A1+
NOT ONLY ARMENIANS ARE KILLED
[02:52 pm] 16 June, 2006
Today RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received the delegation of
Dmitri Kozak, the authorized representative of the Russian President
in the Southern federative okrug.
Underlining the natural course of the Armenian-Russian political
and economic relations and mentioning the organization of the year
of Russia and Armenia and the year of Armenia in Russia, the Prime
Minister voiced hope that the visit of the Southern federative okrug
delegation will contribute to the further enhancing of the cooperation
of the countries in different field.
The sides underlined that the improvement of transport communication
between the countries can also contribute to the enhancing of
cooperation.
During the meeting the RA Prime Minister expressed concern over the
recent violations toward Armenians in the Russian Federation and the
cases of murder. He voiced confidence that the Russian authorities
will resort to serious measures to reveal the criminals and to prevent
suchlike cases in future.
Authorized representative of the Russian President Dmitri Kozak also
expressed concern over the mentioned incidents and condemning them
assured the RA Prime Ministers that the violation is not only against
Armenians and that the RF authorities do everything to find and punish
the criminals.

A1+
MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE VACCINATED
AGAINST MEASLES
[03:40 pm] 16 June, 2006
Within the framework of the program “Vaccination of Armenian children
of the millennium” about 200 thousand Armenian children have been
vaccinated against nine main diseases since 2002.
In 2007 a mass action will start in Eurasia, and by 2010 the pathogenic
organism causing the measles is supposed to be eliminated from
Armenia. About 1.5 million people are to be vaccinated during a month.
According to Sirak Suqiasyan, the head of the RA Health Ministry
national immune-preventive program, the program will cost about
1.5 million USD. Not only the children but also the adults will
be vaccinated.
The program is realized by the Health Ministry national
immune-preventive program, the UN Children’s Fund and the Fund “Ani
& Narot” as well as with the support of a number of international
organizations. By the way, the program will be realized in Armenia
only.
As for Nagorno Karabakh, Shelton Yet, the head of the UN Children’s
Fund Yerevan office, mentioned that there will be no money allotments
there are their mandate acts in Armenia only.
According to Sirak Suqiasyan, “No vaccinated child has ever caught the
disease. All the vaccines correspond to the international standards
established by the World Health Organization”.

A1+
KOZAK MEETS THE PRESIDENT
[03:55 pm] 16 June, 2006
Today Robert Kocharyan received the delegation of
Dmitri Kozak, the authorized representative of the
Russian President in the Southern federative okrug.
The sides referred to the whole complex of the
Armenian-Russian relations. Robert Kocharyan mentioned
that thanks to the activation of business relations
the Russian business takes an important place in the
in the economy of Armenia. They found efficient
transport communication important for the further
enlargement of the commercial-economic cooperation of
the countries.
Dmitri Kozak said that the majority of the Armenians
in Russia live in the South of the country and are
involved in almost all the spheres of life of the
region.
The sides condemned the recent murders on the
nationalistic ground in Russia. They mentioned that
these phenomena do not proceed from the interests of
Russia and the Russian nation. According to Robert
Kocharyan, the Russian law enforcers ought to have
acted quickly and clearly.

A1+
“THE EU CANNOT ACCEPT TURKEY”
[05:08 pm] 16 June, 2006
During the session the deputies used their right of
briefings for the last time.The factions of the United
Labor Party, the Orinats Yerkir Party and the People’s
Deputy obviously had nothing to tell the journalsits
as they were absent from the briefings.
Hrayr Karapetyan, the head of the ARF faction,
referred to the recent announcements about the
necessity of the cessation of the negotiations of the
membership of Turkey in the UN and said that the
diplomatic relations of Turkey and Armenia must not be
conditioned by the relations with a third country; and
that’s what Turkey does every time the relations
between the two countries are referred to.
According to Artashes Geghamyan, the head of the
National Unity, Europe cannot accept the membership of
Turkey. He reminded that the inflation rate exceeded
the established threshold in Lithuania by 0.1% only
and the EU does not allow Lithuania to enter the EURO
zone. “Taking into account the present situation when
the EU has not come to its senses yet after the
membership of Romania and Bulgaria, all the other
conversations are a waste of time”.
By the way, Mr. Geghamyan found the decision of the US
Senate about not supporting the construction of the
railway Kars-Akhalqalaq-Tbilisi-Baku extremely
important. He said that it can contribute to the
regulation of the relations between Armenia and
Turkey.
Head of the Justice faction Stepan Demirchyan said
that we must have friendly relations with our
neighbors but never at the expense of our national
dignity.
The deputies also referred to the xenophobic
sentiments in Russia and the cases of murder of
Armenians. Stepan Demirchyan announced that we must
not stand the situation and that the RA authorities
must raise the issue.
According to Artashes Geghamyan, they would have done
it long ago if it weren’t for the statistic data
brought by the Russian authorities – 2396 people have
committed suicide in Armenia for the last five years.
Who is guilty for it? “And if the murder of three
Armenians for the last month gives us a chance to say
that Russia is not our friend, then we can note that
the authorities of our own country are our enemies”,
Artashes Geghamyan said.
The deputies were also worried about the exchange rate
of the Armenian dram. “The dollar inflation is
definitely artificial: how come the fuel becomes more
expensive and the dollar becomes cheaper?” Hrayr
Karapetyan announced. And Stepan Demirchyan announced
that the dollar inflation contributes to the enhancing
of poverty and not vice versa, as some claim.

JEWELLERS MEET KOCHARYAN
A1+
[11:46 pm] 16 June, 2006
Today Robert Kocharyan received the members of the Armenian Jewellers’
World Union Council who are participating in the annual conference
of the Council in Yerevan.
Robert Kocharyan discussed with the guests the perspectives of the
development of jeweller’s art in Armenia. He mentioned that there is
need for new steps in order to develop this branch of economy.
The members of the Council told the Presidents about their
offers. He also informed that they intend to hold an international
exhibition-conference of jeweller’s art in Yerevan in 2007 in which
many leading companies of the world will participate.
Besides, the office of the union will be in Yerevan which according
to them will contribute to the active cooperation of Armenia with
famous companies.

FAMILY BUDGET OF 36% WAS REDUCED
A1+
[11:56 pm] 16 June, 2006
This week the poll question of the “A1+” website is “Which TV Channel
do you prefer to watch?” Before that, let us represent the results
of the previous poll. The state officials of Armenia with Robert
Kocharyan at the head like to repeat from time to time that the
economic progress in Armenia for the last five years is obvious.
According to statistics, the economy prospers in the
country. Nevertheless, according to the polls of the “A1+” website,
the family budget of the 36% of the readers was reduced for the last
five years, 40% felt no changes, the family budget of 18% increased,
and 6% was undecided.
365 readers participated in the poll.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF GRANTED DIVORCES DOUBLES
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS; The number of marriages in the first
four months of this year fell 1.5 percent to 4,100 from a year ago
while the number of granted divorces rose 67 percent to 831.
The biggest number of divorces was registered in March, though
last year the biggest number of marriages were celebrated in this
month. According to the statistical service, the number of divorces
per every 1000 marriages rose this year to 203 against 120 from a
year ago. More couples divorced in Yerevan, Vayots Dzor, Lori and
Tavush regions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA TO BECOME MEASLES FREE BY 2010
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Some 200,000 children in Armenia have
been inoculated against nine infectious disease since 2002-such as
hepatitis B, diphtheria, tuberculosis, poliomyelitis and others as part
of Armenian Children Millennium Inoculation Program, funded by the
World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and some other international
donor organizations.
Among other former Soviet republics Armenian boasts the highest rate
of inoculated children. In 2002 WHO declared Armenia ‘a poliomyelitis
free country.”
Sheldon Yet, head of UNICEF Armenia office, unveiled at a news
conference today in Yerevan a program of measles immunization that
will be launched in 2007.
The objective is to eliminate this disease by 2010.
Armenian Children Millennium Inoculation Program will release
$200,000 for purchase of vaccines. The UNICEF plans also a study
to find out the embracement level. Sirak Sukiasian, coordinator of
the immunization program, said recent cases of measles were reported
among grown ups who were not inoculated against the diseases. He said
no child vaccinated since 2002 was reported with measles.

RESTORATION OF ABKHAZIA RAILWAYS SECTION TO TAKE FROM 12 TO 18 MONTHS
Armenpress
TBILISI, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Vladimir Badalian, an Armenian parliament
member and a cochairman of the Armenian-Russian and Armenian-Georgian
Business Associations, told Armenpress a set of documents, which
are necessary for starting restoration of the Abkhazian section of
the Georgian railway will be ready by the end of the year and the
reconstruction will take from 12 to 18 months.
Badalian said the 197 km-long section of the railroad stretching across
Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia needs to be fully restored
together with bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure. Badalian said
the restoration will comprise two stages-first will be resumed trains
for transportation of cargo and then restoration of infrastructure
and stations will begin.
He said the Armenian-Georgian-Abkhazian-Russian consortium, founded
for this purpose, will meet in Tbilisi on July 10-15 to specify
some points, particularly, sources of funding. Badalian said it was
possible also to resume the operation of an automobile road stretching
through Abkhazia. He said the road may even start operation before
the railway resumes.
By the way three buses with Armenians, relatives of the passengers of
the plane that fell into the Black Sea on May 3 and reporters traveled
from Yerevan to the crash site in Russian Sochi for a commemoration
ceremony through Abkhazia. Badalian said it was a remarkable event,
as the road opened for the first time for civic passengers.

KOCHARIAN CONDEMNS RACIALLY-MOTIVATED KILLINGS OF
ARMENIANS IN RUSSIA
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today a Russian delegation headed by Dmitry Kozak, the
representative of the Russian president in Russia’s southern federal
okrug (district ).
Kocharian’s press office said both sides underscored boosting
cooperation between Armenia and Russia’s provinces. Kocharian was
quoted as saying that this way of cooperation serves as a good basis
for expansion of inter-state relationships. The press office said
the sides discussed the full scope of bilateral relations. Kocharian
singled out expansion of Russian businesses in Armenia.
Kozak praised members of the biggest Armenian community in Russia
which is in its southern regions, for their active involvement in
virtually all areas of the country’s life.
The sides condemned a wave of recent racially-motivated killings of
Armenians in Russia, saying they do not stem form the interests of
Russia and its people. Kocharian said Russian law-enforcement bodies’
reaction to these crimes must be swift, tough and clear. Kozak and
members of his delegation were received today also by prime minister
Andranik Margarian.