HEADS OF CALCUTTA PHILANTHROPIC ACADEMY MEET
WITH MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF WEST BENGAL
CALCUTTA, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Archimandrite
Oshakan Gyulgyuloam, the manager of the Calcutta Armenian Philanthropic
Academy and Deacon Tigran Baghumian, the administrator, met on August
4 with Sudarshah Roy Chodhuri, the Minister of Higher Education
of West Bengal. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by the Calcutta
Philathropic Academy. Expressing gratitude for the warm reception,
Academy Manager Holy Father passed welcome and best wishes of His
Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians to the Minister,
touching upon the Armenian-Indian friendly ties of centuries,
particularly emphasizing the great role of Armenians in the history
of West Bengal. The Minister got acquainted with the Philanthropic
Academy’s history, present state and future programs the goal of which
is to have at the Philanthropic Academy a high educational level in
keeping with the time and normal life conditions assisting it. The
issue of having 11-12 grades at the Academy was also discussed.
The Minister of Higher Education of West Bengal in his turn expressed
happiness on the occasion of the meeting and acquaintance, promizing
to be useful to the Philanthropic Academy in everything.

NUMBER OF CRIMES INCREASES 9.9% IN ARMENIA DURING ONE YEAR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of crimes fixed in Armenia
during the first half year of 2006 increased 9.9% or by 434 cases
compared with the same period of time of the previous year: 4823 cases
of crime were fixed this year instead of 4389 cases of the same period
of time of the previous year.
As Hovhannes Hunanian, the Deputy Chief of the RA Police informed at
the August 5 press-conference, the increase of cases is mainly provided
by the increase of property crimes, especially of robberies. But he
mentioned, that the level of crimes in Armenia is, nevertheless,
significantly low: 15 crimes fall to lot of every 10 thousand
inhabitants. According to H.Hunanian, this index is 9 times higher
in Russia, 16 times higher in Latvia, 7 times higher in Moldova. The
Deputy Chief of the Police mentioned that according to types of
crime, particularly, cases of crimes connected with murders and
attempts of murders, robberies, burglary, stealing transport means
have increased. Cases of damaging health with a criminal intent,
of banditry, rape and attemps of rape have reduced. Cases of crimes
committed by juveniles reduced by 30.
H.Hunanian mentioned 65 of people committed crimes during 6 months of
the current year were foreigners (instead of 53 of 2005), including
19 citizens of Georgia, 14 of Iran, 11 citizens of Russia. Increase
of cases of crimes committed towards foreigners was fixed during the
same period of time. 64 similar cases were fixed, including 15 ones
against citizens of Iran, 11 against ones of the U.S., 7 against
citizens of India, 6 ones against citizens of Russia.
H.Hunanian mentioned that 2745 ones of the crimes fixed in the first
half year of 2006 were revealed, what is more by 263 compared with
the previous year.
According to him, the number of revealing of cases of crime connected
with property burglary, robbery, fraud, stealing of transport means has
reduced at some extent. According to the Deputy Chief of the Police, a
positive move was fixed in the direction of revealing crimes committed
during the previous years.
According to him, 7 cases of murder and attempt of murder, 8 cases of
damaging health with a criminal intent, 10 cases of robber attacks,
3 cases of burglary, 62 cases of robbery committed during the previous
years were revealed in the period of time under review. During the same
period of time, 152 cases of crime directed to the economic activity
(149 cases in 2004) were revealed, including 11 cases of corruption,
23 cases of counterfeit, 46 cases of appropriation. It was also
mentioned that 13901 criminals were searched by the police bodies,
903 of which were revealed. Besides, 76 criminals in search by other
states were also arrested.

NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASES IN FIRST HALF YEAR OF 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. 607 traffic accidents were fixed
in Armenia in the first half year of 2006, in the consequence of
what 111 people died and 825 people got bodily injury. As Hovhannes
Hunanian, the Deputy Chief of the RA Police informed at the August 5
press-conference, compared with the same period of time of the previous
year, the number of traffic accidents increased by 76, the number
of injured people by 96, and the number of died people reduced by
2. According to the Police Deputy Chief, the main reasons of traffic
accidents are exceeding of the fixed speed limit, breaking of the
rulls of overtaking, bad state of roads as well as the unprecedented
increase of number of cars in Armenia. He mentioned that about 11
thousand transport means were imported the RA only in the current year,
the majority of which is high-speed cars of foreign production.

LEGAL AND SOCIAL GUARANTEES
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 Aug 2006
The NKR law on employment and social security on unemployment
has been enacted. An important thing about it is that it provides
for free of charge vocational training. For instance, a citizen
finished a vocational college in the Soviet Union and was trained
to be builder. In ten years, the corresponding commission gives
him degree 5 qualification. However, the experienced worker becomes
jobless, and is registered with the local agency of unemployment,
and gets an unemployment benefit. In this stage, he can use his
right for free of charge vocational training. He complies with all
the requirements, namely one year of insurance, vocational education
and qualification. He can enroll in special classes to his skills
and get a higher qualification. This is what Article 18 provides
for. Article 30 provides for a scholarship. Since he is unemployed
and gets an unemployment benefit, his scholarship will be 120 percent
of unemployment benefit, i.e. 10,800 drams a month, whereas formerly
the scholarship was 4680 drams a month. On July 10, 50 unemployed
people enrolled in computer classes, including 20 in Stepanakert, 10
in Martakert, Martuni and Askeran each. The computer classes are held
in the framework of the program worked out by the Ministry of Social
Security and funded by the state fund of social security. Considering
the demand of the labor market, the Ministry of Social Security will
enroll another 30 people in these classes. In 2005, the government
allocated 45,000 drams, including a 21,600 monthly scholarship per
person for two-month classes. However, there are specialties, which
require a longer duration of the course, namely 4 months. For these
courses, the government will have to pay 75,000 drams per person.
AA.

RECONSTRUCTION OF HADRUT
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 Aug 2006
Hadrut is one of the old settlements in Artsakh. In 1923 it became the
administrative center of the region of Hadrut. The town is surrounded
with high mountains in the south, west and north, in the east it looks
at the Artsakh valley. This geographical position has always been very
important in defending the settlement from the enemies. During the war
in Artsakh Hadrut went through great difficulties. On August 15, 1992
the foe stepped up an offensive in the direction of Hadrut, intending
to capture the hill of Khurhat and the village of Melikashen. The
fall of Hadrut would endanger NKR. The local militants and the force
that joined them counterattacked and prevented their advance.
The war in Artsakh took the lives of 57 people. 22 peaceful people were
killed during shelling. During the war, Hadrut had a very important
strategic position; a number of attempts were made to capture the
town. Over 150 houses, schools, shops, restaurants, thousands of km
of power transmission lines were damaged. In the post-war years 140
houses and apartments have been reconstructed, 48 apartments have
been built for the families of the killed soldiers, refugees and
poor families. The building of the music school and the Center of
Children’s Art has been repaired. The repair of the secondary school
of Hadrut is over, the repair of the gym and the club is underway. The
streets are being repaired, the government has provided 350 million
drams for this purpose.
Water remains the main problem of the town of Hadrut. The water supply
system was built in 1976 and has not been repaired since. Hadrut is
supplied from underground water, which is pumped to the town from
a pumping station three km from the town. The pumping station does
not operate normally and the town gets almost no water. There was a
plan to lay a 5-km pipeline from the Parzaget, and water will flow
to the town under natural pressure. In 1995, Armenia Foundation built
the second pipeline and installed a filtering station. The filtering
station did not work, however, because of the lack of corresponding
materials. Currently the draught has made the situation worse. The
government allocated 1.5 million drams to repair the pumping station
and the artesian wells. Hopefully, the new quarter of Hadrut will soon
have water, which will flow to the town under natural pressure, said
Mayor A. Abrahamian. The City Hall is going to celebrate the day of
the town on August 15, which has already become a traditional holiday.
E. DAVITIAN.

“WE KNOW WHEN WE SHOULD USE AND SAVE BULLETS”
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 Aug 2006
The defense ministry of Azerbaijan announces that the Karabakh
party often breaks the cease-fire in different parts of the front
line. Are these statements true and what is the purpose of Baku for
circulating these rumors? We asked Major-General Samvel Karapetian,
First Vice Commander of the Defense Army, to answer these and
other questions. Mr. Vice Commander, what is the situation at the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani front line? Samvel Karapetian: The situation
continues to be stable at the front line. Our force on sentry duty
fulfills its task in accordance with the bylaws and does everything
to guarantee the security of our country. The Azerbaijani side often
accuses the Karabakh border guards of breaking the cease-fire. What
would you say in this connection?
Samvel Karapetian: I would say it is misinformation. Yes, there are
cases of violation of the cease-fire but the Azerbaijanis should
look for the cause among themselves. For us, we know when we should
use and save bullets. The Karabakh party upholds peace and I wish
our potential foe also upheld it. We speak about peace and at the
same time we build a powerful fortification. Does this mean that we
contradict ourselves? Samvel Karapetian: Absolutely no. We take every
step considering the political military situation in the region. Let
us not mix up cease-fire with peace. The resumption of war is highly
probably and we have but become stronger and more powerful. They say if
you want peace, get ready for war. As a person in charge of the front
line of the army, how do you assess the border installations? Samvel
Karapetian: Highly effective.
But this does not mean that there is nothing else to do. The
construction of the fortification began immediately after the
truce. However, this process became better coordinated in 2000, and
continues. It is very important that we know what we want to do and
how. And what do we want? Samvel Karapetian: We want to have defense,
which could resist all kinds of strikes, by air, artillery, tanks or
landing. The army command calls the fortification a defense shield,
which must guarantee the security of the soldier at the front line
to stand up and fight against the attack of the foe without fear
and defend the defense line. Considering the volume and quality
of this work, I can state that the country has effective border
installations, which will be improved further on. Is this the reason
why no significant incidents were reported at the borderline this
year? Samvel Karapetian: Not only that. I would like to emphasize first
of all the discretion of the personnel, the organizational ability
and responsibility of the officers and soldiers. Entrenchment and
fortification are only means of defense, and it depends on knowledge
and training of the soldier how to use them. This enabled to avoid
incidents, which often occur during the sniper war waged by the foe,
the hard climate and geography. I am hopeful that our soldiers will
go on to display conscious approach to the problem and will fulfill
the important duty of defense of the homeland.
The Goyamart.

RATE OF BIRTH GREW COMPARED WITH 2005
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 Aug 2006
The NKR National Statistics Service reports, 1203 children were born
in the first half of 2006, compared with 1169 in the first half of
2005. Hence, the natural growth of the population totaled 454 and
increased by 12.7 percent, compared with the first half of 2005. This
year 398 marriages were registered, compared with 354 in the first
half of 2005. The rate of divorce remained 64.
By official records, 534 people arrived in NKR in the first half of
2006 (internal migration excluded) and 643 people left NKR. GRAIN CROP
YIELD DECLINED. The NKR National Statistics Service reports that as
of July 31, 52763 ha of grain was harvested, which is 94.5 percent of
the total area under crop (55814.4 ha). 62.06 thousand tons of wheat
was threshed, the average yield totaled 11.8 metric centners per
hectare, including the region of Askeran 12313.4 ha, 14.24 thousand
tons, 13.7 metric centners, Hadrut 7897 ha, 9.33 thousand tons,
11.8 metric centners, Martakert 8043.6 ha, 11.47 thousand tons, 14.3
metric centners, Martuni 13101 ha, 17.99 thousand tons, 13.7 metric
centners, Shushi 830 ha, 356.9 tons, 4.3 metric centners, Shahumyan
78 ha, 23.4 thousand tons and 3 metric centners, Kashatagh 10500 ha,
8.64 thousand tons, 8.2 tons.
The yield of grain crops declined by 14.6 percent or 2 metric centners
compared with the average yield as of August 1, 2005 (13.8 metric
centners).
AA.

PROPOSED TO PROHIBIT PREPARING AND SALE OF HOT FOOD IN YEREVAN UNDERGROUND CROSSINGS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. As a result of researches implemented
at 24 underground crossings of Yerevan by the Rescue Service of the RA
Ministry of Territorial Administration, by the Yerevan Mayor’s Office
and community heads’ offices, it was proposed to prohibit preparing
and sale of hot food in underground crossings. Vrezh Gabrielian, the
Deputy Chief of the Rescue Service informed about it at the August
7 press-conference. He mentioned that this food is mainly prepared
in non-satisfying sanitary hygienic conditions and is dangerous for
people’s health. According to V.Gabrielian, there are underground
crossings which have not been restored for a long time and became
dangerous from the viewpoint of future operation. The underground
crossing of the “Barekamutyun” (Friendship) underground station which
is made use of by metro passengers as well, was mentioned as the most
dangerous one. V.Gabrielian informed that restoration works are being
done at present in the crossing. Similar works will be implemented
also in a number of other underground crossings of the capital as well.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INCREASE BY 37 IN YEREVAN IN FIRST HALF YEAR
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. 291 traffic accidents were fixed in
Yerevan in January-July as result of what 32 people died, 306 people
were injured.
Vrezh Gabrielian, the Deputy Chief of the RA Territorial Administration
informed about it at the August 7 press-conference. He mentioned
that compared with the first half year of the previous year, traffic
accidents increased by 37 cases, number of deaths by 2. According to
V.Gabrielian, the main reason of increase of traffic accidents is the
increase of the number of cars in the capital. It was also mentioned
that 726 cases of poisoning from domestic gas, food and alcohol were
fixed in the first half of this year. According to V.Gabrielian,
it is more by 120 cases compared with the same period of time of the
previous year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VICTOR DALLAKIAN LEAVES “JUSTICE”
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Victor Dallakian, Secretary of the RA
National Assembly Justice faction, withdrew from the faction. Radio
Liberty reported that V. Dallakian on August 5 filed an application
to the Justice faction’s head Stepan Demirchian. “I inform you that I
am withdrawing from the membership of the Justice faction. I express
my gratitude to you and the faction members for our joint activity. I
apologize to you all if there have been any shortcomings in my work,”
the application reads.