NEXT TO LAST TRAIN WITH RUSSIAN MATERIEL PREPARED TO LEAVE GEORGIA THIS YEAR
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
September 11, 2006 Monday 11:00 AM MSK
This year’s last but one train, carrying arms and materiel of the
Russian 62nd military base, deployed in Akhalkalaki, is ready to
leave for Russia.
“The train, expected to leave on Tuesday, will transport nine Taran
reconnaissance systems and 195 tons of munitions,” a military base
official told Interfax-AVN on Monday.
According to him, this year’s last train will leave for Russia in
a week.
Deputy Commander of the Russian Task Force in Transcaucasia Colonel
Vladimir Kuparadze told Interfax-AVN earlier that this year a total
of six trains had transported 179 pieces of materiel and 217 tons of
various cargo from the Russian 12th military base in Batumi to the
Russian 102nd base in Gyumri, Armenia.
A total of 358 pieces of materiel and 1,671 tons of cargo will be
transproted from Akhalkalaki to Russia.
The withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia will be resumed
next year, with the deadline slated for 2008.

8 OF 16 DELEGATES OF ARMENIA START EUROPEAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH VICTORY
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Youth Chess
Championship started in the city of Herzeg Novi on September 10. From
16 delegates of Armenia, Tigran Haroutiunian (10), Robert Aghasarian
and Zohrak Apresian (12), Samvel Ter-Sahakian (14), Aghasi Inants
(16) among boys and Susanna Gaboyan (10), Marine Gevorgian (12)
and Shoushanna Sargsian (14) among girls had victories at the first
stage. Meetings of the second stage are held on September 11.

HAYPOST TO BE PASSED TO DUTCH COMPANY ING FOR TRUST MANAGEMNT
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The company Haypost will be passed
to the company ING (Netherlands) for trust management, NT correspondent
was informed from a reliable source. The above mentioned company is
engaged in postal and banking activity. The spokeswoman for Haypost
Astghik Martirosian declined to comment on the matter. To recap,
since 2005, Haypost has been passed to the international company
Converse Invest for trust management a 5-year period.

PORTERFIELD AND GYULBUDAGHYANTS IN BERLIN CONFERENCE
A1+
[06:52 pm] 11 September, 2006
On September 11 – 13 Yan Porterfield, chief coach of the Armenian
national team and Armen Gyulbudaghyants, chief coach of the national
team under 19 will participate in the joint conference titled “2006
and future” organized by FIFA and UEFA presidents for national chief
coaches in Berlin.
The conference is aimed at discussing the highlights of the 2006
football and the 2006 World Cup with the participation of chief
coaches and making conclusions on the bases of these discussions.
Reminder: Scottish Yan Porterfield was appointed the chief coach of
the Armenian national football team on August 16.

OSKANIAN TO MEET WITH THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
A1+
[07:52 pm] 11 September, 2006
Today RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian left for Paris. He will
meet with the OSCE Minsk group Co-chairs in the evening.
On September 12 Vartan Oskanian will meet with his French counterpart
Philippe Douste-Blazy. Hasmik Poghosyan, RA Minister of Culture and
Youth will meet with Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, the French Minister of
Culture and Communication and they will render joint press conference
on the year of Armenia in France.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEAKER OF IRANIAN MAJLIS CONSIDERS ARMENIAN-IRANIAN INTERSATE RELATIONS AS EXEMPLARY FOR REGION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
centuries-old neighbor Iran has beeen the most effective partner,
especially in Armenia’s difficult time when a blockade was imposed
on the country. The Speaker of the RA National Assembly Tigran
Torosian stated that during a tete-a-tete talk with the Speaker
of the Iranian Majlis Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel on September 11. The
NA Speaker expressed his satisfaction that Iran’s majlis speaker
is paying a visit to Armenia for the first time since Armenia’s
independence. In terms of bilateral relations, the parliamentary
speaker attached importance to the cooperation in the energy sector,
highlighting the programs on construction of the gas pipeline and the
hydropower plant on the River Arax, and the third high-volatge power
transmission line. Tigran Torosian expressed his gratitude to majlis’
speaker for his favorable treatment of the Iranian Armenians. In
connection with the developments related to Iran’s nuclear program,
Tigran Torosian expressed a hope that further problems will be solved
through negotiations. Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel considered the interstate
relations as exemplary for the region, saying that these relations
have entered a new stage after the mutual visits of the two countries’
presidents. He said that the Armenians have always been treated with
respect in Iran, as evidenced by the Armenian deputies’ presence
in the majlis. After the tete-a-tete talk, a meeting took place
between the delegation headed by the Iranian Majlis’ Speaker and the
RA National Assembly Speaker, the NA Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian,
as well as representatives of the NA standing committees, factions and
groups. Tigran Torosian expressed confidence that the current visit
provides a basis for deepening the interparliamentary relations. The
majlis’ speaker underlined the importance of Iran’s balanced and
discreet position on the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The
NA Speaker also spoke about the careful treatment of the Armenian
cultural monuments in Iran, unlike another neighbor that desproys
these monuments. Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel noted that his country’s
foreign policy is based on Islam which does not allow to form its
foreign policy in the interests of one group at the expense of other
groups. He pointed out the importance of strengthening the relations
with Armenia, of further cooperation in the energy sector and said
that his country is in favor of the peaceful settlement of the Nagono
Karabakh conflict and continuation of the negoatiations between the
two countries’ presidents. According to the RA National Assembly PR
Department, the memebers of the delegation headed by Iran’s majlis
speaker met in the parliament with the Armenia-Iran Frienship Deputy
Group. Galust Sahakian, head of the Armenia-Iran Friendship Deputy
Group, noted that the political and economic links between the two
countries are strengthening, the interparliamentary friendship is
deepening. It was mentioned that the year 2006 was a fruitful one
in terms of cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments:
a group of Armenian MPs paid a working visit to Iran recently and
had several important meetings there. Gevorg Vardan, co-chairman
of the Iran-Armenia Friendship Deputy Group, also highlighted the
cooperation between the two countries and parliaments, noting that
interparliamentary links have reached the level of economic relations.

NOISY MURDERS, MOST OF WHICH IN YEREVAN, COMMITTED IN ARMENIA DURING ALL 9 MONTHS OF 2006
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. No case of noisy murder was
fixed in Armenia only in May of the current year. The newspaper
“Haykakan Zhamanak” (Armenian time) writes about it in the September
8 issue in an article entitled “Hit Parade Murder-2006,” presenting
statistics of the 2006 noisy murders. Three masked people broke into
the “Rafik Voskanian” IE currency exchange point in the territory of
the “Aeroex” LTD on the groud floor of the Baghramian 2 building,
at about 01:00 at night of January 21 and made an attempt to steal
money existed there. Artur Mkrtchian, a police employee implementing
service there, was killed as a result. In about a week, the murder
was casually revealed: a man was witness of the criminals’ drunk
self-confession and warned the legal bodies. Alexander Davtian, a
driver-collector of the Armincassatsia CJSC, was killed on February
3. According to the RA Police, unknown persons cooly killed him during
few minutes and hijacked the car in which there were about 160 thousand
dollars. The murder has not been revealed by now. Ashot Vardanian, the
“Qaghtsrik” LTD Director was killed in the address of Sayat-Nova 37,
in the daytime on March 4. In about three months, in June, the murder
was revealed: the vindictiveness version was proved. Investigation
was stated towards H.Karapetian, accused of A.Vardanian’s murder. Hayk
Artush Ter-Tadevosian, son of Komandos, General Arkadi Ter-Tadevosian,
and his friend Tadevos Vardges Hambardzumian, shot on April 13 with
fire-arms in the direction of young people in the address of Komitas
1, in the consequence of what Erik Asatrian born in 1980 died at
place. The above-mentioned two people accused of the murder went to
the Police on April 24, with confession. Sedrak Zatikian (son of Vahan
Zatikian, the former head (1996-1999) of the Malatia-Sebastia community
of Yerevan), a member of the board of the Yerkrapah Volunteers Union
(95-99), RA NA Deputy, who suddenly died on October 8, 1999) was killed
in the daytime, on June 22, on the crossroads of the Sebastia-Tichina
streets. A casual passer-by woman also died from the murderer’s
shots. The murder has not been revealed by now. Armen Novikov was
seriously injuried from arm-fires, then kidnapped in the address of
Shahumian 8, Yerevan, on July 13. He was one of participants of the
bloody shooting accident taken place in “Tets Krug” (outskirts of
Yerevan) in February 2005, with participation of some hundreds of
armed people. Presence of a casual passer-by at the time of accident
saved A.Novikov’s life. The kidnappers took him to hospital and,
leaving him injuried at the entrance, went away. One of the people
attacked Novikov, Levon Ghazarian, came to the legal bodies with
confession in about two weeks. He was one of participants of the
“Tets Krug” accident. Alexander Givoyev, the head of the Organization
for Protection Children’s Rights, a business, was killed on the
Ashtarak-Gyumri highway on August 8. An innocent woman was killed with
the murderers’ shots this time as well. It was found out in future
that Givoyev’s murderers pursued him in a car hijacked 2 months ago
and being in search. On August 9, in a day after Givoyev’s murder,
Armen Grigorian, the Director of the “Merci” fashion jewelry shop was
killed in his flat. The latter died of numerous brain injuries. The
mentioned two murders have not been revealed by now.
Shahen Hovasapian, the Chief of the Investigation Department of the
RA State Tax Service attached to Government was killed on September
6 in the consequence of an explosion in his office car. To add,
another case of murder was also touched upon in the press. It took
place in May in the snack bar near the Yerevan-Sevan highway when,
as a result of an argument turned into a brawl, a 22-year old boy
from Hrazdan was wounded with knife and died at place. So, according
to the above-mentioned, as of September, 2006, noisy murders, most of
which in Yerevan, took place in Armenia during all the passed 9 months.

ZVARTNOTS TERMINAL’S ARRIVAL HALL TO FUNCTION STARTING SEPTEMBER 14
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting September 14, the
arrival hall of Zvartnots Airport’s terminal will function, NT
correspondent was informed from the airport’s press service. To recap,
the construction started in 2004 and was implemented with financing
of the Argentinian Armenian businessman Eduardo Ernekian’s company
American International Airports. It is envisaged that the terminal
will fully operate starting from May 2007.

INVESTMENTS GROW BY 27.9%
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In the period of January-June
2006, the amount of foreign investments (without those receiced
through the state governance and banking systems) in the real sector
of the Armenian economy made 178 mln 506.6 thousand USD, increasing
by 27.9% on the same period of 2005. In the indicated amount, direct
investments made 86 mln 272.7 thousand USD and grew by 9.2%. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, 48.7% of foreign invsetments
made in the real sector during the indicated period (33.1% of direct
investments) were allocated for the communication sector. 14.3% of
direct investments was made in mining industry, and 9.4% – in air
transport. In the indicated period, Greek investments made 37 mln 913
thousand or by 35% less than in January-July 2005. Lebanese investments
made 49 mln 616.9 thousand USD (a 2.1fold growth), Russian investments
– 19 mln 220.9 thosand (41.9%), Argentinian investments – 17 mln
225.1 thousand USD (3.7fold), US investments – 14 mln 866.8 thousand
USD and German investments – 12 mln 111.6 thousand USD (63.1fold).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WIKIPEDIA WINS USERS AND CRITICS
Anchors: Renee Montagne
National Public Radio (NPR)
SHOW: Morning Edition 10:00 AM EST
September 11, 2006 Monday
We turn now to a source of information for millions each day. The
online encyclopedia Wikipedia is the evolving work of hundreds
of thousands of volunteer writers and editors. During peak hours,
a half-dozen new contributors sign on every minute.
The site has grown to more than a million entries in its English
edition alone. But questions remain about what information should
make it into a legitimate encyclopedia and who should put it there.
>From Chicago Public Radio, Jenny Lawton reports.
JENNY LAWTON: Twenty-one-year-old Shane Phillips(ph) is a typical
college student. He’s got specs and a goatee and he’s into science
fiction and video games. He’s also a Wikipedia administrator –
a volunteer who monitors and corrects articles.
Right now he’s working on a subject that’s been debated by historians
and government leaders for almost a century.
Mr. SHANE PHILLIPS (Administrator, Wikipedia): Armenian genocide, which
is a big issue because, you know, basically the Turkish government
claims it didn’t happen. So, of course, the Turks that edit the page
say, well, it didn’t happen. You have to put the Armenians claimed
this, the Armenians claimed that.
LAWTON: Using a Web page called a wiki, one that anyone can edit
to include new information, lots of people will be attracted to a
sensitive topic like this one.
Mr. PHILLIPS: I can see right now, it’s currently protected from
editing, which means no one can edit the page. And that happens when
just people are arguing back and forth and they need to just sit down
and talk about things.
LAWTON: Phillips wants to help both sides of the conflict follow
Wikipedia’s rules for presenting balanced and truthful information.
An acceptable article, he says, will probably list both opinions as
long as they can provide appropriate citations.
But this consensus method makes Wikipedia an easy target for criticism
and ridicule.
(Soundbite of TV show, The Colbert Report)
(Soundbite of laughter)
Mr. STEPHEN COLBERT (Host, The Colbert Report): What we’re doing is
bringing democracy to knowledge.
LAWTON: Comedy Central talk show host Stephen Colbert recently logged
onto the site to point out just how easy it is to rewrite facts.
(Soundbite of TV show, The Colbert Report)
Mr. COLBERT: Find the page on elephants on Wikipedia and create
an entry that says the number of elephants has tripled in the last
six months.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Mr. COLBERT: It’s the least…
(Soundbite of laughter)
Mr. COLBERT: …folks, it’s the least we can do to save this noble
beast. Together, we can create a reality that we can all agree on.
LAWTON: Just minutes after Colbert rewrote the article on elephants,
exchanges were disputed by Wikipedia readers and undone by an
administrator.
To Wikipedia founder, Jimmy Wales, that’s proof that the system works
and has value.
Mr. JIMMY WALES (Founder, Wikipedia): I want information that’s
been vetted by a community. It’s not just the voice of one expert;
it’s the voice of a community of regular people who are interested
in the topic and come to some consensus view.
LAWTON: Wales founded Wikipedia using a model from the world of
computer programming. It’s called open source, and its supporters
maintain that the more variety there is in terms of who’s tackling a
problem, the more efficient the solution. That means that hobbyists,
even teenagers, are just as valuable as experts, as long as they can
come up with viable solutions.
But even one of the most outspoken advocates for open source software
development, Eric Raymond, says it’s impossible for that tactic to
work with an encyclopedia.
Mr. ERIC RAYMOND (Spokesman, Open Source Software): Given that there’s
no objective criteria for what the truth in an encyclopedia entry is,
the Wikipedia process has a strong tendency to diverge to nonsense
rather than converging to good code.
LAWTON: He says that means the tried and true editorial model of
experts and scholars used by traditional encyclopedias will always
be more reliable overall.
Theodore Pappas is executive editor of Encyclopedia Britannica. He
says the online edition, Britannica.com, gets its entries from Ph.Ds,
Nobel laureates and other experts, just like the book version. Users
can get about 28,000 articles for free and another 44,000 for a
subscription of $70 a year.
Though they won’t compete with Wikipedia’s coverage of the latest
trends, Pappas says there are more than 300 articles on rock &
roll alone.
Mr. THEODORE PAPPAS (Executive Editor, Encyclopedia Britannica):
What we might not have is the person who just won at American Idol
the other night. But what we will have, of course, are the Madonnas
and the Elvis’ and these seminal folks who have changed the history
of rock music or popular culture.
LAWTON: That can’t compare with Wikipedia’s thousands of entries on
everything from the latest fall sitcoms to Norwegian fjords.
But as vibrant and contentious as the site is now, it could disappear
in a flash, says University of Illinois at Champaign scholar and
Wikipedia researcher, Michael Twydell(ph).
Mr. MICHAEL TWYDELL (University of Illinois at Champaign): Wikipedia
and all those Wikiepdians – the people who get involved in adding
articles, improving articles and addressing vandalism – if too many
of them got bored and just went off to, you know, the next cool Web
thing, whatever that might be, if they did that tomorrow I think
Wikipedia would just degenerate into a froth of spam, porn, graffiti,
lies and drivel in less than a month.
LAWTON: But for the time being, Wikipedia is thriving. From his living
room in suburban Chicago, volunteer administrator Shane Phillips
wrote an article on his own area of expertise, the D.C.
Comics superhero, the Green Lantern.
Mr. PHILLIPS: Britannica might say, oh, that Green Lantern mini-series
that was out last year isn’t notable. But the way we look at it is,
it was printed by a multi-national corporation, millions of issues
were printed in about 17 countries, tens of thousands of people read
it. That’s a phenomenon.
LAWTON: And for the 10,000 users who click on Wikipedia every second,
it’s a phenomenon worth checking out.
LAWTON: For NPR News, I’m Jenny Lawton in Chicago.
(Soundbite of music)
MONTAGNE: And this is MORNING EDITION. With Steve Inskeep, I’m Renee
Montagne.