OPEN LESSON ON SILVA KAPUTIKIAN’S CREATION TO BE HELD IN SOCHI WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006
KRASNODAR, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An open
integrated lesson of Russian Language and Literature in the 11th form
for pupils of Armenian nationality on the subject “Role of Artistic
Translation in Interchange of Cultures” (on creation of Armenian and
Russian poetess’ Silva Kaputikian and Maria Petrovykh) will take
place within the framework of international scientific-practical
conference titled “Teaching and Functioning of Russian as State
Language of the Russian Federation in Conditions of a Multi-language
Environment.” According to the Yerkramas (Krai) newspaper of Armenians
of Russia, the conference will be held on September 5-8 in Sochi.

HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND TO IMPLEMENT 14 PROGRAMS IN MARTAKERT THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At present about 5 mln USD has
been collected out of donations amounting to 7.7 mln USD promised
during Telethon-2005.
As NT correspondent was informed by Naira Melkumian, Executive Director
of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, Martakert Regional Development
Program aimed at simultaneous restoration and development of different
spheres will be implemented with these funds in 2006. In total, it
is envisaged to implement 14 programs in Martakert, in particular,
3 schools will be built, the villages of Arachadzor and Chldran will
be supplied with gas. Besides, the regional hospital of Martakert
will be repaired. In Naira Melkumian’s words, ambulance cars have
been bought with the financing of the Fund’s Los Angeles local body,
the hospital will have modern medical equipment. Under another
program it is envisaged to build a 3-km drinking water pipeline
in Martakert. N.Melkumian said that an Agricultural Development
Program is also being implemented in Martakert by means of the NKR
Agricultural Assistance Fund. Within the framework of the latter the
Fund has already bought and sent to NKR different kinds of agricultural
equipment amounting to about 0.5 mln USD.

DELEGATION LED BY ROMANIAN NATIONAL DEFENCE MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON OFFICIAL VISIT ON SEPTEMBER 6
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A delegation led by Romanian
National Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu will arrive in Armenia
on a three-day official visit on September 6. After the official
meeting ceremony at Erebuni airport the delegation will have a press
briefing. As Noyan Tapan was informed by Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian,
Spokesperson for RA Defence Minister, during the visit, on September 7,
the delegation will have meetings with RA President, Prime Minister,
Defence and Foreign Ministers. On September 7, the delegation will
visit the Museum of Victims of the Armenian Genocide, will lay a wreath
to the memory of the Genocide victims. On September 8, visits to the
Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin and Matenadaran are scheduled. Then
the head of the Romanian delegation will meet with journalists.

TARIFFS OF SERVICES DELIVERED TO POPULATION IN AUGUST DECLINE BY 0.2%
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The tariffs of services delivered
to the population in August declined by 0.2% compared with July,
which was mainly conditioned by a 1.7%, 0.5% and 0.2% decline in
transport (due to a 5.2% decline in air transport fares), cultural
and communication services respectively.
According to the RA National Statistical Service, in the indicated
period, the tariffs of public catering, consumer and medical services
grew by 0.1-0.2%, while those of housing, utility, educational,
recreational, legal and banking services remained at the previous
month’s level.

ARMENIAN DRAM APPRECIATES BY 10.6% AGAINST US DOLLAR IN AUGUST 2006 ON DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A 2.7% growth in consumer prices
was registered in August 2006 on December 2005, with the Armenian
dram appreciating by 10.6% against the US dollar. According to the RA
National Statistical Service, a similar tendency was registered in the
same period of last year: a 4.5% growth in consumer prices was followed
by a 5.2% appreciation of the Armenian dram against the US dollar. A
0.9% price fall was registered in the Armenian consumer market in
August on July 2006, while the Armenian dram appreciated by 3.7%
against the US dollar in the currency market. The average settlement
exchange rate of the US dollar made 401.9 drams in August 2006,
which is lower by 12.8% (460.99 drams) than the index of August 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO NKR INDEPENDENCE 15th ANNIVERSARY OPENS AT RA NATIONAL LIBRARY
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The exhibition that opened on
September 4 at RA National Library is dedicated to the 15th anniversary
of NKR independence. Literature, magazines, publications dedicated to
Artsakh history are presented at the exhibition. Separate departments
are dedicated to struggle for Artsakh liberation, in particular, to
its heroes, to Shoushi liberation. As Levon Shirinian, candidate of
philosophical sciences, said, no issue has been and will be solved
in Armenian-Turkish relations without using force. In his words,
Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s becoming democratic countries is an illusion.
In L.Shirinian’s opinion, one of solutions to the Nagorno Karabakh
problem is Armenian side’s continuing military, economic pressures
and forcing Azerbaijan to sign a reconciliation agreement. “The other
variant is status quo. We should preserve the current frozen state,
status quo and this idea will become fixed in the consciousness of
the world community and Azerbaijani people,” L.Shirinian said.

SYRIAN MUFTI LAYS WREATH TO MONUMENT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006
ECHMIADZIN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On September 3,
Sheikh Ahmed Badr-Eddine Hassoun, the Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic
of Syria, and his delegation visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial
Complex dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. As
Noyan Tapan was informed from the Information Services of the Mother
See of Holy Echmiadzin, Sheikh Hassoun visited the Genocide Museum
where he made notes at the museum memory book.
Then the Syrian Mufti laid a wreath to the memorial to the Armenian
Genocide victims and paid the tribute of his respect to the memory
of Genocide victims.
“…If the peoples had really followed their religions… these
massacres would not have taken place. The Armenian people should
recover from this pain and build Armenia in peace,” Sheikh Ahmed
Badr-Eddine Hassoun, in particular, said expressing confidence that
the Armenian people, wherever it be in the Diaspora, should extend
a helping hand to help to restore the Mother Armenia.
“Our pains did not teach us hatred but guided our people to follow
the divine way,” the Syrian Mufti emphasized.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO MEET WITH CULTURAL FIGURES IN CONNECTION WITH FORTHCOMING ARMENIA-DIASPORA FORUM
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In connection
with the Armenia-Diaspora forum to be held on September 18-20, RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian will meet with representatives of
Armenian creative unions and cultural figures on September 5. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department.

FOOD COMMODITY PRICES GROW BY 2.2% IN ARMENIA IN AUGUST 2006 ON DECEMBER 2005
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A 2.2% price growth was registered
in the Armenian food commodity market in August 2006 compared
with December 2005, and a 8.9% price growth – compared with August
2005. According to the RA National Statistical Service, a 2% decline in
the prices of food commodities was registered in Armenia in August 2006
on July 2006, which is by 0.5% lower than the price fall index (2.5%)
of the same months of 2005. The prices of vegetables and potato grew
by 49.2% in August 2006 on the same month of 2005, those of cabbage –
2.3fold, of carrot – 1.8fold, beet – 1.8fold, cucumber – by 40.9%,
garlic – 30.4%, onion – 22.7%, tomato – 16.7% and the prices of green
pepper grew by 3.6%. The 25.2% price growth registered in the fruit
commodity group in August 2006 on August 2005 was due to an increase
in the prices of strawberry (42.1%), apple (50.3%), pear (52%), peach
(61.8%), apricot (2.4fold), melon (74.5%), banana (28.4%) and orange
(30.8%). The prices of fish products grew by 30.8% in August 2006 on
the same month of last year. The increase in the price of granulated
sugar made 35.2% over the same period, and 30.7% in August 2006 on
December 2005. The prices of meat products grew by 2.6% in August
2006 on December 2005 and by 4.7% on August 2005. The average price
of eggs grew by 14.4% in August 2006 on the same month of last year.

YEREVAN MAYOR’S OFFICE TAKES ALL MEASURES TO REGULATE STREET TRADE
Noyan Tapan
Sept 04 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Mayor’s Office is taking
all measures aimed at street trade regulation. Karen Gevorgian, head
of the Trade and Service Department of Yerevan’s Mayor Office, stated
this at the September 4 press conference. According to him, citizens
should be aware that foodstuffs and fast food sold in the streets
are harmful to health because their preparation and sale is done in
conditions not in line with sanitary and hygiene norms. K. Gevorgian
said that ckeck-ups are now being conducted at various trade and
service facilities of Yerevan. Stock taking of all trade and service
kiosks and pavilions of the city will be completed by 2008. In
his words, 48 trade kiosks in Komitas Avenue have been dismantled,
and another 70 will be modernized. The regulaion process is under
way in Kochinian, Baghramian, Sundukian, Isakov, Abovian, Koryun and
Acharian Streets. The department head underlined that this work will
help regulate street trade. On the instructions of Yerevan Mayor,
the state of the city’s undercrossings was studied as well, which,
according to K. Gevorgian, are in poor condition and it is time for
all these underground crossings to undergo repair. K. Gevorgian said
that Yerevan Mayor’s Office recently received a lot of complaints from
citizens regarding various bakeries, chemical cleaning points and night
clubs functioning in the basements of residential buildings. According
to him, these complaints are reasonable, as no proper control is
implemented by the mayor’s office in this respect. It was noted
that from now on these facilities will be under control of Yerevan
Mayor’s Office.