IMPLEMENTATION OF 8 DRAFTS DIRECTED TO PROTECTION OF MINORITIES’ RIGHTS STARTS IN JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
AKHALKALAK, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Akhalkalak
Office of the European Center on Minorities Issues plans to implement
eight drafts on themes of protection of the national minorities’
rights. According to the “A-Info” agency of Javakhk, the first draft
has already started on August 7.
The draft on the theme “Human Rights Protection in Javakhk” is being
implemented by the union “In the Name of Regional Civil Initiatives of
Development of Democracy in Javakhk” and the “Lawyers and Economists in
the Name of Reforms” union. Within the framework of the first draft,
it is envisaged to organize courses dedicated to protection of the
human rights in some settlements of Javakhk.

KAREKIN II DECORATED WITH RUSSIAN “FRIENDSHIP” ORDER
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
MOSCOW, YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN. By RF President Vladimir
Putin’s decree, Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians was decorated
with the “Friendship” order. According to the Kremlin information
service, the order was awarded to the Armenian Catholicos for his
contribution in the affair of developing and strengthening the
Russian-Armenian friendly relations.

PROCESS AND MAIN RESULTS OF ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION PRESENTED TO RA PRESIDENT
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 9 working meeting with
RA President Robert Kocharian, Levon Mkrtchian, the RA Minister of
Education and Science presented the process, main results and some
compendious data of entrance examinations of institutions of higher
education. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the RA President’s
Press Office. The Minister also presented the process of reforms and
main deeds in the sphere of comprehensive education as well as the
process of changes of the system of higher educational institutions
and reforms in the scientific sphere. The necessity of having a
systematized program of reforms concerning science was mentioned
which will include in it both structural and context parts.

WHO IS MR. EVANS?
Lragir.am
9 Aug 06
The Lragir has learned that certain NGOs and political forces in
Armenia seek for revealing the foreign connections of the criminal
elite of the government. In particular, the problem of revealing
the real attitude of great powers is put forward. The authors of the
initiative are especially interested in the standpoint of the United
States. Namely, the United States keeps on talking about democracy,
rule of law, fair governance, whereas in reality it supports part
of the government that denies all these things. Considering this,
the initiators of investigation on the criminal-outer world relation
are going to study the activities of the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans to find out his relations with some public officials of
the Armenian government, and whether these relations proceed from
the U.S. policies.

NOYEMBERIAN HAS NO DRINKING WATER FOR WEEK
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
NOYEMBERIAN, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Inhabitants of the city
of Noyemberian of the Tavush marz have had no drinking water for
already a week. In consequence of drought, the city is not supplied
water by the Gizhsar self-streaming water pipe. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by the Armenian Water Supplying Sewerage
“Noyemberian” department, the second, Berdavan, water pipe supplying
water to the city does not function as the pumps are out of order.

STANDARDS AND NORMS ON QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT OF EFFECTIVE USAGE OF WATER RESOURCES OF SOUTH CAUCASUS TO BE WORKED OUT
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The regional program “Application of
International Standards and Norms for Management of Water Resources
of Trans-Border Rivers Kura and Araks” which is implemented jointly
by public organizations of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, pursues
the goal of assisting effective management of water resources of
the Kura-Araks river system. In Armenia, it is implemented by the
Armenian Ecologists’ Union NGO with the assistance of the Eurasia
Foundation. Rafayel Hovhannisian, the organization chairman,
informed about it at the August 8 conference entitled “Problems
of Usage and Ecology of Water Resources of Trans-Border Rivers of
Kura and Araks.” According to him, the program envisages working out
standards and norms on quality and on management of effective usage
of water resources of the South Caucasus, to create an internet
site “Kura-Araks.” Creation of a computer geo-information s ystem
of water resources of the Kura-Araks system, and organization of a
national conference dedicated to social-ecological and water usage
problems existing in basins of those rivers, shooting of a video
film covering those problems, are also envisaged. R.Hovhannisian
beleives that after completion of the program, a similar program,
with participation of Turkey and Iran as well, would be purposeful
to implement, as many rivers of the Kura and Araks basins run or
start in those countries. Volodya Narimanian, the Deputy Chief of
the Water Resources Management Agency of the RA Ministry of Nature
Protection mentioned that the new Water Code defines modern methods
of management of water resources which envisage wide participation
of the society in those processes.
According to his estimation, work of public organizations gives
positive result in the management of water resources, not only national
but also trans-border ones.

STATEMENTS ON CATASTROPHIC STATE OF LAKE SEVAN EXAGGERATED: DIRECTOR OF HYDRO- ECOLOGY AND ICHTHYOLOGY INSTITUTE
Yerevan, August 8. ArmInfo. The statements by ecologist of Armenia
regarding the catastrophic state of Lake Sevan are exaggerated, Rafael
Hovhannissyan, Director of Hydro-ecology and Ichthyology Institute,
National Academy of Science of Armenia, told ArmInfo.
He called a normal factor the rotting of plants that went under
water due to the rise of the lake’s level. He did not deny that
waterlogging increases the harmful substances in the water, which
leads to deficit of oxygen and kills small fish. R. Hovhannisyan said
after the cleaning of coastal areas, the so- called “blossoming” in
the lake will stop. Moreover, he thinks the great volume of plankton
that was a result of eutrophication will become a good source of food
for fish and animals.
To note, in the current year the Government of Armenia provided 69
million drams to the National Park “Sevan” for cleaning of coasts
from plantations as the yearly water rise by 40 cm in average leads
to rotting of coastal plantations. Specialists and ecologists say the
cleaning is carried out extremely ineffectively. Water has flooded
over 92 ha of lands planted with trees and bushes.

ALEXANDER GIVOYEV KILLED
Noyan Tapan
Aug 09 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Alexander Givoyev, the head of the
Organization for Protection of Children’s Rights, a businessman
was killed in the marz of Aragatsotn on August 8. As Sona Truzian,
the spokesperson of the Prosecutor’s General Office of Armenia
informed Radio Liberty, the murder took place at about 13:30, on the
Ashtarak-Gyumri road, near the village of Voskevaz.
According to preliminary data, Alexander Givoyev who was with his
family driving to Gyumri in his Grand Cherokee car, stopped at one of
shops. A red “VAZ 21-09” car without regisration number drove to him,
out of which a shot was fired in Givoyev’s direction. As a result,
Givoyev and saleswoman Gyulnara Karapetian were killed. A criminal
action was brought on the occasion of the case.

OPPOSITION NEWSPAPER REPORTER SUFFERS PRESSURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURES AND NUBARASHEN COMMUNITY PREFECTURE
Yerevan, August 8. ArmInfo. ‘In case of any attempt to threaten my
life I will accuse the authorities and the law enforcement structures
of Armenia,’ says the statement of Gagik Shamshian, photo-reporter of
‘The Fourth Authority’ opposition newspaper.
G. Shamshian states that the staff of the Nubarashen police department
and prefecture put pressure upon him so as to prevent his professional
activity. He said that his claim against the prefect of the Nubarashen
community Mher Hovhannisian did harm only to himself.
In result, the prefecture posed a counter-claim, a criminal case was
roused and as a result his apartment was sealed up.

“ASHTARAK KAT” COMPANY LAYS FIRM BUSINESS FOUNDATION
Yerevan, August 8. ArmInfo. The general assembly of shareholders of
the producer of whole milk products, “Ashtarak-Kat” CJSC, approved
the principles of the company’s corporate behavior in July 2006.
Narine Melikyan, Vice Chairwoman of “Ashtarak-Kat” Board of Directors
for Corporate Management informed ArmInfo of this practice unique
for Armenia.
Thus, the principles of corporate behavior are totality of moral and
ethical norms and principles of business activity. Adoption of these
principles and norms is a necessary but not final step in the way to
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
N. Melikyan said unlike Armenia, the USA and Europe have been
practicing CSR since the middle of the 20th century. CSR is a voluntary
contribution of business to public development in social, economic and
ecological spheres directly connected with the activity of a company.
She said the principles of corporate behavior were worked out on the
basis of the major definition of CSR and human values. In addition, the
principles are based on the Declaration adopted in 1994 in Switzerland
by the leaders of the largest transnational world corporations,
as well as on the UN Global Agreement. N. Melikyan brought the
following key goals of the company: stable business, which depends
on how the company’s activity meets the expectations of consumers,
personnel, country, local authorities, shareholders, business partners
and other parties interested; vector of company’s development for
long-term outlook, which is the international market wherein socially
responsible business is a standard. Moreover, a socially responsible
business testifies to the stability and attractiveness of a company.
She said CSR is perceived as development of responsible business
advantageous both for business, state and public. Hence, social
responsibility is a trilateral interest. Thus, the public must
be aware of its demands and must form social order. The state
must exactly determine the priorities. Business, in its turn,
must effectively create economic value added (EVA), fulfill social
obligations stipulated by the law, involve more interested persons
in the corporate responsibility related measures.
N. Melikyan said building a firm business foundation is the first and
the most important phase of social responsibility for “Ashtarak-Kat.”
As a result, the company aims to secure high quality production;
provide adequate work and living conditions of employees; provision
of stable wages; participation in social projects and charitable
actions. The company’s mission is not only to ensure economic growth,
but also to create a society of socially responsible citizens.
All this does not mean that the company had no problems. The principles
of corporate behavior are not a panacea for problems either. The
adoption of the principles having a human basis meant the company’s
progress as a corporate citizen whose strategy of development will
be in accord with the interests of his employees, business partners,
consumers, the economic management territory and the public, on
the whole.