VAZGEN MANUKIAN CONVINCED THAT KOCHARIAN WILL NOT SIGN DOCUMENT PROPOSED BY CO-CHAIRS
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian President
will not sign under the Nagorno Karabakh settlement variant proposed
lately. RA MP Vazgen Manukian, Chairman of the National Democratic
Union, said at the July 18 press conference. “I treat the circumstance
of R.Kocharian’s being a President very negatively but inwardly I am
convinced that he will not take such a step,” the speaker said.
In Manukian’s opinion, Kocharian from the very start made a mistake
in the Nagorno Karabakh settlement, declaring in his conversations to
the mediators that if they convince him that some proposed variant of
settlement is beneficial to Armenians, he in his turn will convince
Armenia and Karabakh. According to the speaker, “Kocharian assumed
a heavier burden than he was to” and this approach became the reason
of NKR’s being ousted of the negotiations process. But he considered
improbable that they have already “convinced” Kocharian.
According to the NDU Chairman, no other great ommissions on Nagorno
Karabakh issue have been committed in the Armenian foreign policy. It
is a different matter that the Armenian diplomacy did not manage
to ensure the announced complementary policy and the foreign policy
is one-sided.
V.Manukian said that if R.Kocharian signed under this variant,
it would be necessary to demand his resignation. According to him,
the forces supporting Kocharian organized a coup in Armenia (he means
the power shift of 1998: NT), as they were against the stage-by-stage
variant of Nagorno Karabakh settlement: “If they sign, why was this
coup done and what was the purpose of this marasmus of 8 years?”

RECONSTRUCTION WORKS OF SURB KHACH CHURCH OF AKHTAMAR ISLAND COME TO END
YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 17, Armenian
Patriarch Mesrop Archbishop Mutafian of Constantinople left for Van
for the purpose of getting acquainted with the reconstruction works
of the Surb Khach (“Saint Cross”) church of the Akhtamar island.
As the Radio Liberty informs citing the information of the Turkish
Daily News, the reconstruction of this building, one of the most
ancient ones in the Van province, will finish at the end of this
month and the church will be opened for the believers and visitors
in September.
“The works come to an end,” mentioned Cahit Zeydanli, owner of the
Turkish private company implementing the reconstruction. He mentioned
that “the church of Akhtamar is a unique building which is famous
not only in Turkey but also in the whole world”.
Last September, “after century-long indifference and decades-long
political controversies,” Turkey decided to cede to the calls of the
EU to keep its promise to defend the rights of ethnic minorities. And
in May the Government of Turkey allocated 2 million liras (nearly
1.5 million dollars) to the reconstruction works of the Surb Khach
church of Akhtamar.

ARMENIAN BOXERS GAIN VICTORIES AT EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP
PLOVDIV, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian sportsmen continue to
successfully perform at the Europe Boxing Championship being held
in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. Vachagan Avagian (51 kg weight
category), Edgar Manukian (57 kg), Hrachya Javakhian (60 kg) and
Artak Malumian (81 kg) won on July 17.
So, all of 7 representatives of Armenia won in their first
competitions.
Gabriel Tolmajian (54 kg), Gevorg Tamazian (64 kg) and Andranik
Hakobian (75 kg) will perform on July 18. The latter holds his second
fight in the tournament.

BUILDING OF MUSEUM OF REGIONAL STUDIES OF AKHALKALAK REPAIRED
AKHALKALAK, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative
of the Armenian Educational Union of America the building of the
Akhalkalak’s Museum of Regional Studies was repaired. The building
dates back to late 19th century and until the reconstruction it was in
an emergency state, which endangered the exhibits kept in the museum.
According to the Museum’s Director Hasmik Hambarian, now it is
possible not only to keep the exhibits safe, but also it is envisaged
to acquire new exhibits.
“A-Info” agency also informs that on the initiative of the Armenian
Educational Union a number of schools have been recostructed in
Javakhk, and according to the Union’s representatives, this work
will continue.

NEW MARKET BUILDING TO BE BUILT IN NINOTSMINDA
AKHALKALAK, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Urban Institute
of Georgia plans to initiate the construction of a new bulding for
the agricultural goods’ market in Ninotsminda. The old building
of the market is in run-down condition and not suited for use. The
Urban Institute promises to find sponsors for construction of the
new building. Specialists were invited to Ninotsminda, who presented
their point of views. The construction of the new market building is
also conditioned with the Tbilisi-Tsalka-Turkey border freeway which
will be built under the Millennium Challenge program. The freeway
will pass through Ninotsminda.
According to the “A-Info” agency, on the initiative of the Urban
Institute the city park of Ninotsminda was improved as well as the
sewerage system was reconstructed.

GEORGIAN JOURNALISTS VISIT JAVAKHK
AKHALKALAK, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Correspondents of
a number of Georgian newspapers, including “24 hours,” “Rezonansi”,
“Khvalindeli dghe”, “Panorama”, “Batumelebi”, “Akhali 7 dghe”,
“Khalkhis gazeti”, “Kakhetis khma”, “Kutayisis versia”, visited
Samtskhe-Javakhk on July 11-14. The goal of the journalists’ visit
was to get acquainted with the situation and the problems of the
Armenian population on the spot.
As the “A-Info” agency informs, a number of problems existing in the
region were brought to light during the meetings with officials and
representatives of NGO’s which were held in Akhalkalak, Akhaltskh,
Ninotsminda. The citizens of Javakhk raised the issues of compulsion
of the Georgian language and neglect of Armenian, unfair system of
local self-government (by which the rights of ethnic Armenian citizens
are violated), education as well as the social-economic issues. They
expected their urgent and fair solution.

ARMENIAN WRESTLERS SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM AT OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS INTERNATIONAL
MEMORIAL TOURNAMENTS
TBILISI, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Wrestling Olympic Champions Vakhtang
Balavadze’s and Givi Kartozia’s traditional International Memorial
Tournaments were held on July 13-16 in Tbilisi with participation of
sportsmen from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Greece and Armenia.
Armen Karapetian from Yerevan (weight category of 60 kg) and Zhirayr
Hovhannisian from Vanadzor (66 kg) won among 12 free-style wrestlers
representing Armenia and took the first places. The other members of
their teams took the 3rd places.
4 out of 20 wrestlers representing Armenia in the Greco-Roman wrestling
took the 2nd places, 3 the 3rd places. By the way, Movses Karapetian
from Yerevan (74 kg), last year’s Europe champion, and Roman Amoyan
from Yerevan (55 kg), this year’s champion, also took the 3rd places.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB GIVES AWARDS TO BEST JOURNALISTS OF ARMENIA
ArmInfo.
Yerevan, July 18.
The Yerevan Press Club gave awards to the best Armenian journalist
of this year, today.
This year the prize “For Professional Highlighting of the Recent
Football Events” went to Senik Kara-Poghosian. The prize “For
Contribution to Highlighting of Various Viewpoints in Actual Issues”
went to Nver Mnatsakanian, author of “Perspectiva” program. Hovhannes
Yeranian, cultural observer of “Yerkir” newspaper received the
prize “For Devotion to the Theme.” “Yerevan” magazine was awarded
“For the Best Presentation of Armenia in Abroad.” Besides, Ashot
Gazazian received a prize for making journalism a literature in his
“In the Shadow of the Sun” book. In the course of the ceremony, Boris
Navasardian, chairman of YPC, promised to assist the local journalists
to participate in various arrangements not only in Armenia but also
in abroad.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEWLY APPOINTED RA EDUCATION MINISTER PROMISSES ENTRANCE EXAMS TO
LOCAL UNIVERSITIES WILL BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
Yerevan, July 18. ArmInfo. Levon Mkrtchian, newly appointed RA
Education and Science Minister, stated that the entrance exams to the
Armenian universities will be fair and transparent. He said that the
entrance exams will launch on July 20 and added that it is planned to
open a special site that will fully cover the process of the exams.
This year, the exam marks will not be rounded off. Minister stated that
at present the given system of evaluation is the most convenient one.
As for the tuition fees, Mkrtchian said that thanks to the contract
system the university students will be able to pay a fixed sum of money
that will not change in the course of the education process. He added
that at present not a single local university has increased the tuition
fee as compared with the last year. The most expensive university is
still the Yerevan State Medical University, while the faculties of
International Relations and the Law Departments are the leading ones.
According to Mkrtchian, 12 413 entrants applied to the local
universities. This indicator surpassed that of the last year by 500
entrants. Minister stated that this year the entrants’ interest to
the Yerevan State Economic University has grown, as 1633 people
applied to that. Besides, as compared with 2005, the number of
entrants who applied to the faculties of the English Language at
various universities has also grown. The Yerevan State University
has 671 free of charge vacancies, while the Yerevan State Medical
University has only 148. In total, there are 4 342 free of charge and
5 598 paid vacancies opened at the Armenian universities. Mkrtchian
stated that just like in the previous years the faculties of Physics,
Biology and Chemistry are not popular.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OPENED A HOT LINE ON THE SITUATION IN
LEBANON
Yerevan, July 17. ArmInfo. Today Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik
Margarian held a council dedicated to rendering assistance to
the Armenians wishing to leave Lebanon. Minister for Territorial
Administration Hovik Abrahamian, Finance and Economy Minister Vardan
Khachatrian, Deputy-Minister for Foreign Affairs Gegam Garibjanian,
head of Civil Aviation Department Artem Movsisian, and other officials
participated in the council.
The Governmental press center reports that the Prime Minister expressed
anxiety about the events in Middle East, where a considerable number
of Armenians resides, and stressed the necessity to render assistance
to those Armenians. Deputy-Minister for Foreign Affairs Garibjanian
informed that the diplomatic representations of Armenia in Syria,
Lebanon, Aleppo are working 24 hours a day and are ready to render any
available assistance. The Foreign Ministry organizes transportation
of Armenian citizens from Lebanon to Armenia. Mr. Garibjanian said
that already 160 citizens have reached Armenia through Syria. He also
said that those ethnic Armenians who do not have Armenian citizenship,
can also enter Armenia, being granted free visas for 3 months. Head of
Civil Aviation Department Artem Movsisian represented the oposrtunities
to organize charter flights to Beirut and Syria.
The departments of the Foreign Ministry were ordered to find out the
exact number of Lebanese Armenians wishing to move to Armenia and
create a telephone hotline. The Civil Aviation Department was ordered
to start negotiating with ArmAvia company on organizing special flights
to Syria. The Government is ready to financy partly the flights.