“GREAT 8” STATES CALL FOR ARMENIA TO SECURE SAFE OPERATION OF METSAMOR NPP
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
The leaders of the Great Eight states called for Armenia to allocate
financial sources and take measures for securing the safety of the
Armenian NPP’s operation up to its final closing. The official site
G-8 informed about this. The report of the group for the nuclear
and physical security stated that they take into consideration
the short-term measures that Armenia took to increase the nuclear
safety. Taking into account the fact that at present, the donors
can allocate only limited sources for the most urgent measures,
“the group of eight” called for Armenia to elaborate and implement
universal program, for increasing the safety level of the NPP,
to secure the required number of staff members at the NPP for the
regulating body and allocate financial sources for that, as well as to
impart that with relevant plenipotentiaries for effective functioning
in accordance with the international standards. G-8 also calls for
creating a fund for closing the Armenian NPP in the future.
By Nana Petrosian

GREAT EIGHT LEADERS CALL FOR ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO
DISPLAY POLITICAL WILL FOR SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO
KARABAKH CONFLICT IN 2006
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
According to G-8 site, the Great Eight leaders emphasized the
importance of agreeing about the basic principles for the peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in 2006. The communique of Russia as the country in
chair of G8 Summit in St. Petersbourg as of July 15-17 stated about
this. “We confirmed that “Group of Eight” supports the mediatory
efforst of the OSCE MG and emphasized the importance of agreeing
about the basic principles for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2006. We call for
Armenia and Azerbaijan to display political will, achieve agreement
and prepare their peoples for peace and not for war,” it is stated
in the communique.
By Nana Petrosian

RA EMBASSY IN BEIRUT ORGANIZES DEPARTURE OF ABOUT 150 ARMENIANS AND RA CITIZENS FROM LEBANON
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Latest Developments in Lebanon
RA Embassy to Lebanon has organized the departure of about 150
Armenians and Armenian citizens from Lebanon. RA Embassy to Lebanon
informed about this. The departure took place through the border
with Syria. “Mainly, we departed the people that should have normally
left the country, i.e. those who have no problems with documents,”
the source stated. Besides, RA Embassy makes the lists of the Armenians
who want to leave Lebanon. At the same time, the source stated that the
military actions didn’t reach the regions with the Armenian residents.

RA FOREIGN MINISTRY HOT LINE SERVICE FOR CURRENT SITUATION IN LEBANON
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Emergency Actions
Today, RA PM Andranik Margarian held a consultation for rendering
assistance to the Armenians who wish to leave Lebanon RA Territorial
Management Minister
Hovik Abrahamian, RA Finance and Economy Minister Vardan Khachatrian,
RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegam Garibjanian, head of RA Civil
Aviation Department Artem Movsisian, and other officials participated
in the council.
RA Government’s press service informed that RA Prime Minister expressed
anxiety about the events in Middle East, where a considerable number of
Armenians live, and emphasized the importance of assisting them. RA
Deputy Foreign Minister Garibjanian informed that the diplomatic
representatives of Armenia in Syria, Lebanon, Aleppo are working 24
hours a day and are ready to render any available assistance. The
Foreign Ministry organizes transportation of Armenian citizens from
Lebanon to Armenia. Mr. Garibjanian said that already 160 citizens have
reached Armenia through Syria. He also said that those ethnic Armenians
who do not have Armenian citizenship, can also enter Armenia, being
given free visas for 3 months. Head of RA Civil Aviation Department
Artem Movsisian represented the opportunities to organize charter
flights to Beirut and Syria.
The relevant departments of RA Foreign Ministry were ordered to
find out the exact number of Lebanese Armenians who want to move to
Armenia and create a telephone hotline. RA Civil Aviation Department
was ordered to start negotiations with ArmAvia company for organizing
special flights to Syria. The Government is ready to partly finance
the flights.
By Ara Martirosian

VAZGEN MANOUKIAN: NO SETTLEMENT CAN BE REACHED, IF AZERBAIJAN DOESN’T
ACCEPT THAT NAGORNO KARABAKH IS OUT OF ITS STRUCTURE
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Opinion
The statement by American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza about Minsk Group
resigning mediation between Armenia and Azerbaijan was a mere
attempt to exert psychological pressure upon the conflict sides,
Vazgen Manukian, leader of the
‘National-Democratic Union’ party, said. He believed that the Armenian
politicians usually exaggerate the influence of the OSCE Minks Group on
the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan. He said that there was only
once in the history when the international structures forced a state to
cede territories to another: Adolf Hitler was given the Sudet region of
Czechoslovakia so as to prevent the war, but nevertheless it unfolded
a year after. He added that even if ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian
had ceded the security zone territories, still Azerbaijan would not
stop claiming Karabakh for its own, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipe line would still go round Armenia. Vazgen Manukian admitted
that the new suggestions by the Minsk Group are more profitable for
Armenia than the previous ones that President Ter-Petrosian was about
to sign. He assured that in any case none of the project could insure
peace in Karabakh, as they do not provide for the determination of
the status of Nagorno Karabakh, the cause of the conflict. The new
project contains another dangerous term – return of Azeri refugees
to Karabakh, which can provoke new skirmish among the population.
By Marieta Khachatrian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA EDUCATION MINISTER STATES ENTRANCE EXAMS TO
ARMENIA’S UNIVERSITIES TO BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
Levon Mkrtchian, newly appointed RA Education and Science Minister,
stated that the entrance exams to the Armenian universities will be
fair and transparent. He said that the entrance exams will launch on
July 20 and added that it is planned to open a special site that will
fully cover the process of the exams. This year, the exam marks will
not be rounded off. Minister stated that at present the given system
of evaluation is the most convenient one. As for the tuition fees,
Mkrtchian said that thanks to the contract system the university
students will be able to pay a fixed sum of money that will not
change in the course of the education process. He added that at
present not a single local university has increased the tuition fee
as compared with the last year. The most expensive university is
still the Yerevan State Medical University, while the faculties of
International Relations and the Law Departments are the leading ones.
According to Mkrtchian, 12 413 entrants applied to the local
universities. This indicator surpassed that of the last year by 500
entrants. Minister stated that this year the entrants’ interest to
the Yerevan State Economic University has grown, as 1633 people
applied to that. Besides, as compared with 2005, the number of
entrants who applied to the faculties of the English Language at
various universities has also grown. The Yerevan State University
has 671 free of charge vacancies, while the Yerevan State Medical
University has only 148. In total, there are 4 342 free of charge and
5 598 paid vacancies opened at the Armenian universities. Mkrtchian
stated that just like in the previous years the faculties of Physics,
Biology and Chemistry are not popular.
By Sousana Margarian

BOARD OF RA CENTRAL BANK DECIDES TO CANCEL
REGISTRATION OF 88 ISSUERS AT ARMENIAN STOCK EXCHANGE
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
According to the press service of RA central Bank, the Board of
RA Central Bank took the decision not to object the cancel of the
registration of 88 other issuers under review at the Armenian Stock
Exchange. The same decision was taken for other nine CJSCs last
month. Thus, from the shares registered at the stock exchange of about
190 issuers, not less than 100 are left at present. The experts state
that these steps of RA CB are conditioned by the May 25,2006, decision
of RA CB. According to this decision, the existence of independent
capital of AMD 500 million is a compulsory criteria for the status of
an issuer to pass the listing at the stock exchange for the OJSCs. The
rest of the companies with less amount of capital may preserve their
registration. Earlier, the compulsory limit for an OJSC to pass the
registration was AMD 5 million. The experts state that such decision
of CB is the first positive step for the development of the organized
market of securities after RA CB received the legal right to carry out
the function of the financial regulator. According to the experts,
it’s senseless to make the issuers under review exist at the market
fictitiously, as hardly any company may “boast” about its popularity,
by the existence of the principles for corporate management and the
minority defence system. The experts state that there are many pocket
but totally non-transparent companies that do not need to attract the
capital from the stock exchange, do not want to be open and aren’t
interested in the foreign investors. According to the experts, after
“cleansing” the organized market of the securities, the most leading
and organized companies will remain in the market. At present there
are 190 OJSCs included in the listing of the Armenian Stock Exchange
and not more than 40 of them will remain at the market of securities.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB GIVES AWARDS TO BEST JOURNALIST OF ARMENIA
AZG Armenian Daily #135, 20/07/2006
The Yerevan Press Club gave awards to the best Armenian journalist of
this year, today. This year the prize “For Professional Highlighting
of the Recent Football Events” went to Senik Kara-Poghosian. The prize
“For Contribution to Highlighting of Various Viewpoints in Actual
Issues” went to Nver Mnatsakanian, author of “Perspectiva” program.
Hovhannes Yeranian, cultural observer of “Yerkir” newspaper received
the prize “For Devotion to the Theme.” “Yerevan” magazine was awarded
“For the Best Presentation of Armenia in Abroad.” Besides, Ashot
Gazazian received a prize for making journalism a literature in his
“In the Shadow of the Sun” book. In the course of the ceremony, Boris
Navasardian, chairman of YPC, promised to assist the local journalists
to participate in various arrangements not only in Armenia but also
in abroad.
By Sousana Margarian

WINNERS OF YEREVAN PRESS CLUB 2006 AWARD DETERMINED
YEREVAN, JULY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Senik Kara-Poghosian, author and
announcer of the “Proffootball” program of the Shoghakat TV company,
“Yerevan” literary journal, Nver Mnatsakanian, author and anchor of
the “Herankar” program of the Shant TV company, Hovhannes Yeranian,
cultural commentator of the Yerkir newspaper, author of the Gzrotsner
(“Drawers”) program of the Public TV company of Armenia and Ashot
Gazazian, Armenian correspondent of the Deutsche Welle radio station,
for his book “Under the Shadow of the Sun”, were awarded prizes of
the Yerevan Press Club 2006.
As Boris Navasardian, President of the Yerevan Press Club mentioned
during the July 18 award giving ceremony, the results of the annual
competition show that the professional level of the journalists
raised during the last 15 years. At the same time he mentioned that
the split of the juornalist field, adherence of the journalists to
different political camps and the implementation of orders are among
the serious problems of journalism.
Touching upon the facts of violences and pursuits towards the
journalists, B.Navasardian said that they decreased during the last
years as, in his words, “the journalists themselves did not provide
occasions to pursuit them.” However, the President of the Yerevan
Press Club did not exclude that such facts would be registered during
the coming elections.

“LAW-ENFORCING BODIES ARE NOT ABLE TO SECURE JOURNALISTS’ SAFETY,”
REPRESENTATIVES OF MASS MEDIA AND NGO DECLARE
YEREVAN, JULY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. “Journalists are deeply concerned
that parallel with the approaching of the parliamentary elections in
Armenia the pressure towards representatives of mass media strenghtens
and the threats to their address become frequent. These are done by
those people and forces who have bases to be concerned of criticism
and of disclosings of some sides of their activity.” This is said in
a joint statement made by the heads of mass media and journalist and
other NGO’s of Armenia.
According to the statement, two strange incidents happened during
the last week only: Edik Baghdasarian, Head of the Investigating
Journalists NGO received requital warnings towards himself, and Gagik
Shamshian, photo-journalist of the Chorrord Ishkhanutiun newspaper
was attacked for doing his professional
responsibilities.
The authors of the statement are convinced that “the law-enforcing
bodies are not able to secure safety of the journalists and to arrest
the criminals”.
They call to discuss the issue of changing the precautionary
measures towards Arman Babajanian, to effectively investigate and
punish those who attacked Gagik Shashian, to investigate thoroughly
the circumstances connected with the anonymous threats towards Edik
Baghdasarian. “The atmosphere, in which the parliamentary elections
will be held in several months, is totally conditioned with the
readiness of the state to defend its citizens from the hooligans who
try to take posts at any price and to have respect for the democratic
institutes, in particular for the press,” the statement reads.
Habok Avetikian, editor-in-chief of the Azg daily, Aram Abrahamian,
editor-in-chief of the Aravot daily, Nikol Pashinian, editor-in-chief
of the Haykakan Zhamanak daily, Vardan Haroutiunian, President of
the Right and Freedom center and Avetik Ishkhanian, President of the
Helsinki Committee of Armenia signed the statement.