EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN SENIOR CLASSES AT ARMENIAN SCHOOLS TO BE COMPLETED BY 2014-2015: MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2006
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Educational reforms in senior classes at
Armenian schools will be completed by 2014-2015. Armenian Minister of
Education and Science Levon Lazarian reported that the final round of
the program on reforming the education system in the country requires
a serious reconsideration.
According to him, the process of reforming, providing for 12-year
education, should be carried out step-by-step.
“The current education system does not imply any principles and
concepts that could prepare students for entering a university
without reducing the quality of education,” he said and added that
the reforms should not affect the quality of knowledge of students
and their further life In this context, the minister pointed out the
necessity in including some courses, taught during the first year at
universities, in the school curriculum for senior classes.
“Students of senior classes should have an opportunity to independently
choose courses and teachers,” he said.
Lazarian reported that this process is rather long. “At least a
decade is required to complete the work on the education system and
its criteria, and also those elements that will be introduced to the
high school little by little.

NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI FMS OVER NK PROVIDE BASIS FOR FUTURE PRESIDENTIAL MEETING
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2006
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. The negotiations of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers, started yesterday in Paris, provide
a basis for a future meeting between the two countries’ presidents,
Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan told reporters.
“After Bucharest, there is the necessity in making new steps toward a
peaceful settlement to the conflict. The foreign ministers currently
attempt to supplement what was not achieved by the presidents,”
Armenian Foreign Minister said.
The negotiations between foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar Mamedyarov were held in Paris on 13 June.
They discussed the available principles and approaches that give rise
to disagreements between the sides.

IRANIAN VICE-AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CAN BE AMENDED ONLY UNDER BOTH SIDES’ CONSENT
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2006
YEREVAN, June 14. /ARKA/. Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction
project can be amended only under both sides’ consent, Iranian
Vice-Ambassador to Armenia Ali Akbar Jokar told journalists on Tuesday
commenting on probability of a pipeline section acquisition by Russia.
In his words, there are no amendments so far and the project
implementation runs in due course in accordance with the agreement
signed between Armenia and Iran.
He said Iran remains committed to providing gas to Armenia.
Construction of Iran-Armenia 141-km gas pipeline of 700mm diameter
has been estimated to cost 120 million.
Construction of Meghri-Kajaran, the pipeline’s first Armenian
section, started on November 30, 2004. The second section
Kajaran-Sisyan-Jermuk-Ararat will be constructed by Sanir Iranian
Company. The pipeline construction is expected to be completed by
2007.

NEW REFERENDUM FOR NK STATUS DETERMINATION WOULD MEAN 1991 REFERENDUM RESULTS VOIDING
Arka News Agency, Armenia
June 14 2006
STEPANAKERT, June 14. /ARKA/. New referendum for Nagorno Karabakh
status determination would mean the 1991 referendum results voiding,
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Foreign Ministry says in Demographic Trap
publication placed on its portal.
The ministry says that some European organizations involved in
the process of Karabakh conflict settlement just secure their own
interests, which coincide with Azerbaijani interests.
As an example of these organizations, NKR Foreign Ministry singled
out International Crisis Group who calls into question the legitimacy
of the referendum conducted on December 10, 1991, in accordance with
the then USSR law, which reflected Karabakh people’s will.
“What for Azerbaijani minority, it enjoyed right for expressing
opinion, but Karabakhi Azerbaijanis rejected this right and ignored
the referendum expressing indifference to the republic’s future”,
the ministry says.
The ministry also said that if Armenian side gives consent for a new
referendum, then neither Armenia nor Nagorno Karabakh will be able
to bar Azerbaijan from changing demographic situation in the republic
under cover of “peacekeepers” mission and “refugees” return.

IRAN TO START GAS SUPPLY TO ARMENIA
United Press International
June 14 2006
TEHRAN, June 14 (UPI) — Iran will begin supplying natural gas to
Armenia starting in 2007, Iranian Deputy Ambassador to Armenia Ali
Akbar Jowkar said Tuesday.
“Iran has committed itself to providing Armenia with gas and will do
so,” Arminfo quoted Jowkar as saying at a news conference.
An agreement between Iran and Armenia was signed earlier this year
to allow for natural gas supply.
The two countries have been working to complete the construction of
the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline that will be put into operation later
this year. The agreement, according to Jowkar, has not undergone
any changes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LOCALS INTERESTED INTO ANYTHING BUT POLITICS SUCH AS ANDRE’S SUCCESS IN EUROVISION
Fotis Konstantopoulos reporting from Athens (Greece)
oikotimes.org, Greece
June 14 2006
source: Armenian News Network – photo: oikotimes resources
If you think that the Armenians worry about the NA chairman’s
resignation, the current failure of Karabakh negotiations in Bucharest
or Dollar inflation, you are mistaken. Anyway, according to the APR
Group phone polling /from 7-9 of June among 652 Yerevan citizens/
our citizens aren’t interested in it. The sociologists have asked the
citizens to mention the most important events of last period and 37%
of them first of all mentioned the victory of Armenian chess players
in the Chess Olympiad in Turin, 24,8% mentioned the crash of A320
airbus, 22,9% mentioned Andre’s success in Eurovision.
The above-mentioned political events have gathered less than 5 %. And
even the violence used against Armenians in Russia are in the first
place for 5,4%. I wouldn’t hurry to accuse people of being “heartless”
or “lumpened”.
Maybe the reason is that people became sure during 15 years that
they don’t have any lever for having influence on the policy and
being interested in a thing which has no connection with you, isn’t
reasonable at least. By the way mentioning the reason of considering
important the chess players and Andre 54,8% and 19, 5% of citizens
said that it was the proud and honor of the Armenian nation. It is
also important that 92,5% of citizens who consider important Andre
belong to feminine gentle. We asked APR Group tube interested what
Yerevan citizens think of violence used against Armenians in Russia.
First of all we should mention that 35% wasn’ t informed about it or
wasn’t engaged in that problem. And the opinions of the reasons of that
violence were different. 27,8% citizens think that it is a policy which
Russia carries out, 19,8% is sure that those are accidental cases, 16%
refer it to Russian chauvinism and 15,1% think that it is a slander
addressed by other countries against Armenian-Russian relations.
Some citizens being very sorry for those incidents anyway suppose
that it will help repatriation and some part of the eldest generation
remembered that they had met Russian chauvinism since the Soviet
period. And indeed, I myself living first 30 years of my life in Soviet
“international” period heard ” Armyashka” word at that time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN: PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD TELLS WORLD CUP TEAM: ‘BRING GLORY TO THE NATION’
Monday Morning, Lebanon
June 12 2006
The Iranian team arrived at their World Cup base at Friedrichshafen,
Germany, under instructions from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to
“bring glory” to their country.
Iranian football supporters braved the rain to welcome their national
side amid expectations of protests about Teheran’s policies.
The German authorities have promised strong police protection for
the Iranian team.
The team were surrounded by children asking for autographs as they
made their way through the terminal before leaving by bus for a luxury
hotel in Schnetzenhausen, a small town northwest of Friedrichsafen
on the shores of Lake Constance, in South Germany.
They had left Teheran optimistic they could create a surprise at the
World Cup, where they were drawn in Group D against Angola, Mexico
and Portugal.
Team Captain Ali Daie said the controversy surrounding the Iranian
president, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map and
has repeatedly denied the Holocaust, had only served to spur on the
squad. The Iranian team contains one surprise — Andranik Teymourian,
an Armenian and the only Christian in the side.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VAN NUYS MAN RAN INVESTMENT SCAM
Priscilla Rodriguez Reporting
KNX1070, CA
June 14 2006
VAN NUYS, CA (KNX) — Melkon Gharakhanian ran an investment scam
that swindled mostly Armenian-American victims out of millions is
scheduled to be sentenced today.
Gharakhanian pleaded guilty in January to one count of mail fraud,
and faces two to four years behind bars if the judge follows the
recommendations in a plea deal he made with prosecutors.
He admitted to being one of the leaders of a Glendale investment firm
that misspent money it took from people between 1999 and 2001.
The amount calculated by Gharakhanian and prosecutors was between
two and a half million and ten million dollars in total.
The judge determined that clients lost even more than that, he could
face more jail time than the plea deal proposes.

ARMENIAN CENTRAL BANK RULES OUT CURRENCY MANIPULATION
Trading Markets, CA
June 14 2006
(RTTNews) – The recent strengthening of the Armenian national currency,
the dram, against the US dollar is caused by ‘market factors’
and not government manipulation, local press reports said Tuesday,
citing the central bank chief Tigran Sarkisian. Armenia follows a
floating exchange rate policy. In less than a month, the dram has
gained nearly 9% in additional value against the greenback.
The domestic currency is currently worth over 30% more, in dollar
terms, than its level ahead of the start of its dramatic appreciation
in late 2003. The strengthening of the dram has reportedly hit exports
and a significant part of the population relying on remittances
from expatriates.

ARMENIAN FUNDRAISER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Reuters AlertNet, UK
June 14 2006
Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)
Essential operations give children a chance to live a healthier
and happier life World Vision MEERO,
‘Giving your whole heart to the whole world’ was the slogan of a
fundraising reception for essential surgery of children with special
needs hosted by World Vision Armenia’s Child Protection Programmes
(CPP), in the Armenian capital Yerevan last month.
During the event special catalogues with photos and data of eight
children needing urgent medical intervention were distributed among
the guests. Participants also watched a video depicting past problems
and the new life of children who have undergone surgery with World
Vision support.
‘I am a musician and my only dream was to learn music professionally
and perform on the stage. But with my heavy limb I was ashamed to
socialize even with neighbors. Now I can walk properly, I gained
self-confident, and I attend musical school. Now I WILL go on stage’,
says Edik Manucharyan, 16 in the video.
The reception brought together members of the National Assembly,
representatives of charity organizations, NGOs, the Armenian Apostolic
Church and the private sector.
‘Helping children in need is a very noble cause, and I am grateful
to World Vision for bringing us all together to help children with
special needs’, said in her speech Chairwoman of the Association of
Diplomats’ Wives Nani Oskanian.
Kind participation of donors will help to provide for the surgery of
two of these children. All participants of the reception are provided
with details of World Vision’s bank account for transfers.
‘We are trying to encourage and promote the tradition of practicing
good will towards children who need it most. There are so many children
that need help, and events like this allow more to be assisted than
would otherwise be possible’, explains World Vision representative
Marina Hovhannisyan.
Often in Armenia children with special needs, especially with
visible facial and orthopedic disorders, suffer discrimination and
harassment. Many of them end up in special institutions deprived of
parental care. They have no future and no hope.
‘To assist such children, World Vision started its project in 2002
with funding from the UK and Germany, providing essential surgery
to nine children with severe facial disfiguration and orthopedic
disorders. Several other children received surgery with funds raised
through performances played at the National Puppet Theatre and
the National Academic Theatre. After the surgery and post-surgical
treatment these children were able to attend public school and live
a healthy life.
World Vision plans to continue initiation of such fundraising actions,
which will create financial means for continuing to provide surgery
to children, and at the same time, will promote public awareness and
participation in helping children with special needs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress