INTERNICHE HUMANE EDUCATION AWARD INVESTS IN NEW ALTERNATIVES WORLDWIDE
Proefdiervrij, Netherlands
July 3 2006
Eight exciting projects submitted to the InterNICHE Humane Education
Award have now been chosen for their positive pedagogical and ethical
impact on life science education.
The Award is an international grant program to support initiatives
that can enhance veterinary, medical and biological science education
by replacing harmful animal use with progressive alternative methods.
Sponsored by Dutch anti-vivisection organisation Proefdiervrij, 20,000
Euro will now be shared between the following successful applicants
to support their innovative projects:
* Dr. Fawzy Elnady from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo
University in Egypt, who will create the world’s first camel anatomy
software to enhance veterinary teaching and replace the killing of
camels in north African, Middle Eastern and central Asian countries.
In keeping with the InterNICHE Policy (1), the software will be created
using the cadaver of a camel that has died naturally or been euthanised
secondary to serious non-recoverable injury or terminal illness. 1000
copies of the Arabic/English software will be distributed. The new
learning tool will also be freeware, thereby optimising the potential
for widespread replacement.
* Dr Dmitriy Slyusarenko from the Zooveterinary Institute in Kharkiv,
Ukraine, whose project will directly replace surgery labs on live
animals with an innovative cadaver-based alternative. Instead of
catching and practicing on healthy stray dogs and cats which are
then either killed or released with injuries, ethically sourced
animal cadavers and Aboud’s Method (2) of perfusing cadavers for
‘live’ surgery practice will be implemented. Students will be offered
fully ethical learning opportunities that provide a greater degree
of freedom to achieve genuine mastery in surgical training through
repeated and highly realistic practice. Syrian neurosurgeon Dr Emad
Aboud will advise on the establishment of the model.
* Dr Armen Vardapetyan from Yerevan State University in Armenia,
who will implement software alternatives and new hardware to achieve
replacement in zoology practical classes and establish a multimedia
learning environment. The project will begin with frog anatomy
alternatives but it is envisaged that the curricular transformation
will lead to full replacement of all vertebrate use. This modernisation
of the curriculum and teaching process locally will be complemented
by promotion of alternatives and sharing of experience at other
universities and ethics committees nationally.
* Dr Lili Duda from the University of Pennsylvania in the USA,
who will expand the existing but small-scale body donation program
(Educational Memorial Program) for ethically sourced cadavers at the
School of Veterinary Medicine. The expanded program will provide an
alternative track in surgery practical classes for conscientiously
objecting students. An investigation into better preservation and
storage techniques, and distribution of informational brochures
to educate clients of the teaching hospital and the wider faculty,
will also be undertaken.
* Dr. Julia Maria Matera from the College of Veterinary Medicine at
the University of São Paulo in Brazil, who will investigate techniques
for improving the preservation of cadavers used for surgery practice,
with a special focus on tropical climates and chemical preservation
of abdominal organs. The animal cadavers used in the project will
be ethically sourced, as defined by the InterNICHE Policy (1),
using a body donation program already established in the teaching
hospital. Replacement of live animal use already achieved has been well
received by students and has provided a better learning environment
for surgical skills acquisition.
* Dr Gabriel Cotor from the Veterinary Faculty in Bucuresti, Romania,
who will introduce student self-experimentation using the advanced
Biopac Student Lab. Following widespread replacement with software
and a multimedia lab in recent years, the new apparatus will replace
the majority of remaining invasive experiments within physiology
teaching. A wide range of practicals are possible with the computer-
linked apparatus, which has strong advantages over the animal labs
for illustrating physiological principles.
* Dr Marta Saloña-Bordas from Department of Zoology & Animal
Cell Biology at the University of the Basque Country, who will
develop a free-access on-line invertebrate anatomy resource in
Spanish for replacement of zoology practical classes that use killed
invertebrates. The project will dovetail with existing efforts for e-
learning and for reduction of harmful animal use. The sourcing of the
invertebrates will also be in keeping with the InterNICHE Policy,
and will provide a humane alternative for students and teachers
concerned about wild collection of invertebrates and maintaining the
ecological balance.
* Dr Aleksander Ivanc from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and
Mathematics at the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia & Herzegovina, who
will introduce a range of physiology video and software alternatives
to provide new tools for practical classes. Translation on paper
will facilitate effective implementation of the alternatives, and
appropriate testing and assessment of student performance with the new
methods will also be undertaken. The project will replace the annual
use of over 500 frogs, rats and snails, a significant reduction of
harmful animal use.
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MOSCOW PROSECUTORS RE-QUALIFY CRIMINAL CASE INTO ETHNIC ASSAULT
ITAR-TASS, Russia
July 3 2006
MOSCOW, July 3 (Itar-Tass) – The Moscow prosecutor’s office has
demanded the re-qualification of a criminal case on an attack on a
group of people that took place in the Moscow underground on Saturday.
The prosecutor’s office spokesman Sergei Marchenko told that
investigators had ascertained that about 15 unknown persons assaulted
four Armenians and one Azerbaijani at the underground station Kuznetsky
Most at about 17:00 Moscow time.
Two Armenians and the Azerbaijani suffered knife wounds and two more
of the attacked other bodily harm.
The Moscow prosecutor’s office ordered to the prosecutor’s office of
the Moscow Metropolitan to re-qualify the earlier opened criminal case
from hooliganism to “instigation of hatred or enmity, humiliation of
human dignity of a person or a group of persons on the basis of sex,
race, nationality, language, origin, or religion committed publicly”.
Two Armenian constructers aged 20 and 23 sought medical care for cut
wounds on Saturday, saying that they were injured in a conflict with
a group of 17-18-year-old people.

FRENCH FAMILIES SHELTER YOUNG MIGRANTS
by Colin Randall in Lyons
The Daily Telegraph (LONDON)
July 3, 2006 Monday
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Edi is Ecuadorian but speaks good French. He enjoys
geometry, history and art and regards 11-year-old Valentin as his
closest friend.
The two boys – “like two brothers”, according to Valentin’s mother –
will be seeing even more of each other in the coming weeks.
As one of the symbols of an emotive campaign to save the children of
illegal immigrants from being deported from France, Edi has moved in
with his friend’s family in a village outside Lyons.
Throughout France, scores of mostly middle-class parents are giving
refuge to children of the so-called sans papiers – foreigners with
no legal right to stay.
France, facing the same immigration pressures as neighbouring
countries, wants to expel 26,000 immigrants this year and has passed
a law imposing strict residency requirements.
With schools about to break up for summer, an official pause on
enforcing expulsion orders is coming to an end. But in a highly
organised operation that has been likened by some to the French
Resistance’s concealment of Jews in the Second World War, the Reseau
Education Sans Frontieres (RESF) pressure group is dispersing children
to the homes of volunteers.
Activists accuse the interior minister behind the crackdown, Nicolas
Sarkozy, of mounting a “child hunt” to court the anti-immigration
vote in next year’s presidential elections. They hope to block his
plans by exploiting a law insisting that families can be deported
only as a whole.
The campaign is gathering strength. Sympathetic Left-wing mayors
are holding symbolic “adoption” ceremonies, in which parents promise
shelter to children facing expulsion, while protest marches are staged
almost daily. Airport workers have also threatened to disrupt forced
deportations.
Edi, one of six children, has lived in France for five years. His
“protectors” are Jean Riot-Sarcey, 59, who has a senior job in
education, and his wife Sandrine, 34.
“He will spend the two months of the summer holidays with us as part
of our family,” said Mr Riot-Sarcey. “We want to force France to
respect its philosophical and humanitarian values.”
He claims that Edi and his siblings would be in danger of being
kidnapped for forced labour or the illicit human organs trade if they
were returned to Ecuador. “There are comparisons to be made between us
and the people who hid Jews during the war, even if the consequences
are not so grave,” Mr Riot-Sarcey said.
While he did not risk prosecution for harbouring a child, he knows
that he will be liable to fines or even imprisonment if he proceeds
with plans to take in an adult next month.
Mr Sarkozy has said regional administrators will act “firmly but
humanely” in examining each case for residency on merit.
Applicants must have been settled in France for at least two years.
At least one child must be attending a French school and have no link
with the country of his or her parents.
In the Lyons area alone, RESF supporters expect to be sheltering dozens
of children during the school holidays. Across France, the figure
may run into thousands. Valerie, 44, an actress who has taken in a
10-year-old boy, said her three children would be shocked and upset
if Alex, one of two sons of an illegal immigrant from Azerbaijan,
were taken from their home and expelled.
Alex’s mother, Samira, and her children would be deported to Germany,
the country from which they arrived in France and where they previously
applied for residency.
RESF says this would inevitably lead to them being sent back via
Russia to Azerbaijan where they risked persecution because of their
Armenian origins.
Valerie said: “My gesture is not intellectually or politically driven,
but a matter of instinct. What is happening is wrong. Alex is safe
while he is in my house but I worry that he might be picked up when
he is outside.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE 102ND BASE PREFERS A TRAINING RANGE
by Alexander Tikhonov, Oleg Gorupay
Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, June 29, 2006, p. 2
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 3, 2006 Monday
THE 102ND MILITARY BASE OF THE GROUP OF FORCES IN TRANSCAUCASIA:
ONLY THROUGH INTENSIVE COMBAT TRAINING IS IT POSSIBLE TO COMPENSATE
FOR THE PERSONNEL COLLAPSE OF THE 1990S; Meeting of commanders of
regiments, separate military units, their deputies and commanders of
the branches and services of the Armed Forces was accomplished in the
group of Russian forces in Transcaucasia (GRVZ) under supervision of
GRVZ commander Mayor General Andrei Popov at the 102nd military base
deployed in Gyumri (Armenia).
Meeting of commanders of regiments, separate military units, their
deputies and commanders of the branches and services of the Armed
Forces was accomplished in the group of Russian forces in Transcaucasia
(GRVZ) under supervision of GRVZ commander Mayor General Andrei
Popov at the 102nd military base deployed in Gyumri (Armenia). For
a month subordinates of commander of this base Mayor General Andrei
Kholzakov and officers of the GRVZ staff were preparing for training
exercises and working out a plan a plan of the demonstrative battalion
tactical exercises.
Preparation of the meeting was impacted by the fact that simultaneously
personnel of the military base and the GRVZ in general was occupied
with withdrawal of armament and combat hardware from the military
bases in Georgia to Russia and partially to Armenia. Along with this,
this factor did not impact the quality of the training.
In the course of the meeting it was noticeable that representatives
of the younger generation (up to 30 years old) having the posts of
commanders and deputy commanders of some separate battalions and even
regiments had a level of training a little lower and sometimes much
lower than that of representatives of the older generation occupying
the same posts. Control exercises in the training subjects organized
during the meeting demonstrated significant difference in theoretical
and practical level of training of officers depending on their age.
According to opinion of one of commanders of the branches of Armed
Forces of the 102nd military base (an experienced combat officer)
shared by very many people, in current circumstances quitting of
the Armed Forces by officers born between 1958 and 1969 may result
in collapse in a level of combat readiness of the Armed Forces. It
will be simply impossible to substitute them with anyone. To be more
accurate, the substitution will be unequal.
There are several reasons for this. The first is the level of training
of graduates of the military educational institutions of 1995-2004
(in the troops they are even sometimes called a lost generation). A
significant part of them tried to retire immediately.
Second, it is impossible to organize efficient combat training in
military units of reduced strength. Eight training days a month for
military units manned less than 50% is probably the optimal possible
figure, although it is evidently insufficient for training of a highly
professional soldier, leaving apart improvement of combat skills of
officers. In such circumstance when an officer in a rank of major
enters the academy in the best case he manages to receive superficial
acquaintance with the procedure of preparation and conduction of
company tactical exercises and to visit demonstrative battalion
tactical exercises in capacity of a student.
In the current situation, the 102nd military base is in a slightly
better situation than some other units. First, every year one of its
mechanized infantry units (with significant reinforcement) participates
in joint regimental tactical exercises crowned with firing practice
with the Armenian party. Second, command of the GRVZ and the 102nd
base decisively stops attempts of some officers to insist that for
mechanized infantry units of reduced strength manned less than 50%
the highest form of training (field training) is firing practice of
platoons according to normative documents. Finally, there are three
training ranges at disposal of the 102nd base. These are Nubarashen,
Kamkhud and Alagyaz (a tank and artillery range). The mountain
training center Pambak is also used actively under an agreement with
the Armenian party. Availability of a developed training range base
allows the maximum efficient use of the training time determined by
normative documents for units of reduced strength.
There is no doubt that it is not easy for subordinates of General
Kholzakov, commander of the 102nd military base, to combine
fulfillment of the everyday tasks including reception of the Russian
armament removed from Georgia with the training process. However,
senior officers say that more active combat training has positive
influence on all aspects of the base’s activities. First of all,
observance of regulations by servicemen is improved, the field becomes
a familiar training place for soldiers and company and battalion
tactical exercises become a norm of life for mechanized infantry. It
is possible to say for sure now that affairs of the 102nd military
base are going on well and that only through intensive combat training
it is possible to compensate for the personnel collapse of the 1990s.

DECLASSIFIED KARABAKH
by Arkady Dubnov
Translated by Pavel Pushkin
Source: Vremya Novostei, June 29, 2006, p. 5
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
July 3, 2006 Monday
BITTER POLEMIC RESTARTED BETWEEN BAKU AND YEREVAN WITH REGARD TO
RESOLVING THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT; For three days Baku and
Yerevan have been officially continuing the restarted bitter polemic
related to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. An interview of new
American co-chair of the Minsk group of the OSCE for Nagorno-Karabakh
Matthew Brize (two other co-chairs represent Russia and France) served
as a pretext. Brize released this interview after a report about the
course of the negotiation process between the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan released by co-chairs of the Minsk group at a meeting of
the permanent council of the OSCE in Vienna on June 22. The American
diplomat disclosed some details of the framework agreement proposed
by the Minsk group to the parties of the conflict for the first time.
For three days, Baku and Yerevan have been officially continuing the
restarted bitter polemic related to resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. An interview of new American co-chair of the Minsk group
of the OSCE for Nagorno-Karabakh Matthew Brize (two other co-chairs
represent Russia and France) served as a pretext. Brize released
this interview after a report about the course of the negotiation
process between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan released by
co-chairs of the Minsk group at a meeting of the permanent council
of the OSCE in Vienna on June 22. The American diplomat disclosed
some details of the framework agreement proposed by the Minsk group
to the parties of the conflict for the first time.
According to Matthew Brize, Baku and Yerevan are currently “discussing
the clauses of the agreement according to which Armenian armed forces
should leave the territory of Azerbaijan.” This document reflected
the issues of deployment of the peacekeeping forces in the conflict
zone and international economic aid to Nagorno-Karabakh. In the final
stage, it is planned to organize a referendum about the future status
of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian co-chair of the Minsk group of the OSCE
Yury Merzlyakov reported yesterday that the statement of his American
colleague was coordinated with the other co-chairs and represented
their common evaluation of the current stage of negotiations.
Yerevan was the first to react to the interview of Brize. The Armenian
Foreign Ministry announced that principles of the conflict regulation
were disclosed in the interview only “partially” and the interview
did not touch on the problem of a corridor between Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh and the interim status of Nagorno-Karabakh before
organization of the referendum. Yerevan emphasizes that “for the
first time co-chairs of the Minsk group state that the problem of
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh can be solved through a referendum.”
The disputes that exist in the negotiation process do not deal with
the referendum and the presidents have already approved this issue.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry added, “The disputes deal with the
schedule for liquidation of consequences of the armed conflict.”
Yerevan calls the principles of regulation proposed by the Minsk group
“a serious basis for continuation of negotiations with Azerbaijan”
and confirms readiness to continue them. Armenia could not do without
the familiar notes of belligerence. Azerbaijan was reminded that
“regardless of the size of its military budget it will never manage
to force the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to give up the right for
freedom and independence.”
The response from Baku followed immediately. The Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry called the statement of Yerevan “a traditional attempt at
deliberate distortion of the course of the negotiation process”
and “speculations.” The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan added,
“Determination of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is impossible in
circumstances of continuing occupation and ethnic purge and implies
liberation of the occupied territories and demilitarization of the
entire conflict zone, which in case of international guarantees of
security will create conditions for return of the forcefully expelled
Azerbaijani population.”
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev added fuel to the fire.
Yesterday, he announced, “Degree of the combat readiness of the armed
forces of Azerbaijan allows liberation of our land by a military way.
Only time is needed for this and Armenians are afraid of war.” Abiyev
accused of the interest in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict some “powerful
world powers that wish to retain Azerbaijan in the sphere of their
influence.” Azerbaijani news agency Day.az quoted Abiyev as saying,
“When they see our force they will give up their intention and we
will prove this.” Very few observers doubt that this hint is addressed
to Russia.
Neither of the parties of the conflict points at the main stepping
stone of the negotiations. According to informed sources close
to negotiations, in the first stage Armenia is prepared to let
Azerbaijani refugees and administration return to the occupied
Kelbadzhar District. Armenia is prepared to make this concession under
condition that Baku names an acceptable date for the referendum in
Nagorno-Karabakh at least in a few years. However, Baku refuses to do
this. The same sources presume that conversations about a possible
meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in the framework of
the G8 summit in St. Petersburg at which both Baku and Yerevan hint
are unfounded. They add, “A new meeting of Aliyev and Kocharjan is
hardly possible earlier than in autumn.”
With regard to the unexpected declassification of the course of
negotiations, Allen Deletroz, president of the international crisis
group, remarked that “intermediaries grew tired of negotiations and
took a correct step that would contribute to broad and open national
dialog dedicated to the essence of the problem.” According to Deletroz,
“Henceforth Azerbaijanis and Armenians will be able to form their own
opinion about what is on the table of negotiations of there presidents
who have until recently had a private but unsuccessful dialog.”

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SET TO VISIT IRAN ON JULY 5-6
RIA Novosti, Russia
July 03, 2006
YEREVAN, July 3 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
will visit Iran on July 5-6, the president’s press secretary said
Monday.
Armenia and Iran are currently constructing a pipeline with a projected
annual capacity of 1.2 billion cubic meters that will be commissioned
in 2007. Russia’s energy giant Gazprom said last week it wanted to
acquire the pipeline “to ensure a reliable supply of natural gas
to Armenia.”

ARMENIA POSTS 1.2% DEFLATION IN JUNE
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS Business and Financial Newswire
July 3, 2006 Monday 11:24 AM MSK
Armenia had deflation of 1.2% in June but inflation of 4.3% in the
first half of 2006, the national statistics service told Interfax.
Foodstuffs fell 2.1% and services 0.2% in June, however nonfood goods
rose 0.3%.
Average monthly price growth was 0.7% in January-June, which was 0.5
percentage points higher than in the same period of last year.
Armenia had 0.2% deflation in 2005. An additional 70 goods have been
included in then consumer basket since then.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A320 D’ARMAVIA: RECONSTITUTION VIRTUELLE DU VOL A TOULOUSE
RIA Novosti, Russie
3 Juillet 2006
EREVAN, 3 juillet – RIA Novosti. Le chef adjoint du service de securite
des vols de la Direction principale d’aviation civile d’Armenie,
Gaguik Galstian, s’est envole pour Toulouse afin de participer a la
reconstitution virtuelle du vol de l’A320 qui s’etait ecrase en mer,
a annonce lundi la porte-parole de la DPAC, Gayane Davtian.
“La reconstitution qui sera effectuee sur la base du decryptage des
boîtes noires permettra une analyse factuelle du vol. Le travail
demandera plusieurs jours, après quoi le Comite aeronautique
international (MAK) donnera sa conclusion definitive sur les causes
de la tragedie”, a annonce Gayane Davtian.
Le 17 juin, le MAK a acheve le dechiffrage des boîtes noires et
la synchronisation des enregistrements effectues par les moyens de
contrôle objectif de bord et terrestres.
L’Airbus A320 de la compagnie Armavia, accomplissant un vol
Erevan-Sotchi, s’etait abîme en mer Noire dans la nuit du 3 mai alors
qu’il s’appretait a se poser sur la piste de l’aeroport d’Adler. Les
113 personnes qui se trouvaient a bord de l’appareil avaient peri
dans l’accident.
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LES JACKPOTS DE KIRK KERKORIAN
La Tribune , France
3 juillet 2006
Des debuts de l’aviation commerciale a l’explosion de Las Vegas, il
est une des legendes des affaires americaines et, a 89 ans, n’a pas
l’intention de s’arreter. Le pari que Kirk Kerkorian a tente en prenant
près de 10 % de General Motors il y a un an est le dernier d’une
longue serie qui a fait de ce fils d’immigre armenien la dix-neuvième
fortune americaine avec 10 milliards de dollars, selon Forbes Magazine.
Pilote d’avion pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Kerkorian rachète
en 1947 pour 60.000 dollars un avion avec lequel il transporte les
riches parieurs entre Los Angeles et Las Vegas. Lorsqu’il revend la
compagnie, onze ans plus tard, il empoche 107 millions de dollars.
Naît alors Kerkorian-le-raideur, faiseur de deals hors du commun.
L’an dernier, avant de partir a l’assaut de General Motors, il a
vendu MGM a Sony pour près de 5 milliards de dollars. C’etait la
troisième fois qu’il vendait le studio hollywoodien depuis sa première
acquisition, en 1970.
S’il n’a rien d’un reclus a la Howard Hughes, Kirk Kerkorian cultive
la discretion, voire le secret. Très populaire en Armenie pour y avoir
fait de très genereux dons, il ne s’y est pourtant rendu que pour
une seule et courte visite. On lui connaît un goût prononce pour le
tennis, auquel il continue de jouer. S’il mène toujours ses affaires,
il en a laisse la gestion quotidienne a des proches, comme Jerôme
York, qui le represente au board de General Motors. Cette discretion
contraste avec le goût du clinquant dans ses investissements. Outre
le cinema, cet ancien joueur repenti fait partie des visionnaires
qui ont faconne le Las Vegas moderne. Il a ete le premier a croire
aux gigantesques hôtels-casinos, qu’il n’a cesse de construire,
de vendre ou d’acheter depuis trente-cinq ans.
Son empire MGM Mirage est a la tete de 75.000 chambres sur le celèbre
strip.
La tentative de secouer GM n’est pas sa première aventure dans
l’automobile. À la fin des annees 1980, il est entre dans le capital
du constructeur americain Chrysler. Ses efforts pour en prendre le
contrôle ont echoue, mais lors de la fusion du troisième constructeur
americain automobile avec Daimler-Benz, en 1998, la valeur de son
investissement a plus que double. Cela ne l’a pas empeche de poursuivre
la firme allemande, qu’il accuse de l’avoir trompe sur les conditions
de la fusion. La justice l’a deboute en avril 2005. Preuve qu’il lui
arrive aussi de perdre des paris.
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NO DROUGHT HAZARD CURRENTLY IN ARMENIA: AGRICULTURAL MINISTRY REP
Arka News Agency, Armenia
July 3 2006
YEREVAN, July 3. /ARKA/. There have been no occurrences of drought
hazard to irrigated lands of Armenia, and it is not expected, chief
of the department for land use and development, Armenian Ministry of
Agriculture, Mamikon Gasparyan told reporters today.
According to him, the water storage satisfied all the needs of
Armenian farmers.
“The drought in highland areas was due to the simultaneous beginning
of farmers’ land irrigation. Farmers hoped that heavy rains would
be enough for ripening of the crops, and they did not begin timely
artificial irrigation,” he said.
He pointed out that panic shortly occurred, however, it was overcame,
also due to the efforts of the Union of Water Consumers.
Heavy rains were continuing from April 20 to the mid of May in Armenia,
and high humidity rate was recorded. A high temperature rate has been
recorded in Armenia since the mid of May.