ISRAEL SUPPORTED BY USA, TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN, POLITICAL SCIENTIST SAYS
Panorama.am
15:47 15/08/06
Gevorg Torosyan, member of World Committee of Armenian Sympathizers
of Lebanese Resistance, informed reporters that 70 bridges and 80
percent of roads in Lebanon were damaged during 34 days of military
actions. The Israeli air combat has blown up the oil storages of
Lebanon causing ecological disaster in the Mediterranean Sea. Torosyan
told a press conference today that 1071 Lebanese people were killed
and another 3628 injured during the war.
Igor Muradyan, a political analyst, believes that Israel would not
start war against Lebanon if not the silent acceptance of the Arab
world.
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, a political scientist, assures that 3
countries have supported Israel in this war – the United States of
America, Turkey and Azerbaijan. The political scientist believes that
Israel received 80 percent of its fuel from Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil
pipeline. He says even Azerbaijan does not refute this fact.
Melik-Shahnazaryan said Israeli tanks and airbuses would be only
scrap metal without Azerbaijani oil.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 15th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA TO BE HELD AUGUST-OCTOBER
Armenpress
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Education and Science Ministry
is going to conduct a set of events in August-October dedicated to the
15th anniversary of the Armenian Independence. Pupils and students
of the educational establishments of the provinces and Yerevan will
participate in the events.
Narine Hovhannissian, head of the Education and Science Ministry’s
general education department, said today at a press conference that all
the events are of patriotic, familiarizing nature. From August 17 to 20
second pan-Armenian educational conference will be held in Tsakhkadzor,
from August 20 a school competition on writing a composition on
“My Free Homeland” will be announced. The best compositions will be
published in “Krtutyun” (“Education”) and “Kanch” newspapers.
On September 1, the Day of Knowledge, open lessons dedicated
to the 15th anniversary of the independence will be conducted in
schools. Besides exhibitions of works of students and pupils will be
held; on September 21 a march to Yerablur will be organized.
Events will be held in the sport sphere as well, particularly
championships in volleyball, basketball etc. will be
conducted. Besides, in the schools the pupils will meet with
state-political figures, in higher educational establishments
conferences, lectures will be conducted.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION GETS READY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY
Panorama.am
14:45 15/08/06
The ministry of education and science called a press conference today
to inform the public about the events they are going to organize
connected with 15th anniversary of Independence in Armenia. Narine
Hovhannisyan, secondary education department head, said they are
developing a concept paper to bring education and patriotic upbringing
together. “Only then we can accomplish success,” she said. The ministry
of education has instructed all schools to conduct a lesson on 15th
anniversary of Independence Day in Armenia on the first day of classes,
September 1. The ministry plans meetings with political figures and
Artsakh war freedom -fighters during classes. They will also organize
a march to Yerablur, memorial cemetery of freedom fighters, on the
Independence Day.
Students will also be enrolled in essay writing competition on the
subject “My Free Country.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN MEETS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN
Armenpress
Aug 15 2006
SOCHI, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: The delegation headed by the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian arrived today in Sochi to participate
in the non-official summit of the Eurasian Economic Association
conducted in Sochi August 15-17. Armenia is participating in the
summit as an observer.
At the airport Robert Kocharian was met by the governor of Krasnodar
province Alexander Tkachov, Russian deputy foreign minister and
executive secretary of Eurasian Economic Association Grigori Rapota
and Armenian consul in Sochi Vardan Azoyan.
Armenian president met with his Russian counterpart at the latter’s
summer residence “Bocharov Ruchei”.
The two presidents discussed topical issues within their bilateral
relations, including economic, cultural and a number of regional
issues. Vladimir Putin highly underscored the positive dynamic
development of cooperation in trade sphere between the two countries
and expressed his conviction that the Russian-Armenian business
partnership will prove successful.
In his turn, Robert Kocharian emphasized the importance of establishing
effective cooperation mechanisms in the communication, transport and
investment sectors. Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharian also noted
about the successful conduction of events within the framework of
the Year of Armenia in Russia.
Members of the Eurasian Economic Association are Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Armenia,
Moldova and Ukraine are observers.

ONLY 11 RECEIVE HIGHEST 20 POINTS IN MATH
Panorama.am
14:44 15/08/06
Levon Lazarian, minister of education and science, paid a visit to
Math exam today. This is the last day of this examination at higher
educational establishments. The examination committee managed to
check about 6800 tests in the course of 23 days.
Today, 253 applicants took examination in Mathematics, and 14 people
were registered as absent. The examination committee says the absent
students may have already failed previous exams. The committee says
few students were considered as exceptionally bright, since only 11
out of 6800 received the highest 20 points.

EXHIBITION OF WORKS OF HRAYR HAWK KICKS OFF
Armenpress
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: An exhibition of distinguished Canadian
Armenian photographer Hrayr Hawk kicked off today at the Armenian
center of aesthetic upbringing. About 45 new works of the photographer
are presented at the exhibition which will last until August 22.
The photographer said in his photos he wanted to reflect the beauty
of woman “as human expression of beauty of the nature.” “Each person
follows the beauty with his/her eyes and I do the same, at the same
time trying to pass it to everyone by taking pictures of naked women,”
Hrayr Hawk said.
The photographer worked on his photos for about five years. In near
future he is expected to publish an album in China in which he will
include the works presented at the exhibition.
Besides photos of women, Hawk also has works presenting relations
between Armenia and neighboring countries. He has already published
“Armenia in Georgia” album, soon another one “Armenia in Georgia”
will be published. Besides, in September an exhibition of his works
entitled “Armenia and Artsakh” will be organized.

APPLICANT SAYS ACCEPTANCE COMMITTEE SUBJECTIVE
Panorama.am
15:39 15/08/06
Gayane Gasparyan, acceptance committee chairwoman in English language
(oral examination), says they consider communication skills in English
language while examining an applicant. Gasparyan is neither content
nor very dissatisfied with the knowledge and skills of the applicants,
saying, “they are prepared in general.” About 1100 applicants received
11-16 points out of 20. Only 22 applicants could get the highest 20
points. Even they, Gasparyan says, “are not as bright as last year
applicants, who received the highest 20 points.”
The applicants, who have received low scores, complained that the
commission was subjective. They say the professors do not listen what
they say to the end. “They had decided to give a low mark beforehand,
and so they did,” Tatevik Sargsyan, an applicant who received 10
points, complained. Tatevik also said that when she tried to defend
her rights, she was ordered “not to argue.”
The parents, who gathered in front of the examination buildings,
say there is no fairness. “Those who give bribes, get high scores,”
they claim.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: TURKISH AND AZERI MEDIA REPORTS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REAL CONTENT OF THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM PIERRE LELLOUCHE
Yerevan, August 12. ArmInfo. Armenian Parliament Speaker Tigran
Torossyan refutes the reports by Turkish and Azeri media that NATO PA
President Pierre Lellouche has allegedly sent him a letter of protest
against “the disrespect they showed for the Turkish MP, NATO PA Vice
President Vahid Erdem in Yerevan.”
In a talk with ArmInfo, Torossyan says that these allegations have
nothing to do with the real content of Lellouche’s letter. He says
that the Armenian side has sent Lellouche a letter informing him of
the very unbecoming behavior of Vahid Erdem in Yerevan. “Mr.
Lellouche answered very laconically and tactfully. He said no single
word blaming the Armenian side or protecting Mr. Erdem.”
To note, it was exactly Erdem who told APA news agency (Baku) about
the “content” of Lellouche’s letter. Erdem said that “Mr. Lellouche
expressed his protest to Mr. Torossyan because during my stay in
Armenia they deprived me of office car and bodyguards and searched me
even though I had diplomatic passport. Though being soft, the position
of Mr. Lellouche has satisfied me.” Erdem also accused Torossyan of
distorting facts in his letter to Lellouche.
To remind, NATO PA delegation led by Erdem visited Yerevan in mid
June. The key reason for Erdem’s indignation was not the alleged
“disrespect” for him but Torossyan’s stopping his attempt to prove
that the Armenian Genocide “is just a fiction.”

RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GEORGIA RESTORED
Yerevan, August 12. ArmInfo. The passengers of the Batumi-Yerevan
train that was forced to stop at Sadakhlo because of derailed cargo
train will be taken to Batumi by buses, says the representative of
the Railway Department of Armenia Hakop Khrimyan.
The Georgian side is taking measures to restore the communication by
this evening. The train will reach Batumi by the Aug 13 morning. The
next train will leave Yerevan according to the schedule.

ARMENIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STANDS AT 7.6 PER CENT
Arminfo
14 Aug 06
Yerevan, 14 August: A total of 7.6 per cent of Armenia’s workforce
was unemployed at the end of June 2006.
At the end of June 2006, 113,600 job seekers were registered with the
labour and employment agencies of Armenia, including 102,600 unemployed
citizens, the National Statistics Service reported. Of them, 90,100
have been officially registered as unemployed.
[Passage omitted: more details]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress