VAHAN HOVHANNESIAN DOESN’T EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF
ALLOWING PEOPLE WITH DOUBLE CITIZENSHIP TO VOTE
AZG Armenian Daily #147, 05/08/2006
Home
In the course of today’s meeting with the Armenia youth from Diaspora,
Vahan Hovhannesian, Vice Speaker of RA National Assembly, touched upon
the issues of tax paying order of the people with double citizenship,
the issue of the order of their serving in the army, and the issue of
the right to vote and be elected. Hovhannesian stated that according
to some approaches, the people with double citizenship may run for
the elections for the local administration bodies, if the have the
minimal term for living in Armenia.
“If the term surpasses the minimum period, they may run for the
parliamentary elections,” he said. He added that the draft law on
double citizenship will be discussed at the parliament in autumn. He
said it will be adopted before the parliament of the third convocation
is dissolved.
By Marietta Makarian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DEPUTY PROSECUTOR GENERAL: WE IMMEDIATELY
RESPOND TO VIOLATIONS OF PRIVATIZATION LAWS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Based on a report submitted by the
National Assembly Control Chamber, the RA Prosecutor General’s
Office registered a number of mistakes made by the government
during the implementation of the 2001-2003 program on state property
privatization. However, as the Deputy Prosecutor General of the RA
Gevorg Danielian stated at the August 4 press conference, there are
no sufficient grounds for opening criminal cases on the basis of the
facts the report contains. He said that the NA Control Chamber’s report
on implementation of the 2001-2003 privatization program was sent on
May 16 of this year by the NA Speaker to the RA Prosecutor General’s
Office. According to G. Danielian, after studying this report, the
Prosecutor General’s Office found some inaccuracies in the information
of the Control Chamber. In his words, the NA lawyers “sometimes
present exaggerated figures, but as a result of working with experts
of the prosecutor’s office, they often change their opinion.” Asked
if he sees any intent in the activity of the NA Control Chamber,
G. Danielian replied: “Even if there is a political implication,
it has no bearing to us.” According to him, the prosecutor’s office
is interested only in the legal aspect of the matter. “In general,
we immediately respond to violations of the laws on privatization,”
he assured.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STUDENTS’ PROGRAMMING SUMMER SCHOOL TO BE ORGANIZED IN TSAGHKADZOR ON AUGUST
6-12 WITH PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF
ARMENIA AND GEORGIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State
University (RAU) and the Enterprise Incubator Foundation organize on August 6-12
the Students’ Programming Summer School with participation of leading students’
programming teams of institutions of higher education of Armenia and Georgia.
The opening of the program will take place on August 6 in the “Adigaz”
resting house of Tsaghkadzor. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RAU, the main
goal of the school is to prepare the Olympic teams of institutions of higher
education of Armenia for the International Programming Olympiad. Competitions,
experimental olympiads, courses will be held in the school, Sergey Kuznetsov,
Doctor of physics-mathematics sciences, Professor invited from the Moscow
State University will read lectures. The summer school will allow students’
teams of Armenian institutions of higher education to do together group works, to
widen relations and establish new acquaintances as well as to have exchange
of experience.

ORANGE FRONT WINS IN “DAYS OF BAZE IN ARTSAKH” FESTIVAL
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The orange front won in the “Days of
Baze in Artsakh” All-Armenian Youth Festival held from July 26 to
August 1. As Armen Alexanian, the Deputy Director of the festival
mentioned at the August 4 summing up press-conference, the main
achievement of the festival was its being organized out of borders
of Armenia, in Artsakh. 9 detachments participated in the festival
organized by the All-Armenian Youth Fund: 2 Armenian detachments, 5
ones from Artsakh, 1 from Javakhk and 1 from Diaspora, formed of the
winners of the song, dance, recitation, painting, fashion, intellectual
and sporting inter-front competitions during the 2002-2006 “Baze”
all-Armenian gatherings. The detachments were divided into 3 fronts
symbolizing the tricolour flag: red, blue and orange. Gagik Sargsian,
the sporting head of the festival mentioned that sporting (football,
volleyball, tennis, chess), cultural (song, dance, fashion, sculpture)
and intellectual (“Brain Test,” “What, Where, When) competitions were
held. The young people had meetings with the NKR National Assembly
Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers of Education, Culture and
Sports, Defence and Foreign Affairs, visited Gandzasar and Shoushi.
A.Alexanian and G.Sargsian mentioned that the goal of the festival
is to inspire the youth with military-patriotic soul and stregthen
it. They also mentioned that one of peculiarities of the festival is
also the event’s not being made political.

HOVHANNES HAROUTIUNIAN SENTENCED FOR CASE OF TIGRAN NAGHDALIAN’S MURDER SET
FREE AHEAD OF TIME
YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. By the July 12 decision of the Court of
First Instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan,
Hovhannes Haroutiunian with “Aper” nickname sentenced for the case
of murder of Tigran Naghdalian, the Council Chairman of the Public
Television and Radio of Armenia was conditionally set free ahead
of time. Radio Liberty informs about it. To recap, T.Naghdalian’s
murder took place on December 28, 2002. By the November 18, 2003
verdict of the same court, H.Haroutiunian was sentenced to 7 years of
imprisonment. Accourting to materials of the hearing, he was a tiing
ring on the case of T.Naghdalian’s murder between the client and
executers. (NT. – According to the materials of the criminal case,
the client of the murder was Armen Sargsian, the younger brother of
RA Prime Ministers Vazgen and Aram Sargsians, who was sentenced to 15
years of imrisonment). Anahit Voskanian, the head of the Information
Service of the Ministry of Justice informed Radio Liberty that
H.Haroutiunian addressed in May, 2006 to the corresponding department
of the RA President’s staff with a request of amnesty, and by the
President’s June 27 decree, he was gifted amnesty, reducing not taken
part of the measure of panishment by a year and a half.

VARTAN OSKANIAN RECEIVES DIASPORAN ARMENIAN TEACHERS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Minister of
Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian had a meeting on August 4 with the
delegation of Diasporan Armenian teachers who undergo retraining in
Armenia. As it was mentioned in the information submitted to Noyan
Tapan by the Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
on behalf of the delegation, Suren Danielian, the Director of the
“Spyurk” (Diaspora) educational-scientific center addressed their work
of gratitude to Minister Oskanian. V.Oskanian, in his turn, welcame
the teachers on the occasion of their visit to Armenia and of the
effective implementation of the program, emphasizing the importance
of the education sphere in the sense of keeping the Armenian identity
abroad, of improvement of the state, society in Armenia. The Minister
presented in details the main programs of the “Armenia-Diaspora”
conference to take place in the current year and primary tasks
connected with the rural regions. He also touched upon the regional
political problems, pointing out the outcome of the NKR problem,
issues connected with opening of the Turkish border and the military
actions in Near East. The Foreign Minister responded the delegation’s
questions during the meeting. Reference: “Diasporan Armenian Teachers’
Training in Armenia” state program has functioned since 2000. It is
the practical implementation of one of issues attached importance to
by the “Armenia-Diaspora” first conference.
The program has been sponsored by His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians already for two years. 67 teachers from 12 countries
participate in the mentioned courses. Lessons are held in the building
of the Gevorgian Academy of Etchmiadzin. Famous specialists both from
Armenia and Diaspora are invited to deliver lectures.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HEADS OF CALCUTTA PHILANTHROPIC ACADEMY MEET
WITH MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF WEST BENGAL
CALCUTTA, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Archimandrite
Oshakan Gyulgyuloam, the manager of the Calcutta Armenian Philanthropic
Academy and Deacon Tigran Baghumian, the administrator, met on August
4 with Sudarshah Roy Chodhuri, the Minister of Higher Education
of West Bengal. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the Calcutta
Philathropic Academy. Expressing gratitude for the warm reception,
Academy Manager Holy Father passed welcome and best wishes of His
Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians to the Minister,
touching upon the Armenian-Indian friendly ties of centuries,
particularly emphasizing the great role of Armenians in the history
of West Bengal. The Minister got acquainted with the Philanthropic
Academy’s history, present state and future programs the goal of which
is to have at the Philanthropic Academy a high educational level in
keeping with the time and normal life conditions assisting it. The
issue of having 11-12 grades at the Academy was also discussed.
The Minister of Higher Education of West Bengal in his turn expressed
happiness on the occasion of the meeting and acquaintance, promizing
to be useful to the Philanthropic Academy in everything.

NUMBER OF CRIMES INCREASES 9.9% IN ARMENIA DURING ONE YEAR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of crimes fixed in Armenia
during the first half year of 2006 increased 9.9% or by 434 cases
compared with the same period of time of the previous year: 4823 cases
of crime were fixed this year instead of 4389 cases of the same period
of time of the previous year.
As Hovhannes Hunanian, the Deputy Chief of the RA Police informed at
the August 5 press-conference, the increase of cases is mainly provided
by the increase of property crimes, especially of robberies. But he
mentioned, that the level of crimes in Armenia is, nevertheless,
significantly low: 15 crimes fall to lot of every 10 thousand
inhabitants. According to H.Hunanian, this index is 9 times higher
in Russia, 16 times higher in Latvia, 7 times higher in Moldova. The
Deputy Chief of the Police mentioned that according to types of
crime, particularly, cases of crimes connected with murders and
attempts of murders, robberies, burglary, stealing transport means
have increased. Cases of damaging health with a criminal intent,
of banditry, rape and attemps of rape have reduced. Cases of crimes
committed by juveniles reduced by 30.
H.Hunanian mentioned 65 of people committed crimes during 6 months of
the current year were foreigners (instead of 53 of 2005), including
19 citizens of Georgia, 14 of Iran, 11 citizens of Russia. Increase
of cases of crimes committed towards foreigners was fixed during the
same period of time. 64 similar cases were fixed, including 15 ones
against citizens of Iran, 11 against ones of the U.S., 7 against
citizens of India, 6 ones against citizens of Russia.
H.Hunanian mentioned that 2745 ones of the crimes fixed in the first
half year of 2006 were revealed, what is more by 263 compared with
the previous year.
According to him, the number of revealing of cases of crime connected
with property burglary, robbery, fraud, stealing of transport means has
reduced at some extent. According to the Deputy Chief of the Police, a
positive move was fixed in the direction of revealing crimes committed
during the previous years.
According to him, 7 cases of murder and attempt of murder, 8 cases of
damaging health with a criminal intent, 10 cases of robber attacks,
3 cases of burglary, 62 cases of robbery committed during the previous
years were revealed in the period of time under review. During the same
period of time, 152 cases of crime directed to the economic activity
(149 cases in 2004) were revealed, including 11 cases of corruption,
23 cases of counterfeit, 46 cases of appropriation. It was also
mentioned that 13901 criminals were searched by the police bodies,
903 of which were revealed. Besides, 76 criminals in search by other
states were also arrested.

NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASES IN FIRST HALF YEAR OF 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. 607 traffic accidents were fixed
in Armenia in the first half year of 2006, in the consequence of
what 111 people died and 825 people got bodily injury. As Hovhannes
Hunanian, the Deputy Chief of the RA Police informed at the August 5
press-conference, compared with the same period of time of the previous
year, the number of traffic accidents increased by 76, the number
of injured people by 96, and the number of died people reduced by
2. According to the Police Deputy Chief, the main reasons of traffic
accidents are exceeding of the fixed speed limit, breaking of the
rulls of overtaking, bad state of roads as well as the unprecedented
increase of number of cars in Armenia. He mentioned that about 11
thousand transport means were imported the RA only in the current year,
the majority of which is high-speed cars of foreign production.

LEGAL AND SOCIAL GUARANTEES
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 Aug 2006
The NKR law on employment and social security on unemployment
has been enacted. An important thing about it is that it provides
for free of charge vocational training. For instance, a citizen
finished a vocational college in the Soviet Union and was trained
to be builder. In ten years, the corresponding commission gives
him degree 5 qualification. However, the experienced worker becomes
jobless, and is registered with the local agency of unemployment,
and gets an unemployment benefit. In this stage, he can use his
right for free of charge vocational training. He complies with all
the requirements, namely one year of insurance, vocational education
and qualification. He can enroll in special classes to his skills
and get a higher qualification. This is what Article 18 provides
for. Article 30 provides for a scholarship. Since he is unemployed
and gets an unemployment benefit, his scholarship will be 120 percent
of unemployment benefit, i.e. 10,800 drams a month, whereas formerly
the scholarship was 4680 drams a month. On July 10, 50 unemployed
people enrolled in computer classes, including 20 in Stepanakert, 10
in Martakert, Martuni and Askeran each. The computer classes are held
in the framework of the program worked out by the Ministry of Social
Security and funded by the state fund of social security. Considering
the demand of the labor market, the Ministry of Social Security will
enroll another 30 people in these classes. In 2005, the government
allocated 45,000 drams, including a 21,600 monthly scholarship per
person for two-month classes. However, there are specialties, which
require a longer duration of the course, namely 4 months. For these
courses, the government will have to pay 75,000 drams per person.
AA.