PRESIDENT OF FRANCE TO VISIT ARMENIA, PRELIMINARILY, ON SEPTEMBER 29
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. President
of France Jacques Chirac will pay an official visit to Armenia,
preliminarily, on September 29. This was reported by the Regnum
information agency that refers to the Embassy of France in
Armenia. According to the same source, the visit will last until
October 1. Month of France in Armenia starts with Jacques Chirac’s
visit. In particular, a concert with participation of singer Charles
Aznavour will be held on September 30 and it is not excluded that
Patricia Kaas will arrive in Yerevan.

VARTAN OSKANIAN LEAVES FOR PARIS WHERE HE WILL MEET WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian left for Paris on September 11. As NT was
informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, RA
Foreign Minister will have a meeting with OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
the same day in the evening. Joint press conference of Armenian and
French Foreign Ministers Vartan Oskanian and Philippe Douste-Blazy and
RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Hasmik Poghosian and French
Minister of Culture and Communication Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres
dedicated to Year of Armenia in France will be held on September 12
in Paris.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DEALS WITH ISSUE OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS ARRESTED IN GEORGIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Foreign Ministry indeed received an alarm call from Tbilisi about
the respective actions of Georgian law-enforcers regarding our
compatriots. Vladimir Karapetian, Acting Head of the RA MFA Press and
Information Department, said that when commenting, at the request of
NT correspondent, on the reports that about 100 Armenian citizens
were arrested in Georgia. He noted that this number has not been
confirmed. V. Karapetian assured NT correspondent that the Armenian
Foreign Ministry is taking all necessary measures. Particularly, the
Armenian ambassador to Georgia applied to the Georgian Foreign Ministry
with the proposal to discuss the matter. The Armenian Foreign Ministry
made the same proposal to the Georgian ambassador. “We anticipate a
prompt solution of the issue,” V. Karapetian pointed out. According
to mass media reports, about 100 Armenian citizens violated the
Russian-Georgian border, for which a fine in the amount of about
2 thousand USD is envisaged under Article 334 Part 2 of Georgia’s
Criminal Code, and in case of a repeated violation – imprisonment
for 3-5 years. In the given case, the Armenian citizens entered
South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Russia, as a result of which they
were arrested. An entrance or exit stamp put in the passport as
an indication of visits to the above mentioned territories is an
“evidence”, which provides Georgian law-enforces with a ground for
arresting Armenian citizens.

IRANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH RA PRESIDENT, NA SPEAKER AND PRIME MINISTER DURING VISIT TO ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By RA National
Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian’s invitation, the delegation headed
by Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, the Majlis Speaker of the Islamic Republic
of Iran will pay an official visit to Armenia on September 11-12. The
IRI Majlis Speaker will have a private conversation at the National
Assembly, on September 11, with RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian, the
delegation members will meet with members of the Armenian-Iranian
deputies’ friendship group, then a meeting in an enlarged staff
will take place, with participation of members of the NA standing
committees, factions and group. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
NA Public Relations Department, after the parliamentary meetings the
delegation will leave for Tsitsernakaberd and lay a wreath to the
memorial complex to the Armenian Genocide victims. RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian will receive the delegation on the same day. IRI
Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel will meet with the Yerevan State
University lecturers and students on September 12. RA President Robert
Kocharian will receive the IRI Majlis Speaker on the same day.
The visit results will be summed up at the joint press conference of
the two Parliament Speakers at the National Assembly. The delegation
headed by IRI Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel will leave Yerevan
for Bishkek on September 12.

REPRESENTATIVES OF 14 COUNTRIES TO TAKE PART IN ARMMONO FOURTH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL OF MONOPERFORMANCES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Representatives
of 14 countries are going to take part in the Armmono Fourth
International Shakespeare Theater Festival of Monoperformances to
be held on September 12-18 in Yerevan. 17 performances will be shown
during 7 days of the festival. As festival Director Hakob Ghazanchian
said at the September 11 press conference, it is the fourth time this
modest Yerevan festival tries to present the public the theatrical
and literary heritage of the great Englishman, Shakespeare. In Hakob
Ghazanchian’s words, this year also Armmono will receive Robert Sturua,
but not as a guest, but as a participant. Sturua is a producer who
has staged Shakespeare and, particularly, “Hamlet”, most of all in the
world. The well-known producer has staged a new “Hamlet” specially for
this festival. In Ghazanchian’s words, this year 9 Armenian actors
take part in the festival, many of which, including Levon Ivanian,
Hasmik Ter-Karapetian, have not been on the stage for more than
20 years. Hakob Ghazanchian also said that “…and Legal Prison”
performance on the basis of “Hamlet” by Shakespeare was staged on
the initiative of the Stage Crossroad cultural center. Actors from
10 countries are engaged in the performance. Vardan Petrosian will
play the leading part of Hamlet. “All 10 actors will play in their
native tongues. This will be an unprecedented performance. And the
most important thing is that it will end unexpectedly and abruptly,”
Ghazanchian assured. All performances will be presented at the
hall of Yerevan Theater of Young Spectator, except “…and Legal
Prison.” This performance will be shown every day at Stanislavski
Russian Dramatic Theater.

CONSTRUCTION GROWS BY 42.8% IN JANUARY-JULY 2006 ON SAME MONTHS OF 2005
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-July 2006, construction
work of 240 bln 302.1 mln drams (over 546 mln USD) was done in
Armenia, including production facility construction of 86 bln 190.7
mln drams. In the indicated volume of work, building and assembly work
amounted to 207 bln 154.5 mln drams, including building and assembly
work of production facilities making 56 bln 151.2 mln drams. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, the volume of construction in
January-July 2006 exceeded the index of January-July 2005 by 42.8%,
and the volume of building and assembly work exceeded the respective
index of last year by 36.6%. In the period of January-July 2006, 308
new residential buildings of the total area of more than 188 thousand
square meters was delivered for use at the expense of humanitarian aid,
and financial resources of organizations and citizens. Particularly,
one residential building of the total area of 37 sq.m. was constructed
in Yerevan at the expense of humanitarian aid, and 8 residential
buildings of the total area of 36 thousand 120 sq.m. were constructed
with organizations’ funds. 299 residential buildings of the total area
of 151 thousand 913 sq.m. were constructed with citizens’ resources
in Armenia, including 173 residential buildings of 124 thousand 250
sq.m. in Yerevan. In the period under review, 2 new comprehensive
schools for 250 pupils (one school for 200 pupils in Chambarak region,
and another for 50 pupils in Tashir region) were put into operation
in Armenia with credit resources of the World Bank. 21 comprehensive
schools were repaired in Armenia in January-July 2006. Particularly,
15 comprehensive schools were repaired with state budget resources,
including 7 schools in Ararat marz, 5 in Armavir marz, one in Syunik
marz, one in Tavush marz and one school in Yerevan. 6 comprehensive
schools were repaired with the WB credit resources, including 2 schools
in Shirak marz, 2 in Armavir marz and 2 – in Yerevan. In the indicated
period, construction of 8 bln 256.8 mln drams or 3.4% of the total
construction in the country was done in the earthquake zone at the
expense of all sources of finance for construction, restoration and
repair of residential buildings, social and production facilities,
including production facility construction of 4 bln 182.5 mln drams
(4.9%). In the period under review, 45 new residential buildings of
the total area of 8,990 sq.m. or 4.8% of the area put into operation
in Armenia were delivered for use with the population’s resources in
the earthquake zone.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PERSIAN FAMOUS POET AND TRANSLATOR, ARMENOLOGIST AHMAD NURIZADE AWARDED MEDAL OF WRITERS’ UNION OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “One of famous
and modern poets of Iran, Ahmad Nurizade, irrevocably tied his life
with the Armenian literature, Armenian culture,” Levon Ananian, the
Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia mentioned at the September 8
event dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Persian poet and translator
Ahmad Nurizade’s literary activity.
Levon Ananian mentioned that Nurizade’s translations from Armenian
into Persian make dozens of volumes. In his words, according to
Persian mass media, the Armenian literature and culture are better
known in Iran than the Chinese ones, owing to Nurizade’s works. In
words of the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia, Ahmad Nurizade
is today being recognized as founder of the Armenology in the Persian
language in Iran. He is also the only non-Armenian poet in the world,
who writes in Armenian, and Nurizade’s “Masis is not a Mountain”
poem has been involved in Armenian text-books. In words of Reza Atufi,
the Culture Advisor of the IRI Embassy to Armenia, Nurizade is one of
those best literary figures who make great efforts in the literary
spheres of both Armenia and Iran. R.Atufi appreciated and attached
importance to Nurizade’s role in the affair of establishing friendship
between the two countries. In Ahmad Nurizade’s words, poetry of no
nation is published in Iran with such a volume and number as the
Armenians’ poetry. “The Armenian people deserves it as this people
is owner of centuries-old and rich culture and occupies its special
place in the world civilization,” the poet mentioned. At the end of
the event Levon Ananian awarded Ahmad Nurizade medal of the Writers’
Union of Armenia for the literary contribution.

STATE IS CALLED TO SECURE IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL GUARANTEES FOR MEDIA ACTIVITY, YOUTH STRUCTURES OF A NUMBER OF PARTIES STATE
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The blameworthy act of violance
taken place towards “Iravunk” newspaper editor Hovhannes Galajian
is continuation of not enough steps taken by corresponding state
bodies in the direction of revealing and undertaking balanced actions
towards authors and organizers of similar acts of violance, cases
of violences committed towards journalists, threats, obstracting
of professional activity or fulfilment of not balanced punitive
measures. It is mentioned in the joint statement of the youth
structures of the “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law), NDU, ARF, ANM,
ANA, “Hanrapetituin” (Republic) parties, Democratic Party of Armenia
and a number of public organizations. The statement was made public
at the September 8 press conference.
OYP youth wave chairman Samvel Farmanian mentioned that if men
commiting acts of violence remain unpunished this time as well,
and corresponding bodies display inactivity, the wave of violences
will grow larger during the coming elections. The statement authors
are anxious with the fact that in parallel to approach of the coming
parliamentary elections, they become evidences of a new wave of acts
of violence and threats towards journalists. They are sure that “the
atmosphere in which the coming state elections will be held, will be
considerably provided by the circumstance to what extent corresponding
state institutes will be able to keep the public-political life and
democratic institutions of the country from assaults and violences
of criminogenic elements.”
According to the statement, media freedom and legal guarantees for
journalists’ professional activity are important preconditions on the
way of improvement of democracy, and the state is called to secure
indubitable implementation of those legal guarantees. And “those
violences, threats and pressures are committed and put and encouraged
by those people and forces who are against improvement of a democratic
and free society in Armenia as well as are anxious with the fact that
some aspects of their activity will become the society’s property with
the help of media.” The press conference organizers stated that they
are going to pass the joint statement to the RA Prosecutor’s General
Office, at the same time expressing confidence that they will not
receive any response from the prosecutor’s office. S.Farmanian menioned
that they will be consistent and, in the case of not getting a response
from the prosecutor’s office, they will organize an action of protest.

WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM OF ARMENIA TAKES 2ND PLACE IN TEAM STRUGGLE OF EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Youth Weightlifting
Championship finished in the city of Palermo, Italy, on September
10. Representative of Armenia Sevak Sahakian (94 kg, Kasakh) took the
2nd place with 350 kg result of biathlon. He was awarded silver medal
in the pull exercise with 158 kg, gold medal in the push exercise with
192 kg, and won silver medal in biathlon. The 4-people team of Armenia
took the 2nd place in the team struggle with the number of medals.

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.