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`ARF IS OPPOSITION IN THE AUTHORITIES’
[07:04 pm] 02 June, 2006
`Kocharyan displayed himself worse than we expected,’ said Hayk
Baboukhanyan, member of the Constitutional Right Union who was a guest
of the club «Mirror». In the second round of the 1998 elections he
supported the present authorities but today is against them. «The
present authorities are illegal, they came to power shedding blood and
continue their illegal activity», the member of the Union explains the
change.
After the resignation of the OYP Hayk Baboukhanyan thinks that the
coalition continues to split up and the ARF has adopted the same
strategy as the OYP. According to him, what is surprising is that on
the one hand the ARF resembles the OYP, and on the other it has
adopted an oppositional attitude in the authorities. He predicts that
the ARF and the Republican party will have collisions. He also thinks
it possible that the OYP may join the opposition.
His opponent, former member of the Armenian Pan-National Movement
Karapet Roubinyan recalled the announcement by Robert Kocharyan that
the creation of the coalition is a new step in the political
development of Armenia. «Even if there are new phenomena, I never
noticed the good results they yielded. And the separation was rather
civilized thanks to mutual efforts», he said. He is convinced that
there were not serious disagreements between those who left the
coalition and those who remained. «In order to reach his aim Arthur
Baghdasaryan must resort to harsher measures».
By the way, Karapet Roubinyan is sure that whatever happens in this
country will be connected with the Armenian Pan-National Movement as
according to him they are the creators of both the good and the bad.

Armenpress
NGO RESTORES GERMAN PoW CEMETERY IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS; Greta Mirzoyan,
chairwoman of an NGO called ‘Soldier’s Mother’, said
today members of her organization have restored a
cemetery of German prisoners of war who died here in
the late 1940-s and early 50-s.
She said the cemetery was discovered near
Yeraskhavan village in Ararat province when she and
some others members of the organization were visiting
an Armenian military unity near the border with
Azerbaijani enclave Nakhichevan. She said what
remained from the cemetery were several wooden
crosses. Greta Mirzoyan said the cemetery was
recovered with the assistance of Armenian defense
ministry- bigger crosses were put on every grave and
inscriptions were made, “Here Rest German Prisoners of
War, Victims of WW II.”
Mirzoyan said the German embassy in Armenia
commended their action describing it as ‘reflection of
diplomatic and humanitarian attitude of Armenians
towards the German people.”

Armenpress
CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED
BUSINESSES INAUGURATES NEW CENTRAL OFFICE

YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Center
for Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses has
inaugurated today a newly constructed central office.
Trade and economic development minister Karen
Chshmaritian said the Center has branches in all
Armenian provinces, which had been opened before the
inauguration of the central office.
He said the Center received in 2003-2005 around 820
million in government subsidies which were used to
render assistance to around 12,000 beginners and
seasoned businessmen. The bulk of them was outside the
capital city Yerevan.
The center has also offered 280 million drams in
loan guarantees since 2005 creating about 550 million
drams worth credit package. This figure is expected to
rise to 850 million by the end of the year. Now the
share of small and medium-sized business in the
overall GDP constitutes 40 percent. Their share in
exports also rose from 14.3 percent in 2003 to 16.4
percent in 2005.
Small and Medium-Sized companies have created also
75,000 jobs. UNDP and the OSCE Armenian offices helped
to establish the Center.

Panorama.am
RUSSIA DANGEROUS FOR LIFE OF OTHER NATIONALS
06.02.2006
Hayeli Club discussed today violations against and
murder of Armenians recently taking place in Russia.
All-Armenian National Movement member Karapet Rubinyan
expressed an opinion that Russians have negative
attitudes to people from Caucasus because they are the
heirs of their empire. `People of other nationalities
were disrespected in that empire,’ he added. The
member of Constitutional Right Union Haik Babukhanyan
demanded to urge the Armenian authorities to protect
the Armenian nationals. Rubinyan thinks that Armenian
nationals have just to leave Russia and return to
their mother. Babukhanyan, on his turn, said he is
shameful of the behavior of Armenians in Russian.
However, most often attacks are made on normal people.
CRU member thinks that `Russia is still on its way to
establishment, and until it establishes itself
marginal groups will come about with aggressive
intents to other nationals.’ /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
’14:43 02/06/06

HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN TO DEAL WITH WATER
Two days ago a public regulatory committee issued a
decision according to which AMD 172.8 is set per one
cubic meter for water. Consumer rights protection
organizations protest the decision saying that it is
against the rights of consumers and contradict several
international treaties and local laws. According to
Abgar Yeghoyan, Consumer Rights Protection Chairman
and Armen Poghosyan, Head of Consumer Association say
that Water Code and Orhus treaty, Poverty Alienation
Strategic Program and a number of other legal acts are
violated, in particular.
Water supply is mainly regulated by two legal acts –
Water Code and Law on Regulatory Body. According to
the latter, water tariffs are set by the public
regulatory committee whereas this price was set by the
French operator who has received the right for water
use. Neither the experts nor public organizations were
consulted on the optimal rate of water fee. However,
Water State Committee Chairman is sure that Jeneral
Dez O, the French operator, is a leading company in
the world and will meet the obligations put in front
it.
Public organizations have variously tried to receive
the copy of the contract between water state committee
and Jeneral Dez O, however, they failed to get it.
Today, they intend to apply to human rights ombudsman
with a claim against committee’s decision. The
non-profits say they do no apply to court as a first
step because they cannot afford high fees. They
connect their hopes only with round table discussions
and press conferences.
It’s interesting why the non-profits started to
protest out loud the decision only after it was
reached. The committee held a session a month ago
during which the proposed tariff was not approved.
Non-profits only sent a letter to R. Nazaryan and held
one round table well aware that they won’t give any
tangible results./Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
14:58 02/06/06

NATURE PROTECTION MINISTER WELCOMES INITIATIVE ON SEVAN TROUT
Recently a mass media outlet announced that Nig Aparan Union, chaired
by Armenian chief prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan, has come up with an
initiative to recover Sevan trout in the lake. Nature Protection
Minister Vardan AIVAZYAN welcomed the initiative. Aivazyan also said
that the chief prosecutor has suggested the ministry of nature
protection to cooperate in the initiative. This is the second similar
imitative launched by Nig Aparan this year. Is it possible that this a
remark addressed to nature protection minister by the
union?/Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
15:10 02/06/06

SMALL AND MID SIZE BUSINESS DEVELOPING IN ARMENIA DESPITE OF
UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS
National Center on Development of Small and Mid Size Business in
Armenia opened a new office today in Yerevan. In the words of the
executive director of the center Ishkhan Karapetyan more than 12 000
entrepreneurs received assistance from the organization from 2003 to
2005. The state subsidized 820 mln Armenian drams for that
purpose. According to I. Karapetyan small and mid size business has a
tendency to develop in Armenia with a reported 40% rate.
Despite of the fact that the center is supported by UNDP, OSCE, German
Society on Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and several others, the deputy
representative of UNDP in Armenia Alexander Avanesov thinks this is `a
government project.’ The projects will be evaluated by OSCE. `We were
so excited by incubator enterprises in Goris that we decided to fund
it,’ OSCE representative Frank Frant said. He urged donors to fund the
project requiring Euro 3000.
According to A. Avanesov, the main problems for small and mid size
businesses are their start and probability of survival. `We focus on
education but then the most important part comes – the funding. Bank
rates are high, softly speaking. On the other hand, the ministry of
trade thrice increases the guarantees for providing resources for
small and mid size businesses. Under such conditions, the banks may
lower credit conditions,’ Avanesov says.
National Center on Development of Small and Mid Size Business in
Armenia established by the decision of government in 2002. It is
called to connect small and mid size business entities with the
government structures. The Fund has representations in all the regions
of Armenia and provides financial, consulting and educational support
to business community. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
17:19 02/06/06

BE CAREFUL WITH HUMAN BEING
Haik BABUKHANYAN addressed statements in Iravunk daily to chief
prosecutor on the threats offered by Alexander Sargsyan, NA deputy to
T. Tovmasyan, reporter of the same newspaper. The statements, however,
were not reacted in any way.
Criticizing violence against reporters in Hayeli club today,
Babukhanayn said that Sashik Sargsyan regrets on his behavior. `He
must make a public apology to our reporter,’ Babukhanyan says. He also
thinks that violence against reporters will continue in Armenia unless
crimes are punished.
Karapet RUBINYAN, who came for the debate with Babukhanyan in Hayeli
club, also condemned violence against reporter. However, he also
warned reporters not to write libel against honest people. `Be careful
with human being,’ he said. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Panorama.am
17:21 02/06/06

NO ALTERNATIVE
NA deputies today elected two chairs of permanent committees on
Social, Health and Nature Protection as well as Defense, Internal
Affairs and National Security. Both were taken by United Working Party
(MAK) members Mnatsakan Petrosyan and Aramais Grigoryan. Mnatsakan
Petrosyan received 71 votes with 1- against and Aramais Grigoryan
received 70 votes with 1 against.
Before their candidacies were proposed, Mnatsakan Petrosyan and
Aramais Grigoryan left their powers as members of returning board.
Hripsime Avetisyan took the position in the returning board from MAK
and Samvel Sahakyan replaced independent deputy A. Grigoryan in the
same board. Vostanik Marukhyan from the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation was not proposed for any position but he was replaced by
Gegham Manukyan from the same party.
The newly elected heads of the committees will govern only for one
year because next year new parliamentary elections will take
place. A. Grigoryan assured that he has a clear idea how he is going
to manage the committee and promised to work in the same spirit as
Mher Shahgeldyan did. Shahgeldyan’s candidacy was proposed by Hmaiak
Hovhannisyan but the latter refused to compete for the position.
Hmaiak Hovhannisyan’s candidacy was proposed by Viktor Dallakyan but
again the deputy refused to participate in the
elections. /Panorama.am/

San Francisco Chronicle, CA
June 3 2006
WISHING ON A STAR
Channing brings melody, memories to severely ill Burlingame fan
Mike Weiss, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, June 3, 2006
After decades as a Broadway star, Carol Channing has transformed
herself into something of an old-fashioned doctor, the kind who makes
house calls. She does it because she believes that performance — not
least her own — has healing effects.
The star of “How to Marry a Millionaire” and “Hello, Dolly” and
recipient of three honorary doctorates dropped in Friday at the
Burlingame home of Gordon Cline, who is dying from chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cline, 77, who needs a constant supply of oxygen, and Channing, 85,
who was raised in San Francisco, traveled the world and now lives in
Modesto, immediately were on a first-name basis.
Channing was barely in the door of Gordon and Billi Cline’s yellow
frame cottage — wearing her signature oversize black-rimmed glasses
and a shiny fire-engine-red jacket — when she broke into her theme
song, adapted to the circumstances:
“Hell-o, Gordon, Hell-o, Gordon
“So nice to have you here where you belong
“You’re looking swell, Gordon … and you are.”
Beaming, Cline, who had shaved for the occasion — there are days
when he is too short of breath to make the effort — exclaimed: “I
didn’t even have to ask!”
Soon, to the delight of their adoring spouses — Harry Kullijian,
Channing’s junior high sweetheart, whom she married recently, and
Billi Cline, whom Cline met at a concert in 1995 after the deaths of
their spouses — the entertainer and the retired chemist were in a
full flirt.
“What’s that for?” Channing asked, pointing at the tank that feeds
Cline oxygen through a nasal tube.
“That’s my lifeblood,” he answered.
“I used to take oxygen between my afternoon and evening shows,”
Channing said.
And the mention of her shows reminded Cline what he wanted to see: “I
want to see you do Marlene Dietrich.”
The spirited get-together was arranged by Pathways, a nonprofit, San
Jose-based hospice that, since Cline’s hospitalization, has provided
the Clines with home nursing visits, spiritual counseling and a level
of caring that Gordon calls “a godsend.”
Channing began to work with organizations like Pathways while
recuperating from ovarian cancer when she discovered that performing
did her more good than resting.
“You reach to the heavens to get the show out,” she said in her
famously scratchy, baby-talk voice, “and the heavens somehow answer
us. It heals my fellow actors, heals the audience, and it heals me.”
Cline has needed oxygen for four years. But his health took a turn
for the worse in January, when he went out in a driving rain to sand
a sticky gate leading to Billi’s glory: a landscaped backyard, the
crowning achievement of which is a two-tier pool stocked with carp.
He was in an intensive-care unit for two weeks. Twice, Billi went to
the hospital thinking her husband was about to expire.
“He was so ill, it’s almost like I’ve gone through his death already.
And I don’t mean that tritely,” said Billi, a trim woman with a
down-home style who shares a love of travel with Gordon. Four times
they have hauled his oxygen to remote regions of Alaska that can be
reached only by bush plane.
In their own ways, and with help from Pathways, the Clines have come
to terms with the inevitable. Her husband may have months left, Billi
said, or he may have hours. Nonetheless, asked to sum up his life,
Gordon said one word: “Happy.”
Cline has left his funeral arrangements entirely in Billi’s hands.
When Billi picked out their burial plots, she said, the man from the
cemetery told her they were so full they had instituted a new system,
double dips. She found that funny and shared a laugh with Gordon
until she figured out the man had said double depths. And then they
had an even better laugh.
Billi sometimes cries when talking about what is coming. And she says
angrily about her husband’s lifelong smoking habit: “I have to admit
that sometimes I wish some of the CEOs of tobacco companies could be
hooked up to a respirator.”
After a while, the couples settled in the Clines’ sunroom overlooking
the pond. Channing and Gordon held hands. Her fingers are twisted
with arthritis, his discolored because the steroids he needs for his
illness also make him bruise easily.
Channing said her late father still comes to her when she needs him
most. “I know,” she said, making a dismissive backhand gesture, “this
is not the end of us. It is not.”
“We’ve been kind of wondering,” Gordon Cline said, “what’s going to
happen with our previous spouses?”
“Maybe we’ll swap, huh?” his wife said, mischievously.
Soon Cline needed a rest — his breath was coming in gasps — and
while he regathered himself, the honorary doctor who made 5,000
appearances in “Hello, Dolly” talked about why she likes to make
house calls.
“I want it on my tombstone: ‘She Lifted Lives,’ Channing said. “And
what about Gordon? He’s an inspiration. He knows he’s going soon, and
it doesn’t frighten him. He has every will to live. And he is so in
love with his wife.”
It is almost time to leave when the name of Marlene Dietrich, the
Hollywood star with the head-turning legs, came up again. Cline still
wanted to see the impersonation, so Channing lifted the leg of her
black slacks and showed a bit of ankle.
“Armenians are funny about their wives,” Channing said about her
watchful husband. “They won’t let them take their pants off for
friends.” Big laugh all around.
The goodbye took awhile, what with autographing photos and CDs, but
in the end, the 85-year old diva blew the dying man a kiss.
“You and I, Gordon, will be together again,” she said, and left.