FAMILY BUDGET OF 36% WAS REDUCED
A1+
[11:56 pm] 16 June, 2006
This week the poll question of the “A1+” website is “Which TV Channel
do you prefer to watch?” Before that, let us represent the results
of the previous poll. The state officials of Armenia with Robert
Kocharyan at the head like to repeat from time to time that the
economic progress in Armenia for the last five years is obvious.
According to statistics, the economy prospers in the
country. Nevertheless, according to the polls of the “A1+” website,
the family budget of the 36% of the readers was reduced for the last
five years, 40% felt no changes, the family budget of 18% increased,
and 6% was undecided.
365 readers participated in the poll.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF GRANTED DIVORCES DOUBLES
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS; The number of marriages in the first
four months of this year fell 1.5 percent to 4,100 from a year ago
while the number of granted divorces rose 67 percent to 831.
The biggest number of divorces was registered in March, though
last year the biggest number of marriages were celebrated in this
month. According to the statistical service, the number of divorces
per every 1000 marriages rose this year to 203 against 120 from a
year ago. More couples divorced in Yerevan, Vayots Dzor, Lori and
Tavush regions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO BECOME MEASLES FREE BY 2010
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Some 200,000 children in Armenia have
been inoculated against nine infectious disease since 2002-such as
hepatitis B, diphtheria, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and others as part
of Armenian Children Millennium Inoculation Program, funded by the
World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and some other international
donor organizations.
Among other former Soviet republics Armenian boasts the highest rate
of inoculated children. In 2002 WHO declared Armenia ‘a poliomyelitis
free country.”
Sheldon Yet, head of UNICEF Armenia office, unveiled at a news
conference today in Yerevan a program of measles immunization that
will be launched in 2007.
The objective is to eliminate this disease by 2010.
Armenian Children Millennium Inoculation Program will release
$200,000 for purchase of vaccines. The UNICEF plans also a study
to find out the embracement level. Sirak Sukiasian, coordinator of
the immunization program, said recent cases of measles were reported
among grown ups who were not inoculated against the diseases. He said
no child vaccinated since 2002 was reported with measles.

RESTORATION OF ABKHAZIA RAILWAYS SECTION TO TAKE FROM 12 TO 18 MONTHS
Armenpress
TBILISI, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Vladimir Badalian, an Armenian parliament
member and a cochairman of the Armenian-Russian and Armenian-Georgian
Business Associations, told Armenpress a set of documents, which
are necessary for starting restoration of the Abkhazian section of
the Georgian railway will be ready by the end of the year and the
reconstruction will take from 12 to 18 months.
Badalian said the 197 km-long section of the railroad stretching across
Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia needs to be fully restored
together with bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure. Badalian said
the restoration will comprise two stages-first will be resumed trains
for transportation of cargo and then restoration of infrastructure
and stations will begin.
He said the Armenian-Georgian-Abkhazian-Russian consortium, founded
for this purpose, will meet in Tbilisi on July 10-15 to specify
some points, particularly, sources of funding. Badalian said it was
possible also to resume the operation of an automobile road stretching
through Abkhazia. He said the road may even start operation before
the railway resumes.
By the way three buses with Armenians, relatives of the passengers of
the plane that fell into the Black Sea on May 3 and reporters traveled
from Yerevan to the crash site in Russian Sochi for a commemoration
ceremony through Abkhazia. Badalian said it was a remarkable event,
as the road opened for the first time for civic passengers.

KOCHARIAN CONDEMNS RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLINGS OF
ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today a Russian delegation headed by Dmitry Kozak, the
representative of the Russian president in Russia’s southern federal
okrug (district ).
Kocharian’s press office said both sides underscored boosting
cooperation between Armenia and Russia’s provinces. Kocharian was
quoted as saying that this way of cooperation serves as a good basis
for expansion of inter-state relationships. The press office said
the sides discussed the full scope of bilateral relations. Kocharian
singled out expansion of Russian businesses in Armenia.
Kozak praised members of the biggest Armenian community in Russia
which is in its southern regions, for their active involvement in
virtually all areas of the country’s life.
The sides condemned a wave of recent racially-motivated killings of
Armenians in Russia, saying they do not stem form the interests of
Russia and its people. Kocharian said Russian law-enforcement bodies’
reaction to these crimes must be swift, tough and clear. Kozak and
members of his delegation were received today also by prime minister
Andranik Margarian.

GEORGIAN EXPERT TRIES TO REFUTE PROBLEMS IN JAVAKHK
Panorama.am
Paata ZAKAREISHVILI, leading expert at Development and Cooperation
Center in Georgia told a seminar on Armenian-Georgian relations that,
in fact, the situation in Javakhk is not that bad as some mass media
would portrait. He continuously stated that people make up problems,
including the Armenian mass media. “There are no problems between
Armenians in Javakhk and Georgians,” he said.
In fact, there are no problems between Armenians and Georgians. The
problems are between the nationalist wing of Georgian central
authorities and Armenian nationals living in Georgia. The expert blamed
Armenians to be nationalistic. They do not want to study Georgian,
he said. Vardan VARDAPETYAN, chairman of Strong Motherland party, also
present at the discussion, explained that Georgian teachers teach at
Armenian schools on privileged conditions which is unacceptable for
Armenians. /Panorama.am/

GREEN ZONES DIMINISHED BY 61%
Panorama.am
16:56 16/06/06
Green zones per one person have diminished by 61% during the recent 10
years sharply increasing risks for desertification, Karine Danielayn,
chairwoman of “For Human Stable Development” public organization,
told a discussion jointly organized with UN. This is a result of
enlarged city building activities and in case of continuing with the
same speed Yerevan will become a desert in the coming next years,
she said. Today is June 17. UN has declared it an international day
of fight against desertification and drought.
To settle the issue a number of public organizations have applied to
National Assembly with a request to establish a special committee. That
was in process but stopped connected with the developments with
Orinats Yerkir. /Panorama.am/

GOVERNMENT HELPS UNEMPLOYED TO WORK IN BORDERLINE AREAS
Panorama.am
16:35 16/06/06
Our government has paid a special service to unemployed who would like
to work in borderline areas. According to regulation, the government
will pay the transport fee for such people. The government will pay
for mini bus in case there are no buses going to that region. However,
in case there are buses available, the government will pay for the
bus only, Araik PETROSYAN, deputy minister on employment and social
affairs told a briefing today.
The government however is not concerned where such people will
live. “It is not difficult to rent a flat in such remote areas,”
ministry representative said, stressing that the regulations were
adopted under limited budget. /Panorama.am/

ALM HOLDING HEAD PROPOSES HIMSELF AS CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY OF ARMENIA
Panorama.am
14:48 16/06/06
Dance and song staged at ALM Holding perhaps have bored the owner
of the holding Tigran Karapetyan, leader of People’s Party. He has
declared that he is going to nominate himself as the president of
Armenia in 2008 presidential elections. Assessing his chances to
win at the elections, Karapetich prudently noted that everything is
possible and everything has its beginning and end.
Tigran Karapetich said that people should have the right for
choice. Speaking to Panorama.am, he said that he is not going to
share his votes with any other candidates. He his sure he will lose
trust of people if he did so. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CULTURAL MONUMENTS SHOULD NOT FALL VICTIMS TO ETHNIC CONFLICTS
Panorama.am
14:34 16/06/06
‘Improvements in legislative fields are a basis that support cultural
heritage, Karine Danielyan, Secretary General on Armenian National
Committee on UNESCO told a seminar on cultural heritage today.
Experts and guests from Iran and Georgia as well as from UNESCO
have arrived to participate in the event. During the seminar the
participants will discuss legislative opportunities enabling to
protect the national heritage to the best possible level on local
and international fields.
The seminar participants will try to find a solution to violations
of cultural items on ethnic grounds. It is up to the point if we take
into consideration that Azeris have destroyed history long khachcars
(cross-stones) in Jugha. All laws are humanistic in all countries,
it is more important how applicable are they, Gurgen Gurjian
said. /Panorama.am/