A DETACHMENT OF 50 MEMBERS IN JAVAKHQ
A1+
[09:18 pm] 11 May, 2006
According to “A – Info” the Ministry of Defence of Georgia sent
a detachment of 50 members to Javakhq stating that their act is
determined by the fact they want to contribute to the safe removal
of military technics from the Russian military base of Akhalkalak.
The Georgian soldiers are in the regional police station premises
at present.
Let us add that the first group removal of military technics will be
held on May 15.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN MEETS UAE AMBASSADOR
Armenpress
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today Khalifa Shahin Al-Marri, the ambassador of the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) to Armenia, who is seated in Tehran, Iran.
Kocharian’s press office quoted the president as saying that
he was satisfied with the dynamically developing bilateral
relations. Kocharian also singled out frequented various-level
reciprocal visits and contacts.
The two men also spoke about how to expand the frames of
cooperation. Kocharian underscored implementation of investment
projects, which he said should go parallel to intensifying trade
contacts.

THE JAVAKHQ SOLDIERS WILL NOT BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR HOMES
A1+
[09:04 pm] 11 May, 2006
Head of Akhalkalak region Arthur Eremyan voices hope that the dwelling
buildings of the Russian military base 62 will be given to the city
municipality after the Russian soldiers release the premises.
Most of the above mentioned buildings belong to the Javakhq
soldiers. The authorities of the region voice hope that the Javakhq
residents will not be deprived of their homes after the military base
is given to Georgian Ministry of Defence and the Russian soldiers
release the buildings.
By the way, according to “A – Info” the regional board started to make
a list of Javakhq residents living in the military base in order to
apply to the Georgian central authorities with their request.

THE PERFORMANCE “TO FORGET HEROSTRAT” BEAT A RECORD
A1+
[07:23 pm] 11 May, 2006
The Dramatic theatre after Hrachya Ghaplanyan celebrates the 30th
anniversary of the performance “To Forget Herostrat” staged on Grigori
Gorin’s play of the same name. The performance will be presented for
the 240th time at the Dramatic theatre on May 13.
According to actor Levon Mutafyan this is a record index as no
play was staged so long on the Armenian stage as this one. “This is
unprecedented phenomenon taking into consideration the crisis and
stagnancy of 70s when people were afraid to make free decisions
and were not encouraged to do such things, and there was severe
censorship. The performance “To Forget Herostat” was about evil and
its eternity and was an attempt to remind of reality and time.” Then
censorship prohibited to speak openly, and all of a sudden young
actor Ghandikyan threw down the gauntlet to theatretical world and
staged the play as his diploma work,” noted Levon Marutyan.
According to witnesses, they were disappointed by the performance
staged in Moscow as it was traditional, there were no new feelings,
passions in it and it resembled the original play. The Armenian
version of the play is more striking with its aesthetic principles;
allegories, symbols and implication which resulted in warm acceptance
by the audience. According to Armen Ghandikyan our theatres lack the
deep sense, implication and we go to simplicity.
In Armen Ghandikyan’s words the performance leads its second life
with new artistic personnel though the Vladimir Mseryan still embodies
the main character, Herostrat.
The performance was presented in many cities of the world and was
warmly accepted by the audience. Even when Gorin saw it he was
surprised, “What a wonderful performance, did I really write it? I
didn’t think I would become the author of such a great play,” recalls
Vladimir Mseryan. The latter also called on the Armenian youth to
attend theatres more frequently and to see perfect performances.

NIGERIA WILL HAVE AN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA FOR THE FIRST TIME
A1+
[06:23 pm] 11 May, 2006
Today RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received Negerian newly
appointed ambassador to Armenia Ganayama Abubakari (residence in
Tehran) in order to hand him credetials.
During the meeting the RA Foreign Minister congradulated the Ambassador
of the Negerian Federal Republic on his nomination and new office
and wished good luck in his further mission.
While expressing his gratification on having Negerian Ambassador
to Armenia for the first time Minister Oskanyan claimed that such
initiative will promote the development of Armenian – Negerian
relations.
The two sides referred to the possibilities of international
cooperation and integriation to international organizations and
discussed regional issues.

WE HAVE NO POLITICAL CULTURE
Panorama.am
12:53 11/05/06
“I think that the political culture is underdeveloped here. Otherwise,
we would not be called a post-Soviet country but a democratic state
based on rule of law.
We have much to do in this regard,” Human Rights Ombudsman Armen
Harutunian told a conference at Yerevan State University.
He thinks that adoption of laws and structural changes are not the
most important things for post-soviet countries as long as the soviet
states had some achievements in those fields. “We need development
of a political culture so that people change their mentality and ways
of thinking,” he said.
Another issue is whether the adopted laws are, in fact, enforced or
the structures are functional.
According to political scientist Aghasi Yenokyan, Armenian has stayed
behind of democratic processes during the last few years. “Structures
and institutions for a democratic state are in place.
However they do not perform their basic functions,” he said.
Armenia is in more favorable conditions in terms of democracy as
compared with Azerbaijan, he said. “But compared with Baltics,
we have much to do because our country has never experienced fair
elections, as the Ukraine or Georgia have done,” says the political
scientist.

REMUNERATION FOR “PROPER JOB” MUST NOT BE LESS THAN USD 60
Panorama.am
14:59 11/05/06
Government decision set the amount for the remuneration of a proper
job today and standards for access to transport. According to the
decision, proper jobs are offered to people registered at their local
employment centers. Remuneration is defined as an amount which should
be higher than thrice as much as the employment benefit. According
to the standards set for the transport accessibility, it says that
jobs should be offered within the same community so that people can
use only one transport means to get to their work places.
The employment benefit as of January of the running year amounts to
AMD 9000. That is, proper jobs should offer at least AMD 27 thousand
which equals to USD 60.
The decision will unveil cases which are very common in Armenia,
that is, many people do improper jobs since their salaries are lower
than USD 60.

YEREVAN ARCHITECTURE DISCUSSED
Panorama.am
15:07 11/05/06
Yerevan chief architect Samvel Danielyan expressed his emotions today
in regard to construction in Yerevan.
“This is a very interesting time period which is full of clashes of
mentality. In future we may not face such a massive construction,”
he said.
On behalf of Mkrtich MINASYAN, Chairman of Architects’ Union and Gurgen
MUSHEGHYAN, Yerevan Design Institute Head, Samvel Danielyan stated that
they are not satisfied with the architectural outlook of the buildings.
Minasyan admitted that one of their failures is that they sanctioned
construction at public places. “This is a negative thing for our city
which lacks green areas,” he said. “If we were more experienced at
that time we would allocate land for green areas and today instead
of numerous cafes we would have green zones.
However, would the public understand us at that time,” he adds.
The Head of Architects’ Union referred to Zangu gorge as an example of
a green zone which is not looked after property. According to him, it
could be a very nice place for Yerevan residents to spend their time.
“Those who come to the gorge may notice that nothing is left from
the river Zangu here. We have a very nice gift from nature which we
destroy with our own hands,” he said.
The Head of Architects’ Union expressed his dissatisfaction with
the fact that nothing is left from one time Tamanyan architectural
Yerevan. Gurgen Musheghyan also joined him in his discontent.

NO SCHOOL CHILDREN TO GRADUATE IN 2011
Panorama.am
15:41 11/05/06
There will be no school graduates in the year 2011.
This is conditioned by the fact that those who went to school in
2001 will finish their school education after 11 years instead of
normal 10, Norair Ghukasyan, deputy education and science minister
told a briefing followed by a government session today. There will
be no problems connected with draft but the number of applicants to
higher educational establishments will considerable decrease, he said.
It turns out that 1-5 class schoolchildren will go to school for 11
years, 5-10 class schoolchildren – for 10. Part of the schoolchildren
who went to school this year will study for 11 years and the other
part for 12. Certain legal amendments came to be necessary as a result
of 12-year educational system. The government session approved the
draft Law on Education according to which children will start school
at the age of 6.

ARMENIA BACK FROM WESTERN EUROPE FOR 30 YEARS
Panorama.am
16:40 11/05/06
“The situation observed on roads of Armenia was existing in Western
Europe 30 years ago when the number of cars increased sharply,” Max
Mosly, the president of International Automobile Federation told a
press conference today.
As Mosly and David Ward, Executive Director of Fund FIA noted their
visit aims to support the newly established National Council of Road
Safety in Armenia. “Actually, no one in Armenia uses security belts,”
Mosly said. David Ward assures that after 5 years of using security
belts the records on road mortality will report sharp decrease. They
say 95% of drivers in Switzerland use security belts.
Today in the capital park “Victory” a special training apparatus
will be exhibited for showing the usage of security belts. This is
a start of public advocacy program to use security belts. The second
part of the program will be education on driving, Mkrtich Piltoyan,
Armenian Automobile Federation president said.