137 737 PEOPLE RESIDE IN NAGORNO KARABAKH
ArmRadio.am
22.08.2006 15:05
The number of the permanent population in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
totals 137 737 people, MEDIAMAX Agency informs.
NKR National Statistical Service informs that these are the final
results of the census carried out in October 2005.
48.3 % percent of the NKR population are men, 51.7 % are women. The
number of urban and rural population is 47% and 53% respectively. 49
986 people reside in capital Stepanakert.

OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS EXTRAORDINARY ELECTION MIGHT BE HELD IN ARMENIA
Arminfo
22 Aug 06
Yerevan, 22 August: The head of the Justice bloc and the leader of the
People’s Party of Armenia, Stepan Demirchyan, does not rule out the
possibility of extraordinary parliamentary and presidential elections
being held in Armenia.
In an interview with Iravunk newspaper, he said that people had
lost patience and they were convinced that political methods were
ineffective in the struggle against the current authorities.
If the authorities rig elections once again, this will have
unforeseeable consequences and in this case responsibility will rest
with the authorities, Demirchyan said.

KAREL DE GUCHT SAYS BELGIAN CHAIRMANSHIP, MINSK GROUP TO CONTINUE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO REGISTER PROGRESS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT REGULATION PROCESS
Armenpress
Aug 22 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, ARMENPRESS: OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De
Gucht told in an interview to Armenpress news agency that the Belgian
Chairmanship, in co-operation with the co-chairmen of the Minsk group,
will continue doing everything possible to move the Karabakh conflict
regulation process forward.
“There seemed to be a window of opportunity earlier this year for the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. However, the meetings of the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Paris and Bucharest failed to confirm
that opportunity. It will take time and a lot of wisdom and courage
on the parts of both presidents to overcome them,” Karel De Gucht said.
Speaking about the military regulation of the conflict OSCE
Chairman-in-Office said “The international community, the OSCE and
the co-chairs of the Minsk group, all want a peaceful settlement of
the issue. Statements that go against this line and call for military
solutions are not helpful. I hope parties realize that a military
scenario would be a disaster not only for the parties, but for the
population and especially for the region as a whole. The international
community will judge severely the party that resorts to violence,”
the Chairman-in-Office said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK NOT AUTHORISED TO BRING A CHARGE ON ANY OF THE PARTIES
ArmRadio.am
22.08.2006 16:35
“I’m neither a Prosecutor, nor an investigator, and it’s not in
my power to charge this or that party, Personal representative of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk said in
an interview with Arminfo correspondent in response to the question
about arsons at the contact line of the Armed Forces of NKR, Armenia
and Azerbaijan and the disputes around these arsons.
The ambassador underlined that he has no mandate of carrying out
investigation. “My task is to create an atmosphere of trust between
the conflicting sides. In the framework of this point of my mandate
early July I visited the territories where inflammations occur, and
the conclusions of my visit are expressed in the report I prepared,”
Kasprzyk reminded. In his words, the monitoring did not reveal any
facts confirming the reasons of the arsons. “I can say only what is
articulated in the report: the heat contributed to the expansion
of the arsons. We should take into account that the inflammations
occurred also before, but not of this scale. Fires occur because of
different reasons,” noted the Ambassador, adding that in some European
countries the authorities fight against forest fires.

US AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS TO LEAVE ARMENIA EARLY SEPTEMBER
ArmRadio.am
22.08.2006 16:51
US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia John Evans
is completing his mission in Armenia and will return to motherland
early September, the Ambassador told Arminfo Agency in response to
the concrete terms of completion of his tenure in office.
At the same time Mr. Evans rejected the request to comment upon
the US Senate postponement of the appointment of the new Ambassador
to Armenia.
To remind, the Congress discussions of the issue are scheduled
September 7. ” I do not comment on the activity of the Congress,”
John Evans underlined.

ARONYAN IS AGAIN CHAMPION
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
The Armenian chess player Levon Aronyan, champion of the Chess
Olympiad, won Mainz Open Chess 960 tournament, the news agency ARKA
reports.
Formerly Aronyan took part in this tournament but was not successful.
This time Levon Aronyan defeated Peter Svidler, Russia 5:3, whom he
had lost 3.5:4.5 last time.
Mainz Open Chess 960is was established in 1996 by the former chess
champion Bobby Fischer. The rules of the tournament initiated by
Bobby Fischer are the same except for the arrangement of chess pieces
at the start of the game. Fischerandom Chess Computerized Shuffler
shuffles the classical position of pieces just before the start of
the game. And the number 960 in the name of the tournament shows the
possible starting positions.

NFSAT AND CRDF ANNOUNCE AWARDS UNDER “GRADUATE RESEARCH SUPPORT PROGRAM” COMPETITION
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
The National Foundation of Science and Advanced Technologies (NFSAT)
and the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
are pleased to announce the results of the “Graduate Research Support
Program” (GRSP) competition.
The goal of this program is to provide early-career Armenian
investigators (aspirants) involved in full-time research the following:
1. the ability to concentrate solely on full-time graduate study
2. funds to perform high-quality research in the field of basic science
3. the opportunity to become more integrated in the international
scientific community by participating in international conferences,
workshops and meetings.
NFSAT and CRDF received 57 eligible proposals for this competition.
According to the international independent peer-reviewed assessments
of each project 26 post-graduate students (aspirants) will receive
grants under this competition up to $5,000 each.: maximum $2,000
for individual financial support and minimum $3,000 for research
related expenses.
The NFSAT and the CRDF will provide 12 months of support to
post-graduate students (aspirants) in the Republic of Armenia who
received awards under this competition.
LIST of GRANTEES
Ani Tshantshapanyan, Institute of Applied Problems of Physics of NAS,
supervisor – E. Ghazaryan
Hayk Poghosyan, Institute of Mechanics of NAS, supervisor -L.Aghalovyan
Gegham Zakharyan, Yerevan State University, supervisor -R. Hakobyan
Smbat Tonoyan, Institute of Informatics and Automation Problems of NAS,
supervisor -M.Harutyunyan
Simon Zhamkochyan, Yerevan Physics Institute, supervisor -A.Margaryan
Babken Avchiyan, Yerevan State University, supervisor -H.Avetissyan
Levon Ananikyan, Yerevan Physics Institute, supervisor – N.Ivanov
Vardan Dallakyan, State Engineering University of Armenia, supervisor
-R.Vardanyan
Rafayel Barkhudaryan, Institute of Mathematics of NAS, supervisor
-A.Nersesyan
Karo Khachatryan, Yerevan State University, supervisor -Y.Avetisyan
Gevorg Vardanyan, Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics of NAS,
supervisor -A.Yeremyan
Levon Manukyan, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, supervisor
-A. Boyajyan
Aren Khoyetsyan, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS, supervisor
-A. Boyajyan
Emil Gazazyan, Institute of Physical research of NAS, supervisor
-A.Papoyan
Artak Tovmasyan, Yerevan State Medical University, supervisor
-R.Ghazaryan
Vardan Gevorgyan, International Scientific-Educational Centre of NAS,
supervisor -A. Sargsyan
Narek Sisakyan, Institute of Physical research of NAS, supervisor
-Y.Malakyan
Hovik Hayrapetyan UNESCO Chair-Life Sciences International Postgraduate
Educational Centre, sup. – S.Ayrapetyan
Artur Reymers, Yerevan Physics Institute, supervisor -A.Chilingarian
David Mheryan, Institute of Mechanics of NAS, supervisor -M.Belubekyan
Eva Grigoryan, Institute of Chemical Physics of NAS, supervisor
-S.Kharatyan
Mihran Yamukyan, Yerevan State University, supervisor – S.Kharatyan
Gevorg Harutyunyan, Institute of Applied Problems of Physics of NAS,
supervisor – A.Aramyan
Levon Matevosyan, Molecule Structure Research Centre of NAS, supervisor
– R.Tamazyan
Gurgen Khachaturyan, Institute of Applied Problems of Physics of NAS,
supervisor – A.Lazarian
Ruzan Sokhoyan, Engineering Center “Mashtots” of NAS, supervisor –
A.Ishkhanyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A UNIVERSITY TALE PERFORMED BY ELITE STUDENTS
Aram Zakaryan
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
Article 27 of the reformed constitution of Armenia providing for
the right to receive and get information concerns even journalists
and even on holidays. This is the reason why on the next day of
the international day of the youth I appeared in the summer camp
of Dilijan of Yerevan State University with the group headed by the
permanent coordinator of the UN in Armenia Consuelo Vidal. The deputy
rector of YSU Aram Simonyan and the deputy minister of culture Arthur
Poghosyan were supposed to come but only Arsen Karamyan was showed
up, who is the deputy of the rector of YSU generally and a student
in distant learning particularly.
The UN representatives were likely to speak about how to battle poverty
together. And they did. They repeated for a number of times that
in settling the problems of the youth the voice of young people and
therefore their involvement is especially important. They said young
people in Armenia have a considerable potential, which is not used,
however, because there is no involvement. They said it is wrong to
think that poverty existed and will exist forever. In the diplomatic
language this means that today’s oligarchs are not forever and will not
rob till the end of time. They said they are ready to help the Armenian
youth to become established if they know what they expect from the UN.
And the expectations of young people – questions – were addressed
to Arsen Karamyan. It means that the new leadership of YSU does not
spoil students with frequent appearances. And Arsen Karamyan like the
UN representatives called for activity. He agreed with the students
that there are inappropriate phenomena in YSU but he preferred
milder words. For instance, in answer to one of the students that
“all the places of the master’s course were sold” Arsen Karamyan said,
“those who do not deserve are admitted to the master’s course”.
If Serge Sargsyan, the chair of the Council of the Republican Party,
promised visible changes in 3 or 4 months, Arsen Karamyan, a member
of the managing board of YSU led by Serge Sargsyan promises visible
changes in three years only. One of the changes that Arsen Karamyan
endorses is reduction of the number of students. Since everything
in Armenia is elite, building materials, buildings, mineral water,
taxis, except quality life and mentality, in case Arsen Karamyan’s
dream comes true, “we will have 8 000 elite students instead of 13
thousand students”. “We’re fed up with this word elite,” whispered
a student. And Arsen Karamyan assures that his wish to reduce the
number of students does not have anything to do with the reality that
the defense minister is the head of the managing board of YSU.
During the meeting in Dilijan it became known that the permanent
coordinator of the UN Consuelo Vidal knows us very well. In Peru,
which is 40 times larger than Armenia and the population is 6-7 times
more than that of Armenia, a university diploma is a special status.
“The Armenians are university addicts,” I recalled this remark of my
colleague when Consuelo Vidal from Peru remembered the traditions and
mentality of her country. And Arsen Karamyan continued presenting a
beautiful future, bad specialists will not be admitted, universities
training bad specialists will be removed, the reduction of the number
of students will lead to reduction of the number of university
teachers, but the sad experience of lay-offs in schools will not
repeat, job announcements will be placed on the Web site of YSU for
students. “Job announcements are false,” announced a student who has
a job. Nobody rejected. The UN is ready to make investments in the
basic institutions of education and health and also explain to our
university addicts that a person might as well be happy without a
university education.
Unfortunately, our students were not active and became active along
with the sunrise. When the sun was high in the sky, the time for the
meeting was over. I returned to Yerevan leaving behind students who
were not encouraged by this meeting, the meeting that was over and
a university tale starting anew.

SCOTLANDIZATION OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL
James Hakobyan
Lragir.am
21 Aug 06
I am extremely proud of the national football team of Armenia.
Although our team is always failing to score more or less significant
draws, the national team nevertheless succeeds in preserving its
identity from “encroachments” of every foreign coach.
Changing the Armenian national team has become a “matter of honor”
for foreign coaches, which they have been unable to settle so far. And
they were four: Lopez from Argentina, Stoikica from Romania, Casoni
from France and Visman from Holland. The fifth was thought to be
either German or African. You may ask why. Because the question of
getting on with the leadership of the Armenian football would solve
easier in case the coach were German, and an African might manage
to do what the European and Latin American coaches failed. However,
the president of the Armenian Football Federation Ruben Hairapetyan
decided to swim in the same river for the fourth time and invited a
coach of the Armenian national team from Europe.
This time, however, Ruben Hairapetyan made a slight change. The fifth
foreigner and the fourth European is not from the continent this time,
he is from the isles, Great Britain. The new coach of the Armenian
national team is Scottish.
The choice was not made at random. After all, the biographies of
Armenians and Scotsmen have much in common. Both peoples fought for
their national identity, freedom and statehood for centuries. In this
context, the Armenians are more successful but apparently statehood is
nothing if there is no talent and ability to handle it. Therefore,
the national team of independent Armenia will be trained by a
representative of half-independent Scotland. Therefore, I do not
have objections. I dot suffer from national vanity, national fever,
I have never been infected with xenophobia. I simply state where our
coach comes from, realizing that it is more important who he is than
where he is from. In other words, what kind of coach the new coach,
the Scotsman, is, who is going to lead our national team from which
the Armenian football fans who have come of a conscious age do not
have expectations.
The new coach is not well known in the football sets. He trained two
African teams, naturally he was not successful. He also trained several
clubs, including the Scottish Aberdin and the English Chelsea. Although
success is a highly relative thing, and even a single goal can be
considered such. In this sense, however, the Armenian national team
might as well achieve success without a coach.
Consequently, it is supposed that the “delegate” of Scotland will
succeed doing what the coaches of countries which are closer to
Armenia in terms of the football school failed to do. In this sense,
it is difficult to imagine what the cold-blooded Scotsman is going to
teach the hot-blooded Armenians. It is simply useless to talk about
the difference of styles of play because presently football styles
have been somehow “leveled”, and physical form is important of all,
although it would be wrong to assert that the styles have fully got
mixed. Consequently, either the coach has to change himself or he
must change the Armenian footballers, otherwise it will appear that
either the coach was not faithful to himself or the footballers were
not faithful to themselves. I remembered the joke about the Armenian
boy, who learned English from a black man, whose father decides to
check several months later if his son learned to speak English. The
father rings the bell of the door, the teacher opens the door and
calls the boy in Armenian, come on, your father is here.
It is highly probable that the 11 Armenian footballers will teach
Armenian football to the Scottish coach earlier than he will teach
his style to the Armenian footballers. It is possible, of course,
that the coach prefers Armenian football. In this case, however,
the question occurs why he agrees to train the Armenian national team.
After all, the presence of a coach is not obligatory in Armenian
football. And if he is needed, only for blaming him for defeats
and changing him. In this case, the Scottish coach should show up
in Armenia in the middle of the next summer when it will be clear
that the Armenian national team will take the last place in the
qualification games. The Scottish coach may visit Armenia on one of
those days to explain why it happened so and resign. Of course, we
are convinced that he will not manage to resign because the president
of the Armenian Football Federation will enter the hall and announce
loudly that he changes the coach of the national team.
After all, five is not much different from six. The coach cannot
be allowed to take his time to achieve success. As soon as there is
success, they demand promotion. Where can we get so much money?
Especially when the parliamentary election is coming up, and the
president of the football federation is not only a public figure but
also a member of the council of the ruling political party. Whereas
this also confuses foreign coaches of the national team, who come
and demand a salary. They do not realize that they are not alone, and
there are a number of people standing in a queue before him. If they
had money, they would not invite one coach for the national team,
the two Pyuniks, adults and juvenile, the juvenile and children’s
national teams. And the coaches work. Then they see that soon they
will be made to wash the clothes of footballers. And at that moment
someone “advises” that Ruben Hairapetyan’s financial abilities are
more than he pays to the coaches. After all, besides the Council of
the Republican Party there are others who give advice.
The coaches listen to this advice and demand money. Afterwards they
are given the sack, the air ticket and good memories of Armenia:
and you say coach, we might as well lose without a coach.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE NAGORNYY KARABAKH REPUBLIC (NKR), AND OSCE OFFICIAL DISCUSS FIRES ON CONTACT LINE
Arminfo
21 Aug 06
Yerevan, 21 August: The foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic (NKR), Georgiy Petrosyan, has met the personal representative
of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.
The meeting was held at the NKR permanent representative office in
Yerevan at Kasprzyk’s request.
The two discussed issues of mutual interest, in particular, fires on
the contact line between the NKR and Azerbaijan.