46 MINES BLOW UP OF FIRE ON BORDER ZONE
IJEVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. 46 mines blew up on August 13 at the
border zone of the village of Voskevan, Tavush marz. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed at the Voskevan village head’s office,
inhabitants of the Ghushchi Ayrum village of the Ghazakh region of
Azerbaijan set fire to fields on that day, in the consequence of what
the fire spread and blew up mines placed in the neutral zone. There
are no injured people.

ORDER OF MOVING FROM MIDDLE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION TO
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ONE WORKED OUT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Ministry of Education and
Science envisages to take a number of steps to increase the role of
middle professional educational institutions. As Samvel Pipoyan, the
Chief of the Middle Professional and Vocational Education Department
of the Ministry informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, an order of
moving is being worked out at present, according to which, a graduate
of a middle professional educational institution may continue education
from the 2nd year of a higher educational institution.
S.Pipoyan mentioned that this order will be presented to discussion
of the RA Government till December of the current year. S.Pipoyan
mentioned that the modular educational system is also envisaged to
introduce in the sphere of middle professional education. This system
will give students possibility to get practical skills started from
the first year. This model was experimentally put into practice this
year in the Ijevan State, Vanadzor State Technological, Yerevan State
Humanities-Technical and Yerevan State Agricultural institutions of
middle professional education. Besides, international organizations
as well implement in Armenia programs addressed to development of
that sphere.
S.Pipoyan stated that within the framework of the “Education Addressed
to Future of Armenia” program being implemented by the UN Development
Program, buildings of few middle professional educational institutions
will be restored, and some institutions will be provided with necessary
material-technical basis as well. According to S.Pipoyan, the total
cost of the program is 1 mln 157 thousand dollars about 50 thousand
of which will be given by the RA Government.
It was also mentioned that the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ)
program implements a re-training program for lecturers of middle
professional institutions.

SCOT IAN PORTERFIELD TO HEAD TEAM OF ARMENIA IN YEREVAN MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 2
ZENITSA, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The team of Armenia completed with
up to 21 year old football players yielded to hosts with the result
of 2:3 at the August 16 meeting in the city of Zenitsa, Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Alexander Petrosian and Gevorg Ghazarian were most
accurate in the team of Armenia. The team of Armenia will receive
on September 2 the team of Norway for the next meeting of the group
tournament of the 2007 youth football championship of Europe. And the
Norwegians will compete with the team of Bosnia on September 6. To
recap, Scot John (Ian) Porterfield, who, on August 16, signed a 1.5
year contract on heading all age teams of Armenia, will undertake
the role of the team coach during the Yerevan meeting.

ACCORDING TO “HURRIET”, TURKEY CONSIDERS ETHNIC MINORITIES AS ALIEN,
THEREFORE THEY APPLY TO MFA DEALING WITH FOREIGNERS’ ISSUES
ISTANBUL, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. In the August 17
issue of the newspaper “Hurriet”, Mehmed Yelmaz, author of articles in
“Hurriet”, reminds about the report (published the day before) about
the regulations of the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey. According
to the report, the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey expressed a wish
that the Patriarchate would be within the jurisdiction to the state
ministry accountable to the Inspection of Religions and not to the
ministry of foreign affairs. With this aim, the Patriarchate applied
to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request to intervene.
Mehmed Yelmaz notes that all Turkish citizens have the right to apply
to the appropriate body regarding their problems. In this respect
the Armenian Patriarchate should also be eligible to apply to the
appropriate body. It is quite logical that Turkey’s MFA should not
be on the list of bodies to consider such application, as it deals
with foreign countries and foreigners. After expressing this opinion,
M. Yelmaz ironically reminds that on various occasions the state has
considered ethnic minorities as alien. The last time, the minorities
were put on the list of foreigners owning estates in Turkey. The
author concludes: if the state considers our minorities as alien,
the latter naturally should apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

MILLENIUM CHALLENGE-ARMENIA FUND OFFICE TO BE ESTABLISHED BY LATE SEPTEMBER
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Millennium Challenge-Armenia (MCA)
Fund Office will be established by late September. RA Deputy Minister
of Finance and Economy, head of the preparation team of the Millennium
Challenge Armenia Program (MCAP) Davit Avetisian stated this at the
August 17 sitting of the program’s beneficiaries. According to him,
in addition to funds envisaged by the MCAP, the Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) allocated up to 500 thousand USD for the office’s
foundation, design and advice activities. The first tranche of this
sum will be transferred by October 1. D. Avetisian introduced Ara
Hovsepian (who won the competition with the participation of 48
candidates and, by the August 5 decision of the MCAP management
board, was appointed the executive director general of the MCA Fun)
to the board members. The deputy minister said that prior to his
appointment, Ara Hovsepain was the head of the Natural Resource
Management and Poverty Reduction Program being implemented in
Tavush and Gegharkunik marzes with the assistance of the British
government. D. Avetisian reminded that the Armenian government and the
MCC signed the major agreement of the MCAP. The government approved
the agreement on distribution of funds and the management agreement
between the sides. Among three other documents are the subagreements
on achievements, on fiscal agent and banking agent, which are almost
ready to be submitted to the US side. In his words, the selection
of the MCAP’s fiscal and banking agents is proceeding in accordance
with the schedule. The speaker noted that in October-December 2006,
design work of 2-2.5 mln USD will be done, based on which the MCA
Fund’s 2007 programs on constrcution and repair of infrastructures and
business assistance will be implemented. Part of the Bid on Writing
Off has already been developed. The 2007 activities will be financed
on the basis of this document.
To recap, the MCC will allocate 235.65 mln USD to Armenia in 5
years. It is envisaged that 75% of the country’s rural population
(about 750 thousand citizens) will be the MCAP’s beneficiaries. A
6% poverty reduction in rural areas is anticipated as a result
of the program’s implementation. Out of the program’s funds,
67.1 mln USD will be allocated for repairs of community roads,
145 mln 670 thousand USD – for development of irrigation systems,
the program’s management and control expenditures will amount to 17
mln 790 thousand USD, while monitoring and assessment expenditures –
to 5 mln 80 thousand USD. Out of funds to be used for the development
of irrigation systems, 32.42 mln USD will be allocated for provision
of credits to farmers, strengthening of water user companies, and
delivery of advisory services.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO LEBANESE ARMENIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF MILITARY ACTIONS
Yerevan, August 17. ArmInfo. No Lebanese Armenians have been killed
or wounded since the beginning of military actions, a competent source
in Beirut told ArmInfo.
He said the refugees who left their homes because of the war and
arrived in the central regions of Lebanon have started returning their
homes. The source reports, the war caused a tangible damage to the
country. Lack of victims among Armenians is explained by the fact that
Armenians reside compactly in the suburb in the north of Beirut, so
they are far enough from bombings. As regards the large-scale looting,
the source called this information exaggerated. Though, there have been
such cases given the fact that the government proposed refugees from
southern regions to rent flats themselves, the source mentions. Thus,
“houses in abeyance” get new “owners” very quickly.
To note, several hundreds of refugees have arrived in Armenia from
Lebanon since the beginning of the military actions. Now, they are
waiting for the opening of Beirut airport to return to Lebanon.
Government of Lebanon promises to restore the airport within three
days after the blockade is lifted. Now, the only air communication
between the region and Armenia is via Aleppo. The source reports that
electricity supply to Beirut (1 mln population, and 2 mln suburbs
inclusive) is often cut, however, water supply is sufficient.

“MISS CAUCASUS-2006” CONTEST TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER WITH
SLOGAN “WORLD IN CAUCASUS”
Yerevan, August 17. ArmInfo. A ceremony of awarding a title “Miss
Caucasus-2006” will be held September 2 in Spendiarov Academic Theatre
of Opera and Ballet of Armenia.
As Aram Antonyan, the chairman of the Contest Organizational Committee,
told ArmInfo, this year the Contest will be held under a slogan
“Peace in the Caucasus”. The shooting of beauties will be carried
out in the territory of Nagorno Karabakh. According to the source,
the Contest winner will receive a permit ticket to Czech Republic
to participate in the Contest “Miss Tourism-2006”. The main prize
of the winner will become a silver crown with semiprecious stones,
as well as prize money, the size of which is kept in secret as yet.
To be noted, the ceremony of “Miss Caucasus-2006” title awarding will
be broadcasted by all TV channels of the Caucasus, as well as by the
“Mir” Interstate TV Company channels.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OTHER 14 SCHOOLS RESTORED IN MARZ OF KOTAYK
HRAZDAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The new academic year will start
in comfortable and well-arranged building conditions in other 14
comprehensive schools of the marz of Kotayk as well. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed at the Kotayk Regional Governor’s Office,
to order of the RA Ministry of Urban Development, construction works
of about 877 mln drams (about 2.2 mln U.S.
dollars) are being implemented in Yeghvard No1 and No2, Aghavnadzor,
Teghenik, Saralanj secondary schools as well as in Byureghavan
boarding school and Garni sports school. And to order presented by
the Kotayk Regional Governor’s Office, 300 mln drams were allocated
for fundamental recosntruction of Charentsavan No1, No5 and No6,
Hrazdan No4 and Solak secondary schools. Other 8.5 mln drams were
allocated from the state budget for restoration of the ground floor
of the non-used subsidiary building of Hrazdan No13 school (which
will serve as marz youth center) and 21 mln drams were given for
reconstruction of the art schools of the communities of Kasakh and
Yeghvard. And Charentsavan No3 school is completely being restored
with former inhabitant of the community, school-leaver of the same
school Arsen Aghajanian’s financial assistance. To order of the
Kotayk Regional Governor’s Office, construction works of about 255 mln
drams were implemented in 11 schools of the marz with the financial
resources allocated from the 2005 state budget. And to order of the
Ministry of Urban Development, Yeghvard No1, No2 and Zovuni schools
were fundamentally reconstructed the previous year.

SEMINAR DEDICATED TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS HELD IN AKHALTSKHA
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative
of the UNIFEM, a seminar dedicated to the women’s rights was held in
Akhaltskha on August 15. Representatives of women’s unions of Javakhk
participated in the seminar. According to “A-Info,” the seminar
participants arose issues of free treatment, women’s rights, etc. It
was proposed to work out and implement a program of re-training of
woman specialists engaged in protection of the women’s rights.

IAC REGULATIONS PREVENT FROM MODERNIZATION OF AIRCRAFT FLEET IT
ARMENIA: AVIATOR
Yerevan, August 17. ArmInfo. The Regulations of the International
Aviation Committee (IAC) prevented from modernization of the aircraft
fleet in Armenia, a well-known aviation worker Dmitry Adbashyan says
in an interview with “Iravunk” newspaper.
The IAC registration and certification rules Armenia has got are
contrary to the ICAO codes. “Once, we brought in two planes which we
failed to register. We asked IAC to register them. The ICAO codes did
not require certificate for registering such a brand but IAC claimed
one. By the way, one article of the IAC codes said that one should have
a certificate for registering such a plane while another article gave
the list of documents one should present to register it and there was
certificate mentioned in it. While the ICAO codes clearly said that
for having his plane registered an owner has just to prove that its
worthiness, with no certificate required,” Adbashyan says.
Reference to the regulations of ICAO did not allow Armenian aviators
persuade IAC of the necessity of certificates for the purchased
planes. They in IAC stated that brand certification is necessary if
a company acquires more than 2 planes. ICAO has no such rule and in
Russia they invested it just to earn money. There are over 500 such
planes in the world, so, according to IAC, it is obligatory to have
their brand certificate.
IAC rules were very much different from the international standards
So, if there are so many contradictions between the IAC and ICAO
rules, which ones Armenia should adopt? “Of course, there are, and
we should adopt the ICAO rules,” says Adbashyan. “IAC is no longer
effective. There is ICAO and we should cooperate with them and,
in some cases, with their European counterparts,” says Adbashyan.
The point in this particular case is not so much if the pilots or the
planes were guilty for the Sochi and Irkutsk crashes. The point is
that IAC – who says that it is exclusively professional structure –
has allowed or, at least, has failed to prevent those cases from being
politicized. In the Armavia case, IAC has failed to professionally
substantiate its position and to prove that its findings are true. And
even if in this particular case IAC is professionally right and fair,
we can still see that it can no longer normally regulate its own
functions and decisions. This proves that it is stagnating, and not
only Russian but also our relevant authorities should do something
about it, “Iravunk” writes.