on
providing with flats, in the rural settlements of the marzes of Lori
and Shirak, the families remained without refuge in the consequence of
the 1988 earthquake and the refugee families displaced from Azerbaijan
took place at the RA Government on August 14. Noyan Tapan was informed
about it by the RA Government’s Information and Public Relations
Department. The information presented by the RA Minister of Urban
Development and the corresponding Regional Governors concerning works
on implementation of the program on primary providing with flats of
20 refugee families living in the hostel in the address of Moldovakan
71/1, Yerevan, of families remained without refuge in the consequence
of 1988 earthquake in the city of Gyumri, of people displaced from
Azerbaijan in 1988-1992 in the marz of Kotayk was discussed at the
sitting. The discussed information also related to the process of
construction of unfinished houses of families remained without refuge
in the rural settlements of the marzes of Lori and Shirak. All the
mentioned programs are implemented on the account of the 2006 RA state
budget. It was mentioned that, within the framework of the 2 bln 225
mln drams (about 5.3 mln U.S. dollars) envisaged by the 2006 state
budget, particularly, works of construction of 101 unfinished buildings
are implemented in the marz of Lori, of 34 unfinished buildings are
implemented in the marz of Shirak. From the 875 mln drams allocated
for implementation of the program of giving certificates for buying
flats for refugee families, 775 mln drams were allocated to families
of the marz of Kotayk, and 100 mln to 20 families of the Moldovakan
71/1 building of Yerevan. By the program of giving certificates for
buying flats, 875 mln drams were allocated for providing with flats
families remained without refuge in the consequence of the earthquake
in the city of Gyumri.

WORLD COMMITEE OF ARMENIAN SUPPORTERS OF LEBANESE RESISTANCE CALL ON TO RAISE VOICE OF PROTEST AGAINST WAR IN LEBANON
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The members of the World Committee
of Armenian Supporters of Lebanese Resistance are appealing to all
the Armenians not to consider the ongoing actions in Lebanon as one
religious community’s struggle for existence and to raise their voices
against the war in Lebanon.
According to a press release issued by this organization, the
war was instigated by Israel and the US with the aim of “stifling
Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria and Iran and create a new Middle East under
their control.” Vahagn Vardanian, representative of the committee,
expressed an opinion during a press conference on August 15 that if
the Lebanese resistance (in the person of Hezbollah) is broken, the
war will take the character of a regional war, with other states,
particularly Iran, being involved in this conflict. In his words,
this circumstance poses a threat to Armenia, “in particular, to the
liberated regions of Artsakh where an attempt is already being made
to deploy foreign troops in order to use them against Iran in the
future.” He compared the Armenian-Azerbaijani and the Lebanese-Israeli
conflicts, noting that if Israel were replaced with Azerbaijan, Lebanon
– with Armenia, South Lebanon – with Karabakh and Hezbollah – with
fidayi, we would have the initial stage of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict.” Political scientist Igor Muradian (he is not a member of
the committee) said during the press conference that this war is going
on by the silent consent of the Arab world. “Israel’s aim is to disarm
Hezbullah, which is qualified as a terrorist organization by Israel and
its allies. Yet, this organization was established in order to liberate
the Lebanese territories captured by the Israeli army,” he said. It
was mentioned that 80% of bridges and roads linking Lebanon’s five
provinces have been destroyed, the country’s ports are not functioning,
and more than 80 Lebanese Armenians have fled to Armenia.

NUMBER OF TOURISTS TO ARMENIA GROWS BY 11.6% IN FIRST HALF OF 2006
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. 122,528 tourists came to Armenia
in the first half of 2006 against 109,750 ones in the same months of
last year (a 11.6% increase). According to the RA National Statistical
Service, in the first half of this year, 119,451 people left Armenia to
travel abroad, which exceeds the index of January-June 2005 by 13.3%.

180 ARMENIAN COMPANIES HAVE LICENCES FOR PROVIDING DATA TRANSMISSION AND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. About 180 Armenian companies currently
have licences for providing data transmission and Internet access
services.
Gevorg Gevorgian, Head of the Telecommunication Department of the
RA Public Services Regulatory Commission, told NT correspondent
about it. According to him, the operation of 14 companies providing
data transmission and Internet access services was ceased due to the
fact that these companies were not engaged in this type of activity
but were unaware that this circumsatnce does exempt them from annual
duties for licence and from fines for non-payment of these duties. At
the same time, in the first half of this year, 9 licences allowing
to carry out such activity were granted. G. Gevorgain found it
difficult to answer the question about the volume of the Armenian
market of data transmission and Internet access services. He noted
that ArmenTel company can throw a light on this question. It should
have submitted information to the commission about the amount its
electronoic communication services until February 1, 2006.
The publication of this information was delayed until the commission’s
sitting scheduled for July 28, which did not take place.

DRAFT TO “GUIDEBOOK FOR SOCIAL SERVICEMEN’S HOUSE VISITS” WORKED OUT
Noyan Tapan
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft to the “Guidebook for Social
Servicemen’s House Visits” was worked out for specialists engaged in
social work in Armenia. Social servicemen’s rights and obligations,
rules of professional ethics are particularly presented in it. The
seminar on the theme “The Guidebook for Social Servicemen’s House
Visits and Ethics Rules” organized on August 15 was dedicated to
discussion of the draft guidebook. As Artsvik Minasian, the RA Deputy
Minister of Labour and Social Issues mentioned, one of the important
components of the social security of inhabitation is improvement
of the social servicemen’s institute. According to him, the social
serviceman was formed in Armenia as a profession during the recent
years. In A.Minasian’s opinion, development of professional abilities
and skills as well as theoretical knowledge are important preconditions
for improvement of that institute.
Both territorial agencies on social service and numerous public
organizations are today engaged in social work in the republic. In
A.Minasian’s words, arising of the social-economic state of Armenia,
demands presented to a social serviceman are also changed during a
period of time.